Dalian (Jinshitan) Birding Reports (7 Viewers)

Dong Bei · Oct 29, 2011

Sea-farming Ponds Oct. 29, 2011

Went out with my wife and two kids for a ride in the country this morning. I had some influence as to what roads we took! Next thing you know, we were riding through the sea-farming ponds and happened to stop so the kids could play. Turns out daddy played a bit as well picking up a life bird - Bluethroat. This was one that I should have seen a long time ago but that's how it goes sometimes. Also enjoyed good looks at several Japanese Reed Buntings and a Greater Scaup which was only the second one I've recorded in this area. I love family rides in the country.

As far as the discussion about Northern Lapwing is concerned, they are relatively uncommon here with all records in March and October. I'm usually not in the right place for them as well. I'm sure there are other places in this area where they are more regular.

List from just over an hour:

Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Mandarin Duck -- one female. a little late?
Falcated Duck -- on female
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Eurasian Teal
Tufted Duck -- 5
Greater Scaup -- 1 female
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Common Coot -- 19
Oriental Turtle Dove
Great Tit
Dusky Warbler
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Bluethroat
Red-flanked Bluetail
Daurian Redstart
Siberian Stonechat
Meadow Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Pallas's Reed Bunting
Ochre-rumped Bunting

Firethroat · Oct 29, 2011

Upland Buzzard image is a Greater Spotted Eagle

Hi Dong Bei,

Another cracking post! Your image of a putative Upland Buzzard is actually a Greater Spotted Eagle. Good birding!

Dong Bei · Oct 31, 2011

Sea-farming Ponds Oct. 30, 2011

A 2 hour visit today with Leighton, a Beijing birder who is working in Dalian now. The weather was far from ideal and the whole place seemed rather quiet. We did see some goodies however in Greater Scaup, Japanese Reed Bunting, and 4 of some kind of Swan. The Swans flew directly over our heads in poor light making it difficult to see what exactly they were. Most likely they were Whooper but comments are welcome if someone can see anything from the horrible under side photo below let me know.

Common Pheasant
Swan sp.
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Eurasian Teal
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Little Grebe
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Buzzard
Common Coot
Common Snipe -- 7
Green Sandpiper
Oriental Turtle Dove
Chinese Grey Shrike
Eurasian Skylark
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Stonechat
Olive-backed Pipit
Little Bunting
Pallas's Reed Bunting
Common Reed Bunting
Japanese Reed Bunting

MKinHK · Oct 31, 2011

No idea which species, but it I'm a bit blown away by the concept of migrating swans flying overhead!

I like the beard on the second Japanese Reed Bunting pic.

Cheers
Mike

BIJ · Nov 1, 2011

Greater Spotted Eagle

I agree.

Firethroat said:
Hi Dong Bei,

Another cracking post! Your image of a putative Upland Buzzard is actually a Greater Spotted Eagle. Good birding!

BIJ · Nov 1, 2011

Ochre-rumped Reed Buntings

Great to see you have good numbers showing again Tom.
see

Dong Bei said:
A 2 hour visit today with Leighton, a Beijing birder who is working in Dalian now. The weather was far from ideal and the whole place seemed rather quiet. We did see some goodies however in Greater Scaup, Japanese Reed Bunting, and 4 of some kind of Swan. The Swans flew directly over our heads in poor light making it difficult to see what exactly they were. Most likely they were Whooper but comments are welcome if someone can see anything from the horrible under side photo below let me know.

Common Pheasant
Swan sp.
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Eurasian Teal
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Little Grebe
Eurasian Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Eastern Buzzard
Common Coot
Common Snipe -- 7
Green Sandpiper
Oriental Turtle Dove
Chinese Grey Shrike
Eurasian Skylark
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Siberian Stonechat
Olive-backed Pipit
Little Bunting
Pallas's Reed Bunting
Common Reed Bunting
Japanese Reed Bunting

BIJ · Nov 1, 2011

Little Curlew

Great photo of this iconic bird Tom

Dong Bei said:
more pics

rockfowl · Nov 1, 2011

Firethroat said:
Hi Dong Bei,

Another cracking post! Your image of a putative Upland Buzzard is actually a Greater Spotted Eagle. Good birding!

Yep, missed that one

Dong Bei · Nov 3, 2011

Sea-farming ponds Nov. 3, 2011

Early morning (2 hours). Covered a different section than normal for most of the time there. Had to look elswhere due to heavy machinery right in my normal place:C

Common Pheasant - 20
Japanese Quail - 2
Ruddy Shelduck - 6
Mallard - abundant
Spot-billed Duck - abundant
Northern Shoveler - 2
Eurasian Teal - 50
Ferruginous Duck - 1 (another life bird that should have been a while ago)
Tufted Duck - 5
Greater Scaup - 1
Common Pochard - 1
Little Grebe - 50
Grey Heron - 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk - 2
Peregrine Falcon - 1
Common Coot - 20
Green Sandpiper - 4
Hill Pigeon
Rock Pigeon (might as well include those two today on the list!)
Oriental Turtle Dove - 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Great Tit - 10
Chinese Penduline Tit - 15
Eurasian Skylark - 25 or so
Dusky Warbler - 1 (probably my first November record but it is still very warm)
Vinous-throated Parrotbill - 30
Thrush sp. - 7
Daurian Redstart - 3
Olive-backed Pipit - 1
Oriental Greenfinch - 4
Meadow Bunting - 6
Little Bunting - over 75
Rustic Bunting - 50
Yellow-throated Bunting - 50
Black-faced Bunting - 2
Pallas's Reed Bunting - 50
Japanese Reed Bunting - 10

Dong Bei · Nov 3, 2011

Buntings Nov. 3, 2011

from today

Firethroat · Nov 3, 2011

Whoops - my error Dong Bei's 'Greater Spotted Eagle' was a buzzard just as he'd said

Whoops - I should have been more careful!

