Sigiriya in late afternoon
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Autumn migration at Beidaihe 1986-1990 - species |
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Written by Martin Williams
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Saturday, 20 May 2006 |
| Article Index |
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Autumn migration at Beidaihe 1986-1990 - species
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Bitterns, egrets and herons
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Spoonbills, Ibises, Storks
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Swans, Geese, Shelducks and Ducks
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Raptors
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Partridges, pheasants and quail
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Cranes
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Rails, Crakes, Coot and Bustards
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Shorebirds
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Skuas, Gulls and Terns
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Sandgrouse and Doves
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Cuckoos, Owls and Swifts
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Kingfishers, Dollarbird, Hoopoe, Wryneck and Woodpeckers
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Larks, Martins and Swallows
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Wagtails and Pipits
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Minivet, Bulbuls, Shrikes
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Waxwings, Orioles, Drongos and Starlings
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Crows
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Wrens and Accentors
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Robins and Chats
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Rockthrushes and Thrushes
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Laughinthrushes, Parrotbill and Bush-Warblers
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Marsh-, Grasshopper, and Reed Warblers
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Phylloscopus warblers, Cisticolas, Kinglets, hill warbler
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Flycatchers
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Tits
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Nuthatches, Wallcreeper and White-eyes
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Finches
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Buntings
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Page 18 of 29
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius LT—breeds in mountains to the north of Qinhuangdao but not seen at the port itself. WH—rare resident in wooded hills of Hebei. H, COE—no records.
1986: 31 bird-days were logged from 25 September to 15 November, and a feather was found on 11 September. The records were spread over the whole period of occurrence, with perhaps a slight concentration during the latter half of October; no more than two in a day. All were seen at LH.
1987: one on 6th, two on 20th and three on 22 October.
1988 (Ho): one seen, 2 October.
1989: two at LH on 24 September; 154 bird-days, 8 October to 14 November; mainly at LH, where highest count 12 on 11 November and ten birds seen on six days.
1990: no records.
Blue Magpie (Red-billed Magpie) Urocissa erythrorhyncha LT—common in hilly parts near Qinhuangdao; breeds. Wilder (1940)—’Mrs. Willard Simpson says one has haunted their orchards at East Cliff during the past autumn… donkey boys and residents at "Lotus Hills" insist that at least up to Chinese New Year time a flock of the [Blue Magpies] has lived in the thickest part of the young forest there.’ H, COE—no records.
1986: 48 bird-days were recorded from 8 September to 12 November. Ten bird-days were logged from four dates to 4 October and 17 from 8-13 October. There were six more bird-days from three dates before the final record and highest day total of 15 birds on 12 November. Most records were from LH, and it is possible that birds were lingering in the area. Hemmingsen made rather few observations at LH, and this may account for his lack of records.
1987: 87 bird-days, 16 September to 21 November; highest day totals eight on 1st, 11 on 5th and ten on 10 November.
1988 (Ho): at least 73 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 15 November; seen at LH and around the Diplomatic Personnel Guest House; highest day total six birds.
1989: often at LH from 18 September to early October; 177 bird-days, 8 October to 14 November; mainly at LH, where highest count 14 on 11 October.
1990: before 23 October, 13 on 23 August (highest count in the early autumn?). From 23 October, 96 bird-days, throughout the period; other than two at Se on 4 November, all records from LH, where noted on 19 dates (sometimes heard only), and highest counts 18 on 5th and 15 on 6 November—otherwise eight or less seen.
This species has become regular at Beidaihe, suggesting a (local) population increase.
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus LT, H—no records. WH—’Erratic wanderer in flocks, on the plain abundant for a few months and then disappearing for the same period in any given locality.’ COE—two records involving about 50 birds around mid-April. Ch—resident in Hebei; status: fairly common, especially in the north.
1986: five birds were at Se on 10th, one was at EG on 11th and two were at Se on 19 November.
1989: 33 bird-days, 8 October to 13 November; 17 bird-days (highest day total seven), 12-16 October; seven on 24 October; after 24 October only singles on 10th and 13 November.
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica LT, H—common resident. COE—rather common throughout the period.
1986: 441 bird-days were logged from 22 August to 18 November. The period of main occurrence was 10-30 September, when 190 bird-days were logged; a further 133 bird-days were logged from 8-28 October and the highest day count was 53 birds on 17 October. Most records were from Re and LH; from the latter locality, 136 were recorded flying south and 35 flying north, mostly during October and November.
1987: at least 1096 bird-days (birds present not systematically recorded), throughout the survey; 120 were recorded flying south from 13 October to 8 November; highest day totals of birds present 85 on 7th, 75 on 16 September and 75 on 20 October.
