Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Black-faced Bunting |
 Beidaihe - map1 |
 Beidaihe - map 2 |
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 Beidaihe - map 3 |
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Background
I had wanted to visit Beidaihe since I first heard about the place back in my early years of birding and it seemed that the easiest way of getting there was to go on an organised trip. I had heard that the habitats were under serious threat due to development and birders were saying that much of what was left would probably be gone in a few years. With this in mind I decided the time had come and to go before it was too late. I contacted Wildwings at the beginning of 2004 to see what I could do about booking for 2005 and found that half of the places were already taken. I sent my advanced registration fee and I was going.
Note: The following accounts, both sites and species, are my own are not a representation of the WildWings group as a whole.
Timing
Each spring thousands of migrant birds pass through the Beidaihe area on their way to their breeding grounds in the north however unlike the Autumn passage the Spring is usually brief, all happening within a few weeks. Species such as Red-flanked Bluetails are early migrants with the bulk already gone through by early May thus the small numbers noted each Spring. Like wise species such as locustella warblers are later migrants beginning to pass through from the third week of May though some early birds can usually be found. The bulk of the passage tends to move through in the middle of May and trips here are timed to coincide with this.
Weather
During my visit the weather was variable with some very hot and clear days whilst down at Happy Island some days had very heavy rain and were cold. Indeed a severe storm occurred on arrival at the Lao Yo Jin Mudflats and Magic Wood and that massive ‘bang’ of a thunderclap that caused everyone to hit the deck in Magic Wood. The best conditions for a fall of migrants is a cold front coming from the north that in essence blocks the onwards migration. This occurred on the 8th May though to smaller extent to previous years we did at least have quite a lot of birds to go through. On the 17th May, after the persistent heavy rain of the previous 24hours had stopped, Yang He produced some superb birding with the highlight being the superb passage of White-throated Needletails. Several Siberian Thrushes occurred also at this time but word reached us that a fall of around 80 Siberian Thrushes had occurred on Happy Island.
LOCATIONS
Beidaihe itself is a large town on the east coast of China on the edge of the Gulf of Bohai and each spring sees countless thousands of birds moving north to breed. In the right conditions huge falls could occur. One of the main reasons that Beidaihe is so popular is the fact that many birds that are extreme vagrants in Europe but are abundant here and it is not unusual to see double figure counts of Siberian Rubythroats and Blue Robins on some days. It’s not only passerine migrants that pass through as there are areas of wetlands and tidal mudflats that attracts waders, assorted waterbirds and various gulls and terns. Birds, such as Great Knot, Little Whimbrel, Asiatic Dowitcher, Long-toed and Red-necked Stints, Saunder’s and Relict Gulls all add to the experience.
Happy Island is the Mecca to the south with extensive tidal mudflats, wetlands and is a magnet for passerines; this location is a must for anyone visiting this part of the world.
Jin Shan Field
From the entrance at the rear of the Jin Shan Hotel turn right and then right again to reach the gate on the left onto Jin Shan Field. This small weedy area often produces good birds with buntings, pipits, locustella warblers, chats and shrikes predominant. Early morning is best but a visit at any time of day will produce a few good birds. It is also worth paying it a visit when there is a passage of swifts to look for Needletails. There is a raised, weed covered, mound in the middle of the field that is a focal point for buntings.
Jin Shan Hotel
This hotel is the one that most birders use when visiting Beidaihe. The reason for this is the fact that is has easy access to all of the nearby birding sites, is a birding site in its own right and has excellent food. There are tree-lined paths but at first glance there seems little to attract birds. However the low weedy patches and small hedges, especially on the seaward side by the disused swimming pool are especially good and a number of fine birds were found, such as Rubythroats, Siberian Blue Robins, Oriental Scops Owl, Siberian Thrush, Oriental Greenfinch and so on.
Lighthouse Point
This small peninsula is a magnet for migrating birds and there was often birds seen coming in off the sea whilst I was there, Amur Falcons, Hobbies, Eastern Marsh Harriers, Purple Herons and numerous small passerines. To access the point from the Jin Shan Hotel head towards to the coast where there is a stand of trees that is good for warblers and flycatchers. There is a raised mound of earth known as Lancy Hill and at times this could produce many a Lancy. Follow the dirt track around the fence with the sea on the right and you are on the point. The main path takes you to the very tip though there are numerous sidetracks that can be explored. There is a small fishing fleet in the bay with a constant stream of Chinese toing and froing but the low scrub and trees here are excellent for Quail, Dusky, Raddes, Black-browed Reed and Thick-billed Reed Warblers. On the landward side of the main path are the taller trees but these are in private grounds and cannot be access directly. The path passes through a collapsed or knocked down wall and on the tip where the open trees and bushes here are migrant magnets. The small section alone produced Tiger Shrikes, PGTips, Lanceolated Warblers, Bluethroats, Pale-legged Leaf Warblers and so on. A very good place though some days it can be oddly empty of birds but with the right conditions it can be superb.
Sandflats
An extensive area of Sandflats that is compacted enough to walk on is located about 10 minutes to the north by taxi from the Jin Shan. At the southern side of the bridge over the channel are two small woods separated by a small reedy pool. These woods held little whilst we were there but they are known to have great migrant pulling power. The pool holds waders such as Common and Pintail snipe and both Pallas’s and Japanese Reed Buntings whilst the ‘finger’ of reeds that lines the narrow channel that stretches out across the flats is also good for Chinese Penduline Tits and Pechora Pipits. The scrubby on the southern side of the flats was good for buntings and chats with Yellow-breasted, Pallas’s Reed, Little and Black-faced Buntings being seen in an afternoon as well as many Siberian Stonechats and a Mongolian Lark. Check the main channel out from the bridge for waders and egrets for species such as Sandplovers and the rare Chinese Egret.
Reservoir and Wader Pools
On the other side of the road from the Sandflats is the reservoir. Go through the main entrance and after a short walk you come to the main area of water. The eastern end is largely reed free but for the most part the reservoir is covered in dense reeds and is the haunt of various bitterns, warblers and crakes. A pleasant wooded path takes you all the way around the reservoir bringing back to the wader pools and often holds migrants. On the left side of the southern part of the path after about half a mile are a series of paddies that held numerous waders, herons and wagtails. Here there was a Long-toed Stint, the only Oriental Pratincoles of the trip and a Grey-headed Lapwing as well as herons and egrets. On the northern side of the reservoir the path passes a number of ‘hidden’ pools which hold bitterns and crakes so you will need to go ‘off road’ to view them. The open under story along this section of path often has Forest Wagtails.
The wader pools back near the road vary in amount of exposed mud but a fair selection of waders are often present with Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed, Wood and Marsh Sandpipers and numerous gulls and egrets.
Friendship Hotel
From the entrance at the rear of the Jin Shan Hotel turn left and follow main road for quarter of a mile until it bends to the right and after 100yards the hotel entrance is located on the left. The hotel grounds are extensive and are superb for birding. An area of trees 50yards on the left after entering the main open gate is a good area to start as there is significant low bushes to hold a number of species. At the far end of the grounds by the Friendship Club is another good area with the bushes here holding Red-flanked Bluetail, Stub-tailed Warbler and both Blue Robins and Rubythroats whilst the grassy areas and ditches held locustella warblers and several Spotted Bush Warblers. The whole ground will certainly pay returned visits.