Terry Townshend emailed me a while ago and pointed out, in his typically polite manner, my error and suggested I take another look at the image I suggested to Dong Bei was a Greater Spotted Eagle. I did just that - thanks Terry and clearly I was waaaay off.

Lord only know what I was thinking (clearly not very much) as Dong Bei was right on the money. The bird is clearly a buzzard and bears no resemblance to an eagle let alone a Great Spot! Can't tell you how embarrased I feel yet at the same time I'm glad that Terry picked me up on my error!

Dong Bei's photo was a decent one and, among other things, the bird in question clearly only has five emarginated primaries (aquila eagles have six) [Dong Bei spelt this out in his text - so why on earth I didn't count them for myself I'll just never know], its tail's clearly quite a bit paler than its body and wings and and there's even a hint of a pale primary panel! Plonker!

Can't apologise enough Dong Bei - I really can't imagine what I was thinking!

rockfowl · Nov 3, 2011

I did wonder where the missing primary was and if it hadn't had that gap in the fingers on the right wing I'd have argued with you! Actually, there are some similarities that overlap - http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=gr...biw=1851&bih=1072&sei= 1ueyTrDsFcun8gPH5d3_BA though the secondaries hardly bulge on Toms bird and yes, when enlarged, is clearly a buzzard.

Dong Bei · Nov 4, 2011

Firethroat, no worries at all and I mean that with everything in me. I very much value your opinion on this site.

While we're on the topic of correcting IDs, I've been having this nagging feeling that the duck in post #368 of this thread isn't Baer's Pochard at all but rather a female Tufted. Any opinions?

Dong Bei · Nov 8, 2011

Lesser Scaup? Sea-farming Ponds Nov. 8, 2011

Interested to see what others think of the photos below. High wind and it was difficult to hold the camera steady. These pictures are zoomed way out as well. Winter has arrived! Had full winter gear on today for the 45 minutes I was there before dark.

Check out the pics titled Scaup 1 and Scaup 2.

Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Northern Shoveler
Eurasian Teal
Common Pochard
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Smew
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Peregrine Falcon -- almost took my head off
Northern Goshawk
Eastern Buzzard
Common Coot
Green Sandpiper
Chinese Grey Shrike
Carrion Crow - 4 heading south
Vinous-throated Parrotbills
Dusky x Naumann's Thrush
Meadow Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Pallas's Reed Bunting

dbeeke · Nov 11, 2011

Looks good for Lesser Scaup. Head shape is not Greater Scaup at all. Nice comparison with the other ducks! The other option is female Tufted Duck but would not expect so much white at base of bill on female Tufted.

I think it is a Lesser Scaup
Dave

Dong Bei · Nov 12, 2011

Nov. 12, 2011 Sea-farming Ponds and Reservoir

Common Pheasant
Ruddy Shelduck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
Mallard
Spot-billed Duck
Northern Shoveler
Eurasian Teal
Common Pochard
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Smew
Little Grebe
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Peregrine Falcon
Eurasian Kestrel
Common Coot
Northern Lapwing
Common Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Vega Gull
Oriental Turtle Dove
Common Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Eurasian Skylark
Black-browed Reed Warbler - must be the latest record for me.
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Crested Myna - local poulation of around 20
Dusky Thrush
Daurian Redstart
Siberian Accentor
Brambling
Oriental Greenfinch
Meadow Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Pallas's Reed Bunting
Japanese Reed Bunting

Dong Bei · Nov 14, 2011

Laotieshan trip report

Put together by Paul Holt and Terry Townshend. Enjoy!

Gretchen · Nov 14, 2011

Tom,

Thanks for all your info, and for taking time to put up the photos! As always, I love the ones with two species like the magpie and buzzard. I am still waiting to see an accentor - such nice looking birds! I haven't yet seen any Bramblings this year -but I don't usually spot them until the dead of winter... I guess I need to get out in the trees more.

Cheers!

rockfowl · Nov 14, 2011

Many thanks Tom for posting this, congratulations to the team and especially to Paul Holt, an immense effort in producing this report.
I'll look forward to settling down with a printed version to fully absorb!
:t:

Gretchen said:
I am still waiting to see an accentor - such nice looking birds!

Cheers!

You need to learn the call Gretchen.

Good places to look near you are the coastal scrubby areas. We always found them around the Pigeons Nest Park area, The reservoir rougher edges. Once you learn the call you should hear them passing over but on the ground, they can be very shy. Now is a good time, beautiful birds.

FXM · Nov 18, 2011

Great stuff. Many thanks for putting the report together and posting it so promptly. Just had a quick look through and it makes very interesting reading. I've already been able to make several species/numbers comparisons with my autumn visits to Happy Island.Will have a good read later.

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