Overview:
An independent 3 person group trip to Beidaihe and Happy Island, Heibei Province, China. The trip was organised by Craig Thomas with logistic support from Clare Clarkson. All arrangements in China were arranged by Jean Wong, Managing Director, Beidaihe Jinshan International Travel Service, No. 4, Jinshanzui Rd, Beidaihe, Hebei, 066100, China. tel. 0086-335-5922679 4041748.
Visas and currency
A visa is required for entry to China. We obtained our’s courtesy of Prince Visa Services (www.princevisa.com) at a total cost £115.20 each (£66 for visa, £35 handling charge and £6 p&p, VAT £8.20) – not cheap but very efficient and gave peace of mind. To obtain a Chinese visa you will need to supply an invitation letter from your contact in China which provides their contact details and explains the purpose of your visit, where you will be staying, your full name, date of birth, passport number and nationality.
At the time of our visit 10 Yuan = £1 sterling. US dollars are more widely used than Sterling and take crisp, clean notes – some of our dollars were refused because they were old and badly creased!
Getting there and getting around:
We booked our flights through Netflights.com (www.netflights.com) – very competitive prices, cheap deals and good back-up service. We could check progress of any changes to flights using www.viewtrip.com.
We travelled by Swiss Air from Manchester airport to Beijing via Zurich. Check-in and issuing of boarding passes was done electronically prior to our departure. Departing from Manchester at 0840h on 4th May we arrived at Zurich at 1140h where the transfer was smooth departing to Beijing at 1310h. We arrived at Beijing airport at 0500h, local time. Frustratingly, the first Shuttle bus from the Airport to Qinhuangdao didn’t depart until 0930h. The cost of the four hour shuttle bus journey is very reasonable at 130 Yuan (£13) per person. At Qinhuangdao we were met by our interpretor Jeannie, and the driver and minibus to take us to Jinshan Hotel, the transfer cost of 150 Yuan (£15) per person. The bus station in Qinhuangdao is one of the remnants of the old town and would have been an interesting challenge had we not had an interpretor.
Once we arrived at out hotel internal travel was arranged through Jean. Local Taxis were used to travel to the nearby Reservoir and Sandflats at a cost of 11 Yuan (11p). The cost of a minibus, interpretor and driver to Happy Island, including a stop off at Magic Wood, was $160 (£100) each. The boat trip and electric car cost $39 (£24) per person.
The cost of the minibus and interpretor for our first trip to the Great Wall and Stone River was included in the trip cost. However, Jean was able to arrange access for us to go birding but we did have to be accompanied by one of Jean’s guides/translators and use a hired mini-bus at a cost of $29 (£18) per person.
Our return flight departed from Beijing at 0645h arriving at Zurich at 1115h with a 55 minute turnaround departing at 1210h arriving Manchester at 1305h on 21st May. Problematic trying to do electronic check-in as we struggled to get access to website in Beijing. The cost of flights including taxes and fees was £495 per person.
Our baggage was left in Zurich due to full flight having too much luggage but it was delivered to our home addresses two days later by Global Baggage Solutions who co-ordinate lost luggage retrieval at the baggage pick-up point in the airport terminal – so no worries.
Accommodation and budget:
Beidaihe: We stayed at the Jinshan Hotel www.jinshanhotel.net , 0335-42606666. B&B = $55 per room per day (£34). The accommodation was 3*** with en-suite rooms, hot showers and air conditioning and a cheap and efficient laundry service which meant we could have left half our clothes back home. Evening meals were great value at £6 (60 Yuan) per person including two bottles of Snow beer and accommodated vegetarian needs. The food is good quality Chinese but geared up to western tastes. The extensive hotel grounds were a migrant magnet in their own right and an essential part of any days birding on the headland.
Happy Island: it is now possible to stay on Happy Island, which provides some of the best birding in Heibei. Accommodation was arranged through our agent Jean Wang. We stayed in the extravagant and recently built villas at a cost of $54 (£34) per person, full board. Our bedrooms were cavernous and en suite and came with their own office! Each villa had a balcony overlooking the island, conference hall, lounge, kitchen and Jacuzzi and drinking water was available in each room. The down-side was that at best the food was average- limited if you are a vegetarian and virtually impossible if you have a gluten allergy. We were also without electricity and water for two days! Meals were at fixed times: breakfast at 0900h, lunch at 1300h and dinner at 1930h. It would have better to have taken a supply of snacks and forego one or more of the meals to maximise birding opportunities. There are currently no shops on Happy Island but the causeway road link to the mainland is almost complete and the rate of development on the island is extraordinary. A golf course is being created on the site of what used to be the prawn ponds and more new developments will doubtless spring up in the next few months.
Guides and access
There was no need to hire birding guides as Jean would point us towards the key birding sites. Jean arranged our permits, at a cost $20 per person (£12), on arrival so that we could access the Reservoir area one of the best birding areas at Beidaihe. She also wrote down the names of our destinations and our hotel in mandarin so that we could show this taxi drivers and operate independently. The main tourist areas of countryside e.g. the Great Wall and Lotus Hills were closed due to fire risk. However, Jean was able to arrange access for us to go birding but we did have to be accompanied by one of Jean’s guides/translators and use a hired mini-bus at a cost of $29 per person.
Communication:
Mobile phone coverage was available but roaming networks were expensive. We often couldn’t make calls due to connecting with the operator who only spoke in Chinese/ We should have purchased a China mobile sim card at the airport. Internet was available at the hotel but we had trouble accessing UK websites.
Security:
We were amazed at the low key and relaxed attitude of security guards, army personnel and police. The Chinese people were very friendly and helpful, if curious, about our optical gear. We experienced no threats to our persons or our belongings although when John left his camera bag on a bench at Happy island it had disappeared a few minutes later. Although this could have happened anywhere.
Health:
This part of China seemed very friendly from a health point of view. We did not need to take any specific vaccinations priori to our visit and malaria was not considered a risk. There were virtually no mosquitoes at this time of year. However, we did ensure our travel insurance was complete.
Trip Summary
5th May 2012
We arrived at Beijing Airport at 0530h and made our way to the airport shuttle bus terminal to find that the first bus to Qinhuangdao (‘Chin-wan-dow’) wasn’t until 0930h – so the airport bus terminus was to be our introduction to birding in China. The next four hours, with crystal clear blue skies, produced 13 species including 7 Amur Falcon east, 1 Pacific Swift amongst c20 Common Swift, a single Spot-billed Duck, one Azure- winged Magpie, several Chinese Bulbul and 4 Siberian Stonechat.
Aboard our bus we headed east along the poplar-tree lined motorways and toll roads of Hebei province through the towerscape suburbs of Beijing, past ever-more car salesrooms and the unavoidable advertising hoardings depicting western women selling the Far Eastern dream, into the flat intensive farmed countryside that feeds the labour force that powers the economy. After a while a sign, Beidaihe 236km, and still, the only bird we’ve seen from the bus is the Common Magpie. Common is an understatement, as magpie’s appear to be semi-colonial, these birds are everywhere. Four hours later we arrive at Beidaihe the only additions to the list being Chinese Pond Heron, Red-rumped Swallow, Little Grebe and Pheasant.
Thankfully, we are met, amongst the chaos which is Qinhuangdao bus station, by our ebullient Chinese interpretor, Jeannie, with our mini bus and driver. The journey takes longer than we expected, as Qinhuangdao is a small town of 2.5million people! Everywhere you look old parts of the town are being demolished and hundreds of cranes, sadly not of the feathered variety, pepper the skyline as immaculate tower complexes, rows of apartment blocks, shopping malls and designer outlets spring up. Driving appears chaotic but it seems to work and we eventually arrive at our destination, the Jinshan Hotel, Beidaihe, at 3pm.
Within a few minutes we have unloaded our luggage in our en-suite rooms and despite 30 hours without sleep (John of course excepted who slept through much of the flight and bus journey!) we were out birding in the Jinshan Hotel grounds. The birding was frenetic, exhilarating and beyond our expectations. Siberian migrants were everywhere. the big challenge at the start of any trip is not really knowing what is everyday and what is unexpected so you end trying to look at everything. We were not to know that the first few hours would provide our only sighting of Grey-backed Thrush, Daurian Redstart and Elegant Bunting, whilst other ‘exotics’ seen in the hotel grounds in the next few hours were to prove to be much more common on the trip e.g. Brown Shrike, Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Blue Robin, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Little Bunting, Yellow-browed Bunting, Chestnut Bunting and Black-faced Bunting.
A fleeting dash to the adjacent Jinshan Fields produced a further 20 Brown Shrike, a male Daurian Starling, Siberian Stonechat and two Taiga Flycatcher.