Jim’s Lane
At the back of the Friendship Hotel at the rear of the far corner by the main road there is a metal gate. After walking through this you come out onto a back road. Turn right and head down the road to where it begins to go down the hill. There is a gate on the opposite side of the road which leads to a walled garden, a small orchard and some allotments. This small area was basically discovered by a member of the Wildwings group and subsequently named after him though a more official name may in time be given to it. There were a number of thrush species here that included four Siberian Thrushes and two plus pairs of White-throated Rock Thrushes. Blue Robins, Olive-backed Pipits and warblers were common so the area will certainly repay further investigation.
Lotus Hills
A watch point located a short taxi drive from the Jin Shan. I visited here only the once but the main path up from the entrance to the ‘zoo’ is heavily wooded which had several good species such as Daurian Redstart, Siberian Rubythroat and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers whilst the rank vegetation in the small ditch held a Lanceolated Warbler. Beyond the zoo you head up towards to top of the hill, a steep climb, where you have a commanding view over the valley. It is a notable viewpoint to look for raptors and Needletails but it was relatively quiet on our visit. The area near the top is cedar woodland.
Yang He Woods and Pools
About half a mile to the south of the Yang He Estuary is this great little wood. A sandy track on the left side of the road allows easy access. This small wood is relatively open though a little more scrubby on the western side. This excellent area held many Rubythroats, Blue Robins, various phylloscopus warblers, buntings and thrushes as well as several rarities such as Spotted Bush Warbler and Yellow-legged buttonquail. This tiny wood can easily take half a day to work properly go from end to end. There are a few small reed fringed pools between the wood and the road and here there were several wader species and Black-browed Reed Warblers.
On the other side of the road opposite the small bridge a long track leads out past a series of pools which are very good for swallows, pipits, wagtails, buntings, chats, herons and egrets. On one day here several hundred marsh terns passed through along with 17 White-throated Needletails. The plantation on the other side of the main channel is good for Rubythroats and Blue Robins.
Yang He Estuary
This estuary can be reached by a twenty minute taxi ride from the hotel for 30 Yuan. View from the southern or northern side of the estuary though from the south there is easier access to the Yang He Wood. This estuary has the usual waders present including Sandplovers and during our visit two Grey-tailed Tattlers.
Great Wall
We visited the old section of the Great Wall to the north of Beidaihe for the better part of a day but found it very hard work arriving what was deemed to late in the morning. There are some special birds at the top of the cable car but not all were seen. The top is covered in trees and scrub and is the home to Chinese Hill Warbler and Pere David’s Laughing Thrush though only a few saw the latter. The Great Wall itself was a disappointment being a crumbling remnant though the portion below the peak is better.
Old Peak
A two night visit to this mountain area produced the required endemics though I suspect that most could be seen in a day. There are two ways of getting to the top, one by driving to the hotel or taking the cable car. There is a wide track that switches back and forth up the mountain from the hotel to the summit and beyond as well as a long staircase. The track provides the best birding opportunities through the wooded hillsides which thin out towards the top. Quality species encountered were Chinese Leaf Warbler, Yellow-vented Warbler, Godlewski’s and Meadow Buntings, Chinese Nuthatch, Yellow-bellied Tit, Bull-headed Shrike and several White-bellied Redstarts. I personally missed the Koklass Pheasants but a very early morning is required to stand a chance of these.
Da Pu He
A mixed area of open grassland, wooded copses and marshes and about an hour’s drive south of Beidaihe. We stopped in on the drive south to Happy Island. This area is a good one to look for Asian Short-toed Larks though we failed to see any. However other good birds were present in the form of several Lanceolated Warblers, Grey Nightjar, Siberian Blue Robins, Siberian Rubythroats and several thrush species. This area certainly warrants exploration
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats
Not far from where you get the Happy Island ferry are the mudflats. This area of tidal mud often holds an array of waders including Asiatic Dowitcher. Most are a fair way out but if you get the tide right you can get reasonable views of Great Knot, Red-necked Stints, Far Eastern Curlews, Lesser and Greater Sandplovers and gulls such as Relict and Saunders.
Happy Island
The birders Mecca four hours south of Beidaihe. The island is quite large and accessed by the regular tourist ferries from Lao Yo Jin. The crossing takes about 40 minutes. On arrival electric cars transported us to the Monastery where our bags were left whilst we went birding. If you walk be aware that it could take some time to reach this site. The island is covered, for the most part, in dense thorn scrub and grasslands though the primary areas are the woodland behind the Monastery with its network of trails and ditches and the ‘wood’. An isolated patch of trees about15 minutes walk along the main track, it can be seen from the Monastery. These woods were a haven and we had numerous species here including Arctic, Two-barred Greenish, Pale-legged Leaf, Blyth’s Leaf, Hume’s Leaf and Yellow-browed Warblers, numerous chats, Siberian and Eye-browed Thrushes and other assorted goodies. Beyond the ‘wood’ is the wader roost where you stand a chance of getting Asiatic Dowitcher if you get the tide right. It is possible to stay on Happy Island at the basic hotel but if not several visit’s should be made to get the best out of it. We missed the biggest falls of migrants both before we arrived and after we left, 80 Siberian Thrushes on the latter.
Magic Wood
A tiny remnant woodland patch is seriously under threat but despite this it draws in the birds like a magnet. It is said it could be even better than Happy Island in a fall. We made numerous morning and evening visits and success came with Asian Stub-tailed Warbler, Whites Thrushes, Rufous-tailed Robins, Blue Robins, Rubythroats, three species of Drongo, Warblers, Shrikes basically stacks of birds. This small wood has numerous tall trees with extensive under-story and rank vegetation that is a key to why the birds linger here so long. On the other side of the dirt road is an area of rough ground that held Little Whimbrel, breeding Kentish Plovers and Asian Short-toed Larks.
Big Wood
A short drive from Magic Wood we found a new and very wide road was being built through the middle of it, in effect splitting it in two. There are two sections anyway with the one by the private garden appearing more as a poplar plantation whilst the portion across the field has more extensive under-story and has a large Night Heron colony. We didn’t do very well here though Siberian Thrushes were seen by some.
Day to Day Birding
5th May – Thursday
Morning flight from Heathrow to Beijing via Amsterdam arrived early next day, the 6th
6th May – Friday
Morning spent at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden Palace sight seeing with afternoon birding at Yuyuantan Park, Beijing
7th May – Saturday
Morning birding at the Summer Palace with an afternoon return visit to Yuyuantan Park, Beijing
8th May – Sunday
Early morning departure arriving at the Jin Shan Hotel mid morning, late morning to mid afternoon birding at the Sandflats, Reservoir and wader pool area with evening birding on Lighthouse Point
9th May – Monday
Pre breakfast birding at the Jin Shan Hotel and Jin Shan Field, Lighthouse Point. After breakfast excursion to the Lotus hills with rest of afternoon birding the Yang Ho Estuary, Wood and Pools.
10th May – Tuesday
Morning birding Jin Shan Field before breakfast with Yang ho Wood and pools late morning to mid afternoon, late afternoon birding the Friendship Hotel grounds in the rain
11th May – Wednesday
Morning at Lighthouse Point and the Friendship Hotel grounds and after breakfast to mid afternoon the Sandflats and Reservoir areas. Late afternoon birding the Friendship Hotel again.
