LATEST SIGHTINGS - APRIL 2020
April 1-5
April 1-5
Terek Sandpiper at Mai Po boardwalk, 2 April 2020
The northeast monsoon that had persisted from 28 March was replaced by an easterly airstream on 2nd. However, conditions remained cloudy with periods of rain; the rain became heavier on 5th when the temperature in the New Territories fell to 16⁰C in the morning.
The grey, overcast skies meant that migration through the territory remained strong, especially with regard to Grey-faced Buzzards, Ashy Minivets and a number of flycatchers. Wader passage of the regular species was much in evidence at Mai Po and there was a record count of Caspian Terns. A Common Swift at Long Valley was only the 5th record.
Details of these and other records of note as follows:
Streaked Sheawater: three seen from Po Toi on 5th
Short-tailed Shearwater: one seen from Po Toi on 5th; this is a new early date, the previous earliest being 20 April
Malayan Night Heron: singles heard at Lam Tsuen on 1st, and at Tai Tong on 2nd & 3rd, with two at the latter site on 5th
Swinhoe’s Egret: two at Mai Po on 5th
Brown Booby: unfortunately, the exhausted bird found on Lamma on 31 March died later in the day
Grey-faced Buzzard: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Shek Kong catchwater on 1st; two at Po Toi and one at Lam Tsuen on 2nd; one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd, after which there was a strong passage on 4th with counts of 47 at Tuen Mun West, 26 at Fan Lau, 16 at Mt Davis, 16 at Lam Tsuen, two at Pak Sha O and singles at Po Toi and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater; 25 at Po Toi and two at Lam Tsuen on 5th
Slaty-legged Crake: two heard after dark at Shek Kong catchwater on 4th
Far Eastern Curlew: eight at Mai Po on 2nd
Curlew Sandpiper: 2,000 counted at Mai Po on 2nd
Little Stint: two at Mai Po on 5th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: seven at Mai Po on 2nd
Oriental Pratincole: 11 at Mai Po on 2nd
Pallas’s Gull: one at Mai Po on 2nd
Black-tailed Gull: five at Mai Po on 2nd
Vega Gull: one of the nominate race at Mai Po on 2nd
Gull-billed Tern: 553 at Mai Po on 2nd
Caspian Tern: 270 at Mai Po on 2nd; this is a new high count, the previous highest count being 164 on 8 Apr 2012
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: singles at Lam Tsuen on 1st and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo: one at Lam Tsuen on 1st; two at Lau Shui Heung on 2nd; singles at Pak Sha O and Shan Liu Road on 4th
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 4th
Grey Nightjar: one heard at Lau Shui Heung before dawn on 2nd
Northern Boobook: singles at Ho Man Tin on 1st, Po Toi on 2nd, and King’s Park on 3rd
Silver-backed Needletail: 25 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1st; four at Ho Pui on 2nd; four at Lam Tsuen on 5th
Common Swift: one at Long Valley on 3rd; this is the 5th Hong Kong record
Pacific Swift: up to six reported from several sites
Oriental Dollarbird: singles at Po Toi on 2nd, 4th & 5th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Sunny Bay on 2nd; one at Po Toi on 5th
Chinese Barbet: one heard at Tai Lam CP on 5th is, as far as I am aware, the first report of this species in Hong Kong since summer 2019
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd
Ashy Minivet: a strong passage of this species continued from the end of March: three at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; 20 at Po Toi on 2nd; 40 at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, 20 at Mang Kung Uk, Sai Kung, 11 at Shuen Wan, ten at Mt Davis, six at southwest Lantau, and two at Ho Man Tin on 4th; 25 at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and 35 from the Po Toi ferry on 5th
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 1st
Black-naped Monarch: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd; one at Tuen Mun West on 4th
Sand Martin: one at San Tin on 4th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 3rd & 4th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Po Toi on 2nd, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, southwest Lantau, Ho Man Tin and Pak Sha O on 4th, and Tai Tong and Po Toi (a dead bird) on 5th
Two-barred Warbler: singles at Fanling Golf Course on 1st, and Po Toi on 4th & 5th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one reported from Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th, and Tai Tong and Po Toi on 5th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one reported from Ho Man Tin on 1st and Po Toi on 5th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Fan Lau on 4th
White’s Thrush: singles at Ho Man Tin and Tai Tong on 4th
Grey-backed Thrush: one at Tai Tong on 4th & 5th
Japanese Thrush: two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st, with one there on 3rd; ten at Mt Davis on 4th; one at Tai Tong on 5th
Brown-headed Thrush: singles at Tai Tong on 3rd and Mt Davis on 4th
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 5th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st, King’s Park on 3rd & 4th, and southwest Lantau on 4th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: two at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; two at Po Toi and one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd; singles at Ho Man Tin and Lam Tsuen on 3rd; six at Ho Man Tin, four at Po Toi, three at Tuen Mun West, and singles at Mt Davis, southwest Lantau and Pak Sha O on 4th; five at Po Toi, four at Tuen Mun West and one at Tuen Mun East on 5th
Narcissus Flycatcher: a good passage of this species: two at Ho Man Tin, three at Fanling Golf Course and three at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st; two at Po Toi, two at Ho Man Tin, and singles at Tai Tong and Lung Fu Shan on 2nd; two at Tai Tong, and singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and King’s Park on 3rd; four at King’s Park, three at Po Toi, two at Mt Davis, Ho Man Tin and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, and singles at Pak Sha O, Tuen Mun West and Tai Tong on 4th; eight at Po Toi (a new high count), one at Tai Tong and one at Tuen Mun West on 5th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: singles at Fanling Golf Course and Ho Man Tin on 1st, Po Toi on 2nd, and Mt Davis on 4th, with two at Ho Man Tin on the latter date; one at Po Toi on 5th
Citrine Wagtail: one at San Tin on 4th
Japanese Grosbeak: three at Fanling Golf Course on 1st – the first record since January 2015
Yellow-browed Bunting: up to two at Lam Tsuen to the 4th
Yellow-throated Bunting: one at Po Toi on 4th
Red-headed Bunting: one at Lam Tsuen from 2nd – 4th
The grey, overcast skies meant that migration through the territory remained strong, especially with regard to Grey-faced Buzzards, Ashy Minivets and a number of flycatchers. Wader passage of the regular species was much in evidence at Mai Po and there was a record count of Caspian Terns. A Common Swift at Long Valley was only the 5th record.
