by Craig Brelsford
Founder, shanghaibirding.com
On Sun. 1 Nov., despite a late start and amid a constant drizzle, Elaine and I noted 60 species at Chongming Dongtan. Hooded Crane have arrived, Chinese Grey Shrike was seen, and we noted Black-winged Kite in precisely the same location as last year.
Other highlights were Common Crane associating with Hooded, female Siberian Rubythroat, and impressive flocks of Brambling, 400 in all.
The female Pied Harrier was splotchy on top and the leading edge of the wings was so pale that they looked like headlights. We noted 6 species of bunting, with Yellow-throated Bunting the most conspicuous.
Agricultural activity inside the sea wall seems to be less this year than in previous years. Many fields lie fallow and have become overgrown, providing good habitat for buntings.
With rain falling all morning long and with more in the forecast, we decided not to push ourselves. Arriving at 11:30, we soon saw that the rain wasn’t hard enough to depress bird numbers, but it was enough to depress tourist numbers. The area around Chongming Dongtan is large and conducive to car-birding. We never left the car, we grinned and bore the rain, and we enjoyed the peace and quiet.
Around Chongming Dongtan National Bird Sanctuary and Nature Reserve (Chóngmíng Dōngtān Niǎolèi Guójiājí Zìrán Bǎohùqū [崇明东滩鸟类国家级自然保护区]), Chongming Island, Shanghai, China (31.510109, 121.961955). 11:30-16:30.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 20
Eastern Spot-billed Duck A. zonorhyncha ca. 500
Northern Shoveler A. clypeata 1
Eurasian Teal A. crecca 70
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus 8
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 50
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 1
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus 8
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 6
Great Egret A. alba 2
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia 3
Little Egret E. garzetta 30
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis 1
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1
Pied Harrier C. melanoleucos 1 female
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 1
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 5
Common Crane Grus grus 4
Hooded Crane G. monacha 13
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 3
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 2
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus 2
Common Greenshank T. nebularia 18
Wood Sandpiper T. glareola 1
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2
Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) Columba livia 3
Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 30
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 12
Chinese Grey Shrike L. sphenocercus sphenocercus 1
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica 7
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 11
Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis 10
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus 11
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata 2
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinosuthora webbiana ca. 60
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus 25
Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum 2
Eyebrowed Thrush T. obscurus 2
Pale Thrush T. pallidus 3
Dusky Thrush T. eunomus 4
Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope 1
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus 13
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki 1
Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus 40
Stejneger’s Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri 2
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus ca. 400
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis 4 (1 taivana, 3 tschutschensis)
White Wagtail M. alba 3 leucopsis
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi 3
Red-throated Pipit A. cervinus 6
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla ca. 400
Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus 42
Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata 5
Little Bunting E. pusilla 1
Yellow-throated Bunting E. elegans 33
Yellow-breasted Bunting E. aureola 1
Black-faced Bunting E. spodocephala 15
Pallas’s Reed Bunting E. pallasi 2
