Beidaihe Autumn Report

Autumn bird migration at Beidaihe, China, 1986-1990

(incorporating the report on China Cranewatch 1986)

Edited by Martin D. Williams

CONTENTS

SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
THE HABITATS AT BEIDAIHE
METHODS
Methods used to record passing migrants
Variation in the degree of daily coverage
RESULTS
The timing of the migration in autumn 1986
The routes used by migrants observed passing Beidaihe
Correlations between weather and migration
Species systematically treated
Divers
Grebes
Cormorants
Bitterns, egrets and herons
Spoonbills
Ibises
Storks
Swans
Geese
Shelduck and ducks
Raptors
Partridges, pheasants and quail
Cranes
Rails, crakes and coot
Shorebirds
Skuas and gulls
Terns
Sandgrouse and doves
Cuckoos
Owls
Swifts
Kingfishers
Dollarbird
Hoopoe
Woodpeckers
Larks
Martins and swallows
Wagtails
Pipits
Minivets
Bulbuls
Shrikes
Waxwings
Orioles
Drongos
Starlings
Crows
Wrens
Accentors
Robins and chats
Rockthrushes
Thrushes
Laughingthrushes
Parrotbills
Warblers
Flycatchers
Tits
Nuthatches
Wallcreeper
White-eyes
Finches
Buntings
HAZARDS FACING MIGRANT BIRDS AT BEIDAIHE
CONCLUDING REMARKS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
Totals of passing migrants recorded from the Lotus Hills in autumn 1986
Histograms showing occurrences of migrants in autumn 1987
Visits to other localities
Corrections to Williams (1986)
A checklist of the birds of the Beidaihe/Qinhuangdao District

INTRODUCTION
Martin D. Williams

Beidaihe (strictly Beidaihe Haibin—North Dai River Beach: 39°47' N, 119°27' E), a seaside resort approximately 280 km east of Beijing, is one of the world’s finest migration watch-points. Until the mid-1980s, the migration was mainly known from studies by Axel Hemmingsen from 1942-1945 (Hemmingsen 1951, Hemmingsen and Guildal 1968) and by John de la Touche at nearby Qinhuangdao from 1910-1917 (La Touche 1920, 1921), together with occasional observations by oth-ers including G.D. Wilder and H.W. Hubbard (1924, Wilder 1923, 1924a, 1924b, 1925, 1932, 1940, 1941a, 1941b, 1941c), which showed that many migrants, including substantial numbers of cranes and Oriental White Storks Ciconia boyciana passed through the area each year. Recent studies began with a survey in spring 1985 (Williams et al. 1986, Williams 1986). This was highly successful—the results included 652 Siberian Cranes Grus leucogeranus, around 40 per-cent of the world population known at that time.
The 1985 study was followed by China Cranewatch 1986, a survey of the autumn mi-gration. This was also successful, and observations have since been made each year.
This report summarises the results of autumn migration surveys at Beidaihe from 1986 to 1990. Results are included from the following:
1986: China Cranewatch 1986 (led by MDW; eight members, some for less than the full period), 20 August to 20 November.
1987: observations from 18 August to 30 November; 12 people (most for less than the full period) contributed to the log; data collection co-ordinated by Jesper Hornskov and John Palfery.
1988: observations from 8 September to 18 November by Jesper Hornskov (Hornskov unpubl.); survey of late autumn migration by Earthwatch teams led by MDW and Hsu Weishu (Xu Weishu)—often helped by JH, though logs kept separately, 8 October to 16 November.
1989: observations from 14-29 September and 5-6 October by Michael Fink Jørgensen (unpubl.); survey of late autumn migration by Earthwatch teams led by MDW, Hsu Weishu and Geoff Carey, 7 October to 16 November; includes observations by seven visiting Brit-ish birdwatchers present for much of this period.
1990: log kept by Jan Hjort Christensen from 19 August to 22 October, after which JHC contributed to log kept by Earthwatch teams led by MDW, Hsu Weishu and Steve Holloway, 23 October to 16 November.