Introduction
In May 2005 Bas van den Boogaard, Jeroen de Bruijn, Nils van Duivendijk, Ran Schols and Jan Bisschop visited NE-China to experience migration of 'Eastern' waders and passerines. We also had the opportunity to see Ibisbill just north of Beijing. Besides observing, photography was also a key element, the results can be seen at http://www.pbase.com/naturephotography and http://www.pbase.com/ranschols. The trip list totals 252 bird species, of which 205 were seen on Happy Island. Rare birds seen on the island, with only a few previous records included Chinese Bush Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Vediter Flycatcher, Red-billed Starling and Ashy Drongo. Other surprise birds included Mongolian Lark (group of 5!), probable lugens-White Wagtail, Grey Bushchat, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Long-tailed Minivet, Japanese Swamp Warbler and Black-winged Cuckooshrike. At the Ibisbill site, we saw three Ibisbills, a late Siberian Accentor, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Long-billed Plover, Vinous-throated Parrot-bill, Chinese Hill Warbler and Godlewski's Bunting. At Beidaihe and en route towards Happy Island we saw species like Chinese Egret, Grey-tailed Tattler, Manchurian Reed Warbler, Little Whimbrel, and Long-toed Stint.
Summarised itinerary
At the start of our trip, April 30th and May 1st, we birded the so-called Ibisbill site, which is located north of Beijing (see Dutch Birding V27:5, 2005). It's situated between Huairo and Fengning, at km post 99, with a total driving time of 2.5 hours from Beijing airport. For more precise directions, please refer to Remco Hofland's trip report (published 2005), soon available on http://www.birdtours.co.uk. Late afternoon of May 1st was spent in Beidaihe, mainly birding the mudflats and the Reservoir area. On May 2nd, we spend the day in and around Beidaihe, birding the mudflats, the Reservoir area, Lighthouse Point and areas just south of Beidaihe. On May 3rd, we went south towards Happy Island, birding en route with Jesper's guidance. Between May 3rd and May 20th we birded on Happy Island. On May 20th we went back to Beidaihe, en route checking the Yang He river estuary. On May 21st, we birded Beidaihe in the morning, mainly the Reservoir area and surroundings. We departed for Beijing in the afternoon.
Arrangements
Jesper Hornskov (goodbird(a)heinfo.net) arranged local transportation and accommodation. We thank him for his excellent services and equal field experience during both mainland trips.
Additional information
More information can be obtained from either one of us via email: b.boogaard7@chello.nl, Jan.bisschop(a)fys.uio.no, j.d.bruijn(a)continu.nl, duivendijk(a)wanadoo.nl and ranschols(a)home.nl.
Weather and occurrence of birds on Happy Island
Albeit beyond control, weather is a very important factor in the occurrence of birds on Happy Island. Almost all birds seen on the island are on active migration (or temporarily rest and feed in the vegetation); wind is therefore the main component that affects the number of birds. Temperatures were fairly stable; the wind however was often very changeable. We found that winds coming from the west (mainland) producing the highest number of birds. Between the start of the afternoon on May 16th and the end of the morning on May 17th a massive storm-front moved over NE-China (from south to north), producing a 24 hour long depression with continuous rain and strong winds. As soon as this front had passed, a major and classic fall occurred. As one can see in the species list, the afternoon on May 17th had incredible active migration (mainly non-passerines). The next day, May 18th, was equally good, with lots of passerines who had arrived during the night before. Below is a summary of a daily log we kept, describing both the weather and the resulting occurrence of birds.
From April 30th to May 4th we had a stable high-pressure area with mostly clear skies throughout the day. At the Ibisbill-site (inland) it was hot during mid-day, on Happy Island it was more pleasant with lower temperatures. Birding was fairly slow in Beidaihe on May 2nd. The wind direction was predominantly N to NE. The number of birds on the island was moderate on May 3rd, decreasing to low on May 5th and May 6th. On May 5th a colder period started with quite some rain. In the night and early morning of May 7th it was very windy and a rather good fall occurred with many new species recorded. Visible migration (e.g. wagtails, swallows, swifts, raptors) was especially noticed on days with western winds, e.g. May 7th, 8th, 9th and 11th. The afternoon of May 10th had rain. In the night and early morning of May 13th there was again some rain and storm, resulting in many new arrivals. As described before, during May 16th and May 17th a storm passed the island. At the back of the depression, though still windy and rainy, a remarkable strong migration of mainly non-passerines occurred. In the woods and scrubs many passerines clearly just arrived. From May 18th onwards we had stable and increasingly warmer weather. Especially May 19th was a very good day, probably still a result of the enormous depression that just had passed.
