thirudevaram
Trapped in mist ***s
Good photos even in bad light. Tom, how is the oriental greenfinches up there for you? Last year i had good no's in Shanghai but this year haven't seen them yet.
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Dalian (Jinshitan) Birding Reports (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dong Bei
- Start date
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds March 8, 2013
Dev, Greenfinches haven't been around in large numbers yet. Most winters there aren't a lot here. Will have to wait until the end of March and April to see if numbers are regular or not.
I had a good 1.5 hours after work today. About half of the ponds are still frozen solid (including the few that I always go to) so I had to do a bit of exploring looking for open water. The continued destruction of the area allowed me to get near some ponds that I previously hadn't been able to. There are usually some swans in the area in early March and they usually choose a pond well hidden from people passing by. This year they are in a pond in full view of a major road. I hope they remain undisturbed until they leave....... Maybe they will move in a bit as more ice melts. They also seemed too tame for their own good, refusing to fly when some road surveyors worked quite nearby.
I can officially declare that migration has started! Not only did I have new ducks and a wagtail today, I also saw 3 Grey Heron flying high in formation and coming down into the pond areas. 6 degrees today but it freezes every night and we're getting another cold front tomorrow night.
Common Pheasant - 2
Japanese Quail - 4 (I came within 30 cm of stepping on one. I actually did step on one a few years ago...)
Whooper Swan - 9
Gadwall - 6
Falcated Duck - 15
Eurasian Wigeon - 3
Mallard - 85
Spot-billed Duck - 25
Baikal Teal - 1
Eurasian Teal - 2
Common Pochard - 3
Common Goldeneye - 5
Smew - 3
Common Merganser - 20
Red-breasted Merganser - 2
Grey Heron - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 2
Common Gull - 20
Mongolian Gull - 2
Black-headed Gull - 2
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Great Tit - 5
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Naumann's Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - heard 1
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 1
Common Reed Bunting - 3 Excellent looks at 3 birds coming into breeding plumage. Much easier to separate from Pallas's Reed at this stage as they are much much more brown and white while Pallas's are more grey and white.
Dev, Greenfinches haven't been around in large numbers yet. Most winters there aren't a lot here. Will have to wait until the end of March and April to see if numbers are regular or not.
I had a good 1.5 hours after work today. About half of the ponds are still frozen solid (including the few that I always go to) so I had to do a bit of exploring looking for open water. The continued destruction of the area allowed me to get near some ponds that I previously hadn't been able to. There are usually some swans in the area in early March and they usually choose a pond well hidden from people passing by. This year they are in a pond in full view of a major road. I hope they remain undisturbed until they leave....... Maybe they will move in a bit as more ice melts. They also seemed too tame for their own good, refusing to fly when some road surveyors worked quite nearby.
I can officially declare that migration has started! Not only did I have new ducks and a wagtail today, I also saw 3 Grey Heron flying high in formation and coming down into the pond areas. 6 degrees today but it freezes every night and we're getting another cold front tomorrow night.
Common Pheasant - 2
Japanese Quail - 4 (I came within 30 cm of stepping on one. I actually did step on one a few years ago...)
Whooper Swan - 9
Gadwall - 6
Falcated Duck - 15
Eurasian Wigeon - 3
Mallard - 85
Spot-billed Duck - 25
Baikal Teal - 1
Eurasian Teal - 2
Common Pochard - 3
Common Goldeneye - 5
Smew - 3
Common Merganser - 20
Red-breasted Merganser - 2
Grey Heron - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 2
Common Gull - 20
Mongolian Gull - 2
Black-headed Gull - 2
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Great Tit - 5
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Naumann's Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - heard 1
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 1
Common Reed Bunting - 3 Excellent looks at 3 birds coming into breeding plumage. Much easier to separate from Pallas's Reed at this stage as they are much much more brown and white while Pallas's are more grey and white.
Attachments
Last edited:
Jinshitan Sea Farming Ponds March 17, 2013
Had 1 hour yesterday and 3 hours this afternoon at the ponds. Almost all of the ice is now gone and there is a nice variety of duck species there currently. I saw my first Black-eared Kite of the season today. I seem to see just one every year there during this week of March. The list below comes from the two visits and other random sightings in the Jinshitan area from last week to and from work.
Japanese Quail - 2
Common Pheasant - many
Gadwall - 20
Falcated Duck - 25
Eurasian Wigeon - 30
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 10
Northern Shoveler - 4
Northern Pintail - 1
Baikal Teal - 2 (came around a corner from behind a dike and surprised one and myself yesterday. Got some good shots as it took off)
Eurasian Teal - 30
Common Pochard - 30
Common Goldeneye - 10
Common Merganser - 30
Little Grebe - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 2 near where the main channel connects to the sea. Not usually seen in Jinshitan.
