Surprised that I haven’t shared this beautiful yet very common bird before. I’ve photographed it in many places—Malaysia (Kuala Gula, Kota Kinabalu), South Africa, Thailand, Kenya, and China.
This time was special, as it was the closest encounter so far. The bird was feeding right outside our hotel and wasn’t bothered at all, even when we got quite close.
It was a freezing morning at around –6°C. We went to Napa Lake mainly to revisit some good memories from years ago. After waiting for a beautiful sunrise, I was almost ready to return to the car when I suddenly heard a bird calling very close by. The bird stayed low to the ground, barely moving—likely due to the cold—with ice clearly visible around it.
I managed to capture some close shots, and that moment became the happiest highlight of this casual, relaxing trip to Yunnan.
– Smaller than Himalayan snowcock, this species has a grey head and neck with a white patch behind the eye and above the dark cheek. Chin, throat and breast are white, with two grey bands on the breast. Grey wing coverts and tertials have a white trim. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_snowcock
A dark, sleek, medium-sized bird with a black crest and a white rump. The red color under the tail is often difficult to see. Eats fruit, flower buds, and insects. Conspicuous and sometimes gregarious, often seen high in trees or perched on wires in urban and rural areas; generally prefers scrubby edge habitat instead of dense forest. Calls include a variety of chirps and whistles. Native to South and Southeast Asia. Introduced to Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and some Polynesian islands, including Hawaii. [Ebird]
update 202412
It seems this bird is quite common in the region—I may have seen it before in Sri Lanka or somewhere else. Still, it’s great to spot our first bird here after a long journey and a relaxing stay at the homestay in Baihualing, Yunnan, China.
I’ve quickly adapted to the setup (Canon R1), and capturing these in-flight shots felt almost seamless. The bird flew straight toward us, and I managed to get all 19 frames perfectly in focus.
3. Great Barbet, 大拟啄木鸟, 大擬啄木, Psilopogon virens, オオゴシキドリ
This largest of the barbets is colorful, but often appears all-dark from a distance. No other barbet in its range combines the features of a massive pale bill, black head, and dark olive back. Sluggish and shy; tends to stick to dense forest canopy, where it is difficult to see. Its loud hooting song (typically a series of two repetitive notes) is often the only indication of this species’s presence. Also gives a harsh, screaming “karrrrr” that has a gull-like quality. [Ebird]
I’ve seen this bird many times in various places but never had the chance to capture a photo—until now. Here, we finally had numerous opportunities to take some great shots.
Seeing the photo afterward was a completely different kind of excitement, as the vibrant colors that define the bird truly stood out. Simply incredible!
A gregarious babbler with a dark back and underparts spangled with scaly silver markings. At first glance, may resemble a cupwing, but this babbler is much larger and longer-tailed, and does not stick as closely to the ground as cupwings do. Often moves deep in dense shrubbery, but will occasionally forage in the middle layers of the forest as well, scaling trees and creeping along branches. [Ebird]
One of the stunning babblers has such flat body feather details that it almost resembles a drawing.
An 8-day journey to Yunnan, particularly to this bird photography paradise, is almost at its end. As expected, capturing great photos of many species was as simple as sitting and waiting. However, a bit of luck was still needed. According to local, the number of bird species visiting has decreased, and with more hides available, the birds may now spread out instead of gathering in the usual spots. Regardless, we thoroughly enjoyed our authentic photography experience here.
Although the trip isn’t over yet, this moment stands out as one of my favorites. The bird was incredibly active, appearing for just a split second with an almost surreal “flat” look to its body—like a 2D drawing. But with patience, it rewarded us with some fantastic views as the day drew to a close.
This tiny bird moves swiftly through the bushes, making it incredible that we managed to spot it.
It’s a bird everyone on this trip has been eager to photograph. Yesterday, only Amy and I were lucky enough to capture it, while others could only catch a glimpse without getting any photos. However, luck was on our side today! Two different Tesias came close to us within just 15 minutes, giving everyone the chance they had been hoping for. Tonight, we can all sleep soundly, content with the experience.
