Stone Forest, sw China
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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 10 of 29
Arctic Skua (Parasitic Jaeger) Stercorarius parasiticus LT, H, COE—no records. Not listed in Cheng (1987).
1990: a first-winter bird was seen at SF on 3 October; apparently the first record from the Chinese coast, though there have been reports offshore (e.g. Hopkin 1990).
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris LT—no certain records at Qinhuangdao but common at Newchwang, on the southern coast of Manchuria, in 1889. H—not uncommon in autumn (unlike spring); 27 July to 20 November. COE—10-12 individuals, 6 April to 7 May. Ch—migrant and winter visitor to Hebei; status: one of the commonest gulls along the coast.
1986: 263 bird-days, 20 August to 1 November, mostly at SF. About 68 percent of the total number of bird-days had been logged by the end of the first week of September, with the highest day totals being 31 on 1 September and 24 on 20 August. During 8-22 September, one to three birds were recorded on most days; four were present over 23rd-24th and ten on 25th. There was a reversion to the one to three birds in a day pattern until 14 October, when six were at SF. Subsequently, only eight bird-days were logged.
1987: 440 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 17 November (only five bird-days in November); highest day totals 21 (present) on 24th, 31 (eight present, 21 flying south) on 28 August and 21 on 3 September; after ten on 12 September, the only day totals in double figures were 14 on 3rd and 11 on 28 October.
1988 (Ho): 47 bird-days, 8 September to 7 November; highest day total seven on 23 September.
1989: singles on 17th and 25 September; 83 bird-days, 8 October to 3 November; highest day totals 12 on 9th and 18 on 14 October.
1990: before 23 October, 296 bird-days, highest day totals 15 on 30 August, 15 on 1st, 18 on 3rd and 16 on 20 September. From 23 October, 115 bird-days (56 were recorded flying south), 23 October to 16 November; highest day total 64 (50 recorded from LP, flying south offshore, one at SF, five at TH and eight at YH) on 30 October; the next day 29 were at SF and five were recorded flying south offshore. Counts did not otherwise exceed five, and only five bird-days were logged in November.
Common Gull Larus canus kamtschatschensis/L.c. heinei LT—noticed ‘about the harbour and coast.’ H—winter visitor, earliest certain record 11 October. COE—recorded until 19 May, less common than the Vega Gull. Ch—migrant and winter visitor to Hebei.
1986: 877 bird-days, 28 September to 20 November. No more than eight birds were noted on any one day to 24 October. There was an influx over the next two days—83 were present on 26th. Numbers then declined, but picked up again on 9 November, and on 11th 105 were present, the highest day count. On 19 November, the last day of the survey, 86 were at SF, the species’ favoured locality.
1987: 4106 bird-days, 2 September to the end of the survey; 22 bird-days to the beginning of October, 3227 bird-days during the first three weeks of November; highest day totals 330 on 6th, 385 on 8th, 380 on 14th, 450 on 17th, 335 on 18th and 320 on 19 November; after the latter date, the highest day total was 150.
1988 (Ho): at least 1439 bird-days, 10 September to 19 November; only 34 bird-days to mid-October; highest day total at least 760 on 17 November.
1989: 736 bird-days, 8 October to 16 November; day totals not above 20 until 24 October; highest day total 105 (at SF) on 2nd and 16 November.
1990: before 23 October, 86 bird-days. From 23 October, 864 bird-days (120 were recorded flying south), 23 October to 16 November. Prior to 29 October, when 33 at SF, counts not above 15; on 30th 95 were recorded from LP, flying south offshore, as well as 45 at SF and one at YH; 95 were at SF the next day, and counts in November included 120 at SF on 3rd, and 150 at SF and 30 at YH on 16th. Small numbers noted--but not always logged—from LH, flying south, on several days in November.
Vega Gull Larus (argentatus) vegae and Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinanns mongolicus LT—Vega Gull passes at much the same time as the Common Black-headed Gull, and often seen in winter. Specimen of Yellow-legged Gull seen in game-shop, 29 November 1914. Sh—Vega Gull a summer visitor; Yellow-legged Gull a rare summer visitor, ‘recorded along the coast of this province by several authors.’ H—noted in all months; usually less than 30. COE—recorded until 27 May; up to 50 Vega Gulls each day until mid-April. Ch—Yellow-legged Gull breeds in Nei Mongol Aut. Region, migrates through Ningxia Hui Aut. Region and Shaanxi; Vega Gull is a migrant and winter visitor to east coast and southern China.
