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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 28 of 29
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus LT, H, COE—very common resident.
Widespread and abundant, not systematically recorded. In 1989, 23 were recorded flying south from 9 October to 5 November, and large flocks were 700 at SF on 10 October and 600 at Re on 5 November; flocks of similar size noted in autumns 1986-1988.
Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora LT, H, COE—no records. Ch—’probably introduced’; most northerly occurrence given is Shanghai. Sowerby (1930)—commonest imported Chinese cage birds are the Canary and the Java Sparrow.
1986: one was at Se on 17th and 19 September.
It may well have been an escape from captivity, or may indicate a northward extension of the species’ range.
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs LT, H, COE—no records. Ch—gives only two sites for the species, with record(s) in winter in Xinjiang Uygur Aut. Reg., and a female at Shenyang, Liaoning Province, on 16 December 1963.
1990: one was at LH on 14 October.
Four individuals were seen at Beidaihe from 22 March to 10 April 1989, and a pair at the Old Summer Palace, Beijing, on 18 March 1989 (Palfery unpubl.).
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla LT—passes in October and November. H—common migrant, 25 September to 24 November. COE—in addition to flocks of 33,700, 5000 and over 1000, 2389 bird-days logged, 17 March to 18 May.
1986: 3411 bird-days, 17 September to 19 November. Numbers were low during the first three weeks of passage, but began to increase from around 10 October: 640 bird-days, 8th-14th and 447 from 15-21 October. The highest day count was 446 on 12 October, mostly recorded from LH, flying south. Numbers dropped for a few days after 21 October, then picked up again, with 711 bird-days logged from 29 October to 11 November. The last days of the survey saw the heaviest passage, with 1414 bird-days logged from 12-19 November and a high count of 368 flying south on 17th. Most records were from LH, where 2185 were recorded flying south.
1987: 6514 bird-days, 17 September to the end of the survey (5506 were recorded flying south); highest totals of birds flying south were 721 on 13th, 985 on 16th, 710 on 18th and 845 on 22 October.
1988 (Ho): at least 3240 bird-days, 20 September to the end of the survey; in November, flocks of up to ca. 600 were seen flying around LH, perhaps before going to roost.
1989: recorded from 28 September; 6396 bird-days (5811 flew south), 9 October to 14 November; 2020 flew south on 20th, and 3124 flew south and 200 were at Re on 27 October.
1990: before 23 October, 942 bird-days, highest day total 331 on 13 October. From 23 October, 625 bird-days (325 were recorded flying south), throughout the period; highest counts of birds passing south 65 on 24 October, 175 on 2nd and 55 on 3 November; and of birds present 35 (at Re) on 23 October and 200 (at LH) on 15 November.
Oriental Greenfinch (Grey-capped Greenfinch) Carduelis sinica LT—common resident. H—common all year, though noticeably fewer in August and September. COE—quite common resident.
1986: 1276 bird-days, 24 August to 20 November. Like Hemmingsen, who suggested that the relative scarcity resulted from an interim period between the departure of local breeders and the arrival of winter visitors, we found the species rather uncommon in August and September: 35 bird-days (highest day total four, including a family of three) to 21 September, after which date numbers increased quite rapidly. The main passage was from 24 September to 7 October, when 493 bird-days were logged. Numbers declined in the second week of October, but increased in the third when 237 bird-days were logged. Passage subsequently declined, and only 24 bird-days were logged during the last week of the survey. The highest day totals were 66 (59 present, seven flying south) on 26 September, 92 (including 88 at Legation Gully) on 3rd, 75 (including 50 at Legation Gully) on 16th, 80 (including 20 at, and 50 recorded from LH, flying south) on 17 October; after 20 on 28 October, no more than 13 in a day. Most records were from LH; 307 birds were recorded from the watchpoint, flying south; Legation Gully was a favoured locality for birds present.
1987: 2516 bird-days, throughout the survey; 239 were recorded flying south during 25-31 August (including 155 on 25th), though mainly recorded from late September to mid-November, with 638 recorded flying south from 12 October to 2 November; highest day totals 197 (147 flying south, 50 present) on 13th, 110 (present) on 21st, 180 (flying south) on 30 October; after 65 (present) on 14 November, no more than 16 in a day, and only two records of singles after 21 November.
1988 (Ho): 273 bird-days, throughout the survey; 67 bird-days in September (highest day total 30 on 12th), 185 in October, and 24 in November.
1989: three on 26th and 28 September, 14 on 6th and ten on 7 October; 798 bird-days (446 flew south), 8 October to 14 November; 142 flew south from 26 October to 1 November and a flock of 250 flew south on 5 November; the highest count of birds present was 40 at LH on 28 October; after 5 November, numbers present did not exceed seven and only two were recorded flying south.
1990: before 23 October, 283 bird-days, highest day total 47 on 9 October. From 23 October, 194 bird-days (25 were recorded flying south); highest day totals were of birds at LH—20 on 24 October and 45 on 2 November (when 21 recorded flying south); no more than five at this locality after 4 November.
