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China observations (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Gretchen
- Start date
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Ha ha... not sure I am up to writing a book...
I have recently looked through your book on Dalian's birds in some detail and it's a fantastic effort. I am sure it will make a huge difference to local people, particularly the young, in helping them to appreciate their diverse birdlife. As you say in the book, it is only when people appreciate their wildlife that they will want to protect it.
Great effort..:t:
By the way, two Red-billed Leiothrix in Ritan Park today (with at least 30 bird photographers!).
I have recently looked through your book on Dalian's birds in some detail and it's a fantastic effort. I am sure it will make a huge difference to local people, particularly the young, in helping them to appreciate their diverse birdlife. As you say in the book, it is only when people appreciate their wildlife that they will want to protect it.
Great effort..:t:
By the way, two Red-billed Leiothrix in Ritan Park today (with at least 30 bird photographers!).
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
A little report of my visit to Wild Duck Lake yesterday with Spike Millington. A fantastic day with two new birds for me - Mongolian Lark and White-naped Crane. The Lesser White-front (see below) will remain a 'probable' as views were relatively brief and I am always ultra-cautious about claiming rare birds. The sighting was in good light through my telescope and my notes from the time are replicated below. I expect that the bird is likely to hang around with the Bean Geese so, if anyone is heading out that way sometime soon, look out for it! Will try to get out there again on Friday or Saturday.
A short video of some of the Bean Geese in flight will be on my blog soon...
Best wishes, Terry
===
Arrived Ma Chang 0645, sunny, 20 per cent cloud cover, below freezing (maybe -3 to -4), no wind. Much open water on the reservoir but Yeyahu lake still mostly frozen. Walked from Ma Chang to Yeyahu. Temp rose to around +8 by midday/early afternoon, light wind from the south/south-east later and cloud cover gradually increased to 100 per cent by 1500.
Big numbers of wildfowl (noticeably many more birds than the week before) with huge numbers of Bean Geese (difficult to assess accurately given that not all are on view at one time) and also many more Larks (mostly Eurasian Skylarks). First Grey-headed Lapwing, Common Snipe and Kentish Plovers added to the spring-like feel.
Species List
Daurian Partridge (2) - flushed from the scrubby shore of the reservoir
Japanese Quail (5)
Common Pheasant (6)
Swan Goose (c500)
Bean Goose (c3,000) - mostly serrirostris but including a handful of middendorffii (I saw around 6 without really trying, so prob a lot more).
Probable Lesser White-fronted Goose (1). A White-tailed Eagle spooked the Bean Geese and I began to check the flying flocks for other geese using the telescope. In the third flock I checked I saw a significantly smaller white-fronted goose in a small flock of serrirostris Bean Geese. I watched it for about 10 seconds in flight before the flock landed on the ice. In flight I could see the relatively small size (at the time, I estimated it was 20 per cent smaller than the serrirostris Bean Geese), dark belly markings, the white base to the bill and I could just make out an eye-ring. After a scan of the flock on the ground I picked it up again at about 200-300m distance, and was again struck by the noticeably smaller size, relatively small head and very peaked forehead. Unfortunately many other serrirostris Bean Geese landed in the same area and several birds walked in front of the putative Lesser White-fronted Goose and it was lost to view. After several minutes of waiting to see if it would reveal itself, we decided to walk to another vantage point to try to view the flock from a different angle. This proved fruitless when the flock flew up to join another flock of Bean Geese heading west and was lost to view. NB I have seen LWFG in Copenhagen in Spring 2010 (a flock of 50+) and I am confident that the bird was that species, although I would have liked to have studied it for longer to rule out hybrids, taken more notes and, ideally, photographed it.
Whooper Swan (c100)
Tundra Swan (c180) - noticeably more Tundra/Bewick's this week compared with last
Ruddy Shelduck (c300)
Gadwall (c100)
Falcated Duck (c150)
Wigeon (c10)
Mallard (c300)
Chinese Spotbill (30)
Shoveler (c10)
Pintail (c150)
Baikal Teal (2) - probably a lot more in the flocks too distant to identify
Common Teal (200)
Red-crested Pochard (2 - a pair)
Common Pochard (c200)
Ferruginous Duck (8)
Tufted Duck (c50)
Goldeneye (c100)
Smew (c400)
Goosander (c50)
Great Crested Grebe (c70)
Kestrel (2)
White-tailed Eagle (1)
Hen Harrier (2 ringtails)
Sparrowhawk (1 soaring with a Kestrel)
Upland Buzzard (2) - one prob adult and one 2k bird
Common Coot (c30)
White-naped Crane (2)
Common Crane (c200)
Hooded Crane (2)
Grey-headed Lapwing (1)
Lapwing (30-40)
Kentish Plover (9)
Common Snipe (1)
Mongolian Gull (21) - 2 on the reservoir and the remainder in two flocks migrating west/north-west
Black-headed Gull (10) - one with full black hood on the reservoir and 9 immature birds flew through east
Chinese Grey Shrike (4)
Carrion Crow (5)
Great Tit (4)
Marsh Tit (2)
Mongolian Lark (1) - seen for around 60 seconds on the ground feeding with a flock of Eurasian Skylarks at the shore of the reservoir at Ma Chang, before flying on its own (a very distinctive 'floppy' flight) to the more shrubby area to the east.
