It’s bit late to say “Autumn Migration has kicked in”, shorebirds were seen even during June-July and August being known for the shorebirds push and plenty of shorebirds were seen in Hengsha two weeks before including a superb male “Green-backed Flycatcher”. I din’t want to miss out September 6 as it’s the World Shorebirds Day and Hengsha currently holds a better habitat elsewhere in Shanghai. Just like any other birding day, i was out of my home at 5AM to catch the first car ferry leaving from Changxing Pier at 6AM, to beat the security guard at the sea wall post. Since last winter, the Soldiers at the guard post arrive around 7.30 – 8 AM and restrict the access other than local fishermen.(That doesn’t include the first class hobby fishermen, they still gain access to the sea wall).
Before entering the sea wall, there was a good activity of Barn Swallows and Red-rumped Swallows over a grassy area. Red-rumped Swallows and Pale Martins were in good no’s. I stopped here scanning every bird looking for a possible swiftlet which i have clearly overlooked every season and made a huge miss this summer when they were sighted in really good no’s. After couple of minutes of scanning just before i was going to hit the migraine spot, found a sweet “Himalayan Swiftlet”. Total of 6 birds were seen at this grassy area and i saw them again while returning back.
An overlooked bird. Always seen one or two along the coast during the migration.
Access road to the reclaimed mudflats. Most of the reclaimed land is now dry and covered with reeds.
Now, back to the Shorebirds. It’s been two weeks since my last visit to Hengsha and the wader situation has changed a bit. The variety has gone down a little, majority of the Dunlins have gone, no Curlew and Broad-billed Sandpipers were seen throughout the day. The entire week was pretty clean with no smog amd North-easterly wind. My guess, birds would have wanted to take advantage of the clear weather to fly further south. A bit marshy land was the first action packed site, plenty of shorebirds with good no of camouflaged Common Snipes, which were hard to see untill they took off. Here is a Snipe showing off his flexible bill.
Common Snipe flexing its bill
A juvenile Grey-tailed Tattler sat on the side of the road for a long time giving me good chances to practice shots on different angles and light. It also regurgitated a pellet before a Common Kestrel spooked him off.
Pellet of the Grey-tailed Tattler compared with the Yi Mao
Juvenile Grey-tailed Tattler in regurgitating mode
While i was testing some shots with my new Benro 10 stop ND filters, a “Grey-streaked” and “Asian Brown Flycatcher” alerted me of their presence by sharp calls and sat side-by-side on a branch giving nice comparison. It took a while for me to detach and attach lens procedure, by the time the duo has separated and only Asian Brown Flycatcher posed for a bit.
Second Asian Brown Flycatcher for this season
The tides were already high when i reached the sea wall, so majority of the Shorebird activity was in the reclaimed mudflats.
Red-necked Stints were more confiding
Dunlin moulting to winter plumage. Most of the birds have already left
A bit odd looking Temmincks Stint with a shorter tail , not so conspicuous grey wash on the breast and streaked crown.
Juvenile Great Knot
Long-toed Stints were in great no’s
Long-toed Stints are generally seen during fall migration than spring, atleast to my personal obeservation. They are usually loners are stick to the edge of any feeding party. But this time, their no’s are pretty fantastic. The mudflats are filled with just Long-toed Stints, they even beat the Red-necked Stints in no’s. At the end of the day, I had 1000+ Long-toed Stints, a pretty high count for this species in a single location. While, i was stalking these wading birds, 6 Siberian Blue Robins flushed out of nowhere.
1st winter male, still have lot of plumage to catch up, Buddy.
Another passerine surprise. Juvenile Black-naped Oriole.
Around noon, the sky was incredible and urged me to take some more of these once in a blue moon occurence.
Brilliant Blue Sky
The situation changed drastically in the next hour or so, black clouds gathered out of nowhere and Thunderstoms concentrated on the near shore of the Hengsha.
Thunderstorms targetting Hengsha Town
The Thunderstorms continued for an hour. By the time the skies cleared, i saw a distant raptor hovering in the sky and it was too big for a Common Kestrel. I had some assumptions and wanted to get close to see if it was the right one. After careful approach, my guess was right, it’s my second ever “Black-winged Kite” for Shanghai. One not so common bird which i have clicked twice in Shanghai and definitely a high profile bird.
Black-winged Kite
Few more shots from the day.
Northern Hobby
Blue Rock Thrush
The Master Rider
Who ringed him? Reward will be a roasted pigeon skewer
Species List : (Total 78)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Garganey
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Chinese Pond Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-winged Kite
Eastern Marsh Harrier
Common Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Greater Sand Plover
Kentish Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Terek Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Grey-tailed Tattler
Spotted Redshank
Common Greenshank
Marsh Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Eurasian Curlew
Black-tailed Godwit
Great Knot
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Temminck’s Stint
Long-toed Stint
Red-necked Stint
Sanderling
Dunlin
Common Snipe
Oriental Pratincole
Little Tern
Gull-billed Tern
White-winged Tern
Whiskered Tern
Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
Oriental Turtle Dove
Spotted Dove
Common Cuckoo
Grey Nightjar
Himalayan Swiftlet
Pacific Swift
Eurasian/African Hoopoe
Common Kingfisher
Common Kestrel
Eurasian Hobby
Brown Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike
Black-naped Oriole
Eurasian Skylark
Pale Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped/West African Swallow
Light-vented Bulbul
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler
Arctic/Kamchatka Leaf/Japanese Leaf Warbler
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Oriental Reed Warbler
Zitting Cisticola
Plain Prinia
Reed Parrotbill
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Grey-streaked Flycatcher
Siberian Blue Robin
Blue Rock Thrush
White-cheeked Starling
Crested Myna
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
White Wagtail
Buff-bellied Pipit
Chinese Grosbeak
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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