Yesterday Dev & I were back out in Shanghai on the trail of migrants. We also met up with Anders and I had the pleasure of meeting Jonathan Martinez for the first time too. More eyes more birds (though we were in 2 cars and so could be in different places, meeting up as we went along).
it turned into a really fine day (birding-wise). Saturday had been very wet and windy and today (Sunday) there was still an 18kph Easterly and a bit if drizzle from time to time. However that didn't stop us spotting 82 Species between us with the added bonus of 5 raptors and Lifers for both Dev and I !
Also I'm happy to report no nets on the XYS Rubbish Tip site, in fact no sign of the old couple at all.
We started off on XYS and it seemed very quiet as birds rested up after long migration flights just to get here. Occasionally a family would walk through on the way to the large temple on the far side of the tunnel linking the two sides of the mountain ... sending birds either away from the path or down to our location (it seems) this resulted in the occasional 'bird wave' !
The Temple site was much better though, being mostly screened from the strong Easterlies, and we spent hours there winkling out most of the treasures it was holding. It was great having someone like Jonathan (and Anders) there who could ID our warblers, from the camera screens, immediately, and giving some great tips for future IDs.
Over the 32km long bridge and through Nan Hui to the Magic Carpark and reed beds screened by the seawalls we were able to pick up decent sized flocks of waders and a spectacular male White-throated Rock Thrush in the Magic CP.
The highlights were the Tiger Shrike, Cinnamon Bittern, Amur Falcon, Hobby, the Paradise Flycatchers, Greater Sand Plover (another Lifer) and most especially the male White-throated Rock Thrush. Pity Dev & I missed out on the Needletail !
Bittern, Cinnamon (XYS)
Bittern, Yellow (XYS x2)
Blackbird, Chinese (SHA)
Bulbul, Light-vented (XYS, NH, SHA)
Bunting, Chestnut (M&F)(XYS)
Bunting, (sp)(XYS x2)
Cisticola, Zitting (XYS)(NH)
Coot (NH)
Cuckoo, Eurasian (XYS) (numerous times but probably same pair)(NH x1)
Cuckoo Shrike, Black-winged (XYS x1)
Dove, Feral (SHA)
Dove, Spotted (XYS)(NH)
Drongo, Black (XYS x3)
Drongo, Spangled (XYS x2)(NH x1)
Egret, Great (XYS x2)
Egret, Swinhoe's (NH) (A&JM)
Egret, Little (XYS x2) (NH x numerous)
Falcon, Amur (XYS x1)
Flycatcher, Asian Brown (XYS & NH)
Flycatcher, Asian Paradise (F) (M also seen by other parties)(NH)
Flycatcher, Japanese Paradise (M&F)(XYS)
Flycatcher, Dark-sided (XYS)
Flycatcher, Grey-streaked (XYS & NH)
Flycatcher, Mugimaki (F) (XYS)
Grebe, Little (NH)
Greenshank, Common (NH)
Gull, (sp. small x1) (XYS)
Gull, (sp. large x3) (XYS
Heron, Black-crowned Night (XYS x1) (NH x2)
Heron, Chinese Pond (XYS - 6 or 7)
Heron, Grey (XYS x1)
Hobby, Eurasian (XYS x1)
Jacana, Pheasant-tailed (XYS x1)
Kestrel, Common (XYS x1)
Martin, Pale (NH x2)
Moorhen (NH)
Myna, Crested (SHA)
Needletail, White-throated (NH) (A&JM)
Oriole, Black-naped (M&F)(XYS)
Osprey (XYS x1)
Parrotbill, Reed (NH)
Parrotbill, Vinous-throated (NH & SHA)
Pheasant, Ring-necked (NH x1, others heard)
Plover, Greater Sand (NH x1)
Plover, Kentish (NH)
Plover, Little-ringed (NH)
Prinia, Plain (XYS)(NH)
Robin, Swinhoe’s (XYS)
Sandpiper, Common (NH)
Sandpiper, Curlew (NH x1)
Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed (NH)
Sandpiper, Terek (NH x2)
Shrike, Brown (lucionensis)(XYS)(NH)
Shrike, Brown (superciliorus) (XYS)(A&JM)
Shrike, Long-tailed (XYS)(NH)
Shrike, Tiger (XYS)
Sparrow, Tree (XYS & NH)
Sparrowhawk, Japanese (XYS x1)
Spoonbill, Black-faced (NH x3)(A&JM)
Starling, White-cheeked (XYS)
Stint, Long-toed (NH)
Stint, Red-necked (NH)
Stubtail, Asian (XYS)
Swallow, Barn (XYS)(NH)
Tern, White-winged (NH x3 breeding plumage)
Thrush, Blue Rock (M&F) (XYS)
Thrush, Eyebrowed (10+ XYS)(NHx1)
Thrush, Siberian (NH)(A&JM)
Thrush, White-throated (M) (NH)
Tit, Japanese (Great)(XYS)(NH)
Wagtail, White (Adults & Juve XYS)(adults NH)
Warbler, Arctic (XYS)
Warbler, Claudia (probable from alternate wing-flicking)(XYS)
Warbler, Dusky (XYS)
Warbler, Eastern Crowned (XYS)
Warbler, Greenish (A&JM)(XYS)
Warbler, Japanese Bush (NH)(A&JM)
Warbler, Manchurian Bush (XYS)(NH)
Warbler, Oriental Reed (NH)
Warbler, Pale-legged/Sakhalin (XYS) (A&JM)
Warbler, Black-browed Reed (XYS)(NH)(A&JM)
Warbler, Thick-billed (XYS)