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China Birding Trip: September-16-30, 2013 |
Day 13 September 27 - Back
to Happy Island
and the Salt
Flats
Bird of the
day:Pied Avocet
The early morning birders checked out Magic Woods again. Bill got
a photo of a Black-crowned Night-Heron in the culvert where Ian
and Barbara had found a Yellow Wagtail two days ago. Besides many
repeats, we got a Blue Whistling Thrush, which we at first
mistook for a Drongo in the low light.
Breakfast was at the “western” restaurant again. Liz
reminded a few birders of the BRATY (bananas, rice, applesauce,
tea, yogurt) diet. The rice and tea part was easy! After
breakfast we set out for a second day on Happy Island. At the
ferry dock, Barbara gave away two Canada pencils to some little
girls with big smiles.
Today we felt right at home on Happy Island.
Barbara, Liz and Ian joined June, Sharon, Phil and Nuncio for a
visit to the temple for women monks which is under construction,
Then we went to the temple for monks where we were invited in to
discuss Buddhism and learn about its rituals. As requested,
Barbara repeated the Buddha chant to dispel nightmares, Nunzio
practiced the bow (hard on his lower back) and Liz had her future
told. We were given Buddhist necklaces and blessed fruit and
water. We answered their questions about Canada. June kindly
acted as translator. We each made a donation to the temple.
photo:
Ian Valentine
While waiting for the birding group, the temple group watched a
fisher on a bridge and saw a spectacular water snake.
The birders went to the beach for the morning and spotted many
Far Eastern Curlews, a Grey Plover (Black-bellied) in breeding
attire, a few Saunder's Gulls, Mongolian Gulls, a Relict Gull,
and a pair of Pintail Snipe.
We enjoyed lunch together again in the restaurant, today sharing
the facilities with the mayor of Tangshan and his entourage.
After lunch, the tide was going out and there were many gulls and
shorebirds enjoying their lunch too. We watched the show. We were
all pleased to see a Chinese Egret doing his back and forth run.
Watch him on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h3ZeQVzrfI&feature=youtu.be We also got good looks at Eurasian
Oystercatchers and more Far Eastern Curlews. A highlight was a
flyover of three Oriental Pratincoles.
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We took a ride on the golf cart and flushed 8-10 Japanese Quails,
and saw Little Buntings and Yellow-browed Buntings. On the road,
Sharon was happy to see more snakes.
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We visited a golf course construction area with grassy fields.
Here we startled some more quail, but couldn't get a photos. Our
scopes provided sightings of Eyebrowed Thrush, Red-throated
Pipit, Hoopoe, Yellow Wagtails, White-faced Starlings and
Chestnut Buntings.
After leaving the island, Dave decided we should head through
some salt flats before heading back to the city. We were working
hard to reach the 200 bird mark for the trip and were just a few
short. Guided by PJ's friends in their car, we spent a long time
travelling through the ponds on a very bumpy road. From the bus
we saw a Chinese Grey Shrike.
After passing mile after mile of empty cells, we were finally
rewarded about an hour later when we reached a pond with many
birds, including Pied Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, Grey Plovers,
Common Snipes, Black-tailed Godwits, Spotted Redshanks, Marsh
Sandpipers and Common Greenshanks.
As a follow up to their donkey wagon ride a few days ago, Nunzio
and Phil hopped in an old boat. Later they posed in an old rusty
vehicle. They are planning a photo journal of their fun trip
through China.
Later, Mr.Lee drove us through the city where we admired the many
unique buildings, lighting up the evening sky.
For dinner we walked to our breakfast restaurant for steak or
chicken. Some of us sampled red wine. Then we walked back to our
hotel, crossing through a square where couples were dancing to
music, children were playing… a beautiful evening.
English signs of the day:
