Dandong wasn’t just a wader bonanza (17 Nordmann’s Greenshanks roosting with 2 Asian Dowitchers was really something!) but also a celebration of Siberian migrants. We encountered Siberian Rubythroats and both Siberian Blue and Rufous-tailed Robins bobbing along the sea wall, Mugimaki, Red-throated, Blue and White and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers feeding on the leeward side of the hedges and Siberian, Grey-backed and Eyebrowed Thrushes skulking in thickets. Not to mention Eastern Crowned, Arctic (Kamchatka!), Pale-legged, Yellow-browed, Dusky and Radde’s Warblers entertaining us from the boughs and Brown Shrikes seemingly on every perch. Fantastic stuff. So, in a tribute to ‘Sibes’, here are a few images.
Siberian Blue Robin (first summer male), Donggang, 12 May 2012Siberian Blue Robin, Donggang, 12 May 2012. This individual belied the species’ reputation as a skulker and posed beautifully for the camera.Siberian Rubythroat (male), Donggang, 12 May 2012. Imagine this turning up on your local headland in the UK…Siberian Rubythroat (female), Donggang, 12 May 2012.Mugimaki Flycatcher, Donggang, 12 May 2012.Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Donggang, 13 May 2012Siberian Thrush (female), Donggang, 13 May 2012. This supreme skulker flew right by me after being flushed by a lorry along a main road. I rattled off 6 images and only this one was in focus.Rufous-tailed Robin, Donggang, 11 May 2012. An understated bird but with bags of character.Brown Shrike, Donggang, 12 May 2012
And turning around 180 degrees revealed an interesting backdrop – the border with North Korea. This boat flew the flag of the DPRK.
A North Korean (fishing?) boat heading out to sea on the falling tide. Birding along the North Korean border added extra spice to an already spicy birding trip.
I can hear 5 (Large Hawk Cuckoo, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler and Siberian Blue Robin) but there maybe more….
