Hump-nosed Lizard
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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 17 of 29
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus LT—of irregular occurrence; in autumn only on 21 November 1915, when there were a few for sale in the market. Weigold—some on 5 February 1916. H—flocks seen by another observer January or February 1944; two to four birds on eight dates during April 1945. Ch—migrant and winter visitor to Hebei. COE—242 bird-days, 15 March to 21 April.
1986: four birds were recorded, all at LH: one on 9th and three (two of which were flying south) on 15 November.
1987: two on 30th and one on 31 October and one on 7 November.
1988 (Ho): nine bird-days, 4-15 November. Interestingly, large numbers were seen the following spring—3081 bird-days (highest day total 300), from observers’ arrival at the town on 9 March to 19 April (Holt 1990), yet the autumn records give no inkling of a large irruption.
1989: an unidentified waxwing which flew south on 29 October was probably this species; one was at Se, with six Japanese Waxwings, on 16 November.
1990: one flew south on 2nd and five were at LH on 3 November (latter were probably the same as five unidentified waxwings seen at this locality on 2nd).
•(NT)Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica LT, H—no records. WH—very rare accidental visitor to Hebei. COE—two birds, 11 April. M—winters south to Hebei and Shandong. Ch—migrant Hebei.
1986: 31 bird-days were recorded from 30 October to 20 November; the records probably involved about 24 individuals. The period to 6 November saw nine bird-days logged, there were 11 during 7th-10th and during 14-20 November. Most records were from LH; five birds were at Se and one at EG.
1987: one on 30th and 31 October.
1988 (Ho): four bird-days, 29 October to 18 November.
1989: 90 bird-days, 1-16 November; flock of 18 at LH on 1st, 20 at the same locality the following day, 11 on 3rd; other notable day totals 13 (eight at LH, five at Se) on 9th and 11 on 13 November.
1990: recorded on three dates in October and six in November. In October: one at LH on 24th and singles flew south on 25th and 26th. In November: singles at LH on 2nd, 3rd and 4th, seven flew south on 5th, two at LH on 6th and at nearby Temple Beach on 7th.
Bohemian Waxwing/Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus/B. japonica
1986: eight on 15th and singles on 17th and 18 November.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis LT—breeds, departing in September. Wilder (1925)—’the trees have developed so finely that … several pairs of ring doves, woodpeckers, orioles, Japanese titmice [Great Tits] now breed here regularly, whereas they were never seen years ago.’ H—commonly breeds, latest dates in three autumns within the range 15-25 September. COE—77 bird-days were recorded from 7 May; present at the end of the survey in suitable breeding localities.
1986: present at the beginning of the survey; last record on 23 September. Until 11 September, birds not apparently actively migrating were not systematically recorded, as it was apparent that local breeding birds remained in the area. After this date all records were logged. Birds were first noted flying south on 30 August, and 158 south-flying birds were recorded from LH from 30 August to 14 September, with high counts of 25 on 7th, 17 on 9th and 15th and 21 on 8 September; subsequently, there were no more than three in a day. The highest day total of birds present was 18 (12 at LH, two at LP, three at Legation Gully and one at FP) on 20 August, the only date before 11 September when all birds present were recorded; only one to two were noted as present from 11 September. LH was the main location for birds present.
1987: 534 bird-days (235 flew south), beginning of the survey to 25 September. First noted flying south on 31 August; from this date to 16 September, 228 were recorded flying south. The highest day totals of south flying birds were 76 on 1st, 30 on 2nd and 47 on 12 September, and of birds present 70 on 3rd and 25 on 11 September.
1988 (Ho): 90 bird-days, beginning of the survey to 22 September; highest day total 27 on 17 September.
1989: one at LH on 22 September.
1990: 448 bird-days, highest day totals 39 on 29 August, 63 on 4th and 51 on 9 September; all before 23 October.
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus LT—one on 24 August; extremely abundant during September. ‘Sometimes it forms huge noisy parties on some solitary tree in the fields. … The birds when passing fly in very scattered order, and appear to come from an easterly or north-easterly direction.’ Breeds in mountains north of Qinhuangdao. H—recorded from 16 August to 18 September, no more than four to seven in a day, absent in autumn 1942. ‘It thus seems, that, like many other birds, the bulk of the drongos in autumn passes toward W far N of PTH [Beidaihe], only a few, occasionally, appearing there as in 1944 and 1945.’ COE—77 bird-days, from 7 May. Ch—breeds northeastern provinces; status: common in eastern China.
