birding...

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla ©Alister Benn http://www.availablelightimages.com

A province on China’s east coast, opposite the island of Taiwan. The provincial capital is Fuzhou, on the Min River.

The Min river estuary has a wide expanse of sandbars and mudflats. As well as waterfowl in the winter, Dalmatian Pelicans are regularly recorded. In summer a variety of terns can be seen, including the critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern. The birds seen at the Min river estuary appear to be the same group that actually nest on the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands, about 30km east of the mainland. Breeding waders include the ‘dealbatus’ form of Kentish Plover, “White-faced” Plover.

Fujian’s second coastal city is Xiamen, formerly known as Amoy. Here in 1866 Robert Swinhoe shot the type specimen of the bird now known as Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel.

Inland Fujian has been little-visited by foreign birders, except for Wuyi Shan, a National Nature Reserve based around the highest peaks in eastern China, on Fujian’s northwest border with Jiangxi Province. In autumn 1873 the legendary Lazarist Missionary Armand David spent two months studying the birds and other wildlife from a base in Kuadun. (David’s greatest claim to scientific glory was his securing of the first specimen of Giant Panda in Sichuan a few years later.) Today, Wuyi’s scenery and famous tea are great attractions for the tens of thousands of domestic tourists who visit annually. Some of the best birding on the mountain is done along a narrow track that leads to the summit of Huanggang Shan, the highest peak in the Wuyi range. (Also accessible from the Jiangxi side.) Cabot’s Tragopan, Elliot’s Pheasant and White-necklaced (Ricketts) Hill Partridge may be seen, but the Partridge is usually only heard.

Fujian is a relatively prosperous and outward-looking province. A growing number of keen local birdwatching groups, such as the Fujian Birdwatching Society and the Xiamen Birdwatching Society co-ordinate birding of this still relatively underwatched area. Blyth’s Kingfisher has been found at Longxi NNR, perhaps the easternmost record of this “difficult-to-find” species. Elsewhere Scaly-sided Mergansers can be found on some inland rivers. Recently the spectacular Sultan Tit was rediscovered in the province after an absence of records for eighty years. The rare and secretive White-eared Night Heron has also been found at a couple of inland sites.

Fujian is well off the beaten path of the Lonely Planet crowd, and has few Chinese endemic species. Nevertheless, it is still a rewarding place for both birder and general interest visitor.