Mark Bruce
Super Moderator
Super shots of the Mugi. A lovely male unexpectedly graced my local path on Thursday morning.
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China 2010 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Shi Jin
- Start date
Thursday, 13th May
Hebei, Happy Island
I planned to leave the island at 9.30am, and get back to Beidaihe by 2pm to catch the train to Beijing, so I was determined to make the most of the little time that remained.
I made an even earlier start than yesterday - out at 4am and, following a brisk 30 minute walk, I was in the Temple Woods - the scene of most of yesterday's action.
Even in the half-light it was clear that there were still lots of birds there. There were several Siberian Blue Robins, including the first female of the year ("only" males yesterday... c20 of them!), c30 Eye-browed Thrushes, a White's Thrush and a flighty (aren't they all) Siberian Thrush - a female.
Yesterday I had struggled to get any kind of shot of Daurian Starling, so I was pleased to find one perched on the top of a bush. The only problem was it was about 5am and what little light there was, was directly behind it. Any adjustment more than 2 stops is destined to fail, so I put the camera down and picked the binoculars up instead.
On to West Wood, where I had found a tame Claudia's Warbler yesterday. On the way there, I saw the first of two Chinese Song Thrushes I would see that morning. I also accidently flushed an Indian Nightjar (failing to get my camera on it as it flew off).
The West Woods held several male Siberian Rubythroats (new in today), 3 Yellow-browed Buntings and a White's Thrush.
I then saw something just above the skyline flying towards me. My first thoughts were "Woodcock". I easily managed to put my lens on it as the bird flew level and straight for more than 200 yards - not very Woodcock like with the benefit of hindsight. Through the viewfinder, though, the heaviness of the bird did nothing to persuade me that it wasn't a Woodcock. Funnily enough I don't carry my reading glasses with me when I'm birding, so it was difficult to see any detail when reviewing the images.
After looking at the shots on the computer later that day, I felt sure that the bird was, in fact, a Swinhoe's Snipe (336) As well as its heavy build and "barrel-chestedness" (vis a vis Pin-tailed), and its straight flight, it was also flying low over an extensive area of dry grassland. I won't mention the plumage differences that I think support the identification (as per Brazil) because I am aware that the general consensus is that Swinhoe's is impossible to identify on plumage characteristics alone.
Interestingly, my only other claimed Swinhoe's was 8 years ago to the day, in exactly the same place on Happy Island!
Shortly after this encounter, a friend who was also birding the woods told me that his group had just found an Asian Stubtail. Although tempted (I haven't seen this species in more than three years), I decided to stick to my self-found mantra and ignored the bird.
But I couldn't ignore what I saw fly out of the bushes as I was talking to the group of birders... a small owl. Then another. And another. And yet another. There were owls seemingly everywhere (one person said there were "8", another "10". I'll stick to "several"). But several of what? Collared Scops Owl, although rare, is theoretically possible (although a flock of them would be unprecedented). They were of course Oriental Scops Owls (337). I don't use the word amazing very often, but I can't think of any other word to describe the experience of seeing several Oriental Scops flying around an area only slightly bigger than a postage stamp.
As I was walking to the boat, the sight of a starling flying into a bush just in front of me, stopped me in my tracks. After a few minutes, two Daurian Starlings (338) hopped in to view. The sun, which had been shining brightly for the past two days, bathed them in beautiful light. Amazing!
BTW Little Tern (339)
Hebei, Happy Island
I planned to leave the island at 9.30am, and get back to Beidaihe by 2pm to catch the train to Beijing, so I was determined to make the most of the little time that remained.
I made an even earlier start than yesterday - out at 4am and, following a brisk 30 minute walk, I was in the Temple Woods - the scene of most of yesterday's action.
Even in the half-light it was clear that there were still lots of birds there. There were several Siberian Blue Robins, including the first female of the year ("only" males yesterday... c20 of them!), c30 Eye-browed Thrushes, a White's Thrush and a flighty (aren't they all) Siberian Thrush - a female.
Yesterday I had struggled to get any kind of shot of Daurian Starling, so I was pleased to find one perched on the top of a bush. The only problem was it was about 5am and what little light there was, was directly behind it. Any adjustment more than 2 stops is destined to fail, so I put the camera down and picked the binoculars up instead.
