The reserve of Che Ba Ling is located approximately 100 Km east of Shaoguan in northern Guangdong, Southern China. It consists basically of a large valley with forested hills on either side. The area still contains some primary forest however this restricted mainly to the valley sides as the lowland areas adjacent to the river are now cultivated. There are also a number of small areas of teaplantations on the hillsides. The area recently came to the forefront following the discovery of the White eared Night Heron however its current status is not fully known. It is also a good locality to see Blyth’s Kingfisher which has a very restricted range within Southern China as well as a number of other forest species including Silver Pheasant
The reserve has a large museum of which they are very proud. Apart from a large number of somewhat moth eaten birds and mammals there is a large collection of butterfly’s and insects. It’s worth a visit.
The area is basically simple to cover. Birding is done from the road that runs through the valley adjacent to the river and along a number of trails that wind up into the hillside. Apparently there is a good section of primary forest about one km from the head quarters along a track that leads up into the hills (this Core area is marked by a wall with a gate on the left side of the road). Due to the time restraints we did not visit this area opting to spend the majority of our time on two trails and fields close to the headquarters as we knew most of the sought after species had been seen in this area six weeks prior to or visit.
Logistics
Shaoguan is approximately 300km north of Hong Kong and is easily accessible by train. The reserve is about a two hour drive from the town and accommodation is available at the reserve headquarters. The standard of accommodation was good by Chinese standards. It was clean in a good state of repair and there was running water and flush toilets. There are no shops in the area however food is included with cost of the room.
We phoned the reserve to make prior arrangements for our stay. This was done for us by a Chinese friend as normally only Chinese is spoken at the reserve. We were therefore somewhat surprised to find an English speaking person there when we arrived however we suspect that he had just been shipped for the duration of our stay. The reserve arranged for transport to and from the railway station on the Friday night and Sunday. Although we had agreed a price prior to our stay we were not surprised that when it came to pay the cost had suddenly gone up five times. However after a very heated debate the price was reduced to a much more reasonable figure. Beware try and get the price agreed in writing prior to your stay.
To maximise birding time we took some food with us for breakfast and lunch and just eat at the Head Quarters in the evening. The food was typical Chinese food rice meat and vegetables
Although no one else was staying there whilst we were there the reserve is apparently quite popular during the summer.
Itinerary
Friday 23rd February 2001
We departed Hong Kong on the 15.00 Hong Kong to Beijing train arriving at Shaoguan just after 21.00. We were meet at the station and taken by road to the reserve.
Saturday 24th February 2001
Were out in the field at first light at about 06.30. Walked the hundred meters from the Head Quarters to the bridge that crossed the river and scanned the river for Kingfishers. No luck so we continued walking for a further 200m along the road that runs adjacent to the river and eventually a Blyth’s Kingfisher flew by us towards the bridge We returned to the bridge obtained good views and very soon afterwards a pair of Crested Kingfishers flew over the bridge and landed on a nearby tree and gave excellent views.
Having seen the two kingfishers we headed along a trail that started on the right just before the bridge (ridge trail). Silver Pheasant had been seen along this trail some six weeks previous but we had no luck however we did see a good number of forest species including Black Bulbul and Red-headed Trogon. We walked along the trail for approximately 2 hours initially following a stream then climbing high to a ridge. Returned head quarters early afternoon and birded fields behind the accommodation block. By now it was getting cold and the wind was picking up however after about 30 minutes a small flock of buntings and pipits was discovered and very quickly we found at least 3 Yellow-browed Buntings amongst them
With it rapidly getting colder and windier we decided to spend the remaining daylight hours walking up the road towards the core area of the reserve. Birds were few and far between and just as we returned to the head quarters at dusk it started to rain
Sunday 25th February 2001
The rain persisted over night however by 07.00 it had stopped and we started the day by exploring a trail leading up into the hillside starting from behind the museum. We were informed by the headquarters staff that Silver pheasant had been seen along this trail two days ago. After about 2km we came to a large area of orchard plantation where we found the edge of the forest to be quite productive finding three species of woodpeckers in one small bird flock. We also saw a 3 Collared Finchbills in a small area of bushes in the plantation. As we returned down the trail it started to rain again. We endured the rain for another 3 hours as we again walked along the ridge trail but the birds were not as stupid and kept well under cover. Returned to the head quarters at about 11.00 where we dried off and left for Shaoguan station at 12.30 arriving in time to catch the 15.00 train back towards Hong Kong After changing trains at Guangzhou crossed the boarder back into Hong Kong at 22.00.
