After a month long absence due to a visit to India, Gamebirds is back to the hometurf. Our good friend Roger from HK was in town and this is the first official patch birding for 2017. We started at Nanhui and finished off in Chongming. Chongming had the usual no of Common and Hooded Cranes. The no of Herring Gulls at the far end of the reserve was just huge. They were too far to do a proper count but what fascinated all of us is a wing-tagged Mongolian Gull.

The Mongolian Gull with wing tag “AA28” was observed in a considerably large mixed flock of Vega and Heuglin’s Gulls.  Back in 2013, me and Mark Maddock had a similar wing tagged Mongolian Gull(AJ53) at the reserve. So I had bit of a guess where these gull might be from him. When i wrote to Andreas Buchheim of AA28, he came back with a fascinating news.

Mongolian Gull

AA28 – Mongolian Gull

AA28 was tagged at Khokh Nuur, Dornod Aimag, Mongolia on 14th May 2004 as an Adult. The definite age and sex was unknown at the time of tagging. It has flown 2060kms from its breeding colony to spend the winter in Shanghai. Given that AA28 Mongolian Gull was tagged in 2004 as an Adult, considering Gulls will need 4 years to be a complete adult and the date of re-sighting, AA28 is approximately 17 years old. More importantly, this is the first ever re-sighting since it was tagged. He/She has definitely avoided the spotlight for some reason.

Heuglin’s to the left and right

Check the Heuglin’s Gull at the left and the Mongolian behind it. The mantle shades are clear distinguishing factors apart from the leg color and extensive streaking on the hind neck. We were also fortunate enough to observe a lone Ruddy Shelduck, an uncommon winter visitor to this part of the world.

Ruddy Shelduck with Eastern Spot-billed Ducks

We completed Chongming shenanigans with the Black-faced Spoonbill, Wintering Hooded and Common Cranes, Goldcrest and this years special guests, the Lapland Longspurs. Their no’s have considerably gone high compared to the previous sighting, a clear sign of their departure to the breeding grounds.

Lapland Longspur Flock. Enlarged image to the bottom left.

Tundra Been Goose

Tundra Been Goose

Female Eurasian Teal

Male Eurasian Teal

Male Eurasian Teal

Common Snipe

Common Snipe

Grey Heron

Grey Heron having a snack

Chinese Penduline Tit

Chinese Penduline Tit

Hooded Cranes

Hooded Cranes

Earlier in the morning, we started at Nanhui as Roger was staying at the Holiday Inn. Roger has a pretty good rap sheet for spotting Owls and he kept his side of the bargain. He had successfully located two wintering Shot-eared Owls at Nanhui and tipped us about them.

Short-eared Owl in Hunting mode during dawn

The Owl was very active during the dawn. When the wind got too strong, it snoozed off in a scrub.

A romantic talk at Sunset? Kevin n Roger discussing about a Mystery Bunting

 

 

 

Our first trip in March was on 12th March with guests from Philippines. Good friend Peter Ting was in town for business and we tried to get a bite at the early migrants if there were any. Weather wasn’t helping but we were totally gripped when we found a flock of 6 Brown-eared Bulbuls feeding on the peach blossoms. Another scarce wintering/passage migrant in Shanghai. Given that my first sighting was only a few months ago(November), it was a high-5 moment.

Brown-eared Bulbul

Brown-eared Bulbul

The second trip in March was on 25th with our guest visitor, Jeremy Kleinberg from US. We started in Hengsha and before i could figure, this is a potential time for an avian shorebird, we stumbled on 30 Oriental Plovers to kick start our epic day.

The above shot doesn’t do any justice to this awesome shorebird but clear enough to say that they are indeed early, sticking to their schedule and loyal to the sites. Its been almost, 6 years in Shanghai for me and the only time i saw them were in 10th March 2012. The re-sighting came after 5 years. That was a pretty long gap. Below are some of the shots from 2012.

Jeremy enjoying the biggest avian prize of his trip.

