Panjin Birding by the Old Fat Man (3 Viewers)

[Gretchen]

Thanks Owen! I thought your on-the-ground observations might be more useful than range maps and ebird records. It does seem to imply that some are either going into less easily observed locations or going south.... I'll try to keep a closer eye out in case now there would be more here.

By the way, that was a very nice pic of the flying one!

 

[Owen Krout]

Off and on rain today has cancelled my plans for an outing, so I finally get around to catching up with the last six weeks of birding in Panjin. First of all some overall impressions:

One the most remarkable things I have observed is that the numbers of birds to be found has rebounded remarkably from the last couple of years of rapid decline. Last year was very discouraging as often I had outings even in the summer where I found no birds at all or at the most a few sparrows and magpie. Since returning to Panjin in October, though still small numbers compared to what I had while in America, both the variety and total numbers observed have taken a sharp jump upwards again. Much of this may be due to the relief in the drought conditions that have held sway for a number of years now. An example being a marshy area very near us which had gone completely dry during the last couple of years but which I have been able to observe the water return and the levels rising week by week. It all gives me some hope for the spring migration being more productive and allowing me to add to my Liaoning list. Currently I am at 210 species for Liaoning, which is actually almost entirely Panjin, which still means I would have to add another 50% to challenge Tom’s record on ebird. Having exhausted all the easy ticks, that is not going to be an easy task!

For out of the ordinary observations, I have managed to find one of the three Red-Billed Blue Magpie that were here in 2018 and possibly a second one. I had hoped that they would have successfully raised a brood over the summer, but apparently not, or at least I haven’t found them yet. Along the line of species the charts don’t show for this area, I also have found numerous Brown-Eared Bulbul this last month. Apparently we are getting more species crossing over from the west side of the Bohai Gulf. An example of having to really work for the ticks now is having spent a good half and hour stalking a small flock of Common Rosefinch to get close enough to definitively ID and get some usable confirmation photos. The little fellows were down in the leaf litter and when not moving about would just disappear into the background. A delightful tick came when I noticed some different looking individuals in a mixed flock of Japanese and Coal Tit just as the light was failing and I was about to give up for the day. Noticeably smaller and with a more rounded looking body and very small bills. Some very adorable little Willow Tit! Unlike their brethren, they seemed to be quite unconcerned about my presence. The main challenge to being sure of the ID was their constant quick movements as they foraged and their ability to suddenly disappear and reappear. Which reminds me that I was delighted to find that one of my favorites, Long-Tailed Tit, have reappeared. They were entirely absent last winter, but are again common this year.

Some notable changes this season has been that Dusky Thrush and Hawfinch were especially abundant this fall migration and even the Naumann’s Thrush were more abundant than in the past. One notable observation is that due to my many visits to the Panjin PSB office during the protracted process of obtaining my extended stay visa stamp, I noticed that a large flock of pure white “doves” i.e. Rock Pigeon have taken up residence in a park across the street from the PSB station. I at first thought from a distance that they were gulls and wondered why they were constantly circling over there but when I got a close up view I figured out they were RP turned loose for weddings.

I have some other interesting birding news from Panjin to share but I first need to let things solidify a bit more before going public. I will say it looks like I will be starting another thread.

 

[MKinHK]

Hi Owen

Very good to hear of birds returning as the drought recedes.

Your Rosefinch looks like a female Pallas's to me!

https://www.hbw.com/ibc/photo/pallass-rosefinch-carpodacus-roseus/female-type

Cheers
Mike

 

[Dong Bei]

Yes, Pallas's Rosefinch. Either female or first winter male?

Great to get the Sib. Weasel out in the open like that!

Keep the reports coming Owen, I love to see what you are seeing.

 

[Owen Krout]

Yes, Pallas's. Thanks for the input Mike and Tom. I made that ID out of Brazil's as for a good week around that time our internet was out. I had forgotten about agonizing over Pallas's and Common at the time and your input prompted me to go back and have another look.

New neighbors have been filling the days with racket of the air chisels and hammering as they finish out the rough concrete box they just purchased and China Unicom screwed something up when they were installing their internet and killed ours. Of course customer service isn't a big thing in China, so it took awhile to get them off the "you are doing something wrong" track and actually fix it.

At any rate, I went back just now and used the ebird photo database to get better real life pics and decided you are correct, Pallas's indeed. Included here are a couple that were trying to hide from me and one of the Common Coot hiding in the reeds along the shoreline.

