LATEST SIGHTINGS - AUGUST 2021
August 1-8
August 1-8
Whimbrel at Mai Po in August (Birding Hong Kong archive)
The first week of August was wet, wet, wet. Showers and thunderstorms on 1st and 2nd. T3 was issued on 3rd as Tropical Cyclone Lupit passed 100 km to the south of Hong Kong as it moved eastwards. Showers persisted to the end of the week even after Lupit had moved away.
Given that we’re still in the summer doldrums, it was a relatively good week for birds. There was a movement of Himalayan Swiftlets. A Watercock was seen at San Tin. The Brown Noddy remained in Cheung Chau/ Hong Kong Island waters and there was an obvious return passage of terns, mainly from Po Toi. Po Toi also turned up Streaked Shearwaters, a Lesser Frigatebird and a Red-footed Booby. The first Amur Paradise Flycatcher of the autumn was at Cheung Chau. Details below:
Himalayan Swiftlets were reported from Po Toi as follows: one on 1st, three on 3rd, eight on 4th and one on 5th. Three were also at Cheung Chau on 8th. In addition, on 4th two swiftlets sp. were at Lung Mei, Sai Kung and one was at Lower Cheung Sha, Lantau. Single Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 4th and at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 6th.
A Red Collared Dove was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 6th.
A female Watercock was at San Tin on 8th.
Returning shorebirds continued to be noted in the Deep Bay area, including a Far Eastern Curlew at Mai Po on 8th and 18 Grey-tailed Tattlers at Pak Nai on 6th.
The Brown Noddy first seen in waters between Cheung Chau and Central on 16th July was seen again on 2nd & 7th. Two Gull-billed Terns were at Mai Po on 8th. Two Caspian Terns were off Po Toi on 3rd. Greater Crested Terns continued to be noted but this time there was an obviously westerly movement off Po Toi with three on 3rd, 29 on 4th and a good count of 60 on 5th. Two were also seen from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 5th. Also much in evidence were Common Terns with 25 moving west off Po Toi on 4th, 55 west off Po Toi on 5th, one from the Mui Wo – Central ferry on 6th, one from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry on 7th with 20 from the same ferry on 8th, and one at Tam Kon Chau on 8th. Five Whiskered Terns were at at Lin Barn Tsuen on 5th, and a White-winged Tern was seen from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 1st.
Three Streaked Shearwaters were off Po Toi on 4th. Single immature Lesser Frigatebirds were seen in Tolo Harbour on 1st, off Po Toi on 3rd, from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 7th, and roosting at Cheung Chau with Black Kites on 8th. A Red-footed Booby was also seen from Po Toi on 3rd.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 8th.
Single Black-winged Kites were at Po Toi on 1st, Lin Barn Tsuen on 5th, Lam Tsuen on 6th and Long Valley on 8th.
The first Amur Paradise Flycatcher of the season was at Cheung Chau on 8th.
Two Chinese Grassbirds were at Tai Mo Shan on 8th. Six Chinese Babaxes were also seen on the mountain on the same date, and five Vinous-throated Parrotbills were counted there on 7th.
Given that we’re still in the summer doldrums, it was a relatively good week for birds. There was a movement of Himalayan Swiftlets. A Watercock was seen at San Tin. The Brown Noddy remained in Cheung Chau/ Hong Kong Island waters and there was an obvious return passage of terns, mainly from Po Toi. Po Toi also turned up Streaked Shearwaters, a Lesser Frigatebird and a Red-footed Booby. The first Amur Paradise Flycatcher of the autumn was at Cheung Chau. Details below:
Himalayan Swiftlets were reported from Po Toi as follows: one on 1st, three on 3rd, eight on 4th and one on 5th. Three were also at Cheung Chau on 8th. In addition, on 4th two swiftlets sp. were at Lung Mei, Sai Kung and one was at Lower Cheung Sha, Lantau. Single Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 4th and at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 6th.