Details of these and other records of note as follows:
Streaked Sheawater: three seen from Po Toi on 5th
Short-tailed Shearwater: one seen from Po Toi on 5th; this is a new early date, the previous earliest being 20 April
Malayan Night Heron: singles heard at Lam Tsuen on 1st, and at Tai Tong on 2nd & 3rd, with two at the latter site on 5th
Swinhoe’s Egret: two at Mai Po on 5th
Brown Booby: unfortunately, the exhausted bird found on Lamma on 31 March died later in the day
Grey-faced Buzzard: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Shek Kong catchwater on 1st; two at Po Toi and one at Lam Tsuen on 2nd; one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd, after which there was a strong passage on 4th with counts of 47 at Tuen Mun West, 26 at Fan Lau, 16 at Mt Davis, 16 at Lam Tsuen, two at Pak Sha O and singles at Po Toi and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater; 25 at Po Toi and two at Lam Tsuen on 5th
Slaty-legged Crake: two heard after dark at Shek Kong catchwater on 4th
Far Eastern Curlew: eight at Mai Po on 2nd
Curlew Sandpiper: 2,000 counted at Mai Po on 2nd
Little Stint: two at Mai Po on 5th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: seven at Mai Po on 2nd
Oriental Pratincole: 11 at Mai Po on 2nd
Pallas’s Gull: one at Mai Po on 2nd
Black-tailed Gull: five at Mai Po on 2nd
Vega Gull: one of the nominate race at Mai Po on 2nd
Gull-billed Tern: 553 at Mai Po on 2nd
Caspian Tern: 270 at Mai Po on 2nd; this is a new high count, the previous highest count being 164 on 8 Apr 2012
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: singles at Lam Tsuen on 1st and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo: one at Lam Tsuen on 1st; two at Lau Shui Heung on 2nd; singles at Pak Sha O and Shan Liu Road on 4th
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 4th
Grey Nightjar: one heard at Lau Shui Heung before dawn on 2nd
Northern Boobook: singles at Ho Man Tin on 1st, Po Toi on 2nd, and King’s Park on 3rd
Silver-backed Needletail: 25 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1st; four at Ho Pui on 2nd; four at Lam Tsuen on 5th
Common Swift: one at Long Valley on 3rd; this is the 5th Hong Kong record
Pacific Swift: up to six reported from several sites
Oriental Dollarbird: singles at Po Toi on 2nd, 4th & 5th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Sunny Bay on 2nd; one at Po Toi on 5th
Chinese Barbet: one heard at Tai Lam CP on 5th is, as far as I am aware, the first report of this species in Hong Kong since summer 2019
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd
Ashy Minivet: a strong passage of this species continued from the end of March: three at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; 20 at Po Toi on 2nd; 40 at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, 20 at Mang Kung Uk, Sai Kung, 11 at Shuen Wan, ten at Mt Davis, six at southwest Lantau, and two at Ho Man Tin on 4th; 25 at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and 35 from the Po Toi ferry on 5th
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 1st
Black-naped Monarch: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 3rd; one at Tuen Mun West on 4th
Sand Martin: one at San Tin on 4th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 3rd & 4th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Po Toi on 2nd, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, southwest Lantau, Ho Man Tin and Pak Sha O on 4th, and Tai Tong and Po Toi (a dead bird) on 5th
Two-barred Warbler: singles at Fanling Golf Course on 1st, and Po Toi on 4th & 5th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one reported from Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th, and Tai Tong and Po Toi on 5th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one reported from Ho Man Tin on 1st and Po Toi on 5th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Fan Lau on 4th
White’s Thrush: singles at Ho Man Tin and Tai Tong on 4th
Grey-backed Thrush: one at Tai Tong on 4th & 5th
Japanese Thrush: two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st, with one there on 3rd; ten at Mt Davis on 4th; one at Tai Tong on 5th
Brown-headed Thrush: singles at Tai Tong on 3rd and Mt Davis on 4th
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 5th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st, King’s Park on 3rd & 4th, and southwest Lantau on 4th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: two at Fanling Golf Course on 1st; two at Po Toi and one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd; singles at Ho Man Tin and Lam Tsuen on 3rd; six at Ho Man Tin, four at Po Toi, three at Tuen Mun West, and singles at Mt Davis, southwest Lantau and Pak Sha O on 4th; five at Po Toi, four at Tuen Mun West and one at Tuen Mun East on 5th
Narcissus Flycatcher: a good passage of this species: two at Ho Man Tin, three at Fanling Golf Course and three at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st; two at Po Toi, two at Ho Man Tin, and singles at Tai Tong and Lung Fu Shan on 2nd; two at Tai Tong, and singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and King’s Park on 3rd; four at King’s Park, three at Po Toi, two at Mt Davis, Ho Man Tin and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, and singles at Pak Sha O, Tuen Mun West and Tai Tong on 4th; eight at Po Toi (a new high count), one at Tai Tong and one at Tuen Mun West on 5th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: singles at Fanling Golf Course and Ho Man Tin on 1st, Po Toi on 2nd, and Mt Davis on 4th, with two at Ho Man Tin on the latter date; one at Po Toi on 5th
Citrine Wagtail: one at San Tin on 4th
Japanese Grosbeak: three at Fanling Golf Course on 1st – the first record since January 2015
Yellow-browed Bunting: up to two at Lam Tsuen to the 4th
Yellow-throated Bunting: one at Po Toi on 4th
Red-headed Bunting: one at Lam Tsuen from 2nd – 4th
Red-necked Stint at Mai Po boardwalk, 2 April 2020
April 6-12
Ashy Minivet at Po Toi, 7 April 2020
The 6th was grey and miserable with heavy rain. After this, the weather improved and by 9th a ridge of high pressure over southern China brought hot and sunny conditions with the temperature rising to 27⁰C in the New Territories. A weak cold front that moved across Guangdong late on 11th brought a few showers at night; the temperature fell to 16⁰C on the morning of 12th.
In what is proving to be an excellent spring, the movement of Grey-faced Buzzards, Ashy Minivets, flycatchers and various other migrants continued, with Po Toi and Mt Davis proving especially productive. The highlight of the week, however, was the occurrence of at least two Spoon-billed Sandpipers at Mai Po from 7th to 11th. A Glossy Ibis at Lut Chau on 9th was the 4th Hong Kong record.
In what is proving to be an excellent spring, the movement of Grey-faced Buzzards, Ashy Minivets, flycatchers and various other migrants continued, with Po Toi and Mt Davis proving especially productive. The highlight of the week, however, was the occurrence of at least two Spoon-billed Sandpipers at Mai Po from 7th to 11th. A Glossy Ibis at Lut Chau on 9th was the 4th Hong Kong record.
