LATEST SIGHTINGS - DECEMBER 2019
December 1-8
December 1-8
A replenishment of the northeast monsoon caused temperatures to drop to 11⁰C at night in the New Territories, although it was generally fine and dry during the day with fresh northerly winds.
The Japanese Night Heron remained at Pak Tam Chung throughout the week. The Black-necked Grebe was last reported from San Tin on 1st. Two Rufous-faced Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 1st, one was at Ho Man Tin from 4th – 7th, and one was at Pak Sha O on 7th.
There was an interesting late surge of Black-naped Oriole sightings, with singles at Ho Man Tin and Chung Mei on 4th, and Po Toi and Lamma on 5th.
At Tai Lam CP, up to 60 Indochinese Yuhinas were seen during the week. A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was present on 2nd & 4th; also reported on 4th were a male Fujian Niltava, an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Radde’s Warbler, a White’s Thrush, seven Tristram’s Buntings and a Chestnut Bunting. The highlight on 6th were two Japanese Robins, one of them being a stunning adult male. The male was noted again on 8th.
Ho Man Tin held Bull-headed Shrike, Radde’s Warbler and two Eyebrowed Thrushes on 2nd, Bull-headed Shrike and White’s Thrush on 3rd, and Radde’s Warbler and two Eyebrowed Thrushes on 4th.
Buntings continued to be reported from Long Valley; on 6th six species were noted consisting of four Chestnut-eared Buntings, two Yellow-browed Buntings, a Yellow-breasted Bunting, a Rustic Bunting, ten Little Buntings and two Black-faced Buntings. The wintering Eastern Water Rail was also present.
A Dusky Thrush was at the Peak on 3rd & 4th. A Small Niltava was at Wu Kau Tang on 4th.
Also on 4th, a Black Stork turned up at Mai Po and remained until the morning of the 6th when it was seen heading off west. Two Mallards were present on the reserve on 7th, and 20 Northern Lapwings were reported on 8th.
On 5th, a White’s Thrush , a Pale Thrush, a Radde’s Warbler and a Yellow-browed Bunting were seen on Po Toi, and two Himalayan Swiftlets and a Common House Martin were at Tai Sang Wai.
On 7th, a Bianchi’s Warbler was at Pak Sha O.
On 8th a Mallard was seen at Kam Tin.
UPDATE: At Tai Lam CP on 8th, a female Japanese Robin in addition to the male mentioned above, and at least five (!) Rufous-faced Warblers in a bird wave.
The Japanese Night Heron remained at Pak Tam Chung throughout the week. The Black-necked Grebe was last reported from San Tin on 1st. Two Rufous-faced Warblers were at Tai Po Kau on 1st, one was at Ho Man Tin from 4th – 7th, and one was at Pak Sha O on 7th.
There was an interesting late surge of Black-naped Oriole sightings, with singles at Ho Man Tin and Chung Mei on 4th, and Po Toi and Lamma on 5th.
At Tai Lam CP, up to 60 Indochinese Yuhinas were seen during the week. A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was present on 2nd & 4th; also reported on 4th were a male Fujian Niltava, an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Radde’s Warbler, a White’s Thrush, seven Tristram’s Buntings and a Chestnut Bunting. The highlight on 6th were two Japanese Robins, one of them being a stunning adult male. The male was noted again on 8th.
Ho Man Tin held Bull-headed Shrike, Radde’s Warbler and two Eyebrowed Thrushes on 2nd, Bull-headed Shrike and White’s Thrush on 3rd, and Radde’s Warbler and two Eyebrowed Thrushes on 4th.
Buntings continued to be reported from Long Valley; on 6th six species were noted consisting of four Chestnut-eared Buntings, two Yellow-browed Buntings, a Yellow-breasted Bunting, a Rustic Bunting, ten Little Buntings and two Black-faced Buntings. The wintering Eastern Water Rail was also present.
A Dusky Thrush was at the Peak on 3rd & 4th. A Small Niltava was at Wu Kau Tang on 4th.
