Yancheng – The Red-crowned Crane Paradise of China

This is a very old trip report, dating back to Feb 23, 2014. I wouldn’t be able to make it Yancheng this year as well, so why not show some light on the “Crane Paradise of China” as this is the peak season for the Cranes in East China. After my Photo-ops with Red-crowned Cranes in Jan 2014, Kevin Harding was totally gripped by the trip and wanted to see the Cranes for himself, so i thought why not? as its only a 5-hour drive from Shanghai. I had already scored most of the species but still i wanted to go there again, just to experience the elegant Red-crowned Cranes, numerous waterfowl, the incredible light and not even a single evidence of smog makes it a total break from chaotic Shanghai.

Accomodation/Food/Transport

This time i stayed at the brand new Jinhong Hotel again(Tel : +8613151364588), highly recommended with clean big rooms especially the suite with central aircon and hot water. The suite is 150rmb/nite, twin room 120rmb/nite and single for 100rmb/nite. It is wise to book the room in advance as December-February is a peak time for Chinese Photographers and tour groups. Food was a major problem during my previous visit (eventhough i eat everything that moves), the hotel restaurant is ok but the pricing and quantity is focused towards a bigger group. So most of the time we managed on Beef Jerkies, fruits and instant noodles.

We hired a car through Hertz China, VW Passat (375RMB/Day). Driving in China requires a DL obtained in China, none of the IDP is valid. Fortunately, me and Kevin has Chinese driving licenses and Kevin is the veteran of the Chinese roads (driving in China for a decade). There is no direct bus to Xinyang village from Shanghai but have to reach Yancheng first and then catch another bus to Xinyang. Alternatively, the hotel’s lady boss can arrange a private taxi for a pickup/drop from Yancheng. She can also help to book a spot in the photography hides which is managed by her cousin Mr. Zhang (+8615195136489 & +8615962063323). In January he picked me up in a mini-bus along with some 10+ Chinese Photographers, there were also few other photographers arrived ahead of us in their own transport. The charge for the hide is 300rmb/person/session (usually 5-9AM). In February, the situation had changed slightly, few Cranes have already left for their breeding grounds and the recent rain flooded portion of hide but still manageable to hold 10 ppl. So, Mr.Zhang was not keen on taking any customers but the hide was still accessible though. Kevin and other photographers went to the hide for three consecutive mornings but the Cranes did not come to the hide. So end of December to end of January is a great time for the hide photography.

Birding Info:

The below map gives certain spots.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl

Long-eared Owl

Long-eared Owl

Waterfowl

Merlin

Photography Hides

Black-winged Kite

The cranes were mostly found everywhere with January being the peak time. By the end of February, most of the Cranes had left but we still managed to see plenty of Common Cranes, Hooded Cranes, few Red-Crowned Cranes, a single White-naped Crane, and most importantly few Sandhill Cranes. The situation of the waterfowl was bit unstable as most of the waterfowl where found in the fishing ponds and the water level in these ponds change everyday,

Day wise Itinerary :

Day -1 : Kevin got up early and went to the hide where instead of photographing the cranes, he was entertained by Mr.Zhang whose corn crusher got stuck in the mud and by the time they pulled the jeep out, the golden hour window was already gone. We utilized the little bit of the morning light on the Pallas’s Reed Bunting, Commong Kingfisher and a very confiding Reed Parrotbill.Then we headed to the nature reserve to utilize the watch tower which turned out to be quiet productive. We had a pretty good time with flyby Mallards, Eastern Spot-billed Ducks, Smews, Red-Crowned Cranes, the most spectacular flyby was the flock of Mandarin Ducks. The #NumberGames continued in Yancheng as well, the no. of Mandarin Ducks were staggering.

Eurasian Bittern gave occasional flight over the reeds before disappearing into the world of reed beds. After the waterfowl show was over, the raptor show started immediately, several Eastern Marsh Harriers in various ages with few Hen Harriers all involved in a “Clash of Claws” territorial fight.

Day 2 : Mr.Zhang was no show after a night of Mahjong and bellyful of Wine. Kevin and other photographers waited at the hide for the Red-Crowned Cranes, unfortunately they were no show as well. Meanwhile, i was checking out the wishponds and was rewarded with the thousands of Tundra Bean Goose flying overhead with few Greater White-fronted Goose mixed in the flock. About 8AM, Kevin and others gave up their waiting, i went over to pick up Kevin and occassionaly stopping to scan the Crane flock. Most of the Cranes are scattered around the hide (check map for the hide location), about 250m from the hide, i found one single Sandhill Crane, mixed with Common Cranes. We then spent some time and effot to see if there was any other Sandhill in the flock, unfortunately we could not locate any but when the flock took off, we found two more Sandhills in the flock.

After roaming around the dirt tracks for the rest of the day, we found two more Sandhills and one White-naped Crane. We also added a Chinese Grey-shrike and a Great-spotted Woodpecker while looking for the Cranes.

Day 3 : Our final morning in Yancheng. Kevin spent couple of non-productive hours in the hide, as the Cranes were no show again. But we were entertained by a mamooth flock of Tree sparrows. When we came out of the hide, there was a stunning male Hen Harrier was hunting for its morning breakfast.

We then begin our journey back home with a slight detour to Yangkou to look for the big flock of wintering Eurasian Oystercatchers. We scanned the coast up and down for couple of hours and only managed a single Green Sandpiper. Couple of Slaty-backed Gulls at the harbour were a sweet equalizer thus ending our 3 day trip on the east coast.

2015 was certainly a big year which started with a different birds and different habitat in North China and ended very well in Shanghai with few unexpected late arrivals in the early days of Winter. Hope 2016 brings jumbo stuff and wishing a safe return passage for all those folks passing through the EAAF.

Complete List :

1.       Tundra Bean Goose

2.       Greater White-fronted Goose

3.       Mandarin Duck

4.       Mallard

5.       Eastern Spot-billed Duck

6.       Northern Shoveler

7.       Eurasian Teal

8.       Common Pochard

9.       Tufted Duck

10.   Smew

11.   Common Merganser

12.   Japanese Quail

13.   Common Pheasant

14.   Little Grebe

15.   Great Crested Grebe

16.   Oriental Stork

17.   Great Cormorant

18.   Eurasian Bittern

19.   Great Egret

20.   Little Egret

21.   Black-crowned Night Heron

22.   Eurasian Spoonbill

23.   Eastern Marsh Harrier

24.   Hen Harrier

25.   Brown-cheeked Rail

26.   Sandhill Crane (canadensis)

27.   White-naped Crane

28.   Common Crane

29.   Hooded Crane

30.   Red-crowned Crane

31.   Pied Avocet

32.   Grey-headed Lapwing

33.   Dunlin

34.   Common Snipe

35.   Black-headed Gull

36.   Mongolian Gull

37.   Oriental Turtle Dove

38.   Spotted Dove

39.   Eurasian Hoopoe

40.   Chinese Grey Shrike

41.   Reed Parrotbill

42.   Vinous-throated Parrotbill

43.   Dusky Thrush

44.   Naumann’s Thrush

45.   Eastern Yellow Wagtail

46.   Rustic Bunting

47.   Yellow-throated Bunting

48.   Black-faced Bunting

49.   Pallas’s Reed Bunting

50.   Brambling