LATEST SIGHTINGS - FEBRUARY 2020
February 1-9
February 1-9
1st-winter male Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping, Lantau, 6 February 2020
Temperatures ranged from 13 - 21⁰C, falling and rising with the ebb and flow of the winter monsoon; mainly grey and cloudy with rain patches; winds easterly to north-easterly.
Bird of the period was a 1st-winter male Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping. This bird had first been seen on 1 January but, for some reason, its presence was not made known until 5 February, after which it was well-watched from 6th – 9th. There is one previous record of this species in Hong Kong – at Pok Fu Lam CP on 25 May 1997. This bird was judged to be ex-captive and was placed in Category E (current Category III). The Ngong Ping bird was therefore a potential first for Hong Kong. However, although very attractive and very interesting to watch, missing feathers on the left wing suggest that this individual will also be judged as an escaped/released bird.
Bird of the period was a 1st-winter male Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping. This bird had first been seen on 1 January but, for some reason, its presence was not made known until 5 February, after which it was well-watched from 6th – 9th. There is one previous record of this species in Hong Kong – at Pok Fu Lam CP on 25 May 1997. This bird was judged to be ex-captive and was placed in Category E (current Category III). The Ngong Ping bird was therefore a potential first for Hong Kong. However, although very attractive and very interesting to watch, missing feathers on the left wing suggest that this individual will also be judged as an escaped/released bird.
1st-winter male Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping, Lantau, 6 February 2020
One more highly feasible candidate for a Hong Kong first is Kloss’s Leaf Warbler and at least three birds were discovered in early February. One was identified at Pak Sha O on 1st and seen again on 2nd. Another was present at Lau Shui Heung from 3rd to 9th and it is possible that more than one bird was present at this site. A third bird was reported from Tai Po Kau on 9th.
Poor record shots (much-cropped) of Kloss's Leaf Warbler at Lau Shui Heung, 4 February 2020
Click on the images to enlarge them
Click on the images to enlarge them
These and other records of note as follows:
Gadwall: one from Mai Po boardwalk on 1st & 9th
Mallard: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 9th
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Pak Nai on 2nd
Pallas’s Gull: up to three from Mai Po boardwalk during the period under review
Black-tailed Gull: three from Mai Po boardwalk on 3rd
Slaty-backed Gull: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 9th
Gull-billed Tern: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 3rd
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 2nd
Chinese Grey Shrike: the wintering bird was still present at Mai Po on 1st
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one reported from Shing Mun on 9th will be the first winter record if accepted; extreme dates for this passage migrant are 28 March - 31 May and 20 August - 18 November
Rufous-faced Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 2nd; a record count of eight at Tai Po Kau on 9th
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP was reported again on 1st
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 9th
Common Chiffchaff: one on Lamma on 9th is the 15th Hong Kong record
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd & 9th; one at Ho Pui reservoir on 6th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one along the Mai Po boardwalk on 1st
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd & 9th
Kloss’s Leaf Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 1st & 2nd; one (possibly two) at Lau Shui Heung from 3rd – 9th; one at Tai Po Kau on 9th. These are potentially the 1st to 3rd records for Hong Kong
Indochinese Yuhina: 50 at Ngong Ping on 9th
White’s Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 1st & 4th; two at Tai Tong on 1st; one at Ngong Ping on 7th & 9th; one at Shek Pik reservoir on 9th
Pale Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP on 1st, Tai Tong on 6th, and Ngong Ping, Cheung Chau and Mui Wo on 9th
Dusky Thrush: one at Tai Tong on 1st
Fujian Niltava: singles at Pak Sha O on 2nd and Lau Shui Heung on 3rd
Small Niltava: singles at Tai Lam CP on 1st (female), 3rd (male) & 6th (female), and Shing Mun on 4th (female) & 6th (female)
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 1st, 3rd & 6th
Blue-fronted Redstart: a 1st-winter male at Ngong Ping from 6th – 9th had seemingly been present since 1 January; most likely an ex-captive bird
Mugimaki Flycatcher: one near Pak Sha O on 4th
Mrs Gould’s Sunbird: still present at Tai Po Kau with three birds (an adult male, an immature male and a female) seen on 9th
Russet Sparrow: one at Long Valley on 9th
Common Rosefinch: one at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 1st
Black-headed Bunting: one at Long Valley on 9th.
