milestone 42 | China 2024 | family 250/250

Posted on June, 2024June, 2024

Pink tail at Tibetan plateau, Mission Accomplished - ALL 250!

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 250/250

100%

Not many records this year for Przevalski’s Pinktail. Originally, we plan to check the Rubber Mountains near Qinghai Lake, but just 2 weeks before our trip, a local birder reported the bird near Haibei. We changed our itinerary, and headed on our first day north on an easy highway (toll), all the way from Xining (with a fruitful stop on the way on Datong Forest). The shrubby plains were a bit windy, but after not too long, the bird located. All 250 done! My Bird Families of the World project accomplished. We had a few more days to get some of the special spices of the area around the lake and near Chaka. Many thanks to Stefan Hirsch and Carmen Fuertes who joined, and of course to the professional, helpful, and extremely nice guides from Alpine Birding Bella Zang and Wenyi Zhou.

250. Family #227: Przevalski’s Pinktail (Urocynchramidae) | Przevalski’s Pinktail

trip's bird list & some PHOTOS' link

Common Name	Scientific Name	1st seen location
Bar-headed Goose	Anser indicus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Graylag Goose	Anser anser	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Whooper Swan	Cygnus cygnus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Ruddy Shelduck	Tadorna ferruginea	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Common Shelduck	Tadorna tadorna	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Cotton Pygmy-Goose	Nettapus coromandelianus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Gadwall	Mareca strepera	Lake Xiligou
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Beijing Capital International Airport
Red-crested Pochard	Netta rufina	Auto selected 36.89988, 98.49267
Common Pochard	Aythya ferina	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Ferruginous Duck	Aythya nyroca	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Tufted Duck	Aythya fuligula	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	S206, Haibei CN-Qinghai 37.03592, 99.73892
Daurian Partridge	Perdix dauurica	Haixi, Haixi CN-Qinghai (36.8481,99.0312)
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Przevalski’s Partridge	Alectoris magna	Auto selected 36.75440, 98.75099
Great Crested Grebe	Podiceps cristatus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	Auto selected 37.61677, 101.37749
Hill Pigeon	Columba rupestris	Hills S of Lejiawan
Oriental Turtle-Dove	Streptopelia orientalis	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	Eri, Haibei CN-Qinghai 37.14083, 100.55027
Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis	Beijing Capital International Airport
Pallas’s Sandgrouse	Syrrhaptes paradoxus	Chaka Salt Lake–Salt Flats
Common Cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Common Swift	Apus apus	Beijing Capital International Airport
Salim Ali’s Swift	Apus salimalii	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Water Rail	Rallus aquaticus	Lake Xiligou
Eurasian Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	Lake Xiligou
Eurasian Coot	Fulica atra	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Black-necked Crane	Grus nigricollis	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Black-winged Stilt	Himantopus himantopus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Pied Avocet	Recurvirostra avosetta	Lake Xiligou
Little Ringed Plover	Charadrius dubius	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Northern Lapwing	Vanellus vanellus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Kentish Plover	Anarhynchus alexandrinus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Common Redshank	Tringa totanus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Brown-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Pallas’s Gull	Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Whiskered Tern	Chlidonias hybrida	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
White-winged Tern	Chlidonias leucopterus	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Bearded Vulture	Gypaetus barbatus	Hainan, Hainan CN-Qinghai (36.8025,99.6691)
Himalayan Griffon	Gyps himalayensis	G315, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.3146,100.1574)
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	Halihatu Forest Park
Black Kite	Milvus migrans	Halihatu Forest Park
Eastern Buzzard	Buteo japonicus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Upland Buzzard	Buteo hemilasius	Hainan, Hainan CN-Qinghai (36.8025,99.6691)
Buteo sp.	Buteo sp.	Hills S of Lejiawan
Eurasian Hoopoe	Upupa epops	Auto selected 36.93479, 98.36736
woodpecker sp.	Picidae sp.	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Eurasian Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.2023,100.4322)
Isabelline Shrike	Lanius isabellinus	Haixi, Haixi CN-Qinghai (36.8481,99.0312)
Gray-backed Shrike	Lanius tephronotus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Azure-winged Magpie	Cyanopica cyanus	Beijing Capital International Airport
Black-rumped Magpie	Pica bottanensis	Hills S of Lejiawan
Oriental Magpie	Pica serica	Beijing Capital International Airport
Mongolian Ground-Jay	Podoces hendersoni	Haixi, Haixi CN-Qinghai (36.7029,99.2597)
Red-billed Chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	Hills S of Lejiawan
Rook	Corvus frugilegus	Shanqing Alley, Xining CN-Qinghai 37.02197, 101.78757
Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Common Raven	Corvus corax	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Rufous-vented Tit	Periparus rubidiventris	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Sichuan Tit	Poecile weigoldicus	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Ground Tit	Pseudopodoces humilis	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Japanese Tit	Parus minor	Hills S of Lejiawan
