Nong Gang 弄岗

Introduction

Since 2008 this reserve has become famous as the only place in the world to find a newly-described species, the Nonggang Babbler. This is an important reserve in south-west Guangxi, close to the Vietnamese border, characterised by forested limestone outcrops and especially important as a protection area for White-headed Leaf Monkey and a number of other bird species very difficult to find elsewhere in south-east China.

 

Key Species

Malayan Night Heron, Oriental Hobby, Red Junglefowl, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Long-tailed Broadbill, Ashy Bulbul, Striped Tit Babbler, Large Scimitar Babbler, Streaked Wren Babbler, Black-throated Babbler, Golden Babbler, Little Spiderhunter, Streaked Spiderhunter, White-winged Magpie.

 

Other Species

Crested Serpent Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Silver Pheasant, Collared Owlet, Oriental Scops Owl, Mountain Scops Owl, Bay Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Drongo Cuckoo, Green-billed Malkoha, ‘Chinese’ Barbet, Large Cuckoo-shrike, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Puff-throated Bulbul, Black Crested Bulbul, Grey-breasted Prinia, Rufescent Prinia, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Black-chinned Yuhina, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Green-backed Tit, Olive-backed Sunbird, Plain Flowerpecker, Bronzed Drongo, Crow-billed Drongo.

 

Other Wildlife

White-headed Leaf Monkey, Rhesus and Assamese Macaques are present, Asiatic Black Bear and Clouded Leopard are now rare. Dhole may also still occur in the reserve. A unique cat snake species, Boiga guangxiensis, was discovered in this reserve and has not been found elsewhere since.

 

Birding

Nonggang has become a popular birding spot. John Holmes' blog link shows what the experience can be like.

 

 

Habitat and Vegetation

Limestone subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest surrounded by sugar cane fields. The forest in all three sections is good.

 

Getting there

From Nanning 南宁 it is a three to five hour drive south-west to Longzhou 龙州, nearly 200km away and close to the Vietnamese border. The Long Jia 龙嘉 Hotel (tel. 0771-8832888) is the best place to stay. Enquire with taxi drivers outside for transport to the Nonggang section of the reserve which is about 45 minutes away by taxi. The reserve itself is divided into three sections, the main Nonggang 弄岗 section closest to Longzhou is accessed via a road to Maizu. There is accommodation at the reserve at Panglei 滂垒, though birders cannot just turn up announced and expect to find somewhere to stay. Contact the Guangxi Forestry Dept in Nanning and pre-book. The two other sections, Longrui 龙瑞 and Longhu 龙呼, are located to the south-east and north-west respectively and are smaller in size. Longrui is accessed by boat from Longzhou. There is accommodation at the Huashan Minzushanzhai guesthouse near Shangjin. Permission to enter the reserve may be quite difficult to obtain via the provincial Forestry Department headquarters in Nanning. It may be easier to go directly to the reserve.

 

General Information

County:   Longzhou, Ningming               Area: 80 sq.km
Altitude: 300-700m                                Location: 22°13’-22°33’N, 106°46’-107°04’E
Disturbance: some poaching by local people.