A very powerful match this August for birders in Shanghai and almost definitely somewhere else was once after all the discharge of a brand new The Nationwide tune, “House Invader“. Thankfully, it seems to be an excellent tune (notice: Grammarly helpfully means that I will have to alternate “superb” to “very best”, however then Grammarly has no longer listened to the tune – it is only superb, no longer very best), although as same old with The Nationwide songs, I simplest have a obscure concept what the lyrics imply and particularly why the tune is known as “House Invader” when it principally appears to be about randomness shaping our (love)lifestyles. However then, I’ve via now realized to comprehend Matt Berninger’s lyrics with out figuring out them.
The monitor has two portions – one is principally an ordinary (moderately just right) tune whilst the ultimate 3 mins are most commonly simply an instrumental, with Matt mumbling some phrases however being more and more drowned via the tune, particularly the drums. Specifically on the finish, this jogs my memory of the ultimate sentence of a terrifying Franz Kafka tale, “Das Urteil” (The Judgement), which is “In diesem Augenblick ging über die Brücke ein geradezu unendlicher Verkehr” (“At that second, nearly unending site visitors was once crossing the bridge”). If that sounds a little bit innocuous, learn the tale and you’re going to now not be stunned about Kafka biographies highlighting his tricky dating together with his father (and probably, with many of the remainder of the sector, too).
And now for one thing totally other – birds. Relatively a couple of moderately not unusual ones this month, I’m afraid, as the correct migration season simplest began all the way through the previous couple of days of August.
As you’ll inform from this submit beginning with leaf warblers, the ornithological an identical of observing paint dry (good enough, a little bit unfair and no longer actually a just right comparability anyway, however whats up, write your personal 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 any other warbler searching very equivalent). For that species, there’s a paper with the moderately puzzling identify “Habitat Selection in captive Arctic Warblers” (very similar to the seminal paper analyzing location personal tastes of prisoners in the USA penal machine, I assume. Sure, I made that up).
On a extra sure notice, the top of August additionally noticed the go back of a few Eastern Paradise Flycatchers like this one. Thoughts you, no lengthy tails on this season. That helps to keep away about 80% of the pesky chook photographers clear of the men (although almost definitely additionally a justifiable share of the feminine birds – can’t have it each techniques).
Daniel Gustafsson and coauthors checked out chewing lice of the Gray-headed Lapwing. Their objective is discreet but lofty: “We are hoping those redescriptions will arouse some pastime within the chewing lice of shorebirds amongst researchers operating with lapwings”.
As I discussed in considered one of my posts this spring, for me the non-public get started of the migration season is after I see my first male colourful flycatcher. For the fall season of 2023, this will be the sighting of a male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on August 27.
The feminine is much less colourful and likewise once in a while appears to be in want of a few just right brushing, like the only I once in a while give to these of my cats who don’t run away rapid sufficient.
The Asian Brown Flycatcher does no longer rely as a season-starting chook – discrimination, after all.
For some explanation why, Lengthy-tailed Shrikes all the time ring a bell in me a little bit of Donald Trump, although I relatively just like the species (It’s not that i am in particular keen on Mr. Trump). In all probability it’s because loudmouth behaviour may also be fascinating in a chook however is far much less so in a serial liar.
Here’s a mugshot of a Lengthy-tailed Shrike. T-shirts will probably be to be had quickly.
Thankfully, the Brown Shrike does no longer make me bring to mind Mr. Trump. The Latin species identify “cristatus” is a little bit of a puzzle because it method “crest” – no longer an glaring characteristic of the species, so far as I will inform.
The 3rd shrike noticed in Shanghai this month was once the Tiger Shrike.
Thankfully – as that is China, no longer the USA – there’s no “3 shrikes and you might be out” rule right here (and if this isn’t the worst shaggy dog story you could have ever heard, then your lifestyles actually sucks).
When in search of papers on chook species, it’s all the time a thrill to search out very fresh ones – a paper at the Black-winged Kite was once simply printed in Would possibly 2023.