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes. [Ebird]
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes.
update 202412
One of the most active birds, behaving much like a fantail. While it’s not a lifer for me—I previously recorded it in Northern Thailand—it’s still a challenge to spot here in Yunnan, China. Thankfully, luck was on our side, and we managed to witness it spreading its tail, giving us a few great moments for some good photo opportunities.
One of a number of mind-numbingly similar Seicercus warblers. Greenish-yellow above and bright yellow below, with a faint wingbar, a yellow eyering, and a grayish crown marked by two black stripes. Gray of the crown is weaker than that of White-spectacled and Plain-tailed Warblers, but this feature is difficult to see in the shade of the understory, where it usually forages. Breeds in submontane and montane forest up to the treeline; averages higher Martens’s Warbler. Descends into submontane and hill forest in the non-breeding season. Song is an unremarkable but lively burst of whistled notes, lower in pitch than that of Plain-tailed Warbler. [Ebird]
A tiny warbler with a sudden flash of “yellowish” plumage appeared, and I immediately thought, “It’s a new bird!” Naturally, everyone quickly grabbed their cameras to capture it. It only showed up briefly while we were casually waiting for birds to come to the water.
8. Small Niltava, 小仙鹟, 小仙鶲, Niltava macgrigoriae, チビアオヒタキ
Size distinguishes this species from other niltavas; coloration is quite similar to Large Niltava, which is double the size. Male Small Niltava is bright blue with the brightest patches on the shoulder and forehead. Female is brown with a white eyering and a rufous tail and wingtips. Forages in the lower and middle levels of hilly and montane forests, usually singly. Listen for its distinctive song, a cleanly descending “wee-dee-dee.” [EBird]
Another bird we encountered, found only at a single hide despite visiting many others, initially appeared quite shy. However, after a few hours of brief appearances, it gradually became more comfortable and eventually stayed long enough for some great photos.
We chose this hide specifically for this bird and spotted it early in the morning. Afterward, we decided to move to another hide. The male arrived briefly before leaving, but luck was on our side as we caught the moment.
One of the standout birds at Baihualing, Yunnan, China is often seen as a highlight by both locals and visitors. Whenever someone spots or photographs one, it becomes big news in the village, quickly drawing bird enthusiasts and photographers to the area. This one shows up unexpectedly, as it did this time to take a drink, it captivates everyone around. It is a beautiful bird, with the female being particularly striking.
This is a fairly common bird in the area, but it moves too quickly to capture good shots. It often hides in dark and damp spots, making it a wonderfully active but elusive subject.
Tiny, stumpy bird of dense undergrowth. Male is dark slate-blue with broad white eyebrows that give him the appearance of a furious little old man. Female is warm pale brown all over. In areas of overlap with Chinese and Lesser Shortwings, look out for the all-dark lower belly, which is white in those species. Inhabits hill and montane forest, where it forages in dense undergrowth, frequently in proximity to streams. Song is composed of high thin whistles with short bursts of clicking chattering mixed in.
While everyone was focused on a few main target birds, one of our buddies, who could be considered a new birder, suddenly shouted, “Shortwing!” He was so proud of himself for identifying a bird on his own. Honestly, I think he should be even happier if he managed to spot a rare bird feeding instead!
Medium-sized owl with significant variation in plumage and vocalizations across its large range. Either gray or brown in coloration, with prominent pale ear tufts and pale face outlined in black. Fond of open wooded habitats from lowlands to foothills, often found roosting in temples, houses, and gardens, particularly in rural areas. Larger and more strongly tufted than both Oriental and Mountain Scops-Owls; both also lack the black facial border. Listen for this species’ incisive, short hoots, given at well-spaced intervals (often around 10 seconds). [Ebird]
It is quite a common bird, even in Malaysia. It was previously classified as the Sunda Scops-Owl but is now considered part of the Collared Scops-Owl. We often had one just outside our room, almost every day.
There is always debate about using torches or flashlights on birds, with no clear consensus on whether it is right or wrong for nature. However, there are certain actions we should never take or support, such as keeping them in cages or tying them up. It’s disheartening to know that many people still do such things, often just for the sake of a photograph.
