[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by MKinHK

The tint of yellow smog in the last picture adds wonderfully to the beauty of the shot!

Cheers
Mike

Ha ha ！

We are so used to smog we don't recognise golden glows from the sun any more

[Frogfish]

.... as it says, from a small body of water close to, but isolated from, Poyang Lake.

Also a Penduline Tit - such sweet things - however I really missed my 'big gun' Sigma 500 on the D800 for this one :( This was taken with the Pentax K5, DA*300 and AFA x1.7 TC.

EDIT : Added a B&W shot of the Pied Avocets

[Frogfish]

Oops fell asleep whilst posting yesterday

So not China related but I'll write a NZ Trip Report on my return.

Day 1 & 2 of restricted birding (wife-cuffs) meant just a few sightings to report :
European Starlings - numerous*#
House Sparrows - common*#
Purple Swamp Hens (Pukekho) - 12*#
TBC - 5 *
Australasian Coot - 5#
Mallard - 6#
Indian Myna - common#*
Australian Magpie - 8*#
White Fronted Tern - 6#
Song Thrush -5#
Black Backed Gull - numerous#
Red Billed Gull - 8#^
Kelp Gull - common*#
Buzzard - 5# TBC
Raptor -1# (smaller than Buzzard above) TBC
NZ Grebe#
Pied Oystercatcher - 50#^
NZ Dotterel #^ (I'm guessing 1st yr bird - little rufous on the belly and because it approached me to have it's photo taken
Wader B TBC #
Lesser Knot - flock, 30+#
Dab Chick -6#
Little Pied Cormorant (Shag) - 15#^
Great Cormorant - 3#
TBC (all black Ducks) - 2#
Welcome Swallow -3#
Silvereye -1#

Those with an * were seen in Auckland. Those with a # were seen on the Coromandel peninsular. ^photo pending processing. Some IDing still to be done - once I can find a book shop !
We passed a small lake on the right (estuary on the left) on the way to Coromandel, there were many birds resting here - such a pity I hadn't saved just a little more of my wife's patience for this spot

[McMadd]

I think there's a book shop in Auckland but I could be wrong ;D

[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by McMadd

I think there's a book shop in Auckland but I could be wrong ;D

We are in Tauranga / Rotorua (we won't be in Auckland for another 10 days).

[McMadd]

No bookshop then ;D

[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by McMadd

No bookshop then ;D

Amazingly found it in Tauranga today ! A cool $52.

Anyway I've updated the list above and today (Rotorua and Akere waterfall) :-

Tui - delighted to see his bird. We heard it's unique call first, couldn't see it except through deep cover but an hour later we returned and it was close by again but this time feeding on small black berries. ^

Fantail - 1 same location as the Tui, some silver eyes and other small passerines. ^
Black Swan - 10
Mute Swan - 10+
NZ Scaup - 1,000+
NZ Robin - the only bird I got a shot of in the woods around Akere Falls as the others were lethargic (hit 33C in his area today) and most stayed high in the 30M high canopy - interesting calls though ! ^
Wild Turkey - 12 + chicks
Goldfinch - 4 or 5^

Have photo = ^

[thirudevaram]

So far, nothing is in fancy color n bold fonts, So no big birds yet? Take your time mate. Spring migration can wait.

Terry may have got some info for you, check his FB page for his recent NZ trip.

https://www.facebook.com/BirdingBeijing?fref=ts

[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by thirudevaram

So far, nothing is in fancy color n bold fonts, So no big birds yet? Take your time mate. Spring migration can wait.

Terry may have got some info for you, check his FB page for his recent NZ trip.

https://www.facebook.com/BirdingBeijing?fref=ts

Ha ha - some nice birds Dev, I just can't keep up with the PP though. Too much to do / see ! Here's some of the 46 species so far :

NZ Dotterel* (flock of 30 in Waitangi and 1 in Tauranga).
NZ Green Pigeon
Caspian Tern
Blue Penguin
Eastern Rosella
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
NZ Scaup
Pacific Black Duck*
Grey Duck*
Sacred Kingfisher
Spur Winged Plover &
5 species of Cormorants (Shags).