Future visits to Happy Island
Bas van den Boogaard has visited Happy Island before, in 2002. It's becoming clear that developers are trying to make a tourist resort out of this island. Although there was still plenty of vegetation left, I fear that continuous development is certainly not advantageous to the visiting birds and birdwatchers. Compared to 2002, there's now a pretty fancy and quite large restaurant/hotel operating, there's a (small) artificial lake and canals intended for boating-trips, the eastside of the island is now bordered by a 2 meter high sand wall (probably sand from the dug-out canals), a pretty big temple complex is build (I assume the main tourist attraction) and on the north end of the island, new accommodation is now operating.
Regardless of all these changes, birding was excellent. Most of the mentioned changes were no direct annoyance. However, there are two factors to consider for birders wishing to visit this place in the future. First, if they keep developing like they have, vegetation coverage will more and more decrease. Obviously, the island could then become less attractive for birds. Second, and that's partially personal, I rather do my bird watching in quite and undisturbed areas then in noisy tourist places.
I advise people planning a future visit to Happy Island to try to get a current status of the situation. People interested in East-Asian species (clearly the ones showing up as rarities in Europe and North America) and massive migration will find this a magical place. However, we all want as much value for our money, and I do see a potential decrease in that value. Therefore, please familiarise yourself with the status of the island before you book a ticket!
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigrcollis)
- Beidaihe: 1 at shrimp ponds near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 3rd)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis poggei)
- Beidaihe: common in the Reservoir area (May 1st/2nd/20th/21th)
Cormorant spec. (Phalacrocorax spec.)
- Beidaihe: 1 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th); 1 (May 7th); 1 (May 17th)
Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 17th)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
- Beidaihe: 10 in the Reservoir area (May 20st/21st)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Beidaihe: 30 (May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 35 at dusk (May 4th); 1 (May 5th); 3 (May 7th); 1 (May 10th); 1 (May 19th)
Cattle Egret (Bubuculus ibis coromundus)
- Beijing: 1 (April 30th)
- Ibisbill-site 1 (30th April)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 17th)
Striated Heron (Butorides straita)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 17th), 1 (May 19th)
- Beidaihe: 1 in the Reservoir area (May 21st)
Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus)
- Ibisbill-site: 1 (April 30th)
- Beijing: 1 (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 10 in the Reservoir area (May 2nd/21st); 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 3 (May 4th); 2 (May 7th); 3 (May 9th); 1 (May 13th); 2 (May 14th); 3 (May 16th)
Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes)
- Beidaihe: 2 (fly-by’s) at shrimp ponds near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 yellow-billed egret fly-by (May 14th)
- Beidaihe: 2 at Yang He River mouth (May 20th)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
- Beidaihe: quite common (May 1st/2nd/21st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th - 14th)
Great Egret (Egretta alba modesta)
- Beidaihe: 2 in the Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 2 in the Reservoir area (May 1st/May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th); 2 (May 8th); 5 (May 9th)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 10th)
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (April 30th)
- Beijing: 1 (April 30th)
Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
- Happy Island: at wader roost e.g. 40 (May 6th); 70 (May 14th)
Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha)
- Beidaihe: 3 in Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: very common
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Beidaihe: 10 in the Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: a few observations
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
- Beidaihe: at dusk 5 in the Reservoir area (May 1st)
Common Teal (Anas crecca)
- Happy Island: 7 (May 5th); 4 (May 7th)
- Beidaihe: 2 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
Garganey (Anas querquedula)
- Beidaihe: some in the Reservoir area (May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 5 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
White-winged/Stejnegeri’s Scoter (Melanitta (deglandi) stejnegeri)
- Beidaihe: 15 (fly-by’s) at Lighthouse Point (May 2nd)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
- Beidaihe: 1 at Lighthouse Point (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 11th); 3 (May 15th)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 11th)
Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus)
- Beijing: 2 (April 30th); 3 (May 22th)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 6 (May 7th); 1 (May 11th); 1 (May 20th)
Black-eared Kite (Milvus lineatus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd)
Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos)
- Beidaihe: 1 ad male en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 8th); 1 ad male(May 18th)
Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
- Beidaihe: 5 at Lighthouse Point (May 2nd); 5 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: common; max. ~20 (May 8th)
note: no grey and black males were seen (ad males older than 3 cj, according to the literature)
Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 18th)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis)
- Happy Island: recorded almost daily May 7th - May 18th e.g., 1 (May 7th); 30 (May 8th); 10 (May 10th).