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6442,101.4302)
Hume’s Lark	Calandrella acutirostris	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Calandra Lark	Melanocorypha calandra	Chaka–Eastern Fields & Poplars
Tibetan Lark	Melanocorypha maxima	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Mongolian Lark	Melanocorypha mongolica	Ganzihe Estuary Wetlands
Asian Short-toed Lark	Alaudala cheleensis	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Eurasian Skylark	Alauda arvensis	Chaka–Eastern Fields & Poplars
Oriental Skylark	Alauda gulgula	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Bearded Reedling	Panurus biarmicus	Lake Xiligou
Spotted Bush Warbler	Locustella thoracica	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Pale Martin	Riparia diluta	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Eurasian Crag-Martin	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	Beijing Capital International Airport
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	Beijing Capital International Airport
Red-rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica	Beijing Capital International Airport
Light-vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus sinensis	Beijing Capital International Airport
Buff-barred Warbler	Phylloscopus pulcher	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Hume’s Warbler	Phylloscopus humei	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Gansu Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus kansuensis	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Yellow-streaked Warbler	Phylloscopus armandii	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus affinis	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Smoky Warbler	Phylloscopus fuligiventer	Hainan, Hainan CN-Qinghai (36.8025,99.6691)
Crested Tit-Warbler	Leptopoecile elegans	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Silver-throated Tit	Aegithalos glaucogularis	Hills S of Lejiawan
Lesser Whitethroat	Curruca curruca	Auto selected 36.88446, 98.51896
Tarim Babbler	Rhopophilus albosuperciliaris	Auto selected 36.88446, 98.51896
Elliot’s Laughingthrush	Trochalopteron elliotii	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Pere David’s Laughingthrush	Pterorhinus davidi	Hills S of Lejiawan
Goldcrest	Regulus regulus	Halihatu Forest Park
Snowy-browed Nuthatch	Sitta villosa	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Eurasian Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	Halihatu Forest Park
White-throated Dipper	Cinclus cinclus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
White-cheeked Starling	Spodiopsar cineraceus	Beijing Capital International Airport
Chinese Blackbird	Turdus mandarinus	Beijing Capital International Airport
White-backed Thrush	Turdus kessleri	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Chestnut Thrush	Turdus rubrocanus	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Siberian Rubythroat	Calliope calliope	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Blue-fronted Redstart	Phoenicurus frontalis	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
White-throated Redstart	Phoenicurus schisticeps	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Black Redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	Hills S of Lejiawan
Daurian Redstart	Phoenicurus auroreus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush	Monticola saxatilis	Lake Xiligou
Siberian Stonechat	Saxicola maurus	Hills S of Lejiawan
Isabelline Wheatear	Oenanthe isabellina	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (36.9681,100.5986)
Desert Wheatear	Oenanthe deserti	Haixi, Haixi CN-Qinghai (36.7029,99.2597)
Pied Wheatear	Oenanthe pleschanka	Hills S of Lejiawan
Przevalski’s Pinktail	Urocynchramus pylzowi	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Robin Accentor	Prunella rubeculoides	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Rufous-breasted Accentor	Prunella strophiata	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Brown Accentor	Prunella fulvescens	Hainan, Hainan CN-Qinghai (36.8025,99.6691)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus	Beijing Capital International Airport
Rock Sparrow	Petronia petronia
Black-winged Snowfinch	Montifringilla adamsi
White-rumped Snowfinch	Onychostruthus taczanowskii
Rufous-necked Snowfinch	Pyrgilauda ruficollis	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.2023,100.4322)
Blanford’s Snowfinch	Pyrgilauda blanfordi	Unnamed Road, CN (36.778, 99.109)
Citrine Wagtail	Motacilla citreola	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
White Wagtail	Motacilla alba	Hills S of Lejiawan
Rosy Pipit	Anthus roseatus	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
White-winged Grosbeak	Mycerobas carnipes	Halihatu Forest Park
Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch	Carpodacus pulcherrimus	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Streaked Rosefinch	Carpodacus rubicilloides	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6442,101.4302)
Chinese White-browed Rosefinch	Carpodacus dubius	Datong, Xining CN-Qinghai (37.0032,101.8365)
Black-headed Mountain Finch	Leucosticte brandti	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Oriental Greenfinch	Chloris sinica	Beijing Capital International Airport
Twite	Linaria flavirostris	Haibei, Haibei CN-Qinghai (37.6481,101.3130)
Godlewski’s Bunting	Emberiza godlewskii	Hills S of Lejiawan

# World Bird Families

milestone 16 | Israel 2011 | family 134/250

Posted on May, 2011January, 2024

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 134/250

54%

Although the monotype Hypocolius seen a few times in Israel, it’s rather rare here. As a finding tip, I would recommend on other places: From Persian Gulf eastward to north-west India it should be easier.