* big birds

[Frogfish]

7 species of Albatross ^ + Shearwaters ^ and Petrols ^. All kindly ID'd by our Capt !

Saddleback, Bellbird, Stitchbird, Red Crowned Parakeet and NZ Falcon (or black falcon - hopefully the long distance shots can confirm) and Takahe plus Sperm Whale, Fur Seals and Dusky, Common and Bottlenose dolphins too.

80 species so far although I doubt I can reach my 100 target.

I'm pretty certain I want to stay here though

[MKinHK]

Looking forward to the pix Kevin, especially of the seabirds.

Cheers
Mike

[thirudevaram]

Originally Posted by Frogfish

7 species of Albatross ^ + Shearwaters ^ and Petrols ^. All kindly ID'd by our Capt !

Saddleback, Bellbird, Stitchbird, Red Crowned Parakeet and NZ Falcon (or black falcon - hopefully the long distance shots can confirm) and Takahe plus Sperm Whale, Fur Seals and Dusky, Common and Bottlenose dolphins too.

80 species so far although I doubt I can reach my 100 target.

I'm pretty certain I want to stay here though

Stay there? Nah. You belong to the world's greatest flyway.

[MKinHK]

Agree with Dev.

NZ's avifauna comprises seabirds, six endemics (give or take) and twenty English songbirds. Cheers
Mike

[Frogfish]

:) Thanks Dev & Mike. I'm actually looking forward to being back for the Spring migration - though after driving 1,000's kms here China is going to be horrific. NZ is a really gorgeous country but I am stunned (as Mike pointed out) at the lack of birds inland here. Not only are the number of species very low but total numbers are too. More possums (roadkill every 50 yds) than birds it seems.

Kea, Tomtit and I think Rock Wren (need to confirm the call to be sure of the poor visual record) added today.

[McMadd]

[quote=Frogfish;2676917...I think Rock Wren (need to confirm the call to be sure of the poor visual record) added today.[/QUOTE]

No, NO...NOOOOO! I warned you about this...no seeing this stupid bird...not allowed...foul throw...high feet...

Grrr (from the business lounge at Vantaa so life ain't all bad...see ya soon ;D

[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by McMadd

No, NO...NOOOOO! I warned you about this...no seeing this stupid bird...not allowed...foul throw...high feet...

Grrr (from the business lounge at Vantaa so life ain't all bad...see ya soon ;D

Hope you are enjoying your Finnish sojourn. Back in a week.

[Frogfish]

Not taken in Shanghai - so hope you don't mind - just a taster, I'll be putting more up elsewhere with links here.

1. Takahe - not more than 200 remain in places like Tiri Tiri Matangi, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and Kapiti Island. Flightless bird. Mother feeding her solitary chick.

2. Bellbird - only found in NZ and in a few special native bush parks. Has the most gorgeous vocalisation and range.

3. Royal (Southern) Albatross

Looking forward to this weekend to see if the migration has started here yet !

[thirudevaram]

WOW, great teasers Kev. Welcome back to the real birding world.

[MKinHK]

Superb shots Kevin!

Those Takahes very clearly stopped evolving a long time ago!

Cheers
Mike

[Jeff hopkins]

Fantastic shots, Kevin. I love the albatross in flight!

[Frogfish]

Originally Posted by thirudevaram

WOW, great teasers Kev. Welcome back to the real birding world.

Thanks Dev !

Originally Posted by MKinHK

Superb shots Kevin!

Those Takahes very clearly stopped evolving a long time ago!

Cheers
Mike

Cheers Mike ! They certainly did, to their detriment. The very similar looking (though much lighter and flight-capable) Pukeko (Purple Swamphen) has thrived and is common.

Originally Posted by Jeff hopkins

Fantastic shots, Kevin. I love the albatross in flight!

Thanks Jeff !