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
- Ibisbill site: 3 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: recorded regularly, e.g 3 (May 7th); 1 (May 8th/9th/11th)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo japonicus)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (May 1st)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th); 6 (May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 5th); 1 (May 14th)
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
- Ibisbill site: 3 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th)
Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)
- Beidaihe: 2 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 7th/13th/17th/18th/19th/20th); 3 (May 9th/10th/11th); 25 (May 8th)
Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo)
- Beidaihe: 1 in the Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 2 (May 8th); 3 (May 11th); 1 (May 19th); 5 (May 20th)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 2 (May 5th); 1 (May 10th)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th); some (May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 2nd)
note: on Happy Island abundant but introduced
Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)
- Beidaihe: 3 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 4th); 2 (May 5th); 3 (May 6th); 5 (May 7th); 5 (May 8th)
Baillon’s Crake (Porzana pusilla)
- Beidaihe: 1 in the Reservoir area (May 1st; 2 on May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 male (May 4th to May 10th); second on May 10th
Ruddy-breasted Crake (Porzana fusca)
- Beidaihe: 3 in the Reservoir area (May 21st)
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus indicus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th/7th)
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
- Beidaihe: common in the Reservoir area (May 1st/2nd)
Yellow-legged Buttonquail (Turnix tanki)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 12th); 1 (May 19th)
Swinhoe’s Crake (Coturnicops exquisitus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 13th)
Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii)
-Ibisbill site: 3 (April 30th/May 1st)
Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus osculans)
- Beidaihe: 2 at the sandflats (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 3 (May 6th); 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 13th)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
- Beidaihe: some in the Reservoir area (May 1st/May 2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
- Beidaihe: 5 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 4th); 1 (May 6th)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius curonicus)
- Beidaihe: 20 sand flats (May 1st/May 2nd)
Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus)
- Ibisbill site: 6 (April 30th/May 1st)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
- Beidaihe: common at sand flats (May 1st/May 2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
- Happy Island: e.g., 3 (May 6th); 10 (May 14th); 10 (May 15th)
Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
- Beidaihe: 10 at sand flats (May 1st)
Pacific Golden Pover (Pluvialus fulva)
- Beidaihe: 10 shrimp ponds near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 30 migrating (May 8th); 1 (May 18th); 2 (May 20th)
Grey Plover (Pluvialus squatarola)
- Beidaihe: 1 sand flats (May 1st)
- Recorded near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)
- Beidaihe Reservoir area: 3 (May 1st); 1 (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 8th)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
- Beidaihe: 1 at sand flats (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: recorded on e.g., 1 (May 5th); 2 (May 16th)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
- Beidaihe: 3 at sand flats (May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 15th); 3 (May 16th)
Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
- Beidaihe: 1 at sand flats (May 1st)
- Happy Island: common, ~500 maximum (May 3rd- May 20th)
Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
- Happy Island: recorded in small numbers: e.g., 20 (May 8th)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
- Beidaihe: 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
- Beidaihe: 1 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th); 10 (May 8th)
Broad-billed Sandpiper (Limicola falcinellus sibirica)
- Happy Island: 6 (May 12th); 1 (May 14th); 1 (May 15th); 6 (May 16th)
Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
- Beidaihe: 10 sand flats (May 1st)
- Happy Island: not uncommon, ~30 daily maximum
Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii)
- Beidaihe: 5 at sand flats (May 1st)
Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
- Beidaihe: 5 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
- Beidaihe: 1 at sand flats (May 2nd); 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 5th); 1 (May 15th)
Little Whimbrel (Numenius minutus)
- Beidaihe: 2 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 4th); 4(May 5th);1(May 18th)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus/variegatus?)
