LATEST SIGHTINGS - AUGUST 2020
August 1 - 9
August 1 - 9
Eurasian Hobbies at Wo Hop Shek, 8 August 2020
The trough of low pressure over the South China Sea at the end of July developed into Tropical Cyclone Sinlaku and Strong Wind Signal number 3 was raised on 31 July. Sinlaku brought heavy rain and squally thunderstorms to the region during the first few days of August. The weather improved after 6th once anticyclonic conditions became established and temperatures rose back up to 34⁰C on 8th & 9th.
The stormy conditions brought a mega-rarity to Hong Kong on 2nd in the form of a Brown Noddy seen feeding with Bridled Terns off Po Toi rock from the Po Toi – Stanley ferry by Carrie Ma. The bird was still present in the pouring rain on 3rd, albeit seen by just one intrepid observer. This is only the second occurrence of this species in Hong Kong, the first being a bird feeding off Po Toi during the passage of Typhoon Chanchu on 17 May 2006.
Also on 2nd, a juvenile Sooty Tern was seen between Tap Mun and Wong Shek. A further juvenile Sooty Tern seen at Shek Ngau Chau on 7th may have been the same individual as the bird on 2nd.
A visit to Po Toi rock on 4th turned up 50 Bridled Terns, eight Roseate Terns, and 30 Black-naped Terns but unfortunately not the sought-after Brown Noddy.
The Ryukyu Scops Owl at Tai Lung, Sheung Shui was present until at least 3rd.
A Black-winged Kite was at Tsim Bei Tsui on 1st and another (the same bird?) was at Pak Nai on 6th.
On 3rd, four Vinous-throated Parrotbills and a Chinese Grassbird were noted on Tai Mo Shan, and a Cinnamon Bittern was at Lok Ma Chau.
On 5th, a Eurasian Hobby was seen at Lam Tsuen. At Long Valley, there were 120 White-headed Munias (Cat. III) and 18 Chestnut Munias (Cat. IIC). The increase in numbers of these two cagebird species since July raises the question of who is continuing to release them and why.
On 6th, Dylan Thomas who was birding Lam Tsuen in the afternoon, noted four Eurasian Hobbies hawking prey over the distant slopes of Wo Hop Shek. These four birds – a family party of two adults and two juveniles - were still present at Wo Hop Shek on 8th, perching on the hillside pylons. It seems likely that the species bred at this site this summer.
Twenty-two species of wader were noted at Mai Po on 7th, including three atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, 395 Greater Sand Plovers, the two over-summering Bar-tailed Godwits, 225 Black-tailed Godwits, two Long-toed Stints, seven Red-necked Stints, an Asian Dowitcher, 20 Terek Sandpipers, 414 Common Redshanks, three Marsh Sandpipers, and 361 Common Greenshanks. Also present were the long-staying female Tufted Duck and the over-summering Gull-billed Tern. Nine Black-faced Spoonbills were also counted.
On 8th, a Greater Crested Tern was at Tap Mun.
Over a hundred terns were off Peng Chau on 8th & 9th – a mixed flock of Black-naped and Roseate Terns.
Also on 9th, an Asian Dowitcher was at the unusual location of Long Valley. Sixty Eurasian Curlews, a Ruddy Turnstone, and 15 Red-necked Stints were at Mai Po.
The stormy conditions brought a mega-rarity to Hong Kong on 2nd in the form of a Brown Noddy seen feeding with Bridled Terns off Po Toi rock from the Po Toi – Stanley ferry by Carrie Ma. The bird was still present in the pouring rain on 3rd, albeit seen by just one intrepid observer. This is only the second occurrence of this species in Hong Kong, the first being a bird feeding off Po Toi during the passage of Typhoon Chanchu on 17 May 2006.
Also on 2nd, a juvenile Sooty Tern was seen between Tap Mun and Wong Shek. A further juvenile Sooty Tern seen at Shek Ngau Chau on 7th may have been the same individual as the bird on 2nd.
