Haikou August 2016 (1 Viewer)

L

Lanhua

Well-known member

• Aug 30, 2016

• #1

End of August I was again in Haikou and went as usual to the Even green Park to see some birds. I was almost speechless, as I suddenly saw two beautiful, colourful small birds. I thought I'm in Africa, the home of Agapornis fischeri.
I hope they will survive in China.


Mietek

 

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O

Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Aug 31, 2016

• #2

I would think that the climate would be favorable, but they will surely be hunted down for a few RMB and be returned back to the caged bird trade. In reality it is always hard to predict what havoc a non-native species might bring to the native environment (hey, what could go wrong with importing rabbits into Australia?), so although they would seem nifty to look at, it might actually be better if they don't establish a breeding population.

 

L

Lanhua

Well-known member

• Aug 31, 2016

• #3

Owen, you are right, but on another hand they look so nice.
In June, this year, in the same park I also saw a group of Lonchura striata, I think also not resident to Hainan. Those birds have looked very well. I'm sure they will survive under Hainan sun.

Mietek

 

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L

Lanhua

Well-known member

• Sep 10, 2016

• #4

could somebody help me with ID of those birds?
I took those pictures in Haikou, close to the train station. After 4 days of heavy rain, this place was total overflowed. A good place for a plenty of waterfowl.

Thanks in advance

Mietek

 

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Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Sep 10, 2016

• #5

1, 3, & 4 are yellow bittern. 2 is a Chinese pond heron.

 

O

Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2016

• #6

I agree with Jeff on the IDs.

 

L

Lanhua

Well-known member

• Sep 11, 2016

• #7

Jeff, Owen,

thanks a lot for your ID.
I have two more birds.
Are they, a Lesser coucal and Eastern water rail?

Thanks

Mietek

 

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Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Sep 11, 2016

• #8

I think the coucal is a lesser.

The rail is a slaty-breasted. Great bird!

 

J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2016

• #9

The bittern in photos 3 and 4 of post #4 is a juvenile Cinnamon rather than Yellow. Note the upperparts have white spots on a brown background (not dark streaks on buff) - also the bill is deeper than yellow, there is a dark fleck in the eye and the primaries appear to be brown.

Agree with Yellow Bittern and CPH for the other two birds in that post, and Lesser Coucal and Slaty-breasted Rail for the two posted in #7.

 

O

Owen Krout

Well-known member

• Sep 12, 2016

• #10

johnallcock said:

The bittern in photos 3 and 4 of post #4 is a juvenile Cinnamon rather than Yellow. Note the upperparts have white spots on a brown background (not dark streaks on buff) - also the bill is deeper than yellow, there is a dark fleck in the eye and the primaries appear to be brown.

Click to expand...

Hmm.. I think I'll have to agree with #3 being a Cinnamon, but not convinced with #4 still looks more like Yellow to me. Sometimes I just have to say I'm not able to positively ID.

 

L

Lanhua

Well-known member

• Sep 18, 2016

• #11

Owen, John,
thanks a lot for your comments.

Mietek

 

D

DavidJStanton

Member

• Sep 19, 2016

• #12

#3 and #4 are the same bird aren't they?

I agree with John on juv Cinnamon Bittern.

The fleck in the eye is really helpful here, a feature Yellow doesn't have.

 

Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Sep 19, 2016

• #13

David, can you explain the "fleck in the eye" feature better?

tnx,

JH

 

D

DavidJStanton

Member

• Sep 20, 2016

• #14

Jeff

These two threads have photos that show the feature better than I can explain. Basically, there are two dark patches on the horizontal, either side of the pupil. These are the 'flecks' mentioned:

http://hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?fid=79&tid=3122&goto=nextoldset

http://hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?fid=79&tid=23938&goto=nextoldset

 

J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2016

• #15

The feature is also mentioned in Brazil's 'Birds of East Asia':
"...eyes yellow, but black at rear, forming distinct 'C' shape, similar to Schrenck's but distinct from Yellow..."

It seems to be quite a reliable difference on photos, but often difficult to see in the field.

 

Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Sep 20, 2016

• #16

Interesting...thanks, guys.