Dalian (Jinshitan) Birding Reports (13 Viewers)

[Owen Krout]

Regarding the possible sighting of Lesser Canada Goose; It would be difficult to positively identify in flight unless good bins or a photo could definitively could show the neck ring, but it would be an exceptional rare bird tick.

I couldn't remember where I had recently read it until I ran across it again today, but the Summer 2015 issue of Living Bird from Cornell Lab of Ornithology has the following by Guy Baldassarre (John Hopkins University Press) on page 45: "...the Siberian population of Lesser Snow Goose, which researchers thought had dropped from several hundred thousand to extinction, has a relic population of about 100."

He may have seen a goodly proportion of the entire population migrating out of Siberia!

 

[Dong Bei]

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds Sept. 7, 2015

Owen, I think the chances of the geese being Brent are much higher than Cackling or Snow Geese. I've been putting in some time trying to find them if they are still in the area but so far have come up empty.

Mike, my one record of Brent Goose comes from May 11, 2014 when there were four in Jinshitan Bay here.

Yesterday I took a short ride down to the local bay scanning the area. No Geese, but did see the following:

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds, Liaoning, CN
07-Sep-2015 15:50 - 16:30
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
22 species

Great Egret (Ardea alba) 10
Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) 2
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) 15
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 10
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 3
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 10
Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) 2
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 40
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) 20
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 4
Little Owl (Athene noctua) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 10
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 25
Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata) 1
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa latirostris) 1
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) 5
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus) 8
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis) 7
White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 1
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) 35
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 10

 

[Owen Krout]

Love the way that owls can appear so totally unaffected by the objections of others such as the Magpie in your photo.

 

[MKinHK]

Many thanks Tom - Do you recall if it was (N American) Black Brant or (European) Brent Goose.

Cheers
Mike

PS good to see you indoctrinating another class!

 

[Dong Bei]

Black Brant

Mike, North American Black Brant. Pictures below.

 

[MKinHK]

Ooof! Gripped all over again! A great find indeed.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Dong Bei]

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds Sept. 9, 2015

Had some early morning time there yesterday. The Pallas's Reed Bunting looks a little beat up or diseased..... Three Japanese Sparrowhawks above the ridge means its time to get back up there

Woke up this morning to the sounds of Ashy Minivets cruising over my house. Also heard Red-throated Pipit overhead on the way to my garage this morning.

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds, Liaoning, CN
09-Sep-2015 05:30 - 08:30
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 kilometer(s)
42 species

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 15
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis) 1
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 10
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 20
Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) 10
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) 5
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 20
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 3
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 10
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 1
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 1
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 1
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 5
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 1
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris) 2
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) 6
Swinhoe's Snipe (Gallinago megala) 1
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 450
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) 100
Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris) 5
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) 1
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) 2
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 1
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 2
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) 1
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis) 10
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 10
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 20
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 10
Japanese Tit (Parus minor) 2
Chinese Penduline-Tit (Remiz consobrinus) 3
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) 1
Oriental Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) 8
Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora webbiana) 15
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa latirostris) 6
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) 10
White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 7
Pallas's Reed Bunting (Emberiza pallasi) 1
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 10

 

[MKinHK]

Woke up this morning to the sounds of Ashy Minivets cruising over my house.

Great line!

 

[Dong Bei]

Jinshitan Ridge Sept. 10, 2015

After seeing some Japanese Sparrowhawks around the ridge yesterday, I decided it was time to head up and have a look. Late afternoon is not the prime time for raptor migration but I ended up seeing something of a pre-roost movement and sadly had to leave just as it was getting started. I had to tear myself away at 4:30 just as it was picking up. I do realize that I am always complaining about lack of time in the majority of my posts but the thought of what actually passes without anyone seeing has a tendency to drive me crazy...