Gadwall: one from Mai Po boardwalk on 1st & 9th
Mallard: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 9th
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Pak Nai on 2nd
Pallas’s Gull: up to three from Mai Po boardwalk during the period under review
Black-tailed Gull: three from Mai Po boardwalk on 3rd
Slaty-backed Gull: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 9th
Gull-billed Tern: two from Mai Po boardwalk on 3rd
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 2nd
Chinese Grey Shrike: the wintering bird was still present at Mai Po on 1st
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one reported from Shing Mun on 9th will be the first winter record if accepted; extreme dates for this passage migrant are 28 March - 31 May and 20 August - 18 November
Rufous-faced Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 2nd; a record count of eight at Tai Po Kau on 9th
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP was reported again on 1st
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 9th
Common Chiffchaff: one on Lamma on 9th is the 15th Hong Kong record
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd & 9th; one at Ho Pui reservoir on 6th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one along the Mai Po boardwalk on 1st
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd & 9th
Kloss’s Leaf Warbler: one at Pak Sha O on 1st & 2nd; one (possibly two) at Lau Shui Heung from 3rd – 9th; one at Tai Po Kau on 9th. These are potentially the 1st to 3rd records for Hong Kong
Indochinese Yuhina: 50 at Ngong Ping on 9th
White’s Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 1st & 4th; two at Tai Tong on 1st; one at Ngong Ping on 7th & 9th; one at Shek Pik reservoir on 9th
Pale Thrush: singles at Tai Lam CP on 1st, Tai Tong on 6th, and Ngong Ping, Cheung Chau and Mui Wo on 9th
Dusky Thrush: one at Tai Tong on 1st
Fujian Niltava: singles at Pak Sha O on 2nd and Lau Shui Heung on 3rd
Small Niltava: singles at Tai Lam CP on 1st (female), 3rd (male) & 6th (female), and Shing Mun on 4th (female) & 6th (female)
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 1st, 3rd & 6th
Blue-fronted Redstart: a 1st-winter male at Ngong Ping from 6th – 9th had seemingly been present since 1 January; most likely an ex-captive bird
Mugimaki Flycatcher: one near Pak Sha O on 4th
Mrs Gould’s Sunbird: still present at Tai Po Kau with three birds (an adult male, an immature male and a female) seen on 9th
Russet Sparrow: one at Long Valley on 9th
Common Rosefinch: one at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 1st
Black-headed Bunting: one at Long Valley on 9th.
Female Small Niltava at Tai Lam CP, 6 February 2020
February 10-16
Falcated Ducks at Mai Po, 12 February 2020
Changeable weather. Cloudy on 10th & 11th becoming sunny on the afternoon of 12th when the temperature at Mai Po rose to a very warm 24⁰C. Winds changed from east to southeast from 13th - 15th; the maritime airstream brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to the territory and an amber rainstorm warning was issued on 13th. A cold front associated with a resurgence of the northeast monsoon affected the territory overnight on 15th, causing the early morning temperature on 16th to fall to 12⁰C.
The Kloss’s Leaf Warbler and the male Fujian Niltava remained at Lau Shui Heung at least until 16th. Other birds recorded at this site included Eurasian Woodcock on 10th, an Eastern Crowned Warbler and three Rufous-faced Warblers on 12th, and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler on 16th.
