We decided to walk the Heaven's Rapids track. As we walked through the HQ area a calling male Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon sat in the treetops proved to be one of the species we hoped that we might see today. The Heaven's Rapids trail itself produced Laced and Great Slaty Woodpeckers but generally proved rather quiet. It is more of a jeep track through regenerating secondary forest rather than a forest trail. It lacked much shade and soon became hot. There was an impressive stand of bamboo at the rapids themselves but unfortunately we found no sign of either Orange-necked Partridge or Pale-headed Woodpecker. Whilst returning we stopped for a drink at the Forest Floor Lodge. On walking the start of a forest trail that commenced directly opposite the entrance to the Lodge I heard the arresting call of a Blue-rumped Pitta and it was close. The bad news was that it was calling from a bamboo thicket and on trying to approach it the bird fell silent. I waited a while but heard no further calls. I left it for an hour and then tried again but failed to hear let alone see it. Very frustrating. Back at the HQ we met Thang at lunchtime who had arrived accompanying one of his tour groups. He pointed us in the direction of the first block of forest to the west of the HQ as a good area to see Germain's Peacock-Pheasant. We gave it a try and heard one calling mid-afternoon but the trail then literally went quiet. An obliging male Hainan Blue Flycatcher and a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf-Warbler were looking set to be the afternoon's highlights when fortunately a male Germain's Peacock-Pheasant showed well. On emerging from the forest we bumped into Thang and his group all of whom had also seen one at the side of the road. We then walked the Museum trail as Thang mentioned Blue-rumped Pittas had been seen along it recently albeit not every day. There was no sign for us although the male Bar-bellied Pitta was seen again. At dusk we overlooked the river and enjoyed watching and listening to 8 Harrier-like Great Eared Nightjars fly from their roost and across the river to feed.
Chinese Pond-Heron 6
Scaly-breasted Partridge 1
Red Junglefowl 1 female
GERMAIN'S PEACOCK-PHEASANT 1 male
ASHY-HEADED GREEN-PIGEON 1 male
Green Imperial Pigeon 2
Great Eared Nightjar 8
Pied Kingfisher 2
Oriental Pied Hornbill 1
Laced Woodpecker 2
Great Slaty Woodpecker 2
BLUE-RUMPED PITTA h
Bar-bellied Pitta 1 male plus others heard
Swallow 2
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 1
Ashy Minivet 1
Common Iora 2
Blue-winged Leafbird 1
Stripe-throated Bulbul 1
Puff-throated Babbler 2
Scaly-crowned Babbler 2
Siberian Blue Robin 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 2
White-rumped Shama 6
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Warbler 1
Dark-necked Tailorbird 1
Hainan Blue Flycatcher 1 male
Black-naped Monarch 1
Golden-crested Myna 2
Purple-naped Sunbird 1
Crimson Sunbird 1
Views of the Dong Nai River, Cat Tien NP from the Forest Floor Lodge
Heaven's Rapids Track at Cat Tien NP
Male Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon at Cat Tien NP
Male Laced Woodpecker at Cat Tien NP
Male Great Slaty Woodpecker at Cat Tien NP
Common Birdwings at Cat Tien NP
Dragonfly pool at the Forest Floor Lodge
Dragonfly at Cat Tien NP
Lesser Mouse-Deer at Cat Tien NP
Red Junglefowl at Cat Tien NP
Stripe-throated Bulbul at Cat Tien NP
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf-Warbler at Cat Tien NP
Male Hainan Blue Flycatcher at Cat Tien NP
Male Germain's Peacock-Pheasant at Cat Tien NP
Male Bar-bellied Pitta at Cat Tien NP
Last ferry crossing of the day
Great Eared Nightjar at Cat Tien NP
