China observations (3 Viewers)

[Owen Krout]

Thanks for the feedback. Your saying about what I figured. Just thought I would check out others experience.

Your using about what I have in mind, Tom. I was in university for the first time in the late '60's, so yea, I've also had a lot more issues with the police in the US than I have had in China. I generally tell people in the US that the government here interferes less with your daily life than they do in the US.

 

[Terry Townshend]

I have just published an article about the awesome spectacle of 10,000 RELICT GULLS near Tianjin and why a world record count of more than 10,000 at a single site is not good news. See http://birdingbeijing.com/2015/03/28/10000-relict-gulls/
Cheers, Terry

 

[Owen Krout]

Very interesting article, Terry. I was holding off on a report from the 27th as I was struggling for an identification thinking, no - that is not likely. What do you and other members think, these look like Relict Gulls to me. The white eye spot is one good identifier. Bill is actually yellow although a little hard to see on these.

 

[Terry Townshend]

Hi Owen. Your photos are of Black-headed Gulls. Note the white leading edge contrasting with the rest of the wing and also the lack of white 'mirrors' on solid black wingtips. Relict Gull, although superficially similar, has a different wing pattern - see the photos accompanying the article. I know that flocks of Relict Gulls have been seen in Liaoning in winter, so it is certainly possible that you could find Relict Gull, most likely between October and April, but Black-headed will probably be the most common gull in your area. Becoming familiar with Black-headed will help you to spot something different should it occur.
Best wishes, Terry

 

[Owen Krout]

Thanks for the tip, Terry. I never even saw the ocean until I came to China, so except for the gulls commonly seen on the great plains that I was told were Mormon Gulls which apparently from what I now know were probably Herring Gulls. In fact, water birds in general are all new to me.

So far the Herring Gulls have been the most abundant by far, but the ice is just clearing now.

 

[Owen Krout]

Started my new thread for birding the the Panjin area today as "Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man" http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=301937

Hope to see you there!

 

[thirudevaram]

Day of the "Grassbirds"

Last Tuesday, i went to Hengsha with Mike Catsis from London. From early November, the old security guards posted at the Sea wall road have been replaced by Soldiers and its been difficult to get in. However, i was able to sneak in this time. (Does that qualify to be deported?)
First sign of Shorebirds for this spring are 10 "Far-eastern Curlews". Then started the endless count of "Buff-bellied Pipits", "White Wagtail(ssp.lugens)". This winter had been good for "Water Pipits" in Shanghai and we were able to connect with them again. The "Marsh Grassbirds" were highly vocale but did not see them shooting out of the reeds.
Further down at the endless sea wall running southeast, there were more shorebirds, especially a stunning "Pacific Golder Plover" showing off its shiny golden back. There was also a lonely Grey Plover and a Great Knot. Around 11.30, the temperature hit 27C and we saw the Marsh Grassbirds bursting their arses out of the reeds. The display was quite a sight, they just shoot over the reeds, then descend down like a paratrooper and doing the curvy flight before settling in the reeds again.
In late February, there were 300+ Falcated Ducks in Hengsha and they are still here.

Water Pipit pic is from December.

Species List :

Gadwall
Falcated Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Green-winged Teal
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Gray Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Black-faced Spoonbill
Common Buzzard
Eurasian Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Lesser Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Far Eastern Curlew
Black-tailed Godwit
Great Knot
Dunlin
Common Snipe
Herring Gull
Caspian Gull
Spotted Dove
Common Kingfisher
Long-tailed Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Large-billed Crow
Oriental Skylark
Barn Swallow
Chinese Penduline-Tit
Light-vented Bulbul
Manchurian Bush-Warbler
Marsh Grassbird
Zitting Cisticola
Plain Prinia
Reed Parrotbill
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Red-flanked Bluetail
Daurian Redstart
Pale Thrush
Crested Myna
Gray Wagtail
White Wagtail
Water Pipit
American Pipit
Little Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Pallas's Bunting
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Total : 65 species

 

[MKinHK]

Sounds like a quality day, especially when Black-faced Spoonbill and Red Parrotbill don't get mention in the text!

Actually the one I'm most gripped by is the Water Pipit - just a single record in Hong Kong - so its good to see a photo!

Cheers
Mike

 

[Dong Bei]

Nice Pipit shot Dev!

 

[Owen Krout]

Great day out, Dev! I have made several tries along the edges of some marsh grassland and although I can hear a lot of calling, nothing has shown above the grass so far. A lot cooler here though and windy so they are probably just staying under cover. The Kestrel that regularly works the area contributes too.

