China Birds (Nick Sismey) 2008 List (Incudes UK, China, Hong Kong & USA)

[ChinaBirds]

Hi
This is the third year I have recorded my year list on birdforum. My current total for the number of birds seen this year is 443, both in the UK and Worldwide, as of 29 December 2008.

Again my UK target for the year is 200, which I am pleased to say I reached on 23 May 2008 with a lifer, a Red Footed Falcon

My worldwide target is a bird a day (366 as it is a leap year!), which I am also pleased that I reached on 5 July 2008 with an Eider duck. I still have a couple more business trips to China and Hong Kong to go, together with a family holiday to North East USA and may be some other short overseas trips if I can arrange them.

My current records are as follows:

------------------UK-----China-----HK-----Finland-----USA-----Canada-----World

2008------------220-----177------99------17--------84--------22----------443
2007-------------200-----249---------------------------------------------------398
2006-------------205------------------------------------------------------------410
2005-------------183------------------------------------------------------------358
2004-------------157------------------------------------------------------------276

Life-----806
China---443
UK------252



1 January 2008

As usual the first trip of the year was a dawn raid on Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham, with my mate DAZ. Although we dipped on Bittern, Water Rail and Smew we did pick up 57 other birds

1.Blackbird------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
2.Robin----------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
3.Jackdaw-------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
4.Grey Heron----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
5.Mallard--------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
6.Mute Swan----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
7.Coot----------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
8.Great Crested Grebe-------------------Attenborough-----------------England
9.Goosander----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
10.Woodpigeon-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
11.Tufted Duck-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
12.Shoveler-----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
13.Gadwall------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
14.Magpie-------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
15.Black Headed Gull---------------------Attenborough-----------------England
16.Cormorant----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
17.Rook---------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
18.Moorehen----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
19.Wigeon------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
20.Wren--------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
21.Carrion Crow-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
22.Reed Bunting-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
23.Long Tailed Tit-----------------------Attenborough-----------------England
24.Blue Tit------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
25.Goldfinch----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
26.Great Tit----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
27.Chaffinch----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
28.Dunnock-----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
29.Teal---------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
30.Greenfinch---------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
31.Great Spotted Woodpecker-----------Attenborough-----------------England
32.Starling------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
33.House Sparrow-----------------------Attenborough-----------------England
34.Willow Tit----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
35.Song Thrush-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
36Bullfinch------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
37.Little Grebe--------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
38.Pochard------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
39.Feral Pigeon-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
40.Redwing-----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
41.Mistle Thrush------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
42.Collared Dove------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
43.Pied Wagtail-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
44.Goldcrest----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
45.Red Crested Pochard-----------------Attenborough-----------------England
46.Canada Goose-----------------------Attenborough-----------------England
47.Goldeneye---------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
48.Fieldfare-----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
49.Egyptian Goose----------------------Attenborough-----------------England
50.Ruddy Duck--------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
51.Lapwing-----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
52.Lesser Black Backed Gull--------------Attenborough-----------------England
53.Common Gull-------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
54.Tree Sparrow------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
55.Snipe--------------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
56.Pheasant----------------------------Attenborough-----------------England
57.Greylag Goose-----------------------Attenborough-----------------England

We also dipped on Peregrine at Derby Cathedral, but made up for that later, picking up one bird on the way to Carsington Reservoir.

58.Kestrel-------------------------------Duffield-----------------------England

At Carsington our dipping continued, missing Great Northern Diver due to fog and both Siskin and Redpoll as the Sheep wash car park was so full we couldn’t find anywhere to park. We therefore moved onto Cromford to dip on Hawfinch despite a good 90-minute stake out. We were pleased to see a calling Dipper though as well as a Jay.

59.Dipper--------------------------------Cromford----------------------England
60.Jay-----------------------------------Cromford----------------------England

At Ogston Reservoir there was a large gathering of birders and as soon as we arrived an Iceland Gull was showing well amongst the Great Black Backs.

61.Iceland Gull---------------------------Ogston-------------------------England
62.Great Black Backed Gull----------------Ogston----------------------England

A Peregrine then spooked all of the birds, which were subsequently joined by both a Glaucous and Mediterranean Gull, both spotted by a particularly eagle eyed birder as they flew in across the reservoir.

63.Peregrine Falcon----------------------Ogston-------------------------England
64.Glaucous Gull-------------------------Ogston-------------------------England
65.Mediterranean Gull-------------------Ogston-------------------------England

We moved just half a mile up the road from the gull watch point to wait for Woodcock as dusk fell, two birds passing low overhead.

66.Woodcock---------------------------Ogston-------------------------England

The first day of the year has certainly been consistent over the last three years, with 67, 67 and 66 birds being seen respectively. A trip to the coast later this week will hopefully see my year list top 100 before I have to return to work.

[ChinaBirds]

2 January 2008

As is typical of birding, after spending 90 mins looking for a Hawfinch at Cromford yesterday without luck, today one appeared straight away at the top of a tree next to the river, just after lunch. While admiring it through the ‘scope a Raven also flew over.

67.Hawfinch---------------------Cromford-------------------------England
68.Raven------------------------Cromford-------------------------England

I then dipped again with the Great Northern Diver at a very cold Carsington Reservoir but did pick up a Meadow Pipit.

69.Meadow Pipit-----------------Cromford-------------------------England

With the light fading fast I decided to try for the Bittern and Water Rail again at Attenborough Nature Reserve. Like the Hawfinch, the Bittern was immediately showing well from the hide, and while watching it a Water Rail passed in front of the hide. One of those days you dream of!

70.Bittern -------------------Attenborough-----------------------England
71.Water Rail ---------------Attenborough------------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

3 January 2008

A quick 45 minute trip to a freezing Elvaston Castle Nature Reserve, near Derby provided Nuthatch, Stock Dove and Coal Tit

72.Nuthatch---------------Elvaston Castle-------------------------England
73.Stock Dove-------------Elvaston Castle-------------------------England
74.Coal Tit----------------Elvaston Castle-------------------------England

That evening I was staying near Bourne in Lincolnshire ready for a trip to the north Norfolk coast the next day. Therefore I went in search of owls. The first owl of the year being two Barn Owls, in separate locations, one in a tree the second flying alongside the car. The second owl was again two separate Tawny Owls, one on a post near a forest, the second picking at road kill in the middle of the road. They really such wonderful birds owls

75.Barn Owl------------------Wilsthorpe-------------------------England
76.Tawny Owl----------------Stainfield-------------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

4 January 2008

As dawn broke I was watching flocks Whooper and Bewick Swans leaving the Welney Wildfowl Refuge to feed on the fields to the east of the refuge, a pair of Red Legged Partridge appearing as I was differentiating between the two different swan types. Minutes later, several Corn Buntings were “jangling” at the top of a large bush.

77.Whooper Swan-----------------Welney-------------------------England
78.Red Legged Partridge-----------Welney-------------------------England
79.Bewick Swan-------------------Welney-------------------------England
80.Corn Bunting-------------------Welney-------------------------England

Next stop was Roydon Common for the Great Grey Shrike, but after an hour I moved on having dipped, a Little Egret and Green Woodpecker did fly through however.

81.Little Egret--------------------Roydon Common------------England
82.Green Woodpecker-------------Roydon Common------------England

The disappointment at Roydon Common was dispelled in a minute when I arrived at the Wolferton Triangle as another birder had set up his ‘scope on the side of the road watching a Golden Pheasant, the first time I had seen one of these spectacular birds in the UK after umpteen attempts!

83.Golden Pheasant----------------Wolferton------------------England

As I drove past Snettisham my first skein of Pink Footed Geese flew overhead.

84.Pink Footed Goose--------------Snettisham--------------------England

The fields to the south of road past Heacham gave up there usual specialties, Curlew and Grey Partridge, while the Oystercatchers and TurnstoneS were again the first birds of the year provided by Hunstanton, on the school playing fields and grass at the top of the cliffs respectivley.

85.Curlew------------------------Heacham-----------------------England
86.Grey Partridge-----------------Heacham-----------------------England
87.Oystercatcher-----------------Hunstanton--------------------England
88.Turnstone---------------------Hunstanton--------------------England

Scanning the sea at the top of the cliffs added another five birds for the year.

89.Herring Gull--------------------Hunstanton---------------------England
90.Shelduck----------------------Hunstanton---------------------England
91.Red Breasted Merganser--------Hunstanton---------------------England
92.Fulmar-------------------------Hunstanton--------------------England
93.Shag--------------------------Hunstanton---------------------England

Choseley drying barns produced no finches but there was a small flock of Ruff amongst the Curlew.

94.Ruff---------------------------Choseley------------------------England

Two more birds were added at the feeders outside the Titchwell RSPB reserve centre, with a single Brambling on the ground, and several Siskins in the Alder trees

95.Brambling----------------------Titchwell------------------------England
96.Siskins-------------------------Titchwell ----------------------England

A walk through the reserve took my year list through 100 with an additional 12 birds, the best being the Black Brant amongst the large flock of Brent Geese.

97.Pintail-------------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
98.Brent Goose-------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
99.Black Brant--------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
100.Avocet-----------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
101.Dunlin------------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
102.Ringed Plover-----------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
103.Marsh Harrier-----------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
104.Bar Tailed Godwit-------------Titchwell------------------------------------England
105.Black Tailed Godwit-----------Titchwell------------------------------------England
106.Grey Plover-------------------Titchwell-----------------------------------England
107.Redshank---------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England
108.Linnet------------------------Titchwell -----------------------------------England

At the beach there was nothing on the sea but two new birds at the water’s edge

109.Sanderling--------------------Titchwell ------------------------------------England
110.Knot-------------------------Titchwell ------------------------------------England

On the way back to the car park two Golden Plover were feeding amongst the Lapwing

111.Golden Plover-----------------Titchwell ------------------------------------England

The last two birds of the day were easier than falling off a bike, in a flock that were being fed seed on the shingle beach at Salthouse, the Lapland Bunting my second new addition to my UK bird list.

112.Snow Bunting-----------------Salthouse---------------------------------England
113.Lapland Bunting---------------Salthouse---------------------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

6 January 2008

Late morning I made my first ever visit to Budby Common in search of the Great Grey Shrike that had been frequenting the heath land for some time. Having arrived it was a matter of working out where I needed to be, but then I spotted some birders returning to their cars. They had all dipped so weren’t best pleased, and it didn’t give me much hope, but you have to be an optimist to be a birder so I retraced their steps.

After nearly two hours I also failed to see the bird, and it hasn’t actually been since so good day to try and see it! I did however spot a pair of Stonechat to increase my year list.

114.Stonechat------------Budby Common-------------------------England

Leaving Budby I made use of the fact that I was near Williamthorpe Nature Reserve to go and see the Long Tailed Duck. During the drive between bird sites a Buzzard flew across a field near Bolsover, and luckily once at Williamthorpe the duck continued to be very obliging as in 2007.

115.Buzzard---------------Bolsover-------------------------------England
116.Long Tailed Duck------Williamthorpe--------------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

12 January 2008

A quick trip to Carsington Reservoir produced the Great Northern Diver at the third attempt!

