LATEST SIGHTINGS - APRIL 2021
April 1-4
April 1-4
An anticyclone over southern China brought southerly winds and hot weather to Hong Kong, with temperatures regularly reaching 31⁰C.
Migrants continued to be noted, albeit in small numbers. An Olive-backed Sunbird reported from Mt Davis on 4th will be only the second record for Hong Kong if accepted. Swinhoe’s Minivets were reported from two sites and a Narcissus Flycatcher of the taxon owstoni was at KFBG. Details below:
A needletail sp. was seen over Po Toi on 4th. Reports of Pacific Swifts involved three at Mt Davis and four at Cheung Chau on 2nd, four at Chi Ma Wan on 3rd, and five at Po Toi on 4th. The first Chestnut-winged Cuckoos of the season were at Tai Tong, Nam Wa Po and Ho Pui reservoir on 4th. Two Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were at Tai Lam CP on 1st, and singles were at Tung Lung Chau and Ho Pui reservoir on 1st, Tai Po Kau on 2nd, and Pak Sha O on 4th.
Single Slaty-legged Crakes were heard at Ho Pui reservoir and UK Tau on the evening of 1st. Three were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 4th.
Two Grey-headed Lapwings were at San Tin on 4th. Two Oriental Plovers were on the scrape at Mai Po from 1st – 4th. Four Far Eastern Curlews were at Mai Po on 2nd. Sixty-two Red-necked Phalaropes were counted in southern waters on 3rd. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 25 at Mai Po and 22 at San Tin on 4th.
A Pallas’s Gulls was at Mai Po on 2nd, and a Black-tailed Gull was there on 3rd. Another Black-tailed Gull was seen in southern waters on 3rd. A Slaty-backed Gull was at Mai Po on 4th. Gull-billed Tern numbers at Mai Po had risen to 150 on 4th, but Caspian Tern numbers remained low, with only four there on the same date. Three Whiskered Terns were at Mai Po and two were at San Tin on 4th.
Migrants continued to be noted, albeit in small numbers. An Olive-backed Sunbird reported from Mt Davis on 4th will be only the second record for Hong Kong if accepted. Swinhoe’s Minivets were reported from two sites and a Narcissus Flycatcher of the taxon owstoni was at KFBG. Details below:
A needletail sp. was seen over Po Toi on 4th. Reports of Pacific Swifts involved three at Mt Davis and four at Cheung Chau on 2nd, four at Chi Ma Wan on 3rd, and five at Po Toi on 4th. The first Chestnut-winged Cuckoos of the season were at Tai Tong, Nam Wa Po and Ho Pui reservoir on 4th. Two Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were at Tai Lam CP on 1st, and singles were at Tung Lung Chau and Ho Pui reservoir on 1st, Tai Po Kau on 2nd, and Pak Sha O on 4th.
Single Slaty-legged Crakes were heard at Ho Pui reservoir and UK Tau on the evening of 1st. Three were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 4th.
Two Grey-headed Lapwings were at San Tin on 4th. Two Oriental Plovers were on the scrape at Mai Po from 1st – 4th. Four Far Eastern Curlews were at Mai Po on 2nd. Sixty-two Red-necked Phalaropes were counted in southern waters on 3rd. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 25 at Mai Po and 22 at San Tin on 4th.
A Pallas’s Gulls was at Mai Po on 2nd, and a Black-tailed Gull was there on 3rd. Another Black-tailed Gull was seen in southern waters on 3rd. A Slaty-backed Gull was at Mai Po on 4th. Gull-billed Tern numbers at Mai Po had risen to 150 on 4th, but Caspian Tern numbers remained low, with only four there on the same date. Three Whiskered Terns were at Mai Po and two were at San Tin on 4th.
The juvenile Lesser Frigatebird was seen again at Mai Po on 3rd. Single Eurasian Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 2nd & 4th, and San Tin on 3rd. Seventy Black-faced Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 4th. Two Cinnamon Bitterns were at Mai Po on 2nd, and two were at Fung Lok Wai on the same date. A Malayan Night Heron was at Sheung Shui on 1st, another was at Mui Wo on 2nd, and one was at Wu Kau Tang on 4th.
A Crested Honey Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 4th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Lung A Pai on 1st. Single Grey-faced Buzzards were at Tai Mo Shan on 2nd and Pak Sha O on 4th.
A Grey Nightjar was at Ho Pui reservoir on the evenings of 1st & 4th. Three Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were seen in fields below Skek Kong catchwater on 4th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Lam CP on 1st, and Tai Po Kau on 2nd & 3rd. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Fung Lok Wai and Mai Po access road on 2nd, and at Mai Po on 3rd. Ashy Minivets were reported as follows: one at Tung Lung Chau on 1st, four at Po Toi on 2nd & 3rd, two at Kat O on 3rd, two at Chi Ma Wan on 3rd, and 40 at Tai Mei Tuk on 4th. Single Swinhoe’s Minivets were at Po Toi on 2nd & 3rd, and at Tai Po Kau headland on 3rd. The wintering Grey-backed Shrike was still present at Lam Tsuen on 4th. A Brown Shrike was at Lai Chi Kok on 3rd. A Eurasian Jay was reported from Mt Davis on 4th. An Indochinese Green Magpie (Cat III) was at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st.
A Crested Honey Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 4th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Lung A Pai on 1st. Single Grey-faced Buzzards were at Tai Mo Shan on 2nd and Pak Sha O on 4th.
A Grey Nightjar was at Ho Pui reservoir on the evenings of 1st & 4th. Three Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were seen in fields below Skek Kong catchwater on 4th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Lam CP on 1st, and Tai Po Kau on 2nd & 3rd. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Fung Lok Wai and Mai Po access road on 2nd, and at Mai Po on 3rd. Ashy Minivets were reported as follows: one at Tung Lung Chau on 1st, four at Po Toi on 2nd & 3rd, two at Kat O on 3rd, two at Chi Ma Wan on 3rd, and 40 at Tai Mei Tuk on 4th. Single Swinhoe’s Minivets were at Po Toi on 2nd & 3rd, and at Tai Po Kau headland on 3rd. The wintering Grey-backed Shrike was still present at Lam Tsuen on 4th. A Brown Shrike was at Lai Chi Kok on 3rd. A Eurasian Jay was reported from Mt Davis on 4th. An Indochinese Green Magpie (Cat III) was at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st.
Twelve Manchurian Bush Warblers were counted at Tung Lung Chau on 1st. The Hume’s Leaf Warbler was still present at KFBG on 2nd. Forty Yellow-browed Warblers were at Tung Lung Chau on 1st. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Tai Po Kau on 2nd and two were there on 3rd; one was also at Pak Sha O on 4th. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 1st, and another was at Mai Po on 2nd.
Two Chinese Babaxes (Cat IIC) were at Tai Mo Shan on 1st. The highest count of Japanese Thrushes was ten at Tung Lung Chau on 1st. Two Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP on 1st.
Seven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were singing at Tai Po Kau on 2nd, and four were at Pak Sha O on 4th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher of the race intermedia was at KFBG on 31 March & 1 April. A Bluethroat was singing at Tai Sang Wai on 2nd, and a Red-flanked Bluetail was at KFBG on 1st & 2nd. A Narcissus Flycatcher of the race owstoni, sometimes considered a separate species Ryukyu Flycatcher, was at KFBG from 31 March - 2 April. This is the 8th or 9th Hong Kong record of this taxon. Single Narcissus Flycatchers of the nominate race were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st and Tuen Mun on 4th. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 1st.
An Olive-backed Sunbird was seen briefly at Mt Davis on 4th. There are currently two records of this species in Hong Kong. A male of the taxon rhizophorae – which is the only subspecies recorded in China – was at Po Toi on 16 & 17 April 2016; this was accepted as a wild bird. One at Mt Parker on 13 April 2006 was assigned to Category III as the taxon of this individual could not be established with certainty. Photographs of the Mt Davis bird indicate that it is also of the taxon rhizophorae, which makes it a good candidate for acceptance by the HKBWS Records Committee.
Plain Flowerpeckers were noted as follows: three at Tai Po Kau on 2nd, one at Lam Tsuen on 2nd & 4th, and one at Kam Tin on 3rd. Twenty-five Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 20 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 4th. Single Citrine Wagtails were at Mai Po on 1st, Tai Sang Wai on 2nd & 4th, and Long Valley on 4th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 1st.
Two Chinese Babaxes (Cat IIC) were at Tai Mo Shan on 1st. The highest count of Japanese Thrushes was ten at Tung Lung Chau on 1st. Two Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP on 1st.
Seven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were singing at Tai Po Kau on 2nd, and four were at Pak Sha O on 4th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher of the race intermedia was at KFBG on 31 March & 1 April. A Bluethroat was singing at Tai Sang Wai on 2nd, and a Red-flanked Bluetail was at KFBG on 1st & 2nd. A Narcissus Flycatcher of the race owstoni, sometimes considered a separate species Ryukyu Flycatcher, was at KFBG from 31 March - 2 April. This is the 8th or 9th Hong Kong record of this taxon. Single Narcissus Flycatchers of the nominate race were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 1st and Tuen Mun on 4th. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 1st.
An Olive-backed Sunbird was seen briefly at Mt Davis on 4th. There are currently two records of this species in Hong Kong. A male of the taxon rhizophorae – which is the only subspecies recorded in China – was at Po Toi on 16 & 17 April 2016; this was accepted as a wild bird. One at Mt Parker on 13 April 2006 was assigned to Category III as the taxon of this individual could not be established with certainty. Photographs of the Mt Davis bird indicate that it is also of the taxon rhizophorae, which makes it a good candidate for acceptance by the HKBWS Records Committee.
