Tag Archives: Olympic Forest Park

Autumn Migration Begins in Beijing

Posted on August 20, 2012 by

After a superb juvenile Little Curlew was seen and photographed at the Old Summer Palace in Beijing last week, and a report of a male Narcissus Flycatcher in the grounds of the Xiyuan Hotel, I was motivated to get out … Continue reading →

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Little Grebe ssp poggei – future split?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by

Visiting birders generally don’t pay much attention to the humble Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis).  But the observant birder will notice that the subspecies found here – poggei – has a pale eye and has been mooted as a potential future … Continue reading →

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Water Rail Tragedy

Posted on March 10, 2012 by

On Saturday morning I decided to check on the Western Water Rail in the Olympic Forest Park.  When I arrived on site, my heart sank.  All of the small areas of reeds that had been left uncut at the beginning … Continue reading →

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Eastern or Western Water Rail?

Posted on February 17, 2012 by

How are y’all on Water Rail identification?  Great…. I took these images of a Water Rail sp in the Olympic Forest Park, Beijing, this afternoon.  The bird has been around since at least December, frequenting a small area of reedbed … Continue reading →

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Water Pipits

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

On recent trips to the Olympic Forest Park and Shidu, I encountered wintering Water Pipits, described by my companions as the epitome of LBJs (little brown jobs)!  There are several races of Water Pipit and, in the Beijing area in … Continue reading →

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Parklife

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

It’s been a strange winter so far.. not so cold and no snow to speak of.  It’s been the same up north in Liaoning Province.  No Waxwings at all (contrasting strongly with last winter’s invasion of both Bohemian and Japanese … Continue reading →

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The Appetiser

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

A walk around the Olympic Forest Park on Tuesday evening revealed that autumn passerine migration is beginning to get going…  First, I flushed a Richard’s Pipit from a path near the ‘underwater corridor’, then a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler flew across … Continue reading →

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Odonata

Posted on August 14, 2011 by

In the continuing sultry heat of Beijing in August it’s uncomfortable to spend much time in the field, even during the early morning or evening.  A sun hat and lots of water are essentials.  And so for my latest visit … Continue reading →

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Wet Wet Wet

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

Apologies to those of you expecting a post about the 80s pop sensation led by Marti Pello (whatever happened to him?). Anyway, yesterday afternoon, in the midst of some of the worst smog, I mean mist (you don’t get smog … Continue reading →

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Cinnamon Bittern

Posted on July 4, 2011 by

I spent Monday evening at the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing, primarily to look for dragonflies but also on the off-chance that there could be an interesting crake or rail calling at dusk.  The park officially allows last entry at … Continue reading →

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