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Dalian (Jinshitan) Birding Reports (6 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dong Bei
- Start date
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Hi Tom,
The cetacean could be Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis). They are very pale and larger than Finless Porpoise.
According to the Mammals of China (Smith and Xie) their range does not reach as far north as Liaoning but that does not mean they don't occur and, of course, there could be a range expansion to the north due to warming seas..
Hopefully someone with experience of Chinese cetaceans will be able to confirm the identity.
Cheers, Terry
The cetacean could be Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis). They are very pale and larger than Finless Porpoise.
According to the Mammals of China (Smith and Xie) their range does not reach as far north as Liaoning but that does not mean they don't occur and, of course, there could be a range expansion to the north due to warming seas..
Hopefully someone with experience of Chinese cetaceans will be able to confirm the identity.
Cheers, Terry
rockfowl
Mark Andrews
Hi Guys,
These cetaceans are very interesting and I reckon there is a lot yet to learn. My gut reaction was also IPHD however, there's no visible dorsal fin? and the size, as suggested by Tom, about Beluga sized is way too big.
The last couple of years, I with various members of my groups have been watching Finless Porpoise and something else, much larger at Lighthouse Point, Beidaihe (they are not present very often though, only noticed on a high tide when the conditions are very calm). This year, in mirror like sea conditions, we watched a relatively large group of animals again feeding inshore. Having seen them alongside local fishing boats, we estimate the largest to be around 15 or so feet, probably slightly bigger. They appear a darker grey than Tom's, perhaps a suggestion of a paler mark down the flank and an interesting, very low dorsal, quite distinctly shaped on bigger individuals. They rarely break the surface giving much away but when they do, seem to have a very bulbous melon head and an obvious beak (bit like a Bottlenose Whale but the dorsal wrong). Despite having some experience on-board, were at a loss. Last year, in choppier waters, we were also thinking IPHD's but didn't seem right. This year we were thinking maybe a Beaked Whale sp.
Really not sure, exciting stuff but frustratingly little useful reference material for the region.
Last edited:
chris butterworth
aka The Person Named Above
They certainly don't look like IPHD's. There is no sign of a hump ( allowing that the dorsal fin could have been lost in an accident ), the melon is far too big - in some photos it almost looks like the head of a Beluga, there appears to be a definite neck and the tips of the flippers are very round / hooked looking. Its like no other cetacean I've seen in the NW Pacific but does have a touch of the Finless Porpoise about it. If they are the same as Mark has seen then one of the Beaked Whales is a possibility but that ridge where the dorsal fin would be expected is a puzzle. I'll be going on a survey into the SE Okhotsk later this year and I'll keep an eye out.
Chris
Chris
firstreesjohn
Well-known member
Tom: you may just use John (!). I stand to be shot down on any of these, as I’m just going by the book. At least you'll have a starting point for your own image searches.
In your #870, I think it’s one of the Black Swallowtails- Papilio maacki.
In #877, the LH shot is of a Clouded Yellow, perhaps Colias fieldii. I’d like to see more of the upperwings of the one to its right.
In #881, you have a moth, too: the middle shot is of some sort of Ctenuchid, possibly a Nine-spotted Amata phegea. The one to its right is a Skipper, one of the Notocrypta ‘Demons’.
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds August 4, 2013
I have been back in China for a week now and finally got out to the ponds this afternoon for a few hours leading up to dusk. I'm happy to report that the destruction of the area seems to have stopped....I have to be careful about such words but it looks like the work right near my main patch was all to complete a white-water kayaking facility for the 2013 China games that are being split between Shenyang and Dalian this summer. The ponds and channels are looking great after a very wet July. Here is the list from today other than a mystery merganser than I sent to have a second opinion on.
Very humid - horrible visibility = no pictures
Mallard - 75 (mostly juveniles)
Spot-billed Duck - 50
Little Grebe - 20 including many young
Striated Heron - 2
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1 juv.