- Beidaihe: 20 sand flats (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata orientalis)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Far-Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
- Beidaihe: 1 (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa melanuroides)
- Beidaihe: 4 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: some (May 4th - May 6th)
Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri)
- Beidaihe: 3 sand flats (May 2nd); many en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
- Beidaihe: some en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 20+ migr. (May 17th)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
- Beidaihe: 2 sand flats (May 1st)
- Happy Island: seen daily
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
- Beidaihe: 2 Reservoir area (May 2nd); seen en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: first week of May common in shrimp pond area, later on few birds present
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
- Ibisbill site: recorded (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 2 sand flats (May 1st)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
- Ibisbill site: recorded (April 30th)
- Recorded near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: recorded (May 4th/6th /7th/17th)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
- Recorded Beidaihe (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: seen almost daily. Best days with 120 migr (May 8th) and 1100! migr. (May 17th)
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus)
- Beidaihe sand flats: 1 (May 1st); 10 (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: e.g., 10 (May 6th); 1 (May 8th); 25+ (May 18th)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st)
- Happy Island: 5 (May 9th); 1 (May 4 th/9 th/11 th/12 th/14 th/17th)
Grey-tailed Tattler (Heteroscelus brevipes)
- Beidaihe: 3 Yang He River mouth (May 20th)
Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)
- Happy Island: 15 (May 8th); recorded (May 12 th/14 th/16 th) max 156 on May14 th
Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticol)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 7th)
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe (Gallinago stenura/megala)
- Beidaihe: 1 Reservoir area (May 1st/2nd); 1 shrimp ponds near Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: e.g., 1 (May 5th); 2 (May 7th); 3 (May 9th); 100+ (May 17th/18th)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 7th); 500+ migr. snipes incl many Pintail/Swinhoe’s (May 17th)
- Beidaihe: 5 Reservoir area (May 1st); 10 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Relict Gull (Larus relictus)
- Happy Island: 4 (May 8th); 1 (May 9th/14th/17th); 47 (May 11th); 36 (May 16th);
Saunder’s Gull (Larus saundersi)
- Happy Island: almost daily recorded, e.g., 8 (May 4th); 5 (May 5th); 10 (May 6th); 10 (May 8th)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
- Beidaihe: common; 3000 Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
- Beidaihe: 3 sand flats (May 1st); 30 Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 1 (May 16th)
Vega Gull (Larus vegae)
- Happy Island: e.g., 4 (May 5th); 2 (May 18 th)
Heuglin’s Gull (Larus heuglini taimyrensis)
- Beidaihe: 2 sand flats (May 21th); 30 Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 3 (May 6th)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus (michahellis) mongolicus)
- Happy Island: 1 with 2 Vega Gulls (May 18 th)
Gull-billed Tern (Sterna nilotica)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
- Beidaihe: 1 (May 1st); 1 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo longipennis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 13th); 1 (May 15th); 3 (May 17th)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
- Happy Island: common (May 3rd - 20th)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
- Happy Island: 10 (May 8th); 6 (May 16th); 30 (May 17th)
White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
- Happy Island: 12 (May 4 th); 100s migr (May 17th); 75 migr. (May 18th); 3 (May 19th)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
- seen in Beijing and Beidaihe city
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 8th); 1 (May 20th)
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis orientalis)
- some en route from Beijing to Ibisbill site: (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 2 south Yang He River mouth (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: e.g., 2 (May 5th); 3 (May 7th); 1 (May 8th); 10 (May 9th)
Large Hawk Cuckoo (Cuculus sparverioides)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 12th); 1 (May 16th); 2 (May 19th)
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo (Cuculus (fugax) hyperythrus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 17th); 2 (May 18th); 1 (May 19th)
Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 19th); 2 (May 20th)
- Beijing: 2 (May 21st)
Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 10th); recorded May 14 th/17 th/18 th/19th)
Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus orientalis horsfieldi)
- Happy Island: not systematically counted due to id. difficulties, first arrival May 12th; 10 (May 19th). Perhaps slightly more numerous than Common Cuckoo
Little Cuckoo (Cuculus poliocephalus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 19th)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
- Beidaihe: 1 (May 1st)
Little Owl (Athene noctua)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th/8th)
Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia)
- Beidaihe: 1 calling (May 1st)