12th May – Thursday
Early morning birding around Jin Shan Hotel and Field, Lighthouse Point, Friendship Hotel with late morning to mid afternoon spent at the Great Wall. Late afternoon/evening back again in the Friendship Hotel
13th May – Friday
Early morning at the Friendship hotel and Jin Shan area then drive south stopping at Da Pu He mid morning. Mid afternoon at Lao Yo Jin Mudflats and late afternoon at the Magic Wood in the rain
14th May – Saturday
Early morning at Magic wood the much of day spent birding on and around Happy Island finishing with an evening return visit to the Magic Wood
15th May – Sunday
Morning at Magic Wood, Lao Yo Jin Mudflats then afternoon at Big Wood before a return visit to Magic Wood.
16th May – Monday
Very early and brief visit to Magic Wood with rest of day on Happy Island, afternoon rained out
17th May – Tuesday
Morning was spent driving through the rain, mid afternoon visited Qhilihi in search of Black-faced Spoonbill and rest of day at Yang Ho Pools
18th May – Wednesday
Morning around Jin Shan, Lighthouse Point, Friendship Hotel grounds with mid morning to mid afternoon at the Sandflats and Reservoir
19th May – Thursday
Early morning in Friendship Hotel grounds then four hour drive to Old Peak for some short afternoon birding
20th May – Friday
All day birding the Old Peak track
21st May – Saturday
Morning birding Old Peak with mid morning return to Beidaihe with afternoon birding at Lighthouse Point
22nd May – Sunday
Birding Jin Shan Field, Lighthouse Point, Jim’s Lane and finally Friendship Hotel
23rd May – Monday
Morning departure from Beijing for UK arriving back at Heathrow late afternoon
1. Little Grebe
Summer Palace: 9 on 7th May
Reservoir: 14 on 8th May with 20 on 11th May
Yang He Pools: 2 on 17th May
2. Great Crested Grebe
Summer Palace: 7 on main lake 7th May
Sandflats: 3 on 8th May
3. Black-necked Grebe
Sandflats: 1+ on 8th May
4. Bittern
Friendship Hotel: 1 flew over in the evening of the 12th May
5. Yellow Bittern
Reservoir: at least 5 on 18th May
6. Cinnamon Bittern
Reservoir: a single only on 11th May
7. Black-crowned Night Heron
Fairly common in suitable wetland areas:
Yuyuantan Park: 2 adults on 6th May
Summer Palace: 17 on 7th May
Reservoir: 3 on 11th May and 1 on 18th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on 10th May and 3 on 17th May
Big Wood: Large colony with 120+ seen on 15th May
Magic Wood: 12 over on 14th May
Da Pu He: 4 on 13th May
8. Striated Heron
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 flew over in the mornings of the 8th and 12th May
9. Cattle Egret
Yang Ho Pools: 1 on 10th May:
Da Pu He: 3 on 13th and a single on 17th
10. Chinese Pond Heron
Summer Palace: 6+ on 7th May
Reservoir: 6 on 8th May, 11 on the 11th May and 3 on the 18th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on 9th May but a high count of 27 the next day
Da Pu He: 3 on 13th May
Qhilihi: 4 on 17th May
Happy Island: 2 on 14th May
11. Chinese Egret
Sandflats: single on 8th and 11th May
Yang He Estuary: a single on the 9th May
Was also recorded by other members of the WildWings group with 2- at Sandflats, 2 at Yang He Estuary and a single at Qhilihi.
12. Little Egret
Commonest egret encountered being recorded at all wetland sites in various numbers
13. Intermediate Egret
Reservoir: a single on the 18th May
14. Great White Egret
Reservoir: 2 on the 8th and 4 on the 18th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on the 9th and 5 on both the 10th and 17th May
Da Pu He: 3 on 13th May
15. Grey Heron
Probable under recorded
7th May: Summer Palace: 3
16. Purple Heron
Lighthouse Point: 11 in off the sea in a single flock
Yang He Pools: singles on 9th and 10th May
Sandflats: a single on 11th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 17th May
17. Shelduck
Lighthouse Point – 3 flew past on 8th May
18. Mandarin
Summer Palace – a single drake on 7th May
19. Falcated Duck
Summer Palace: 7 (3 drake) on main lake on 7th May
20. Teal
Summer Palace: 30+ on main lake on 7th May
21. Garganey
Summer Palace: 2 drakes with the Teal flock on 7th May
22. Spot-billed Duck
Commonest and most widespread duck, encountered at all wetlands, especially common on Happy Island, i.e. 40+ 16th May. Also recorded at the Summer Palace, the Reservoir, Yang Ho, Magic Wood and Da Pu He.
23. Mallard
A widespread but not very numerous species though encountered at most wetlands sites visited
24. Oriental (Crested) Honey Buzzard
Summer Palace: 2 over on 7th May
Great Wall: 1 on 12th May
Old Peak: a single on 20th May
25. Osprey
Summer Palace: 1 on 7th May
26. Common Buzzard
Great Wall: a single on 12th May
27. Grey-faced Buzzard
Old Peak: a single bird seen from the coach on the way to Old Peak on 19th May
28. Eastern Marsh Harrier
Summer Palace: female over 7th May
Reservoir: 2 females on 8th May
Lighthouse Point: 2 females in off the sea 8th May
Sandflats: male on 11th May
Happy Island: 1+ females on 14th and 16th May
Magic Wood: male on 15th May
29. Pied Harrier
Happy Island: single female on 14th May
Suzie Wong’s: a female overhead on 18th May
Old Peak: a ringtail high over on 19th May
30. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Summer Palace: 1 on 7th May
Sandflats: single on 8th May
Reservoir: single on 11th May
Great Wall: a single on 12th May
Magic Wood: single on 14th May
En route to Beijing: a single from the coach 22nd May
31. Japanese Sparrowhawk
Reservoir: 1+ over on 8th May with a single on the 11th May
Magic Wood: singles on the 13th and 14th May
Happy Island: a single on 14th May
A number of small Accipiters were seen but not specifically identified to species but were either of the above species or perhaps even Chinese Goshawk/Sparrowhawk
32. Peregrine
18th May: a single bird seen over the Sandflats by others in the Wildwings group and then subsequently over
the Reservoir moments later was initially considered to have been a Saker but was possible this species of the
eastern race ‘japonicus’.
33. Hobby
Commonest encountered bird of prey during the trip:
Jin Shan area (Hotel and Field): 2 over on the 8th and 3 on the 9th May
Lighthouse Point: 2 in off the sea on 8th May with another 2 on the 9th and 11th May and a single on the 18th
Yang He Pools: 1 on the 10th May
Sandflats: single on the 11th May
Da Pu He: 1 on the 13th May
Friendship Hotel: a single over on 18th May
Reservoir: 4 on the 8th, 5 on the 11th and single on the 18th May
Old Peak: 2, probably a breeding pair on the 20th May
34. Amur Falcon
Summer Palace: 3 males through on the 7th May
Jin Shan Hotel: male and female over on 8th May
Reservoir: 2 females on 8th May
Lighthouse: female in off the sea on the 8th May
Great Wall: male on the 12th May
Yang He Pools: 3 on the 17th May
Old Peak: a male on 20th May
35. Kestrel
En route from Beijing to Beidaihe: single 8th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 1 on 8th May
Yang He Pools: male 10th May and a single on the 17th May
Da Pu He: male 13th May
36. Pheasant
Seen at Lighthouse Point, Magic Wood and Happy Island with the largest numbers present at the latter site. Also recorded at Old Peak 20th and 21st May though not the habituated birds as seen at other sites.