Plain Flowerpeckers were noted as follows: three at Tai Po Kau on 2nd, one at Lam Tsuen on 2nd & 4th, and one at Kam Tin on 3rd. Twenty-five Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 20 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 4th. Single Citrine Wagtails were at Mai Po on 1st, Tai Sang Wai on 2nd & 4th, and Long Valley on 4th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 1st.
April 5-11
Unsettled weather with fresh easterly winds; clouds and rain on 8th & 9th caused the temperature to fall to a cool 17⁰C. Fine and sunny on 10th &11th.
The change in the weather brought a good number and variety of spring migrants to the territory, making this perhaps the best birding week of the year so far. Rarities involved a Eurasian Oystercatcher and a Paddyfield Warbler at Mai Po, and there was also a good run of scarcer migrants including White-throated Needletail, Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Little Curlew, Pectoral Sandpiper, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rosy Starling and Yellow-throated Bunting. Full details below:
Three Japanese Quail were at Long Valley on 11th. The number of Garganeys on passage at Mai Po had reached 30 on 10th.
Two Himalayan Swiftlets were at San Tin on 8th, with one there on 9th; one was also seen near Lok Ma Chau Village on 9th. Two needletails sp. were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A White-throated Needletail was at Ping Fung Shan on 6th. Reports of Pacific Swifts involved one at Mai Po on 5th with three there on 10th, two at Ping Fung Shan on 6th, three at Tai Mo Shan on 7th, and one at Po Toi on 10th with three there on 11th.
Chestnut-winged Cuckoos were noted at five sites with high counts of three at Ping Fung Shan on 6th and three at Mui Tsz Lam on 9th. A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th. Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were heard regularly in woodland in the central and northwest New Territories with high counts of three at Tai Tong on 8th & 9th, and at Tai Lam CP on 9th. The first Indian Cuckoo of the season was at Po Toi on 5th, after which they occurred at several other sites.
A hundred and forty-seven Red Turtle Doves were at San Tin on 5th. Two Slaty-legged Crakes were heard at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th, and singles were at Uk Tau on 8th, Tai Po Kau on 9th, and Fu Tei Country Trail on 10th.
A Eurasian Oystercatcher was at Mai Po on 7th. This is the seventh Hong Kong record. There was a good count of 47 Black-winged Stilts at Pui O on 6th. A count of 21 Lesser Sand Plovers at Mai Po on 9th included one of the atrifrons group. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at San Tin on 10th and three Little Curlews flew over the same site on 9th. Numbers of Far Eastern Curlews had increased to ten at Mai Po on 10th. Other waders noted at Mai Po included three Ruddy Turnstones on 7th, 128 Great Knots on 9th, and 15 Broad-billed Sandpipers on 9th. The first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper of the spring was reported from Mai Po on 5th. Long-toed Stints were noted at Tai Sang Wai, Lok Ma Chau EEA and San Tin, the highest count being ten at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th. Sixty Red-necked Stints were at San Tin on 11th. Three Sanderlings were at Mai Po on 8th, and one was there from 9th – 11th. A Little Stint remained on a drained pond at Tai Sang Wai from 31 March to at least 10 April, and one was at Mai Po from 7th – 11th. A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 8th. Twenty-five Terek Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 5th. Small numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes were seen inland on 5th, with ten at Mai Po and one at Tai Sang Wai; 20 were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 6th. The number of Nordmann’s Greenshanks at Mai Po had increased to seven on 10th. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 37 at San Tin on 11th.
The change in the weather brought a good number and variety of spring migrants to the territory, making this perhaps the best birding week of the year so far. Rarities involved a Eurasian Oystercatcher and a Paddyfield Warbler at Mai Po, and there was also a good run of scarcer migrants including White-throated Needletail, Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Little Curlew, Pectoral Sandpiper, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rosy Starling and Yellow-throated Bunting. Full details below:
Three Japanese Quail were at Long Valley on 11th. The number of Garganeys on passage at Mai Po had reached 30 on 10th.
Two Himalayan Swiftlets were at San Tin on 8th, with one there on 9th; one was also seen near Lok Ma Chau Village on 9th. Two needletails sp. were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A White-throated Needletail was at Ping Fung Shan on 6th. Reports of Pacific Swifts involved one at Mai Po on 5th with three there on 10th, two at Ping Fung Shan on 6th, three at Tai Mo Shan on 7th, and one at Po Toi on 10th with three there on 11th.
Chestnut-winged Cuckoos were noted at five sites with high counts of three at Ping Fung Shan on 6th and three at Mui Tsz Lam on 9th. A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th. Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were heard regularly in woodland in the central and northwest New Territories with high counts of three at Tai Tong on 8th & 9th, and at Tai Lam CP on 9th. The first Indian Cuckoo of the season was at Po Toi on 5th, after which they occurred at several other sites.
A hundred and forty-seven Red Turtle Doves were at San Tin on 5th. Two Slaty-legged Crakes were heard at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th, and singles were at Uk Tau on 8th, Tai Po Kau on 9th, and Fu Tei Country Trail on 10th.
A Eurasian Oystercatcher was at Mai Po on 7th. This is the seventh Hong Kong record. There was a good count of 47 Black-winged Stilts at Pui O on 6th. A count of 21 Lesser Sand Plovers at Mai Po on 9th included one of the atrifrons group. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at San Tin on 10th and three Little Curlews flew over the same site on 9th. Numbers of Far Eastern Curlews had increased to ten at Mai Po on 10th. Other waders noted at Mai Po included three Ruddy Turnstones on 7th, 128 Great Knots on 9th, and 15 Broad-billed Sandpipers on 9th. The first Sharp-tailed Sandpiper of the spring was reported from Mai Po on 5th. Long-toed Stints were noted at Tai Sang Wai, Lok Ma Chau EEA and San Tin, the highest count being ten at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th. Sixty Red-necked Stints were at San Tin on 11th. Three Sanderlings were at Mai Po on 8th, and one was there from 9th – 11th. A Little Stint remained on a drained pond at Tai Sang Wai from 31 March to at least 10 April, and one was at Mai Po from 7th – 11th. A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 8th. Twenty-five Terek Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 5th. Small numbers of Red-necked Phalaropes were seen inland on 5th, with ten at Mai Po and one at Tai Sang Wai; 20 were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 6th. The number of Nordmann’s Greenshanks at Mai Po had increased to seven on 10th. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 37 at San Tin on 11th.
A 1st-summer Brown-headed Gull was at Mai Po from 5th – 10th. Records of late Saunders’s Gulls at Mai Po involved one on 7th and two on 10th. A Black-tailed Gull was at Mai Po on 8th & 9th, and one was in southern waters on 10th. A Slaty-backed Gull was at Mai Po on 11th.
Gull-billed Tern numbers at Mai Po had risen to 219 on 5th, but numbers fell after that with 100 being reported on 7th. The highest count of Caspian Terns was 16 on 8th. Two Greater Crested Terns flew past Po Toi on 6th, and two were in southern waters on 10th. Four Little Terns were at Mai Po on 7th, and one was there on 11th. Small numbers of Whiskered Terns were seen at Mai Po and San Tin, the highest count being 40 at the latter site on 11th.
Five Eurasian Spoonbills were reported from San Tin on 9th. At least 87 Black-faced Spoonbills remained in the Mai Po/San Tin area during the week. Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at San Tin on 5th and Mai Po on 8th. Malayan Night Herons were reported as follows: one at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 5th, two at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th, and two at Tai Tong on 8th with one at there on 9th. Three Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po from 6th – 10th; two were there on 11th.
Gull-billed Tern numbers at Mai Po had risen to 219 on 5th, but numbers fell after that with 100 being reported on 7th. The highest count of Caspian Terns was 16 on 8th. Two Greater Crested Terns flew past Po Toi on 6th, and two were in southern waters on 10th. Four Little Terns were at Mai Po on 7th, and one was there on 11th. Small numbers of Whiskered Terns were seen at Mai Po and San Tin, the highest count being 40 at the latter site on 11th.
Five Eurasian Spoonbills were reported from San Tin on 9th. At least 87 Black-faced Spoonbills remained in the Mai Po/San Tin area during the week. Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at San Tin on 5th and Mai Po on 8th. Malayan Night Herons were reported as follows: one at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 5th, two at Shek Kong catchwater on 6th, and two at Tai Tong on 8th with one at there on 9th. Three Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po from 6th – 10th; two were there on 11th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 5th & 10th. Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were at Mai Po and Po Toi on 8th, two were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th, and one was at San Tin on 11th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Ping Fung Shan on 6th, and two were at Tsim Bei Tsui on the same date. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk was at Ping Fung Shan on 7th. A Pied Harrier was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th. There was a marked passage of Grey-faced Buzzards on 5th (21 at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, 29 at Mai Po, one at Tai Sang Wai) and 6th (11 at Mt Davis, three at Ping Fung Shan) with ones and twos recorded at five sites from 7th – 10th. Seven were at Po Toi on 11th.
A Collared Scops Owl was again heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 8th. Four Northern Boobooks were seen migrating over southern waters on 10th. Grey Nightjars were recorded as follows: one near Lok Ma Chau Village on 9th, two at Tai Tong on 9th, and two at Fu Tei Country Trail on 10th. A Black-capped Kingfisher was at Pui O on 8th. Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were noted at San Tin (22 on 5th, six on 10th), Tai Sang Wai (nine on 5th), and Mai Po (eight on 9th, seven on 10th). Chinese Barbets remained on territory at Tai Po Kau, Tai Lam CP and KFBG; three were at Tai Po Kau on 6th & 10th, which is, I think, the highest number ever reported from a single site.