- Happy Island: e.g. 1 (May 4th); 4 (May 7th); 2 (May 9th); 1 (May 12th)
Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 13th); 2 (May 14th)
Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 14th); 3 (May 19th); 2 (May 20th)
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 5th); 7 (May 8th); 1 (May 11th); 1 (May 13th); 5 (May 17th); 7 (May 20th)
Common Swift (Apus apus pekinensis)
- seen Beijing and Beidaihe city
- Happy Island: 3 (May 17th)
Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus)
- Happy Island: 4 (May 6th); 75 (May 9th); 3 (May 17th); 15 (May 19th); 30 (May 20th)
Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 11th/12th/13th/17th); 2 (May 14th)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
- Beidaihe: 5 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Ibisbill site: 5 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (date no recorded)
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)
- Ibisbill site: 1-3 (April 30th/May 1st)
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 9th); 4 (May 13th); 75! migr. (May 17th); 10 (May 19th); 20 (May 20th)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
- Ibisbill site: several ((April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: few breeding pairs
- Beidaihe: 5 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
- Happy Island: e.g. 1 (May 4th); 2 (May 6th); 1 (May 7th); 1(May 8th); 1 (May 11th)
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus jessoensis)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 3 south of Yang He River (May 2nd)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major spp)
- Beidaihe: 1 south of Yang He River (May 2nd)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th/May 1st)
Rufous-bellied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos hyperythrus subrufinus)
- Beidaihe: 1 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 2 (May 7th); 2 (May 8th); 5 (May 9th); 1 (May 12th); 2 (May 13th)
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 2 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Asian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella cheleensis cheleensis)
- Beidaihe: 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th); 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 10th); 1 (May 11th); 1 (May 17th)
Mongolian Lark (Melanocorypha mongolica)
- Happy Island: 5 (May 6th)
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: e.g., 10 (May 7th); 20 (May 8th)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Ibisbill site: several (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: common
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica daurica)
- Ibisbill site: 5 (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: common (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: seen daily, ~30 maximum
Asian/Eurasian House Martin (Delichon dasypus/urbica)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th/May 20th)
Richard’s Pipit (Anthus richardi)
- Happy Island: almost daily recorded. Best days: 5 (May 4th); 2 (May 6th); 3 (May 7th); 20 (May 9th); 3 (May 10th)
Blyth’s Pipit (Anthus godlewskii)
- Beidaihe: 2 Lighthouse Point (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 or 2 recorded on 8 days, 3 on May 16th
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
- Ibisbill site: ca. 20 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 10 south of Yang He River (May 2nd); 10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: recorded on 12 days, e.g., 2 (May 4th); 2 (May 6th); 10 (May 17th)
Pechora Pipit (Anthus gustavi/menzbieri)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 17th); 3 (May 18th); 1 (May 20th)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
- Beidaihe:1 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 4th); 3 (May 6th); 1 (May 7th); 1 (May 10th), 1 (May 11th)
Buff-bellied Pipit (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
- Ibisbill site: 3 (April 30th); 1 (May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 1 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea robusta)
- Ibisbill site: common (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 7th); 1 (May 9th)
Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 16th); 1 (May 17th); 3 (May 18th)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis/ocularis)
- Ibisbill site: quite common, both leucopsis and ocularis (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 ocularis (May 6th); 1 probable lugens (May 12th)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava macronyx/plexa/simillima)
- Ibisbill site: common (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: some various locations (May 2nd/3rd)
- Happy Island: 10 (May 8th); 100 migr. (May 17th)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola citreola)
- Ibisbill site: 4 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th/5th/6th/11th)
Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis)
- common at visited sites (accept Ibisbill-site)
Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii)
- Ibisbill site: 2 or 3, incl breeding-pair (April 30th/May 1st)
Siberian Accentor (Prunella montanella)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (May 1st)
Red-flanked Bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 1 (May 6th); 1 (May 12th) - no ad. males
Rufous-tailed Robin (Luscinia sibilans)
- Happy Island: recorded daily from May 10th/20th; best days 5 (May 17th); 25 (May 19th)
Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd/8th/15th); 3 (May 4th/17th/11th); 10 (May 9th/19th); 15 (May 7th). Also days with more then 25 birds, exact dates not recorded.
Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane)
- Happy Island: daily recorded: e.g. 1 (May 3rd); 10 (May 7th); 50+ (May 9th); 50+ (May 12th); 100’s (May 19th)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica)
- Happy Island: e.g., 2 (May 4th); 3 (May 7th); 20 (May 9th)
Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
- Ibisbill site: quite common (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 6th); 2 (May 9th)
Eastern Black Redstart (Phoenicurus (ochruros/phoenicuroides) rufiventris?)
- Happy Island: 1 male (May 18th)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola (maurus) stejnegeri)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: strongly fluctuating numbers; 100’s (May 7th)
Grey Bushchat (Saxicola ferrea)
- Happy Island: 1 female (May 12th)
White-throated Rock Thrush (Monticola gularis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th/11th/13th); 2 (May 14th); 10+ (May 17th); 10 (May 18th); 30 (May 19th)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius philippensis)
- Happy Island: 5 (May 5th); 10 (May 9th); at least 1 (May 10th/11th/12th/16th/19th)
- Beidaihe: 1 Lighthouse Point (May 2nd)
White’s Thrush (Zoothera dauma)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 20 (May 7th); 3 (May 9th/10th/13th); 10 (May 12th/19th); 5 (May 20th)
Siberian Thrush (Zoothera sibirica)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 7th/8th); 2 (May 9th); 1 (May 10th); 25+ (May 17th); 20 (May 19th); 10 (May 20th)
Grey-sided Thrush (Turdus feae)
- Happy Island: 2-3 (May 19th)
Grey-backed Thrush (Turdus hortulorum)
- Happy Island: 4 (May 4th); 1 (May 5th); 1 (May 7th); 1 (May 10th)
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 1 (May 19th)
Eyebrowed Thrush (Turdus obscurus)
- Happy Island: recorded almost daily from May 7th. 1 (May 4th); 15 (May 7th); 40 (May 9th); 50+ (May 12th/13th); 10 (May 14th); 10 (May 17th); 30 (May 19th)
Dusky Thrush (Turdus naumanni eunomus)
- Happy Island: 15 (May 3rd); 17 (May 4th); 1 (May 6th); 2 (May 7th); 5 (May 9th); 3 (May 7th)
- Naumann’s Thrush: 1 Happy Island (May 9th)
- note: most were intergrades
Chinese Song Thrush (Turdus mupinensis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th/10th/12th/14th/16th)
Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 10th); 1 (May 11th)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis tinnabulans)
- Happy Island: not uncommon resident
Manchurian Bush Warbler (Cettia canturians)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 10th); 1 (May 14th); 2 (May 18th)
Chinese Bush Warbler (Bradypterus tascanowskius)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 16th)
Spotted Bush Warbler (Bradypterus thoracicus davidi)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 19th); 5 (May 20th)
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella certhiola)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 13th); 1 (May 14th); 3 (May 17th); 1 (May 18th)
Lanceolated Warbler (Locustella lanceolata)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th); 3 (May 13th); 10 (May 17th); 25, lost count: real numbers much higher (May 19th); 2 (May 20th)
Japanese Swamp Warbler (Megalurus pryeri)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 13th)
Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 4th); 1 (May 9th); 20+ (May 13th); 2 (May 15th)
- Beidaihe: 10 Reservoir area (May 21st)
Manchurian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus tangorum)
- Beidaihe: 3 Reservoir area (May 21st)
Oriental Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis)
- Beidaihe: 10+ Reservoir area (May 21st)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 13th); 1 (May 14th); 6 (May 18th); 15 (May 19th); 30+ (May 20th)
Thick-billed Warbler (Acrocephalus aedon)
- Happy Island: 4 (May 13th); 1 (May 14th/17th); 3 (May 18th); 7 (May 19th); 25+ (May 20th)
Grey-crowned Warbler (Seicercus tephrocephalus)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 7th); 1 (May 8th); 1 (May 15th)
Blyth’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus reguloides reguloides)
- Happy Island: 5 (May 3rd); 1 (May 5th); 1 (May 7th); 2 (May 9th); 1 (May 11th); 3 (May 12th); 1 (May 14th)
Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus)
- Beidaihe: 2 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 4th); 1 (May 5th); 3 (May 7th); 15 (May 9th) also recorded on May 10th/11th/12 th/13 th/16th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus tenellipes)
- Happy Island: 15 (May 9th); some (May 13th/14th); 20 (May 17th); 20+ (May 19th)
Two-barred Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus)
- Happy Island: rather common especially from mid-May e.g., 2 (May 4th); 4 (May 9th); 1 (May 11th); 20+ (May 13th); 3 (May 17th); 30+ (May 19th)
Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis/xanthodryas)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 8th); 2 (May 18th); 10 (May 19th); 1 (May 20th)