1986: 464 bird-days were logged from 21 August to 12 October; 452 were recorded from LH, flying south. Main passage was during 6-17 September, when 442 bird-days were logged and there were counts of 94 on 7th, 65 on 10th and 50 on 15th. The only record after 21 September was of a late bird on 12 October.
1987: 189 bird-days, 20 August to 23 September (155 flew south); the highest day totals of birds flying south were 33 on 6th, 43 on 7th and 38 on 12 September; only seven bird-days were logged after 16 September.
1988 (Ho): 90 bird-days, 9-13 September; highest day totals 51 on 9th and 26 on 11 September.
1989: one at LH on 24 September.
1990: 365 bird-days, highest day totals 105 on 11th, 53 on 14th and 38 on 17 September; all before 23 October.
Hemmingsen had found this species more common in spring than in autumn, the opposite of La Touche’s experience and the findings of the spring 1985 and recent autumn surveys. This apparently largely results from him not seeing actively migrating birds in autumn. Unlike La Touche, we did not find the species extremely abundant, or see huge noisy parties. This may, as Hemmingsen suggests, result from the bulk of the drongos heading towards the west (inland) to the north of Beidaihe, or may indicate a substantial decrease in numbers.
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus LT, H, COE—no records. WH—summer visitor in well wooded gorges of the hills in Hebei; not common, but a regular visitor. Taken in the vicinity of Beijing on several occasions, 18 May and after. Sh—very rare, breeds; May to September; Shaw had seen this species near Beijing on migration. Ch—accidentally in Hebei.
1987: one on 9th, two on 12th and 13th, and singles on 18th, 19th and 23 November; maybe only two individuals.
1989: one was at Study Gully on 19 October.
1990: one on 22 September.
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris LT—no records. WH—a hunter shot two near Beijing on 4 April 1920. H—one shot at Beidaihe (by B. Travers-Smith) on 1 June 1946. COE—42 bird-days, 18 March to 2 April. Ch—vagrant to eastern China; recorded in Hebei, Shandong, Fujian and Guandong provinces.
1987: two flew south on 24th and one flew south on 27 October.
1988 (Ho): one seen 15 October.
1989: two were at Se on 23 October.
Purple-backed Starling Sturnus sturninus LT—large flocks may be seen in August; saw a few at Qinhuangdao itself from 6 August to 2 September. Weigold (1922-1924)—a flock (swarm), 12 August (1916). H—only recorded in spring. Sh—rare breeding summer visitor. COE—45 bird-days, 16-22 May.
1987: 95 bird-days (four flew south), 31 August to 12 September; highest day totals ten on 1st and 80 on 3 September.
1989: singles flew south on 12th and 13 October.
1990: one was seen on 15 September.
1986, 1988: no records.
White-cheeked Starling (Grey Starling) Sturnus cineraceus LT—4 July to the beginning of September. On 4 July 1914, ‘thousands came over from the north-east, flying south-west. Flocks containing from fifty to over three hundred individuals followed one another rapidly during the afternoon, and the passage lasted two hours or more. This was the only passage of this kind noticed by me here. … However, on the 24th of July, 1915 I saw a large flock of Starlings which were probably this species, so that it is likely the main flights during other summers were overlooked. … it is probable that some summer here.’ H—common, especially in July (e.g. largest number seen at Beidaihe was 200 on 10 July 1944, several flocks on 23 July 1942), latest date 1 October. COE—2126 bird-days, 18 March to 30 May.
1986: 760 bird-days were logged from 23 August to 28 October. The main passage period was 27 September to 10 October, when 618 bird-days were logged; highest day total 240 on 27 September; 645 were seen from LH, flying south.
1987: 1401 bird-days (396 flew south), 19 August to 31 October; 908 bird-days logged from observations of birds flying to roost over Re from 30 August to 3 September (roost counts included 300 on 30 August, 350 on 1st and 250 on 3 September); highest day totals of birds flying south 100 on 15 September and 49 on 4 October.
1988 (Ho): 386 bird-days, 12 September to 26 October; 95 seen on 12 September and 162 bird-days logged from 7-18 October.
1989: seven were recorded on 20th, eight on 25th and 121 flew south on 26 September; 68 bird-days (23 flew south), 12-17 October; one at LP on 27 October.
1990: before 23 October, 671 bird-days, highest day totals 117 on 22nd and 318 on 23 September. The only record after 23 October was one at YH on 15 November.
Unidentified starlings Sturnus spp.
1986: 141 unidentified starlings were recorded from 23 August to 28 October, with a peak count of 33 on 10 October. Most—110 birds—were seen from LH, flying south, and it is likely that most or all were White-cheeked Starlings.
1987: 19 bird-days (16 flew south), 22 August to 15 September.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 21 May 2006 )
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