On Friday 28th April the Irish Embassy in Beijing arranged the first Ambassadors for Nature field trip. Hosted by the Miyun District Foreign Affairs Bureau, the group of Ambassadors and senior diplomats visited the QingShui River, one of the rivers that drains into Miyun Reservoir, Beijing’s most important drinking water source and a hotspot for migratory waterbirds.
As well as a two-hour bird walk guided by local experts – Zhang Dehuai of the Miyun Reservoir Forest and Parks Bureau and local bird photographer 安妮 “Annie”, the group enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant, two expert presentations and a discussion on how the international community can share good practice in support of the local government’s efforts.
We totalled 26 species during the bird walk – see below for a full list – with the undoubted highlight being the sighting of two Oriental Scops Owls (Otus sunia 红角鸮 Hóng jiǎo xiāo) roosting close to the path. This species is a summer visitor to Beijing and it’s likely that this pair has recently arrived in the capital after spending the winter in S China or SE Asia.
A pair of Oriental Scops Owls roosting close to the path was a definite highlight.
The first presentation was by Zhang, including a short video of the rich biodiversity of Miyun Reservoir and a summary of the actions being taken to monitor and improve the habitat for water birds, especially cranes.
A lecture by Miyun Forest and Parks Bureau about efforts to manage the area for wildlife
The second was by Tan Lingdi, leader of the urban conservation programme at ShanShui Conservation Center, who spoke about the recent ‘wildlife audit’ of the German Embassy compound and the recommendations developed to help make the compound more friendly for wildlife.
Tan Lingdi from ShanShui Conservation Center presented the results of a ‘wildlife audit’ of the German Embassy compound.
During the discussion there was a commitment from the diplomats to identify and share good practice to help inform the actions of the Miyun local government and great demand for ShanShui to conduct similar ‘wildlife audits’ of other embassies in Beijing. The next such audit will take place on Friday 5 May at the Danish Embassy.
Huge thanks to Ambassador Ann Derwin, Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to China and her team, especially Fergus Scott and Li Meng, for the arrangements, to the Miyun Foreign Affairs Bureau for hosting, to Zhang and Annie for guiding the bird walk, to Tan Lingdi of ShanShui Conservation Center and to all the ambassadors for senior diplomats for participating.
The Ambassadors for Nature is an informal network of ambassadors in Beijing committed to managing their diplomatic green spaces in a way that is consistent with the new Global Biodiversity Framework agreed by more than 190 countries at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022 under China’s presidency. See this dedicated page for more details.
Title image: the Ambassadors for Nature group at the Qingshui River, including ambassadors and senior diplomats from Ireland, Denmark, Japan, Latvia, United Nations and United States of America.
Although the week at Tiaozini involved a packed schedule, I did manage to steal away for an hour to the mudflats for the incoming tide. Watching a flock of Great Knot with Eurasian Curlew, Oystercatcher and Saunders’s Gulls overhead as the sun dropped behind me was a memorable experience. I attempted to capture at least some of the magic by recording a soundscape. Put on your headphones and transport yourself to the Yellow Sea coast!
I am just back from a week of filming at Tiaozini, Jiangsu Province, with Chinese national television (CCTV4) for a special programme about the importance of coastal wetlands. This part of the Yellow Sea coast is a critical stopover for millions of migratory shorebirds along what is known as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), one of nine major migratory flyways in the world.
These incredible birds migrate from as far south as Australia and New Zealand to breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic Circle. They are shared by 22 countries and, with that, comes a shared responsibility to protect them and the places they need.
In recent years there has been an incredible turnaround in the prospects for China’s coastal wetlands. In the last few decades, possibly as much as 50% of China’s coastal wetlands have been lost and, just a few years ago, scientists were worried that the Yellow Sea could become an ‘epicentre of extinction’. Then, in 2018, there was a sudden change in policy when the State Council issued a ban on further reclamation of coastal wetlands and committed to protect the remaining important sites. As a first step, Tiaozini was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2019 in recognition of its global importance to migratory birds. Phase II of the serial World Heritage nomination, involving more than ten additional coastal wetland sites, is now underway. A short video summarising the turnaround is called “Saving a Flyway”.
Although the future of migratory shorebirds along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway is far from secure, and there are many additional and growing threats such as climate change, pollution and invasive spartina, the greatest immediate threat to the Flyway has been removed.
During my visit, it was clear that there have been some remarkable developments in terms of managing the site for migratory birds. A dedicated high tide roost has been designated through the renting – by the local government – of a former aquaculture pond. The water level is managed specifically for birds and, during my visit, it hosted thousands of birds of many different species, from large gulls, spoonbills, godwits, avocets, sandpipers and several different species of duck, including both dabbling and diving ducks. The large Saunders’s Gull (Chroicocephalus saundersi 黑嘴鸥 Hēi zuǐ ōu) colony, numbering almost 3,000 pairs, is now protected and monitored 24/7 and a dedicated research facility has been set up close by, hosting teams from Beijing Forestry University, Fudan University and Nanjing University. The research includes benthos surveys to understand the health of the mudflats and bird population monitoring. The visitor centre – dominated by Spoon-billed Sandpiper-themed infrastructure including a Spoony Cafe, Spoon-billed Sandpiper-shaped benches and Spoony-themed people carriers – hosts students from schools in the local area, from across Jiangsu Province and from further afield (there were at least three schools visiting on the first day I was there). The overwhelming feeling about the future of migratory shorebirds is now filled with optimism – such a contrast from when I first visited the area in 2010.
The view of the mudflats from the sea wall, now complete with visitor information about the special local species that can be found.‘Spoony’ is everywhere at Tiaozini. Even the benches are Spoon-billed Sandpiper-themed.Almost every weekday, schools from the local area and further afield visit to learn about this special place.
Of course, the growing threats of climate change, pollution and spartina are very real and will require a lot of hard work and dedication to address but, just for a moment, it was good to take in and celebrate a moment of optimism!
It was wonderful to meet so many people – from the managers to academics to local staff – passionate about protecting the intertidal mudflats and doing everything they can to facilitate safe passage for these extreme endurance athletes.
I am not a natural in front of the TV cameras but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to host a special programme about biodiversity that will reach tens of millions of people when it is broadcast in June!
I have tended to think that the dawn chorus is predominantly a spring/summer feature. So it was a nice surprise at Lingshan in February to record a wonderful winter dawn chorus involving both resident and winter visiting birds. Considering the temperature was around -8 degs C at the time, I didn’t expect such activity! You will hear the incredibly talented vocalist, the Beijing Babbler (Rhopophilus pekinensis 山鹛 Shān méi), as well as Godlewski’s Bunting (Emberiza godlewskii 戈氏岩鹀 Gē shì yán wú), Red-throated Thrush (Turdus ruficollis 赤颈鸫 Chì jǐng dōng), Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos 大嘴乌鸦 Dà zuǐ wūyā), Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus 雉鸡 Zhì jī) and more!
Put on your headphones and enjoy 10 minutes of soundscape from the wooded hills of Beijing’s highest mountain.
Last week I was invited to the Western Academy of Beijing for the latest in a series of engagements on biodiversity. The visit was my third to the school in the last few weeks, following a lecture on Beijing’s wildlife and a field trip to the Wenyu River.
Since my last visit, the students have made incredible progress. They’ve taken the “Pledge for Nature” agreed by ambassadors in Beijing as part of the “Ambassadors for Nature” initiative and adapted it to their school.
WAB students signing the “Pledge for Nature”
And already they have identified an area of the campus to “re-wild”, built ten special nest boxes for the Beijing Swift, to be erected this week ahead of the birds’ arrival in mid-April, set up infrared cameras around campus to monitor nocturnal wildlife and are designing insect hotels.
This sign, designed by students and teachers using recycled wood, has been erected adjacent to the area of campus that will be allowed to “rewild”.
All of these efforts are designed to align the campus with the new UN Global Biodiversity Framework agreed by more than 190 countries in December in Montreal. They are also part of a broader effort to make the school sustainable, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The students and teachers at WAB are a joy to work with and their actions are a shining example of what’s possible!
Huge thanks to the team at WAB, especially Marta Smith, Stephen Taylor, Pim Arora and Ian Slate.
At the end of last week we processed the final nocturnal audio files from autumn 2022, recorded on the roof of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing. This completed the third season of nocturnal recordings from this city centre location.
Key findings:
34,460 calls recorded in autumn 2022 (remarkably similar to the 34,713 in autumn 2021)
At least 67 species recorded, bringing to total number of species recorded over three seasons to 99
The most common species recorded was again Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni 树鹨 Shù liù) with 12,689 calls (versus 12,411 in autumn 2021)
This is a summary of the rare, scarce and notable birds in Beijing in 2022. It is based on a two-part Chinese language summary (see here and here) put together by Lou Fangzhou in collaboration with a team of local birders including Guan Xiangyu, Huang Minjun, Huang Hanchen, Li Zhaonan, Liu Aitao, Wang Ruiqing and Wu Zhehao. This summary is based on available information and is certainly not comprehensive, so if you know of any errors or additions, please comment at the end of this post or contact me directly via email/WeChat so that they can be corrected or added.
A big THANK YOU to the thousands of birders who have shared news of sightings throughout the year, whether via WeChat, email, eBird, Birdreport.cn or any other means. There is no doubt that sharing bird records has helped many people to see new and unusual species for the first time, building the knowledge base among birders in Beijing and, importantly, contributing to the collective scientific knowledge of the birds of China’s capital city and enthusing more people about the natural world. In addition to the group mentioned above, I would like to thank Colm Moore, Huo Shengjie (“Oriental Stork”), Wei Chunzhi, DaHao, He Yongzhou, Zhen Niu, Vincent Wang, 清子Zoey, Bonnie Chan, Shunzhu and Paul Holt for providing information and/or for their great birding company, advice and support in 2022, and to the photographers credited below for granting permission to use their images to illustrate this summary.