On to West Wood, where I had found a tame Claudia's Warbler yesterday. On the way there, I saw the first of two Chinese Song Thrushes I would see that morning. I also accidently flushed an Indian Nightjar (failing to get my camera on it as it flew off).
The West Woods held several male Siberian Rubythroats (new in today), 3 Yellow-browed Buntings and a White's Thrush.
I then saw something just above the skyline flying towards me. My first thoughts were "Woodcock". I easily managed to put my lens on it as the bird flew level and straight for more than 200 yards - not very Woodcock like with the benefit of hindsight. Through the viewfinder, though, the heaviness of the bird did nothing to persuade me that it wasn't a Woodcock. Funnily enough I don't carry my reading glasses with me when I'm birding, so it was difficult to see any detail when reviewing the images.
After looking at the shots on the computer later that day, I felt sure that the bird was, in fact, a Swinhoe's Snipe (336) As well as its heavy build and "barrel-chestedness" (vis a vis Pin-tailed), and its straight flight, it was also flying low over an extensive area of dry grassland. I won't mention the plumage differences that I think support the identification (as per Brazil) because I am aware that the general consensus is that Swinhoe's is impossible to identify on plumage characteristics alone.
Interestingly, my only other claimed Swinhoe's was 8 years ago to the day, in exactly the same place on Happy Island!
Shortly after this encounter, a friend who was also birding the woods told me that his group had just found an Asian Stubtail. Although tempted (I haven't seen this species in more than three years), I decided to stick to my self-found mantra and ignored the bird.
But I couldn't ignore what I saw fly out of the bushes as I was talking to the group of birders... a small owl. Then another. And another. And yet another. There were owls seemingly everywhere (one person said there were "8", another "10". I'll stick to "several"). But several of what? Collared Scops Owl, although rare, is theoretically possible (although a flock of them would be unprecedented). They were of course Oriental Scops Owls (337). I don't use the word amazing very often, but I can't think of any other word to describe the experience of seeing several Oriental Scops flying around an area only slightly bigger than a postage stamp.
As I was walking to the boat, the sight of a starling flying into a bush just in front of me, stopped me in my tracks. After a few minutes, two Daurian Starlings (338) hopped in to view. The sun, which had been shining brightly for the past two days, bathed them in beautiful light. Amazing!
BTW Little Tern (339)
Last edited:
Mark Bruce
Super Moderator
Super shots :t: !
Thanks Mark, Gretchen, Andrew and GDK
Delighted that you are enjoying the pics.
Alas, I'm in an office in Shanghai at the moment with no chance of adding to the collection...
The good news is that I'll be flying back to Beijing tomorrow morning... and plan to drive out for a few days birding over the weekend...
So, watch this space.
Delighted that you are enjoying the pics.
Alas, I'm in an office in Shanghai at the moment with no chance of adding to the collection...
The good news is that I'll be flying back to Beijing tomorrow morning... and plan to drive out for a few days birding over the weekend...
So, watch this space.
Saturday, 22nd May
Hebei, Beidaihe area
Back again to Beidaihe... my 4th visit this Spring.
I arrived at the Magic Wood, Nandaihe at 5.30am with high expectations. In previous years around about this date, I've photographed Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Brown Hawk Owk, Von Schrenck's Bittern, Indian Nightjar, Elisa's Flycatcher, Northerm Hawk Cuckoo, Pere David's Bush Warbler and many more star birds here (the Yellow-legged Button-Quail slipped away alas). So what would this morning bring...
Nothing mega, but some excellent birds nevertheless (and very good light, except for the Moorhen 340, which was photographed flying towards the rising sun):
More than a dozen Black-browed Reed Warblers (341) brought the apron of the woods to life; perhaps up to half-a-dozen Thick-billed Warblers (342) played and won several games of hide and seek (is this the wariest warbler in the world I wonder); a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (343) was also playing hard to get, but gave up in the end I'm pleased to report; a late Arctic Warbler also showed itself. And the Siberian Flycatchers (344) - always the last flycatcher to grace these woods - had, at last, arrived.
