Dutch Birding volume 27 (2005) no 5

Low-altitude breeding Ibisbills near Beijing, China
Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii is the sole member of a monotypic family, presumably most closely related to the oystercatchers Haematopodidae, crab plovers Dromadidae and avocets Recurvirostridae. The species is normally associated with high-altitude shingle bed rivers. Well-known wintering sites for the species south of its Himalayan breeding grounds include Bhutan, Hetauda, Nepal and Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India, whereas known sites in summer include Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Tibet and Qinghai provinces in China. Breeding range maps from various sources indicate that the species could occur in suitable habitat anywhere between south-eastern Kazakhstan and northern Hebei, China. The preferred habitat in both winter and summer are wide shingle beds of fast-flowing rivers with pebbles, cobbles and boulders where these predominantly grey birds merge perfectly with their environment. According to the literature, breeding only takes place 'between 1600 and 4000 m' (Johnsguard 1981), 'between 1700 and 4400 m' (Hayman et al 1986, MacKinnon & Phillipps 2000) or 'normally between 2000 and 4000 m, exceptionally as low as 500 m or as high as 4400 m' (del Hoyo et al 1996).
On 9 January and 17 January 2005, nine and six Ibisbills were found by Björn Anderson, a Swedish birder residing in Beijing, and by Remco Hofland and Chris Quispel from the Netherlands, respectively, at Baihe ('He' meaning river in Chinese), near 'road 111' north of Huairou, Beijing province, China. The birds were actively feeding, calling and sometimes chasing each other, possibly indicating territorial disputes. Parts of the river were frozen and its shores snow-covered but the birds seemed unconcerned. Baihe is a fast-flowing shingle bed river c 100 m wide, flanked by sparsely vegetated mountain sides. On the northern bank, reeds and a line of poplar trees are found, and a small village is located nearby. On 17 January, villagers were cutting reeds along the river but the birds did not seem too disturbed and could be approached to c 40 m.
As the habitat looked right for breeding, the exact location (of which a map will be published on the internet at www.birdtours.co.uk) was forwarded to Bas van den Boogaard, who at that moment was planning a trip to Happy Island, China, in May 2005. On 30 April and 1 May 2005, Jan Bisschop, BvdB, Jeroen de Bruijn, Nils van Duivendijk and Ran Schols observed three Ibisbills, including a pair. Of this pair, one was feeding in the river while the other was faithful to a particular area, indicating that it was probably nesting there. The bird would sit motionless for long periods with open bill because of the heat. Only when disturbed, it would fly off, returning in a secretive manner using ditches to hide in. The probable nest was located on a barren shingle bank, somewhat higher than the river itself (cf Johnsguard 1981). Vegetation closer to the river was less sparse and consisted of a herbal layer interspersed with the occasional tiny tree.
On 23 May 2005, Jens Hansen and Troels Ortvad from Denmark visited the site and found two pairs of Ibisbill, one of which was leading two pulli, estimated 5-10 days old (Jens Hansen pers comm). The Baihe site is located at an altitude of 270 m and is therefore well below the lowest published altitudinal breeding range for the species. As the river flows east towards Miyun reservoir for c 20 km and there is c 30 km river to the west before entering Hebei province, it is likely that Baihe valley holds more Ibisbills. Johnsguard (1981) mentions that 'pairs occupy about 1000 m stream length for their territory'. Intriguingly, on 23 May 2005, the two territorial pairs were seen at Baihe no more than 300 m apart, suggesting that, at least in this area, Ibisbills may breed closer together than previously known.
Four to five Ibisbills recorded 1.2 km west of Zhang Jia Fen Cun, Baihe valley, Beijing, on 8 june 2002, apparently constitute the first record at this site. Several were seen here again on 1 March 2003, with a single seen near Sihetang on 5 April 2003 (Brian Elder pers comm). Another single was recorded near Yanqing, Beijing, on 20 April 2003 (China Ornithological Society 2004). Also in 2003, displaying Ibisbills were found at Miyun district, presumably further east along Baihe river. On both 11 April 2004 and 27 March 2005, birds were seen and photographed here (Wu Nan in litt). All these sightings were done within a 20-km stretch of river between 'road 111' and Miyun Reservoir. Other records around Beijing, where wide shingle bed rivers are commonly found, include three at Labagoumen, Huairou, on 7 December 2004, with singles seen at Baihe valley, Yanqing, in March, April and October 2004 (China Ornithological Society 2005). Also worth noting are sightings of four on 4 April 2004 and three on 28 December 2004 in nearby Pingshan county, Hebei province. In 2005, the only Beijing province records so far were from Baihe (Leiyinyu pers comm).
As Baihe is located only a 2-h drive north of Beijing Capital Airport and the birds appear to be resident here, this must surely be one of the easiest places in the world to see the species. Other interesting birds found throughout the year at Baihe include Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris, Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii (breeding under the 'road 111' bridge in May 2005) and Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus, while specialities like Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata, Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus, Chinese Hill Warbler Rhopophilus pekinensis, Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus, Père David's Laughingthrush Garrulax davidi, Songar Tit Parus songarus, a single Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella and Godlewski's Bunting Emberiza godlewskii were found in May 2005 (Bas van den Boogaard & Jens Hansen pers comm).
Björn Anderson, Bas van den Boogaard, Brian Elder, Jens Hansen and Wu Nan are thanked for sharing their observations of the Ibisbills at Baihe river. Leiyinyu kindly provided information on earlier sightings of Ibisbill in the region. In addition, BvdB is thanked for commenting on an earlier draft of this note.

Remco Hofland, Aert van Neslaan 336, 2341 HN Oegstgeest, Netherlands
(platbuikyahoo.com)