To round the day off we legged it down to the legendary migrant hotspot, Lighthouse Point, where, amongst the many migrants, we were also able to locate another Chinese Thrush, four Siberian Blue Robin, two Siberian Rubythroat, a single Red-flanked Bluetail, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and an Eastern Crowned Warbler. Whilst on the coast, we noted our first Striated Heron, and, thanks to a tip-off from Mark Andrews , the leader of the soon to arrive Wildwings party, a pair of Harlequin Duck, well outside their usual range at this time of year.
The limited number of resident birds also provided interest with good views of the splendid Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Crested Mynah, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Eastern Great Tit.
6th May 2012
A 5 am start, revealed that many of yesterday’s migrants had moved out of the Jinshan Hotel grounds. However, we soon heard our first migrating flock of Chestnut-sided White-eye, looking and sounding like tight flocks of Siskin moving overhead. One flock of 17 birds landed in the top of a nearby tree allowing us to search through and locate a single Japanese White-eye, whilst an Oriental Greenfinch sang nearby. Feeding on the ground, close to the ornamental pond, we found our first Tristram’s Bunting, alongside a flock of four Yellow-browed Bunting and three Little Bunting.
Five minutes away we reached the grounds of the Friendship Hotel, a woodland haven accessible to birders. Here amongst the mature poplars, pines and willows we were able to see Eye-browed Thrush, given away by their Redwing-like ‘tseeep’ calls, and a single White’s Thrush which got the adrenalin surging. A singing Red-billed Starling was completely unexpected as according to Brazil (2009) this would be a considerable range extension. More familiar new sightings included Hoopoe and the striking Black-naped Oriole.
After a bland breakfast we headed back to Jinshan Fields for what was to be a spectacular day’s birding. To put this in context, Jinshan Fields is an area the size of a couple of football pitches, it includes a large area of open, short, dry grassland, an area of rank grassland vegetation, a small area of carefully tended vegetables and a bit of scrub. At the centre is a small mound which allows limited views over the surrounding area and provides a natural focus for any vismig watches. Access has been arranged by Jean. The following highlights, totals and new birds for the trip give some indication of the scale and variety of movement that was going on with the highlight being the much hoped for White-throated Needletail, with two north.
Visible migration counts were dominated by 985 Chinese Penduline Tit , hundreds of largely unidentified buntings, 135 Chestnut-sided White-eye, an excellent 46 Amur Falcon and ten Ashy Minivet , all flew north. Other assorted migrants included: Spoonbill, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pacific Golden Plover, Pacific Swift, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Eurasian Wryneck, Yellow Wagtail including the Manchurian race M.f.macronyx and the Siberian race M.f.tutschensis, two ‘Amur’ White Wagtail M.a.leucopsis good numbers of hirundines moving through including at least two Asian House Martin. Many warblers were present in the bushes including over 17 Yellow-browed Warbler, 21 Pallas’s, Dusky, Radde’s and Siberian Rubythroat were seen. Richard’s and Blyth’s Pipit called in briefly before heading north allowing a useful comparison and an Olive-backed Pipit flew over.
The only new birds found during a brief visit to Lighthouse Point in the late afternoon included a Grey-streaked Flycatcher as many of yesterday’s migrants had clearly moved out.
7th May, 2012.
Our pre-breakfast stroll around the Friendship Hotel Grounds produced our first Dusky Thrush, a striking male, along with another White’s Thrush and a party of Eye-browed Thrush, Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Rubythroat , an Eastern Crowned Warbler and a Yellow-browed Bunting. We also managed to see our first Japanese Sparrowhawk and a pair of Collared Dove!
After a much improved breakfast, courtesy of the Wildwings party arriving, we headed off with our permits, arranged by Jean, to the Reservoir. Access to the Reservoir is through a side road opposite the Beidaihe Club International Hotel. The Reservoir is a secure site and our permits were handed in to the gatekeeper who returns them back to you on your departure. The area supports an extensive network of footpaths and boardwalks through a series of reed fringed ponds and mature semi-natural and plantation woodland. It’s an area that clearly holds many of the migrants that pass through Lighthouse Point and the hotel complex and is well worth working.
Highlights included Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pale-legged Warbler, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Forest Wagtail and one of only three Pechora Pipit that we were to see on the trip. The site also gave us a chance to get to grips with separating out Great White Heron, Intermediate Egret and Little Egret. The number of warblers was extraordinary with well over a hundred Yellow-browed Warbler, and at least five Eastern Crowned Warbler. We quickly became adept at separating Pale-legged from the latter, the former invariably given away by its very vocal ‘chink’ call, constant tail pumping. The mature woodland also produced a few thrushes including Grey-backed Thrush and the almost ubiquitous Siberian Rubythroat and Siberian Blue Robin.
At the end of the afternoon we made our first visit to the adjacent Sandflats. Unfortunately, the tide was out and birds were few and far between although it did give us chance to pick up our first Greater Sand Plover, Long-toed Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper , Marsh Sandpiper , Terek Sandpiper and Temminck’s Stint. Whilst half a dozen Black-tailed Gull, with their almost Glaucous Gull patterned bill drifted past along the shoreline. Closer to the boardwalk, on the edge the river we watched gathering flocks of Eastern Yellow Wagtail included good numbers of Manchurian M.f.macronyx, Kamchatka M.f.tschutensis and Green-headed M.f.taivana wagtails and White Wagtail of the East Siberian M.a.ocularis and Amur M.a.leucopsis races.
We finished the day off with a brief visit to Lighthouse Point where a small fall of Pallas’s and Yellow-browed Warbler and a single Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
8th May, 2012
An early start to Friendship Hotel produced our first Rufous-tailed Robin, Eye-browed Thrush, White’s Thrush, Siberian Blue Robin and Siberian Rubythroat – not a bad aperitif.
After breakfast we took a taxi to the excellent Stone River, approximately an hour’s drive north from Biedaihe. One of the few remaining relatively undeveloped estuaries provides some of the first good coastal habitat at the northern edge of the burgeoning metropolis of Qinhaungdao. Mud flats, reed fringed lagoons, coastal grassland, an excellent pine woodland, sandy beaches and a chance to scan the sea provide a wealth of feeding habitat and a migrant hotspot.
A full day’s birding produced a great variety of birds with highlights including over twenty species of wader . We had spectacular views of Little Whimbrel, Grey-tailed Tattler, Red-necked Stint including one bird with a reddish/orange flag on the right leg and a metal ring on the left leg, Long-toed Stint, Far Eastern Curlew and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. It was also a great location to catch up on our terns with good numbers of the elegant looking Common Tern S.h.longipennis, and superb summer plumaged White-winged Black Tern and Whiskered tern. The grassland supported excellent numbers of wagtails and pipits with Red-throated Pipit, Blyth’s Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler, a female Pallas’s Reed Bunting, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Little Bunting, Tristram’s Bunting and many Black-faced Bunting. Siberian Stonechat and Brown Shrike were everywhere.
The reed-fringed lagoons provided superb views of Baillon’s Crake, Pin-tailed Snipe and Black-browed Reed Warbler. Whilst the Pine Wood produced a stunning male Siberian Thrush, a White’s Thrush, a male Mugimaki Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, over 100 Yellow-browed Warbler, Eastern crowned Warbler, Siberian Blue Robin and Black Drongo.
After lunch we were driven to the start of the Great Wall, Jiaoshandao. Unbelievably, Jean had arranged special permits for us to access the site which was closed to all tourists and locals due to fire-risk. It was extraordinary to be the only car in the vast car park and even more remarkable to be the only people on the Wall itself. Visiting The Wall in mid-afternoon when temperatures are in the high 20’s is not recommended, as its a steep climb to the first watchtower and not surprisingly most birds were quiet and keeping well under cover. With the exception of a singing Radde’s Warbler and a pair of nest building Vinous-throated Parrotbill it was an almost birdless two and a half hours spent on the Wall. The highlights were Oriental Honey Buzzard moving north high overhead, amongst resident Large-billed Crows and an elusive pair of Plain Laughingthrush (Pere David’s) which I managed to miss whilst admiring the incredible architecture of the Great Wall. On our way back down we played a poor recording of the song of Chinese Hill Warbler which we had recorded from a recording on Gary Nunn’s (American birder) mobile phone! – the response was astonishing – a superb male Chinese Hill Warbler exploded into song barely a few feet from us and another started singing on the adjacent hill side.
10th May 2012
A relatively quiet day, in light south westerly winds provided a much needed opportunity to spend time just watching and learning calls, jizz and plumage details of the warblers and buntings. Our usual pre-breakfast visit to the Friendship Hotel produced our first male White-throated Rock thrush and a single Ashy Minivet.
