Beidaihe, China, May 2007

Russ Boland

"I spent an enjoyable 18 days on the recent Wildwings tour to Beidaihe and Happy Island. Much of my time was spent drawing and sketching, and I've submitted a selection from the Sketchbook. Using cheap coloured pencils this is the first time I've seriously tried adding colour to my sketches; it was either done in the field or shortly afterwards from memory and field notes." Oriental Cuckoo, Old Peak, Hebei, 21st May Non-calling Eurasian and Oriental Cuckoos are notoriously difficult to separate. Fortunately this one called soon after being sketched ! Ibisbill, Be Hai River, nr Beijing, 7th May. A quite superb bird, not a fleeting glimpse of a bird a mile away but two remarkably confiding birds with young, showing down to only 30 - 40 m. Terek Sandpiper, Sandflats, Beidaihe, 12th May Known as "Derek" by some of the Wildwing's gang. Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Happy Island, 16th May Most birds had cleared out on this day, but this individual remained faithful to a clump of trees near the temple, allowing it to be sketched through the scope. Eye-browed Thrush, Yeng Ho Reservoir, Beidaihe, 9th May The most common Turdus thrush seen, sometimes very confiding, sometimes very wary.