thrush
Craig Brelsford (大山雀)
Congratulations on your big trip!
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China observations (17 Viewers)
- Thread starter Gretchen
- Start date
Congratulations on your big trip!
Thanks for the map coordinates - wow you were way out there. We visited grasslands around Hailar in pre-birding days, but that was summer. It must have been an interesting adventure - don't know the timing in relation to the "big snow" (?) in Heilongjiang. Very very impressed with how many birds, and especially owls you saw!
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
OOC, Jocko, how does one get to someplace that remote?
Return flights from Shanghai direct to Hailar and then a few hours drive by 4x4 car - 3 of us are going there early Feb. (Dev, Kai & moi) after being briefed by Jocko !
Triple thermal undies, 1.2kg Thinsulate boots and Arctic weather gear all purchased :eek!:
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
Sounds like what I needed for St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, last year. The advantage of Mongolia will be that it will be dry (at least compared to an island in the Bering Strait).
Stay warm and find some good birds!
JH
Gulls on Bund
Good numbers of gulls on the Bund today. Probably some 300+.
At least 2 1st winter Slaty-backed Gulls. Probably also a 2nd winter individual.
1 1st winter Common Gull (heinei I think).
4 Black-headed Gulls.
Good numbers of mongolicus, vegae and heuglini/taimyrensis in various plumages (and different leg colours). Not easy, had to leave quite a few not assigned to species level.
With more active coverage, I believe there is more to discover.
Cheers
jocko
Good numbers of gulls on the Bund today. Probably some 300+.
At least 2 1st winter Slaty-backed Gulls. Probably also a 2nd winter individual.
1 1st winter Common Gull (heinei I think).
4 Black-headed Gulls.
Good numbers of mongolicus, vegae and heuglini/taimyrensis in various plumages (and different leg colours). Not easy, had to leave quite a few not assigned to species level.
With more active coverage, I believe there is more to discover.
Cheers
jocko
thrush
Craig Brelsford (大山雀)
Congratulations on Slaty-backed Gull! The Bund is indeed a good place to study gulls, and you've inspired me to do more work there.
Did you scope your gulls or use binoculars?
Owen Krout
Well-known member
Owen Krout
Well-known member
From Panjin 2015-MAR-10
A rather typical afternoon for here. Grabbed my camera and I spent about an hour and a half and estimate I walked about 2 km. About 500 meters is all I have to walk to be at the edge of the developed area and at a city park bordered by what remains of an old village -single story flat roof concrete the locals refer to as Beijing roof houses, greenhouses, farmland and wetland (reed marsh primarily). The type of area that in the USA I would expect to be teeming with wildlife and birds in particular. Mostly though it is devoid of any trace of wildlife, only a few dogs, chickens and a few birds.
Be that as it may, here is the results of my 1.5 hours and 2 km (I personally list the scientific name first as it is more determinate than common names which may vary from region to region)
(1) Upupa epops (Hoopoe) New to me within the last month and still fascinating.
(10) Emberiza pusilla (Little Bunting)
(20) Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow)
A rather typical afternoon for here. Grabbed my camera and I spent about an hour and a half and estimate I walked about 2 km. About 500 meters is all I have to walk to be at the edge of the developed area and at a city park bordered by what remains of an old village -single story flat roof concrete the locals refer to as Beijing roof houses, greenhouses, farmland and wetland (reed marsh primarily). The type of area that in the USA I would expect to be teeming with wildlife and birds in particular. Mostly though it is devoid of any trace of wildlife, only a few dogs, chickens and a few birds.
Be that as it may, here is the results of my 1.5 hours and 2 km (I personally list the scientific name first as it is more determinate than common names which may vary from region to region)
(1) Upupa epops (Hoopoe) New to me within the last month and still fascinating.
(10) Emberiza pusilla (Little Bunting)
(20) Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow)
Owen Krout
Well-known member
Panjin, Liaoning 2015-MAR-13
A more productive day. Visited the same area as I did on the 10th and spent about 2 hours. Weather was warmer and clear skies.
(2) Certhia familiarus (Common Treecreeper) - tough one to spot - camouflaged very well -see photo
(20) Parus minor (Japanese Tit) - New to me so I did an internet search "Japanese tit image" to verify. Now that did not yield what I expected!
(10) Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow)
(18) Cyanopica cyana (Azure-winged Magpie) Locals are convinced that "Only Panjin has these"
Also attached is a photo of the closest wetlands to me. First day I have seen open water. Still strikes me that this area shows no sign of any wildlife.
A more productive day. Visited the same area as I did on the 10th and spent about 2 hours. Weather was warmer and clear skies.
(2) Certhia familiarus (Common Treecreeper) - tough one to spot - camouflaged very well -see photo
(20) Parus minor (Japanese Tit) - New to me so I did an internet search "Japanese tit image" to verify. Now that did not yield what I expected!
(10) Passer montanus (Eurasian Tree Sparrow)
(18) Cyanopica cyana (Azure-winged Magpie) Locals are convinced that "Only Panjin has these"
Also attached is a photo of the closest wetlands to me. First day I have seen open water. Still strikes me that this area shows no sign of any wildlife.
Attachments
Owen Krout
Well-known member
Panjin ID help
Panjin
Had a very good day yesterday compared to efforts to this point. I have a new one to me that I would like to have id verified on as it is not listed as native to here but the maps would indicate that it would be likely to migrate through here. See attached photo - I would id as Emberiza chrysophrys (Yellow-browed Bunting) - what do those of you more familiar with Chinese species think?