37. Yellow-legged Button Quail
Yang He Wood: 2 birds present on the 9th May with the first showing well in the wet margins on the wood edge
38. Japanese Quail
Lighthouse Point: 2 flushed from the low scrub on the ‘harbour’ side
Da Pu He: a single flushed on the 13th May whilst walking through the wood was taken by a Hobby
Magic Wood: a single on 14th May
39. White-breasted Waterhen
Summer Palace: a single bird on the 7th May is a bird not always recorded on the WildWings trips
40. Moorhen
Reservoir: 4 initially seen on the 8th with 41 on the 11th May with 11+ on the 18th May
Yang He Pools: 2 only on the 17th May
41. Swinhoe’s Crake
Reservoir: a single was very all to briefly on the 11th May
42. Baillon’s Crake
Reservoir: a single on the 8th May with up to 5 on the 11th May
43. Water Rail
Reservoir: 2 seen briefly on 11th May
44. Oystercatcher
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 3 on the 13th and a single on the 14th May
45. Black-winged Stilt
Summer Palace: 2 only on the 7th May
Sandflats: a single on the 8th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 5 present on the flooded pools on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: 5 on the 9th May with 4 still present the next day
46. Oriental Pratincole
Reservoir: 3 flew over the paddies on the 8th May were the only birds of the trip
47. Little Ringed Plover
Sandflats: 2 on the 8thand 11th May with a single on the 18th May
Yang He Pools: a single on the 9th May
48. Ringed Plover
Sandflats: 2 on the 8th May were the only ones recorded
49. Kentish Plover
Sandflats: 4 on the 4th May, 17 on the 11th May with 3 pairs and single on the 18th May
Yang Ho Estuary: a single on 9th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: under recorded at this site, i.e. a single on the 15th May
50. Lesser (Mongolian) Sandplover
Sandflats: 4 on the 8th and 3 on the 18th May
Yang He Estuary: 5 on the 9th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 20+ on the 13th May increased to 71 on the 18th May
51. Greater Sandplover
Lao Yo Jin: 5+ on the 13th May
52. Pacific Golden Plover
Happy Island: 25+ seen from the boat on the way back to the mainland on the 16th May
Yang He Pools: 2 flew over the pools on the 17th May
53. Grey Plover
Sandflats: 3 on the 8th, 2 on the 11th and 6 on the 18th May
Yang He Estuary: 9+ on the 9th May
Lao Yo Jin: 70+ on 13th and 14th May
54. Grey-headed Lapwing
Summer Palace: 4 flew past on the 7th
Yang He Pools: a pair present on the 10th May
Reservoir: a single on the paddies on the 18th May
55. Red-necked Stint
Surprisingly few seen:
Sandflats: single on the 8th with 2 on the 11th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 1 on the 8th May
Magic Wood: 2 on pools near the wood on the 15th May with 8 there on the 16th
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: a single on 13th May
56. Long-toed Stint
Reservoir: a single seen on the paddies on the 8th May
57. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Reservoir Wader Pools: 2 on the 8th May
Magic Wood: 1 on pools near the wood on 15th May
58. Dunlin
Sandflats: 2 on the 8th May were the only ones seen at this location
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 400+ on the 14th May
59. Curlew Sandpiper
Sandflats: a single on 8th May
Magic Wood: 6 on pools 5 minutes drive from the wood on the 15th May with 5 present the following day
60. Great Knot
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 12 on the 13th, 21 on the 14th and 15 on the 15th May
61. Red Knot
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 15 on the 13th May
62. Asian Dowitcher
Qhilihi: a single 17th May
63. Eurasian Curlew
Sandflats: 1 on the 8th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 40+ on the 13th and 70+ on the 14th May
64. Far Eastern Curlew
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 1 on the 14th May
Happy Island: 1 on the 14th with 2 on the 16th May
Qhilihi: 3+ seen whilst on a failed search for a Black-faced Spoonbill on the 17th May
65. Whimbrel
Common but under recorded:
Sandflats: 20+ on the 8th, 24 on the 11th and 6 on the 18th May
Jin Shan Field: 2 flew over on the 9th May
Da Pu He: 26 in fields on the 13th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: Common here though no real counts made
Lighthouse Point: 16 flew inland overhead on the 21st May
66. Little Whimbrel
Jin Shan Field: 3 flew over early morning were poor views
Magic Wood: a fine bird on the opposite side of the main track to the wood on the 15th May
67. Black-tailed Godwit
Qhilihi: a single with Black-tailed Godwits on the 17th May
68. Bar-tailed Godwit
Yang He Estuary: many seen on 9th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 40+ on 13th May with 100+ present on the 14th May
69. Grey-tailed Tattler
Yang He Estuary: 2 on the north shore on the 9th May
70. Greenshank
Fairly common in coastal wetland habitats i.e. 25+ Sandflats on 8th May and 40+ on the 14th May at the Lao Yo Jin Mudflats.
71. Redshank
Sandflats: 15+ on the 8th May and 6 on the 11th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 25+ on the 8th May
Yang He Estuary: 4 on the 9th May
Da Pu He: several on the 13th May
Magic Wood: 1 on the 15th May
72. Spotted Redshank
Magic Wood: 1 on the 15th and 16th May
Qhilihi: 26 on the 17th May were around only half that counted by others here
73. Marsh Sandpiper
Sandflats: 1 on the 8th and 11th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 4 on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: 4 on the 9th May
74. Green Sandpiper
Reservoir Wader Pools: 2 on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: 2 on the 10th May
75. Wood Sandpiper
Summer Palace: 20+ over on the 7th May
Sandflats: 14 on the 18th May
Reservoir: 20+ on the paddies on the south side of the reservoir on the 8th May with 4 on the 18th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 51 counted on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: 4 on the 9th May with 5 here the next day with 27 on the 17th May
Qhilihi: 20+ on the 17th May
76. Common Sandpiper
Summer Palace: 22 on the 7th May
Sandflats: 1 on the 8th and 11th May with 2 on the 18th May
Lighthouse: 1 on the 9th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on the 10th and 17th May
Qhilihi: 2 on the 17th May
77. Terek Sandpiper
Sandflats: a single on the 11th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 9 on the 13th May, a single on the 14th May with 4 on the 15th May
Happy Island: 8 on the 14th May with 9 there on the 16th May
Qhilihi: 1 on the 17th May
78. Common Snipe
Sandflats: 3 on the 8th and 2 on 11th May
Yang He Pools: 8 on the 9th and 3 on the 17th May
79. Pintail Snipe
Sandflats: 3 on the 8th and a single on the 11th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on the 10th May
80. Woodcock
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: a single flew in off the sea on the 15th May
81. Turnstone
Yang He Estuary: 1 on the 9th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 1 on the 14th May
82. Relict Gull
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: adult and 2 1st summers on the 14th May and 1 1st summer on the 16th May
Sandflats: a 1st summer on the 18th May
83. Black-headed Gull
Commonest and most widespread gull encountered, i.e. 100+ Reservoir Wader Pools 8th May, 100+ Yang He
Estuary on the 9th May and 70+ on the Sandflats on the 18th May being the biggest counts.
