Birding in Beidaihe, China (1 Viewer)

[dbeek]

Hello bird-watchers,

I am new to this forum, and currently live in Jinshitan, China. I moved to China in September 2008 and have been bird-watching here ever since. So far I have seen just over 200 species locally. I am looking forward to Spring Migration already having seen both Eurasian and Eastern Curlew, Common Redshank, wagtails, Black-faced Bunting, etc..

If you would like to know more about the area around Jinshitan (near Dalian), feel free to email me at dandtbeeke 'at' live.ca
I will have a holiday from April 27 to May 2 and am thinking of going to Beidaihe. Anyone know where I can get detailed information about locations for finding key birds for me: Little Curlew, Crakes, Rails, Bitterns, and more...

I have some knowledge about Happy Island and Beidaihe Coastline from reading all the trip reports, but am looking for key sites on other birds I have not yet seen.

Also, does anyone know of a local contact there than can join me birding in the Beidaihe area? How about a reliable driver that knows the birding areas?

Thanks for any and all advice. Maybe I can return the favour,

Dave Beeke

 

[Perry Smale]

Hi Dave

Try Wildwings website for very good trip reports going back several years which give a good idea of what to look for where.
I visited Beidaihe last May with Wildwings and had a great time. Little Curlew (or Little Whimbrel) was one species we missed. Don't know how you'll fare as you're going a bit earlier. You will probably not see Baillon's Crake as they turn up quite late in May (about 15th onwards), but you may get Ruddy-breasted. The bitterns also arrive fairly late.
You're likely to see some species missed on the Wildwings trips, being a little earlier.
Sorry, I don't think there are birding guides in that area like you would find in Goa or similar places.

Perry

 

[dbeek]

Thanks Perry.

 

[Gretchen]

bump

 

[MKinHK]

Dear Dave

I've often wondered about how good the Dalian peninsula would be but never quite got round to going there.

You would be breaking new ornithological ground by finding good spots to record migration around Dalian - there must be huge opportunities. It would be great to hear more of your birding there, perhaps a Dalian thread in "my local patch".

I haven't been to Beidaihe since 1998, so can't offer much help there I'm afraid.

However have you checked out drmartinwilliams.com. Lots of stuff on Beidaihe.

Might be of interest to you too Gretchen.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Gretchen]

Mike,

Yes, I should have put up the Martin site - it has been quite helpful. I've looked around on the net quite a bit, as it seems Dave may have, but the other site which has given me the most helpful info is http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=718. Nice maps, as well as some details on sites! (though things are constantly changing in China )

Sorry I can't speak to where to see specific birds at all.

I know there is a birders association here, but have not made any connections and don't know if there is much English language help available. (There is a new and mysterious "museum" which doesn't admit people??? Maybe others know about what it is - or I'll have to find both time and huzpah to figure it out eventually.)

Gretchen

 

[dbeek]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the link. All of the birding I have done here has been "pioneer" birding. New birds, new field guide, new camera, new land, you get the idea. I do keep a list which is at 205 species, but bird only casually when time permits on weekends, etc. I am sure there are many more that I am missing. Right now this area is overrun with Curlews (Both Eastern + Eurasian) with some movement of Plovers (Little Ringed, Long-billed, Grey), only one Common Redshank so far, lots of Wagtails, a flock of Chinese Penduline Tits, and Siberian Stonechat.

I am also quite cautious with IDs, so have seen many "unidentified" birds as well. Looking forward to the first real Spring movement, but may be in Beidaihe for an early part of it.

Of interest may be fairly large numbers of Cranes around Wafangdian area (nearby) in December, with 100+ Common Crane and the odd Hooded Crane mixed in. Possible hybrids, I would guess. A dozen or more Oriental Stork, 100+ Ruddy Shelducks, 300+ Common Shelduck, etc.

Chinese Egret seemed to be fairly common here in late summer as well. That may be of interest. So is Chinese Hill Warbler. That is almost guaranteed on any day.

It has been interesting exploring so far. I can't help but wonder what 'good areas' I am missing in the meantime.

Dave

Dear Dave

I've often wondered about how good the Dalian peninsula would be but never quite got round to going there.

