Pallas's Warbler, Whitley Bay

In the gloom of November on the track behind the Cemetery....

Seconds

Where the actions is/at...

More of the same this afternoon, with a couple of hours at Marden Quarry - brief view of the Pallas's Warbler, prolonged views of Yellow-browed Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff. Quite a trio of Sibes...

Prior to that, Arcot was twitched - Whooper Swans for the patch list courtesy GM.

Good times...

Another Siberian

Spent the afternoon at Marden Quarry, enjoying company with the Northumbrian elite ... the hoped for Pallas's Warbler did not materialise, and I didn't hear the Ring Ouzel call. However, some compensation with a Siberian Chiffchaff, dropping in briefly and calling late afternoon... record shot it is...

Birding Hong Kong: Part 1 of 2

Birding in Hong Kong was very limited for the 'sometimes crew... Four sites were birded during the week stay - Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Botanical/Zoological Gardens and Hong Kong Wetlands, near Tin Shui Wai to the north-west of Hong Kong.

The masked laughingthrush (above) was photographed in Kowloon Park ~ tribes of this species roamed the hedge-rows and were quite bold. Kowloon Park also held a small flock of breeding alexandarine parakeet (we had a minimum of 11 one morning), black-necked starling, a large residence of black-crowned night heron, a pair of crested goshawk, while yellow-browed warbler and pallas's warbler felt more familiar. The first of several grey form (commixtus) great tit were also present, none of which were photographable as they fed in dense cover.

Hong Kong Park added black-throated laughingthrush to the holiday list (tho these birds are descended from captive birds) and fork-tailed sunbird were present in the canopy. None of the hoped for siberian rubythroat, rufous-tailed robin etc could be found...

The bulk of the birding was at the wetland reserve - an impressive visitor centre marks the reserve entrance, and conveniently it contains a decent cafe too!

Very popular with families when we visited on January 1st, the site is clearly popular... though most were there for a day out rather than specifically the birds.

Bulbuls were evident near the visitor centre, with red-whiskered (crested), sooty-headed and, above, chinese loafing about. On the water, moorhen, great cormorant, teal, pintail, shoveler and grey heron were very familiar...

Daurian redstart were abundant, this confiding bird was near the river hide. At one point it shared a bush with a yellow-browed warbler and siberian stonechat! On the river there were more of the familiar waterbirds that have already been mentioned, but a black-capped kingfisher was new for me.

The grey-backed thrush (above) was photographed near the mudflat hide - this is a female - quite a stunner!

The star(s) of the show were on the mudflats - viewed distantly from the hide were a group of 16 black-faced spoonbill. In typical spoonbill fashion, they remained mostly asleep! Bit odd seeing them with so many grey heron... A few great egret and little egret were also present, while waders included greenshank, common sandpiper, marsh sandpiper and impressive little-ringed plover numbers. White wagtail fed on the shore and in cut grass, and appeared to be of the leucopsis race.

Barred on Saturday, Sprite on Sunday

A text from IF early morning saw me heading down to St Mary's rather than sit at the computer editing some of yesterdays barred warbler images. The target species this morning was only seen briefly twice during a two hour watch - pallas's warbler still alludes the camera! They're a beautiful species ~ I look forward to the day that I manage an image of a seven-striped-sprite worthy of presentation.

There was a good number of birders out, and the pallas's was enough to lure a certain stringer from northern territories.

Also of note were six tree sparrow over, plus redpoll sp in flight (mealy had been present on Saturday), siskin and a great spotted woodpecker.

Back home for coffee and lunch (I maintain the correct priorities in life), then a spot of photo editing. The barred warbler image above is a rework of an attempt from yesterday - I had not got the colour balance right after incorrectly exposing the shot in bright sunshine. Note the under-tail coverts...