The highest counts of Ashy Minivets involved 20 at Lung Kwu Tan and 15 at Wonderland Villas/Cheung Hang Village on 5th, nine at Mt Davis on 10th, and 20 at Fan Lau on 11th. Swinhoe’s Minivets were present at Po Toi with one there on 6th & 7th, two on 8th and three on 10th. The long-staying Grey-backed Shrike was still present at Lam Tsuen on 11th. Single Brown Shrikes were at Long Valley on 7th, Tai Sang Wai on 9th, and Po Toi on 11th. Two Black-naped Orioles were at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 8th. A Black-naped Monarch was at Po Toi on 11th. Indochinese Green Magpies (Cat III) were reported as follows: two at Wu Kau Tang on 5th & 6th, one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 5th, one at Fung Hang Family Walk on 5th, and one at KFBG on 8th. Sixty-nine Chinese Penduline Tits were counted at Mai Po on 8th. A Sand Martin was at San Tin on 8th, and two Asian House Martins were at Ping Fung Shan on 6th.
Single Hume’s Leaf Warbler were at KFBG on 8th, Tung Lung Chau on 9th, and Po Toi on 10th. This brings the total number of Hume’s Leaf Warblers recorded so far this year to an unprecedented seven. Forty Yellow-browed Warblers were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A Radde’s Warbler was at Wu Kau Tang on 5th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Po Toi on 6th & 8th. A Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was seen and heard at Mt Davis on 10th. A Paddyfield Warbler was reported singing along the Mai Po access road on 5th; this will be the thirteenth Hong Kong record if accepted. More typically, a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler was singing in the mangrove along the Mai Po boardwalk on 5th. A Brown Bush Warbler was at Tate’s Cairn on 6th.
A Chinese Grassbird was at Ping Fung Shan on 6th & 7th. Eight Vinous-throated Parrotbills were at Tai Mo Shan on 7th, and ten were also reported at Ping Fung Shan on the same date. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Po Kau on 8th. A Chestnut-flanked White-eye at Mt Davis on 10th was the latest to be recorded in spring by two days.
An adult Rosy Starling remained at San Tin from 8th – 11th.
A White’s Thrush was at Fung Hang Family Walk on 5th. Two Japanese Thrushes were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. Eyebrowed Thrushes were reported as follows: eight at Tai Lam CP on 7th, two at KFBG on 8th, 12 at Tai Lam CP on 8th, ten at Tai Po Kau on 8th, and one at Po Toi on 10th. A Pale Thrush was at Po Toi on 6th. A female White-rumped Shama (Cat III) was at Tai Po Kau on 6th.
The first Grey-streaked Flycatcher of the spring was at Po Toi on 8th; one was also there on 11th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were seen as follows: one at Chinese University on 5th, one at Po Toi from 7th - 11th with two there on 8th, and three at Wu Kai Sha on 10th. Single Ferruginous Flycatchers were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th and Po Toi on 6th. The highest counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved seven at Tai Po Kau on 6th and seven at Tai Tong on 8th. A male Hill Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin on 3rd had a damaged tail and was considered ex-captive. Two Fujian Niltavas were at Po Toi on 6th, and one was still present on 8th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 11th. The Bluethroat at Tai Sang Wai remained until at least 11th. Twenty Siberian Rubythroats were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A male Red-flanked Bluetail was at Po Toi on 8th & 11th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at Po Toi from 6th – 11th, Ho Man Tin on 8th, and between Tai O and Yi O on 10th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 7th and KFBG on 8th. Two Red-breasted Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 8th with one remaining on 10th & 11th. A Grey Bush Chat was at Pak Sha O on 8th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th and six were at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Regarding other flowerpeckers, eight Fire-breasted and eight Scarlet-backed were counted at Tai Po Kau on 9th. The count of eight Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers equals the previous highest counts of eight at Tai Po Kau on 7 April 2002 and 3 November 2018.
A Citrine Wagtail was at Tai Sang Wai from 5th – 9th, and one was at Long Valley on 11th. The White Wagtail M.a. leucopsis x alboides hybrid seen at Mai Po on 28 March was noted again on 11th. Three Upland Pipits were on territory at Ping Fung Shan on 6th & 11th.
Single Bramblings were at Po Toi on 7th, Lam Tin Park on 8th, and Pak Sha on 8th & 10th. Eight Chinese Grosbeaks were at Yuen Long Park on 9th, and the long-staying Japanese Grosbeak was also present on the same date. Apart from the expected Little Buntings and Black-faced Buntings, five other species of bunting were recorded in Hong Kong during the week. A Chestnut Bunting was at Po Toi on 6th & 11th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Pak Sha O on 5th, and five were at Po Toi on 8th with one there on 10th & 11th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 5th. Single Yellow-browed Buntings were at Po Toi on 6th & 11th, and at San Tin on 11th. Best of all, however, was a male Yellow-throated Bunting at Po Toi on 7th; two were also seen on the island on 8th, and another was at Tung Lung Chau on 9th.
A Collared Scops Owl was again heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 8th. Four Northern Boobooks were seen migrating over southern waters on 10th. Grey Nightjars were recorded as follows: one near Lok Ma Chau Village on 9th, two at Tai Tong on 9th, and two at Fu Tei Country Trail on 10th. A Black-capped Kingfisher was at Pui O on 8th. Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were noted at San Tin (22 on 5th, six on 10th), Tai Sang Wai (nine on 5th), and Mai Po (eight on 9th, seven on 10th). Chinese Barbets remained on territory at Tai Po Kau, Tai Lam CP and KFBG; three were at Tai Po Kau on 6th & 10th, which is, I think, the highest number ever reported from a single site.
The highest counts of Ashy Minivets involved 20 at Lung Kwu Tan and 15 at Wonderland Villas/Cheung Hang Village on 5th, nine at Mt Davis on 10th, and 20 at Fan Lau on 11th. Swinhoe’s Minivets were present at Po Toi with one there on 6th & 7th, two on 8th and three on 10th. The long-staying Grey-backed Shrike was still present at Lam Tsuen on 11th. Single Brown Shrikes were at Long Valley on 7th, Tai Sang Wai on 9th, and Po Toi on 11th. Two Black-naped Orioles were at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 8th. A Black-naped Monarch was at Po Toi on 11th. Indochinese Green Magpies (Cat III) were reported as follows: two at Wu Kau Tang on 5th & 6th, one at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 5th, one at Fung Hang Family Walk on 5th, and one at KFBG on 8th. Sixty-nine Chinese Penduline Tits were counted at Mai Po on 8th. A Sand Martin was at San Tin on 8th, and two Asian House Martins were at Ping Fung Shan on 6th.
Single Hume’s Leaf Warbler were at KFBG on 8th, Tung Lung Chau on 9th, and Po Toi on 10th. This brings the total number of Hume’s Leaf Warblers recorded so far this year to an unprecedented seven. Forty Yellow-browed Warblers were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A Radde’s Warbler was at Wu Kau Tang on 5th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Po Toi on 6th & 8th. A Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was seen and heard at Mt Davis on 10th. A Paddyfield Warbler was reported singing along the Mai Po access road on 5th; this will be the thirteenth Hong Kong record if accepted. More typically, a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler was singing in the mangrove along the Mai Po boardwalk on 5th. A Brown Bush Warbler was at Tate’s Cairn on 6th.
A Chinese Grassbird was at Ping Fung Shan on 6th & 7th. Eight Vinous-throated Parrotbills were at Tai Mo Shan on 7th, and ten were also reported at Ping Fung Shan on the same date. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Po Kau on 8th. A Chestnut-flanked White-eye at Mt Davis on 10th was the latest to be recorded in spring by two days.
An adult Rosy Starling remained at San Tin from 8th – 11th.
A White’s Thrush was at Fung Hang Family Walk on 5th. Two Japanese Thrushes were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. Eyebrowed Thrushes were reported as follows: eight at Tai Lam CP on 7th, two at KFBG on 8th, 12 at Tai Lam CP on 8th, ten at Tai Po Kau on 8th, and one at Po Toi on 10th. A Pale Thrush was at Po Toi on 6th. A female White-rumped Shama (Cat III) was at Tai Po Kau on 6th.
The first Grey-streaked Flycatcher of the spring was at Po Toi on 8th; one was also there on 11th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were seen as follows: one at Chinese University on 5th, one at Po Toi from 7th - 11th with two there on 8th, and three at Wu Kai Sha on 10th. Single Ferruginous Flycatchers were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th and Po Toi on 6th. The highest counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved seven at Tai Po Kau on 6th and seven at Tai Tong on 8th. A male Hill Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin on 3rd had a damaged tail and was considered ex-captive. Two Fujian Niltavas were at Po Toi on 6th, and one was still present on 8th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 11th. The Bluethroat at Tai Sang Wai remained until at least 11th. Twenty Siberian Rubythroats were at Tung Lung Chau on 9th. A male Red-flanked Bluetail was at Po Toi on 8th & 11th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at Po Toi from 6th – 11th, Ho Man Tin on 8th, and between Tai O and Yi O on 10th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 7th and KFBG on 8th. Two Red-breasted Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 8th with one remaining on 10th & 11th. A Grey Bush Chat was at Pak Sha O on 8th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Wu Kau Tang on 5th and six were at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Regarding other flowerpeckers, eight Fire-breasted and eight Scarlet-backed were counted at Tai Po Kau on 9th. The count of eight Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers equals the previous highest counts of eight at Tai Po Kau on 7 April 2002 and 3 November 2018.