Tiny brown flycatcher with a triangular white bib bordered with black. Gray head, frosty white brow, and ruddy wings and tail are not as eye-catching as the throat patch, but just as distinctive. Unobtrusive and retiring, generally keeping to the dense lower levels of foothill forests. Frequently forages in inaccessible gorges and thick streamside vegetation. Usually seen singly, occasionally in pairs. [Ebird]
A beautiful little gamebird of foothill and highland forests with extensive ground-level cover, where it moves about in medium-sized convoys through the dense undergrowth. Usually quiet, though sings melodically and loudly at dusk and dawn. Brightly-colored, even for a partridge; both sexes have a bright orange throat, a bluish-gray chest, and orange-and-white spotting on the sides [Ebird]
At almost every hide we visited, the owners assured us that this bird is always around. However, we didn’t spot it at any of those hides, except on day one when it briefly walked past. Hopefully, everyone on our team managed to capture a photo of this beautiful partridge.
Small songbird of forest edges, open scrub, and farmland, usually seen in pairs or small flocks. Male is silvery gray overall with black face and white supercilium, throat, belly, and wing patches. Female dull brown overall, with a rufous tail and faded version of the male’s head pattern. Bold but not very active, usually seen perching for long periods on posts and overhead wires. Song is bright and melodious, but often has a somewhat faltering quality, trailing off towards the end. Most common call is a harsh rising “bzeeet!”. [EBird]
During one of the quieter moments while waiting for a Scarlet Finch, a female caught my attention. As it flew around, I decided to enable Continuous Pre-record mode, just in case. Suddenly, it spread its wings, and I seized the perfect moment to press the shutter after see the action, capturing this stunning shot.
Adorable tiny bird that loosely resembles a minute tailless wren. Warm dark brown above with rufous overtones, and scaled below; pale-morph birds have white edgings to black “scales,” while dark-morph birds have edgings that are coffee-stain tan. Smaller Pygmy Cupwing lacks the tan spots speckling the crown and neck of Scaly-breasted. Scaly-breasted inhabits dark, damp areas in dense forest, often around boulders, streams, and ravines. Song is a jumbled series of high-pitched melodic warbles, notably more complex than the song of Pygmy Cupwing. [Ebird]
On our last day in Baihualing, we spotted two distinctly different tiny, tailless birds. At a distance of about 10-15 meters, I initially assumed they were the same Pygmy Cupwing. However, upon reviewing the captured photos, it was clear they were different species.
Knowing their behavior of spreading their wings when moving, I enabled Continuous Pre-record mode and pressed the shutter the moment the bird moved. Got it!
A common inhabitant of lowland and foothill tropical forests, where it sings brightly but often unseen from the canopy; listen for its repeated 3- or 4-syllabled ‘took-o-rrook!’ Tends to be more common in edge areas and degraded forests than other barbets. Bright green with a blue throat, a red-and-yellow crown, and a heavy, pale-based bill. Birds at the northern and western parts of this species’ range have a black brow, while southern birds don’t. [Ebird]
A vibrant bird with a predominantly blue head, commonly found in BaiHuaLing, Yunnan, China. Its calls are nearly constant throughout the area, and it occasionally comes down to forage for food and water.
Possibly the species to which the moniker of “scimitar-babbler” attaches most fittingly, as this inhabitant of high-altitude evergreen forests has a bill shaped like a curved sword. Predominantly orange-brown, with a gray head and jagged white eyebrow. Easily identified, even if seen only in silhouette; no other babbler in its range has such a long, sharply curved bill. Moves through the lower levels of the forest in large, noisy flocks. [ebird]
This bird has an oddly thin and curved beak, giving it a truly unique appearance. Though active, it’s not hard to spot here. At many bird hides, it readily comes out to grab food before retreating, making it relatively easy to see and photograph.
One of the most captivating birds of Baihualing, Yunnan, with its vibrant and striking colors, complemented by a charming crest, is both active and beautiful.
Birding in Yunnan, China last December was incredibly easy. We simply chose a hide, settled in, and waited—and sure enough, the birds came! In fact, there were so many, it was just a matter of picking which ones to photograph. We specifically came to this hide hoping to see the woodpecker, but we were also treated to a few star species like the Great Barbet, Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, and more.
