China Birds (Nick Sismey) 2012 List (UK, Hong Kong & ?) (1 Viewer)

[ChinaBirds]

31 March 2012

Back in Hong Kong I had a couple of hours at Long Valley (Photo1) near Sheung Shui today where birds like the Chinese Pond Heron (Photo 2) were already showing off their summer plumage. A Siberian Stonechat perched on a bamboo cane and several Yellow Wagtails feeding on the small bare allotment size fields were the first year birds to be ticked, the latter being the 200th bird of the year.

199.Siberian Stonechat-------------Long Valley------------------Hong Kong
200.Yellow Wagtail-----------------Long Valley-------------------Hong Kong

Atop another bamboo pole was a Chestnut Eared Bunting (Photo 3) while tiny Zitting Cisticolas were rising and falling from the long grass with Richard’s Pipits feeding in the dried up fish ponds.

201.Chestnut Eared Bunting---------Long Valley------------------Hong Kong
202.Zitting Cisticola----------------Long Valley-------------------Hong Kong
203.Richard’s Pipit------------------Long Valley------------------Hong Kong

The two hours were soon up and before I knew it I was on my way back to Hong Kong Island….

 

[ChinaBirds]

13 April 2012

With April being the wettest on record in the UK it was no surprise when the lane at Willington (Photo1) was well muddy. Steve and I arrived around 9am picking up the first year bird after 10 minutes, a Willow Warbler high up in a willow….

204.Willow Warbler-----------------Willington-----------------------England

By the time we had arrived at the final platform at the end of the track the weather had broken (Photo 2) and it was reasonably warm. Amongst the Sand Martin flocks Steve picked out a single House Martin.

205.Sand Martin--------------------Willington----------------------England
206.House Martin-------------------Willington----------------------England

Suddenly there was an explosion of sound behind us. We all turned to see a very obliging Cetti’s Warbler looking back at us from the nearest bush, now we didn’t expect that!

207.Cetti’s Warbler------------------Willington---------------------England

 

[ChinaBirds]

26 April 2012

While driving back from a trip to North Wales a Swift flew overhead above the M6

208.Swift --------------------------M6-----------------------------England