Wildlife News from Beijing up to end of 2019

For wildlife news from 1 January 2020, please see here. 31 December 2019 1 COMMON SANDPIPER and 10 JAPANESE WAXWING, Peking University (Mint Ren, Zhang Shen) 4 BARN SWALLOW, Wenyu River (Steve Bale) 1 unseasonal SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, Nanhaizi (Terry Townshend).  Possibly the most northerly winter record in China? 30 December 2019 3 BOHEMIAN and 1 JAPANESE WAXWING, Peking University campus (Zong Zhuang) 9 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Gubeikou Great Wall, flying SW (Terry Townshend) 29 December 2019 1 CHAFFINCH and 6 JAPANESE WAXWING, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huairou (Karen Wei) 24 December 2019 4 JAPANESE WAXWING, Olympic Forest Park (Dahe). 3 immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, Summer Palace (Steve Bale).  Plus 2 pairs of BLACK SWAN, one with four cygnets! 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE and 5 HORNED LARK, Shisanling (anonymous) 21 December 2019 1 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 2 SAKER, 1 PEREGRINE,  2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 17 (Brandt’s) HORNED LARK, 5 BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, 250+ PINE BUNTING, 190+ LAPLAND BUNTING, Shisanling (CM)

16 JAPANESE WAXWING, Olympic Forest Park Southern Section (Yali Liang) 3 COMMON CHAFFINCH (2 male, 1 female), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, apparently present for “at least two months” (Yan Shen) 1 WALLCREEPER, Shidu.  Plus 2 EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN (Ren Lipeng) 16 December 2019 1 COLLARED CROW, Sunhe (Tao Liu).   First reported 30 November. 12 December 2019 1 SAKER, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 HEN HARRIER (ringtail), 1 BLACK STORK, 6 WHITE-WINGED (GULDENSTADT’S) REDSTART (4m, 2f), 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, 3 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH (prob all ssp lepidus), 2 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, 15+ SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 32 LAPLAND BUNTING and 20+ LITTLE BUNTING, Miaofengshan (CM)

8 December 2019 8 BROWN-EARED BULBUL, Nanhaizi (Tao Liu).  Plus GREAT BITTERN. 1 RUSSET SPARROW and 5 CHAFFINCH, BaiHe Bay (Karen Wei) 2 December 2019 3 BROWN-EARED BULBUL, Nanhaizi (Su Liang) 1 December 2019 1 ORIENTAL STORK, Shahe Reservoir (Wang Xiaobo et al) 4 BAER’S POCHARD, Huairou Reservoir (Wang Xiaobo) 8 BROWN-EARED BULBUL, Nanhaizi (XiaoPT et al) The EURASIAN TREECREEPER still in Chaoyang Park (Wang Xiaobo) 30 November 2019 1 unseasonal LONG-TAILED MINIVET, near Nanhaizi (Ren Lipeng).  Plus 3 BROWN-EARED BULBUL. 1 COLLARED CROW, Sunhe (Tao Liu) 29 November 2019 1 EURASIAN TREECREEPER still in Chaoyang Park (Luo Jing) 10 JAPANESE WAXWING, Chaoyang Park (Sarah Johnson) 28 November 2019 40 JAPANESE WAXWING, Botanical Gardens (John Allcock) 27 November 2019 2 ORIENTAL STORK, Shahe.  Only one remaining in the afternoon (“信天翁” via WeChat). The EURASIAN TREECREEPER still in Chaoyang Park (Zhao Xiaojian) 26 November 2019 1 CRESTED LARK, Shisanling (Colm Moore).  Plus 320 COMMON MERGANSER, 12 SMEW, 1 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 MANDARIN, 2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 3 (first-winter) COMMON GULL, 6+ HILL PIGEON, 70+ NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 6+ RED-THROATED THRUSH, 6+ DUSKY THRUSH, 5 CHINESE NUTHATCH, 120+ PINE BUNTING and 2 LAPLAND BUNTING. 20 JAPANESE WAXWING, 2 RED-THROATED THRUSH, Botanical Gardens (John Allcock) 12 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, Chaoyang Park (Sarah Johnson)  24 November 2019 6 BAER’S POCHARD, Huairou Reservoir (“Dahe” via eBird) 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE over the Summer Palace (黄明攀, Huang Mingpan).  Also a GREAT BITTERN. 23 November 2019 1 EURASIAN TREECREEPER, Chaoyang Park (Zhang Shen and Mint Ren) 1 ORIENTAL STORK and 5 BROWN-EARED BULBUL, Nanhaizi (Jun Yang) 6 WHITE-WINGED (GULDENSTADT’S) REDSTART, 1 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH and 10 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, Lingshan (Zhen Niu) 25 BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 10 JAPANESE WAXWING, Botanical Gardens (XiaoPT) 22 November 2019 13 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, Huairou Reservoir (Jorgen Thomsen) 21 November 2019 27 BOHEMIAN and 1 JAPANESE WAXWING, 2 (female) WHITE-WINGED (GULDENSTADT’S) REDSTART, 220+ NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 15+ DUSKY THRUSH, 1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFUINCH (ssp lepidus) and 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, Miaofengshan (Colm Moore)

262 COMMON CRANE, 1 WHISKERED TERN (late), 1 PEREGRINE and 75 BEARDED TIT, Yeyahu (Thomas Brooks) 20 November 2019 1 EURASIAN TREECREEPER, Chaoyang Park (TT).   3 WHITE WAGTAIL ssp lugens, Tonghuihe between Baliqiao and Shuangqiao (Paul Holt) 26 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Ma Chang (Richard Fuller and Mint Ren). Plus a single MONGOLIAN LARK, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL and 220 COMMON CRANE. 19 November 2019 3 BROWN-EARED BULBUL, Nanhaizi (ChaCha Wan) 18 November 2019 1 STEPPE EAGLE, Nanhaizi (Zhong Zhenyu) 17 November 2019 1 EURASIAN TREECREEPER, Chaoyang Park (Tao Liu).  Presumably the bird from 12 November. 2 CHAFFINCHES, Lingshan (Paul Holt).  Plus 1 SAKER, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, 45 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 3 DUSKY THRUSH, 135 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 6 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART, 10 JAPANESE WAXWING, 2 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 1 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, 2 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH (1 ssp lepidus and 1 ssp ussuriensis) and 11 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH. 12 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, Botanical Gardens (Thomas Brooks) 16 November 2019 1 moulting juvenile MUTE SWAN, Ma Chang (PH).  Plus 8 BEWICK’S SWAN, 24 WHOOPER SWAN, 161 SMEW, 7 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, 144 COMMON CRANE, 4 HEN HARRIER, 1 LITTLE OWL, 3 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 1 BEARDED TIT, 1 RICHARD’S PIPIT, 17 WATER PIPIT, 1 BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, 1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH, 8 COMMON REDPOLL and 3 JAPANESE REED BUNTING. 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 13 JAPANESE WAXWING, Yuyuantan Park (Tao Liu) 15 November 2019 7 CINEREOUS VULTURE, 1 SPOTTED NUTCRACKER, 45 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 2 DUSKY THRUSH, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 5 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART, 12 JAPANESE WAXWING, 4 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, 15 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH (3 ssp lepidus, 12 ssp ussuriensis) and 10 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, Lingshan (PH) 17 CINEREOUS VULTURE, 2 STEPPE EAGLE, 1 SAKER, 30 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 2 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 9 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART, 2 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 8 ALPINE ACCENTOR, 12 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 3 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, 2 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH and 15 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, Lingshan (Wang Xiaobo, Dahe, XiaoPT et al) 14 November 2019 300+ PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE over Tongzhou Pear Garden (Dahao). Plus additional reports of 230+ over Shahe Reservoir (Wang Xiaobo), 100+ over HongLingJin Park (Chen Jingyun) and 60+ past Peking University (unknown observer via Chen Jingyun). Most heading north.  Thanks to Dahao for collating the sightings. An additional 1,050 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE over Changping District this morning (Wang Xiaobo) 200 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE over Shahe Reservoir in the afternoon (Jun Wang) 400 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Yeyahu (Ren Lipeng) 50 ASIAN ROSY FINCH, Lingshan (Richard Zhang and Chen Wenjia) 13 November 2019 50+ PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE over Yuanmingyuan this afternoon (Wang Xiaobo) 4 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Ma Chang (Zhao NanLi).  Plus SHORT-EARED OWL. The HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO still in Chaoyang Park (Catherine DONG et al) 12 November 2019 1 EURASIAN TREECREEPER, Chaoyang Park (Jun Yang).  Possibly only the 7th record for Beijing.  Also a late HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO. 30+ PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Shisanling (CM). Plus 200+ COMMON MERGANSER, 2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 1 first-winter SIBERIAN GULL, 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 2 MONGOLIAN LARK, 8 CHINESE NUTHATCH (including some singing and nest-building!), 65+ PINE BUNTING and 12+ RUSTIC BUNTING.

30 ASIAN ROSY FINCH, Lingshan (大牙齿 458 via eBird). 11 November 2019 280 PALLAS’S SANDGROUSE, Shahe Reservoir (Jun Wang).  Several groups, including one of 200+ flew west late morning. 10 November 2019 23 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART (14m, 9f), Lingshan (TT).  Plus 1 MERLIN, 62 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 5 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, 3 ALPINE ACCENTOR, 8 COMMON REDPOLL, 1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH ssp ussuriensis, 6 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH and an unseasonal ZITTING CISTICOLA.

WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH still at Temple of Heaven Park (Stefan Andrew) 9 November 2019 1 LONG-TAILED TIT, Laoyugou (XiaoPT). Plus 10 BOHEMIAN WAXWING and 35 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH. 1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH (ssp ussuriensis), Tongzhou-Dayunhe Forest Park (PH).  Plus a single JAPANESE WAXWING. 8 November 2019 1 STEPPE EAGLE, Lingshan (Frank Hawkins).  Plus JAPANESE WAXWING, RED CROSSBILL, PALLAS’S, LONG-TAILED and CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, WHITE-WINGED REDSTART. 7 November 2019 2 BAER’S POCHARD, Yeyahu (Frank Hawkins).  Plus a first-winter PALLAS’S GULL. 5 November 2019 1 first-winter LITTLE GULL, Shahe Reservoir (CM).  Plus 5 BEWICK’S SWAN (2ads, 3 imms), 4 BAIKAL TEAL, 3 HEN HARRIER (all ringtails), 2 SHORT-EARED OWL, 5 SPOTTED REDSHANK, 21 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 6 BEARDED TIT, 7 RUSSET SPARROW, 12+ PINE BUNTING, 4 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, 45+ PALLAS’S REED BUNTING.

4 November 2019 5 JAPANESE WAXWING, Nanhaizi (Guo Geng) 1 JAPANESE WAXWING, Tongzhou-Dayunhe Forest Park (PH) 2 November 2019  1 first-winter MUTE SWAN, Ma Chang (XiaoPT et al).  Plus a first-winter PALLAS’S GULL. 1 MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER (or PADDYFIELD WARBLER?), Binhe Park, Daxing District (Zhong Zhenyu) 1 November 2019 1 RED CROSSBILL, Tongzhou – Dayunhe Forest Park (PH) 31 October 2019 1 POMARINE SKUA (JAEGER), Wenyu River (SB).  The second record for Beijing. 30 October 2019 1 first-winter WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, Temple of Heaven Park (via eBird).  A late record. 27 October 2019  1 MUTE SWAN, Ma Chang (Zhu Haoqiang, Tao Liu et al) plus a late DUNLIN. 4 MUTE SWAN, Chaoyang Park (Stefan Andrew).  A typical date but unusual location for this scarce migrant in Beijing. 1 EAGLE OWL, 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 7 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 9 WHITE-WINGED (GULDENSTADT’S) REDSTART (7m, 2 f), 3 ALPINE ACCENTOR, 9 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, 9 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, Miaofengshan (CM)

26 October 2019  1 (male) LONG-TAILED DUCK, Summer Palace (Zhu Haoqiang et al) 23 October 2019 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, Tongzhou-Dayunhe Forest Park (PH).  Plus a single RED CROSSBILL and a COMMON REED BUNTING. 20 October 2019 2 GREY-BACKED THRUSH, Temple of Heaven Park (Jun Yang) 2 JAPANESE QUAIL, 1 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK (first site record), 19 PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER, 2 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 3 LANCEOLATED WARBLER, 2 SWINHOE’S WHITE-EYE, 3 TRISTRAM’S BUNTING and 5 YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING, Shunyi Patch (TT)

18 October 2019 12 BEWICK’S SWAN, 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE, 1 GREY PLOVER, 1 SIBERIAN GULL, 3 SHORT-EARED OWL, 2 REED PARROTBILL, 15+ BEARDED REEDLING, 15+ CHINESE PENDULINE TIT,  1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 5 COMMON STARLING, 5 PINE BUNTING, 2 COMMON REED BUNTING and 3 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, Shahe (CM) 17 October 2019 34 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, Tongzhou-Dayunhe Forest Park (PH) 16 October 2019 1 first-winter MUGUMAKI FLYCATCHER remaining in the Agricultural Exhibition Park (Ren Lipeng) 14 October 2019 The two first-winter MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHERS still at the Agricultural Exhibition Center Park (per eBird) 10 October 2019 Two first-winter MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER (one male, one female), Agricultural Exhibition Park (Zhen Niu et al via eBird).  Apparently present for 3 days.  Possibly only the 13th Beijing record. See https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60496288 Also a WHITE’S THRUSH. 6 October 2019 One probable STREAKED REED WARBLER, Shunyi Patch (TT). Description: flushed from tall grass and seen in flight with the naked eye as it called once (a soft ‘tack’ similar to Black-browed but more monotone and less like two stones banging together). It flew around 10m in good light before dropping in to the base of the grass stems. Small size (similar to Black-browed Reed Warbler, but significantly paler with obvious dark streaking and a darker rump). Colouration similar to the grass seed heads. Waited patiently for almost an hour with no sign. Began to work my way around the edge of the habitat, just 2-3m away from where it went down but as I did so, the bird flew again from behind me, over my shoulder and, again, flew around 10m in front in good light before dropping into deep cover. Again, with the naked eye I could clearly see a small pale warbler with dark streaking on the upperparts. This time, after it went to ground, I could see some movement of the stems as it made its way to the east. I took a few steps to my right so that the light was behind me. It edged towards a gap and I had my camera ready but it never reached the gap, instead turned around and headed back from where it came. It called several times in the next few minutes. I did not have my sound recording equipment with me but tried to make a recording on my iPhone (not yet analysed). The call was not as loud as the Black-browed Reed Warblers occasionally calling in the same area and was less obviously like two stones banging together. One would need to be close to hear it at all. After a few minutes, the movement stopped and so did the vocalisations. I waited for another hour with no sign before walking towards the area where it had been. There was no sign and, reluctantly, I left the site around 1245 as I had an appointment. Given my experience of any potential confusion species (Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler) I can say with confidence that this bird was neither. I am confident that the bird I saw was a Streaked Reed Warbler, however without seeing the bird with binoculars and still, no photo or decent sound recording, I must describe it as a “probable”.

5 October 2019 1 BLYTH’S REED WARBLER, Shahe (CM).  Sound-recorded.  The second record for Beijing; another outstanding find by Colm Moore. 21 September 2019 2 GREAT BITTERN, 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 4 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 5 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK, 12 HOBBY, 17 AMUR FALCON, 5 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE (adult), 1 NORTHERN OSPREY, 2 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER (juvs), 6 SPOTTED REDSHANK, 1 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, 2 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 3 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 20+ RICHARD’S PIPIT, 3 BLYTH’S PIPIT, 5 RED-THROATED PIPIT, 60+ EURASIAN SKYLARK, 1 BLUETHROAT, 12 DUSKY WARBLER, 3 RADDE’S WARBLER, 1 EYEBROWED THRUSH, 400+ LITTLE BUNTING, 2 BLACK-FACED BUNTING, 3 MEADOW BUNTING, Shisanling (CM)

14 September 2019 1 juvenile RUFF, Ma Chang (XiaoPT, Zhang Shen , Splan tky et al).  Plus 2 DUNLIN and 2 BLACK-WINGED KITE. 11 September 2019 1 MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER, Tongzhou (PH). Present for at least a week. 1 juvenile RUFF, Ma Chang. Plus 3 RUDDY SHELDUCK, at least 4 DUNLIN, 14 RED-NECKED STINT, 1 juv LITTLE STINT, 12 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 3 LONG-TOED STINT, 1 TURNSTONE, 3 SPOTTED REDSHANK, 7 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, 3 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, 1 juv BLACK-WINGED KITE, 1 moulting ad and 1 first-winter RELICT GULL, 10 MONGOLIAN GULL, 84 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 42 WHITE WAGTAIL, at least 25 RED-THROATED PIPIT, 6 BLYTH’S PIPIT and 122 RICHARD’S PIPIT.  Also 1 FAR EASTERN CURLEW at Yeyahu (TT, Tim Appleton, Gao Xiang)

8 September 2019 2 DUNLIN and 1 BLACK-WINGED KITE, Ma Chang (Zhen Niu et al) 7 September 2019 1 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, 1 DUNLIN and 1 BLACK-WINGED KITE, Ma Chang (Liu Chunhong et al) 6 September 2019 An unusual looking juvenile Calidris sp at Ma Chang by Colm Moore.  Clearly strong RED KNOT influence but far from typical, including the pattern on the scapulars and wing coverts and the obviously pale rump.  Possible hybrid? Comments welcome.

5 September 2019 2 BLACK-WINGED KITE (including one juvenile), Ma Chang (XiaoPT et al) 4 September 2019 1 BAER’S POCHARD, Yeyahu (XiaoPt et al) 3 September 2019 1 SIBERIAN THRUSH, Beijing Normal University campus (Xue Boning via eBird) 2 BLACK-WINGED KITE, Ma Chang (Wang Zikun) 1 September 2019 1 juvenile LITTLE CURLEW, Ma Chang (PH et al). Plus 2 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 5 TEMMINCK’S and 20 RED-NECKED STINT, 2 RELICT GULL, 1 OSPREY, 1 PIED HARRIER, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 2 BEARDED TIT, 1 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 CITRINE WAGTAIL and 2 BLYTH’S PIPIT. 1 MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER, Ma Chang (Zheng Qiyuan and Yan Shen via eBird)  1 male BAER’S POCHARD at Yeyahu (Xing Chao et al) 31 August 2019 1 LESSER FRIGATEBIRD, Shahe Reservoir (presumably the Yeyahu bird from 30 August), photographed by Zhang Xiaoling et al. 1 COMMON RINGED PLOVER (heard only), Ma Chang (PH et al).  Plus 1 FAR EASTERN CURLEW, 17 TEMMINCK’S, 29 RED-NECKED and 2 LONG-TOED STINT, 16 RELICT GULL, 1 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 1 SAKER, 2 RUSSET SPARROW, 280 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 21 BLYTH’S PIPIT and 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING. 30 August 2019 LESSER WHITETHROAT at Ma Chang (PH et al).  Plus 2 ORIENTAL STORK, 1 first-winter RELICT GULL, juvenile SANDERLING, 1 juvenile WHITE-WINGED TERN, 2 juvenile PIED HARRIER, 1 SYKE’S SHORT-TOED LARK and 2 BLYTH’S PIPITS. 1 juvenile LESSER FRIGATEBIRD, Yeyahu (7th Beijing record?).  Plus 1 ad male BAER’S POCHARD and 55 FERRUGINOUS DUCK (PH et al)    28 August 2019 1 ORIENTAL PLOVER, Ma Chang (Zhang Xiaoling and He Fangbei).  A rare autumn record. 27 August 2019 1 LITTLE CURLEW, Ma Chang (TT, MN).  Possibly only the 12th record for the capital.  Plus 1 FAR EASTERN CURLEW, 1 WHIMBREL, 1 juvenile/first-winter RELICT GULL, at least two juvenile LITTLE STINTS, 1 SANDERLING, 3 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 3 PEREGRINE, juvenile 2 PIED HARRIER and 2 BLYTH’S PIPIT.