While we were in Hengsha, Goodman Russell tipped us off about another Shanghai mega is just at our hands reach. We immediately changed to twitching mode and drove to the closed Sanjiagang Beach park. We had no time to finding the mega bird as Jeremy put his trained eyes on to the “Black-throated Diver“.

A scarce wintering bird in Shanghai – Black-throated Diver

A very distant bird was easy enough to safely ID it from the more common Red-throated Diver. The upper parts were dull black compared to the spotted back of Red-throated Diver. The face wasn’t  white as in the Red-throated and the swimming bird was showing white flanks, a very diagnostic feature of Black-throated Diver. Below, is a Red-throated Diver to compare.

We finished off with 76 species for a single day with the shorebirds being the major contributors. With the season heating up, more updates to follow.

A combined species list from 3 trips :

Common name Scientific name Location Date Count
Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae) – 8 / 173      
Gadwall Anas strepera Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 3
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 3
Garganey Anas querquedula Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 3
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 100
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Sanjiagang, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 10
         
Pheasants and allies (Phasianidae) – 1 / 182      
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
         
Loons (Gaviidae) – 1 / 5      
Black-throated Loon Gavia arctica Sanjiagang, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
         
Grebes (Podicipedidae) – 2 / 23      
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 10
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
         
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) – 2 / 36      
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 10
Black-faced Spoonbill – EN Platalea minor Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
         
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) – 8 / 72      
Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 10
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
Great Egret Ardea alba Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) – 1 / 41      
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Kites, Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) – 2 / 256      
Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 3
Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
         
Rails, Crakes and Coots (Rallidae) – 3 / 151      
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 1
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 6
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 50
         
Cranes (Gruidae) – 1 / 15      
Hooded Crane – VU Grus monacha Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
         
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) – 2 / 10      
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Aquaculture Farms, Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
         
Plovers (Charadriidae) – 3 / 67      
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 100
Oriental Plover Charadrius veredus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
         
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) – 14 / 96      
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 60
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Nanhui, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 10
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
Far Eastern Curlew – VU Numenius madagascariensis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 10
Common Redshank Tringa totanus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 1
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 1
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 3
Great Knot – VU Calidris tenuirostris Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 25
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Aquaculture Farms, Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 3
Dunlin Calidris alpina Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 200
         
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae) – 3 / 102      
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 30
Vega Gull Larus vegae Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Aquaculture Farms, Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
         
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) – 3 / 335      
Rock Dove Columba livia Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Sanjiagang, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
         
Owls (Strigidae) – 1 / 222      
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Hoopoes (Upupidae) – 1 / 4      
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 1
         
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) – 2 / 67      
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
         
Shrikes (Laniidae) – 1 / 33      
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Crows, Jays (Corvidae) – 1 / 131      
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
         
Penduline Tits (Remizidae) – 1 / 11      
Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 6
         
Larks (Alaudidae) – 2 / 97      
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
         
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) – 2 / 151      
Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 6
         
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) – 1 / 88      
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
         
Cisticolas and allies (Cisticolidae) – 2 / 158      
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 1
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 3
         
Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae) – 2 / 70      
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 10
Reed Parrotbill Paradoxornis heudei Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
         
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae) – 3 / 123      
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 6
Red-billed Starling Spodiopsar sericeus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 15
White-cheeked Starling Spodiopsar cineraceus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Thrushes (Turdidae) – 5 / 166      
Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum Nanhui, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Chinese Blackbird Turdus mandarinus Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
Pale Thrush Turdus pallidus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 10
         
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (320) (Muscicapidae) – 2 / 320      
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus Aquaculture Farms, Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
         
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) – 1 / 51      
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 6
         
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) – 5 / 65      
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 2
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Aquaculture Farms, Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
White Wagtail Motacilla alba Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 4
         
Finches (Fringillidae) – 3 / 219      
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 2
Chinese Grosbeak Eophona migratoria Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 2
Grey-capped Greenfinch Chloris sinica Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 3
         
Buntings, New World Sparrows and allies (Emberizidae) – 3 / 176      
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Nanhui, Shanghai, China 3/25/17 1
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala Nanhui, Shanghai, China 2/19/17 3
Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi Hengsha, Chongming, Shanghai, China 3/12/17 10
         
Species: 92