 

[McMadd]

Wot list you using devster? Some rubbish eBird thing? :t: B

Trust you 'n' scouseboy Kev are well?

cheers
McM

Species List :

Gadwall
Falcated Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Garganey
Green-winged Teal Common/Eurasian Teal
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Gray Heron Grey Heron
Great Egret
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Black-faced Spoonbill
Common Buzzard Japanese Buzzard
Eurasian Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Black-bellied Plover Grey Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
Lesser Sand-Plover
Greater Sand-Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Far Eastern Curlew
Black-tailed Godwit
Great Knot
Dunlin
Common Snipe
Herring Gull some crappy Vega/Mongolian thing?
Caspian Gull some crappy Vega/Mongolian thing?
Spotted Dove
Common Kingfisher
Long-tailed Shrike
Eurasian Magpie
Large-billed Crow
Oriental Skylark
Barn Swallow
Chinese Penduline-Tit
Light-vented Bulbul
Manchurian Bush-Warbler
Marsh Grassbird
Zitting Cisticola
Plain Prinia
Reed Parrotbill
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Red-flanked Bluetail
Daurian Redstart
Pale Thrush
Crested Myna
Gray Wagtail Grey Wagtail
White Wagtail
Water Pipit
American Pipit Buff-bellied Pipit
Little Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting don't they want to make us call this Elegant Bunting now?
Black-faced Bunting
Pallas's Bunting
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Total : 65 species

 

[thirudevaram]

Sounds like a quality day, especially when Black-faced Spoonbill and Red Parrotbill don't get mention in the text!

Actually the one I'm most gripped by is the Water Pipit - just a single record in Hong Kong - so its good to see a photo!

Cheers
Mike

No offence Mike!:king:
Hengsha is one place where one can see more Black-faced Spoonbills than the Eurasian. Same goes with the Reed Parrotbill, apart from the recent disturbances in Nanhui, you won't go back home without seeing them.

 

[thirudevaram]

Wot list you using devster? Some rubbish eBird thing? :t: B

Trust you 'n' scouseboy Kev are well?

cheers
McM

You got me. Will stick to my old listing software which is much more easier.

 

[mcaribou]

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

The 1-win Glaucous-winged Gull stayed till early Mar as I remember.

On 8 Apr I saw the first Greater Short-toed Lark for my Rudong list.
On 9 I saw a Greater Sand Plover banded(engraved AC) in Darwin last Sep which I joined in after attending the Australasian Shorebird Conference.By checking our banding note we found that it was banded by the leader of that team who is doing study on shorebird in Darwin University.
Hope to see one banded by me coming back to Rudong someday.

 

[mcaribou]

Japanese Yellow Bunting is singing now at Yangshan Islands.

 

[Dong Bei]

Good stuff MC!
Dev, switch your ebird to European names and the Americanization of ebird will stop

 

[McMadd]

Good stuff MC!
Dev, switch your ebird to European names and the Americanization of ebird will stop

I could live with that...have at it Dev...after you've been for the Jap Buntings!

 

[Gretchen]

Shrike id

Saw the first Brown Shrike of the year! Finally. I've gotten out so little, partly because its hard to figure out where to go. Anyway, not only had a nice time watching this guy, but also got some pictures (I admit, through our dirty windows ).

Does this look like the cristatus or as Tom saw recently the lucionensis? I guess this one here does not have enough gray in cap. However, I was struck by how much white it had above the beak. I'm not really sure what the confusus looks like (not pictured in Brazil).

(Pics are the same bird, just different lighting.)

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[MKinHK]

Nice shots Gretchen! (but clean the windows!)

Looks like lucionensis to me.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Gretchen]

Thanks Mike. (I have plans for the windows... this was with the insides done - have to attack the outsides!) I saw another shrike today on campus, which looked much the same. Perhaps it is a common type up here.

I also saw a strange sight at Nanhu (South Lake), about 9 in the morning. There were a group of birds that I was watching almost looking into the sun, and at first I could not figure out what they were. They looked like Black-crowned Night Herons, but the behavior was so weird I thought it must be some other bird. I could not figure out what new bird it could be. When I got around on their other side, they were indeed night herons!

There was a group of about 12 that were just flying circles over the lake (my first thought was they were crows or ravens with such leisurely gliding). They just seemed to fly circles, with no apparent aim. Then some dropped into the water and floated for a while. An individual flew out of sight over some trees, and there was only one I saw land on the ground (none in trees). Mostly they were floating a distance from me, but I didn't see them actually doing anything.... I didn't see any on the edges of the lake.

So, there was no sign of feeding behavior (that I could see) or anything related to breeding activities. Are these a bunch of one year olds just hanging out and having fun or what? (They seemed to have adult markings, and I did see a few white head plumes.) Or is this typical night heron behavior which I haven't seen before: active in day, gliding in circles, and floating in water, (often in small groups)?