Generally I don’t really feel like writing a lot. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue for me – all I’ve to do to give you a beneficial put up is pull out a number of of my images, add a number of snarky feedback, and I’m good to go.
The Various Tit which I described in an earlier put up continues to be in Shanghai, nonetheless in the identical park.
It has a great probability of turning into probably the most photographed Shanghai fowl previously few years.
Not dangerous for a fowl 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 fashionable the search time period is on-line – solely to be disillusioned 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 attain this impact).
The scientific species identify venustulus means pretty, 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 identify concinnus means “elegant, neat, pleasing”.
Principally justified, I feel, except you take a look at a fowl 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 quite than renting or shopping for one. I can perceive this fairly nicely – when you have been a bushtit, would you wish 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 perhaps they do that every one yr spherical).
I’m positive that if one confirmed non-birder a photograph of a Black-crowned Evening Heron and requested them in regards to the fowl’s shade, 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 fowl 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 have to be black, proper?
Till not too long ago, the Ochre-rumped Bunting was referred to as the Japanese Reed Bunting. Nevertheless, the belief that Edward Japanese (1803-1854), the British naturalist, financed a part of his research with earnings 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 akin to 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 tougher to see on the finish of the month – species akin to Northern Lapwing …
… and Widespread Rosefinch.
Others will keep a bit longer however finally nonetheless resolve to keep away from the new and humid Shanghai summer time:
Daurian Redstart
Pale Thrush
Richard’s Pipit
Some even mix the change in location with a change in shade, like this Noticed Redshank.
Others are – relying in your constructive or adverse view on the attitudes of birds – both extra adaptable or just too lazy emigrate and thus will probably 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 positive whether or not this can be a Eurasian or an Oriental Skylark, I can not inform you whether or not this one is prone to keep in Shanghai in summer time or not. Any opinions? I solely take images of birds, I do probably not know them.
“No, I’m not going to inform you about my summer time plans”
Lastly, winter can be the most effective season to see raptors on Chongming:
Black-winged Kite …
… Japanese Buzzard (video) …
… and Eurasian Kestrel.
Within the ominously named “Different” part usually ending my posts, we now have a Raccoon Canine, as seen on Tianmashan. Apparently, this isn’t a lot of a raccoon – its closest relative is the fox. Thankfully not Donald Trump.