Of note:
-a Mongolian Gull cruised past at mountain top elevation today
-a group of Chinese Sparrowhawk past around 4:15 at an incredible height. I find that they often are the highest birds while migration watching from the ridge in Jinshitan and also at Laotieshan. I often find them in groups very high up while following another bird lower down in my binoculars.
-a Eurasian Sparrowhawk had it in for a Kestrel late in the day and persistently pestered it for 15 minutes, only stopping once to chase a pigeon.
-a group of Black-crowned Night Heron are passing over my house now as I type this at 9:50 pm. Night sounds are so loud here that I don't even have to be on my deck to hear them -- very cool place to live during migration. Little Owl call every night just out my window.
-on the "view from the top" photo below, most of the sea-farming ponds can be seen just to the right of the nearest peak.

Jinshitan Ridge Migration Viewpoint, Liaoning, CN
10-Sep-2015 15:00 - 16:30
Protocol: Stationary
18 species

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) 1
Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) 5
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 3
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 2
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 1
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 3
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) 1
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 6
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) 8
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 2
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus) 2
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) 1
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 10
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 30
Beijing Babbler (Rhopophilus pekinensis) 2
Chestnut-flanked White-eye (Zosterops erythropleurus) 1
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 10

 

[Dong Bei]

Eurasian Kestrel and Eurasian Sparrowhawk duel for position along the ridge

Made for quite a show!

 

[Owen Krout]

Quite the show and some really good pics to share!

 

[dbeeke]

What an awesome picture of an Amur Falcon! Great angle!

 

[MKinHK]

Couldn't agree more - eyeball to eyeball!

Cheers
Mike

 

[Dong Bei]

Jinshitan Ridge Sept. 11-13

I've been up there three times in the last three days. Friday afternoon by myself for a short time, Saturday morning with Tadao Shimba who was in Dalian for a day, and this afternoon with my parents and kids. Drool cups ready!

Jinshitan Ridge Migration Viewpoint, Liaoning, CN
11-Sep-2015 16:00 - 18:00
Protocol: Stationary
7 species

Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 1
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) 2
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 4
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) 2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 10
Chestnut-flanked White-eye (Zosterops erythropleurus) 1

Jinshitan Ridge Migration Viewpoint, Liaoning, CN
12-Sep-2015 09:00 - 11:15
Protocol: Stationary
21 species

Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) 3
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 5
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 1
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) 2
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) 1
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) 8
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 4
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 50
Japanese Tit (Parus minor) 6
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) 1
Beijing Babbler (Rhopophilus pekinensis) 2
Chestnut-flanked White-eye (Zosterops erythropleurus) 3
White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 1
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) 2
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) 3
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) 1
Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 4
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) 3

Jinshitan Ridge Migration Viewpoint, Liaoning, CN
13-Sep-2015 15:00 - 17:00
Protocol: Stationary
15 species

Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) 30
Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos) 2 1 adult, 1 juv.
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 3
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) 2
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 4
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) 15
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) 10
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 10
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) 1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 35
Japanese Tit (Parus minor) 3
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) 1
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) 1
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) 1

 

[Dong Bei]

Oriental Honey Buzzards

all from today

 

[Dong Bei]

other pictures

from the last few days

 

[Dong Bei]

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds Sept. 14, 2015

In just over an hour after work today.

Jinshitan Sea-farming Ponds, Liaoning, CN
14-Sep-2015
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
43 species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 30
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha) 3
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) 2
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) 5
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 20
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 15
Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) 1
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) 5
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 25
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) 1
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 10
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) 1
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) 1
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 1
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 10
Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) 2
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 150
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) 300
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 20
Feral Pigeon (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 20
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) 1
Little Owl (Athene noctua) 1
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) 2
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 2
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) 1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1
Common Magpie (Pica pica) 10
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 80
Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 4
Japanese Tit (Parus minor) 2
Chinese Penduline-Tit (Remiz consobrinus) 8
Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus) 1
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus) 1
Black-browed Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) 1
Oriental Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) 4
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) 12
White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 10
Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi) 30
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) 5
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) 1
Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 10

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Tom

Droolorama! love that set of OHB shots.

Just wondering if the first pic in post 1416 isn't a juvenile Hobby?

Cheers
Mike

 

[Dong Bei]

Mike,

I believe you are right and I struggled with it as well. The streaking does look like Hobby but I got caught up on the black trailing edge on the underwing once the photo was on my computer.

Tom

 

[thirudevaram]

"Falco" time at Jinshitan although my favourite is the Black-browed Reed Warbler.