It seems to be at elements figuring out the presence of Black-winged Kites on Taiwan, the place the species is a brand new resident. Apparently, the standards cited there might also give an explanation for the increasing presence of the species in Shanghai.
The Oriental Magpie-robin additionally appears to be getting an increasing number of not unusual in Shanghai. Even in my compound, they appear to have relatively a strong presence now.
Heron/Egret medley (sure, I do know medleys suck, however with out the oral element, they could simply be good enough):
Black-crowned Night time-heron …
… Livestock Egret …
… Chinese language Pond Heron.
After I began observing birds in Shanghai, I used to be at a loss for words via this one:
This can be a juvenile Gentle-vented Bulbul – and naturally, the information I used then (Information to the Birds of China, John MacKinnnon) didn’t display the juvenile plumage (and extra disappointingly, the second one version nonetheless does no longer display it).
Anyway, no longer a foul search for a juvenile given the tasteless glance of one of the bulbuls I latterly noticed in Borneo, although after all, the grownup chook seems to be extra distinct.
The younger once in a while don’t get taken severely via the adults – one thing that this juvenile Oriental Dollarbird almost definitely studies each day.
It comforts itself via paying attention to Taylor Swift (“Cardigan”) – “When you find yourself younger they suppose you understand not anything”. Anyone understands it in any case.
Sometimes, the chook even sings alongside.
City males frequently have an area pub that they consult with often – they’re conversant in the clientele, the beer on faucet, the everyday surroundings, the songs within the musicbox … for ladies, such consistency is a little bit much less not unusual. For Pacific Golden Plovers, the location is identical – in a single learn about, men confirmed robust breeding flooring constancy, with 100% (8 of 8 birds) returning to a website in Western Alaska whilst simplest considered one of 4 ladies (25%) returned. Perhaps the men weren’t that spectacular. Perhaps the men for your native pub don’t seem to be that spectacular both.
For those who needed to move from location A to location B, would you be prepared to take a detour of 1500–3400 km simply to devour so much? If sure, have a look in a reflect – you could be a juvenile Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. And you could assume the detour is worthwhile as it means that you can double your frame mass earlier than beginning a nonstop flight of 7000-9000 km (supply).
I additionally noticed a number of Snipe species however lack the ID abilities to provide the actual species names. You work it out your self. I assume when it comes to likelihood Not unusual Snipe is the most productive easiest, however who is aware of …
Deep of their hearts, Cuckoo species almost definitely know that their manner of elevating (or moderately, no longer elevating) youngsters is flawed and morally repulsive (you will have to listen Ron DeSantis speak about this). As penitence, they once in a while pressure themselves to devour pieces that glance as disgusting as conceivable, as proven beneath.
Within the ongoing festival for the nicest-looking blue chook, the Siberian Blue Robin continues to be a promising candidate.
In Whiskered Terns, offspring desertion – this is, leaving the chicks whilst they nonetheless require feeding – is relatively not unusual. Strangely (no less than from a biased human standpoint), 97% of the deserters are feminine (supply).
General, the paper does no longer appear to assume too extremely of the maternal qualities of feminine Whiskered Terns: “Ladies make investments a lot much less in parental care than men, offering much less meals and deserting extra ceaselessly”. Perhaps the ladies simply wish to keep away from being cliches.
This juvenile White-cheeked Starling turns out to have already got misplaced one foot however nonetheless struggles on. When I’m in the proper temper (this is, almost definitely the flawed temper, as no longer useful for my very own survival), this type of sight can nearly make me cry.
After this temporary interlude about birds (moderately irritating I do know, however important because of my contractual tasks spelled out in my multi-year, multi-million buck contract with 10,000 Birds, the worldwide marketplace chief in chook running a blog), again to tune. I by no means actually were given very a lot into Constructed to Spill however “Understood” makes me assume possibly I ignored out on one thing.
And (nearly) in any case, Boygenius in “Now not Sturdy Sufficient” no longer simplest have a super tune but additionally quote a perhaps even larger one within the lyrics: “Drag racing during the canyon … Making a song ‘Boys don’t cry’” …