Over the previous weekend (March 5-6, 2011), we visited the Yellow River Delta
Natural Reserve and did some birding. The weather was cold with low coastal haze
and there were patches of melting snow on the ground. Most of the water was
open with some ice along the edges.

The delta is a fascinating nature reserve/oil field, and we actually stood at
the mouth of the Yellow River as it empties its yellow sediment into the blue
waters of the Bohai Sea. At the mouth, we were greeted by the ternlike endemic
SAUNDER'S GULLs (lifer). I was surprised to see that one Saunder's already had a
full black head.

It was nice to see MONGOLIAN GULLs and GREAT CRESTED GREBEs (lifer) in
virtually alternate plumage. VEGA GULLs and my lifer HEUGLIN'S GULL were on the
wetland flats, and both PALLAS'S and COMMON REED BUNTINGS (lifer), and several
BUFF-BELLIED PIPITs (lifer) were in the reedbeds.

In a copse of trees along a canal, we found a bright green-bodied GREY-HEADED
WOODPECKER and MEADOW BUNTINGs. While a female HEN HARRIER was quartering the
field on one side of the road, an EASTERN MARSH HARRIER (lifer) was hunting the
other side of the road.

Other birds in the delta, included BEAN GOOSE (too far to tell which one),
GOOSANDER (COMMON MERGANSER), EASTERN SPOT-BILLED DUCK, MALLARD, SMEW, WHITE
WAGTAIL, CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, EURASIAN SKYLARK, native
RING-NECKED PHEASANT, and WHOOPER SWAN.

The biggest surprise was that the endangered ORIENTAL (WHITE) STORKs were
breeding there. Pairs of Oriental Storks were perched on powerline pylons and/or
large nests on the pylons. These are spectacular red-legged, black and white
birds which are the size of cranes. We did see some COMMON (EURASIAN) CRANEs
there too.

There were many board walks and observation platforms, but not many birds to
look at. Waterfowl numbers were low and they were scattered. While on a
boardwalk, we did have an ORIENTAL STORK fly low and directly over our heads and
that was certainy a thrill for us!

There is one large building near the mouth of the Yellow River that looks like
an ultra modern structure of cubes several stories high. This building is called
the "Box", and has a large staff and restaurant, but only a few customers. The
mayor of Dongying (the nearby city where we stayed the night) showed up while we
were there and there were reporters taking photos of him all the way on his walk
to the rest room.

The next day, we visited Guang Nam Reservoir, but the conditions were against
us. We were forced to view birds on the water at just the wrong angle. We saw
plenty of silhouettes and felt frustrated. The birds moved out even farther, and
we were without a scope to view them. Some of things closer to shore included
SMEW (very common), GREAT CRESTED GREBE, COMMON POCHARD, COMMON GOLDENEYE,
BLACK-HEADED GULL (many close to alternate plumage), and couple of COMMON
GREENSHANKs on the shoreline.

The hedgerow contained WHITE-CHEEKED STARLINGs, EUROPEAN STARLINGs, CHINESE GREY
SHRIKEs, VINOUS-THROATED PARROTBILLs, EURASIAN TREE SPARROW, and the extravagant
looking HOOPOE. Our best bird of the day, was a small flock of jaunty-tailed
BEARDED TITs (lifer for me) that were working the reedbeds. Later, I was
informed that Bearded Tit was not on the Shandong province bird list, and so it
may be a new addition.

The Yellow River Delta was a big unknown for us, because we could find very
little information on it, and few birders visit the area. However, we enjoyed
the adventure of discovery, and I was quite pleased to add seven new high
quality species to my life list.

Gina Sheridan
Qingdao, China