Geese are confirmed as Lesser Whitefronts! Thanks to Mike for pointing it out and Paul Holt for clarification. Very happy here in Jinshitan! Life bird for me and #287 on the Jinshitan list. They beat Greater Whitefronts on that specific list.
The sad news is that the 4 of them were circling and circling trying to find a place to land but each time they were unable to due to large machinery in the area. Finally they flew off headed north northwest. A truck had stopped beside me and was trying to tell me I wasn't allowed there when they came into view. The driver and the 2 passengers got a good lesson in the excitement that finding any kind of goose in Jinshitan brings. I think they thought I was trying to get away from them as I ran away yelling "big duck big duck" in Chinese. After they caught up to me again I pointed out the geese to which they calmy said "you can't be here". I believe I said "yes I understand" as I continued snapping photos. They finally just left me. The same truck with the same passengers drove right past me while I was on my belly in the wet sand photographing the Common Redshank in the last post. This time they didn't even stop or acknowledge my presence.
I also flushed a rabbit on one of the dikes that separate the ponds and it went running down the tire track section of the path right at two older Chinese lads complete with the Mao jackets and hats. The two men had to be in their 70s. Upon seeing a rabbit heading straight for them, they immediately sprung into action grabbing a stick and some stones each. I watched in my binos as these two old guys tried to find their prize in the scrub. I knew exactly where the rabbit went in and watched as they walked right past it. After they had passed the rabbit sprung back out into the tire track and bolted away. These two guys, without any kind of chance at catching it or even the ability to throw a stone as far as the rabbit was, gave chase. They ran for about 15 seconds and then gave up. Both of them looked well cared for and reasonably healthy. I think old habits die hard. We wonder why there are no mammals around......If you see a rabbit, kill it. Great entertainment out on a dike at the mercy of the Dalian winter wind.
It rained yesterday for the first time in nearly 3 months. I found myself walking around in it just for fun. Kind of like a person who sees snow for the first time I guess. Spring is around the corner.
