Changsha

We took the high speed train from Guangzhou to Changsha, my hometown.

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

At this time of the year -- late March, the rapeseed plants were blooming all over southern China, adding some cheerful color to the dreary landscape.


Rapeseed Field


Rapeseed Field

Our time in Changsha was mostly spent with family. We only made two very brief outings during a week in town. The first was a morning trip to Tangerine Island. The weather was pretty dreary on that day, but as far as birding, it proved to be fruitful.

First, I saw a few familiar birds -- a small flock of Yellow-billed Grosbeaks (黑尾蜡嘴雀) and a few Eurasian Blackbirds (烏鶇).


Yellow-billed Grosbeak (黑尾蜡嘴雀)


Eurasian Blackbird (烏鶇)

My first new bird came in the form of a Masked Laughingthrush (黑脸噪鹛), which loosely resembles a jay with a Zorro mask.


Masked Laughingthrush (黑脸噪鹛)

A beautiful little bird caught my attention in the dim light, this turned out to be a female Daurian Redstart (黃尾鴝), a new bird for me as well. Later I saw a male with more striking plumage.


Daurian Redstart (黃尾鴝)


Daurian Redstart (黃尾鴝)


Daurian Redstart (黃尾鴝)

The most interesting encounter was with a Red-flanked bluetail (红胁蓝尾鸲), which I initially thought to be the same bird as the Daurian Redstart, but later I found out that it was a different, and another new bird for me. I was very delighted to have seen and photographed this pretty little bird.


Red-flanked bluetail (红胁蓝尾鸲)

Another faimilar bird, the White Wagtail (白鹡鸰).


White Wagtail (白鹡鸰)

There were many flowers blooming on the island as well.


Flower


Flower

Our second a last outing was to the botanic garden, where cultivated tulips were in full bloom. But it was unbelievably crowded and we beat a rather hasty retreat.


Tulips


Tulips


Tulips

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