Grey Heron- 6
Great Egret - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 5
Black-eared Kite - 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 2
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 6 (back to the same pond within 2 days of the ice melting)
Little-ringed Plover - 6 (first shorebird sp.)
Black-tailed Gull - 15
Common Gull - 50
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 25
Black-headed Gull - 1
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Great Tit - many
Coal Tit - 10
Varied Tit - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Eurasian Skylark- 2
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Crested Myna - 6 back in Jinshitan after being away for most of the winter.
Naumann's Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - some singles over the last few days. All leucopsis
Oriental Greenfinch - 5
Meadow Bunting - 1
Yellow-throated Bunting - 10
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 15
Had 1 hour yesterday and 3 hours this afternoon at the ponds. Almost all of the ice is now gone and there is a nice variety of duck species there currently. I saw my first Black-eared Kite of the season today. I seem to see just one every year there during this week of March. The list below comes from the two visits and other random sightings in the Jinshitan area from last week to and from work.
Japanese Quail - 2
Common Pheasant - many
Gadwall - 20
Falcated Duck - 25
Eurasian Wigeon - 30
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 10
Northern Shoveler - 4
Northern Pintail - 1
Baikal Teal - 2 (came around a corner from behind a dike and surprised one and myself yesterday. Got some good shots as it took off)
Eurasian Teal - 30
Common Pochard - 30
Common Goldeneye - 10
Common Merganser - 30
Little Grebe - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 2 near where the main channel connects to the sea. Not usually seen in Jinshitan.
Grey Heron- 6
Great Egret - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 5
Black-eared Kite - 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 2
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 6 (back to the same pond within 2 days of the ice melting)
Little-ringed Plover - 6 (first shorebird sp.)
Black-tailed Gull - 15
Common Gull - 50
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 25
Black-headed Gull - 1
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Great Tit - many
Coal Tit - 10
Varied Tit - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Eurasian Skylark- 2
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Crested Myna - 6 back in Jinshitan after being away for most of the winter.
Naumann's Thrush - 1
White Wagtail - some singles over the last few days. All leucopsis
Oriental Greenfinch - 5
Meadow Bunting - 1
Yellow-throated Bunting - 10
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 15
Attachments
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Superb Baikal Teal images, Tom!!
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds March 21, 2013
A short but rewarding trip to the ponds after work today just before dark. It's still quite cold here with no end in sight. The ice is completely gone on all the ponds. The continual demolition of this site is, in a strange way, actually making it easier for me to see more ponds in a shorter amount of time.
Common Pheasant
Japanese Quail - 2
Gadwall - 15
Falcated Duck - 25
Eurasian Wigeon - 10
Mallard - 150
Spot-billed Duck - 20
Northern Shoveler - 1
Eurasian Teal - 15
Common Pochard - 50 (keep hoping for another Baer's)
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 6 females
Common Merganser - 15
Grey Heron - 4
Great Egret - 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Eastern Buzzard - 2
Common Coot - 3
Black-tailed Gull - 20
Common Gull - 5
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 5
Black-headed Gull - 1
Hill Pigeon - 5
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Great Tit - 2
Eurasian Skylark - 4
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
White Wagtail - 1 leucopsis
Brambling - 1
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 5
A short but rewarding trip to the ponds after work today just before dark. It's still quite cold here with no end in sight. The ice is completely gone on all the ponds. The continual demolition of this site is, in a strange way, actually making it easier for me to see more ponds in a shorter amount of time.
Common Pheasant
Japanese Quail - 2
Gadwall - 15
Falcated Duck - 25
Eurasian Wigeon - 10
Mallard - 150
Spot-billed Duck - 20
Northern Shoveler - 1
Eurasian Teal - 15
Common Pochard - 50 (keep hoping for another Baer's)
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 6 females
Common Merganser - 15
Grey Heron - 4
Great Egret - 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 1
Eastern Buzzard - 2
Common Coot - 3
Black-tailed Gull - 20
Common Gull - 5
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 5
Black-headed Gull - 1
Hill Pigeon - 5
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Great Tit - 2
Eurasian Skylark - 4
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
White Wagtail - 1 leucopsis
Brambling - 1
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 5
Attachments
Jinshitan Sea Farming Ponds March 22, 2013
Another hour or so at the ponds. Weather was quite cold at around zero degrees with a strong wind. Some FOS (first of season) birds, showing that movement is beginning despite the temperatures.
