Entering China

The Forbidden City

Coming from Norway you have to stop over in Beijing before entering Tibet. I have been in Beijing for three days now, but the birding activity has been put aside so far. Lots of planning and logistics had to be arranged here, before ascending to the heights. Finally, today all the paperwork and permissions were all right, and I could bird for some hours.

Recommendations from other Norwegian birders sent me to The Forbidden City and the surrounding parks. The Forbidden City was built in the 14th century, and consists of nearly 1000 buildings. The City is worth many hours of visit. This was probably the most impressive architecture work I ever saw. The parks were also really nice. At least 25 Azure-winged Magpies roamed about in small groups. The first lifer on the trip! Other birds included the numerous Tree Sparrow, some Russet Sparrows four Yellow-browed Warblers, a Great-spotted Woodpecker (female - but I was confused by the bird. It looked like a hybrid between White-backed and Great-spotted... I guess it is the subspecies that show this much white and aberrant features in the face. I'll check it when I get back to some real literature). Furthermore, two Magpies (of another subspecies than ours), and a Thick-billed Crow.

So folks! Tomorrow morning I'm heading for the mountains. See you there ;-)