Also a rather busy local on a Coneflower? in the same area. I also found some interesting new signage along the irrigation canal I frequent. They repaved the brick walkway along one side a year ago and then did a major overhaul on both sides while I was gone this summer and added this sign. I have identified the zero km mark as being Dawa East Lake, the 10km mark is just north of our condo and the 20km mark is at the Panjin Wetlands Park, though not quite where shown on this map and its map shows it in another, also wrong, location. This is more aspirational than actual at this point as the first 20km are mostly in place but I believe the large western portion is yet to have any work done. At the best it is still in disconnected sections. Even the three sections I have located are not continuously linked yet but all three are good locations for enjoying activities in a more natural surrounding including birding.

 

[Owen Krout]

On the Siberian Weasel: They are actually fairly common here and I have found them to be quite bold. A couple of years ago we had one that ranged through our gated community even during daylight hours and we several times saw it passing through our little garden area. It showed no signs of being concerned even when we were observing from quite close through the picture window. A couple of times it even stopped to take a closer look at our little dog. I have seen them moving through a couple of the little pockets of the remanents of the old village in our neighborhood during the daytime. That was the third one I had seen in about a month.

 

[Owen Krout]

NOV-26, 2019 DaLiao River

Yesterday was nice weather for here at this time of year and my wife had left me home alone, so I decided to check out the DaLiao River in the southern end of Panjin's district, right next to Yingkou. I hadn't been there in about a year, so figured it was time to check on it again.

The one species with large numbers was the ever present Black-Headed Gull some which were resting on a mud flat exposed by the falling tide and the rest were busy chasing the fishing boats working their way up river. There were easily 350 individuals on and above the river.

Unlike Mike, there is no danger of my getting a 100 species in one day, especially at this time of the year. However it was a good day to be outside and the area is practically abandoned, leaving me to enjoy myself without the crowds or even the traffic noise. Besides, I get a lot of enjoyment out of managing to track down the odd of more difficult to observe birds.

Falling right into that category were some Vinous-Throated Parrotbill working along the edge of the reed bed. I often can hear the rustling and cracking noises from their bills, but getting an opportunity to get a visual, or even better, to capture a decent picture is a lot more difficult. I had moved up close to the edge of the reed bed hoping to get a shot at some of the inhabitants and was rewarded with a flock of about 20 that didn't seem to care about me standing there.

A quick edit: I did see two more of the Siberian Weasel who popped out the the reeds and moved across the path in front of me to disappear into the reeds again. Both took a moment to stop and give me a good look before they slid into the reeds.


I was then distracted by some Long-Tailed Tit in some nearby small trees and managed to find a couple of Coal Tit mixed in with them. That was in turn interrupted by an Eurasian Kestrel taking a perch to look for prey down in the reeds where the VTPb where. He made an attempt, diving down into the reeds, but after a great deal of thrashing around in the reeds, came up without lunch.

Oriental Magpie are common in the area and moving along I found my first group picking through a recently harvested corn field. Moving across the road to the reeds along the banks of the river I managed to pick out a few Common Reed Bunting in their more drab winter clothes.

I then discovered a recently constructed but never completed little concrete structure with some docks extending out into the river behind it. From the end of the dock I managed to spot a single Grey Heron in the distance along the river bank. While working on a verification long range photo I noticed a distinct V flight, which proved to be some Bean Goose so far off in the distance as to be invisible to the naked eye. Binoculars verified it, but too far to have any idea of which sub-species.

I walked another kilometer or so up the river hoping to find something else of interest, but only managed a fleeting up close look at a few bunting that flew up out of the reeds into a nearby tree and fled again immediately, seemingly surprised by my presence. They were close but I did mange to get the binoculars up and on them and they looked to clearly be Jankowski's Bunting. However, I would like to have an ID photo before claiming that one.

A rather grumpy acting Hoopoe rounded out the day and as the sun was rapidly setting I had to leave for the two kilometer hike out to the bus stop.

 

[Dong Bei]

Hi Owen, a good read again and sounds like a great place to bird.

The bunting you have photographed is a Pallas's Reed Bunting. The upper and lower mandible are different colours and the bill shape is not as robust as a Common Reed as well. Common Reed have more of a big and bulky Purple Finch bill shape if you're familiar with them on this side of the pond? The differences can be tricky. In Dalian, the reed buntings were more than 100:1 Pallas's Reed but I think Common is slightly more common (for lack of a better word) in your direction. I always found some Common overwintering by the Wafangdian crane site which is in your direction.

