South-east China:
Shanghai and Jiangxi
9th - 16th May 2008
James Eaton and Rob Hutchinson
Cabot’s Tragopan © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia
This exciting visit to one of the least explored areas of Asia matched our high expections and several mouth-watering Chinese specialties included Reed Parrotbill, Courtois’s Laughingthrush, Mandarin Duck and culminated with many amazing encounters with stunning Cabot’s Tragopan.
Arriving into Hangzhou, 120km south-west of Shanghai in the early afternoon we made our way through Shanghai and aboard the ferry to Chongming Island before settling into our comfortable hotel in eager anticipation of the forthcoming trip. Dawn breaks before 5am in these parts allowing time for a pre-breakfast walk around the hotel. In the vegetated gardens and nearby trees we found the commoner town inhabitants – Grey-capped Greenfinch, White-cheeked Starling and Crested Myna and the dense scrub held several Manchurian Bush Warbler and a migrant Pale-legged Leaf Warbler. Following a scrumptious breakfast we soon hit the vast expanse of coastal marsh and reed-bed that encompass the eastern coastline of Chongming Island. Oriental Reed Warblers sang from seemingly every available vantage point and it was while watching our first one that our number one targets soon flew in – Reed Parrotbill! Over the course of the morning we obtained progressively better views of this feisty looking reed-dweller until we had point-blank views of calling individuals posing for the cameras. Our second target – Japanese Swamp Warbler – soon revealed itself with its characteristic song flight, launching themselves skywards before parachuting back down to the reeds. This species was only discovered breeding in south-east China this century but surveys already indicate several thousand pairs around Shanghai and Puyang Lake. Once we had had our fill of these two species we admired some of the other species on show – Whiskered Tern, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, Black-browed Reed Warbler, resplendent Spotted Redshank, Red-necked Stint and Terek Sandpiper before we headed for the ferry and back across Shanghai before a long ride to Jiangxi province, reaching Wuyuan town in the early hours of the following morning.
Reed Parrotbill © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia
Wuyuan county is currently the only known area for the critically endangered Courtois’s Laughingthrush, a recent split from Yellow-throated Laughingthrush. There are currently only 200 individuals known but the vast expanse of countryside still left to be surveyed gives hope that more colonies might yet to be discovered. We were fortunate to be taken to the largest colony comprising more than 30 birds, and spent several hours watching these most beautiful and entertaining birds, one of the best of this wonderful family. This species is almost unique amongst the laughingthrushes in that it is a colonial nester and more amazingly has only been found nesting in large trees within small villages in this remote, traditional countryside. The area is a stark contrast to much of the lowlands of south-east China retaining much of the original way of life with small, picturesque villages standing amongst the rice fields that are still worked using cattle and muscle. Birds abound thanks to these traditional agricultural techniques; Swinhoe’s Minivet, Rufous-faced Warbler, Red-billed Starling, Oriental Turtle Dove, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Crested Kingfisher, Masked and White-browed Laughingthrushes, Hwamei, Brown Shrike and Vinous-throated Parrotbill are all common in this environment. Nesting Mandarin Duck, Pied Falconet and Long-billed Plover were all added bonuses as were summer-plumaged White-winged Black Tern and Black Baza.
Once we had had our fill we moved south into the hills to the famed Wuyishan for yet more species endemic to south-east China. We spent 3 full days exploring the track which ascends Huangang Shan. The main prize at this site is the highly-sought after Cabot’s Tragopan which proved very co-operative with sightings totalling 12 males and 5 females. Our encounters included stunning views of a male displaying on the road in front of us and several feeding birds seemingly oblivious to our presence. After our tragopan searching each morning we spent the rest of each day exploring the gorgeous forest which still cloaks the mountain in unusually fine weather. The rest of our target species generally proved forthcoming though the skulking Rickett’s Hill Partridge took plenty of teasing out from their favoured bamboo covered hillsides. After some frustrating near-misses with birds calling at close range and rustling in the nearby leaf-litter we scored success with reasonable views. Recent taxonomic decisions have made this area more attractive as a number of species restricted to south-east China have been (or should soon be) elevated to full species level. These included cracking views of a Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler (part of the four-way split of Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler), Fujian Fulvetta (noticeably distinct from Grey-hooded and Manipur), Pere David’s Fulvetta (genetically, vocally and morphologically distinct from the rest of the Grey-cheeked complex), Hartet’s Leaf Warbler (part of the three-way Blyth’s Leaf Warbler split) and finally the uncommon nominate Kloss’s Leaf Warbler. As is usual on a Chinese mountain, much emphasis is placed on the Seicercus warbler composition and here we noted Alstrom’s Warbler at lower elevations, succeeded by intermedius White-spectacled Warbler as we climbed higher before finally being replaced at the highest points by latouchei Bianchi’s Warbler. Other notable species recorded included Green Shrike Babbler, Small and Fujian Niltava, Mountain Hawk Eagle, wonderful prolonged views of Spotted Wren Babbler, Golden Parrotbill, nest-building Asian House Martin, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler and on the grassy slopes at the peak, Rosy Pipit, Siberian Stonechat, Brown Bush Warbler and Buff-throated Warbler.