1986: Vega Gull: 5547 bird-days, 19 August to 20 November. Numbers built up swiftly to an initial peak of 1092 bird-days during 4-9 September, then quickly declined to about 265 bird-days for each of the subsequent two weeks. The three-week period from 24 September to 14 October saw another peak, with 2196 bird-days logged. Between 93 and 251 bird-days were logged in each of the remaining five weeks to the end of the survey period. High day totals included 351 (including 52 passing south) on 5th, 224 on 17th, 526 (including 62 passing south) on 23 September and 269 on 9 October. Most records were from SF.
1987: Vega Gull: 8901 bird-days, throughout the survey; mainly second week of September to early November; highest day totals 337 (over 300 present, 37 flying south) on 10th, 305 (present) on 21st and 382 (present) on 30 September; after 80 on 14th, the highest day total in November was 51 on 29th. Yellow-legged or Lesser Black-backed Gulls: 27 bird-days, 19 September to 17 October; perhaps only three were cachinnans.
1988 (Ho): 3690 bird-days, 8 September to 19 November; three adults which were thought to be Yellow-legged Gulls were seen late September to early October, otherwise the records refer to Vega Gull; highest day total 240 on 13 October.
1989: Vega Gull: recorded from 15 September; 1422 bird-days (44 flew south), 8 October to 16 November; highest day total 210 on 14 October; counts of 50 or more at SF made on ten dates to 29 October; subsequently the highest count at this locality was 46 on 2 November and ca. 20 were typically present at SF. Forty-four were recorded from LH, flying south, from 26 October to 10 November. Three Yellow-legged Gulls were at SF on 25 October.
1990: Vega Gull: before 23 October, 5485 bird-days, highest day totals 280 on 3rd and 410 on 7 September. From 23 October, 624 bird-days (24 were recorded flying south), 25 October to 16 November; 80 at SF on 25 October; on 30th, 23 were recorded from LP, flying south offshore, 65 were at SF, six at TH and 14 at YH; 110 were at SF the next day, and day totals in November did not exceed 50, with 45 (35 at SF, 10 at YH) still present on 16th. Nine bird-days for gulls thought to be Yellow-legged Gulls, highest day total two on 6th and 7 October; all before 23 October.
Shaw’s assertion that Vega and Yellow-legged Gulls are summer visitors is not borne out by evidence available to us. Vega Gulls may be seen for much of, or throughout, the year, and are commonest during the migration seasons.
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus? taimyrensis or Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini? taimyrensis/L.h. heuglini (The taxonomic status of gulls of race taimyrensis—to which the dark-backed ‘herring’ gulls at Beidaihe probably belong—is currently uncertain.) Not listed in Cheng (1987). La Touche (1925-1934) describes two Lesser Black-backed Gull specimens from the east China coast, but later (in errata) notes that the identification was changed, to Slaty-backed Gull. COE—passage of very dark-backed ‘herring’ type gulls from 18 April to 23 May; total of 71 birds.
1986: adult ‘herring gulls’ with dark upperparts were seen on 6th (approaching slate grey) and 26 September (similar hue to a nearby second-winter Black-tailed Gull).
1987: 27 bird-days for gulls which were this (sub-)species or Yellow-legged Gulls, 19 September to 17 October; most were considered to be taimyrensis.
1989: a bird at SF from 8-10 October may have been this species, as may six at YH on 11 October (though these were considered too large).
1990: eight bird-days were logged for gulls appearing similar to Lesser Black-backed Gulls: one third-year on 31 August, two adults on 3rd, one adult on 6 September and single first-years on 6th, 12th, 13th and 20 October.
Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus LT, H—no records. COE—three birds on 23 March and two on 19 April.
1987: one seen, 5 October.
1990: before 23 October, a third-year bird was seen on 7th and an adult on 20 October. From 23 October, an adult and a sub-adult (third year?) were at SF on 31 October.
