Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Wow - brilliant, Tom! Sounds like an amazing experience...
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Dalian (Jinshitan) Birding Reports (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dong Bei
- Start date
FXM
Frank Moffatt
Great stuff Tom. Really nice shots again. Still no Eastern Buzzards (japonicus) though!
There is a very obvious 'push' of japonicus through Happy Island during the second/third week of October (approx) when several thousand move through- noted consistently during each of my six visits - so it will be interesting for me to see if the same occurs at Laotieshan.
Much more to come I'm sure.
There is a very obvious 'push' of japonicus through Happy Island during the second/third week of October (approx) when several thousand move through- noted consistently during each of my six visits - so it will be interesting for me to see if the same occurs at Laotieshan.
Much more to come I'm sure.
Laotieshan Reservoir -- Oct. 1, 2010
Went to a reservoir after the point. There are quite a few man-made bodies of water, some are actually quite a bit bigger than this place. There is good habitat on the way off the main road. I plan on doing a location guide to this place in another program sometime and then attaching it to one of these posts.
Didn't see many species this time but I think in late October and November there would be more in this kind of habitat.
Here is the list from Oct. 1:
Common Pheasant
Little grebe
Amur Falcon
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Moorhen
heard an Oriental Cuckoo calling in the woods. A little late?
Ashy Minivet
Great Tit
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Dusky Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Common Rosefinch
Black-faced Bunting
Went to a reservoir after the point. There are quite a few man-made bodies of water, some are actually quite a bit bigger than this place. There is good habitat on the way off the main road. I plan on doing a location guide to this place in another program sometime and then attaching it to one of these posts.
Didn't see many species this time but I think in late October and November there would be more in this kind of habitat.
Here is the list from Oct. 1:
Common Pheasant
Little grebe
Amur Falcon
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Moorhen
heard an Oriental Cuckoo calling in the woods. A little late?
Ashy Minivet
Great Tit
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Dusky Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Common Rosefinch
Black-faced Bunting
Attachments
Country Club and rest of Jinshitan Oct. 7+8
Common Pheasant
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Common Kingfisher
Oriental Turtle Dove
Eastern Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
Green Sanpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Vega Gull
Mew Gull
Oriental Honey Buzzard 3 in a thermal above a mountain range
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Kestrel
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Great Egret
Grey Heron
Ashy Minivet all over the place this fall. Usually only see a few groups during fall migration.
Red-flanked Bluetail
Siberian Rubythroat
Mugimaki Flycatcher
Red-throated Flycacther
Siberian Stonechat
Great Tit
Chinese Bulbul
Chinese Hill Warbler
Black-browed Reed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Oriental Greenfinch
Black-faced Bunting
Common Pheasant
Great-spotted Woodpecker
Common Kingfisher
Oriental Turtle Dove
Eastern Curlew
Eurasian Curlew
Green Sanpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Vega Gull
Mew Gull
Oriental Honey Buzzard 3 in a thermal above a mountain range
Hen Harrier
Eurasian Kestrel
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Great Egret
Grey Heron
Ashy Minivet all over the place this fall. Usually only see a few groups during fall migration.
Red-flanked Bluetail
Siberian Rubythroat
Mugimaki Flycatcher
Red-throated Flycacther
Siberian Stonechat
Great Tit
Chinese Bulbul
Chinese Hill Warbler
Black-browed Reed Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Oriental Greenfinch
Black-faced Bunting
Attachments
Jinshitan October 12, 2010
Saw a spoonbill today flying in to an area of sea-farming ponds. There were many egrets flying around in groups often kept in the air for a long time because of a strong wind. I checked out many of the groups through my binoculars and one of the groups had something slightly different flying along side it but distinctly separate from the others. With my bare eyes it reminded me of watching anhingas in south Florida and how odd they look in the air. I soon realized the extra long neck I was seeing in this particular bird was actually the head with an extending huge long black bill. Within a moment it turned to the ground and landed in one of the ponds quite far away. The rest of the egrets followed and off I went to try to locate it on the ground. I spent the next 30 minutes of daylight disecting the maze of ponds that all have high grass around them and narrow roads. Almost got bit by a few dogs but couldn't locate the spoonbill or the group of egrets:C. I'm almost certain it was a Black-faced Spoonbill. I've seen them on their breeding grounds on one small island about an hour north of here and they must pass by this way on their way south. Either way, a great record for my immediate area here. So Mike, they are on their way to Hong Kong!
I spent most of my short time out today watching groups of birds flying in to roost in the many sea-farming ponds.
