DOCSLIB.ORG

Circus Aeruginosus

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Circus Aeruginosus Circus aeruginosus -- (Linnaeus, 1758) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- ACCIPITRIFORMES -- ACCIPITRIDAE Common names: Western Marsh-harrier; Busard des roseaux; Eurasian Marsh Harrier; Marsh Harrier; Western Marsh Harrier European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Moldova; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Canary Is. (to ES); Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Andorra; Faroe Islands (to DK); Iceland Population The European population is estimated at 99,300-184,000 breeding females, which equates to 199,000-367,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 37,700-87,800 breeding females, which equates to 75,500-176,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology It is mainly migratory, although populations in western Europe are generally resident (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta et al. 2014). Migrant birds leave their breeding grounds in September and October, wintering from France south as far as sub-Saharan Africa (Orta et al. 2014). They begin their return journey in February and March, arriving in March and April (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta et al. 2014). Migration is generally on a broad front, although there is some concentration at a few sites (Brown et al. 1982). Hundreds of birds occasionally gather at roosting sites, sometimes with other harriers such as C. pygargus, but otherwise they are usually solitary, associating only temporarily at especially rich feeding sites (Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta et al. 2014). They have a slightly greater tendency to be gregarious while on migration but the above still generally applies. Birds fly c.10–30 m above the ground (Brown et al. 1982). The species inhabits extensive areas of dense marsh vegetation, in fresh or brackish water, generally in lowlands (Orta et al. 2014), up to 400 m (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). It is a generalist predator taking a variety of prey types, with small birds generally preferred but mammals such as voles, rabbits and rats being more important in parts of its range. The nest is a pile of reeds built in dense marsh vegetation. Typically lays three to six eggs (Orta et al. 2014). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands major non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) major non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Inland Deltas suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Inland Deltas suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent/Irregular Rivers/Streams/Creeks suitable non-breeding Altitude 0-400 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats Major threats include wetland desiccation and drainage; persecution by shooting; pollution, especially from excessive pesticide use in and around wetlands, and poisoning by heavy metals, notably the consumption of lead-shot through feeding on contaminated waterbirds (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001, Orta et al. 2014). The historical threat of hunting in southern Europe has mostly subsided, but illegal shooting is still rife locally, notably on Malta (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The species is also highly vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy development (Strix 2012). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Biological resource Hunting & trapping Timing Scope Severity Impact use terrestrial animals Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact (persecution/ Declines control) Stresses Species mortality Energy production Renewable energy Timing Scope Severity Impact & mining Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Species mortality Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact (unknown use) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Pollution Herbicides and Timing Scope Severity Impact pesticides Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact Declines Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects Pollution Industrial & military Timing Scope Severity Impact effluents (type Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact unknown/ Declines unrecorded) Stresses Indirect ecosystem effects Conservation Conservation Actions Underway Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. CITES Appendix II. CMS Appendix II. The widespread ban of persistent pesticides has allowed the recovery of populations in some areas (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997, Orta et al. 2014). In the Netherlands, parts of the Ijsselmeer have been reclaimed, providing huge reedbeds and thus breeding and feeding habitat for the species (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). The use of lead shot has been completely banned in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway and partial bans are in place in many other countries (AEWA 2009). Conservation Actions Proposed Conservation of this species’s wetland habitat is most important; existing wetlands should be legally protected and degraded wetlands restored. In agricultural areas, an unharvested area should be left around active nests of 30 m x 30 m until the chicks have fledged (Mebs and Schmidt 2006). Lead free ammunition should be banned completely across the species’s range. Bibliography AEWA (2009). Phasing out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetland: Experiences made and lessons learned by AEWA range states. Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (UNEP/AEWA). Brown, L. H.; Urban, E. K.; Newman, K. 1982. The birds of Africa vol I. Academic Press, London. Ferguson-Lees, J.; Christie, D. A. 2001. Raptors of the world. Christopher Helm, London. Hagemeijer, W.J.M. & Blair, M.J. (1997) The EBCC Atlas of European Breeding Birds: Their Distribution and Abundance. T & A D Poyser, London. Mebs, T. & Schmidt, D. (2006). Die Greifvögel Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens. Kosmos Verlag. Orta, J., Boesman, P. & Marks, J.S. (2014). Western Marsh-harrier (Circus aeruginosus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.) (2014). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/53021 on 13 March 2015). Snow, D. W.; Perrins, C. M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Strix. 2012. Developing and testing the methodology for assessing and mapping the sensitivity of migratory birds to wind energy development. BirdLife International, Cambridge. Map (see overleaf) .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Eastern Marsh Harrier Chu-Hi (Jpn) Circus Spilonotus Morphology and Classification Still Undiscovered Nesting Grounds in Hokkaido in Particular
    Bird Research News Vol.7 No.5 2010.5.20. Eastern Marsh Harrier Chu-hi (Jpn) Circus spilonotus Morphology and classification still undiscovered nesting grounds in Hokkaido in particular. The total population of the species wintering in Japan, on the other hand, has not been counted except for the roosting number of some Classification: Accipitriformes Accipitridae areas, such as Watarase Marsh, Tochigi Pref., central Japan. Total length: ♂ 480mm ♀ 580mm Wing length: 380-430mm Wingspan: 1132-1372mm Nest: Tail length: 215-262mm Culmen length: 28-31mm They build a nest in wet reed beds or the dry tall grassland of Japa- Tarsus length: 85-91mm Weight: 498-844g nese pampas grass (Miscanthus sinensis), etc., piling up dry grass on the ground (Nishide 1979, Tada 2007, Naya et. al. 2007, Chiba Measurements after Enomoto (1941). 2008). The nest size is about 110-130cm by 80-90cm (Chiba 2008, Naya et al. 2007). Appearance: The plumage coloration of East- Egg: ern Marsh Harriers is basically They lay an egg at 3.3 day intervals on average (Nishide 1979). brownish, but varies considera- The clutch size is 4-7 eggs (Chiba 2008, Nishide 1979). The egg bly (Morioka et al. 1995). There size is 48.0mm by 38.0mm on average (n = 5) (Chiba 2008). The are types such as totally dark egg color is grayish white (Chiba 2008). brown, off-white from the head to the leading edge of a wing, Incubation and nestling periods: and pale brown with a vertical- Females mostly incubate eggs. The incubation period is about 28- striped underpart, bluish gray 34 days (Chiba 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Circus Approximans) in New Zealand
    136 Notornis, 2008, Vol. 55: 136-139 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. Relative abundance of Australasian harriers (Circus approximans) in New Zealand WADE L. EAKLE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Pacific Division, 1455 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 U.S.A. [email protected] Abstract I conducted road counts on the North I and South I of New Zealand in Mar 2006 to evaluate relative abundance and distribution of Australasian harriers (Circus approximans). Over 1670 km were traveled on the North I with 98 harriers detected, yielding 1 harrier/17.0 km traveled. Over 2430 km were traveled on the South I with 145 harriers detected, yielding 1 harrier/16.8 km traveled, with no difference in number of harriers detected/km traveled between islands (P > 0.25). Three survey routes, 1 on southeastern North I and 2 on northeastern and east-central South I, were particularly productive yielding 1 harrier/7.1-11.1 km traveled. My results provide empirical support for the frequently cited description that the Australasian harrier is now New Zealand’s most abundant native diurnal raptor, and has largely benefited from the conversion of land from native forest and scrub to pasture at the likely expense of other native and endemic species. Eakle, W.L. 2008. Relative abundance of Australasian harriers (Circus approximans) in New Zealand. Notornis 55(3): 136-139. Keywords Australasian harrier; Circus approximans; abundance; road counts; New Zealand INTRODUCTION and South Is, while the endemic New Zealand The South Pacific islands of New Zealand, including falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) is described as the larger North and South Is, the Chatham Is, and uncommon and less widespread.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nest, Eggs, and Diet of the Papuan Harrier from Eastern New Guinea
