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China Birding Trip: September-16-30, 2013 |
Day 5 September 19 - Hotel Birding
Bird of the day: Red-billed Blue Magpie
As usual our day started with early birding as our hotel staff
and city workers began their morning work. Today we hiked to
”Lighthouse Point”, a trail leading to the site of a
former lighthouse. We were able to find Red-billed Blue Magpies,
Yellow-browed Warbers, Pallas's Grashopper Warbler, Baikal Bush
Warbler, a Common Sandpiper, a Chinese pond Heron, and several
Siberian Stonechats. The latter were very common and were one of
the few species that would perch for a photos. And we checked out
a recommended area around an old swimming pool on our hotel
property. Bill spotted a little toad and some more warblers.
We really appreciated a hearty Chinese breakfast and were soon
out birding again. This morning we visited two large hotel
estates. At the Friendship Hotel Barbara was happy to find a
little girl to give one of her Canada pencils to. We hiked around
the gardens and, with the help of PJ and Kevin, as well as Dave,
we did see an Asian Brown Flycatcher and a Grey-headed Woodpecker
. We also had a good sighting of the colourful Red-billed Blue
Magpie.
Our bus took us to another large estate where Hugh spotted
movement in a small hedge. He staked it out and eventually waded
into the garden – a beautiful Siberian Rubythroat emerged.
Today was the start of a three day national festival . It is the
mid-autumn festival/moon festival – Chinese people visit
family and celebrate together. The local beach was a busy area.
We could not quit without checking the sand flats, but the tide
was not so cooperative today - no new sightings.
Before dinner Dave reviewed the bird list with the group
confirming the day’s sightings.
At dinner, June treated the group to steamed crab and to some
moon cakes eaten the first evening of the festival which always
starts on the September day of the full moon. Little moon cakes
are stuffed with bean paste, egg yolk and walnuts. Later in the
evening there were fireworks (we tired birders were all in bed).
English sign of the day:
