During 7 to 11 Mar 2019, we made a short visit to Nonggang, Guangxi. As recommended by Carrie, we contacted Xao Lung (小農 / 農大海) through WeChat (13377092718 / wxid_c9wuf67x59xb22), and he organised everything for us including the traffic, meals, bird photography in hide, birdwatching and monkey watching etc. Thanks so much!
Birding is comparative easy in Nonggang as many major targets are fed, but birding in early March may not be a good season as the weather this trip was really bad, raining for long which made photographing also become difficult. Also, the breeding season started a little bit early this year so we dipped and nearly dipped some species. Interestingly the Nonggang Bird Race was also held in this period.
For example, we did not see any Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Large Scimitar-babbler and we only saw the female Blue-rumped Pitta, not the male. Nonggang Babbler is usually a guaranteed species in Autumn till March, if no heavy raining. Luckily rain stopped for several hours on 9 Mar and so we saw a gang of 5 feeding at noon. Limestone Leaf-warbler should be another specialty, very range restricted in Guangxi and Vietnam, turned to be very common here and many individuals were very responsive, having good views was easy but not good photos!
Surprisingly, some species were missed in this trip even the habitat is good.... Like Long-tailed Shrike, Rock Pigeon, Heron & Drongo etc.....
Birders who wish to come, it is also recommended to contact Xao Lung, or other 'bird guide' as in other trip reports, which should be the same as all villagers in Nonggang are working hard together to keep the birding industry grows.
Nonggang Babbler - a bird discovered in Nonggang,
made a change in destiny of a poor village in mainland China
Itinerary
7 Mar 2019
A noon flight HX139 (1345-1540) to Nanling, Guangxi. So I could enjoy Captain Marvel right before the flight! On arrivial, we were picked by Xao Zhao (小趙), he was our driver for following days, 3 hours drive before arriving Xao Lung’s house. After dinner, we went for owling, resulted two Collared Scops Owl.
not bad but I should have a even better breakfast..
and still had time to enjoy Captain Marvel before the flight
green tea
HK Airlines
rainy in HK too
our HK International Airport
very simple meal... really....
weather was bad when we arrived Guangxi
Guangxi is also famous for non-avian dinosaurs
home of Xao Lung - 22.4799432, 102.9802321
charge in birding in Nonggang
first beer of the trip before birding
Collared Scops Owl
8 Mar 2019
Rain started since 3 Mar, we first visited the stakeout for Chestnut-capped Babbler and Yellow-eyed Babbler. The Chestnut-capped was not showy because of breeding, while the Brown Crake was feeding actively, but in a distance where not good for photos. Afternoon, we tried the hide for White-winged Magpie, we were lucky to spot the first Limestone Leaf Warbler and Pale-footed Bush Warbler there too.
the first birding hide we visited, next to a stream where someone reported White-eared Night Heron before: 22.4990649, 106.9689320
Karst topography in fog
heavy rain welcomed us
limestone scene
two Plain Prinia
Plain Prinia
Yellow-bellied Prinia - also as Chinese Prinia
Chestnut-capped Babbler - probably a bad timing for this species. They called in the stream but none responding, you could have flight or blocked view until this one popped up for 3 seconds... Only photo of this trip
Little Grebe in rain
Little Grebe fishing
Common Kingfisher
Common Tailorbird
Rufous-capped Babbler - there are many cotton trees in Guangxi so the birders here love setting up as scene
Rufous-capped Babbler
Japanese Tit
Japanese Tit in rain
Japanese Tit
the other major target in this hide - Yellow-eyed Babbler
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Yellow-eyed Babbler
Brown Crake was curious what we were doing...
Brown Crake - swimming in rain
Brown Crake - came and fed
Brown Crake - swimming
Brown Crake - swim more...
bad weather good lunch
Plain Flowerpecker is common
Plain Flowerpecker - note the white lore
after lunch we went to the magpie stakeout, before arriving we needa pass a sugarcane field... taller than human
the GPS for the White-winged Magpie hide - 22.4966333, 106.9889332
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler - friendlier than the HK relatives
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
David's Fulvetta with Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler - how come not yet split in HBW?