A visit to Po Toi rock on 4th turned up 50 Bridled Terns, eight Roseate Terns, and 30 Black-naped Terns but unfortunately not the sought-after Brown Noddy.
The Ryukyu Scops Owl at Tai Lung, Sheung Shui was present until at least 3rd.
A Black-winged Kite was at Tsim Bei Tsui on 1st and another (the same bird?) was at Pak Nai on 6th.
On 3rd, four Vinous-throated Parrotbills and a Chinese Grassbird were noted on Tai Mo Shan, and a Cinnamon Bittern was at Lok Ma Chau.
On 5th, a Eurasian Hobby was seen at Lam Tsuen. At Long Valley, there were 120 White-headed Munias (Cat. III) and 18 Chestnut Munias (Cat. IIC). The increase in numbers of these two cagebird species since July raises the question of who is continuing to release them and why.
On 6th, Dylan Thomas who was birding Lam Tsuen in the afternoon, noted four Eurasian Hobbies hawking prey over the distant slopes of Wo Hop Shek. These four birds – a family party of two adults and two juveniles - were still present at Wo Hop Shek on 8th, perching on the hillside pylons. It seems likely that the species bred at this site this summer.
Twenty-two species of wader were noted at Mai Po on 7th, including three atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, 395 Greater Sand Plovers, the two over-summering Bar-tailed Godwits, 225 Black-tailed Godwits, two Long-toed Stints, seven Red-necked Stints, an Asian Dowitcher, 20 Terek Sandpipers, 414 Common Redshanks, three Marsh Sandpipers, and 361 Common Greenshanks. Also present were the long-staying female Tufted Duck and the over-summering Gull-billed Tern. Nine Black-faced Spoonbills were also counted.
On 8th, a Greater Crested Tern was at Tap Mun.
Over a hundred terns were off Peng Chau on 8th & 9th – a mixed flock of Black-naped and Roseate Terns.
Also on 9th, an Asian Dowitcher was at the unusual location of Long Valley. Sixty Eurasian Curlews, a Ruddy Turnstone, and 15 Red-necked Stints were at Mai Po.
August 10 - 16
Asian Dowitcher at Long Valley, 10 August 2020
A week of southerly winds, high temperatures (33⁰C) and occasional local showers.
The Asian Dowitcher remained at Long Valley from 10th to at least 14th, and the first Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe of the season was seen there on 10th. The released munias continued to be reported throughout the week with high counts of 140 White-headed Munias and 20 Chestnut Munias on 10th. Two Eurasian Hobbies were over nearby Crest Hill on 10th.
Also on 10th, the four Eurasian Hobbies were again noted at Wo Hop Shek. A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po. A Bonelli’s Eagle and a flock of 43 Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP. In addition, a Slaty-breasted Rail was heard at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway; this bird was first seen on 6 August.
On 11th, two juvenile Bonelli’s Eagles were over the landfill near Ping Yeung. Two Eurasian Hobbies were seen near Mai Po.
A number of terns were reported during the week, mainly from the Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau – Kau Yi Chau area between Lantau and Hong Kong Island. These largely seemed to consist of summering terns dispersing from their local breeding sites; peak counts were 106 Black-naped Terns near Peng Chau on 11th, and 30 Bridled and 40 Roseate Terns at Peng Chau on 15th. Migrant terns involved two Greater Crested Terns and two Common Terns in the Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau area on 13th and a Common Tern between Peng Chau and Kau Yi Chau on 14th.
Another Common Tern was seen from the Tap Mun – Ma Liu Shui ferry on 12th, as were six Greater Crested Terns. Fifteen Black-naped Terns were seen from the ferry on 16th.
A juvenile Black-tailed Gull was in Tolo Harbour below Tai Po Kau on 13th.
On 15th, single Black-winged Kites were seen at Pak Nai and Mai Po.
A juvenile Sooty Tern - presumably the same bird as was seen on 7 August – was at Ngau Shek Chau on 10th and again on 16th. Also there on 16th were 100+ Bridled Terns, five Black-naped Terns and a Lesser Frigatebird.