As we headed north to Nanchang for our international flights we completed an excellent week of birding with a fine Oriental Stork. This bird was nesting high on a roadside pylon, and their recent discovery represents a considerable southward extension to their previously known breeding area.
Click here to download the report as a pdf
Systematic List
| PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae | ||
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | |
| CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae | ||
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | |
| Intermediate Egret | Egretta intermedia | |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | |
| Chinese Pond Heron | Ardeola bacchus | |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus [ibis] coromandus | |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | |
| CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae | ||
| Oriental Stork | Ciconia boyciana | |
| ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae | ||
| Mandarin Duck | Aix galericulata | |
| Chinese Spot-bill | Anas zonorhyncha | |
| FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae | ||
| Black-eared Kite | Milvus [migrans] lineatus | |
| Crested Serpent-Eagle | Spilornis cheela | |
| Chinese Goshawk | Accipiter soloensis | |
| Black Eagle | Ictinaetus malayensis | |
| Mountain Hawk Eagle | Spizaetus nipalensis | |
| FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae | ||
| Pied Falconet | Microhierax melanoleucos | |
| GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae | ||
| Rickett's Hill Partridge | Arborophila gingica | |
| Chinese Bamboo Partridge | Bambusicola thoracicus | |
| Cabot's Tragopan | Tragopan caboti | |
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | |
| GRUIFORMES: Rallidae | ||
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
| CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae | ||
| Pheasant-tailed Jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus | |
| CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae | ||
| Grey-headed Lapwing | Vanellus cinereus | |
| Long-billed Plover | Charadrius placidus | |
| Little Ringed Plover | Charadrius dubius | heard only |
| CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae | ||
| Terek Sandpiper | Xenus cinereus | |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | |
| Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | |
| Spotted Redshank | Tringa erythropus | |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | |
| Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis | |
| CHARADRIIFORMES: Sternidae | ||
| White-winged Tern | Chlidonias leucopterus | |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida | |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons | |
| COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae | ||
| Oriental Turtle Dove | Streptopelia orientalis | |
| Spotted Dove | Streptopelia chinensis | |
| Barred Cuckoo Dove | Macropygia unchall | heard only |
| CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae | ||
| Large Hawk Cuckoo | Cuculus sparverioides | heard only |
| Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo | Cuculus nisicolor | |
| Indian Cuckoo | Cuculus micropterus | |
| Oriental Cuckoo | Cuculus saturatus | heard only |
| Lesser Cuckoo | Cuculus poliocephalus | |
| Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopaceus | heard only |
| Lesser Coucal | Centropus bengalensis | heard only |
| STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae | ||
| Oriental Scops Owl | Otus sunia | heard only |
| Collared Owlet | Glaucidium brodiei | heard only |
| Asian Barred Owlet | Glaucidium cuculoides | |
| CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae | ||
| Grey Nightjar | Caprimulgus indicus | heard only |
| APODIFORMES: Apodidae | ||
| Pacific Swift | Apus pacificus | |
| House Swift | Apus nipalensis | |
| CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae | ||
| Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | |
| White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis | |
| Black-capped Kingfisher | Halcyon pileata | |
| Crested Kingfisher | Megaceryle lugubris | |
| Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | |
| CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae | ||
| Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis | |
| PICIFORMES: Capitonidae | ||
| Great Barbet | Megalaima virens | |
| PICIFORMES: Picidae | ||
| Grey-capped Woodpecker | Dendrocopos canicapillus | |
| White-backed Woodpecker | Dendrocopos leucotos | |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos major | |
| Grey-faced Woodpecker | Picus canus | |
| Bay Woodpecker | Blythipicus pyrrhotis | heard only |
| PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae | ||
| Sand Martin | Riparia riparia | |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | |
| Asian House Martin | Delichon dasypus | |
| Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica japonica | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae | ||
| Rosy Pipit | Anthus roseatus | |
| White Wagtail | Motacilla alba alboides | |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae | ||
| Black-winged Cuckooshrike | Coracina melaschistos | |
| Swinhoe's Minivet | Pericrocotus cantonensis | |
| Grey-chinned Minivet | Pericrocotus solaris | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae | ||
| Collared Finchbill | Spizixos semitorques | |
| Brown-breasted Bulbul | Pycnonotus xanthorrhous | |
| Chinese Bulbul | Pycnonotus sinensis | |
| Mountain Bulbul | Ixos mcclellandii | |
| Chestnut Bulbul | Hemixos castanonotus | |
| Black Bulbul | Hypsipetes leucocephalus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae | ||
| Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush | Monticola rufiventris | |