Overall Highlights:
The first and second records of CHESTNUT BULBULHemixos castanonotus 栗背短脚鹎 Lì bèi duǎn jiǎo bēi
The first record of BRAHMINY KITEHaliastur indus 栗鸢 Lì yuān
The second record of FIELDFARETurdus pilaris 田鸫 Tián dōng
The third record of SANDHILL CRANEGrus canadensis 沙丘鹤 Shāqiū hè
Possibly only the third record of BLACK-FACED SPOONBILLPlatalea minor 黑脸琵鹭 Hēi liǎn pí lù
Possibly only the third record of GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHERCulicicapa ceylonensis 方尾鹟 Fāng wěi wēng
Possibly only the third and fourth records of BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHERMuscicapa muttui 褐胸鹟 Hè-xiōng wēng
The third and fourth records plus a good candidate of VEGA GULLLarus vegae 西伯利亚银鸥 Xībólìyǎ yín ōu
Possibly only the fourth record of HIMALAYAN VULTUREGyps himalayensis 高山兀鹫 Gāo shān wù jiù
The fourth record of WHITE-THROATED REDSTARTPhoenicurus schisticeps 白喉红尾鸲 Bái hóu hóng wěi qú
Possibly only the fourth record of SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHERFicedula tricolor 灰蓝姬鹟 Huī lán jī wēng
Possibly only the fourth record of SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLERPhylloscopus ricketti 黑眉柳莺 Hēi méi liǔ yīng
Possibly only the fourth and fifth records of BROWN ACCENTORPrunella fulvescens 褐岩鹨 Hè yán li
Possibly only the fifth record of CRESTED SERPENT EAGLESpilornis cheela 蛇雕 Shé diāo
The fifth and sixth records of REDWINGTurdus iliacus 白眉歌鸫 Báiméi gē dōng
A very rare record of BAND-BELLIED CRAKEPorzana paykullii 斑胁田鸡 Bān xié tián jī (叶航、胡熙华、郝帅丞等)
Possible signs of potential northerly range expansions in the form of:
Three records of ASHY DRONGODicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi
A stunning four records of RUFOUS-FACED WARBLERAbroscopus albogularis 棕脸鹟莺 Zōng-liǎn wēng-yīng; and
Two intriguing records each of GREEN-BACKED TITParus monticolus 绿背山雀 Lǜ bèishān què and GREY TREEPIEDendrocitta formosae 灰树鹊 Huī shù què
A remarkable 7,363 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSESyrrhaptes paradoxus 毛腿沙鸡 Máo tuǐ shā jī counted in one afternoon on 12 November 2022 during what must have been one of the biggest irruptions in recent years
A month by month summary of the birding highlights from Beijing in 2022 is below, in chronological order. It is worth noting that Beijing does not yet have a committee to assess the accuracy of records, and some of the reports outlined in this summary without photos, audio or descriptions, are taken at face value. It’s possible that some may be reviewed if and when a committee is created.
For highlights of the latest bird news in Beijing click here. And for a basic summary of the Status of the Birds of Beijing, click here. Contributions, corrections and additions always welcome!
Here’s wishing everyone a healthy, happy, rewarding and bird-filled 2023.
Birding Highlights of 2022 Month by Month
January 2022 2022年1月
The year began with two fantastic finds on 1st – a female WHITE-THROATED REDSTARTPhoenicurus schisticeps 白喉红尾鸲 Bái hóu hóng wěi qú at Lingshan (Lou Fangzhou), only the fourth record of this species for Beijing, and a female SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER Mergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā at Yuanmingyuan (岳小鸮). On the 2nd the wintering PALE THRUSH Turdus pallidus 白腹鸫 Bái fù dōng was in the Olympic Forest Park (MartinDYC), remaining until 7th Jan at least, and a RED-BREASTED MERGANSERMergus serrator 红胸秋沙鸭 Hóng xiōng qiū shā yā was at Lù chéng yào yì gōngyuán, Tongzhou (动动帅). A MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é was at Yuanmingyuan on 3rd (小 太平) when there was also a first-winter male BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā or Baer’s Pochard x Ferruginous Duck hybrid along the Wenyu River (Terry Townshend). On 7th a WESTERN WATER RAILRallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī was seen at Shahe Reservoir (Jun Shuai), remaining into March and with an astonishing three individuals reported on 22 February at the same site by the same observer. Comment: records of this species, first documented in 2011, are becoming more frequent, most likely due to a combination of an increase in the number of birders and greater observer awareness, and it seems likely that this species is an annual winter visitor in small numbers. Also on 7th an unseasonal RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos hyperythrus 棕腹啄木鸟 Zōng fù zhuómùniǎo was at Taiyanggong Park (北岸望云). On 10th a JAPANESE SCOPS OWLOtus semitorques 北领角鸮 Běi lǐng jiǎo xiāo was found dead (road casualty) near the Yunju Temple, Fangshan District (Li Cheng). This scarce presumed resident breeder is rarely recorded in the capital but this traffic victim proved to be the first of several records in 2022.
On 12th an unseasonal 2cy CHINESE POND HERONArdeola bacchus 池鹭 Chí lù was along the Wenyu River (Terry Townshend). On 12th a GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng was found in Beihai Park (Li Yunfan) and the next day it was joined by a CHINESE THRUSHTurdus mupinensis 宝兴歌鸫 Bǎo xìng gē dōng Beihai Park (华少 et al.), with both birds staying for several weeks.
On 14th a (SIBERIAN) CHIFFCHAFFPhylloscopus collybita tristis 叽喳柳莺 Jī chā liǔ yīng was reported from the Botanical Garden (pinky), reported again on 16th (bcbcbc). On 16th there was also a report of a EUROPEAN ROBINErithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú at Haidian Park (observer unknown). Two PALLAS’S GULLIchthyaetus ichthyaetus 渔鸥 Yú ōu, 潞城药艺公园 (Lù chéng yào yì gōngyuán) were a good winter find in Tongzhou on 20th (麦克曹).
On 30th the second of the year, and first living, JAPANESE SCOPS OWLOtus semitorques 北领角鸮 Běi lǐng jiǎo xiāo was photographed in Mentougou (大牙齿 458 and Lou Fangzhou).
The Japanese Scops Owl Otus semitorques 北领角鸮 Běi lǐng jiǎo xiāo in Mentougou on 30 January 2022 (娄方洲 Lou Fangzhou)
February 2022 2022年2月
On 2nd a EURASIAN TREECREEPERCerthia familiaris 旋木雀 Xuán mù què was seen and sound-recorded at Xiaolongmen (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie). This species has been recorded in the capital only around ten times, so it was a great find. On 3rd two JAPANESE GROSBEAKEophona personata 黑头蜡嘴雀 Hēitóu là zuǐ què were reported from Shahe Reservoir (Zhao Chaoyue). On 6th an exceptional winter record of COMMON (AMUR) STONECHATSaxicola maurus (stejnegeri) 黑喉石䳭 Hēi hóu shí jí was photographed along the Wenyu River (Liu Zhenning, Xing Lei, Zhang Fengqin). On 8th a BROWN-EARED BULBULMicroscelis amaurotis 栗耳短脚鹎 Lì ěr duǎn jiǎo bēi was in Yuyuantan Park (齊 凱) and on 9th Lu Zhuofei found a probable (immature) VEGA GULL Larus vegae 西伯利亚银鸥 Xībólìyǎ yín ōu at DaYunHe Forest Park. Comment: based on Lu Zhuofei’s images (see eBird checklist here), the Japanese gull expert Michiaki Ujihara commented that if this bird was in Japan, it would be identified by most people, including him, as a vegae. However, there was still some uncertainty as to the full variation in mongolicus, so out of range birds should be treated with caution and the photographs were not sufficient to say for certain.Late winter and early spring seems to be the best time to look for vegae – as they may get caught up in flocks of the closely-related mongolicus as they migrate inland from the coast. I encourage birders to document any candidates as well as possible, including images of the bird in flight (upperparts and underparts) and on the ground/water.
On 17th an EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLEAquila heliaca 白肩雕 Bái jiān diāo was photographed at Beijing Wildlife Park, Daxing (Chen Siqi). On 20th two GREATER SCAUPAythya marila 斑背潜鸭 Bān bèi qián yā were at Qinglong Lake Wetland Park, Fangshan District (Zhang Beiyan). On 25th two JAPANESE GROSBEAKEophona personata 黑头蜡嘴雀 Hēitóu là zuǐ què were reported from Zhongshan Park (赤心黄连). The 26th saw several interesting records with a LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu at DaNing Reservoir (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie), an impressive flock of 100+ COMMON STARLINGSturnus vulgaris 紫翅椋鸟 Zǐ chì liáng niǎo at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Ruby Linlin and Grady Singleton), a MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLERCettia canturians 远东树莺 Yuǎndōng shù yīng reported from Yuanmingyuan (sunfulai), a GREATER SCAUPAythya marila 斑背潜鸭 Bān bèi qián yā at DaYunHe Forest Park (yanxr) and another BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at the same site (hermitress geng). On 27th, Lou Fangzhou and Liu Aitao found at least one, probably two, MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù at Yeyahu and a single HOODED CRANEGrus monacha 白头鹤 Bái tóu hè at the same site. The month finished with a bang in the form of a BROWN ACCENTORPrunella fulvescens 褐岩鹨 Hè yán liù at Yanhecheng on 28th (Chen Ziyi), possibly only the fourth Beijing record and the first of two in 2022.