A Citrine Wagtail was at Tai Sang Wai from 5th – 9th, and one was at Long Valley on 11th. The White Wagtail M.a. leucopsis x alboides hybrid seen at Mai Po on 28 March was noted again on 11th. Three Upland Pipits were on territory at Ping Fung Shan on 6th & 11th.
Single Bramblings were at Po Toi on 7th, Lam Tin Park on 8th, and Pak Sha on 8th & 10th. Eight Chinese Grosbeaks were at Yuen Long Park on 9th, and the long-staying Japanese Grosbeak was also present on the same date. Apart from the expected Little Buntings and Black-faced Buntings, five other species of bunting were recorded in Hong Kong during the week. A Chestnut Bunting was at Po Toi on 6th & 11th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Pak Sha O on 5th, and five were at Po Toi on 8th with one there on 10th & 11th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 5th. Single Yellow-browed Buntings were at Po Toi on 6th & 11th, and at San Tin on 11th. Best of all, however, was a male Yellow-throated Bunting at Po Toi on 7th; two were also seen on the island on 8th, and another was at Tung Lung Chau on 9th.
April 12-18
The weather was fine from 12th – 14th, with a high temperature of 30⁰C on 13th. A trough of low pressure brought low cloud and showers to the territory from 15th onwards, and winds were fresh easterlies. Temperatures ranged from 21 - 25⁰C during this period.
After a slow start to the week, the change in the weather brought more migrants to the territory; most notable were the record numbers of Greater Crested Terns and Streaked Shearwaters passing Po Toi on 16th, and the sighting of an Ashy Woodswallow at Mai Po on 17th. Details of these and other sightings below:
Three Japanese Quail were at Long Valley on 13th. Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 13th & 17th. An eclipse male Tufted Duck remained at Lok Ma Chau EEA from 14th – 18th.
Seven needletails sp. were at Ho Pui on 16th. A White-throated Needletail was at Mai Po on 17th. Pacific Swifts were reported from several sites; all counts were in single-digits, the most being five at Mt Davis on 16th. Apart from the usual summering cuckoos, two Oriental Cuckoos were reported from Tung Lung Chau on 16th, and one was at Tam Kon Chau on 17th.
Reports of Slaty-legged Crakes involved one at Lam Tsuen on 12th with two there on 17th, four between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 13th, and one at Shek Pik catchwater on 17th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Lam Tsuen on 17th, and a Ruddy-breasted Crake was at Po Toi on 18th.
Two Grey-headed Lapwings were at Mai Po on 12th. An Oriental Plover was seen on the beach at Pak Nai on 18th. The highest count of Far Eastern Curlews was five at Mai Po on 16th. Fifteen Broad-billed Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 15th. Forty Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 17th. Single Sanderlings were at Mai Po on 16th and Fan Lau on 18th. Two Little Stints were reported from Mai Po on 16th and one was at San Tin on 18th. Numbers of Asian Dowitchers at Mai Po increased from four on 15th to 19 on 18th. Eight-eight Terek Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 17tth. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes was of 63 past Po Toi on 17th. The first Grey-tailed Tattler of the spring was one at Pak Nai on 13th. The number of Nordmann’s Greenshanks at Mai Po remained low; the most seen were eight on 18th. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 31 at San Tin on 17th.
Two second calendar-year Slaty-backed Gulls were at Mai Po on 14th, one of which remained until 18th. Four Heuglin’s Gulls also lingered at Mai Po until 18th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns at Mai Po was 88 on 18th; 16 were also seen off Lamma on 14th, and ten were at San Tin on 18th. 7th. The highest count of Caspian Terns at Mai Po was seven on 14th. There was a strong passage of Greater Crested Terns off Po Toi on 16th, with a total of 105 logged by Sam Baxter-Bray, a young birder who was overnighting on the island; 40 of these were in the early morning and 65 were in the late afternoon. This is a new high count, the previous highest total being 52, also off Po Toi, on 9 May 2013. Single Little Terns were at San Tin on 13th and Mai Po on 14th. The first Aleutian Terns of spring consisted of two in southern waters on 17th. At least 29 Common Terns were counted in southern waters on the same day, and nine were at Po Toi on 18th. Whiskered Terns were conspicuous over the fishponds in the northwest New Territories during the week; the highest count was 80 at San Tin on 18th.
Sam’s seawatching efforts on Po Toi were further rewarded on the afternoon of 16th with a movement of 129 Streaked Shearwaters past the southern peninsula. This is another new high count, the previous highest being 95 (two flocks of 55 and 40) in southern waters on 21 March 2020. The long-staying Lesser Frigatebird was seen again from the Mai Po Boardwalk on 15th.
Single Eurasian Spoonbills were at San Tin on 12th and Mai Po on 15th. At least 36 Black-faced Spoonbills remained at Mai Po on 18th. Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at Nam Chung on 12th and Mai Po on 13th. Single Malayan Night Herons were reported from Lam Tsuen on 17th, and Tai Tong on 17th & 18th. Four Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 18th; when one was also seen at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on the same day.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 17th. Up to seven Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Po Toi between 15th & 18th; other sightings involved singles at Mt Davis on 16th & 18th, Tung Lung Chau on 17th & 18th, and Pak Sha O on 18th; nine were also at Mong Tseng on 18th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Yan Yee Road on 18th. Forty Grey-faced Buzzards were at Mt Davis on 11th, one was at at Po Toi on 15th, two were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th, and three were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 17th.
A Collared Scops Owl was again heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 15th & 17th. A feather of a Eurasian Eagle Owl found on Po Toi on 15th was the first sign of this species on the island since 2009. A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 16th. A Grey Nightjar was heard at Uk Tau on 13th, and two were also heard between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap, also on 13th. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Mai Po and Ho Man Tin on 13th.
The first Oriental Dollarbird of the season was at Uk Tau on 14th. A Black-capped Kingfisher was at Mai Po on 15th & 17th. Twenty-two Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 16th. Chinese Barbets remained on territory at Tai Lam CP (one on 12th) and Tai Po Kau (three on 14th, two on 16th & 17th). A Eurasian Hobby was seen at San Tin on 13th, and another was at Tung Lung Chau on 16th.
Bird of the week was undoubtedly an Ashy Woodswallow photographed near Mai Po on the morning of 17th. Unfortunately, the bird did not linger and was nowhere to be found in the afternoon. This attractive species occurs from India east through Indochina to southeast China (east to Guangxi). Records from southwest and north Guangdong in 2009 suggested that it was expanding its range eastwards, and a sighting of one near Tai Wai on 23 April 2011 seemed to substantiate this. However, there have been no further sightings in Hong Kong until now, ten years after the first. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait ten years for the next one…
After a slow start to the week, the change in the weather brought more migrants to the territory; most notable were the record numbers of Greater Crested Terns and Streaked Shearwaters passing Po Toi on 16th, and the sighting of an Ashy Woodswallow at Mai Po on 17th. Details of these and other sightings below:
Three Japanese Quail were at Long Valley on 13th. Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 13th & 17th. An eclipse male Tufted Duck remained at Lok Ma Chau EEA from 14th – 18th.
Seven needletails sp. were at Ho Pui on 16th. A White-throated Needletail was at Mai Po on 17th. Pacific Swifts were reported from several sites; all counts were in single-digits, the most being five at Mt Davis on 16th. Apart from the usual summering cuckoos, two Oriental Cuckoos were reported from Tung Lung Chau on 16th, and one was at Tam Kon Chau on 17th.
Reports of Slaty-legged Crakes involved one at Lam Tsuen on 12th with two there on 17th, four between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 13th, and one at Shek Pik catchwater on 17th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Lam Tsuen on 17th, and a Ruddy-breasted Crake was at Po Toi on 18th.
Two Grey-headed Lapwings were at Mai Po on 12th. An Oriental Plover was seen on the beach at Pak Nai on 18th. The highest count of Far Eastern Curlews was five at Mai Po on 16th. Fifteen Broad-billed Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 15th. Forty Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 17th. Single Sanderlings were at Mai Po on 16th and Fan Lau on 18th. Two Little Stints were reported from Mai Po on 16th and one was at San Tin on 18th. Numbers of Asian Dowitchers at Mai Po increased from four on 15th to 19 on 18th. Eight-eight Terek Sandpipers were at Mai Po on 17tth. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes was of 63 past Po Toi on 17th. The first Grey-tailed Tattler of the spring was one at Pak Nai on 13th. The number of Nordmann’s Greenshanks at Mai Po remained low; the most seen were eight on 18th. The highest counts of Oriental Pratincoles involved 31 at San Tin on 17th.
Two second calendar-year Slaty-backed Gulls were at Mai Po on 14th, one of which remained until 18th. Four Heuglin’s Gulls also lingered at Mai Po until 18th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns at Mai Po was 88 on 18th; 16 were also seen off Lamma on 14th, and ten were at San Tin on 18th. 7th. The highest count of Caspian Terns at Mai Po was seven on 14th. There was a strong passage of Greater Crested Terns off Po Toi on 16th, with a total of 105 logged by Sam Baxter-Bray, a young birder who was overnighting on the island; 40 of these were in the early morning and 65 were in the late afternoon. This is a new high count, the previous highest total being 52, also off Po Toi, on 9 May 2013. Single Little Terns were at San Tin on 13th and Mai Po on 14th. The first Aleutian Terns of spring consisted of two in southern waters on 17th. At least 29 Common Terns were counted in southern waters on the same day, and nine were at Po Toi on 18th. Whiskered Terns were conspicuous over the fishponds in the northwest New Territories during the week; the highest count was 80 at San Tin on 18th.
