Nanao Town
Little Egret Few observed from pier
Great Egret Few observed from pier
Black Kite - 1 observed from pier, 1 observed at QNS approximately 200m
Common Buzzard 1 observed
White Wagtail
Oriental Magpie Robin
Japanese White-eye heard near the hotel at dawn
Barn Swallow seen near the seaside of the town
Qiliangshan (Dapeng Geopark) - trail nr the museum
Black Kite - One around the lowland area when on the way back L
Crested Goshawk 3 observed from 200m mark, birds were soaring above forest L
White-breasted Waterhen heard near the entrance of the trail L
Spotted Dove Commonly observed below 170m mark F
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo 1 heard at approximately 150m at 0715 L
Greater Coucal heard throughout the trails below 500m F
Lesser Coucal heard at approximately 170m at 0730 F
Large Hawk Cuckoo heard throughout trails below 170m L
Olive-backed Pipit heard below 150m L
Grey-chinned Minivet heard above 555m mark onwards F
Scarlet Minivet commonly heard and seen from approximately 300m onwards F
Red-whiskered Bulbul common throughout F
Chinese Bulbul common throughout F
Chestnut Bulbul heard only from 300m onwards F
Black Bulbul heard only, their "cat like" calls L
Sooty-headed Bulbul seen below 170m, at least 6 individuals were seen, should be more than that M
Long-tailed Shrike heard below 150m L
Rufous-tailed Robin at least 2 heard and 1 seen at 555m mark, in Spring song L
Red-flanked Bluetail 2 seen around 600m L
Oriental Magpie Robin heard in town, heard below 170m at QNS M
Blue Whistling Thrush 2 heard, 1 at 780m, another near 700m. Not very common, probably the surveyed areas are not their prime habitat L
Lesser Shortwing 2 heard at 555m mark L
Thrush sp. a few heard throughout, likely Grey-backed Thrush M
Masked Laughingthrush seen below 150m L
Hwamei Commonly heard and seen 3 times throughout F
"Peking Robin" Red-billed Leiothrix - 1 seen in song at around 700m, 1-2 more heard around the same area L
Pygmy Wren Babbler 1 heard at 780m. Suprisingly not very common L
Asian Stubtail 2 heard near 500m - 600m L
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler commonly heard above 500m - 780m. Quite common F
Plain Prinia 1 heard around 170m, another heard at 780m M
Yellow-browed Warbler around 3 seen, few heard throughout M
Pallas's Leaf Warbler heard in spring song below 500m L
Common Tailorbird commonly heard and seen below 400m F
Mountain Tailobird heard above 500m M
Great Tit heard and seen throughout F
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker heard and seen below 500m M
Fork-tailed Sunbird commonly seen and heard throughout F
Japanese White-eye commonly seen and heard below 700m F
Blue Magpie a flock were heard above 600m in a mist, not sure about the location of the birds due to the mist L
Grey Treepie heard at 500m. At least 3 were seen L
Large-billed Crow seen at around 300m L
Encountered freq
L = 1-3 times
M = 4-10
F = >10 Author: wcaptain Time: 30/03/2015 16:24
28 Mar 2015
- Time: 0655 – 1230h
- Western slope trail, near the museum, the total distance (return the same trail) is about 4 km. Each way is about 2 km.
- Altitude : The starting pt is about 50 m and the hill top (the great platform only) is about 780 m. The trail is very steep
- Coverage = the trail probably covers 5-10% of the western slope. Poor visibility due to the trail is along on the uphill ridge. Both Matthew and I believed that the trail does not touch the prime woodland area. The visibility was further down when we reached the hilltop area due to the mist.
- The lowland part (below 200 m) is tall shrubland and grassland mix, probably around 20 years. The majority of the woodland is young secondary forest, probably 30 to 40 years. Some large trees (trunk diameter 400 mm) were seen above 600 m, but the woodland was progressive replaced by large shrubs around the hilltop areas. Large trees in ravines were seen from distance. Gordonia axillaris appears to be dominant at the secondary forest in the higher altitude. Some individuals of this “shrub” species were about 8 m high. Most trees along the trail were around 6 to 8 m high. The diversity of trees appeared to be diverse, e.g. different trees and not just dominated by Machilus. The understorey in some areas appeared to be dense and diverse.
- Like similar woodlands in this part of Guangdong, Minviets, Chestnut Bulbuls, Red-whiskered Bulbuls, Chinese Bulbuls, Japanese White-eye and Fork-tailed Sunbird the dominant bird species (i.e. frequently encountered).
- The presence of Mountain Tailorbird, Pygmy Wren Babbler and Lesser Shortwing indicates that the understorey of the woodland is well established. These three birds are considered to be resident understorey birds in Hong Kong.
- Brownish-flanked Warblers were surprisingly common here. This may further indicate that the understorey of this woodland is good enough to attract ground dwelling birds.
- A small number of Pekin Robins was observed in the present survey. Although the abundance is not great and fewer than those at Yinpingshan, it appears that this bird species is widespread in young secondary woodlands around this part of Guangdong.
Logistics
- Took a direct bus from Kowloon Tong to Nanao: one way HK$70, about 2 hrs. The return one is RMB$70
- Stayed overnight at Nanao. Hotels can be found along the seaside. A twin room ranged from RMB$160-200.
- Took arranged car to the geopark entrance. One way RMB$50 (around 15 mins, a bit rip off). The return one cost RMB$40.
- Go earlier! This geopark trail is a very popular one. When we went uphill in the early morning, only 5 people were seen (including two wardens), but when downhill at about 11:00, the trail was full of people.
The way forward
- Will try a night survey as Collared Pygmy Owlet has been recorded
- The eastern trail will be tried later this year. Author: wcaptain Time: 30/03/2015 16:35
Qiliangshan. The highest pt is about 840 m high
Nice secondary forest
The footpath and trees
Milestone
View Platform on the hilltop (780 m high)
The lowland area
The only available map Author: Jonathmartinez Time: 30/03/2015 18:14
interesting report. I've climb this mountain two years ago in early february, but from the south side to avoid all the others visitors...few trails and hard to find starting from there, but none going to the top, so the end of the climb was a bit of adventure, but the best area is definitly the low to mid elevation there.
Further south, there is a village named Saiking with a very good Feng Shui woodland quite good on migration...
All the best,
JOnathan
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