In some months, I don’t get to see too many thrilling birds in Shanghai – so, as the top of the month attracts nearer, I begin questioning what to put in writing about in my month-to-month publish (my contract with 10,000Birds states that I have to have some birding-related data in every of my posts, despite the fact that I’m generally tempted to disregard the related clauses). Nonetheless, this September, a pal alarmed me to the presence of a Fairy Pitta a bit of bit previous 6 a.m. on September 01, so these considerations ended very early within the month.
A number of days later, one other one confirmed up – as standard within the autumn season, the extra seen ones all are juveniles.
The adults presumably have already realized that people are usually not often excellent news even when not named Donald Trump.
Whereas research report that Fairy Pittas primarily feed on earthworms, at Nanhui additionally they appear to eat these weird-looking inexperienced caterpillars (if that’s what this stuff are) which are the principle meals of cuckoos. I assume you can’t be too picky whereas touring, as I’ve realized when on journeys in Ecuador and different locations.
The White-shouldered Starling will not be quite common in Shanghai and even in China generally, regardless of its species identify sinensis.
It’s one other species on which restricted data is obtainable – there may be nonetheless work left for ornithologists exterior of the dedication of mitochondrial DNA.
In distinction, the Black-collared Starling is getting increasingly more frequent in Shanghai.
In truth, there may be already an enormous distinction between the vary map proven within the HBW (which exhibits the Northern finish of the vary to be a couple of hundred kilometers south of Shanghai) and the eBird distribution maps proven a bit additional down on the HBW web page (which covers areas fairly a bit north of Shanghai). As steered earlier than, it may be time to get anyone with not less than a imprecise curiosity in birds concerned in engaged on the net version of the HBW.
After all, the White-cheeked Starling is much more frequent in Shanghai and may generally be seen in flocks of 20 or extra birds.
For some cause, I’m by no means very enthusiastic about images of raptors in flight. It may be a pure protection mechanism as I’m not good at taking such images anyway (the grapes are bitter and so forth.). However raptors on the bottom or in a tree look very engaging to me, like this Jap Marsh Harrier.
This must be an grownup feminine …
… and this a juvenile.
I used to be a bit shocked to see a juvenile Gray Treepie in Shanghai – it appears too younger to already be on migration, and there was an grownup close by, so almost definitely the species is breeding in Shanghai, together with roughly 24 million people.
The excitingly named Journal “Mitochondrial DNA Half B” has a paper on – look forward to it – the whole mitochondrial DNA of the Gray Treepie. I’m certain you’re as enthusiastic about it as I’m.
Roughly a few times on any birding journey to Nanhui, I cease someplace and intently take a look at one thing that then seems to be a rock or a considerably thickened a part of wooden quite than a Gray Nightjar. It’s nonetheless definitely worth the effort for very often seeing considered one of these birds. Additionally, I be taught so much about totally different rocks and items of wooden.
A paper mentioning the Gray Nightjar will not be actually a lot concerning the species however offers an attention-grabbing perception into how scientific information could be fabricated, or unhealthy information hidden – one thing the authors name “scientific information laundering”. Particularly, the paper describes how an evaluation of the mitochondrial genome of a chook species was fabricated, concluding “The proof signifies that Liu et al. (2017) revealed phylogenies that weren’t primarily based on current information however had been fabricated to mirror preconceived concepts about phylogenetic relationships”.
The unlucky Brown Shrike shares its shade with that of quite detestable German Nazi occasion.
Apparently, the colour brown was picked by the occasion for numerous causes (esthetics presumably not considered one of them), together with practicality (low cost to supply, simple to wash) and the necessity for a particular and uniform identification. I’m not certain whether or not these causes are additionally those that made evolution push the Brown Shrike in the identical route.
(The Chinese language Postal service has a signature shade – a uninteresting darkish inexperienced. I as soon as requested my then-girlfriend whether or not this shade was in any manner protected to be used by the postal service solely – as the colour yellow is to some extent related to the German mail service. She mentioned no, it was simply that no one else ever needed to make use of that shade).
Regardless of claims on the contrary, the Tiger Shrike was not named after a German tank.
Not many individuals might know this, however there’s a feline associated to the home cat that can also be named tiger – that one is the namesake of the Tiger Shrike. Who would have thought.
In the meantime, a Lengthy-tailed Shrike cursed the climate report that had predicted a dry morning.
Juvenile Black-naped Orioles are usually not significantly black-naped regardless of their identify. The idea behind that is that when you give a younger chook a reputation like this, it is going to be inspirational for them.
The Oriental Scops Owl could be my favourite species passing via Nanhui, Shanghai throughout migration.
Troopers might in all probability be taught so much about camouflage from this species.
A Lesser Cuckoo stayed in one of many Nanhui microforests for a couple of days, not being afraid of people in any respect. Possibly it was raised by some caged birds in shut proximity to people, although I lack any proof of this idea in anyway.
I can not assure that that is certainly a Swinhoe’s Snipe.
The HBW has a pleasant description of the motion of the Crested Myna: “Takes lengthy strides when strolling, usually hops or ‘gallops’”
The juveniles haven’t realized but to keep away from the unlucky shade brown.
The Eurasian Wryneck additionally struggles a bit with regard to colours – it nonetheless seems like an experiment in several, not fairly matching patterns of assorted shades of brown.
Nanhui can also be a great place to see the Eurasian Hoopoe (truly, as soon as, my condominium was too – a hoopoe had one way or the other bought in and needed to be rescued by me from my excited cats – however that was extra of a one-off occasion. Going to Nanhui is extra dependable).
“Kai, why do yo at all times need to publish images of us consuming bizarre issues?”
“I additionally publish images of you trying good and with a pleasant background, okay?”
A number of waders: a Whimbrel (and sure, I’ve images with out plastic trash within the background, however sadly, this photograph exhibits a extra life like atmosphere of the chook) …
(under is the proof)
a Crimson-necked Stint …
… the unavoidable (avoidless?) Dunlins …
… Little Ringed Plover (curiously, in an space the place it appears they’re attempting to develop some mangrove seedlings – rewilding in Shanghai?) …
… and the Gray-tailed Tattler, a species I can establish comparatively simply regardless of my restricted wader ID abilities because it doesn’t appear to have any traits in anyway.
And for many who are bored of studying however like to have a look at images of colourful birds, this publish covers the Siberian Blue Robin …
… Yellow-rumped Flycatcher …
… Japanese Paradise Flycatcher …
… Blue-and-white Flycatcher …
… Gray Heron …
and the Oriental Dollarbird.
One way or the other I can not consider a great ending to this month’s publish – I already wrote two totally different paragraphs (one on a tune by AC Acoustics, “She kills for kicks”, and one on an Ernest Hemingway story, “Indian Camp”) however was not proud of both of them, and that was not even as a result of neither had any believable connection to birds and birding (that has by no means saved me away from any subjects up to now). Name it Author’s Block, although it was probably not a problem of being blocked however quite of solely producing very mediocre writing.