25 August 2019 1 juvenile PIED HARRIER, 1 juvenile EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, PEREGRINE (poss ‘Shaheen’) 2 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, 10 RED-NECKED STINT, 1 SANDERLING, 3 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 2 DUNLIN, 2 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, 1 CASPIAN TERN, 2 BLYTH’S PIPIT Ma Chang (JM, TT, JS et al)

23 August 2019 1 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, Ma Chang (CM).  Plus 3 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 7 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 27 RED-NECKED STINT, 5 LONG-TOED STINT, 2 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, 3 MARSH SANDPIPER, 1 CASPIAN TERN, 1 2cy RELICT GULL, 1 juv PIED HARRIER, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING.

21 August 2019 1 1cy LITTLE GULL, Shahe Reservoir (Ma Nan) 18 August 2019 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, Ma Chang (XiaoPT, Splan tky, Mint Ren and Zhang Shen via eBird).  Plus 2 LONG-TOED STINTS, 4 RELICT GULLS, 4 CASPIAN TERNS, 18 BLYTH’S PIPITS and >300 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAILS migrating south between 0700-0830. 1 LITTLE CURLEW, Ma Chang (Lou Fangzhou) 10 August 2019 1 GREATER PAINTED SNIPE, 1 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER and 116 RELICT GULLS, Ma Chang (XiaoPT and Splan tky via eBird) 3 August 2019 1 GREATER PAINTED SNIPE, Ma Chang. Plus 1 RELICT GULL (2cy) and 9 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS (XiaoPT and Liu Zhiheng via eBird) 2 July 2019 1 BROWN-RUMPED (SWINHOE’S) MINIVET and 3 AMUR PARADISE FLYCATCHERS, Beigoucun (“Fishing Cat” via eBird) 1 July 2019 1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, Laoyugou (XiaoPT, Fan Jun) 30 June 2019 1 SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHER, Lingshan (Zhen Niu)

25 June 2019

1 CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO, Lingshan (SB).  Also 1 LESSER CUCKOO and GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD (singing at c1200m asl) there. 23 June 2019 1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, Lingshan (Splan tky via eBird) 15 June 2019 1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, Xiaolongmen (Zhen Niu). Plus 4 ALSTRÖM’S WARBLERS. 11 June 2019 1 EURASIAN HOBBY, 1 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 1 NORTHERN BOOBOOK, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 1 CHINESE NUTHATCH, 2 EURASIAN NUTHATCH, 10+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 4 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 4 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, 4 LESSER CUCKOO, 1 GREY-SIDED THRUSH, 4 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 2 ZAPPEY’S FLYCATCHER, 1 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, 20+ YELLOW-BELLIED TIT, 18+ YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 30+ CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 3 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 12+ CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 3+ ASIAN STUBTAIL. 10+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, Miaofengshan (CM) 2 KOKLASS PHEASANT, 1 ASIAN KOEL, 10 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 1 LESSER CUCKOO, 3 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 1 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 6 ASIAN STUBTAIL, 25 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 4 CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 35 YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 5 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 40 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 10 BEIJING BABBLER, 5 PLAIN LAUGHINGTHRUSH, 30 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 1 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, 1 CHINESE THRUSH and 3 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, Laoyugou (XiaoPT via eBird) 9 June 2019 1 SWINHOE’S MINIVET, Chaohe River at Gubeikou (Fishing Cat via eBird) 1 BROWN-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa muttui, 褐胸鹟, hè-xiōng wēng) was photographed at Xiaolongmen by Liang Zhijian, a member of the young birders’ group, “Beijing Feiyu”. This was the first documented record of this species for Beijing. 8 June 2019 4 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE, 1 BAILLON’S CRAKE, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, 13 CASPIAN TERN, 10 GULL-BILLED TERN, 18 COMMON TERN, 3 BROWN SHRIKE, 1 AMUR FALCON, Shahe (CM) 5 June 2019 2 YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA at Xuanwu Park, Xicheng District (Zhu Yanning).  The first record for Beijing. 3 June 2019 5 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE, 40+ COMMON TERN, 15 WHISKERED TERN, 5 WHITE-WINGED TERN, 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 2 AMUR FALCON, 5 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, 1 BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, Shahe Reservoir (CM) 1 June 2019 1 CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO, Baiwangshan (Lu Wei) 1 CHINESE BUSH WARBLER, Binhe Forest Park (Yan Shen) 1 BLUE AND WHITE FLYCATCHER, Xiaolongmen (Fishing Cat via eBird) 15 RELICT GULL, Shahe (Zhu Haoqiang) 31 May 2019 1 BLACK-TAILED GULL (of unknown origin), Shahe Reservoir (Wang Xiaobo).  The status of BT Gull in Beijing is unclear.  There have been reports of free-flying birds in the grounds of the zoo, which may account for at least some of the records in the capital. 30 May 2019 A CHINESE BUSH WARBLER, Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace) (BW) 1 BROWN-HEADED GULL and a MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER, Shahe Reservoir (Jun Yang via eBird) 29 May 2019 2 CHINESE BUSH WARBLER, Dashihe (XiaoPT et al) 1 BLUE AND WHITE FLYCATCHER near Xiaolongmen (Xue Boning via eBird) 27 May 2019 A BLACK-WINGED KITE, Shahe Reservoir (CM).  Plus 3 ASIAN KOEL, 6 BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE, 9 RICHARD’S PIPIT, 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, 10 ARCTIC WARBLER, 2 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER, 3 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER and 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH.  26 May 2019 1 HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET, Shunyi Patch (TT).  Seen very well for c2 minutes (1751-1753) as it hawked over trees and shrubs on the patch.  The encounter coincided with an area of low cloud drifting over, the pressure dropped and it felt like rain.  As soon as the heaviest cloud passed, I lost it to view behind some trees and couldn’t relocate it.  Likely drifted north.  The second record for Beijing. 1 PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA, Nanhaizi (Wang Libin via WeChat) 23 May 2019 1 MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER, Shahe (XiaoPT and Fishing Cat via eBird) 19 May 2019 2 PIN-TAILED SNIPE displaying before dawn at Ma Chang (PH).  Plus 32 RELICT GULLS (all first summers) 1 CHINESE SPARROWHAWK, Shahe (CM).  Plus 1 female WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING, 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, 3 LITTLE TERN, 19 GULL-BILLED TERN, 50+ RICHARD’S PIPIT, 6 + BLYTH’S PIPIT and 1 singing PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER. 17 May 2019 1 NORTHERN HAWK CUCKOO heard pre-dawn, Badaling Forest Park (PH) 16 May 2019 1 PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER, Xiaolongmen (XiaoPt et al) 15 May 2019 1 WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, Tsinghua University campus (via Birding Tsinghua WeChat group) 14 May 2019 1 male MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER, Shuangjing (AM) 1 SCHRENCK’S BITTERN, Peking University (Fishing Cat via eBird) 13 May 2019 A female SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER, Tsinghua University campus (BW).  Astonishingly just 50m from the first Beijing record in 2015 found by the same observer. A male HILL BLUE FLYCATCHER, Beijing Normal University campus (Xue Boning via eBird) of unknown origin.  Apparently showed unusual feather wear, so possibly related to an escape/deliberate release. 11 May 2019  6 SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA, Shahe Reservoir (SB).  Unknown origin. 10 May 2019 1 ASHY-THROATED WARBLER, Baihuashan (He Wenbo).  An incredible record.  Photographed well (see here) 1 TEREK SANDPIPER, Shahe Reservoir (CM).  Plu 40+ WOOD SANDPIPER, 1 LONG-TOED STINT, 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 1 ‘SWINTAIL’ SNIPE, 2 AMUR FALCON, 2 PIED HARRIER, 30+ RICHARD’S PIPIT, 2 BLYTH’S PIPIT, 1 PECHORA PIPIT, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 1 INDIAN CUCKOO, 4 GULL-BILLED TERN and 4 CHINESE GROSBEAK. 8 May 2019 The PLAIN PRINIA still present.  Plus a calling BIANCHI’S WARBLER (PH), remarkably another first record for Beijing. 1 DAURIAN STARLING, 1 YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING, 2 ASHY MINIVET, 1 PECHORA PIPIT and 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT, Wenyu River (SB) 7 May 2019 A PLAIN PRINIA along the Wenyu River, found by Wenyu patch birder, Steve Bale.  The first record for Beijing. 5 May 2019 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, Tsinghua University (BW).  Also 2 TRISTRAM’S BUNTINGS and ‘several’ CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLERS. 4 May 2019 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER (third Beijing record), 1 LITTLE STINT (Beijing’s 8th record), 1 TEREK SANDPIPER, c25 LONG-TOED STINT, 1 EASTERN ROOK, 12 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, Ma Chang (BW, RD) 1 BAILLON’S CRAKE, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 WRYNECK, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 8 BLUETHROAT, 3 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 1 CHINESE PENDULINE TIT and c100 STEJNEGER’S STONECHAT (BW, RD) 1 PIED HARRIER, Yeyahu (Ariel via WeChat) 3 SCALY-BREASTED MUNIA of unknown origin, Shahe Reservoir (Anon via eBird) 3 May 2019 3 AMUR FALCONS, 4 DAURIAN STARLINGS and 3 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS, Shahe Reservoir (CM) 1 WHITE’S THRUSH and 1 DAURIAN STARLING, Tsinghua University (BW) 1 WOODCOCK, 1 WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, 1 CHINESE THRUSH, Tsinghua University (东缘 dong yuan via WeChat) 30 April 2019 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 1 TAIGA BEAN GOOSE, 5 OSPREY, 2 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 1 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 1 LESSER KESTREL, 1 GULL-BILLED TERN, 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 7 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 5 BLYTH’S PIPIT, Shisanling (CM) 28 April 2019 9 WHITE-NAPED CRANE, 8 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 4 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 1 LITTLE STINT, 7 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, 2 GULL-BILLED TERN, 5 COMMON TERN, 21 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 1 OSPREY, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 4 BLACK KITE, 1 ZITTING CISTICOLA, 1 BLUETHROAT, 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, 70 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 30 CITRINE WAGTAIL, 20 RED-THROATED PIPIT, 40 BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT et al via eBird) 4 HIMALAYAN (CHINESE TAWNY) OWL, Badaling Forest Park (PH). Plus 2 KOKLASS PHEASANT, 1 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 8 HUME’S WARBLER, 17 PALLAS’S WARBLER, 9 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 2 JAPANESE WHITE-EYE, 2 WHITE’S THRUSH, 1 CHINESE THRUSH and 1 GREY-SIDED THRUSH (PH via eBird) 27 April 2019 The LITTLE STINT still at Shahe Reservoir (Fishing Cat and Zhen Niu).  Plus 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (first found by Qin Xiaowei & Wei Chunzhi, the 5th record for Beijing).  Also 18 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 10 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 5 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 1 OSPREY, 1 WRYNECK, 20 CHINESE PENDULINE TIT, 1 BLUETHROAT, 50 STEJNEGER’S STONECHAT and 30 RED-THROATED PIPIT. 1 male BAER’S POCHARD, Ma Chang.  Plus 11 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 2 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 11 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE. 6 RELICT GULL, 1 OSPREY, 1 LESSER KESTREL, 1 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 2 RICHARD’S PIPIT, 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT (PH via eBird) 26 April 2019 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR (female), Shahe Reservoir (CM).  Very rare in Beijing.  Certainly the first record since 1987 and possibly the first documented record for the capital.  Another great find by Colm Moore.  Also present 1 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN, 13+ TEMMINCK’S STINT, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 1 WRYNECK, 55+ CITRINE WAGTAIL, 1 ‘eastern alba’ WHITE WAGTAIL, 3 RICHARD’S PIPITS, 30+ RED-THROATED PIPITS, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING.

  1 LITTLE STINT, Shahe Reservoir (李孟璇，Li Mengxuan). The 7th Beijing record. 1 MEADOW PIPIT, Ma Chang (PH).  The 11th record for Beijing. 25 April 2019 1 ASHY MINIVET, 8 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 3 PALLAS’S WARBLER, 1 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 1 RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL and 4 OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT, Tsinghua University (Richard Davis et al) 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARD, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 1 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 1 COMMON SNIPE, 1 MARSH SANDPIPER, 1 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, 1 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 30 CITRINE WAGTAIL, 4 RED-THROATED PIPIT and 10 BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT (Jun Yang) 20 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 10 PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLER, 1 TAIGA FLYCATCHER, 1 DUSKY THRUSH, 7 OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT, 1 LITTLE BUNTING and 2 TRISTRAM’S BUNTING, Olympic Forest Park (XiaoPT) 1 GREY-FACED BUZZARD and 1 BLACK STORK, Yunfengshan, Miyun (TT) 24 April 2019 4 MANDARIN, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED TIT and 1 RED-THROATED THRUSH, Agricultural Exhibition Center (Zhen Niu) 23 April 2019 1 GREAT BUSTARD, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 OSPREY, 2 CITRINE WAGTAIL, 1 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL and 1 RED-THROATED PIPIT, Xiyu Reservoir (茶 茶丸, Cháchá wán) 22 April 2019 3 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 4 OSPREY, 1 male PIED HARRIER, 4 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER (2 male, 2 female), 2 COMMON KINGFISHER, 12 BEARDED TIT, 4 CHINESE PENDULINE TIT, Yeyahu (TT) 21 April 2019 2 ORIENTAL STORK and 5 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, Shahe Reservoir (Bin Bin via eBird).  Plus one GREY-FACED BUZZARD at the same site (Splan tky) 20 April 2019 1 BULL-HEADED SHRIKE, Yanhecheng (Chen Yanxin) 24 BLACK-NECKED GREBE, Yuanmingyuan (XiaoMin via Birding Tsinghua WeChat group et al) 3 BLACK-NECKED GREBE and 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, Nanhaizi (Anon via eBird) 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 1 OSPREY, 1 male PIED HARRIER, 3 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, Yeyahu (Zhen Niu) 130+ CITRINE WAGTAIL, Ma Chang.  Plus 1 GREY PLOVER, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 10 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 12 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE, 5 COMMON TERN, 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 2 OSPREY, 1 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 2 RED-THROATED PIPIT and 2 HAWFINCH (XiaoPT et al) 6 PACIFIC SWIFT and 1 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, Lingshan (TT) 17 April 2019 1 WRYNECK, Tsinghua University (Ben Wielstra).  Also the first ORIENTAL SCOPS OWLS arriving and YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS passing through. 16 April 2019 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, Chaoyang Park (Diana Zorrilla and Ricardo Lopez Z via eBird).  An early record. 15 April 2019 1 singing SWINHOE’S RAIL, Ma Chang (TT).  Heard singing from a small inaccessible island at about 50m distance between 1630 and 1700.  No sign the next morning at dawn.  Sound recorded. 1 female BAER’S POCHARD, Shahe (CM).  Plus 6+ pairs of GARGANEY, 15 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 30+ SYKE’S (MONGOLIAN) SHORT-TOED LARK, 3 ‘eastern alba’ WHITE WAGTAILS with 40+ ocularis, 5 CITRINE WAGTAIL and 40+ BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT.  

14 April 2019 15 ORIENTAL PLOVERS, Ma Chang (Yan Shen).  Plus 10 BEWICK’S SWANS and 2 WHITE-NAPED CRANES. 2 WHITE-BACKED WOODPECKERS, Lingshan (TT) 13 April 2019 c30 GREY-FACED BUZZARDS seen passing Baiwangshan, the traditional migration watchpoint (Catherine Dong) 10 APRIL 2019 9 BEIJING SWIFTS (Common Swift ssp pekinensis), Baiwangshan (小隼仙人).  Birds beginning to arrive at traditional breeding sites in the capital and seen at migration watchpoints. 9 April 2019 The DALMATIAN PELICAN still at Shahe Reservoir.  Plus 13 RELICT GULLS (Chen Wenjia) 1 BEIJING SWIFT (Common Swift ssp pekinensis), Peking University (Yang Hua) 8 April 2019 1 DALMATIAN PELICAN, Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT) 1 PALLAS’S GULL, Shahe Reservoir (茶 茶丸, Cháchá wán) 7 April 2019 A GREY BUSHCHAT photographed near Yeyayu (Tian Shu).  Only the second Beijing record since 1987.

A PIED WHEATEAR, Ma Chang (DaHao via XiaoPT) 3 ORIENTAL PLOVERS, Ma Chang (Zhang Weimin, Zhang Xiaoling et al)

20+ RELICT GULLS, Shahe Reservoir (Li Mengxuan) 6 April 2019

5 BEWICK’S SWANS, 1 WHOOPER SWAN, 4 GARGANEY, 18 FALCATED DUCK, 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARD, 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 3 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, 2 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS, 6 PURPLE HERONS, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 BLACK KITE, 4 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 4 BEARDED TITS, Yeyahu (David Mansfield, Nick Green and TT) 8 BEWICK’S SWANS, 2 WHOOPER SWANS, 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 1 SIBERIAN GULL, 5 MONGOLIAN GULLS, 15 COMMON STARLINGS, 17 HAWFINCHES, 1 MEADOW PIPIT (10th record in Beijing), 23 BUFF-BELLIED PIPITS, 8 WATER PIPITS, 44 WHITE WAGTAILS (1 ‘eastern alba‘, 4 baicalensis, 8 ocularis and 31 leucopsis). 1 EURASIAN CURLEW, 1 OSPREY, 3 CITRINE WAGTAILS and 4 ‘eastern alba‘ WHITE WAGTAILS, Ma Chang (XiaoPT, Splan tky and Zhang Shen via eBird) 5 April 2019 1 (headless) ORIENTAL PLOVER found dead at Ma Chang (Catherine Dong). 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER, Ma Chang.  Plus 3 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, MERLIN, 2 HEN HARRIERS and 15 SYKE’S SHORT-TOED LARKS (David Mansfield, Nick Green and TT) 3 April 2019 At least 3 ‘eastern alba’ WHITE WAGTAILS, Shisanling (XiaoPT) 2 April 2019 At least 3 ‘eastern alba’ WHITE WAGTAILS, Shahe (DaHao and Niu Zhen) 1 April 2019 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR, Ma Chang (Lou Fangzhou).  The fourth record of this species for Beijing. Plus ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK.

The first BEIJING SWIFT (Common Swift ssp pekinensis) of the Spring was seen at the TongHuiHe (岳小鸮, Yuè xiǎo xiāo) 31 March 2019 1 NORTHERN GREAT TIT (Parus major), Wenyu River (SB).   An incredible record.  Steve comments as follows: “Following a flat tyre, I was pushing my bike along the road that runs parallel with the Wenyu river, just to the north of the private road to the Beijing Lafayette Hotel. About 400 yards past the entrance, I heard a loud and familiar “tea-cher” call (familiar, that is, when in the UK). I quickly located the bird and was delighted to see that it was what I thought it might be – a Great Tit. In the minute or so that it was in view, I noted the following: Rich yellow underparts with wide ‘central’ black band, extending from extensive black throat to the under tail coverts. Black cap, white cheeks, bordered by black necklace continuing to throat and upper breast. Prominent white-bar on greater coverts, contrasted with green mantle. I waited in the area for 30 minutes or so, but no further sign of the bird after the initial sighting.” 1 ‘alba’ WHITE WAGTAIL, Shahe Reservoir (Lou Fangzhou). 2 ORIENTAL PLOVER, Ma Chang (TT, Xing Chao and James Phillips) 3 WHITE-NAPED CRANE, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 OSPREY and 1 PEREGRINE, Yeyahu (TT, Xing Chao and James Phillips) 30 March 2019 1 LESSER KESTREL, Guanting Reservoir, Hebei (XiaoPT and Niu Zhen).  Plus an early CITRINE WAGTAIL at Ma Chang. 28 March 2019 1 pale morph BOOTED EAGLE, Baiwangshan (Lou Fangzhou).