Also on 4th, a Black Stork turned up at Mai Po and remained until the morning of the 6th when it was seen heading off west. Two Mallards were present on the reserve on 7th, and 20 Northern Lapwings were reported on 8th.
On 5th, a White’s Thrush , a Pale Thrush, a Radde’s Warbler and a Yellow-browed Bunting were seen on Po Toi, and two Himalayan Swiftlets and a Common House Martin were at Tai Sang Wai.
On 7th, a Bianchi’s Warbler was at Pak Sha O.
On 8th a Mallard was seen at Kam Tin.
UPDATE: At Tai Lam CP on 8th, a female Japanese Robin in addition to the male mentioned above, and at least five (!) Rufous-faced Warblers in a bird wave.
December 9-15
Eastern Imperial Eagle at Mai Po in December (Birding Hong Kong archive)
The northeast monsoon prevailed for the first half of the week, bringing large temperature differences between day and night: at Ta Kwu Ling in the northern New Territories, the morning temperature on 11th was 8⁰C but this rose to 25⁰C in the afternoon. Winds blew more from the east from 12th onwards, bringing milder and more humid conditions to the territory.
Of particular note for birders in southern China was the sighting of nine Siberian Cranes at Jiangmen, Guangdong on 10th. Jiangmen lies 120 km west-northwest of Hong Kong. This is the first record of this species for Guangdong Province although there have been two occurrences in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, the Japanese Night Heron remained at Pak Tam Chung throughout. A Collared Owlet was heard above the lower section of the red walk in Tai Po Kau on 11th and 14th. A Barred Cuckoo Dove was reported from Sai Kung West CP on 11th. Single Sulphur-breasted Warblers were at Sai Kung and Shing Mun on 12th
There were more reports of Rufous-faced Warblers: three at Sai Kung West CP and one at Lung Fu Shan on 11th, seven at Sai Kung and three at Shing Mun on 12th, and one at Tai Po Kau on 13th with four there on 15th. This brings the total number of birds since 10 November to at least 27 individuals from ten different sites, with reports of multiple sightings (3+ birds at a single site) since 8 December. Such an irruption is unprecedented; there were eleven previous records from 1964 to spring 2019, with no more than three birds in any one year, although records in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 winters (the first since 2009) were perhaps a harbinger of what was to come .
As usual, Tai Lam CP was well-watched during the week and turned up a number of interesting sightings including a female Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush on 9th & 10th, up to three male Japanese Robins throughout, a female Small Niltava on 10th, a male Thick-billed Green Pigeon on 11th, a Hume’s Leaf Warbler on 11th & 12th (present since 27 November) and 26 Tristram’s Buntings on 11th.
Other sightings of note by date as follows:
9th: a Mandarin Duck at Lam Tsuen.
10th: a Bull-headed Shrike at Ho Man Tin
12th: a Dusky Thrush at Shek Kong catchwater; Eastern Water Rail, Yellow-browed Bunting and Chestnut-eared Bunting at Long Valley; a female White-throated Rock Thrush, a White’s Thrush, an Ashy Minivet, a Radde’s Warbler, and a Verditer Flycatcher at Mt Davis; a Northern Lapwing at Mai Po.
13th: a Eurasian Hoopoe at Kowloon Park.
14th: a Forest Wagtail in Tai Po Kau; a female Falcated Duck and three Eastern Imperial Eagles at Mai Po; a Ferruginous Duck, an Eastern Imperial Eagle, a Greater Spotted Eagle, a Northern Lapwing, a Grey-headed Lapwing, a Whiskered Tern, a Eurasian Wryneck and a Buff-bellied Pipit at San Tin; a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and seven Tristram’s Buntings at Robin’s Nest. This is the latest sighting of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler in Hong Kong so far, the previous late date being 26 November.
15th: a Bull-headed Shrike and a Eurasian Woodcock at Ha Pak Nai; a Forest Wagtail and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Tai Po Kau; 11 Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, a Mallard and two Ferruginous Ducks at Mai Po; 108 Hair-crested Drongos at Shek Kong catchwater – a new high count (the previous highest count was 71, also at Shek Kong catchwater, on 19 Feb 2018).