84. Saunder’s Gull
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: a 1st summer flew past on the 14th May
Happy Island: a superb adult flew past the boat as we approached on 14th May with 2 adults over on 16th May
85. Vega Gull
Sandflats: 5+ on the 8th May
Magic Wood: a 1st summer on pools 5 minutes drive from the wood on the 15th May
86. Heuglins Gull
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: adult on 15th May
Lighthouse Point: 2 flew past on 21st May
87. Band-tailed Gull
Summer Palace: a very fine adult on 7th May
Sandflats: a single 1st year on 8th May with a peak of 25+ on the 18th May
Lighthouse Point: 1st year flew past on 8th and 11th May
Yang He Estuary: 50+ on the 9th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: an adult over on the 13th May and a 1st year on the 15th May
Happy Island: 1st year on the 16th May
Qhilihi: 25+ 1st years on the 17th May
88. Caspian Tern
Sandflats: 1 present on the 8th May was the only one of the trip
89. Common Tern
These birds are of the black-billed longipennis race
Summer Palace: 2 on the 7th May
En route south to Happy Island: 2 from the coach on the 13th May
Happy Island: 1 past on the 14th May
Magic Wood: 1 on pools 5 minutes from the wood
Qhilihi: 3 good birds on mud on 17th May
90. Gull-billed Tern
Noted several sites though details only taken from two areas:
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 2 on the 13th May with 3 on both the 14th and 15th May
Happy Island: 1 over on the 14th May
91. Little Tern
En route south to Happy Island: 4 from the coach on the 13th May
Lao Yo Jin Mudflats: 3 on the 13th, 5 on the 14th and 20+ on the 15th May
Also seen as individuals or small groups at several other locations in the south
92. Whiskered Tern
Summer Palace: a single only with two Common Terns on 7th May
En route south to Happy Island: 1 seen with a large White-winged Black Tern flock on 13th May
Magic Wood: 2 on pools 5 minutes from the wood with huge White-winged Black Tern flock. Others were
certainly present but concentration on photography at the time resulted in such small numbers.
Qhilihi: 6+ on 17th May
Yang He Pools: 50+ moved south through the pools in mixed flocks with White-winged Black Terns after the
heavy rain stopped in the evening on the 17th May
93. White-winged Black Tern
En route south to Happy Island: a fine flock of 350+ birds seen hawking over flooded fields on the 17th May
Magic Wood: 33 seen from the coach between the hotel and the wood on 15th May whilst on 15th May a massive
flock of around 2000+ were seen over paddies a short distance from the wood, superb.
Happy Island: 5 from the boat during the crossing on the 16th May
Qhilihi: 30+ on the 17th May
Yang He Pools: 600+ passed through the pools on the 17th May with Whiskered Terns after the rain had stopped
94. Feral Pigeon
Encountered in the larger towns
95. Collared Dove
Jin Shan Hotel: a single in the grounds on the 12th May
96. Spotted Dove
Scarce on the coast
Forbidden City, Beijing: 1 on the 6th May
Summer Palace: 1 on the 7th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 7th May
Several others were seen in Beijing but no details were noted at the time
97. Rufous Turtle Dove
Lighthouse Point: singles recorded here on two dates with 2 on the 22nd May
Yang He Pools: 2 on the 9th May
Friendship Hotel: recorded on four dates with a peak of 3 on the 13th May
Magic Wood: seen on each visit with a peak of 11 on the 14th May
Da Pu He: 6 on the 13th May
98. Common Cuckoo
Magic Wood: 1 on the 14th May
Friendship Hotel: 2 on the 18th with a single on the 19th May
99. Oriental Cuckoo
Da Pu He: a single on the 13th May
100. Lesser Cuckoo
Old Peak: a single on the 21st May near the main entrance
101. Indian Cuckoo
Old Peak: 3 over the top on the 20th May
A number of cuckoos seen from the 12th May through to 18th May were left unidentified
102. Large Hawk Cuckoo
Happy Island: 1 on the 16th May
Old Peak: singles on the 19th, 2oth and 21st May though often seen more often than heard
103. Brown Hawk Owl
Happy Island: 2 on the 14th May were very flighty in the wood behind the Monastery
Friendship Hotel: singles on 17th and 19th May
104. Oriental Scops Owl
Jin Shan Hotel: single roosting on 11th May
Magic Wood: single on the 13th May
105. Grey Nightjar
Friendship Hotel: singles on 11th, 12th, 17th and 18th May
Da Pu He: a fine bird photographed on the 13th May
Magic Wood: 1 on the 16th May
106. Common Swift
Tiananmen Square and Forbidden Palace: 10+ on 6th May
Yang He Pools: 3 on the 17th was past of a movement of Swift species
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on the 19th May
Lighthouse Point: 3on the 21st and 2 on the 22nd May
107. Pacific Swift
Lighthouse Point: 2 on the 9th May, 10 over on the 18th and 2 on the 22nd May
Jin Shan Hotel: a fine performance by 8 on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: 10+ on the 17th May
Jin Shan Field: 9 over on the 18th May
Reservoir: 5 on the 18th May
108. White-throated Needletail
Yang He Pools: 17 went through showing very well with some at near head height on the 17th May, bird of the
trip
Friendship Hotel: 1 over on the 18th May
109. Hoopoe
Reservoir: Pair present each visit along the south path feeding t young at nest hole
Lighthouse Point: singles on the 8th and the 12th May
Lotus Hills: 1 on the 9th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on the 10th and 11th May
Friendship Hotel: 1-2 throughout
Yang He Woods: 2 on the 10th May
Happy Island: pair breeding in a rock pile near the Monastery
Magic Wood: 1 on the 15th May
Big Wood: 1 on the 15th May
110. Common Kingfisher
Summer Palace: 1 on the 7th May
Reservoir: mostly singles to a pair recorded each visit except for 4 on 11th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 1 on the 8th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 8th May
Da Pu He: 2 on the 13th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on the 17th May
111. Black-capped Kingfisher
Happy Island: single 14th May
Magic Wood: single 15th May
Yang He Woods: single 17th May
112. Rufous-breasted Woodpecker
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 1 on 6th May
Reservoir: 1 on 8th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 9th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 9th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 13th May
Magic Wood: 2 on the 14th May
Big Wood: 2 on the 15th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 19th May
113. Great Spotted Woodpecker
Commonest of the woodpeckers and encountered in most suitable areas in various numbers.
114. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Summer Palace: a single on the 7th May
Several others were seen by other birders during the trip
115. Grey-headed woodpecker
Friendship Hotel: pair throughout
Old Peak: 1 on the 20th May
116. Wryneck
Da Pu He: 1 on the 13th May
Magic Wood: 1+ on the 14th May
117. Swallow
Commonest and most widespread hirundine present most places visit. Several large scale movements were noted with some thousands passing Yang He Pools and Wood on the 10th May.
