A milder day so we visited Barnes this afternoon. The highlights were some Siskins in the trees by the feeders - with Goldfinch and Blue Tit, so some sort of a yellow-bird party going on! - and the Bitterns. We could see 3 from the Peacock Hide, and saw one being chased by a couple of crows so had excellent views of it in flight.
Full list: Long-Tailed, Blue and Great Tits, Shoveler, Shelduck, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Teal, Wigeon, Dabchick, Canada Goose, Robin, Wren, Crow, Magpie, Jay, Siskin, Goidfinch, Egyptian Goose, Bittern, Pochard, Blackbird, Ring Necked Parakeet, Chaffinch, Mute Swan, Starling, Cormorant and (as we got into our car!), Goldcrest.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
We took a few days last week to stay at Portland Bird Observatory. It is an old lighthouse magnificently located on Portland Bill and one can book to stay in bunk rooms in the lighthouse or the adjoining cottage. Daily activity is centred around regular checks of the nets which are strung throughout the garden to gently capture some of the many birds which use this little area of copse and garden as a stopping-off point. The first daily check is around 0800 and there is a great sense of anticipation as the experts head off at the appointed hour - I thought I detected a hint of a skip in the first step of even the most seasoned ringer..
The nets are re-checked throughout the day, and any find is carefully disentangled, brought round for general scrutiny and admiration, then prior to release, if it is of particular interest, put in a soft bag for weights, measures, and ringing. This process has been going on for decades and the marvellous database is already online as far back as 2000, with the full history being worked on by a team of copy typists I believe.
The front room of the Obs has large windows opening onto a patio with a great view over the sea, so the mixed group of regulars, residents, locals and visitors can keep an eye on the sea, get periodic updates from the garden and are also at the epicentre of bird-intell for the area. All the latest news, with Martin's fantastic photographs are put on the website.
This lovely, comfortable, friendly room must be one of the 'birdiest' places on earth - packed with books and paintings and magazines, and conversation benefiting from the presence of some extraordinary knowledge and experience, Where else could a lengthy discussion be sustained on the short feathers just below the beak of a Pallas' Warbler?
On our first day we arrived late and headed down to the Bill (Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits). Bad call- we missed by just 30 mins the find-of-the-week Pallas' Warbler.
We were up sharp for the morning check, but this was officially rated 'extremely quiet'. Couldnt actually have been any quieter, since there were no birds at all in the nets! Over our 2 days we saw Wren, Greenfinch and Redwing fron the nets.
Seawatching yielded Gannets, Lesser BB gulls, Cormorants, Guillemot (L), Great Skua (L). The local trees and fields had loads of Linnets, Goldfinch, Housesparrow with a Buzzard, a pair of active Kestrels and a Merlin.
Down at the Bill subsequently we found the reported Black Redstarts
The nets are re-checked throughout the day, and any find is carefully disentangled, brought round for general scrutiny and admiration, then prior to release, if it is of particular interest, put in a soft bag for weights, measures, and ringing. This process has been going on for decades and the marvellous database is already online as far back as 2000, with the full history being worked on by a team of copy typists I believe.
The front room of the Obs has large windows opening onto a patio with a great view over the sea, so the mixed group of regulars, residents, locals and visitors can keep an eye on the sea, get periodic updates from the garden and are also at the epicentre of bird-intell for the area. All the latest news, with Martin's fantastic photographs are put on the website.
This lovely, comfortable, friendly room must be one of the 'birdiest' places on earth - packed with books and paintings and magazines, and conversation benefiting from the presence of some extraordinary knowledge and experience, Where else could a lengthy discussion be sustained on the short feathers just below the beak of a Pallas' Warbler?
On our first day we arrived late and headed down to the Bill (Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits). Bad call- we missed by just 30 mins the find-of-the-week Pallas' Warbler.
We were up sharp for the morning check, but this was officially rated 'extremely quiet'. Couldnt actually have been any quieter, since there were no birds at all in the nets! Over our 2 days we saw Wren, Greenfinch and Redwing fron the nets.
Seawatching yielded Gannets, Lesser BB gulls, Cormorants, Guillemot (L), Great Skua (L). The local trees and fields had loads of Linnets, Goldfinch, Housesparrow with a Buzzard, a pair of active Kestrels and a Merlin.
Down at the Bill subsequently we found the reported Black Redstarts
Portland Bird Observatory
We took a few days last week to stay at Portland Bird Observatory. It is an old lighthouse magnificently located on Portland Bill and one can book to stay in bunk rooms in the lighthouse or the adjoining cottage. Daily activity is centred around regular checks of the nets which are strung throughout the garden to gently capture some of the many birds which use this little area of copse and garden as a stopping-off point. The first daily check is around 0800 and there is a great sense of anticipation as the experts head off at the appointed hour - I thought I detected a hint of a skip in the first step of even the most seasoned ringer..
The nets are re-checked throughout the day, and any find is carefully disentangled, brought round for general scrutiny and admiration, then prior to release, if it is of particular interest, put in a soft bag for weights, measures, and ringing. This process has been going on for decades and the marvellous database is already online as far back as 2000, with the full history being worked on by a team of copy typists I believe.
The front room of the Obs has large windows opening onto a patio with a great view over the sea, so the mixed group of regulars, residents, locals and visitors can keep an eye on the sea, get periodic updates from the garden and are also at the epicentre of bird-intell for the area. All the latest news, with Martin's fantastic photographs are put on the website.