After breakfast it was a taxi to the Reservoir where we soon connected with a Rufous-tailed Robin, and picked up the distinctive dipper-like ‘zit’ call of an Arctic Warbler which performed well alongside Pale-legged and Eastern Crowned Warblers. A Black-capped Kingfisher provided a new and noisy interlude.
A trip to Sandflats, on a rising tide, joining the Wildwings crew, produced an excellent variety of waders including Greater Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked and Temminck’s Stint . Whilst a first summer male Citrine Wagtail fed amongst the many Eastern Yellow and White Wagtail. A single male Pallas’s Reed Bunting provided a bonus at the end of a relatively slow day which culminated in the bar of the Jinshan Hotel. Swapping stories with Mark Andrews, the Wildwings tour leader, the Scottish contingency of Ken Shaw, Rab Shand, etc and Saltholme volunteer and veteran Teesside birder, Mike Gee.
11th May, 2012
In contrast to yesterday, today was extraordinary , overnight the winds moved round to the east-north-east and by dawn we were in the midst of a mass of migration – wherever you looked birds were on the move - sea passage, visible migration and fall migrants in the woods and grassland. At Lighthouse Point the sea produced strong northerly movement of hundreds of White-winged Black Tern and Whiskered Tern, Falcated Duck, White-winged Scotor and a distinctly stocky Chinese Egret, Grey-headed Lapwing, Heuglin’s Gull, whilst two Brown Hawk Owl came in off the sea and an Oriental Scops Owl sat motionlessly in the first landward bushes. Other arrivals in off the sea whilst we were stood there included Hobby, Japanese Quail, Brown Shrike, Siberian Blue Robin, Black-naped Oriole, Dusky Thrush, Eye-browed Thrush, Lanceolated Warbler numerous unidentified warblers and literally hundreds of wagtails, Olive-backed and Richard’s Pipit, White-eyes and buntings. Whilst in the bushes we were able to locate our first Thick-billed Warbler and Two-barred Greenish Warbler, over 15 Black-browed Reed Warbler, 20+ Radde’s Warbler, 16 Siberian Blue Robin, numerous flycatchers and perhaps most remarkable of all, two Masked Laughingthrush. During a remarkable day the growing number of birders working the area located five Grey Nightjar, four Black-faced Spoonbill, Asian Stubtail and Button Quail.
The movement quietened down after 1030h so we visited Jinshan Fields where Craig found our first PGTips (Pallas Grasshopper Warbler), a coffee coloured female Japanese Reed Bunting, and another Thick-billed Warbler and a Chestnut-eared Bunting.
A search of Friendship Hotel in the afternoon produced 30 Siberian Blue Robin and at least three Siberian Rubythroat.
12th May 2012
It became apparent from dawn that there had been a big clear out overnight although hundreds of White-winged Black Tern, Whiskered Tern and Black-headed Gull continued to move north off Lighthouse Point. Small numbers of wader were also moving including a Black-tailed Godwit and a female Blue Rock Thrush was seen feeding on the rocks along the beach.
After breakfast we met up with Klas , a Danish birder, who was to accompany us on our visit to Happy Island. We had hoped to call off at Yang He Estuary on our way to Happy Island but we were advised by Jean that it wasn’t worth it as much of the estuary habitat had been destroyed in the last 12 months –the price of development. More depressingly, we met a Swedish ornithologist who was working on the Yellow Sea coast, who told us that c90% of the natural coastal habitat had been destroyed and that the speed of habitat destruction and development was so fast that the fate of Spoon-billed Sandpiper probably awaited many of the waders using the West Pacific Highway. This depressing theme continued when we called off at what remains of Magic Wood. New roads, including a new motorway to Happy Island, have dissected the wood and are encroaching into the wood. The wind and rain exacerbated the sense of loss but we were compensated by our only views of Asian Short-toed Lark. Our stay at magic Wood was brief as we decided to head off to Happy island crossing from the harbour in one of the commercial Three Island powerboat trips.
Happy Island, destined to be a luxury holiday resort and playground for Beijing, is undergoing a transformation. A new road infrastructure links expansive themed building developments, whilst large advertising hoardings are appearing everywhere with promises of holiday homes and a getaway lifestyle. The once famous prawn pond s have been in-filled in preparation for a professional golf course. Our accommodation was extravagant. We stayed in large villas, each with its own conference hall, Jacuzzi, large flat-screen TVs, a self catering facility and balcony overlooking the island. The en-suite bedrooms with office studio were equally as extravagant. Meals were served promptly at 0900h, 1230h and 1900h. However, the food was average, at best, and for the last 36 hours there was no electricity or water. Normally we would have just taken this in our stride but we collectively decided to return to Beidaihe a day early. If only so that Craig, who is vegetarian and suffers from a gluten allergy, and was exhausted through sleep deprivation could get a decent meal and a good night’s sleep!
We would definitely, recommend taking supplies with you to the island so that you can spend as much time in the field as possible and not be constrained by rigid meal times and lousy food.
Thankfully, the birding was superb –a heady mix of visible migration, big falls of migrants, excellent waders, gulls and terns and always the chance of a real rarity. The famous Temple Wood, now with its extensive network of boardwalks, provided an endless turnover of birds, and warranted much of our attention.
It was dramatic from the off with up to six Olive-backed Pipit in the ‘garden’ of the villa and a roosting Schrenck’s Bittern, found and photographed by Klas. Two Chinese Sparrowhawk provided a real contrast to the larger Japanese and Eurasian Sparrowhawk which seemed to be moving through the island whilst Eastern Marsh Harrier displayed over the extensive reedbed which revealed up to four Pallas’s Reed Bunting. The scrub was alive with Dusky Warbler and much smaller numbers of Radde’s Warbler whilst the woodland held Eye-browed Thrush, 20+ Pale-legged Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, a Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and a single Mugimaki Flycatcher. In contrast the golf course was a magnet for pipits, wagtails and buntings with at least two Blyth’s Pipit, a Richard’s Pipit a dozen Black-faced Bunting and the almost desert conditions created by infilling the prawn ponds attracted good numbers of breeding Avocet, Little tern and Kentish Plover. A single immature Saunder’s Gull and numerous Gull-billed tern flew across the island.
As the tide rose the waders were pushed ever closer revealing over 35 Great Knot, Mongolian Plover, Terek Sandpiper, a dozen Red-necked Stint and many Dunlin, many showing characteristics of the Sakahlin race C.a.sakahlina.
13th May, 2012
Little change overnight with similar numbers and variety of birds first thing in the morning allowing chance to catch up again and spend time just watching and learning. Highlights included a White-breasted Water Hen, a single Indian Cuckoo, an Oriental Scops Owl, a Forest Wagtail and a superb Naumann’s Thrush. More thorough counts produced 16 Japanese Quail, 50+ Yellow-browed Warbler, 25+ Dusky Warbler, 20+ Radde’s Warbler, 15+ Pallas’s Warbler, 12+ Pale-legged Warbler, three Arctic Warbler and a single Lanceolated Warbler. Flycatcher’s were well represented with Asian Brown Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped, Grey-streaked, Taiga, Mugimaki, and our first Dark-sided Flycatcher. Whilst Bunting numbers were also impressive with 60+ Black-faced Bunting, 20+ Chestnut plus Chestnut-eared, Tristram’s, Yellow-breasted, Little, Japanese Reed and a single male Pallas’s Reed Bunting.
14th May, 2012
Overnight thunderstorms, plummeting pressure and a wind switching between east and south-west and back produced the goods with birds moving from first light. Highlights included: seven Grey-headed Lapwing, two Pin-tailed Snipe, five Saunder’s Gull, an influx of cuckoos with a single Large Hawk Cuckoo, a singing Indian Cuckoo, c10 Oriental Cuckoo and a Common Cuckoo, two Grey Nightjar, another Forest Wagtail, Ashy Minivet, Rufous-tailed Robin, seven Siberian Rubythroat, Bluethroat, 12 Siberian Blue Robin, 15 White-throated Rock Thrush, a single male Siberian Thrush, a male Dusky Thrush, Eye-browed Thrush, a Lanceolated Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, c10 Eastern Crowned Warbler, Pale-legged Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, 150+ Yellow-browed Warbler, Dusky Warbler , Radde’s Warbler, Asian Brown Flycatcher, 30+ Taiga Flycatcher, 25+ Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, 10+ Mugimaki Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Grey-streaked Flycatcher, 150+ Chestnut-flanked White-eye and 150+ Brown Shrike.
15th May, 2012
Mirror-calm conditions and clear skies beckoned the dawn as small numbers of migrants moved north along the length of the island. Highlights included: 72 Mongolian Plover, 80+ Great Knot, a Large Hawk Cuckoo whose unimaginable song not unlike an exploding exterminating dalek, a single Pechora Pipit, two Siberian Thrush, Oriental Reed Warbler, our one and only Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, and a stunning Tiger Shrike.