Sam’s seawatching efforts on Po Toi were further rewarded on the afternoon of 16th with a movement of 129 Streaked Shearwaters past the southern peninsula. This is another new high count, the previous highest being 95 (two flocks of 55 and 40) in southern waters on 21 March 2020. The long-staying Lesser Frigatebird was seen again from the Mai Po Boardwalk on 15th.
Single Eurasian Spoonbills were at San Tin on 12th and Mai Po on 15th. At least 36 Black-faced Spoonbills remained at Mai Po on 18th. Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at Nam Chung on 12th and Mai Po on 13th. Single Malayan Night Herons were reported from Lam Tsuen on 17th, and Tai Tong on 17th & 18th. Four Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 18th; when one was also seen at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on the same day.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 17th. Up to seven Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Po Toi between 15th & 18th; other sightings involved singles at Mt Davis on 16th & 18th, Tung Lung Chau on 17th & 18th, and Pak Sha O on 18th; nine were also at Mong Tseng on 18th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Yan Yee Road on 18th. Forty Grey-faced Buzzards were at Mt Davis on 11th, one was at at Po Toi on 15th, two were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th, and three were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 17th.
A Collared Scops Owl was again heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 15th & 17th. A feather of a Eurasian Eagle Owl found on Po Toi on 15th was the first sign of this species on the island since 2009. A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 16th. A Grey Nightjar was heard at Uk Tau on 13th, and two were also heard between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap, also on 13th. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Mai Po and Ho Man Tin on 13th.
The first Oriental Dollarbird of the season was at Uk Tau on 14th. A Black-capped Kingfisher was at Mai Po on 15th & 17th. Twenty-two Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 16th. Chinese Barbets remained on territory at Tai Lam CP (one on 12th) and Tai Po Kau (three on 14th, two on 16th & 17th). A Eurasian Hobby was seen at San Tin on 13th, and another was at Tung Lung Chau on 16th.
Bird of the week was undoubtedly an Ashy Woodswallow photographed near Mai Po on the morning of 17th. Unfortunately, the bird did not linger and was nowhere to be found in the afternoon. This attractive species occurs from India east through Indochina to southeast China (east to Guangxi). Records from southwest and north Guangdong in 2009 suggested that it was expanding its range eastwards, and a sighting of one near Tai Wai on 23 April 2011 seemed to substantiate this. However, there have been no further sightings in Hong Kong until now, ten years after the first. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait ten years for the next one…
An Ashy Minivet was at Po Toi on 15th, and two were there on 17th; two were also at Tung Lung Chau on 16th. A Swinhoe’s Minivet was at Po Toi on 15th & 16th. Single Brown Shrikes were at Ho Man Tin on 13th, Lai Chi Kok and Po Toi on 16th, and at Kai Tak Runway Park on 17th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Lam Tsuen on 12th. Four Indochinese Green Magpies (Cat III) were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 12th.
Black Bulbuls were reported as follows: three at Tai Lam CP on 12th, four at KFBG on 13th, and two at Po Toi on 13th with four there on 17th. Four Sand Martins were at San Tin on 18th. A Chinese Babax (Cat IIC) and a Vinous-throated Parrotbill were at Tai Mo Shan on 12th. A good count of 140 White-shouldered Starlings was made at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 12th. The Rosy Starling first seen at San Tin on 8th April was seen again at Lok Ma Chau EEA on12th and San Tin on 17th.
An Orange-headed Thrush was singing at KFBG on 13th; one was also at Tsui Hang Nature Trail on the same day. An Eyebrowed Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 12th, three were at KFBG on 13th, and one was at Po Toi on 15th. A Pale Thrush was at Ho Man Tin on 15th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Mt Davis on 11th, Po Toi on 15th, and Tai Tong on 18th. The highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers was three at Mai Po on 16th. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was on Po Toi from 13th – 16th, one was at Tung Lung Chau on 16th with two there on 17th & 18th, and one was at Kap Lung Forest Trail on 18th.
The highest counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved seven at Tai Tong on 17th and six at Pak Sha O on 18th. A male Hainan Blue Flycatcher with a white throat and buffish-orange colouration on the breast was seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 12th. The IOC treat this as a separate race Cyornis hainanus klossi, which they state is resident in Thailand and Indochina. As orange-breasted birds seem to occur throughout the range of nominate hainanus - there have been a couple of previous reports from Hong Kong - it is perhaps better that this taxon is treated as a morph rather than as a distinct race.
An intermedia Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at KFBG on 11th; other records of Blue-and-white Flycatcher involved singles at Po Toi on 13th & 17th, and Mai Po on 15th. Fifteen Siberian Rubythroats were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 15th & 16th, Po Toi from 15th - 17th, and Shan King on 16th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th & 17th, and Po Toi on 17th, and single Red-breasted Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 15th & 16th, and Tung Lung Chau on 16th.
A Plain Flowerpecker was at Nam Chung on 12th, two were at Tai Po Kau on 16th, and one was at Lam Tsuen on 17th.
A Citrine Wagtail was at San Tin on 12th. Three Upland Pipits were on territory at Ping Fung Shan on 14th.
A Brambling was at Po Toi from 15th – 18th, and a Common Rosefinch was on the island on 16th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Po Toi on 13th & 15th, and three were there on 17th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Po Toi on 15th & 16th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 18th. Passage Yellow-breasted Buntings involved one at Tam Kon Chau on 17th, and five at Long Valley on 18th.
Black Bulbuls were reported as follows: three at Tai Lam CP on 12th, four at KFBG on 13th, and two at Po Toi on 13th with four there on 17th. Four Sand Martins were at San Tin on 18th. A Chinese Babax (Cat IIC) and a Vinous-throated Parrotbill were at Tai Mo Shan on 12th. A good count of 140 White-shouldered Starlings was made at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 12th. The Rosy Starling first seen at San Tin on 8th April was seen again at Lok Ma Chau EEA on12th and San Tin on 17th.
An Orange-headed Thrush was singing at KFBG on 13th; one was also at Tsui Hang Nature Trail on the same day. An Eyebrowed Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 12th, three were at KFBG on 13th, and one was at Po Toi on 15th. A Pale Thrush was at Ho Man Tin on 15th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Mt Davis on 11th, Po Toi on 15th, and Tai Tong on 18th. The highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers was three at Mai Po on 16th. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was on Po Toi from 13th – 16th, one was at Tung Lung Chau on 16th with two there on 17th & 18th, and one was at Kap Lung Forest Trail on 18th.
The highest counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved seven at Tai Tong on 17th and six at Pak Sha O on 18th. A male Hainan Blue Flycatcher with a white throat and buffish-orange colouration on the breast was seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 12th. The IOC treat this as a separate race Cyornis hainanus klossi, which they state is resident in Thailand and Indochina. As orange-breasted birds seem to occur throughout the range of nominate hainanus - there have been a couple of previous reports from Hong Kong - it is perhaps better that this taxon is treated as a morph rather than as a distinct race.
An intermedia Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at KFBG on 11th; other records of Blue-and-white Flycatcher involved singles at Po Toi on 13th & 17th, and Mai Po on 15th. Fifteen Siberian Rubythroats were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th. Single Narcissus Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 15th & 16th, Po Toi from 15th - 17th, and Shan King on 16th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Tung Lung Chau on 16th & 17th, and Po Toi on 17th, and single Red-breasted Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 15th & 16th, and Tung Lung Chau on 16th.
A Plain Flowerpecker was at Nam Chung on 12th, two were at Tai Po Kau on 16th, and one was at Lam Tsuen on 17th.
A Citrine Wagtail was at San Tin on 12th. Three Upland Pipits were on territory at Ping Fung Shan on 14th.
A Brambling was at Po Toi from 15th – 18th, and a Common Rosefinch was on the island on 16th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Po Toi on 13th & 15th, and three were there on 17th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Po Toi on 15th & 16th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 18th. Passage Yellow-breasted Buntings involved one at Tam Kon Chau on 17th, and five at Long Valley on 18th.
April 19-25
A strong easterly airstream continued to affect the coast of Guangdong on 19th & 20th. On 21st, the wind moderated and conditions became hot and dry. The temperature rose to 33⁰C on 23rd, making it the hottest day of the year so far. A trough of low pressure brought more unsettled weather to Hong Kong on 25th.
The strong easterlies blew in a potential Hong Kong first to Po Toi in the form of an Asian Glossy Starling on 19th. There were plenty of other migrants present during the week including three Hume’s Leaf Warblers at KFBG and a White-tailed Robin at Tai Lam CP. Details below:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 25th. The two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks at Mai Po remained until at least 19th.
A Himalayan Swiftlet was at Mai Po on 22nd. Pacific Swifts were reported from four sites, the highest count being 11 at Mt Davis on 23rd. An Oriental Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 20th, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 24th.
Six Slaty-legged Crakes were in the A Ma Wat – Kuk Po area on the evening of 23rd. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Long Valley on 23rd. An Eastern Water Rail was at Mai Po on 22nd. The Ruddy-breasted Crake first seen at Po Toi on 18th was still present on 24th.
There was a small movement of Grey-headed Lapwings through the territory with reports from Long Valley (one on 20th & 21st, two on 23rd), Lok Ma Chau EEA (three on 20th), Ho Sheung Heung (four on 23rd) and Mai Po (one on 23rd, two on 25th). A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 19th & 25th. Waders noted at Mai Po – where overall numbers have been disappointingly low this spring – included two Far Eastern Curlews on 25th, four Ruddy Turnstones on 19th, 20 Red Knots on 25th, 910 Curlew Sandpipers on 19th, 60 Broad-billed Sandpipers on 25th, 350 Red-necked Stints on 25th, and three Sanderlings on 20th. Single Little Stints were reported from Mai Po on 19th and Long Valley on 24th. At Mai Po, Asian Dowitcher numbers were up to 43 on 19th. A Eurasian Woodcock was flushed at Po Toi on 24th; this is a new late spring date, the previous latest date being 19 April. Red-necked Phalaropes were reported from Long Valley, Tai Sang Wai and Lok Ma Chau EEA, the highest count being 14 at Long Valley on 20th; 30 were also noted at Repulse Bay on 23rd, and 65 were in southern waters on 25th. A Grey-tailed Tattler was at Mai Po on 19th, and two were there on 25th. Two Nordmann’s Greenshanks and eight Oriental Pratincoles were at Mai Po on 19th.
