Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Qionghai Lake, Dream Lake Wetland

So I tok the slow train from Kunming to Xi Chang and now I am in the region of Sichuan. This morning I got up and was out by 7am, but it was still dark! doh! So I set off anyway, waiting for it to get a bit lighter so I could take some photos. There were heaps of Brown-breasted Bulbuls frolicking around in the bad light but it was pointless taking any photos of them. So I just wandered around waiting for the light to come up.

, Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus)

I have seen the scientific name Sturnus sericeus, so I do not know which is right.

Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus)

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris )

I was quite surprised to see this Common Starling with the Red-billed Starlings. There is also a Red-vented Bulbul in the shot.

Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)

Blurry photo, but it was the best i got. doh!

Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Mystery bird

I have no idea what this is. My guesses include Clamorous Reed Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler and Zitting Cisticola.

Xi Chang bird list

Red-billed Starling (Spodiopsar sericeus)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris )
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Eurasian Magpie
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba )
Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saulari)
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
Common Coot
Chinese Pond-heron (Ardeola bacchus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Scaly-breasted Munia
White-fronted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus )

Resource:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L4811712?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec

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Western Hills Park

It was a funny morning today. I got up about 6:30am and grabbed a taxi to the subway and got to the Western Hills Park before 8am. I had no idea where to go so I followed the other people down the hill to a bus station. I guessed that you had to catch a bus to the park. I finally sorted out the green bus with the help of a nice lady. I was surprised when it just kept going right up to the top of the mountain almost. I wandered around the area for a little while until I spied my one and only species for the day – the Rusty-capped Fulvetta (Alcippe dubia). Then it started raining so I sat under some shelter and had a few meat dumplings (baozi) for breakfast.

Rusty-capped Fulvetta (Alcippe dubia)

The rain was not going to stop so I jumped back on the bus and headed downhill. On the way back I went shopping for some shoes at Walmart, but it was crap, so I found some shoes that fitted me in a store nearby. Some tasty noodles from a little shop and back to bed for a rest before editing photos this afternoon in the rain.

Rusty-capped Fulvetta (Alcippe dubia)

“The rusty-capped fulvetta is a species of bird in the Pellorneidae family. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.” (wikipedia)

Resources:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L957784?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec

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Green Lake Park

I got the bus from Dali to Kunming. More than five hours on a slow coach. Arghh! I arrived late into Kunming and found my hostel. Early in the morning I got up headed off to the Green Lake Park, which is quite close to my hostel. There were a few waterbirds and I was lucky to find a few new bush birds. I gave up when the dancing aunties started blaring out their music and wiggling their hips.

Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)

This is a new bulbul. I saw the yellow vent and thought it might have been a yellow-vented but no, it ain’t.

Black-throated Tit (Aegithalos concinnus)

This is also known as the Black-throated Bushtit. First time for this one too. That is two ticks for the morning. Not bad for the beginning of winter.

Chinese Pond-Heron ( Ardeola bacchus )

“Identification: Indistinguishable from other pond-heron species when in non-breeding and juvenile plumage. Adult in breeding plumage has distinctive chestnut-maroon head, head-plumes, neck and upperbreast, white underparts and blacklish-slate mantle and scapulars.” (singaporebirds.com)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta )

Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

This is also known as the Common Moorhen, which I think is the correct name.

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

The White-breasted Waterhen was not on the ebird list for the Green Lake. It is well within range.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus )

Squirrel

Kunming bird list

Brown-breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthorrhous)
Black-throated Tit (Aegithalos concinnus) aka Black-throated Bushtit
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) aka Common Moorhen
White-breasted Waterhen ( Amaurornis phoenicurus )
Chinese Pond-Heron ( Ardeola bacchus )
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus )
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Little Egret ( Egretta garzetta )
White Wagtail
Yellow-browed Warbler
Mallard

Resources
https://singaporebirds.com/species/chinese-pond-heron/
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L957929?yr=all&m=&rank=mrec

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