4 NORTHERN LAPWINGS, 5 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS, 3 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 80 RELICT GULLS, 200 MONGOLIAN GULLS and 100 WHITE WAGTAILS, Shahe (Catherine Dong via eBird) 27 March 2019 2 BLACK KITES, 84 EASTERN BUZZARDS, 350 DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 1 EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN and 1 early TAIGA FLYCATCHER, Baiwangshan (Chen Wenjia via eBird) 25 March 2019 A minimum of 3 BAER’S POCHARDS at Yeyahu today (Lou Fangzhou).   24 March 2019  1 colour-ringed WHITE-NAPED CRANE, Yeyahu.  First banded as a juvenile in August 2017 at Barkhlin Tsagaan Lake, near Khurkh, Mongolia (TT).  Plus 1 PURPLE HERON, 1 3cy+ male EASTERN MARSH HARRIER 23 March 2019 Belated news of a male WHITE-THROATED REDSTART in the Botanical Gardens on 24 February ( 将文跃 Jiang Wenyue).  

2 ORIENTAL STORKS and 1 PALLAS’S GULL, Shahe (Zhu Haoqiang via eBird) 1 male BAER’S POCHARD and 1 male GREATER SCAUP, Huairou Reservoir (TT).  Plus 3cy+ female EASTERN MARSH HARRIER and 23 BARN SWALLOWS.  22 March 2019 2 ORIENTAL STORKS, 5 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS and 1 PALLAS’S GULL, Shahe Reservoir (Lou Fangzhou)  21 March 2019 1 imm WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 SHORT-TOED EAGLES, 3 BLACK STORKS, Miyun Reservoir (SB, TT) 18 March 2019 5 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 2 ORIENTAL STORKS, 1 MERLIN (male), 2 PALLAS’S GULLS, 4 SIBERIAN GULLS (1 2cy, 2 3cy and 1 adult), 2 COMMON GULLS and 10 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, Shahe Reservoir  (CM). Photos: (top) adult PALLAS’S GULL; (middle) 2cy SIBERIAN GULL; (bottom) two ORIENTAL STORKS.  All by Colm Moore.

16 March 2019 2 ORIENTAL STORKS at Shahe Reservoir (Catherine Dong) 14 March 2019 2 PALLAS’S GULLS, a remarkable 745+ MONGOLIAN GULLS, 1 ORIENTAL WHITE STORK and a large eagle sp (probably GREATER SPOTTED) at Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT, Song Jian and Niu Zhen) 13 March 2019 3 PALLAS’S GULLS, 1 ORIENTAL STORK, 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 1 TAIGA BEAN GOOSE middendorffi, 1 SWAN GOOSE and 1 EURASIAN CURLEW, Shahe Reservoir (娄方州 Lou Fangzhou et al)

11 March 2019 2 BLACK STORK, 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 9 WATER PIPIT, 1 LAPLAND BUNTING, 200+ EURASIAN SKYLARK, 10 SWAN GOOSE, 75+ TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 4 COMMON CRANE, 4 SIBERIAN GULL (3 ads. and one 1st winter), 1 PALLAS’S GULL (1st winter) and 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, Shisanling (CM) 10 March 2019 The ORIENTAL STORK still at Shahe Reservoir (Steve Bale).  Closest to northern shore but can be viewed from the southern shore. 9 March 2019 1 ORIENTAL STORK at Shahe Reservoir (Zhu Haoqiang).   8 March 2019 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE, Shahe Reservoir (Bill Bu) 7 March 2019 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE, Nanhaizi (Zhong Zhenyu).  Plus the long-staying ORIENTAL STORK At least 310 MONGOLIAN GULLS, Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT) One 3rd-winter (4cy) SIBERIAN GULL (taimyrensis), Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT)

3 March 2019 An early EURASIAN SPOONBILL at Yizhuang Wetland (XiaoPT, Fishing Cat via eBird)  Plus a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 2 March 2019 A Beijing record 19 MUTE SWANS at Nanhaizi (Da He via eBird) 1 March 2019 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE, Chongqing Reservoir (XiaoPT, Fishing Cat via eBird) 2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (immatures), 3 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 120+ MONGOLIAN GULL, 1 SIBERIAN GULL (adult), 4 FALCATED DUCK, 4 CHINESE NUTHATCH, 18+ WATER PIPIT, 1 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCH, 4 MEADOW BUNTING, 50+ PINE BUNTING, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, Shisanling (CM) 25 February 2019 2 WHITE-THROATED REDSTARTS (a male and a female), Lingshan (BW, SB, TT).  Plus 20+ WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS, 60+ RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 6+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 4+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES. 24 February 2019 3 WHOOPER SWANS, 38 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 4 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES (two adult-types and two immatures), 60+ MONGOLIAN GULLS, 1 SIBERIAN GULL (adult), 6+ WATER PIPIT, 60+ PINE BUNTINGS, Shisanling (CM)

4 WHOOPER SWAN, 232 COMMON MERGANSER, 26 SMEW, 26 GOLDENEYE, 130 MALLARD, 18 CHINESE SPOT-BILLED DUCK, 2 GADWALL, 2 PINTAIL, 9 FALCATED DUCK, 19 TUFTED DUCK, 21 COMMON POCHARD, 120 COOT and 1 PEREGRINE, Huairou (TT) 23 February 2019 1 immature MUTE SWAN, Taishitun (XiaoPt via eBird). 1 PALE THRUSH, Olympic Forest Park Southern Section (大牙齿 458 via eBird).  Presumably the long-staying individual. 20 February 2019 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, Wenyu Rover (Steve Bale).  A rare winter record. 15 February 2019 The MEADOW PIPIT still at Shidu (Zang Shaoping). At least 2 ROOKS at Nanhaizi (per WeChat). Scarce in winter. 12 February 2019 100+ ASIAN ROSY FINCHES, Lingshan (Li Peimeng via eBird) 11 February 2019 At least 150 ASIAN ROSY FINCHES, Lingshan (DaHao) 10 February 2019 An incredible 3 WHITE-THROATED REDSTARTS (2 male, 1 female) at Lingshan (DaHao).  All in the newly-discovered area of sea buckthorn.  The male BAIKAL TEAL still in the southern section of the Olympic Forest Park, just inside the gate on a patch of ice-free water, associating with the local MALLARDS. The wintering GREAT BITTERN also still in the Olympic Forest Park (south section). 8 February 2019 1 male WHITE-THROATED REDSTART, Lingshan (Beijing side).  First seen around 1430 in an area not previously visited by the finder with many sea buckthorn bushes laden with berries.  The bird was loosely associating with 20+ WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS.  Remarkably this is the third sighting of this species in the mountains around Beijing this winter. The first was of a male on 14 November 2018 at Lingshan, just over the border in Hebei (Terry Townshend and Steve Bale), and the second, also a male, was on 5 December 2018 at Miaofengshan (Colm Moore), so this is the third overall and the second sighting within the boundary of Beijing Municipality (TT, XiaoPT, DaHao).   6 February 2019 1 female YELLOWHAMMER with a flock of 150+ PINE BUNTINGS, Yanqing (TT, ML).  The 13th record of this species in Beijing.  Photo by ML.

4 February 2019 210 RUSTIC BUNTINGS, Tongzhou (PH via eBird). A record Beijing count. 3 February 2019 The MEADOW PIPIT still at Shidu at bridge 6 (Qian Cheng via eBird) 1 February 2019 The EUROPEAN ROBIN still in the grounds of the Beijing Zoo (Li Peimeng via eBird) 1 NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, Lingshan (Vincent Wang via eBird) 1 RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER still in Chaoyang Park (Cheng Qian via eBird) 28 January 2019 A spectacular 510+ COMMON MERGANSERS at Shisanling (CM).  Also 10+ SMEW, 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 3 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES, 5 CHINESE NUTHATCHES, 3 COAL TITS, 8 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 1 HAWFINCH and 30+ PINE BUNTINGS.

1 SWAN GOOSE, Wenyu River (SB via eBird).  Also 1 EURASIAN WIGEON (the first winter record for the site), 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 16 SMEW, 1 EURASIAN COOT (only the 6th record for the site) and 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER. 27 January 2019 The MEADOW PIPIT remains at Shidu.  Plus 1 WALLCREEPER, 2 BROWN DIPPERS and 2 BLACK STORKS (Steve Bale and David Mansfield) The drake BAIKAL TEAL still in the southern section of the Olympic Forest Park (Zhu Haoqiang) 26 January 2019 The EURASIAN ROBIN still in the grounds of the Beijing Zoo (Zhang Shen et al) 26 ALPINE ACCENTORS, 4 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS and 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (XiaoPT and DaHao via eBird)  24 January 2019 The GREY-BACKED THRUSH still at Tsinghua University (BW). A drake BAIKAL TEAL continues to show well in the southern section of the Olympic Forest Park. 22 January 2019 The RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER still at Chaoyang Park (Jun Yang via eBird) Two immature MUTE SWANS, Shang Jinshan (SB) A single NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, 6 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES and 2 ALPINE ACCENTORS, G234 between Yunmengshan and Miyun (TT) 21 January 2019 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 6 ALPINE ACCENTOR, 20+ SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 6 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (including at least one lepidus), 8 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 60+ ORIENTAL GREENFINCHES and 80+ BRAMBLINGS, Miaofengshan (CM).  1 MEADOW PIPIT still at Shidu (TT, JM).  Also 2 WHOOPER SWANS, 10 MANDARIN, 2 JAPANESE QUAIL, 4 BLACK STORKS, 2 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 1 WALLCREEPER, 2 BROWN DIPPERS (nest-building), 2 WATER PIPITS and 16 MEADOW BUNTINGS. 15 January 2019 The EUROPEAN ROBIN and BLACK-THROATED TIT still in the grounds of the Beijing Zoo and the RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER still in Chaoyang Park (BW). 14 January 2019 3 SWAN GEESE, 60+ RUDDY SHELDUCK, 315 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 2 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWKS, 2 PEREGRINE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 4 PALLAS’S BUNTING, 11+ RUSTIC BUNTING and 111+ PINE BUNTING, Shahe (CM)  12 January 2019 2 female CHAFFINCHES, Xiaqingshuicun (J-EN).  Plus MERLIN, 4 BEIJING BABBLERS, 3 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS and 12 MEADOW BUNTINGS. 2 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 14 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS (12m, 2f), 6 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, 5 WILLOW TITS, 12 SILVER-THROATED TITS, 8 BEIJING BABBLERS, 3 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 3 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 7 GODLEWSKI’S BUNTINGS and 8 MEADOW BUNTINGS, Lingshan (J-EN) 11 January 2019 The EUROPEAN ROBIN remains in the grounds of the Beijing Zoo.  Also 4 COLLARED FINCHBILLS and 1 BLACK-THROATED TIT (of unknown origin).

9 January 2019 The EUROPEAN ROBIN still present in the grounds of Beijing Zoo.  Possibly present for several weeks. 1 BLACK-THROATED TIT, Beijing Zoo (Chen Wenjia) 8 January 2019 The capital’s 3rd EUROPEAN ROBIN in the grounds of Beijing Zoo today (via XiaoPT). 6 January 2019 1 JAPANESE GROSBEAK, Tsinghua University (Zhen Niu). 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE and an unseasonal ‘SWINTAIL SNIPE’, Dashihe (XiaoPT, Luo Qingqing and Lou Fangzhou). 1 RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, Chaoyang Park (Zhen Niu).  Presumably the bird from the Temple of Heaven relocating. 5 January 2019 1 MEADOW PIPIT, Shidu (Niao Pan).  The bird first discovered on 30 December remains into 2019. 30 December 2018  A MEADOW PIPIT was photographed at Shidu.  The 9th record of this species in Beijing (via XiaoPT). 24 December 2018 7 WHOOPER SWANS, 85+ RUDDY SHELDUCK, 1 juv PEREGRINE, 1 SAKER, 600+ DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 2 CHINESE GROSBEAKS, 18+ RUSTIC BUNTINGS and 30+ PALLAS’S BUNTINGS.

22 December 2018 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, Peking University (Xing Chao et al) 19 December 2018 The REDWING still present at Tsinghua University campus (Beijing Feiyu). 18 December 2018 The REDWING still showing well at Tsinghua University campus (regularly coming down to drink)

16 December 2018 The REDWING still being seen on and off at Tsinghua University campus but few people looking.  Also 1 PALE THRUSH in the Olympic Forest Park in the western part of the southern section (per WeChat). 15 December 2018 3 ASIAN ROSY FINCHES, Lingshan (J-EN).  Also 5 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS and 9 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES. 12 December 2018 1 DEMOISELLE CRANE, Ma Chang (Tong Menxiu) 8 December 2018 One 1cy MUTE SWAN, Miyun Reservoir (XiaoPT et al) 6 December 2018 The REDWING and GREY-BACKED THRUSH still present at Tsinghua University campus (BW) 5 December 2018 REDWING, Tsinghua University campus (found by Steve Bale).  The second record of this species in Beijing.  Plus a male GREY-BACKED THRUSH.

30 November 2018 1 male WHITE-THROATED REDSTART, Miaofengshan (CM).  The second record of the winter of this species in the mountains around Beijing and, given the Lingshan bird was 250m over the border in Hebei Province, this is the first Beijing record.  Also 35+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 4+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES. 1 male GREY-BACKED THRUSH, Tsinghua University campus (Bu Xinchen via WeChat) 27 November 2018 1 1cy BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, Huairou Reservoir (SB).   Plus 8 WHOOPER SWANS, 15 GADWALL, 30 COMMON POCHARD, 16 TUFTED DUCK, 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 1 SMEW, 120 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 COMMON GULL and 2 GREAT BITTERNS. The 1cy female LONG-TAILED DUCK found dead at Peking University (per XiaoPT) 24 November 2018 The RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER still in Temple of Heaven Park (Chen Wenjia via eBird) and the LONG-TAILED DUCK still at Peking University (Wang Yishan via eBird). 21 November 2018 1 NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, Lingshan (TT, SB, XiaoPT, TB).  Plus 4 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 3 SPOTTED NUTCRACKERS, 5 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS (2m, 3f), 15 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 4 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES and 1 DUSKY x NAUMANN’S intergrade, 16 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 2 HAWFINCHES and 5 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES. 20 November 2018 3 BAER’S POCHARDS, Huairou Reservoir (SB).  Plus 4 WHOOPER SWANS, 1 MANDARIN, 8 FALCATED DUCK, 150 COMMON POCHARD, 7 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 25 TUFTED DUCK, 30 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 10 SMEW, 20 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 HORNED GREBE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 4 BRAMBLING, 8 YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS, 20 PALLAS’S REED BUNTINGS and 3 LITTLE BUNTINGS. 19 November 2018 1 RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER, Temple of Heaven Park (Zhang XiaoLing via WeChat). Also present on 18th.  Possibly only the 6th record for the capital.  Photos by Zhang XiaoLing.

1 first calendar year BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, Shahe (CM).  Plus 1 juvenile WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 1 WATER PIPIT, 1 PINE BUNTING, 2 JAPANESE REED BUNTINGS and 2 LAPLAND BUNTINGS. 18 November 2018 4 PALLAS’S WARBLER with mixed tit flock, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH and c10 BRAMBLINGS, Olympic Forest Park (Jason Chapman and Nir Sapir) 17 November 2018 1 late COMMON ROSEFINCH, Olympic Forest Park (“Kevin STC” via WeChat) 14 November 2018 1 male WHITE-THROATED REDSTART, Lingshan (TT, SB).  This bird was found in the Hebei Province part of Lingshan, just 250m from the border with Beijing.  With one historical record from a park in coastal Hebei (PH via WeChat), this is only the second record for eastern China and >1,000km from its usual range.

1 HAZEL GROUSE, Lingshan (TT, SB).  A single bird flushed from birch forest in the Beijing part of Lingshan, it was seen in silhouette and heard calling.  Possibly the first modern day record in the capital. 11 November 2018 1 WALLCREEPER, Shunyi (TT).  The first Beijing record away from the mountains. 10 November 2018 1 CHIFFCHAFF, Yeyahu (Lou Fangzhou via WeChat).  The 3rd or 4th record for Beijing. 9 November 2018 5 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH (ssp lepidus), 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 3 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 2 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES,  20+ SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 10+ YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS, 2 HAWFINCHES and 15+ WILLOW TITS, Miaofengshan (CM) 7 November 2018 21 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Yuanmingyuan (娄方洲 via WeChat) 5 November 2018 1 HORNED GREBE, Shahe (CM). Plus 5 BEWICK’S and 3 WHOOPER SWANS (flew west), 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBES, 1 GREAT BUSTARD, 8 REED PARTROTBILLS, 1 BEARDED REEDLING, 22 COMMON STARLINGS, 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH, 15+ HAWFINCHES, 14 LAPLAND BUNTINGS, 5 PINE BUNTINGS and 2 COMMON REED BUNTINGS. 3 BAER’S POCHARDS (2m, 1 f), Yeyahu (TT et al).  Plus 6 GREATER SCAUP, 1 1cy STEPPE EAGLE, 1 SAKER, 1 BLACK-WINGED KITE.  At Ma Chang, 23 WHOOPER SWANS, 813 GADWALL, 1 MANDARIN, 1 LITTLE EGRET and 1 WATER PIPIT.

3 November 2018 1 first calendar-year BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, Summer Palace.  Plus the long-staying BLACK-THROATED DIVER still present (Zhang Jingkang). 2 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS, Miaofengshan (CM).  Plus 5+ CHINESE NUTHATCHES, 50+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 1 DUSKY THRUSH, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 1 COAL TIT, 14+ SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 10 MEADOW BUNTINGS, 22+ YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS and 8+ PINE BUNTINGS.

