Creatures in the Reed Marshes

July 25th, 2024, Birding @ Akeqi National Wetland Park, Habahe

ME

I reached the Akeqi Wetland of Habahe, one of the most important migratory bird areas in Altay, Xinjiang. I visited it twice: the evening of July 25 and the morning of July 26.

Many small birds were leaping out of the reeds, such as the Great Reed Warbler and the Paddyfield Warbler. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to photograph the Great Reed Warbler.

The Siberian Stonechat Pair 👇

A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler hopped on a reed and chattered so loudly, looking at us as if to greet us. I managed to take some great photos of him! Then I found both the male and female Siberian stonechat. Later, a Red-tailed Shrike sat on a tree branch; Compared with the Long-Tailed Shrike in Shanghai, its size and tail length were much less. The red on the belly was darker. It still has a hooked beak.

Barn Swallow👇

There were surprises from time to time while looking at the sky during the trip. First, I saw a Lesser Kestrel. At first, I thought it was just a Common Kestrel, but after looking at the photo, I realized I had recorded a new bird species. A Eurasian Bittern also flew out from the reeds and continued to the broad sky.

In total, I observed 23 species.

Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler

Eurasian Bittern