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus LT—one record, 30 April. H—recorded in one year from 24 October to 1 November, though probably a flock also heard on 12 October. COE—818 bird-days, 22 March to 24 May.
1986: 675 bird-days, 1 October to 19 November. The first week of passage saw 21 bird-days logged; between 60 and 88 bird-days were logged in each of the subsequent three weeks. The main passage was during the remainder of the study, with 426 bird-days logged in the last three weeks. The highest day total was 62 on 14 November. Most records were from LH, where 228 were recorded flying south.
1987: 90 bird-days (37 were recorded flying south), 7 October to 22 November; only one bird seen to 24 October; highest day total 12 (ten flying south and two present) on 4th and 7 November.
1988 (Ho): at least 166 bird-days, 12 October to the end of the survey; all but 19 bird-days were logged in October.
1989: 63 bird-days (18 flew south), 11 October to 14 November; highest day total six on 20th and 24 October.
1990: before 23 October, 164 bird-days. From 23 October, 820 bird-days, throughout the period; total largely results from counts of flocks at LH (birds evidently lingering here), where highest totals 80 on 26th, 60 on 27 October, 57 on 1st, 60 on 7th and 100 on 9 November.
Common Redpoll (Mealy Redpoll) Acanthis flammea LT—common migrant, October and November, seen in winter. H—one record, 16 November 1942 (a few). COE—three on 2 May. Ch—migrant and winter visitor. Status: fairly common.
1986: 84 bird-days, 28 October to 18 November. The first record was of two at LH; 31 bird-days were logged in the week from 29 October and 24 in the following week; 27 bird-days were logged during the last nine days of passage. The highest day total was seven on 4th and 5 November. Most records were from LH, with 17 recorded flying south.
1987: two on 7 October, and singles on 20 October and 9 November.
1988 (Ho): 59 bird-days, 25 October to the end of the survey.
1989: no records.
1990: one was at LH on 24 October.
The records suggest the species is rather erratic in occurrence, and rare to uncommon, not a common migrant as reported by La Touche.
Rosy Finch (Rosy Mountain Finch) Leucosticte arctoa LT, H, COE—no records. Ch—breeds in far northeast of China, perhaps winters south to Hebei; status: uncommon.
1986: on 18 October, two birds arrived from the north, landed briefly at the LH watchpoint, then flew off southwards.
Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus LT, H—no records. Sh—winter visitor to northern Hebei, November to April. COE—69 bird-days, beginning of survey to 18 April. Ch—resident and winter visitor in Hebei.
1986: three birds were seen at EG: a male on 17th and two females or immatures on 20 November.
1989: a female or immature was at Se and a male was at LP on 4 November and one was heard at Legation Gully on 9 November.
1990: singles were at ER on 4th and LH on 14 November.
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus LT—no autumn records, but abundant in May. H—common in autumn, 19 August to 29 October. COE—107 bird-days, 20 March to 23 May.
1986: 582 bird-days, 10 September to 19 November. The main passage was from 12 September to 2 October, with 484 bird-days logged and high day counts of 99 on 13th and 86 on 24 September. After 7 October, only 59 bird-days were logged, with 16 in November, mostly in the first four days of the month. The great majority—552 birds—were recorded from LH, flying south.
1987: 1004 bird-days (933 were recorded flying south), 24 August to 11 November; 722 bird-days during 15-30 September; highest day total of birds flying south 262 on 15 September.
1988 (Ho): 659 bird-days, throughout the survey though none between 26 October and 16th and 17 November, when one was feeding on berries in Se gardens.
1989: one on 24 September; 34 bird-days (27 flew south), 11 October to 10 November; maximum of nine flying south on 27 October.
1990: before 23 October, 380 bird-days, highest day totals 123 on 15th, 51 on 18th and 31 on 28 September. From 23 October, 11 bird-days (four were recorded flying south), 25 October to 9 November; no more than two birds in a day.
Pallas’s Rosefinch Carpodacus roseus LT—a few, 9 October to 20 November. Winter visitor to northeast Hebei, but none seen at Qinhuangdao at this time. H—two records, both in March. COE—three birds, 27-28 March. Ch—winter visitor to Hebei.
1986: 84 bird-days, 29 October to 19 November. Seventeen bird-days, four dates to 7 November and from 8th until the end of our stay the species was noted on all but three days. The main passage was from 14-19 November, when 47 bird-days were logged and the highest day count—19 birds—was made on 15th. All except five birds were seen at LH; 43 were recorded passing south.
1987: 19 bird-days (seven were recorded flying south), 30 October to 13 November; highest day total four (flying south) on 11 November.
1988 (Ho): 23 bird-days, 24 October to the end of the survey.
1989: 14 bird-days, 29 October to 9 November; maximum of eight birds on 9 November.
