October 18 - Is winter coming?
The local boys, me and Kevin P and visting birder from US,Rusty Wilson, we all went to our usual jaunt of Yangshan and Nanhui. Not a spectacular raptor parade as the last weekend but we had plenty of action. Peregrines going at each other, then Peregine Vs Eurasian Hobby, , Common Kestrel Vs Buzzard, Common Kestrel Vs Eurasian Sparrowhawk, and then a triple threat action between Peregrine Vs Hobby Vs Common Kestrel. A very tight game to claim their winter territory, this is when i though the winter is coming. To prove that wrong, 4 Himalayan Swiftlets flew over head. These birds were regularly seen in Shanghai since July(?) this year. Also, more Stejneger's stonechat on passage.
And finally we had no trouble in clinching a flock of 11 "Japanase Grosbeaks" in Yangshan and later 2 in the car park of Nanhui. 8 "Red Knots" at Nanhui in their winter plumage were really asking the question, "Jon Snow, is winter really coming?"