    J. Raptor Res. 44(1):12–18 E 2010 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. THE NEST, EGGS, AND DIET OF THE PAPUAN HARRIER FROM EASTERN NEW GUINEA ROBERT E. SIMMONS1 DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa ABSTRACT.—The Papuan Harrier (Circus spilonotus spilothorax), currently classified as a subspecies of the Eastern Marsh-Harrier (C. spilonotus), is endemic to the island of New Guinea and may be in need of conservation attention because of threats from grassland burning. I here detail the discovery of the first known nests in lowland Papua New Guinea and provide egg dimensions and prey data. Both nests were initiated in early April, in damp rank grassland, and contained three small chicks in mid-May. The only egg measurements, combined with one previously published record, suggest large egg volume and concomitant large female body size (estimated to be ca. 890 g). At this size, this may be the world’s largest harrier. Fire destroyed both nests within 5 wk of their discovery. An atypically slow foraging style and a preponderance of game birds and large rats (Rattus spp.) in the pellets and prey remains are consistent with large body size. Further studies of the bird’s ecology and breeding are needed for a comprehensive understanding of its conservation status and threats to its population. KEY WORDS: Papuan Harrier; Circus spilonotus spilothorax; Eastern Marsh-Harrier; Circus spilonotus; body size; diet; egg size; foraging; Papua New Guinea. NIDO, HUEVOS Y DIETA DE CIRCUS SPILONOTUS SPILOTHORAX DEL ESTE DE NUEVA GUINEA RESUMEN.—Circus spilonotus spilothorax, actualmente clasificada como una subespecie de C.
    [Show full text]
  • Harrier References
    Introduction This is the final version of the Harrier's list, no further updates will be made. Grateful thanks to Wietze Janse and Tom Shevlin (www.irishbirds.ie) for the cover images and all those who responded with constructive feedback. All images © the photographers. Please note that this and other Reference Lists I have compiled are not exhaustive and are best employed in conjunction with other sources. Joe Hobbs Index The general order of species follows the International Ornithologists' Union World Bird List (Gill, F. & Donsker, D. (eds.) 2019. IOC World Bird List. Available from: https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ [version 9.1 accessed January 2019]). Final Version Version 1.4 (January 2019). Cover Main image: Western Marsh Harrier. Zevenhoven, Groene Jonker, Netherlands. 3rd May 2011. Picture by Wietze Janse. Vignette: Montagu’s Harrier. Great Saltee Island, Co. Wexford, Ireland. 10th May 2008. Picture by Tom Shevlin. Species Page No. African Marsh Harrier [Circus ranivorus] 8 Black Harrier [Circus maurus] 10 Cinereous Harrier [Circus cinereus] 17 Eastern Marsh Harrier [Circus spilonotus] 6 Hen Harrier [Circus cyaneus] 11 Long-winged Harrier [Circus buffoni] 9 Malagasy Harrier [Circus macrosceles] 9 Montagu's Harrier [Circus pygargus] 20 Northern Harrier [Circus hudsonius] 16 Pallid Harrier [Circus macrourus] 18 Papuan Harrier [Circus spilothorax] 7 Pied Harrier [Circus melanoleucos] 20 Réunion Harrier [Circus maillardi] 9 Spotted Harrier [Circus assimilis] 9 Swamp Harrier [Circus approximans] 7 Western Marsh Harrier [Circus aeruginosus] 4 1 Relevant Publications Balmer, D. et al. 2013. Bird Atlas 2001-11: The breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland. BTO Books, Thetford. Beaman, M.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Determination in the Western Marsh Harrier (Circus Aeruginosus ) Using Morphometrics and Discriminant Analysis
    J. Raptor Res. 40(1):000–000 E 2006 The Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. GENDER DETERMINATION IN THE WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS ) USING MORPHOMETRICS AND DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS CHRISTIAN BAVOUX Le Marais aux Oiseaux, Les Grissotie`res, 17550 Dolus-d’Ole´ron, France GUY BURNELEAU 2, rue du Port de Chiffeu, Mauzac, 17320 Saint-Just-Luzac, France VINCENT BRETAGNOLLE1 Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chize´, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 79360 Beauvoir-sur-Niort, France ABSTRACT.—When adult, the gender of Western Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) are determined on the basis of the presence of gray feathers on the wing and on the tail in the males. However, males of this species in southwestern France have female-like plumages, lacking gray feathers, and thus, gender determination is impossible by using coloration alone. We investigated sex determination using biometric parameters in a study site located in southwestern France. From one to six measurements (body mass, bill length, wing chord length, tarsus length and width, and tail length) were taken from 243 marsh harriers of known gender (156 males and 87 females), marked in the study site, and subsequently re-sighted. Additionally, 30 marsh harriers specimens were measured by two observers to establish within and between observer repeatability values, as well as within bird repeatability for the six biometric parameters. Using quadratic Discriminant Analysis, we showed that it was possible to sex individuals of this species with .99% accuracy on the basis of only two parameters: bill length and body mass. Actually, using bill length alone provides very good indication of gender (accuracy .