Family #219: Hypocolius (Hypocoliidae) | Hypocolius

# World Bird Families

milestone 12 | Denmark, Poland, Ireland 2008 | families 115-119/250

Posted on July, 2008January, 2024

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 119/250

48%

Business and family trips to Europe contributed five bird families to my project:

115. Family #235: Longspurs and Snow Buntings (Calcariidae) | Snow-Bunting (ticked in Denmark, photographed in Norway)

The boat from Kilmore Quay takes to Great Saltee Island, where Alcidae first seen: Atlantic Puffin, Common Murre and Razorbill:

116. Family #54: Auks, Murres, and Puffins (Alcidae) | Razorbill, Ireland

117. Family #209: Dippers (Cinclidae) | American Dipper (photographed in US, White-throated Dipper ticked in Ireland)

118. Family #195: Long-tailed Tits (Aegithalidae) | Black-throated Bushtit (photographed in India, Long-tailed Tit ticked in Poland)

119. Family #205: Treecreepers (Certhiidae) | Short-toed Treecreeper (photographed in Spain, Eurasian Treecreeper ticked in Poland)

# World Bird Families

milestone 10 | Israel 2006 | family 110/250

Posted on May, 2006January, 2024

on shore Red sea pelagic

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 110/250

44%

Eilat north beach, near the Jordanian border, is the best land hotspot for seabirds in Israel. The Red Sea, as an extension of the Indian Ocean, provides on one hand countless hours of nothingness, and a few moments of glory on the other hand. Moments like these were those with three Red-billed Tropicbirds, on the telescope field, which are very rare here.

109. Family #58: Tropicbirds (Phaethontidae) | Red-tailed Tropicbird (photographed in Madagascar, Red-billed Tropicbird ticked in Israel)

# World Bird Families

milestone 06 | Israel 1979-1983 | families 62-71/250

Posted on November, 1983January, 2024

from birdwatcher to birder in ten families

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 71/250

29%

Twitching was not a common term in the early 80’s, but some surveys like autumn raptors migration in Kafer Kasem fields, or spring migration survey in Eilat (photo above with Hadoram Shirihai & Yaron Baser) along with other trips through out the country, contributed some good bird families to the list. Bearded Reedling and Wallcreeper are worth mentioned as they are half of the 4 Palearctic endemic (monotype) families.

62. Family #47: Painted-Snipes (Rostratulidae) | Greater Painted-Snipe

63. Family #52: Pratincoles and Coursers (Glareolidae) | Collard Pratincole

64. Family #179: Grassbirds and Allies (Locustellidae) | Savi’s Warbler

65. Family #203: Wallcreeper (Tichodromidae) | Wallcreeper

66. Family #59: Loons (Gaviidae) | Arctic Loon

67. Family #62: Southern Storm-Petrels (Oceanitidae) | Black-bellied Storm-Petrel (photographed in Australia, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel ticked in Israel)

68. Family #63: Northern Storm-Petrels (Hydrobatidae) | Leachs Storm-Petrel

69. Family #181: Bearded Reedling (Panuridae) | Bearded Reedling (photographed in Spain)

70. Family #207: Wrens (Troglodytidae) | Eurasian Wren (photographed in Spain)

71. Family #202: Kinglets (Regulidae) | Firecrest (photographed in Italy, Goldcrest ticked in Israel)

# World Bird Families

milestone 05 | Israel 1978 | families 47-61/250

Posted on November, 1978January, 2024

exploring the desert, the nights, the seas and all around

Project Progress - Bird Families of the world 61/250

25%

There are other birder around! Learning from others experience, especially from the legendary Ehud Dovrat – these bird families have been added:

47. Family #18: Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) | Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse

48. Family #19: Bustards (Otididae) | Macqueens-Bustard

49. Family #21: Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | Great-Spotted Cuckoo

50. Family #23: Nightjars and Allies (Caprimulgidae) | Nubian Nightjar

51. Family #67: Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae) | Northern Gannet (photographed in Ireland)

52. Family #79: Barn-Owls (Tytonidae) | Barn Owl

53. Family #80: Owls (Strigidae) | Long-eared Owl

54. Family #149: Old World Orioles (Oriolidae) | Eurasian Golden Oriole

55. Family #179: Penduline-Tits (Remizidae) | Eurasian Penduline Tit

56. Family #204: Nuthatches (Sittidae) | Western Rock Nuthatch

57. Family #194: Bush Warblers and Allies (Scotocercidae) | Streaked Scrub-Warbler

58. Family #185: Reed Warblers and Allies (Acrocephalidae) | Eurasian Reed Warbler

59. Family #201: Laughingthrushes and Allies (Leiothrichidae) | Arabian Babbler

60. Family #231: Accentors (Prunellidae) | Alpine Accentor (photographed in Switzerland)

61. Family #237: Old World Buntings (Emberizidae) | Striolated Bunting

# World Bird Families

milestone 04 | Egypt, Sinai 1977 | families 44-46/250

Posted on September, 1977January, 2024

first bird migration survey

Project progress - Bird Families of the World 46/250

19%

Autumn 1977, Migration survey at Zaranik, North Sinai. Mediterranean shore contributed 3 new bird families:

44. Family #14: Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) | Greater Flamingo

45. Family #53: Skuas and Jaegers (Stercorariidae) | Parasitic Skua

46. Family #64: Shearwaters and Petrels (Procellariidae) | Sooty Shearwater

# World Bird Families

milestone 03 | Israel, 1976-1977 | families 33-43/250

Posted on June, 1977January, 2024

there are birds all over…

Project Progress - Bird Families of the world 43/250

17%

Visiting wet sites, especially fish ponds, opened my mind to 11 new common bird families. During years Ma’agan Michael ponds provide some “firsts for Israel” and other rarities.

33. Family #8: Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae) | Eurasian Teal

34. Family #15: Grebes (Podicipedidae) | Little Grebe

35. Family #32: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) | Eurasian Coot

36. Family #36: Cranes (Gruidae) | Common Crane

37. Family #69: Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | Great Cormorant

38. Family #70: Pelicans (Pelecanidae) | Great White Pelican

39. Family #77: Osprey (Pandionidae) | Western Osprey

40. Family #41: Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | Pied Avocet

41. Family #49: Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae) | Curlew Sandpiper

42. Family #43: Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | Eurasian Oystercatcher (photographed in Denmark)

43. Family #92: Rollers (Coraciidae) | Eurasian Roller

# World Bird Families

milestone 02 | Israel, hometown fields birds 1976 | families 19-32/250

Posted on September, 1976January, 2024

out and about – exploring field birds nearby

Project Progress - Bird Families of the world 32/250

13%

Wandering around home, I discovered my next new 14 bird families:

19. Family #13: Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (Phasianidae) | Chukar

20. Family #27: Swifts (Apodidae) | Common Swift

21. Family #39: Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | Eurasian Thick-knee

22. Family #44: Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae) | Northern Lapwing

23. Family #65: Storks (Ciconiidae) | White Stork

24. Family #73: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae) | Cattle Egret

25. Family #74: Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) | Glossy Ibis

26. Family #78: Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Accipitridae) | Common Buzzard

27. Family #91: Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | European Bee-eater

28. Family #55: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) | Black-headed Gull

29. Family #104: Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae) | Eurasian Kestrel

30. Family #180: Larks (Alaudidae) | Crested Lark

31. Family #211: Starlings (Sturnidae) | European Starling

32. Family #196: Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies (Sylviidae) | Lesser Whitethroat

# World Bird Families

milestone 01 | Israel, home backyard birds 1976 | families 1-18/250

Posted on April, 1976January, 2024

Discovery on our backyard – first birds

Project Progress - Bird Families of the world 18/250

Like many other kids, who saved their pennies in children saving program, I received an encouraging gift from the bank: Our County’s Birds Guide, with the beautiful paintings of Walter Ferguson, describing the 100 commonest birds of Israel, and this White-breasted Kingfisher on the cover:

Like many other Kids’ book shelves, this booklet was laying there useless. But one day, as I wondered around my parents’ garden, I noticed a colorful bird. I urged into the house, picked the booklet, and probably identified my first Great Tit, without understanding that this moment will change my life forever.

At that times of course, I had no idea what is a species, genus or a family, but actually, all these early birds, were the foundations of my life project – Bird Families of the World.

These are my first 18 families: