Swinhoe's Egret at Mai Po in April
GUIDED BIRDING TOURS IN HONG KONG
I am no longer available to lead guided birding tours in Hong Kong. For those looking for a bird guide in the future - once Hong Kong becomes more accessible to foreign visitors again - I recommend you contact Walk Hong Kong. Their website is https://www.walkhongkong.com . They can be contacted at [email protected] .
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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (15 June 2022)
It is still difficult for foreigners to come to Hong Kong as the number of inbound flights is limited and anyone entering has to spend seven days in a quarantine hotel. Coronavirus cases are running at about 700 a day. Hopefully, this situation will change before the autumn but there is no guarantee that this will be the case.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (25 March 2022)
Hong Kong's pursuit of zero-Covid failed once the very contagious Omicron variant entered the city in January this year. Since then the number of infected people has skyrocketed to 1.08 million (this is the official number; the true figure is more likely to be at least half of the 7.4 million population) and the number of deaths stands at 6,557, which is one of the highest death-rates in the world per head of population. Most of the deceased are unvaccinated elderly citizens. As elsewhere in the world, the vast majority of the infected who are vaccinated experience mild symptoms and recover within a week. Hong Kong's approach to dealing with the epidemic has been incoherent and inconsistent. Whereas most of the world is now opening up and learning to live with Covid, only local residents are allowed to enter the city. There are plans to gradually open up after April but it is unlikely that foreign travellers will be permitted to visit until at least the autumn.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (30 June 2021)
... and on. The UK has been placed in the Extremely High Risk category by the HK Government. Flights from the UK have been suspended. From 1st July no direct passenger flights from Britain will be allowed to land in Hong Kong.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (27 June 2021)
And so it goes on ... and on ... . Hong Kong is now at 11,911 cases of Covid 19 with 211 related deaths - a small figure in comparison to many places. Quarantine is still in force. In fact, they recently reduced the length of quarantine for visitors from the UK from three weeks to two weeks, and then to one week. But then they did an about-turn in light of the increase in cases involving the Delta variant in the UK, so it is now back up to three weeks. Travellers from other countries need to quarantine for two or three weeks. Details can be found at the following site: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html#quarantinemeasures2 .
Which means that we are still a good way off a return to anything approaching normality in terms of tourists being able to visit Hong Kong again.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (31 July 2020)
I’m afraid I spoke to soon. As of today, Hong Kong has 3,151 confirmed cases of Covid 19 infection with 24 related deaths. There have now been over 100 new cases per day for ten days in succession (peak of 149 on 30 July).
This sudden surge of the infection seems to be mainly the result of inadequate quarantine arrangements. There were too many exemptions; seamen and aircrew, for example, were allowed to enter Hong Kong and move freely about the city.
It may be later than the autumn before normality returns to Hong Kong!
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (9 June 2020)
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong is off-limits to foreign visitors until at least 18 September 2020. Only local residents are allowed to enter the territory and they have to remain in self-isolation for 14 days after their arrival. Which means, at present, I am only able to lead birding tours for people living in Hong Kong. But as 99% of my business comes from foreign birders visiting or passing through Hong Kong, I am, effectively, currently out of work – and have been so since February 2020.
In many respects, I am lucky. My personal circumstances mean I manage to get by, unlike many people world-wide who depend on the tourist-industry to make a living. (And I am particularly mindful of the devastating effect this pandemic is having on the wildlife reserves in so many Third World countries which are dependent on tourism for their survival.)
I am also, perhaps, fortunate to be in Hong Kong. As of 9 June 2020, out of a population of 7.4 million there have been 1,106 confirmed cases of Corvid 19 infection with four related deaths – a very low level of mortality compared with so many other places in the world. Although there has been a partial lockdown (which is now easing) – schools closed, many people working from home etc. etc. – at no time have people been ordered to stay at home and there has been no restriction of movement locally. As a result, bird watching at a local level has not been curtailed. See the section on “Latest Sightings 2020” on this website for an indication of how productive Hong Kong has been from an ornithological perspective during the last few months.
Hopefully, in the late autumn things will return to something approaching normal and foreign birders will once again be able to visit or transit through Hong Kong and experience some of the ornithological highlights of the territory.
Some comments from clients:
The three hours of birding with you in Hongkong will be a memorable adventure forever! Thanks for your effort to make a bird dream come true for me! (Siberian Crane!!) I will recommend you to Austrian birders...
Ernst Albegger, Austria
Many thanks for a wonderful birding day.
David Mindell, USA
We are back home. Our day with you was the highlight of our Hong Kong holiday!
Duncan & Karen Wallace, New Zealand.
Thanks so much for a great day.
Jane and Richard Palmer, UK
Thank you again for a very interesting day, opening our eyes to so much more life around us. I would be pleased to recommend your tour and we hope to be able to join you bird-watching in another season.
Jennifer Hayers, Hong Kong
Many thanks for a wonderful day. Both Erik and I are very impressed about your knowledge and the range of birds seen today.
Johan Gralén, Sweden
Many thanks for the list. Thank you again for a great days birding. We really enjoyed it.
Celia and John Saw, Australia
Thanks for the list: it perfectly matched by records in my notebook. I was very impressed by your sharp hearing and vision, detecting many birds that I would have missed. I noted 9 lifers and several birds for which I could make a first photo. Or, as in the case of rufous-tailed Robin, a first good view. Thanks for the great day.
Rients Niks, Holland
Many thanks! The birding was great and as I said, I enjoyed every minute of it!