So, all in all, a fine start to the day.
On to the Dai Orchard, where a long wait next to the wood-pile for the songster with the fine warbling voice to show itself was rewarded with close-up photos of a bird I see and hear all too rarely: a Manchurian Reed Warbler (345).
Lotus Hills didn't disappoint. It usually throws up a few surprises in between the 22 and 25th May (in previous years I've found Fujian Niltava, Chinese Song Thrush, Japanese Waxwing, and Beidaihe's first Orange-headed Ground Thrush here at this time). The Ground Thrush is particularly noteworthy in being (most probably) the world's most northerly record of this species. It was a bit of a slog though, but eventually I landed two prizes: A very tired-looking Swinhoe's Robin (347) and a very flighty Brown Hawk Owl which, despite my best efforts, eluded my lens. There was also a flock of Chesnut-sided White-eyes (346) here and several Black-naped Orioles (348).
The Friendship Hotel gardens are great for a number of reasons. Wonderful birds (thrush-types are its speciality) and the best children's play area in Beidaihe (6 year-olds aren't that keen on birding strangely enough).
So a couple of happy campers: I found no fewer than three Swinhoe's Robins and my youngest daughter also had a great time.
I had to get back home for a 4pm conference call, but managed to add Crested Myna (349) on the way back.
Photos will follow soon...
Hebei, Beidaihe area
Back again to Beidaihe... my 4th visit this Spring.
I arrived at the Magic Wood, Nandaihe at 5.30am with high expectations. In previous years around about this date, I've photographed Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Brown Hawk Owk, Von Schrenck's Bittern, Indian Nightjar, Elisa's Flycatcher, Northerm Hawk Cuckoo, Pere David's Bush Warbler and many more star birds here (the Yellow-legged Button-Quail slipped away alas). So what would this morning bring...
Nothing mega, but some excellent birds nevertheless (and very good light, except for the Moorhen 340, which was photographed flying towards the rising sun):
More than a dozen Black-browed Reed Warblers (341) brought the apron of the woods to life; perhaps up to half-a-dozen Thick-billed Warblers (342) played and won several games of hide and seek (is this the wariest warbler in the world I wonder); a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (343) was also playing hard to get, but gave up in the end I'm pleased to report; a late Arctic Warbler also showed itself. And the Siberian Flycatchers (344) - always the last flycatcher to grace these woods - had, at last, arrived.
So, all in all, a fine start to the day.
On to the Dai Orchard, where a long wait next to the wood-pile for the songster with the fine warbling voice to show itself was rewarded with close-up photos of a bird I see and hear all too rarely: a Manchurian Reed Warbler (345).
Lotus Hills didn't disappoint. It usually throws up a few surprises in between the 22 and 25th May (in previous years I've found Fujian Niltava, Chinese Song Thrush, Japanese Waxwing, and Beidaihe's first Orange-headed Ground Thrush here at this time). The Ground Thrush is particularly noteworthy in being (most probably) the world's most northerly record of this species. It was a bit of a slog though, but eventually I landed two prizes: A very tired-looking Swinhoe's Robin (347) and a very flighty Brown Hawk Owl which, despite my best efforts, eluded my lens. There was also a flock of Chesnut-sided White-eyes (346) here and several Black-naped Orioles (348).
The Friendship Hotel gardens are great for a number of reasons. Wonderful birds (thrush-types are its speciality) and the best children's play area in Beidaihe (6 year-olds aren't that keen on birding strangely enough).
So a couple of happy campers: I found no fewer than three Swinhoe's Robins and my youngest daughter also had a great time.
I had to get back home for a 4pm conference call, but managed to add Crested Myna (349) on the way back.
Photos will follow soon...
Last edited:
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
That play area in the friendship had a Siberian Bush Warbler on Friday and a Tiger Shrike by the tennis courts! 
Orange-headed Ground Thrush and Paradise Fly in the Magic Wood same day :smoke:
Black Bittern at the reservoir if you're still in the area with a couple of Von Shrenk's
Mark
Orange-headed Ground Thrush and Paradise Fly in the Magic Wood same day :smoke:
Black Bittern at the reservoir if you're still in the area with a couple of Von Shrenk's
Mark
