I returned to both Shanghaizai village (Lufeng) and Dahu (Haifeng) beaches to carry out a head count of Swinhoe's Plover. Saturday was bright sunshine with no threat of thundertstorms which was great relief but Sunday was overcast with a rough sea from the typhoon which had recently passed the Philipines.
Saturday: Shangahizai beach (3.5kms) 148 Swinhoe's Plover which consited of approx 60+pairs, 7x 1st Spring juveniles, 2 Chicks and small groups of two males chasing a female. I was able to watch courting behaviour on several occasions with a male first chasing a female on the ground then a short flight chase which was repeated several times before mating took place. Dahu beach held 131 Swinhoe's Plover. A total of 259 birds at the two sites. If the totals are repeated elsewhere on the south coast of China then there appears to be a far greater population of these birds than previously thought. It also raises the interesting question as to where these birds are wintering. The winter totals are for very small numbers, Dave Bakewell tells me the largest recorded flock to date has been 14. There was another interesting point I noticed that with the large numbers of new birds which had arrived during the week many were in fresher plumage than the early arrivals, perhaps they had moulted more recently at a different wintering ground.I was delighted to find two early breeding pairs with chicks but was very careful not to sdisturb them too much. I have a group from the HKBWS who are visiting the sites the second week in June which should add valuable information to that which I have gathered so far.
I was also able to spot what looked like 2 or 3 Chinese Crested Terns sitting with Great Crested Terns at long distance. I hope to be able to get closer to these birds next weekend when I return.
Saturday: Shangahizai beach (3.5kms) 148 Swinhoe's Plover which consited of approx 60+pairs, 7x 1st Spring juveniles, 2 Chicks and small groups of two males chasing a female. I was able to watch courting behaviour on several occasions with a male first chasing a female on the ground then a short flight chase which was repeated several times before mating took place. Dahu beach held 131 Swinhoe's Plover. A total of 259 birds at the two sites. If the totals are repeated elsewhere on the south coast of China then there appears to be a far greater population of these birds than previously thought. It also raises the interesting question as to where these birds are wintering. The winter totals are for very small numbers, Dave Bakewell tells me the largest recorded flock to date has been 14. There was another interesting point I noticed that with the large numbers of new birds which had arrived during the week many were in fresher plumage than the early arrivals, perhaps they had moulted more recently at a different wintering ground.I was delighted to find two early breeding pairs with chicks but was very careful not to sdisturb them too much. I have a group from the HKBWS who are visiting the sites the second week in June which should add valuable information to that which I have gathered so far.
I was also able to spot what looked like 2 or 3 Chinese Crested Terns sitting with Great Crested Terns at long distance. I hope to be able to get closer to these birds next weekend when I return.
