Introduction
This short report is an update on the forest and birdlife surrounding the village of Mangden, a forested area at 1170 meters ASL on the Kontum plateau in central Vietnam which is gradually being converted into a Eco-tourism site.
Plans of turning this area into a Utopian-like Eco-tourism site without an ecosystem by the year 2030 continue as more forest clearing continues for roads, agriculture and hydro-electric lines.
Weather Update
In the later half of 2015 and early 2016 most of South East Asia had dry conditions with little rain, perhaps attributed to El Nino. The weather in January 2016 on the Kontum plateau was mostly sunny and calm with daytime temperature highs about 22 Celcius, quite the opposite of January 2015 which saw strong, cool winds with light rains. I received an email from a birder the week after I left Mangden, who reported the weather as being cool, windy and wet during the last week of January 2016.
Short notes on notable bird species
Gray-crowned Crocias appeared to be less numerous than my 2 previous visits in 2015, however this may have been because less effort was made in surveying this species. I would change it's status from fairly common to uncommon.
Red-tailed Laughingthrush was missed during this 17 day visit. A somewhat reliable area for this species last year had been converted into a hydro-electric workers camp. I would change the status of this species from uncommon to rare.
Also missed in January were White-tailed Flycatcher, Collared Babbler, Black-chinned Yuhina and Pin-tailed Parrotfinch. These species may be more reliable north of Mangden, where Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush occurs above 1400 meters ASL.
Rufous-faced Warbler continues to be a common species, especially once it's song is learned.
Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Rusty-naped Pitta, Yellow-billed Nuthatch take a bit of searching. Silver Pheasant numbers seem to have declined quite a bit, perhaps due to hunting.
Five species of Sunbird (including Fork-tailed and Gould's) were behind Mangden's White Supermarket in some flowering shrubs in late January, and 5 species of Barbet (including Red-vented and Green-eared) were in a single fruiting tree near the KM 48 road marker.
New on my Mangden list were Short -tailed Scimitar Babbler (Indochinese Wren Babbler) which was heard only twice, and a few Rufous-tailed Robins which are quite skulking.
Where to birdwatch
If your time around Mangden is limited, and you have already visited the Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush location north of Mangden, I would suggest these three sites.
1) A deadend road which leads north from the new and very large Round-about 2km west of Mangden village. This road has little traffic, and cuts through open forest. One can walk or drive along this 2-3 km stretch of road and is appears to be a future tourist lookout spot. Try for Gray-crowned Crocias here.
2) Walk behind Mangden's White Supermarket through flowering (seasonal) shrubs to a small reservoir. Sunbirds, skulkers and flycatcher's (on passage).
3) Drive 3-4 km west of Mangden along the new road to Kontum and park your vehicle at the KM 48 marker (to Kontum) and walk a 1-2 km trail. Ractchet-tailed Treepie, Rusty-naped Pitta, Broadbills, Red-headed Trogon.
A few eBird checklists
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S27012668
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S26994233
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S27029891
Conclusion
Utopian dreams and construction continues but few tourists are visiting Mangden. Unfortunately the few tourists who are seeking enlightenment here are quite keen on Karoake and other noise making adventures.
Birds continue around Mangden. Forest edge and agricultural species will likely replace some of the other specialty species that require less disturbance.
In my last report I described Mangden as one of the best kept birding secret's in Southeast Asia. I still find the birding quite good and enjoyable, and I added about 10 more species to my Mangden list which now exceeds 200 species. I was without a vehicle or birding guide on this trip as I was on previous visits. My highest one day species total was 101 in January, with 65-75 species/day average.
By the time you read this report birding may not be as good. A birding friend who joined me on this recent trip found the birds difficult to see, with the opening of the forest I thought it easy.
Birding tours typically visit in late March when migrants passing through and resident birds are singing more. Avoid a visit during the TET celebration in February and during Easter weekend.