117.Great Northern Diver--------------Carsington-----------------England

[ChinaBirds]

13 January 2008

Another late afternoon trip, this time to Attenborough to spot the Red Necked Grebe from the Kingfisher hide. There were plenty of other birders there after the bird was recorded on BirdGuides

118.Red Necked Grebe--------------Attenborough-----------------England

[ChinaBirds]

14 January 2008

No less than 39 Red Kites spotted driving down the M40 on the way to Gatwick for my first trip to China of the year.

119.Red Kite-------------------Wendlebury-----------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

16 January 2008

A slow start to my first China trip of the year, Magpie Robins being prevalent in the grounds of the Gloria Resort Hotel in Sanya, on Hainan Island, with House Swifts chattering away in the sky

120.Magpie Robin---------------------Sanya--------------------------China
121.House Swift----------------------Sanya--------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

17 January 2008

A short walk through the grounds of the hotel, during a break, produced Olive Backed Pipits on one of the vast laws, with Long Tailed Shrike and Spotted Doves dashing between the trees

122.Olive Backed Pipit-----------------Sanya--------------------------China
123.Long Tailed Shrike--------------Sanya--------------------------China
124.Spotted Dove------------------Sanya--------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

18 January 2008

I was able to do my first proper birding in China with an hour’s walk, at dawn today, along the road from the hotel to the mangrove swamp. The amount of building that had gone on since I had been here 12 months ago is quite staggering with massive new Marriott and Hilton hotels having sprung up together with a vast area, full of new apartment buildings. I was worried whether the mangrove would still be there!

Before I found out a White Wagtail flew over.

125.White Wagtail----------------Sanya--------------------------China

To my relief the swamp was still there (Photo1) but for how long as it looks like they have damned the river as it enters the sea with a large sand bank and cut away an enormous sway of trees near what was the mouth of the river, and covered it in earth. More buildings then!

The tschack-tschack of a Dusky Warbler suddenly diverted my attention. One of many I would sea in the bushes along the edge of the road

126.Dusky Warbler----------------Sanya--------------------------China

A solitary Greenshank then made a loud ringing call as it flew overhead which also brought me into the sight of several Asian Palm Swifts.

127.Greenshank-------------------Sanya--------------------------China
128.Asian Palm Swift--------------Sanya--------------------------China

Amongst the Water Buffalo in the fields were the normal Cattle Egrets, Little Ringed Plover scattered around the last remnants of water logged grassland, and Intermediate Egrets in the small lagoons

129.Cattle Egret--------------------Sanya--------------------------China
130.Little Ringed Plover-------------Sanya--------------------------China
131.Intermediate Egret-------------Sanya--------------------------China

What remained of the bushes along the road produced the regular Plain Prinia although a small flock of Black Eared Bunting surprised me.

132.Plain Prinia---------------------Sanya--------------------------China
133.Black Faced Bunting------------Sanya--------------------------China

One Water Buffalo was playing host to both Common Myna and a Black Drongo while a relatively large flock of Scaly Breasted Munia commuted between grassland and bushes

134.Common Myna----------------Sanya--------------------------China
135.Black Drongo-----------------Sanya--------------------------China
136.Scaly Breasted Munia---------Sanya--------------------------China

The last bird of the “morning session” was a Common Sandpiper making best use it could of the receding mud as the water level seemed to be rising before your very eyes!

137.Common Sandpiper-----------Sanya--------------------------China

Mid afternoon, after all the meetings had been concluded and the temperature had dropped somewhat I ventured further a field, trying not to think of the building work, and enjoy the birding. Several Swallow’s were gliding over the water logged grassland, while a beautiful male Daurian Redstart flew amongst the vegetation near the bridge. It is incredible how they cope with so much adversity as the noise from the road building was deafening

138.Swallow----------------------Sanya--------------------------China
139.Daurian Redstart--------------Sanya--------------------------China

Taking a left at the crossroads I was at last able to get away from humanity for a while, a Green Sandpiper rising swiftly from a small pool followed in quick succession by a Chinese Pond Heron. Minutes later two of Asia’s most spectacular kingfishers, the White Throated Kingfisher and Black Capped Kingfisher flashed over the mangroves.

140.Green Sandpiper----------------Sanya--------------------------China
141.Chinese Pond Heron-------------Sanya--------------------------China
142.White Throated Kingfisher-------Sanya--------------------------China
143.Black Capped Kingfisher---------Sanya--------------------------China

Deep amongst the Eucalyptus trees that surrounds the swamp a female Olive Backed Sunbird was busying herself amongst the branches, with a crimson Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker in the very same tree, amongst some derelict building, I had seen it in 12 months ago!

144.Olive Backed Sunbird------------Sanya--------------------------China
145.Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker-----Sanya--------------------------China

One of my favourite birds, a Black Naped Monarch followed with a Chinese Bulbul only having being spotted after three days in China!

146.Black Naped Monarch-----------Sanya--------------------------China
147.Chinese Bulbul-----------------Sanya--------------------------China

Again, on the very same tree, in a dried up river bed, as last year, a White Throated Fantail did what it does best, fan its tail, while a “flying banana” a Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher strutted its stuff on a small branch just a few feet closer to me.

148.White Throated Fantail-----------Sanya-------------------------China
149.Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher----Sanya------------------------China

As I started the walk home an Asia Brown Flycatcher (Photo3) caught my eye high up in a tree it was sharing with a Yellow Browed Warbler

150.Asian Brown Flycatcher-----------Sanya-------------------------China
151.Yellow Browed Warbler-----------Sanya--------------------------China

A Red Throated Flycatcher (Photo4)was then noisily flicking its tail on the side of a bush.

152.Red Throated Flycatcher--------Sanya--------------------------China

Back at the crossroads I wondered across some of the grassland frequented by water buffalo, a Blue Rock Thrush (Photo5) and Grey Wagtail standing within metres of each other. In the same field was also a Siberian Stonechat atop a tall grass.

153.Blue Rock Thrush--------------Sanya--------------------------China
154.Grey Wagtail------------------Sanya--------------------------China
155.Siberian Stonechat------------Sanya--------------------------China

As dusk began to fall there was an almighty commotion in a small area of palm trees with a Black Eared Kite flying off in one direction, a Peregrine and a Black Shouldered Kite vacating the area in other directions!

156.Black Eared Kite---------------Sanya--------------------------China
157.Black Shouldered Kite----------Sanya--------------------------China

With the additions of Blackbird, Great Tit, Little Egret and the Peregrine above my China total had increased to 41 for the year.

[ChinaBirds]

19 January 2008

Recovering from a bout of food poisoning due to some rather dodgy shell fish the previous day I kept myself to the grounds of the hotel in the morning, spotting a couple Richard’s Pipits (Photo1) amongst their Oliver Backed cousins.

158.Richard's Pipit----------------Sanya--------------------------China

Late afternoon I felt well enough to venture more further a field so retraced my steps from yesterday. Photo’s 2 and 3 show the terrain away from the swamp

The first new bird of the afternoon was Shikra darting between the trees, a light grey version of the Sparrowhawk, with a Great Coucal bursting out of the Mangrove swamp on the other side of the road.

159.Shikra------------------------Sanya--------------------------China
160.Greater Coucal----------------Sanya--------------------------China

While watching a flock of Japanese White Eye scattered amongst the tree tops a Kingfisher darted overhead.

161.Japanese White Eye----------Sanya--------------------------China
162.Kingfisher--------------------Sanya--------------------------China

One of my favourite birds, a Siberian Rubythroat was the last bird of the day. A brown bird had caught my attention as it dived under a bush, a quick look back before it disappeared revealing the white mask across its eye.

163.Siberian Rubythroat----------Sanya--------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

20 January 2008

A different route for my last morning in Sanya, through water logged grasslands and paddy fields (Photo’s 1 & 2). Several Long Toed Stint (Photo 3) were feeding with the Little Ringed Plover while well over a hundred Snipe (all seemed to be common) exploded out of the paddy fields.

164.Long Toed Stint-----------------Sanya--------------------------China

Zitting Cisticola kept me company as I walked along the raised earth (mud) walkways, one dried up paddy field revealing a flock of at least 25 Pacific Golden Plover (Photo 4) , totally camouflaged against the dead foliage.

165.Zitting Cisticola-----------------Sanya--------------------------China
166.Pacific Golden Plover------------Sanya--------------------------China

Three Painted Snipe joined the escaping Snipe, followed by three Wood Sandpiper.

167.Painted Snipe------------------Sanya--------------------------China
168.Wood Sandpiper---------------Sanya--------------------------China

Grey Heron, Kestrel and Teal took my China year tally to 57.

[ChinaBirds]

21 January 2008

A quick pre breakfast walk near the Sheraton Hotel in Haikou just added one new bird to my 2008 China list, a Moorehen.

[ChinaBirds]

22 January 2008

Having arrived in Nanjing the previous night the only birding I could do there was during the 30 km journey from the hotel to the airport, where our meetings were going to be held, along the expressway. I added two new China year birds a Magpie and a Crested Myna, the latter also being a new year bird

169.Crested Myna-------------------Nanjing-----------------------China

That afternoon I flew north to Tianjin, the weather getting colder and colder the further I flew north, all the lakes frozen solid there. During the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel a flock of Rook were returning to their roost, and a lone Black Headed Gull passed overhead, my 61st and 62nd China year birds.

[ChinaBirds]

23 January 2008

The next day a flock of Tree Sparrows were making themselves heard outside the office at Tianjin Airport, taking my China year list to 63. The drive that afternoon, to Beijing, added no further birds

[ChinaBirds]

24 January 2008

The statutory Azure Winged Magpie was gorging itself from one of the large bins outside our office at Beijing Airport

170.Azure Winged Magpie---------------Bejing---------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

26 January 2008

It was a cold 5am start today from Chengdu, heading southwest to the Xiling Snow Mountain, with fellow Birdforum member Wei Qian and one of my reps Albert Jiang. It was still pitch black as we neared the mountain 90 minutes later and as the road was starting to ice up Albert negotiated with a guy with a small van to take Wei Qian and I the remaining 12 km’s to the cable car, as he had tyre chains. We therefore rattled our way up the mountain.

Before taking the cable car we stopped for some noodles and did some birding around the cable car station. Parrotbills seemed to be everywhere in the vegetation along the small river, with Ashy Throated Parrotbills far outweighing Vinous Throated Parrotbills.

171.Vinous Throated Parrotbill-------------Xiling Mountain------------China
172.Ashy Throated Parrotbill---------------Xiling Mountain------------China

A pair of Large Billed Crows flew in over our heads, resting on one of the snow covered cable car supports

173.Large Billed Crow---------------------Xiling Mountain------------China

Walking up the side of the river, which had basically become a series of long concrete steps, or man made waterfalls. For once man’s alterations really suited many of the water birds with a glorious White Capped Water Redstart flashing under the snow covered bridge we were viewing from. Further up the river there were three Little Forktails (Photo1).

174.White Capped Water Redstart--------Xiling Mountain------------China
175.Little Forktail------------------------Xiling Mountain------------China

Then I picked up my first lifer of the year, a Barred Laughingthrush calling from the top of a fur tree.