Other notable counts or sightings included: three Purple Heron, many Pacific Swift north, Red-necked Stint, Saunder’s Gull, Grey Nightjar, Wryneck, Olive-backed Pipit north, Lanceolated Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Pale-legged Warbler, Two-barred Greenish Warbler, Arctic Warbler, a wide range of flycatchers, 40+ Black-naped Oriole flew north, Daurian Starling, a Brambling – the first of the trip, 150+ Bunting spp flew north including at least 10 Chestnut Bunting. The White-breasted Water hen was still present in temple Wood.
16th May, 2012
Our last morning on Happy island started with a pre-breakfast vismig watch which produced a good variety of migrants but the bulk of the morning was taken up with a quest to see the flock of Asian Dowitcher which had been re-located by Mark Andrews on the south of the island. Highlights seen on the estuary included: 20+ Asian Dowitcher, Spotted Redshank, Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Great Knot, a single Oriental Pratincole and 40+ Black-tailed Gull – the largest number seen to date on the trip.
Whilst vismig highlights included a single Grey-faced Buzzard, Chinese Sparrowhawk, c3000 Pacific Swift north in a spectacular movement that probably involved tens of thousands of birds as birds were moving across the width of the island and we only counted the ones moving directly over us. 20+ Cuckoo spp north, probably mostly Oriental Cuckoo, a male Siberian Thrush, Blyth’s, Richard’s Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, one Pechora Pipit, 25+ Brown Flycatcher, 41 Black-naped Oriole and one Red-billed Starling all moving north/north-west.
After lunch we boarded our electric car and headed to the ferry terminal ready for our crossing to the mainland where we were met by Gina, our driver and minibus, who took us on a return trip to Magic Wood. This time in clear skies and much more convivial weather conditions we were able to clock-up a good variety of migrants including: three Rufous-tailed Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, Siberian Blue Robin, a male Siberian Thrush, Eye-browed Thrush and a good variety of warblers and buntings.
A final stop on the way back to Beidaihe, at Da Pu He River, was disappointing relative to everything else we had seen.
17th May 2012
On our return to Beidaihe we spent a leisurely day reworking some familiar sites but really getting to grips with Friendship Hotel. It was obvious from the off that there had been a big clear out of Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Stonechat , Brown Flycatcher, Brown Shrike and many Buntings although we were now picking up far more Rufous-tailed Robin.
The Jinshan Hotel grounds produced three Chinese Grosbeak flying north, three Rufous-tailed Robin, a Mugimaki flycatcher, a Lanceolated warbler, a Thick-billed warbler and two Japanese Quail.
Lighthouse Point, whilst quiet produced excellent views of Oriental Reed Warbler, two Rufous-tailed Robin and excellent views of Two-barred Greenish Warbler and Thick-billed Warbler. Birding at Jinshan Fields was also subdued with virtually no movement.
In contrast the Friendship Hotel grounds appeared to be holding birds and proved successful. We worked the flower beds, mature woodland to the south of the parade are, small areas of dense scrub and wet flushes in the centre of the site below the main reception building and the mature areas of woodland and boundary walls around the east, lower end of the site. Highlights included a superb male, brown form, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, three Siberian Thrushes, eight Siberian Blue Robin, seven Rufous-tailed Robin, four Siberian Rubythroat, four Two-barred Greenish Warbler and a Thick-billed Warbler.
18th May, 2012
Our first lie-in proved to be a painful as we missed a White-throated Needletail at Lighthouse Point, by three minutes – birding can be cruel. After breakfast we headed out to the Reservoir, where we met up with the Wildwings crew who had returned from Happy island. It was fascinating to see the change over in birds since our earlier visits. Highlights included: excellent views of Yellow Bittern, two male Falcated Teal, a superb Collared Crow which generated a rare jig of delight from JB and a pair of Swan Goose with six nestlings. The woodland was also impressive producing at least 12 Arctic Warbler, eight Dark-sided Flycatcher, two Siberian Thrush, one Dusky Thrush, a Forest Wagtail, at least one Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler which led to an organised sweep across a small area of woodland scrub which produced at least four Lanceolated Warbler in area of less than hundred square metres! All-in-all another excellent day’s birding celebrated with a few celebratory beers and tales of birding in the hotel bar.
19th May, 2012
Calm and clear conditions pre-breakfast produced another very quiet start at Jinshan Fields, the highlight being three White-cheeked Starling flying over.
After breakfast we boarded our taxi, arranged by Jean, to try the Great Wall, Jaioshendao in cooler conditions. Once again we were able to enjoy the experience of being the only people on the Wall. the first bird we heard as went through the entrance gate was a singing Meadow Bunting, in the area close to the nesting Plain Laughingthrush. A second pair of Plain Laughingthrush were also nesting on an open hillside behind what looked like a derelict military building to the left of the ski-lift, as you look up the mountain. Arctic Warbler were singing and Pale-legged Warbler and Two-barred Greenish Warbler were also seen.
From the Great Wall we headed back down to the coast and Stone River, where despite the lack of movement or migrants we were able to eke out a few good birds. The highlights being a Grey Nightjar, Tiger Shrike, a Chinese Song Thrush, two Thick-billed Warbler, four Two-barred Greenish warbler and a Rufous-tailed Robin.
At the death reports of a Manchurian Reed Warbler, found by Gary Nunn at Lighthouse Point filtered through to the hotel bar resulting in a mad dash and excellent views of this skulking beauty.
20th May, 2012
Following the quietest day of the trip we headed out early to Lighthouse Point where Craig finally nailed Chinese Grosbeak and then to Jinshan Fields, where without our telescopes, for the first time this trip, we were confronted with two Eagle sp (Aquila sp.) soaring above the fields and drifting away from us. Sadly, they remained unidentified. From Jinshan Fields we headed to Friendship Hotel grounds working the core area around the Reception building, picking up over a dozen Two-barred Greenish Warbler, a Thick-billed Warbler and after an hour’s scrutiny confirming our first Yellow-streaked Warbler . Another first for the trip, a Dollarbird flying over the woods, provided a flourish at the end before we headed back to the Hotel to pack the bags, settle the bill and get cleaned up ahead of our journey home. Mid-shower, at 1430h, I got a shout from Craig to say he had found a large flycatcher, rushing outside with a cry of ‘I though we’d stopped birding’ we were able to watch and confirm a striking female Blue and White Flycatcher feeding a few feet away from us. Craig turn round and uttered the immortal line ‘We never stop birding!’
Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica
The first fall was on 11th May with singles flying in off the sea at Lighthouse Point where three further birds were flushed as was a single at Jinshan Fields on the same date. Seen regularly at Happy Island with a maxima of 16 on 13th after which only one’s and two’s were seen. Two were at Lighthouse Point and Jinshan Hotel grounds on 17th. One was flushed from the pine woodland at Stone River on 19th May.
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Widespread with 10+ at the Reservoir on 7th May the largest number seen Elsewhere birds were seen at Stone River on 8th and 9th, The Great Wall, Jinshendao on 8th and 19th, Sandflats woodland on 10th, Happy Island where a female incubated 14 eggs in a nest on 13th and at Magic Wood on 16th May.
Swan Goose Anser cygnoides
A pair bred at the Reservoir and were seen with six nestlings on 18th May.
Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
The only sighting was of six at Happy island on 16th May.
Falcated Duck Anas falcate
Seven, including five males, flew north in two groups of five and two off Lighthouse Point on 11th May and two males showed well at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Bred in lagoons at Stone River. 20 at the Reservoir on 7th May.
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas Zonorhyncha
Widespread and seen wherever there was open freshwater. The first sighting was a male at Beijing Airport on 5th May, followed by one at Stone River on 9th, one at Magic Wood on 12th. Daily at Happy Island with a maxima of 20 on 14th and a female with 16 young on 15th. A maxima of 11 at the Reservoir on 18th May
Garganey Anas querquedula
Seven on the sea at Stone River on 9th May and one male on the Reservoir on 18th May.
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionincus
A pair feeding off Lighthouse Point found by Mark Andrews and seen on 5th May.
White-winged Scotor Melanitta deglandi stejnegeri
Two flew north off Lighthouse Point on 11th May.
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
One at Stone River on 8th May.
Red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator
Four flew south off Lighthouse Point on 11th May and a single was seen offshore at Happy Island on 15th May.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Maxima of 35+at the Reservoir on 10th May, 38 at Stone River on 8th May and six at Magic Wood on 12th May.
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Seven flew north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May followed by a first summer at Stone River on 8th and 9th May.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
The only one seen was at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Schrenck’s Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus
A single roosted in a tree at Happy Island on 12th May (KR).