This lovely, comfortable, friendly room must be one of the 'birdiest' places on earth - packed with books and paintings and magazines, and conversation benefiting from the presence of some extraordinary knowledge and experience, Where else could a lengthy discussion be sustained on the short feathers just below the beak of a Pallas' Warbler?
On our first day we arrived late and headed down to the Bill (Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits). Bad call- we missed by just 30 mins the find-of-the-week Pallas' Warbler.
We were up sharp for the morning check, but this was officially rated 'extremely quiet'. Couldnt actually have been any quieter, since there were no birds at all in the nets! Over our 2 days we saw Wren, Greenfinch and Redwing fron the nets.
Seawatching yielded Gannets, Lesser BB gulls, Cormorants, Guillemot (L), Great Skua (L). The local trees and fields had loads of Linnets, Goldfinch, Housesparrow with a Buzzard, a pair of active Kestrels and a Merlin.
Down at the Bill subsequently we found the reported Black Redstarts
The nets are re-checked throughout the day, and any find is carefully disentangled, brought round for general scrutiny and admiration, then prior to release, if it is of particular interest, put in a soft bag for weights, measures, and ringing. This process has been going on for decades and the marvellous database is already online as far back as 2000, with the full history being worked on by a team of copy typists I believe.
The front room of the Obs has large windows opening onto a patio with a great view over the sea, so the mixed group of regulars, residents, locals and visitors can keep an eye on the sea, get periodic updates from the garden and are also at the epicentre of bird-intell for the area. All the latest news, with Martin's fantastic photographs are put on the website.
This lovely, comfortable, friendly room must be one of the 'birdiest' places on earth - packed with books and paintings and magazines, and conversation benefiting from the presence of some extraordinary knowledge and experience, Where else could a lengthy discussion be sustained on the short feathers just below the beak of a Pallas' Warbler?
On our first day we arrived late and headed down to the Bill (Pied Wagtails and Rock Pipits). Bad call- we missed by just 30 mins the find-of-the-week Pallas' Warbler.
We were up sharp for the morning check, but this was officially rated 'extremely quiet'. Couldnt actually have been any quieter, since there were no birds at all in the nets! Over our 2 days we saw Wren, Greenfinch and Redwing fron the nets.
Seawatching yielded Gannets, Lesser BB gulls, Cormorants, Guillemot (L), Great Skua (L). The local trees and fields had loads of Linnets, Goldfinch, Housesparrow with a Buzzard, a pair of active Kestrels and a Merlin.
Down at the Bill subsequently we found the reported Black Redstarts
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Cley 28 Aug- 1 Sep
For my parents' golden wedding anniversary, all the families got together for a few wonderful days at Cley-Next-the-Sea. From the car on the journey, we saw a harrier with a white rump - unmistakably a Hen Harrier. Great start! On arrival, we only had time for a short walk down to the sea, but nonetheless saw Wheatear, Spoonbill, Kingfisher, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Common tern, Black Headed Gull, Little Egret, Coot, Moorhen, Ruff, Greenshank, Redshank, Mallard, Shelduck, Grey Heron, Curlew, Woodpigeon and Lesser Black Backed Gull. There was a group of twitchers along the shingle so we tramped to catch up with them and were fortunate to spot the target - Short Toed Lark. Happily, toe-length is not the sole distinguishing feature - pale colour (and the guidance of experts) better guide.
On Sunday I had a glorious morning run out to Blakeney and back, and picked up Blue Tit, Dunlin and Marsh Harrier. we then did a big family walk along the shingle, in increasingly stormy conditions, to Salthouse (where we bought Samphire and Cromer Crabs) and back. We added Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Jackdaw, Starling (there were some spectacular evening flock displays - and I also must confess to having got over-excited when mistaking juvenile starlings for something more interesting), Pied Wagtail, Avocet, Goldfinch, Lapwing, Greater Black Backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Dabchick, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Great Tit, shoveler, Kestrel, Pheasant and the great highlight, a Common Crane flying overhead and then landing on a field. What a magnificent sight. In flight it is so long that it undulates, and then on the ground it really is of an ostrich scale.
A real storm was in progress now and Leo spent time down with the hardy souls cowering behind the shelter, but was rewarded with Great Skua, Gannet, Common Scoter (L) , Turnstone (L) and the next morning added Pomarine skua (L).
When the weather cleared up , we had a couple of sunny days with more time spent in the hides and added Curlew Sandpiper, Carrion crow, Wigeon, Teal, Common Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Hooded crow (L), House Martin, Coal Tit, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Snipe, Whinchat, Dunnock, Yellow Legged Gull. We also saw Barn Owl from the enormous window at the cottage, and another at the stone bridge near the Swallow Inn, as predicted by Ben. News from the church there is that the proposed stained glass window to commemorate the White Crowned sparrow (and funded by its viewers) has been approved.
The other birds about which we didnt see where Bluethroat up towards Blakeney, Icterine Warbler around Snipe Marsh and Red Backed Shrike off the Salthouuse Road.