176.Barred Laughingthrush------------Xiling Mountain------------China

Walking round the back of an abandoned building the snow covered trees and bushes were alive with birds, the most vivid being the Golden Breasted Fulvetta that were mixing it with a Green Backed Tit. Then we identified two different Babblers with the smaller Rufous Capped Babbler deep in a bush, the Streak Breasted Scimitar Babbler moving between the larger trees.

177.Golden Breasted Fulvetta-----------Xiling Mountain------------China
178.Green Backed Tit-------------------Xiling Mountain------------China
179.Rufous Capped Babbler--------------Xiling Mountain------------China
180.Streak Breasted Scimitar Babbler----Xiling Mountain------------China

Back at the river the common pairing of a male and female Plumbeous Water Redstart were bobbing their way up and down the river.

181.Plumbeous Water Redstart----------Xiling Mountain------------China

The next 90 minutes were spent making our way up the mountain via two frozen cable cars and a chain wheeled bus. As we waited for the first cable car a Wren, new for China in 2008, could be seen feeding in the rafters. The bus brought us to a winter wonderland (Photo 2) before we took the second cable car to the top (Photo 3)

By now the temperature had really dropped, being only able to remove one’s gloves for a few seconds to take any photo’s. A flock of three different types of birds were feeding on the steps leading from the cable car, Rufous Vented Tit (Photo 4) being the most numerous, Streak Throated Fulvettas and a lifer, Grey Crested Tits.

182.Rufous Vented Tit------------------Xiling Mountain------------China
183.Streak Throated Fulvetta-----------Xiling Mountain------------China
184.Grey Crested Tit----------------Xiling Mountain------------China

After a long climb two Great Parrotbills (Photo 5) appeared, with a White Throated Redstart flitting along the bamboo covered mountainside.

185.Great Parrotbill---------------------Xiling Mountain------------China
186.White Throated Redstart------------Xiling Mountain------------China

[ChinaBirds]

26 January 2008 (continued)……..

Back at the bottom of the two cable cars we continued to bird amongst the disused buildings with a flock of Grey Headed Bullfinches (Photo 1) ripping seed heads off some dead plants. Albert had managed to drive up the remaining 12 km’s after the road had been salted, so joined us. He would regret that decision!

187.Grey Headed Bullfinch-------------Xiling Mountain--------------China

In the river three Spotted Forktails (Photo 2), my third lifer of the day, had joined the Little Forktails, so many forktails in one place!

188.Spotted Forktail---------------Xiling Mountain------------China

Walking along the river to the car park, we were conscious that it was snowing heavily now and we needed to be off the mountain before it got dark. However there were still one or two birds about so we just had to check them out. A Brambling, new to China for 2008, was sharing a tree with a lifer, a Three Banded Rosefinch (Photo 3)

189.Three Banded Rosefinch-----------Xiling Mountain------------China

Still there were three more birds to identify, the Red Billed Leiothrix (or Peking Robin) was amongst a flock of birds that included Grey Cheeked Fulvetta and the 24th and final bird of the day, a lifer, the gorgeous Green Shrike Babbler (Photo 4)

190.Red Billed Leiothrix-------------------Xiling Mountain------------China
191.Grey Cheeked Fulvetta---------------Xiling Mountain------------China
192.Green Shrike Babbler-----------------Xiling Mountain------------China

Once back in the car we set off down the mountain, the temperature now at –4C, and soon got caught up in a traffic jam. There had been literally hundreds of cars in the car park, with tens of coaches, and all wanted to get down the mountain. However the road had already started to ice up, it being one of the worst winters in China for many years. Most of the drivers had never driven on ice and the traffic jam was due to drivers overtaking others on narrow roads, like is normal in China, not realising the road conditions and crashing off the side of the road. One car was upside down in a small river (all escaped) and many more were in the barriers or cliff side.

At one point Albert lost control down a particularly steep hill (there were spectators from the local villages watching on the side of the road). I had to scream at him to take his foot off the break and then grabbed the wheel and guided the car round the next left-hander, which luckily lead onto a wide bridge with big barriers. The car kept off the barriers, but with that Albert decided he could not drive any further, I didn’t blame him as it spooked me!

I therefore took over to get us off the mountain. What should have taken us 20 minutes took over three hours, using third gear and driving in the snow-covered verge, away from the iced wheel tracks of other vehicles. There were police everywhere with yet more cars off the road.

When we eventually got to where we thought it was safe, and the temperature had gone up we swapped over again only for Albert to panic again where the road is always more icy, on a bridge, hitting the brakes again. Luckily the road immediately after the bridge was clear of ice so he regained control, but duly decided I should drive some more, until we at least got back to Chengdu. It was lucky he had as at the exit of one particularly long tunnel there was a downhill section of road which was covered in ice and several more drivers had panicked; more cars in more barriers!

When we finally arrived back at the hotel we were rather relieved to say the least, and felt for all of those who must still be stranded on the mountain, as we had been some of the first to descend!

[ChinaBirds]

27 January 2008

A much more civilised start on Sunday, this time another rep Michael Zhang was kind enough to drive Wei Qian and another old friend from Chengdu Zaxio, who is the full time President of the Chengdu Birding Society. The quality of the photo’s he showed me in the car on the way to Jin Hu Lake in the city of De Yang, north of Chengdu, made me realise I have to change my camera equipment if I hope to take worthwhile photos.

Arriving at Jin Hu Lake, which isn’t a lake at all but a river, broken up into a series of lakes (Photo 1) and drained sections (Photo 2), by sluice gates, the first new bird of the year for the day was a Long Billed Plover walking in the mud behind one of the large sluice gates.

193.Long Billed Plover------------------De Yang------------------China

We soon picked up several other birds some were new to China for 2008. A full list of birds is at the foot of today’s update below.

Driving through the city to another “lake” several Yellow Billed Grosbeak were sharing telegraph wires with Crested Myna.

194.Yellow Billed Grosbeak-------------De Yang-------------------China

Arriving at one of the lakes, amongst a huge raft of Little Grebes was a single Black Necked Grebe, while a wonderful Crested Kingfisher was sharing a high-powered cable with a Little Gull. All were new to my all time China list.

195.Black Necked Grebe----------------De Yang------------------China
196.Crested Kingfisher-----------------De Yang-------------------China
197.Little Gull-------------------------De Yang-------------------China

The next section had been drained, revealing mud as well as grass where my first lifer of the day was feeding, a Buff Breasted Pipit.

198.Buff Breasted Pipit----------------De Yang--------------------China

Back at another lake, this was full of birds, the four new for 2008 being Spot Billed Duck, Sand Martin (so unusual seeing these birds flying in snow!), a female Smew and a Ferruginous Pochard (Photo 3). A male Plumbeous Water Redstart sat close to us on the embankment (Photo 4)

199.Spotbilled Duck----------------------De Yang-------------------China
200.Sand Martin-------------------------De Yang-------------------China
201.Smew-------------------------------De Yang------------------China
202.Ferruginous Pochard-----------------De Yang------------------China

After lunch we walked along long sections of drained river in the centre of the city, where there was little or no birds, and with the stench who could blame them!

We then decided to catch a taxi to yet another part of the river; easier written than done, it took an age to wave one down. But the wait had been worthwhile when we finally arrived at our final section of the river. Ruddy Shelduck flew in just as we arrived, and several Falcated Duck were spotted amongst the thousands of duck, which took some scanning with a cold wind blowing and incessant snow.

203.Ruddy Shelduck--------------------De Yang------------------China
204.Falcated Duck---------------------De Yang------------------China

Wei Qian said there were normally at least a few Baikal Teal in this area, and just as he said it I locked the scope onto a male, then another, in all there were five males, what a splendid lifer, it was as if an artist had been let loose on that head!

205.Baikal Teal-----------------------De Yang--------------------China

Behind us in some scrub were a flock of Black Throated Tits, while a number of Little Buntings were perched at the top of some dead plants.

206.Black Throated Tit---------------De Yang-------------------China
207.Little Bunting--------------------De Yang-------------------China

Being an hour away from Chengdu I needed to catch my flight to Shanghai at 1930 hours so it was decided we would start to head back early so that we could visit Jin Yan Lake Park in the city of Guan Han to look for Long Eared Owls. This would be a lifer for me, always wanting to see them, having missed them in 2007 at Dongting Lake.

As we discussed whether we had time see them, at the Guan Han junction of the expressway I spotted a flock of White Cheeked Starling in a tree next to a river.

208.White Cheeked Starling----------Chengdu /De Yang----------China

In fact it only took us 10 minutes to get to the lake, another five minutes to get to the Willow Tree where they had been seen roosting before. I wasn’t giving much hope as a building was being constructed right round the tree, the lake saving the tree from being engulfed by building work. To my surprise, particularly with the amount of noise, there sat four magnificent Long Eared Owls (Photo 5) peering down at us; they certainly looked wise! While we were trying to photograph them several Black Crowned Night Heron’s flew along the lake to roost.

209.Long Eared Owl----------------De Yang----------------------China
210.Black Crowned Night Heron-------De Yang----------------------China

A wonderful weekend thanks to Wei Qian and Zaxxies expertise and the support from Albert and Michael, which saw my China list for the year, surpass my UK list. Yesterday totalled 24 birds, today 57 listed below

Baikal Teal, Black Crowned Night Heron, Black Headed Gull, Black Necked, Grebe, Black Throated Tit, Blackbird, Buff Breasted Pipit, Buzzard, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Crested Kingfisher,
Crested Myna, Falcated Duck, Ferruginous Pochard, Gadwall, Goldeneye,
Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank
Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Little Bunting, Little Egret, Little Grebe
Little Gull, Long Billed Plover, Long Eared Owl, Long Tailed Duck, Long Tailed Shrike, Magpie Robin, Mallard, Olive Backed Pipit, Pintail, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Smew, Snipe, Spotbilled Duck, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, White Capped Water Redstart, White Cheeked Starling, White Wagtail, Wigeon, Yellow Billed Grosbeak.

[ChinaBirds]

29 January 2008

Having a spare hour at lunch time, in Shanghai, I went across to the Hongqiao Central Park (Photo 1) near my hotel, the Renaissance Yangtze Shanghai Hotel, which was six inches deep in snow after it had been snowing all night and most of the morning. Immediately after arriving in the park I added another China year bird with a family of Long Tailed Tits feeding in the snow covered trees.

After a further 45 minutes or so both several Dusky Thrush’s (Photo 2) and Pale Thrush’s (Photo 3) were mixing it with Chinese Bulbuls in a quieter part of the park. Just a couple of minutes later, under some trees that had kept the ground free of snow, a Scaly Thrush (Photo 4) was feeding alongside an Orange Flanked Bush Robin (Photo 5). I hadn’t been sure whether to venture out; I was certainly pleased I had!

211.Dusky Thrush-----------------Shanghai-----------------------China
212.Pale Thrush------------------Shanghai------------------------China
213.Scaly Thrush-----------------Shanghai------------------------China
214.Orange Flanked Bush Robin----Shanghai------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

4 February 2008

Back in England a trip to Allestree Park on the northern outskirts of Derby produced a couple of Treecreepers (Photo 1) and the park's speciality, Mandarin Ducks (Photo 2).

215.Treecreeper----------------Allestree--------------------England
216.Mandarin Duck--------------Allestree--------------------England

Then a very wet walk through the Erewash Field section of the Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham brought my first sparrowhawk of the year!

