Date: July 14, 2025
Time: Full Day Tour (6:30 AM – 5:30 PM)
Guide(s): Tiên Nguyễn
Car Driver: Vũ
Group size: 2x PAX (Jaewon, avid birder first time in Vietnam + his father)
What Tour: Da Nang Birding Tours
Guide’s Notes:
- Wildlife highlights: Lineated Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Crimson Sunbird, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Crested Goshawk, Black-naped Monarch, Puff-throated Babbler, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Masked Laughingthrush, Gull-billed Tern. Totals observed over 40 bird species across varied habitats (mountain valley, grasslands, coast and paddyfields).
- Weather & Conditions: Clear and sunny all day, with temperatures rising to 35°C by late morning. Bird activity slowed after 9:30 AM but picked up again in the afternoon.
- Recommendations: Summer birding in central Vietnam requires an early start, as peak activity is before 10:00 AM while seasonal changes (spring and autumn migration, winter visitors) bring additional richness.
Forest and Habitat: The Đà Nẵng – Quảng Nam region lies at the intersection of the Annamite Mountains and the East Sea, representing a major biogeographic transition zone. Its varied habitats (including evergreen rainforest, scrubs, wetlands, and agricultural land) support over 400 recorded bird species. The area is increasingly recognised as a key birding region in Vietnam. This full-day birding tour was conducted across multiple habitats in Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng, including a mountain valley, lowland, coastal wetlands, and farmland.
Detailed Tour Report:
Morning Session (7:00 AM – 10:45 AM)
The day began before sunrise, the air still cool as we left Đà Nẵng and drove south into Quảng Nam Province. Our guest, Jaewon, was eager with anticipation as this was his very first birding trip in Vietnam, and he had already told us how much he hoped to see new species that would be lifers for him. His father, though less serious about birding, was equally happy to enjoy the landscapes and share the adventure.
After about an hour’s drive, covering 55 km of winding roads, we reached a quiet mountain valley in Duy Xuyên District. The site, surrounded by forested hills, offered a blend of secondary evergreen broadleaf forest, regenerating scrub, and open edge habitats, ideal for a wide diversity of birds. Almost immediately, we found a Streak-eared Bulbul, first tick of the day! Around us, we saw a different set of birds including Sooty-headed Bulbul, Common Iora, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Lineated Barbet and Green-eared Barbet. One of the highlights was a pair of Black-naped Monarch feeding two chicks. We watched as the male tirelessly darted out for insects while the female remained close to the nest. At one point, a bird landed briefly on the ground in a beam of sunlight, allowing Jaewon to capture some beautiful photos. Later, we observed another female on the nest while the male foraged nearby, a window into their parenting cycle. Just as the excitement of the monarchs began to settle, another highlight appeared an adult Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo with its glossy blue-black plumage catching the light.
By mid-morning, the heat of the day limited activity but we still managed excellent sightings: Black Drongo, Puff-throated Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, White-throated Fantail, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Common Iora, White-throated Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Greater Coucal, and a soaring Crested Goshawk. The highlight, however, was hearing the unmistakable ringing call of a Blue-bearded Bee-eater, though the bird only gave us a fleeting glimpse as it crossed the treetop canopy.
We then paused for an early lunch by midday when the heat was relentless before continuing toward the coast.
Afternoon session (2:10 PM – 5:30 PM):
At low tide, we visited a coastal mudflat. Among the waders, there were two Gull-billed Tern standing out. Larger and bulkier than other terns, with thick black bills and a clean gray-and-white pattern, they gave Jaewon excellent scope views. Together with them, we also saw Paddyfield Pipit, Striated Heron, Little Egret, Little Tern and some more White-throated Kingfisher. Since Jaewon had already observed most herons and egrets in Korea and Taiwan, we kept our focus on lifers and specialties.
Later, in a patchwork of paddyfields and scrubland, we picked up more species: Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Yellow Bittern, Greater Coucal, Asian Green Bee-eater, and Racket-tailed Treepie. A group of Masked Laughingthrush called harshly from a dense growth of bushes while another Thick-billed Flowerpecker showed well.
As the afternoon light softened, Jaewon remarked on how many new species he had seen in just one day (particularly during the blistering summer sun!). At 5:30 PM we concluded the tour and drove back to Đà Nẵng.
This full-day birding tour highlighted the incredible diversity of habitats in Central Vietnam, from broadleaf evergreen rainforest, scrublands, lowland forests to coastal wetland. For Jaewon, nearly every forest species was a lifer. Though his time in Vietnam was short, Jaewon later shared that this was the highlight of his family vacation. On his own, he even added bonus sightings at his accommodation, including Lesser Coucal and Asian Green Bee-eater, and glimpsed an Orange-breasted Green Pigeon on the Son Tra Peninsula before leaving the country.
If you’ve enjoyed reading about this outing and are ready to experience it for yourself, we’d love to welcome you on one of our tours! The Đà Nẵng Full Day Birding Tour is designed to showcase the best of Central Vietnam’s birdlife in just one day, perfect for travelers with limited time, families looking for a nature-based experience, or serious birders chasing lifers. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help you plan a birding experience tailored to your time and interests.