1990: the only record before 23 October was one on 9 October. From 23 October, 19 bird-days (five were recorded flying south), 23 October to 15 November; highest day total four (three at LP, one at ER) on 4 November, after which only four bird-days.
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra LT—apparently of irregular occurrence in northeast Hebei; three specimens procured 29 October 1911, reported as common in autumn 1915. H—of irregular occurrence, noted in two springs and one autumn over six migration seasons. In 1943, flock at LH on 12 October and from 16 October to 7 November heard and saw flock of 20-40 birds, daily or every second day. COE—no records.
1986: 213 bird-days, 18 October to 19 November. Ten birds were seen during the first week of passage. The period of main passage was from 26 October to 5 November, which saw 157 bird-days logged and the highest day count—62 birds—on 29 October. A further 27 bird-days, 7-10 November and 19 from 14-19 November. All were seen at LH, with 62 recorded flying south.
1987: one flew south on 2nd, three flew south and two were present on 5th and singles were present on 12th and 21 November.
1988 (Ho): 154 bird-days, 13 October to 14 November; up to 19 were seen almost daily around the LH watchpoint from 25 October to 4 November.
1989: 297 bird-days (74 flew south), 11 October to 11 November; 70 flew south on 27 October; highest count of birds present 29 on 19 October.
1990: before 23 October, 35 bird-days, highest day total 12 on 15 October. From 23 October, 121 bird-days, 24 October to 15 November; all were at LH, where maxima 40 on 25th and 30 on 26 October, and seen on seven dates to 6 November, after which the only records were three on 14th and six on 15th. Numbers were not unusual—so it did not seem there had been an irruption, in contrast to the large invasion noted in Britain at this time.
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula LT, H—no records. WH—in Hebei, three specimens taken in winter at the Eastern Tombs. COE—two or three females and a male from 22 March to 25 April.
1990: one was at LH on 3 November.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes LT—common resident in northeast Hebei. H—seen frequently in all winter months, from November. COE—609 bird-days, from the beginning of the survey to 28 May.
1986: 1376 bird-days, 21 August to 20 November. Nine birds were seen to 28 August, and there were no further records until 7 October. The great majority passed from 22 October to the end of our stay—1330 bird-days were logged during this period. The highest day total was 241 on 29 October. Most records were from LH; 969 were recorded from the watchpoint, flying south.
1987: 622 bird-days; other than seven recorded flying south between 18th and 27 August, recorded from mid-October to the end of the survey; up to 60 or more were at LH daily from late October to the fourth week of November; 60 were recorded flying south.
1988 (Ho): 36 bird-days, 25 October to 16 November.
1989: one was at EG on 20 October and nine flew south from 27 October to 1 November.
1990: before 23 October, two bird-days. From 23 October, 205 bird-days (85 were recorded flying south), throughout the period; highest numbers during 1-7 November, when 85 were recorded flying south and there were the highest counts of birds present—27 on 1st and 35 on 7th, after which the only records were singles at LH on 14th and Legation Gully on 16 November.
Chinese Grosbeak (Yellow-billed Grosbeak) Coccothraustes migratoria LT—apparently common in the Chien An district; only record from Qinhuangdao district was a male shot on 19 May 1914. H—recorded on five dates in three autumns, 26 August to 14 September. COE—176 bird-days, 12 April to 1 June. Ch—breeds in Hebei.
1986: 612 bird-days, 20 August to 4 October. The main passage was from 28 August to 7 September, when 491 bird-days were logged and there were high day counts of 112 on 6th and 189 on 7 September. Most records were from LH; 496 were recorded from the watchpoint, flying south.
1987: 694 bird-days (671 were recorded flying south), beginning of the survey to 27 September; 552 flew south from 22-31 August; highest day totals of birds flying south 143 on 23rd and 125 on 30 August.
1988 (Ho): at least 64 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 11 October; only one bird seen after 21 September.
1989: one was at EG on 9 October.
1990: 207 bird-days, highest day totals 31 on 21st, 27 on 22nd and 76 on 31 August; all before 23 October.
Japanese Grosbeak Coccothraustes personata LT—one autumn record, 12 November 1914. H—one seen in spring; other observers reported 10-20 in June 1945, of which Hemmingsen saw two caged in early July. COE—ten birds, 14-22 May. Ch—migrates through Hebei; possibly breeds at Eastern Tombs
1986: 60 bird-days, 7 October to 12 November. The main passage was during 9-15 October, when 37 bird-days were logged and the highest day count—11 birds—was made on 15th. Sixteen bird-days were logged in the second half of October and five during November. Most records were from LH; 31 were recorded from the watchpoint, flying south.
1987: 38 bird-days (31 were recorded flying south), 13 October to 3 November; highest day total 20 (18 flying south, two present) on 13 October.
1988 (Ho): singles recorded on 23rd and 26 October.
1989: two flew south on 12 October, and seven flew south from 27 October to 1 November.
1990: the only record was one on 15 October.
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