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus LT—two in the harbour, 5 February 1917. Sh—’This is a regular migrant and summer visitor. It inhabits the coast of this province all the year round, except the cold winter months.’ H—no records. COE—three birds, 23-30 March. Ch—migrates through Hebei.
1986: an adult in summer plumage was at TH on 24 September.
1987: singles on 29 October and 2 November.
It would seem that Shaw’s description of the species’ occurrence is questionable; the Glaucous Gull is a northern species, and seems most likely to occur in late autumn, winter and early spring (in reasonable accord with the records cited), rather than all year except winter.
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus LT, H, COE—no records. Ch—breeds Qinghai and Nei Mongol Aut. Region; migrates through western half of the country.
1986: a first-winter bird was at YH on 7 October. This is probably the first record for the east coast of China (the species has been recorded as a vagrant in Japan: Brazil 1991).
1987: one, 13 October (description not available).
1989: a first-winter bird was seen at TH on four dates from 9-17 October.
1990: eight individuals were recorded, 29 August to 1 October; two in August, three in first half of September and three in first half of October; all but a third-year on 6th and 7 September were first-year birds.
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus H, LT, COE—no records. Previous records by Wilder & Hubbard (1924) may be of Relict Gulls (see below).
1990: an adult was at SF on 22 October.
•(NT)Relict Gull (Central Asian Gull) Larus relictus H, LT, COE—no records; though Hemmingsen may have misidentified some as Common Gulls, as features he noted on some ‘Common Gulls’ are characters of Relict (‘narrow black tail band … dark legs’). Ch—cites letter from Ben King telling of three specimens in Leningrad, all from ‘Tangzing’ (Dagu, Taku), southern Hebei coast; singles collected 28 October 1934 and 8th and 9 April 1935. They had been originally identified as Brown-headed Gulls Larus brunnicephalus. Similarly, two ‘Brown-headed Gull’ specimens in Academia Sinica, Beijing, have been found to be this species; they were also collected at Dagu. These specimens, the westerly distribution of most certainly identified Brown-headed Gulls in China, and drawings of ‘Brown-headed Gull’ specimens in Shaw (1935)—which appear to show Relict Gulls—strongly suggest that many, perhaps all, literature references to Brown-headed Gulls in Hebei actually refer to Relict Gulls (which were not described as a species until 1970). Shaw states that the ‘Brown-headed Gull’ (= Relict?) is a regular passage migrant, and a summer visitor. ‘It comes from the south in April, and remains to stay here until October.’ WH—a ‘Brown-headed Gull’ specimen taken, some 15 having been seen, 18 January 1923. On 21 April 1923, one was seen, but with some doubts as to its identity.
1986: 112 bird-days, 23 August to 20 November. All were seen at SF and—apart from the first record, an adult moulting out of summer plumage—all were first-winter birds. The first of these immatures was seen on 8 September, and numbers peaked at seven birds on 25 September. The birds tended to linger in the area (a bird with its breast stained, perhaps by oil, was seen from 19 October to at least 2 November) and it could be that as few as 17 individuals were involved. Thirty-two bird-days were logged over 12 dates in September. The first week of October produced only one bird, on 2nd, but records were again frequent from 8th, with 41 bird-days logged over 16 dates to the 31st (maximum five on 19 October). Four were seen on 1st and 2nd, one on 4th, three on 9th, 11th, 13th and 18th, two on 19th, and three on 20 November.
1987: 92 bird-days, throughout the survey; 44 bird-days 27 September to 21 October (additionally, an adult in breeding plumage was seen flying north on 29 July; observers were present from 26th to 29th); not seen first half of November but eight bird-days (two individuals?) 17th-29th. Highest day totals five on 1st and seven on 18 October. Details of ages are incomplete, but first-winter birds predominated; there were single adults in winter plumage on 10th and 16 October and one which was probably second winter on 15 October.
1988 (Ho): ten bird-days (four individuals), 19 September to 11 October.
1989: a first-winter bird was at SF on 20 October.
1990: before 23 October, 13 individuals, all but an adult on 14 September were first-years; seen from 24 August, with highest count three on 21 September and 16 October, otherwise singles. From 23 October, three first-year birds were seen: one at SF on 23rd, one recorded from LP, flying south offshore, on 30 October and one at YH on 15th and 16 November.
