Two things which i like about the Chinese holidays. 1. They celebrate the seasons. In East China, one can clearly see the change of seasons throughout the year. 2. The long holidays, which gives me some break for birding trips 😉
The celebration of the seasons clearly gives us the respect of nature in the good ol’ days but that’s not the same China now. I believe, people lost their trust on nature during the Great Chinese Famine. Records says that 76 million was the estimated loss in population in a four year period. Whom to blame for the famine, Nature or the Government?
Back to Shanghai’s winter now. I was regularly visiting the Binjiang Forest Park, located near the mouth of the Huangpu river. A brief subway ride all the way to the end of line 6 terminal station, Gangcheng road and a 10 minute taxi ride to what i find is a best getaway for a city birder. Quiet park with very less walkers(Adapted from “Walking Dead” where walkers refers to Zombies) 😉 This is a common practice(nuisance?) in any public place where people play their songs in a loud speaker.
Pale Thrushes are the majority of the thrushes followed by Dusky, Naumann’s, Grey-sided Thrush. Solitary White’s Thrush took over most of the secluded places in the park.
Among the Buntings, Black-faced, Yellow-throated, Rustic Buntings were common. Rustic buntings were my first for the park.
The ultimate bird of the winter was the “Varied Tit”. The bird which was seen in few no’s in the outskirts of Shanghai has made their way all over to the park.
I also, had my first Hawfinch this winter. The no. of Bramblings compared to last winter were less and no Oriental Greenfinches were seen this winter. The below are from 2011 Winter.
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