Skylark - c1,000
Asian Short-toed Lark - c75
Vinous-throated Parrotbill (c50)
White-cheeked Starling (3 migrating west)
Sibe Accentor (2)
White Wag ssp leucopsis (3)
Meadow Bunting (3)
Little Bunting (2)
Pallas's Bunting (c600)
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
A short video of some of the Bean Geese in flight will be on my blog soon...
Best wishes, Terry
===
Arrived Ma Chang 0645, sunny, 20 per cent cloud cover, below freezing (maybe -3 to -4), no wind. Much open water on the reservoir but Yeyahu lake still mostly frozen. Walked from Ma Chang to Yeyahu. Temp rose to around +8 by midday/early afternoon, light wind from the south/south-east later and cloud cover gradually increased to 100 per cent by 1500.
Big numbers of wildfowl (noticeably many more birds than the week before) with huge numbers of Bean Geese (difficult to assess accurately given that not all are on view at one time) and also many more Larks (mostly Eurasian Skylarks). First Grey-headed Lapwing, Common Snipe and Kentish Plovers added to the spring-like feel.
Species List
Daurian Partridge (2) - flushed from the scrubby shore of the reservoir
Japanese Quail (5)
Common Pheasant (6)
Swan Goose (c500)
Bean Goose (c3,000) - mostly serrirostris but including a handful of middendorffii (I saw around 6 without really trying, so prob a lot more).
Probable Lesser White-fronted Goose (1). A White-tailed Eagle spooked the Bean Geese and I began to check the flying flocks for other geese using the telescope. In the third flock I checked I saw a significantly smaller white-fronted goose in a small flock of serrirostris Bean Geese. I watched it for about 10 seconds in flight before the flock landed on the ice. In flight I could see the relatively small size (at the time, I estimated it was 20 per cent smaller than the serrirostris Bean Geese), dark belly markings, the white base to the bill and I could just make out an eye-ring. After a scan of the flock on the ground I picked it up again at about 200-300m distance, and was again struck by the noticeably smaller size, relatively small head and very peaked forehead. Unfortunately many other serrirostris Bean Geese landed in the same area and several birds walked in front of the putative Lesser White-fronted Goose and it was lost to view. After several minutes of waiting to see if it would reveal itself, we decided to walk to another vantage point to try to view the flock from a different angle. This proved fruitless when the flock flew up to join another flock of Bean Geese heading west and was lost to view. NB I have seen LWFG in Copenhagen in Spring 2010 (a flock of 50+) and I am confident that the bird was that species, although I would have liked to have studied it for longer to rule out hybrids, taken more notes and, ideally, photographed it.
Whooper Swan (c100)
Tundra Swan (c180) - noticeably more Tundra/Bewick's this week compared with last
Ruddy Shelduck (c300)
Gadwall (c100)
Falcated Duck (c150)
Wigeon (c10)
Mallard (c300)
Chinese Spotbill (30)
Shoveler (c10)
Pintail (c150)
Baikal Teal (2) - probably a lot more in the flocks too distant to identify
Common Teal (200)
Red-crested Pochard (2 - a pair)
Common Pochard (c200)
Ferruginous Duck (8)
Tufted Duck (c50)
Goldeneye (c100)
Smew (c400)
Goosander (c50)
Great Crested Grebe (c70)
Kestrel (2)
White-tailed Eagle (1)
Hen Harrier (2 ringtails)
Sparrowhawk (1 soaring with a Kestrel)
Upland Buzzard (2) - one prob adult and one 2k bird
Common Coot (c30)
White-naped Crane (2)
Common Crane (c200)
Hooded Crane (2)
Grey-headed Lapwing (1)
Lapwing (30-40)
Kentish Plover (9)
Common Snipe (1)
Mongolian Gull (21) - 2 on the reservoir and the remainder in two flocks migrating west/north-west
Black-headed Gull (10) - one with full black hood on the reservoir and 9 immature birds flew through east
Chinese Grey Shrike (4)
Carrion Crow (5)
Great Tit (4)
Marsh Tit (2)
Mongolian Lark (1) - seen for around 60 seconds on the ground feeding with a flock of Eurasian Skylarks at the shore of the reservoir at Ma Chang, before flying on its own (a very distinctive 'floppy' flight) to the more shrubby area to the east.