Striated Heron Butorides striata
One over Lighthouse Point on 5th and 7th May and two at the Reservoir on 7th, afterwhich maxima included 15 north over both Lighthouse Point and Jinshan Fields on 11th May. Singles were also seen at Happy island on 14th and Stone River on 19th May.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
Maxima of 30+ at the Reservoir on 7th May with 15 on 18th, eight at Stone River on 9th, 10 at Magic Wood on 12th and seen daily at Happy Island with a maxima of 20 on 12th May.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
Migrating birds widely reported flying overhead with 3 north over Jinshan Hotel grounds and a maxima of 15 at the Reservoir on 7th May and 12 on 18th, nine north at Happy Island on 14th, two at Da Pu He River on 16th and a maxima of seven north over Friendship Hotel grounds on 17th May.
Grey Heron Ardea cinera
Maxima of six at the Reservoir on 7th May, eight at Stone River on 8th, five at Sandflats on 10th and four at Happy Island on 15th May.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Three at Happy island on 15th May, singles at Magic Wood and Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Great White Egret Casmerodius albus
Maxima of 15 at the Reservoir on 18th May, nine at Stone River on 9th, six at Sandflats on 10th, one at Magic Wood on 12th and three at Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
A maxima of six at the Reservoir on 7th and 18th May, two at Sandflats on 10th, one at Magic Wood on 12th and a maxima of four at Happy island on 13th May.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
A peak of 10 at Sandflats on 7th May, 20 at both Stone River on 8th and the Reservoir on 10th and a maxima of 10 at Happy island on 14th. Also seen at Magic Wood.
Swinhoe’s Egret (Chinese Egret) Egretta eulophotes
One flew north close inshore at Lighthouse Point on 11th May
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Singles at Beijing Airport on 5th May, Stone River on 8th and 9th, Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th and Magic Wood on 12th May.
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis
Seven flew north east over Beijing Airport on 5th May. Seen most days in first week, at most localities. Maxima of 46 north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May. A pair were displaying over old Magpie nest at The reservoir on 7th and 10th and were still present on 18th. Singles at Magic Wood on 12th and Happy island on 14th where there were a maxima of six north on 16th, three at Da Pu He River on 16th and Jinshan Fields on 17th. Finally, one was seen at Stone River on 19th May.
Northern Hobby Falco subbuteo
Migration appeared to start later than Amur falcon with only singles at The Reservoir on 7th May which was later seen eating small bird on beach at Sandflats, Stone River and at the Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, both on 8th, before three migrants appeared at Stone River on 9th and a single at Reservoir on 10th. Afterwhich numbers increased with five north over Jinshan Fields on 11th. Two in off the sea at Lighthouse Point and one at Magic Wood on 12th, two north over Happy Island on 15th and 16th, two in-off at Lighthouse Point on 17th and three north over the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrines
One at Stone River on 8th May was the only sighting.
Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis orientalis
One flew north over the Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th May,
Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus
One flew north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May. Elsewhere there was a maxima of three at Happy Island on 14th – 16th and one at Magic Wood on 16th May.
Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis
Two at Happy Island on 12th May and two north over same locality on 16th May
Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis
One seen regularly in Friendship Hotel grounds from 7th May, one at Magic Wood and two seen daily at Happy Island from 12th- 15th with a maxima of four north-west on 16th. One was at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
The only sightings were of one north over Lighthouse Point on 7th May and one at Happy Island on 12th and 13th May.
Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus
One north over Happy island on 16th May (JB)
Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicas
One seen briefly south of Beidaihe on 16th May
Eagle spp Aquila spp.
Two drifted high north over Jinshan Fields on 20th May (JB & KC).
White-breasted Moorhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
A single at Happy Island from 13th- 15th May.
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
Three located in vegetation along small lagoon at Stone River on 9th May.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
A maxima of c30 at the Reservoir on 7th May. Elsewhere, a few at Stone River on 9th, one at Lighthouse Point on 12th, Happy Island on 13th and one at the Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Two at Stone River on 8th May and a maxima of three at Happy Island on 12th and 16th May.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
A maxima of 25 at Stone River on 8th May, two at Magic Wood on 12th, a maxima of 12 at Happy Island on 15th and eight on the Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
Common breeder at Happy Island. One at Sandflats on 10th May, three at Magic Wood on 12th and a maxima of 50+ at Happy Island on 15th May.
Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereous
One flew north over Lighthouse Point on 11th May and seven at Happy island on 14th May.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Occasionally seen on migration with 30 north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May, two at Sandflats on 10th, 40 at Stone River on 8th May and a maxima of 140 NW over Jinshan Fields on 9th, 30 N over Friendship Hotel on 10th May, 20 N over Lighthouse Point on 11th May and less than 10 birds at
Happy Island on several dates.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Single birds at Sandflats on 7th May, Stone River on 9th and a maxima of 150 at Happy Island on 16th May.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
One at Sandflats on 7th May, 20 at Stone River on 8th and 9th and one at the Reservoir on 10th May.
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrines
Bred at Happy island. Maxima of 12 at Sandflats on 7th May, 10 at Stone River on 9th and 40+ at Happy Island on 13th May.
Lesser Sand Plover (Mongolian) Charadrius mongolus
A maxima of 72 at Happy Island on 15th May.
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultia
One summer plumage adult at Sandflats on 7th and 10th May and a single at Stone River on 9th and 19th May.
Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura
A single at Stone River on 9th May, a maxima of four at Happy island on 15th and two at Magic Wood on 16th May.
Common Snipe gallinago gallinago
Two at Stone River on 8th May, Happy Island on 14th and Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus
17+ were feeding off the southern shore and three roosting with Bar-tailed Godwit on the site of the prawn ponds at Happy Island on 16th May.
Eastern Black-tailed Godwit Limosa melanuroides
One flew north off Lighthouse Point on 12th May.
Bar-tailed Godwit limosa lapponica
A maxima of 100+ at Happy Island on 13th – 16th May.
Little Curlew Numenius minutes
Four at Stone River on 8th and two on 9th May
Whimbrel Numenius Phaeopus
Widely reported along coastal sites with the first at Lighthouse Point on 5th May and maxima of 30 at Sandflats on10th, 120 at Stone River on 8th and 9th, 20 at Happy Island on 12th and 13th and four north over the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata orientalis
A maxima of 10 at Sandflats on 7th May, four at Stone River on 8th and c.50 at Happy Island on 16th May.
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
One at Stone River on 8th May, six at Magic Wood on 12th and a maxima of 15 at Happy Island on 14th and 15th May.
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
One at Sandflats on 10th May and a maxima of 21 at Happy island and a single at Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Common Redshank Tringa tetanus
Six at Sandflats on 7th May, a maxima of 10 at Stone River on 9th, six at Happy Island on 16th and one at the Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatalis
Three at Sandflats on 7th and 10th May, maxima of 25 at Stone River on 9th, two at Happy Island on 13th and one at Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Maxima of 38 at Sandflats on 7th May, 40 at Stone River on 9th, two at the Reservoir on 10th and 30 at Happy island on 16th May.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Two at both Lighthouse Point on 5th May and the Reservoir on 7th and a maxima of five at Stone River on 9th, one at Magic Wood on 12th and 15 at Happy Island on 14th May following an influx into the island.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Maxima of 40 at Stone River on 8th May, one at Happy Island on 13th, eight at Da Pu He River on 16th and two at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
Four showing well at Stone River on 8th and 9th May.
Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinereous
One at Sandflats on 7th and 10th May, and 20 at Happy Island on 16th May.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Maxima of 18 at Lighthouse Point on 5th May, eight at the Reservoir on 7th, 15 at Stone River on 8th and 18 at Happy Island on 14th May following an influx into the island. Two were present on the Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Four at Happy island on 16th May and a maxima of eight at Stone River on 19th May.
Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris
Seen daily at Happy island from 11th-16th May with a maxima of 80+on 15th May.
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Maxima of eight at Happy island on 16th May.
Sanderling Calidris alba
The only record was of four on the beach at Stone River on 19th May.
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
There were three at Stone River on 9th May increasing to eight on 19th May. One of the birds on 9th May had a reddish/orange flag on the right leg and a metal ring on the left leg. Elsewhere there were singles at Sandflats on 10th and a maxima of 12 at Happy Island on 12th May.
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminickii
One at Sandflats on 7th and two on 10th May.
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
Two at Sandflats on 7th and presumably the same birds at The Reservoir on 10th May. the only other sightings were of three at Stone River on 8th and 9th May.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminate
Maxima of three at Sandflats on 7th May and 12 at Stone River on 8th May.
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
The only reports were of two at both Stone River on 8th May and at Happy island on 16th May.
Dunlin Calidris alpina inc sakhalina
Seen daily at Happy island with a maxima 150+ on 15th May.