217.Sparrowhawk---------------Attenborough---------------England

[ChinaBirds]

10 February 2008

Sometimes birds are easy to spot and the Waxwing (Photo 1) in the Allestree district of Derby was very easy. The six birders near the relevant tree gave the game away straight away, with the bird showing well at the top. Having parked up I was able to get a reasonable photo of the bird when it came down to pick berries of a smaller tree.

218.Waxwing-------------------Allestree-------------------------England

Meeting up with Steve Whiteley in Allestree we both decided to visit Swallow Moss that afternoon for the Great Grey Shrike (Photo 2). A couple of hours later, on a wonderfully warm, sunny (was this really February?) day, we were up on the moors, the bird was showing very well, but being very mobile. We joined another local birder Nick Pomiankowski, the Staffordshire County Bird Recorder, to try and get a closer look but the bird always kept well in front of us. The photo was with my telescope and camera both on full magnification.

219.Great Grey Shrike ----------Swallow Hill-----------------------England

Nick then suggested we move north to try and pick up some Short Eared Owls. We dipped on those initially, but just as we arrived in the area he had suggested, a female Hen Harrier cruised along the valley floor. Later another flew across the horizon. We also heard several Red Grouse before we spotted the first of many on a wall in the distance.

220.Hen Harrier-----------------Swallow Hill----------------------England
221.Red Grouse-----------------Swallow Hill----------------------England

Steve and I then returned back to our original spot where the shrike had been to see the harriers come into roost. After 20 mins or so I decided to go back for the Short Eared Owls, one finally showing quartering over a distant part of the moor.

222.Short Eared Owl------------Swallow Hill----------------------England

A great day and some great birds, and thanks to Steve and Nick for their great help!

[ChinaBirds]

16 February 2008

The plan today was to visit Park Hall Country Park near Stoke this morning, with Steve Whiteley, to see my first UK Long Eared Owl (I only saw my first one in China a couple of weeks ago). However at the last minute I could not make it this morning so Steve had to go on his own, with me visiting in the afternoon.

Thanks to directions from Steve, via the mobile, I was able to walk straight to the tree the birds (I counted 4 very high up at the top of the tree) were in. I had to be a bit careful as there were a few youths about and I didn’t want them to know what I was doing. This took my 2008 UK list to 128 and UK life list to 238.

From here it was a short walk back to the quarry near the Visitor’s Centre to look for the resident Little Owl. After several minutes of scoping the sun kissed pink quarry wall I picked up the bird (Photo 1 - digi-scoped around 50 metres away) on a ledge, enjoying the sun.

223.Little Owl---------------------Stoke---------------------------England

On the way home to Derby I called at Blithfield Reservoir, dipping on the Black Redstart but picking up a Grey Wagtail (Photo 2) leaving my 2008UK list at 130.

[ChinaBirds]

17 February 2008

While unable to get a positive ID on the Thayer's Gull at Pool Brook I did manage to pick up the female Scaup at Ogston Reservoir on a gloriously sunny yet bitterly cold day

224.Scaup--------------------Ogston------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

Thanks to whoever rated this thread, much appreciated. Visiting Eyebrook, Cossington Meadows and Attenborough this weekend so hopefully more birds to add to the list
Cheers
Nick

[ChinaBirds]

23 February 2008

What a day, one that should not really have been a birding day. My 18 year old son Jamie wanted to drive his first car from Derby to Bourne, in Lincolnshire, to show his Grandparents and other family members. I pointed out that there was a great road between Melton Mowbray and Oakham he could try out, oh and after that maybe we could make a slight detour to Eyebrook Reservoir to see the Smews! Being a totally non-birder I thought he wouldn’t buy this but he did, it was my lucky day!

As we took the Oakham by-pass my first Skylark of the year flew up from a field adjacent to the road.

225.Skylark-------------------------Oakham--------------------------England

It was only another 15 minutes before we arrived at Eyebrook and luckily (with son’s birding threshold being very low!) I only had to wait ten minutes before spotting a Redhead, not my first Smew of the year, but my first in the UK for 2008.

Arriving at my fathers, and after Jamie had shown him his car, I realised I had a few hours to kill in the afternoon so asked him if he wanted to go on his first ever twitch, to Cley for the White Crowned Sparrow (Photos 1 – 3). Being, like Jamie, an avid non-birder, I was surprised he agreed but it was more so he could spend time with his son (bless) than actually see the bird!

Picking me up from my in-laws, just after lunch (Jamie having a full afternoon booked going round all the relatives to show them his car), it took us two hours to get to Cley, but I wasn’t complaining as he had decided to pick me up in his “other car” (Photo 4), 73 and enjoying every minute! Is this what you call Posh Birding?

Arriving at the Three Swallows pub at around 4pm there were only a handful of birders, plus a local, familiar with the bird, looking over the fence where the bird had last been seen an hour earlier. Within minutes the bird showed and I was able to get some reasonable shots, my father even saw the bird. Not a lifer, having first seen one way back in 1987 in Phoenix, but certainly a new UK bird! I also understand the church fund is now close to £6,000!

226.White Crowned Sparrow------------Cley next the Sea------------------England

After ten minutes it was another two hours back to my mothers to meet up with Jamie and then drive back to Derby. In all I did 8 hours in cars today, without driving once, very strange!

[ChinaBirds]

24 February 2008

A first trip to Cossington Meadows, between Leicester and Loughborough, with friend DAZ and his daughter Rebecca, this afternoon, produced the long staying Water Pipit. Bad digiscoping photo’s I am afraid!

227.Water Pipit----------------Cossington Meadows----------------England

[ChinaBirds]

2 March 2008

Another new birding area to me, Thoresby Hall, north of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire for the Black Redstart (Photo1) that had been reported for a few weeks. There were several birders already in the car park watching the buildings when I arrived just before lunch, but the bird had not been seen for a while.

Then after just 5 minutes, up went the shout that the bird was in a private garden round the back of the main buildings. Sure enough the bird was there and showed very well, for all to see, a beautiful male, a first for the UK for me.

228.Black Redstart ---------------Thoresby Hall-----------------England

Back at the car there were Nuthatch, Coal, Blue and Great Tit on the feeders near to the garden centre. Theses were joined by my first Marsh Tit (Photo 2) of the year!

229.Marsh Tit-----------------------Thoresby Hall-----------------England

[ChinaBirds]

2 March 2008 (Continued)

That afternoon I visited Eyebrook Reservoir to try and find the Green Winged Teal. It took a good 20 minutes to locate the bird thanks to info from other birders, but as soon as we found it it flew off again! Several Yellowhammer were also at the feeding station.

230.Green Winged Teal--------------Eyebrook Reservoir------------England
231.Yellowhammer-------------------Eyebrook Reservoir------------England

A quick check at Rutland Water failed to produce the Black Necked Grebe at the Fisherman's car park, although I did pick up the Long Tailed Duck another birder said he was looking for while watching the grebe, typical! No access to a computer last night hence further update today.

[ChinaBirds]

15 March 2008

Fellow birder Steve Whiteley called me up first thing this morning about the two Firecrests (Photo 1) reported on BirdGuides at Upper Saxondale, to the East of Nottingham. By 1030 we had arrived at the East restaurant where two other birders were already on one of the birds. We got the briefest of views as the bird flew away into another tree further down the road. It was several minutes before we picked up the bird again, but this time we saw both birds together. They were so active and moved so quickly trying to get a photo was very difficult hence the poor picture attached. My last Firecrest had been in 2004 so it was a good spot, thanks to Steve.

232.Firecrest-------------------Upper Saxondale -----------------England

We then spent some time at Attenborough where the Cetti’s Warbler was calling repeatedly but unfortunately never showed from The Bund.

Have also attached other photo’s taken by my new Canon 40D and 400mm F5.6 lens I purchased a couple of weeks ago. Very impressed so far, believe it gives much better results than my Nikon D70s and Sigma 50-500mm lens, but it may just be me!

[ChinaBirds]

First of all thank you very much to the second person to rate my thread.

20 March 2008

A 6am start today for fellow birder David Salisbury (DAS) and I, from Manthorpe in Lincolnshire through to Titchwell in Norfolk. The day started cold turning to wind and rain, I have never been so wet, and that was with so called waterproofs! We did clock up 92 birds (seen) though, so not a bad run!

The first two new birds for my 2008 UK list were seen virtually at the same time in the sleepy village of Greatford, where the river exits the manicured gardens of Greatford Hall, through a sluice gate and on through old English farmland, full of sheep and ancient oak trees. Two Kingfisher flashed along the river towards the hall, as we stood on the bridge, and at the same time two Green Sandpiper took to the air amongst the sheep, taking my UK list for the year to 142.

I was also surprised to see two Little Egret further up the river, the closest I had ever seen these birds to my childhood local patch!

It wasn’t until after we had passed through Welney (we were actually the last car to make it through the flooded road, they closed the road after us), DAS successfully notching up his first Whooper and Bewicks of the year, that I added my next UK bird to my list, a White Wagtail feeding amongst several Pied in a field.

As the wind increased we arrived at Hunstanton cliffs where several juvenile Kittiwakes were flying along the beach, my first of the year.

233.Kittiwake-----------------------Hunstanston-----------------England

Just prior to arriving at Titchwell we made a quick dash up the road to Choseley Barns to try and add Little Owl to our day list. We weren’t disappointed with two birds in their normal haunt, see photo.

At Titchwell the promised rains finally arrived, we spent the first half an hour in Fen Hide where, after some quick glimpses of Bearded Tits flitting between reed beds a splendid male finally awarded us some better views. Unfortunately we had just missed the Bittern by minutes, which would have been an excellent day bird!

234.Bearded Tit-------------------Titchwell-----------------------England

After visiting the other two hides we braved the elements to check out the sea. Luckily the wind was off shore so we could hide behind the sand dunes. The sea was dead as far as birds were concerned, a family of Red Breasted Mergansers the only real high although a pair of Common Scoter took my year list to 235.

235.Common Scoter---------------Titchwell---------------------England

We did call at the Norfolk Ornithologists’ Association bird observatory at the end of a long drive to the east of Holme next the Sea, my first visit, what a great place. We were the last to leave so got chatting to the Warden, who advised that the local bird count was well over 300, I will certainly be back in May!

Our final stop was at Wolferton Triangle, no Golden Pheasants, but two species of deer appearing out of the thick cover of Rhododendrons at the side of the road, and more surprisingly several Woodcock feeding in the mud along the grass verge!

Our list for the day was as follows, without the Short Eared Owl DAS saw and I missed, as well as hearing but not seeing several Green Woodpeckers and a Jay!

Avocet, Bar Tailed Godwit, Barn Owl, Bearded Tit, Bewick Swan, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Brambling, Brent Goose, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Curlew, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Fieldfare, Fulmar, Gadwall, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Sandpiper, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Kittiwake, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Owl, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorehen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Red Breasted Merganser, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Rook, Ruff, Sanderling, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, White Wagtail, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

[ChinaBirds]

21 March 2008

In between squally showers there were a large number of Sand Martins on the North Arm of Rutland Water today, my 147th UK bird of the year. I had to stay longer than I expected, as I needed the RAC and a set of jump leads, having left my lights on!

