LATEST SIGHTINGS - JANUARY 2020
January 1-5
January 1-5
Male Crested Bunting at Long Valley, 5 January 2020
A generally mild start to the new year with easterly winds and temperatures up to 23⁰C during the day.
Tai Po Kau proved productive during the period with up to two White-spectacled Warblers regularly reported, and also two Rufous-faced Warblers on 1st, a Sulphur-breasted Warbler and a Hume’s Leaf Warbler on 3rd, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler on 4th and a male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird on 5th.
On 1st, Tai Lam CP held a Hume’s Leaf Warbler, two Japanese Robins (male & female), a female Slaty-backed Flycatcher and a Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher. The Slaty-backed Flycatcher was again observed on 5th along with a Chestnut-flanked White-eye.
The wintering Chinese Grey Shrike was again seen at Mai Po on 2nd & 3rd. Three Asian House Martins were along the Mai Po access road on 2nd and seven Northern Lapwings were on the scrape on 3rd.
Long Valley was also rewarding, producing a Himalayan Swiftlet, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Citrine Wagtail, a male Crested Bunting, a female Black-headed or Red-headed Bunting (probably the latter), a Chestnut Bunting and a Chestnut-eared Bunting on 3rd. The Crested Bunting was still present on 5th and proved popular with photographers as it is the first record since December 2016. Unfortunately, the putative Red-headed Bunting did not linger; it will be the ninth record if accepted.
There were reports of single male Hill Blue Flycatchers at Wong Tai Sin on 1st and Lamma on 4th. The former bird, however, showed signs of cage damage to its tail.
Tai Po Kau proved productive during the period with up to two White-spectacled Warblers regularly reported, and also two Rufous-faced Warblers on 1st, a Sulphur-breasted Warbler and a Hume’s Leaf Warbler on 3rd, a Chestnut-crowned Warbler on 4th and a male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird on 5th.
On 1st, Tai Lam CP held a Hume’s Leaf Warbler, two Japanese Robins (male & female), a female Slaty-backed Flycatcher and a Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher. The Slaty-backed Flycatcher was again observed on 5th along with a Chestnut-flanked White-eye.
The wintering Chinese Grey Shrike was again seen at Mai Po on 2nd & 3rd. Three Asian House Martins were along the Mai Po access road on 2nd and seven Northern Lapwings were on the scrape on 3rd.
Long Valley was also rewarding, producing a Himalayan Swiftlet, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Citrine Wagtail, a male Crested Bunting, a female Black-headed or Red-headed Bunting (probably the latter), a Chestnut Bunting and a Chestnut-eared Bunting on 3rd. The Crested Bunting was still present on 5th and proved popular with photographers as it is the first record since December 2016. Unfortunately, the putative Red-headed Bunting did not linger; it will be the ninth record if accepted.
There were reports of single male Hill Blue Flycatchers at Wong Tai Sin on 1st and Lamma on 4th. The former bird, however, showed signs of cage damage to its tail.
January 6-12
A week again dominated by easterly winds that continued to bring generally mild weather to the territory, with temperatures ranging from 18-25⁰C apart from on 12th when a burst of the northeast monsoon caused the temperature in the New Territories to drop to 14⁰C in the early morning.
The Chinese Grey Shrike remained at Mai Po until at least 11th. In addition at Mai Po, two Eurasian Spoonbills, a Eurasian Wryneck, and three Chinese Grosbeaks were noted on 6th, three Buff-bellied Pipits and four Grey-capped Greenfinches were present on 7th, a Pallas’s Gull and a Black-tailed Gull were seen on 10th, a Greater Spotted Eagle and two Eastern Marsh Harriers were present on 11th, and a Eurasian Bittern was noted on 12th. Eastern Imperial Eagles were also regularly noted with a peak count of three on 11th.
Rufous-faced Warbler numbers at Tai Po Kau peaked at four on 9th. Two White-spectacled Warblers (both grey-crowned and green-crowned forms) were present at the same site throughout the week; other sightings included Eastern Crowned Warbler and 30 Indochinese Yuhinas on 7th, Chestnut-crowned Warbler and Forest Wagtail on 9th and 12th, and a male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird on 12th.
At Tai Lam CP, 13 Tristram’s Buntings were counted on 8th and a Verditer Flycatcher and a Japanese Robin were present on 9th.
Pui O held two Buff-bellied Pipits on 8th.
On 10th, Lam Tsuen turned up a Eurasian Wryneck, five Russet Bush Warblers and 13 Little Buntings. On the same date, the ex-captive Hill Blue Flycatcher was still at Morse Park, Wong Tai Sin.