UPDATE: There is speculation that the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Tai Lam CP from 27 November is, in fact, a Chinese Leaf Warbler. If accepted as the latter species, this will be the fourth Hong Kong record.
Of particular note for birders in southern China was the sighting of nine Siberian Cranes at Jiangmen, Guangdong on 10th. Jiangmen lies 120 km west-northwest of Hong Kong. This is the first record of this species for Guangdong Province although there have been two occurrences in Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, the Japanese Night Heron remained at Pak Tam Chung throughout. A Collared Owlet was heard above the lower section of the red walk in Tai Po Kau on 11th and 14th. A Barred Cuckoo Dove was reported from Sai Kung West CP on 11th. Single Sulphur-breasted Warblers were at Sai Kung and Shing Mun on 12th
There were more reports of Rufous-faced Warblers: three at Sai Kung West CP and one at Lung Fu Shan on 11th, seven at Sai Kung and three at Shing Mun on 12th, and one at Tai Po Kau on 13th with four there on 15th. This brings the total number of birds since 10 November to at least 27 individuals from ten different sites, with reports of multiple sightings (3+ birds at a single site) since 8 December. Such an irruption is unprecedented; there were eleven previous records from 1964 to spring 2019, with no more than three birds in any one year, although records in both the 2017/18 and 2018/19 winters (the first since 2009) were perhaps a harbinger of what was to come .
As usual, Tai Lam CP was well-watched during the week and turned up a number of interesting sightings including a female Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush on 9th & 10th, up to three male Japanese Robins throughout, a female Small Niltava on 10th, a male Thick-billed Green Pigeon on 11th, a Hume’s Leaf Warbler on 11th & 12th (present since 27 November) and 26 Tristram’s Buntings on 11th.
Other sightings of note by date as follows:
9th: a Mandarin Duck at Lam Tsuen.
10th: a Bull-headed Shrike at Ho Man Tin
12th: a Dusky Thrush at Shek Kong catchwater; Eastern Water Rail, Yellow-browed Bunting and Chestnut-eared Bunting at Long Valley; a female White-throated Rock Thrush, a White’s Thrush, an Ashy Minivet, a Radde’s Warbler, and a Verditer Flycatcher at Mt Davis; a Northern Lapwing at Mai Po.
13th: a Eurasian Hoopoe at Kowloon Park.
14th: a Forest Wagtail in Tai Po Kau; a female Falcated Duck and three Eastern Imperial Eagles at Mai Po; a Ferruginous Duck, an Eastern Imperial Eagle, a Greater Spotted Eagle, a Northern Lapwing, a Grey-headed Lapwing, a Whiskered Tern, a Eurasian Wryneck and a Buff-bellied Pipit at San Tin; a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and seven Tristram’s Buntings at Robin’s Nest. This is the latest sighting of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler in Hong Kong so far, the previous late date being 26 November.
15th: a Bull-headed Shrike and a Eurasian Woodcock at Ha Pak Nai; a Forest Wagtail and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Tai Po Kau; 11 Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, a Mallard and two Ferruginous Ducks at Mai Po; 108 Hair-crested Drongos at Shek Kong catchwater – a new high count (the previous highest count was 71, also at Shek Kong catchwater, on 19 Feb 2018).
UPDATE: There is speculation that the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Tai Lam CP from 27 November is, in fact, a Chinese Leaf Warbler. If accepted as the latter species, this will be the fourth Hong Kong record.
December 16-22
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Record shots (much-cropped) of presumed Hartert's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus goodsoni fokiensis at Lau Shui Heung, 21 December 2019
Cloudy and humid with easterly winds for most of the week. Temperatures were mainly in the low twenties although a replenishment of the northeast monsoon on 20th caused the mercury to fall to 16⁰C in the New Territories in the mornings.