David's Fulvetta - in appearance it is similar to Huet's but with a weaker brow
our first Limestone Leaf Warbler singing, responding to us
female Small Niltava
not long before we heard and saw the first Pale-footed Bush Warbler, but thanks to Canon I got this pic
White-winged Magpie - enjoying the meat, this one is an immature, note the dull color of head and bill
immature White-winged Magpie
White-winged Magpie - adult, they fed in family
White-winged Magpie - in HBW it is split into two species, while the other one is Hainan endemic Hainan White-winged Magpie
male White-tailed Robin
White-tailed Robin - Taiwan's birds were friendlier
Buff-breasted Babbler
Grey-throated Babbler
Grey-throated Babbler
Rufous-tailed Robin - it showed up and had a bath in late afternoon...
beer for the first birding day
9 Mar 2019
It kept raining for the whole morning but still we were lucky enough to get good views of Indochinese Green Magpie in the hide. Before lunchtime, rain stopped for awhile so I asked for going the NG Babbler hide,finally, a gang of 5 Nonggang Babbler were cooperative and we got this major target in this trip! Afternoon, we looked for Blue-rumped Pitta with no joy.
birding day started with good breakfast
house of Xao Lung
waiting the Indochinese Green Magpie inside rain
the view outside he hide
Puff-throated Bulbul with Red-whiskered Bulbul
Puff-throated Bulbul
Puff-throated Bulbul
Puff-throated Bulbul - to me this is not easy to ID from its close relatives like Grey-cheeked, Orchaeceous etc.. Luckily onlt Puff-throated in Nonggang.
Puff-throated Bulbul - and they are not really rare as well
Puff-throated Bulbul
Puff-throated Bulbul with a gang of Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-whiskered Bulbul
White-throated Fantail - how come some mainland photographers misID this as a Nonggang Babbler.....
Buff-breasted Babbler
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
finally... here they came, and noisy birds too - Indochinese Green Magpie
Indochinese Green Magpie - there are introduced populations in HK as well, which I only heard but never seen before. Like the White-winged Magpie, they love meat more than worms.
Indochinese Green Magpie
Limestone Leaf Warbler - well we finally managed to take some better shots
Limestone Leaf Warbler - showing the distinctive crown stripes, like water melon
Limestone Leaf Warbler - they are very very common in Nonggang, commoner than White-eye
Chestnut-crowned Warbler
the GPS for this point is 22.4815988, 106.9807327, and still need around 10 mins walk to the stakeout
a real muddy slope to climb...
after climbing it is time to wait for the babblers...
David's Fulvetta
David's Fulvetta
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
White-rumped Shama singing in dark
we didn't need to wait long before they came... Nonggang Babbler!
Nonggang Babbler - one of the very few 'true new species' (not a spliter) in recent years
Nonggang Babbler - they are now not just found in Nonggang but also in nearby Vietnam
Nonggang Babbler - views were excellent but difficult to get decent photos
Nonggang Babbler - enjoying the mealworm fancy
Nonggang Babbler - the front view is cute
Nonggang Babbler
Nonggang Babbler
Nonggang Babbler - we nearly dipped this major species because of the bad weather... lucky us
Nonggang Babbler - a species which was difficult to be found few years ago until now they are all well fed in Nonggang
Nonggang Babbler - but they are not easy to be seen in breeding season
Nonggang Babbler - superficially similar to the relative Sooty Babbler, which is also on my target list
Nonggang Babbler - the blue eye
Nonggang Babbler
Nonggang Babbler
domestic chickens...
helping poor by birding industry 1
helping poor by birding industry 2
helping poor by birding industry 3
helping poor by birding industry 4
we needed a nice meal to celebrate the Nonggang Babbler!
still raining in the afternoon so the path was still very muddy...
Where is the pitta hiding in these limestones....
the first one to come - White-rumped Shama
White-rumped Shama
White-rumped Shama
White-rumped Shama
White rumped Shama
Buff-breasted Babbler
Small Niltava - a male one this time
Small Niltava
Small Niltava - love the worms?
Puff-throated Bulbul
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
Pin-stripped Tit-babbler - a common species but hard to take photos
White-throated Fantail
White-throated Fantail came to bath
Black-crested Bulbul - a species I dipped in Malaysia few months ago
Black-crested Bulbul
Black-crested Bulul - the crest
Spot-necked Babbler - they did not come to feed but just calling loudly nearby. Marvellous Canon focus again.
Spot-necked Babbler
sadly no pitta today and we had to leave early
still some time, we visited the nest of Blue-bearded Bee-eater but no bee-eater could be seen, too early
Rufescent Prinia
dinner time
and also beer time, for the Nonggang Babbler
10 Mar 2019
We spent a morning for Long-tailed Broadbill, though we were told still early for this species, however we saw several pair once arrived the spot, together with White-browed Piculet. We had some fantastic view of both Limestone Leaf Warbler and Pale-footed Bush Warbler in lunchtime.