A Jankowski's Bunting would be a major break through to science and would create major news in Chinese ornithology so please get some photos if you're able to. Not doubting what you saw, just try your best to get some documentation It would be the bird of a life time for Liaoning.

You are blessed to have Sib. Weasel just running around. Amazing! I wish I could come and see them like that.

Tom

 

[Owen Krout]

Good tip to know about looking for the different bill colors! The neck band made me think Chestnut-Eared B. at first glance, but there was obviously too much white on the belly for that and no streaking.

It would be nice to verify any Jankowski's B., but I know they were probably well worn looking Meadow Bunting.

I did forget to add in that while I was moving to get a photo of the Kestrel three Ring-Necked Pheasant flushed from about two meters away. Two female and a male. I've yet to see or hear any quail here, but the R-nP are pretty common.

 

[Owen Krout]

The winter weather and my not wanting to take bus rides loaded with people coughing and hacking has kept me close to home the last couple of weeks. The only thing special seems to be the general increase in the bird population this season.

Both Eurasian Nuthatch and Eurasian Treecreeper have rebounded remarkably from nothing for the last couple of years to fairly commonly seen. Given how difficult either can be to spot, it probably indicates that there are considerable numbers about.

The Brown-Eared Bulbul, which are new here this season, not only continue to be present but seem to be continuing to add to their numbers to where they are more common than the Chinese Bulbul. The two don't seem to actually mix in flocks, but are commonly found in close proximity. I recently found a spot with a small temporary shallow pool of water where they were bathing along with a flock of Eurasian Tree Sparrow. The BEB always look somewhat unkempt, but are especially so when drying out.

The Japanese Tit and Long-Tailed Tit must have had an exceptionally good nesting season as they both are easily found anytime I'm out. More normal smaller numbers of Coal Tit are still about. In fact one particular CT was very curious about what I was doing and as I was getting some good closeup shots it suddenly took off straight towards me, briefly landing on my hat! The JT just a couple of days ago were down in the reeds instead of the trees where they are usually found and looked to be scraping something off the reed stems. Not sure what.

During one walk in the city park just a couple of hundred meters from home I found a large flock of Azure-Winged Magpie noisily circling in one area obviously very agitated. On investigation, expecting to find a hawk, falcon, or owl, I found a flock of 8 Oriental Magpie having a territorial dispute with them. The nest, which was originally belonging to the OM had been taken over by the A-WM this fall and was the center of the dispute. I couldn't tell which side had done the damage, but the nest has now been partially pulled apart. The OM were eventually driven off further down the edge of the little village, but still continued to forage through a harvested corn field while the A-WM yelled insults at them from the copse of trees containing the nest.

Another behavioral note is that for some reason the Great Spotted Woodpecker seem to be especially agitated by the presence of the Brown-Eared Bulbul and will very aggressively chase them off while ignoring the nearby Chinese Bulbul.

 

[MKinHK]

Cracking eyeball to eyeball shot of the Coal Tit Owen, and lovely account of the goings on of your local birding community.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Owen Krout]

Just realized that I left out one tidbit. When I was stopped watching some Brown-Eared Bulbul one day last week I had a E. Nuthatch come up within about half a meter of me. I slowly turned for a photo and the bravery proved to be because someone had left a handful of sunflower seeds in the crotch of a tree right next to the pathway. First time I've seen anything like that in China.

 

[Gretchen]

Lots of fun to read about Owen! I've tried sunflower seeds a few times, but never with persistence to see it pay off - glad you benefited from someone else's attempt. I too loved the picture of the approaching tit (and the other).

Wonder if they would train like Chickadees to eat from the hand. Our brother's neighbor (up in the sparsely populated north) had his local chickadees and nuthatches trained to come for sunflower seeds - a delightful opportunity to be close to birds.

 

[Owen Krout]

Hi Gretchen, Like you, I have tried putting out sunflower seeds a few times, on the flat tops of the columns that are part of the fencing at the edge of our patio, but they generally seem to just sit until the wind blows them away. It is possible that the Azure-Winged Magpie may have taken some when we were not at home, but I've not seen any evidence of that.

The two pictures of the JT were the same bird just a second or so apart. I use the back button focus system and since it was unexpected I didn't have it activated, hence the motion blur, which actually tells the story better anyway. That is the first time I have had any birds here that friendly, though I have had some Tits, Treecreepers, Nuthatch and even Hoopoe that were tolerant of me being nearby. The Azure-Winged Magpie tend to be highly territorial and curious and will often follow me about though they tend to be a nuisance at times as they will sometimes decide it is there job to chase off anything to which I am showing too much attention. When our Russian Toy Terrier used to accompany me there was one particular location where we could count on a Hoopoe which was very interested in her and would come out and play with her.