For more information on the species’ occurrence in autumns 1986 and 1987—and descriptions of first-winter birds—see Bakewell et al. (1989). Duff et al. (1991) summarise records of Relict Gulls.
Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus LT—passage begins in early July, continuing sometimes until early November. H—more common in autumn than in spring, 1 July to 26 November. Over four years, 23-24 dates in July, 12 in August, 19 in September, 50 in October and 31 in November. COE—the commonest gull, recorded until 24 May. Maximum roost count 1000.
1986: 20,355 bird-days, 20 August to 20 November, the entire survey period. Easily the commonest of the gull species, as in spring 1985. The monthly breakdown was: August—3610 bird-days; September—6023; October—8274 and November—2323. The peak two weeks were the last week of September and the first week of October, when 5280 bird-days were logged. Numbers remained between 1372 and 1940 bird-days for the subsequent four weeks and declined to about 950 during the last week of our stay. The highest day total was 1039 (359 at SF, 680 at YH) on 25 September.
1987: 39,067 bird-days, throughout the survey. The highest day total before 13 October was 715 (present) on 23 August; there were 1005 on 13 October and 1500-2000 (the highest day total) the next day; numbers remained high to the second week of November, with further high counts of 1200 on 19th, 1000 on 24th, 1160 on 28th and 1050 on 31 October and 3 November; the highest day total thereafter was 600 on 22 November, after which numbers did not exceed 40.
1988 (Ho): 11,290 bird-days, throughout the survey; highest day total 1100 on 5 November; counts lacking on 33 dates.
1989: recorded from 15 September; 779 bird-days, 8 October to 16 November, when highest counts 350 at SF on 23 October and 500 at the same locality on 2 November.
1990: before 23 October, high day totals were at least 1500 flying south on 31 August, 925 on 13th and 675 on 15 September. At least 3003 bird-days (sometimes just recorded as ‘present’; 168 were recorded flying south), 23 October to 16 November. Highest day total 876 (166 recorded from LP, flying south offshore, 200 at SF, 350 at TH and 160 at YH) on 30 October; unlike Black-tailed, Common and Vega Gulls no influx apparent on 31 October, when 200 at SF. Numbers did not tail off to end of survey: 250 were at SF on 15 November, and 100 at SF and 80 at YH the next day.
•(EN)Saunders’s Gull Larus saundersi LT, H—no records. Sh—not common; passes April and September. Ch—migrates through Hebei. COE—10-19 birds, 2 April to 22 May.
1986: a first-winter bird was at SF on 31 October.
1987: singles on 15th, 16th and 18th, five on 21st, two on 31 October and one on 1 November.
1988 (Ho): one, 15 October.
1989: an adult in winter plumage was at SF on 20 October, and two second-winter birds were on the shore at Grassy Sands on 23 October.
1990: four records at SF: single first-years on 30 September and 16 October, two first-winter birds on 25 October and an adult on 8 November.
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla LT, H, COE—no records. Ch—recorded in winter in Liaoning (Lushun), Hebei and Jiangsu (Shaweishan Island) Provinces; status: very rare.
1989: an immature flew past LP on 8 November.
1990: a first-winter bird was seen at SF on 31 October, when a large influx of gulls was noted at this locality.
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LT—no records. WH—’The whiskered tern seems to move with the preceding [White-winged Tern] chronologically and may have been confused with it at times in the records.’ Since they were distinguished, records at Beidaihe were: 500 on 30 August and 20 on 2 September 1916, 16 August 1918 and 20 on 19 August 1918. No mention of passage on 31 July 1916, when—according to La Touche—Wilder shot one and saw many flocks passing down the coast. H—eight to ten birds in two autumns, 1 July to 25 August. No spring records. COE—181 bird-days, 17 April to 1 June.
1986: 311 bird-days, 20 August to 5 October. The main passage was from 6-15 September, when 126 bird-days were logged; 59 were recorded 30-31 August, including the highest day count—43 birds—on 30th. Most records were from SF/Re area and YH, typically of birds flying south; 32 were also seen from LH, flying south.