118. Red-rumped Swallow
Common and widespread with several pairs nesting at the Jin Shan Hotel
119. Sand Martin
Reservoir: 10+ on the 8th May
Yang He Pools: a large movement of several hundreds, possibly thousands, on 10th May
120. Richards Pipit
Summer Palace: 6+ flew over calling on 7th May
Yang He Pools: 2 on the 9th, 1 on 10th and 1 on 17th May
Jin Shan Field: single on 13th May
Jin Shan Hotel: an exhausted bird seen well by the disused swimming pool on 13th May
Happy Island: 1 over on 16th May
Sandflats: 1 on 18th May
121. Blyth’s Pipit
Jin Shan Field: 1 single on 13th May
122. Pechora Pipit
Yang He Pools: a probable seen several times briefly on 17th May
123. Red-throated Pipit
Yang He Pools: singles on 10th and 17th May
124. Olive-backed pipit
Summer Palace: 6 on 7th May
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 1 on 6th May
Reservoir: 3 on 8th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 9th May
Lotus Hills: 6 on 9th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 13th May
Magic Wood: 2 on 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 2 on 19th May
Jim’s Lane: single showed well on 19th May
125. Asian Short-toed Lark
Magic Wood: 2+ on the 16th May in rough area on opposite side of the main track to the wood
126. Mongolian Lark
Jin Shan Field: a very fine bird showed well in the morning of the 10th May
Sandflats: a second bird seen in the rough area on the north boundary on the 11th May
127. Yellow Wagtail
Reservoir: 60-100+ on the paddies on the southern side included all three races, Simillia, macronyx and plexa on 8th May
Jin Shan Field: 1 simillia on 9th May with 13 of the same race on the 13th May
Yang He Pools: 100+ mixed flock on 9th May had reduced to only 10+ by next morning. 10+ still on 17th May
Sandflats: single simillia on 11th and 18th May
128. White Wagtail
Two forms were recognised:
Ocularis:
Sandflats: 10+ on 8th May with 1 on 11th May
Reservoir Wader Pools: 1 on the 8th May
Old Peak: a single along the road on 21st May
Leucopsis:
Sandflats: 1 on 8th May was a corker
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 early morning 10th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on beach by fishing boats on 12th May
Yang He Pools: 1 on 17th May
129. Grey Wagtail
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: single on 7th May
Was subsequently seen but not recorded at various coastal sites
130. Citrine Wagtail
Yang He Pools: single female 10th May with 2 females on 17th May
131. Forest Wagtail
Happy Island: a single showed very well by the Monastery on 14th May
132. Ashy Minivet
Happy Island: 1 on 14th with 2 on the 16th May by the Monastery
133. Chinese Bulbul
Fairly common around the Jin Shan area and recorded daily whilst in that area
134. Siberian Rubythroat
Less common this year than indicated in previous years trip reports.
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 2 males and a female 7th May, one of the males was a stunning performer
Jin Shan Hotel: male in the early morning of 9th May, a male 17th May
Lotus Hills: cracking male 9th May
Yang He Woods: 3 males 9th May
Reservoir: female 11th May
Da Pu He: male 13th May
Magic Wood: male 14th May
Yang He Pools: male and 2 females in ditch close to the plantation 17th May
Friendship Hotel: male seen well 17th May
Jin Shan Field: a flighty and elusive male on 21st May
135. Bluethroat
Lighthouse Point: 5 on 9th May
Yang He Wood and Pools: 4 on 10th May
Sandflats: male 11th May
Jin Shan Field: single on 13th May
Da Pu He: male and 2 females 13th May
136. Siberian Blue Robin
Yang He Woods: 3 males, 1 1st year male and 1 female on 9th May; 1 male, 1 female and a 1st year male on the 10th May
Yang He Pools: male and female in ditch by plantation near pools
Friendship Hotel: male and female on 10th May, male on the 11th May, 2 males on the 12th May and a male and 1st year male on 13th May
Lighthouse Point: male on 11th May and female on 21st May
Da Pu He: male and female on 13th May
Magic Wood: 5 on both the 13th and 14th May down to 2 on the 15th May
Happy Island:1st year male on the 14th May
Jims Lane: 2 males and 2 females on 19th May
Old Peak: single singing males 20th and 21st May
137. Red-flanked Bluetail
Friendship Hotel: fine female showed well by the Friendship Club on 11th May
138. Rufous-tailed Robin
Magic Wood: a single on 14th and 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 2 on the 18th with one remaining until the 19th, which was photographed
Yang He Plantation:1 in ditch on edge of plantation by the pools
139. Daurian Redstart
Lotus Hills: smart male on main track 9th May
Old Peak: male and pair on 19th May; 5 on 20th May and 2 males and female on 21st May
140. White-bellied Redstart
Old Peak: two stunning males and a female 21st May
141. Siberian Stonechat
Sandflats: 2 males and a female on 8th May, 30+ on 11th May down to 3 on 18th May
Jin Shan Field: 30+ on 9th, 4 on 11th and 5 on 13th May
Lighthouse Point: 8 on 9th May
Reservoir: 10+ on 11th May
Magic Wood: 3 on 14th May
Old Peak: male on 21st May
142. White-throated Rock Thrush
Friendship Hotel: female 12th and 19th May with males on 18th and 19th May
Great Wall: male briefly on 12th May
Happy Island: stunning male on 14th May
Jims Lane: at least 2 pairs on 19th May
Old Peak: male 20th May
143. Blue Rock Thrush
Jin Shan Field: female on 9th May
Lotus Hills: male red-bellied bird 9th May
Great Wall: male red-bellied bird 12th May
Old Peak: single on 20th May with 2 on the 21st May
144. Siberian Thrush
Magic Wood: male briefly in flight only 9th May
Big Wood: a male very briefly and distantly in flight only 15th May
Happy Island: a 1st year male in a ditch was nice 16th May
Friendship Hotel: a male flew past on 18th May
Jims’ Lane: a performing 1st year male on 19th May
In addition a dead male was handed to me by a member of the Jin Shan hotel Staff, it was in pristine condition
145. White’s Thrush
Magic Wood: singles on 13th and 14th May probably relate to the same bird, cracker
146. Grey-sided Thrush
Friendship Hotel: single 10th – 11th May. Seen in the company of Chinese Song and Eye-browed Thrushes
Old Peak: 2+ on 20th May with a single the next day
147. Grey-backed Thrush
Friendship Hotel: 2 together 10th May with one again the following morning
148. Eye-browed Thrush
Friendship Hotel: female on 12th May
Suzie Wong’s: female 12th May
Magic Wood: 11 on 14th May; 4 on the 15th and 5 on the 16th May
Jims Lane: 15 on the 19th May
Jin Shan Field: 1 on 22nd May
149. Chinese Song Thrush
Friendship Hotel: 1 10th and 11th May
Magic Wood: a single in the rain on 13th May
Jims Lane: 1 on 19th May
150. Asian Stub-tailed Warbler
Friendship Hotel: a single that flew into a window finally met its end when it was taken by a Red-billed Blue Magpie on 13th May
Magic Wood: 1 on 16th May
151. Manchurian Bush Warbler
Old Peak: 1 on 21st May
152. Spotted Bush Warbler
Friendship Hotel: 1 in the ditch by the Friendship Club on 22nd May
153. Chinese Hill Warbler
Great Wall: 2+ on the 12th May
154. Lanceolated Warbler
Lotus Hills: 1 on the 9th May
Da Pu He: 2 on 13th May
Magic Wood: 1 on 13th May
Happy Island: 1 on 15th May
Old Peak: a reeling bird halfway along the main set of steps on 21st May
Lighthouse Point: 2 on 21st May
Friendship Hotel: 3 on 22nd May
Jin Shan Field:2 on 21st May
155. Black-browed Reed Warbler
Yang He Pools: a single on 10th May
Friendship Hotel: single on 11th May with 2 on 2 on 13th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on the 11th May
Sandflats: 1 on 11th May
Magic Wood: 4 on the 13th May
