Yeyahu NR is the only known breeding site for Chinese Penduline Tit (Remiz consobrinus) in Beijing. I have found 2-3 nests at this site in Springs 2011 and 2012. They are also a regular passage migrant, sometimes in good numbers, and an occasional winter visitor (in the winter of 2010-2011 up to 10 birds were present at Yeyahu but there were none in 2011-2012). They can be quite elusive in the reedbeds and scrub but their presence is often given away by their distinctive call. Listen here.
Last week, during my visit to Yeyahu, I enjoyed several encounters with these charming birds and watched a group of 6 birds extremely well from the boardwalk. Below are a few images. Chinese Penduline Tit used to be considered conspecific with Eurasian Penduline Tit, which I first saw at Rainham Marshes in the UK, but now it is considered a separate species.
Nice pictures. I enjoy these birds and admit I think of these as bandit birds for their distinctive black masks. Thanks too for the link (to Tom’s nice recordings!) I need to see these more often than I do (I think they’re around a good bit), and hopefully working on the call will help me.
Hi Gretchen.. Yes, they do look like bandits! There seems to be a lot around at the moment, so it’s a good time to catch up with them. Learning the call will help a lot. T
What lovely little birds! I hope one day to go birding in your part of the world, and I can only dream of seeing them so beautifully. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment, Melissa!