LATEST SIGHTINGS - MARCH 2021
March 1-7
March 1-7
Ryukyu Minivet at Mt Davis, 2 March 2021
Typical dreary March weather. Low clouds covering the hillsides. High humidity. Some rain, which was heavy at times on 4th & 6th. Temperatures were in the high teens to the low twenties.
The wintering Ryukyu Minivet and Japanese Grosbeak continued to be reported throughout the week, and the Grey-backed Shrike was seen again at Lam Tsuen. Migrant shorebirds (Curlew Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes and Oriental Pratincoles) were noted, and the first boat trip of the season into southern waters turned up Pomarine Jaegers and Streaked Shearwaters. Details of these and other records of interest as follows:
Ducks at Mai Po included a male Baikal Teal on 2nd & 7th, two Gadwalls on 3rd with four there on 6th, 18 Falcated Ducks on 1st with smaller numbers throughout the rest of the week, 12 Chinese Spot-billed Ducks on 1st with one on 6th, and a Common Pochard until 7th. The long-staying Ferruginous Duck was at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd.
A small movement of Pacific Swifts was evident with one at Long Valley on 4th & 5th, five at Mt Davis on 5th, and three at the Peak on 6th. Four Large Hawk Cuckoos were calling at Ho Pui catchwater on 3rd.
An Eastern Water Rail was at Mai Po on 1st. Five Grey-headed Lapwings were at Kam Tin River on 5th & 7th, and a Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po from 3rd - 7th. Also at Mai Po, six Curlew Sandpipers were seen on 6th and the wintering Long-billed Dowitcher was noted again on 5th. The first Red-necked Phalaropes of the spring involved five in southern waters on 6th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 2nd. Oriental Pratincoles were reported from Pui O, Mai Po, San Tin and Long Valley, all in single-digits apart from 30 at Mai Po on 1st with ten there on 2nd.
The highest count of Saunders’s Gulls out on the Mai Po mudflats was 44 on 1st. Two Pallas’s Gulls were reported from the mudflats from 1st – 7th, and three were counted on 6th. A Black-tailed Gull was at Mai Po on 1st & 7th, and three were in southern waters on 6th. The highest count of mongolicus Vega Gulls at Mai Po was seven on 6th A Slaty-backed Gull at Mai Po on 1st was a different bird from the one reported on 28 February, but the latter bird turned up again on 2nd. Other birds out on the mudflats were a Gull-billed Tern throughout the week, and three Caspian Terns on 6th & 7th. Two Pomarine Jaegers and 15 Streaked Shearwaters were in southern waters on 6th.
At least one of the two long-staying Oriental Storks was at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd. The juvenile Lesser Frigatebird seen sporadically at Mai Po since 30 January was again present on 3rd & 4th. A Eurasian Spoonbill was at Mai Po throughout the week and three were at Lok Ma Chau on 3rd. A migrating Eurasian Bittern was seen circling over Palm Springs at dusk on 1st, and up to two were at at Mai Po during the week. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 6th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Nam Sang Wai on 2nd & 3rd. Single Crested Honey Buzzards were reported from Chuen Lung and Jordan Valley on 2nd. Three Greater Spotted Eagles were at Mai Po on 2nd & 6th, but the highest count was of four at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. An Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 2nd & 6th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Mt Davis on 1st.
The usual Black-capped Kingfisher was at the Mai Po boardwalk throughout the week, and one was also at Pui O on 6th. Single Chinese Barbets were regularly heard at KFBG and Tai Po Kau, and two were at the latter site on 7th. The Ryukyu Minivet was at Mt Davis throughout the week. A Bull-headed Shrike was at Jordan Valley from 1st – 3rd, and the 1st-winter Grey-backed Shrike was at Lam Tsuen on 4th & 5th. Single Brown Shrikes were reported from Mt Davis and Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Ho Pui catchwater on 5th and Leung Tin Au on 6th. The highest count of Black Bulbuls involved nine at Tai Lam CP on 5th. An Asian House Martin was at Mt Davis on 5th.
A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was seen regularly at Mt Davis to at least 4th, and one was at Tai Tong on 6th. A Common Chiffchaff was trapped at Mai Po on 1st. A Sulphur-breasted Warbler was at KFBG from 1st – 3rd. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. Three Brown Bush Warblers were heard in the Discovery Bay/Lo Fu Tau area on 7th. Forty Indochinese Yuhinas were at KFBG on 3rd.
Single White’s Thrushes were at KFBG on 1st and Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Fourteen Eyebrowed Thrushes were at KGBG on 5th. Three Pale Thrushes were seen at KFBG on 1st, with two there on 2nd.