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus)
- Happy Island: very common on good days e.g. 100s on May 13th
- Beidaihe: 20 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Chinese Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus sichuanensis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 10th)
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
- Happy Island: very common on good days
- Beidaihe: many Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th)
Radde’s Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (May 1st)
- Happy Island: seen daily e.g. 10 (May 4th); 10 (May 7th); many (May 9th); 30+ (May 13th); 20+ (May 17th)
Yellow-streaked Warbler (Phylloscopus armandii)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 14th)
Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus)
- Ibisbill site: 3 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st/2nd)
- Happy Island: seen daily, very common on good days
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
- Happy Island: 1 nominate (May 11th)
Chinese Hill Warbler (Rhopophilus pekinensis)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (April 30th); 3 (May 1st)
Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana)
- Happy Island: 1 first-summer male (May 5th); 1 first-summer male & female (May 6th); 1 ad. male (May 19th)
Vediter Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassima)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th)
Siberian Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 15th); 2 (May 16th); more common (May 17 th-20th)
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 10th); 1 (May 12th); 3 (May 15th); 2 (May 16th)
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa daurica)
- Happy Island: seen daily, strongly fluctuating numbers
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th/7th/15th/17th); 15 (May 9th); 1 - 10 (May 11th/12 th/13 th/16 th/19th/ 20th)
Elisae’s Flycatcher (Ficedula elisae)
- Happy Island: 1 male (May 12th); 2 females (May 20th)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th/11th/14th); 5 (May 17th); 3 (May 18th); 4 (May 19th)
Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)
- Happy Island: seen daily e.g., 10 (May 4th); 1 (May 8th); 50+ (May 9th)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (May 1st)
Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphones paradisi)
- Happy Island: 1 female (May 19th)
Vinous-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis webbianus)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 2 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Plain Laughinghrush (Garrulax davidi)
- Ibisbill site: some calling birds (April 30st/May 1st), one seen on May 1st
Chinese Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus)
- Beidaihe: many Reservoir area (May 1st/May 2nd)
- Happy Island: seen almost daily, usually in groups up to 30 with maxima of 100+
Songar Tit (Parus songara)
- Ibisbill site: 5 (April 30th)
Marsh Tit (Parus palustris breverostris/hellmayri)
- Beidaihe: 1 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Ibisbill site: 2 (May 1st)
Willow Tit (Parus montanus affinus)
- Beijing: pair with young (May 22nd)
Yellow-bellied Tit (Parus venustulus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 8th); 1 (May 9th)
Great Tit (Parus major ssp)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 1st/2nd)
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus glaucogularis/vinaceus)
- Ibisbill site: 6 (April 30th/May 1st)
Chestnut-flanked White-eye (Zosterops erythropleurus)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 3rd); 2 (May 7th); from May 12th many migr. groups
Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 4th); 1 (May 13th)
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)
- Happy Island: 3 (May 7th); 2 (May 9th); 8 (May 13th); 1 (May 14th); 5 (May 17th); 2 (May 19th)
Long-tailed Minivet (Pericrocotus ethologus)
- Happy Island: 1 first-summer male (May 17th/18th)
Black-winged Cuckooshrike (Coracina melaschistos)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 14th)
Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 17th/18th); 3-4 (May 19th); 1 (May 20th)
Bull-headed Shrike (Lanius bucephalus)
- Happy Island: 1 female (May 7th)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus cristatus)
- Happy Island: strongly fluctuating numbers; 50 (May 7th); 100+ (May 9th); 200 (May 13th); 150 (May 19th)
- 3 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
Daurian Starling (Sturnus sturninus)
- Happy Island: 6 (May 7th); 10 (May 9th); 4 (May 10th); 1 (May 11th); 3 (May 12th); 25 (May 13th); 20+ (May 17th)
Red-billed Starling (Sturnus sericeus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 14th); photographed as Daurian Starling, back home it turned out to be Red-billed Starling (thanks Ran :-)..).