The Asian Dowitcher remained at Long Valley from 10th to at least 14th, and the first Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe of the season was seen there on 10th. The released munias continued to be reported throughout the week with high counts of 140 White-headed Munias and 20 Chestnut Munias on 10th. Two Eurasian Hobbies were over nearby Crest Hill on 10th.
Also on 10th, the four Eurasian Hobbies were again noted at Wo Hop Shek. A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po. A Bonelli’s Eagle and a flock of 43 Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP. In addition, a Slaty-breasted Rail was heard at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway; this bird was first seen on 6 August.
On 11th, two juvenile Bonelli’s Eagles were over the landfill near Ping Yeung. Two Eurasian Hobbies were seen near Mai Po.
A number of terns were reported during the week, mainly from the Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau – Kau Yi Chau area between Lantau and Hong Kong Island. These largely seemed to consist of summering terns dispersing from their local breeding sites; peak counts were 106 Black-naped Terns near Peng Chau on 11th, and 30 Bridled and 40 Roseate Terns at Peng Chau on 15th. Migrant terns involved two Greater Crested Terns and two Common Terns in the Peng Chau – Hei Ling Chau area on 13th and a Common Tern between Peng Chau and Kau Yi Chau on 14th.
Another Common Tern was seen from the Tap Mun – Ma Liu Shui ferry on 12th, as were six Greater Crested Terns. Fifteen Black-naped Terns were seen from the ferry on 16th.
A juvenile Black-tailed Gull was in Tolo Harbour below Tai Po Kau on 13th.
On 15th, single Black-winged Kites were seen at Pak Nai and Mai Po.
A juvenile Sooty Tern - presumably the same bird as was seen on 7 August – was at Ngau Shek Chau on 10th and again on 16th. Also there on 16th were 100+ Bridled Terns, five Black-naped Terns and a Lesser Frigatebird.
August 17 – 23
Typhoon Higos passed southwest of Hong Kong on 18th/19th. Storm signal 9 was raised at 1.30 a.m. on 19th. The typhoon brought heavy rain and strong winds to the territory, but – as typhoons go – it was relatively mild and caused no damage. The rest of the week was dominated by anticyclonic conditions, with fine weather and temperatures again up to 34⁰C.
Typhoon Higos brought in a few seabirds. The week also marked the beginning of autumn passerine migration, with several Amur Paradise Flycatchers and Eastern Crowned Warblers reported from wooded areas.
At Long Valley, the Asian Dowitcher remained until at least 20th. The Pintail Snipe present on 10th was also still there on 20th. A hundred White-headed Munias and three Chestnut Munias were noted on 17th.
On 18th, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin.
On 19th, after the passage of Typhoon Higos, 20 Common Terns and three Greater Crested Terns were off Ma On Shan in Tolo Harbour.
On 20th, a frigatebird sp. was seen flying over Ho Man Tin towards Kwun Tong, and a Long-tailed Jaeger and two Greater Crested Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry. The Long-tailed Jaeger sighting was a new early autumn date, albeit by just one day. Po Toi island itself was quiet apart from a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo.
Also on 20th two Brown-breasted Flycatchers were in Tai Po Kau, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and 30 Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP, and 30 White-cheeked Starlings were at San Tin.
On 21st, 40 Black-naped Terns and 15 Roseate Terns were seen from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry. An Eastern Crowned Warbler and a Hainan Blue Flycatcher were in Tai Po Kau.
On 22nd, a Barred Cuckoo Dove was heard singing at Pak Sha O. This is the first summer record of this species in Hong Kong, extreme dates being 16 November – 15 May. Although a rare winter visitor, it has been noted in the territory annually since 2014, and one was heard singing at Tai Mo Shan on 28 March, 2019. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was also at Pak Sha O on the same day.
