The weekend came around again, and we set off at 5:30 in the morning, marching on the horse ranch to see whether today would finally bring the Oriental Plover.

Passing Shahe Reservoir on the way, we stopped to see the two Siberian Cranes resting on the dam. A few days earlier an immature bird, probably exhausted on its migration, had dropped in here, and an adult had come along to keep it company.

Two Siberian Cranes resting on the dam, Shahe Reservoir, March 30, 2024

Before long, a flock of Tundra Swans came down from the distance.

Tundra Swans landing, Shahe Reservoir, March 30, 2024

Unexpectedly, soon after we left, the two Siberian Cranes departed as well, continuing their journey. We wished them a safe passage!

Arriving at the horse ranch, a big flock of Northern Lapwings wheeled back and forth with a few Grey-headed Lapwings and a group of Common Starlings mixed in. The lapwing flock seems to have become a refuge for all kinds of birds; last week the Spotted Redshanks and the Ruff were hiding in it too.

Northern Lapwing flock, horse ranch, March 30, 2024 Common Starlings among the lapwings, horse ranch, March 30, 2024

The raptors are migrating now too. We kept looking up, finding Black Kites, Common Buzzards, Northern Goshawks, and Eurasian Sparrowhawks spiraling high, and an Osprey patrolling above the water.

Osprey patrolling above the water, horse ranch, March 30, 2024

On the mudflats, a few Little Ringed Plovers and Kentish Plovers were feeding, with occasional Buff-bellied Pipits walking the grassy flats.

At Kangxi Grassland, the lake had returned to its duck-covered spectacle. Nearly every common dabbling duck in Beijing could be seen here: Mallards, Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, Ruddy Shelducks, Common Shelducks, Falcated Ducks, Gadwalls, Eurasian Wigeons, Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teals, Garganeys. And the diving ducks: Common Pochards, Ferruginous Ducks, Smews, and Common Mergansers. The goose flock was made up of Taiga Bean Geese, Greylag Geese, Swan Geese, and Greater White-fronted Geese.

Common Shelducks, Northern Pintails, Taiga Bean Geese, Greylag Geese and Greater White-fronted Geese, horse ranch, March 30, 2024 Green-winged Teals and Garganeys, horse ranch, March 30, 2024

In the distance, a flock of Pied Avocets came down to rest in the water.

Pied Avocets settling to rest, horse ranch, March 30, 2024

Horseback riders passed by and flushed a great sheet of ducks; before long, the lake fell silent again.

Close by, a few Black-winged Stilts were feeding, their long legs wonderfully elegant.

Black-winged Stilts feeding, horse ranch, March 30, 2024 Black-winged Stilt on its elegant long legs, horse ranch, March 30, 2024

We searched a long time without a trace of Oriental Plovers or any other shorebirds, and left the horse ranch a little deflated.

After we got home, news came in of Oriental Plovers found in other parts of Beijing. I do hope they will still grace the horse ranch this year.