The strong easterlies blew in a potential Hong Kong first to Po Toi in the form of an Asian Glossy Starling on 19th. There were plenty of other migrants present during the week including three Hume’s Leaf Warblers at KFBG and a White-tailed Robin at Tai Lam CP. Details below:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 25th. The two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks at Mai Po remained until at least 19th.
A Himalayan Swiftlet was at Mai Po on 22nd. Pacific Swifts were reported from four sites, the highest count being 11 at Mt Davis on 23rd. An Oriental Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 20th, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 24th.
Six Slaty-legged Crakes were in the A Ma Wat – Kuk Po area on the evening of 23rd. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Long Valley on 23rd. An Eastern Water Rail was at Mai Po on 22nd. The Ruddy-breasted Crake first seen at Po Toi on 18th was still present on 24th.
There was a small movement of Grey-headed Lapwings through the territory with reports from Long Valley (one on 20th & 21st, two on 23rd), Lok Ma Chau EEA (three on 20th), Ho Sheung Heung (four on 23rd) and Mai Po (one on 23rd, two on 25th). A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 19th & 25th. Waders noted at Mai Po – where overall numbers have been disappointingly low this spring – included two Far Eastern Curlews on 25th, four Ruddy Turnstones on 19th, 20 Red Knots on 25th, 910 Curlew Sandpipers on 19th, 60 Broad-billed Sandpipers on 25th, 350 Red-necked Stints on 25th, and three Sanderlings on 20th. Single Little Stints were reported from Mai Po on 19th and Long Valley on 24th. At Mai Po, Asian Dowitcher numbers were up to 43 on 19th. A Eurasian Woodcock was flushed at Po Toi on 24th; this is a new late spring date, the previous latest date being 19 April. Red-necked Phalaropes were reported from Long Valley, Tai Sang Wai and Lok Ma Chau EEA, the highest count being 14 at Long Valley on 20th; 30 were also noted at Repulse Bay on 23rd, and 65 were in southern waters on 25th. A Grey-tailed Tattler was at Mai Po on 19th, and two were there on 25th. Two Nordmann’s Greenshanks and eight Oriental Pratincoles were at Mai Po on 19th.
Two 2nd calendar- year Slaty-backed Gulls and four Heuglin’s Gulls were still on the mudflats at Mai Po on 19th; a single 2nd calendar-year Slaty-backed Gull flew north over the main reserve at Mai Po on 22nd. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns involved 130 at Mai Po on 21st. Ten Caspian Terns were at Mai Po on 19th. Four Little Terns were at Mai Po on 19th, and two were there on 25th; also on 25th, two Little Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry. An Aleutian Tern was seen from the Po Toi ferry on 24th. The highest count of Whiskered Terns in the northwest New Territories was 50 at Ma Tso Lung on 20th. Ten White-winged Terns were at Mai Po on 24th with seven there on 25th.
Terns seen on a boat trip into southern waters on 25th included 16 Bridled, 70 Aleutian, 24 Little, six Gull-billed, a Caspian, nine Black-naped, 19 Common and 18 Greater Crested Terns. Other seabirds of note on that trip were six Parasitic Jaegers and six Short-tailed Shearwaters.
A Eurasian Spoonbill was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and two were at Mai Po on 25th. Twenty-nine Black-faced Spoonbills flew north in V-formation over Lok Ma Chau EEA on 20th, and 40 were still at Mai Po on 21st. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Long Valley on 20th, and three were at Mai Po on 24th. A Chinese Egret was at Mai Po until at least 25th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 23rd & 24th. A Crested Honey Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 21st. On 19th, single Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po, Po Toi, Lamma and Mt Davis, and on 20th singles were at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and Po Toi, with two at Mt Davis; one was also at Tai Lam Chung on 23rd. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Po Toi on 20th, and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk was reported from Tai Mo Shan on 23rd. Two Grey-faced Buzzards were at Hong Kong University on 20th, and one was at Tai Lam CP on 22nd & 24th.
A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 22nd.
Single Oriental Dollarbirds were noted at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th, Po Toi on 20th, and Uk Tau on 23rd. Three Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Cheung Chau on 21st. Chinese Barbets continued to be reported from Tai Po Kau, with a high count of three there on 21st. A Eurasian Hobby was at Tai Lam CP on 24th.
Up to three Ashy Minivets were noted during the week at Po Toi. The Grey-backed Shrike first noted at Lam Tsuen on 29 November 2020 was still present on 20th. A Brown Shrike was at Long Valley from 19th – 25th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi on 20th. A small passage of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers involved singles at Tai Lam CP on 19th, Po Toi on 22nd & 24th, and KFBG on 23rd; three were at Po Toi on 25th.
Nineteen Chinese Penduline Tits were at Mai Po on 24th. Up to four Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP from 19th – 24th, and five were at Po Toi on 24th & 25th. A Sand Martin was at Long Valley on 20th, and ten were at Mai Po on 22nd.
Three Hume’s Leaf Warblers were in the same area at KFBG on 21st; this is a new high count for the territory. Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 22nd and Po Toi on 25th. A Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Po Toi on 20th & 25th, and Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were singing at Mt Davis on 20th and King’s Park on 21st. An Arctic Warbler was at Po Toi on 20th. The Manchurian Reed Warbler that was first heard singing at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 30 March was still singing on 20th & 21st. A Thick-billed Warbler was seen at Ma Tso Lung on 20th. A Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler was in the boardwalk mangroves at Mai Po on 20th & 25th. A Lanceolated Warbler was at Mai Po on 22nd.
A Chinese Grassbird and three Vinous-throated Parrotbills were seen at Tai Mo Shan on 23rd.
During a period of strong easterly winds, an Asian Glossy Starling was discovered on the rocks at the southern peninsula on Po Toi on 19th, having obviously just arrived on the island. This is a common species in southeast Asia, parts of Indonesia and the Philippines. Although regarded as largely resident, it is known to wander widely and its movements often involve sea crossings. Already in Category III on the Hong Kong list, the circumstances of this recent record must make it a strong candidate for acceptance to Category I.
Thrush sightings included an Orange-headed Thrush at Po Toi on 24th & 25th, a Siberian Thrush at Ng Tung Chai on 23rd, and a Japanese Thrush at Po Toi on 22nd. Eyebrowed Thrushes were reported from several sites with high counts of 32 at Tai Lam CP on 19th and 23 at Po Toi on 24th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 19th, Mt Davis on 20th and Lam Tin Park on 21st; two were at Mt Davis on 24th; two were at Po Toi on 24th with eight there on 25th. The highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers was two at Ho Man Tin on 20th. Up to three Brown-breasted Flycatchers were reported from Tai Lam CP between 19th & 22nd, and one was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 19th & 24th, and two were at KFBG on 21st. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved ten at Tai Lam CP on 24th.
A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 19th. Two Bluethroats were at Mai Po on 22nd. A male White-tailed Robin was singing at Tai Lam CP on 21st. This is an unusually late date for this species as the latest date on record is of one at Po Toi on 22 March 2020. Reports of Narcissus Flycatchers consisted of one at Mt Davis on 19th & 20th, four at Po Toi on 20th, two at Ho Man Tin on 20th & 21st, and one at Shing Mun on 20th. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 20th.
Single Plain Flowerpeckers were at Lam Tsuen on 20th and Shek Kong catchwater on 21st; five were at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and White-headed Munias continue to be reported from Long Valley; 25 of the former were counted on 20th, and 25 of the latter were seen on 22nd & 25th.
A Brambling was at Po Toi from 20th – 24th. Two Chinese Grosbeaks were at Mai Po on 22nd. A Common Rosefinch was at Mt Davis on 19th, and one was at Po Toi on 25th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Pak Sha O on 20th, three were at Mt Davis on 20th, and the highest count at Po Toi was four on 20th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Po Toi on 19th & 22nd. Two Chestnut-eared Buntings were at Long Valley on 19th, and one was there from 21st – 25th. Up to two Yellow-browed Buntings were at Po Toi from 20th – 24th, and one was at Long Valley on 24th. The highest count of Yellow-breasted Buntings at Long Valley was six on 20th. A Japanese Yellow Bunting was at Mai Po on 22nd.
Terns seen on a boat trip into southern waters on 25th included 16 Bridled, 70 Aleutian, 24 Little, six Gull-billed, a Caspian, nine Black-naped, 19 Common and 18 Greater Crested Terns. Other seabirds of note on that trip were six Parasitic Jaegers and six Short-tailed Shearwaters.
A Eurasian Spoonbill was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and two were at Mai Po on 25th. Twenty-nine Black-faced Spoonbills flew north in V-formation over Lok Ma Chau EEA on 20th, and 40 were still at Mai Po on 21st. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Long Valley on 20th, and three were at Mai Po on 24th. A Chinese Egret was at Mai Po until at least 25th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 23rd & 24th. A Crested Honey Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 21st. On 19th, single Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po, Po Toi, Lamma and Mt Davis, and on 20th singles were at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and Po Toi, with two at Mt Davis; one was also at Tai Lam Chung on 23rd. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Po Toi on 20th, and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk was reported from Tai Mo Shan on 23rd. Two Grey-faced Buzzards were at Hong Kong University on 20th, and one was at Tai Lam CP on 22nd & 24th.