On Sunday I had a glorious morning run out to Blakeney and back, and picked up Blue Tit, Dunlin and Marsh Harrier. we then did a big family walk along the shingle, in increasingly stormy conditions, to Salthouse (where we bought Samphire and Cromer Crabs) and back. We added Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Jackdaw, Starling (there were some spectacular evening flock displays - and I also must confess to having got over-excited when mistaking juvenile starlings for something more interesting), Pied Wagtail, Avocet, Goldfinch, Lapwing, Greater Black Backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Dabchick, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Great Tit, shoveler, Kestrel, Pheasant and the great highlight, a Common Crane flying overhead and then landing on a field. What a magnificent sight. In flight it is so long that it undulates, and then on the ground it really is of an ostrich scale.
A real storm was in progress now and Leo spent time down with the hardy souls cowering behind the shelter, but was rewarded with Great Skua, Gannet, Common Scoter (L) , Turnstone (L) and the next morning added Pomarine skua (L).
When the weather cleared up , we had a couple of sunny days with more time spent in the hides and added Curlew Sandpiper, Carrion crow, Wigeon, Teal, Common Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Hooded crow (L), House Martin, Coal Tit, Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Snipe, Whinchat, Dunnock, Yellow Legged Gull. We also saw Barn Owl from the enormous window at the cottage, and another at the stone bridge near the Swallow Inn, as predicted by Ben. News from the church there is that the proposed stained glass window to commemorate the White Crowned sparrow (and funded by its viewers) has been approved.
The other birds about which we didnt see where Bluethroat up towards Blakeney, Icterine Warbler around Snipe Marsh and Red Backed Shrike off the Salthouuse Road.
Vietnam & Cambodia Aug 2010
We flew to Hanoi via Kuala Lumpur, which involved a couple of hours’ layover in KL airport. It is a shiny new airport and includes an enclosed area of a couple of dozen trees which one can boardwalk through. It was good to get some fresh (albeit hot and humid) air, and we also saw a Large Billed Crow and a pair of Black Naped Orioles in the trees. Common Mynas were, well, common and we saw some small birds chasing away a bird of prey which we decided was a Long Legged Buzzard.
Upon arrival in Hanoi our bleary eyes saw Tree Sparrows and a Red Whiskered Bulbul.
Day 1 in Hanoi took us to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum complex where we found a Common Tailorbird skulking in the bamboo. Numerous Oriental Magpie Robins.
Day 2 early start to Ha Long bay. Maybe due to overfishing (apparently they used to use dynamite), the birds are disappointing. Black Kites everywhere. Saw several Blue Rock Thrushes on the cliffs and an occasional Pacific Reef Egret. Couple of Blue Eared Kingfishers.
Day 3 back to Hanoi and at our loo stop we found Oriental White Eye in a palm tree.
From the bus, Leo saw Yellow Bittern. Numerous Little Egrets and Barn Swallows.
Overnight on the Re-Unification Express from Hanoi to Hue. From the window White Throated Kingfishers and Black Drongos on power cables.
Next day at the mausoleum, Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker and Red Collared Dove.
Leo has seen Green Tailed Sunbirds.
In Hoi An a Burmese Shrike (pic) in a tree at the farm and confirmed Great White Egret. Confirmed that the mystery bird at Marble Mountain was a Stripe Throated Bulbul.
On the way to My Lai, a great view of a Yellow Bittern flying over the road.
My Lai itself seemed to have a lot of birds, but neither of us could contemplate looking at them in a place of such horror.
An early flight from Danang to Saigon and then a long coach journey into the Mekong delta. At a loo stop, got a picture of a Scaly Breasted Munia.
Once on the longtail boat and heading into the delta proper the birds got better. Our local guide said that the kids here still use airguns to shoot birds - which is a variant on 'we've eaten them all' and 'the american defoliants are responsible'. I suspect all the above are factors.
We saw a beautiful Cinnamon Bittern, almost glowing amongst the mangroves. Collared Kingfishers patrolling their territories - apparently more often seen in evenings when tide is low so they can see the fish in the brown murky water, though surely the tide timings vary across all times of the day??
A Greater Coucal seen by Leo. Lydia spotted a brown wagtail which was surely the Mekong Wagtail, but I only saw a flutter.
Asian Palm Swifts emerging as usual as the afternoon progresses.
From our homestay we did a perambulation and nailed Ashy Tailorbird and Common Iora, both of which are particularly badly represented in both the Photographic guide and Craig Robson's. Also a White-Throated Fantail and Golden-Bellied Gerygone.
In Saigon itself no obvious venues, but the grounds of the Independence Palace at least yielded White-Vented Myna, Spotted Dove and Streak-Eared Bulbul.
The 'big' birding trip from Siem Reap is a full day to Tonle Sap which is apparently very expensive ($60ph?), and we just didn't have time for this, so instead just took opportunities as they arose whilst touring the temples.
At Angkor Wat, a Shikra patrolling over head. At Angkor Thom, a pair of Red Breasted Parakeets (pic).
Next day, at Beng Melea I saw a pair of Hooded Orioles high in a tree. We then went off to a fishing community in stilt/floating houses and took a boat trip along their river and out into the lake. We saw some massive birds circling up and identified them as Lesser Adjutants.
Upon arrival in Hanoi our bleary eyes saw Tree Sparrows and a Red Whiskered Bulbul.
Day 1 in Hanoi took us to Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum complex where we found a Common Tailorbird skulking in the bamboo. Numerous Oriental Magpie Robins.
Day 2 early start to Ha Long bay. Maybe due to overfishing (apparently they used to use dynamite), the birds are disappointing. Black Kites everywhere. Saw several Blue Rock Thrushes on the cliffs and an occasional Pacific Reef Egret. Couple of Blue Eared Kingfishers.