Chinese Egret and Little Egret at San Tin, 9 April 2020
Records of note as follows:
Glossy Ibis: one at Lut Chau on 9th is the 4th Hong Kong record
Eurasian Bittern: one at Mai Po on 8th & 9th
Malayan Night Heron: one at Tai Tong on 7th
Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret: one at Mai Po on 8th; one at San Tin on 9th
Lesser Frigatebird: one seen from Po Toi on 11th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Po Toi on 11th & 12th
Pied Harrier: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Grey-faced Buzzard: reported from at least 13 sites in small numbers to 12th, with peak count of 15 at Fanling Golf Course on 7th
Slaty-legged Crake: three heard after dark at Mui Wo on 8th
Eastern Water Rail: the wintering bird was present at Mui Wo until at least 11th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Oriental Plover: three at Mai Po on 8th with five there on 9th
Far Eastern Curlew: up to five at Mai Po during the week; six flew past Po Toi on 11th
Long-toed Stint: highest count was 18 at Mai Po on 9th
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: two on the scrape at Mai Po at high tide on 7th, including a headstarted * bird with a white flag inscribed “IT”. The flagged bird was seen on the falling tide on the Deep Bay mud flats on 8th, and was again present on the scrape at high tide on 9th & 11th. An unflagged bird was seen on the falling tide out in Deep Bay on 10th – probably the unflagged bird from the scrape on 7th. This Critically Endangered species with its enigmatic, spatulate bill used to be more regular at Mai Po on spring migration up to the turn of the century, and although it is still an annual visitor, there were only one-day records of single birds in 2016 and 2019. These recent sightings, particularly the headstarted bird on the scrape on 9th, allowed a number of birders and photographers to get decent and prolonged views of the species. The global population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper is probably fewer than 800 individuals. For information on the project to prevent the species becoming extinct see: https://www.saving-spoon-billed-sandpiper.com/the-project/
Little Stint: up to two at Mai Po from 8th - 11th
Asian Dowitcher: the first bird of the season was at Mai Po on 10th
Eurasian Woodcock: two at Shui Hau, Lantau on 11th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: small numbers at Mai Po with six there on 9th
Oriental Pratincole: 37 at Mai Po on 8th with 25 there on 9th and 61 on 10th
Greater Crested Tern: three from Po Toi on 11th; six in southern waters on 11th
Little Tern: five at Mai Po on 8th; 28 in southern waters on 11th
Aleutian Tern: one in southern waters on 11th
Common Tern: two from Po Toi on 11th; 11 in southern waters on 11th
White-winged Tern: six at Mai Po on 10th
Long-tailed Jaeger: 13 in southern waters on 11th
Glossy Ibis: one at Lut Chau on 9th is the 4th Hong Kong record
Eurasian Bittern: one at Mai Po on 8th & 9th
Malayan Night Heron: one at Tai Tong on 7th
Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret: one at Mai Po on 8th; one at San Tin on 9th
Lesser Frigatebird: one seen from Po Toi on 11th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Po Toi on 11th & 12th
Pied Harrier: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Grey-faced Buzzard: reported from at least 13 sites in small numbers to 12th, with peak count of 15 at Fanling Golf Course on 7th
Slaty-legged Crake: three heard after dark at Mui Wo on 8th
Eastern Water Rail: the wintering bird was present at Mui Wo until at least 11th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Oriental Plover: three at Mai Po on 8th with five there on 9th
Far Eastern Curlew: up to five at Mai Po during the week; six flew past Po Toi on 11th
Long-toed Stint: highest count was 18 at Mai Po on 9th
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: two on the scrape at Mai Po at high tide on 7th, including a headstarted * bird with a white flag inscribed “IT”. The flagged bird was seen on the falling tide on the Deep Bay mud flats on 8th, and was again present on the scrape at high tide on 9th & 11th. An unflagged bird was seen on the falling tide out in Deep Bay on 10th – probably the unflagged bird from the scrape on 7th. This Critically Endangered species with its enigmatic, spatulate bill used to be more regular at Mai Po on spring migration up to the turn of the century, and although it is still an annual visitor, there were only one-day records of single birds in 2016 and 2019. These recent sightings, particularly the headstarted bird on the scrape on 9th, allowed a number of birders and photographers to get decent and prolonged views of the species. The global population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper is probably fewer than 800 individuals. For information on the project to prevent the species becoming extinct see: https://www.saving-spoon-billed-sandpiper.com/the-project/
Little Stint: up to two at Mai Po from 8th - 11th
Asian Dowitcher: the first bird of the season was at Mai Po on 10th
Eurasian Woodcock: two at Shui Hau, Lantau on 11th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: small numbers at Mai Po with six there on 9th
Oriental Pratincole: 37 at Mai Po on 8th with 25 there on 9th and 61 on 10th
Greater Crested Tern: three from Po Toi on 11th; six in southern waters on 11th
Little Tern: five at Mai Po on 8th; 28 in southern waters on 11th
Aleutian Tern: one in southern waters on 11th
Common Tern: two from Po Toi on 11th; 11 in southern waters on 11th
White-winged Tern: six at Mai Po on 10th
Long-tailed Jaeger: 13 in southern waters on 11th
Long-toed Stint at San Tin, 9 April 2020
Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Mai Po, 9 April 2020
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Glossy Ibis at Lut Chau, 9 April 2020
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Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: singles at Uk Tau on 7th, Mai Po on 9th and Shek Kong catchwater and Mang Kung Uk on 11th
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo: one at Tai Om on 6th; singles at Tai Po Kau and Lam Tsuen on 7th; three at Tai Po Kau on 10th; two at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Indian Cuckoo: the first birds of the season were heard at Mai Po, Lut Chau and Tai Sang Wai on 9th
Oriental Cuckoo: singles at Lok Ma Chau on 6th, and Big Wave Bay and Po Toi on 7th
Collared Owlet: heard at Tai Po Kau on 7th
Northern Boobook: one at Po Toi on 9th
Grey Nightjar: one at Ho Man Tin on 11th
Silver-backed Needletail: four at Lam Tsuen on 7th; two at Shek Kong catchwater on 11th
Pacific Swift: ten at Lok Ma Chau on 6th was the most reported
Oriental Dollarbird: up to two at Po Toi from 7th - 12th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: two at Mai Po on 8th; seven at Tai O on 12th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Po Toi on 7th
Chinese Barbet: two birds at Tai Lam CP on 8th with one there on 12th
Ashy Minivet: reported until 12th with peak counts of 22 at Fanling Golf Course and 25 at Uk Tau on 7th
Swinhoe’s Minivet: one at Mai Po on 11th
Black-naped Oriole: one at Ho Man Tin on 8th; one at Mang Kung Uk on 10th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Mt Davis on 7th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: a male at Mai Po on 11th
Sand Martin: singles at Mai Po on 8th & 9th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Mt Davis on 6th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: two at Tai Tong on 7th; singles at Mai Po and Po Toi on 9th
Two-barred Warbler: singles at Fanling Golf Course, Tai Po Kau and Po Toi on 7th; two reported from Tai Tong on 11th; one at Po Toi on 12th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 7th; two at Mt Davis on 12th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Cheung Chau on 7th; one at Po Toi on 12th
Arctic Warbler: singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 12th
Chestnut-cheeked Starling: a male at Po Toi on 7th & 9th
White’s Thrush: singles at Ho Man Tin on 6th and Po Toi on 9th
Grey-backed Thrush: two at Mt Davis and one at Tai Tong on 7th; one at Po Toi on 11th
Siberian Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Japanese Thrush: up to three at Mt Davis 6th-8th with one there on 12th; one at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Eyebrowed Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP and Mt Davis on 8th, and at Po Toi on 11th; three at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Brown-headed Thrush: one reported from Po Toi on 7th; one at Mt Davis on 12th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 11th
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 12th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Lok Ma Chau on 6th, Pak Sha O on 7th, King’s Park on 8th, Po Toi on 11th & 12th, and Yi O, Lantau on 12th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 12th, the most from a single site being four at Mt Davis on 6th
Siberian Blue Robin: a male at Po Toi on 7th & 9th
Narcissus Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 12th, the most from a single site being eight at Mt Davis on 7th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: two at Mt Davis and singles at Po Toi and Ho Man Tin on 7th; four at Mt Davis and one at Po Toi on 8th; singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 9th; one at Mai Po on 11th; singles at Po Toi and Mt Davis on 12th
White-throated Rock Thrush: one at Mt Davis on 7th
Grey Bush Chat: one at Mt Davis on 9th
Brambling: one at Long Valley on 12th
Chinese Grosbeak: 26 at Lok Ma Chau on 6th
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Po Toi on 9th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Mt Davis on 9th; one at Po Toi on 11th; several at Mt Davis and four at Po Toi on 12th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: one at Mt Davis on 12th
* “Headstarting involves taking clutches from wild nests in Arctic Russia (early enough so that some birds can relay); hatching the eggs in incubators; rearing the chicks in a large outdoor aviary on the Arctic tundra; and finally releasing them at the point of fledging. Headstarting avoids the heavy predation of wild eggs and chicks and results in about five times more birds fledging per clutch than would otherwise be produced.”
