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Bird
fauna : To date, more than 200 bird species have been
recorded at Xuan Thuy. The site is the most important staging
and wintering area for migratory waterbirds in the coastal zone
of the Red River Delta. It regularly supports large numbers of
commoner migratory waterbird species, including Black-tailed
Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Eurasian Curlew. Many rare species
can also be found at Xuan Thuy, including the largest wintering
population of Black-faced Spoonbill in Vietnam, with around 60
birds each winter in recent years. Other rare species that
regularly occur at the site include Saunders's Gull, Spotted
Greenshank, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Asian Dowitcher. In
addition to its importance for waterbirds, Xuan Thuy is also an
important migratory stop-over for non-waterbirds, with large
numbers of passerines and cuckoos passing through the site
during the spring and autumn migrations. During the summer
months, small numbers of Painted Stork and Spot-billed Pelican
occur as non-breeding visitors.
Other
features : Estuarine habitats and traditional
aquaculture activities.
Transportation : Car and boat. Xuan Thuy is about 150
km by road from Hanoi or three and half hours by car. The site
is not well known and, for this reason, may be difficult to
find. From the national park headquarters, the site can be
visited by boat or by foot. It is important to take account of
tide times when planning a trip to Xuan Thuy, as some of the
best birdwatching areas can only be reached at high tide.
Accommodation : At the moment, accommodation at Xuan
Thuy is basic. The park has only one four-bed guestroom with no
hot water or electricity. However, a new guesthouse with 10
standard rooms is currently under construction. In addition,
there are two guesthouses in Ngo Dong town (20 km from Xuan Thuy)
and a resort area in Quat Lam (40 km from Xuan Thuy), where
there are many hotels and restaurants.
Permission : An entrance fee system has not yet been
established; visitors should contact the park authorities in
advance to arrange permission. Both Vietnamese and foreign
visitors can visit the park, providing they secure the approval
of the park staff and the local border army station.
Birding routes :
As a
staging and wintering site on the East Asian-Australian flyway,
the best time to visit Xuan Thuy is September to April. In
August and September, it is still possible to see non-breeding
Painted Stork, as well as early migrants, such as Black-winged
Stilt. Later, from October onwards, it relatively easy to find
wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, particularly at their roost
sites in the shrimp ponds.
Visitors
can ask for assistance from the national park staff, who know
the site well, and can advise on places to look for particular
species. Hiring a guide from the park is recommended.
Birding
routes: Visitors can travel by foot to some places of interest;
others can only be reached by boat at high tide.
Walking
routes: Walking through the shrimp ponds on Con Ngan island,
where the park headquarters is located, can be rewarding,
especially at high tide when Black-faced Spoonbills and various
gulls, ducks and waders come to roost and feed in the shrimp
ponds.
Boating
routes: At high tide, boats can be chartered to reach the
offshore mudflats and sandy flats, where Spoon-billed Sandpiper
can be found among large flocks of waders. Saunders's Gull can
also be found here during December and January, as well as other
gulls and ducks.
An
alternative boat route involves visiting Con Xanh island, which
is planted with Casuarina, which shelters migrating passerines,
including pittas, and the outer edge of Con Ngan island, where
waders, ducks and herons feed in the Tra river mouth.
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