    [Show full text]
  • 112 Western Marsh Harrier Put Your Logo Here
    Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze Sponsor is needed. Write your name here 112 Western Marsh Harrier Put your logo here SIMILAR SPECIES Males of Montagu’s Harrier and Hen Ha- rrier are pale lack of brown colour on wings and body; females and juveniles of Montagu’s Harrier and Hen Harrier have white rumps and lack of pale patch on head and forearms. Montagu’s Harrier. Adult. Male Marsh Harrier. Adult. Male (09-II). WESTERN MARSH HARRIER (Circus aeruginosus ) IDENTIFICATION 44-56 cm. Adult male with pale head; chestnut upperparts; grey wings with black tips; pale blue-grey tail; brown reddish underparts. Fe- male dark brown with pale crown, throat and forewings. Juvenile similar to a female . Montagu’s Harrier. Adult. Marsh Harrier. Female Adult. Male: pat- tern of head and wing. Hen Harrier. Adult. Male. Marsh Harrier. Adult. Female: pattern of head and wing. Hen Harrier. Adult. Female. http://blascozumeta.com Write your website here Page 1 Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze Sponsor is needed. Write your name here 112 Western Marsh Harrier Put your logo here SEXING All ages, in extreme birds, can be sexed by wing length: male with wing shorter than 390 Marsh Harrier. mm; female with wing longer than 410 mm. Ageing. Pat- tern of the outermost tail AGEING feather: left 3 age groups in females and 4 in males can be adult female; recognized: right juvenile. Juvenile with one age of very fresh feathers, without moult limits; dark brown iris; tip of greater and primary coverts forming a clear thin line; from below, flight feathers pale grey- brown being secondaries with the same colour than primaries; dark brown tail.
    [Show full text]
  • How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring
    2014 BOOK REVIEWS 303 A Sparrowhawk’s Lament – How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring By David Cobham. 2014. Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, NJ, USA, 08540-5237. 256 pages, 35.00 USD, Cloth. There are 15 species of breeding hawks in the UK birders in Assam I was mildly reproached for not show- and I have seen them all, but only 13 in Britain. Ex - ing wild enthusiasm for the daily Osprey sighting. Most ploring the plains of southern England my compan- summer days I am in the field I see half a dozen or ion and I spotted a Montague’s Harrier. As it was fly- more birds as I live in ideal habitat. ing away we used the leap-frog technique (one person David Cobham describes the status of each of the watching with other running to keep with the bird. 15 breeding, diurnal raptors in turn (Red Kite, White When the runner stopped and had the bird in sight the tailed Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Har- second person became the runner). After a few ex - rier, Hen Harrier, Northern Goshawk changes we were close to the harrier and I had just Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Euro- caught up with my friend when I saw he was about to pean Honey Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey, Common sit on an Adder (a venomous snake). I pushed him side- Kestrel, Merlin, Eurasian Hobby and Peregrine). His ways and in the confusion we lost the bird, but gained descriptions are detailed, accurate and reveal that he a story.