2 November 2018 1 BEARDED REEDLING (flyover), 45 SILVER-THROATED TITS, 25 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 35 DUSKY or NAUMANN’S THRUSHES (just three confirmed Naumann’s, no confirmed pure Dusky and two apparent intergrades), 3 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS, 9 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 25 HAWFINCHES, 3 JAPANESE GROSBEAKS, 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH, 8 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 2 lepidus LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (PH). 1 November 2018 1 HORNED GREBE, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 3 DUSKY THRUSHES at Shahe Reservoir (William Jones, Jenny Dunn, Lisa Barrow and Emma Young) 31 October 2018 7 GREATER SCAUP, Yeyahu (PH) 30 October 2018 1 EAGLE OWL, 1 NUTCRACKER, 5 COLLARED FINCHBILLS and 20 HAWFINCH, Botanical Gardens (William Jones and Jenny Dunn) 29 October 2018 A whopping 136+ BEARDED REEDLINGS at Shahe (CM).  Plus 31 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 6 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 2 GREAT BUSTARDS, 1 HEN HARRIER (ringtail), 1 PEREGRINE, 6+ REED PARROTBILLS, 1 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 19+ LAPLAND BUNTINGS and 1 COMMON REED BUNTING. 26 October 2018 1 PEREGRINE, 2 SAKERS, 320+ BRAMBLING, 2 PINE BUNTINGS, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING and 70+ LAPLAND BUNTINGS, Shisanling (CM)

The BLACK-THROATED DIVER still at the Summer Palace (SB) 23 October 2018 1 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART, Shahe (local photographers via XiaoPT).  Plus a juvenile MUTE SWAN (flyover). The BLACK-THROATED DIVER still present at Summer Palace. TIANIJIN: An extraordinary record of a WHITE-HEADED DUCK at Beidagang (PH and Mo Xunqiang) 21 October 2018 1 CHINESE THRUSH and 2 GREY-BACKED THRUSHES, Temple of Heaven Park (Geng Lin via eBird) 19 October 2018 1 BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Summer Palace (Denis Corbeil via eBird) 11 October 2018 c15 LONG-TAILED TITS (caudatus), Wenyu River (SB).  Very rare in Beijing with perhaps fewer than 5 records. 8 October 2018 A MARSH GRASSBIRD at Shahe (XiaoPT et al). Also 28+ CHINESE PENDULINE TITS, 2-4 BEARDED TITS, 1 REED PARROTBILL (now recorded at eight sites: Olympic Forest Park, Wanping Lake, Niukouyu Reservoir, Dashihe, Yuanmingyuan, Shahe, Yizhuang wetland and the Summer Palace), 1 juvenile PALLAS’S GULL, 2 COMMON GULLS (first winter), 1 PEREGRINE, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 950+ DAURIAN JACKDAWS and 2 AMUR FALCONS (CM) 3 October 2018 3 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (TT, PH, BW).  All males. Plus 1 SHORT-TOED EAGLE, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE.  1 SAKER, 1 PEREGRINE and 1 MERLIN at Ma Chang. Late news of a BLACK-WINGED CUCKOOSHRIKE in the Olympic Forest Park in ‘early September’ (XiaoPT via PH) 1 October 2018 1 SHORT-EARED OWL (first site record), 1 BEAN GOOSE, 1 dark juvenile ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD overhead and 1 LANCEOLATED WARBLER, Shunyi Patch (TT). 29 September 2018 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING, Wenyu River (SB) 26 September 2018 1 MARSH GRASSBIRD, Shahe (XiaoPT et al) 24 September 2018 1 BOOTED EAGLE (dark), Shahe Reservoir (CM).  Also 2 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 6 AMUR FALCONS (juveniles), 2 HOBBY, 1 HEN HARRIER, 1 COMMON TERN (minnussensis), 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 6 LANCEOLATED WARBLERS, 6 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 6 BLUETHROATS, 1 RED-BILLED STARLING, 14 RICHARD’S PIPITS, 6 RED-THROATED PIPITS, 1 BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT, 1 PECHORA PIPIT, 70+ PALLAS’S REED BUNTINGS, 45+ LITTLE BUNTINGS and 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING. 22 September 2018 1 LITTLE GULL (adult), Ma Chang (PH and XiaoPT) 19 September 2018 2 GREATER PAINTED SNIPE and 1 first-winter RELICT GULL, Ma Chang (PH).  Also, a first-winter BULL-HEADED SHRIKE and 175 AMUR FALCONS close to the entrance to Ma Chang, 82 BLACK KITES, 2 CHINESE LEAF WARBLERS, 11 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS and 10 LANCEOLATED WARBLERS. 15 September 2018 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 282 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 7 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWKS, 1 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK, 1 CHINESE SPARROWHAWK, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 PIED HARRIER, 23 FALCATED DUCK, 2 BAIKAL TEAL, 2 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, 8 BROWN SHRIKES, 3 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 1 BLUETHROAT, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 5 BLYTH’S PIPITS and 25+ RICHARD’S PIPITS, Shahe Reservoir (CM)

1 JAPANESE QUAIL, 3 ‘SWINTAIL’ and 8 COMMON SNIPE, 1 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 2 FOREST WAGTAILS and 5 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAILS, Shunyi Patch (TT) 14 September 2018 A bit of a red-letter day at Yeyahu Wetland for Paul Holt.  Beijing firsts in the form of a WOOD WARBLER and a HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET plus a calling SWINHOE’S RAIL, all within an hour! (PH) 1 WHITE’S THRUSH, Tsinghua University (BW) 13 September 2018 9 COMMON SNIPE, 3 ‘SWINTAIL’ SNIPE, including one presumed SWINHOE’S SNIPE (spread tail seen well on landing), 3 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 2 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 1 HOBBY, 5 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLERS, 3 ORIENTAL REED WARBLERS, 4 LANCEOLATED WARBLERS, 1 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 5 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 1 DAURIAN REDSTART, 3 EYEBROWED THRUSHES, 2 CHINESE BLACKBIRDS, 1 PECHORA PIPIT and 5 BLACK-FACED BUNTINGS, Shunyi Patch (TT, BW) 12 September 2018 2 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 1 YELLOW BITTERN, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 2 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 1 BLUETHROAT, 6 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 1 PECHORA PIPIT and 1 RICHARD’S PIPIT on the Shunyi Patch (TT) 1 juv PALLAS’S GULL, 12 CASPIAN TERNS, 27 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS, Ma Chang (PH). 2 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (PH) 50+ JAPANESE WHITE-EYES, Badaling Forest Park (PH) 24 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 12 GREEN SANDPIPERS, 1 WOOD SANDPIPER, 1 COMMON SANDPIPER, 2 GREAT CORMORANTS, 2 COMMON SNIPE, 1 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 3 CHINESE BLACKBIRDS, 1 RADDE’S WARBLER, 1 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLER, 1 BLACK-FACED BUNTING and 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, Wenyu River (SB) 11 September 2018 1 PIN-TAILED SNIPE, Tsinghua University (via XiaoPT on WeChat).  Showed down to a few metres and the full tail seen.  An unusual opportunity to positively identify one of the many “Swintail” Snipe seen in the capital in Spring and Autumn. 10 September 2018 2 CHINESE NUTHATCHES, Shahe (first site record).  Plus 2 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 1 FOREST WAGTAIL, 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT, 2 RED-THROATED PIPITS, 4 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 1 juv EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 3 juv PIED HARRIERS and 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK (CM) 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 1 BROWN SHRIKE, 1 BLUETHROAT, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 10 DUSKY WARBLERS, 1 LANCEOLATED WARBLER, 1 THICK-BILLED WARBLER and 3 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, Shunyi Patch (TT) 8 September 2018 Single SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS reported from Olympic Forest Park, Tsinghua University and Shuangjing today (per WeChat). 2 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 8 DUSKY WARBLERS, 9 STONECHATS, 5 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 2 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 2 WOOD SANDPIPERS, 5 GREAT WHITE EGRETS, Wenyu River (Xavier Rufray) 7 September 2018 3 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLERS, Tsinghua University Campus (BW) 217 FALCATED DUCK, 9 BAIKAL TEAL, 7 RED-CRESTED POCHARD, 3 BAER’S POCHARD, 40 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 3 SHORT-TOED EAGLES, 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 2 PIED HARRIERS, 1 GULL-BILLED TERN, 1 SAKER, 1 BULL-HEADED SHRIKE, 1 WHITE’S THRUSH and 1 CHESTNUT BUNTING, Ma Chang/Yeyahu/Badaling Forest Park (PH, RD et al) 5 September 2018 1 BAND-BELLIED CRAKE on the Shunyi Patch this evening.  Plus 5 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS and 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (TT) 4 September 2018 1 JAPANESE QUAIL, 1 LITTLE GREBE, 2 GREAT EGRETS, 1 ‘Swintail’ SNIPE, 1 HOBBY, 5 BROWN SHRIKES, 3 BLACK DRONGOS, 1 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 1 RADDE’S WARBLER, 6 DUSKY WARBLERS, 1 THICK-BILLED WARBLER, 2 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS, 1 LANCEOLATED WARBLER, 2 ZITTING CISTICOLAS, 5 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 6 STONECHATS, 3 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH and 2 LITTLE BUNTINGS, Shunyi Patch (TT) 3 September 2018 3 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (Jenny Fang and Zhen Niu via eBird). 25 August 2018 1 PIED KINGFISHER, Miyun Reservoir (no public access).  Plus 15 ASIAN HOUSE MARTINS (XiaoPT and Splantky via eBird) 19 August 2018 3 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS, Shunyi (TT).

17 August 2018 31 BLACK-HEADED GULLS (a site record), Wenyu River (SB).  Also 2 WOOD SANDPIPERS, 3 COMMON SANDPIPERS, 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS, 1 “Swintail” SNIPE, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 10 CHINESE POND HERONS, 2 YELLOW BITTERNS, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 2 BROWN SHRIKES (1 ad, 1 juv), 1 BROWN FLYCATCHER (juv), 1 BLACK DRONGO and 1 HOOPOE. 2+ CHUKARS, 11+ NORTHERN HOBBY, 5 SPOTTED NUTCRACKERS, 12+ CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLERS (some still singing), 10+ YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLERS, 4+ CHINESE LEAF WARBLERS, 4+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLERS, 10+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, 5+ GREY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS and 1 RUSSET SPARROW, Miaofengshan (CM, ZQ) 12 August 2018 1 juvenile FAR EASTERN CURLEW, 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET and 1 PEREGRINE, Ma Chang (CM)

14 July 2018 1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, YuDuShan (Splantky via eBird) 30 June 2018 Two GOLDEN EAGLES, at least 4 PACIFIC SWIFTS, 5 EURASIAN CRAG MARTINS and at least 5 BLUE ROCK THRUSHES, Youzhou Valley, Mentougou (TT and the Chevening Scholars/British Embassy). 28 June 2018 2 male and 2 female ASIAN KOELS, at least 5 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS (a record count for Beijing?), 2 male, 2 female plus one 1st summer AMUR FALCON, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 SAKER (unusual summer record), 3 HIMALAYAN CUCKOOS and 3 INDIAN CUCKOOS, Shisanling (CM). 24 June 2018 4 SWINHOE’S (BROWN-RUMPED) MINIVETS, Gubeikou (XiaoPT, Zhao Min and Splantky via eBird) 23 June 2018 1 SWINHOE’S (BROWN-RUMPED) MINIVET, Gubeikou (Jenny Fang via eBird). 20 June 2018 1 BAER’S POCHARD, Yeyahu (Beijing Feiyu).  Plus a GREY-HEADED LAPWING and a EURASIAN CURLEW. An unseasonal male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, Olympic Forest Park (Bia Bia via eBird). 17 June 2018 INNER MONGOLIA: at least 4 SWINHOE’S RAILS calling at a single site near Wuerqihan (TT, ML, SA and DW).  Photo by Steven An.

12 June 2018 Belated news of a CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO in the Botanical Gardens on 2 June (Li Tian via XiaoPT) 10 June 2018 DOLLARBIRD, Botanical Gardens (JD-C).  Plus ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL. ***1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER*** (third consecutive summer at this site), Baihuashan (J-EN).  Plus KOKLASS PHEASANT, 14 LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 5 HIMALAYAN CUCKOOS, 3 LONG-TAILED MINIVETS, 9 CHINESE SONG THRUSHES, 1 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART, 2 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHERS, 31 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBINS, 96 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLERS, 7 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLERS, 43 CHINESE LEAF WARBLERS, 27 HUME’S LEAF WARBLERS, 31 YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLERS, 6 ASIAN STUBTAILS, 11 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 9 GODLEWSKI’S BUNTINGS. 8 June 2018 1 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN singing in the Olympic Forest Park in the evening.  Plus RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE (TT). 7 June 2018 1 SLATY-BREASTED RAIL, Olympic Forest Park (Lou Fangzhou).  Possibly only the third Beijing record. 3 June 2018 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, Yeyahu (TT) 2 June 2018 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 2 SAKER, 1 HOBBY, 14 RED-BILLED CHOUGH, 4 PACIFIC SWIFTS, at least 7 LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 6 HIMALAYAN CUCKOOS, 4 GREY NIGHTJARS, 2 CHINESE TAWNY OWLS, 5 LONG-TAILED MINIVETS, 4 GREY-SIDED THRUSHES, 7 CHINESE THRUSHES, 12 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBINS, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 1 CHINESE BUSH WARBLER, 5 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTARTS, 2 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHERS,  4 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHERS, 8 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 6 RUSSET SPARROWS, Lingshan (TT) 31 May 2018 A singing CHINESE BUSH WARBLER on the Shunyi Patch this morning (TT).  Singing constantly from 0430-0500 but only intermittently after that. 27 May 2018 2 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWLS, Botanical Gardens (Niao Pan via eBird) 25 May 2018 1 (singing) PALE-LEGGED LEAF WARBLER, Xinglong Park (J-EN). 1 PIED HARRIER, Yeyahu.  Plus AMUR FALCON (Austin Gaertner). 23 May 2018 3 BAIKAL BUSH WARBLERS, Peking University (Chen Xi’er) 22 May 2018 1 SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHER, Peking University.  Possibly the first record for lowland Beijing.  Plus 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 1 RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, 2 DAURIAN STARLINGS and 2 BAIKAL BUSH WARBLERS (Chen Xi’er et al) 20 May 2018 5 SWINHOE’S MINIVETS, Gubeikou (XiaoPT and Zhen Niu via eBird).  The 5th record of this species for Beijing. 1 ASIAN KOEL, 6 (4 male and 2 female) LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 2 LESSER CUCKOOS, 3 HIMALAYAN CUCKOOS, 6+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLERS, 5+ ARCTIC WARBLERS, 12+ EASTERN CROWNED WARBLERS, 6+ CLAUDIA’S WARBLERS, 1 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER, 9+ YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHERS, 2 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHERS, 2 GREY-SIDED THRUSHES, 1 CHINESE THRUSH and 1 WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, Miaofengshan (CM) 19 May 2018 1 RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, Tsinghua University (BW).  Scarce migrant in Beijing. 18 May 2018 1 DOLLARBIRD, 3 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 4 COMMON CUCKOOS, 5 CHINESE NUTHATCHES and 12+ TWO-BARRED WARBLERS, Summer Palace (Max Breckenridge) 3 COMMON SHELDUCK, 2 FALCATED DUCK and 25 WHITE-WINGED TERNS, Shahe Reservoir (Max Breckenridge) 1 singing ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL on the Shunyi Patch (TT)

17 May 2018 1 JAPANESE WAXWING and 1 THICK-BILLED WARBLER, Peking University (Max Breckenridge) 16 May 2018 2 EURASIAN SKYLARKS, EURASIAN WREN, 3 ZAPPEY’S FLYCATCHERS, 5 ‘GANSU’ RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS, 4 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHERS and 5 GREY-SIDED THRUSHES, Lingshan (Max Breckenridge) At least 2 ASHY MINIVETS, Tsinghua University (WeChat).  Plus at least 5 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, a BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE and a female YELLOW-THROATED BUNTING (BW) 1 GREY NIGHTJAR, Shunyi Patch (TT)

15 May 2018 1 BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH, Temple of Heaven Park (Li Zhaonan). 2 DOLLARBIRDS, Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace).  Presumably the returning breeding pair from 2017. 1 DOLLARBIRD, Peking University (XiaoPT) 13 May 2018 1 male MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER, Tsinghua University (BW).  The 11th record for the capital. 9 May 2018 1 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN and 1 CHESTNUT BUNTING, Tsinghua University campus (Richard Davis) 6 May 2018 190+ ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 40+ EASTERN BUZZARDS, 15 GREY-FACED BUZZARDS, 5+ LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 5 DAURIAN STARLINGS, 5+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLERS, 5 YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLERS, 10+ CHINESE LEAF WARBLERS, 3+EASTERN CROWNED WARBLERS, 4+ PALLAS’S LEAF WARBLERS, 1 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 5 RUSSET SPARROWS, 2 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 2 COMMON ROSEFINCHES, Miaofengshan (CM) 5 May 2018 1 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, 1 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 1 BULL-HEADED SHRIKE and 1 PLAIN-TAILED WARBLER, Lingshan (Xiao PT et al via eBird). 1 May 2018 A LESSER FRIGATEBIRD photographed at Yeyahu by PAN Wenxin.  The fifth record of this pelagic species in the capital.

1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 singing EASTERN  CROWNED WARBLER, Shunyi Patch (TT) 30 April 2018 14 COMMON SWIFTS, 1 COMMON KINGFISHER, 1 EURASIAN WRYNECK, 1 GREY-HEADED WOODPECKER, 2 EURASIAN CRAG MARTINS, 20 BARN SWALLOWS, 3 RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS, 2 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 2 RED-BILLED STARLINGS, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Stefan Andrew) 29 April 2018 1 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 13+ BLUETHROATS, 45+ STEJNEGER’S STONECHATS, 1 MONGOLIAN LARK, 1 JAPANESE GROSBEAK, 1 (singing) ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 15+ RED-THROATED PIPITS, 45+ YELLOW WAGTAILS and 11+ CITRINE WAGTAILS Shisanling (CM) 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, 1 PIED HARRIER (flying over from west to east), 1 COMMON MOORHEN, 20 COMMON SWIFTS, 1 COMMON KINGFISHER, 1 GREY-HEADED WOODPECKER, 2 RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS, 4 PALLAS’S WARBLERS, 2 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS, 2 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 4 STONECHATS, 5 RED-BILLED STARLINGS, 1 EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL, 1 BLACK-FACED BUNTING, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Stefan Andrew) 28 April 2018 Belated news of a breeding-plumaged SLAVONIAN GREBE at Nanhaizi (possibly present for two weeks).  A rare spring record of this scarce grebe. 22 April 2018 1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH and 1 NORTHERN HOUSE MARTIN, Shisanling (CM).  Plus 1 RED-NECKED STINT, 1 ORIENTAL WHITE STORK, 5 SAND MARTINS, 1 CRAG MARTIN, 11 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 1800+ LITTLE BUNTINGS, 1 male JAPANESE REED BUNTING and 20+ RUSSET SPARROWS.

1 LITTLE STINT, Bulaotun (XiaoPT and Chen Wei). 18 April 2018 1 singing HUME’S WARBLER, Tsinghua University.  Plus the MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER remains on site. 17 April 2018 1 singing CHESTNUT-CROWNED WARBLER, Ma Chang (PH).  The second record for Beijing.  Plus 41 CITRINE WAGTAILS.  Also 11 BROWN-CHEEKED RAILS and 1 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, Yeyahu (PH). 16 April 2018 1 WHITE-NAPED CRANE, 1 suspected HOODED x COMMON CRANE and 3 BROWN-CHEEKED RAILS at Yeyahu (PH).  Also 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 22 CITRINE WAGTAILS, 1 MEADOW PIPIT at Ma Chang (PH) 15 April 2018 3 RELICT GULLS, 2 SWAN GEESE, 1 TAIGA BEAN GOOSE, 4 GARGANEY, 1 (male) LESSER KESTREL, 1 (male) JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, Yeyahu (TT et al) 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, Yeyahu (XiaoPT et al) 12 April 2018 1 MEADOW PIPIT at Ma Chang.  Plus 34 ORIENTAL PLOVERS, 4 ‘alba’ WHITE WAGTAILS and 4 SWAN GEESE at Yeyahu, one of which wore a red neck collar “S00” (PH, BW, TT) 11 April 2018 3-4 LONG-TAILED MINIVETS, Agricultural Exhibiton Centre Park (DC) 10 April 2018 223 ORIENTAL PLOVERS, Ma Chang (PH).  Plus a MEADOW PIPIT (8th record for Beijing), 2 RELICT GULLS and 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER. 8 April 2018 The ISABELLINE WHEATEAR still at Shisanling (CM, ZQ, XiaoPT)

Also 16 Waxwing sp, Tsinghua University (Richard Davis) 7 April 2018 *** 1 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR***, Shisanling (CM).  The third record for Beijing. Also, 3 PALLAS’S GULLS (2 ad), 28 COMMON GULLS, 6 SIBERIAN GULLS, 4 RELICT GULLS (ad), 4 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLES,  37 EASTERN BUZZARDS, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, 110+ BLACK-EARED KITES, 2 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 30 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWKS and 2 (male) PIED WHEATEARS (CM)

The MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER still present at Tsinghua University (Zhao Xiangyu) 2 April 2018 1 EURASIAN WOODCOCK, Yeyahu (Li Peimeng via eBird) 1 April 2018 1 WHITE WAGTAIL ssp personata, Shisanling (CM).  The 6th Beijing record of this distinctive subspecies.