1987: 333 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 11 October; only 12 bird-days after 30 August. Highest day total 190 on 18 August—all flying south.
1988 (Ho): 12 bird-days, 13 September to 2 October.
1988 (Earthwatch): two late birds were at Re on 25 October.
1989: two at TH on 26 September.
1990: 171 bird-days, highest day totals 22 on 31 August, 36 on 1st and 38 on 3 September; all before 23 October.
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus LT—very abundant during the latter half of August, ‘when it travels down the coast in flocks.’ WH—’Records of eight years show it to occur in flocks of 20 to 50 or more at Peitaiho [= Beidaihe] all through July, August and into September at least, September 8th being my last date though it may occur later of course. … Beginning to migrate South, June 27.’ Wilder (1925)—’seen since 18.7, flying southwards in small parties. … All birds seen were in full breeding plumage.’ H—seen throughout the summer, 5 June to 24 September. In 1944 the species ‘occurred in countless numbers … already on the move from the first day of their appearance 17.VI, when flying past, always on the move towards S or SW, … in July often in much large numbers, e.g. hundreds at a time. … An example: On 11.VII 9-10.30 a.m. flocks came continuously from the CHT [Qinhuangdao] bay, joining 150-200 or more resting on SF, other loose flocks continuously leaving SF towards SW. Many hundreds must have passed. The same was seen again in the evening and on many other days. Many thousands must have passed if the hours are allowed for in which no observations were made.’ COE—892 bird-days, 10-31 May.
1986: 3001 bird-days, 20 August to 20 September. Most were seen at SF and YH, often migrating south; 386 were recorded from LH, flying south. The first week of the survey saw 358 bird-days logged, and the following 13-day period to 8 September was the main passage period, with 2511 bird-days logged, including the maximum day count of 900 on 30th (795 of these flew south over SF from 07h45-12h20). After 8 September, only 101 bird-days were logged to the end of the passage. Migrating birds not infrequently flew southwest over SF, and headed over the town to the south coast (a shorter route than if they had continued down the coast and passed round Lighthouse Point).
1987: 3744 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 28 October; only 12 bird-days after 11 September; 3206 were recorded flying south. Highest day totals 920 on 18th, 485 on 22nd and 690 on 30 August; only 12 bird-days after 11 September; three birds in October—two on 7th and one over 26th-28th.
1988 (Ho): 182 bird-days, 9 September to 12 October; highest day total 110 on 9 September.
1990: 1349 bird-days, highest day totals 641 on 31 August and 196 on 1 September; all before 23 October.
Black Tern Chlidonias nigra LT, H, COE—no records. Cheng—breeds in Xinjiang Aut. Reg., stragglers recorded at Tianjin in June, Beijing in August; also refers to record(s) in Hong Kong, but there are no certain Hong Kong records—the first is unsufficiently supported and the second appears to be a misidentification (Chalmers 1986). Also one at Yancheng, Jiangsu province, on 12 June 1992 (GJC pers. obs.).
1989: one at Re on 4 October (Ben King, in litt. to MDW).
Unidentified marsh terns Chlidonias sp.
1986: 213 bird-days, 21 August to 8 October; the highest count was 109 on 30 August.
1987: 59 bird-days.
1988 (Ho): six bird-days.
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica LT—no autumn records. WH—one shot 19 July 1923; flock of eight flying over 3 August 1923 probably this species. H—39 dates in two years, 13 June to 29 August. Ch—migrant and possibly a summer visitor to Hebei. COE—97 bird-days, 9 April to 26 May.
1986: 33 bird-days, with records on 14 dates from 20 August to 4 October. It seems that about 20 individuals were involved. The highest day total was five birds on 27 August; 29 bird-days had been logged by 14 September, after which the species was only recorded on three dates. Most records were from SF; a few were seen at YH and occasional birds were seen from LH, flying south.
1987: 59 bird-days (30 flew south), beginning of the survey to 11 September; only two bird-days after 30 August; highest day total 15 on 20 August.
1988 (Ho), 1989: no records.
1990: ten bird-days, highest day total two on 1 September; all before 23 October.
