Final China Post on BB Extra!...

The only time I use a fork. Scrutiny of other pics will see chopsticks constantly...



The footpath up the great wall is not for the faint hearted...no health and safety barriers here...




Mr Biggs. A low point in his birding career.



Above - Tristrams Bunting 'spot the ball'...see where they are looking? theres one in there...



Above - Rob, Rich and Andy getting some air after a slog around the island. This is our hut. 5 star accomodation eh.



Above - Mr Biggs on the far left. The person far right in red is Klaus Malling Olsen the author of many i.d works including 'Gulls: an identification guide'.



Above - Freddy Kruger takes some notes. Something not many people do nowadays...



Above - Yours truly and Ipin. Me having an attack after seeing a Needletail...



Sock tree in flower...



Above - A fat, crap Lars Johnsson.



Above - Richie, Luxemburger and Rutter in contemplative mood...



Party Time - From the left -Luxemburger #1, Ipin, Tom, Andy, Jesper (standing), me, Rob, Rutter, Richard and Lux #2.




Above - Rutter and Tom, silly Buddas. Thats them in the front.



Above - As the early starts take a toll, JWR decided that he would just go to bed ready for the off...



And finally a happy ending from all...

The End.

Monday 19th May

Our last morning birding before the flight home. We took to Beijing Botanical Gardens with a full crew, well except for Ipin Roppa who decided on a lie in. Big mistake...




Above - 'Real' Pekinese dogs were roaming the car park at the Botanical Gardens.



Above - Black 'red' Squirrels peered down at us.



Above - A nice idyllic oriental scene.






Above - From the top, Azure winged Magpies, Grey capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Crested Myna and Chinese Grosbeaks collecting nesting material.

And what a morning walking the lovely gardens and gazing up at the Fragrant Hills. Plenty of biurds too including a few new to the list...

Azure winged Magpie 30+ common as muck.
Red billed Blue Magpie 1
Crested Myna 2 at the nest.
Black Drongo 5
Indian Cuckoo 1 watched singing its unusual call quite unlike our birds.
Grey capped Pygmy Woodpecker 6
Arctic Warbler 6+
Oriental Honey Buzzard 58+ migrating along the ridge.
Japanese Sparrowhawk 8
Hobby 2
Yellow rumped Flycatcher 2
Chinese Nuthatch 1 a real bonus bird, seen only for a few minutes but well. Looked like a Krupers...
Forest Wagtail 1
Chinese Grosbeak 2
Two barred Greenish Warbler 3
Grey headed Greenfinch 4
Black browed Reed Warbler 1
Chinese Pond Heron 1

And back for our lunchtime flight home. A fantastic holiday. A great place, friendly locals, a great crew and birding out of this world. Thanks to all who made the trip so enjoyable...