Grey Heron - 4
Intermediate Egret - 3
Little Egret - 5
Chinese Egret - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Mystery Rail - ran into the reeds as soon as we saw each other. Most likely Eastern Water Rail
Common Moorhen - 1
Common Coot - 4
Black-winged Stilt - 1
Little-ringed Plover - 1
Whimbrel - 12
Green Sandpiper - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 40
Black-headed Gull - 10
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Common Kingfisher - 4
Brown Shrike - 1
Black-naped Oriole - 2
Barn Swallow - 5
Red-rumped Swallow - 1
Oriental Reed Warbler - 1
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 2
Siberian Stonechat - 2
White Wagtail - 7 leucopsis
Oriental Greenfinch - 1
I have been back in China for a week now and finally got out to the ponds this afternoon for a few hours leading up to dusk. I'm happy to report that the destruction of the area seems to have stopped....I have to be careful about such words but it looks like the work right near my main patch was all to complete a white-water kayaking facility for the 2013 China games that are being split between Shenyang and Dalian this summer. The ponds and channels are looking great after a very wet July. Here is the list from today other than a mystery merganser than I sent to have a second opinion on.
Very humid - horrible visibility = no pictures
Mallard - 75 (mostly juveniles)
Spot-billed Duck - 50
Little Grebe - 20 including many young
Striated Heron - 2
Black-crowned Night Heron - 1 juv.
Grey Heron - 4
Intermediate Egret - 3
Little Egret - 5
Chinese Egret - 3
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Mystery Rail - ran into the reeds as soon as we saw each other. Most likely Eastern Water Rail
Common Moorhen - 1
Common Coot - 4
Black-winged Stilt - 1
Little-ringed Plover - 1
Whimbrel - 12
Green Sandpiper - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 40
Black-headed Gull - 10
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Common Kingfisher - 4
Brown Shrike - 1
Black-naped Oriole - 2
Barn Swallow - 5
Red-rumped Swallow - 1
Oriental Reed Warbler - 1
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 2
Siberian Stonechat - 2
White Wagtail - 7 leucopsis
Oriental Greenfinch - 1
August 12, 2013 Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds
Two trips to go swimming with the kids all Saturday and Sunday afternoon by the main river channel. Had Monday morning off work due to the torch ceremony for the China games coming through Jinshitan. I was there (mudflats only) from 5-8 a.m. I spent most of the time on one mud flat section where things were flying overhead.
List:
Mallard - 50
Spot-billed Duck - 1
Chinese Egret - 14 (half adults half juv)
Euarasian Kestrel - 1
Little-ringed Plover - 2
Lesser Sand Plover - 5
Whimbrel - 44
Far Eastern Curlew - 1
Common Redshank - 5
Common Greenshank - 2
Wood Sandpiper - 5
Terek Sandpiper - 1
Common Sandpiper - 2
Red-necked Stint - 4
Temminck's Stint - 2
Black-tailed Gull - 150
Vega or Mongolian Gull - 3 (probably Vega here this time of year?)
Black-headed Gull - 66
Common Kingfisher - 1
Brown Shrike - 1
Barn Swallow - 15
White Wagtail - 4
Two trips to go swimming with the kids all Saturday and Sunday afternoon by the main river channel. Had Monday morning off work due to the torch ceremony for the China games coming through Jinshitan. I was there (mudflats only) from 5-8 a.m. I spent most of the time on one mud flat section where things were flying overhead.
List:
Mallard - 50
Spot-billed Duck - 1
Chinese Egret - 14 (half adults half juv)
Euarasian Kestrel - 1
Little-ringed Plover - 2
Lesser Sand Plover - 5
Whimbrel - 44
Far Eastern Curlew - 1
Common Redshank - 5
Common Greenshank - 2
Wood Sandpiper - 5
Terek Sandpiper - 1
Common Sandpiper - 2
Red-necked Stint - 4
Temminck's Stint - 2
Black-tailed Gull - 150
Vega or Mongolian Gull - 3 (probably Vega here this time of year?)
