Saturday, 22nd May; Hebei, Beidaihe area

Back again to Beidaihe... my 4th visit this Spring.

I arrived at the Magic Wood, Nandaihe at 5.30am with high expectations. In previous years around about this date, I've photographed Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Brown Hawk Owk, Von Schrenck's Bittern, Indian Nightjar, Elisa's Flycatcher, Northerm Hawk Cuckoo, Pere David's Bush Warbler and many more star birds here (the Yellow-legged Button-Quail slipped away alas). So what would this morning bring...

Nothing mega, but some excellent birds nevertheless (and very good light, except for the Moorhen 340, which was photographed flying towards the rising sun):

More than a dozen Black-browed Reed Warblers (341) brought the apron of the woods to life; perhaps up to half-a-dozen Thick-billed Warblers played and won several games of hide and seek (is this the wariest warbler in the world I wonder); a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (342) was also playing hard to get, but gave up in the end I'm pleased to report; a late Arctic Warbler also showed itself. And the Siberian Flycatchers (343) - always the last flycatcher to grace these woods - had, at last, arrived.

So, all in all, a fine start to the day.

On to the Dai Orchard, where a long wait next to the wood-pile for the songster with the fine warbling voice to show itself was rewarded with close-up photos of a bird I see and hear all too rarely: a Manchurian Reed Warbler (344).

Lotus Hills didn't disappoint. It usually throws up a few surprises in between the 22 and 25th May (in previous years I've found Fujian Niltava, Chinese Song Thrush, Japanese Waxwing, and Beidaihe's first Orange-headed Ground Thrush here at this time). The Ground Thrush is particularly noteworthy in being (most probably) the world's most northerly record of this species. It was a bit of a slog though, but eventually I landed two prizes: A very tired-looking Swinhoe's Robin (345) and a very flighty Brown Hawk Owl which, despite my best efforts, eluded my lens. There was also a flock of Chesnut-sided White-eyes (346) here and several Black-naped Orioles (347).

The Friendship Hotel gardens are great for a number of reasons. Wonderful birds (thrush-types are its speciality) and the best children's play area in Beidaihe (6 year-olds aren't that keen on birding strangely enough).

So a couple of happy campers: I found no fewer than three Swinhoe's Robins and my youngest daughter also had a great time.

I had to get back home for a 4pm conference call, but managed to add Crested Myna (348) on the way back.