Skylark - c1,000
Asian Short-toed Lark - c75
Vinous-throated Parrotbill (c50)
White-cheeked Starling (3 migrating west)
Sibe Accentor (2)
White Wag ssp leucopsis (3)
Meadow Bunting (3)
Little Bunting (2)
Pallas's Bunting (c600)
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
Lots of good sightings recorded here.
I have a question. Saw a lone grosbeak on campus as I rushed to class. Just got a minute to look and assumed it was one of the Chinese Grosbeak flock here earlier. But I couldn't see any others, and I noticed it had a very melodious and elaborate song. As I recalled what I'd seen, I wondered about the black hood, if it was pretty limited. So I listened to the song of Chinese GB on Xeno-Canto. No Japanese GB there, so I found some here - and some seemed more elaborate. I wonder if others think the songs of the two species are very different?
I'll try to refind the bird this weekend and take a better look, but am wondering if it might be a lone Japanese GB...
I have a question. Saw a lone grosbeak on campus as I rushed to class. Just got a minute to look and assumed it was one of the Chinese Grosbeak flock here earlier. But I couldn't see any others, and I noticed it had a very melodious and elaborate song. As I recalled what I'd seen, I wondered about the black hood, if it was pretty limited. So I listened to the song of Chinese GB on Xeno-Canto. No Japanese GB there, so I found some here - and some seemed more elaborate. I wonder if others think the songs of the two species are very different?
I'll try to refind the bird this weekend and take a better look, but am wondering if it might be a lone Japanese GB...
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Hi Gretchen,
I have no experience of Japanese GB so can't really help you. From the literature, a good indicator will be the wing-tips (white on Chinese, black on Japanese) and of course the bill is all yellow on the Japanese (some black markings on Chinese). Good luck with finding it again!
Spike Millington and I visited Wild Duck Lake again on Friday. The wind was pretty strong so viewing wildfowl was very difficult but later, when the wind dropped, we saw an immature Eastern Imperial Eagle - a life bird for me.
Best wishes, Terry
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
Hi Gretchen,
I have no experience of Japanese GB so can't really help you. From the literature, a good indicator will be the wing-tips (white on Chinese, black on Japanese) and of course the bill is all yellow on the Japanese (some black markings on Chinese). Good luck with finding it again!
Spike Millington and I visited Wild Duck Lake again on Friday. The wind was pretty strong so viewing wildfowl was very difficult but later, when the wind dropped, we saw an immature Eastern Imperial Eagle - a life bird for me.
Best wishes, Terry
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
Attachments
blancheliu
Active member
Terry, the Eastern Imperial Eagle would be a great record for beijing. I saw your record yesterday at the record centre. And had forwarded the photos to some friends who's good at identifying the raptors.
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Hi Blancheliu,
Thanks. I am very interested in the opinions of others, particularly on the age of the bird. My view is that it is probably a third plumage bird (4th calendar year) but I may be wrong.
Shorebirds! (mostly)
Today's sighting of yellow-bellied tits on campus reminds me it's time to write up last Sunday's sightings and questions. The yellow-bellied tits were fun to see, and I'll have to count up the whole campus list, which bit by bit is growing more sizable than I expected.
Last weekend I finally got abroad, though I didn't time my visit to the sandflats with any consultation with the tide table, and didn't find much. However, most of the waders I saw there (and at the Yang He) seemed pretty identifiable. However, if anything sounds unlikely or suspicious, please tell me!
Also had two interesting but rather uncertain sightings:
Reed buntings, nicely silhouetted, so I didn't see much and still can't tell Pallas' and Common apart very well. I don't know if the recording below has their calls? (I have played with the sound features in the clip a little - the last part is natural.)
Also up in a tree just overhead was a rather small songbird with a very high pitched call (not recorded, and memory slightly faded :-C ), I remember being quite surprised at it's face - not like the phyllos I thought it might be -but a lot lighter and a longish beak for its size. I was really puzzled, but later wondered if it could be a goldcrest, though I certainly didn't get the crest, and didn't see too much except the light underside and the face a bit. Are there any other good candidates that come to mind?
Thanks for any ideas...
Today's sighting of yellow-bellied tits on campus reminds me it's time to write up last Sunday's sightings and questions. The yellow-bellied tits were fun to see, and I'll have to count up the whole campus list, which bit by bit is growing more sizable than I expected.
Last weekend I finally got abroad, though I didn't time my visit to the sandflats with any consultation with the tide table, and didn't find much. However, most of the waders I saw there (and at the Yang He) seemed pretty identifiable. However, if anything sounds unlikely or suspicious, please tell me!
