Generally I don’t really feel like writing a lot. Fortuitously, this isn’t an issue for me – all I’ve to do to provide you with a priceless publish is pull out a couple of of my photographs, add a couple of snarky feedback, and I’m good to go.
The Diverse Tit which I described in an earlier publish continues to be in Shanghai, nonetheless in the identical park.
It has a superb probability of turning into probably the most photographed Shanghai hen prior to now few years.
Not unhealthy for a hen with a humble background – its dad and mom didn’t even end highschool.
Lately, one Japanese Tit began its personal OnlyFans channel after realizing how standard the search time period is on-line – solely to be dissatisfied by the low variety of guests who presumably anticipated one thing totally different.
Apparently, male Yellow-bellied Tits can discriminate between the songs of neighbors and strangers, reacting extra aggressively to the latter. (Grammarly at all times advises me to delete the phrase “apparently”, wanting me to sound extra decisive and fewer imprecise, whereas I exploit the phrase precisely to realize this impact).
The scientific species title venustulus means beautiful, charming. Proper, except you’re a stranger attacked by a male conspecific.
The Black-throated Bushtit appears to have a equally good PR agent – its scientific title concinnus means “elegant, neat, pleasing”.
Principally justified, I believe, except you have a look at a hen that has simply taken a bathe.
Silver-throated Bushtits have began nest-building in a park close to my residence. Regardless of the latest in depth media protection of the housing glut in China, most bushtits nonetheless depend on constructing their very own nest reasonably than renting or shopping for one. I can perceive this fairly properly – for those who had been a bushtit, would you prefer to pay a lot of cash to an actual property developer, solely to see that firm go bust with out ever delivering a nest to you?
Different indicators of spring approaching embody Lengthy-tailed Shrike {couples} chasing one another …
… and Oriental Turtle Doves sitting very carefully collectively (although possibly they do that each one yr spherical).
I’m certain that if one confirmed non-birder a photograph of a Black-crowned Evening Heron and requested them concerning the hen’s coloration, most individuals would say blue. And but, not one of the on-line sources such because the HBW or eBird acknowledge this – all of them name the related elements of the hen black. For instance, eBird says that “adults [are] general pale grayish with black cap and again”.
Then once more, it’s known as Black-crowned, so the colour should be black, proper?
Till just lately, the Ochre-rumped Bunting was often called the Japanese Reed Bunting. Nevertheless, the belief that Edward Japanese (1803-1854), the British naturalist, financed a part of his research with revenue from the slave commerce made it essential to rename the species.
Whereas that was the rarest bunting in Shanghai this month, there have been many others:
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Pallas Reed Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Tristram’s Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
In February, Chongming nonetheless has some massive charismatic birds resembling Hooded Cranes …
… Eurasian Spoonbill …
… and Black-faced Spoonbill.
Some birds are making ready to go away their wintering grounds in Shanghai and are already getting harder to see on the finish of the month – species resembling Northern Lapwing …
… and Frequent Rosefinch.
Others will keep a bit longer however ultimately nonetheless determine to keep away from the recent and humid Shanghai summer time:
Daurian Redstart
Pale Thrush
Richard’s Pipit
Some even mix the change in location with a change in coloration, like this Noticed Redshank.
Others are – relying in your constructive or unfavorable view on the attitudes of birds – both extra adaptable or just too lazy emigrate and thus shall be in Shanghai even in summer time:
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Ring-necked Pheasant (video)
Gray-capped Greenfinch
Oriental Magpie-robin
Nice Noticed Woodpecker
Swinhoe’s White-eye
As I’m not certain whether or not this can be a Eurasian or an Oriental Skylark, I can’t inform you whether or not this one is more likely to keep in Shanghai in summer time or not. Any opinions? I solely take photographs of birds, I do not likely know them.
“No, I’m not going to inform you about my summer time plans”
Lastly, winter can be the perfect season to see raptors on Chongming:
Black-winged Kite …
… Jap Buzzard (video) …
… and Eurasian Kestrel.
Within the ominously named “Different” part typically ending my posts, we’ve a Raccoon Canine, as seen on Tianmashan. Apparently, this isn’t a lot of a raccoon – its closest relative is the fox. Fortuitously not Donald Trump.