Day 3 back to Hanoi and at our loo stop we found Oriental White Eye in a palm tree.
From the bus, Leo saw Yellow Bittern. Numerous Little Egrets and Barn Swallows.
Overnight on the Re-Unification Express from Hanoi to Hue. From the window White Throated Kingfishers and Black Drongos on power cables.
Next day at the mausoleum, Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker and Red Collared Dove.
Leo has seen Green Tailed Sunbirds.
In Hoi An a Burmese Shrike (pic) in a tree at the farm and confirmed Great White Egret. Confirmed that the mystery bird at Marble Mountain was a Stripe Throated Bulbul.
On the way to My Lai, a great view of a Yellow Bittern flying over the road.
My Lai itself seemed to have a lot of birds, but neither of us could contemplate looking at them in a place of such horror.
An early flight from Danang to Saigon and then a long coach journey into the Mekong delta. At a loo stop, got a picture of a Scaly Breasted Munia.
Once on the longtail boat and heading into the delta proper the birds got better. Our local guide said that the kids here still use airguns to shoot birds - which is a variant on 'we've eaten them all' and 'the american defoliants are responsible'. I suspect all the above are factors.
We saw a beautiful Cinnamon Bittern, almost glowing amongst the mangroves. Collared Kingfishers patrolling their territories - apparently more often seen in evenings when tide is low so they can see the fish in the brown murky water, though surely the tide timings vary across all times of the day??
A Greater Coucal seen by Leo. Lydia spotted a brown wagtail which was surely the Mekong Wagtail, but I only saw a flutter.
Asian Palm Swifts emerging as usual as the afternoon progresses.
From our homestay we did a perambulation and nailed Ashy Tailorbird and Common Iora, both of which are particularly badly represented in both the Photographic guide and Craig Robson's. Also a White-Throated Fantail and Golden-Bellied Gerygone.
In Saigon itself no obvious venues, but the grounds of the Independence Palace at least yielded White-Vented Myna, Spotted Dove and Streak-Eared Bulbul.
The 'big' birding trip from Siem Reap is a full day to Tonle Sap which is apparently very expensive ($60ph?), and we just didn't have time for this, so instead just took opportunities as they arose whilst touring the temples.
At Angkor Wat, a Shikra patrolling over head. At Angkor Thom, a pair of Red Breasted Parakeets (pic).
Next day, at Beng Melea I saw a pair of Hooded Orioles high in a tree. We then went off to a fishing community in stilt/floating houses and took a boat trip along their river and out into the lake. We saw some massive birds circling up and identified them as Lesser Adjutants.
Friday, July 30, 2010
General update!
Went to Mumbai last week. First visit since early 1990s and the most noticeable bird factor was not seeing any vultures. I remember on our previous vist - first visit - we arrived at night, then emerged blinking into dazzling sunlight in the morning with our first ever vultures, hornbills, parakeets, kites flying overhead, a totally stunning experience.
All I saw this time were pigeons, lots of Indian House Crows (pic), sparrows, kites and a few parakeets.
Last weekend I went to collect Leo's luggage from his flooded-out sojourn at the Glaslyn Osprey centre and we were given permission to go to the observation hide close to the nests where, even through the pouring rain we got to see 2 ospreys, which come to think of it are my first sightings in the UK.
And finally, on an early morning run today I saw 2 Egyptian geese in the river just by Putney boathouses!
Friday, July 02, 2010
China / Wetlands
Hangzhou 26 June
It has been a rather gruelling week with 2 days in Jakarta and flying visits to Singapore and Hong Kong – living in air-conditioning hotel/taxi/meetings/taxi/airport. Have ended the week in Hangzhou and took a day off on Saturday.
The local leaflet tells me Hangzhou is 'the tea capital of China', whose West Lake Longjing Tea tops the 'Top Ten Renowned Teas in China'. This tea comes in 4 grades of which the top is Shifeng, whose 'Afore Tomb-Sweeping Day Tea' is the most renowned. Probably needed a good cuppa before sweeping the tombs.
A bit of preparatory googling had drawn my attention to the XiXi wetlands as being the obvious birding destination – China’s first wetland reserve.
I got up reasonably early and was relieved to see that the monsoon rains had abated as forecast, though the pollution kept everything murky. Pleased to see Chinese Bulbul as well as Tree Sparrow and Swallows outside the window. So I put some of my breakfast buns in a SanPro bag for lunch, donned some Rohans and went out to find an ATM and then a taxi out to XiXi. I thought my pronunciation of this was pretty good, but the taxi driver had to ring round various friends to find someone who could understand my intonation of XiXi – memo to self, get the hotel to write it down next time.
It is about 5km from city centre, but fare was only RMB 30 (=£3), When I got there I bought a ticket but have no idea what the ticket was for and it didn’t give me access to one of the areas. There were loads of visitors, but I was the only non-chinese I saw all day, and also the only birdwatcher which seems to me to be highly disturbing – surely a critical part of building environmental/conservation awareness is to encourage interest in the flora and fauna? Look how influential the RSPB is in the UK. Even the wetland museum when I went there (see below) had no coverage of birds!!!
The wetland is 11.5 hectares of pools, bamboo, reeds and mixed trees. It is a historically significant and famous site, with various temples and dwellings of Song and Ming dynasty figures in the process of being re-established, presumably having been razed in the latter part of 20th century. This is only partially completed and feels like work has stalled with only some complete – there is one temple with Buddhist monks and a couple of luxurious dwellings with significant stones. One thing which is finished is a network of hidden loud speakers playing traditional Chinese music, which does help with the atmosphere when trying to associate some muddy pond with a past poetic existence in the style of ‘pool of shimmering lotus and reflected cloud’.
There are many plaques with noble thoughts and exhortations such as ‘Water for Wetland and Wetland for Water’, ‘Wetlands connect Upstream and Downstream’, ‘Flowers are better for your cherishment’.
I spent about 5 hours in total pootling round – about 10k according to Garmin.
The birding started well with a Collared Finchbill proudly showing off a big dragonfly, then a Southern Great Tit (no Yellow on it), and Long Tailed Shrikes (pictured) right at the top of a couple of trees.
There were lots of Magpies but behaving differently from ours – sitting Goshawk-like in the top of trees looking round. Highlight I think was spotting and identifying a couple of Vinous Throated Parrotbills. They sound very exciting, but in fact are little russety birds with pronounced dark eyes and a parroty bill. I do enjoy a new Passerine though.
Also Chinese Pond Herons (pictured), Purple Heron, Moorhen and Little Grebe.
I kept hearing a very loud call which sounded like the whistle at the opening of Skippy. Tried numerous times but couldn’t see who was making it. Then I finally got a glimpse of a tiny warbler, and rooting thru Mark Brazil’s guide it was soon clear that this was a Brown-Flanked Bush Warbler. Lots of dragonflies, butterflies and a few scary monster-insects.
I must put on record that bulbuls must surely be the most annoying birds when one is spotting – there is something about their shape, the way they fly and the sound they make that gets one all excited time and again thinking that it is something new. I have had this repeatedly with Vented Bulbuls in SE Asia and Africa and these chaps, with their dramatic white cap, are just as bad
Great to get some new birds, but the number of species is rather depressing.
It was a bit hard to find a taxi back so walked in the direction of town and saw came across the astonishing USS Enterprise-style building pictured.
I went round to it and found that in fact the observation tower bit of a brand new National Wetland Centre. This is part of a 6-hotel resort being built by Westbrook, so maybe the Wetland Centre is in return for them getting to build on some of the land. If so, I hope their funding extends to long term development of the Wetlands, not just this rather white elephant.
I needed a lolly to perk me up and thought I was getting one filled with strawberry, but in fact it was Bamboo and Red Bean, which is a taste I haven’t yet acquired..
Whilst walking to the bus station to get a taxi, I saw a water tanker coming past, spraying the streets (presumably to keep the dust down?) to the tune of ‘Happy Birthday to you’. Actually its my birthday on Tuesday.
My conservation mood was somewhat diminished when I saw from the taxi a Shark restaurant with a 4ft shark swimming round in a small glass tank as an enticement.
On Sunday, I was up early and went for a 9.2km run in the drizzle
round West Lake. It was really wonderful, early enough to avoid the crowds and it is a truly great beauty spot. The lake’s limpid waters have just a few ripples, and with the weather there was no visible horizon so some of the picturesque boats appeared to be floating in the sky. All around the lake are pagoda structures, variously temples and tea-houses, some of which are built out into the lake and look fantastic. Also some superb statues – a huge Water Buffalo in the lake, a giant Samurai-type warrior emerging from the trees.
Over the course of a busy few days in Shanghai and Beijing, the only addition was 2 sightings of Azure Winged Magpies from taxis!
It has been a rather gruelling week with 2 days in Jakarta and flying visits to Singapore and Hong Kong – living in air-conditioning hotel/taxi/meetings/taxi/airport. Have ended the week in Hangzhou and took a day off on Saturday.
The local leaflet tells me Hangzhou is 'the tea capital of China', whose West Lake Longjing Tea tops the 'Top Ten Renowned Teas in China'. This tea comes in 4 grades of which the top is Shifeng, whose 'Afore Tomb-Sweeping Day Tea' is the most renowned. Probably needed a good cuppa before sweeping the tombs.
A bit of preparatory googling had drawn my attention to the XiXi wetlands as being the obvious birding destination – China’s first wetland reserve.
I got up reasonably early and was relieved to see that the monsoon rains had abated as forecast, though the pollution kept everything murky. Pleased to see Chinese Bulbul as well as Tree Sparrow and Swallows outside the window. So I put some of my breakfast buns in a SanPro bag for lunch, donned some Rohans and went out to find an ATM and then a taxi out to XiXi. I thought my pronunciation of this was pretty good, but the taxi driver had to ring round various friends to find someone who could understand my intonation of XiXi – memo to self, get the hotel to write it down next time.
It is about 5km from city centre, but fare was only RMB 30 (=£3), When I got there I bought a ticket but have no idea what the ticket was for and it didn’t give me access to one of the areas. There were loads of visitors, but I was the only non-chinese I saw all day, and also the only birdwatcher which seems to me to be highly disturbing – surely a critical part of building environmental/conservation awareness is to encourage interest in the flora and fauna? Look how influential the RSPB is in the UK. Even the wetland museum when I went there (see below) had no coverage of birds!!!
