The challenge is for me to photograph 365 bird species during 2010. For shots to be included, they must pass the entirely subjective litmus test of being "not that bad".
Easier said than done I'm sure (as you can see from Day 1's collection, I'm already struggling to meet my own low standards)
I spent the first day of the year on top of Emei Shan in Sichuan province....
1st January; Emei Shan, Sichuan
"... I watched the sun rise above the clouds in the valley below, heralding the new day, new year, and new decade.
After two days of snow and fog, at last I could see clear, blue sky.
I continued walking upwards; in two hours I would reach the jinding, or "golden summit" at 3077 metres.
In that time, I saw only a couple of flocks of birds - or perhaps even the same roving flock. The summit was bird-less; but I was not downhearted. The majestic vista was compensation enough.
It had taken me three days to walk up the entire mountain - on the longer, south-eastern route. I had walked up a vertical 2.5 KM. The cold and miserable weather of the past few days and my aching joints somehow made the achivement of getting to the top even more satisfying.
At that moment, I could understand why mountaineers do what they do. I had only walked up steps mind; and I'm more than happy to leave the serious mountains to the people who know what they are doing.
The blue sky and brilliant sunshine would last until 4pm, when the bus I had taken from the Greeting Gate back down the mountain descended into the veil of clouds and fog that had sat at around 2,400 metres for the last few days."
.................................................................
Grey-hooded Fulvetta (photo) c20
Slaty Bunting 2
Beavan's Bullfinch (photo of m & f) 7
Chestnut Thrush 2
Elliot's Laughingthrush few
Putative Hodgson’s Treecreeper (photo) 1
Grey-crested Tit (photo) 5
“Crested” Coal Tit few
Plain Mountain-Finch (photo) 1
Rufous-vented Tit (photo) few
................................................................
The photos of the 6 species can be seen on my website at:
http://www.chinesecurrents.com/2010birds1.html
2010 = 6 species/1 day
Easier said than done I'm sure (as you can see from Day 1's collection, I'm already struggling to meet my own low standards)
I spent the first day of the year on top of Emei Shan in Sichuan province....
1st January; Emei Shan, Sichuan
"... I watched the sun rise above the clouds in the valley below, heralding the new day, new year, and new decade.
After two days of snow and fog, at last I could see clear, blue sky.
I continued walking upwards; in two hours I would reach the jinding, or "golden summit" at 3077 metres.
In that time, I saw only a couple of flocks of birds - or perhaps even the same roving flock. The summit was bird-less; but I was not downhearted. The majestic vista was compensation enough.
It had taken me three days to walk up the entire mountain - on the longer, south-eastern route. I had walked up a vertical 2.5 KM. The cold and miserable weather of the past few days and my aching joints somehow made the achivement of getting to the top even more satisfying.
At that moment, I could understand why mountaineers do what they do. I had only walked up steps mind; and I'm more than happy to leave the serious mountains to the people who know what they are doing.
The blue sky and brilliant sunshine would last until 4pm, when the bus I had taken from the Greeting Gate back down the mountain descended into the veil of clouds and fog that had sat at around 2,400 metres for the last few days."
.................................................................
Grey-hooded Fulvetta (photo) c20
Slaty Bunting 2
Beavan's Bullfinch (photo of m & f) 7
Chestnut Thrush 2
Elliot's Laughingthrush few
Putative Hodgson’s Treecreeper (photo) 1
Grey-crested Tit (photo) 5
“Crested” Coal Tit few
Plain Mountain-Finch (photo) 1
Rufous-vented Tit (photo) few
................................................................
The photos of the 6 species can be seen on my website at:
http://www.chinesecurrents.com/2010birds1.html
2010 = 6 species/1 day
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