A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 22nd.
Single Oriental Dollarbirds were noted at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th, Po Toi on 20th, and Uk Tau on 23rd. Three Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Cheung Chau on 21st. Chinese Barbets continued to be reported from Tai Po Kau, with a high count of three there on 21st. A Eurasian Hobby was at Tai Lam CP on 24th.
Up to three Ashy Minivets were noted during the week at Po Toi. The Grey-backed Shrike first noted at Lam Tsuen on 29 November 2020 was still present on 20th. A Brown Shrike was at Long Valley from 19th – 25th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi on 20th. A small passage of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers involved singles at Tai Lam CP on 19th, Po Toi on 22nd & 24th, and KFBG on 23rd; three were at Po Toi on 25th.
Nineteen Chinese Penduline Tits were at Mai Po on 24th. Up to four Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP from 19th – 24th, and five were at Po Toi on 24th & 25th. A Sand Martin was at Long Valley on 20th, and ten were at Mai Po on 22nd.
Three Hume’s Leaf Warblers were in the same area at KFBG on 21st; this is a new high count for the territory. Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 22nd and Po Toi on 25th. A Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Po Toi on 20th & 25th, and Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were singing at Mt Davis on 20th and King’s Park on 21st. An Arctic Warbler was at Po Toi on 20th. The Manchurian Reed Warbler that was first heard singing at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 30 March was still singing on 20th & 21st. A Thick-billed Warbler was seen at Ma Tso Lung on 20th. A Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler was in the boardwalk mangroves at Mai Po on 20th & 25th. A Lanceolated Warbler was at Mai Po on 22nd.
A Chinese Grassbird and three Vinous-throated Parrotbills were seen at Tai Mo Shan on 23rd.
During a period of strong easterly winds, an Asian Glossy Starling was discovered on the rocks at the southern peninsula on Po Toi on 19th, having obviously just arrived on the island. This is a common species in southeast Asia, parts of Indonesia and the Philippines. Although regarded as largely resident, it is known to wander widely and its movements often involve sea crossings. Already in Category III on the Hong Kong list, the circumstances of this recent record must make it a strong candidate for acceptance to Category I.
Thrush sightings included an Orange-headed Thrush at Po Toi on 24th & 25th, a Siberian Thrush at Ng Tung Chai on 23rd, and a Japanese Thrush at Po Toi on 22nd. Eyebrowed Thrushes were reported from several sites with high counts of 32 at Tai Lam CP on 19th and 23 at Po Toi on 24th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 19th, Mt Davis on 20th and Lam Tin Park on 21st; two were at Mt Davis on 24th; two were at Po Toi on 24th with eight there on 25th. The highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers was two at Ho Man Tin on 20th. Up to three Brown-breasted Flycatchers were reported from Tai Lam CP between 19th & 22nd, and one was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 19th & 24th, and two were at KFBG on 21st. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers involved ten at Tai Lam CP on 24th.
A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 19th. Two Bluethroats were at Mai Po on 22nd. A male White-tailed Robin was singing at Tai Lam CP on 21st. This is an unusually late date for this species as the latest date on record is of one at Po Toi on 22 March 2020. Reports of Narcissus Flycatchers consisted of one at Mt Davis on 19th & 20th, four at Po Toi on 20th, two at Ho Man Tin on 20th & 21st, and one at Shing Mun on 20th. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 20th.
Single Plain Flowerpeckers were at Lam Tsuen on 20th and Shek Kong catchwater on 21st; five were at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and White-headed Munias continue to be reported from Long Valley; 25 of the former were counted on 20th, and 25 of the latter were seen on 22nd & 25th.
A Brambling was at Po Toi from 20th – 24th. Two Chinese Grosbeaks were at Mai Po on 22nd. A Common Rosefinch was at Mt Davis on 19th, and one was at Po Toi on 25th. Two Chestnut Buntings were at Pak Sha O on 20th, three were at Mt Davis on 20th, and the highest count at Po Toi was four on 20th. A Tristram’s Bunting was at Po Toi on 19th & 22nd. Two Chestnut-eared Buntings were at Long Valley on 19th, and one was there from 21st – 25th. Up to two Yellow-browed Buntings were at Po Toi from 20th – 24th, and one was at Long Valley on 24th. The highest count of Yellow-breasted Buntings at Long Valley was six on 20th. A Japanese Yellow Bunting was at Mai Po on 22nd.
April 26-30
The trough of low pressure that arrived on 25th continued to influence the region until early on 29th. After this, the cloud and showers gave way to fine weather, the sun shone and temperatures rose from the mid-twenties to 30⁰C on 30th.
The unsettled weather brought a good spread of migrants to the territory, and Po Toi in particular received a lot of attention. There was a good movement of terns past the island on 27th & 28th, as well as a few needletails and raptors overhead and a variety of passerines taking advantage of the cover on the land itself. Best, however, was a Ruddy Kingfisher seen perched in a bush for around five seconds by two lucky observers on 27th. This is only the second record of this species for Hong Kong. Details of these and other species as follows:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 30th.
Seven White-throated Needletails were at Tai Lam CP on 26th along with a Silver-backed Needletail, and on the following day two White-throated Needletails and a Silver-backed Needletail were at Po Toi. Two needletails sp. were at Po Toi on 29th. Pacific Swifts were reported from Mai Po, San Tin and Po Toi but with no more than two from any one site. An Oriental Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 27th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was at Ng Tung Chai on 26th, and two were at Wu Kau Tang on 29th. The Ruddy-breasted Crake was seen again at Po Toi on 27th.
Eight Grey-headed Lapwings were at Long Valley on 26th and two were there on 27th; one was also at Mai Po on 28th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 27th, and two were at Mai Po on 28th. Reports of Ruddy Turnstones involved one at Pak Nai on 26th, three at Po Toi on 26th, six at Shui Hau on 27th, one at Mai Po on 29th, and two at Shui Hau on 30th. Thirteen Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 30th, as were 146 Red-necked Stints. Two Asian Dowitchers were at Mai Po on 29th. Red-necked Phalaropes were reported from Long Valley (three from 26th – 29th) Shui Hau (nine on 27th), the Shing Mun river at Sha Tin (18 on 30th), and from Po Toi (highest counts 22 flying past on the morning and 41 flying past on the afternoon of 28th). The highest count of Grey-tailed Tattlers was 35 at Pak Nai on 26th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 29th. Ten Oriental Pratincoles flew past Po Toi on 28th, and one was at San Tin on 30th.
Movement of terns and other seabirds past Po Toi on 27th & 28th involved the following (information courtesy of Bart De Schutter):
Greater Crested Tern: four on the afternoon of 27th, 14 on the morning of 28th, 47 on the afternoon of 28th;
Little Tern: 26 on the morning of 28th, four on the afternoon of 28th;
Aleutian Tern: four on the morning of 28th;
Bridled Tern: one on the morning of 27th, five on the morning of 28th;
Black-naped Tern: two on the afternoon of 27th;
Common Tern: two on the morning of 28th, 11 on the afternoon of 28th;
Whiskered Tern: three on the morning of 28th;
White-winged Tern: 30 on the morning of 27th, 20 on the afternoon of 27th, eight on the morning of 28th, ten on the afternoon of 28th;
Parasitic Jaegers two on the morning of 28th, three on the afternoon of 28th;
Short-tailed Shearwater one on the afternoon of 27th, six on the morning of 28th, four on the afternoon of 28th.
Such movements tend to be concentrated and weather-dependent; Bart’s morning seawatch at Po Toi on 29th turned up a single unidentified tern only!
Elsewhere, 100 Whiskered Terns were at San Tin on 30th, and 100 White-winged Terns were at Cheung Chau on 26th, with eight at San Tin on 30th.
A Eurasian Spoonbill was at San Tin on 30th along with 25 Black-faced Spoonbills. A Cinnamon Bittern was also at San Tin on 30th. A Malayan Night Heron was heard on a night bird survey at Chai Wan on 29th. A Purple Heron was seen at Po Toi on 29th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 29th. Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Lamma (20 on 26th), Po Toi (three from 26th – 28th, and one on 29th) and Tung Lung Chau (one on 29th). A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Po Toi on 27th & 29th. A single Grey-faced Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 26th, and up to three were noted at Po Toi between 26th & 29th.
A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 29th. A Northern Boobook was at Po Toi on 26th. Single Oriental Dollarbirds were noted at Lamma on 26th, and at Po Toi from 26th – 28th; two were at Ng Tung Chai on 26th. A shy and elusive Ruddy Kingfisher at Po Toi on 27th was the second Hong Kong record, following one, also at Po Toi, on 18 & 21 May 2006. Thirteen Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 26th, and eight were there on 30th. Two Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau on 26th & 27th.
An Ashy Minivet was at Po Toi on 27th & 28th, and a Swinhoe’s Minivet was also reported on 28th. Brown Shrikes were widespread in small numbers, including one in the city near IFC on 29th; the highest count was of eight at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi from 27th – 29th. The passage of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers continued with birds noted as follows: one at Tai Lam CP on 26th, three at Po Toi on 27th & 28th with two still there on 29th, one at Tai Po Kau on 27th, one at Yi O on 27th, and one at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. A Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher at Po Toi on 29th was a new latest spring record by four days.
