LATEST SIGHTINGS - JULY 2019
July 1-16
July 1-16
Plain Prinia singing at Mai Po in July (archive image)
As with most of June, the first half of July brought typically high temperatures (up to 33⁰C) relieved occasionally by showers. Typhoon signal 1 was raised on 2nd but the depression was 400 km southwest of Hong Kong so had little effect apart from causing a few squally thunderstorms.
A male Mandarin Duck was at Mai Po on 1st. On 4th, a Great Cormorant and a Black-winged Kite were seen and there was a pre-roost gathering of 180 Collared Crows on the reserve, a new high count for a single site. (The other main roost site for the Collared Crow is at Shuen Wan - 116 were counted there on 26 June). The Black-winged Kite was seen again at Mai Po on 5th.
A lucionensis Brown Shrike was seen at Sha Tau Kok on 6th. This is an unusual mid-summer record for this species, the latest spring date being 18 June and the earliest autumn date being 25 July.
A Malayan Night Heron and four Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Tong on 6th. The Malayan Night Heron and a Plain Flowerpecker were also seen on 13th.
On 9th, the Tap Mun ferry from Ma Liu Shui turned up 25 Black-naped Terns, 15 Bridled Terns and two Roseate Terns.
A Lesser Cuckoo was reported from Tai Po Kau on 11th and 13th.
There was evidence of returning shorebirds. Three Green Sandpipers were noted near Ta Kwu Ling on 13th. At Mai Po on 14th, counts included 37 Terek Sandpipers, ten Grey-tailed Tattlers, 461 Greater Sand Plovers, 58 Whimbrels, 142 Common Greenshanks and 322 Common Redshanks. At least two over-summering Black-faced Spoonbills were also recorded.
And news from John Allcock of at least 245 Collared Crows going to roost at Mai Po on the evening of the 16th. This is by far the highest count on record at a single site. Prior to the count of 180 mentioned above, the highest count involved 173 at the Shuen Wan roost on 9 July 2014
A male Mandarin Duck was at Mai Po on 1st. On 4th, a Great Cormorant and a Black-winged Kite were seen and there was a pre-roost gathering of 180 Collared Crows on the reserve, a new high count for a single site. (The other main roost site for the Collared Crow is at Shuen Wan - 116 were counted there on 26 June). The Black-winged Kite was seen again at Mai Po on 5th.
A lucionensis Brown Shrike was seen at Sha Tau Kok on 6th. This is an unusual mid-summer record for this species, the latest spring date being 18 June and the earliest autumn date being 25 July.
A Malayan Night Heron and four Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Tong on 6th. The Malayan Night Heron and a Plain Flowerpecker were also seen on 13th.
On 9th, the Tap Mun ferry from Ma Liu Shui turned up 25 Black-naped Terns, 15 Bridled Terns and two Roseate Terns.
A Lesser Cuckoo was reported from Tai Po Kau on 11th and 13th.
There was evidence of returning shorebirds. Three Green Sandpipers were noted near Ta Kwu Ling on 13th. At Mai Po on 14th, counts included 37 Terek Sandpipers, ten Grey-tailed Tattlers, 461 Greater Sand Plovers, 58 Whimbrels, 142 Common Greenshanks and 322 Common Redshanks. At least two over-summering Black-faced Spoonbills were also recorded.
And news from John Allcock of at least 245 Collared Crows going to roost at Mai Po on the evening of the 16th. This is by far the highest count on record at a single site. Prior to the count of 180 mentioned above, the highest count involved 173 at the Shuen Wan roost on 9 July 2014
July 17-31
The usual summer heat and showers. On the last day of the month, the T8 signal was raised as Tropical Storm Wipha passed to the southwest of the territory bringing strong wind and heavy rain to parts of the territory.
On the evenings of 17th and 27th, a Brown Fish Owl was in the harbour at Cheung Chau.
On 19th a Malayan Night Heron was seen in the Ho Pui reservoir area.
On 20th a Himalayan Swiftlet was at Cheung Chau.
On 21st at least ten different Great Barbets were seen coming to feed at Tai Po Kau Headland.
On 24th a Cinnamon Bittern was at Nam Sang Wai
The usual summer heat and showers. On the last day of the month, the T8 signal was raised as Tropical Storm Wipha passed to the southwest of the territory bringing strong wind and heavy rain to parts of the territory.
On the evenings of 17th and 27th, a Brown Fish Owl was in the harbour at Cheung Chau.
On 19th a Malayan Night Heron was seen in the Ho Pui reservoir area.
On 20th a Himalayan Swiftlet was at Cheung Chau.
On 21st at least ten different Great Barbets were seen coming to feed at Tai Po Kau Headland.
On 24th a Cinnamon Bittern was at Nam Sang Wai
All images & text © David Diskin unless otherwise stated
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