Sound recording: The Eurasian Treecreeper at Xiaolongmen on 2 February 2022 (recording by Oriental Stork/Hup Shengjie)
March 2022 2022年3月
A COLLARED CROWCorvus torquatus 白颈鸦 Bái jǐng yā on 1st was a surprise at the Summer Palace (Wang Ruiqi and Li Yingjie). On 4th, four MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é were at Shahe Reservoir (Jun Shuai, Lu Zhuofei et al.), with 12 at Nanhaizi on 6th (Liu Nian et al.). On 5th an early EURASIAN CURLEWNumenius arquata 白腰杓鹬 Bái yāo biāo yù was at Shahe Reservoir (ttimmy, Ceoffrey Lions et al.) and single BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā were at DaNing Reservoir and Beijing Park Expo (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie). On 6th a NORTHERN GREY SHRIKELanius excubitor sibiricus 灰伯劳 Huī bóláo was at Miaofengshan (Ye Xingcha), a SOLITARY SNIPEGallinago solitaria 孤沙锥 Gū shā zhuī was at the Huaijiu River (Zhang Fengqin and Liu Zhenning), an early RUFFPhilomachus pugnax 流苏鹬 Liúsū yù was at Yanqing (Zhang Dongyuan) and a JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGEmberiza jankowskii 栗斑腹鹀 Lì bān fù wú was found in Miyun District (Huang Feihong). On 9th there was a pair of SCALY-SIDED MERGANSERMergus squamatus 中华秋沙鸭 Zhōng huá qiū shā yā at XiYu Reservoir (Peng Yuzhong), remaining for several days. Also on 9th 17 SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè were at Nanhaizi (Zhong Zhenyu, Pan Qingquan et al.) and an exceptionally early TAIGA FLYCATCHERFicedula albicilla 红喉姬鹟 Hóng hóu jī wēng was reported from Yuanmingyuan (sunfulai). Comment: any out of season apparent Taiga Flycatcher should be checked carefully to eliminate the very similar but much rarer Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva 红胸姬鹟 Hóng xiōng jī wēng. On 10th a remarkable 20 SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè were at Miyun Reservoir (Wang Shujun). On 11th, a WESTERN WATER RAILRallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī was by the Huaijiu River, Huairou (景秀). On 12th three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERMergus serrator 红胸秋沙鸭 Hóng xiōng qiū shā yā were at the Summer Palace (天书) and singles of BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā were reported from Yuanmingyuan (崇德乐和) and the Huaijiu River (WJC). On the same day two MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é were at the Xilijin Bridge, Xinghe River, Pinggu District (BillyWang). On 13th at least seven SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè were at Miyun Reservoir (Wang Shujun, Lou Fangzhou, Wei Zichen, Wang Xiaoyan and Liu Aitao). On the same day, another two RED-BREASTED MERGANSERMergus serrator 红胸秋沙鸭 Hóng xiōng qiū shā yā were at Huairou Reservoir (Ao Wang et al.) and an ORIENTAL STORKCiconia boyciana 东方白鹳 Dōng fāng bái guàn was at DaNing Reservoir (appropriately found by “Oriental Stork”/Huo Shengjie). On 14th Colm Moore found a LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis 长尾鸭 Cháng wěi yā and a ‘black-backed’ WHITE WAGTAILMotacilla albalugens 白鹡鸰 Bái jí líng at Ming Tombs Reservoir. The wintering 2cy LAMMERGEIER (BEARDED VULTURE) Gypaetus barbatus 胡兀鹫 Hú wù jiù was seen again at Yanhecheng on 15th (amal amer et al.). On 17th a 2cy LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu was with more than 100 Mongolian Gulls at LuomaHu in Shunyi District (Terry Townshend). On 18th seven LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn were at Shahe Reservoir (Qiu Xiaoxi). Another ORIENTAL STORKCiconia boyciana 东方白鹳 Dōng fāng bái guàn was at Taishitun, Miyun on 19th (amal amer et al.) with three BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at DaNing Reservoir on the same day (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie). On 19th there were two ORIENTAL PLOVERCharadrius veredus 东方鸻 Dōng fāng héng at Ma Chang (Gao Xiaoyan, Wang Licheng), possibly the earliest spring record in Beijing of this migrant from Australasia. The 20th was a busy day with a 2cy EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLEAquila heliaca 白肩雕 Bái jiān diāo joining the 2cy LAMMERGEIER (BEARDED VULTURE) Gypaetus barbatus 胡兀鹫 Hú wù jiù at Yanhecheng in Mentougou District (Chen Yanxin), a ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDButeo lagopus 毛脚鵟 Máo jiǎo kuáng at Yeyahu (Cai Zhenbo), two BLACK-TAILED GULLLarus crassirostris 黑尾鸥 Hēi wěi ōu at DaShiHe (Guan Xueyan et al.), at least two (2cy and 3cy) LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu at LuomaHu, Shunyi (Terry Townshend) and two MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é at Haiqingtai, Daxing (张珺凯). On 21st the large gulls at LuomaHu in Shunyi were joined by a presumed 2cy VEGA GULL Larus vegae 西伯利亚银鸥 Xībólìyǎ yín ōu (Terry Townshend) and two SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè and an estimated 100 WHITE-NAPED CRANEGrus vipio 白枕鹤 Bái zhěn hè were at Miyun Reservoir (动动帅 et al.).
The 2cy Vega Gull at Luoma Hu, Shunyi on 21 March 2022 (Terry Townshend)
On 24th a DEMOISELLE CRANEAnthropoides virgo 蓑羽鹤 Suō yǔ hè was at Miyun Reservoir (amal amer et al.), apparently rescued and subsequently released. On 26th there was a a LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn at Yeyahu Wetland Park, Yanqing District (Yang Yang) and on 27th another LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn was seen from the Xinzhuang Bridge, Miyun District, with two SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè also in the area (observer unknown). The 28th saw a MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù at the Olympic Forest Park (老张, 麻杰夫 and 动动帅 via David), and two rare races of WHITE WAGTAILMotacilla alba 白鹡鸰 Bái jí líng, with a bird of the race personata at Shahe reservoir (Colm Moore) and a bird of the race lugens at the Wenyu River (Terry Townshend). On the same day a DEMOISELLE CRANEAnthropoides virgo 蓑羽鹤 Suō yǔ hè, presumably the rehabilitated bird from 24th, was with the two SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè at Miyun Reservoir. On 29th an impressive 33 SIBERIAN CRANEGrus leucogeranus 白鹤 Bái hè flew over Shahe Reservoir at 5pm (Ping Zhang) and there was at least one adult and two 3cy LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu at LuomaHu (Terry Townshend). The month ended with a CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng at Baiwangshan on 31st (Bu Xinchen et al.).
The 2cy Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus 胡兀鹫 Hú wù jiù at Yanhecheng (this photo taken on 13 March 2022 by Chen Yanxin).
April 2022 2022年4月
On 1st a LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu was at DaYunHe, Tongzhou (Yu Xiaobing). On 2nd there was a 2cy BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKERissa tridactyla 三趾鸥 Sān zhǐ ōu and a 2cy BROWN-HEADED GULLChroicocephalus brunnicephalus 棕头鸥 Zōng tóu ōu at Kangxi Grassland, Yanqing (Terry Townshend), two BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Yeyahu (Bonnie Chan) and two WHITE WAGTAILMotacilla alba 白鹡鸰 Bái jí líng of the race personata at Ma Chang (Guan Xueyan et al.). Also on 2nd, a MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é was at Xinzhuang, Chaobai River, Tongzhou (observer unknown). A great find on 3rd was Beijing’s fifth REDWINGTurdus iliacus 白眉歌鸫 Báiméi gē dōng at the Temple of Heaven Park (Lou Fangzhou, Wei Zichen and Liu Aitao). On the same day, there was a LESSER BLACK-BACKED (SIBERIAN) GULLLarus fuscus taimyrensis 乌灰银鸥 Wū huī yín ōu and two BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at DaNing Reservoir (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie), with two more of the latter at Yeyahu on the same day (Grady Singleton and Ruby Linlin). Also on 3rd, Yeyahu hosted two LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSEAnser erythropus 小白额雁 Xiǎo bái é yàn (Ge Mengshuai) and there was another CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng at Baiwangshan (Cao Shuo and Zhang Ruiyan). On 5th there was in interesting nocturnal record of an estimated 50 RELICT GULLIchthyaetus relictus 遗鸥 Yí ōu heard calling over Huairou at 21:22hrs (Andrew Morrissey). On 6th there were two CASPIAN TERNHydroprogne caspia 红嘴巨鸥 Hóng zuǐ jù ōu and an ORIENTAL STORKCiconia boyciana 东方白鹳 Dōng fāng bái guàn at Shahe Reservoir (Jun Shuai), the latter seen again on 9th (Stefan Andrew), and a remarkable record of a VERDITER FLYCATCHEREumyias thalassinus 铜蓝鹟 Tóng lán wēng of unknown origin from Haidian District (Wang Lizhong). The 7th saw the third CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng of the spring at Baiwangshan (Song Jian et al.). On 8th a GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng was at Nanhaizi (漂亮 王). The 9th saw a RUFOUS-FACED WARBLERAbroscopus albogularis 棕脸鹟莺 Zōng-liǎn wēng-yīng at Kangxi Grassland (Hu Xihua) and the same day there was a report of more than 700 BLACK KITEMilvus migrans lineatus 黑鸢 Hēi yuān (the total count exceeded 1,000 according to the observer) from Yeyahu Wetland Reserve (Qi Kai, Guo Ziliang, Zhao Yongjian, Ye Xingcha). Comment: As far as I am aware, the previous record count of this species in Beijing was 110 on 2 April 2018 at Shisanling (Colm Moore and Zhao Qi). On the same day there were three SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBEPodiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī and nine BLACK-NECKED GREBEPodiceps nigricollis 黑颈䴙䴘 Hēi jǐng pì tī at DaNing Reservoir (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie and Fu Cong). Twenty ASIAN HOUSE MARTINDelichon dasypus 烟腹毛脚燕 Yān fù máo jiǎo yàn on 10th near Longmenjian, Mentougou District was a nice record (hermitress geng). On 11th a GREEN-BACKED TITParus monticolus 绿背山雀 Lǜ bèishān què (of unknown origin) was photographed at Nanhaizi, Daxing District (Zhong Zhenyu), the first of two records in 2022 from the same site. On 12th a COMMON RINGED PLOVERCharadrius hiaticula 剑鸻 Jiàn héng was found at Ma Chang (Guan Xueyan, Jun Yang, 大牙齿 458 et al.), possibly only the 5th record of this species in Beijing? It stayed until at least 15th allowing many observers to catch up with this rare visitor. A single LESSER SAND PLOVERCharadrius mongolus 蒙古沙鸻 Méng gǔ shā héng was also at the same site on the same day (Yang Jun, Guan Xiangyu, Li Zihao and Wu Zhehao). On 13th there were two NORTHERN HOUSE MARTINDelichon urbicum 白腹毛脚燕 Bái fù máo jiǎo yàn at the Botanical Gardens (Dean Li) and two separate LITTLE STINTCalidris minuta 小滨鹬 Xiǎo bīn yù, with one at Xiaomatou, Tongzhou (Guan Xueyan et al.) and one at the DaYunHe (Jia Haiyan). On 14th a SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLERPhylloscopus ricketti 黑眉柳莺 Hēi méi liǔ yīng was photographed at Yudushan, Yanqing District (Chen Chen), a COLLARED CROWCorvus torquatus 白颈鸦 Bái jǐng yā was at Cuihu Wetland Park, Haidian (Peng Tao) and a MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù was at Ma Chang (Wang Binging). On 16th a JAPANESE GROSBEAKEophona personata 黑头蜡嘴雀 Hēitóu là zuǐ què was at the Guishui River, Yanqing (lu na) and at least two, probably three, MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù were at Ma Chang (Liu Aitao). On 17th a RUFFPhilomachus pugnax 流苏鹬 Liúsū yù and two LITTLE STINTCalidris minuta 小滨鹬 Xiǎo bīn yù were at BeiYunHe (Hao Jianguo et al.). A GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng was reported from Shahe Reservoir on 18th (CJ). A CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng flew past the raptor watchpoint at Baiwangshan on 23rd (Ge Mengshuai). Counts of 55 SYKE’S (MONGOLIAN) SHORT-TOED LARKCalandrella dukhunensis 大短趾百灵 Dà duǎn zhǐ bǎilíng were recorded from Ma Chang on 25th (Vincent Wang) and Ming tombs Reservoir on 26th (Colm Moore). Also on 26th, two RUFOUS-FACED WARBLERAbroscopus albogularis 棕脸鹟莺 Zōng-liǎn wēng-yīng were at Shahe Reservoir (华少, Jun Shuai et al.), with one remaining until 28th at least, a SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBEPodiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī was at Shahe Reservoir (阿兹猫) and a NORTHERN HOUSE MARTINDelichon urbicum 白腹毛脚燕 Bái fù máo jiǎo yàn was at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore). On 28th a GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng was at Tsinghua University campus (Tz Hsuan Tseng) and a DEMOISELLE CRANEAnthropoides virgo 蓑羽鹤 Suō yǔ hè was at Ma Chang (Zhang Dongyuan). On 29th a BULL-HEADED SHRIKELanius bucephalus 牛头伯劳 Niú tóu bó láo was at Baicaopan (Tom Tom) and an early COMMON CUCKOOCuculus canorus 大杜鹃 Dà dùjuān was reported from Baiwangshan (Ge Mengshuai and Wang Ye). The month ended with a good record of a singing NORTHERN (RUFOUS) HAWK-CUCKOOHierococcyx hyperythrus 北鹰鹃 Běi yīng juān at the Temple of Heaven Park on 30th (Hang Ye and 大牙齿 458) and a superb count of 32+ EURASIAN CURLEWNumenius arquata 白腰杓鹬 Bái yāo biāo yù at Miyun Reservoir (Kong Deyi).
The Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 剑鸻 Jiàn héng at Ma Chang (this photo by Terry Townshend on 15 April 2022).
May 2022 2022年5月
A fulvescens GREATER SPOTTED EAGLEAquila clanga 乌雕 Wū diāo was at Miyun Reservoir on 1st (Zhang Fengqin and Du Kaiyan). On 2nd a BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLERHorornis fortipes 强脚树莺 Qiáng-jiǎo shù-yīng was at Qianlingshan (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie). On 3rd four LITTLE CURLEWNumenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù were reported from Ma Chang (Plateau). On 4th a LESSER SAND PLOVERCharadrius mongolus 蒙古沙鸻 Méng gǔ shā héng and was reported from Ma Chang (Cory Gao). On 5th there was a BAR-TAILED GODWITLimosa lapponica 斑尾塍鹬 Bānwěi chéng yù at Shahe Reservoir (Guan Xueyan et al.), possibly only the 5th Beijing record? On the same day there was an ASIAN DOWITCHERLimnodromus semipalmatus 半蹼鹬 Bàn pǔ yù at DaYunHe, Tongzhou District (王勇) and a PIED WHEATEAROenanthe pleschanka 白顶䳭 Bái dǐng jí at Shahe Reservoir (王文龙). Another wheatear, this time an ISABELLINE WHEATEAROenanthe isabellina 沙䳭 Shā jí was at Ma Chang on 8th (Cinclus cinclus et al.) and a nice group of twelve ASHY MINIVETPericrocotus divaricatus 灰山椒鸟 Huī shānjiāo niǎo was found at DaYunHe, Tongzhou (郝建国). A RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERFicedula parva 红胸姬鹟 Hóng xiōng jī wēng was reported from Chaoyang Park the same day (Stefan Andrew).
On 9th a NORTHERN (RUFOUS) HAWK-CUCKOOHierococcyx hyperythrus 北鹰鹃 Běi yīng juān was at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and a CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOOClamator coromandus 红翅凤头鹃 Hóng chì fèng tóu juān was a great find at Dongxiaokou Park (Grady Singleton and Ruby Linlin). On the same day there were two PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng at DaNing Reservoir (peng su) and a MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHERFicedula mugimaki 鸲姬鹟 Qú jī wēng at the Temple of Heaven Park (张佳依). A candidate WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAILMotacilla flava 西黄鹡鸰 Xī huáng jí líng was reported from Shahe Reservoir (戴少华). The 10th was a busy day, with two rare flycatchers being found – first, a BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHERMuscicapa muttui 褐胸鹟 Hè-xiōng wēng, possibly only the third record of this species for Beijing, was a great find by Vincent Wang at the Botanical Gardens and, second, a SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHERFicedula tricolor 灰蓝姬鹟 Huī lán jī wēng, possibly only the fourth record, was at JingTieHeYuan, Xicheng District (朱鋆). On the same day a SIBERIAN THRUSHZoothera sibirica 白眉地鸫 Báiméi di dōng and two GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng were at the Temple of Heaven Park (Wang Ye and Qiuhan Z) and the first of two spring SANDERLINGCalidris alba 三趾滨鹬 Sān zhǐ bīn yù was at DaYunHe, Tongzhou District (王勇). The 11th was a good day at Baiwangshan, the famous raptor watching spot, with more than 1,000 CRESTED (ORIENTAL) HONEY BUZZARDPernis ptilorhynchus 凤头蜂鹰 Fèng tóu fēng yīng logged plus 83 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWKAccipiter gularis 日本松雀鹰 Rì běn sōng què yīng (the latter possibly a Beijing record count?) and a rare BESRAAccipiter virgatus 松雀鹰 Sōng què yīng (Friends of Nature Baiwangshan Raptor Monitoring Group). Also on 11th, a second BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa muttui 褐胸鹟 Hè-xiōng wēng was at Zizhuyuan (刘文忠), with photos suggesting it was a different bird to that in the Botanical Gardens the previous day, and a COLLARED CROWCorvus torquatus 白颈鸦 Bái jǐng yā was at Shahe Reservoir (Guan Xueyan et al.). On 13th, a PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng was at the Botanical Gardens (Jun Shuai). The next day there were six (late) MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é at Shahe Reservoir (蔡震波、李蔚莹、傅聪等) and MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHERFicedula mugimaki 鸲姬鹟 Qú jī wēng were recorded at the Wenyu River (Stefan Andrew) and DaNing Reservoir (Qiuyang Zheng and Yan Shen). Also on 14th, Baiwangshan outdid itself when 2,025 CRESTED (ORIENTAL) HONEY BUZZARDPernis ptilorhynchus 凤头蜂鹰 Fèng tóu fēng yīng were logged passing the raptor watchpoint (Friends of Nature). An ASHY DRONGODicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi was reported from Dongxiaokou Park, Chaoyang on 15th (劳二尔). On 16th there was a BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKECoracina melaschistos 暗灰鹃鵙 at Shawo Park Chaobai River, Tongzhou (Wang Changjun). On 18th a PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng was recorded in Tongzhou (大好) and a SANDERLINGCalidris alba 三趾滨鹬 Sān zhǐ bīn yù was at the ChaoHui Bridge, Miyun (孙治家). There was a PECHORA PIPITAnthus gustavi 北鹨 Běi liù on 19th at TianFu, Tongzhou (宋大昭). On the same day there was a MARSH GRASSBIRDLocustella pryeri 斑背大尾莺 Bān bèi dà wěi yīng at Shahe Reservoir (王似奇) and a RUFOUS-TAILED ROBINLuscinia sibilans 红尾歌鸲 Hóng wěi gē qú at DaNing Reservoir (Qiuyang Zheng and Yan Shen). On 20th there was another PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng at the Temple of Heaven Park (amal amer and Cinclus cinclus) plus a GREY-BACKED THRUSHTurdus hortulorum 灰背鸫 Huī bèi dōng at the same site (兆楠 李) and a NORTHERN BOOBOOKNinox japonica 鹰鸮 Yīng xiāo at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Jiahua Xing). The 21st saw a new species for Beijing when a CHESTNUT BULBULHemixos castanonotus 栗背短脚鹎 Lì bèi duǎn jiǎo bēi was photographed at DaYunHe (阿兹猫). While looking for this bird, other birders found a GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHERCulicicapa ceylonensis 方尾鹟 Fāng wěi wēng at DaYunHe Golf Club 大运河高尔夫俱乐部 (Zhang Hui, amal amer et al.). Also on 21st an ORIENTAL CUCKOOCuculus optatus 北方中杜鹃 Běifāng zhōng dùjuān was a good find at Kangxi Grassland (王力成、严向荣). On 22nd a LITTLE CURLEWNumenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù was at DaNing Reservoir (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie) along with a BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā and possibly a Beijing record count of 160 COMMON TERNSterna hirundo 普通燕鸥 Pǔtōng yàn ōu. Also on 22nd there was a LESSER SAND PLOVERCharadrius mongolus 蒙古沙鸻 Méng gǔ shā héng at Miyun Reservoir (Wang Shujun). On 23rd a CRESTED SERPENT EAGLESpilornis cheela 蛇雕 Shé diāo was photographed at Baiwangshan (王文龙). Comment: This species is very rare in Beijing with only a handful of records, all from Baiwangshan. On the same day two GREEN-BACKED TITParus monticolus 绿背山雀 Lǜ bèishān què were at Nanhaizi (Zhong Zhenyu). On 24th an ORIENTAL CUCKOOCuculus optatus 北方中杜鹃 Běifāng zhōng dùjuān was sound-recorded at Xiangshan (He Yongzhou) and a RED COLLARED DOVEStreptopelia tranquebarica 火斑鸠 Huǒ bānjiū was at Yuanmingyuan (汪周、杨虹、晏燕等). On 25th three ORIENTAL STORKCiconia boyciana 东方白鹳 Dōng fāng bái guàn were at Tangjiashan Reservoir (Bonnie Jiang). On 26th CHINESE BUSH WARBLERBradypterus tacsanowskius 中华短翅莺 Zhōnghuá duǎn chì yīng were along the Wenyu River (Terry Townshend), Yudong Park (Yudong Park (Yan Shen and Catherine Dong) and at Yuanmingyuan (Jeff_觉非) and a female SIBERIAN THRUSHZoothera sibirica 白眉地鸫 Báiméi di dōng was in the Botanical Gardens (Jiang Hang). On 27th the spring’s second ASHY DRONGODicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi was photographed at Baiwangshan (王振亚). On 28th a surprise in the form of a GREY TREEPIE 灰树鹊 Huī shù què was photographed at Ma Chang (高原). Note that damaged tail feathers may indicate that this bird originated in captivity. Three RUDDY TURNSTONEArenaria interpres 翻石鹬 Fān shí yù were at the same site on the same day (王力成、严向荣). 29th was a superb day at Ma Chang with a PALE MARTINRiparia diluta 淡色沙燕 Dàn sè shā yàn, a flock of 55 (!) GREY-TAILED TATTLERTringa brevipes 灰尾漂鹬 Huī wěi (piào) yù, 4 RUDDY TURNSTONEArenaria interpres 翻石鹬 Fān shí yù and 1 CURLEW SANDPIPERCalidris ferruginea 弯嘴滨鹬 Wān zuǐ bīn yù (Ren Lipeng, amal amer et al.). On 30th there was a BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKECoracina melaschistos 暗灰鹃鵙 Àn huī juān jú at HuoYing (Wang Xiaobo), a BLUNT-WINGED WARBLERAcrocephalus concinens 钝翅苇莺 Dùn chì wěi yīng at ZoaLinZhuangYuTang, Tongzhou (郝建国), and five unseasonal MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é at Ma Chang (Wang Bingling, Du Kaiyan and Wang Wenlong). The month ended with two NORTHERN HOUSE MARTINDelichon urbicum 白腹毛脚燕 Bái fù máo jiǎo yàn at the Botanical Gardens (peng su) and two CINNAMON BITTERNIxobrychus cinnamomeus 栗苇鳽 Lì wěi jiān at the Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) on 31st.
The Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi 北鹨 Běi liù on 19th May 2022 in Tongzhou (宋大昭 Song DaZhao)
June 2022 2022年6月
June started in spectacular fashion with two immature HIMALAYAN VULTUREGyps himalayensis 高山兀鹫 Gāo shān wù jiù at Miaofengshan (昱昊 Hausys, 云天, 麦克曹 et al.) on 1st, possibly only the fourth record of this species in Beijing. Also on 1st, two PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu were at Miyun Reservoir (Wang Shujun). On 3rd there was an ASIAN LESSER CUCKOOCuculus poliocephalus 小杜鹃 Xiǎo dùjuān and a BULL-HEADED SHRIKELanius bucephalus 牛头伯劳 Niú tóu bó láo at Lingshan (Liu Aitao and 大牙齿 458). Also on 3rd a MANCHURIAN REED WARBLERAcrocephalus tangorum 远东苇莺 Yuǎndōng wěi yīng was at Shahe Reservoir (Fang Yu, Ji Shi and Zhu Yanning). On 4th there was another MANCHURIAN REED WARBLERAcrocephalus tangorum 远东苇莺 Yuǎndōng wěi yīng at LuoMaHu, Shunyi (Terry Townshend) and another PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng at Tianfu Village (Xingcha Ye). On 5th there were two ASIAN LESSER CUCKOOCuculus poliocephalus 小杜鹃 Xiǎo dùjuān at Miaofengshan (Huo Shengjie). On 6th there was the spring’s second CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOOClamator coromandus 红翅凤头鹃 Hóng chì fèng tóu at Shahe Reservoir (Zhen Niu, Lou Fangzhou, Song Jian) and two CINNAMON BITTERNIxobrychus cinnamomeus 栗苇鳽 Lì wěi jiān at 通萧太后河田家府段, Tongzhou (Guan Xueyan et al.). On 7th there was another RUFOUS-FACED WARBLERAbroscopus albogularis 棕脸鹟莺 in the Botanical Gardens (Ma Nan), subsequently reported again up to 25th July. On 8th there were two BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKECoracina melaschistos 暗灰鹃鵙 Àn huī juān jú at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore). On 9th there was a very late SIBERIAN ACCENTORPrunella montanella 棕眉山岩鹨 Zōng méishān shí liù at Yaoqiaoyu Reservoir, Miyun (Guan Xueyan et al.). On 11th there was a surprise second record of CHESTNUT BULBULHemixos castanonotus 栗背短脚鹎 Lì bèi duǎn jiǎo bēi at Shahe Reservoir (李文俊 via Lu Zhuofei). Comment: Could this be the bird from Tongzhou earlier in the spring relocating or a different individual? On the same day there was a singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLERAcrocephalus concinens 钝翅苇莺 Dùn chì wěi yīng at Shahe Reservoir North Shore (Qiuhan Z et al.), an ORIENTAL CUCKOOCuculus optatus 北方中杜鹃 Běifāng zhōng dùjuān reported from Baihuashan (Xingcha Ye et al.) and two ASIAN LESSER CUCKOOCuculus poliocephalus 小杜鹃 Xiǎo dùjuān at the same site. A MARSH GRASSBIRDLocustella pryeri 斑背大尾莺 Bān bèi dà wěi yīng was at the Beijing Expo Park on 12th (Huo Shengjie). On 15th a JAPANESE SCOPS OWLOtus semitorques 北领角鸮 Běi lǐng jiǎo xiāo was seen in Mentougou (Liu Aitao, amal amer et al.) and a PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu, was at the Yongding River (阿矛-cugb), apparently present since 14th at least. On 21st there was a RED COLLARED DOVEStreptopelia tranquebarica 火斑鸠 Huǒ bānjiū at Beizhuang, Miyun (王瑞卿 Wang Ruiqing) and a second PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu of the year at Bulaotun (peng su et al.), apparently present since 5 June at least. On 25th there was a COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú at Shahe Reservoir (Wang Zhenya). The month ended with a PHEASANT-TAILED JACANAHydrophasianus chirurgus 水雉 Shuǐ zhì at the ChaoBaiHe, Shunyi District (via WeChat), apparently present since at least 28th.
Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum 远东苇莺 Yuǎndōng wěi yīng at LuomaHu, Shunyi District, on 4 June 2022 (Terry Townshend)
July 2022 2022年7月
A GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRDTurdus boulboul 灰翅鸫 Huī chì dōng was singing at Lingshan on the evening of 2nd July and morning of 3 July (刘爱涛、魏子晨). On 3rd, a GREATER PAINTED SNIPERostratula benghalensis 彩鹬 Cǎi yù, was at Bulaotun (Qiuhan Zhang and wang ye). On 8th a BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLERHorornis fortipes 强脚树莺 Qiáng-jiǎo shù-yīng was sound-recorded beside the X019 road near Baihuashan (何勇洲), with an ASIAN LESSER CUCKOOCuculus poliocephalus 小杜鹃 Xiǎo dùjuān also present. On 9th a TIGER SHRIKELanius tigrinus 虎纹伯劳 Hǔ wén bó láo was at Qingbaikou, Mentougou District (郝建国 and 杜开颜等) and an unusual summer record of PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus proregulus 黄腰柳莺 Huáng yāo liǔ yīng at Lingshan (魏淳之、刘峥、赵云天、娄方洲). On 10th a new species for Beijing was photographed at Bulaotun, Miyun District, in the form of a juvenile BRAHMINY KITEHaliastur indus 栗鸢 Lì yuān, Bulaotun (宋荧, 荧等). On 12th there was an ORIENTAL STORKCiconia boyciana 东方白鹳 Dōng fāng bái guàn by the Wenyu River (Professor Wang YuYu, Wu Lan and Terry Townshend). On 19th there was a COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú at Huairou Reservoir (王子超) and on 21st there was another report of ASIAN LESSER CUCKOOCuculus poliocephalus 小杜鹃 Xiǎo dùjuān from Miaofengshan (Siyu Sun). On 26th there was a YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAILTurnix tanki 黄脚三趾鹑 Huáng jiǎo sān zhǐ chún at Bulaotun, Miyun District (amal amer et al.). The month ended with another or the same COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú at Marco Polo Bridge, Fengtai District on 31st (赫安琪).
August 2022 2022年8月
On 1st there was a FAR EASTERN CURLEWNumenius madagascariensis 大杓鹬 Dà biāo yù, an ASIAN DOWITCHERLimnodromus semipalmatus 半蹼鹬 Bàn pǔ yù and a TEREK SANDPIPERXenus cinereus 翘嘴鹬 Qiào zuǐ yù at Ma Chang (魏淳之、何勇洲). On 3rd there was a BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Shahe Reservoir (张会萍). The next day there were two PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and a COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú at Shahe Reservoir (马守忠，张会萍). On 6th there was a FAR EASTERN CURLEWNumenius madagascariensis 大杓鹬 Dà biāo yù at the ChaoBai River, Tongzhou (齐春宏) and the next day there was a RUDDY TURNSTONEArenaria interpres 翻石鹬 Fān shí yù at Ma Chang (娄方洲) and a BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERCalidris falcinellus 阔嘴鹬 Kuò zuǐ yù at the same site (王晔、张秋涵). On 8th there was a BLUNT-WINGED WARBLERAcrocephalus concinens 钝翅苇莺 Dùn chì wěi yīng at Yeyahu (Stefan Andrew) and on 9th the same observer reported a LESSER WHITETHROATSylvia curruca 白喉林莺 Báihóu lín yīng in the Botanical Gardens. On 10th there was another PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu at Shahe Reservoir (张会萍、韩霄林) and on 11th there was a LITTLE CURLEWNumenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore). On 13th there was another COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú at Ma Chang (高孝延、王力成、余京扬等) and a YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAILTurnix tanki 黄脚三趾鹑 Huáng jiǎo sān zhǐ chún at the ChaoBaiHe, Tongzhou (郝建国、张峰沁、张辉). On 16th there was a LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta 小滨鹬 Xiǎo bīn yù reported from Ma Chang (Qihan Wang). On 20th there was a CINNAMON BITTERNIxobrychus cinnamomeus 栗苇鳽 Lì wěi jiān reported from Shahe Reservoir (Ning Sun), a BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERCalidris falcinellus 阔嘴鹬 Kuò zuǐ yù at Ma Chang (白涛、刘畅) and another PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu along the ChaoBaiHe, Tongzhou (方玉). On 22nd two FAR EASTERN CURLEWNumenius madagascariensis 大杓鹬 Dà biāo yù (both juvenile) flew along the Wenyu River early morning (Terry Townshend). The next day there was possibly only Beijing’s third BLACK-FACED SPOONBILLPlatalea minor 黑脸琵鹭 Hēi liǎn pí lù along the Guishui River Wetland in Yanqing (北京市河湖鸟类自动监测站) and an exceptionally early RED-THROATED THRUSHTurdus ruficollis 赤颈鸫 Chì jǐng dōng was at Tsinghua University campus (Tz Hsuan Tseng). On 24th there was the year’s third ASHY DRONGODicrurus leucophaeus 灰卷尾 Huī juàn wěi at Bulaotun, Miyun (李爱宏), a BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERLimicola falcinellus 阔嘴鹬 Kuò zuǐ yù at Ma Chang (Hang Ye et al.) and a CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng was photographed in the Olympic Forest Park (蔡燚). On 25th there was a moulting BLACK-NECKED GREBEPodiceps nigricollis 黑颈䴙䴘 Hēi jǐng pì tī at Yeyahu (Colm Moore). On 27th two LESSER SAND PLOVERCharadrius mongolus 蒙古沙鸻 Méng gǔ shā héng and two RUFFPhilomachus pugnax 流苏鹬 Liúsū yù were reported from Ma Chang (Jiahua Xing), with another RUFFPhilomachus pugnax 流苏鹬 Liúsū yù at Shahe Reservoir on the same day (邢家华、杨望泓、刘双祺、彭兰慧、吴逸南). Also on 27th a PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu was at DaNing Reservoir (Oriental Stork/Huo Shengjie). On 28th two BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERLimicola falcinellus 阔嘴鹬 Kuò zuǐ yù and a SWINHOE’S SNIPEGallinago megala 大沙锥 Dà shā zhuī were at Ma Chang (amal amer, Lou Fangzhou, 大牙齿 458 et al) and another CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng was at Yuyuantan Park (张芮源). On 29th a PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLERPhylloscopus tenellipes 淡脚柳莺 Dàn jiǎo liǔ yīng was reported from Shahe Reservoir (Stefan Andrew) and a PALE MARTINRiparia diluta 淡色沙燕 Dàn sè shā yàn was photographed at Nanhaizi (钟震宇).