Last afternoon in this trip, we tried the Blue-rumped Pitta again in another hide, and succeeded this trial, our last target even just a female could be seen!
they were just waiting us.. a very successful morning
Long-tailed Broadbill
a pair of Long-tailed Broadbill with their nest
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill - the first time I saw this species was kept in a cage in HK
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill by iPhone
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill with nest - the huge nest was just hanging on wire like this
Long-tailed Broadbill - waging tail
Long-tailed Broadbill
Long-tailed Broadbill perching in Bamboo
another bird could be found in bamboo... White-browed Piculet
White-browed Piculet
White-browed Piculet hiding - can you see me?
White-browed Piculet drumming
White-browed Piculet
Rufescent Prinia - we investigated the ID for awhile, from Grey-breasted Prinia, conclusion is the breast of this bird was not grey enough...
Rufescent Prinia
Rufescent Prinia
Yellow-bellied Warbler
Yellow-bellied Warbler
Black Bulbul - just for a record
Karst topography
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
we finally got a friendlier Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Pale-footed Bush Warbler - showing the short wing
Pale-footed Bush Warbler - this bird even sang on floor
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Pale-footed Bush Warbler - a good singer
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Pale-footed Bush Warbler - one of my favorite of this trip
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
two Crested Serpent eagle
a Limestone Leaf Warbler foraging at the same tree of the Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Hartert's Leaf Warbler - a really poor shot
more and more Limestone Leaf Warbler in this path
Limestone Leaf Warbler
singing Limestone Leaf Warbler
Limestone Leaf Warbler - honestly I see no difference with Sulphur-breasted Warbler, better to identify by call, song and location if you cannot get the DNA!
Limestone Leaf Warbler
fantastic view of Limestone Leaf Warbler
cute looking Limestone Leaf Warbler
Limestone Leaf Warbler
Hainan Blue Flycatcher
after 20 mins climb we saw nothing special but more limestones, not just leaf warbler
A questionable Tailorbird. I still go for Common (?) because the throat is not really black enough even the vent is yellow and the call is a little bit strange
Common Tailorbird ? - please correct me if wrong
Common Tailorbird ? - there is also Dark-necked Tailorbird in this region. And the Dark-necked I saw in Singapore and Malaysia showed much more extensive black neck.
the call of the Tailorbird. Um... I uploaded as Dark-necked in HBW. Okay I will do some more reading if I can still remember this bird....
more Limestone Leaf Warbler on the way to lunch
Limestone Leaf Warbler - maybe maybe duller or more whitish than Sulphur-breasted Warbler
Yellow-bellied Warbler
rain stopped and our last trial of the pitta
this is the GPS of the stakeout (22.5180176, 106.9586387)
again another climb of muddy path
Red-flanked Bluetail
a record shot of White-bellied Erpronis
Common Tailorbird
David's Fulvetta
White-tailed Robin
White-tailed Robin
male Small Niltava
and also White-winged Magpie visited us
then a Fujian Niltava - a male
Fujian NIltava - a first winter male as seen the brownish flight feather. Lack of solid orange vent, extensive glossy bluish crown and shoulder patch help separating from similar Rufous-bellied Niltava which could be seen here as well
Fujian Niltava with Grey-throated Babbler
waited for few hours, and the pitta showed!! again the Canon focus is nice
it popped and popped slowly, thanks to Canon again
Blue-rumped Pitta - a shy female
Blue-rumped Pitta - eventually it came out and fed, but in a bad lighting spot
Blue-rumped Pitta - though it only came for short. Anyway, still a tick for me.
displaying Peregrine Falcon
Last night in Nonggang of this trip
this night I joined some birders in mainland for night safari, who came here for the race, but we were not targeting owls but other wildlife, like this one... quite funny looking, a hammerhead
looking for snakes and frogs, but sadly none. Collared Scops Owl calling nearby.
snail. Nonggang endemic haha?
eggs of frog
no woodcock no nightjar no buttonquail no bird
anyway a beer for last night
there are endemic frogs in Nonggang
We left Nonggang and visited the monkey reserve in Chongchor first in the morning. Monkey watching was easier than expected. Before flight, we had a walk in Daiwangtan (大王灘旅遊區), with 20RMB entrance fee, produced Olive-backed Sunbird and Crimson Sunbird. We took the flight KA713 (1940-2120) back to HK.
foggy morning
goodbye Nonggang
here we are... we paid 100RMB extra for the monkeys.... They were firstly found at the top of this limestone mountain when we arrived.
need a 800mm for the monkeys...