30 March 2018 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, Tsinghua University (Zhao Xiangyu).  An unusual, and early, record for lowland Beijing. 25 March 2018 1 ad PALLAS’S GULL, Shahe Reservoir (XiaoPT) 22 March 2018 TIANJIN: 3 GREATER FLAMINGOS and 1 DALMATIAN PELICAN, Beidagang (Jia Yife, Mo Xunqiang and Nyamayar Batbayar) 18 March 2018 2 TUNDRA SWANS, 1 WHOOPER SWAN, 30+ LITTLE GREBE, 6 GREAT EGRETS, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 6 HOOPOES, 1 DAURIAN REDSTART, 50+ BUFF-BELLIED PIPITS, GREY WAGTAILS, 32 WHITE WAGTAIL (30 x ssp leucopsis and 2 x ssp ocularis),  10 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS (Xavier Rufray) 15 March 2018 42 WHOOPER SWANS, 10 BEWICK’S SWANS, 7 SWAN GEESE, 2 BAER’S POCHARDS, 300+ COMMON and 2 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, **2 ORIENTAL STORKS**, 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 SAKER, 1 MERLIN, 20+ BEARDED REEDLINGS, 65 COMMON STARLINGS and 2 RUSTIC BUNTINGSYeyahu (TT, BW) 11 March 2018 6 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 PALLAS’S GULL, 120 MONGOLIAN GULLS, 6 SIBERIAN GULLS, 7 ‘EASTERN’ ROOKS, 166+ PINE BUNTINGS and 4 RUSTIC BUNTINGS, Shisanling (CM). 1 BARN SWALLOW, 6 MANDARIN, 2 LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, 1 DAURIAN JACKDAW, 12 HOOPOES, 3 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 4 WHITE WAGTAILS (all ssp leucopsis), 4 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS and 80+ RUSTIC BUNTINGS, Wenyu River (TT, BW) 9 March 2018 JILIN: 8 STELLER’S SEA EAGLES (7 adults), Hunchun (Jocko Hammar). 4 March 2018 2 BAER’S POCHARDS, DaShiHe (Chen Xi’er and Liang Shujie).  A good early Spring record.

3 NORTHERN SHOVELER, 20 GADWALL, 4 FALCATED DUCK, 3 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 3 EURASIAN TEAL, 3 COMMON POCHARD, 1 TUFTED DUCK, 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 1 SMEW, 3 GREAT CRESTED GREBE, 1 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK, 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 7 COMMON MOORHEN, 5 EURASIAN COOT, 1 EURASIAN HOOPOE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 30 DAURIAN JACKDAW, 1 COAL TIT, 1 JAPANESE TIT, 1 DAURIAN REDSTART and 7 LITTLE BUNTING, DaShiHe (Stefan Andrew) 3 March 2018 The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Stefan Andrew via eBird) 26 February 2018 1 PACIFIC SWIFT, Shuangjing (Andrew Morrissey).  An exceptionally early migrant. 22 February 2018 4 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 SOLITARY SNIPE, 11 BLACK STORKS, 4 CRESTED LARKS and 150 PINE BUNTINGS, DaShiHe (Vincent Wang et al) 19 February 2018 1 PEREGRINE FALCON, 2 RED-BILLED BLUE MAGPIES, 19 YELLOW-BELLIED TITS, 3 GOLDCRESTS, 1 PALLAS’S WARBLER, 26 VINOUS-THROATED PARROTBILLS, 1 DAURIAN REDSTART, 2 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 1 WATER PIPIT, 10 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 40 JAPANESE WAXWINGS and 2 CHINESE GROSBEAKS, Olympic Forest Park (Stefan Andrew) 17 February 2018 44+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 34+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 20+ SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 8 ALPINE ACCENTORS, 3 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS (2 males and one female), 20+ COMMON REDPOLLS, Miaofengshan (CM, ZQ)

The MEADOW PIPIT still at DaShiHe.  Also 7 REED PARROTBILLS, 9 BLACK STORKS and 2 CRESTED LARKS (TT) 15 February 2018 A male CHAFFINCH in the Botanical Gardens, in the Crabapple Garden area (Stefan Andrew). 13-14 February 2018 A single CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 3 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 3 SPOTTED NUTCRACKERS, 4 BEIJING BABBLERS, 5 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS (4m, 1f), 120+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 4+ JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 4 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (3 ssp lepidus and 1 ssp ussuriensis) and 66 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES.  Also an (AMUR) LEOPARD CAT crossed the road in front of the car at c1030pm during a night drive (TT).

13 February 2018 1 HOODED CRANE, 5 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, 5 HEN HARRIERS, 1 MERLIN, 45+ PALLAS’S BUNTINGS and 140+ PINE BUNTINGS, Ma Chang (CM, ZQ)

12 February 2018 ***1 MEADOW PIPIT***, Dashihe (Huang Hanchen and Luo Qingqing).  The 7th record for Beijing and the second winter record.

4 February 2018 5 JAPANESE WAXWINGS and 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, Beihai Park (Liu Chunhong) 3 February 2018 The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (eBird) 27 January 2018 1 CHAFFINCH, Shisanling (CM).  Plus a single (juv) WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 190+ COMMON MERGANSER, 2 PEREGRINE, 45+ LITTLE BUNTINGS, 12+ YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS, 7+ RUSTIC BUNTINGS, 2 RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS and 8+ SIBERIAN ACCENTORS. 1 CHINESE THRUSH, Botanical Gardens (唐博晖, Tang Bohui via WeChat).  A rare winter record. 25 January 2018 4 BROWN-EARED BULBULS, Beihai Park (北京飞羽, Beijing Feiyu) 24 January 2018 2 BEARDED REEDLINGS, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (DC).  The JAPANESE THRUSH and the flock of 10+ BOHEMIAN and JAPANESE WAXWINGS remain. 23 January 2018 1 CHAFFINCH, Botanical Gardens (北京飞羽, Beijing Feiyu).  Plus a single YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING. Belated news of (AMUR) LEOPARD CAT kittens seen in Beijing (precise location withheld) in summer 2017.  Photos by 李兆楠 (Li Zhaonan).

21 January 2018 At least 1 ARCTIC REDPOLL amongst a flock of at least 70 COMMON REDPOLLS, Miaofengshan (CM).  Another great find by Colm Moore.  The fourth record of ARCTIC REDPOLL for Beijing (one old record plus records from 13-25 January 2014 at least at Miyun Reservoir and 6 November 2014 at Lingshan).  Also 8 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 18 ALPINE ACCENTORS, 49+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES and 40+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES.  Colm describes the bird: “The features that were outstanding were a large square wholly unmarked white rump; even lateral tail coverts looked white. Greyish-black and white mantle. Greatly reduced streaking on underparts, faintly pinkish on breast and no marks on undertail-coverts. Red forehead really circumscribed and separated from bill by a marked white supercilium. Not one of the Common Redpolls had anything like this. Crown only very lightly streaked greyish.”

1 middendorffii (EASTERN) TAIGA BEAN GOOSE, Wenyu River (TT).  Plus a single SWAN GOOSE, 247 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 2 drake FALCATED DUCK, 1 fem WIGEON, 1 SMEW, 138 COMMON MERGANSER, 82 LITTLE GREBE, 4 GREAT EGRET, 1 EASTERN BUZZARD, 1 COOT, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 4 GREEN SANDPIPER, an unseasonal COMMON SANDPIPER, 3 HOOPOE, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 3 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 1 DAURIAN REDSTART, 2 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 4 WATER PIPIT and 2 PALLAS’S BUNTING. 20 January 2018 1 COLLARED CROW still at DaShiHe area plus 5 CRESTED LARKS and 10 RUSTIC BUNTINGS (XiaoPT and Luo Qingqing via eBird) 19 January 2018 The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park.  Plus at least 10 JAPANESE WAXWINGS and 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING. 1 BROWN-EARED BULBUL still Beihai Park (WeChat) 17 January 2018 The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Beijing Feiyue) 13 January 2018 A BROWN ACCENTOR at Yanhecheng, Mentougou (Li Zhaonan via WeChat).

The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Park (Huang Hanchen) 2 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, Yeyahu (Chen Yanxin) 12-13 January 2018 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 5 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 1 PEREGRINE, 4 HILL PIGEONS, 46 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 5 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 8 BEIJING BABBLERS, 4 EURASIAN NUTHATCHES, 1 NUTCRACKER, 23 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 13 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, 4 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 5 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS (3m, 2f), 1 COMMON REDPOLL, 11 SISKINS, 5 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (all ssp lepidus – 1 ad male, 1 first-winter male and 3 females), 37 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 1 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, 14 MEADOW BUNTINGS and 8 GODLEWSKI’S BUNTINGS, Lingshan (TT) Download and listen to this sound recording of just after dawn at Lingshan including Bohemian Waxwings, Red-throated and Naumann’s Thrushes and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. 10 January 2018 1 BROWN-EARED BULBUL still in Beihai Park (北京飞羽) 7 January 2018 1 CHAFFINCH (male) in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Stefan Andrew).  Also 1 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 1 RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL, 7 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 6 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 1 WHITE WAGTAIL, 1 GREY-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER, 1 GREY-HEADED WOODPECKER and 1 (unseasonal) YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER. 75+ WAXWINGS (most JAPANESE WAXWINGS) , Tsinghua University campus (BW) 6 January 2018 2 WALLCREEPERS and a single WHITE-CAPPED WATER REDSTART, Shidu (Guan Xueyan via eBird) 6-7 YELLOW-BROWED BUNTINGS, Summer Palace (via Huang Hanchen) 3 January 2018 1 BLACK-THROATED TIT, Tsinghua University campus (WeChat).  Uncertain origin.  Although this species is a candidate future colonist, records from mid-winter are most likely to be escapes or deliberate releases. 2 January 2018 JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (eBird) 5 COMMON MOORHENS, 1 GREY-HEADED WOODPECKER, 1 WATER PIPIT, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 20 YELLOW-BELLIED TITS, 1 RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL, 2 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 20 BRAMBLINGS, 15 CHINESE GROSBEAKS, Olympic Forest Park (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 1 January 2018 Wishing a Happy New Year to everyone who follows the latest sightings page and a big big thank you to all who have contributed sightings! The JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (eBird) 1 COLLARED CROW and 1 CHINESE THRUSH, Dajian Road area (west Beijing) (HH, LQ).  Both unseasonal records. 21+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 1 BEIJING BABBLER, 2 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS, 1 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR, 2 RED-BILLED CHOUGH, a CINEREOUS VULTURE and 20 HILL PIGEONS, Lingshan (Oscar Campbell) 6 BEIJING BABBLERS, 1 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTART, 5 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS,  1 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH, 8 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 4 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 15 GODLEWSKI’S BUNTINGS and 5 MEADOW BUNTINGS (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 31 December 2017 19 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (DC) 1 JAPANESE THRUSH, 10 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 2 CHINESE GROSBEAKS and 45 MANDARIN, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (Oscar Campbell) 10 REED PARROTBILLS, 6 BEARDED PARROTBILLS and 15 VINOUS-THROATED PARROTBILLS, Wan Ping Lake (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 5 BLACK STORKS, 2 BROWN DIPPERS, 1 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK, 1 EASTERN BUZZARD, 1 COMMON KINGFISHER, 25 HILL PIGEONS, 1 WATER PIPIT and 4 PLUMBEOUS WATER REDSTARTS, Shidu (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 30 December 2017 26 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD and 1 CINEREOUS VULTURE, along the G109 road to Lingshan (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 1 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR and 5 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 29 December 2017 1 female BAIKAL TEAL with a male COMMON TEAL, Peking University campus (天蓝蓝) 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 5 CHINESE NUTHATCHES, 4 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 2 RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS, 3 PALLAS’S WARBLERS, Botanical Gardens (Oscar Campbell) 25 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 1 RED-THROATED THRUSH, 1 GOLDENEYE, 50 COMMON MERGANSERS, 1 COMMON KINGFISHER, Summer Palace (Oscar Campbell) 6 CHINESE NUTHATCHES, 10+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES and 2 RED-BILLED STARLINGS, Botanical Gardens (Xueping and Stephan Popp) 28 December 2017 The male JAPANESE THRUSH still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park.  Also, at least 9 JAPANESE WAXWINGS and 2 HOOPOES still present (DC).  This is the third record of JAPANESE THRUSH in Beijing, with the most recent a long-stayer in the grounds of Peking University from mid-October 2013 to January 2014 at least.

An unusual winter record of a WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN, Peking University campus (BW).  Apparently present since November (per 天蓝蓝, Tiān lán lán). 26 December 2017 A mixed flock of JAPANESE and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Tsinghua University campus (BW) 25 December 2017 2 HOOPOE, Peking University campus (Guillaume Blanchet).  A nice city centre sighting of a surprisingly frequent winter bird in Beijing. 24 December 2017 1 JAPANESE THRUSH, Agricultural Exhibition Centre gardens (per eBird) 22 December 2017 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 8 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 1 CHINESE NUTHATCH, 8 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 50+ BRAMBLING, 22 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES and 11 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES (CM)

20 December 2017 10 Waxwing sp (at least 2 identified as Japanese), Tsinghua University campus between the SE and S gates (Richard Davis) 1 EAGLE OWL, Peking University campus (Liu Chunhong) 12 December 2017 This drake BAIKAL TEAL has been gracing Longtan Lake in Beijing this winter and, today, the light was perfect.  These photos by Wu Qi.

10 December 2017 ***MEGA***: A FIELDFARE photographed by Zhang Bing at Lingshan today.  The first record of this species in Beijing.

9 December 2017 11 JAPANESE WAXWINGS at Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park. Plus 20 MANDARIN (David Consineo via WeChat). 3 December 2017 1 juv GOLDEN EAGLE (1st site record), 2 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, 1 SAKER, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 MERLIN, 1600+ DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 24+ RUSTIC BUNTINGS, 5 WATER PIPITS, Shahe (CM)

29 November 2017 MEGA: late news of a male CHESTNUT THRUSH in the Olympic Forest Park on 19 November.  The first record of this species in Beijing.  Photo at Birdnet.cn 26 November 2017 1 SOLITARY SNIPE, Dajian Road area (XiaoPT) 6 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (David Consineo via WeChat) c12 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Botanical Gardens. At least 3 BROWN-EARED BULBULS still at Beihai Park (WeChat)

These beautiful photos of BROWN-EARED BULBUL by Zhang XiaoLing. 25 November 2017 2 CHUKAR, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL, 1 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTART (fem/1w), 20+ SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 14 + ALPINE ACCENTORS, 6 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 14 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 25+ WILLOW TITS, 1 MARSH TIT, 1+ GOLDCREST, Miaofengshan (CM) 24 November 2017 4 BROWN-EARED BULBULS, Beihai Park (per WeChat). 23 November 2017 8 REED PARROTBILLS, ShiDi Road (Zhang Shen via eBird).  The long-staying birds still present. 22 November 2017 2 BROWN-EARED BULBULS, Olympic Forest Park (per WeChat).  There are still fewer than 10 records of this scarce winter visitor in the capital and the OFP birds are the first since a modest arrival of at least 6 birds in the winter of 2014/2015. 21 November 2017 30 LITTLE GREBES, 4 GOLDENEYE, 4 SMEW (redheads), 1 CHINESE BLACKBIRD, 50+ ORIENTAL GREENFINCHES, Summer Palace (PhA) 19 November 2017 4 MUTE SWANS (possibly a pair with two young), Yeyahu (per Zhang Weimin). 1 NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, Lingshan (HH) 18 November 2017 10 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 6 RED-BILLED CHOUGH, 14 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 10 GULDENSTADT’S (WHITE-WINGED) REDSTARTS, 40 RED-THROATED, 6 DUSKY and 3 NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 25+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 1 COAL TIT, 3 lepidus LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, 2 REDPOLL sp and 3 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, Lingshan (TT, PhA) 11 November 2017 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 HEN HARRIER, 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 35+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES (of which 25+ DUSKY-types), 3 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH (1st winter), 12+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 6 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 1 ASIAN ROSY FINCH (only 3rd site record), 2 LITTLE BUNTINGS and 1 PINE BUNTING, Miaofengshan (CM) 10 November 2017 An EAGLE OWL over Peking University this morning.  Photograph by Yang Hua.

4-5 November 2017 1 ‘sibiricus‘ NORTHERN GREY SHRIKE, 1 ASIAN ROSY FINCH, at least 4 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS, at least 12 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 286+ thrushes of which the vast majority RED-THROATED, at least 12 NAUMANN’S and 8 DUSKY-types, 16 fly-by waxwing sp, 8 JAPANESE WAXWINGS and 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 30+ COMMON REDPOLLS, at least 3 ‘lepidus‘ LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, 6 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 30+ PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (TT, ML) 29 October 2017 2 SAKER FALCONS, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 3 GOLDEN EAGLES, 4 ALPINE ACCENTORS, 5 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 5 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 15+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 25+ DUSKY THRUSHES, 26 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 20+ WILLOW TITS, 40+ SILVER-THROATED TITS and 1 fem/imm WHITE-WINGED (GULDENSTADT’S) REDSTART, Miaofengshan (CM). 2 CRESTED LARKS, Dashi He (Huang Hanchen) 24 October 2017 13 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 2 WATER PIPITS, 2 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS and 23 WHITE WAGTAILS (including 9 ssp lugens), Tonguihe (between Baliqiao, Tongzhou and Shuangqiao, Chaoyang) (PH) 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, Shunyi Patch (TT) 22 October 2017 2 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (TT et al).  Plus 3 GREYLAG GEESE, 1 middendorffi BEAN GOOSE, 9 SMEW, 18 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 6 TUFTED DUCK, 1 FALCATED DUCK, 2 WIGEON, 4 BLACK-NECKED GREBES, 1 GREAT BITTERN, 16 SPOTTED REDSHANK, 1 HEN HARRIER, 1 AMUR FALCON, 1 PEREGRINE and 8+ BEARDED REEDLINGS. 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, Agricultural Exhibition Centre (DC) 21 October 2017 7 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 1 COMMON REDPOLL, 1 HAWFINCH, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 WATER PIPIT, 1 YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING and 1 PINE BUNTING, Shahe (CM). 20 October 2017 Flappy McFlapperson, the Beijing Cuckoo, is over the Arabian Sea on her way to Africa!  See her page for more details of her incredible journey. 19 October 2017 2 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (Zhang Yong).  Photo below of one of the two by kind permission.