The wetland is 11.5 hectares of pools, bamboo, reeds and mixed trees. It is a historically significant and famous site, with various temples and dwellings of Song and Ming dynasty figures in the process of being re-established, presumably having been razed in the latter part of 20th century. This is only partially completed and feels like work has stalled with only some complete – there is one temple with Buddhist monks and a couple of luxurious dwellings with significant stones. One thing which is finished is a network of hidden loud speakers playing traditional Chinese music, which does help with the atmosphere when trying to associate some muddy pond with a past poetic existence in the style of ‘pool of shimmering lotus and reflected cloud’.
There are many plaques with noble thoughts and exhortations such as ‘Water for Wetland and Wetland for Water’, ‘Wetlands connect Upstream and Downstream’, ‘Flowers are better for your cherishment’.
I spent about 5 hours in total pootling round – about 10k according to Garmin.
The birding started well with a Collared Finchbill proudly showing off a big dragonfly, then a Southern Great Tit (no Yellow on it), and Long Tailed Shrikes (pictured) right at the top of a couple of trees.
There were lots of Magpies but behaving differently from ours – sitting Goshawk-like in the top of trees looking round. Highlight I think was spotting and identifying a couple of Vinous Throated Parrotbills. They sound very exciting, but in fact are little russety birds with pronounced dark eyes and a parroty bill. I do enjoy a new Passerine though.
Also Chinese Pond Herons (pictured), Purple Heron, Moorhen and Little Grebe.
I kept hearing a very loud call which sounded like the whistle at the opening of Skippy. Tried numerous times but couldn’t see who was making it. Then I finally got a glimpse of a tiny warbler, and rooting thru Mark Brazil’s guide it was soon clear that this was a Brown-Flanked Bush Warbler. Lots of dragonflies, butterflies and a few scary monster-insects.
I must put on record that bulbuls must surely be the most annoying birds when one is spotting – there is something about their shape, the way they fly and the sound they make that gets one all excited time and again thinking that it is something new. I have had this repeatedly with Vented Bulbuls in SE Asia and Africa and these chaps, with their dramatic white cap, are just as bad
Great to get some new birds, but the number of species is rather depressing.
It was a bit hard to find a taxi back so walked in the direction of town and saw came across the astonishing USS Enterprise-style building pictured.
I went round to it and found that in fact the observation tower bit of a brand new National Wetland Centre. This is part of a 6-hotel resort being built by Westbrook, so maybe the Wetland Centre is in return for them getting to build on some of the land. If so, I hope their funding extends to long term development of the Wetlands, not just this rather white elephant.
I needed a lolly to perk me up and thought I was getting one filled with strawberry, but in fact it was Bamboo and Red Bean, which is a taste I haven’t yet acquired..
Whilst walking to the bus station to get a taxi, I saw a water tanker coming past, spraying the streets (presumably to keep the dust down?) to the tune of ‘Happy Birthday to you’. Actually its my birthday on Tuesday.
My conservation mood was somewhat diminished when I saw from the taxi a Shark restaurant with a 4ft shark swimming round in a small glass tank as an enticement.
On Sunday, I was up early and went for a 9.2km run in the drizzle
round West Lake. It was really wonderful, early enough to avoid the crowds and it is a truly great beauty spot. The lake’s limpid waters have just a few ripples, and with the weather there was no visible horizon so some of the picturesque boats appeared to be floating in the sky. All around the lake are pagoda structures, variously temples and tea-houses, some of which are built out into the lake and look fantastic. Also some superb statues – a huge Water Buffalo in the lake, a giant Samurai-type warrior emerging from the trees.
Over the course of a busy few days in Shanghai and Beijing, the only addition was 2 sightings of Azure Winged Magpies from taxis!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
13 June Barnes WWT
Highlight was a great view of a Whitethroat in the reeds on Wildside.
Also heard Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mute Swan, Pochard, Common Tern, Jackdaw, Cormorant, Starling, Sand Martin, Lesser BB Gull, Moorhen, Gadwall.
Recently seen lots of Jays and an Egyptian Goose on the thames banks.
Leo saw Gannet, Common Gull, Whibrel on way down to Falmouth from train.
Also heard Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Tufted Duck, Coot, Mute Swan, Pochard, Common Tern, Jackdaw, Cormorant, Starling, Sand Martin, Lesser BB Gull, Moorhen, Gadwall.
Recently seen lots of Jays and an Egyptian Goose on the thames banks.
Leo saw Gannet, Common Gull, Whibrel on way down to Falmouth from train.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Snowdonia
At the Glaslyn Osprey Centre, where Leo will be helping out as a volunteer this summer, viewing area we could see the nest thru the scopes, and the CCTV showed that a bird was on its 3 eggs there, but we cldnt make it out directly. In the meadows, swallows, Mute and Bewick swans and Canada and Greylag geese. Greenfinch on the feeders.
Geraint, the RSPB warden told us that the male Osprey was originally from Loch Gsrten, resettled at Rutland Water before coming across here. 3 eggs, and reaching this weekend the vital 2 week stage when they become less attractive to evil egg collectors, as the embryo develops bones and therefore cant be blown. One of the options after this stage is apparently to pin-prick holes then leave in an ants nest who clear everything apart from the bones, which then rattle inside. He also said that evil collectors had taken 2 eggs in Scotland this year involving swinmming across the loch, replacing the eggs with painted chicken eggs, then swimming back across the loch with the eggs in their mouths to avoid breaking them. Shame they didnt drown.