September 2022 2022年9月
On 7th a SWINHOE’S RAILCoturnicops exquisitus 花田鸡 Huā tián jī was accidentally flushed at Ming Tombs Reservoir (刘劲松), remaining until 10th when a BAND-BELLIED CRAKEPorzana paykullii 斑胁田鸡 Bān xié tián jī was seen at the same site (叶航、胡熙华、郝帅丞等). Also on 10th a DALMATIAN PELICANPelecanus crispus 卷羽鹈鹕 Juǎn yǔ tí hú (王鋆、邱小溪、李云帆等) and a RED KNOTCalidris canutus 红腹滨鹬 Hóng fù bīn yù ((吴哲浩、于俊峰) were at Ma Chang. The next day a DUNLIN Calidris alpina 黑腹滨鹬 Hēi fù bīn yù was at the same site (wang ye and Qiuhan Zhang). On 14th there were two DUNLIN Calidris alpina 黑腹滨鹬 Hēi fù bīn yù at Ma Chang, increasing to three on 17th (wanda yang et al.), a MARSH GRASSBIRDLocustella pryeri 斑背大尾莺 Bān bèi dà wěi yīng at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and a BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Yizhi Park (吴春梅). On 18th there were four LITTLE CURLEWNumenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù at Ma Chang (郭子良，赵永健、王龙) and another at Shahe Reservoir (韩维). On 20th there was another COTTON PYGMY-GOOSENettapus coromandelianus 棉凫 Mián fú, this time at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and a LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta 小滨鹬 Xiǎo bīn yu at Ma Chang (Qihan Wang). On 22nd there was an impressive gathering of 200+ AMUR FALCONFalco amurensis 红脚隼 Hóng jiǎo sǔn at Bulaotun, Miyun (宋大昭、武阅) and two SWINHOE’S MINIVETPericrocotus cantonensis 小灰山椒鸟 Xiǎo huī shānjiāo niǎo at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (徐笑然、谢文冬). On 24th there was a LESSER SAND PLOVERCharadrius mongolus 蒙古沙鸻 Méng gǔ shā héng reported from Ma Chang (Shi Xu and Chunhong Liu) and a CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng passed the raptor watchpoint at Baiwangshan (孟令旸、曹硕). On 26th news came of a JAPANESE SCOPS OWLOtus semitorques 北领角鸮 Běi lǐng jiǎo xiāo taken into care at Qijiazhuang, Mentougou (宋超). The next day there were five exceptionally early WHITE-NAPED CRANEGrus vipio 白枕鹤 Bái zhěn hè in Tongzhou (Wang Qin) and on 28th there was a SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBEPodiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore). On 29th there was a COLLARED CROWCorvus torquatus 白颈鸦 Bái jǐng yā at Haidian Four Seasons Qingquanying Park (崔靖沄).
The Band-bellied Crake Porzana paykullii 斑胁田鸡 Bān xié tián jīat Ming Tombs Reservoir on 10 September 2022 (Photo by 黄非红).
October 2022 2022年10月
On 3rd there was a BULL-HEADED SHRIKELanius bucephalus 牛头伯劳 Niú tóu bó láo at Shahe Reservoir (Qiuhan Wang). The 4th saw a hat-trick of records of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERMelanitta deglandi stejnegeri 斑脸海番鸭 Bān liǎn hǎi fān yā with one at Yeyahu (王瑞卿/Wang Ruiqing), two at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and five at Miyun Reservoir (张国江). A 1cy VEGA GULLLarus vegae 西伯利亚银鸥 Xībólìyǎ yín ōu was a great find on the same day at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore). On 5th there was a GREATER SCAUPAythya marila 斑背潜鸭 Bān bèi qián yā at Ming Tombs Reservoir (王文龙) and on 6th there was a STEPPE EAGLE Aquila nipalensis 草原雕 Cǎo yuán diāo and a CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng at Baiwangshan (Jiahua Xing). On 7th there was a SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBEPodiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī at Shahe Reservoir (Jia Yu et al.). On 8th a BULL-HEADED SHRIKELanius bucephalus 牛头伯劳 Niú tóu bó láo was at the Wenyu River (Wang Xiaoou). An EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLEAquila heliaca 白肩雕 Bái jiān diāo was a good find in the Olympic Forest Park on 12th (蔡燚) and on the same day a MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù was opposite Tongming Lake Park in Tongzhou (郁翔Hawk-yx). The next day Colm Moore found a PECHORA PIPITAnthus gustavi 北鹨 Běi liù at Ming Tombs Reservoir on what was a good day for passage of corvids, larks and pipits. On 13th there was another EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLEAquila heliaca 白肩雕 Bái jiān diāo, this time at Baiwangshan Forest Park (张传光、张小玲、杨虹等). On 15th there was an ASHY MINIVETPericrocotus divaricatus 灰山椒鸟 Huī shānjiāo niǎo at Fenggang Jianhe (Fu Cong). On 16th there was a BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at DaNing Reservoir (Huo Shengjie). On the same day there were five STEPPE EAGLEAquila nipalensis 草原雕 Cǎo yuán diāo at Baiwangshan (孙琰、张小玲、杨虹等), with another there the following day (Jun Shuai et al.). A further two STEPPE EAGLEAquila nipalensis 草原雕 Cǎo yuán diāo were at Laoyugou on 18th with a single ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDButeo lagopus 毛脚鵟 Máo jiǎo kuáng (林毅、孟令旸、曹硕). Also on 18th there were three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERMergus serrator 红胸秋沙鸭 Hóng xiōng qiū shā yā at Shahe Reservoir (崔美艳、宋超等). On 19th there was a CRESTED GOSHAWKAccipiter trivirgatus 凤头鹰 Fèng tóu yīng at Baiwangshan (贾同鑫、王珂、明锐等). On 21st there was an intriguing record of a WHITE-BACKED WOODPECKERDendrocopos leucotos 白背啄木鸟 Bái bèi zhuómùniǎo from Dongba Country Park, Chaoyang District (雨燕). Comment: this species has not previously been documented within the sixth ring road. On 23rd there was a (1cy) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKERissa tridactyla 三趾鸥 Sān zhǐ ōu at Shahe Reservoir (蔡震波、李蔚莹) and on 24th there were two HORNED LARKEremophila alpestris 角百灵 Jiǎo bǎilíng at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Cinclus cinclus), one of which was of the northerly-breeding subspecies flava. On 26th there were two LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis 长尾鸭 Cháng wěi yā at Shahe Reservoir (李峰), with one of these, or another, at the Summer Palace on 28th (王文龙). On 27th there were two very late WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERNChlidonias leucopterus 白翅浮鸥 Bái chì fú ōu at Shahe Reservoir (Jun Shuai). On 28th there was a (SIBERIAN) CHIFFCHAFFPhylloscopus collybita tristis 叽喳柳莺 Jī chā liǔ yīng (Colm Moore) and a MEADOW PIPITAnthus pratensis 草地鹨 Cǎodì liù (戴少华、王晔) at Ming Tombs Reservoir. On 29th a YELLOWHAMMEREmberiza citrinella 黄鹀 Huáng wú was photographed at Bulaotun, Miyun Reservoir (王冰玲).