16 October 2017 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, Yeyahu (per nature reserve staff) 14 October 2017 1 first-winter male BAER’S POCHARD, Shahe (CM).  Also 6 BAIKAL TEAL, 26 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 11 BEARDED REEDLINGS, 50+ CHINESE PENDULINE TITS, 2 COMMON ROSEFINCHES and 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT. 8 October 2017 2 GREAT BITTERNS, 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 250+ LITTLE BUNTINGS, 50+ BLACK-FACED BUNTINGS, 1 TRISTRAM’S BUNTING, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING and 1 BLUE ROCK THRUSH (rare in lowland Beijing on passage), Shahe (CM) 7 October 2017 ***1 MONGOLIAN FINCH*** photographed at Baiwangshan, the first modern day record for Beijing (Ding Deyong). 1 MEADOW PIPIT, Ma Chang (TT, DF, BE and RB).  The first autumn record in Beijing.  Also 37 BLACK KITES, 3 COMMON BUZZARDS, 189 AMUR FALCONS, 15 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS, 4 COMMON POCHARDS, 16 FERRUGINOUS DUCKS, 4 TUFTED DUCKS, 18 FALCATED DUCKS, 12 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVERS, 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 2 MONGOLIAN GULLS, 1 COMMON GULL, 2 CASPIAN TERNS, at least 10 CHINESE PENDULINE TITS and 8 BEARDED TITS. 1 October 2017 1 female BULL-HEADED SHRIKE, 2 CRESTED KINGFISHERS, 2 MONGOLIAN GULLS, 7 GREEN SANDPIPERS, 1 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 1 RED-THROATED PIPIT, 15 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 2 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 3 DUSKY WARBLERS, 5 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 3 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLERS, 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH, 10 LITTLE BUNTINGS and 20+ CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTINGS, Wenyu River (Xavier Rufray) 24 September 2017 COTTON PYGMY GOOSE still at Yuanmingyuan (ML). 1 GREY PLOVER, 1 OSPREY, 3 BAIKAL TEAL, 3 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 13 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 2 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 20+ YELLOW-BELLIED TITS, 9+ RED-THROATED PIPITS, 7+ CHINESE PENDULINE TITS, 20+ WHITE-EYE sp, 1 GREY NIGHTJAR, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER and 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, Shahe (CM) 1 YELLOWHAMMER, Ma Chang (PH).  The 12th record for Beijing and the earliest by some margin. 23 September 2017 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 1 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLER, 2 WHITE’S THRUSHES and 7 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS, Olympic Forest Park (Jason Chapman and Phil Gould) 22 September 2017 COTTON PYGMY GOOSE still at Yuanmingyuan (per Tom Stidham). 21 September 2017 COTTON PYGMY GOOSE still present at Yuanmingyuan (per WeChat). 20 September 2017 1 male COTTON PYGMY GOOSE, Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace), per Zhang Weimin via WeChat.  A rare visitor and the first autumn record. 17 September 2017 168 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 2 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHERS, 200 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 20 RED-THROATED PIPITS, 1 PECHORA PIPIT and 400 LITTLE BUNTINGS, Shahe (CM) 1 EURASIAN BITTERN, 1,000+ LITTLE BUNTINGS, 100s of OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 3 BLYTH’S PIPITS and 1 RICHARD’S PIPIT, 1 BRAMBLING, 5 LONG-TAILED MINIVETS, 11 NUTCRACKERS and a CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH, Lingshan (PH) 520 AMUR FALCONS over the maize fields near Ma Chang, Yanqing (PH) 11 September 2017 1 EYEBROWED THRUSH, 66 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 23 AMUR FALCONS, 2 HOBBY, 1 juv. PIED HARRIER, 1 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 2 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWKS, 1 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 2 BLYTH’S PIPITS, 10+ RICHARD’S PIPITS, 1 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, 10+ COMMON ROSEFINCHES and 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, Shisanling (CM) 9 September 2017 1 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 3 GREYLAG GEESE, 2 MANDARIN, 26 FALCATED DUCK, 1 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 4 GARGANEY, 1 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 1 EURASIAN SPOONBILL, 1 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 3 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 4 PIED HARRIERS, 10 PIED AVOCET, 1 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, 1 TEREK SANDPIPER, 5 TEMMINCK’S STINTS, 3 LONG-TOED STINTS, 2 CHINESE GREY SHRIKES, 3 CITRINE WAGTAILS, 4 RED-THROATED PIPITS and 2 COMMON ROSEFINCHES, Ma Chang/Yeyahu (TT, ML, BW) 5 September 2017 3 juv EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 1 juv PEREGRINE, 5 HOBBY, 1 juv WHISKERED TERN, 1 WRYNECK, 1 LONG-TAILED and 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 5 BLACK DRONGOS, 1 PALLAS’S LEAF, 3 YELLOW-BROWED and 2 ARCTIC WARBLERS, 3 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 12 RICHARD’S PIPITS, 1 OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT and 2 RED-THROATED PIPITS, Yeyahu (TT, BR & LR) 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, Agricultural Exhibition Centre Gardens (DC) 30 August 2017 1 STRIATED HERON, 1 SHRENCK’S BITTERN, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 1 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 2 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLERS, 3 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS and 5 COMMON STONECHATS (ssp stejnegeri) (SB) 29 August 2017 7 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 1 THICK-BILLED WARBLER, 1 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLER, 1 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, 3 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 1 SWINHOE’S ROBIN, 2 BLYTH’S PIPITS and 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH, Shunyi Patch (TT) 1 STRIATED HERON (new site record), 1 SCHRENCK’S BITTERN, 17 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 1 AMUR FALCON, 5 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 SWINHOE’S ROBIN, 6 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBINS, 9 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 16 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, Wenyu He (SB) 1 PIN-TAILED SNIPE picked up dead (predated) at Tsinghua University (BW)

28 August 2017 2 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS, Shunyi Patch (TT, BW).  Plus 2 juv PIED HARRIERS, 7 BROWN SHRIKES, 2 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLERS, 5 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, 1 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, 1 FOREST WAGTAIL, 3 BLYTH’S PIPITS, 2 ASIAN BROWN and 1 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER.

26 August 2017 1 juvenile LITTLE GULL, Shisanling (CM).  Plus 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 1 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, 1 RED-NECKED STINT, 9 AMUR FALCON, 2 HOBBY, 6 ARCTIC WARBLERS, 2 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLERS, 1 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 6 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 12 CITRINE WAGTAILS, 11 BLYTH’S PIPITS and 30+ RICHARD’S PIPITS.

Intermediate Egret (left) with Great Egret, Shisanling (Colm Moore).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Shisanling (Colm Moore) 2 DAVID’S BUSH WARBLERS on the Shunyi Patch this evening (the 131st species recorded since May 2015). 21 August 2017  HEBEI: 7 BAER’S POCHARDS (5m, 2f) at Hengshui Hu (TT, TB).  Also 1 BLACK STORK, 1 CATTLE EGRET, 1 juv PIED HARRIER, 1 juv EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 1 fem AMUR FALCON, 5 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 12 REED PARROTBILLS and 220 SAND MARTINS. 11 August 2017 41+ RICHARD’S PIPITS, 13+ BROWN SHRIKES, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 1 ASIAN KOEL, 1 THICK-BILLED WARBLER, 4 AMUR FALCONS, 3 LONG-TOED STINTS, 2 WOOD SANDPIPERS, 1 INTERMDIATE EGRET and 3 STRIATED HERONS, Shisanling (CM) 5 August 2017 HEBEI: The LESSER CRESTED TERN again at Jingtanggang at 0900 (per WeChat) 29 July 2017 HEBEI: The LESSER CRESTED TERN at Jingtanggang, Hebei at 1525 for 1 minute only (Shen Yan).  Photos below by Shen Yan.

28 July 2017 HEBEI: the first Provincial, and only China’s 3rd, record of LESSER CRESTED TERN at Jingtanggang (near Happy Island).  Found and photographed by by Que Pinjia and Yuqi Wang on 26 July c1715 and still present on 28th when came into bathe and roost with Common Terns around 1208h (PH). Correction: a previous record of Lesser Crested Tern in Hebei has come to light.  One was photographed on 8 August 2013 at Shanhaiguan, Qinhuangdao by a local photographer nicknamed “Qinghuangniao”.  Thanks to Huang Hanchen and Paul Holt for information about previous records.  This bird is therefore Hebei’s 2nd and China’s 4th record of this species.

25 July 2017 1 male BAER’S POCHARD, Wanping Hu (PH, HH).  Plus 2 REED PARROTBILLS, 1 EURASIAN and 8+ YELLOW BITTERNS. 5 July 2017 3 CHINESE NUTHATCH, 1 LESSER CUCKOO, 1 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 1 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, 10+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 20+ CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 5+ CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 6 YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 1 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 2 ASIAN STUBTAIL, 14+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, Miaofengshan (CM, ZQ)

4 July 2017 INNER MONGOLIA: at least 6 singing ***SWINHOE’S RAILS*** near Hailar (PH). 27 June 2017 A pair of SWINHOE’S MINIVETS, Huairou Reservoir (PH, BW, GD).  The fourth record for Beijing following one at the Summer Palace on 7 June 2015 by Jesper Hornskov, 1 at Gubeikou, Miyun on 1 August 2015 (Qingyu Ge) and 1 at Peking University campus on 29 April 2016 (Chengdu Wei and Chen Xi’er via Huang Hanchen). 26 June 2017 1 SAKER,  1 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 3 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 7 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 25 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 10+ YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 4 CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 10+ YELLOW-BELLIED TIT, 3 WILLOW TIT, 2 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER and 22+ CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, Miaofengshan (CM, ZQ)

11 June 2017 1 BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL, Miyun Reservoir (Zhang Weimin).  Apparently present since 7 May.  The first photo-documented record for Beijing.

7 June 2017 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 2 SCHRENCK’S BITTERNS, 2 CINNAMON BITTERNS, 1 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE, 1 MARSH GRASSBIRD (singing), 4 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS, 4 ASIAN KOELS, 1 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 4 AMUR FALCONS, 1 NORTHERN HOBBY and 1 PEREGRINE, Shisanling (CM) 6-7 June 2017 HEBEI: 2 ASIAN HOUSE MARTINS, 1 ASIAN KOEL, 1 CHINESE SPARROWHAWK, 4 HOBBY, 5 WHITE-BACKED and 4 JAPANESE PYGMY WOODPECKERS, 12 GREY-SIDED THRUSH, 5 CHINESE THRUSH, 1 WHITE-THROATED ROCK THRUSH, 38 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 23 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART, 12 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 5 GREEN-BACKED and 2 ZAPPEY’S FLYCATCHER, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER plus good numbers of the breeding phylloscopus warblers including CHINESE LEAF, CLAUDIA’S, EASTERN CROWNED, HUME’S and YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLERS, Wulingshan (TT, DN, RobinJ, RobertJ) 4 June 2017 1 CHINESE SONG THRUSH, 5 LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 4 HIMALAYAN CUCKOOS,  1 AMUR FALCON, 1 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 15+ CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 15+ YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 7+ MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 1 HUME’S WARBLER, 3 CLAUDIA’S WARBLER, 3 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH and 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, Miaofengshan (CM) 3-4 June 2017 2 LESSER COUCAL, 3 BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH, 1 BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, 1 CHINESE BUSH WARBLER, 2 LARGE-BILLED LEAF WARBLER, 1 GREY-SIDED THRUSH, 2 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, 1 ZAPPEY’S FLYCATCHER, 22 ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN, 2 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTART, Lingshan (J-EN) 3 June 2017 1 ASIAN KOEL, Yeyahu (TT) 30 May 2017 1 DOLLARBIRD, Yeyahu (RJ, JJ, DN, LK, TT et al) 27 May 2017 1+ MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER, 1 BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING, 9+ ASIAN KOEL, 9 RICHARD’S PIPITS and 8 AMUR FALCONS, Shisanling (CM) At least 3 singing male GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at Lingshan (TT, ML, LK).  Plus 12 ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN, 2 SPOTTED NUTCRACKER, 27 RED-BILLED CHOUGH, 2 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, 1 LARGE HAWK CUCKOO, 12 CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, 8 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER, 9 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 6 YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER, 5 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 1 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 2 RUSSET SPARROWS and a single female COMMON ROSEFINCH. 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 31 CRAG MARTINS, 6 PACIFIC SWIFTS, 2 BLUE ROCK THRUSHES, 5 RUSSET SPARROWS, Youzhou Valley (TT, ML, LK) 25 May 2017 1 (female) YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING, Shunyi patch (TT, LK) 24 May 2017 1 RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, Shunyi Patch (Terry Townshend) 22 May 2017  1 singing RADDE’S WARBLER, Shunyi, in heavy rain (TT) 21 May 2017 1 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, 2 BLACK STORKS, 5+ ASIAN KOEL, 3+ LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 1+ BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, 2 AMUR FALCONS, 6 COMMON ROSEFINCHES, 3 FOREST WAGTAILS, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER, 8+ PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS, 1 DAURIAN STARLING, 2 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTINGS and 10+ BROWN SHRIKES, Shisanling (CM) 9 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 7 RED-CRESTED POCHARD (6 males), 1 WIGEON (male), 2 MANDARIN, 8 CATTLE EGRETS, 3 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 6 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 5 AMUR FALCONS, 1 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, 21 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLES, 46 BLACK-WINGED STILTS, 2 ‘Swintail SNIPE, 4 LITTLE TERNS, 10 BEARDED TITS, 1 SCHRENCK’S BITTERN, 7 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLERS, 1 TWO-BARRED WARBLER, 3 ARCTIC WARBLERS, 1 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLER, 3 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 8 RICHARD’S PIPITS and 6 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTINGS, Yeyahu (TT, WL, LK) 18 May 2017 1 singing male SIBERIAN THRUSH, Shunyi patch (TT).  Only the second time I have seen this species in the capital. 17 May 2017 1 RED-BILLED BLUE MAGPIE, 1 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 1 VINOUS-THROATED PARROTBILL, 1 OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT and 1 ORIENTAL GREENFINCH, Olympic Forest Park (Helmut Bähr) 16 May 2017 1 COTTON PYGMY GOOSE, Summer Palace (张瑜 －Zhang Yu －per WeChat). 15 May 2017 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 3 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 AMUR FALCON, 2 OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS, 1 (singing) RADDE’S WARBLER, 1 late BRAMBLING, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING and 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, Shunyi patch (TT).  Plus an AMUR HEDGEHOG.

2 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 2 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 RADDE’S WARBLER, 3+ OLIVE-BACKED PIPITS and, in the evening, 4 singing RADDE’S WARBLERS near Manali Park (Helmut Bähr) 14 May 2017 1 dark morph BOOTED EAGLE at Yeyahu (TT, EcoAction Youth Birding Group). Also Osprey, 82 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 3 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 8 AMUR FALCONS, 1 HOBBY, 1 SAKER, 348 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, 1 CURLEW SANDPIPER, 78 WOOD SANDPIPER, 550 SAND/PALE MARTINS, 2 CHINESE GREY SHRIKES and 1 CITRINE WAGTAIL. 13 May 2017 3 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS, Miyun Reservoir (Zhao Min and Huang Hanchen).  Plus GREY-FACED BUZZARD. 202+ ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 51+ AMUR FALCONS, 1 SHORT-TOED SNAKE EAGLE, 15 LONG-TOED STINTS, 45+ WOOD SANDPIPER, 2 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 1 BULL-HEADED SHRIKE, 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, 1 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 2 BLACK DRONGOS, 1 BROWN SHRIKE, 1 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 1 BLUETHROAT, 40+ CHINESE PENDULINE TITS, 4 EASTERN CATTLE EGRETS and 6+ tytleri BARN SWALLOWS, Shisanling (CM) 2 EURASIAN WOODCOCK and 1 CHESTNUT BUNTING, Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace), Zheng Ping via eBird 1 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, Peking University (Liu Zhiheng via eBird). 1 EYEBROWED THRUSH, Beijing Forestry University (Awing Qian via eBird) 3 TRISTRAM’S BUNTINGS, Peking University (Chen Xier via eBird) 2 YELLOW-BROWED BUNTINGS, Shahe Reservoir (Liu Jianguo via eBird) 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 1 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, 1 BLUETHROAT, 3 BLYTH’S PIPITS, 3 RICHARD’S PIPITS and 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING, Shunyi patch (TT)

12 May 2017 1 GREY NIGHTJAR, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER and 1 CHINESE THRUSH, Tsinghua University (Liu Zhiheng via eBird) 10 May 2017 1 INDIAN CUCKOO (first of the spring), Peking University (per WeChat) 7 May 2017 1 LONG-TOED STINT, Shahe (Liu Zhiheng via eBird), 1 MARSH SANDPIPER, Shahe (Li Boyang via eBird). 10 CHINESE BLACKBIRDS, 9 RED-BILLED STARLINGS, 1 BLACK-COLLARED STARLING (presumed escape) and 1 TRISTRAM’S BUNTING, Tsinghua University (Richard Davis) 2 May 2017 1 EURASIAN WRYNECK, Tsinghua University (Richard Davis vis eBird) 28 April 2017 1 NORTHERN HOUSE MARTIN, Shisanling (CM, ZQ).  Both Asian House Martin and Northern House Martin are difficult to see in Beijing with the former being a scarce breeder in the mountains (e.g. at Lingshan) and the latter a rare passage migrant. Also 42+ RICHARD’S PIPITS, 11+ BLYTH’S PIPITS, 3 ROSY PIPITS, 11 RED-THROATED PIPITS, 380+ GREATER SHORT-TOED LARKS, 2 GREAT BITTERNS, 1 CATTLE EGRET, 2 ‘EASTERN’ ROOKS, 12 BLACK-NECKED GREBES and 80+ LITTLE BUNTINGS, Shisanling (CM, ZQ)

27 April 2017 1 male GREY-BACKED THRUSH, Peking University (Hu Wei per We Chat) 23 April 2017 1 BOOTED EAGLE, Baiwangshan (per WeChat) 1 SHORT-TOED EAGLE, Yeyahu.  Plus 1 male PIED HARRIER, 4 ORIENTAL PRATINCOLES,  1 GREAT BITTERN and 6 PURPLE HERONS (EcoAction Youth Birding Club). 21 April 2017 1 male BAER’S POCHARD, Yeyahu.  Plus 2 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 alba WHITE WAGTAIL among 160 ocularis WHITE WAGTAILS and 67 CITRINE WAGTAILS (TT, WS and TA)

19 April 2017 1 EURASIAN BULLFINCH, Olympic Forest Park (Andrew Thornton via eBird). 1 CHINESE THRUSH, Peking University, also present on 18th.  (Chen Xi’er via WeChat). 15 April 2017 15 OSPREY, 9 GREY-FACED BUZZARD, 3 LESSER KESTREL, 14 GREAT BUSTARDS, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 4 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 55 COMMON SWIFT, 11 CITRINE WAGTAIL, 3 RED-THROATED PIPIT, Shisanling (CM)

9 April 2017 1 BAER’S POCHARD (male), Yeyahu (Xing Chao) 1 GREAT BUSTARD over the Olympic Forest Park (Richard Davis via WeChat) 1 CHINESE LEAF WARBLER (singing), Zhaoling Tomb (CM).  The earliest record of CLW in Beijing by 17 days (previous 26 April 2015 by Steve Bale).  Thanks to Paul Holt for the records. 8 April 2017 1 DALMATIAN PELICAN, 1 GREAT BUSTARD, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 2 OSPREYS, 3 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 1 ORIENTAL WHITE STORK, 3 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 1 GREYLAG GOOSE, 3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 3 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER and 1 CITRINE WAGTAIL, Yeyahu (report from “Common Swift Cup” bird race via WeChat) 11 RELICT GULLS and 1 COLLARED CROW, Shahe (Huang Hanchen via WeChat) 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 1 GREAT BITTERN, 1 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 1 CITRINE WAGTAIL, 14 SIBERIAN GULLS and 1 RELICT GULL, Shisanling (CM). HEBEI: 1 ad GLAUCOUS GULL, Nanpu (@Jima via Tong Mu on WeChat) 7 April 2017 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL seen and heard at Tsinghua University campus (Andrew Zhi and Zhang Junduo via Huang Hanchen) 5 April 2017 A SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER (Phylloscopus ricketti, 黑眉柳莺) photographed at the Deer Park, Nanhaizi (南海子麋鹿苑), by Mr Guo Geng, the Vice Director of the Park. Although there are two previous reports of this species from the Temple of Heaven Park (per Li Zhaonan), Mr. Guo’s is the first documented record in Beijing. 2 April 2017 A first-winter BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE at Ma Chang (TT, RF).  Also 5 ssp of WHITE WAGTAIL including leucopsis, ocularis, baicalensis, the 5th Beijing record of personata and the 6th Beijing record of alba. Video of the personata and alba below. At Yeyahu, a pale phase BOOTED EAGLE (RF) was the standout bird.  Also present 3 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, 2 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 40+ BEARDED TITS and 2 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS.