Birds at Hok Tau on 11th included two Bonelli’s Eagles, 43 Indochinese Yuhinas and 12 Tristram’s Buntings.
Thirteen Grey-headed Lapwings were at Kam Tin River on 11th.
A week again dominated by easterly winds that continued to bring generally mild weather to the territory, with temperatures ranging from 18-25⁰C apart from on 12th when a burst of the northeast monsoon caused the temperature in the New Territories to drop to 14⁰C in the early morning.
The Chinese Grey Shrike remained at Mai Po until at least 11th. In addition at Mai Po, two Eurasian Spoonbills, a Eurasian Wryneck, and three Chinese Grosbeaks were noted on 6th, three Buff-bellied Pipits and four Grey-capped Greenfinches were present on 7th, a Pallas’s Gull and a Black-tailed Gull were seen on 10th, a Greater Spotted Eagle and two Eastern Marsh Harriers were present on 11th, and a Eurasian Bittern was noted on 12th. Eastern Imperial Eagles were also regularly noted with a peak count of three on 11th.
Rufous-faced Warbler numbers at Tai Po Kau peaked at four on 9th. Two White-spectacled Warblers (both grey-crowned and green-crowned forms) were present at the same site throughout the week; other sightings included Eastern Crowned Warbler and 30 Indochinese Yuhinas on 7th, Chestnut-crowned Warbler and Forest Wagtail on 9th and 12th, and a male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird on 12th.
At Tai Lam CP, 13 Tristram’s Buntings were counted on 8th and a Verditer Flycatcher and a Japanese Robin were present on 9th.
Pui O held two Buff-bellied Pipits on 8th.
On 10th, Lam Tsuen turned up a Eurasian Wryneck, five Russet Bush Warblers and 13 Little Buntings. On the same date, the ex-captive Hill Blue Flycatcher was still at Morse Park, Wong Tai Sin.
Birds at Hok Tau on 11th included two Bonelli’s Eagles, 43 Indochinese Yuhinas and 12 Tristram’s Buntings.
Thirteen Grey-headed Lapwings were at Kam Tin River on 11th.
January 13-19
East winds at the beginning of the week were replaced by northeasterlies from 17th. Generally grey and cloudy, with cooler temperatures - down to 17⁰C in the New Territories – at the weekend.
Tai Po Kau held two Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds – a male and a female – throughout the week. Sightings of Phylloscopus warblers included White-spectacled Warbler on 13th & 15th, Chestnut-crowned Warbler on 13th, 15th & 18th, and Radde’s Warbler on 18th. The wintering Forest Wagtail was present throughout the week. A Verditer Flycatcher and two Plain Flowerpeckers were seen on 15th. A Crested Honey Buzzard was noted on 18th.
At Mai Po, where the diurnal tides were finally high enough to bring birds close to the hides out in Deep Bay, sightings included three Pallas’s Gull on 13th & 16th with at least one still present on 18th. On 16th, 24 Great Knots, a Red Knot, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 69 Heuglin’s Gulls, 51 Saunders’s Gulls, two Caspian Terns and a Gull-billed Tern were counted. Five Black-tailed Gulls were reported on 18th. On the main reserve a Eurasian Bittern was seen on 13th and the long-staying Chinese Grey Shrike was still at gei wai #8 on 19th.
Elsewhere, two Gadwalls were at HK Wetland Park on 13th and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew south high over Palm Springs on 14th. A Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher was at KFBG on 16th.
On 19th, an afternoon visit to Tai Lam CP produced eight Black Bulbuls, the wintering Hume’s Leaf Warbler, two Small Niltavas, two Japanese Robins and ten Tristram’s Buntings.
East winds at the beginning of the week were replaced by northeasterlies from 17th. Generally grey and cloudy, with cooler temperatures - down to 17⁰C in the New Territories – at the weekend.
Tai Po Kau held two Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds – a male and a female – throughout the week. Sightings of Phylloscopus warblers included White-spectacled Warbler on 13th & 15th, Chestnut-crowned Warbler on 13th, 15th & 18th, and Radde’s Warbler on 18th. The wintering Forest Wagtail was present throughout the week. A Verditer Flycatcher and two Plain Flowerpeckers were seen on 15th. A Crested Honey Buzzard was noted on 18th.
At Mai Po, where the diurnal tides were finally high enough to bring birds close to the hides out in Deep Bay, sightings included three Pallas’s Gull on 13th & 16th with at least one still present on 18th. On 16th, 24 Great Knots, a Red Knot, three Bar-tailed Godwits, 69 Heuglin’s Gulls, 51 Saunders’s Gulls, two Caspian Terns and a Gull-billed Tern were counted. Five Black-tailed Gulls were reported on 18th. On the main reserve a Eurasian Bittern was seen on 13th and the long-staying Chinese Grey Shrike was still at gei wai #8 on 19th.
