A Birding Adventure At My Hometown Xi'An

February 8th, 2024--My first time observing fierce predators in the avian world!

On Chinese New Year's Eve, I made the decision to go birding at Chanba National Wetland Park to observe bird species that are not commonly found in Shanghai.

Upon entering the park, I was greeted by a large flock of approximately thirty Swan Geese resting in the grass. These geese were easily identifiable by their distinctive bicolor heads and necks, with dark brown heads and white necks. Their long necks were nearly equal in length to their bodies and they possessed long black beaks with a white stripe at the base. I carefully observed these geese from various angles and captured images of them assuming different postures. Some were sleeping, tucking their heads into their bodies, and burying their legs within themselves like large furballs. Others stood tall and straight as if standing guard over the safety of the entire flock.

Wild Swan Geese are notoriously difficult to find and even considered endangered. Therefore, it is likely that those found within the park are domesticated individuals.

Swan Goose

In the center of the park lies a magnificent lake adorned with islands along its shores that cannot be accessed by visitors. While wandering beside this lake, I spotted what initially appeared to be a chicken-like figure moving through bushes on one of these islands. Upon closer inspection through my binoculars, it became evident that this was no ordinary farmyard chicken. Rather, it was a wild Ring-Necked Pheasant boasting a colorful head and an exceptionally long tail—a sight rarely seen in Shanghai.

Equipped with my new Air Jordans (which I had received as an early New Year's gift), I ventured through the swamps. The experience was quite perilous, as it was all too easy for my shoes to become ensnared in the mud. After navigating the treacherous terrain for several minutes, I finally reached an island. This narrow strip of land was densely covered with thorny vegetation, making it difficult to traverse and increasing the risk of falling into the adjacent lake. Consequently, I refrained from venturing further onto the island and thus missed out on getting a closer look at a chicken.

Continuing my exploration deeper into the park, I sought out birds hidden within its bushes. Perched atop one bush was a small red bird that caught my eye. Hastily capturing several photographs with my camera, I was delighted to discover that the bird had gazed directly at me in one of them. Using binoculars for closer observation, I witnessed its head turning from side to side in search of companions before the bird hopped to another branch and turned away from me. Its long orange tail matched its belly while its wings were grey with two white spots on each. Suddenly, it hopped into the bushes and disappeared. It must be an elf that comes from the bushes!

Daurian Redstart (Male)

As winter did not seem conducive to extensive birdwatching and few other avian species were present in the park, I felt uncertain about where else to explore.

After spending some time fruitlessly wandering within the park grounds without encountering any new birds, I decided to leave and walked alongside the Chan River in hopes of spotting different species there instead. Despite nearly two hours spent searching along the river’s banks, I yielded no results. I sat down on the grass by the river's edge and stared blankly ahead while silently praying for any bird sighting.

Suddenly, a loud "swoosh" cut through the air above me and halted my quiet reverie. I looked up and saw what seemed like nothing short of miraculous: a Eurasian Kestrel perched upon a weathered tree branch! Overcome with excitement at this unexpected discovery, I proceeded to capture hundreds of images documenting this encounter with such a magnificent little falcon.

Eurasian Kestrel (Female)

I have always desired to see a falcon, eagle, or owl. In my imagination, I envisioned these birds as formidable creatures poised to capture their prey at any moment. However, the Eurasian Kestrel turned out to be quite endearing. It possessed long and sharp claws, along with a short but pointed beak, just as I had imagined. Its bright and piercing eyes scanned its surroundings for potential prey while it turned its head in all directions. Unlike the smaller birds I had encountered before, the feathers of the falcon were longer and adorned with distinctive spots, particularly on its chest. As the falcon soared gracefully above the trees and river before returning to rest on a nearby tree, I marveled at its powerful wingbeats that allowed it to navigate swiftly through the air. Its elegance was undoubtedly intimidating to any potential prey.

Observing the Eurasian Kestrel left me pleasantly surprised and fulfilled. What a truly exceptional conclusion to my trip!