Common Pheasant
Japanese Quail - 1
Gadwall - 25
Falcated Duck - 15
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 35
Eurasian Teal - 5
Common Pochard - 50
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 1 female
Common Merganser - 25
Grey Heron - 18
Great Egret - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Eastern Buzzard - 2
Common Coot - 6
Northern Lapwing - 10 over work in the morning (FOS)
Little-ringed Plover - 1
Kentish Plover - 17 (FOS)
Green Sandpiper - 1 (FOS)
Dunlin - 1 (FOS)
Black-tailed Gull - 15
Common Gull - 30
Vega/Mongolian gull - 15
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Eurasian Skylark - 1
White-cheeked Starling - 10 (FOS)
Naumann's x Dusky Thrush - 2
White Wagtail - 15 all leucopsis
Rustic Bunting - 8
Yellow-throated Bunting - 5
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 15
Common Reed Bunting - 1
Another hour or so at the ponds. Weather was quite cold at around zero degrees with a strong wind. Some FOS (first of season) birds, showing that movement is beginning despite the temperatures.
Common Pheasant
Japanese Quail - 1
Gadwall - 25
Falcated Duck - 15
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 35
Eurasian Teal - 5
Common Pochard - 50
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 1 female
Common Merganser - 25
Grey Heron - 18
Great Egret - 4
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Eastern Buzzard - 2
Common Coot - 6
Northern Lapwing - 10 over work in the morning (FOS)
Little-ringed Plover - 1
Kentish Plover - 17 (FOS)
Green Sandpiper - 1 (FOS)
Dunlin - 1 (FOS)
Black-tailed Gull - 15
Common Gull - 30
Vega/Mongolian gull - 15
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Chinese Grey Shrike - 1
Eurasian Skylark - 1
White-cheeked Starling - 10 (FOS)
Naumann's x Dusky Thrush - 2
White Wagtail - 15 all leucopsis
Rustic Bunting - 8
Yellow-throated Bunting - 5
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 15
Common Reed Bunting - 1
Attachments
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds March 27, 2013
Development now right up along the entire side of the ponds. Heavy machinery starting to move about as spring arrives.......the end is near. Fortunately it's a huge place so the birds can still find refuge in a few places. I am birding now in a totally different area of the ponds than I was last year -- last year's place is covered by 5 meters of fill. I noticed today that the construction of a concrete bottomed and sided canal is being constructed down the north end of the pond area. I fear that this will be the only trace of water left after everything else is filled in. Is it wrong to sneak there at night and disable the machinery?
List from 1 hour today just before dark.
Common Pheasant
Gadwall - 5
Falcated Duck - 30
Eurasian Wigeon - 15
Mallard - 150
Spot-billed Duck - 2
Garganey - 8 (FOS) shown with a female Gadwall for size comparison.
Eurasian Teal - 25
Common Pochard - counted exactly 70 (most ever there at one time - most likely their regular spot is no longer suitable)
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 2 females
Common Merganser - 5
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Grey Heron - 9
Eurasian Kestrel - 1 (see photo to see what it was up to)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - dispersed a group of shorebirds before I could get close enough to ID
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 9
Little-ringed Plover - 3
Kentish Plover - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 50
Common Gull - 10
Vega/Mongolian Gull - 35
Hoopoe - 2
Chinese Hill Warbler - 1 calling in the hills
Vinous-throated Parrotbills - 1 group
White Wagtail - 10 leucopsis
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 3
Development now right up along the entire side of the ponds. Heavy machinery starting to move about as spring arrives.......the end is near. Fortunately it's a huge place so the birds can still find refuge in a few places. I am birding now in a totally different area of the ponds than I was last year -- last year's place is covered by 5 meters of fill. I noticed today that the construction of a concrete bottomed and sided canal is being constructed down the north end of the pond area. I fear that this will be the only trace of water left after everything else is filled in. Is it wrong to sneak there at night and disable the machinery?
List from 1 hour today just before dark.
Common Pheasant
Gadwall - 5
Falcated Duck - 30
Eurasian Wigeon - 15
Mallard - 150
Spot-billed Duck - 2
Garganey - 8 (FOS) shown with a female Gadwall for size comparison.
