Yeyahu NR is the only known breeding site for Chinese Penduline Tit (Remiz consobrinus) in Beijing. I have found 2-3 nests at this site in Springs 2011 and 2012. They are also a regular passage migrant, sometimes in good numbers, and an occasional winter visitor (in the winter of 2010-2011 up to 10 birds were present at Yeyahu but there were none in 2011-2012). They can be quite elusive in the reedbeds and scrub but their presence is often given away by their distinctive call. Listen here.
Last week, during my visit to Yeyahu, I enjoyed several encounters with these charming birds and watched a group of 6 birds extremely well from the boardwalk. Below are a few images. Chinese Penduline Tit used to be considered conspecific with Eurasian Penduline Tit, which I first saw at Rainham Marshes in the UK, but now it is considered a separate species.