Other reports on 22nd included an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Hainan Blue Flycatcher, and a juvenile Orange-headed Thrush at Tai Lam CP; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Hainan Blue Flycatchers at Tai Lam Chung; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher at Tai Po Kau; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Grey wagtails at Lam Tsuen; and an adult and juvenile Slaty-backed Forktail at Shing Mun.
The Ryukyu Scops Owl was still present at Tai Lung, Sheung Shui on 22nd.
At sea on 22nd, apart from "hundreds" of Bridled Terns, 25 Red-necked Phalaropes, a Greater Crested Tern, and two Black-naped Terns were recorded near Tap Mun, and 70 Bridled Terns were still at Castle (Po Toi) Rock.
On 23rd, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was in Tai Po Kau, five Amur Paradise Flycatchers and five Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP, an Eastern Crowned Warbler and four Hainan Blue Flycatchers were along the Tuen Mun Trail, and an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Ng Tung Chai.
Typhoon Higos passed southwest of Hong Kong on 18th/19th. Storm signal 9 was raised at 1.30 a.m. on 19th. The typhoon brought heavy rain and strong winds to the territory, but – as typhoons go – it was relatively mild and caused no damage. The rest of the week was dominated by anticyclonic conditions, with fine weather and temperatures again up to 34⁰C.
Typhoon Higos brought in a few seabirds. The week also marked the beginning of autumn passerine migration, with several Amur Paradise Flycatchers and Eastern Crowned Warblers reported from wooded areas.
At Long Valley, the Asian Dowitcher remained until at least 20th. The Pintail Snipe present on 10th was also still there on 20th. A hundred White-headed Munias and three Chestnut Munias were noted on 17th.
On 18th, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin.
On 19th, after the passage of Typhoon Higos, 20 Common Terns and three Greater Crested Terns were off Ma On Shan in Tolo Harbour.
On 20th, a frigatebird sp. was seen flying over Ho Man Tin towards Kwun Tong, and a Long-tailed Jaeger and two Greater Crested Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry. The Long-tailed Jaeger sighting was a new early autumn date, albeit by just one day. Po Toi island itself was quiet apart from a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo.
Also on 20th two Brown-breasted Flycatchers were in Tai Po Kau, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and 30 Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP, and 30 White-cheeked Starlings were at San Tin.
On 21st, 40 Black-naped Terns and 15 Roseate Terns were seen from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry. An Eastern Crowned Warbler and a Hainan Blue Flycatcher were in Tai Po Kau.
On 22nd, a Barred Cuckoo Dove was heard singing at Pak Sha O. This is the first summer record of this species in Hong Kong, extreme dates being 16 November – 15 May. Although a rare winter visitor, it has been noted in the territory annually since 2014, and one was heard singing at Tai Mo Shan on 28 March, 2019. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was also at Pak Sha O on the same day.
Other reports on 22nd included an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Hainan Blue Flycatcher, and a juvenile Orange-headed Thrush at Tai Lam CP; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Hainan Blue Flycatchers at Tai Lam Chung; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher at Tai Po Kau; an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Grey wagtails at Lam Tsuen; and an adult and juvenile Slaty-backed Forktail at Shing Mun.
The Ryukyu Scops Owl was still present at Tai Lung, Sheung Shui on 22nd.
At sea on 22nd, apart from "hundreds" of Bridled Terns, 25 Red-necked Phalaropes, a Greater Crested Tern, and two Black-naped Terns were recorded near Tap Mun, and 70 Bridled Terns were still at Castle (Po Toi) Rock.
On 23rd, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was in Tai Po Kau, five Amur Paradise Flycatchers and five Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP, an Eastern Crowned Warbler and four Hainan Blue Flycatchers were along the Tuen Mun Trail, and an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and two Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Ng Tung Chai.
August 24 – 31
Grey-tailed Tattler at Mai Po, 28 August 2020
Oppressively hot throughout the week (35⁰C at Yuen Long on 28th) with occasional localised heavy showers.