1988 (Ho): 616 bird-days, throughout the survey; highest count ca. 100 at Re on 19 October.
1989: not systematically recorded; evidence of migration, with 28 flying south from 23 October to 13 November, a high count of 75 birds at Re on 2 November (normally, less than 30 seen at this locality), and flocks at LH of 15 birds on 27th and 28th, and 24 on 31 October.
1990: only apparent migrants noted. Evidence of passage: three flew south before 23 October, 13 were recorded flying south, and two flying north, 26 October to 5 November; highest count of birds passing south nine on 26 October.
Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes LT—two migrants shot near Qinhuangdao October 1911 and a female elsewhere in April 1912. H—three in December 1944 and January 1945, and one shot. These birds probably occurred as a result of a very hard winter. COE—no records. Ch—resident in northern and northeastern Hebei. Status: fairly common.
1986: one seen from LH, flying south, on 5 October.
1987: no records.
1988 (Ho): at least 187 bird-days, 19 September to 15 November; from its arrival to 4 November, recorded on all but 12 days. Birds mostly lingered around the town, sometimes in small parties of up to seven birds. There had evidently been an irruption of this species—interestingly, a large influx was also noted in Scandinavia in autumn 1988.
1989: one on 6 October; 38 bird-days, 7 October to 14 November; highest day total three birds on 19 October.
1990: one was seen on 17 September.
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax LT—common resident in the mountains of northeast Hebei. Wilder (1940)—one at Eagle Rock in March 1940 ‘making himself at home in the holes and cracks of the cliff.’ H—no records at Beidaihe. COE—no records. 1988—one flew south over ER on 24 March (MDW pers. obs.).
1989: one flew south on 15 October.
Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauuricus LT—passes in great numbers, with Rooks, in October and November. H—common migrant and, in contrast to Rooks, seen throughout winter. First autumn dates in four years within the range 12-25 October and migration ceased around mid-November. COE—555 bird-days, 16 March to 31 May, mainly prior to 23 April.
1986: 11,712 bird-days were logged from 10 October to 16 November. Most were recorded flying south, including 11,330 recorded from LH. The main passage was from 21 October to 5 November, when 9894 bird-days were logged and there were the highest day totals—3175 on 21st, 1175 on 29 October and 1041 on 3 November. The remainder of the passage period produced 1030 bird-days.
1987: 4403 flew south, 12 October to 12 November; highest day totals 790 on 21st, 1000 on 30 October and 660 on 4 November.
1988 (Ho): at least 1750 bird-days, 6 October to 14 November; highest day total 440 on 26 October.
1989: 4298 bird-days (4288 flew south), 8 October to 14 November; highest day totals 1167 on 15th and 1398 on 31 October; only 17 recorded to 14 October and 63 after 4 November.
1990: before 23 October, 187 bird-days. From 23 October, 1118 bird-days (all but one were recorded flying south), throughout the period; highest day totals 190 on 24th, 375 on 26 October, 125 on 1st and 187 on 9 November.
This bird tends to pass in tighter flocks than either of the following two species.
Rook Corvus frugilegus pastinator LT—passes in immense flocks, October and November. Mentions large rookeries being established at Qinhuangdao. H—’Rookeries are common … From about the last third of July and throughout the autumn flocks of some hundreds were often seen (and also the huge cloud-like flocks of 10,000 or more were noted) both at dawn … and at dusk. … 2.XI 1945 toward evening I saw from ER the largest migrations of rooks and jackdaws I have ever seen, extending as a cloud-like band across the whole bay of CHT [Qinhuangdao] apparently from long inland back of CHT [Qinhuangdao] and past King’s Point at EC [East Cliff]. What looked like young rooks passed ER for some time with slightly opened bills in scattered formation. Later many adult rooks passed.’ COE—11 birds identified from 10 April to 1 May; also 1286 bird-days logged for Rooks/Carrion Crows.
1986: 377 birds were identified from 29 August to 17 November. All except the first bird, seen at Re, were recorded from LH, flying south. The first record was not followed until 8 October; the highest counts were 103 on 3rd and 116 on 7 November. It seems likely that many of the 31,938 Rooks/Carrion Crows were this species (see below).
1987: 314 flew south, 8 October to 18 November; highest day totals 72 on 14th and 75 on 30 October.
1988 (Ho): 425 bird-days, 13 October to 15 November; highest day total 110 on 13th and 27 October.
1989: 1195 flew south, 13 October to 12 November; highest day totals 173 on 17th and 384 on 31 October.
1990: before 23 October, 175 bird-days. From 23 October, 1121 were recorded flying south, 23 October to 14 November; highest day totals 110 on 24th, 392 on 25 October, 100 on 2nd and 313 on 9 November.
