March 27 2016
Thanks, Tom. Getting into the time of the year where keeping the photos organized and weeding out the chaff can become a task at times, which is a good thing for me since getting those really good shots is a big part of the fun for me.
Made a swing by the reed beds near home in the last few days and though only the beginnings of the migration evident there were some concerning signs. First of all, as I already mentioned the smaller bed of maybe 3 hectare where I first spotted the Water Pipit has been completely filled in, apparently for an expansion of the private school it abuts. I also noted that the larger reed beds of perhaps 15 hectare, directly across the road, which have been untouched due to a development project abandoned when the local government instituted a five year development freeze, had the reeds cut down across its expanse this year. I am hoping that it was connected with the Dawa Winter Straw Art Festival which had displays, some quite large and/or elaborate, springing up everywhere. So far no other signs of activity.
Just west of that are even larger beds which have had increased oil and/or natural gas drilling activity, but minimal disturbance of the reeds up until now. Not only were the reeds cut down but they were obviously done with machinery as they were bailed. A new fire station was built on the edge of this last year and they had dug out a pond directly behind it. I assume for an emergency water supply and several ditches were either new or deepened. Nobody seems to appreciate the importance of the wetlands to the overall environment. :-C
A related point to all this is that the hydrology of this area somewhat fascinates me, but not being a Civil Engineer I don't really understand it. We, as is most of North-East China, are in the middle of a severe drought. I estimate that we actually received no more than 2-3 centimeters of moisture since November first, but one can actually observe the water rising even in reed beds which are now cut off and have no connection to any stream, canal or lake. Even in the irrigation canal, which has not been flooded yet, the water is slowly rising. Apparently snow melt from the mountains slowly works its way to here and resurfaces. My wife was recruited to teach in Panjin back in the mid '80s when it was first being established and refused the position on the basis of it being one big swamp. The whole place is built on filled in land.
On the latest swing through that area. The migration appears to be a bit delayed from what it was last spring with the Bluetail and Buntings just now starting to return. I did spot a small group of White-cheeked Starling.
Panjin, Dawa County, Liaoning, CN, Liaoning, CN
Mar 27, 2016 12:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 kilometer(s)
11 species
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 1
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) 5
Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis) 1
Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus) 1
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) 5
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata) 4
Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla) 15
Yellow-throated Bunting (Emberiza elegans) 30
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) 1
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 30
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