White-cheeked Starling (Sturnus cineraceus)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: 15 south of Yang He River (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 9th); 1 (May 13th)
Crested Myna (Acridoteres tristis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 20th)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
- Beidaihe: 3 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 10 (May 7th); 30 (May 12th); 40 (May 13th); 10 (May 17th)
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus cathoecus)
- Happy Island: 1-2 (May 5th/9th/12th/16th); 5 (May 7th)
Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus brevirostris)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 8th)
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogensis)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 16th)
Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha)
- Beidaihe: 1 Light House Point (May 2nd)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (April 30th/May 1st)
Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana)
- Beijing: 3 (April 30th)
- Recorded en route Ibisbill-site ¨C Beidaihe (May 1st)
Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica ssp)
- Happy Island: 2 observations
- Beidaihe/Beijing: common
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (April 30th/May 1st)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
- Ibisbill site: 10 (April 30th/May 1st)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
- common at visited sites
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
- Beidaihe: 1 (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th); 2 (May 9th)
Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 6th)
Grey-capped Greenfinch (Carduelis sinica)
- Ibisbill site: 5 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 2nd)
Common Rosefinch (Carpodactus erythrinus)
- Happy Island: seen almost daily; 50+ (May 9th)
Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona personata)
- Beidaihe: 2 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: e.g., 2 (May 7th); 10 (May 9th); 1 (May 14th)
Godlewski’s Bunting (Emberiza godlewskii)
- Ibisbill site: 5 (April 30th); 10 (May 1st)
Black-faced Bunting (Emberiza spodocephala)
- Ibisbill site: 1 (April 30th)
- Beidaihe: 10 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: most common bunting on the island. 1 presumed personata (May 7th)
Meadow Bunting (Emberiza cioides)
- Ibisbill site: quite common (April 30th/May 1st)
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata)
- Happy Island: e.g., 2 (May 4th); 1 (May 8th); 1 (May 9th); 4 (May 15th)
Yellow-throated Bunting (Emeriza elegans)
- Ibisbill site: 6 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 8th)
Yellow-browed Bunting (Emberiza chrysophrys)
- Beidaihe: 1 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 5 (May 4th); 4 (May 5th); 1 (May 6th); 2 (May 7th); 1 (May 19th)
Tristram’s Bunting (Emberiza tristrami)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 1 (May 4th); 2 (May 7th); 2 (May 14th)
Little Bunting (Emberiza pussila)
- Ibisbill site: ca. 30 (April 30th/May 1st)
- Beidaihe: recorded (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: seen daily, common first week May; 1 partial albinistic (May 7th)
Chestnut Bunting (Emberiza rutila)
- Happy Island: 2 (May 7th); 4 (May 8th); 2 (May 14th); 1 (May 16th)
Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola ornata)
- Beidaihe:10 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 3 (May 7th); 50+ (May 9th); 15 (May 10th); groups on migration (May 17th); numerous in reedbeds and woods (May 18th - 20th)
Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
- Beidaihe: 1 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
Pallas’s Reed Bunting (Emberiza pallasi)
- Beidaihe: 5 Reservoir area (May 2nd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 3rd); 2 (May 5th); 5 (May 6th); 5 (May 7th); 1 (May 8th)
Japanese Reed Bunting (Emberiza yessoensis)
- Beidaihe: 1 south of Yang He River (May 2nd); 1 Reservoir area (May 21st)
- Beidaihe:4 en route to Happy Island (May 3rd)
- Happy Island: 1 (May 14th); 3 (May 18th)