A short stroll along the river into Beddgelert yielded a Whitethroat, Common Sandpipers, Goosander (pic) which did the slappy-feet running-on-water trick , Grey and Pied Wagtails, Dipper, TreeCreeper. First Cuckoo heard for many years. Blue and Great Tits, Crows and Buzzards. Blackbird and Chaffinch. Goldcrest, House Sparrow and Robin at our Cabins.
Whilst conquering Snowdon from Rhydd Dhu we picked up Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Dunnock and Wheatear.
At Portmeiron, ChiffChaff heard then lured with iChirp.
Kestrel, Long Tailed Tit, Red Kite, Magpie on the journey.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Productive migration-time outing to Barnes
A beautiful afternoon down at Barnes WWT.
Herring, Common, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Reed Warbler (identified thanks to iChirp!), Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot, Pochard, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Blackbird, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebes doing the dippy display thing, Starling, Greylag, Sand Martin, Dabchick, Grey Heron, Common and Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Wheatear, Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Parakeet, Chaffinch. I also tried using iChirp to alarm a Canada Goose by playing the sound of a Golden Eagle but it didnt work!
Herring, Common, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Common Tern, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Cormorant, Crow, Jackdaw, Robin, Reed Warbler (identified thanks to iChirp!), Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot, Pochard, Lapwing, Stock Dove, Blackbird, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebes doing the dippy display thing, Starling, Greylag, Sand Martin, Dabchick, Grey Heron, Common and Green Sandpiper, Redshank, Wheatear, Little Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Parakeet, Chaffinch. I also tried using iChirp to alarm a Canada Goose by playing the sound of a Golden Eagle but it didnt work!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Madeira 3-10 April
Dawdling round the hotel gardens we found Macaronesian Blackcap warbling noisily, Macaronesian Blackbirds, Atlantic Canary in the palm trees and Common Terns plunging into the sea. Yellow Legged Gulls overhead.
On our first Levada walk, Madeiran Firecrest, Goldfinch, Madeiran Buzzard gliding over the trees and Macaronesian Kestrel on a lamppost.
At ponta da Pargo Lydia found us a linnet, and first Robins evident.
At Blandy's gardens we had good views of Madeiran Chaffinches (pictured).
Out beyond Canical, Bertholet's Pipits abound and we and we also had a great view of a Shearwater doing its thing. There were 3 Grey Herons out on the fish tanks.
A Little Egret on the river at Machico.
Porto Moniz lived up to its reputation with Shearwaters passing regularly and we were able to pick out Cory's, Great and Manx.
A turnstone on the rocks.
On the Levada walk above PM one enters Lauraceous forest and, sure enough, the Trocaz pigeon makes an appearance, several times seen way below flying over the treetops. The Chaffinches are absurdly gregarious on this stretch.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Birds made more delightful by the sunshine
A few bird sightings made more delightful by the spectacular weather.
Greylag Geese in a Scottish field, Teal and Black Headed Gulls on the Thames, Red Kites from the Harewood community near Leeds.
On today's run, at Leg O'Mutton bumped into the chap I have met before who periodically counts the birds on the Thames between Putney and Barnes Bridges. He told me that Teal were more numerous than Mallards on the Thames, and that there were a couple of Gadwall on the Leg. He hadnt seen any herons and suspected they might alredy be on their (new?) nests. Wonder if he puts his data on the web?
Greylag Geese in a Scottish field, Teal and Black Headed Gulls on the Thames, Red Kites from the Harewood community near Leeds.
On today's run, at Leg O'Mutton bumped into the chap I have met before who periodically counts the birds on the Thames between Putney and Barnes Bridges. He told me that Teal were more numerous than Mallards on the Thames, and that there were a couple of Gadwall on the Leg. He hadnt seen any herons and suspected they might alredy be on their (new?) nests. Wonder if he puts his data on the web?
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tromso 18-21 Feb
Tromso is deep inside the arctic circle. May seems to be the best time for birding, so potential limited at this time.
However, in the town harbour outside our hotel were Long Tailed Ducks as well as Mallards. Hooded Crows are the ubiquitous sight here. Herring and Greater Black Backed Gulls everywhere, Cormorants frequent. Magpie in the trees.
On our dog sledding trip in a remote valley 90kn inland near the Swedish/Finnish border, Leo and I saw a Golden Eagle overhead. Wolverine, Lynx and Bear are in this region.
On a naturalist guided tour to the Island, we saw White Tailed Sea Eagle, Red Breasted Merganser and a crowd of Common Scoters.
On final day, found Leo’s first drake Eider.
However, in the town harbour outside our hotel were Long Tailed Ducks as well as Mallards. Hooded Crows are the ubiquitous sight here. Herring and Greater Black Backed Gulls everywhere, Cormorants frequent. Magpie in the trees.
On our dog sledding trip in a remote valley 90kn inland near the Swedish/Finnish border, Leo and I saw a Golden Eagle overhead. Wolverine, Lynx and Bear are in this region.
On a naturalist guided tour to the Island, we saw White Tailed Sea Eagle, Red Breasted Merganser and a crowd of Common Scoters.
On final day, found Leo’s first drake Eider.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Sungei Buloh 7 Feb 2010
Correct pronunciation Sun-Gai Buloh
From the bridge, a 2.5m saltie, Little Heron, Redshank, Greenshank, Pacific Golden Plover, Collared Kingfisher, Little Egret, Great Egret, White Breasted Water Hen.