Stephen Wratten, New Zealand
I am no longer available to lead guided birding tours in Hong Kong. For those looking for a bird guide in the future - once Hong Kong becomes more accessible to foreign visitors again - I recommend you contact Walk Hong Kong. Their website is https://www.walkhongkong.com . They can be contacted at [email protected] .
******************************
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (15 June 2022)
It is still difficult for foreigners to come to Hong Kong as the number of inbound flights is limited and anyone entering has to spend seven days in a quarantine hotel. Coronavirus cases are running at about 700 a day. Hopefully, this situation will change before the autumn but there is no guarantee that this will be the case.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (25 March 2022)
Hong Kong's pursuit of zero-Covid failed once the very contagious Omicron variant entered the city in January this year. Since then the number of infected people has skyrocketed to 1.08 million (this is the official number; the true figure is more likely to be at least half of the 7.4 million population) and the number of deaths stands at 6,557, which is one of the highest death-rates in the world per head of population. Most of the deceased are unvaccinated elderly citizens. As elsewhere in the world, the vast majority of the infected who are vaccinated experience mild symptoms and recover within a week. Hong Kong's approach to dealing with the epidemic has been incoherent and inconsistent. Whereas most of the world is now opening up and learning to live with Covid, only local residents are allowed to enter the city. There are plans to gradually open up after April but it is unlikely that foreign travellers will be permitted to visit until at least the autumn.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (30 June 2021)
... and on. The UK has been placed in the Extremely High Risk category by the HK Government. Flights from the UK have been suspended. From 1st July no direct passenger flights from Britain will be allowed to land in Hong Kong.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (27 June 2021)
And so it goes on ... and on ... . Hong Kong is now at 11,911 cases of Covid 19 with 211 related deaths - a small figure in comparison to many places. Quarantine is still in force. In fact, they recently reduced the length of quarantine for visitors from the UK from three weeks to two weeks, and then to one week. But then they did an about-turn in light of the increase in cases involving the Delta variant in the UK, so it is now back up to three weeks. Travellers from other countries need to quarantine for two or three weeks. Details can be found at the following site: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html#quarantinemeasures2 .
Which means that we are still a good way off a return to anything approaching normality in terms of tourists being able to visit Hong Kong again.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (31 July 2020)
I’m afraid I spoke to soon. As of today, Hong Kong has 3,151 confirmed cases of Covid 19 infection with 24 related deaths. There have now been over 100 new cases per day for ten days in succession (peak of 149 on 30 July).
This sudden surge of the infection seems to be mainly the result of inadequate quarantine arrangements. There were too many exemptions; seamen and aircrew, for example, were allowed to enter Hong Kong and move freely about the city.
It may be later than the autumn before normality returns to Hong Kong!
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (9 June 2020)
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong is off-limits to foreign visitors until at least 18 September 2020. Only local residents are allowed to enter the territory and they have to remain in self-isolation for 14 days after their arrival. Which means, at present, I am only able to lead birding tours for people living in Hong Kong. But as 99% of my business comes from foreign birders visiting or passing through Hong Kong, I am, effectively, currently out of work – and have been so since February 2020.
In many respects, I am lucky. My personal circumstances mean I manage to get by, unlike many people world-wide who depend on the tourist-industry to make a living. (And I am particularly mindful of the devastating effect this pandemic is having on the wildlife reserves in so many Third World countries which are dependent on tourism for their survival.)
I am also, perhaps, fortunate to be in Hong Kong. As of 9 June 2020, out of a population of 7.4 million there have been 1,106 confirmed cases of Corvid 19 infection with four related deaths – a very low level of mortality compared with so many other places in the world. Although there has been a partial lockdown (which is now easing) – schools closed, many people working from home etc. etc. – at no time have people been ordered to stay at home and there has been no restriction of movement locally. As a result, bird watching at a local level has not been curtailed. See the section on “Latest Sightings 2020” on this website for an indication of how productive Hong Kong has been from an ornithological perspective during the last few months.
Hopefully, in the late autumn things will return to something approaching normal and foreign birders will once again be able to visit or transit through Hong Kong and experience some of the ornithological highlights of the territory.
Some comments from clients:
The three hours of birding with you in Hongkong will be a memorable adventure forever! Thanks for your effort to make a bird dream come true for me! (Siberian Crane!!) I will recommend you to Austrian birders...
Ernst Albegger, Austria
Many thanks for a wonderful birding day.
David Mindell, USA
We are back home. Our day with you was the highlight of our Hong Kong holiday!
Duncan & Karen Wallace, New Zealand.
Thanks so much for a great day.
Jane and Richard Palmer, UK
Thank you again for a very interesting day, opening our eyes to so much more life around us. I would be pleased to recommend your tour and we hope to be able to join you bird-watching in another season.
Jennifer Hayers, Hong Kong
Many thanks for a wonderful day. Both Erik and I are very impressed about your knowledge and the range of birds seen today.
Johan Gralén, Sweden
Many thanks for the list. Thank you again for a great days birding. We really enjoyed it.
Celia and John Saw, Australia
Thanks for the list: it perfectly matched by records in my notebook. I was very impressed by your sharp hearing and vision, detecting many birds that I would have missed. I noted 9 lifers and several birds for which I could make a first photo. Or, as in the case of rufous-tailed Robin, a first good view. Thanks for the great day.
Rients Niks, Holland
Many thanks! The birding was great and as I said, I enjoyed every minute of it!
Stephen Wratten, New Zealand