November 2022 2022年11月
On 1st there was a NORTHERN GREY SHRIKELanius excubitor sibiricus 灰伯劳 Huī bóláo at Miaofengshan (高原). A SLAVONIAN (HORNED) GREBEPodiceps auritus 角䴙䴘 Jiǎo pì tī was a good find at DaShiHe on 2nd. On 3rd a JAPANESE THRUSHTurdus cardis 乌灰鸫 Wū huī dōng was found at the Temple of Heaven Park (余凤中), a very rare species in Beijing with just a handful of previous records. Also on 3rd there was a BROWN ACCENTORPrunella fulvescens 褐岩鹨 Hè yán liù (高彤) and a (1cy) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKERissa tridactyla 三趾鸥 Sān zhǐ ōu (鱼子酱) at Shahe Reservoir. From photos it appeared that the latter was a different individual from the one photographed on 23rd October at the same site. On 4th a JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGEmberiza jankowskii 栗斑腹鹀 Lì bān fù wú was photographed at Miyun Reservoir (鱼子酱), there were three STEPPE EAGLEAquila nipalensis 草原雕 Cǎo yuán diāo at Miaofengshan (张峰沁、丁饶等) and Colm Moore photographed a ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDButeo lagopus 毛脚鵟 Máo jiǎo kuáng at Shahe Reservoir. On 5th a RED PHALAROPEPhalaropus fulicaria 灰瓣蹼鹬 Huī bàn pǔ yù was a great find at Shahe Reservoir. (宋超、雨燕), staying until 8th but on 9th feathers were found suggesting it had been predated. Also on 5th there were two separate sightings of STEPPE EAGLEAquila nipalensis 草原雕 Cǎo yuán diāo at Miaofengshan (Ceoffrey Lions et al.) and at Ma Chang (Cory Gao et al.) and a MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é was at DaShi River, Fangshan District (陈菁). On 6th there was a very late ORIENTAL PLOVERCharadrius veredus 东方鸻 Dōng fāng héng at Ma Chang (魏淳之、唐翌、吴哲浩、叶航) and a RED-NECKED GREBEPodiceps grisegena 赤颈䴙䴘 Chì jǐng pì tī was found at the DaShi River (李秉儒、吴昊阳、崔家晨). On 7th there was another EASTERN IMPERIAL EAGLEAquila heliaca 白肩雕 Bái jiān diāo at Ming tombs Reservoir (金龟子) and three BROWN-EARED BULBULMicroscelis amaurotis 栗耳短脚鹎 Lì ěr duǎn jiǎo bēi at Binhe Park, Miyun (史庆广). The 12th saw an incredible irruption of PALLAS’S SANDGROUSESyrrhaptes paradoxus 毛腿沙鸡 Máo tuǐ shā jī with several large counts from across the city. The highest count was a total of 7,363 logged from Shunyi District between 1400-1721hrs (Terry Townshend). On the same day a WESTERN WATER RAILRallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī was seen at DaShiHe (季实、赵晖、娄方洲等). On 13th the number of BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at DaNing Reservoir had increased to three (Huo Shengjie). On 16th there were two BROWN-EARED BULBULMicroscelis amaurotis 栗耳短脚鹎 Lì ěr duǎn jiǎo bēi at Yuyuantan Park (Ziyan Zhao). On 17th there were two BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at DaShiHe (王瑞卿). On 19th there was a RED-NECKED GREBEPodiceps grisegena 赤颈䴙䴘 Chì jǐng pì tī and a LONG-TAILED DUCK Clangula hyemalis 长尾鸭 Cháng wěi yā at Lianshi Lake, Shijingshan (张家铭). On 20th there was a PALLAS’S GULLIchthyaetus ichthyaetus 渔鸥 Yú ōu at Ma Chang (张鑫 and 张备彦) and four BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Yuxinzhuang, Tongzhou (郝建国、李英杰). On 26th Beijing’s third SANDHILL CRANEGrus canadensis 沙丘鹤 Shā qiū hè was photographed at Ma Chang (Dai Jiapeng et al.) but was not seen on subsequent days. On 27th five 1cy MUTE SWANCygnus olor 疣鼻天鹅 Yóu bí tiān’é were found along the Wenyu River (Qiuhan Zhang and wang ye), staying well into December.
Flocks of Pallas’s Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus 毛腿沙鸡 Máo tuǐ shā jī over the Central Business District, 12 November 2022 (Terry Townshend)
December 2022 2022年12月
On 1st there was a BROWN-EARED BULBULMicroscelis amaurotis 栗耳短脚鹎 Lì ěr duǎn jiǎo bēi in the Olympic Forest Park (果茶). On 2nd there was an unusual lowland record of NORTHERN GREY SHRIKELanius excubitor sibiricus 灰伯劳 Huī bóláo at the Urban Green Heart Forest Park in Tongzhou (方玉). On 3rd there were four BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā at Huairou Reservoir (Qiuhan Zhang and wang ye) and a SOLITARY SNIPEGallinago solitaria 孤沙锥 Gū shā zhuī at the HuaiJiu River, Huairou (王力成、严向荣). On 5th there was a kamtschatschensisCOMMON GULL or “Kamchatka Gull” Larus canus 海鸥 Hǎi’ōu at Ming Tombs Reservoir (Colm Moore) and an unusual winter record of EURASIAN SPOONBILLPlatalea leucorodia 白琵鹭 Bái pí lù at the XiaoZhong River, Tongzhou (张峰沁). On 7th there was a WESTERN WATER RAILRallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī at Yuanmingyuan (鹪鹩), staying into January 2023. On 9th there was a remarkable second 2022 record of GREY TREEPIE 灰树鹊 Huī shù què photographed at Baiwangshan Forest Park (佚名). Comment: With at least two recent records in Shandong, one of which involved four individuals (Qingdao Birdwatching Society via Wang Ruiqing), is it possible the Beijing records relate to wild birds? Time may tell. Also on 9th a HOODED CRANEGrus monacha 白头鹤 Bái tóu hè was at Ma Chang (amal amer et al.). On 10th three RED-CROWNED CRANEGrus japonensis 丹顶鹤 Dān dǐng hè were a great find at Ma Chang (Gin). On 13th there was an unusual record of 11 COLLARED FINCHBILLSpizixos semitorques 领雀嘴鹎 Lǐng què zuǐ bēi at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou District (Wen-Dong Xie). Comment: Records of this species are few and far between away from the traditional site at the Botanical Gardens. On 18th another SOLITARY SNIPEGallinago solitaria 孤沙锥 Gū shā zhuī was found at the QingShui River, Miyun (郭耕). On 19th an immature ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDButeo lagopus 毛脚鵟 Máo jiǎo kuáng flew SW over LuomaHu, Shunyi District (Terry Townshend) and a PIED KINGFISHERCeryle rudis 斑鱼狗 Bān yú gǒu was photographed along the Wenyu River (甲子鼠), remaining into 2023. On 21st another BAER’S POCHARDAythya baeri 青头潜鸭 Qīng tóu qián yā was on the LiangShui River, Tongzhou (杜开颜). On 23rd a remarkable record of a EUROPEAN ROBINErithacus rubecula 欧亚鸲 Ōu yà qú photographed along the Wenyu River (张峰沁), seen again on 1 January 2023. On 27th another WESTERN WATER RAILRallus aquaticus 西方秧鸡 Xī fāng yāng jī was found, this time in the Olympic Forest Park (动动帅). On 30th there was a super record of two REDWINGTurdus iliacus 白眉歌鸫 Báiméi gē dōng photographed at Peking University Changping Campus (李源昊). The year ended in spectacular fashion with Beijing’s second ever FIELDFARETurdus pilaris 田鸫 Tián dōng photographed at the Beijing University of Technology Campus on 31st (颜子轲, 蔡柏阳, 陈肇洧, 李源昊) and a flock of c100 ASIAN ROSY FINCHLeucosticte arctoa 粉红腹岭雀 Fěnhóng fù lǐng què at Lingshan on the same day (田雪).
The “Kamchatka Gull” (Common Gull Larus canus 海鸥 Hǎi’ōu of the race ‘kamtschatschensis’) at Ming Tombs Reservoir on 5 December 2022 (Colm Moore)
Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and bird-filled 2023!
Title image: the CHESTNUT BULBULHemixos castanonotus 栗背短脚鹎 Lì bèi duǎn jiǎo bēi at DaYunHe on 21 May 2022, the first record for Beijing (photo by 阿兹猫)
For summaries from previous years, click the links below.
Saturday 12 November 2022 will go down as one of my best ever birding experiences.. and all the better because it was completely unexpected.
With a backlog of work to do, I had planned to work all day, despite the fantastic weather, with crystal clear blue skies and a fresh northwest wind, following the passage of a cold front the day before.
However, during the morning I had heard that a few Pallas’s Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus 毛腿沙鸡 Máo tuǐ shā jī – literal translation “hairy-legged sand chicken”) had been seen at DaShiHe, in Fangshan District, southwest Beijing…
Mid-November is the prime time for arrivals of this enigmatic species, which irrupts into Beijing every few years, and I thought I would take a quick look in the afternoon at a small patch of rough ground near my apartment just to check (thinking the chance of success was about 1%). In any case, it would be a nice break from work and wouldn’t take very long to cover. Little did I know that I would stay until dusk having enjoyed the incredible spectacle of seeing thousands of sandgrouse!
Within ten minutes of arriving at the patch of rough ground, as expected, I realised there were no sandgrouse on site and, after enjoying good views of a flock of Lapland Buntings and a small party of Rustic Buntings, I was about to head back home… Just as I turned to begin the walk back, I heard a whirring of wings and, looking up, a flock of about 15 Pallas’s Sandgrouse flew right over me, followed a few seconds later by another flock of eight. Wow – what luck!
I wondered to myself whether this was just a fluke or, perhaps, a sign that there was a large movement. I headed up to a small hill nearby to see if I could observe any more and I was astonished at what unfolded. The hill was a fantastic vantage point as, in the crystal clear air, I enjoyed a wide field of view, stretching to at least the CBD area of central Beijing to the south and to the mountains of Changping in the north. I estimated I could see about 20km north and a similar distance to the south.
Flock after flock came from the east, all heading between W and SW… some to the north of me, some to the south and some immediately overhead. It was incredible.
Fortunately I had my camera with me and I snapped some photos of the flocks as they passed, including some passing Beijing’s tallest building, the CITIC tower (known as China Zun, a 109-storey tower standing 528m tall).
Flocks of Pallas’s Sandgrouse passing the CITIC tower, Beijing’s tallest building in the Central Business District.
Flock after flock flew past, all heading W-SW.
Some of the flocks passed overhead, providing superb views
This flock banked and, shortly after, landed just a few metres away from me as the light faded.
I began logging each flock, counting individuals if possible or, in the case of the larger flocks or those seen only briefly, estimating the numbers using ‘blocks’ of 10 or 20 birds. For the next three hours there were flocks passing almost every minute… and in some cases several flocks simultaneously. It was an exhilarating experience…
Via WeChat, the most popular social media, other birders reported flocks from the DaShi River, Shahe Reservoir and other sites across the city, with some even seeing flocks from their office or residential blocks in the city centre.
Over the next three hours or so, I counted 7,363 in total (all between 1400-1722), surely a fraction of the total number of birds involved but smashing the previous day-record of 1,050 birds on 14 November 2019 (Wang Xiaobo).
My hand-written count sheet, showing time and flock size (all heading W-SW unless otherwise stated).
Although my field of view was extensive, I am sure I missed many flocks, particularly those flying low, and of course I would miss all the birds in Yanqing area (the other side of the Badaling mountains) and those in the south of the city, not to mention those that had passed earlier in the day before I began to watch and count.
Around dusk, several flocks flew very low, calling, and appearing to look for somewhere to land. One flock did land right in front of me for about a minute and fed actively on seed heads before heading off again.. and as the wind dropped at dusk, most of the flocks were then heading north and not W-SW.