A Red Collared Dove was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 6th.
A female Watercock was at San Tin on 8th.
Returning shorebirds continued to be noted in the Deep Bay area, including a Far Eastern Curlew at Mai Po on 8th and 18 Grey-tailed Tattlers at Pak Nai on 6th.
The Brown Noddy first seen in waters between Cheung Chau and Central on 16th July was seen again on 2nd & 7th. Two Gull-billed Terns were at Mai Po on 8th. Two Caspian Terns were off Po Toi on 3rd. Greater Crested Terns continued to be noted but this time there was an obviously westerly movement off Po Toi with three on 3rd, 29 on 4th and a good count of 60 on 5th. Two were also seen from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 5th. Also much in evidence were Common Terns with 25 moving west off Po Toi on 4th, 55 west off Po Toi on 5th, one from the Mui Wo – Central ferry on 6th, one from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry on 7th with 20 from the same ferry on 8th, and one at Tam Kon Chau on 8th. Five Whiskered Terns were at at Lin Barn Tsuen on 5th, and a White-winged Tern was seen from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 1st.
Three Streaked Shearwaters were off Po Toi on 4th. Single immature Lesser Frigatebirds were seen in Tolo Harbour on 1st, off Po Toi on 3rd, from the Central – Cheung Chau ferry on 7th, and roosting at Cheung Chau with Black Kites on 8th. A Red-footed Booby was also seen from Po Toi on 3rd.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 8th.
Single Black-winged Kites were at Po Toi on 1st, Lin Barn Tsuen on 5th, Lam Tsuen on 6th and Long Valley on 8th.
The first Amur Paradise Flycatcher of the season was at Cheung Chau on 8th.
Two Chinese Grassbirds were at Tai Mo Shan on 8th. Six Chinese Babaxes were also seen on the mountain on the same date, and five Vinous-throated Parrotbills were counted there on 7th.
August 9-15
The summer monsoon brought southwesterly winds with showers throughout the week.
A Chinese Spot-billed Duck was at Mai Po on 9th.
Amongst the usual autumn passage waders, a Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po on 12th, four Long-toed Stints were at Ma Tso Lung on 13th, a Sanderling was at Mai Po on 9th, two Pintail Snipes were at Long Valley on 13th, and six Grey-tailed Tattlers were at Mai Po on 12th, with three at Shui Hau on 14th and 12 at Pak Nai on 15th.
The Brown Noddy was seen again in the Cheung Chau/Central area on 9th & 11th. A Gull-billed Tern was seen from the Cheung Chau/Central ferry on 11th. A Greater Crested Tern was seen from the same ferry on 9th. The first Aleutian Terns of the season involved four in southern waters on 11th. Common Tern sightings consisted of one from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry on 9th & 11th, one at Mai Po on 9th, two from the Mui Wo – Central ferry on 13th, and one in Tolo Harbour on 14th.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost at Cheung Chau with Black Kites until at least 14th. See here for photographs of this bird.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Pui O on 14th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Tai Sang Wai on 14th. Another was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 15th. A Eurasian Hobby was also at the latter site on 15th.
Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted as follows: one at Tai Po Kau on 12th, two at Shan King, Tuen Mun on 12th, one at Shing Mun on 13th, and one at Pak Sha O on 15th. A Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin on 11th.
Lingering at Long Valley on 13th were three Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and two White-headed Munias (Cat III).
A Chinese Spot-billed Duck was at Mai Po on 9th.
Amongst the usual autumn passage waders, a Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po on 12th, four Long-toed Stints were at Ma Tso Lung on 13th, a Sanderling was at Mai Po on 9th, two Pintail Snipes were at Long Valley on 13th, and six Grey-tailed Tattlers were at Mai Po on 12th, with three at Shui Hau on 14th and 12 at Pak Nai on 15th.
