Let’s check on that bird high up on the exposed rock...probably just another Blue Rock Thrush, but the shape doesn’t fit exactly…
I had my scope out in no time. The bird was quite high and views remained brief. Clearly not a Blue Rock Thrush, this was a bird I had never seen before, not even on a photo or pictured in a book! From behaviour and appearance, I assumed this must be some kind of Bulbul though. It was 08h30 by now and the bird had gone. After about 3 hours of searching, I gave up as it had become hot with little bird activity in the area. I made the intention to come search again the next morning.
Up early and at the Bulbul site at around 06h00. It wasn’t before about 08h15 that the same birds appeared, 4 this time and all looking exactly the same, with 3 keeping fairly close together and a fourth bird nearby but clearly keeping some distance from the other 3. The birds again where shy and would appear in trees only for brief moments but I managed a couple more shots.
The same happened on the 3rd morning with the birds to appear briefly between 8 and 9am in the morning - not to be found again later on. Observations were on 11-12-13 December 2008.
What are these things? A description and part of the answer are below.
Regrettably and for reasons beyond my control I’m not able to reproduce the full article on this page. You may however read the full original article in this location;
http://www.birding2asia.com/articles/LaosMysteryBulbul.html
Further comprehensive information about birdwatching in the area is here;
http://www.birding2asia.com/W2W/Laos/NaHin.html
A full species list of the area you may check in this location;
http://www.birding2asia.com/W2W/Laos/NaHinList.html
Stijn De Win / Birding2asia