    [Show full text]
  • BB March 2013
    Plumage variability in Marsh Harriers Jean-François Blanc, Audrey Sternalski and Vincent Bretagnolle Abstract The Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus is typically illustrated in field guides as a sexually dimorphic species, with several age classes identifiable by differences in plumage pattern and colour. In some populations, however, such as the one we studied in west-central France, the species can show extreme plumage variability in adult males and, to a lesser extent, in adult females. Our study population is markedly polymorphic, with highly distinct patterns of coloration and almost continuous individual variation between those different morphs. Barely a single adult male looks like a typical ‘field-guide male’. Since this plumage variability is independent of age and sex, it is almost impossible to age birds solely from their plumage, which contradicts the established view. We highlight the difficulties of ageing and sexing Marsh Harriers by plumage only, and advocate the recognition of this species as polymorphic, at least in some parts of its range. Introduction Forsman 1999). Both sexes become some - The Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus is typi - what paler with age, which may be more pro - cally illustrated as a sexually dimorphic nounced in males than in females (Forsman species in the literature, with distinctive adult 1999; van Duivendijk 2011). Despite recent male, adult female and juvenile plumages advances in digital technology, no recent (e.g. Cramp & Simmons 1980, Forsman publications or reviews based on photo - 1999, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001, van graphic evidence have acknowledged the Duivendijk 2011). Adult males are typically existence of individual plumages that do not trichromatic, with black wing-tips, brown fit this classic view, even though discrepan - upperwing-coverts and silvery-grey mid- cies may occur at the population level (see wing and tail, whereas adult females are below).
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus Spilonotus Photographed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Southern India Gnanaskandan Kesavabharathi & Chandrashekar Sundaram
    KESAVABHARATHI & SUNDARAM: Eastern Marsh Harrier 75 Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus photographed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, southern India Gnanaskandan Kesavabharathi & Chandrashekar Sundaram Kesavabharathi, G., & Sundaram, C., 2016. Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus photographed in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, southern India. Indian BIRDS 11 (3): 75–76. Gnanaskandan Kesavabharathi, No. 2B Mithila Block, Saibrindavan Apartments, Ramakrishna Nagar, 2nd Main Road, Adambakkam, Chennai 600088, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected] [GK] Chandrashekar Sundaram, No. 18, Thilakar Street, Krishna Nagar Extension, Ullagaram, Chennai 600091, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected][CS] Manuscript received on 20 February 2016. he Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus was formerly considered a conspecific of the Western Marsh HarrierCircus Taeruginosus. It has been considered a winter visitor to parts of north–eastern India, but is a vagrant elsewhere (Ali & Ripley 2001;Grimmett et al. 2001; Naoroji 2006). In fact, Rasmussen & Anderton (2005) listed this species as hypothetical since there were no established specimens from South Asia. However, they included it in the second edition of their work (Rasmussen & Anderton 2012) on the basis of a recent photograph (see below). While sub-adults of the species are harder to separate from either the Western Marsh-, or the Pied Harrier C. melanoleucos, identification of adult birds is generally straightforward. Here we report a first sighting of an adult male Eastern Marsh Harrier, with photographic evidence, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 93. On 06 February 2016, we sighted an Eastern Marsh Harrier male flying on the periphery of a lake near Irungattukottai, Chennai (13.02°N, 79.98°E); CS photographed it [92-94].
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern China
    The magnificent Reeves's Pheasant was one of the many specialties seen on this tour (Brendan Ryan). EASTERN CHINA 3 – 27 MAY 2017 LEADER: HANNU JÄNNES Birdquest’s Eastern China tour, an epic 25 day journey across much of eastern China, focusses on an array of rare Chinese endemics and migrants, and this year’s tour once again proved a great success. The focus of the first part of the tour is to achieve good views of rarities like Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the critically endangered Blue-crowned (Courtois’s) Laughingthrush, the superb Cabot’s Tragopan and Elliot’s Pheasant and the ultra-rare Chinese Crested Tern. This was successfully achieved alongside a plethora of other much sought after species including White-faced Plover, Great Knot, stunning Saunders’s Gulls, Reed Parrotbill, eastern migrants, including Pechora Pipit, Japanese Robin, Japanese Paradise, Yellow-rumped, Narcissus and Mugimaki Flycatchers, and forest species like Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher, White-necklaced Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Buffy and Moustached Laughingthrushes, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Fork-tailed Sunbird and the delightful Pied Falconet. Quite a haul! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Eastern China 2017 www.birdquest-tours.com Crested Ibis at Dongzhai Nature Reserve (Brendan Ryan). The second part of the tour, the ‘Northeast Extension’, visited a series of sites for various other Chinese specialities. Beginning in Wuhan, we bagged the amazing Reeves’s Pheasant and Crested Ibis, as well as stunners that included Fairy Pitta and Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. We then moved on to Jiaocheng for the fabulous Brown Eared Pheasants before flying on to Beijing, where the mountains of the nearby Hebei province yielded the endemic Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Green-backed and Zappey’s Flycatchers and the rare Grey-sided Thrush.