Eurasian Teal - 25
Common Pochard - counted exactly 70 (most ever there at one time - most likely their regular spot is no longer suitable)
Tufted Duck - 3
Smew - 2 females
Common Merganser - 5
Red-breasted Merganser - 1
Grey Heron - 9
Eurasian Kestrel - 1 (see photo to see what it was up to)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - dispersed a group of shorebirds before I could get close enough to ID
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 9
Little-ringed Plover - 3
Kentish Plover - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 50
Common Gull - 10
Vega/Mongolian Gull - 35
Hoopoe - 2
Chinese Hill Warbler - 1 calling in the hills
Vinous-throated Parrotbills - 1 group
White Wagtail - 10 leucopsis
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 3
Attachments
No birding today but did see my first of the season Red-flanked Bluetail today in the bushes near where I park at work. It was being followed by a feral cat..... Also two more Hoopoes flying about throughout the day. The temperature peaked at around 8 degrees this afternoon with no wind, felt a bit like spring. Still waiting for the first 10 degree day.
I'll be in Harbin this weekend and then have to work the next three Saturdays in a row! Unfair for this time of year.
I'll be in Harbin this weekend and then have to work the next three Saturdays in a row! Unfair for this time of year.
Ahh, now that makes me homesick :-C
I really feel for you on both the watching of habitat destruction and the need to work in spring. Hope you can enjoy the weekend and the first of spring...
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Jinshitan April 2, 2013
I went to the Country Club for the first time this season at lunch and to the Sea Farming Ponds after work today. It felt like spring in the morning but then cooled off again in the afternoon. I think the temperature reached 10 degrees today. We had rain all of yesterday turning to wet snow last night. Lots of stuff moving in and out of the area now.
List from both places:
Japanese Quail - 3
Common Pheasant
Mandarin Duck - 6 (FOS)
Gadwall - 1
Eurasian Wigeon - 20
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 35
Northern Shoveler - 4
Garganey - 5
Eurasian Teal - 15
Common Pochard - 1
Smew - 1
Common Merganser - 2
Grey Heron - 4
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 18
Little-ringed Plover - 18
Kentish Plover - 75
Common Sandpiper - 1 (FOS)
Dunlin - 2
Black-tailed Gull - 30
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 5
Great Tit - 10
Coal Tit - 2
Chinese Bulbul - 4
Pallas's Leaf Warbler - 5 (FOS)
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Goldcrest - 5
Dusky Thrush - 5
Dusky x Naumann's Thrush - 5
Red-flanked Bluetail - 2
Daurian Redstart - 1
Grey Wagtail - 5 (FOS)
White Wagtail - 15 all leucopsis
Brambling - 50
Oriental Greenfinch - 10
Eurasian Siskin - 20
Hawfinch - 2
Yellow-throated Bunting - 5
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 3
I went to the Country Club for the first time this season at lunch and to the Sea Farming Ponds after work today. It felt like spring in the morning but then cooled off again in the afternoon. I think the temperature reached 10 degrees today. We had rain all of yesterday turning to wet snow last night. Lots of stuff moving in and out of the area now.
List from both places:
Japanese Quail - 3
Common Pheasant
Mandarin Duck - 6 (FOS)
Gadwall - 1
Eurasian Wigeon - 20
Mallard - 100
Spot-billed Duck - 35
Northern Shoveler - 4
Garganey - 5
Eurasian Teal - 15
Common Pochard - 1
Smew - 1
Common Merganser - 2
Grey Heron - 4
Eastern Buzzard - 1
Common Coot - 18
Little-ringed Plover - 18
Kentish Plover - 75
Common Sandpiper - 1 (FOS)
Dunlin - 2
Black-tailed Gull - 30
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 5
Great Tit - 10
Coal Tit - 2
Chinese Bulbul - 4
Pallas's Leaf Warbler - 5 (FOS)
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group
Goldcrest - 5
Dusky Thrush - 5
Dusky x Naumann's Thrush - 5
Red-flanked Bluetail - 2
Daurian Redstart - 1
Grey Wagtail - 5 (FOS)
White Wagtail - 15 all leucopsis
Brambling - 50
Oriental Greenfinch - 10
Eurasian Siskin - 20
Hawfinch - 2
Yellow-throated Bunting - 5
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 3
Attachments
MKinHK
Mike Kilburn
That drake Mandarin is a cracker!
PS HKBWS website has pix from the Yalu river Jijin in Jilin of a Harlequin! - that real would be a China megatick!
Cheers
Mike
Cheers
Mike
PS HKBWS website has pix from the Yalu river Jijin in Jilin of a Harlequin! - that real would be a China megatick!
Cheers
Mike
Cheers
Mike
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Nice... but on my list
, Scaly-sided another matter!I'm sure Tom's going to find one, one of these days.