You would be breaking new ornithological ground by finding good spots to record migration around Dalian - there must be huge opportunities. It would be great to hear more of your birding there, perhaps a Dalian thread in "my local patch".

I haven't been to Beidaihe since 1998, so can't offer much help there I'm afraid.

However have you checked out drmartinwilliams.com. Lots of stuff on Beidaihe.

Might be of interest to you too Gretchen.

Cheers
Mike

 

[dbeek]

Thanks Gretchen. The most detailed directions I have found anywhere! Thanks for the link,

Dave

Mike,

Yes, I should have put up the Martin site - it has been quite helpful. I've looked around on the net quite a bit, as it seems Dave may have, but the other site which has given me the most helpful info is http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=718. Nice maps, as well as some details on sites! (though things are constantly changing in China )

Sorry I can't speak to where to see specific birds at all.

I know there is a birders association here, but have not made any connections and don't know if there is much English language help available. (There is a new and mysterious "museum" which doesn't admit people??? Maybe others know about what it is - or I'll have to find both time and huzpah to figure it out eventually.)

Gretchen

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Dave

Any pictures of your birds or habitats would be very interesting.

So would any info on arrival dates of migrants - I have a dream of all the BFers on the forum contributing their data so that we see a picture of the pattern of the whole flyway.

You may also be interested in the new satellite study on migrant ducks looking at migration patterns of potential bird flu carriers. One has come pretty close to you.

Do you have any birds on the sea?

Cheers
Mike

 

[dbeek]

The sea is pretty quiet right now aside from Shorebirds, and the water is very shallow near the coast here, so I think that reduces the number of waterfowl. We had a surprise visit of a Long-tailed Duck (photographed) here on March 14 but that was it for unusual birds. Being new here, maybe Long-tailed is more regular but the range maps in Mark Brazil's book does not indicate it here at all. Other ducks...Smew is easy, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Both Shelducks still around (number dwindling, but still had a few Ruddy Shelducks yesterday), Common Mergs, etc, but nothing unusual now. Today some Black-winged Stilts were on the shore with the plovers. A good movement of Hen Harriers as well.

As a side topic, I have purchased the new field guide to this area by Mark Brazil. Some of the range maps for the Dalian/Liaoning Pennisula need adjustment, as Little Owl is regular and not shown, Chinese Bulbul is very common all year (they have wintered just outside my window), Common Crane migration is not represented here, Chinese Egret (Swinhoe's) is also regular, and a few others I can't think of right now. I do have records/list of what was seen each birding outing (maybe 10 a month? average) since last summer if this is of interest.

All for now,

DB - getting ready to visit Beidaihe April 27 to May 1. We will see what is waiting for me there

Hi Dave

Any pictures of your birds or habitats would be very interesting.

So would any info on arrival dates of migrants - I have a dream of all the BFers on the forum contributing their data so that we see a picture of the pattern of the whole flyway.

You may also be interested in the new satellite study on migrant ducks looking at migration patterns of potential bird flu carriers. One has come pretty close to you.

Do you have any birds on the sea?

Cheers
Mike

 

[dbeek]

Today I had someshorebirds moving through the area. One of the Bar-tailed Godwits in bright breeding plumage had a leg band with 'CPL' on it. Is this of interest to any organization? Also 1 Great Knot and 6 Eurasian Oystercatchers today. Still 4 Common Shelducks, 20 Ruddy Shelducks, 50+ Spot-billed Ducks, 8 Common Teal, and some Mallards. For other shorebirds: 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 25 Grey Plovers, 100+ Kentish Plovers, 50+ Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Far Eastern Curlews. 200+ Black-headed Gulls, a few dozen Black-tailed and the odd Vega (or Mongolian? who can tell?).

Dave

P.S. I would attach a thumbnail to click on but can't figure out how to do that.

Maybe this link works?

 

[MKinHK]

Very interesting!

The yellow flag on the upper right leg of your Barwit means the bird has been ringed in Hong Kong. The extra bling is from somewhere else. I will link to the HK Bird Watching Society website to see if anyone knows more

Oystercatcher is pretty rare in Eastern China. Are they a regular bird for you?

Cheers
Mike

 

[dbeek]

Thanks for the info on the leg band. Interesting.