Today's list:
Common Pheasant -- completely out of control in this area. Impossible not to see, even in the middle of a sea-farming area! I've even seen one sitting on a window ledge of the building that I work in before.
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Eurasian Teal
Little Grebe
A spoonbill, almost certainly Black-faced
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregerine Falcon -- saw one come up behind a mallard and grab it from the bottom by the duck`s foot. They spiraled down toward the ground but went behind an embankment so I couldn`t see the result. When I finally got around to have a look I couldn`t find either.
Common Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Oriental turtle Dove
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Balck-browed Reed Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Stonechat
White Wagtail
Oriental Greenfinch
Black-faced Bunting
Saw a spoonbill today flying in to an area of sea-farming ponds. There were many egrets flying around in groups often kept in the air for a long time because of a strong wind. I checked out many of the groups through my binoculars and one of the groups had something slightly different flying along side it but distinctly separate from the others. With my bare eyes it reminded me of watching anhingas in south Florida and how odd they look in the air. I soon realized the extra long neck I was seeing in this particular bird was actually the head with an extending huge long black bill. Within a moment it turned to the ground and landed in one of the ponds quite far away. The rest of the egrets followed and off I went to try to locate it on the ground. I spent the next 30 minutes of daylight disecting the maze of ponds that all have high grass around them and narrow roads. Almost got bit by a few dogs but couldn't locate the spoonbill or the group of egrets:C. I'm almost certain it was a Black-faced Spoonbill. I've seen them on their breeding grounds on one small island about an hour north of here and they must pass by this way on their way south. Either way, a great record for my immediate area here. So Mike, they are on their way to Hong Kong!
I spent most of my short time out today watching groups of birds flying in to roost in the many sea-farming ponds.
Today's list:
Common Pheasant -- completely out of control in this area. Impossible not to see, even in the middle of a sea-farming area! I've even seen one sitting on a window ledge of the building that I work in before.
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Eurasian Teal
Little Grebe
A spoonbill, almost certainly Black-faced
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregerine Falcon -- saw one come up behind a mallard and grab it from the bottom by the duck`s foot. They spiraled down toward the ground but went behind an embankment so I couldn`t see the result. When I finally got around to have a look I couldn`t find either.
Common Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Oriental turtle Dove
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Balck-browed Reed Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Stonechat
White Wagtail
Oriental Greenfinch
Black-faced Bunting
Country Club Oct. 15+16 Jinshitan
Buntings have arrived. Two quick trips, one yesterday for an hour before dark and this morning early. Decent cold front passing today and tomorrow. Wish I was at Laotieshan, must be stuff moving there right now. Many first of season (FOS) birds with the new weather.
Saw some Coal Tits yesterday and today. Haven't seen them for 2 full years. Three years ago they were just as common as Great Tit and then they disappeared. I presume they move around in their range a lot.
Country Club List:
Common Pheasant
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Little Grebe
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Oriental Turtle Dove
Common Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker (FOS)
Ashy Minivet
Great Tit
Coal Tit (FOS)
Red-rumped Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chinese Bulbul
Radde's Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Arctic Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Red-flanked Bluetail
Siberian Stonechat
Red-throated Flycatcher
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Buff-bellied Pipit (FOS)
Brambling (FOS)
Oriental Greenfinch
Eurasian Siskin (FOS)
Tristram's Bunting (FOS)
Yellow-browed Bunting (FOS)
Rustic Bunting (FOS)
Yellow-throated Bunting (FOS)
Chestnut Bunting (FOS)
Black-faced Bunting
Buntings have arrived. Two quick trips, one yesterday for an hour before dark and this morning early. Decent cold front passing today and tomorrow. Wish I was at Laotieshan, must be stuff moving there right now. Many first of season (FOS) birds with the new weather.
Saw some Coal Tits yesterday and today. Haven't seen them for 2 full years. Three years ago they were just as common as Great Tit and then they disappeared. I presume they move around in their range a lot.
Country Club List:
Common Pheasant
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Little Grebe
Common Moorhen
Green Sandpiper
Oriental Turtle Dove
Common Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker (FOS)
Ashy Minivet
Great Tit
Coal Tit (FOS)
Red-rumped Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chinese Bulbul
Radde's Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Arctic Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Red-flanked Bluetail
Siberian Stonechat
Red-throated Flycatcher
Grey Wagtail
Olive-backed Pipit
Buff-bellied Pipit (FOS)
Brambling (FOS)
Oriental Greenfinch
Eurasian Siskin (FOS)
Tristram's Bunting (FOS)
Yellow-browed Bunting (FOS)
Rustic Bunting (FOS)
Yellow-throated Bunting (FOS)
Chestnut Bunting (FOS)
Black-faced Bunting
Attachments
Country Club Oct. 22, 2010
Quiet hour and a bit before it got dark.