Migration continued with a number of first sightings for the autumn. Details of these and other occurrences of interest as follows:
Eurasian Teal: one at Mai Po on 27th & 28th; one at Long Valley on 31st
Tufted Duck: one at Mai Po on 27th; presumably the over-summering female
Red Turtle Dove: one at Long Valley on 30th
Asian Dowitcher: the juvenile at Long Valley, present since 9th August, remained until the last day of the month; two at Mai Po on 28th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: three at Mai Po on 27th; four at Long Valley on 30th; three at Lok Ma Chau on 30th
Common Snipe: two at Mai Po on 27th
Gull-billed Tern: five at Mai Po on 28th
Little Tern: one at Mai Po on 27th
Lesser Frigatebird: one at Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma on 30th
Black-faced Spoonbill: at least six of the summering birds were still at Mai Po on 28th
Cinnamon Bittern: singles at Mai Po on 28th (pond 8b) and 29th (pond 19); one at Lok Ma Chau on 30th
Black Bittern: one at Lok Ma Chau on 27th
Black-winged Kite: one at Mai Po until 31st; one at Shuen Wan on 31st
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 26th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Mai Po on 28th
Eurasian Hobby: singles at Lam Tsuen on 29th & 30th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and four at Uk Tau on 28th: this is a new early autumn date, the previous earliest date being 1 September
Brown Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 25th; one at Kowloon Tsai Park on 28th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th; one at Lau Shui Heung on 26th; three at Shing Mun and one at Ho Man Tin on 28th; three at Pak Sha O, three at Tai Lam CP, two at Lam Tsuen, and singles at Tuen Mun West and Ho Man Tin on 29th; two at Tai Po Kau on 30th; two at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Mountain Bulbul; a loose flock of 15 at Lam Tsuen on 29th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Lau Shui Heung and Ho Man Tin on 24th, Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 26th, Pak Sha O, Tai Lam CP and Tuen Mun West on 29th; six at Tai Lam CP on 30th; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Arctic Warbler: singles at Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 26th; one at Ho Man Tin on 27th; three at Ho Man Tin and singles at Pak Sha O and Tuen Mun West on 29th; two at Tai Lam Chung and five at Tai Lam CP on 30th; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Oriental Reed Warbler: one at Mai Po on 27th with six there on 28th; one at Long Valley on 30th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: two at Mai Po on 28th
Orange-headed Thrush: two juveniles at Tai Lam CP on 24th, with one (age unspecified) there on 25th; a juvenile at Lau Shui Heung on 26th & 29th; three at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Dark-sided Flycatcher: one at Wu Kau Tang on 29th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: one at Tai Tong on 29th; one at Mai Po on 31st
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th; a juvenile at Shing Mun on 28th; singles at Lau Shui Heung and Pak Sha O on 29th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: reported from Tai Po Kau, Shing Mun, Tai Lam CP, Lam Tsuen, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, Wu Kau Tang, Tuen Mun West, Pak Sha O and Ho Man Tin – highest count three at Tai Po Kau on 26th. Juveniles noted at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Tai Lam CP, so perhaps a mixture of summer birds and passage migrants involved in the aforementioned sightings
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th
Slaty-backed Forktail: two at Shing Mun on 25th, with one there on 28th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: single female/1st-winters at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Ho Man Tin on 28th: a male at Ho Man Tin on 29th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 30th
Chestnut Munia (Cat. IIC): five at Mai Po on 27th; seven+ still present at Long Valley on 30th, where apparently at least 30 were present earlier in August – see http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=29116&goto=lastpost#lastpost
White-headed Munia (Cat. III): at least 15 still present at Long Valley on 30th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: the first record of the autumn was 11 at Mai Po on 24th. Other sightings involved 25 at Pui O and four at Shui Hau on 27th, and 15 at San Tin and 27 at Mai Po on 28th. None of these were attributed to taxon. At least two of the race tschutschensis were at San Tin on 28th, and one of the race taivana was at Mai Po on the same date.
