21/12 I met the three professional birdwatchers from the UK at Nanchang Airport in Jiangxi province. Then we drove towards Wuyuan, which is a picturesque county in the north-east of this province. It was almost nightfall when we arrived in Wuyuan. It took us about 4 hours to get there. We were accommodated in a very nice hotel (four star).
22/12 After breakfast we continue on our journey. We stopped in search of the rare Scaly-sided Merganser. That is the day's primary target. But we were not lucky enough. We did not found any due to the foggy weather, but on the way we found some Black-collared Starlings and some wild ducks by the side of a river. Then we went to the Mandarin Duck Lake and saw many pairs of them around the lake. Late in the afternoon we drove to Poyang County(2 hours driving). We spent one night here. Because this hotel is very close to Poyang Lake. The hotel is called Raozhou hotel, which is a four star one. The food here is very delicious too.
23/12 In the morning we drive directly to the Poyang Hu National Wetland Park(East side of Poyang Hu). We took a boat there to see the migratory birds around the outside lake. Here we saw thouands of wild geese, swans, gulls and common cranes and some white oriental storks. We had taken a picnic luch and we spend most of the day's time to watch those cute creatures. Late in the afternoon, we drive to Jiujiang which is a provincial city on the way to the Poyang hu national nature reserve. Locating just by the shore of the famous Yangtze river. The city is very beautiful with lakes big and small around. We spend one Night here(2.5 hrs from the Poyang Hu National Wetland Park).
24/12 It took us 2.5hrs to reach Wucheng, a small town in the west side of Poyang Hu, where the National Nature Reserve is. Siberian Crane is undoubtedly the reserve's star attraction. Over 95% of the world population (only 4,000 birds) of these splendid creatures winter here, as even larger numbers of the equally majestic White-naped Crane and Hooded Crane too. Water way is the only option here. We rented a local fishing boat and headed to a small lake named Meisi Hu, where we saw 753 more Siberia caranes. This amazed us very much and we saw some White-naped Crane and Hooded Crane too. These are the species we mainly want to see. We were all excited and cheers to each at dinner. Also we celebrate for Christmas, because that night was Christmas Eve. We spent one night in a guesthouse in Wucheng.
25/12 They took an early morning flight to Guiyang city for Black-necked cranes.
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Siberian Crane
White-naped Crane
Hooded Crane
White Oriental Stork