This was a family holiday, so there wasn’t much birding planned. Still, I carried a wide-angle lens and the RF 100–500mm with me. In winter, there are plenty of gulls around, especially near the lake. One morning, I came across a group of gulls feeding very close by. I spent a few quick moments capturing this beautiful bird at close range.
It was a freezing morning at around –6°C. We went to Napa Lake mainly to revisit some good memories from years ago. After waiting for a beautiful sunrise, I was almost ready to return to the car when I suddenly heard a bird calling very close by. The bird stayed low to the ground, barely moving—likely due to the cold—with ice clearly visible around it.
I managed to capture some close shots, and that moment became the happiest highlight of this casual, relaxing trip to Yunnan.
23. Eurasian Coot, 白骨顶, 白骨頂, Fulica atra, オオバン, PANGLIN-HITAM BIASA
update 202601
This bird is very common here in Yunnan—you can easily see it up close around streams, rivers, and lakes. I’m here on a family holiday, enjoying a relaxed time with coffee and loved ones, casually watching the birds nearby. Suddenly, this bird started showing some action. My camera didn’t miss the moment—I captured everything and compiled the shots into this MP4.
We decided to walk along the boardwalk instead of taking a boat ride. While strolling, this bird came surprisingly close to us. I quickly opened my bag, grabbed the Canon RF100–500, and managed to capture this cute little bird.
Surprised that I haven’t shared this beautiful yet very common bird before. I’ve photographed it in many places—Malaysia (Kuala Gula, Kota Kinabalu), South Africa, Thailand, Kenya, and China.
This time was special, as it was the closest encounter so far. The bird was feeding right outside our hotel and wasn’t bothered at all, even when we got quite close.
This bird was surprisingly tame at Potatso National Park. It even hopped along the boardwalk like a little tour guide leading us on our walk. Many of them were feeding in the trees too, and honestly, I much prefer this pose compared to the ones “walking” on the boardwalk.
The weather today is exceptional. The deep blue of the sky is reflecting perfectly on the lake, creating a beautiful color contrast with this immature Brown-headed Gull. However, it is disappointing to see so many people feeding the birds various kinds of human food. While people likely have good intentions, but feeding with wrong food can be affect the bird health
This bird is incredibly beautiful, and while we may have seen it before in a zoo or bird park, spotting it in the wild and capturing its photo brings an entirely different level of excitement. Though it’s considered a common species, we only managed to see it 3-4 times during our 18 days of birding in South Africa.
Finally I am free to sit down for get more pictures done …
again 2017 Oct we revisit the beautiful Sichuan for Golden Sichuan , for overall we were lucky to have various different weather, view etc …
Day 1 Chengdu –> Kanding
we arrive Chengdu immediate we travel to Kanding for nearer to next destination and also ease ourself with high altitude . (~3000 masl )
whole day raining, and we do believe at higher altitude locations should be snow and we expected to see snow view tomorrow .
Day 2 Kanding – ShanMuJu
康定 －上木居
along the road we had very good view as usual, but it is just a start . the snow almost 6-10 inch thick, the roadside view still look amazing
折多山
….
Day 3 ShanMuju
Our tour main target , Mount Mount Gongga (Minya Konka) Sichuan highest mountain ~7556masl … at here we got few viewpoint see it really close
– this what we saw, when we first reach to the viewpoint 1 .
里说垭口
update 2017 Dec 5
###
before anyone can response the beautiful view, think everyone stand still for this view for ~5-10 minutes … it is good though as we shouldn’t move much at this altitude (~4500masl).
a small slope , but not easy to walk
the view of the Mount Gongga sunrise … we just WOW WOW
and the surrounding view
we walk ~1.8km for the beautiful lake .
it can be lovely view for the lake .. but need to be early. this is reflection for the Mount Gongga
a special view with drone
after the lovely sunrise with snow view, very soon we go to view point 2 for sunset … here have more tourist due to much easier access
子梅垭口
Day 4 TaGong
雅哈垭口
we continue our next destination but passing by this amazing view and spend sometime here as someone wish to challenge to hike up to highest point of view which look 70-80 degree for 500 meter up 😀
the beautiful Gongga Mountain range .. we were at ~4500m asl
after the beautiful view, we heading Tagong , the cloudy day do not stop us to go wait for sunset.