Quoted from Pain, D. et al 2018. Saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper: a conservation update. British Birds 111: 323-333.
Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo: one at Tai Om on 6th; singles at Tai Po Kau and Lam Tsuen on 7th; three at Tai Po Kau on 10th; two at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Indian Cuckoo: the first birds of the season were heard at Mai Po, Lut Chau and Tai Sang Wai on 9th
Oriental Cuckoo: singles at Lok Ma Chau on 6th, and Big Wave Bay and Po Toi on 7th
Collared Owlet: heard at Tai Po Kau on 7th
Northern Boobook: one at Po Toi on 9th
Grey Nightjar: one at Ho Man Tin on 11th
Silver-backed Needletail: four at Lam Tsuen on 7th; two at Shek Kong catchwater on 11th
Pacific Swift: ten at Lok Ma Chau on 6th was the most reported
Oriental Dollarbird: up to two at Po Toi from 7th - 12th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: two at Mai Po on 8th; seven at Tai O on 12th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Po Toi on 7th
Chinese Barbet: two birds at Tai Lam CP on 8th with one there on 12th
Ashy Minivet: reported until 12th with peak counts of 22 at Fanling Golf Course and 25 at Uk Tau on 7th
Swinhoe’s Minivet: one at Mai Po on 11th
Black-naped Oriole: one at Ho Man Tin on 8th; one at Mang Kung Uk on 10th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Mt Davis on 7th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: a male at Mai Po on 11th
Sand Martin: singles at Mai Po on 8th & 9th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Mt Davis on 6th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: two at Tai Tong on 7th; singles at Mai Po and Po Toi on 9th
Two-barred Warbler: singles at Fanling Golf Course, Tai Po Kau and Po Toi on 7th; two reported from Tai Tong on 11th; one at Po Toi on 12th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 7th; two at Mt Davis on 12th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Cheung Chau on 7th; one at Po Toi on 12th
Arctic Warbler: singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 12th
Chestnut-cheeked Starling: a male at Po Toi on 7th & 9th
White’s Thrush: singles at Ho Man Tin on 6th and Po Toi on 9th
Grey-backed Thrush: two at Mt Davis and one at Tai Tong on 7th; one at Po Toi on 11th
Siberian Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Japanese Thrush: up to three at Mt Davis 6th-8th with one there on 12th; one at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Eyebrowed Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP and Mt Davis on 8th, and at Po Toi on 11th; three at Tai Lam CP on 12th
Brown-headed Thrush: one reported from Po Toi on 7th; one at Mt Davis on 12th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 11th
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 12th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Lok Ma Chau on 6th, Pak Sha O on 7th, King’s Park on 8th, Po Toi on 11th & 12th, and Yi O, Lantau on 12th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 12th, the most from a single site being four at Mt Davis on 6th
Siberian Blue Robin: a male at Po Toi on 7th & 9th
Narcissus Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 12th, the most from a single site being eight at Mt Davis on 7th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: two at Mt Davis and singles at Po Toi and Ho Man Tin on 7th; four at Mt Davis and one at Po Toi on 8th; singles at Mt Davis and Po Toi on 9th; one at Mai Po on 11th; singles at Po Toi and Mt Davis on 12th
White-throated Rock Thrush: one at Mt Davis on 7th
Grey Bush Chat: one at Mt Davis on 9th
Brambling: one at Long Valley on 12th
Chinese Grosbeak: 26 at Lok Ma Chau on 6th
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Po Toi on 9th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Mt Davis on 9th; one at Po Toi on 11th; several at Mt Davis and four at Po Toi on 12th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: one at Mt Davis on 12th
* “Headstarting involves taking clutches from wild nests in Arctic Russia (early enough so that some birds can relay); hatching the eggs in incubators; rearing the chicks in a large outdoor aviary on the Arctic tundra; and finally releasing them at the point of fledging. Headstarting avoids the heavy predation of wild eggs and chicks and results in about five times more birds fledging per clutch than would otherwise be produced.”
Quoted from Pain, D. et al 2018. Saving the Spoon-billed Sandpiper: a conservation update. British Birds 111: 323-333.
Eurasian Hoopoe at Po Toi, 7 April 2020
April 13-19
Little Curlew at Long Valley, 19 April 2020
The weather was generally fine during the week with clear skies and temperatures up into the high twenties.
Migrants continued to pass through albeit in reduced numbers. There were widespread reports of summer visitors on territory, especially cuckoos with Large Hawk, Hodgson’s, Plaintive, Chestnut-winged and Indian Cuckoos all being widely reported. Hainan Blue Flycatchers were also present at several wooded sites. A Night Bird Survey organised by the HBWS that began in March continues to turn up records of more elusive species, including Malayan Night Heron and Slaty-legged Crake, along with various nightjars, owls and cuckoos; some of these records are detailed below.
Records of particular note as follows:
Glossy Ibis: one at Tai Sang Wai on 13th, and at Mai Po from 14th to 19th; presumably this is the bird first reported from Lut Chau on 9th
Eurasian Bittern: two migrating birds flew over Palm Springs at dusk on 15th
Malayan Night Heron: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: late news of two at Tuen Mun (Leung King Estate) on 12th; up to two at Tai Tong to 17th and one at Yang Yee Road, Sai Kung on 17th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: five at Mt Davis and eight at Tai Tong on 13th; one at Po Toi on 16th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Tai Tong on 13th; one at Lakeside Gardens, Sai Kung on 17th; one at Pak Sha O on 18th
Pied Harrier: one at Mai Po on 14th
Grey-faced Buzzard: singles at Po Toi on 14th, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th and Tai Po Kau on 18th
Slaty-legged Crake: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Uk Tau and five at Lakeside Gardens, Sai Kung on 17th; eight between Ho Pui and Sheung Tsuen, and six at Bride’s Pool Road on 18th
Eastern Water Rail: one at Long Valley on 19th
Baillon’s Crake: one at Long Valley on 19th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 14th & 18th
Little Curlew: one at Long Valley on 18th & 19th
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: one of the two birds present at Mai Po from 7th noted again on 13th
Little Stint: one at Mai Po on 13th & 14th
Long-billed Dowitcher: one at Mai Po on 14th & 16th
Asian Dowitcher: most at Mai Po was three on 16th
Red-necked Phalarope: 124 in southern waters on 17th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: two at Mai Po on 13th
Oriental Pratincole: most seen was 30 at Mai Po on 18th
Saunders’s Gull: one remained at Mai Po until at least 15th
Greater Crested Tern: two in southern waters on 17th
Little Tern: four at Mai Po on 15th with five there on 16th
Whiskered Tern: 18 at Mai Po on 17th; 30 at Ma Tso Lung on 18th
Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo: one heard in Tai Po Kau on 16th
Grey Nightjar: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Tai Tong on 16th & 17th with two there on 18th; six at Bride’s Pool Road on 18th; two between Ho Pui and Sheung Tsuen on 18th
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Po Toi on 16th
White-throated Needletail: two at Ping Fung Shan on 18th
Silver-backed Needletail: three at Pak Sha O on 13th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Ng Tung Chai on 13th; one at Po Toi 13th – 19th; one at Tai Tong on 16th; one at Tai Po Kau on 18th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: one at Po Toi on 14th; six at Lam Tsuen on 16th
Chinese Barbet: one singing throughout the week at Kap Lung Forest Trail, Tai Lam CP; another bird heard singing in Tai Lam CP three km to the west on 15th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Long Valley on 19th
Ashy Minivet: one at Po Toi on 14th; two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 17th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 13th; three at Tai Tong on 15th; one at Tai Po Kau on 16th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at Po Toi on 15th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: two at Mt Davis on 15th
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one singing at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Chinese Grassbird: three at Ping Fung Shan on 18th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Pak Tam Chung on 14th; two (a pair?) at Tai Lam CP on 15th with one there on 18th; one at Yang Yee Road, Sai Kung on 17th
White’s Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th
Grey-backed Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th
Japanese Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th; one at Tai Lam CP on 15th; five at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th
Eyebrowed Thrush: four at Pak Sha O on 13th; one at Uk Tau on 13th; eight at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th; two at Tai Lam CP on 17th with ten there on 18th and 30 on 19th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Pak Sha O and Po Toi on 13th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: up to two at several sites until 18th
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Pak Sha O on 14th
Siberian Blue Robin: two at Po Toi on 13th with one there on 14th
Narcissus Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 18th with counts of five at Ho Man Tin and five at Po Toi on 13th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 14th & 15th; one at Tai Lam CP on 17th
Chestnut-eared Bunting: a female at Long Valley on 16 April
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Po Toi from 13th – 16th
Chestnut Bunting: two at Pak Sha O on 13th with one there on 14th; two at Po Toi on 14th with one there 15th - 19th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: three at Pak Sha O on 13th with two there on 14th and one on 16th; one at Po Toi on 16th.