The records of note below include a few sightings from San Tin on 15th that were not included in last week’s report:
Greater Scaup: one at San Tin on 15th
Black-necked Grebe: one at San Tin on 15th; presumably the same bird first reported on 19 November
Black Stork: reported from Nam Sang Wai on 16th and Mai Po on 17th; this is presumably the same individual seen at Mai Po from 4 - 6 December
Japanese Night Heron: the bird first reported at Pak Tam Chung on 28 November continued to frequent its favoured barbecue site throughout the week
Japanese Sparrowhawk; one reported from Long Valley on 22nd
Eastern Water Rail: one at Long Valley on 16th & 22nd
Northern Lapwing: four at San Tin on 15th
Eurasian Woodcock: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Collared Owlet: one heard again at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Short-eared Owl: one found injured at Lut Chau on 17th was taken into care
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at San Tin on 15th
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Cheung Chau on 20th
Chinese Grey Shrike: the bird first recorded on 5 November was seen again at Mai Po on 22nd
Black-naped Monarch: one at Bride’s Pool on 18th
Black Bulbul: 20 at Kuk Po on 21st was the largest number reported
Eurasian Skylark: one at San Tin on 15th
Asian House Martin: one at Luk Keng on 21st
Rufous-faced Warbler: three at A Ma Wat on 21st; one at Tai Po Kau on 16th and 21st. The birds at A Ma Wat bring the total number of birds during the present invasion to at least 30
Chinese Leaf Warbler: expert opinion supports the notion that the Phylloscopus warbler present at Tai Lam CP from 27 November was indeed this species; unfortunately it has not been seen since 12 December. If accepted, this will be the fourth Hong Kong record, and the first since 2008
Radde’s Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 19th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th
White-spectacled Warbler: two at Tai Po Kau on 17th; one at Tai Lam CP on 18th; one at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 16th
Hartert’s Leaf Warbler: three goodsoni at A Ma Wat on 21st; one goodsoni and two fokiensis-type warblers at Tai Po Kau on 21st; one fokiensis-type at Lau Shui Heung on 21st
Chestnut-flanked White-eye: two at Tai Po Kau on 16th
White’s Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP on 17th, Cheung Chau on 20th and Shek Kong Airfield Road on 21st
Eyebrowed Thrush: three at Lung Fu Shan on 17th
Pale Thrush: one at Po Toi on 17th; two at Tai Lam CP on 19th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th; one at Po Toi on 17th
Fujian Niltava: one at Pak Sha O on 21st
Small Niltava: a male at Tai Lam CP on 17th; one at Bride’s Pool on 18th; a female at Tai Lam CP on 22nd
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th & 18th; one at Ng Tung Chai on 21st
Japanese Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th with two there on 18th; one at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
White-tailed Robin: one at Ng Tung Chai on 21st
Slaty-backed Forktail: one at Shing Mun on 21st
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 16th, 18th & 22nd
Grey Bush Chat: two at Lai Chi Wo on 16th
Forest Wagtail: the wintering individual again at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Grey-capped Greenfinch: 30 at Kuk Po on 21st
Tristram’s Bunting: highest count was 14 at Tai Lam CP on 17th.