Black-headed Gull - 66
Common Kingfisher - 1
Brown Shrike - 1
Barn Swallow - 15
White Wagtail - 4
Attachments
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds August 17, 2013
Out with the kids swimming again. This time I took the camera along and took some photos of the shorebirds near us. The rising tide and many fishermen kept putting the birds up and I sat on a towel and got some great shots of the Tattler flying right past me! I also missed a group of smaller shorebirds that flew right past at one point. It is hot here with high humidity each day and swimming seems the only way to beat the heat presently.
Birds seen between dips in the river:
Great Egret - 1
Chinese Egret - 8 (both adults and juveniles)
Black-winged Stilt - 5
Pacific Golden Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 30
Eurasian Curlew - 1
Far Eastern Curlew - 4
Common Greenshank - 1
Wood Sandpiper - 2
Grey-tailed Tattler - 1 juv.
Black-tailed Gull - 100
Black-headed Gull - 40
Hoopoe - 1
Barn Swallow - 15
Chinese Bulbul - 2
White Wagtail - 2 juv. leucopsis
Out with the kids swimming again. This time I took the camera along and took some photos of the shorebirds near us. The rising tide and many fishermen kept putting the birds up and I sat on a towel and got some great shots of the Tattler flying right past me! I also missed a group of smaller shorebirds that flew right past at one point. It is hot here with high humidity each day and swimming seems the only way to beat the heat presently.
Birds seen between dips in the river:
Great Egret - 1
Chinese Egret - 8 (both adults and juveniles)
Black-winged Stilt - 5
Pacific Golden Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 30
Eurasian Curlew - 1
Far Eastern Curlew - 4
Common Greenshank - 1
Wood Sandpiper - 2
Grey-tailed Tattler - 1 juv.
Black-tailed Gull - 100
Black-headed Gull - 40
Hoopoe - 1
Barn Swallow - 15
Chinese Bulbul - 2
White Wagtail - 2 juv. leucopsis
Attachments
Great Sand Plover
Happy to report that my Lesser Sand Plover from two posts ago has been confirmed as a Greater. This is a lifer for me and one that was beginning to frustrate me a bit. Thanks to Terry Townshend and Dave Bakewell for the confirmations! I really wanted it to be but didn't want to force the issue. My brother spent a year here 5 years ago and photographed a breeding plumaged Greater on the very same sand bar (which I had been hearing about quite often:-C). Must be the spot to see them here in Jinshitan then! Now for the adult photos next spring........
Happy to report that my Lesser Sand Plover from two posts ago has been confirmed as a Greater. This is a lifer for me and one that was beginning to frustrate me a bit. Thanks to Terry Townshend and Dave Bakewell for the confirmations! I really wanted it to be but didn't want to force the issue. My brother spent a year here 5 years ago and photographed a breeding plumaged Greater on the very same sand bar (which I had been hearing about quite often:-C). Must be the spot to see them here in Jinshitan then! Now for the adult photos next spring........
Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds August 18, 2013
Two hours at the mudflat and pond areas this afternoon. The Vega Gull's identification below is just a guess. It could also be Mongolian. I spent a lot of time with two Greater Sand Plovers catching crabs on the mudflats. I am overjoyed that they have chosen my patch to spend some time on.
Cooler temps today with no humidity. Felt like September and a little like migration was starting as well.
Mallard - many young ones 100?
Spot-billed Ducks - 10
Yellow Bittern - 2
Striated Heron - 1
Grey Heron - 8
Great Egret - 2
Intermediate Egret - 2
Little Egret - 2
Chinese Egret - 8
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Northern Hobby - 2
Common Coot - 4
Black-winged Stilt - 2
Pacific Golden Plover - 2
Greater Sand Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 50
Marsh Sandpiper - 6
Common Greenshank - 2
Wood Sandpiper - 1 flyover group of 18
Terek Sandpiper - 2
Great Knot - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 250
Vega Gull - 10
Black-headed Gull - 100
Hill Pigeon - 1
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Little Owl - 1 new one at a new place. Maybe a young bird taking up residence?
Common Kingfisher - 2
Barn Swallow - 15
Zitting Cisticola - 1
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group (first time I've seen a typical group since early spring when they pair up)
Crested Myna - a group on the way home.