[ChinaBirds]

25 March 2008

Another trip to Allestree Park, to the north of Derby, in search of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker initially sprung the first Chiffchaff (Photo1) of the year.

236.Chiffchaff------------------------Allestree---------------------England

Then after around 45 minutes an elderly birder came rushing down to the bottom lake through the wood that connects the lake to the car park. He had just enough time to tell me that there were two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers halfway up the wood. He then disappeared as quickly as he arrived and I made my way, just as quickly, to where the woodpeckers were, locating a female at the top of a tree, guided by her drumming.

237.Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ------Allestree--------------------England

Buoyed with success I then drove down the M1 to Swithland Reservoir, south of Loughborough, to search out the Lesser Scaup (Photo 2 - digiscoped). The birders already there had not picked up the bird yet, and while we were still looking I was pleasantly surprised to see my mate Steve Whiteley arrive with his girlfriend Brenda. Almost at the same time a couple of other birders said they had just seen the bird from the damn, close to where we were standing! A few more minutes search and the bird suddenly appeared amongst some Tufted Ducks. A great present for Steve’s birthday, what was my 150th UK bird of the year!

238.Lesser Scaup-------------------Swithland---------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

27 March 2008

A glorious afternoon at Carsington Water produced my 151st UK bird of the year a Swallow, a single bird that flew around the Visitor Centre for a couple of minutes and then headed north.

[ChinaBirds]

29 March 2008

Steve Whiteley and I picked the best part of the day, this morning, to make our first visit to the nature reserve at Willington near Burton-upon-Trent alongside the river Trent. The sky was blue yet there was still a cool breeze. There had been some good birds reported from there so we were keen to check it out.

Luckily a few minutes after arriving we met a local birder who regularly birds there, who kindly gave us a tour of the site. Our first port of call was a gravel pit alongside the canal that had been half filled in, leaving a shallow lake with gentle gravel slopes. This was perfect for Little Ringed Plover, my 152nd UK bird of 2008. There were at least 10 birds plus an equal amount of Ringed Plover, which enabled us to easily compare the birds.

We then ventured around the rest of the site in such of the reported Rock Pipit. However it wasn’t until we returned to the same pit that the bird showed if only for a few seconds. It was thanks to another birder who picked the bird up in his scope that we both saw it. I was especially pleased, as it was a lifer for me, my 750th!

239.Rock Pipit------------------Willington--------------------England

Just to make sure we knew that we should have listened to the weather forecast and left before the weather broke, we got a good dowsing on the way back to the car!

[ChinaBirds]

05 April 2008

Another soaking for Steve Whiteley and I at Willington this morning, although the first Blackcap (Photo1) of the year made up for it. We also heard a Willow Warbler in an area we could not access but didn't see it!

240.Blackcap--------------------Willington-----------------------England

Walking along the river Derwent this evening, to Alvaston Park in Derby, produced a single House Martin (Photo 2), amongst a large flock of Sand Martin and the occasional Swallow, the 155th UK bird of the year.

241.House Martin----------------Derby---------------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

6 April 2008

In between the snow flurries (April!!) this afternoon, at Attenborough (Nr Nottingham), I staked out the Cetti’s Warbler from The Bund (The name of this particularly walkway between two areas of water). The bird was calling every five minutes and then after about 30 minutes a small brown bird darted into the undergrowth on the edge of the water near my feet. A couple of seconds later there was an explosion of sound as the bird let rip, it was like someone had turned the volume to the maximum, as it echoed off the bank. As quickly as it arrived it left, leaving me stunned, deaf and happy!

242.Cetti’s Warbler -------------Attenborough---------------------England

Later in the afternoon, with the cold now biting, a lone Willow Warbler (Photo1) was wondering why it had bothered migrating as it fought off the cold feeding deep inside a large bush. Its call was very weak, who could blame it, with it continually on the move, making it difficult to photograph.

243.Willow Warbler ------------Attenborough-----------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

Thanks to the third person to rate my thread!

13 April 2008

Today was my last chance to pick up some UK summer migrants for two weeks as I am on my travels tomorrow with work.

First stop was Eyebrook Reservoir on a sunny but crisp morning. As soon as I arrived, along the northern edge of the reservoir, two Norfolk birders parked up behind me and within seconds of us introducing ourselves my first UK (158th) Greenshank of the year flew off with a pair of Redshank.

Moving towards the bridge we joined up with some local birders who pointed out that the Osprey had already returned to its favoured tree.

244.Osprey --------------------Eyebrook--------------------------England

After another hour, now along the southern shore, a lone Yellow Wagtail finally made itself available for all to see.

245.Yellow Wagtail -------------Eyebrook--------------------------England

While observing the wagtail another birder advised there was a Wheatear just up the road sharing a field with some sheep, sure enough, minutes later, there was the bird!

246.Wheatear-----------------Eyebrook --------------------------England

Next and final stop of the morning was the Egleton part of Rutland Water, which produced two Common Tern.

247.Common Tern--------------Rutland Water---------------------England

NEXT STOP: China and Hong Kong

Tuesday evening, while trying to combat jetlag, I will hopefully be able to explore what is left of the farmland around the Sheraton Hotel in Haikou on Hainan Island off the southern coast of China.

Thursday/Friday will be early jaunts to the park near the Renaissance Yangtze Hotel in Shanghai

Saturday/Sunday, a group of us are returning to the Nan Ling forest reserve in the mountains 4 hours north of Guangzhou.

The following week there will be very little chance of birding in Guangzhou, Tianjin and Xian but that weekend I will be making my third visit to Mai Po in Hong Kong followed by a boat trip off the coast of Hong Kong; can’t wait!

[ChinaBirds]

15 April 2008

After scraping the ice off my hire car window yesterday, in Derby, before the journey to Heathrow, it was nice to arrive at Hong Kong airport this morning at 7am and 23 degrees C.

The three hour wait for my connection flight to Haikou on Hainan Island enabled me to start my 2008 Hong Kong list, while sitting in departures. Three Crested Myna’s were picking up scraps from the apron down below, while a lone Chinese Bulbul (may be the same one I saw last year) was flying around within the terminal. Then a couple of Swallows flew past over the Regal hotel directing my eye to a new bird for 2008 on top of a palm tree, a Red Whiskered Bulbul.

248.Red Whiskered Bulbul----------------Lantau----------------Hong Kong

Just before I boarded the plane two Black Eared Kites were patrolling the sea along the edge of the airport, taking my Hong Kong year list to……5

Having only managed 3 hours sleep on the long haul flight to Hong Kong I needed to stay awake this afternoon so I would sleep tonight. Therefore I made a three-hour jaunt along the river near the Sheraton Hotel, which took me through some familiar farming areas.

Before leaving the beach (Photo 1) the first new bird of the year, a splendid Pied Kingfisher (Photo2) was hovering over the river just as it entered the sea. Later I managed to find the whole family (Photo 3)!

249.Pied Kingfisher------------------------Haikou--------------------China

Next up was a noisy flock of White Shouldered Starlings (Photo 4) making themselves easy targets.

250.White Shouldered Starlings------------Haikou--------------------China

After crossing the vast four-lane high way, which caters for very little traffic and crossing the bridge I dropped down the other side of the river negotiating the large flocks of white farm ducks. Most seemed, unusually, to be two to three month old chicks, which unlike the more wary adults, thought it a good idea to follow you! The problem was that as soon as you thought you had shaken one group off you stumbled across some more! Amongst this palaver I heard the meowing of a Yellow Bellied Prinia (Photo 5) that flew to the top of a bush. Seconds later I flushed a Hoopoe minding its own business along the bank.

251.Yellow Bellied Prinia--------------------Haikou-------------------China
252.Hoopoe-------------------------------Haikou-------------------China

Then, once into the more open grasslands, which had tethered cows here and there, I checked some overhead power cables to be surprised by a lifer, a pair of Red Collared Doves. They were too far away and flighty to get a photo but a couple more checks and I was able to convince myself they were indeed Red Collared Doves, the male being particularly vivid.

253.Red Collared Dove-----------------Haikou------------------China

While I was still patting myself on the back two more birds appeared in quick succession, a flock of Black Collared Starlings and a single Fork Tailed Swift, noticeably much larger the more common House Swifts, that headed towards the sea.

254.Black Collared Starlings---------------Haikou-------------------China
255.Fork Tailed Swift---------------------Haikou-------------------China

As I headed back towards the beach myself, in-between a building site and the golf course an Oriental Skylark rose out of the golf course singing a similar song to its European counterpart.

256.Oriental Skylark ---------------------Haikou-------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

17 April 2008

An early morning walk around Hongqiao Central Park, next to the Renaissance Yangtze Hotel in Shanghai produced a Hwamei feeding young in the middle of a thicket of bamboo

257.Hwamei-------------------------Shanghai------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

19 April 2008

With one of the earliest Typhoons for 59 years due to hit Guandong Province today I decided to stay in Shanghai until Sunday morning rather than fly down to Guangzhou. Therefore Edward Li, one of my reps, kindly agreed to take me to Binhai near Pudong International Airport, which is a vast area of reclaimed land behind a concrete sea wall. This was our third visit since 2006, and while that first visit in September 2006 was incredible, the second plus this third visit were certainly not much to write home about.

It had taken us over two hours to get there through standing traffic, although I did get to see the Maglev trains speed past at 431KPH for the first time, which was a plus!

At Binhai, the best area was just too full of water for many waders, with us only coming across one flock during the visit (Photo 1). The Black Winged Stilts and Spotted Redshanks in the photo were new-year birds and a lone Turnstone (out of shot) was my first ever in China.

258.Black Winged Stilt------------------Binhai------------------------China
259.Spotted Redshank------------------Binhai------------------------China

Over the sea wall looking along the miles and miles of concrete, keeping a muddy sea at bay, a lone Whimbrel (Photo 2) kept still enough for a reasonable shot despite the buffeting of the wind.

260.Whimbrel--------------------------Binhai------------------------China

A Wryneck (Photo 3) then put in a surprise appearance, as they always seem to do, watching us for several minutes near the foot of the sea wall.

261.Wryneck--------------------------Binhai------------------------China

The birds in the largest numbers were swallows with many resting on the warm sea wall tarmac road. Amongst the more common swallows were several Red Rumped Swallows (Photo 4)

262.Red Rumped Swallow--------------Binhai------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

19 April 2008 (Continued)

After the disappointment of Binhai we headed off to a new site for us both, Gong Qin Forest Park in the North East of Shanghai, which turned out to be a wonderful place on the North Shore of the Huang Po river. While, like all Chinese parks it was full of people, it was much larger than any inner city park I had been in before. It was large enough to contain a theme park with several roller coasters, a horse riding track, a railway and several lakes. It was also true to its name and full of many types of trees.

The best bit though was the fact that there was a moat right around the park, just inside the perimeter wall with plenty of area’s un-kept that were far enough away from the madding crowd. We had to walk along the railway line much of the time to get to these areas but it was certainly worth it, with a gorgeous Narcissus Flycatcher (Photo 1) being the first bird to make me grab for my camera, the first time I had seen one since Xishuangbanna (Yunnan Province) in 2004.