Migrants continued to pass through albeit in reduced numbers. There were widespread reports of summer visitors on territory, especially cuckoos with Large Hawk, Hodgson’s, Plaintive, Chestnut-winged and Indian Cuckoos all being widely reported. Hainan Blue Flycatchers were also present at several wooded sites. A Night Bird Survey organised by the HBWS that began in March continues to turn up records of more elusive species, including Malayan Night Heron and Slaty-legged Crake, along with various nightjars, owls and cuckoos; some of these records are detailed below.
Records of particular note as follows:
Glossy Ibis: one at Tai Sang Wai on 13th, and at Mai Po from 14th to 19th; presumably this is the bird first reported from Lut Chau on 9th
Eurasian Bittern: two migrating birds flew over Palm Springs at dusk on 15th
Malayan Night Heron: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: late news of two at Tuen Mun (Leung King Estate) on 12th; up to two at Tai Tong to 17th and one at Yang Yee Road, Sai Kung on 17th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: five at Mt Davis and eight at Tai Tong on 13th; one at Po Toi on 16th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Tai Tong on 13th; one at Lakeside Gardens, Sai Kung on 17th; one at Pak Sha O on 18th
Pied Harrier: one at Mai Po on 14th
Grey-faced Buzzard: singles at Po Toi on 14th, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th and Tai Po Kau on 18th
Slaty-legged Crake: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Uk Tau and five at Lakeside Gardens, Sai Kung on 17th; eight between Ho Pui and Sheung Tsuen, and six at Bride’s Pool Road on 18th
Eastern Water Rail: one at Long Valley on 19th
Baillon’s Crake: one at Long Valley on 19th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 14th & 18th
Little Curlew: one at Long Valley on 18th & 19th
Spoon-billed Sandpiper: one of the two birds present at Mai Po from 7th noted again on 13th
Little Stint: one at Mai Po on 13th & 14th
Long-billed Dowitcher: one at Mai Po on 14th & 16th
Asian Dowitcher: most at Mai Po was three on 16th
Red-necked Phalarope: 124 in southern waters on 17th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: two at Mai Po on 13th
Oriental Pratincole: most seen was 30 at Mai Po on 18th
Saunders’s Gull: one remained at Mai Po until at least 15th
Greater Crested Tern: two in southern waters on 17th
Little Tern: four at Mai Po on 15th with five there on 16th
Whiskered Tern: 18 at Mai Po on 17th; 30 at Ma Tso Lung on 18th
Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo: one heard in Tai Po Kau on 16th
Grey Nightjar: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Tai Tong on 16th & 17th with two there on 18th; six at Bride’s Pool Road on 18th; two between Ho Pui and Sheung Tsuen on 18th
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Po Toi on 16th
White-throated Needletail: two at Ping Fung Shan on 18th
Silver-backed Needletail: three at Pak Sha O on 13th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Ng Tung Chai on 13th; one at Po Toi 13th – 19th; one at Tai Tong on 16th; one at Tai Po Kau on 18th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: one at Po Toi on 14th; six at Lam Tsuen on 16th
Chinese Barbet: one singing throughout the week at Kap Lung Forest Trail, Tai Lam CP; another bird heard singing in Tai Lam CP three km to the west on 15th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Long Valley on 19th
Ashy Minivet: one at Po Toi on 14th; two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 17th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 13th; three at Tai Tong on 15th; one at Tai Po Kau on 16th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at Po Toi on 15th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: two at Mt Davis on 15th
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one singing at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Chinese Grassbird: three at Ping Fung Shan on 18th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Pak Tam Chung on 14th; two (a pair?) at Tai Lam CP on 15th with one there on 18th; one at Yang Yee Road, Sai Kung on 17th
White’s Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th
Grey-backed Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th
Japanese Thrush: one at Po Toi on 13th; one at Tai Lam CP on 15th; five at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th
Eyebrowed Thrush: four at Pak Sha O on 13th; one at Uk Tau on 13th; eight at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 15th; two at Tai Lam CP on 17th with ten there on 18th and 30 on 19th
Ferruginous Flycatcher: singles at Pak Sha O and Po Toi on 13th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: up to two at several sites until 18th
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Pak Sha O on 14th
Siberian Blue Robin: two at Po Toi on 13th with one there on 14th
Narcissus Flycatcher: reported from several sites to 18th with counts of five at Ho Man Tin and five at Po Toi on 13th
Mugimaki Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 14th & 15th; one at Tai Lam CP on 17th
Chestnut-eared Bunting: a female at Long Valley on 16 April
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Po Toi from 13th – 16th
Chestnut Bunting: two at Pak Sha O on 13th with one there on 14th; two at Po Toi on 14th with one there 15th - 19th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: three at Pak Sha O on 13th with two there on 14th and one on 16th; one at Po Toi on 16th.
Oriental Dollarbird at Po Toi, 16 April 2020
April 20-26
Asian Dowitchers at Mai Po, 24 April 2020
Hot and sunny on the first two days of the week with temperatures reaching 31⁰C on 21st. A resurgence of the northeast monsoon from 22nd to 26th brought cooler temperatures, grey cloud and some rain.
The monsoon heralded a new wave of migration with good numbers of Chinese Sparrowhawks and Grey-streaked Flycatchers being noted. A Goldcrest at Tai Po Kau was the second record of the spring. There was also late news of a Mongolian Short-toed Lark at Long Valley on 19th.