376 species on Singapore a young lad tells me.
Pied bird of prey floats past - I thought it might be a Pied Harrier, but the expert reckons couldn't have been that and maybe Black Baza. Greater Coucal, Black Naped Oriole.
Glad I have a broad-brimmed hat, as a sign reminds me that there's a flying tree snake here.
Common Sandpiper, Grey Heron, White Throated Fantail, Oriental Magpie Robin, Dollarbird.
The prawn pond loop was not much good, but out at the furthest point, the freshwater ponds, were some big trees which had the special something and were full of birds. Yellow Vented Bulbul, Pink Breasted Green Pigeon, more of those Orioles and a russet headed chap as yet not ID.
And finally, from the café, a Common Kingfisher.
The trick for getting back to the centre seems to be to get the 925 bus to Kranji station, where taxis are easy.
From the bridge, a 2.5m saltie, Little Heron, Redshank, Greenshank, Pacific Golden Plover, Collared Kingfisher, Little Egret, Great Egret, White Breasted Water Hen.
376 species on Singapore a young lad tells me.
Pied bird of prey floats past - I thought it might be a Pied Harrier, but the expert reckons couldn't have been that and maybe Black Baza. Greater Coucal, Black Naped Oriole.
Glad I have a broad-brimmed hat, as a sign reminds me that there's a flying tree snake here.
Common Sandpiper, Grey Heron, White Throated Fantail, Oriental Magpie Robin, Dollarbird.
The prawn pond loop was not much good, but out at the furthest point, the freshwater ponds, were some big trees which had the special something and were full of birds. Yellow Vented Bulbul, Pink Breasted Green Pigeon, more of those Orioles and a russet headed chap as yet not ID.
And finally, from the café, a Common Kingfisher.
The trick for getting back to the centre seems to be to get the 925 bus to Kranji station, where taxis are easy.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Sydney Olympic Park 6 Feb
A free day in Sydney before an evening flight, but the day dawned wet and unpromising. I thought about going on to Brisbane early but the concierge said ti was even worse there! So I took th eferry out to Olympic Park again and had a good long damp twitch!
Aus Pelican, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Silver Gull from the Ferry.
Along the river, Noisy Miner, Aus Magpie, Pied Currawong, Crested Tern, Little Black Cormorant, White Faced Heron, Superb Blue Fairy Wren, Aus Raven, Aus White Ibis, Red Browed Finch, Great Cormorant, Willy Wagtail, White Plumed Honeyeater, SilverEye, Leaden Flycatcher, Masked Lapwing, Welcome Swallow, Common Myna, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Striated Heron, Magpie Lark, Yellow Thornbill.
As I arrived at the Aus Birds hut a chap there pointed out an Aus Hobby overhead. I asked his advice about other '1 day public transport' birding spots and he suggested Royal National Park (train), and the lagoons along the northern beaches (bus). He had seen a Terek Sandpiper amongst Sharp Taileds, but I couldnt get to that spot on foot.
Moving inland Crested Pigeon, Swamphen, Aus Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Black Winged Stilt, Grey Teal, Bar Tailed Godwit, Great Egret, Red Wattlebird, Coot, Sacred Kingfisher, Tree Martin, Dusky Moorhen.
And finally in Centennial Park a Sacred Kingfisher. So 41 for the day!
Melbourne 31 Jan
On Friday I went for a pre-flight run along the river in London - cold and wet, but I saw a superb male Sparrowhawk shoot into a riverside tree, then get chased away.
By Sunday morning, I was in sweltering in Melbourne! Went down to the Botanic Gardens and found Silver Gull, Rainbow lorikeet, Grey Fantail, a mystery blackbird (looked pretty much like a Blackbird - see photo) but can't work out what it is?, also saw a blackbird with brown tinges - what's that?, Brown Thornbill, Aus Magpie, Brush Wattlebird, Magpie Lark, Black Swan, Coot, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Hardbill, Aus Wood Duck, Spotted Turtle Dove, Common Myna, Bell Miner, Little Pied Cormorant, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Tern.
In the afternoon I speculatively went out to Studley Park, which turned out to be a good move with Noisy Miner, Grey Butcherbird, Willy Wagtail, great parrot views of Rainbow Lorikeet, Red Rumped Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Galah on the cricket pitch, Crested Pigeon, Welcome Swallows until the rain drove me off.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Wintry Twitch at Barnes
I saw all the requests yesterday to feed the birds, but left it until this morning to put any out. As no birds came all morning I was worried that I had been responsible for the overnight extinction of all birdlife, but happily a trip to Barnes WWT was reassuring.
The lakes were almost entirely frozen over and we saw Water Rail and Snipe skittling about on the ice. Apparently we had just missed a 'Fox v Bittern Duel on Ice', and also a Jack Snipe.
Year list entries for Coot, Moorhen, Wigeon (pictured), Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Lapwing, Greylag Goose, Canada Geese, Crow, Blackbird, Starling, Great Tit, Magpie, Goldfinch, Blue Tit. Regrettably it seems Ring Necked Parakeets have survived the weather (Leo tells me actually they survive -10 in Ladakh).
Redwing flying over. Nice views of Lesser Redpoll (pictured). Leo saw Cetti's Warbler.
Woodcock fossicking about by the feeder.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
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