| Blue Whistling Thrush | Myophonus caeruleus | |
| Chinese Blackbird | Turdus mandarinus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae | ||
| Zitting Cisticola | Cisticola juncidis | |
| Striated Prinia | Prinia crinigera | |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia | Prinia flaviventris | |
| Plain Prinia | Prinia inornata | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae | ||
| Manchurian Bush Warbler | Cettia canturians | |
| Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler | Cettia fortipes | heard only |
| Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler | Cettia acanthizoides | |
| Brown Bush Warbler | Bradypterus luteoventris | |
| Black-browed Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus bistrigiceps | |
| Oriental Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus orientalis | |
| Buff-throated Warbler | Phylloscopus subaffinis | |
| Pale-legged Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus tenellipes | |
| Hartet's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus goodsoni fokiensis | |
| Kloss's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus ogilviegranti ogilviegranti | |
| Alstrom's Warbler | Seicercus soror | |
| Bianchi's Warbler | Seicercus valentini latouchei | |
| White-spectacled Warbler | Seicercus affinis intermedius | |
| Chestnut-crowned Warbler | Seicercus castaniceps | |
| Rufous-faced Warbler | Abroscopus albogularis | |
| Japanese Swamp Warbler | Megalurus pryeri | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae | ||
| Dark-sided Flycatcher | Muscicapa sibirica | |
| Ferruginous Flycatcher | Muscicapa ferruginea | |
| Verditer Flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus | heard only |
| Small Niltava | Niltava macgrigoriae | |
| Fujian Niltava | Niltava davidi | |
| Oriental Magpie Robin | Copsychus saularis | |
| Daurian Redstart | Phoenicurus auroreus | heard only |
| Plumbeous Redstart | Rhyacornis fuliginosa | |
| Spotted Forktail | Enicurus maculatus | |
| Siberian Stonechat | Saxicola maurus | |
| Grey Bushchat | Saxicola ferreus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae | ||
| Courtois's Laughingthrush | Dryonastes courtoisi | |
| Masked Laughingthrush | Garrulax perspicillatus | |
| Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush | Garrulax pectoralis | |
| Chinese Hwamei | Leucodioptron canorus | |
| White-browed Laughingthrush | Pterohinus sannio | |
| Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus swinhoei | |
| Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus ruficollis | |
| Pygmy Wren Babbler | Pnoepyga pusilla | |
| Spotted Wren Babbler | Spelaeornis formosus | |
| Rufous-capped Babbler | Stachyris ruficeps | |
| Red-billed Leiothrix | Leiothrix lutea | |
| White-browed Shrike Babbler | Pteruthius flaviscapis | |
| Green Shrike Babbler | Pteruthius xanthochlorus | |
| Fujian Fulvetta | Fulvetta [cinereiceps] guttaticollis | |
| Dusky Fulvetta | Schoeniparus brunnea | |
| Pere David's Fulvetta | Alcippe [morrisonia] hueti | |
| Striated Yuhina | Yuhina castaniceps | |
| Black-chinned Yuhina | Yuhina nigrimenta | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Paradoxornithidae | ||
| Reed Parrotbill | Paradoxornis heudei | |
| Vinous-throated Parrotbill | Sinornis webbianus | |
| Golden Parrotbill | Sinornis verreauxi | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Aegithalidae | ||
| Black-throated Tit | Aegithalos concinnus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Paridae | ||
| Coal Tit | Periparus ater kuatunensis | |
| Japanese Tit | Parus minor comixtus | |
| Yellow-cheeked Tit | Parus spilonotus | |
| Yellow-browed Tit | Sylviparus modestus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae | ||
| Chestnut-vented Nuthatch | Sitta nagaensis | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae | ||
| Fire-breasted Flowerpecker | Dicaeum ignipectum | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae | ||
| Japanese White-eye | Zosterops japonicus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae | ||
| Black-naped Oriole | Oriolus chinensis | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae | ||
| Tiger Shrike | Lanius tigrinus | |
| Brown Shrike | Lanius cristatus | |
| Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae | ||
| Black Drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus | |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae | ||
| Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius sinensis | |
| Red-billed Blue Magpie | Urocissa erythrorhyncha | |
| Grey Treepie | Dendrocitta formosae | heard only |
| Eurasian Magpie | Pica pica | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae | ||
| Crested Myna | Acridotheres cristatellus | |
| Chestnut-cheeked Starling | Sturnus philippensis | |
| White-cheeked Starling | Sturnus cineraceus | |
| Red-billed Starling | Sturnus sericeus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae | ||
| Russet Sparrow | Passer rutilans | |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae | ||
| White-rumped Munia | Lonchura striata | |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae | ||
| Grey-capped Greenfinch | Carduelis sinica | |
| PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae | ||
| Black-faced Bunting | Emberiza spodocephala | |
| 163 Species recorded including 14 heard only | ||
| MAMMALS | ||
| Tufted Deer | Elaphodus cephalophus | |
| Swinhoe's Striped Squirrel | Tamiops swinhoei | |
| Perny's Squirrel | Dremomys pernyi | |
Courtois’s Laughingthrush © Rob Hutchinson / Birdtour Asia
We shall be running scheduled tours to south-east China from 2010, including the areas visited in this report plus White-eared Night Heron, Reeve’s Pheasant, Fairy Pitta and Blyth’s Kingfisher. Please keep checking the Birdtour Asia website for announcements or contact us via email or telephone: +44 1332 516254.