Systematic List
Crested Serpent Eagle(Spilornis cheela)
1 ridge trail 24th February
Chinese Bamboo Partridge(Bambusicola thoracica)
3 flew across the river near the bridge 24th February
Red Headed Trogan(Harpactes erythrocephalus)
4 ridge trail 24th February, 1 Musuem Trail 25th February
Crested Kingfisher(Ceryle lugubris)
3 along the river 24th February, 1 along the river 25th February (Mostly near the HQ)
Blyth’s Kingfisher(Alecedo hercules)
2 along the river 24th February
Common Kingfisher(Alcedo atthis)
I on the river 24th February
Great Barbet(Megalaima virens)
3 museum trail 25th February
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
1 museum trail 25th February
Great Spotted Woodpecker(Picoides major)
2 museum trail 25th February 28
Grey-capped woodpecker(Picoides canicapillus)
2 museum trail 25th February
Bay Woodpecker(Blythipictus pyrrhotis)
2 ridge trail 24th February
Grey Wagtail(Motacilla cinerea)
3 on river 24th February
Olive—backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
1 ridge trail and 9 in HQ fields 24th February
Large Wood-shrike(Tephrodornis gularis)
20 Head Quarters 25th February
Grey -chinned Minivet(Pericrocotus solaris)
A total of 50 seen on both 24th and 25th February
Scarlet Minivet(Pericrocotus flammeus)
4 ridge trail 24th February, 3 museum trail 25th February
Collared Finchbill(Spizixos semitorques)
3 museum trail 25th February
Mountain Bulbul(Hypsipetes mcclellandii)
5 ridge trail and along river 24th February, 1 museum trail 25th February
Chestnut Bulbul(Hypsipetes castanonotus)
Total of 100 24th February, total 20 25th February
Black Bulbul(Hypsipetes leucocephalus)
7 ridge trail 24th February
Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii)
3 ridge trail 24th February, 3 museum trail 25th February
Brown Dipper(Cinclus pallasii)
A total of 8 on the river 24th February and 4 25th February
Red-flanked Bluetail(Tarsiger cyanurus)
A total of 5 24th February and 3 25th February
Daurian Redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus)
4 HQ fields 24th February, 2 museum trail 25th February
Plumbeous Redstart(Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
A total of 5 on the river 24th February
Violet Whistling Thrush(Myiophoneus caeruleus)
A total of 5 24th February and 2 25th February
Chinese Blackbird(Turdus merula mandarinus)
1 HQ 25th February
Grey-backed Thrush(Trudus hortulorum)
I ridge trail 25th February 28
Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni)
1 HQ fields 24th February
Slaty-backed Forktail(Enicurus schistaceus)
A total of 9 on the river and adjacent streams 24th February and 4 on 25th February
White-crowned Forktail(Enicurus leschenaulti)
A total of 6 on the river 24th February and 1 25th February
Plain Prinia(Prinia inornata)
3 HQ fields 24th February
Yellow-bellied Prinia(Prinia flaviventris)
1 HQ fields 24th February
Palla’s Leaf Warbler(Phylloscopus proregulus)
1 ridge trail 24th February, 5 museum trail 25th February
Yellow-browed Warbler(Phylloscopus inornatus)
I HQ 25th February
Rufous-capped Babbler(Stachyris ruficeps)
3 ridge trail 24th February
Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush(Garrulax pectoralis)
10 museum trail 25th February
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta(Alcippe morrisonia)
A total of 50 24th February and 5 25th February
Striated Yuhina(Yuhina castaniceps)
A total of 100 24th February and 50 25th February
Great Tit(Parus major)
1 HQ 24th February
Blue Magpie(Urocissa erythrorhyncha)
A total of 15 25th and 26th February
Grey Treepie(Dendrocissa formosae)
7 ridge trail 24th February 10 museum trail 25th February
Black-faced Bunting(Emberiza spodocephala)
15 HQ fields 24th February
Yellow-browed Bunting(Emberiza chrysophrys)
3 HQ fields 24th February 28, 2001