- two Redshanks in a small pool; they looked small and I didn't see them too well, but the "red" legs makes it sure I think
- one Dunlin at Yang He - looked quite lonely! I didn't identify until I found this is the only bird with longish black bill and black-spotted belly
- two Lttle Ringed Plovers; unsure initially of whether common or little, because they didn't seem long legged, but white fringe above the black forehead clinches it I think
- saw White Wagtails both places - afraid they were first of season for me too!
- possible small flock of Kentish plovers (impression of reddish), but too far to really i.d.
- a few Little Egrets at both places, but surprised how few in the reservoir area
Also had two interesting but rather uncertain sightings:
Reed buntings, nicely silhouetted, so I didn't see much and still can't tell Pallas' and Common apart very well. I don't know if the recording below has their calls? (I have played with the sound features in the clip a little - the last part is natural.)
Also up in a tree just overhead was a rather small songbird with a very high pitched call (not recorded, and memory slightly faded :-C ), I remember being quite surprised at it's face - not like the phyllos I thought it might be -but a lot lighter and a longish beak for its size. I was really puzzled, but later wondered if it could be a goldcrest, though I certainly didn't get the crest, and didn't see too much except the light underside and the face a bit. Are there any other good candidates that come to mind?
Thanks for any ideas...
Terry, have you gotten any other feedback elsewhere?
blancheliu
Active member
a Lesser Frigatebird was recorded last Friday at Beijing. It would be the second record in Beijing since 2007.
It's really amazing!!!!
The following link is about the 2007 record http://www.guanniao.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardid=6&replyid=46579&id=7453&skin=0&page=1&star=1
It's really amazing!!!!
The following link is about the 2007 record http://www.guanniao.com/bbs/dispbbs.asp?boardid=6&replyid=46579&id=7453&skin=0&page=1&star=1
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Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Hi Gretchen,
Yes. I have received positive confirmation of the id as Imperial Eagle from very respected birders. Age is probably 4cy but could be 3cy. Very pleased with the record!
Blancheliu - that Lesser Frigatebird in Beijing is an astonishing record! Are there any details about last week's sighting? Where in Beijing?? Not the Summer Palace lake, I assume...?
Finally, I am attaching a couple of images from a trip to see Brown Eared Pheasants in Shanxi. Saw one pair extremely well and heard probably two others. More (including video) will be on my blog later today.
Good birding! Terry
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
Attachments
Interesting sightings above! Great to hear what's being seen.
I've gotten another look at newly arrived warblers. As China Guy says, the season for headaches (and ... he mentioned something else which escapes my mind ) has arrived.
Today I had a fortunate view from above of a small warbler. This is what I saw:
Perhaps Hume's or Yellow Brow? Other key features to look for? (Little by little I'm seeing more on these fast moving guys.) Not sure which ones should be here yet....
Thanks for any ideas.
P.S. Am adding a sound file from a bird on Monday, which seemed similar (especially flight pattern) but looked yellower - not sure if that was bird or yellow willow flowers it was in. Repeated this song pattern quite a bit.
(If you're interested in the sound file in wav or another format instead, let me know...)
I've gotten another look at newly arrived warblers. As China Guy says, the season for headaches (and ... he mentioned something else which escapes my mind
) has arrived.Today I had a fortunate view from above of a small warbler. This is what I saw:
- very erratic flight, changing directions quickly, not quite hovering, but almost
- one full and one small wingbar
- very light, white? (not yellow?) rump visible in flight
- little or no coronal stripe
Perhaps Hume's or Yellow Brow? Other key features to look for? (Little by little I'm seeing more on these fast moving guys.) Not sure which ones should be here yet....
Thanks for any ideas.
P.S. Am adding a sound file from a bird on Monday, which seemed similar (especially flight pattern) but looked yellower - not sure if that was bird or yellow willow flowers it was in. Repeated this song pattern quite a bit.
(If you're interested in the sound file in wav or another format instead, let me know...)
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blancheliu
Active member
Hi Gretchen,
Blancheliu - that Lesser Frigatebird in Beijing is an astonishing record! Are there any details about last week's sighting? Where in Beijing?? Not the Summer Palace lake, I assume...?
www.birdingbeijing.wordpress.com
Hi, Terry,
The Lesser Frigatebird was spotted at Ming Tombs Reservoir, or known as Shisanling Reservoir last Friday.
The orginal message had been deleted by the photographer.
Please see the attached photo, taken by him, I only saved this one.
Attachments
Terry: Apparently a female bird. Quite extraordinary record. It would be highly unusual for a Frigate bird to stray this far in land even after a typhoon in the Beijing area but this isn't the typhoon season.I have seen Greater Frigate birds at Choshi outside Tokyo after a typhoon has gone through but this record is truly remarkable.