An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Single Verditer Flycatchers were reported from six widespread sites. A total of 21 Lesser Shortwings counted at Tai Lam CP on 5th is a record count for the territory. A Bluethroat was at Tai Sang Wai, and a Red-flanked Bluetail was at Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Ngong Ping on 22nd. An adult male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was reported from KFBG on 2nd; this is an exceptional record as this species is mainly an autumn passage migrant (extreme dates 5 August – 24 November) and a rare spring migrant (extreme dates 5 – 30 April); there are no previous March records. A single Mugimaki Flycatcher was at Shui Hau on 1st and up to two were at KFBG during the week. A male White-throated Rock Thrush was at Tai Tong on 6th.
Seventeen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) were at Long Valley on 5th, and a White-headed Munia (Cat III) was at the same place on 7th. A Buff-bellied Pipi was at Pui O on 6th. Up to 15 Chinese Grosbeaks were noted at Yuen Long Park throughout the week, and the Japanese Grosbeak was seen regularly to 6th. Tristram’s Buntings were noted at four sites, the highest count being three at KFBG on 5th.
The wintering Ryukyu Minivet and Japanese Grosbeak continued to be reported throughout the week, and the Grey-backed Shrike was seen again at Lam Tsuen. Migrant shorebirds (Curlew Sandpipers, Red-necked Phalaropes and Oriental Pratincoles) were noted, and the first boat trip of the season into southern waters turned up Pomarine Jaegers and Streaked Shearwaters. Details of these and other records of interest as follows:
Ducks at Mai Po included a male Baikal Teal on 2nd & 7th, two Gadwalls on 3rd with four there on 6th, 18 Falcated Ducks on 1st with smaller numbers throughout the rest of the week, 12 Chinese Spot-billed Ducks on 1st with one on 6th, and a Common Pochard until 7th. The long-staying Ferruginous Duck was at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd.
A small movement of Pacific Swifts was evident with one at Long Valley on 4th & 5th, five at Mt Davis on 5th, and three at the Peak on 6th. Four Large Hawk Cuckoos were calling at Ho Pui catchwater on 3rd.
An Eastern Water Rail was at Mai Po on 1st. Five Grey-headed Lapwings were at Kam Tin River on 5th & 7th, and a Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po from 3rd - 7th. Also at Mai Po, six Curlew Sandpipers were seen on 6th and the wintering Long-billed Dowitcher was noted again on 5th. The first Red-necked Phalaropes of the spring involved five in southern waters on 6th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 2nd. Oriental Pratincoles were reported from Pui O, Mai Po, San Tin and Long Valley, all in single-digits apart from 30 at Mai Po on 1st with ten there on 2nd.
The highest count of Saunders’s Gulls out on the Mai Po mudflats was 44 on 1st. Two Pallas’s Gulls were reported from the mudflats from 1st – 7th, and three were counted on 6th. A Black-tailed Gull was at Mai Po on 1st & 7th, and three were in southern waters on 6th. The highest count of mongolicus Vega Gulls at Mai Po was seven on 6th A Slaty-backed Gull at Mai Po on 1st was a different bird from the one reported on 28 February, but the latter bird turned up again on 2nd. Other birds out on the mudflats were a Gull-billed Tern throughout the week, and three Caspian Terns on 6th & 7th. Two Pomarine Jaegers and 15 Streaked Shearwaters were in southern waters on 6th.
At least one of the two long-staying Oriental Storks was at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd. The juvenile Lesser Frigatebird seen sporadically at Mai Po since 30 January was again present on 3rd & 4th. A Eurasian Spoonbill was at Mai Po throughout the week and three were at Lok Ma Chau on 3rd. A migrating Eurasian Bittern was seen circling over Palm Springs at dusk on 1st, and up to two were at at Mai Po during the week. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 6th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Nam Sang Wai on 2nd & 3rd. Single Crested Honey Buzzards were reported from Chuen Lung and Jordan Valley on 2nd. Three Greater Spotted Eagles were at Mai Po on 2nd & 6th, but the highest count was of four at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. An Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 2nd & 6th. A Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Mt Davis on 1st.
The usual Black-capped Kingfisher was at the Mai Po boardwalk throughout the week, and one was also at Pui O on 6th. Single Chinese Barbets were regularly heard at KFBG and Tai Po Kau, and two were at the latter site on 7th. The Ryukyu Minivet was at Mt Davis throughout the week. A Bull-headed Shrike was at Jordan Valley from 1st – 3rd, and the 1st-winter Grey-backed Shrike was at Lam Tsuen on 4th & 5th. Single Brown Shrikes were reported from Mt Davis and Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Ho Pui catchwater on 5th and Leung Tin Au on 6th. The highest count of Black Bulbuls involved nine at Tai Lam CP on 5th. An Asian House Martin was at Mt Davis on 5th.
A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was seen regularly at Mt Davis to at least 4th, and one was at Tai Tong on 6th. A Common Chiffchaff was trapped at Mai Po on 1st. A Sulphur-breasted Warbler was at KFBG from 1st – 3rd. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was at Lok Ma Chau on 2nd. Three Brown Bush Warblers were heard in the Discovery Bay/Lo Fu Tau area on 7th. Forty Indochinese Yuhinas were at KFBG on 3rd.