Elsewhere, two Gadwalls were at HK Wetland Park on 13th and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk flew south high over Palm Springs on 14th. A Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher was at KFBG on 16th.
On 19th, an afternoon visit to Tai Lam CP produced eight Black Bulbuls, the wintering Hume’s Leaf Warbler, two Small Niltavas, two Japanese Robins and ten Tristram’s Buntings.
January 20-31
Male Red-flanked Bluetail at Tai Lam Country Park, 21 January 2020
Humid, warm and misty until 25th with temperatures up to 25⁰C. A cold front associated with a surge of the winter monsoon hit south China on the night of 25th, bringing rain and cold northerly winds to Hong Kong. Early morning temperatures in the New Territories from 27th to 31st fell to below 9⁰C, although the afternoons were bright and sunny with the mercury up to 19⁰C.
New rarities reported were a Greenish Warbler at Fanling Golf Course and a Fire-capped Tit at Kadoorie Farm. The Chinese Grey Shrike and Collared Owlet were again reported from Mai Po and Tai Po Kau respectively, and at least nine Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds were present in the central New Territories, attracted by flowering coral trees. In addition, there were unseasonal reports of Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Black-naped Oriole.
Details of these and other reports of note as follows:
Falcated Duck: three at Mai Po on 24th with four there on 28th and 11 on 29th; seven at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Chinese Spot-billed Duck: 11 at Mai Po on 28th & 31st
Eurasian Coot: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Grey-headed Lapwing: eight at the wintering site at Kam Tin river on 28th; one at Mai Po on 28th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Far Eastern Curlew: one at Mai Po on 28th
Pallas’s Gull: two at Mai Po on 28th
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 23rd & 29th
Himalayan Swiftlet: singles at San Tin on 26th and Mai Po on 28th among flocks of House Swifts
Pacific Swift: one at Mai Po with 200+ House Swifts on 28th
Bull-headed Shrike: singles at Tai Lam CP on 21st and Cheung Chau on 26th
Chinese Grey Shrike: the wintering bird was still present at Mai Po until at least 31st
Black-naped Oriole: one at Mai Po on 25th
New rarities reported were a Greenish Warbler at Fanling Golf Course and a Fire-capped Tit at Kadoorie Farm. The Chinese Grey Shrike and Collared Owlet were again reported from Mai Po and Tai Po Kau respectively, and at least nine Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds were present in the central New Territories, attracted by flowering coral trees. In addition, there were unseasonal reports of Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Black-naped Oriole.
Details of these and other reports of note as follows:
Falcated Duck: three at Mai Po on 24th with four there on 28th and 11 on 29th; seven at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Chinese Spot-billed Duck: 11 at Mai Po on 28th & 31st
Eurasian Coot: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Grey-headed Lapwing: eight at the wintering site at Kam Tin river on 28th; one at Mai Po on 28th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Far Eastern Curlew: one at Mai Po on 28th
Pallas’s Gull: two at Mai Po on 28th
Collared Owlet: one heard at Tai Po Kau on 23rd & 29th
Himalayan Swiftlet: singles at San Tin on 26th and Mai Po on 28th among flocks of House Swifts
Pacific Swift: one at Mai Po with 200+ House Swifts on 28th
Bull-headed Shrike: singles at Tai Lam CP on 21st and Cheung Chau on 26th
Chinese Grey Shrike: the wintering bird was still present at Mai Po until at least 31st
Black-naped Oriole: one at Mai Po on 25th
Fire-capped Tit at Kadoorie Farm, 23 January 2020
Fire-capped Tit: a female at Kadoorie Farm on 22nd & 23rd – in the same tree as the female in 2019, so presumably the same returning bird
Asian House Martin: singles at Pui O and Mai Po on 28th; three at Ho Pui on 30th; one at Mai Po on 31st
Rufous-faced Warbler: two at Hok Tau and one at Tai Po Kau on 24th, one at Pak Sha O on 25th, and two at Lau Shui Heung and three at Pak Sha O on 31st
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP was present on 21st & 24th; one also reported from Tai Po Kau on 27th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Sai Kung (Yan Yee Road catchment) on 28th; one at Fanling Golf Course on 31st
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 30th
Martens’s Warbler: one positively identified - based on call - at Lau Shui Heung on 30th; a Bianchi’s/Martens’s Warbler at the same site on 24th was doubtless the same bird