Six Black Bulbuls (black-headed birds), including one juvenile, were at Tai Lam CP on 26th, and five (three black-headed and two white-headed birds), were on Po Toi from 27th – 28th. The Tai Lam birds are presumed to be breeding in the area, whereas the Po Toi birds are migrants. Single Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 26th and Tung Lung Chau on 29th. Two Asian House Martins were at Mui Wo on 26th.
Seventeen Mountain Tailorbirds were counted at Tai Lam CP on 26th. Single Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were noted at Ho Man Tin on 27th, Po Toi on 28th, and King’s Park and Lam Tsuen on 29th. Two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers were at Po Toi on 26th, and one was there on 27th. Up to four Arctic Warblers were recorded from Po Toi during the period, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 29th, one was at King’s Park on 29th, and four were at Ho Man Tin on 30th.
A male Daurian Starling was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 29th. Two Orange-headed Thrushes were singing at Tai Lam CP on 26th; these were perhaps a pair duetting. Eyebrowed Thrushes continued to be reported from four sites with a high count of 39 at Tai Lam CP on 26th; 35 other unidentified thrushes at Tai Lam CP on the same date were almost certainly Eyebrowed Thrushes too.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers were widespread with reports of ones and twos from seven different sites; the highest count was seven at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were noted as follows: two at Mai Po on 26th, one at Lam Tsuen on 26th, two at Yi O on 27th, and one at Po Toi on 27th & 28th. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 29th. Eleven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were counted at Tai Lam CP on 26th (ten singing males and one female).
A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 26th and three were there on 28th. Sixteen Lesser Shortwings were singing at Tai Lam CP on 26th; this is a new high count, the previous highest being of 14 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1 November 2017 and at Tai Lam CP on 25 September 2019. Three Narcissus Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 27th with two there on 28th, and two were at Yi O on 27th. Two Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Yi on 27th, and one was at Po Toi on 28th.
Three Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 27th. Thirty Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 25 White-headed Munias were at Long Valley on 30th. On 30th, a Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley and a Pechora Pipit was at Mai Po.
A Common Rosefinch was at Po Toi on 29th. A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Mai Po on 30th. A Chestnut Bunting was at Po Toi on 28th. At Long Valley, a Chestnut-eared Bunting was seen on 27th & 30th, a Yellow-browed Bunting was present on 30th, and the highest count of Yellow-breasted Buntings involved ten on 29th. A Yellow-breasted Bunting was also seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 27th, and two were at San Tin on 29th & 30th.
The unsettled weather brought a good spread of migrants to the territory, and Po Toi in particular received a lot of attention. There was a good movement of terns past the island on 27th & 28th, as well as a few needletails and raptors overhead and a variety of passerines taking advantage of the cover on the land itself. Best, however, was a Ruddy Kingfisher seen perched in a bush for around five seconds by two lucky observers on 27th. This is only the second record of this species for Hong Kong. Details of these and other species as follows:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 30th.
Seven White-throated Needletails were at Tai Lam CP on 26th along with a Silver-backed Needletail, and on the following day two White-throated Needletails and a Silver-backed Needletail were at Po Toi. Two needletails sp. were at Po Toi on 29th. Pacific Swifts were reported from Mai Po, San Tin and Po Toi but with no more than two from any one site. An Oriental Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 27th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was at Ng Tung Chai on 26th, and two were at Wu Kau Tang on 29th. The Ruddy-breasted Crake was seen again at Po Toi on 27th.
Eight Grey-headed Lapwings were at Long Valley on 26th and two were there on 27th; one was also at Mai Po on 28th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 27th, and two were at Mai Po on 28th. Reports of Ruddy Turnstones involved one at Pak Nai on 26th, three at Po Toi on 26th, six at Shui Hau on 27th, one at Mai Po on 29th, and two at Shui Hau on 30th. Thirteen Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 30th, as were 146 Red-necked Stints. Two Asian Dowitchers were at Mai Po on 29th. Red-necked Phalaropes were reported from Long Valley (three from 26th – 29th) Shui Hau (nine on 27th), the Shing Mun river at Sha Tin (18 on 30th), and from Po Toi (highest counts 22 flying past on the morning and 41 flying past on the afternoon of 28th). The highest count of Grey-tailed Tattlers was 35 at Pak Nai on 26th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 29th. Ten Oriental Pratincoles flew past Po Toi on 28th, and one was at San Tin on 30th.
Movement of terns and other seabirds past Po Toi on 27th & 28th involved the following (information courtesy of Bart De Schutter):
Greater Crested Tern: four on the afternoon of 27th, 14 on the morning of 28th, 47 on the afternoon of 28th;
Little Tern: 26 on the morning of 28th, four on the afternoon of 28th;
Aleutian Tern: four on the morning of 28th;
Bridled Tern: one on the morning of 27th, five on the morning of 28th;
Black-naped Tern: two on the afternoon of 27th;
Common Tern: two on the morning of 28th, 11 on the afternoon of 28th;
Whiskered Tern: three on the morning of 28th;
White-winged Tern: 30 on the morning of 27th, 20 on the afternoon of 27th, eight on the morning of 28th, ten on the afternoon of 28th;
Parasitic Jaegers two on the morning of 28th, three on the afternoon of 28th;
Short-tailed Shearwater one on the afternoon of 27th, six on the morning of 28th, four on the afternoon of 28th.
Such movements tend to be concentrated and weather-dependent; Bart’s morning seawatch at Po Toi on 29th turned up a single unidentified tern only!
Elsewhere, 100 Whiskered Terns were at San Tin on 30th, and 100 White-winged Terns were at Cheung Chau on 26th, with eight at San Tin on 30th.
A Eurasian Spoonbill was at San Tin on 30th along with 25 Black-faced Spoonbills. A Cinnamon Bittern was also at San Tin on 30th. A Malayan Night Heron was heard on a night bird survey at Chai Wan on 29th. A Purple Heron was seen at Po Toi on 29th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 29th. Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Lamma (20 on 26th), Po Toi (three from 26th – 28th, and one on 29th) and Tung Lung Chau (one on 29th). A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Po Toi on 27th & 29th. A single Grey-faced Buzzard was at Tai Lam CP on 26th, and up to three were noted at Po Toi between 26th & 29th.
A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 29th. A Northern Boobook was at Po Toi on 26th. Single Oriental Dollarbirds were noted at Lamma on 26th, and at Po Toi from 26th – 28th; two were at Ng Tung Chai on 26th. A shy and elusive Ruddy Kingfisher at Po Toi on 27th was the second Hong Kong record, following one, also at Po Toi, on 18 & 21 May 2006. Thirteen Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 26th, and eight were there on 30th. Two Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau on 26th & 27th.
An Ashy Minivet was at Po Toi on 27th & 28th, and a Swinhoe’s Minivet was also reported on 28th. Brown Shrikes were widespread in small numbers, including one in the city near IFC on 29th; the highest count was of eight at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Po Toi from 27th – 29th. The passage of Japanese Paradise Flycatchers continued with birds noted as follows: one at Tai Lam CP on 26th, three at Po Toi on 27th & 28th with two still there on 29th, one at Tai Po Kau on 27th, one at Yi O on 27th, and one at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. A Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher at Po Toi on 29th was a new latest spring record by four days.
Six Black Bulbuls (black-headed birds), including one juvenile, were at Tai Lam CP on 26th, and five (three black-headed and two white-headed birds), were on Po Toi from 27th – 28th. The Tai Lam birds are presumed to be breeding in the area, whereas the Po Toi birds are migrants. Single Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 26th and Tung Lung Chau on 29th. Two Asian House Martins were at Mui Wo on 26th.
Seventeen Mountain Tailorbirds were counted at Tai Lam CP on 26th. Single Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were noted at Ho Man Tin on 27th, Po Toi on 28th, and King’s Park and Lam Tsuen on 29th. Two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers were at Po Toi on 26th, and one was there on 27th. Up to four Arctic Warblers were recorded from Po Toi during the period, and two were at Tung Lung Chau on 29th, one was at King’s Park on 29th, and four were at Ho Man Tin on 30th.
A male Daurian Starling was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 29th. Two Orange-headed Thrushes were singing at Tai Lam CP on 26th; these were perhaps a pair duetting. Eyebrowed Thrushes continued to be reported from four sites with a high count of 39 at Tai Lam CP on 26th; 35 other unidentified thrushes at Tai Lam CP on the same date were almost certainly Eyebrowed Thrushes too.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers were widespread with reports of ones and twos from seven different sites; the highest count was seven at Tung Lung Chau on 29th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were noted as follows: two at Mai Po on 26th, one at Lam Tsuen on 26th, two at Yi O on 27th, and one at Po Toi on 27th & 28th. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 29th. Eleven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were counted at Tai Lam CP on 26th (ten singing males and one female).
A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 26th and three were there on 28th. Sixteen Lesser Shortwings were singing at Tai Lam CP on 26th; this is a new high count, the previous highest being of 14 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1 November 2017 and at Tai Lam CP on 25 September 2019. Three Narcissus Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 27th with two there on 28th, and two were at Yi O on 27th. Two Mugimaki Flycatchers were at Yi on 27th, and one was at Po Toi on 28th.
Three Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 27th. Thirty Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 25 White-headed Munias were at Long Valley on 30th. On 30th, a Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley and a Pechora Pipit was at Mai Po.
A Common Rosefinch was at Po Toi on 29th. A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Mai Po on 30th. A Chestnut Bunting was at Po Toi on 28th. At Long Valley, a Chestnut-eared Bunting was seen on 27th & 30th, a Yellow-browed Bunting was present on 30th, and the highest count of Yellow-breasted Buntings involved ten on 29th. A Yellow-breasted Bunting was also seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 27th, and two were at San Tin on 29th & 30th.
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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=28249&extra=page%3D1