Reports of note as follows:
Short-tailed Shearwater: two in southern waters on 26th
Glossy Ibis: the bird at Mai Po remained until at least 20th
Malayan Night Heron: up to two at Tai Tong until at least 25th
Chinese Egret: three at Mai Po on 22nd
Black Baza: three at Tung Ping Chau on 26th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: reported from widespread sites with high counts of 70 at Po Toi on 23rd, 121 at Fanling Golf Course on 24th, 72 at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun on 25th, 40 at Long Valley on 25th and 41 at Mt Davis on 26th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Po Toi on 23rd
Pied Harrier: a female at Tai Sang Wai on 25th
Grey-faced Buzzard: one at Mt Davis on 23rd; one at Mai Po and five at Fanling Golf Course on 24th; one at Mt Davis on 25th; one at Lam Tsuen on 26th
The monsoon heralded a new wave of migration with good numbers of Chinese Sparrowhawks and Grey-streaked Flycatchers being noted. A Goldcrest at Tai Po Kau was the second record of the spring. There was also late news of a Mongolian Short-toed Lark at Long Valley on 19th.
Reports of note as follows:
Short-tailed Shearwater: two in southern waters on 26th
Glossy Ibis: the bird at Mai Po remained until at least 20th
Malayan Night Heron: up to two at Tai Tong until at least 25th
Chinese Egret: three at Mai Po on 22nd
Black Baza: three at Tung Ping Chau on 26th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: reported from widespread sites with high counts of 70 at Po Toi on 23rd, 121 at Fanling Golf Course on 24th, 72 at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun on 25th, 40 at Long Valley on 25th and 41 at Mt Davis on 26th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Po Toi on 23rd
Pied Harrier: a female at Tai Sang Wai on 25th
Grey-faced Buzzard: one at Mt Davis on 23rd; one at Mai Po and five at Fanling Golf Course on 24th; one at Mt Davis on 25th; one at Lam Tsuen on 26th
Grey-faced Buzzard at Mai Po, 24 April 2020
Slaty-legged Crake: records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: three at Lau Shui Heung on 20th; four between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 21st
Little Curlew: the Long Valley bird remained until at least 25th
Sanderling: one at Mai Po on 22nd & 26th
Little Stint: one at Mai Po on 24th
Asian Dowitcher: 64 at Mai Po on 24th
Red-necked Phalarope: 416 in southern waters on 26th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: one at Mai Po on 24th
Oriental Pratincole: most seen was 39 at Mai Po on 26th
Black-tailed Gull: an adult in southern waters on 26th
Little Tern: 19 in southern waters on 26th
Aleutian Tern: one in southern waters on 26th
Bridled Tern: at least ten from the Po Toi ferry on 23rd; one in southern waters on 26th
Black-naped Tern: eight in southern waters on 26th
Common Tern: at least four in southern waters on 26th
Whiskered Tern: five at Tung Ping Chau on 25th; 60 in Sai Kung harbour on 26th
Barred Cuckoo-dove: a female at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st & 25th is the 15th record for Hong Kong
Oriental Cuckoo: singles at Po Toi on 23rd, 25th & 26th, and at Mt Davis and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 24th; two at Mt Davis on 25th
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 25th
Northern Boobook: one at Po Toi on 25th
Grey Nightjar: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Lau Shui Heung on 20th; one at Tai Tong on 20th & 21st; four between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 21st
White-throated Needletail: three at Fanling Golf Course and 40 at Tsim Bei Tsui on 24th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi from 21st – 26th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: 11 at Lok Ma Chau on 23rd
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Lam Tsuen on 24th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Mai Po on 24th; one at Mt Davis on 25th & 26th
Ashy Minivet: two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Black-naped Oriole: two at Po Toi on 23rd with one there on 26th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: a male at Tai Po Kau and a female at Po Toi on 23rd; two at Shing Mun on 25th; a male at Po Toi on 26th
Mongolian Short-toed Lark: one at Long Valley on 19th will be only the 5th HK record if accepted
Sand Martin: one at Lok Ma Chau on 23rd
Asian Stubtail: one at Pak Sha O on 26 April; this will be a new late date if accepted, the previous latest date being 12 April
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: singles at Ho Man Tin on 22nd and Fanling Golf Course on 24th; two at different locations in Tuen Mun on 26th
Arctic Warbler: one at King’s Park on 22nd; three at Po Toi from 23rd - 26th; two at Mt Davis on 26th; one at Tai Tong on 26th; three at Tung Ping Chau on 26th
Brown Bush Warbler: one singing at Robin’s Nest on 21st; this is a new late date, the previous latest date being 16 April
Chinese Grassbird: one at Robin’s Nest on 21st
Goldcrest: following the one seen at Po Toi on 31 March, which will be a first record for Hong Kong if accepted, another was seen and photographed at Tai Po Kau on 20 April
Chestnut-cheeked/Daurian Starling: one at Po Toi on 25th
Siberian Thrush: a male at Po Toi on 25th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Lam Tsuen on 23rd; two at Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk on 25th
Japanese Thrush: five at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Eyebrowed Thrush: up to ten at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater to 26th; one at Ho Man Tin on 22nd; one at Mt Davis on 26th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st & 22nd; one at King’s Park on 22nd
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: widely reported from 22nd onwards with a record count of 65 flying north in small (single-digit) groups at Fanling Golf Course on 24th; the highest previous count involved 50 at Mai Po on 8 May 1999 in the aftermath of Typhoon Leo.