White-headed Langur - they are specialized for the limestone / Karst habitat
White-headed Langur - the golden one is juvenile
White-headed Langur - like an onion head
White-headed Langur - parent and baby
White-headed Langur - they have super long tail
White-headed Langur - a family
White-headed Langur
White-headed Langur
honestly I'm not a monkey lover but White-headed Langur is an endangered species and only can be found in western China and Vietnam
many photographers came for the monkey
monkey came lower and closer
White-headed Langur feeding
White-headed Langur
besides monkey we also looked for birds... Barn Swallow and Asian House Martin
Imperial Eagle - quite an unexpected found
Blue Rock Thrush
the monkey reserve with fake monkey
a walk in nearby field produced Yellow-eyed Babbler and fushed two Barred Buttonquail... my tick.... Also more Limestone Leaf Warbler.
Karst topography - a habitat of White-headed Langur
easy lunch
easy lunch 2
Olive-backed Sunbird - male
Crimson Sunbird
Olive-backed Sunbird - they were competing for flowers
Crimson Sunbird again
Light-vented Bulbul - the subspecies here shows black head
Richard's Pipit - last species of the trip
Coffee before flight
the plane back. Dragon air this time
Goodbye Guangxi
much better meal comparing the 'breakfast' going to Guangxi.....
a wish to the moon
Trip List (following HBW)
Eastern Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis chinensis
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis sinensis
Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo Surniculus lugubris barussarum
- heard only
Brown Crake Zapornia akool coccineipes
- 1 seen on 8 Mar
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus chloropus
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator blakistoni
- 2 flushed
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei brodiei
- heard only
Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides whiteleyi
- heard only
Collared Scops-owl Otus lettia erythrocampe
- 2 seen at night on 7 Mar
Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela ricketti
- 2 seen on 10 Mar
Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
- 1 subadult seen on 11 Mar
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis
White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea kinneari
Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis sinensis
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus perpallidus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus peregrinator
Blue-rumped Pitta Hydrornis soror tonkinensis
- 1 female seen on 10 Mar
Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae dalhousiae
- 5 seen on 10 Mar
a group of Long-tailed Broadbill
White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca tyrannulus
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus fohkiensis
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis celsa
White-winged Magpie Urocissa xanthomelana
White-winged Magpie call
Indochinese Green Magpie Cissa hypoleuca jini
- a small group seen on 9 Mar
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos colonorum
Great Tit Parus major tibetanus
- as Japanese Tit
Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens rufescens
Chinese Prinia Prinia sonitans
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata extensicauda
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius longicauda
Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis
Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus henrici
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus leucocephalus
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris vantynei
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus jocosus
Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis hainanus
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Pallas's Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus proregulus
Chestnut-crowned Warbler Phylloscopus castaniceps sinensis
Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus
Limestone Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus calciatilis
Limestone Leaf Warbler singing
Pale-footed Bush-warbler Hemitesia pallidipes laurentei
Pale-footed Bush Warbler song
Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris superciliaris
Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis fulvifacies
- heard only
Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus coronatus
- heard only
Brownish-flanked Bush-warbler Horornis fortipes davidianus
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense sinense
Indochinese Yuhina Yuhina torqueola
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus simplex
- as Chinese White-eye
Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinusruficollis reconditus
Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps yunnanensis
- as Northern Grey-throated Babbler
Nonggang Babbler Stachyris nonggangensis
- 5 seen on 9 Mar
Spot-necked Babbler Stachyris strialata tonkinensis
alarm call?
typical song
Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata smithi
Pin-striped Tit-babbler Mixornis gularis lutescens
Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps davidi
Buff-breasted Babbler Trichastoma tickelli fulvum
Buff-breasted Babbler singing happily
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia schaefferi
- as David’s Fulvetta
Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis saularis
White-rumped Shama Kittacincla malabarica interposita
White-rumped Shama male singing
Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae signata
Fujian Niltava Niltava davidi
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus thalassinus
Hainan Blue-flycatcher Cyornis hainanus hainanus
Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophris carolinae
- heard only
Rufous-tailed Robin Larvivora sibilans
White-tailed Blue Robin Myiomela leucura leucura
Orange-flanked Bush-robin Tarsiger cyanurus
Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus auroreus
Blue Rock-thrush Monticola solitarius pandoo
Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus ferreus
Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus stejnegeri
- as Stejneger's Stonechat
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum minullum olivaceum
song of Plain Flowerpecker
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum cruentatum
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis rhizophorae
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja tonkinensis
Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga latouchii latouchii
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus saturatus
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni hodgsoni
Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi richardi
White Wagtail Motacilla alba leucopsis & alboides
Crested Bunting Emberiza lathami