The Brown Noddy was seen again in the Cheung Chau/Central area on 9th & 11th. A Gull-billed Tern was seen from the Cheung Chau/Central ferry on 11th. A Greater Crested Tern was seen from the same ferry on 9th. The first Aleutian Terns of the season involved four in southern waters on 11th. Common Tern sightings consisted of one from the Cheung Chau – Central ferry on 9th & 11th, one at Mai Po on 9th, two from the Mui Wo – Central ferry on 13th, and one in Tolo Harbour on 14th.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost at Cheung Chau with Black Kites until at least 14th. See here for photographs of this bird.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Pui O on 14th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Tai Sang Wai on 14th. Another was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 15th. A Eurasian Hobby was also at the latter site on 15th.
Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted as follows: one at Tai Po Kau on 12th, two at Shan King, Tuen Mun on 12th, one at Shing Mun on 13th, and one at Pak Sha O on 15th. A Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin on 11th.
Lingering at Long Valley on 13th were three Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and two White-headed Munias (Cat III).
August 16-22
Aleutian Tern in southern waters, 22 August 2021
Anticyclonic conditions brought southerly winds and sunny days with a few showers during the week. Temperatures on 21st & 22nd rose to 35⁰C in the northern New Territories.
A Himalayan Swiftlet was at Po Toi on 16th as were three Pacific Swifts. Ten Pacific Swifts were also at Pak Sha O on 21st.
A Chestnut-winged Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 19th.
A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 22nd.
Seventy-one Greater Crested Terns flew west past Po Toi on 16th, and 29 were counted there on the following day; in addition, 25 were in southern waters on 22nd. Sixteen Little Terns flew west past Po Toi on 17th. Four Aleutian Terns were noted from Po Toi on 16th, with three there on 17th, and at least 15 were in southern waters on 22nd. Westerly movement of Bridled Terns past Po Toi involved 327 on 16th and 228 on 17th; 30 were noted in southern waters on 22nd. Migrating Roseate Terns consisted of 81 west past Po Toi on 16th, with 14 on 17th; 15 were in southern waters on 22nd. Common Terns were also noted moving west, with 229 past Po Toi on 17th; at least 17 were in southern waters on 22nd.
A Himalayan Swiftlet was at Po Toi on 16th as were three Pacific Swifts. Ten Pacific Swifts were also at Pak Sha O on 21st.
A Chestnut-winged Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 19th.
A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 22nd.
Seventy-one Greater Crested Terns flew west past Po Toi on 16th, and 29 were counted there on the following day; in addition, 25 were in southern waters on 22nd. Sixteen Little Terns flew west past Po Toi on 17th. Four Aleutian Terns were noted from Po Toi on 16th, with three there on 17th, and at least 15 were in southern waters on 22nd. Westerly movement of Bridled Terns past Po Toi involved 327 on 16th and 228 on 17th; 30 were noted in southern waters on 22nd. Migrating Roseate Terns consisted of 81 west past Po Toi on 16th, with 14 on 17th; 15 were in southern waters on 22nd. Common Terns were also noted moving west, with 229 past Po Toi on 17th; at least 17 were in southern waters on 22nd.
Bridled Terns in southern waters, 22 August 2021
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost at Cheung Chau with Black Kites until at least 22nd.
Single Black-winged Kites were at Tam Kon Chau and Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st. Five Crested Serpent Eagles and a Bonelli’s Eagle were at Wun Yiu Road on 21st. A Collared Owlet was heard at Tai Po Kau between 16th & 19th. Two Eurasian Hobbies at Wun Yiu Road on 22nd were harassing the Bonelli’s Eagle present in the same area.
A Black-winged Cuckooshrike was at Tai Tong on 17th. This is a new early date, the previous earliest autumn arrival date being 28 August. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted as follows: one at Tai Po Kau on 16th & 18th, two at Tai Tong and two at Po Toi on 17th, singles at Lau Shui Heung, Tai Lam CP and Luk Keng on 20th, two at Pak Sha O on 21st and two at Leung Tin Au trail on 22nd.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Tai Lam CP on 18th. Two Golden-headed Cisticolas were at Kai Kung Leng on 17th. This is a new early arrival date by two days.
Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Hok Tau on 16th and Tai Po Kau on 17th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was five at Pak Sha O on 21st.
The first Stejneger’s Stonechat of the autumn was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and the first Forest Wagtail was at Hok Tau on 16th.
Single Black-winged Kites were at Tam Kon Chau and Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st. Five Crested Serpent Eagles and a Bonelli’s Eagle were at Wun Yiu Road on 21st. A Collared Owlet was heard at Tai Po Kau between 16th & 19th. Two Eurasian Hobbies at Wun Yiu Road on 22nd were harassing the Bonelli’s Eagle present in the same area.
A Black-winged Cuckooshrike was at Tai Tong on 17th. This is a new early date, the previous earliest autumn arrival date being 28 August. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted as follows: one at Tai Po Kau on 16th & 18th, two at Tai Tong and two at Po Toi on 17th, singles at Lau Shui Heung, Tai Lam CP and Luk Keng on 20th, two at Pak Sha O on 21st and two at Leung Tin Au trail on 22nd.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Tai Lam CP on 18th. Two Golden-headed Cisticolas were at Kai Kung Leng on 17th. This is a new early arrival date by two days.
Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Hok Tau on 16th and Tai Po Kau on 17th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was five at Pak Sha O on 21st.
The first Stejneger’s Stonechat of the autumn was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and the first Forest Wagtail was at Hok Tau on 16th.
August 23-31
Southwesterly winds brought sunny periods and a few showers at the beginning of the week. The winds changed to the east from the 26th and upper-air disturbances brought thunderstorms and periods of heavy rain to the territory. Temperatures generally remained in the low 30s, although did reach 35⁰C in the northern New Territories on 26th.
The highlight of the period was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel seen and photographed in southern waters on 29th. See below for details of this and other birds of note.
Single Himalayan Swiftlets were at Mai Po on 27th & 28th, and ten were in southern waters on 29th. In addition, three swiftlets sp. were at Pui O on 29th. Two Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 27th and one was there on the following day.
Two Large Hawk Cuckoos (one seen, one heard) were at Mai Po on 23rd. A Lesser Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 24th.
Eight Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 28th. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 227th. Single Pintail Snipes were at San Tin on 25th and Long Valley on 30th.
A westerly movement of terns off Po Toi was noted during seawatches from 26th – 28th. Four Gull-billed Terns were seen on 27th, and there were daily sightings of four other species of terns with high counts of 33 Greater Crested Terns, 16 Aleutian Terns, 27 Bridled Terns and 300 Common Terns, all on 28th. In addition, a Parasitic Jaeger and a jaeger sp. were seen on 27th, and four jaegers sp. were noted on 28th.
A boat trip into southern waters on 29th also turned up two jaegers sp. as well as seven Greater Crested, eight Aleutian and 24 Common Terns. The best bird, however, was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel. The petrel is not yet officially on the Hong Kong list, although two recent records (October 2020, May 2021) await assessment.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost with Black Kites at Cheung Chau until at least 31st.
A Black-winged Kite was at Nam Sang Wai on 23rd, and two Bonelli’s Eagle were at Lau Shui Heung on 30th.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Cheung Chau on 24th, and another turned up on Po Toi on 31st. A Eurasian Hobby was at San Tin on 25th.
The first Brown Shrike of the season was at Ho Man Tin on 30th, and two were at Po Toi on 31st. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were reported from seven sites with high counts of three at Tai Po Kau on 23rd and at Pak Sha O on 24th & 28th. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was also at Pak Sha O on 28th.
Two Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 30th.
Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd, Shing Mun on 24th, Pak Sha O on 28th, and Tsiu Hang and Tai Lam CP on 29th. The first Arctic Warblers of the season involved one at Ho Man Tin on 24th & 25th, one at Tai Po Kau on 24th & 28th, and two at Pak Sha O on 28th, Single Oriental Reed Warblers were singing at different locations at Mai Po on 26th & 28th, but these may have been over-summering birds. A Zitting Cisticola was at Yi O on 26th.
An Orange-headed Thrush was at Shing Mun on 23rd. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Tai Po Kau on 17th, 23rd & 25th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was five at Pak Sha O on 24th.
Single Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were at Mai Po on 23rd, Ho Man Tin on 24th & 30th, and at Tsiu Hang on 29th.
Two Plain Flowerpeckers were at Lau Shui Heung on 30th. Six Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC): were at Long Valley on 30th,
The first seasonal reports of Eastern Yellow Wagtails involved one at San Tin and three at Pui O on 25th. These were of the nominate race tschutschensis. Nineteen at Yi O on 26th were not attributed to race.
The highlight of the period was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel seen and photographed in southern waters on 29th. See below for details of this and other birds of note.
Single Himalayan Swiftlets were at Mai Po on 27th & 28th, and ten were in southern waters on 29th. In addition, three swiftlets sp. were at Pui O on 29th. Two Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 27th and one was there on the following day.
Two Large Hawk Cuckoos (one seen, one heard) were at Mai Po on 23rd. A Lesser Cuckoo was at Po Toi on 24th.
Eight Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 28th. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 227th. Single Pintail Snipes were at San Tin on 25th and Long Valley on 30th.
A westerly movement of terns off Po Toi was noted during seawatches from 26th – 28th. Four Gull-billed Terns were seen on 27th, and there were daily sightings of four other species of terns with high counts of 33 Greater Crested Terns, 16 Aleutian Terns, 27 Bridled Terns and 300 Common Terns, all on 28th. In addition, a Parasitic Jaeger and a jaeger sp. were seen on 27th, and four jaegers sp. were noted on 28th.
A boat trip into southern waters on 29th also turned up two jaegers sp. as well as seven Greater Crested, eight Aleutian and 24 Common Terns. The best bird, however, was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel. The petrel is not yet officially on the Hong Kong list, although two recent records (October 2020, May 2021) await assessment.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost with Black Kites at Cheung Chau until at least 31st.
A Black-winged Kite was at Nam Sang Wai on 23rd, and two Bonelli’s Eagle were at Lau Shui Heung on 30th.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Cheung Chau on 24th, and another turned up on Po Toi on 31st. A Eurasian Hobby was at San Tin on 25th.
The first Brown Shrike of the season was at Ho Man Tin on 30th, and two were at Po Toi on 31st. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were reported from seven sites with high counts of three at Tai Po Kau on 23rd and at Pak Sha O on 24th & 28th. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was also at Pak Sha O on 28th.
Two Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 30th.
Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd, Shing Mun on 24th, Pak Sha O on 28th, and Tsiu Hang and Tai Lam CP on 29th. The first Arctic Warblers of the season involved one at Ho Man Tin on 24th & 25th, one at Tai Po Kau on 24th & 28th, and two at Pak Sha O on 28th, Single Oriental Reed Warblers were singing at different locations at Mai Po on 26th & 28th, but these may have been over-summering birds. A Zitting Cisticola was at Yi O on 26th.
An Orange-headed Thrush was at Shing Mun on 23rd. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Tai Po Kau on 17th, 23rd & 25th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was five at Pak Sha O on 24th.
Single Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were at Mai Po on 23rd, Ho Man Tin on 24th & 30th, and at Tsiu Hang on 29th.
Two Plain Flowerpeckers were at Lau Shui Heung on 30th. Six Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC): were at Long Valley on 30th,
The first seasonal reports of Eastern Yellow Wagtails involved one at San Tin and three at Pui O on 25th. These were of the nominate race tschutschensis. Nineteen at Yi O on 26th were not attributed to race.
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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
