Chaoyang Park is the biggest public park in China.  On this mild, spring Sunday afternoon tens of thousands of Beijingers were enjoying the park's many amenities:  There were boaters, kite-flyers, dancers, roller-coaster-riders, merry-go-rounders, footballers, basketballers, tennis players, picnicers, and a birder. 

Despite the multitude of people, there were still many areas that were quiet enough to attract some interesting birds.  The conifers near to the North Gate that have been planted on raised ground proved to be popular with a party of three Siberian Accentors and three species of bunting:  30 Rustic, one Siberian Meadow, as well as two improbably-beautiful male Elegant Buntings were grazing in this one area. 

I always tend to think that the 21st March is the real start of spring in northerly latitudes (in Beijing and Norfolk at least), and my determination to find a real spring migrant on this date (the accentor and three bunting species can sometimes be found in winter here) paid off handsomely thanks to a resplendent male Daurian Redstart, which took the "first-returning-passerine" prize for the umpteenth time.  Although not unexpected, it's always an exciting moment to find such a stunning bird.  Second prize went to a female Red-flanked Bluetail.  The biggest surprise, though, appeared over the lake at about 4pm...  And when you see a Swallow in Beijing, you know that spring is, at long last, here.  Yes!!

Photos of 6 species (3 new for 2010 are numbered)

206   Daurian Redstart

         Siberian Accentor

         Siberian Meadow Bunting

         Rustic Bunting

207   Elegant Bunting

208   Red-flanked Bluetail