The tides at Mai Po were workable during the period; sightings from the boardwalk included a Gadwall, an adult Vega Gull (vegae), a 1st-winter Mew (Kamchatka) Gull, and a subadult Pallas’s Gull on 10th. The Vega Gull and Pallas’s Gull were still present on 12th when a female Greater Scaup was also noted and a Curlew Sandpiper, a Broad-billed Sandpiper and a Far Eastern Curlew were seen among the regular wintering shorebirds on the mudflats. On the main reserve on 12th, two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, a pair of Falcated Ducks and a Buff-bellied Pipit were recorded. A good high tide on the 15th turned up the female Greater Scaup, a hybrid male American x Eurasian Wigeon, four Pallas’s Gulls, two nominate Vega Gulls, the 1st-winter Mew (Kamchatka) Gull, an adult Black-tailed Gull and a 1st-winter Slaty-backed Gull.
A Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Russet Sparrow and a Black-headed Bunting were at Long Valley on 10th. The Black-headed Bunting remained until at least 12th when a Radde’s Warbler was also recorded at nearby Ho Sheung Heung.
Other odds and sods were: a Pale Thrush and a White’s Thrush at Tai Tong, and a Verditer Flycatcher at Wonderland Villas on 10th; an Eastern Water Rail at Mui Wo, two White-spectacled Warblers, a Rufous-faced Warbler, a male Hill Blue Flycatcher and five Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds at Tai Po Kau, and a White’s Thrush at Tai Tong on 11th; the Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping and a Black-throated Tit at Tai Po Kau on 12th; a Rufous-faced Warbler at Shan Liu near Tai Mei Tuk and an Eyebrowed Thrush in Yuen Long Park on 14th; two Bonelli's Eagles and a Eurasian Woodock at Pui O on 15th; seven Falcated Ducks and the wintering Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Lok Ma Chau, a Verditer Flycatcher at Kowloon Hills catchwater, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler at Tai Po Kau, and single Bonelli’s Eagles at Pui O, Tai Tong and Mong Tseng on 16th.
The Kloss’s Leaf Warbler and the male Fujian Niltava remained at Lau Shui Heung at least until 16th. Other birds recorded at this site included Eurasian Woodcock on 10th, an Eastern Crowned Warbler and three Rufous-faced Warblers on 12th, and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler on 16th.
The tides at Mai Po were workable during the period; sightings from the boardwalk included a Gadwall, an adult Vega Gull (vegae), a 1st-winter Mew (Kamchatka) Gull, and a subadult Pallas’s Gull on 10th. The Vega Gull and Pallas’s Gull were still present on 12th when a female Greater Scaup was also noted and a Curlew Sandpiper, a Broad-billed Sandpiper and a Far Eastern Curlew were seen among the regular wintering shorebirds on the mudflats. On the main reserve on 12th, two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, a pair of Falcated Ducks and a Buff-bellied Pipit were recorded. A good high tide on the 15th turned up the female Greater Scaup, a hybrid male American x Eurasian Wigeon, four Pallas’s Gulls, two nominate Vega Gulls, the 1st-winter Mew (Kamchatka) Gull, an adult Black-tailed Gull and a 1st-winter Slaty-backed Gull.
A Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Russet Sparrow and a Black-headed Bunting were at Long Valley on 10th. The Black-headed Bunting remained until at least 12th when a Radde’s Warbler was also recorded at nearby Ho Sheung Heung.
Other odds and sods were: a Pale Thrush and a White’s Thrush at Tai Tong, and a Verditer Flycatcher at Wonderland Villas on 10th; an Eastern Water Rail at Mui Wo, two White-spectacled Warblers, a Rufous-faced Warbler, a male Hill Blue Flycatcher and five Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds at Tai Po Kau, and a White’s Thrush at Tai Tong on 11th; the Blue-fronted Redstart at Ngong Ping and a Black-throated Tit at Tai Po Kau on 12th; a Rufous-faced Warbler at Shan Liu near Tai Mei Tuk and an Eyebrowed Thrush in Yuen Long Park on 14th; two Bonelli's Eagles and a Eurasian Woodock at Pui O on 15th; seven Falcated Ducks and the wintering Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Lok Ma Chau, a Verditer Flycatcher at Kowloon Hills catchwater, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler at Tai Po Kau, and single Bonelli’s Eagles at Pui O, Tai Tong and Mong Tseng on 16th.