Dark-sided Flycatcher: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 25th; this is only the 10th spring record of this species
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Ferruginous Flycatcher: one at Lam Tsuen on 24th
Narcissus Flycatcher: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st, 22nd & 24th; singles at Ho Ma Tin on 22nd & 24th; two at Po Toi on 23rd with one there on 25th & 26th
Plain Flowerpecker: singles reported from Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, Tai Po Kau and Lam Tsuen; also two at Mt Davis on 25th
Common Rosefinch: a female at Mt Davis on 26th
Grey-capped Greenfinch: two at Long Valley on 21st
Yellow-breasted Bunting: three at Long Valley and one at Pui O on 25th; one at Ho Man Tin on 26th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Mai Po on 20th; one at Po Toi on 23rd, with two there on 25th and one on 26th; one at Lam Tsuen on 24th; four at Pak Sha O on 26th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: one at Lam Tsuen on 23rd; one at Pak Sha O on 26th
Little Curlew: the Long Valley bird remained until at least 25th
Sanderling: one at Mai Po on 22nd & 26th
Little Stint: one at Mai Po on 24th
Asian Dowitcher: 64 at Mai Po on 24th
Red-necked Phalarope: 416 in southern waters on 26th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: one at Mai Po on 24th
Oriental Pratincole: most seen was 39 at Mai Po on 26th
Black-tailed Gull: an adult in southern waters on 26th
Little Tern: 19 in southern waters on 26th
Aleutian Tern: one in southern waters on 26th
Bridled Tern: at least ten from the Po Toi ferry on 23rd; one in southern waters on 26th
Black-naped Tern: eight in southern waters on 26th
Common Tern: at least four in southern waters on 26th
Whiskered Tern: five at Tung Ping Chau on 25th; 60 in Sai Kung harbour on 26th
Barred Cuckoo-dove: a female at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st & 25th is the 15th record for Hong Kong
Oriental Cuckoo: singles at Po Toi on 23rd, 25th & 26th, and at Mt Davis and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 24th; two at Mt Davis on 25th
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 25th
Northern Boobook: one at Po Toi on 25th
Grey Nightjar: all records are of birds heard after dusk or before dawn: one at Lau Shui Heung on 20th; one at Tai Tong on 20th & 21st; four between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 21st
White-throated Needletail: three at Fanling Golf Course and 40 at Tsim Bei Tsui on 24th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi from 21st – 26th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: 11 at Lok Ma Chau on 23rd
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Lam Tsuen on 24th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Mai Po on 24th; one at Mt Davis on 25th & 26th
Ashy Minivet: two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Black-naped Oriole: two at Po Toi on 23rd with one there on 26th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: a male at Tai Po Kau and a female at Po Toi on 23rd; two at Shing Mun on 25th; a male at Po Toi on 26th
Mongolian Short-toed Lark: one at Long Valley on 19th will be only the 5th HK record if accepted
Sand Martin: one at Lok Ma Chau on 23rd
Asian Stubtail: one at Pak Sha O on 26 April; this will be a new late date if accepted, the previous latest date being 12 April
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: singles at Ho Man Tin on 22nd and Fanling Golf Course on 24th; two at different locations in Tuen Mun on 26th
Arctic Warbler: one at King’s Park on 22nd; three at Po Toi from 23rd - 26th; two at Mt Davis on 26th; one at Tai Tong on 26th; three at Tung Ping Chau on 26th
Brown Bush Warbler: one singing at Robin’s Nest on 21st; this is a new late date, the previous latest date being 16 April
Chinese Grassbird: one at Robin’s Nest on 21st
Goldcrest: following the one seen at Po Toi on 31 March, which will be a first record for Hong Kong if accepted, another was seen and photographed at Tai Po Kau on 20 April
Chestnut-cheeked/Daurian Starling: one at Po Toi on 25th
Siberian Thrush: a male at Po Toi on 25th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Lam Tsuen on 23rd; two at Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk on 25th
Japanese Thrush: five at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Eyebrowed Thrush: up to ten at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater to 26th; one at Ho Man Tin on 22nd; one at Mt Davis on 26th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st & 22nd; one at King’s Park on 22nd
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: widely reported from 22nd onwards with a record count of 65 flying north in small (single-digit) groups at Fanling Golf Course on 24th; the highest previous count involved 50 at Mai Po on 8 May 1999 in the aftermath of Typhoon Leo.
Dark-sided Flycatcher: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 25th; this is only the 10th spring record of this species
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st
Ferruginous Flycatcher: one at Lam Tsuen on 24th
Narcissus Flycatcher: singles at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 21st, 22nd & 24th; singles at Ho Ma Tin on 22nd & 24th; two at Po Toi on 23rd with one there on 25th & 26th
Plain Flowerpecker: singles reported from Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, Tai Po Kau and Lam Tsuen; also two at Mt Davis on 25th
Common Rosefinch: a female at Mt Davis on 26th
Grey-capped Greenfinch: two at Long Valley on 21st
Yellow-breasted Bunting: three at Long Valley and one at Pui O on 25th; one at Ho Man Tin on 26th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Mai Po on 20th; one at Po Toi on 23rd, with two there on 25th and one on 26th; one at Lam Tsuen on 24th; four at Pak Sha O on 26th
Japanese Yellow Bunting: one at Lam Tsuen on 23rd; one at Pak Sha O on 26th
Brown Shrike at Po Toi, 23 April 2020
April 27-30
Brown Booby in southern waters, 30 April 2020
Fine weather with temperatures up to 30⁰C; the heat was ameliorated a little by fresh easterly winds.
Migration continued in what was a busy four-day period for birdwatchers. Of particular note were a White-faced Plover at Mai Po and a Brown Booby in southern waters (details below).
Three Short-tailed Shearwaters were reported from southern waters on 30th. The Glossy Ibis remained at Mai Po until at least 28th. One of the pair of Malayan Night Herons was again seen at Tai Tong on 29th & 30th. Six Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 30th and one was on the rocks at Round Island on the same date. An adult Brown Booby in southern waters on 30th is the 12th record for Hong Kong.
Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported in one and twos from several sites until 30th, the most seen being 11 at Mt Davis on 28th. On 30th, three Grey-faced Buzzards were noted flying over southern waters, two were at Uk Tau and one was at Tai Po Kau.
The Night Bird Survey continued to turn up calling Slaty-legged Crakes: two were at Ng Tung Chai on 27th with one there on 28th, one was at Cheung Lek village on 28th, and five were between Pak Sha O and Lai Chi Chong on 30th; also on 30th one was at Uk Tau and two were at Wung Yiu. Three Grey Nightjars were also heard between Pak Sha O and Lai Chi Chong on 30th
There was the expected variety of waders migrating north through Mai Po. The highlight was a White-faced Plover seen on 27th. This taxon is usually treated as a race of Kentish Plover, its Latin name being Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus. This is only the sixth Hong Kong record although a pair bred successfully at Pak Nai in 2014. The Long Valley Little Curlew was last seen on 27th; two other Little Curlews were seen at Tai Sang Wai and Mai Po on the same date. Other shorebirds at Mai Po included a Grey-headed Lapwing, 39 Red Knots, a Sanderling, a Little Stint, 42 Asian Dowitchers and 29 Oriental Pratincoles on 28th. 160 Red-necked Phalaropes were in southern waters on 30th.
A Parasitic Jaeger was in southern waters on 30th. Whiskered Terns were noted in the northwest New Territories, the highest count being 30 at Tai Sang Wai on 27th. Four Whiskered Terns were also seen in southern waters on 30th. Other terns noted in southern waters on 30th were 19 White-winged Terns, 64 Common Terns, a Black-naped Tern, an Aleutian Tern, two Bridled Terns and 46 Little Terns. Five Black-naped Terns were also fishing in the harbour at Po Toi on the same day.
A Collared Owlet was heard at Tai Po Kau on 30th. Single Oriental Cuckoos were noted at Mai Po and King’s Park on 28th. Single Oriental Dollarbirds were at Lam Tsuen on 27th, Uk Tau and Po Toi from 28th – 30th, and at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th. Blue-tailed Bee-eater passage consisted of two at Mai Po on 27th, eight at Mai Po and one at Lam Tsuen on 28th, and eight at Long Valley and ten at Lam Tsuen (parties of six and four) on 29th. A Chinese Barbet was at Tai Po Kau from 27th - 30th – the first record at this location this year.
Small numbers of Brown Shrikes were recorded from several widespread sites, the most being four at Po Toi on 28th and six at Chek Lap Kok on 29th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi on 28th & 30th.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was reported from Po Toi on 28th. Single Arctic Warblers were seen at King’s Park on 27th & 28th, Tuen Mun on 27th, Po Toi on 28th, Tai Lam CP on 29th and Cheung Chau on 30th; two were at Po Toi on 30th. Records of Two-barred Warblers involved singles at King’s Park and Tai Po Kau on 27th, and Tai Tong on 29th; two were at Tai Tong on 30th. A Pale-legged Leaf Warbler was singing at Mt Davis on 28th, and one was reported from Po Toi on 30th. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler and a Black-browed Reed Warbler were at Tai Sang Wai on 27th, and three Black-browed Reed Warblers were at Mai Po on the same date. The Manchurian Reed Warbler was again heard singing at Lok Ma Chau on 28th.
