Birding Nanhui today is way extra troublesome than it was once, because the seawall highway is blocked for automobiles. So, the intrepid fowl photographer parks someplace, unloads a foldable bicycle, curses the tires for being virtually flat once more, and sweats from inflating them earlier than having even seen a single fowl. The digital camera is precariously positioned on the bike, and off he goes. In fact, this makes photographing some shy species resembling raptors virtually inconceivable – these species appear to suppose that an individual on a bicycle is far more harmful than a automobile. Which might be true for the particular person however not for the fowl.
On the plus aspect, this implies fewer birders at Nanhui, and birders with the next real curiosity in birds somewhat than spending a day exterior chatting with pals whereas smoking and sometimes being disturbed by a fowl. So, every part has its good and its unhealthy elements, although I don’t suppose this is applicable to voice messages.
For that motive, Eurasian Wrynecks by no means use voice messages. Admittedly, this can be a bit simpler for them than for people as they typically keep exterior areas with dependable cell phone alerts anyway.
Opposite to what you would possibly suppose, this Eurasian Wryneck isn’t exhibiting me his tongue however somewhat choosing up some ants with it.
“The Eurasian Wryneck is famed for its snake mimicry. When threatened or captured, it performs stereotyped writhing and twisting of the pinnacle and neck and/or utters hissing sounds” (supply). This offers me a possibility to point out you an precise snake I noticed at Nanhui – a Castor’s Rat Snake, to be particular.
This Siberian Thrush is a juvenile male and thus not fairly as stylish-looking as an grownup male.
It must smarten up a bit extra earlier than beginning to breed subsequent yr.
A number of days later, there was a feminine.
Being a juvenile might be a lot worse – see this crappy-looking Chinese language Blackbird.
The juvenile male Blue-and-white Flycatcher is an attention-grabbing fowl because it has fairly a distinct plumage from the grownup male (gentle blue as a substitute of darkish blue), and one that’s as enticing (I believe), not only a thrift retailer model of the grownup male, as for the Siberian Thrush …
… or the Siberian Blue Robin (picture exhibiting a juvenile male, I believe).
The Tiger Shrike is the nationwide fowl of Vietnam (supply), so it might be attention-grabbing to know what a person seen in Shanghai thinks in regards to the Spratly Islands.
This being one other juvenile (see additionally right here), perhaps it has no opinion on this problem but.
Given the identify of the Chinese language Grosbeak, its loyalties needs to be clear. The male has a black head …
… whereas the pinnacle of the feminine is brown. So perhaps this can be a juvenile male?
There could be a sinister story behind this Gray Heron.
Aggressive conduct of Gray Heron nestlings was noticed in roughly 25% of nests at two Polish heronries. Principally, this was pecking on the youngest chick – and lots of of those chicks died. The authors of the examine concluded that siblicide somewhat than predation is crucial issue affecting the species’ nesting success.
Unsure I’ve something even vaguely attention-grabbing to say in regards to the Ashy Minivet. Whereas most minivets are fairly colourful, this species has been optimized for black-and-white TV and thus appears a bit outdated at the moment.
The elongated form of this minivet jogs my memory that mannerism has by no means been my favourite model of artwork.
I requested ChatGPT to attract me an image of an Ashy Minivet within the model of mannerism – the outcome isn’t too convincing, I believe …
The phrase “Sniper” (sharpshooter) is derived from the snipe household, which incorporates the Pin-tailed Snipe.
Apparently, amongst British troopers in India within the 18th century, searching snipe was a preferred pastime. A soldier who may efficiently shoot a snipe was thought of an exceptionally expert marksman – an actual “sniper”.
If you don’t like spiders, it’s possible you’ll be glad to see these images of (presumably) a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler.
The Ashy Drongo is an attention-grabbing drongo species in that it’s not essentially black …
… and that the completely different subspecies look somewhat completely different, from gentle grey to virtually customary drongo black. Thankfully, the subspecies migrating via Shanghai is a cute one with a big white patch across the eyes …
… presumably Dicrurus leucophaeus salangensis, although I might not give a lot alone judgement relating to subspecies.
Some extra images of birds I don’t have a lot to say about proper now: Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (male) …
… feminine …
… Black-collared Starling …
… Eurasian Hoopoe …
… Black Paradise Flycatcher …
… Asian Stubtail …
… Oriental Magpie-robin (with the identical issues I’ve when strolling via Nanhuis microforests: all the time getting sticky spider webs in my face) …
… Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike …
… Brown Shrike …
… Black-crowned Night time Heron (juvenile and grownup) …
… and the dreaded Japanese Tit. I shiver any time I get an honest picture of it, understanding that I must present the fowl within the subsequent month-to-month Shanghai publish and give you a semi-pornographic joke. The disgrace of it.
Thankfully, I now can ask ChatGPT to do the soiled work for me. “Are you able to inform me a barely sleazy joke associated to the fowl species Japanese Tit?”
ChatGPT: “Positive, right here’s a cheeky one associated to the Japanese Tit: Why did the birdwatcher deliver binoculars to the café? As a result of he heard they’d some Japanese Tits within the space and wished to ensure he received take a look at these high quality feathers! (Generally birdwatching comes with double meanings!)”
As Peter lately identified someplace, ChatGPT’s humorousness nonetheless wants work. It jogs my memory of the man at work who thinks he has an ideal humorousness – he all the time says so – however all people dreads it when he begins telling jokes.
Thankfully, on the finish of September, Nanhui has one thing significantly better than a fowl species that primarily serves as a cue for lame jokes: the Oriental Scops Owl. Just some images this time.
Lastly, the Fairy Pitta once more. So arduous to not present these images. The publish ends right here for these not keen on pittas.
Curiously, all of the pittas I’ve seen this autumn have been juveniles – do the adults take a distinct route, or are they simply too intelligent to show themselves to me? Extra analysis wanted …