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne tschegrava LT—no records. Wilder (1925)—nesting near Hsieh Chia Ying Marshes, about 15 miles southwest of Beidaihe. H—seen from 24 July to 19 October over four years, with a maximum of 10 on any one day. COE—26 bird-days from 12 dates, 8 April to 4 May.
1986: 145 bird-days were logged from 27 August to 31 October. Most were recorded from 27 August to 10 October, with the peak day count being 46 at YH on 9 October. Apart from this notably high count (the next highest was 13 at SF on 27 August), mainly recorded early in the period. The majority of records were from SF.
1987: 234 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 2 November; 128 bird-days from 7-24 October; highest day total 15 on 13 October. A bird with a green leg ring (band) was seen on 18 October.
1988 (Ho): four bird-days, 10 September to early November.
1989: 110 bird-days, 9 October to 7 November; the highest day totals were 22 on 9th and 20 on 24 October.
1990: before 23 October, 86 bird-days, highest day totals seven on 24 August, at least 10 on 1 September and 11 on 20 October. From 23 October, 11 bird-days (three were recorded flying south), 25-31 October; highest day total six (three recorded from LP, flying south offshore, three at YH) on 30 October.
(Eastern) Common Tern (Nordmann’s Tern) Sterna hirundo LT—’numbers’ passed in flocks, August and September; found breeding from the coast about 20 miles west-southwest of Qinhuangdao (S.h. tibetana). WH—common from June to at least 15 September, as many as 50 being often seen at water’s edge during August. Arthur Morrison collected specimens of both S.h. longipennis and S.h. tibetana at Beidaihe in 1941. Wilder (1925)—found three pairs nesting at Hsieh Chia Ying Marshes, about 15 miles southwest of Beidaihe (same locality as La Touche’s breeding birds?), June 1925. H—frequently through the summer months, departing in September but exact date not known due to uncertainty over identification. COE—16 bird-days, 21 April to 14 May.
1986: 763 bird-days were logged from 19 August to 13 October. The main passage was during the first three weeks of the survey: 246 bird-days were logged during the first week, 136 in second and 77 in the next two, and high day totals were 115 (108 at SF, eight at YH) on 20th and 76 (at SF) on 27 August. However, the maximum day total was 118 on 29 September, which marked the beginning of a five-day pulse of birds that produced 273 bird-days. Only 20 individuals were recorded after 3 October. One on 14 September was identified as S.h. minussensis, a sub-species de Schauensee (1984) states occurs in western China, but is not listed by Cheng (1987).
1987: 3540 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 11 October; highest day totals 450 (20 flying south) on 8th, 450 on 9th and 330 (130 flying south) on 10 September; other than 388 which flew south on 11 October, only 55 bird-days after 16 September.
1988 (Ho): 11 bird-days, 9-18 September.
1989: regular from 15 September to early October; 75 bird-days, 8 October to 8 November; 69 (13 at SF, 66 at Se) on 9 October; after one at SF on 23 October, the only records were one at Re on 1st and 8 November.
1990: 1275 bird-days, highest day totals 141 on 28 August, 208 on 3 September and 180 on 2 October; all before 23 October.
Little Tern Sterna albifrons LT—breeds commonly, remains until October. WH—very common breeder. Records from Beidaihe for six years were from June to 15 September. H—seen throughout the summer, last certain date 3 September, but possibly later. COE—369 bird-days, 9 April to end of the survey period; bred at YH.
1986: 738 bird-days were logged from 19 August to 16 September; 440 bird-days were logged in the week to 26 August, 145 to 2 September, 102 to 9th and 28 in the final week of passage. The highest day total was 162 (72 at SF, 78 at YH, 12 at TH) on 22 August. The majority of records were from SF and YH.
1987: 656 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 1 October; only records after 15 September were singles on 21st and 23 September and 1 October. The highest day totals were 102 on 23rd and 125 on 24 August.
1988 (Ho): 52 bird-days, early September.
1989: one flew past LP on 14 October.
1990: 419 bird-days, highest day totals 61 on 27th, 50 on 28 August and 73 on 3 September; all before 23 October.
Unidentified terns Sterna spp.
1986: 45 unidentified terns were recorded from Se, passing south offshore, on 26 September.
1987: four birds.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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