Thanks,
Owen
Panjin
Had a very good day yesterday compared to efforts to this point. I have a new one to me that I would like to have id verified on as it is not listed as native to here but the maps would indicate that it would be likely to migrate through here. See attached photo - I would id as Emberiza chrysophrys (Yellow-browed Bunting) - what do those of you more familiar with Chinese species think?
Thanks,
Owen
Attachments
Terry Townshend
Regular vagrant
Hi Owen,
That is a nice photo of a Yellow-throated (or Elegant) Bunting Emberiza elegans. It's primarily a winter visitor to Beijing, although I have seen it once in June. I suspect it may breed in Liaoning (Tom will know!). Definitely one of the best-looking buntings...
Nice Treecreeper, too... that's rare in Beijing!
Good luck with the new hobby.
Terry
That is a nice photo of a Yellow-throated (or Elegant) Bunting Emberiza elegans. It's primarily a winter visitor to Beijing, although I have seen it once in June. I suspect it may breed in Liaoning (Tom will know!). Definitely one of the best-looking buntings...
Nice Treecreeper, too... that's rare in Beijing!
Good luck with the new hobby.
Terry
Owen Krout
Well-known member
Where is that field guide I ordered?
Ah, yes, I see now. I just checked images on the Oriental Bird Club site:
Yellow-throated bunting E. elegans
Yellow-breasted bunting E. aureola
Yellow-browed bunting E. chrysophrys
Can't tell the players without a score card! There were two males that I was within 2 meters. They were busy scolding my Russian Toy Terrier or I would probably have missed them. Actually, that is how I got the treecreeper too. A group of Japanese Tits scolding her attracted me and only then did I notice the treecreeper. I had thought of posting a where's Waldo as in the original unprocessed image the treecreeper blends in perfectly with the tree trunk.
Ah, yes, I see now. I just checked images on the Oriental Bird Club site:
Yellow-throated bunting E. elegans
Yellow-breasted bunting E. aureola
Yellow-browed bunting E. chrysophrys
Can't tell the players without a score card! There were two males that I was within 2 meters. They were busy scolding my Russian Toy Terrier or I would probably have missed them. Actually, that is how I got the treecreeper too. A group of Japanese Tits scolding her attracted me and only then did I notice the treecreeper. I had thought of posting a where's Waldo as in the original unprocessed image the treecreeper blends in perfectly with the tree trunk.
Attachments
Owen, some nice sightings! I would be very happy for a hoopoe - though of course it would have to enjoy walking on snow :-O Good work seeing the tree creeper as well. Elegant bunting is one of my favorites - so nice you got a great view and picture.
In terms of the azure winged magpies being a local specialty, well that is pretty funny. The gang that frequents my garden (in Changchun) might argue.
P.S. Sounds like your dog does a good job attracting birds!
In terms of the azure winged magpies being a local specialty, well that is pretty funny. The gang that frequents my garden (in Changchun) might argue.
P.S. Sounds like your dog does a good job attracting birds!
Last edited:
Owen Krout
Well-known member
The migration has begun!
Good morning! Second try as the internet dropped out in the middle of the first.
This morning, as I was grumpily getting the stiff joints moving and getting dressed to take the dog on her morning walk, I was slow to respond to my wife's excited, "Eah mia! Lai, lai! Owen, kuai, kuai! When I finally shuffled into the room she was practically leaning out the open window with, "See, see, many, many DaYan (geese)!
Sure enough, I got a quick look at two large flocks of large, gull-winged birds coming in and out of the morning fog, lazily heading due north. By the time I grabbed the binoculars and got back there were only a few stragglers at a kilometer or more. The wife estimated that she saw 100 or more.
Judging by the reports from Dong Bei down in Dahlian I would guess at Larus argentatus - Herring gulls, but I didn't get a good enough look to be sure. Guess I'll be making an observation trip today!
Good morning! Second try as the internet dropped out in the middle of the first.
This morning, as I was grumpily getting the stiff joints moving and getting dressed to take the dog on her morning walk, I was slow to respond to my wife's excited, "Eah mia! Lai, lai! Owen, kuai, kuai! When I finally shuffled into the room she was practically leaning out the open window with, "See, see, many, many DaYan (geese)!
Sure enough, I got a quick look at two large flocks of large, gull-winged birds coming in and out of the morning fog, lazily heading due north. By the time I grabbed the binoculars and got back there were only a few stragglers at a kilometer or more. The wife estimated that she saw 100 or more.
Judging by the reports from Dong Bei down in Dahlian I would guess at Larus argentatus - Herring gulls, but I didn't get a good enough look to be sure. Guess I'll be making an observation trip today!
Owen Krout
Well-known member
Morning, Gretchen
The first Hoopoe I saw here was in February and the ground was mostly snow covered. All the resources I checked indicated they were not in this area during the winter, but there it was. I even got a good photo for the record.
LuLu does sometimes prove to be a help. Birds will often become so focused on scolding her that I am able to slowly get closer for a better look. I've seen the magpies playing teasing her, landing on the ground close by and calling until she rushes them and they will just lazily jump/flap straight up 3-4 meters and come down behind her to start teasing her again. Reminds me of the crows I grew up with that were smart enough to play and have a sense of humor. She is a whole 1.75 kilograms so they are not really scared of her. She can be irritating though as she sometimes likes to scatter a flock of little birds who are ground feeding. Usually after I have spent 15 minutes being as still as possible to draw them in closer. She will dash through the middle of the flock and then stop and watch them fly. Doesn't appear to really be trying to catch them, just fascinated by them flying.
