Plenty of 'polaris' Pallas's Buntings (Emberiza pallasi 苇鹀 Wěi wú) still on the local patch. Numbers will gradually decrease this month as they depart for breeding grounds in Siberia.

“In April, China's precipitation and temperature were both the highest in history.” 😱

The first Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola 黄胸鹀 Huáng xiōng wú) of the year on patch early morning. The species is critically endangered, just one step away from extinction. This beautiful male sang briefly before lifting and flying high north. Good luck, little one!

Another Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè) on the local patch today! A late date (usually passes through Beijing in March and April).

Just two critically endangered Libellula angelina dragonflies at a new local (unprotected) site in Shunyi District, Beijing. Contacting local government to see whether we can make it a protected area.

Mist and dew on the local patch this morning. Love the fresh spring mornings at this time of year before the summer heat sets in. Passing overhead: Red-throated, Buff-bellied, Richard's and Blyth's Pipits, Citrine and Eastern Yellow Wagtails and Pallas's Buntings.

Peak passage of Little Bunting (Emberiza pusilla 小鹀 Xiǎo wú) is in late April and early May in Beijing. This is one of over 100 on the patch this morning.

A stunning pair of Small Emperor Moths (Saturnia pavonia) near Ulanbataar, Mongolia.

9.3 TRILLION insects found migrating at night above agricultural China!

Some of these insects are pests, but many play vital positive ecological roles e.g. pollination, decomposition, & nutrient transfer which could be vital to soil health in the region!
pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pn…

Less than an hour from Mongolia’s capital city, lucky to find Eurasian Lynx tracks!

Terry Townshend La France en Chine 🇫🇷🇪🇺 法国驻华使馆 France Diplomatie🇫🇷🇪🇺 Grahame Morton Laurence BEAU New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade Great initiative- Terry Townshend something that could be done in the French embassy in UB with their beautiful HUGE garden. Please connect with Sebastien_Surun 🙌🙌🙌🥳

A privilege to visit the Jiushan Islands off Zhejiang Province, one of the breeding sites of the critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern, once thought to be possibly extinct but now recovering, thanks to local conservation efforts. Geely Auto youtube.com/watch?v=kpC6gD…

The 'polaris' Pallas's Reed Buntings (Emberiza pallasi 苇鹀 Wěi wú) on the local patch are looking good and some are starting to sing... soon they'll be off to Siberia to breed.

Ambassador Derwin and her team at the Irish Embassy have been wonderful champions of the #AmbassadorsForNature initiative in Beijing. Not only does their compound look great, it supports a fabulous range of biodiversity, too!

Quick update on the two buddy Bar-tailed Godwits. After Borneo, they continued flying together, & landed around Shanwei City in Guangdong on Apr 15. One (red) departed Apr 19 & now in Hangzhou Bay, while pink one left Apr 20 and now in Shanghai. So sad they parted ways so early!

Celebrating #EarthDay by honoring #Mongolia 's inspiring #womenrangers ; Byambajav from Gobi Altai, protecting snowleopard habitats.

In Mongolia 11% of rangers are women, patrolling 100s km per month. Thx Snow Leopard Trust for inviting us & Fiona Blyth & Sebastien_Surun for roaring.

Congratulations to The Economist 's Ted Pflaker on receiving a copy of the Birds of Beijing after Royal Asiatic Society, Beijing 's birding trip to Shahe Reservoir, having beaten off all competition to win the end of trip quiz!

A 2cy Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus 白腹鹞 Bái fù yào) at Yeyahu, Yanqing District, on Sunday. EMH is a summer breeder in Beijing, arriving from late March.

Great job by WAB students and teachers, cleaning up more than 30 bags of litter from the Wenyu River for #EarthDay2024 . Thanks to the Beijing Water Bureau for their support.

Androsace incana, Changping, Beijing, photoed today. Wild Beijing 北京自然