263.Narcissus Flycatcher---------------Shanghai--------------------China

After spending a great deal of time watching this bird another flycatcher caught my eye some distance away on a tree, doing what flycatchers do, catching flys from a branch. Closer examination revealed a lifer, a Grey Streaked Flycatcher (Photo 2), a far duller bird than the Narcissus, by name and colour scheme but a tick all the same! Just as I was trying to get a good view of this latest flycatcher I picked up a Yellow Browed Bunting (Photo 3) feeding on the grass amongst the Tree Sparrows

264.Grey Streaked Flycatcher-------Shanghai-------------------China
265.Yellow Browed Bunting-------------Shanghai-------------------China

The day had certainly picked up by now, although it did attempt to rain a couple of times, no mind we were seeing some great birds. A little further along the moat a pair of Tristram’s Buntings (Photo 4) were moving through the vegetation with the male posing long enough for a photo.

266.Tristram’s Bunting-----------------Shanghai-------------------China

The final bird of the day as dusk fell was another flycatcher, this time a beautiful Blue and White Flycatcher (Photo 5) flitting across the moat.

267.Blue and White Flycatcher---------Shanghai-------------------China

In the end not a bad day, with a big thanks to Edward for doing all the driving at short notice! Not sure what tomorrow will bring, am flying down to Guangzhou with the remnants of the Typhoon still producing torrential rain so it looks like any birding may be out of the question. Therefore all hopes are on next weekend in Hong Kong, with fingers and everything else crossed!

[ChinaBirds]

20 April 2008

Following a morning flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou I met up with another of my reps Roger Xie and an old birding friend, Lool at Zhong Shan University. She had already been birding there that morning with a couple more birders so they were just finishing lunch as we arrived.

It was extremely humid but there was no sign of the typhoon that had passed through the previous two days. A Common Tailorbird started the afternoon off. Later we saw the reason the bird carries such a name, a large neatly stitched leaf forming its nest.

268.Common Tailorbird---------------Guangzhou--------------------China

While searching for flycatchers, two Dollarbirds (Photo 1 – Top Left) caught our attention flying around the top of the trees. I couldn’t get a good photo of the Dollarbirds, or three other new birds that afternoon, as it was so dark, so I put them all together in Photo 1.

269.Dollarbird-----------------------Guangzhou---------------------China

Minutes later a splendid Mugimaki Flycatcher (Photo 2) appeared high up in a tree, the first time I had seen one of these since 2006 in Guilin

270.Mugimaki Flycatcher------------Guangzhou---------------------China

In the same tree was what turned out to be a lifer, an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a nice addition to the day!

271.Eastern Crowned Warbler-------Guangzhou-----------------China

We then moved to another part of the campus where we found a Siberian Blue Robin (Photo 1 – Top Right) skulking in the darkest undergrowth. I also added a Red Whiskered Bulbul to my China year list in the same area.

272.Siberian Blue Robin----------------Guangzhou-----------------China

Our final stop in the campus was a bamboo garden, where it was reported that there were 120 different varieties of bamboo growing. They all looked the same to me, but I am sure a panda would have spotted the difference. Here I picked up two more birds, an innocuous Pale Legged Leaf Warbler (Photo 1 – Bottom Right) flicking its tail continuously and a lovely Yellow Rumped Flycatcher (Photo 1 – Bottom Left)

273.Pale Legged Leaf Warbler----------Guangzhou-----------------China
274.Yellow Rumped Flycatcher---------Guangzhou-----------------China

Just as we were preparing to leave a baby Japanese White Eye (Photo 3) caught our attention on a branch, what a great chap!!

[ChinaBirds]

24 April 2008

An evening walk from the Sheraton Hotel under cloudless skies in Xian to the Fengqing Park produced a single Common Swift. There was also a male Red Throated Flycatcher in a corner of the park, but I had already seen one in winter plumage in Sanya earlier this year

275.Swift---------------------------Xian----------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

25 April 2008

A short walk around Grand China Express airline’s site, next to Xian airport, produced the first Grey Capped Greenfinch of the year

276.Grey Capped Greenfinch-------------Xian------------------------China

[ChinaBirds]

26 April 2008

Having flown from Xian to Hong Kong last night, staying with one of my reps, Shou Ke, another rep Jason Zhang drove me to Hong Kong’s most famous birding site Mai Po. It was overcast with a gentle breeze, keeping the temperature comfortable,

On the way we had to call on Mike Kilburn, a fellow BirdForum member (MkinHK) who had kindly offered to lend me his scope, at a small village not far from Tai Po. After getting lost, and I mean really lost, a couple of times we finally met up with Mike and his wife.

Scope in hand Jason and I set off for Mai Po. As we drove down the narrow lane towards the wetland paradise we noticed several birders on the side of the road watching something in a fishpond. Many of them were from the Hong Kong Birding Watching Society. I was soon guided to a splendid Pheasant Tailed Jacana (Photo 1), what a bird to start off the day! Then came two lifers in quick succession, perched in tall grass in the same pond were several Pale Martins (split from Sand Martins), with a Pacific Swift buzzing us overhead, the day couldn’t have started better!

277.Pheasant Tailed Jacana---------Mai Po-------------------Hong Kong
278.Pale Martin-------------------Mai Po-------------------Hong Kong
279.Pacific Swift-------------------Mai Po-------------------Hong Kong

There were many Yellow Wagtails (Photo 2), Little Egrets (Photo 3) and Black Crowned Night Herons (Photo 4) around, all of which I had already seen this year, although not in Hong Kong.

A couple of Great White Egrets were chasing each other in the next fishpond, while a very tame White Breasted Waterhen posed for photographs.

280.Great White Egret---------------Mai Po------------------Hong Kong
281.White Breasted Waterhen--------Mai Po------------------Hong Kong

[ChinaBirds]

26 April 2008 (continued)

Suddenly a shout went up and we all rushed over to the far side of a fishpond, there on a tree was yet another lifer, a gorgeous Chestnut Bunting (Photo 1)!

282.Chestnut Bunting----------------Mai Po---------------Hong Kong

Before my next year bird a couple more new birds for Hong Kong in 2008, a White Shouldered Starling (Photo 2) and an Azure Winged Magpie (Photo 3). While sorting out the payment, to enter the Mai Po reserve in the Visitor Centre, several Masked Laughingthrush (Photo 4) noisily made their way across the car park.

283.Masked Laughingthrush-----------Mai Po----------------Hong Kong

Signing in just before me was John, an American birder working for The Boeing Company. He had never been to Mai Po before so we teamed up, guided at times by various very helpful local birders.

Just inside the reserve, which required three more people to process our paperwork at the AFCD Nature Warden Office, a wonderful Koel (Photo 5) welcomed us through the gates, with its rapid fire Ko-el call that got faster and faster until the bird give up and then started again!

284.Koel------------------------------Mai Po----------------Hong Kong

[ChinaBirds]

26 April 2008 (continued)

Just as we were walking towards the first hide, Tower Hide, which had three floors, a beautiful Yellow Breasted Bunting alighted on top of a distant tree, a lifer for both John and I. Once in the hide, which looked over a large expanse of water, with two or three grass covered islands, we both added yet another lifer, an Oriental Plover, a relatively rare bird in Hong Kong.

285.Yellow Breasted Bunting---------Mai Po--------------Hong Kong
286.Oriental Plover-------------------Mai Po--------------Hong Kong

With this particular area not being too productive, we moved on to the main lagoon, which promised many more birds with it being high tide in Deep Bay. The sight from the first hide on this lagoon blew us away, such was the shear number of birds!

Plovers were plentiful with both Greater Sand Plover and Kentish Plover walking along one of the spits, while Red Necked Stints busied themselves on the edge of the water.

287.Greater Sand Plover----------------Mai Po--------------Hong Kong
288.Kentish Plover---------------------Mai Po---------------Hong Kong
289.Red Necked Stint------------------Mai Po---------------Hong Kong

Our 50th bird of the day was a Redshank, at 1243 hours, but clearly we were going to increase this by many more ticks!

Curlew Sandpiper where gathered in their hundreds while the occasional Broad Billed Sandpiper made a appearance with their very distinctive bold white supercilium. Far Eastern Curlews were mixed in with the smaller Curlew, in good numbers.

290.Curlew Sandpiper------------------Mai Po---------------Hong Kong
291.Broad Billed Sandpiper-------------Mai Po---------------Hong Kong
292.Far Eastern Curlew----------------Mai Po----------------Hong Kong

A Little Bunting (Photo 1) suddenly appeared on a post outside the hide, another first for Hong Kong in 2008, while a Gull Billed Tern (Photo 2) was flying around overhead

293.Gull Billed Tern-------------------Mai Po-----------------Hong Kong

Another birder, who had just arrived from another of the hides we could see off to the left, gave us an overview of what was showing well from that hide. We quickly made our way round to that hide where we picked up several Little Tern mixed in with the larger Gull Billed. At the same time a Garganey (Photo 3) floated passed in front of the hide, while a large number of Asian Dowitchers (Photo 4) were feeding in their very distinctive style down below us.

294.Little Tern-----------------------Mai Po-----------------Hong Kong
295.Garganey------------------------Mai Po-----------------Hong Kong
296.Asian Dowitcher-----------------Mai Po-----------------Hong Kong

Neither John or I were sure how we had missed them, but there were also two much larger Caspian Terns (Photo 5) amongst all the birds on one of the larger spits!

297.Caspian Tern--------------------Mai Po-----------------Hong Kong

[ChinaBirds]

26 April 2008 (continued)

A lady birder was down the far end of this very long hide, who was busy photographing the huge number of waders out on the scrape. She called us over to see a Sharp Tailed Sandpiper (Photo 1) amongst the plethora of Curlew Sandpiper.

298. Sharp Tailed Sandpiper---------Mai Po--------------------Hong Kong

Seconds later we were able to add another bird to our list, with several Terek Sandpiper (Photo 2) getting themselves ready to leave the lagoon for the mudflats, just over the mangrove to our left.

299.Terek Sandpiper----------------Mai Po--------------------Hong Kong

Thanks to Mike’s scope I was able the differentiate the Lesser Sand Plover from the Greater, to add another bird to the year list, my 300th bird in 2008 and before the end of April, by far and away my best ever start to a year!

300.Lesser Sand Plover-------------Mai Po--------------------Hong Kong

The lady joined us as we then made our way through the heavily fortified security fence (Shenzhen, China, is just across Deep Bay) at the edge of the mangrove and along the boardwalk to check out what was out on the mud flats. The walk was a lot further than I remembered, with a new boardwalk branching off to the right after several hundred yards of bouncing along narrow wooden planks balanced on floating oil drums, taking us to a much larger hide than the one had we continued to the left, on the board walk.

The tide had already retreated a long way out and with it so had the birds. I did manage to pick out a sleeping Black Faced Spoonbill in the distance. The photograph below of a flock (Photo 3) was as John and I made our way out of the reserve a little later. The final year bird was a lone Collared Crow (Photo 4) that briefly settled on a stick out in the mud!