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
One at Happy Island on 16th May (CT and JB)
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris
Maxima of six at Sandflats on 7th, Stone River on 9th, and Lighthouse Point on 12th, and 40+ at Happy Island on 16th May.
Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini
At least one flew north over Lighthouse Point on 11th May.
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Widely reported along the coast with strong inshore northerly movement on several mornings. 40 flew north at Lighthouse Point on 5th May, 70, mostly immature, bathing in the Reservoir on 7th, 300+ at Stone River on 8th, a maxima of 400+ north at Lighthouse Point on 11th and 50+ at Happy Island on 16th May.
Saunder’s Gull Saundersilarus saundersi
Seen daily at Happy Island from 12th – 16th May with maxima of five on 14th May.
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
One at Happy Island on 12th May (JB).
Common Tern Sterna hirundo longipennis
Three at Stone River on 8th and 9th May, three north at Lighthouse Point on 11th May and several hundred at Happy Island on 12th May.
Little Tern Sterna albifrons
Breeding at Happy island. One at Stone River on 9th May and 50+ at Happy Island on 16th May.
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Seen daily in small numbers on Happy Island from 12th – 16th May, with a maxima of 30+ on 16th May.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrid
Maxima of ten feeding over the Reservoir on 7th May, eight at Stone River on 8th and 9th, 120 north at Lighthouse Point on 11th and 12th and 10 NW at Happy island on 16th May.
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Maxima of 200+ north at Lighthouse Point on 12th May, 140+ NW at Happy Island on 16th and nine at Stone River on 19th May.
Tern spp. Chlidonas spp.
A big northerly movement occurred on 12th May when hundreds were moving north through the mist off Lighthouse Point
Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Common and widely distributed with maxima of ten at The Reservoir on 7th May, eight at Stone River on 9th, five at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th and 19th, two in the grounds of Friendship Hotel on most days, two at both Magic Wood on 12th and Happy Island on 15th and a single bird at Sandflats on 10th May.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Common and widely distributed. Regularly seen in Jinshan and Friendship Hotel Grounds, at Lighthouse Point, Stone River, Happy Island and the Great wall, Jinshendao.
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocta
Two birds were seen regularly in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel from 7th May onwards and at The Great Wall, Jinshendao on 19th May.
Large Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides
One at Happy Island on 14th May and 15th May.
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus
Single birds were singing at Happy island on 13th-16th May.
Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
One singing on Happy island on 14th- 16th May.
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus
A maxima of 10 at Happy Island following an influx on 14th May. 20+ Cuckoo spp which flew north over Happy island on 16th May were likely to be this species. Elsewhere there was one at Magic Wood on 16th May and one flew north over Jinshan Fields on 17th May.
Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia
Singles were seen in the scrub at Lighthouse Point on 11th May, at Happy Island on 13th and 14th and heard in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
Two in off sea at Lighthouse Point on 11th May.
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka
Two at Happy Island on 14th May and one on 15th. Single birds were also seen at the Reservoir on 18th and Stone River on 19th May.
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Two seen moving north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May (KC & CT).
Common Swift Apus apus pekinensis
There was a maxima of 20 at Beijing Airport on 5th May. Elsewhere c.10 seen regularly around Jinshan Fields, Jinshan Hotel and Stone River and two were over Magic Wood on 12th and Happy Island on 15th May.
Pacific Swift Apus pacificus
During the early part of the trip one was seen amongst common swifts at Beijing Airport on 5th May, six flew north over Jinshan Fields on 6th and four fed over Magic Wood on 12th. A significant movement started on 15th with 150 north over Happy Island building up to over 3000 north in two hours on 16th. Afterwhich numbers declined with 24 north over Jinshan Fields on 18th May.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
The only sighting was of a single bird flying over the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 20th May.
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
A pair were present at The Reservoir and on Happy island from 13th – 15th May.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis
Maxima included two at Stone River on 9th May, two, presumably migrants, at Lighthouse Point on 11th, one seen daily at Happy Island from 12th -15th and three at The Reservoir on 18th May.
Hoopoe Upupa epops saturate
Two pairs bred in Friendship Hotel grounds. The first sighting was of a single bird at Lighthouse Point on 6th May followed by one at jinshan Hotel grounds on 7th, two in-off sea at Lighthouse Point on 11th, singles at Magic Wood on 12th, Happy Island on 13th, two at Lighthouse Point on 17th and one at Jinshan Fields on 17th and Stone River on 19th May.
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Singles were seen in the Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May, Jinshan Fields on 6th, Stone River on 9th, and Happy Island on 15th May.
Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Hypopicus hyperythrus
Singles were reported at Lighthouse Point on 5th May, The Reservoir on 7th and 10th and Happy Island on 12th - 14th May.
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus canicapillus
One at Lighthouse Point on most days and a maxima of two at The Reservoir on 18th May.
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major brevirostris
Seen widely wherever mature woodland present including Friendship Hotel grounds, Lighthouse Point, Magic Wood and Happy Island on most days and a maxima of three at The Reservoir on 18th May.
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus jessoensis
A pair regularly frequented Jinshan Fields from 6th May onwards and on were seen most days at Friendship Hotel grounds where there was a maxima of five on 17th May. the only other sightings were of three at the Reservoir on 7th May.
Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus
Seen regularly in small numbers on visible migration watches with a maxima of 10 north at Jinshan Fields on 6th May, one at Friendship Hotel on 10th and a maxima of three north at Happy Island on 15th May.
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus
Two sightings with one at Happy Island on 15th May and one in the pine woodland at Stone River on 19th May.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus lucioensis
Common and widely distributed with 20 at both Jinshan Hotel grounds and Jinshan Fields on 5th May, 10 at the Reservoir and along edge of Sandflats on 7th and 10th, again at the Reservoir on 18th and Stone River on 8th. There were c.30 at Lighthouse point on 11th including birds coming in off the sea, three at Magic Wood on 12th. A big influx occurred on 14th when 150+ were seen on Happy Island with 50+ present on the following day. Numbers dwindled towards the end of the trip with only one or two birds at most sites including the Da Pu He River banks on 16th and four in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
One or two seen most days in Friendship Hotel Grounds. Elsewhere there two in-off the sea at Lighthouse Point on 11th May, five at Magic Wood on 12th, a maxima of 40+ north at Happy Island on 15th and 41 NW on 16th and six at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus cathoecus
The first sighting was a single bird at Jinshan Fields on 6th May, this was followed by three at Stone River on 9th, one at Magic Wood on 12th , three at Happy island on 15th, two at the Reservoir on 18th and four at Stone River on 19th May.
Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradise incei
A male ‘brown’ form was seen in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus interposita
The only sightings were of singles at Beijing Airport and on the bus trip from Beijing to Beidaihe, both on 5th May, and one in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 6th May.
Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Common and widely distributed with numerous breeding pairs in Jinshan Hotel grounds, Friendship Hotel grounds, Lighthouse Point, the Reservoir, Stone River and Magic Wood.
Common Magpie Pica pica sericea
Abundant throughout Heibei and all sites visited. Semi-colonial nesting and maximum of c80 at Jinshan Fields, Beidaihe.
Collared Crow Corvus pectoralis
One seen at the Reservoir on 18th May, which had been present for a while (MA pers comm.), generated a jig from JB.
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
10+ high above the Great Wall at Jiaoshandao on 8th and 19th May
Eastern Great Tit Parus minor
Several pairs holding territories in Jinshan Hotel grounds, Friendship Hotel grounds, Lighthouse Point and up to eight at the Reservoir on 7th May.
Marsh Tit Poacile palustris jeholicus
At least two pairs appeared to be holding territories at the Reservoir.
Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus
Recorded in small numbers at most wetland sites and on visible migration watches with maxima of 985 north over Jinshan Fields from 0900-1130h on 6th May. Seventy-five flew north over The Reservoir on 7th, three fed at Stone River on 9th and smaller numbers were still moving on 11th with 35 over Jinshan Fields. Afterwhich sightings were few and far between with one at Magic Wood on 12th and a maxima of five at Happy Island on 15th May.
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Relatively few sightings with nine north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May, small numbers at Magic Wood on 12th and 75 north over Happy Island on 16th May.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis
Widely reported at all sites. Two at Beijing Airport on 5th May and 50 north over Jinshan Fields on 6th set the scene with hundreds north over Happy Island on 16th May.
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
Two flew north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May with four other house martin sp.
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
Widely reported at all sites with up to 12 at Jinshan Hotel grounds and fields.
Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis
Two on wasteland adjacent to Magic Wood on 12th May.
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola jucidis tinnabulans
Two calling at Magic Wood and a maxima of seven at Happy Island on 12th May where this species was heard daily. Two at the Da Pu He River on 16th May.
Chinese Hill Warbler Rhopophilus pekinensis pekinensis
Two males singing at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th May.
Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis
Common and widespread throughout. Several at Beijing Airport on 5th May.
Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata
Reported widely in small numbers after 8th May when the first was seen at Stone River. Elsewhere, there were two at Lighthouse Point on 11th, singles at Happy Island on 13th -15th, Magic Wood on 16th, Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 17th and a trip maxima of four + at the Reservoir on 18th. The last sighting was one in Jinshan Fields on 19th May.
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola certhiola
Two sightings with single birds at both Jinshan Fields on 11th and the Reservoir on 18th May.
Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon
The first sighting was of single birds at both Lighthouse Point and Jinshan Fields on 11th May with a maxima of two at Happy Island on 14th, singles at Magic Wood on 16th, Jinshan Fields on 17th and 20th, the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th, the Reservoir on 18th and 20th and two at Stone River on 19th May.
Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis
Single birds at The Reservoir on 7th and 18th May, Happy Island on 14th and 15th and in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May when two were present in Jinshan Fields.
Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
Six singing at The Reservoir on 7th May, increasing to a maxima of 15 on 10th May. Elsewhere, maxima included 15 at Lighthouse Point on 11th, four at Stone River on 9th, 10 on Happy Island on 14th, one at Magic Wood on 16th and one in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 17th May.
Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum
A single sighting of a bird feeding in the small reed bed adjacent to the entrance track Lighthouse Point on 20th May.
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus fuscatus
Recorded daily at most sites with maxima of six in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th and 7th May, five at Lighthouse Point on 6th and 11th, seven at Friendship Hotel grounds on 7th, 10 at The Reservoir on 10th, 30+ at Happy Island on 12th, two at Magic Wood on 16th, six at both Lighthouse Point and in Jinshan Fields on 17th and a maxima of 22 at Stone River on 19th May.
Yellow-streaked Warbler Phylloscpus armandii armandii
A single bird in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 20th May was the only sighting (see photograph).
Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzii
Recorded daily at most sites with 10 at Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 5th May, one singing at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th, a maxima of 20 at both Lighthouse Point on 11th and Happy island on 13th and 14th, two at Magic Wood on 16th May, three in both Jinshan Fields on 17th and the Reservoir on 18th and seven at Stone River on 19th May.
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus
Reported daily from 5th May with three at Lighthouse Point. After which maxima included four in Jinshan Hotel grounds and 15 at Lighthouse Point both on 7th, 15+ at Happy Island on 13th and 14th, three at Magic Wood on 16th, 12 in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th, two at the Reservoir on 18th and eight at Stone River on 19th May.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Reported widely from all woodland sites. Good numbers from the outset with 20+ in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May, a maxima of 12 at Friendship Hotel grounds on 10th, 100+ at both The Reservoir on 7th and Stone River on 9th , 15 at Lighthouse Point on 11th, several at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, on 8th May and a maxima of 150+ at Happy island on 14th following a big overnight fall, with 50+ still present on the following day decreasing to less than 10 on 16th May. Six were present in Magic Wood on 16th May with only four at the Reservoir on 18th May.
Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
A later arrival with the first, a single bird, at the Reservoir on 10th May, followed by three at Happy Island on 13th and a maxima of eight on 15th. Elsewhere, one was in Magic Wood on 16th and there was a maxima of 12 at The Reservoir on 18th, seven at the Great Wall, Jiaoshandao and three at Stone River, both on 19th May.
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes
There were three at the Reservoir on 7th and 10th May and one at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 8th. Elsewhere, there was a maxima of 20+ at Happy Island on 12th, two in Magic Wood on 16th, four at Lighthouse Point, five in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on both on 17th and two at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao on 19th May.
Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus
The first was a single at Lighthouse Point on 11th May. This was followed by singles at Magic Wood and Happy Island, both on 12th. Elsewhere, maxima included eight at Happy Island on 15th, two in Magic Wood on 16th, two at the Reservoir on 18th, one at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, on 19th, three at Stone River on 19th and 10 in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17thMay.
Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus
The first sightings involved singles at Lighthouse Point on 5th May and in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 7th May. Five were present in the Reservoir woodlands on 7th May, one was at Stone River on 9th May and there was a maxima of 10 at Happy island on 14th May.
Claudia’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus claudiae
the only sighting was of a single found in Temple Wood, at Happy Island on 15th May (KC & JB)
Masked Laughing-thrush Garrulax perspicilliatus
Two at Lighthouse Point on 11th May, in a heavy fall, were the only sightings.
Plain Laughing-thrush Garrulax davidii
Three pairs located at The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, one to right of main entrance gate at base of wall, one below first main public watchtower on 8th May and a third pair to the south of the chair lift and derelict military buildings.
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus
A maxima of 14 at the Reservoir on 10th May when two pairs were nestbuilding. Two pairs were also nesting at the Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, on 8th May.
Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus
Seen daily at all sites from 6th May when a flock of 17 were seen in both Jinshan and Friendship Hotel grounds. On this day over 135 unidentified White-eyes, presumably this species, were seen migrating north over Jinshan Fields . Numbers had increased to 50+ in Friendship Hotel grounds and 100+ in the Reservoir woodlands, both on 7th and Lighthouse Point on 11th. Afterwhich maxima elsewhere included 12 at Magic Wood on 12th and 150+ at Happy Island on 14th May.
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicas
One or two found amongst flocks of Chestnut-flanked White-eye with singles at both Jinshan and Friendship Hotel grounds on 6th May and Happy Island on 13th and 14th May.
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
Reported daily at Lighthouse Point and Jinshan Fields with maxima of six on 5th May. Other sightings included one at Happy Island on 15th May and a maxima of 9 in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Daurian Starling Sturnus sturninus
Seen occasionally, including a male at Jinshan Fields on 5th and 6th May, a maxima of three at Happy Island on 15thand Jinshan Fields on 20th May.
Red-billed Starling Sturnus sericeus
A pair were seen displaying and nest building near the assault course in Friendship Hotel grounds on most days from 6th May onwards. Presumably the same birds were regularly seen over Jinshan Fields. A single was present at Happy Island on 16th May. The Friendship Hotel pair were feeding young on 17th May.
White-cheeked Starling Sturnus cineraceus
The only sighting was of three over Jinshan Fields on 19th May (JB & KC)
Siberian Thrush Zoothera sibirica
A male was seen at Stone River on 9th May, at Happy Island on 14th and 16th and at Magic Wood on the latter date. A male and female were on Happy island on 15th Threewith a maxima of three (Ad male, first year male and a female) present in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma
A few were seen in early part of trip with one at Friendship Hotel grounds on 6th and 7th May and a maxima of three on 8th. Singles seen at Stone River on 9th and Happy Island on 13th May.
Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum
Very few sightings, restricted to a male in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May and three at The Reservoir on 7th May.
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula mandarinus
Looked larger and duller plumaged than British race. Maxima of six in Friendship Hotel grounds on 7th and a pair were seen carrying food on 17th May.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscures
Small numbers were seen most days wherever mature woodland/trees present. Maxima of 10 in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 6th May, one at Stone River on 9th, 12 in-off at Lighthouse Point on 11th, eight at Magic Wood on 12th and 12 at Happy Island also on 14th May. Numbers in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel had declined to a single by 17th when two were still in the Reservoir woods on 18th May.
Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni
One at Happy Island on 13th May was the only sighting.
Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus
Four records all involving single birds. The first in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 7th May, in-off at Lighthouse Point on 11th, Happy island on 14th and finally, in the Reservoir woodlands on 18th May.
Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis
Seen at the start and end of the trip, with two in the grounds of the Jinshan Hotel, singles at Lighthouse Point both on 5th May and one at Stone River on 19th and Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 20th May.
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Occasional sightings with a female in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May, a male at Sandflats on 7th, a single at Jinshan Fields on 11th May and a maxima of two at Happy Island on 13th and 14th May.
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope
Seen widely in small numbers with three at Jinshan Hotel grounds and two at Lighthouse Point both on 5th May. One in Jinshan Fields on 6th, two in the Reservoir woodlands and a male in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel both on 7th. The latter site held a maxima of five on 8th and three on 11th, whilst elsewhere there were single birds at Stone River on 8th, 9th and 19th and a maxima of seven at Happy island on 14th, two in Magic Wood on 16th and four were feeding in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane
Seen regularly at most locations throughout the trip with four at Lighthouse Point, three in Jinshan Hotel grounds and one at Jinshan Fields on 5th May, five in the Reservoir Woodlands on 7th, ten at Friendship Hotel on 8th, a maxima of eight at Stone River on 9th. Sixteen birds at Lighthouse Point on 11th, included several birds in-off the sea. Elsewhere there were 30 at the Friendship Hotel grounds on 11th and a maxima of 12 at Happy Island on 14th. Two were present in Magic Wood on 16th. Eight were still present in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th and one flew north on a visible migration watch at Jinshan Fields on 19th May.