Greenish Warbler: one at Fanling Golf Course on 22nd will be the third Hong Kong record if accepted
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one heard at Lau Shui Heung on 27th and 30th
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: singles at Ng Tung Chai on 26th, Lau Shui Heung on 30th, and Sai Kung West CP and Pak Sha O on 31st
Black-browed Reed Warbler: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Indochinese Yuhina: 70 at Tai Lam CP on 21st
White’s Thrush: two at Fanling Golf Course on 22nd; five at Tai Tong on 31st
Pale Thrush: one at Kadoorie Farm on 23rd
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Kowloon Park on 31st
Dusky Thrush: one at Shek Kong catchwater on 23rd; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Blue flycatcher sp.: a female Cyornis flycatcher at Shek Kong catchwater on 27th
Fujian Niltava: singles at Tai Lam CP on 23rd and Pak Sha O on 27th
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: one at Kadoorie Farm on 23rd
Mugimaki Flycatcher: a male at Shing Mun on 29th
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 21st
Plain Flowerpecker: one at Lau Shui Heung on 24th
Asian House Martin: singles at Pui O and Mai Po on 28th; three at Ho Pui on 30th; one at Mai Po on 31st
Rufous-faced Warbler: two at Hok Tau and one at Tai Po Kau on 24th, one at Pak Sha O on 25th, and two at Lau Shui Heung and three at Pak Sha O on 31st
Hume’s Leaf Warbler: the wintering bird at Tai Lam CP was present on 21st & 24th; one also reported from Tai Po Kau on 27th
Radde’s Warbler: one at Sai Kung (Yan Yee Road catchment) on 28th; one at Fanling Golf Course on 31st
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Lau Shui Heung on 30th
Martens’s Warbler: one positively identified - based on call - at Lau Shui Heung on 30th; a Bianchi’s/Martens’s Warbler at the same site on 24th was doubtless the same bird
Greenish Warbler: one at Fanling Golf Course on 22nd will be the third Hong Kong record if accepted
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one heard at Lau Shui Heung on 27th and 30th
Chestnut-crowned Warbler: singles at Ng Tung Chai on 26th, Lau Shui Heung on 30th, and Sai Kung West CP and Pak Sha O on 31st
Black-browed Reed Warbler: one at Lok Ma Chau on 26th
Indochinese Yuhina: 70 at Tai Lam CP on 21st
White’s Thrush: two at Fanling Golf Course on 22nd; five at Tai Tong on 31st
Pale Thrush: one at Kadoorie Farm on 23rd
Brown-headed Thrush: one at Kowloon Park on 31st
Dusky Thrush: one at Shek Kong catchwater on 23rd; one at Tai Lam CP on 31st
Blue flycatcher sp.: a female Cyornis flycatcher at Shek Kong catchwater on 27th
Fujian Niltava: singles at Tai Lam CP on 23rd and Pak Sha O on 27th
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher: one at Kadoorie Farm on 23rd
Mugimaki Flycatcher: a male at Shing Mun on 29th
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush: a female at Tai Lam CP on 21st
Plain Flowerpecker: one at Lau Shui Heung on 24th
Sunbirds at Tai Po Kau, 29 January 2020. Click on each image to enlarge it.
Mrs Gould’s Sunbird: noted throughout at Tai Po Kau with at least five present 27th – 31st (an adult male, two immature males, two females) which is a new high count; also recorded at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 26th (a female), Shek Kong catchwater on 27th (an immature male & female) & 30th (the immature male), and Leadmine Pass on 29th (a male).
Russet Sparrow: two females at Long Valley on 27th
Forest Wagtail: the long-staying bird at Tai Po Kau until at least 22nd
Buff-bellied Pipit: two at Mai Po on 24th, four at Pui O on 25th and one at Tai Sang Wai on 28th
Common Rosefinch: four at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 22nd with three there on 27th
Tristram’s Bunting: widespread in forest; highest count was 16 at Tai Lam CP on 21st
Russet Sparrow: two females at Long Valley on 27th
Forest Wagtail: the long-staying bird at Tai Po Kau until at least 22nd
Buff-bellied Pipit: two at Mai Po on 24th, four at Pui O on 25th and one at Tai Sang Wai on 28th
Common Rosefinch: four at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 22nd with three there on 27th
Tristram’s Bunting: widespread in forest; highest count was 16 at Tai Lam CP on 21st
Common Rosefinch at Shek Kong Airfield Road, 22 January 2020
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Common Rosefinch at Shek Kong Airfield Road, 22 January 2020
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Tristram's Bunting at Tai Lam CP, 24 January 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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