Crucial occasion this August for birders in Shanghai and possibly elsewhere was in fact the discharge of a brand new The Nationwide track, “House Invader“. Fortuitously, it seems to be an excellent track (notice: Grammarly helpfully means that I ought to change “excellent” to “excellent”, however then Grammarly has not listened to the track – it’s simply excellent, not excellent), although as typical with The Nationwide songs, I solely have a obscure thought what the lyrics imply and particularly why the track is named “House Invader” when it primarily appears to be about randomness shaping our (love)life. However then, I’ve by now discovered to understand Matt Berninger’s lyrics with out understanding them.
The observe has two elements – one is principally an everyday (relatively good) track whereas the final three minutes are principally simply an instrumental, with Matt mumbling some phrases however being more and more drowned by the music, particularly the drums. Notably on the finish, this jogs my memory of the final sentence of a terrifying Franz Kafka story, “Das Urteil” (The Judgement), which is “In diesem Augenblick ging über die Brücke ein geradezu unendlicher Verkehr” (“At that second, nearly infinite visitors was crossing the bridge”). If that sounds a bit innocent, learn the story and you’ll now not be stunned about Kafka biographies highlighting his troublesome relationship along with his father (and presumably, with many of the remainder of the world, too).
And now for one thing fully totally different – birds. Fairly a couple of relatively widespread ones this month, I’m afraid, as the correct migration season solely began throughout the previous couple of days of August.
As you possibly can inform from this submit beginning with leaf warblers, the ornithological equal of watching paint dry (okay, a bit unfair and not likely comparability anyway, however hey, write your individual weblog if you don’t like mine). Just like the Jap Topped Warbler (which eBird mysteriously calls a “boldly marked songbird” regardless of its similarity to about 50 different warbler species) …
… and the Arctic Warbler (or possibly another warbler trying very related). For that species, there’s a paper with the considerably puzzling title “Habitat Selection in captive Arctic Warblers” (much like the seminal paper analyzing location preferences of prisoners within the US penal system, I assume. Sure, I made that up).
On a extra constructive notice, the tip of August additionally noticed the return of some Japanese Paradise Flycatchers like this one. Thoughts you, no lengthy tails on this season. That retains away about 80% of the pesky chook photographers away from the males (although in all probability additionally a justifiable share of the feminine birds – can’t have it each methods).
Daniel Gustafsson and coauthors checked out chewing lice of the Gray-headed Lapwing. Their objective is easy but lofty: “We hope these redescriptions will arouse some curiosity within the chewing lice of shorebirds amongst researchers working with lapwings”.
As I discussed in one in every of my posts this spring, for me the non-public begin of the migration season is after I see my first male colourful flycatcher. For the autumn season of 2023, this might be the sighting of a male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on August 27.
The feminine is much less colourful and likewise generally appears to be in want of some good brushing, just like the one I generally give to these of my cats who don’t run away quick sufficient.
The Asian Brown Flycatcher doesn’t depend as a season-starting chook – discrimination, in fact.
For some purpose, Lengthy-tailed Shrikes at all times remind me a little bit of Donald Trump, regardless that I fairly just like the species (I’m not significantly keen on Mr. Trump). Maybe it’s as a result of loudmouth behaviour may be charming in a chook however is far much less so in a serial liar.
Here’s a mugshot of a Lengthy-tailed Shrike. T-shirts shall be out there quickly.
Fortuitously, the Brown Shrike doesn’t make me consider Mr. Trump. The Latin species title “cristatus” is a little bit of a puzzle because it means “crest” – not an apparent function of the species, so far as I can inform.
The third shrike seen in Shanghai this month was the Tiger Shrike.
Fortuitously – as that is China, not the US – there isn’t a “Three shrikes and you might be out” rule right here (and if this isn’t the worst joke you could have ever heard, then your life actually sucks).
When in search of papers on chook species, it’s at all times a thrill to search out very current ones – a paper on the Black-winged Kite was simply revealed in Might 2023.
