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Recent content by samnew

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    Camera and lens combo for birds in flight

    If you like the lightweight of the SX50/70 I think you'll be disappointed with a set up that weighs 6lbs. That's quite the weigh to carry and walk around with and use for birds in flight compared to 1.5lbs of the SX50/70. The OM-1 (the original or version 2) plus 100-400 lens would come in at...
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    Baihualing Hides and trails information

    Great. The drive is very scenic. I'd be interesting in hearing about your trip. I look forward to any updates you do have.
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    Baihualing Hides and trails information

    Hi, Do you have permission to enter? I visited in January 2024 and needed a permit from the local government to enter. Local Chinese birders could fill out a form at arrival but foreigners couldn't. I would be very happy if this has changed. Your knowledge may be more up to date than mine...
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    Birding China

    Most people will understand mandarin these days, especially the younger generation. In rural areas local languages/dialects are still prevalent but they would also have an understanding of mandarain. Accommodation is hit and miss. There used to be a law foreigners can only stay in certain...
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    ebird in China

    As you said, this is an increasing problem. It's often difficult for foreigners to obtain these permits as 1) information is all in Chinese and 2) the booking system often doesn't accept passport numbers (only local ID cards which foreigners don't have). I have noticed hotspots in other...
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    Birding China

    Local birders have a saying which translates something as 'if you want to watch birds, go early'. It refers to the fact that good bird spots are rapidly declining. Even Nanhui is being develop and access restricted.
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    Best birding cameras?

    This is the bit that's confusing, earlier you said a budget of $1,000 to $5,000 'or more' but it's impossible to recommend a camera body without looking at the lens as well. If the Z9 or A1ii are out of budget (myself and most of the world included!) then perhaps the original R5 with the...
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    Best birding cameras?

    Hello, unfortunately, I think your question is impossible to answer for 2 reasons. 1) You haven't defined 'best', there is no 'simple and clear' way to answer this question. 2) You cannot take the body away from the lens. You need both to take a photo. For example, the Nikon Z9, Sony A1, or...
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    Yancheng, China- January 2024

    Cheers (y)
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    Yancheng, China- January 2024

    Day 2 in Yancheng was spent at 'Sheyang reed farm' (this is the name of the ebird hotspot). Though this is worth a visit, I would recommend anyone going here to have a car. We did not and walking was tough. On a few occasions we met with dead end roads/paths. A car would have made this so...
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    Yancheng, China- January 2024

    Yancheng is a medium sized city (for Chinese standards) on the east-coast of Jiangsu province. It is about 300km north of Shanghai. It’s about 3 hours on the train from Shanghai. On the journey up thick fog obscured the view. This was to be a theme of the trip. Upon arrival it’s clear to see how...
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    Yunnan, China (Jan/Feb 2024) - Kunming, Yingjiang, Hornbill Valley and Baihualing

    I'm afraid times have changed since 2017. Especially since covid times. There's been a few times where being a foreigner has prevented me from birding. I can understand the police checks at hornbill valley as it's so close to the border. But at baihualing it seems strange, there was a...
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    Yunnan, China (Jan/Feb 2024) - Kunming, Yingjiang, Hornbill Valley and Baihualing

    Thanks. It would be interesting to know how it's changed. When we were there our friend and guide, who had been before, kept saying 'it's not as good as before', which we found hard to believe! It seems that the establishment of many bird hides has reduced the 'wild' bird population, in his...
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    Yunnan, China (Jan/Feb 2024) - Kunming, Yingjiang, Hornbill Valley and Baihualing

    EDIT: Forgot the final trip back to Kunming. Location: Kunming After driving from Baihualing to Baoshan train station we caught a train back to Kunming. We decided to go back to Xishan, but this time, to the foot of the mountain around the 'Dianchi Caohai lakefront'. Getting there was a...
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    Yunnan, China (Jan/Feb 2024) - Kunming, Yingjiang, Hornbill Valley and Baihualing

    Location: Baihualing / Gaoligong Our final morning at Baihualing we went to another bird hide. What was special about this one was the encounter with a golden-bush robin. We had seen one the day before, but it was really shy. Unbelievably so. Today couldn't have been any more different. A...
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