The flock that landed just a few metres away from my position at dusk.
These birds waddled and fed actively on seed heads for a few minutes before lifting and heading north.
After sunset, the flocks seemed to change direction, with all flocks from 1655-1722) heading north or northwest.
These irruptions are not well understood but are likely driven by conditions in their usual range (e.g. snow cover or extreme cold). Given that there are so few records further south, I speculate that these birds may come south/southeast from their usual range, explore the North China plain and then most head back north when they realise there isn’t much suitable grassland habitat… but that’s just a hunch. It will be fascinating to see whether many hang around or whether they disappear as fast as they arrived.
The Pallas’s Sandgrouse has been a dream bird for me ever since reading Arthur Patterson’s accounts of flocks during the invasions of the UK, particularly along the east coast, in the late 1800s.
Arthur Patterson (1900) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. IV. p. 534, under ‘The Birds of Great Yarmouth’ says: ‘During the invasion of this species in 1863 (when sixty were killed in Norfolk), several were obtained here. The North Denes and sand-hills were most frequented. The first Norfolk bird was found dead in the surf on May 23rd. A gunner named Nudd, on June 6th, shot a male out of a flock of nine. He mistook them for Plover, but described them to me as “running about like Rats.” On May 27th, 1876, a flock was observed on the Winterton sand-hills; and in May, 1888, a second invasion occurred, when over eleven hundred were seen in Norfolk, and one hundred and eighty-six were killed. A male and female were seen on the Denes as late as Dec. 2nd (vide Stevenson’s Birds of Norfolk, vol. i. pp. 376-404 ; also vol. iii. pp. 392-396).
As a boy growing up in Winterton-on-Sea, the thought that the local sand dunes had once hosted flocks of these enigmatic birds was etched in my mind and during my regular birding walks over the dunes, I often quietly said to myself “one day…”
To see thousands in just a few hours in Beijing, albeit not in those beloved dunes at Winterton, was a dream come true.
It is said that, in China during the Tang Dynasty, the appearance of these birds in Beijing was a sign of impending war because it meant the conditions in their usual range were unusually harsh, prompting the nomads to invade southwards.
Thankfully, today, Pallas’s Sandgrouse receive a much warmer welcome in the capital.
Following the launch of the Ambassadors for Nature initiative in July 2022, work has been ongoing to put together resources and begin to implement the “Pledge for Nature” made by Ambassadors from 14 missions in Beijing.
In late September the first meeting of embassy gardeners took place, hosted by the Belgian Embassy and supported by ShanShui Conservation Center.
On Tuesday 27 September 2022, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) hosted a special seminar to publicise the results of the pilot Beijing Nocturnal Bird Migration Project.
Hosted by AIIB’s Vice President for Policy and Strategy, Sir Danny Alexander, and moderated by Tian Hua, the seminar included speakers from Peking University, the Beijing Municipal Government, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and embassies along the flyway, including Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. It was a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the miracle of bird migration that happens over Beijing as its residents sleep at night.
AIIB’s Vice President for Policy and Operations, Sir Danny Alexander, opened the seminar.AIIB’s Tian Hua was the moderator for the morning.Dr Wang Xiaoping from Beijing’s Forest and Parks Bureau said Beijing was moving towards an ‘ecosystem approach’ to land management, recognising the value of wetlands, grassland and scrubland as well as trees.
Every spring and autumn millions of birds fly over China’s capital city between breeding grounds in Siberia, Mongolia and north China and non-breeding grounds in south China, S & SE Asia, Australasia and even, in the case of Beijing’s Swifts and Common Cuckoos, to Africa. Some of these birds migrate during the day – for example, the larger soaring birds, such as birds of prey, cranes, storks etc that rely on thermals to assist their flight. However, the majority of birds (around 80%) – especially the smaller species – migrate at night. This is because there are fewer predators active during the dark hours, the weather tends to be cooler and more stable and some birds navigate using the night sky.
Many of these birds vocalise as they migrate – to keep in touch with each other as they fly and, towards the end of the night, attempting to initiate responses from their own kind on the ground, which could indicate a safe place to stop for the day. Using a simple sound recorder, it’s possible to gain an insight into the volume and diversity of birds flying over at night.
In autumn 2021, Birding Beijing, in collaboration with AIIB and Peking University, began a pilot project to record bird sounds at night from the roof of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. AIIB’s building is ideal – it’s 15 storeys high, not close to any major roads, free from aircraft noise and close to one of Beijing’s largest urban green spaces, the Olympic Forest Park. During the period 25 August to 2 November 2021 we programmed the recorder to record every night from sunset to sunrise, resulting in over 700 hours of recordings.
The digital sound recorder from Wildlife Acoustics fixed to the roof of AIIB’s headquarters in Beijing, close to the Olympic Forest Park.
Key findings:
34,713 bird calls recorded
Around 95% of calls identified to species or, in the case of buntings, flycatchers and thrushes, to family, with more than 60 species identified so far
Most common calls were Olive-backed Pipit (12,411), Black-crowned Night Heron (5,358) and Eurasian Skylark (2,611).
Five nights recorded over 2,000 calls (in order of volume`)
27/28 September (2,703 calls)
28/29 September (2,405 calls)
14/15 October (2,270 calls)
9/10 September (2,233 calls)
22/23 September (2,025 calls)
The busiest hour-long file was 0502-0602 on 29 September with 1,012 calls
Rarities included possibly only Beijing’s 8thGrey-tailed TattlerTringa brevipes 灰尾漂鹬 Huī wěi (piào) yù and at least two Little CurlewNumenius minutus 小杓鹬 Xiǎo biāo yù (not annually recorded in Beijing).
The graph below shows the volume of bird calls recorded by date.
More detail about the results, including the species recorded, volume per species and date ranges, as well as example calls, can be found here.
Terry briefed the seminar on the key findings of the Autumn 2021 pilot nocturnal bird migration project.
Liu Shuangqi from Peking University briefed how the project is now expanding to six recording locations across the city in spring 2022 covering areas with varying light pollution to gain a insight into whether artificial light affects the calling rate of migratory birds.
Liu Shuangqi of Peking University spoke about the impact of artificial light on migratory birds and how the project is expanding to cover more recording sites.
Assistant Professor Hua Fangyuan provided some important context about the loss of 3 billion birds in North America since 1970, something scientists can estimate with some confidence given the strong datasets in the continent (13 datasets were used for the North American study, some of which stretch back more than 50 years). Those data are lacking in East Asia – in particular for migratory land birds – but what we do know, for example about shorebirds, is that bird populations here are likely to be on a similar trend. Long-term, standardised, monitoring is key.
Assistant Professor Hua Fangyuan provided important context about the decline or birds in N America and the lack of data in East Asia, emphasising the value of continuing the nocturnal migration project.
So, what do the results of Beijing’s pilot project tell us?
First, that there is a high volume and diversity of birds migrating over Beijing, confirming that it is on a major ‘flyway’ or expressway for birds.
Second, that most of these migratory birds are species that pass through several countries, reinforcing that migratory birds do not belong to any single country – they are shared natural heritage and, with that, comes a shared responsibility to protect them and the places they need.
And third, if Beijing is to fulfil its responsibility to the flyway – to facilitate safe passage, the city must manage urban spaces in a way that helps birds to cross the hostile urban environment. Given the diversity of species migrating over Beijing (the top three by volume are a woodland bird, a wetland bird and a grassland bird), that means providing a diversity of habitats including natural forest, wetland and grassland.
After interventions from Peking University’s Professor Lu Zhi, embassies from flyway countries, a video message from Dr. Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and a lively Q&A with AIIB staff and invited guests, the event was wrapped up by AIIB’s General Counsel, Alberto Ninio, and culminated in the signing of a ‘letter of intent’ between AIIB and the Beijing Municipal Government.
Peking University’s Professor Lu Zhi, China’s most well-known conservationist, delivered some wonderful and inspiring remarks to the audience.Cornell’s Dr. Andrew Farnsworth recorded an inspirational video message about the North American experience, providing food for thought for the Q&A session.Svar Barrington from the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing gave a perspective from the southern end of the flyway and spoke eloquently about how biodiversity, in particular migratory birds, was now high up New Zealand’s list of foreign policy priorities.The audience was captivated by the sound of a flock of Bean Geese (Anser serrirostris 短嘴豆雁 Duǎn zuǐ dòu yàn) that flew over the AIIB building at 0354hrs on 16 March 2022.AIIB’s General Counsel and environmental lawyer, Alberto Ninio, closed the seminar ahead of the signing of the letter of intent.
AIIB and the Beijing Municipal Government agreed to cooperate on the nocturnal migration project and biodiversity conservation more broadly, including a commitment to use the data about the diversity and volume of migratory birds flying over China’s capital to inform land management policies in Beijing. This would ensure they help the city fulfil its role in the flyway – to facilitate safe passage of these migratory birds that are shared by so many countries.
AIIB and the Beijing Municipal Government signing the letter of intent at the end of the seminar.
After having trawled through 700 hours of recordings, to see the energy and commitment of the participants at this special seminar made it all worthwhile!
I was struck by the openness and willingness of the Beijing Municipal Government to take into account the data from this project in their land management policies. This is a big deal when one considers that the Beijing Forest and Parks Bureau manages around 75% of the capital’s landmass.
Huge thanks to AIIB, in particular Sir Danny Alexander, Alberto Ninio, Erik Berglof, Tian Hua, Li Zeyu and Yan Bo for allowing use of their roof and for their incredible support since the beginning of the project. It has been a delight to work with friends and colleagues from Peking University, especially Assistant Professor Hua Fangyuan, Professor Lu Zhi, Liu Shuangqi, Zhang Shen, Ren Xiaotong and Yang Xiaotong. The team at the Beijing Forest and Parks Bureau are a joy to work with and wonderful advocates for biodiversity in Beijing. Dr. Andrew Farnsworth and Benjamin Van Doren from Cornell Lab of Ornithology have been a great source of inspiration and encouragement. Finally, a thank you to the many birders who have helped with identifications of some of the calls, including Jonas Buddemeier, Geoff Carey, David Darrell-Lambert, James Eaton, Paul Holt, James Lidster, Magnus Robb, Seán Ronayne and Joost Van Bruggen, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude.
More detail on the Beijing Nocturnal Migration Project, including results of the spring 2022 and the ongoing autumn 2022 projects, can be found here.
