Jinshitan Sea-farming ponds and ridge Oct. 2, 2013
Ridge from 6-9:30 am, ponds from 3:00-5:30 pm
I thought today would yield more raptors given a strong north wind blowing. Have no idea why numbers were not higher given the day and the weather.
The highlight today came right at dusk when a muskrat/beaver type animal was seen making its way across one of the ponds! I don't know what the name of it is, but very happy to have something in the area! The size was bigger than muskrat and a little smaller than beaver for those familiar with North American mammals. Anyone know mammals in China? It swam as pictured but took short dives every 5 seconds or so. It got out of the water near where I was but tall reeds made it impossible to see anything. I waited for a while hoping it would cross the dike I was on and go into the next pond but no such luck.
The sighting today brings up something I've been thinking for a while. I have now seen Red Squirrel in 3 completely different places in Jinshitan in the last 6 months after not seeing them anywhere for the past ten years here. Today's animal raises hopes that perhaps some of the wildlife is returning? Baby steps, I know, but cool to think about......
List from both the ridge in the early hours and the ponds at the end of the day:
Common Pheasant - 2
Japanese Quail - 2
Mandarin Duck - 2
Mallard - 75
Spot-billed Duck - 7
Garganey - 12
Baikal Teal - 1 (I believe it's a juv. Baikal based on eliminating others....yes?)
Eurasian Teal - 4
Tufted Duck - 1
Little Grebe - 15
Grey Heron - 1
Great Egret - 14
Eurasian Kestrel - 4
Amur Falcon - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Oriental Honey Buzzard - 3 (1 that looked very similar to Short-toed Snake Eagle which created some excitement for a while!)
Japanese Sparrowhawk - 3
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 1 juv.
Eastern Buzzard - 3
Common Moorhen - 8
Common Coot - 14
Green Sandpiper - 1
Black-headed Gull - 5
Hill Pigeon - 3
Oriental Turtle Dove - 8
Short-eard Owl - 1 on the way in this morning
Ashy Minivet - 152
Great Tit - 4
Barn Swallow - 500
Red-rumped Swallow - 2
Eurasian Skylark - 2
Lanceolated Warbler - 2
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Oriental Reed Warbler - 1
Black-browed Reed Warbler - 2
Dusky Warbler - 3
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
White-eye Sp. - 40
White-cheeked Starling - 27
Siberian Blue Robin - 1
Common Stonechat - 2
White-throated Rock Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - 47 in one group near dusk! At least 1 ocularis earlier.
Richard's Pipit - 2
Olive-backed Pipit - 6
Buff-bellied Pipit - 3
Oriental Greenfinch - 2
Chinese Grosbeak - 4
Chestnut-eared Bunting - 2
Yellow-breasted Bunting - 1
Chestnut Bunting - 1
Black-faced Bunting - 6
Bunting Sp. - 50
Ridge from 6-9:30 am, ponds from 3:00-5:30 pm
I thought today would yield more raptors given a strong north wind blowing. Have no idea why numbers were not higher given the day and the weather.
The highlight today came right at dusk when a muskrat/beaver type animal was seen making its way across one of the ponds! I don't know what the name of it is, but very happy to have something in the area! The size was bigger than muskrat and a little smaller than beaver for those familiar with North American mammals. Anyone know mammals in China? It swam as pictured but took short dives every 5 seconds or so. It got out of the water near where I was but tall reeds made it impossible to see anything. I waited for a while hoping it would cross the dike I was on and go into the next pond but no such luck.
The sighting today brings up something I've been thinking for a while. I have now seen Red Squirrel in 3 completely different places in Jinshitan in the last 6 months after not seeing them anywhere for the past ten years here. Today's animal raises hopes that perhaps some of the wildlife is returning? Baby steps, I know, but cool to think about......
List from both the ridge in the early hours and the ponds at the end of the day:
Common Pheasant - 2
Japanese Quail - 2
Mandarin Duck - 2
Mallard - 75
Spot-billed Duck - 7
Garganey - 12
Baikal Teal - 1 (I believe it's a juv. Baikal based on eliminating others....yes?)
Eurasian Teal - 4
Tufted Duck - 1
Little Grebe - 15
Grey Heron - 1
Great Egret - 14
Eurasian Kestrel - 4
Amur Falcon - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 2
Oriental Honey Buzzard - 3 (1 that looked very similar to Short-toed Snake Eagle which created some excitement for a while!)
Japanese Sparrowhawk - 3
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Northern Goshawk - 1 juv.
Eastern Buzzard - 3
Common Moorhen - 8
Common Coot - 14
Green Sandpiper - 1
Black-headed Gull - 5
Hill Pigeon - 3
Oriental Turtle Dove - 8
Short-eard Owl - 1 on the way in this morning
Ashy Minivet - 152
Great Tit - 4
Barn Swallow - 500
Red-rumped Swallow - 2
Eurasian Skylark - 2
Lanceolated Warbler - 2
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Oriental Reed Warbler - 1
Black-browed Reed Warbler - 2
Dusky Warbler - 3
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
White-eye Sp. - 40
White-cheeked Starling - 27
Siberian Blue Robin - 1
Common Stonechat - 2
White-throated Rock Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - 47 in one group near dusk! At least 1 ocularis earlier.
Richard's Pipit - 2
Olive-backed Pipit - 6
Buff-bellied Pipit - 3
Oriental Greenfinch - 2
Chinese Grosbeak - 4
Chestnut-eared Bunting - 2
Yellow-breasted Bunting - 1
Chestnut Bunting - 1
Black-faced Bunting - 6
Bunting Sp. - 50