it show us a amazing view of the snow peak !!! red blood color
than we hit into 2 days snow
after 2 days struggle with snow . beside the Mount Yala, there is a beautiful lovely river with mani stones
Day 6 TaiZhangGou
台站沟
my favor spot for Sichuan .. very lovely and we are really close to the Mount Yala
Day 7
…
Day 8 小金, 四姑娘山
– we spend quite bad weather here only one amazing sunset at a very old spot we went few years ago by horse and now we found actually we can drive up … !!!!! and the dusk full with colors
A 12 days liewwk Nature Photohunters to Sichuan, Qinghai – CHINA … we mostly passing by and surrounding with glass land , and out main targets are Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake … both locate Qinghai Province .
Lets start with group picture at one of our main targets/hunting ground 😀 .. Qinghai Lake & Chaka Salt Lake
So far, we only had 1 day full raining day happen at Hongyuan County which we should look for sunset , reflection for river curves ….. too bad we didn’t able to capture anything as raining non stop for 14 hours
update 2020 April 4
update 2019 Dec 12
update 2016 Aug 24
one of the most memorise sunrise ever have … we actually stuck in jam to enter this place for >30min for less than 1 hr .. and we witness this beautiful sunrise together >1000 people together sharing the same view of sunrise
update 2016 Aug 23
– Zhagana, 扎尕那 a small village locate Gansu (甘肃) … the village locate surrounding with rocky mountains giving amazing view of sunrise .. with rays in
– beautiful location where it is not tourist spot, we were happy to witness beautiful rays too at this spot
update 2016 Aug 20
– a full pano Milky way at Chaka Salt lake , with the refection and without pano head make this slikt difficult .. but finally i able to make this
update 2016 Aug 15
– Chaka Lake, Qinghai, China
when dawn everyone looking at west direction I am with another photographer attract by light from East
– our main target location, Chaka Salt Lake famous with reflection … beside full sky mirror … we target clouds reflection, sunset, milky way… and this is an extra the ray appear only for few of my shots while I try to capture the photographer in action. very abnormal as this was capture 8pm at East direction which sun is opposite of this …
update 2016 Aug 6
– misty morning at HongYuan
Conclusion of the tour , we see various different environments, (glass land, mountain, biggest lake for CHINA, salt lake, glass land mountains etc)
We walk a lot due to the design of the park, shooting at odd hours …. But every walk , reward us with beautiful view so everyone no complaint on the walking (longest one way walk is 3.8km)
update 2016 Aug 6
– one of the most clear sunrise , and it is special moment we witness this sunrise together with >1000 peoples together 😀
– Qinghai Lake , Canola flowers 油菜花
– Glassland along the travel .. this was capture in the bus while travelling
– one of the most beautiful spot .. village with rocky mountain surround . we were lucky managed to witness beautiful sunrise, sunset and rainbow here just for 1 night stay
扎尕那 （zhagana)
– woke up earlier , stand in he cold …. and before the sun came out . my gang wonder why we wait as the view just so so .. the mountain dark off , sky just clear …. …. I keep tell wait wait (with worry) I believe with the mountain shape it should have light ray shine out … and when this show up everyone wow plus the mist just keep pop out from the village …
– Chaka Salt Lake 茶卡盐湖 － main target of the outing , we spent 2 days here … lovely sunset, milky way etc ..
– mirror of the sky show reflection from the lake
– night sky even beautiful with all stars on the lake
Back from CHINA and too busy for other work .. and now only able to download the pictures and will share more info here later . but let’s share the beautiful view of this place .
– it is a reason why I share this map with extra location as we going to explore further
![from dark-bright, black-colorfull, move-still, live-dead ... [HAIDA CPL, HAIDA ND .9 , LEE Filter GND .45h]](https://i0.wp.com/liewwkphoto.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/21A8148-2-fb.jpg)