Oriental Greenfinch
Chinese Bulbul
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Tristram's Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Daurian Redstart
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Dusky Warbler
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Amur Falcon
Ruddy-breasted Crake (same spot as the one in the spring)
Brambling
Green Sandpiper (heard in some wetlands near the country club)
Quiet hour and a bit before it got dark.
Oriental Greenfinch
Chinese Bulbul
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Tristram's Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Daurian Redstart
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Dusky Warbler
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Amur Falcon
Ruddy-breasted Crake (same spot as the one in the spring)
Brambling
Green Sandpiper (heard in some wetlands near the country club)
Jinshitan sea-farming ponds
Afternoon excursion to have a look at ducks that might be trickling through during these few weeks when the season really changes. Today it was 17 degrees after near freezing earlier this week. Next Monday's expected high is close to zero. These cold blasts from Siberia bring new migrants or push old ones out of the area. Birding the day before and the day after one of these fronts arrive in a interesting way to take in migration. I have just finished two wonderful books on the science of what we currently understand of migration -- amazing stuff. I saw two absolutely massive groups of birds migrating today far out over the ocean. I think they were large groups of geese but they were too far to tell. I have seen Swangoose in large numbers over Jinshitan and one single Bean Goose a few years ago that was clearly separated from the heard! But usually any goose sighting is a good record for this immediate area. About 2 hours north of here there is a huge river that maintains some ice-free areas because of its strong current. Around this river are fields and fields of rice stubble where many geese spend the winter or congregate on during migration.
I also met a guy with a sling-shot today. The ducks here are unbelievably spooky. Basically if they see you, they will fly. It almost raises the question of if photographing them is good for them. If I try to get a photo, I can make the whole group take off from several large ponds at the same time. it's a frusterating situation. The moron with the slng-shot didn't help any. He was randomly shooting stones out into the ponds and also shot at a Pheasant and some Reed Buntings. When he started pishing to make the birds come closer so he would have a better chance, I decided I better get myself out of the reeds and go have a talk with him. We had a little chit-chat out on one of the dikes that separate the ponds. We didn't leave on good terms:C Didn't help that the man was probably 40 years old and was acting like he was 8. Anyways...
Here is the list from today:
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck (FOS)
Eurasian Wigeon (FOS)
Mallard
Spot-billed
Eurasian Teal
Common Goldeneye (FOS)
Red-breasted Merganser (FOS)
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Amur Falcon
Common Moorhen
Common Coot (FOS)
Far-eastern Curlew
Green Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Vega Gull
Common Gull
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Chinese Penduline Tit
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Dusky Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Rubythroat (probably the nicest one I've ever seen-gorgeous but wouldn't pose)
Daurian Redstart (calling everywhere on the way to the wetlands)
Brambling
Common Reed Bunting
Afternoon excursion to have a look at ducks that might be trickling through during these few weeks when the season really changes. Today it was 17 degrees after near freezing earlier this week. Next Monday's expected high is close to zero. These cold blasts from Siberia bring new migrants or push old ones out of the area. Birding the day before and the day after one of these fronts arrive in a interesting way to take in migration. I have just finished two wonderful books on the science of what we currently understand of migration -- amazing stuff. I saw two absolutely massive groups of birds migrating today far out over the ocean. I think they were large groups of geese but they were too far to tell. I have seen Swangoose in large numbers over Jinshitan and one single Bean Goose a few years ago that was clearly separated from the heard! But usually any goose sighting is a good record for this immediate area. About 2 hours north of here there is a huge river that maintains some ice-free areas because of its strong current. Around this river are fields and fields of rice stubble where many geese spend the winter or congregate on during migration.
I also met a guy with a sling-shot today. The ducks here are unbelievably spooky. Basically if they see you, they will fly. It almost raises the question of if photographing them is good for them. If I try to get a photo, I can make the whole group take off from several large ponds at the same time. it's a frusterating situation. The moron with the slng-shot didn't help any. He was randomly shooting stones out into the ponds and also shot at a Pheasant and some Reed Buntings. When he started pishing to make the birds come closer so he would have a better chance, I decided I better get myself out of the reeds and go have a talk with him. We had a little chit-chat out on one of the dikes that separate the ponds. We didn't leave on good terms:C Didn't help that the man was probably 40 years old and was acting like he was 8. Anyways...
