We (Katy, Bob, David and I) met up just before 6 AM to hop on a golf cart up to the hotel’s restaurant so as to avoid the long uphill climb at that hour! We had pre-ordered breakfast last night so that it might be ready at 6 since breakfast doesn’t officially start until 6:30. We had about a 30 minute drive to get into the park so didn’t want to waste any time. Amazingly, our ride was there as requested and then Tien got the kitchen going and breakfast was served. We took off at 6:30 and headed into the park. You drive through a very busy commercial area and then residential area. There are quite a few small hotels and obviously plans for a larger resort. We headed past all of this and got to the first area that Tien wanted to stop. Our big goal for today is to see the Sooty Babbler.
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| Sign for the National Park set high up reminiscent of the Hollywood sign! |
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| Southeast Asian Red Junglefowl - origin of the chicken |
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| Misty karst in every direction |
We started off very well, not with the Babbler but with a bird that we thought we had missed by leaving the Cuc Phuong park early. A smallish hawk flew in and David and Tien were very excited to see that it was a Pied Falconet. It landed in a tree where it had prey carefully secured on a branch and proceeded to consume a whole small bird for its breakfast. Quite a sight.
While we continued on stopping, walking, looking, we also saw a number of other birds. Then we notice lots of butterflies as the sun came out. There were so many different kinds - in all sorts of colors.
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| Streaked Spiderhunter |
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| Scarlet Minivet |
We drove on to another area looking at a Rufous-bellied Eagle flying high over the ridge line and then noticed movement to the side. Much to our collective amazement, there was a red-shanked douc langur. We watched and another came into view and then another. Suddenly we were watching a whole family of at least 5 with the head of the family sitting like a Chinese emperor on a branch. Their colors are fantastic with red legs, white arms and black hands, white speedo like briefs. The largest had a fluffy white beard and rust collar and black rim around his head that made it look as if he was wearing a fur hat. They were spectacular and a first for all but Tien. Even though David has been to Vietnam and this park multiple times, he had never seen this primate. We were hoping to see them but had no idea that we would be able to see a group so well. The red-shanked is a critically endangered species. These langurs measure around 60 centimeters in length with a tail that can reach 75 centimeters. They weigh 8-12 kilograms.
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| Katy’s great photo of the Red-shanked langur |
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| My iPhone photo showing their very long tail |
We headed back to the hotel for lunch with plans to return to the park about 2:30pm. One of the nice things at this beautiful hotel is that you can order menu items ala carte with many choices including Saigon beer for 3 of us.
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| Amusing sign by the bathrooms in the hotel lobby |
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| Along the walk towards our beautiful villas |
We regrouped at 2:30 and drove back into the park. As we neared the turnoff, the road was wet as apparently there had been a brief shower though we hadn’t been rained on at all. Farther into the park, there was some dampness but no further rain, just overcast. The landscape continues to impress and resembles so many traditional Chinese paintings - craggy hills with mist coiling around. It is really stunning. Katy and I are both taking lots of photos with views to how we might incorporate the scenery into paintings for her and fabric pictures for me.
Tien was concentrating on finding the Sooty Babbler and he did catch glimpses as some flew across the road in front of the van. He worked very hard to lure them back so that we could all see them but to no avail. We did, however, see many other birds like a Black Bulbul and many different butterflies. We kept at it until about 5:30 as the light was decreasing. There was a sudden flurry of birds around a few large trees about 4:45 but that was it.
We are back at the hotel and will gather for dinner and the list at 7:15. We get a break tomorrow as we aren’t leaving until 8 AM!
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