Meet Mongolian Gull (AA28) – We are back in Business

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

 

 

 

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.

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.

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 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