Big Wood: 1 on the 15th May
Lighthouse Point: singles on 18th and 21st May peaking at 20+ on the 22nd May
156. Blunt-winged Warbler
Old Peak: a single on 21st May
157. Oriental Great Reed Warbler
Summer Palace: 2 on 7th May
Sandflats: a showy single on 11th May
Happy Island: 1 on 14th May
Jin Shan: 1 along the road between Jin Shan and Friendship on 22nd May
158. Thick-billed Warbler
Lighthouse Point: 1 on the 11th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 13th May
Happy Island: 1 on 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 19th May
Lighthouse Point: 3 on 21st May increasing to 15+ the next day
Jin Shan: 2 on 22nd May
159. Dusky Warbler
Fairly common and widespread
Summer Palace: 3 on 7th May
Lighthouse Point: 3 on 9th, 11th and 21st May with 2 on 12th, 18th and 21st May
Yang He Woods: 10+ on 9th May with 1 nearby on 10th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 11th increased to 6 on 17th May
Sandflats: 1 on 11th May
Reservoir: 2 on 11th May
Jin Shan Field: 1 on 13th and 2 on the 19th May
Magic Wood: a single on 14th May
Happy Island: 8 on 14th May
Old Peak: 1 on 20th May
160. Yellow-streaked Warbler
Old Peak: 1 on the 20th May
161. Radde’s Warbler
Fairly common and widespread
Summer Palace: 2 on 7th May
Lighthouse: 2 on 9th, 1 on the 10th and 2 again on 12th
Yang He Woods: 15 on 9th May with 2 next day
Friendship Hotel: 4 on 11th and 12th May with a singles on the 13th and 19th and 2 on 18th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on the 12th and 22nd May
Happy Island: 3 on the 14th May
Magic Wood: 30+ on 14th May
Jims Lane: 1 on the 19th May
162. Pallas’s Warbler
Commonest Leaf Warbler encountered being seen in virtually all suitable locations. Most sites recorded modest
numbers however the following locations had respectable numbers:
Jin Shan Hotel: at least 8+ on 9th May
Yang He Wood: 10+ on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: 15+ on 12th May
Magic Wood: 100+ on 14th May with 40+ on 15th May
Happy Island: a massive 500+ on 14th May
163. Chinese Leaf Warbler
Old Peak: 3+ on 20th May with 2 the next day
164. Yellow-browed Warbler
Less common than Pallas’s Warbler being seen in smaller numbers at most of the sites visited. The following
locations had the highest counts:
Jin Shan Hotel: 4 on 9th May
Yang He Wood: 20+ on 10th May
Friendship Hotel: 20+ on 12th May
Magic Wood: 30+ on 13th May
Happy Island: 10+ on 16th May
165. Hume’s Warbler
Under recorded as reported by a number of the Wildwings group
Yang He Wood: a single on 9th May
Magic Wood: a single on 15th May
166. Arctic Warbler
Friendship Hotel: 1 on the 13th May
Happy Island: 6 on the 14th May with 10+ on the 16th May
Reservoir: 1 on 18th May
Jin Shan: 2 on 22nd May
Lighthouse: 1 on the 22nd May
167. Eastern Crowned Warbler
Yang He Wood: 2 on the 9thg May with a single the next day
Friendship Hotel: 1 on the 10th May
Happy Island: 7+ on 14th May with 2 on 16th May
Magic Wood:1 on the 15th May
168. Blyth’s Leaf Warbler
Happy Island: 2 on 14th May with 1+ on the 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 18th May
Old Peak: 8+ on 20th May showing their wing drooping display
169. Pale-legged Leaf Warbler
Yang He Wood: a single on 10th May
Friendship Hotel: singles on 11th and 18th May with 2 on 19th May
Happy Island: 2 on 14th May with a single on 16th May
Big Wood: 2 on 15th May
Lighthouse Point: 2 on 18th and 22nd May
Reservoir: 1 on the 18th May
Jims Lane: 1 on 19th May
170. Two-barred Greenish Warbler
Probably under recorded:
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 10th May
Happy Island: 8+ on the 14th May
Magic Wood:1 on the 15th May
171. Chestnut-flanked White-eye
Small flocks of white-eyes were seen at several sites but only a handful were seen perched
172. Red-throated Flycatcher
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 4 on the 6th May with 6 on the 7th May
Summer Palace: 5 on the 7th May
Reservoir: singles on the 8th and 11th May
Lotus Hills: 1 on the 9th May
Friendship Hotel: singles on 10th and 12th May
Great Wall: 1 on 12th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 13th May
Happy Island: 2 on 16th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 18th May
Jims Lane: 1 on 19th May
173. Mugimaki Flycatcher
Friendship Hotel: male and female on 11th May with a female on 12th May
Great Wall: male on 12th May
Magic Wood: female on 15th May
Jims Lane: female on 19th May
174. Elisae Flycatcher
Summer Palace: a male on 7th May
Magic Wood: a showy female on 15th May
Old Peak: a singing female type so presumably an immature male on 21st May
175. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: a stunning male on 7th May
Lighthouse Point: male 9th May
Lotus Hills: 4 cracking males on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 10th May with male and female on 19th May
Da Pu He: female on 13th May
Magic Wood: male on 16th May
Jims Lane: male and female on 19th May
Jin Shan Hotel: a 1st year male on 22nd May
176. Siberian (Dark-sided) Flycatcher
Probably overlooked:
Great Wall: 2 on 12th May
Magic Wood: a partial albino got everyone going for a while on 13th May with a regular bird on 14th May
Happy Island: a fine bird on 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 19th May
177. Asian Brown Flycatcher
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: a single on 6th May
Reservoir: 1 on 8th and 11th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 9th and 22nd May
Lighthouse Point: singles on 9th and 22nd May
Lotus Hills: 1 on 9th May
Yang He Wood: 4+ on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: 2 on 12th ands 19th May
Great Wall: 2 on 12th May
Magic Wood: 2 on 13th, 14th and 16th May
Happy Island: 3 on 14th and a single on 16th May
Jims Lane: 1 on 19th May
178. Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Lotus Hills: a fine bird on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 10th May
Magic Wood: 1 on 14th May
Happy Island: 1 on 16th May
Jims Lane: 1 on 19th May
179. Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Summer Palace: 4 on 7th May
Reservoir: 1 on 11th May
180. Chinese Penduline Tit
Sandflats: 2 on 8th May with 4 on 11th May
Yang He Pools: 120+ passed through in flocks on 10th May
Reservoir: a single on 11th May
181. Marsh Tit
Great Wall: 2 on 12th May
Old Peak: 7+ on 20th May
182. Yellow-bellied Tit
Summer Palace: 2 on the 7th May
Old Peak: 4+ on 20th May
183. Great Tit
Reservoir: 1 on 8th and 18th May
Lotus Hills: 4 on 9th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 10th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 11th, 18th and 21st May
Great Wall: 2 on 12th May
Old Peak: 4 on 20th May
184. Long-tailed Tit
Old Peak: 10+ on 20th May
185. White-browed/Chinese Nuthatch
Old Peak: 4 at least on 20th May
186. Brown Shrike
Often common and widespread
Jin Shan field: 2 on 9th May with 3 on 13th and 4 on the 22nd May
Lighthouse Point: 10 on 9th May with 3 (including a white tailed bird) on 11th May and 1 on 21st May
Yang He Woods: 2+ on 10th May
Sandflats: 3 on 11th and 2 on 18th May
Reservoir: 3 on 11th May
En route: 29 were seen from the coach on the journey south to Happy Island from Beidaihe on 13th May
En route: 51 alone seen between hotel and Magic Wood, half-hour by coach, on 14th May
Happy Island: 19 on 14th May and 2 on 16th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 18th May with 3 the following day
187. Tiger Shrike
Lighthouse Point: 1 or 2 very fine males on 22nd May. Three males had been present here with another close to
Jin Shan on the same morning.