The records of note below include a few sightings from San Tin on 15th that were not included in last week’s report:
Greater Scaup: one at San Tin on 15th
Black-necked Grebe: one at San Tin on 15th; presumably the same bird first reported on 19 November
Black Stork: reported from Nam Sang Wai on 16th and Mai Po on 17th; this is presumably the same individual seen at Mai Po from 4 - 6 December
Japanese Night Heron: the bird first reported at Pak Tam Chung on 28 November continued to frequent its favoured barbecue site throughout the week
Japanese Sparrowhawk; one reported from Long Valley on 22nd
Eastern Water Rail: one at Long Valley on 16th & 22nd
Northern Lapwing: four at San Tin on 15th
Eurasian Woodcock: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Collared Owlet: one heard again at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Short-eared Owl: one found injured at Lut Chau on 17th was taken into care
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at San Tin on 15th
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Cheung Chau on 20th
Chinese Grey Shrike: the bird first recorded on 5 November was seen again at Mai Po on 22nd
Black-naped Monarch: one at Bride’s Pool on 18th
Black Bulbul: 20 at Kuk Po on 21st was the largest number reported
Eurasian Skylark: one at San Tin on 15th
Asian House Martin: one at Luk Keng on 21st
Rufous-faced Warbler: three at A Ma Wat on 21st; one at Tai Po Kau on 16th and 21st. The birds at A Ma Wat bring the total number of birds during the present invasion to at least 30
Chinese Leaf Warbler: expert opinion supports the notion that the Phylloscopus warbler present at Tai Lam CP from 27 November was indeed this species; unfortunately it has not been seen since 12 December. If accepted, this will be the fourth Hong Kong record, and the first since 2008
Radde’s Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 19th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th
White-spectacled Warbler: two at Tai Po Kau on 17th; one at Tai Lam CP on 18th; one at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 16th
Hartert’s Leaf Warbler: three goodsoni at A Ma Wat on 21st; one goodsoni and two fokiensis-type warblers at Tai Po Kau on 21st; one fokiensis-type at Lau Shui Heung on 21st
Chestnut-flanked White-eye: two at Tai Po Kau on 16th
White’s Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP on 17th, Cheung Chau on 20th and Shek Kong Airfield Road on 21st
Eyebrowed Thrush: three at Lung Fu Shan on 17th
Pale Thrush: one at Po Toi on 17th; two at Tai Lam CP on 19th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th; one at Po Toi on 17th
Fujian Niltava: one at Pak Sha O on 21st
Small Niltava: a male at Tai Lam CP on 17th; one at Bride’s Pool on 18th; a female at Tai Lam CP on 22nd
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th & 18th; one at Ng Tung Chai on 21st
Japanese Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 17th with two there on 18th; one at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
White-tailed Robin: one at Ng Tung Chai on 21st
Slaty-backed Forktail: one at Shing Mun on 21st
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 16th, 18th & 22nd
Grey Bush Chat: two at Lai Chi Wo on 16th
Forest Wagtail: the wintering individual again at Tai Po Kau on 22nd
Grey-capped Greenfinch: 30 at Kuk Po on 21st
Tristram’s Bunting: highest count was 14 at Tai Lam CP on 17th.
December 23-31
Fine and dry up to 28th with temperatures up to 25⁰. A surge of the northeast monsoon from 29th brought slightly cooler temperatures, cloud, mist and rain – a grey welcome to the new decade.
The emphasis at the end of the year was on woodland birds with a number of scarce Phylloscopus warblers being recorded as well as a Pale-footed Bush Warbler (11th or 12th record if accepted). The best bird, however, was probably a female Slaty-backed Flycatcher found at Tai Lam CP on 28th and still present on 31st. This will be the 4th or 5th record if accepted.
Falcated Duck: regularly seen at Lok Ma Chau (six on 24th, eight on 27th, ten on 30th)
Japanese Night Heron: the bird seen at Pak Tam Chung from 28 November was last reported on 24th
Japanese Sparrowhawk; one at Long Valley on 29th
Grey Nightjar: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Ng Tung Chai on 31st
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Tan Shan Valley on 27th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Lam Tsuen on 28th
Black Bulbul: 20 at Ng Tung Chai on 25th with 25 there on 31st
Pale-footed Bush Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd
Black-throated Tit: three at Tai Po (Wun Yiu Rd) on 27th
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP 24th – 28th
Rufous-faced Warbler: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th & 26th; one at Tai Po Kau on 27th & 31st; one at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 30th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Cheung Chau and Tai Po Kau on 27th
White-spectacled Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 27th
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: one at Sai Kung West CP on 27th; one at Tai Po Kau on 27th; one at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 29th & 30th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 27th & 31st
Hartert’s Leaf Warbler: a goodsoni at Ng Tung Chai on 25th and Tai Po Kau on 27th; two goodsoni at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 29th with one there on 30th; a fokiensis-type warbler at Shek Kok Tsui, Tuen Mun on 30th
Indochinese Yuhina: 30 at Lamma on 27th; 20 at Sha Lo Tung on 28th
Chestnut-flanked White-eye: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th & 26th
Chestnut-tailed Starling: three at Kowloon Walled City Park on 23rd after two were seen on 22nd
White’s Thrush: one at Ng Tung Chai on 25th
Pale Thrush: two at Tai Lam CP on 24th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th
Small Niltava: one at Tai Lam CP on 24th with two (male & female there) on 25th
Verditer Flycatcher: one Tai Lam CP 23rd – 31st; one at Ng Tung Chai on 25th
Japanese Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd & 25th with two there on 24th
Slaty-backed Flycatcher: a female at Tai Lam CP on 28th & 31st
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: a male at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Red-breasted Flycatcher: one at Shek Kok Tsui, Tuen Mun on 30th
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 24th with two (male & female) there on 28th
Forest Wagtail: the wintering individual remained at Tai Po Kau until at least 27th
Common Rosefinch: ten at Fu Tei Road, Tuen Mun on 30th
Tristram’s Bunting: ones and twos seen regularly at Tai Lam CP; two at Tai Po Kau on 27th
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Long Valley on 29th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one at Long Valley on 27th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Ng Tung Chai on 31st.