301.Black Faced Spoonbill-------------Mai Po------------------Hong Kong
302.Collared Crow--------------------Mai Po------------------Hong Kong

When I had photographed the Spoonbill John and I were on a mission, as we needed to get back to the Visitor Centre before 1700 hours to claim back our 200 Yuan deposits. Although we arrived 5 minutes late it was still open so we could relax. We also picked up the Mai Po emblem on the way to the Visitor Centre, a Pied Kingfisher.

As we waited for Jason (Photo 5) to take us back to downtown Hong Kong we picked up our 82nd and last bird of the day, a Grey Wagtail. By the time Jason had picked us up I was shattered and ready for a meal. It had however been a superb day, one of my best at Mai Po, a big thanks to all who helped John and I record such a large list, to Jason for taxiing us about and Mike for the lone of his scope. The full list of birds is shown below: -

Asian Dowitcher, Avocet, Azure Winged Magpie, Black Collared Starling, Black Crowned Night Heron, Black Drongo, Black Eared Kite, Black Faced Spoonbill, Black Tailed Godwit, Black Winged Stilt, Blackbird, Broad Billed Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, Cattle Egret, Chestnut Bunting, Chinese Bulbul, Chinese Pond Heron, Collared Crow, Collared Dove, Common Myna, Common Sandpiper, Crested Myna, Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Far Eastern Curlew, Garganey, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greater Coucal, Greater Sand Plover, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Grey Streaked Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Gull Billed Tern, Japanese Flycatcher, Kentish Plover, Kingfisher, Knot, Koel, Large Billed Crow, Lesser Sandplover, Little Bunting, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Tern, Long Toed Stint, Magpie, Magpie Robin, Masked Laughingthrush, Moorehen, Oriental Plover, Osprey, Pacific Golden Plover, Pacific Swift, Pale Martin, Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Pied Kingfisher, Red Necked Stint, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Redshank, Richard’s Pipit, Scaly Breasted Munia, Sharp Tailed Sandpiper, Shoveler, Spotted Dove, Spotted Redshank, Swallow, Terek Sandpiper, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Whimbrel, White Breasted Waterhen, White Shouldered Starling, White Throated Kingfisher, White Wagtail, Wigeon, Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Bellied Prinia, Yellow Breasted Bunting, Yellow Wagtail.

[ChinaBirds]

27 April 2008

By 0800 hours Jason and Shou Ke had dropped me off at the harbour at Aberdeen, on Hong Kong Island, where I met up with a number of the birders (Photo 1) that I had met at Mai Po yesterday.

The boat, organised by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, left harbour with forty souls on board for the island of Po Toi at 0830. As well as locals there were teachers from the USA and Canada on the boat, with everyone keen to ensure we all had a good time!

The sea was quiet apart from Black Eared Kite, although just as we started to approach the island a magnificent White Bellied Sea Eagle (Photo 2) flew past, which was bettered by a lifer a few minutes later, on a small outcrop of rock about a mile from Po Toi, a Pacific Reef Egret!

303.White Bellied Sea Eagle-------------Po Toi------------------Hong Kong
304.Pacific Reef Egret----------------Po Toi-----------------Hong Kong

Landing on Po Toi, the island was extremely busy as there was a dragon boat race festival taking place. We soon moved in land picking up an Arctic Warbler deep in undergrowth. Above the forest canopy a Chinese Sparrowhawk was patrolling on the look out for migrants.

305.Arctic Warbler---------------------Po Toi-------------------Hong Kong
306.Chinese Sparrowhawk--------------Po Toi-------------------Hong Kong

Before we returned to the boat for an expedition out into the shipping lanes, looking for sea birds, I made a quick jaunt up towards the exposed headland, where I picked up a Brown Shrike (Photo 3) sharing a bush with a Chinese Bulbul.

307.Brown Shrike----------------------Po Toi------------------Hong Kong

After about an hour at sea a piece of polystyrene proved to be an ideal platform for terns (Photo 4) to rest, with three different species resting on the first, not bad considering there were only three birds! Actually it wouldn’t be until that evening, when Mike Kilburn and I checked out my photos over a Chinese meal, that we actually realised I had picked up a Roseate Tern (at rear), sharing the raft with a Common (front) and Little Tern.

308.Roseate Tern---------------------Po Toi------------------Hong Kong

Minutes later and with the sea getting quite rough, making it difficult to balance on the boat, we came across another polystyrene raft, which produced yet another species of tern and what’s more a lifer, an Aleutian Tern (Photo 5).

309.Aleutian Tern-------------------Po Toi-------------------Hong Kong

[ChinaBirds]

27 April 2008 (continued)

Then the birds just dried up for nearly 45 minutes, and I could see folk all around me falling asleep. I had had forty winks earlier, when the boat was rolling at its worse, so felt a bit more alert now. I noticed yet another tern some way off on another raft. Once we got the boat to turn round and check the bird out, most of the birders were awake and ready to go again.

The bird turned out to be a Great Crested Tern (Photo 1 & 2), another lifer. I was very pleased with these two action shots so make no excuses for including both below.

310.Great Crested Tern--------------Po Toi-------------Hong Kong

Following this find there were suddenly more birds around with another lifer quickly following. Several Black Naped Terns (Photo 3) crossed over the top of the boat while down on the sea a tiny Red Necked Phalarope (Photo 4) was swimming in tight circles.

311.Black Naped Tern----------------Po Toi--------------Hong Kong
312.Red Necked Phalarope--------------Po Toi--------------Hong Kong

These birds came into view as we had changed course to that originally set as a keen eyed birder at the bow of the boat had spotted what he believed to be a frigatebird, flying with two kites. As we gained on the bird the level of anticipation increased ten fold, there had only ever been two previous sightings of a frigatebird in these waters so this would be a real coup.

Sure enough it was indeed a frigatebird, with consensus being that it was a juvenile Great Frigatebird (Photo 5), another lifer. It must have been one of the most photographed frigatebirds in history with much hi-fiving going on by all!

313.Great Frigatebird----------------Po Toi---------------Hong Kong

No one was complaining that we were 30 mins late into port, as it had turned out to be an excellent trip.

[ChinaBirds]

27 April 2008 (continued)

Having thanked the organisers for arranging the day Jason was there to pick me up. Our final destination of the day was Hong Kong Park to tick off two certainties the Yellow Crested Cockatoo (Photo 1) and Rose Ringed Parakeet (Photo 2).

I have also added two of the more common birds to the list of photo’s below, the Black Eared Kite (Photo 3) and Red Whiskered Bulbul (Photo 4) as I hadn’t managed to take any reasonable photo’s of then earlier.

314.Yellow Crested Cockatoo-----------Hong Kong Park----------Hong Kong
315. Rose Ringed Parakeet-------------Hong Kong Park----------Hong Kong

Following a meal with Jason, Shou Ke, Mike and his wife I headed off to the airport to write all of this up and sort out all of the photographs. I can now crash out for the rest of the night flight home, with the knowledge that I have just had one of my best birding weekends for a long time, thanks to all of above. Time for lights out!

[ChinaBirds]

28 April 2008

Arriving home, in Derby, by 0930 hours, from Heathrow, it was a quick rush round to sort everything out and then a dash to the River Derwent in Pride Park for an hours birding before my wife arrived home for lunch, to find if more of our summer visitors had arrived..

I wasn’t disappointed, both Sedge Warbler (Photo 1) and Whitethroat (Photo 2) were calling in brambles along the footpath.

316.Sedge Warbler-------------------Derby----------------------England
317.Whitethroat---------------------Derby-----------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

02 May 08

A pleasant Friday evening led to another visit to the gravel pits at Willington, near Burton-upon-Trent, where I picked up my first UK Swifts of the year before hearing a Reed Warbler (Photo 1) in a bush close to the bank of a small pit.

318.Reed Warbler-----------------Willington----------------------England

Then it was a good walk to the canal pit to add a Curlew Sandpiper to my UK list before finally finding a Lesser Whitethroat (Photo 2) deep inside a hedge, hence the rather dark photo!

319.Lesser Whitethroat------------Willington-----------------------England

[ChinaBirds]

03 May 08

Checking Birdguides, mid afternoon, indicated both Long Eaton and Attenborough were worth a visit, again the weather was fine, warm and sunny.

Just as I got out of the car, at the gravel pits near Long Eaton, I suddenly had a feeling that I hadn’t put my flash card back in my camera. Sure enough I hadn’t, so I quickly made sure I saw the two Black Terns (Photo 1) before returning home for the flash card. Back at Long Eaton the birds were so difficult to photograph as they were so far away and continually on the move. I certainly need more practice!

320.Black Tern--------------------Willington----------------------England

Next stop, Attenborough where there had been reports of a Cattle Egret (Photo 2). There were many birders searching for the bird, which hadn’t been seen for a couple of hours, when I arrived. It was sharing its time between a field know as Wheatear Field, the meadows on the south side of the river Trent and a roost in another area of the reserve.

After a while I decided to wonder around the reserve. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time as the bird flew over the river Trent just as I came into an open area along a tree lined bund between two pits. This was an all time new UK bird for me, taking my UK year list to 170.

[ChinaBirds]

04 May 08

It had been drizzling on and off all day today, but was still very warm and so the occasional shower at Willington, late afternoon, actually kept you cool.

In the middle of one of the large grass fields, perched on top of some dead sedge was a splendid male Whinchat, which was far too far away to even attempt a photo.

321.Whinchat---------------------Willington---------------------England

Later, as dusk began to fall, I finally caught up with my first Garden Warbler (Photo 1) of the year, singing to its hearts content in one of the hedges down the bottom of the reserves narrow main drag.

322.Garden Warbler---------------Willington---------------------England

There was also a Marsh Harrier quartering one of the distant reed beds.

[ChinaBirds]

05 May 2008

It had promised rain early Sunday morning, however arriving at the Goyt Valley north of Buxton at 0645 it was very misty but the rain had held off, at least initially.

Having just left the road to Whaley Bridge, and heading down the steep lane towards the damn, a Tree Pipit (Photo 1, taken later) was calling on top of a tree.

323.Tree Pipit-------------------Goyt Valley----------------------England

The damn was quiet, not a Common Sandpiper in sight (well my sight anyway!), so I drove over the damn and turned left, across the bridge, passed the first car park, up through the wood and parked up where some New Age Travellers were just waking from a late night. That was when the heavens opened, but only for a few minutes before all was calm again.

Walking back through the woods a male Pied Flycatcher (Photo 2) was calling, with a female (Photo 3) in attendance.

324.Pied Flycatcher-------------Goyt Valley----------------------England

Having crossed the river to the west of the reservoir a pair of Redstarts dropped from a tree onto the grass verge and then immediately crossed the road and disappeared into the wood.

325.Redstart---------------------Goyt Valley----------------------England

After five hours in the Goyt Valley next stop was the disused Danebower Quarry just into Cheshire along A54 towards Congleton. As I arrived on the narrow track on the opposite side of the valley to quarry I met a fellow birder just leaving the area, who said it was his third visit there this year without seeing any Ring Ouzels (Photo 4). A couple of minutes later I spoke with another couple who said they had not seen any either but that someone earlier had seen one about a mile along the track.

Just as I set off, not more than ten minutes after I spoke to the first guy, I heard a bird call from the other side of the valley, my binoculars picking up a male on top of the large boulders. I whistled to the couple and they got onto the bird and then I dashed back to the lay bye to see if the other guy was still there, he had left!

