The Temple of Heaven is on the itinerary for most first-time visitors to Beijing. It’s an impressive tourist site, attracting thousands of visitors daily. In spring and autumn it is also something of a migrant trap and in one small fenced off area, local bird photographers set out their stalls and wait to snap photos of the latest crop of migrants that have dropped in for a rest.
Usually, they find relatively common migrants such as Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Blue Robin, Taiga Flycatcher or Dusky Thrush. However, on 12 October, whilst photographing a Chinese Thrush, a small rail ran across in front of the startled photographers. One of them was quick to point their lens and shoot some photos. I am not sure the photographer knew the significance of the sighting immediately.. but one of the photos was circulated and one of the recipients, Wei Min, forwarded it on to the Birding Beijing WeChat group where, as you can imagine, it caused quite a stir!
I don’t have permission to publish the photo on this blog but you can see the photos by clicking here. They are probably the best ever photos of SWINHOE’S RAIL in the wild. It’s a tough bird to see anywhere in the world – extremely skulking and rare, possibly very rare.
Not surprisingly, this bird represents the first record of SWINHOE’S RAIL for Beijing. However, it was only seen by a handful of photographers. Unfortunately, it appears that one of the photographers on site ‘caught’ it and, once released, it flew off into deep cover, never to be seen again. Hopeful birders tried again the next day but, despite a thorough search, it was never re-found.
This sighting continues a remarkable autumn in Beijing that has seen some incredible records, not just in terms of rare species (juvenile SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER and STREAKED REED WARBLER take some beating !) but also some astonishing high counts of some more regular birds, for example 50,000 LITTLE BUNTINGS in one day on 26 September and over 8,000 HORNED LARKS on 15 October. A browse of the Latest Sightings page will give you some idea of the amazing birding in Beijing this autumn. Long may it continue!