1st-winter Mew (Kamchatka) Gull at Mai Po, 15 February 2020
February 17-23
Red-headed Bunting at Long Valley, 22 February 2020
Mrs Gould's Sunbird at Tai Po Kau, 18 February 2020
February 17th saw Hong Kong under the influence of an intense northeast monsoon, with temperatures falling to below 8⁰C in the northern New Territories. It was mainly fine and dry during the week with cool mornings and warm, sunny afternoons; temperatures rose day by day with the northwest New Territories experiencing a high of 27⁰C on 22nd & 23rd.
Highlight of the week was a Grey-crowned Warbler photographed at Shui Long Wo campsite near Ma On Shan on 17th. Unfortunately, there were no further sightings. Other records of rarities involved a Collared Owlet calling at Tai Po Kau, the Chinese Grey Shrike still at Mai Po, more records of Rufous-faced Warblers from at least two sites, a Bianchi’s Warbler at Tai Po Kau, Kloss’s Leaf Warblers still at Lau Shui Heung and Tai Po Kau, the male Hill Blue Flycatcher continuing at Tai Po Kau, up to seven Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds frequenting the Coral Trees Erythina sp. at Tai Po Kau, and a female Red-headed Bunting and an unseasonal Rustic Bunting at Long Valley.
Details of these and other records of note as follows:
Eurasian Bittern: one at Mai Po on 18th
Eastern Water Rail: one at Long Valley on 20th
Black-winged Kite: one at Long Valley on 19th
Collared Owlet: one heard above the red walk at Tai Po Kau from 19th – 23rd
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Pui O on 18th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Mai Po on 21st
Bull-headed Shrike: one at Mai Po on 18th
Chinese Grey Shrike: the wintering bird was still present at Mai Po on 22nd
Black-naped Monarch: one at Kowloon Park on 17th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at Shing Mun on 21st
Rufous-faced Warbler: two at Tai Po Kau on 17th with three there on 19th; one at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 17th with three there on 18th and two on 22nd
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 22nd
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 23rd
Radde’s Warbler: one at Ho Sheung Heung on 22nd
White-spectacled Warbler: two at Tai Po Kau from 17th – 23rd
Grey-crowned Warbler: one at Shui Long Wo campsite near Ma On Shan on 17th; the third Hong Kong record if accepted
Bianchi’s Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 17th & 23rd
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: the wintering bird again at Lau Shui Heung on 17th & 22nd
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau from 17th – 23rd; one at Lau Shui Heung on 17th & 22nd
Kloss’s Leaf Warbler: at least two, probably three, at Lau Shui Heung during the period under review; one at Tai Po Kau from 20th – 23rd
White’s Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP and three at Tai Tong on 18th
Eyebrowed Thrush: one at Yuen Long Park on 22nd
Hill Blue Flycatcher: a male at Tai Po Kau throughout the week had been present since at least 11 February
Small Niltava: a male at Lau Shui Heung on 22nd
Japanese Robin: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP on 17th
White-tailed Robin: one west of Sha Lo Wan, Lantau on 23rd
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP on 17th
Mrs Gould’s Sunbird: present at Tai Po Kau throughout with a record count of seven on 18th
Forest Wagtail: one at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 22nd
Rustic Bunting: one at Long Valley from 20th – 22nd; this is the first February record of this species in Hong Kong
Red-headed Bunting: a female at Long Valley on 20th – 22nd; the ninth Hong Kong record if accepted.
February 24-29
1st-winter Eyebrowed Thrush at Yuen Long Park, 24 February 2020
The end of February was very mild, with summer-like conditions on 26th when temperature reached 28⁰C. Cloudier, more humid and slightly cooler in the following days.
