Hi all! Forever since I've posted here! I remain in Nanchang doing just a bit of birding in between the other busy parts of life. I have had a bit more time to get out this spring and have enjoyed lots of our most local birds (i.e. largely on campus). It seems I'm slow to get used to a new place - probably since I don't spend enough time taking notes - but I'm starting to see the local rhythms of birds here.
A couple interesting observations.... I had always thought the Chinese Grosbeaks were just here for the off season, but have been noticing them through May and got a good look at one last week, so they must be breeding here. I'm just figuring out how birds get so quiet at the breeding time of year! I also saw a mystery bird 2 weeks ago which I thought "must be a long-tailed Shrike" but it didn't seem right - just saw it flying in the distance. The other day when I was looking up local cuckoos I noticed the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, which I hadn't been very aware of could be in range here, so now I'm wondering "could it have been?!?"
This morning I went out to see fledgling action and wasn't disappointed! There were two different families of Japanese Thrush fathers feeding babies (of very different ages!). I also saw one (or two?) families of Sooty Bulbuls busily feeding two noisy youngsters, on ground and in a tree. The Sooties are not highly visible (or numerous?) most of the time so this was fun to see. In addition, there were Long-tailed Shrikes of several different ages I think. I also saw Magpie Robin and White Wagtail carrying worms off a ways. When I tried to watch the Wagtail, it flew to the top of our 18 story building. He wouldn't put a nest up there right?
I also went to an area the White-browed Laughingthrushes like and they set up a racket! I guessed they were scolding me, and then thought perhaps they were upset about another bird. There were a few other birds in those trees (and bamboo) but the only one I got a good view of was the Sooty Bulbul and kids.
A couple interesting observations.... I had always thought the Chinese Grosbeaks were just here for the off season, but have been noticing them through May and got a good look at one last week, so they must be breeding here. I'm just figuring out how birds get so quiet at the breeding time of year! I also saw a mystery bird 2 weeks ago which I thought "must be a long-tailed Shrike" but it didn't seem right - just saw it flying in the distance. The other day when I was looking up local cuckoos I noticed the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, which I hadn't been very aware of could be in range here, so now I'm wondering "could it have been?!?"
This morning I went out to see fledgling action and wasn't disappointed! There were two different families of Japanese Thrush fathers feeding babies (of very different ages!). I also saw one (or two?) families of Sooty Bulbuls busily feeding two noisy youngsters, on ground and in a tree. The Sooties are not highly visible (or numerous?) most of the time so this was fun to see. In addition, there were Long-tailed Shrikes of several different ages I think. I also saw Magpie Robin and White Wagtail carrying worms off a ways. When I tried to watch the Wagtail, it flew to the top of our 18 story building. He wouldn't put a nest up there right?
I also went to an area the White-browed Laughingthrushes like and they set up a racket! I guessed they were scolding me, and then thought perhaps they were upset about another bird. There were a few other birds in those trees (and bamboo) but the only one I got a good view of was the Sooty Bulbul and kids.