1 April 2017 1 ad male PIED WHEATEAR, Lingshan (TT, RF, ML).  Also 6 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS and 6 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES.  At nearby Youzhou Valley, 4 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, 5 CRAG MARTINS, 6 MANDARIN, 1 RED-THROATED and 1 DUSKY THRUSH.

2 GREAT BITTERNS, 1 EAGLE OWL, 1 PALLAS’S GULL, 2 RELICT GULLS, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 400+ ‘eastern’ ROOKS, 1100+ DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 12 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS and 2 BLACK STORKS, Shisanling (CM). 26 March 2017 3 LESSER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE among 360 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, Shisanling. Also 17+ TAIGA BEAN GEESE, 16 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 1 BLACK STORK, 160+ DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 140+ ‘Eastern’ ROOKS, 44 CARRION CROWS, 20+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 9+ RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 8 DUSKY THRUSHES, 2 GREY-HEADED LAPWINGS, 1 BARN SWALLOW, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE (ad) and 1 2cy PALLAS’S GULL (CM, ZQ) 25 March 2017 At least 8 JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGS, Miyun Reservoir (Beijing Birdwatching Society during waterbird survey).  Note: general access still prohibited – special permission given for annual survey. 23 March 2017 1 GREATER SCAUP (male), Huairou Reservoir (PH).  Plus 29 FALCATED DUCK. 1 male lugens WHITE WAGTAIL still at the Tonghuihe at Baliqiao, Tongzhou (PH). 22 March 2017 2 EAGLE OWLS, 1 CHINESE TAWNY OWL and a pair of lepidus LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (PH). 19 March 2017 2 PALLAS’S GULLS, 11 SIBERIAN GULLS, incl. 6 x 2cy birds, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 55+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 8 RED-THROATD THRUSHES, 6 DUSKY THRUSHES, 1 BLACK-THROATED THRUSH, 8 JAPANESE QUAIL, 6 JAPANESE REED BUNTINGS, 1 BLACK-EARED KITE, Shisanling (CM & ZQ)

17 March 2017 1 EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK, 40+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES and up to 5 DUSKY THRUSHES, plus 20+BRAMBLINGS, Olympic Forest Park (Matthias Bechtolsheim) 16 March 2017 29+ MANDARIN, 4 COMMON MERGANSER, 30+ NAUMANN’S THRUSHES, 20+ DARK-THROATED THRUSHES (Red- or Black-throated) and c30 CHINESE GROSBEAKS, Beihai Park (Matthias Bechtolsheim) 12 March 2017 6 BAER’S POCHARDS (3 pairs), Huairou Reservoir (TT, BW).  Also 14 WHOOPER SWAN, 1 SWAN GOOSE, 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 4 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 2 NORTHERN PINTAIL, 8 FALCATED DUCK, 2 WIGEON, 35 TUFTED DUCK, 18 SMEW, 47 COMMON MERGANSER, 1 ‘booming’ GREAT BITTERN, 5 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 1 EASTERN WATER RAIL, 2 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 15 ROOK and 1 BARN SWALLOW.

1 GREAT BUSTARD, 20 TUNDRA SWANS, 30 WHOOPER SWANS, 8 SWAN GEESE, 2 GREYLAG GEESE, 5 WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLES, 1 MERLIN, 21 WHITE-NAPED CRANES and 91 COMMON CRANES, Ma Chang (Zhao Min, Huang Hanchen, Richard Davis et al).

4 WHITE-TAILED EAGLES, 25 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, 1 HOODED CRANE and 31 COMMON STARLINGS, Ma Chang (CM, ZQ) 11 March 2017 1 2cy PALLAS’S GULL, Shisanling (CM).  Also 140+ MONGOLIAN GULLS and 6 SIBERIAN GULLS.

8 March 2017 A minimum 308 BAER’S POCHARDS counted at Hengshui Hu.  A site record (TT). 7 March 2017 At least 42 BAER’S POCHARDS back at the breeding site, Hengshui Hu, in Hebei Province (TT) 5 March 2017 The first-winter female HARLEQUIN still present near Anzhenmen (per WeChat). 1 SAKER, 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE and at least 22 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, Ma Chang (CM, ZQ).

4 March 2017 4 GOLDEN EAGLES (2 displaying ads and 2 2cy birds), Youzhou.  Plus 5 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 2 MANDARIN, 18 CHUKAR, 7 RED-THROATED and 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 4 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS (3m, 1 f), 8 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 1 lepidus LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH and 6 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES (TT, ML, John MacKinnon and Hugh Lansdown) Also a hybrid duck (Mallard x Spot-billed Duck) at Youzhou.

24 February 2017 The HARLEQUIN still present near Anzhenmen (per eBird). 19 February 2017 The HARLEQUIN still present at Anzhenmen (BW).  Also 65 WHITE WAGTAILS along the Tonghuihe near Shuangqiao, including 8 ssp lugens (PH).  Plus 21 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS.

18 February 2017 1 ‘Japanese’ BLACK-FACED BUNTING (Emberiza spodocephala personata), Beizhuang (Cai Zhenbo and Li Weiying, identified by Paul Holt).  A rare sighting of this form, records of which are few and far between not only in Beijing but in all of China.

14 February 2017 The HARLEQUIN still present at Anzhenmen (per WeChat group). 10 February 2017 ***MEGA***: 1 HARLEQUIN (female), Anzhenmen.  Found by photographer Hou Jinsheng.  Thanks to Huang Hanchen for passing on the information.  According to locals, present for “more than 20 days”.  The first record for Beijing.

9 February 2017 1 male CHAFFINCH, Botanical Gardens (Cheng Zheng via WeChat) 6 February 2017 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT, Olympic Forest Park (via PH). 5 February 2017 1 female LONG-TAILED DUCK, Dashihe, Fangshan District (Xiao Hong Cao Xinhua via PH). 28 January 2017 19 CHUKAR, Youzhou Valley.  Plus 3 GOLDEN EAGLES and 9 CINEREOUS VULTURES. 3 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES ssp lepidus, Lingshan (TT, ML).  Plus 3 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS. 27 January 2017 2 middendorffi TAIGA BEAN GEESE, Wenyu River (TT).  Plus 1 3cy male HEN HARRIER. 24 January 2017 1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH and 1 PALLAS’S WARBLER, Peking University Campus (Zhang Yong).  Photos reproduced with kind permission.

21 January 2017 4 GREAT BUSTARDS, Miyun.  Plus 30 BEAN GEESE, 2 BLACK STORKS, 9 COMMON CRANES, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 MERLIN, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 48 LITTLE BUNTINGS, 4 YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS and 1 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH (TT, ML)

20 January 2017 2 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Agricultural Exhibition Park (David Consineo via WeChat).  Accessed via Line 10 on the metro. 15 January 2017 2 SAKERS, 1 MERLIN, SHORT-EARED OWL and 2 JAPANESE REED BUNTINGS, Bulaotun (Zhao Min, Huang Hanchen, Shen Yan et al).  Shen Yan captured this series of images of an interaction between a SHORT-EARED OWL and a SAKER, reproduced here with his kind permission. 13 January 2017 1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH still at Peking University (Dave GUO via eBird). 11 January 2017 ***MEGA***: Belated news of at least 10 SNOW BUNTINGS, Bulaotun, on Saturday 7 January.  Found and photographed by 曲利军 (Qu Lijun).  The first documented record for Beijing.  Thanks again to Huang Hanchen for the tip-off.

10 January 2017 Great news about the discovery of 6-7 CRESTED LARKS (now very difficult to see in Beijing) at Dashihe, Fangshan District, on 8 January.  Images here reproduced with kind permission of the photographer, 孙琰 ,SUN Yan.  Her original post can be found here. Thank you to Huang Hanchen for the tip-off.

8 January 2017 1 female CHAFFINCH, Shisanling (HH, ZM et al).  Also 1 juv WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 2 PEREGRINE, 85 YELLOW-BELLIED TITS and 160+ PINE BUNTINGS (CM, ZQ). 1 juv WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 1 EASTERN BUZZARD, 1 PEREGRINE, 1 LONG-EARED OWL, 43 LITTLE BUNTINGS, 4 YELLOW-THROATED BUNTINGS and 6 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS, Shunyi Patch (TT) Two of the PALLAS’S BUNTINGS on the local patch in Shunyi, 8 January 2017. 5 January 2017 The first-winter female PIED WHEATEAR still in the Olympic Forest Park.  Plus a drake MANDARIN (TT). 2 January 2017 1 CHAFFINCH (female), 5 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, 1 imm WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING and 160+ PINE BUNTINGS, Shisanling (CM). 7 CHUKAR, 1 KOKLASS PHEASANT, 19 MANDARIN, 4 CINEREOUS VULTURES and 4 GOLDEN EAGLES, Youzhou Valley (TT et al) 1 CINEREOUS VULTURE, 1 HEN HARRIER, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 NUTCRACKER, 3 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 1 ALPINE ACCENTOR, 4 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (ssp lepidus), 8 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 18 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, Lingshan (TT et al) A PALE THRUSH photographed at Daxing Binhe Park (south Beijing) by Zhong Zhenyu. 1 January 2017 A first-winter female PIED WHEATEAR in the Olympic Forest Park (per Beijing Birdwatching Society WeChat group). 30 December 2016 At least 15 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Peking University (照尔 via Birding Beijing WeChat group). 29 December 2016 1 SOLITARY SNIPE still in the Baihe Valley (per eBird) 28 December 2016 1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH, Peking University (Chen Wei per Birding Beijing WeChat Group). 25 December 2016 Late report of a BLACK-THROATED DIVER at Dayunhe Forest Park, Tongzhou, on 14 November 2016.  Thanks to Huang Hanchen for the tip-off. 24 December 2016 1 SOLITARY SNIPE, Baihe Valley (Zhao Min et al). 23 December 2016 1 KOKLASS PHEASANT, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 1 SAKER, 17 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES and 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES (CM) 13 December 2016 ***MEGA*** 1 male SCALY-SIDED MERGANSER, Huairou (PH).

12 December 2016 ***MEGA***: 1 juvenile LAMMERGEIER, Lingshan (TT, PH).  The second record for Beijing following one in February 2008 at Shidu.

Also 5 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 1 ad NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 1 EURASIAN WOODCOCK, 1 GREAT GREY SHRIKE ssp sibiricus, 1 SPOTTED NUTCRACKER, 6 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 1 WHITE-WINGED REDSTART, 3 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 20 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 11 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES ssp lepidus and 22 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES.

10 December 2016 6 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 1 imm/fem LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH ssp lepidus, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, 1 CHINESE NUTHATCH and 10 RED-BILLED CHOUGH, Miaofengshan (CM).

1 unseasonal COMMON SANDPIPER at the Wenyu River (TT).  Plus 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 6 LITTLE BUNTINGS and 8 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS. 8 December 2016 HEBEI: A record count of 290 BAER’S POCHARDS at Hengshui Hu (78% males) plus at least 5 apparent Baer’s x Ferruginous hybrids.  Also a first-winter BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE. (PH, LQ)

4 December 2016 The REED PARROTBILLS (up to 30 present) still at Wanping Hu.  Popular with the local bird photographers!  Also at least 4 BEARDED TITS, 2 CHINESE PENDULINE TITS and 5 WATER PIPITS.

3 December 2016 1 WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, Summer Palace (ZM et al via Birding Beijing WeChat group). 6 WHITE-WINGED REDSTARTS, 6 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES (including one adult male), 6 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (ssp lepidus), 9 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 10 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 5 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 1 PINE BUNTING and 1 LAPLAND BUNTING, Lingshan (TT, BS)

2 December 2016 The REED PARROTBILLS still present at Wanping Hu (RD via Birding Beijing WeChat group) 1 December 2016 A flock of 10+ REED PARROTBILLS at Wanping Hu, near the Lugou Bridge in southwest Beijing.  Although relatively common on the coast and further south in Hebei Province, this constitutes the first credible record of this species in Beijing Municipality.  Photo by Mr Su.  Apparently present since 24 November (first seen by Mr Xu).

27 November 2016 1 imm WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARDS, 2 UPLAND BUZZARDS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 3 HEN HARRIERS, 1 SAKER, 10 JAPANESE QUAILS, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, Miyun (TT, JH et al) 18 November 2016 1 PALE THRUSH, Temple of Heaven Park (Zhang Weimin).

13 November 2016 1 first-winter BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE still at Shahe (CM).  Also 12 BEARDED REEDLINGS, 10 CHINESE PENDULINE TITS, 4 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 1 EURASIAN STARLING, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER (rare in winter). 4 LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES (ssp lepidus), Lingshan (HH, ZM et al).  Plus 4 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 4 GULDENSTADT’S REDSTARTS and 3 GOLDEN EAGLES. 12 November 2016 ***MEGA*** 1 BLACK-THROATED DIVER, Yeyahu (TT, Zhao Min, Magnus Aurivillius et al).  Also 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK. 4 GREAT BUSTARDS, Miyun Reservoir (Chen Yanxin).  Plus 1 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, 2 UPLAND BUZZARDS and a MERLIN. 11 November 2016 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, Shunyi (TT)

7 November 2016 1 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, Shahe (Zhang Weimin).  A first-winter (also present on 6th November). 6 November 2016 3 GULDENSTADT’S REDSTARTS, Miaofengshan (CM).  Plus 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 5 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 1 CINEREOUS VULTURE, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, 1 SAKER and 1 EURASIAN CRAG MARTIN. 3 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (TT, RB).  Also 23 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 60 COMMON CRANES, 1 ad PALLAS’S GULL, 4 SIBERIAN GULLS, 12 COMMON GULLS, 5 MONGOLIAN GULLS, 7 MUTE SWANS, 7 BEWICK’S SWANS, 1 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, 1 CINEREOUS VULTURE (with satellite tag), MERLIN, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 3 CHINESE GREY SHRIKES, 2 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 28 PALLAS’S and 1 COMMON REED BUNTING. 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK, Yeyahu (Zhang Weimin et al).

5 November 2016 1 BLACK REDSTART, Lingshan (TT, ML).  Plus 3 GULDENSTADT’S REDSTARTS, 1 BROWN EARED PHEASANT (heard only), 3 ‘lepidus’ LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, 1 ‘ussuriensis’ LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCH, 5 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES, 2 CINEREOUS VULTURES, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 2 NUTCRACKERS, 12 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS, 4 RED-THROATED THRUSHES, 2 DUSKY THRUSHES, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH and 1 LAPLAND BUNTING. 2 GREAT BUSTARDS, Miyun (per WeChat) 2 November 2016 The POMARINE SKUA still present at Yanqing (per WeChat) 1 November 2016 ***MEGA*** 1 first-winter POMARINE SKUA, Yanqing (TT et al).  The bird reported on 30 and 31 October still present.  The first record for Beijing. 29 October 2016 ***MEGA*** 1 HOODED CROW flying SSE close to Beijing Capital International Airport (JH).  The first record for Beijing and possibly NE China. 4 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu NR, viewed from the Tower Hide (JT, HH, ZM)

1 STEJNEGER’S SCOTER, Shahe (CM).  Plus 7 GREAT BITTERNS, CATTLE EGRET, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (1cy), 3 SIBERIAN GULLS (1cy), 1 RELICT GULL (1cy), 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 8 HORNED LARKS and 2 WATER PIPITS. 28 October 2016 2 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, Shunyi (TT).  Plus a late COMMON ROSEFINCH, 2 RUSTIC BUNTINGS, 5 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS and 5 SILVER-THROATED TITS. 27 October 2016 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE over the Olympic Park, Beijing.  Photo by Yin Lijian.

26 October 2016 4 BAER’S POCHARDS at Yeyahu today (TT, ZM, HH et al).   Also 2 BAR-HEADED GEESE, 210 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, 1 BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL, 1 CASPIAN TERN, 1 UPLAND BUZZARD, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, at least 30 BEARDED TITS and an apparent RED-THROATED THRUSH x BLACK-THROATED THRUSH intergrade. 1 GREY-BACKED THRUSH, Temple of Heaven Park (per Birding Beijing WeChat group) 25 October 2016 3 BAER’S POCHARDS, Yeyahu (TT, BE, RH).  Also 1 SLAVONIAN GREBE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, at least 28 BEARDED TITS, 30 COMMON STARLINGS and 2 COMMON CRANES. 22 October 2016 ***MEGA***: 1 SWINHOE’S RAIL, Shahe (CM).  Seen very well in flight. A male GREY-BACKED THRUSH and a SWINHOE’S (RUFOUS-TAILED) ROBIN in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre (David Consineo).

16 October 2016 220+ YELLOW-BELLIED TITS (in two flocks), Shahe (CM).  Plus a single PINE BUNTING, 14 COMMON STARLINGS, a single HUME’S WARBLER and 4 HEN HARRIERS. 8 October 2016 66 EURASIAN SPOONBILLS over northern Beijing (Yin Lijian). 1 BAIKAL TEAL, Shahe (CM).  Plus 3 GREAT BITTERNS, 3 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLES, 1 MERLIN, 1 SIBERIAN GULL and 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER. HEBEI: 142 BAER’S POCHARDS (112 males, 29 females) at the breeding site (PH). 6 October 2016 2 SANDERLINGS (juvs), Ma Chang (PH).  Possibly only the second record for the capital.  Plus 2 SHORT-TOED EAGLES, 3 BROWN-CHEEKED (EASTERN WATER) RAILS, 1 BAIKAL BUSH WARBLER, 18 ASHY MINIVETS and 210 BUFF-BELLIED PIPITS. 1 October 2016 1 BULL-HEADED SHRIKE, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 3 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHERS, 1 WHITE’S THRUSH, 7 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS and a YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING, Shahe (CM)

29 September 2016 MEGA: 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF, Yeyahu NR (PH).  The second documented record for Beijing. 28 September 2016 A BROWN-CHEEKED RAIL (EASTERN WATER RAIL), Shunyi Patch (TT).  This was TT’s 50th visit to his local patch – an area of scrub near his apartment – and the rail was the 121st species to be recorded there. 24 September 2016 HOBBY, 2 AMUR FALCONS, 2 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 13 BLUETHROATS, 3 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROATS, 3 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLER, 3 RICHARD’S PIPITS and 2 COMMON ROSEFINCHES on the Shunyi patch (TT, ML)

23 September 2016 1 LESSER WHITETHROAT in the Botanical Gardens (James Pender). 1 BROWN SHRIKE, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 1 WHITE’S THRUSH, 11 BLUETHROATS, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING and 3 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS, Shunyi patch (TT)