Back on the track the couple were still on the bird. I then made my way round to the quarry where I was lucky enough to see both a male and female, snapping some reasonable shots of the male singing.

326.Ring Ouzel-----------------Danebower Quarry---------------England

A long day, but still back home by 3pm with some good birds ticked off for the year.

[ChinaBirds]

09 May 2008

Having risen at the unearthly hour of 3:15am Steve Whiteley and I visited World’s End, a moorland site near Wrexham in Wales in search for Black Grouse (Photo 1).

Having arrived at 6am it would take 40 minutes or so before we heard the first call, and then suddenly three birds took to the sky, which was especially pleasing to me as this was a lifer!

327.Black Grouse-----------------World’s End-----------------Wales

We also saw a male on the lek, although we could not get close enough to photograph it, it was still a wonderful spectacle!

Our first Hobby of the year then flew across in front of us

328.Hobby--------------------------World’s End-----------------Wales

We had earlier parked the car at the edge of a wood that descended down into a valley. As we returned to the car, in the pine trees on the edge of the wood families of Crossbill (Photo 2), with young, were sharing the pine cones with Redpoll and Siskin. While I had previously seen Crossbill in China a couple of years ago this was the first time in the UK, the Redpoll were also new for the year

329.Crossbill-------------------------World’s End----------------Wales
330.Redpoll--------------------------World’s End----------------Wales

There were several Cuckoo’s (Photo 3) calling during the morning, however it wasn’t until later that I spotted my first for the year

331.Cuckoo-------------------------World’s End----------------Wales

Although I had already seen several Stonechats (Photo 4) this year this particular bird was very accommodating as far as allowing me to photograph it!

Arriving home 12 hours after the alarm had gone off, it was a great day, with some excellent birds.

[ChinaBirds]

10 May 2008

Another very early start today as David Salisbury, Steve Whiteley and I were doing a “dawn ‘til dusk” bird race, where all three of us had to see the bird for it to count. Steve was joining us for the first time, with our record to beat being 110, set in 2006.

The first bird on our list was a Blackbird at 0450, as we left the village of Manthorpe in Lincolnshire for Rutland Water.

At Rutland Water we initially birded from the car park at the Egleton based Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre and then around the actual centre. By 0520 the list was up to 25 birds with my first new 2008 UK bird, a Common Sandpiper being spotted 5 minutes later.

It would be another hour before I added another bird, a Yellow Legged Gull, to either my UK or World 2008 list, by which time our tally for the day stood at 52.

332.Yellow Legged Gull--------------Rutland Water---------------England

Having gone as far as visiting Fieldfare hide, on the south side of the reserve we then left Egleton and drove to Hambleton Wood where there was another birder already watching the Nightingales. We had a quick look in the wood, but being after 8am we were too late to hear them singing (Note for 2009!) so returned to where the other birder was and after about 20 minutes a Nightingale hopped onto the fence, our 68th bird of the day.

333.Nightingale--------------------Rutland Water-----------------England

The Osprey, at Manton Bay was our 71st bird, although it very nearly wasn’t! I was the first to get to the viewing area, near the bridge, and identified the bird sitting on the Osprey platform as a Cormorant. Therefore Dave and Steve didn’t bother checking. For some reason I decided to check again a few minutes later and formerly announced that my Cormorant was in fact an Osprey. I would live to regret my drop off throughout the day, thanks to continuous digs from Steve and Dave about my bird identification prowess!

Eyebrook Reservoir added two more birds to the day’s tally, a local birder helping us with a Yellow Wagtail, but the guaranteed Little Owl failed to show!

Next stop was Lakenheath on the Suffolk/Norfolk border via Welney. By the time we arrived in the very full car park at Lakenheath, on what was a scorching hot day, our tally had reached 77, picking up a few on the way.

Walking along the main bank with the lagoons to our right we picked up a preening Garganey, another one for my 2008 UK list.

While the quantity of new birds at Lakenheath was not high, the quality certainly was. Although we had seen our first Hobby of the day at Welney, you could not ignore the fact that there were at least 20 birds flying over the reed beds here. It must be one of the best places for Hobbys in the UK!

Down at the far end of the reserve, overlooking a very large reed bed someone advised they had seen a Common Crane 15 minutes earlier. Some 10 minutes later two flew up to add to our list.

334.Common Crane-----------------Lakenheath------------------England

This was the also the only time I took a photo worth including in this update, a Reed Warbler.

Having also heard a Bittern booming, we then camped out near one of the poplar plantations where the Golden Oriole were reported to have been seen, although not for a couple of hours. After 20 minutes the female called, followed quickly by the male. Dave surprised both Steve and I with his ability to mimic the male bird’s call, so much so that the bird was responding to Dave and came to the edge of the wood for all to see, along with the female. Although it was a brief view, the male’s bright yellow plumage stood out well against the poplar leaves. A new all time UK bird for me, and a lifer for Dave!

335.Golden Oriole---------------Lakenheath---------------------England

Then it was the short drive to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Weeting Heath where the next year bird was a Spotted Flycatcher flitting between the pine trees outside the west hide, followed by a distant, sleeping Stone Curlew out on the grass heath. Try as we might we just couldn’t latch onto a calling Goldcrest, the second time we had dipped on the bird during the day, always a problem bird on one of these trips for some reason!

336.Spotted Flycatcher--------Weeting Heath-------------------England
337.Stone Curlew-------------Weeting Heath--------------------England

Next stop was Choseley drying barns, having dipped on Montagu’s Harrier on the way, where Corn Bunting were our 90th bird of the day. We also heard Quail as well as seeing a Wheatear on the pile of rubble and a Little Owl sitting uncharacteristically out in the middle of a stony field!

Before moving onto Titchwell we continued along the road, past the barns at the top of the hill, to the first right hand corner at the bottom of the hill where there were a number of other birders. They included a friend of Steve’s who had also been on his recent birding trip to Ecuador! The reason they were all there was because of the 7 Dotterel feeding in the adjacent field, lifers for both Dave and I. What stunning birds, it was such a shame we needed to move on!

338.Dotterel--------------------Choseley-------------------England

At Titchwell, Little Gull was my next 2008 UK bird, where Steve gave me an old fashioned look when I questioned whether the bird was in fact a Little Gull, my inexperience caught me out again, those dark under wings confirming Steve was of course correct!

The bird ticks came in quick and fast then with Wigeon taking us through 100 for the day.

When you are on one of these bird races you are thankful for any support from other birders, so when we came across one guy intently watching a small wader at the far end of the fresh water marsh we had to ask what he was looking at. We were pleased we had as it turned out to be a Temminck’s Stint, which we would never have spotted otherwise, an excellent year bird let alone day bird!

339.Temminck’s Stint-----------------Titchwell-------------------England

As we made our way to the beach we were closing in on our previous record of 110. We came across a couple on the path who couldn’t understand why we were doing a bird race, indicating that we were rather sad! We didn’t have time to argue so Steve and I politely made our apologies for not stopping to chat and moved onto the wooden platform at the top of the beach. The tide was out but there were still plenty of new birds for our list.

As we started to reach our previous record we realised that Dave had in fact stopped to chat to our friends on the path, so the shout went up for him to catch us up rather quickly! Once the team was back up to full strength Little Tern equalled our previous record, and was another tick for my UK year list.

Then it was high fives all round as Common Scoter took us to 111. There had been reports of Velvet Scoter but we failed to spot any. Curlew was the 112th bird before we set off for the cliffs at Hunstanton for the 113th, Fulmar resting on the sea.

The last stop, as the light was fading, was Dersingham Bog; we dipped on Golden Pheasant on the way. There, the penultimate bird of the day was a whistling Woodcock before we descended the old sea cliff onto the bog to pick up the most mystical bird of the day. Almost immediately a Nightjar started chirring and minutes later the sound of wing claps and flashes of white brought our attention to the bird, as it flew across the dimly lit bog.

A Grasshopper Warbler was also calling but the light had faded so much it was impossible to see, and the bugs were bighting so it was time to head back to the car and hope for possible owls on the way home. No luck there so the Nightjar, at 2112 hours was the 115th and last bird of a very long, hot and successful day. It was also my 194th UK bird of the year.

340.Nightjar----------------------Titchwell----------------------England

Thanks to Dave and Steve for their great company, I look forward to a repeat in 2009, where 120 must be the next target, and for the couple who thought we were sad, yes we may be but the adrenalin rush for that next day tick is something that should be experienced by all at least once. Having successfully motor raced all over the country for 20 years, I have experienced many adrenalin rushes, particularly when fighting for the lead or trying to knock that extra tenth of a second off a qualifying lap time. Birding can give you just that same feeling, but (hopefully) without the inherent dangers!

Our full list of birds for the day is shown below: -

Avocet, Bearded Tit, Black Headed Gull, Black Tern, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Brent Goose, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Crane, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Common Scoter, Common Tern, Coot, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dotterel, Dunlin, Dunnock, Egyptian Goose, Feral Pigeon, Fulmar, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Garganey, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Black Blacked Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Little Gull, Little Owl, Little Ringed Plover, Little Tern, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorehen, Mute Swan, Nightingale, Nightjar, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover, Robin, Rook, Sand Martin, Sanderling, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Stockdove, Stone Curlew, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Temminck's Stint,Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellow Legged Gull, Yellow Wagtail, Yellowhammer.

[ChinaBirds]

11 May 2008

Sunday was another glorious day, except around Bempton Cliffs, where the blue sky was blocked out by dense sea fog. So much so that the spectacle of thousands of sea birds turned into a damp squib with only a few birds visible at the top of the cliffs.

The first new-year birds were Razorbill (Photo 1) and Guillemot (Photo 2), including the Bridled sub species.

341.Razorbill----------------------Bempton------------------------England
342.Guillemot --------------------Bempton------------------------England

A further walk along the cliff top produced Gannet (Photo 3), but little else as the fog seemed to be getting worse.

343.Gannet ----------------------Bempton-----------------------England

In search of Puffin I then headed to Flamborough Head, similarly cloaked in fog, the deafening fog horn nearly knocking you off your feet. After a great deal of searching I finally found two white faced birds to the right of the lighthouse huddled together at the top of a grass covered island, just off the coast.

344.Puffin-------------------------Flamborough Head-------------England

This was my 198th UK bird of the year, just two off my goal. The earliest I have reached 200 birds in the UK in a year before was in September 2006, so the target is to smash that by the end of May!

Within a mile of Flamborough it was perfect sunshine again!

[ChinaBirds]

17 May 2008

An evening drive to Aston-on-Trent gravel pits produced my 199th UK bird of the year a Wood Sandpiper that had been reported on Bird Guides. Being only allowed to view from the gravel pit slip road, off the A50, I usually fail to pick up any bird advertised there, so was pleased for once to hit the jackpot!

Was also pleased to hear from all of my bird watching friends around Chengdu that they are all ok after the terrible earthquake.

[ChinaBirds]

23 May 2008

Spent a very pleasent couple of hours this evening along the River Trent near the village of Ingleby watching and photography a lifer that was also my 200th UK bird of the year, a splendid female Red Footed Falcon.