 

[etudiant]

Just realized that I left out one tidbit. When I was stopped watching some Brown-Eared Bulbul one day last week I had a E. Nuthatch come up within about half a meter of me. I slowly turned for a photo and the bravery proved to be because someone had left a handful of sunflower seeds in the crotch of a tree right next to the pathway. First time I've seen anything like that in China.

Wonderful! Maybe an indication that nature conservation is beginning to be a factor in the Chinese community.

 

[Owen Krout]

Dec-21, 2019

I had a tolerable day which was cold but with no wind, so I decided to try one of the side dirt paths off the main paved "Health Exercise" pathways. I was primarily rewarded with some time alone, something rare in Chinese society. I've mentioned before that we are on the edge of the developed part of Panjin city and I snapped this landscape of the harvested rice fields as I was birding within easy walking distance of our condo.

I did find a few Japanese Tit, who seemed to be unusually agitated, flitting about and constantly making their "Dee-Dee-Dee" call. Scattered about more than usual as they normally stay in larger flocks were about 15 Long-Tailed Tit which were just the opposite, calmly foraging and ignoring me. Several E. Treecreeper also flitted about the tree trunks below the L-T Tit.

Three Great Spotted Woodpecker were engaged in territorial disputes chasing each other about and occasionally calling out to declare "this is my territory!"

A small patch were the native reeds had been allowed to grow wild this year was alive with 200 or more E. Tree Sparrow while overhead in a large tree, that has somehow managed to not be cut down, a large flock of Azure-Winged Magpie were noisily investigating a large Magpie nest. This not being one of my regular areas I am not sure if this was an Oriental Magpie nest or one of their own. They were investigating it from all angles though including one fellow giving the underpinnings a close scrutiny. From what I have observed, it appears that the AWM are very social and it looks like maybe the entire family group guards the nests and protects and feeds the young once they are out of the nest.

Further along on the irrigation canal embankment, as I was trying to get close enough for an especially good photo of some Little Bunting I heard rustling in the leaves down the slope of the bank and found three Hoopoe rummaging through the leaves.

Clouds had appeared and the temperature was starting to drop, so with a final find of a couple of Chinese Bulbul and as a few Brown-Eared Bulbul flew overhead, I called it a day and headed home after an enjoyable couple of hours.

Just as an aside and not having a lot of pictures this time, I thought I would include one of the Christmas tree at our local shopping area. I am not sure if it is supposed to be artistic or if they just decided it was too much bother to mount it upright, but this is the way it has remained, lights and all.

With that, a Merry Christmas to you all!

 

[Dong Bei]

Merry Christmas to you too Owen. Here's to great birds into the new year and upright Christmas trees!

 

[Owen Krout]

March 12, 2020

I got my first outing in six weeks today. A short wander around the neighborhood park for an hour, but at least a chance to out in the open air again.

I did hear our nesting pair of Little Owl for the last few nights and briefly during the day this morning.

In the park, Brown-Eared Bulbul were extremely active. Mating and territorial displays, I assume. Interesting that they are so abundant now since until last fall I hadn't seen any. A couple of Chinese Bulbul were also about, but mostly chased off by the BEB.

The Magpie nest that was so hotly contested and was being disassembled by the Azure-Winged Magpie is now completely gone. The Oriental Magpie that were the original inhabitants have now moved a couple of hundred meters to the west and were visible beginning to work on a new nest.

I could hear some Tits calling, but they remained hidden and in the process of trying to locate them I discovered a few Elegant Bunting, their brightly colored heads seeming at odds with their plain brown bodies. I finally found about 15 Japanese Tit well hidden back in the cover of some pines. A few Long-Tailed Tit also flitted about being much more reclusive than normal. Apparently they were intimidated by all the BEB activity.

The usual Eurasian Tree Sparrow and a single Naumann's Thrush rounded out the outing.

I did note that instead of the "dancing aunties" that previously were to be found in the parks in the evenings, the midday groups are now a younger bunch. I would guess ladies who are out of work at the present while their employers are still shut down or possibly teachers from the kilometer long stretch of schools that are still shut down as the park is in the middle of those.

 

[Dong Bei]

Great to see you back again Owen. I hope this is the beginning of a great spring migration for you. The Bluetail is a sign of things to come.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Good to hear from you Owen. Stay safe.

JH