Rarity of the week was a Common Shelduck seen in flight at Mai Po on the early morning of 26th. This duck used to be a common winter visitor to the Deep Bay mudflats with a high count of 4011 on 17 Jan 1988. Four-digit peak counts continued up to 2000 (1,320 in the January waterfowl count) after which there was a steep decline to 68 in 2005. Only three were recorded in 2011, with seven in 2012 and the final record of a single bird in March 2013. This is the first sighting of this species in Hong Kong since then. A paper in the January 2020 issue of British Birds about the Wash estuary in eastern England notes that there has been a long-term decline in the number of Common Shelducks wintering on the estuary and suggests that one of the reasons for this may be “linked to … improved water quality leading to reductions in benthic invertebrate densities.” Similarly, it seems likely that the dramatic decline in Hong Kong is connected to a change in the food supply in Deep Bay – a result of a concerted cross-border government effort at the start of the new century to improve the water quality in the bay after it had become seriously polluted by sewage and livestock waste during the 1980s and 90s.
Rarity of the week was a Common Shelduck seen in flight at Mai Po on the early morning of 26th. This duck used to be a common winter visitor to the Deep Bay mudflats with a high count of 4011 on 17 Jan 1988. Four-digit peak counts continued up to 2000 (1,320 in the January waterfowl count) after which there was a steep decline to 68 in 2005. Only three were recorded in 2011, with seven in 2012 and the final record of a single bird in March 2013. This is the first sighting of this species in Hong Kong since then. A paper in the January 2020 issue of British Birds about the Wash estuary in eastern England notes that there has been a long-term decline in the number of Common Shelducks wintering on the estuary and suggests that one of the reasons for this may be “linked to … improved water quality leading to reductions in benthic invertebrate densities.” Similarly, it seems likely that the dramatic decline in Hong Kong is connected to a change in the food supply in Deep Bay – a result of a concerted cross-border government effort at the start of the new century to improve the water quality in the bay after it had become seriously polluted by sewage and livestock waste during the 1980s and 90s.
Common Shelducks at Mai Po, 2 March 2012 (Birding Hong Kong archive). These seven birds were present from 26 January to 17 March 2012. The only bird in the 2012/13 winter was one in the Mai Po area from 9 to 18 February, and again on 1 & 2 March, after which there were no further records until the recent sighting on 26 February 2020.
Other sightings from Mai Po included the wintering Chinese Grey Shrike and a Eurasian Wryneck on 26th, and four Falcated Ducks, 14 Chinese Spot-billed Ducks and a drake Mallard on 27th.
The wintering Eyebrowed Thrush remained in Yuen Long Park at least until 26th.
On 25th, Tai Po Kau held single White-spectacled, Bianchi’s and Chestnut-crowned Warblers, as well as two Rufous-faced Warblers. Up to at least three Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds were present on the coral trees in the Outdoor Study Centre till the end of the month. A Kloss’s Leaf Warbler was seen on 28th.
The presumed ex-captive Blue-fronted Redstart was still at Ngong Ping on 26th. Also on 26th, a good count of six Chinese Grassbirds and five Blue Rock Thrushes was made at Sunset Peak.
Two Rufous-faced Warblers were at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 27th.
The first Large Hawk Cuckoo of the spring was heard at Yuen Long on 28th.
On 29th, Lau Shui Heung held the wintering Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler and two Kloss’s Leaf Warblers.
The wintering Eyebrowed Thrush remained in Yuen Long Park at least until 26th.
On 25th, Tai Po Kau held single White-spectacled, Bianchi’s and Chestnut-crowned Warblers, as well as two Rufous-faced Warblers. Up to at least three Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds were present on the coral trees in the Outdoor Study Centre till the end of the month. A Kloss’s Leaf Warbler was seen on 28th.
The presumed ex-captive Blue-fronted Redstart was still at Ngong Ping on 26th. Also on 26th, a good count of six Chinese Grassbirds and five Blue Rock Thrushes was made at Sunset Peak.
Two Rufous-faced Warblers were at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 27th.
The first Large Hawk Cuckoo of the spring was heard at Yuen Long on 28th.
On 29th, Lau Shui Heung held the wintering Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler and two Kloss’s Leaf Warblers.
Red-flanked Bluetail at Yuen Long Park, 24 February 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=28249&extra=page%3D1
All images & text © David Diskin unless otherwise stated
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