Pulau Pantara at dusk
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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 |
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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 8 of 29
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus LT—shot immature bird on 21 September and half-grown bird on 28 Sepember, so must breed in the area. H, COE—no records.
1987: singles on 2 September and 6 October.
1990: singles (two individuals?) were at Re on 24th and 25 September and 1 October.
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla LT—passes from the beginning of August to the last week in October; extremely abundant during autumn. Weigold et al. (1922-1924)—on 5 August, near Beidaihe, ‘about two dozen were in the single still damp, room-size reedbed.’ H—autumn numbers similar to those in spring; 11 August to 16 October. COE—98 bird-days, 14 May to 1 June.
1986: 16 bird-days were logged from 2 September to 9 October; it may be that 16 birds were involved. There were records on eight dates, and it appeared that the main passage was from mid-September to the first week of October. The first was one at Legation Gully; five more were seen at Re, and one at YH, from 14-30 September, and a further eight were at YH and one at Re over 3rd, 4th and 9 October, with the highest day total—six birds at YH—on 4th.
1987: 13 bird-days; two on 20 August, the remainder from 24 September to 6 October.
1988 (Ho): ten bird-days, other than late bird 5 November, 19 September to 15 October.
1989: singles at Re on 21 September and 13th and 14 October and TH on 26 September and 17 October.
1990: 13 bird-days, highest day total four on 3 October; all at Re and before 23 October.
The autumn surveys thus found the species less common than in spring 1985, in marked contrast to La Touche’s assertion that it is extremely abundant in autumn, and disagreeing with Hemmingsen’s near parity of spring and autumn records.
Ruddy Crake Porzana fusca LT, H—no records. COE—singles on three dates in late May.
1987: two birds which were thought to be this species were at Re on 14 October.
1990: singles were at Re on 1st, 22nd and 24 September.
•(VU)Asian Yellow Rail (Swinhoe’s Rail) Coturnicops exquisitus LT, H—no records. COE—singles on 20th and 27 May.
1987: singles on 28th and 29th and two on 30 September, one or two on 2nd and singles on 6th, 8th, 9th and 14 October. All at Re.
1990: singles were at Re on 2nd and 7 October.
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea LT—one specimen in spring and another probably seen on 27 August 1912. H—no records. WH (corr)—observed twice at Beidaihe in late June 1925; ‘it was probably breeding.’ COE—a pair, 28 May to 1 June.
1986: four birds were recorded: two juveniles at LH on 9th, one at Re on 26th and a male at Re on 30 September.
1987: singles on seven days, 11 September to 6 October.
1988 (Ho): eight bird-days, 21 September to 15 October.
1990: 20 bird-days, highest day totals three on 24th and 28 September, one overflew Diplomatic Personnel Guest House on 6 October; all before 23 October.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus LT—summers in the marshes. H—no records, but reports that the species breeds near Beidaihe. COE—124 bird-days, 9 May to 1 June.
1986: 216 bird-days were logged from 20 August to 24 October. The species had evidently bred at Re, and early records referred to family parties at this locality, e.g. three broods were seen on 20 August. The maximum count was 40 at Re on 29 August; 39 were seen there two days later. Numbers then declined, and the highest count in September was 11 on 26th. Five occurred on two dates in early October, but after the 9th there were no records until singles on 19th and 24th. Most records were from Re, and there were a few from LH, YH and Legation Gully.
1987: 242 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 9 November. The only record after 28 October was one on 9 November; highest day totals were 20 on 20 August and 12 on 13 September.
1988 (Ho): 31 bird-days, 16 September to 13 October.
1989: one at Re on 8 October.
1990: before 23 October, 153 bird-days, highest day total 21 on 21 August. From 23 October, the only record was one at Re on 29 October.
Common Coot (Eurasian Coot) Fulica atra LT—extremely abundant during most years in September and October. WH—’Very common summer visitor, nesting in marshes on the plain.’ H—no records but reported by hunters. COE—24 bird-days, 9 May to 1 June. Ch—breeds in Hebei; status: fairly common.
1986: 59 bird-days were logged from 27 August to 8 October. All except three birds were seen at Re. The first record was of a pair with four young and about one-third of all records apparently involved family parties of from three to six birds, with the last such group seen on 29 September. From 26 September to the end of the passage 32 bird-days were logged, making this the period of main occurrence; day totals did not exceed six.
1987: 63 bird-days, 10 October to 21 November (only two birds seen in November); a flock of ca. 50 was on the sea on 29 October.
1989: one at Re on 13 October.
1990: seven bird-days, highest day total two on 15th and 30 September; all before 23 October.
It appears the Common Coot is now rather scarce, not ‘extremely abundant’ in autumn as reported by La Touche, or ‘Very common’ in summer as reported by Wilder and Hubbard. It may be that numbers had fallen by the 1940s, as Hemmingsen did not see this species at Beidaihe.
•(VU)Great Bustard Otis tarda LT—passes from October until about 10 November. ‘These Bustards fly in flocks which occasionally contain from 40 to 50 birds but, as a rule, 10 to 20 individuals is the usual number. … The natives shoot the Eastern Great Bustard on passage, by means of decoys, both in spring and autumn after the crops have been cut. [Notes that he has been told the birds are also taken with nets]. … The Chinwangtao [= Qinhuangdao] market is stocked with Bustards in spring and autumn, and in winter many birds are brought from inland. … Young birds are not bad eating, but old males are very rank in flavour.’ H—over four autumns, recorded on 17 dates in October and 31 in November. The largest flocks seen flying numbered up to ca. 60 birds; the largest numbers were ‘more or less scattered on the ground’ at Grassy Sands, e.g. 83 on 6 November 1942, 400-500 on 5th and 377 on 6 November 1943. On 16 November 1944 ‘numerous flocks migrated across GS mostly without settling, and those I counted on this occasion amounted to a total of 324 birds.’ Mentions hunting techniques as described by La Touche, also ‘On the vast plains (e.g. near Tangku) they are shot from motor-cars … but this sort of "sport" is not practicable at PTH [Beidaihe].’ COE—132 birds, 17 March to 23 April.
1986: 452 birds were recorded flying south, from 19 October to 18 November; 414 were recorded from LH. Twenty birds were seen during 19-22 October and 84 during 25-29 October. These, together with a further two on 31st, brought the October total to 106. The first eleven days of November brought 185 birds and 161 were recorded from 14th-18th, making this the period of most concentrated passage. The highest day totals were 71 on 10th and 63 on 17 November, and the largest flock numbered 26 birds. It seems likely that more birds passed after our departure.
1987: 203 were recorded flying south, 19 October to 24 November; the highest day totals were 26 on 21 October and 67 on 16 November.
1988 (Ho): 62 were recorded, 8 October to 18 November.
1988 (Earthwatch): 67 were recorded flying south from 27 October to 16 November. The highest day totals were 25 on 9th and 15 on 16 November.
1989: 308 flew south, 15 October to 14 November; highest day totals 66 on 4th and 41 on 9 November.
1990: 154 were recorded flying south, and five north, 24 October to 14 November; highest day totals 61 on 5th and 37 (32 south, five north) on 10 November.
It appears this species has declined over this century. Hemmingsen recorded more passing birds during a single afternoon than have been seen in all but one of the recent autumns, and one of the resting flocks he saw perhaps contained more birds than were seen in the best recent autumn.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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