A male Siberian Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 29th. A White’s Thrush was at Po Toi on 28th & 30th. A Grey-backed Thrush on Po Toi on 28th is a new latest date by one day. Passage of Eyebrowed Thrushes continued with sightings of three at Tuen Mun and two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 27th, two at Mt Davis on 28th, and ten at Tai Lam CP and one at Tai Tong on 29th.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers also continued to move through in small numbers, with high counts of five at Mt Davis on 28th, and Po Toi on 28th & 30th. Two Ferruginous Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 28th. Hainan Blue Flycatchers were conspicuous on territory at woodland sites, including eight at Tai Po Kau on 27th and eight at Tai Tong on 29th. Two Bluethroats were at Long Valley on 27th and a single bird remained until at least 29th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at King’s Park on 27th, Ho Man Tin on 28th, and Po Toi and Tai Po Kau on 30th. A late Daurian Redstart was at Po Toi on 30th. Three Blue Rock Thrushes at Tai Mo Shan on 27th involved two of the taxon pandoo and one phillipensis.
Ninety Eastern Yellow Wagtails of the nominate form tschutschensis were counted at Long Valley on 27th. A Pechora Pipit was at Long Valley on 28th and another was seen there on 29th.
Yellow-breasted Buntings were reported from Long Valley and Mai Po, with high counts of eight at Mai Po on 27th and seven at Long Valley on 28th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Lam Tsuen on 27th, and one was at Po Toi on 30th. A Yellow-browed Bunting was at Long Valley on 28th, and one was at Po Toi on 30th. A Tristram’s Bunting was also at Po Toi on 30th.
Migration continued in what was a busy four-day period for birdwatchers. Of particular note were a White-faced Plover at Mai Po and a Brown Booby in southern waters (details below).
Three Short-tailed Shearwaters were reported from southern waters on 30th. The Glossy Ibis remained at Mai Po until at least 28th. One of the pair of Malayan Night Herons was again seen at Tai Tong on 29th & 30th. Six Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 30th and one was on the rocks at Round Island on the same date. An adult Brown Booby in southern waters on 30th is the 12th record for Hong Kong.
Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported in one and twos from several sites until 30th, the most seen being 11 at Mt Davis on 28th. On 30th, three Grey-faced Buzzards were noted flying over southern waters, two were at Uk Tau and one was at Tai Po Kau.
The Night Bird Survey continued to turn up calling Slaty-legged Crakes: two were at Ng Tung Chai on 27th with one there on 28th, one was at Cheung Lek village on 28th, and five were between Pak Sha O and Lai Chi Chong on 30th; also on 30th one was at Uk Tau and two were at Wung Yiu. Three Grey Nightjars were also heard between Pak Sha O and Lai Chi Chong on 30th
There was the expected variety of waders migrating north through Mai Po. The highlight was a White-faced Plover seen on 27th. This taxon is usually treated as a race of Kentish Plover, its Latin name being Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus. This is only the sixth Hong Kong record although a pair bred successfully at Pak Nai in 2014. The Long Valley Little Curlew was last seen on 27th; two other Little Curlews were seen at Tai Sang Wai and Mai Po on the same date. Other shorebirds at Mai Po included a Grey-headed Lapwing, 39 Red Knots, a Sanderling, a Little Stint, 42 Asian Dowitchers and 29 Oriental Pratincoles on 28th. 160 Red-necked Phalaropes were in southern waters on 30th.
A Parasitic Jaeger was in southern waters on 30th. Whiskered Terns were noted in the northwest New Territories, the highest count being 30 at Tai Sang Wai on 27th. Four Whiskered Terns were also seen in southern waters on 30th. Other terns noted in southern waters on 30th were 19 White-winged Terns, 64 Common Terns, a Black-naped Tern, an Aleutian Tern, two Bridled Terns and 46 Little Terns. Five Black-naped Terns were also fishing in the harbour at Po Toi on the same day.
A Collared Owlet was heard at Tai Po Kau on 30th. Single Oriental Cuckoos were noted at Mai Po and King’s Park on 28th. Single Oriental Dollarbirds were at Lam Tsuen on 27th, Uk Tau and Po Toi from 28th – 30th, and at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th. Blue-tailed Bee-eater passage consisted of two at Mai Po on 27th, eight at Mai Po and one at Lam Tsuen on 28th, and eight at Long Valley and ten at Lam Tsuen (parties of six and four) on 29th. A Chinese Barbet was at Tai Po Kau from 27th - 30th – the first record at this location this year.
Small numbers of Brown Shrikes were recorded from several widespread sites, the most being four at Po Toi on 28th and six at Chek Lap Kok on 29th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi on 28th & 30th.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was reported from Po Toi on 28th. Single Arctic Warblers were seen at King’s Park on 27th & 28th, Tuen Mun on 27th, Po Toi on 28th, Tai Lam CP on 29th and Cheung Chau on 30th; two were at Po Toi on 30th. Records of Two-barred Warblers involved singles at King’s Park and Tai Po Kau on 27th, and Tai Tong on 29th; two were at Tai Tong on 30th. A Pale-legged Leaf Warbler was singing at Mt Davis on 28th, and one was reported from Po Toi on 30th. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler and a Black-browed Reed Warbler were at Tai Sang Wai on 27th, and three Black-browed Reed Warblers were at Mai Po on the same date. The Manchurian Reed Warbler was again heard singing at Lok Ma Chau on 28th.
A male Siberian Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 29th. A White’s Thrush was at Po Toi on 28th & 30th. A Grey-backed Thrush on Po Toi on 28th is a new latest date by one day. Passage of Eyebrowed Thrushes continued with sightings of three at Tuen Mun and two at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 27th, two at Mt Davis on 28th, and ten at Tai Lam CP and one at Tai Tong on 29th.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers also continued to move through in small numbers, with high counts of five at Mt Davis on 28th, and Po Toi on 28th & 30th. Two Ferruginous Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 28th. Hainan Blue Flycatchers were conspicuous on territory at woodland sites, including eight at Tai Po Kau on 27th and eight at Tai Tong on 29th. Two Bluethroats were at Long Valley on 27th and a single bird remained until at least 29th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at King’s Park on 27th, Ho Man Tin on 28th, and Po Toi and Tai Po Kau on 30th. A late Daurian Redstart was at Po Toi on 30th. Three Blue Rock Thrushes at Tai Mo Shan on 27th involved two of the taxon pandoo and one phillipensis.
Ninety Eastern Yellow Wagtails of the nominate form tschutschensis were counted at Long Valley on 27th. A Pechora Pipit was at Long Valley on 28th and another was seen there on 29th.
Yellow-breasted Buntings were reported from Long Valley and Mai Po, with high counts of eight at Mai Po on 27th and seven at Long Valley on 28th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Lam Tsuen on 27th, and one was at Po Toi on 30th. A Yellow-browed Bunting was at Long Valley on 28th, and one was at Po Toi on 30th. A Tristram’s Bunting was also at Po Toi on 30th.
Little Terns resting on flotsam in southern waters, 30 April 2020
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Please note that these are unchecked reports. Records of rarities and of unseasonal occurrences may be subject to assessment by the HKBWS Records Committee. A checklist showing species for which a description is required can be found at the HKBWS website - http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=28893&extra=page%3D1
All images & text © David Diskin unless otherwise stated
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