The Yin Ping Shan Forest Park is situated in Dongguan. The northern side is called the Xiegang section and the southern side is called the Qingxi Section (named after its nearby towns). The peak (890m high) is in between these two sections. The forest is a young secondary forest, something like those around Tai Tam / Aberdeen Reservoir. Rhodoleia championii were flowering (quite common along the trail, probably planted). Large trees (trunk diameter >300mm) were mostly found on upper part over 600 m. Walled terraces were found around 400 m asl, probably were once terraced tea areas. If so, the deforestation may take place earlier than 1949. According to a signage, the Eagle Owl, Green Imperial Pigeon and Elliot’s Pheasant (!?) were once recorded at this area. Details about the forest can be viewed at http://118.145.16.229:81/Jweb_sp ... 09-7791.2013.04.015
The South China Institute of Endangered Animals recorded 105 bird species around 2010. The results were published at this book <东莞市银瓶山自然保护区动物多样性与保护>
We (myself and another birder) visited this Forest Park (about 55 km away fr Tai Po Kau) on 21 Feb 2015. We took train from Lowu to Zangmutou (20 mins, RMB 39.5) and then taxi (15 mins, RMB 70). The main entrance is 3 km after the checkpoint (the taxi driver did not know this and we have to walk this 3 km distance). After entering into the forest park, you could take shuttles (5 mins, RMB 8) to the starting point of the uphill trail. The uphill trail is about 5 km long, the first 3.5 km is ok but the rest one to the top 890m is very steep and birdless. When downhill, we took another trail which is quieter than the main trail.
Ying Ping Shan is a popular hiking spot and thousands of people were with us during our visit (like Ocean Park on the 3rd day of CNY). In general, we found 34 birds (a lot of them are not forest birds). The most frequently encountered birds (seen more than 10 times during the trip) are white-eye, fork-tailed sunbird, red-whiskered bulbuls, Chestnut bulbuls and Red-billed Leiothrix. After that are Great Tit, Minivets, Orange-bellied Leafbird and Mountain Bulbul (seen 5 -9 times). The only highlight is a slaty-backed Forktail. It was found at a gentle stream (not much water, like those on Lantau/Sai Kung). The difference is most such streams in HK are quite steep but this one is gentle.
[ Last edited by wcaptain at 23/02/2015 16:20 ] Author: wcaptain Time: 23/02/2015 14:39
1 Asian Barred Owlet 斑頭鵂鶹 heard only, near the edge of the forest park, also in the lowland part (200 m asl)
2 Orange-bellied Leafbird 橙腹葉鵯 M near the flowering Rhodoleia championii
3 Black Kite 黑鳶 circulating around one hill top
4 Bay Woodpecker 黃嘴栗啄木鳥 one large, pale brown bird in the mist. Quite likely this bird
5 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
6 House Swift 小白腰雨燕
7 Blue Magpie 紅嘴藍鵲 near the edge part
8 Slaty-backed Forktail 灰背燕尾 the stream between the carpark and the uphill trail. The stream is not well-wooded and the flow is low
9 Grey-chinned Minivet 灰喉山椒鳥 M generally around the flowering Rhodoleia championii
10 Scarlet Minivet 赤紅山椒鳥 M generally around the flowering Rhodoleia championii
11 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾 near the edge of the forest park
12 Grey Treepie 灰樹鵲 heard once at about 400 m asl
13 Masked Laughtingthrush 黑臉噪鶥 near the edge of the forest park
14 Cinereous Tit 蒼背山雀 M
15 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯 F
16 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
17 Mountain Bulbul 綠翅短腳鵯 M about 10 birds were found on a flowering tree Rhodoleia championii
18 Chestnut Bulbul 栗背短腳鵯 F
19 Black Bulbul 黑短腳鵯 about 450 m asl
20 Sooty-headed Bulbul 白喉紅臀鵯 outside the forest park
21 Pygmy Wren-babbler 小鷦鶥 several calls, not as common as Tai Po Kau
22 Brown-flanked Bush Warbler 強腳樹鶯 Common at 800 m asl. But also heard at about 300 m asl
23 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯 one bird in a large flock of Jap white-eye
24 Yellow-browed Warbler 黃眉柳鶯 one bird in a large flock of Jap white-eye
25 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹鷦鶯
26 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯
27 Red-billed Leiothrix 紅嘴相思鳥 F very common, likely to be the key bird species in the understorey
28 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥 F
29 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇
30 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
31 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 紅胸啄花鳥
32 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥 F
33 Grey Wagtail 灰鶺鴒
34 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚
看到灰背燕尾的溪流 The stream where the slaty-backed Forktail was seen Author: ddavid Time: 23/02/2015 19:16
Captain
Very interesting. Can I ask - what is the current status of Red-billed Leiothrix? Are the birds at Yin Ping Shan considered to derive from released/escaped birds or could they possibly be of natural occurrence?
David
[ Last edited by ddavid at 24/02/2015 00:14 ] Author: wcaptain Time: 24/02/2015 10:30
The record committee or other experts are in better position than me to address this question.
After the visit, I have also thought this question. If Pekin Robin (I like the old name) is really captive origin in HK, why it appears to be widespread in nearby Guangdong? No exotic forest birds in HK, except Pekin Robin and a lesser extent Blue-winged Minla, can go beyond the HK boundary.
It may be too earlier to make the conclusion. We may visit more sites first. My thoughts are
(1) Pekin Robin is a popular bird release target in HK and Guangdong. People like to release colourful birds (A monk has told me that they liked to purchase such colourful birds for release). They do well in Guangdong because of few other exotics.
(2) Pekin Robin is a popular bird release target in HK. They are very successful and their dispersal ability is great and so can colonize nearby areas in Guangdong
(3) Pekin Robin is native to Guangdong. They arrived HK by themselves, but just conincided with bird release events in HK. The low population level in HK is because of the competition with other exotics (Silver eared Mesia and Blue-winged Minla).
Genetic studies may help address this question...... Author: kmatthew Time: 24/10/2015 20:06
24/10/2015
Bay Woodpecker
Lesser Shortwing
Mountain Tailorbird
Daurian Redstart
Grey-chinned Minivet
Red-billed Leiothrix
Also (Without Photos): Chestnut-collared Yuhina, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Mountain Bulbul, Radde's Warbler, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Buff-bellied Flowerpecker, Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie Author: kmike Time: 24/10/2015 22:08
Great shot of the Pekin Robin
Cheers
Mike Author: kmatthew Time: 25/10/2015 08:53
Thanks Mike! Captain's got a much better Bay Woodpecker photo then I did, see if he will post that later. The forest park is certainly under birded, as I understand Radde's Warbler was not on their official bird list. Author: wcaptain Time: 25/10/2015 21:09
Welcome to HKBWS Forum 香港觀鳥會討論區 (http://hkbws.org.hk/BBS/)
The forest park is certainly under birded, as I understand Radde's Warbler was not on their official bird list.