It appears at elements figuring out the presence of Black-winged Kites on Taiwan, the place the species is a brand new resident. Curiously, the elements cited there may clarify the increasing presence of the species in Shanghai.
The Oriental Magpie-robin additionally appears to be getting increasingly widespread in Shanghai. Even in my compound, they appear to have fairly a steady presence now.
Heron/Egret medley (sure, I do know medleys suck, however with out the oral element, they could simply be okay):
Black-crowned Evening-heron …
… Cattle Egret …
… Chinese language Pond Heron.
Once I began watching birds in Shanghai, I used to be confused by this one:
It’s a juvenile Gentle-vented Bulbul – and naturally, the information I used then (Information to the Birds of China, John MacKinnnon) didn’t present the juvenile plumage (and extra disappointingly, the second version nonetheless doesn’t present it).
Anyway, not a foul search for a juvenile given the tasteless look of among the bulbuls I just lately noticed in Borneo, although in fact, the grownup chook appears extra distinct.
The younger generally don’t get taken severely by the adults – one thing that this juvenile Oriental Dollarbird in all probability experiences each day.
It comforts itself by listening to Taylor Swift (“Cardigan”) – “If you find yourself younger they assume nothing”. Anyone understands it in any case.
Often, the chook even sings alongside.
City males usually have a neighborhood pub that they go to recurrently – they’re accustomed to the clientele, the beer on faucet, the standard ambiance, the songs within the musicbox … for girls, such consistency is a bit much less widespread. For Pacific Golden Plovers, the scenario is analogous – in a single examine, males confirmed robust breeding floor constancy, with 100% (8 of 8 birds) returning to a website in Western Alaska whereas solely one in every of 4 females (25%) returned. Possibly the males weren’t that spectacular. Possibly the males in your native pub will not be that spectacular both.
Should you needed to go from location A to location B, would you be prepared to take a detour of 1500–3400 km simply to eat so much? If sure, have a look in a mirror – you may be a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. And also you would possibly assume the detour is price it as a result of it permits you to double your physique mass earlier than beginning a nonstop flight of 7000-9000 km (supply).
I additionally noticed a number of Snipe species however lack the ID expertise to provide the actual species names. You work it out your self. I assume when it comes to chance Widespread Snipe is one of the best finest, however who is aware of …
Deep of their hearts, Cuckoo species in all probability know that their method of elevating (or relatively, not elevating) youngsters is flawed and morally repulsive (you must hear Ron DeSantis speak about this). As penitence, they often pressure themselves to eat gadgets that look as disgusting as doable, as proven beneath.
Within the ongoing competitors for the nicest-looking blue chook, the Siberian Blue Robin remains to be a promising candidate.
In Whiskered Terns, offspring desertion – that’s, leaving the chicks whereas they nonetheless require feeding – is kind of widespread. Surprisingly (at the least from a biased human perspective), 97% of the deserters are feminine (supply).
Total, the paper doesn’t appear to assume too extremely of the maternal qualities of feminine Whiskered Terns: “Females make investments a lot much less in parental care than males, offering much less meals and deserting extra steadily”. Possibly the females simply need to keep away from being cliches.
This juvenile White-cheeked Starling appears to have already got misplaced one foot however nonetheless struggles on. When I’m in the precise temper (that’s, in all probability the flawed temper, as not useful for my very own survival), such a sight can nearly make me cry.
After this transient interlude about birds (considerably annoying I do know, however vital attributable to my contractual obligations spelled out in my multi-year, multi-million greenback contract with 10,000 Birds, the worldwide market chief in chook running a blog), again to music. I by no means actually bought very a lot into Constructed to Spill however “Understood” makes me assume possibly I missed out on one thing.
And (nearly) lastly, Boygenius in “Not Robust Sufficient” not solely have an awesome track but additionally quote a probably even larger one within the lyrics: “Drag racing via the canyon … Singing ‘Boys don’t cry’” …