There were 6 Oystercatchers there yesterday, and they are the first I have seen ever (first April I have lived in China as well, keep in mind .

Today, there were similar birds but a Pied Avocet has joined the seashore flock. Another new bird for me. The Great Knot, Godwits, and Plovers were all present still. I took a few quick pictures but then had to move on.

Dave
Jinshitan, China (near Dalian)

Very interesting!

The yellow flag on the upper right leg of your Barwit means the bird has been ringed in Hong Kong. The extra bling is from somewhere else. I will link to the HK Bird Watching Society website to see if anyone knows more

Oystercatcher is pretty rare in Eastern China. Are they a regular bird for you?

Cheers
Mike

 

[MKinHK]

Just found out I made a mistake - your leg-flagged Barwit was trapped in Australia, not Hong Kong.

Great stuff - keep it coming!

Cheers
Mike

 

[dbeek]

I went out to the Jinzhou shoreline briefly again today, but it was incredibly foggy. Several Bar-tailed Godwits were visible through the haze and the Great Knot was still around. Lots of plovers but ID was almost impossible. I did find a new lifebird in the horrible conditions - Pied Avocet!

I found the Australasian Wader Studies site and reported the flagged Bar-tailed to them. Thanks Mike for helping me share the info.

Hopefully this link works again.

Dave Beeke
Jinshitan, China

 

[xiaoming]

Hi Dave,
We will go to Beidaihe 25-26th this month, we just miss eath other.
You can connect Ms Wang for renting cars and booking hotel. Shi is a manager of local travel agency. Her phone:13803355625

Good luck!

Li Ming

 

[dbeek]

Great to hear Li Ming,

2 questions:
How long does it take to drive to the Lao Yo Jin mudflats from Beidaihe?

Do you have an email address for the Jin Shan Hotel?

Thanks
Dave

Hi Dave,
We will go to Beidaihe 25-26th this month, we just miss eath other.
You can connect Ms Wang for renting cars and booking hotel. Shi is a manager of local travel agency. Her phone:13803355625

Good luck!

Li Ming

 

[xiaoming]

Great to hear Li Ming,

2 questions:
How long does it take to drive to the Lao Yo Jin mudflats from Beidaihe?

Do you have an email address for the Jin Shan Hotel?

Thanks
Dave

Hi Dave:
I'm not sure the Chinese Name of Lao Yo Jin mudflats, if you mean the mudflats near Happy island and Magic woods. I think this trip may take you 2hours. However many birdingsites between Magic woods and Beidaihe, so you will spend more time.

Sorry, I don't have an email for Jinshan Hotel. You can call Ms Wang for booking Jin Shan Hotel. She is an English speaking bird-guide(Not for ID birds, but take you to right place at right time).

Cheers,
Li Ming

 

[Gretchen]

Hi Dave,

Just wandered across this, not sure how I missed it earlier, but though 4 years old, it is still pretty useful to me to picture some of the places described... http://www.drmartinwilliams.com/beidaihe-birding/conservation-plan.html

Gretchen

 

[rockfowl]

Hi Dave,

As Li Ming states, the best way to sort everything out for the Jinshan is through Jean. She actually has quite an interest in birds now and has a respectable ability for a relative newcomer to bird id, She found a Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher last year!

There is a fast highway route to Happy Island and as Li Ming states, around a couple of hours though this will avoid all the good birding areas in between such as Da Pu He, Henge He etc though they're easy enough to do direct from Beidiahe. Bear in mind the mudflats here can be incredibly difficult to work and the tidal system quite unique!

Gretchen's Martin William's link is pretty good but doesn't include the more recently discovered hotspots such as the Friendship which has a good spread of mature trees and is a superb holding area particularly for thrushes and warblers, flycatchers as migration progresses. It lies roughly around the top of the funnel that was once Legation Gulley (still is but now private). Lotus Hills seaward side watchpoint, the old rocks will be good in any wind from the north for raptors, needletails etc and the woods and watercourse below excellent for passerines in the right conditions.
Lighthouse is still very good despite the reduction in workable area due to restrictions and most birds will filter up through the Jinshan Hotel and Fields.

Any other advice, drop me a PM

Mark