[Frogfish]

Xiao Yang Shan & Nanhui with McMadd yesterday (what an awful day weather-wise, seems like it almost didn't climb above f2.8 light levels) !

Pics are of the flagged Great Knot.

(43)

Spot Billed duck
Gadwall
Tufted Duck
Barn Swallow
Ring Necked Dove
Grey Heron
BCN Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Woodcock
Common Snipe * (assumed)
Great Knot
Dunlin
Red Necked Stint
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Naumann's thrush
Pale Thrush
Dusky Thrush
Common Tern* (assumed)
Common Buzzard
Chinese Bulbul
White Wagtail (Ocularis)
Grey Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail (Taivana)
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Varied Tit
Red Flanked Bluetail
Long Tailed Shrike
Daurian Redstart
Vinous Throated Parrotbills
Crested Myna
Pallas' Bunting
Tree Sparrow
Water Pipit
Black Faced Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Brambling
Blackbird

Also :

Manchurian Bush Warbler * Heard 2 birds.

More links to pics that won't attach (sorry about the IQ but at 50-60yds on a very grey, very wet, day these are all i have) ! :-

http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/Te...oria%203-M.jpg

http://frogfish.smugmug.com/Other/Te...oria%202-M.jpg

[McMadd]

That's the one! From the flyway team:

This bird was flagged in Victoria (Australia), approximate co-ordinates
38deg 0min S, 145deg 0min E, which uses the flag combination Orange.

The resighting was a distance of approximately 8036 km, with a bearing
of 339 degrees, from the marking location.

Cheers
McM

[thirudevaram]

Nice trip folks. Good to see the shorebirds showing up @ Nanhui.

[Frogfish]

Fine day yesterday so where to go .... my fall back is always the open grounds and lakes of the Shanghai Zoo.

Mammal (not in a cage !) : same as last year if you remember (I'll refrain from naming them so that hopefully the search bots can't find this post). This time 3 of them were in a very quiet area and as I was hidden in a bush waiting for Azure Winged Magpies to come close (they didn't) they didn't see me. A youngster (I guess from last year's litter) kept hearing the click of the shutter and looking over my way - didn't spot me though and so the family continued their daily chores of cleaning and reaffirming bonds. Taken at distance at ca. 600mm (120-300+x2TC).

Spring was in the air for the Heron/Egret/Pelican colony as they searched for twigs to reinforce their nests, often stealing twigs from the nests next to them (resulting in pecking fights). And display rituals of the Mandarin ducks (ca. 50) were in evidence, though most ducks were already paired off. When I returned to the 'Mandarin Pond' later that day they had all gone to wherever they roost for the night - but I was lucky enough to still see a few in flight, circling around before disappearing over the treetops.

All the birds in the area were displaying their lovely breeding colours. However the migration has barely begun here, with very few species and very low numbers.

(24 species excluding resident geese/swans)

Mandarin Duck (ca. 50)
Common Shelduck (7)
Tufted Duck (1 - male)
Garganey (1 - male)
Mallard (4)
Swan Goose (6)
Bar Headed Goose (4)
Ring Necked Dove
BCN Heron (ca. 500)
Spot Billed Pelican (ca. 20)
Little Egret (ca. 100)
Grey Backed Thrush (1)
Dusky Thrush (2)
Chinese Bulbul (100's)
Red Whiskered Bulbul (1)
Little Grebe (4)
Great Tits - (Southern) (6)
Long Tailed Shrike (1)
Tree Sparrow
Blackbird (100's)
Arctic Warbler (1)
Magpie Robin (4)
Black Swans (6)
Azure Winged Magpies (ca. 50)

More photos to follow.
________________

From my 'Home Patch' (the villa compound I live in) 2 days ago :

Common Kingfishers (2) (male & female).
White Wagtail (1)
Vinous Throated Parrotbills (ca. 20)
Blackbirds
Chinese Bulbuls
Scaly Thrush (1)
Great Tits (Northern) (4)
Ring Necked Dove
Tree Sparrow
Long Tailed Shrike (1)
Arctic Warbler (1)