The emphasis at the end of the year was on woodland birds with a number of scarce Phylloscopus warblers being recorded as well as a Pale-footed Bush Warbler (11th or 12th record if accepted). The best bird, however, was probably a female Slaty-backed Flycatcher found at Tai Lam CP on 28th and still present on 31st. This will be the 4th or 5th record if accepted.
Falcated Duck: regularly seen at Lok Ma Chau (six on 24th, eight on 27th, ten on 30th)
Japanese Night Heron: the bird seen at Pak Tam Chung from 28 November was last reported on 24th
Japanese Sparrowhawk; one at Long Valley on 29th
Grey Nightjar: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Ng Tung Chai on 31st
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Tan Shan Valley on 27th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Lam Tsuen on 28th
Black Bulbul: 20 at Ng Tung Chai on 25th with 25 there on 31st
Pale-footed Bush Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd
Black-throated Tit: three at Tai Po (Wun Yiu Rd) on 27th
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP 24th – 28th
Rufous-faced Warbler: two at Tai Lam CP on 25th & 26th; one at Tai Po Kau on 27th & 31st; one at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 30th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: singles at Cheung Chau and Tai Po Kau on 27th
White-spectacled Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 27th
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: one at Sai Kung West CP on 27th; one at Tai Po Kau on 27th; one at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 29th & 30th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 27th & 31st
Hartert’s Leaf Warbler: a goodsoni at Ng Tung Chai on 25th and Tai Po Kau on 27th; two goodsoni at Yang Yee Road water catchment (Sai Kung West CP) on 29th with one there on 30th; a fokiensis-type warbler at Shek Kok Tsui, Tuen Mun on 30th
Indochinese Yuhina: 30 at Lamma on 27th; 20 at Sha Lo Tung on 28th
Chestnut-flanked White-eye: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th & 26th
Chestnut-tailed Starling: three at Kowloon Walled City Park on 23rd after two were seen on 22nd
White’s Thrush: one at Ng Tung Chai on 25th
Pale Thrush: two at Tai Lam CP on 24th
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 25th
Small Niltava: one at Tai Lam CP on 24th with two (male & female there) on 25th
Verditer Flycatcher: one Tai Lam CP 23rd – 31st; one at Ng Tung Chai on 25th
Japanese Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd & 25th with two there on 24th
Slaty-backed Flycatcher: a female at Tai Lam CP on 28th & 31st
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: a male at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Red-breasted Flycatcher: one at Shek Kok Tsui, Tuen Mun on 30th
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 24th with two (male & female) there on 28th
Forest Wagtail: the wintering individual remained at Tai Po Kau until at least 27th
Common Rosefinch: ten at Fu Tei Road, Tuen Mun on 30th
Tristram’s Bunting: ones and twos seen regularly at Tai Lam CP; two at Tai Po Kau on 27th
Yellow-browed Bunting: one at Long Valley on 29th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one at Long Valley on 27th
Chestnut Bunting: one at Ng Tung Chai on 31st.
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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
All images & text © David Diskin unless otherwise stated
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