    [Show full text]
  • Harrier in India, Pale Bands, Which Narrow Down Towards Body
    in A Field Guide in Eco ch log ar y e a s n e d R E r n o v f i r y n t m e Hkkjrh; oU;tho laLFkku i e c natural IUCN n o t RESERCH LTD Wildlife Institute of India The World Conservation S SREE Enhancing Our Heritage: Managing and Monitoring Acknowledgements The following organizations are sincerely thanked for the assistance for Success in Natural World Heritage Sites provided during the field studies carried out from 1996 to 2007, based on which this field guide has been produced: US Fish and Wildlife Service, USA especially David Ferguson; Natural The Team Research Limited, UK especially Drs. Beatriz Arroyo, Mike J MacGrady, Mike Madders; Rufford Foundation, UK especially Josh Cole; Bombay Sh. P.R. Sinha Project Leader Natural History Society, Mumbai especially Dr. V.P. Mathur; Conservation Society for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Bangalore; Ashoka Trust for Research Dr. Marc Hockings in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore especially Dr. T. Project Manager Ganesh; International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Dr. V.B. Mathur (ICRISAT), Pathancheru especially Dr. G.V. Rangarao Reddy and Society Project Co-ordinator for Research in Ecology and Environment (SREE), Bharatpur, and Forest Sh. B.C. Choudhury Departments of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Project Co-coordinator Karnataka. Dr. Ashok Verma Project Associate Sincere thanks are due to Sh. P.R. Sinha, Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun for his constant encouragement and to Dr. V.B. Mathur, Dean, Wildlife Institute of India for his valuable advise and guidance in the preparation of this field guide.
    [Show full text]
  • Flight Identification of European Raptors Steen Christensen, Bent Pars Nielsen, R
    Flight identification of European raptors Steen Christensen, Bent Pars Nielsen, R. F. Porter and Ian Willis PART 4. HARRIERS We now turn to the four harriers Circus, a genus associated with exten­ sive reedbeds, cornfields and moorland, not requiring trees or cliffs as do most raptors. Three—Marsh C. aeruginosas, Hen C. cyanms and Montagu's C. pjgargus—are comparatively common, but the Pallid C. macrourus is much rarer (mainly east Europe). All invariably soar and normally glide with wings raised in a shallow V, and this and their long wings and tail distinguish them from other birds of prey. The only other similar-sized raptors to soar on raised wings are the buzzards, particularly Buteo buteo (part 1), but they have short tails more fully spread and glide on flat wings. Male harriers are not difficult to identify with reasonable views, but the females and immatures of Hen, Montagu's and Pallid must often be grouped as 'ringtails' unless the head and neck pattern is seen. Fig. 3 5 below shows the head-on profiles. Figs. 36A-36D on page 234 compare the four males, and 36E-36F the heads of the three 'ringtail' females; the facing text on page Z35 comments on the main features, and outlines the areas of Europe, the Middle East and north Africa in which each species may be seen. Figs. 37-44 on pages 237-247, supported by plates 41-44, illustrate the under- and uppersides in various plumages. See also the definitions on page 53 of part 3. A B Fig. 35, Head-on profiles of harriers: (A) typical soaring and gliding with wings in shallow V; all species, though particularly the Hen Harrier Circus cyatiem, occa­ sionally hold the wings flat (B) or very occasionally even bowed (c), but only when gliding, never when soaring 233 A B C D E F G Fig.
    [Show full text]