Red-flanked Bluetail Luscinia cyanura
One at Lighthouse Point on 5th May.
Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans
The first was one in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 8th May, followed by further singles at The Reservoir on 10th, Jinshan Hotel on 12th and Happy Island on 13th and 14th. There were three in both Magic Wood on 16th and Jinshan Hotel grounds on 17th, two at Lighthouse Point on 17th, a trip maxima of seven in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May and one at Stone River on 19th May.
Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
One at Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May was the only one seen.
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
Four males at Beijing Airport set the scene with two at Lighthouse Point on 5th May and maxima of 10 at Jinshan Fields on 6th and the Reservoir on 7th, 25 in reeds at Sandflats also on 7thand 30+ at Stone River on 8th. This was followed by a big clear out on 11th May. 17 birds at Happy Island on 14th May provided a late maxima for this locality.
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarus
A female fed on shoreline rocks at Lighthouse Point on 12th May and there was a maxima of four at Happy Island on 14th May.
White-throated Rock Thrush Monticola gularis
A male in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 10th May, a female at Lighthouse Point and a male at Magic Wood both on 12th were the prelude to a maxima of 15 at Happy Island on 14th May. A female was present in Magic Wood on 16th and there were three in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Reported widely from woodland in first two weeks with one at Lighthouse Point on 6th and 12th May, three at the Reservoir on 7th, singles at Friendship Hotel grounds on 8th, Jinshan Fields and Stone River on 9th, a maxima of seven at Happy Island on 13th and 15th and two at Magic Wood on 16th May.
Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica
A late arrival, with the first sighting a single bird at Happy Island on 13th May, where numbers increased to a maxima of seven on 15th. Elsewhere, four were present in Magic Wood on 16th, one at Lighthouse Point on 17th, eight in the Reservoir woodlands on 18th and singles at both The Great Wall, Jiaoshandao, and Stone River on 19th and the grounds of both the Friendship and Jinshan Hotels on 20th May.
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
One at Lighthouse Point on 6th May was followed by six in the Reservoir woodlands on 7th and, again, at Lighthouse Point on 12th. A significant overnight fall on 14th produced 200+ at Happy Island with 75 still present on 15th and birds still arriving in-off the sea on 16th. Towards the end of our visit maxima included 15 at Magic Wood on 16th and 12 in the Reservoir Woodlands on 18th May.
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia
Widely reported in small numbers, often given away by its bullfinch-like call which accompanies the more typical flycatcher-like ‘trrrt’. Two in Jinshan Fields and one at Lighthouse Point on 5th and 6th May, were followed by one in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 7th May. Thereafter site maxima included seven at the Reservoir on 10th, two at Stone River on 9th, two at Lighthouse Point on 11th, 25 at Happy Island on 14th and three at both Magic Wood on 16th and in the grounds of the Friendship Hotel on 17th May.
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
A male at Stone River in plantation on 9th May was followed by a maxima of 10 at Happy Island on 14th and single birds at Magic Wood on 16th and Lighthouse Point on 17th May.
Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
Widely reported in small numbers with two in Jinshan Fields and one at Lighthouse Point on 5th and 12th May. Elsewhere, site maxima included one in Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 6th, three at the Reservoir on 7th and 10th, 30 at Happy Island on 14th, six in Magic Wood on 16th and two at Stone River on 19th May.
Blue and White Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana
The only sighting was a female/imma male which showed a blue sheen on its outer tail and lesser/median coverts feeding in the grounds of the Jinshan Hotel on 20th May.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Abundant in most places including 40+ Beijing Airport on 5th May, 200 at Sandflats on 7th May and 50+ at Happy Island on 14th May.
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
Three records involving single birds at the Reservoir woodlands on 7th and 18th May and Happy Island from 13th – 14th May.
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis taivana and M.t.macronyx
Conspicuous visible migrant with maxima of 43 north over Jinshan Fields on 6th May, 30 feeding at Sandflats on 7th increasing to 50 on 10th (including 20 ‘taivana’, 15 ‘tschutensis’ and 15 ‘macronyx’), 125 at Stone River on 9th, 24 N over the Reservoir on 10th, 75 in-off at Lighthouse point on 11th and 46 north at Happy Island on 15th. Although the scale of movement declined towards the end of the trip birds were still moving through on 20th May with 13 north over Jinshan Fields.
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
A first summer male was feeding along the river at Sandflats on 10th May.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinera
One at Sandflats on 7th and 10th May, singles at Lighthouse Point on 11th and 12th, a maxima of 6 north at Happy Island on 12th and five north on 15th May.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba leucopsis and M.a.ocularis
Small numbers seen moving through Jinshan Fields with two on 6th May, 20 feeding at Sandflats on 7th, six at Stone River on 8th. Eight birds at Sandflats on 10th included six ‘ocularis’ and two ‘leucopsis’. Finally there were two at Happy Island from 13th - 16th May.
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardii
The first sighting was a single at Jinshan Fields on 6th May, followed by maxima of six at Stone River on 9th, one in-off the sea at Lighthouse Point on 11th, six at Happy island on 13th and 3 north over same locality on 15th and 16th with two at the Da Pu He River also on 16th May.
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii
Three seen in Jinshan Fields on 6th May, one at Stone Creek on 9th, two at Happy island on 12th and 13th with a maxima of four NW on 16th May.
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
Seen and heard widely with singles at Jinshan Fields on 6th & 11th May, three at the reservoir on 7th, two at Stone Creek on 9th and two in-off the sea at Lighthouse Point on 11th. there was a maxima of three at Magic Wood on 12th and 25 north at Happy Island on 15th May.
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi
Three sightings involving single birds at the Reservoir on 7th May, south over Happy Island on 15th and NW over the same locality on 16th May.
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
Three at Stone River on 8th May and one on 9th May were the only sightings.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
One at Happy Island on 15th and 16th May.
Oriental Greenfinch Carduelis sinica
One or two seen most days displaying in Jinshan Hotel grounds and from Jinshan Fields.
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus
Six at Magic Wood and a maxima of 15 at Happy Island, both on 15th May.
Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria
A first year male was singing in bushes on the seafront between Jinshan Hotel and the beach access to Lighthouse Point on 9th May. A maxima of three were in the Jinshan Hotel grounds on 17th. The last report was a single near Lighthouse Point on 20th May.
A Grosbeak spp was seen at Magic Wood on 12th May.
Buntings spp
Hundreds moving high north over Lighthouse Point and Jinshan Fields on 11th May and 150+ flew north over Happy Island on 15th and 16th May.
Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides
A male singing on the top of the embankment to the right of the entrance to The great Wall, jiaoshandao, on 19th May.
Tristram’s Bunting Emberiza tristrami
Small numbers seen widely, often associated with woodland. maxima included: two at Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 6th and 7th May, one in Friendship Hotel Grounds on 7th and 11th, four in the Reservoir woodlands on 7th, five at Stone Creek on 9th and one at Lighthouse Point and maxima of six at Happy island both on 13th May.
Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata
A maxima of five at Stone River on 8th May, two at Jinshan Fields on 20th where singles were seen on 9th – 11th and 17th and 18th, eight at Happy Island on 13th and one at Magic Wood on 16th May.
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla
One in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May and a maxima of three on 6th, with singles at Stone River on 9th and the Reservoir on 10th. Elsewhere singles were also at Jinshan Fields on 6th and 9th, Lighthouse Point on 11th and there was a maxima of nine at Happy Island on 15th May.
Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys
Only seen at start of trip with maxima of four in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May and one in Friendship Hotel grounds on 7th May.
Elegant Bunting (Yellow-throated Bunting) Emberiza elegans
One female in Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May was the only one seen.
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola
A female was seen at Stone Creek on 9th May. Elsewhere maxima included four at Happy Island on 15th and 16th and one at Magic Wood on 16th. The last was a female at Jinshan Fields on 20th May.
Chestnut Bunting Emberiza rutila
One at Jinshan Hotel Grounds on 5th May, a male at Jinshan Fields on 6th and a maxima of 20+ at Happy Island on 13th May.
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala spodocephala and E.s. personata
Common throughout coastal areas with maxima of 10 in the Jinshan Hotel grounds on 5th May, eight at the Reservoir on 10th, nine at Stone River on 9th, five at Lighthouse Point on 11th, four at Jinshan Fields on 11th and 60+ at Happy Island on 13th and 14th May.
Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi
One female at Stone River on 8th and 9th May , a male at Sandflats on 10th May and a maxima of four at Happy Island on 12th May.
Japanese Reed Bunting Emberiza yessoensis
One in Jinshan Fields on 11th May followed by two at Happy island on 13th May were the only sightings.
207 species