188. Bull-necked Shrike
Magic Wood: a single seen eating a Pallas’s Warbler on 15th May
Old Peak: a pair on the top on 20th May
189. White-cheeked Starling
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 3 on 6th May
Summer Palace: 4 on 7th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 1 on 9th May
Yang He Woods: 2 on the 9th and 4 on the 10th May
Yang He Pools: 5+ around the plantation on the 17th May
Da Pu He: 5 on 13th May
190. Crested Myna
Summer Palace: 3 on 7th May
Lotus Hills: 2 on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: pair throughout
191. Black Drongo
Yang He Woods: 2 on 10th May with 25+ in the plantation on 17th May
Magic Wood: singles on 13th and 14th May with 2 on 15th May
192. Ashy Drongo
Magic Wood: 1 on 15th May
Happy Island: 1 on 16th May could even have been the Magic Wood bird
193. Hair-crested (Spangled) Drongo
Magic Wood: 1 on 15th May
Old Peak: 1 on 19th May
194. Large-billed (Jungle) Crow
Summer Palace: 2 on 7th May
Great Wall: 4 on 12th May
Old Peak: 1 on 19th, 4 on 20th and 3 on 21st May
195. Jay
Old Peak: 2 on 20th May
196. Red-billed Blue Magpie
Common on the coast with no specific counts made
197. Azure-winged Magpie
Common in the Beijing area with double figures being noted at Yuyuantan Park on 7th May
198. Magpie
Common virtually everywhere
199. Black-naped Oriole
Lighthouse Point: 3 on 9th, 21st and 22nd May
Yang He Pools: 1 on 10th May flew of the nearby plantation
Reservoir: 2 on 11th May
Da Pu He: 1 on 13th May
Magic Wood: 2 on 13th May
Happy Island: a single only on 14th May
Friendship Hotel: 3 on 19th May
Suzie Wong’s: 1 on 18th May
200. Common Rosefinch
Jin Shan Hotel: female type 9th May
Lotus Hills: adult male 9th May
Reservoir: adult male 11th May
Magic Wood: female type 16th May
Happy Island: female type 16th May
201. Oriental Greenfinch
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: male 6th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 3 on both 9th and 22nd May with a single on the 10th May
Sandflats: 1 on 11th May
Reservoir: 1 on 11th May
Great Wall: male on 12th May
Jin Shan Field: 2 on 18th May
202. Chinese (Yellow-billed) Grosbeak
Summer Palace: 1st year male on 7th May
Friendship Hotel: 1st year male on 10th May
Magic Wood: single over on 16th May
Happy Island: male on 16th May
Suzie Wong’s: 2 pairs 18th and 19th May
203. Tree Sparrow
Very common, especially on the coast where flocks often encountered
204. Chestnut Bunting
Magic Wood: a female on 14th May
Friendship Hotel: a female on 19th May
I missed the males seen on Happy Island by the Monastery on the 16th May
205. Yellow-breasted Bunting
Lighthouse Point: 20+ in off the sea and straight over the trees on the 9th May
Yang He Pools: male on 9th May with 2 males seen very well on 17th May
Yang He Wood: male and female on 10th May
Sandflats: female on 11th May
Magic Wood: 2 males and 2 females on 16th May
206. Chestnut-eared Bunting
Jin Shan Field: singles on 9th, 13th and 18th May with 2 on 19th May
207. Japanese Reed Bunting
Sandflats: male on 11th May
Yang He Pools: stunning pair on 17th May
Lighthouse Point: male on beach on 21st May
208.Pallas’s Reed Bunting
Sandflats: male and female on 8th May with male and 2 females on 11th May
Jin Shan Field: a probable female seen on 9th May
209. Black-faced Bunting
Summer Palace: 7 seen well on 7th May with many passing overhead
Jin Shan Field: at least 30 passing over on 9th May
Yang He Woods: 1 on 9th May
Friendship Hotel: 1 on 10th May
Yang He Pools: 20+ on 10th May and 1 on the 17th May
Sandflats: 2 on 11th May
Reservoir: 1 11th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 12th May with 2 on the 18th May
Happy Island: 3 on 14th May decreased to 1 on the 16th May
210. Tristram’s Bunting
Magic Wood: male on 14th May
Big Wood: male on 15th May
Happy Island: male on 14th May
Friendship Hotel: a single on 19th May
211. Little Bunting
Fairly common and widespread
Summer Palace: 1 seen well whilst a minimum of 20+ over on 7th May
Sandflats: 1 seen in the Sandflats Wood on 8th May
Jin Shan Hotel: 3 over on 9th May
Jin Shan Field: at least 11 identified from the many buntings going over 9th May
Yang He Woods: 2 on 9th May
Yang He Pools: 8 on 10th May
Lighthouse Point: 1 on 11th May
Friendship Hotel: 3 on 11th May
Happy Island: 1 on 16th May
212. Yellow-throated Bunting
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: 3 on 7th May
Magic Wood: 4+ on 14th and 15th May
Old Peak: 3+ on 20th and 21st May
213. Yellow-browed Bunting
Yuyuantan Park, Beijing: a cracking male on 6th May
Happy Island: a stunning male on 14th May
214. Siberian Meadow Bunting
Great Wall: 4 males on 12th May
Old Peak: 2 cracking males by the main gate on 21st May
215. Godlewski’s/Eastern Rock Bunting
Old Peak: single different males on 19th, 20th and 21st May
Was also recorded by some of the Wildwings group at the Great Wall
Note that on the morning of the 9th May a large passage of buntings occurred over the Jin Shan area with an estimated 500+ Black-faced going over and several hundred Little’s. Other buntings were caught up in this movement such as Chestnut-eared and Yellow-breasted.
Also the following species were observed that had dubious origins:
Pere David’s Laughing Thrush
Jin Shan: a presumed escape on 22nd May had probably been around for a year or two
Black-faced Laughing Thrush
Friendship Hotel: 4 on 17th May had been around for at least a week and were probably escapes