This was one other month with a really gradual begin. Sometimes – and I’m basing this much less by myself relatively unreliable reminiscence and extra on eBird – passerine migration already begins in early September. Not this 12 months. Whether or not that is because it was a extremely popular first half of September (bonus factors to me for not mentioning local weather change at this second!) or one thing extra sinister – arduous to inform.
So, what did this depart this poor birder who tried to persuade himself a number of instances that getting up at round 2.45 am in an effort to be on the most promising migration spot in Shanghai in time for dawn?
Properly, to some extent, taking photographs of waders. Torrential rain had flooded a number of the virtually utterly destroyed reedbeds at Nanhui (no worries – the federal government will certainly create some small synthetic wetlands some other place), attracting some small and principally remarkably unrare shorebirds (observe nod to the truth that 10,000 Birds has readers each in North America and in Europe, in addition to about 7 in Timor-Leste, if I perceive the newest readership statistics accurately).
These photographs partly present species like Lengthy-toed Stint together with trash, discarded plastic footwear, and crabs (each lifeless and alive).
Different species – photographed whereas sweating and sinking within the mud, however nothing is just too arduous for us to please our readers – embody the relatively cute Crimson-necked Stint …
… (not likely a redneck, I hasten so as to add, not desirous to be counted among the many supporters of Trump and presumably slavery) …
… Frequent Sandpipers (affected by inflation, as anybody with the moniker “frequent” does within the US immediately, Trump’s promise to cease inflation on day one however – however I realized a brand new phrase from his speeches, specifically “groceries”) …
… Little Ringed Plovers …
… (which apparently don’t have any distinction in survival charges between the 2 sexes, and sure, I do know, that isn’t a really fascinating assertion, however most analysis helps findings that aren’t very fascinating) …
… alongside a couple of extra waders equivalent to Temminck’s Stint …
…. and shorebirds such because the Wooden Sandpiper …
… and the relatively non-shorebirdish White Wagtail, which confirmed up very near my camouflaged digicam spot anyway.
After all, shorebirds aren’t the one ones that principally all look the identical and say the identical, no matter occurs (like US Republicans) – you even have Darkish-sided Flycatcher …
… Asian Brown Flycatcher …
and Gray-streaked Flycatcher.
And naturally, I received the same old photographs of Little Egrets …
… and Gray Herons.
However all this speak is simply to cover the truth that I solely received a horrible photograph of a Fairy Pitta.
I might not even name it a report shot. Possibly a bootleg report shot? I used to do bootleg recordings of concert events once I was a lot youthful …
What you’ll now say – and I totally perceive – is one thing like this: “That’s all good and properly, and we perceive your frustration, however weren’t there any good birds in Shanghai in September you can share with us?”
Properly, there have been a couple of Pin-tailed Snipes.
In all probability simply passing by way of on migration to their wintering locations additional south.
Like some people, they’re described as “presumably monogamous” (HBW).
Additionally, there have been a couple of Black Paradise Flycatchers. Somewhat handsome birds, although even the males solely have brief tails round this time of the 12 months …
… and presumably the Chinese language – by no means too keen on Japan – requested them to vary their identify from the earlier “Japanese Paradise Flycatcher”, which I used to be sort of hooked up to.
Additionally, Blue-and-white Flycatcher.
It’s definitely not a woke factor to say, however the feminine of the species seems to be decidedly dumpy.
And Black-winged Cuckooshrike.
I’m not even going to say some unidentifiable cuckoo species.
Or some relatively unblue Siberian Blue Robin. Possibly it – like Elon Musk – thinks that “The Left is the Social gathering of Homicide” and thus needs to keep away from being related to the colour blue?
Shrikes of the month:
Brown …
… a chook that generally appears to have virtually blue toes …
… Tiger …
… Lengthy-tailed (that is the native champion).
Lengthy-tailed Shrike molting:
One other Lengthy-tailed Shrike alerted me to the presence of a Gray Nightjar. The mobbing was ineffective – the nightjar simply didn’t care – however helped me discover the chook.
Per week or so later, there was one other one, resting in an much more open location – so I didn’t even want the assistance of the shrikes to see it.
Within the obituary part, we now have to report on a Black-winged Stilt. The assassin: A Peregrine Falcon. To keep away from stunning our viewers an excessive amount of, we are able to solely present a report shot of the assassin and the sufferer.
On that aspect of the seawall, the same old (however nonetheless extremely appreciated) Reed Parrotbill.
On the final day of the month, I noticed a chook whose id nonetheless escapes me. Any ideas? It acted like a flycatcher …
After all, if there are not any birds, there’s nonetheless music. Corresponding to this one by German band Fink.
Or the very fantastic “Shrift” by Pacific.
And there are additionally some bizarre issues.