White Wagtail - 5 juv. leucopsis
Two hours at the mudflat and pond areas this afternoon. The Vega Gull's identification below is just a guess. It could also be Mongolian. I spent a lot of time with two Greater Sand Plovers catching crabs on the mudflats. I am overjoyed that they have chosen my patch to spend some time on.
Cooler temps today with no humidity. Felt like September and a little like migration was starting as well.
Mallard - many young ones 100?
Spot-billed Ducks - 10
Yellow Bittern - 2
Striated Heron - 1
Grey Heron - 8
Great Egret - 2
Intermediate Egret - 2
Little Egret - 2
Chinese Egret - 8
Eurasian Kestrel - 2
Northern Hobby - 2
Common Coot - 4
Black-winged Stilt - 2
Pacific Golden Plover - 2
Greater Sand Plover - 2
Whimbrel - 50
Marsh Sandpiper - 6
Common Greenshank - 2
Wood Sandpiper - 1 flyover group of 18
Terek Sandpiper - 2
Great Knot - 1
Black-tailed Gull - 250
Vega Gull - 10
Black-headed Gull - 100
Hill Pigeon - 1
Oriental Turtle Dove - 1
Little Owl - 1 new one at a new place. Maybe a young bird taking up residence?
Common Kingfisher - 2
Barn Swallow - 15
Zitting Cisticola - 1
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 1 group (first time I've seen a typical group since early spring when they pair up)
Crested Myna - a group on the way home.
White Wagtail - 5 juv. leucopsis
Attachments
Sounds like you have lots going on there! Congrats on the Tattler and the Greater Sands - you've got a nice variety of shots for them. Also love the action shot with the Pacific Golden (I don't suppose the worm/crab item was jumping up to his beak, but it looks a bit like that.)
I'm trying to keep up a bit with my Asian waders, but not seeing them this spring hasn't helped. I was wondering about the bird with the stilt in 890 (sorry I don't recognize it). Also does the 4 stilt and tattler picture has both types of curlews in it? (nice other shot with the curlew's tailend view)
I'm trying to keep up a bit with my Asian waders, but not seeing them this spring hasn't helped. I was wondering about the bird with the stilt in 890 (sorry I don't recognize it). Also does the 4 stilt and tattler picture has both types of curlews in it? (nice other shot with the curlew's tailend view)
Little Gull! Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds August 8, 2013
I had about 1 hour today and quickly headed out and found a Little Gull among the many Black-headed and Black-tailed Gulls on the mudflat as the tide receded. This is my second record here in the Dalian area but the first for the pond area. Thanks to Mr. Townshend for on-the-spot ID tips and confirmation on the phone!
Terek Sandpiper - 1
Pacific Golden Plover - 7
Whimbrel - 75
LITTLE GULL - 1
Black-headed Gull - 100
Black-tailed Gull - 100
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 15
Yellow Wagtail - 3 flyovers
Chinese Egret - 8
Great Egret - 5
I had about 1 hour today and quickly headed out and found a Little Gull among the many Black-headed and Black-tailed Gulls on the mudflat as the tide receded. This is my second record here in the Dalian area but the first for the pond area. Thanks to Mr. Townshend for on-the-spot ID tips and confirmation on the phone!
Terek Sandpiper - 1
Pacific Golden Plover - 7
Whimbrel - 75
LITTLE GULL - 1
Black-headed Gull - 100
Black-tailed Gull - 100
Mongolian/Vega Gull - 15
Yellow Wagtail - 3 flyovers
Chinese Egret - 8
Great Egret - 5
Attachments
McMadd
You should see the other bloke...
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Nice one Tom! Lovely pics. I would say it's probably a 3cy bird (2nd summer) judging by the dark on the wing. Great find!
T
T
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
Interesting observation. Most birders would be excited about 8 chinese egrets and less so about the little gull. 
All depends on your frame of reference.
All depends on your frame of reference.
McMadd
You should see the other bloke...
Interesting observation. Most birders would be excited about 8 chinese egrets and less so about the little gull.
All depends on your frame of reference.
Egrets...meh...all white birds whereas gulls...umm...gulls...err...
