Today was tough going. The wind got up almost immediately after dawn (after a still night) and just kept on increasing in strength. By mid-morning there were white tips to the waves offshore and I estimated that the wind speed was around 25mph SSE. After our third taxi driver picked us up from the hotel at 0430 (the first two did it once and said never again!) and dropped us at the lighthouse, we immediately made our way to the ridge for visible migration. There were a few hirundines to keep us interested early on and, around 0645, a small flock of 5 Chinese Grosbeaks (yes, they were Chinese – we checked!) flew around the point before settling near the lighthouse.
Jesper Hornskov and his clients for the Qinghai trip arrived yesterday for a couple of days ‘pre-tour’ visit of Laotieshan but today they were going up the coast for the Black-faced Spoonbills and waders (similar to our trip on Saturday). They were leaving at 0715 and we had spaces on the bus if we wanted to go. At 0700, with it looking like a quiet day, Spike decided to go with Jesper but I decided to stay at Laotieshan. As I write this, I don’t know how they got on up the coast but, for me, today was hard work… Very little visible migration and, with the wind so strong, it was difficult to find passerines in the swaying branches… Nevertheless, again I saw some good birds. Highlight was a probable Claudia’s Leaf Warbler (similar to Eastern Crowned but smaller and lacking the yellow wash to the vent). Also, I refound the (or found a new) male Russet Sparrow as he sang from a treetop near the lighthouse. Four Daurian Starlings were new for the trip and singles of Chinese Egret, Oriental Honey Buzzard and a day-calling Oriental Scops Owl ensured there was interest throughout the day.
We really need some rain to mix things up a bit.. Although there is clearly turnover each day, the volume of birds has been decreasing daily since we arrived, almost certainly due to the clear weather and southerly winds. The forecast for tomorrow is for some showers, so maybe that’s just what we need.. Only two more days to go so fingers crossed for the ‘big one’…!
Species List (in chronological order of first sighting). Note that I am not recording Common Magpie or Tree Sparrow (too numerous to mention):
Fork-tailed Swift (9)
Japanese White-eye (2)
Dusky Warbler (2)
Barn Swallow (passing at around 60 birds per hour)
Great Tit (4)
Oriental Greenfinch (4)
Chinese Pond Heron (2)
Black-tailed Gull (150+)
Common Pheasant (4)
Red-rumped Swallow (passing at around 50 per hour)
Chinese Hill Warbler (2)
Vega Gull (1)
Chinese Grosbeak (6)
Pallas’s Warbler (1)
Chinese Egret (1) – passed the lighthouse heading east
Chinese Bulbul (4)
Eye-browed Thrush (1)
Daurian Starling (4)
Yellow-browed Warbler (8)
Amur Falcon (1)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (2)
Goshawk (1)
Vinous-throated Parrotbill (6)
Oriental Honey Buzzard (1) came in off sea at 0855
Asian Brown Flycatcher (4)
Radde’s Warbler (2)
Siberian Blue Robin (2)
Russet Sparrow (1) – singing male in lighthouse garden
White-cheeked Starling (1)
Ashy Minivet (3)
Black-naped Oriole (1) – in off sea
Oriental Turtle Dove (1)
Dark-sided Flycatcher (3)
Oriental Scops Owl (1) heard only, calling at 1230
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (2)
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (4)
Claudia’s Leaf Warbler (1)
Grey Streaked Flycatcher (1)
Lanceolated Warbler (2)