Here is the list from today:
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck (FOS)
Eurasian Wigeon (FOS)
Mallard
Spot-billed
Eurasian Teal
Common Goldeneye (FOS)
Red-breasted Merganser (FOS)
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Amur Falcon
Common Moorhen
Common Coot (FOS)
Far-eastern Curlew
Green Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Vega Gull
Common Gull
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Chinese Penduline Tit
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Dusky Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Rubythroat (probably the nicest one I've ever seen-gorgeous but wouldn't pose)
Daurian Redstart (calling everywhere on the way to the wetlands)
Brambling
Common Reed Bunting
Attachments
Jinshitan sea-farming ponds Oct. 31, 2010
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall (FOS)
Falcated Duck (FOS)
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Little grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Peregrine Falcon
Hen Harrier
Upland Buzzard (FOS)
Common Coot
Japanese Quail
Green Sandpiper
Saunders Gull
Black-tailed Gull
Hoopoe
Carrion Crow (FOS)
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Varied Tit (FOS) second record in Jinshitan
No swallows
Yellow-browed Warbler
Pallas' Leaf Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Pale Thrush (FOS)
Naumann's Thrush (FOS)
Dusky Thrush (FOS)
Red-flanked Bluetail
Dorain Redstart
No wagtails
Pechora Pipit
Brambling
Meadow Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Pallas' Reed Bunting
pictures coming later..
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall (FOS)
Falcated Duck (FOS)
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Little grebe
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Peregrine Falcon
Hen Harrier
Upland Buzzard (FOS)
Common Coot
Japanese Quail
Green Sandpiper
Saunders Gull
Black-tailed Gull
Hoopoe
Carrion Crow (FOS)
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Varied Tit (FOS) second record in Jinshitan
No swallows
Yellow-browed Warbler
Pallas' Leaf Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Pale Thrush (FOS)
Naumann's Thrush (FOS)
Dusky Thrush (FOS)
Red-flanked Bluetail
Dorain Redstart
No wagtails
Pechora Pipit
Brambling
Meadow Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Pallas' Reed Bunting
pictures coming later..
Country Club Nov. 2, 2010
Very quiet hour after work, not even a pheasant.
Mallard (2)
Little Grebe (1)
Common Kingfisher (1) looking a little chilly.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (5)
Great Tit (2)
Winter Wren (1) highlight bird of the day
Naumann's Thrush (4)
Yellow-throated Bunting (1!)
That, my friends, is a dead day.|8||
I think Magpies and Tree Sparrows were even in the single digits.
Lesson learned, the Country Club is not the destination of choice in early November.
Very quiet hour after work, not even a pheasant.
Mallard (2)
Little Grebe (1)
Common Kingfisher (1) looking a little chilly.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (5)
Great Tit (2)
Winter Wren (1) highlight bird of the day
Naumann's Thrush (4)
Yellow-throated Bunting (1!)
That, my friends, is a dead day.|8||
I think Magpies and Tree Sparrows were even in the single digits.
Lesson learned, the Country Club is not the destination of choice in early November.
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
Varied Tit
That bird is a looker !
I must say, when I'm in China, the tits and their various (sorry!) races take on a new dimension, often seeming to be almost new species and making me perk up my interest in the family.
Great photo.
Can't wait to get back, when/if health permits.
That bird is a looker !
I must say, when I'm in China, the tits and their various (sorry!) races take on a new dimension, often seeming to be almost new species and making me perk up my interest in the family.
Great photo.
Can't wait to get back, when/if health permits.
After yesterday afternoon's dismal day, I walked out my door this morning at 6:45 and was greeted by a male Mugimaki Flycatcher right in the small green area within my apartment complex. I literally walked out the door and it landed right in front of me! A little late and a nice bird to see any time. They are usually very hard to find during fall migration.
Jinshitan sea-farming ponds Nov. 5, 2010
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Falcated Duck
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Hen Harrier
Green Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Vega Gull
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Yellow-browed Warbler
Goldcrest (FOS)
Naumann's thrush
Dusky Thrush
Daurian Redstart
Long-tailed Rosefinch (FOS)
Yellow-throated Bunting
Meadow Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Falcated Duck
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Common Goldeneye
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Hen Harrier
Green Sandpiper
Black-tailed Gull
Vega Gull
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Yellow-browed Warbler
Goldcrest (FOS)
Naumann's thrush
Dusky Thrush
Daurian Redstart
Long-tailed Rosefinch (FOS)
Yellow-throated Bunting
Meadow Bunting
Rustic Bunting