19 September 2016 1 BLACK-WINGED KITE, Yeyahu (TT, PS).  Also 2 BEARDED TITS, 2 SHORT-TOED EAGLES, 1 GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, 31 BLACK KITES and 30 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS. 18 September 2016 1 JAPANESE QUAIL, 1 PURPLE HERON, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 2 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 1 BLACK KITE, 1 SHORT-TOED EAGLE, 4 PIED HARRIERS, 4 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 2 EAGLE OWLS, 6 BLUETHROATS, 1 SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT and 14 RED-THROATED PIPITS, Miyun (TT, ML) 17 September 2016 8 BAIKAL TEAL, Shahe (CM). Plus 14 GARGANEY, 2 GREAT BITTERN, 3 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 6 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 3 BROWN SHRIKE, 1 RED-THROATED PIPIT, 2 PECHORA PIPIT, 130+ COMMON ROSEFINCH, 2 LONG-TAILED MINIVET, 9 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARD, 37+ AMUR FALCON, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING, 1 MARSH GRASSBIRD, 2 PIED HARRIER and 1 EYEBROWED THRUSH. 8 September 2016 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 3 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 CHINESE PENDULINE TIT, 6 STONECHATS, 2 RED-THROATED PIPITS, 4 RICHARD’S PIPITS, 2 (singing) THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, 2 DUSKY WARBLERS, 1 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS, 1 CHESTNUT BUNTING, 3 LITTLE BUNTINGS and 2 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS, Shunyi (TT) 4 September 2016 2 FALCATED DUCK, Shahe (CM).  Plus 2 LONG-TOED STINT, 2 AMUR FALCON, 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 1 singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE and 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET. 2 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, Shunyi (TT).  Plus BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE, 2 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 3 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT and 4 RICHARD’S PIPITS. 2 September 2016 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, Shunyi (TT).  Plus 1 JAPANESE QUAIL, 3 BROWN SHRIKES, 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 2 ARCTIC WARBLERS, 2 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-BROWED REED WARBLER, 1 DUSKY WARBLER, 2 RICHARD’S PIPITS, 1 TAIGA FLYCATCHER and 2 PALLAS’S BUNTINGS. 28 August 2016 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, Wenyu He (TT, CB).  Plus 3 MANDARIN, 1 SHOVELER, 2 GREAT CORMORANTS, 4 ‘Swintail’ SNIPE, 1 TEMMINCK’S STINT, 2 CRESTED KINGFISHERS, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 1 LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO, 2 WRYNECKS. 26 August 2016 1 singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, Shahe (CM).  Plus 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 1 CATTLE EGRET, 11 AMUR FALCONS, 6 HOBBY, 5 EASTERN MARSH HARRIERS, 4 MARSH SANDPIPERS, 2 GREY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS, 8 DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 5 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 2 LONG-TAILED SHRIKES, 5 ARCTIC WARBLERS, 6 TWO-BARRED GREENISH WARBLERS, 2 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLERS, 2 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLERS, 2 THICK-BILLED WARBLERS and 1 GREY NIGHTJAR. 5 BLYTH’S PIPITS, Shunyi (TT).  Plus 1 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER, 8 TAIGA FLYCATCHERS, 4 BROWN SHRIKES, 4 ARCTIC WARBLERS and 11 BLACK DRONGOS. 24 August 2016 1 BLYTH’S PIPIT, Shunyi (TT).  Plus 1 CHINESE GREY SHRIKE, 5 BROWN SHRIKES, 2 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHERS and 1 ARCTIC WARBLER. 13 August 2016 1 ad. RELICT GULL, Shahe (CM).  Plus 3 INTERMEDIATE EGRETS, 2 early PALLAS’S BUNTINGS, 2 BLYTH’S PIPITS, 3 GULL-BILLED TERNS, 1 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK, 5 SIBERIAN (Dark-sided) FLYCATCHERS, 5 GREY-STREAKED FLYCATCHERS, 2 YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHERS, 1 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER, 1 CRESTED KINGFISHER, 2 MARSH SANDPIPERS, 3 CUCKOO sp, 7 BROWN SHRIKES and 3 (almost certainly escaped) BAR-HEADED GEESE. 6 August 2016 HEBEI: A superb count of 203 ASIAN DOWITCHERS (J-EN).  Plus 5,980 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 4,620 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT, 3,865 KENTISH PLOVER, 860 AVOCET, 465 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, 420 MARSH SANDPIPER and 4,100 WHITE-WINGED TERN. 2 August 2016 1 ad TIGER SHRIKE, near the International Exhibition Centre, Shunyi (TT). 30 July 2016 The SCHRENCK’S BITTERN family still showing well in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park (PH). 27-28 July 2016 HEBEI: 1 NORDMANN’S GREENSHANK in breeding plumage, Nanpu (PH, ML, TT).  Plus 30+ ASIAN DOWITCHER, including 5 juveniles, 6605 BLACK-WINGED STILT, 23 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 120 FAR EASTERN CURLEW, 7 GREY-TAILED TATTLER, 32 TEREK SANDPIPER, 455 GREAT KNOT, 80 RED KNOT, 81 RED-NECKED STINT, 2900 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER, 5 SAUNDERS’S GULL, 42 RELICT GULL, at least 2 BEARDED TITS and 1 MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER.

23 July 2016 Three young SCHRENCK’S BITTERNS have fledged from Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park in central Beijing (DC).  Also breeding YELLOW BITTERN and CINNAMON BITTERN at the same location. 4 July 2016 At least 1 singing GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD, Lingshan (TT, WL, DW).  Plus at least 6 singing ‘GANSU’ RED-FLANKED BLUETAILS, at least 4 singing GREENISH-type WARBLERS, at least 10 ASIAN HOUSE MARTINS, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 3 BLUE WHISTLING THRUSHES, 1 ZAPPEY’S, 1 YELLOW-RUMPED, 3 GREEN-BACKED and 2 SLATY-BACKED FLYCATCHERS, 2 CHINESE THRUSHES, 8 SIBERIAN BLUE ROBINS, 1 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER, 2 ASIAN STUBTAILS, 3 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTARTS and 5 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES. 3 July 2016 HEBEI: A female BAER’S POCHARD with 5 ducklings at the breeding site in Hebei Province.  Plus at least 7 separate adults.  Also 5 SCHRENCK’S BITTERNS and at least 3 BLUNT-WINGED WARBLERS (TT, WL, DW) 26 June 2016 SCHRENCK’S BITTERN, Agricultural Exhibition Centre.  Possibly breeding (per WeChat) 25 June 2016 1 HIMALAYAN CUCKOO, Miaofengshan (CM).  Also 2 LARGE HAWK CUCKOOS, 12 MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLERS, 12 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES. 24 June 2016 At least 3 singing male GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, Lingshan (TT, PH).  The presence of multiple birds suggests that this find is most likely the discovery of a previously unknown breeding population, more than 1500km from the nearest known breeding grounds. See here. 23 June 2016 At least 2 singing GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, Lingshan (TT, PH). MEGA: a singing male SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER, Lingshan (PH).  The second record for Beijing. 18 June 2016 MEGA: a singing male GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD at Lingshan (TT).  A bizarre record of a largely Himalayan species, so unexpected that the possibility of an escape must be seriously considered. 2 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKES, Shahe (CM).  Plus 1 LONG-TOED STINT, 1 RED TURTLE DOVE, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER and 2 singing PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS. 17 June 2016 At least 4 GREENISH-type WARBLERS at Lingshan (TT).  Plus 6 ‘GANSU’ BLUETAILS, 4 GREY-SIDED and 3 CHINESE THRUSHES, GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, NUTCRACKER, GREY NIGHTJAR, SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN, CLAUDIA’S, HUME’S, YELLOW-STREAKED and CHINESE LEAF WARBLERS, MANCHURIAN BUSH WARBLER and 7 WHITE-BELLIED REDSTARTS.

12 June 2016 3 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHENS, Shahe (CM). Plus 1 SHORT-TOED SNAKE EAGLE, 1 RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE, 2 YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL, 1 INTERMEDIATE EGRET, 1 BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER and 1 GULL-BILLED TERN. 10 June 2016 A singing BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH WARBLER, Baihuashan (J-EN).  Sound recorded.  Possibly the first confirmed record for Beijing. 7 June 2016 A PALLAS’S FISH EAGLE photographed at Yeyahu by local warden Fang Chun.  The first modern-day record.  Seen in the area for several days. 5 June 2016 2k+ GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE, Summer Palace (Klas Rådberg).  Plus imm male AMUR FALCON. 4 June 2016 1 singing DAVID’S BUSH WARBLER, Shahe (CM). Plus PECHORA PIPIT, INTERMEDIATE EGRET, a male SCHRENCK’S BITTERN, at least 3 ASIAN KOELS and several singing PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS. 29 May 2016 1 PECHORA PIPIT, Olympic Forest Park (ZS, MR et al).  Plus 5 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS, 1 DAVID’S BUSH WARBLER and 1 CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING. 1 singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER still, Shahe (CM).  Plus DOLLARBIRD, 5 PALLAS’S GRASSHOPPER WARBLERS and 6 GULL-BILLED TERNS. 27 May 2016 At least 3 singing MARSH GRASSBIRDS, Yeyahu.  Plus a singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER and a single GREATER SPOTTED EAGLE (RJ, DN, TT et al) 26 May 2016 At least 3 singing MARSH GRASSBIRDS, Yeyahu (RJ, DN, TT et al) 23 May 2016 2 NORTHERN BOOBOOKS, Summer Palace (per Birdnet.cn) 22 May 2016 MEGA: a singing CHESTNUT-WINGED CUCKOO at the Botanical Gardens, just west of Wofosi (JH). MEGA: a GREY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER, Lingshan (SA, DN, JJ, LK et al).  The second record for Beijing. 21 May 2016 1 singing CHINESE LEAF WARBLER, Summer Palace (JJ, CH, DN, TT) A singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, Shahe (CM).  Plus YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL, 2 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKERS, 4 ASIAN KOELS, 1 GREY NIGHTJAR, 1 singing CHINESE LEAF WARBLER and 3 YELLOW-BREASTED BUNTINGS. 18 May 2016 1 CHINESE SPARROWHAWK, Summer Palace.  Plus DOLLARBIRD, BLYTH’S PIPIT and DAURIAN STARLING (JH) 17 May 2016 1 female SLATY BUNTING, Summer Palace (JH).  The first record for Beijing. 2 DAURIAN STARLINGS, Olympic Forest Park (Clive Harris via eBird) 15 May 2016 1 ASIAN KOEL, Wenyu River (TT, NM). 14 May 2016 92 COMMON ROSEFINCH, Shahe (CM).  Plus 32+ LONG-TOED STINT, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 2 CASPIAN and 5 GULL-BILLED TERN, a single JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK, 1 RUFOUS-BELLIED WOODPECKER, 1 CLAUDIA’S LEAF WARBLER and 1 FOREST WAGTAIL. 1 singing BLUNT-WINGED WARBLER, Yeyahu (TT et al).  Plus 1 EASTERN WATER (BROWN-CHEEKED) RAIL, 1 YELLOW BITTERN, 5 EASTERN MARSH and 1 PIED HARRIER, 1 JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK and 12 CHINESE PENDULINE TIT. 13 May 2016 A RUFOUS-TAILED ROBIN, Shunyi (TT).  Surprisingly very scarce in Beijing with fewer than 10 records. A singing CLAUDIA’S WARBLER, Summer Palace (JH). 12 May 2016 1 ASIAN KOEL, Summer Palace (JH).  Also 6 AMUR FALCONS, 11 ORIENTAL HONEY BUZZARDS, 1 RED-BILLED STARLING and 2 TRISTRAM’S BUNTINGS. 2 GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHERS, Temple of Heaven Park (Zhang Weimin).  Plus FOREST WAGTAIL and 2 EASTERN CROWNED WARBLERS. 10 May 2016 A male NARCISSUS FLYCATCHER, Wenyu River (Jian Guohao).  Very rare in Beijing.  Possibly only the second record.

A single RED TURTLE DOVE and 2 DAURIAN STARLINGS, Summer Palace (JH) 7 May 2016 A CHINESE SPARROWHAWK at Shahe (CM).  Plus ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL and the first spring records of BLACK DRONGO and INDIAN CUCKOO. 6 May 2016 Belated news of Beijing’s first LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER at Yeyahu on 19 October 2009 (Yan Xiaoqin).  The only record of this species in Beijing.  See here. 5 May 2016 1 male GREEN-BACKED FLYCATCHER, Olympic Forest Park  (see http://www.birdnet.cn/thread-1368708-1-1.html) 1 May 2016 14 JAPANESE WAXWINGS, Yanqing (TT, ML).  Plus 7 BLYTH’S PIPITS. 28 April 2016 HEBEI: a SULPHUR-BREASTED WARBLER, Nanpu town park (Adrian Boyle, Chris Hassall, Jason Loghry et al).  The 4th record for Hebei, three of which (involving at least two birds) have been at the same site this spring!

26 April 2016 14 LITTLE CURLEWS, Shahe (CM).  Easily a Beijing record, with only around 10 previous records in total!  Plus 3 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN, 2 ASHY MINIVET, 2 LONG-TOED STINT, 1 ORIENTAL SCOPS OWL, 1 LONG-TAILED SHRIKE, 3 BLUETHROAT and 1 COMMON ROSEFINCH. 24 April 2016 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE, Shahe (per Birding Beijing WeChat group). 23 April 2016 MEGA: 1 BESRA, Baiwangshan (Du Songhan et al).  Very rare in Beijing with possibly only one previous record.

8 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARKS, Wenyu He (TT, ML).  Also 5 MANDARIN, 19 CITRINE WAGTAILS, a single JAPANESE QUAIL, 1 ‘SWINTAIL’ SNIPE, 2 DUSKY THRUSHES, 1 NAUMANN’S THRUSH and a DUSKY x NAUMANN’S intergrade.

22 April 2016 2 HUME’S WARBLERS, Summer Palace (JH).  Plus a GREAT BITTERN. 21 April 2016 A male PIED WHEATEAR at Shudu (per Birdnet).  See here. 20 April 2016 1 NORTHERN HOUSE MARTIN, Summer Palace (JH). 16 April 2016 At Shahe, a WHITE WAGTAIL ssp alba (CM).  The 3rd record of this ssp in Beijing.  Plus a single ASIAN HOUSE MARTIN (rare in lowland Beijing), 17 OSPREY, 19 EASTERN MARSH HARRIER, 6 GREY-FACED BUZZARD and 60 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK.

At Ma Chang, a single MEADOW PIPIT (TT, ML, PH).  The 5th Beijing record.

Also at Ma Chang, 2 WHITE WAGTAILS ssp alba.  The 4th and 5th records of this ssp for Beijing.

14 April 2016 The REDWING still in the southern Botanical Gardens (PH).

11 April 2016 Belated news of a REDWING in the Botanical Gardens on 6 April 2016.  The first record for Beijing and very rare in all of China.  Photos can be seen here and here.  Thanks to Jesper Hornskov for the tip-off. 10 April 2016 1 WHITE WAGTAIL ssp personata (first summer), Ma Chang.  The fourth record of this subspecies in Beijing.  Also 2 GARGANEY, 14 FERRUGINOUS DUCK, 2 SHORT-TOED EAGLES, 41 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARKS, 1 JAPANESE REED BUNTING.

9 April 2016 6 BAER’S POCHARDS, Miyun Reservoir (J-EN).  Observer then ejected from the site by police. 1 MEADOW PIPIT, Ma Chang (TT, JK, LQ).  Only the 4th Beijing record.

5 GREAT BUSTARDS over the Baiwangshan raptor watchpoint (Alex et al via Birding Beijing WeChat group).

8 April 2016 1 BAR-HEADED GOOSE, Biawangshan (via WeChat Group).  1 ORIENTAL STORK, Summer Palace (JH). 2 April 2016 374 RELICT GULLS, Shahe (CM).  A Beijing record count.  Also a single ORIENTAL PLOVER, 4 SHORT-EARED OWLS and 5 BAIKAL TEAL.

27 March 2016 1100 EASTERN ROOK and 500 DAURIAN JACKDAW north, Shahe (CM). Plus 27 WHITE-NAPED CRANE, 61 SWAN GOOSE (including one with neck band S23), 2 COMMON CRANE, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 59 EASTERN BUZZARD, 1 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 26 COMMON STARLING, 20 GARGANEY, 1 RED-BILLED STARLING, 5 SIBERIAN GULL, 3 CRAG MARTIN.

A neck-collared SWAN GOOSE at Shahe (photo by Colm Moore). 20 March 2016 1 pair BAER’S POCHARD, Summer Palace (JH). 1 pair BAER’S POCHARD, Miyun Reservoir (TT, WL, JY, LY)) At least 4 JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGS remain at Miyun (TT, WL, JY LY)

19 March 2016 55 BEWICK’S SWANS, 6 WHOOPER SWANS, 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, 1 GREATER SAND PLOVER, 3 ROSY PIPITS, 2 SIBERIAN GULLS and 80 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARKS, Shahe (CM). 13 March 2016 81 WHOOPER SWAN, 9 TUNDRA SWAN, 17 SWAN GOOSE, 9 GREYLAG GOOSE, 880 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE, 8 TAIGA BEAN GOOSE, 190 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 22 FALCATED DUCK, 170 BAIKAL TEAL, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 42 COMMON CRANE, 5 EURASIAN CURLEW, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 1 WHITE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 HEN HARRIER, 1 GOSHAWK, 1 EASTERN BUZZARD, 5 UPLAND BUZZARD, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, 1 PEREGRINE, 45 COMMON STARLING, 2 BEARDED REEDLING, 70 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARK, 52 PALLAS’S REED BUNTING, 2 JAPANESE REED BUNTING, Miyun Reservoir (J-EN) 85 TUNDRA BEAN GEESE, Shahe (CM).  Plus 57 SWAN GEESE, 1 imm SIBERIAN GULL, 127 MONGOLIAN GULL, 1650+ BLACK-HEADED GULL, 47+ COMMON STARLING, 2 BAIKAL TEAL. 12 March 2016 11 CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCHES (8 males, 3 females), Miaofengshan (CM).  Plus 6 lepidus LONG-TAILED ROSEFINCHES, 7 RED-BILLED CHOUGHS, 15 ALPINE ACCENTORS and 4 CHUKAR. 9 March 2016 A male CHAFFINCH at Jixiang Si (TT, GD, FH ).    Also 7 JAPANESE QUAIL, 480 BEAN GEESE, 1 SWAN GOOSE, 28 WHOOPER SWANS, 120 BAIKAL TEAL, 6 FALCATED DUCK, 32 COMMON CRANE, 1 GOLDEN EAGLE, 3 UPLAND and 1 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, 1 MERLIN, 1 EAGLE OWL, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 LONG-EARED OWLS, 510 DAURIAN JACKDAWS, 2 ASIAN SHORT-TOED LARKS and 24 LAPLAND BUNTINGS, Miyun Reservoir. 8 March 2016 1 JAPANESE GROSBEAK, Olympic Forest Park (JH) 7 March 2016 At least 29 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, Miyun (TT, CH).  Plus 2 BAIKAL TEAL, 2 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE, 240 BEAN GEESE and 6 JAPANESE REED BUNTINGS

6 March 2016 42 MONGOLIAN GULLS nw over Shidu (TT, ML, JM).  Plus 2 BROWN DIPPERS, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVERS, 6 PLUMBEOUS REDSTARTS. 5 March 2016 20 WHITE-NAPED CRANES, Miyun Reservoir (TT, RB, ST).  Plus 1, possibly 2, GREAT BUSTARD, 3 ROUGH-LEGGED and 3 UPLAND BUZZARDS. 1 March 2016

The long-staying RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER – the 5th record for the capital – is still in the Agricultural Exhibition Centre Park.   27 February 2016 At least 10 GULDENSTADT’S REDSTARTS, Lingshan (TT, AL).  Also 15 PALLAS’S ROSEFINCHES, 10 CINEREOUS VULTURES and 5 SIBERIAN ACCENTORS. 22 February 2016 1 EURASIAN CHAFFINCH, Jixiang Si (TT). At least 12 JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGS, Miyun Reservoir.

20 February 2016 2 JAPANESE QUAIL, 4 SMEW, 78 RUDDY SHELDUCK, 1 PINTAIL, 2 LONG-BILLED PLOVER, 3 NAUMANN’S THRUSH, 9 ORIENTAL TURTLE DOVE and 17 PALLAS’S BUNTING, Wenyu River (TT, ML) 19 February 2016 1 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD and 1 HEN HARRIER, Shunyi (TT).  Plus 1 SIBERIAN ACCENTOR and 1 WATER PIPIT. 6 February 2016 At least 6 JANKOWSKI’S BUNTINGS still at Miyun Reservoir (TT, ML).  Plus 4 UPLAND BUZZARD, 3 ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD, 1 MERLIN, 1 LONG-EARED and 5 SHORT-EARED OWL, 4 JAPANESE REED BUNTING.