Migration continued with a number of first sightings for the autumn. Details of these and other occurrences of interest as follows:
Eurasian Teal: one at Mai Po on 27th & 28th; one at Long Valley on 31st
Tufted Duck: one at Mai Po on 27th; presumably the over-summering female
Red Turtle Dove: one at Long Valley on 30th
Asian Dowitcher: the juvenile at Long Valley, present since 9th August, remained until the last day of the month; two at Mai Po on 28th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: three at Mai Po on 27th; four at Long Valley on 30th; three at Lok Ma Chau on 30th
Common Snipe: two at Mai Po on 27th
Gull-billed Tern: five at Mai Po on 28th
Little Tern: one at Mai Po on 27th
Lesser Frigatebird: one at Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma on 30th
Black-faced Spoonbill: at least six of the summering birds were still at Mai Po on 28th
Cinnamon Bittern: singles at Mai Po on 28th (pond 8b) and 29th (pond 19); one at Lok Ma Chau on 30th
Black Bittern: one at Lok Ma Chau on 27th
Black-winged Kite: one at Mai Po until 31st; one at Shuen Wan on 31st
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 26th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Mai Po on 28th
Eurasian Hobby: singles at Lam Tsuen on 29th & 30th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and four at Uk Tau on 28th: this is a new early autumn date, the previous earliest date being 1 September
Brown Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 25th; one at Kowloon Tsai Park on 28th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th; one at Lau Shui Heung on 26th; three at Shing Mun and one at Ho Man Tin on 28th; three at Pak Sha O, three at Tai Lam CP, two at Lam Tsuen, and singles at Tuen Mun West and Ho Man Tin on 29th; two at Tai Po Kau on 30th; two at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Mountain Bulbul; a loose flock of 15 at Lam Tsuen on 29th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Lau Shui Heung and Ho Man Tin on 24th, Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 26th, Pak Sha O, Tai Lam CP and Tuen Mun West on 29th; six at Tai Lam CP on 30th; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Arctic Warbler: singles at Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 26th; one at Ho Man Tin on 27th; three at Ho Man Tin and singles at Pak Sha O and Tuen Mun West on 29th; two at Tai Lam Chung and five at Tai Lam CP on 30th; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Oriental Reed Warbler: one at Mai Po on 27th with six there on 28th; one at Long Valley on 30th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: two at Mai Po on 28th
Orange-headed Thrush: two juveniles at Tai Lam CP on 24th, with one (age unspecified) there on 25th; a juvenile at Lau Shui Heung on 26th & 29th; three at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Dark-sided Flycatcher: one at Wu Kau Tang on 29th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: one at Tai Tong on 29th; one at Mai Po on 31st
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th; a juvenile at Shing Mun on 28th; singles at Lau Shui Heung and Pak Sha O on 29th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: reported from Tai Po Kau, Shing Mun, Tai Lam CP, Lam Tsuen, Tai Mei Tuk catchwater, Wu Kau Tang, Tuen Mun West, Pak Sha O and Ho Man Tin – highest count three at Tai Po Kau on 26th. Juveniles noted at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Tai Lam CP, so perhaps a mixture of summer birds and passage migrants involved in the aforementioned sightings
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th
Slaty-backed Forktail: two at Shing Mun on 25th, with one there on 28th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: single female/1st-winters at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and Ho Man Tin on 28th: a male at Ho Man Tin on 29th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 30th
Chestnut Munia (Cat. IIC): five at Mai Po on 27th; seven+ still present at Long Valley on 30th, where apparently at least 30 were present earlier in August – see http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=29116&goto=lastpost#lastpost
White-headed Munia (Cat. III): at least 15 still present at Long Valley on 30th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: the first record of the autumn was 11 at Mai Po on 24th. Other sightings involved 25 at Pui O and four at Shui Hau on 27th, and 15 at San Tin and 27 at Mai Po on 28th. None of these were attributed to taxon. At least two of the race tschutschensis were at San Tin on 28th, and one of the race taivana was at Mai Po on the same date.
Chick White-breasted Waterhen at Mai Po, 28 August 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