The increase in numbers during recent surveys is due to observers distinguishing more Rooks and Carrion Crows.
Even if all the Rooks or Carrion Crows (see below) were Rooks, the autumn totals would still seem considerably smaller than may be expected on the basis of La Touche’s and Hemmingsen’s records; we did not see any flocks which could be described as ‘cloud-like’. This evidence of a considerable decline accords with the results of the 1985 study. Further, it appears Rooks no longer breed in the area.
Carrion Crow Corvus corone LT—migrates in small scattered parties during late October and November. H—no certain records. COE—21 bird-days, 11 April to 10 May. Ch—migrates through Hebei; resident in northern part.
1986: 328 birds were identified from 2 October to 18 November; 280 were recorded from LH, flying south. During the first two weeks of the period, 79 were recorded; there were 51 in the subsequent two weeks to 29 October, then 178 to 10 November; 20 were recorded over 17-18 November.
1987: 660 bird-days (all but three flew south), 14 October to 8 November; highest day totals 93 on 19th, 220 on 22nd and 110 on 24 October.
1988 (Ho): 187 bird-days, 6 October to 18 November.
1989: four flew south on 6 October; 242 flew south, 13 October to 12 November; highest day total 93 on 13 October.
1990: before 23 October, 16 bird-days. From 23 October, 50 bird-days (49 were recorded flying south), 24 October to 10 November; highest total of birds flying south 20 on 26 October.
See also Rook/Carrion Crow.
Rook/Carrion Crow Corvus frugilegus/C. corone COE—1286 bird-days, 16 March to 10 May.
1986: most of the Rooks/Carrion Crows recorded were not specifically identified as the vast majority were seen in flocks passing south, and were often rather distant: 31,946 bird-days were logged from 10 October to 19 November; 709 were recorded on 10th, 2387 from 11th-20th, 9238 (the peak day count) on 21 October and a further 24,623 to 5 November. All were recorded from LH; 31,931 passed south and 15 flew north.
1987: 6148 flew south, 17 October to 14 November; highest day totals 3000 on 30 October and 1075 on 4 November.
1988 (Ho): 5660 bird-days, 11 October to the end of the survey.
1989: 16,793 flew south, 8 October to 14 November; highest day totals 2693 on 9th, 2303 on 16th, 1058 on 28th and 4613 on 31 October and 1088 on 1 November.
1990: before 23 October, 856 bird-days. From 23 October, 4998 bird-days (all but seven were recorded flying south), throughout the period; highest day totals of birds flying south 1216 on 24th, 550 on 26 October, 713 on 1st and 992 on 9 November.
It is likely that the majority of the unidentified birds were Rooks. Both La Touche and Hemmingsen reported this species to be abundant in autumn, passing in large or immense flocks, whilst La Touche noted that the Carrion Crow migrates in small parties. We also found that Carrion Crows were in small scattered parties, less compact than the flocks of Rooks; when large flocks passed nearby, it was generally Rooks that were heard calling (e.g. in 1986, largely because of calls heard from flocks passing overhead—which numbered up to 900 or more, we felt that most of the 9238 birds recorded on 21 October were Rooks).
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos LT—resident in mountains. H, COE—no records. Ch—resident in northern part of Hebei; status: fairly common.
1986: two were seen at LH on 14 November.
1987: 13 flew south: two on 8th, four on 12th, one on 14th, four on 16th and two on 25 October.
1988 (Ho): seven bird-days, 30 September to early November.
1989: two were at LH on 11th and two (same birds?) flew south past the same locality the following day; ten flew south on 13th and two flew south on 28 October.
1990: one was seen on 8th and four on 19 October.
Common Raven Corvus corax LT, H—no records. WH—common resident along the Mongolian border of Hebei. ‘It may come south to the great wall in winter.’ Sh—winter visitor near Mongolian border; rather scarce. COE—three records of singles, possibly the same bird, 24 April to 6 May (conceivably misidentified Large-billed Crow(s)—’Common Ravens’ seen at Shanhaiguan by members of the 1985 survey were almost certainly Large-billed Crows).
1986: one was seen at LH on 26 October and one (same bird?) flew south past the same locality on 1 November.
1987: two on 16th and one on 18th and 19 October.
Unidentified crows Corvid spp.
1986: 3152 unidentified crows were recorded from 21 August to 7 November; the maximum count was 2144 on 29 October. It is likely that more than half were Rooks, and most of the remainder were Daurian Jackdaws.
1987: 3395 flew south, 12 October to 24 November; highest day total 950 on 21 October.
1988 (Ho): at least 670 bird-days.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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