Single White’s Thrushes were at KFBG on 1st and Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Fourteen Eyebrowed Thrushes were at KGBG on 5th. Three Pale Thrushes were seen at KFBG on 1st, with two there on 2nd.
An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Single Verditer Flycatchers were reported from six widespread sites. A total of 21 Lesser Shortwings counted at Tai Lam CP on 5th is a record count for the territory. A Bluethroat was at Tai Sang Wai, and a Red-flanked Bluetail was at Tai Lam CP on 3rd. Ngong Ping on 22nd. An adult male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was reported from KFBG on 2nd; this is an exceptional record as this species is mainly an autumn passage migrant (extreme dates 5 August – 24 November) and a rare spring migrant (extreme dates 5 – 30 April); there are no previous March records. A single Mugimaki Flycatcher was at Shui Hau on 1st and up to two were at KFBG during the week. A male White-throated Rock Thrush was at Tai Tong on 6th.
Seventeen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) were at Long Valley on 5th, and a White-headed Munia (Cat III) was at the same place on 7th. A Buff-bellied Pipi was at Pui O on 6th. Up to 15 Chinese Grosbeaks were noted at Yuen Long Park throughout the week, and the Japanese Grosbeak was seen regularly to 6th. Tristram’s Buntings were noted at four sites, the highest count being three at KFBG on 5th.
March 8-14
Saunders's Gull at Mai Po in March (Birding Hong Kong archive)
The grey humid weather improved during the week; the sun came out and temperatures in the northern NT reached 29⁰C on 12th.
The highlight of the week was the rediscovery of the Black-chinned Yuhina at Kadoorie Farm by Leo Sit on 8th. The bird proved elusive thereafter, but was seen by a few observers on 10th & 14th. The Ryukyu Minivet remained at Mt Davis during the week. Details of these and other records as follows:
At Mai Po, a male Baikal Teal was present on 13th, six Gadwall were seen on 11th, while the highest count of Falcated Ducks involved ten on 9th.
A Pacific Swift was at Long Valley on 12th. Calling Large Hawk Cuckoos were reported from several widespread sites during the week.
Two Eastern Water Rails were at Long Valley on 8th and Mai Po on 11th. Out on the Mai Po mudflats the number of Curlew Sandpipers increased from 31 on 9th to 116 on 11th. Twelve Red-necked Phalaropes were in southern waters on 13th, and 14 were off Po Toi on 14th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 14th. The highest count of Oriental Pratincoles involved 30 at San Tin on 13th.
Sixty Saunders’s Gulls were out on the Mai Po mudflats on 12th. Two Pallas’s Gulls were seen on 11th, and one was there on 14th. The highest count of mongolicus Vega Gulls was of ten on 12th, and a nominate vegae was seen on 9th, with two on 11th. A Slaty-backed Gull was present on 12th & 13th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns on the mudflats was seven on 12th, and five Caspian Terns were there on 14th.
Three Streaked Shearwaters were in southern waters on 13th. There were no reports of the two Oriental Storks at Mai Po during the week. The juvenile Lesser Frigatebird seen sporadically at Mai Po since 30 January was again present on 11th & 12th. The highest count of Eurasian Spoonbills was three at San Tin on 9th. A Eurasian Bittern was at Mai Po on 11th & 12th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Fung Lok Wai and Mai Po on 12th. A Greater Spotted Eagle was at Mai Po on 9th, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po between 9th & 12th.
Single Chinese Barbets were reported from KFBG on 9th and Tai Lam CP on 10th & 12th, and two were at Tai Po Kau on 13th & 14th. The Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 13th. A Black-naped Oriole was in King’s Park on 8th. The highest count of Black Bulbuls involved seven at Tai Lam CP on 9th. An Asian House Martin was at Long Valley on 8th.
A “new” Pale-footed Bush Warbler was at Tai Lam Chung Country Trail on 11th, and one of the two wintering birds at Heung Yuen Wai was again present on 11th. Three Black-throated Tits were at Shing Mun on 14th. Single Hume’s Leaf Warblers were at Tai Tong from 8th – 14th, and the long-staying bird of the nominate race was again at Pak Sha O on 9th. Single wintering Alström's Warbler were at Tai Tong on 8th, Pak Sha O on 9th, and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 10th; a “new” individual was at Clearwater Bay CP on 12th.
Thirty Indochinese Yuhinas were at KFBG on 9th. The Black-chinned Yuhina, a potential first for Hong Kong that was seen at KFBG on 22 January, was rediscovered on 8 March and seen again on 10th & 14th. A Common Starling was at Long Valley on 12th & 13th.
A White’s Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 9th. Five Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP on 9th, four were at Tai Tam CP on HK Island on 12th, and 15 were at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 14th. Single Red-flanked Bluetails were at Tai Lam CP on 10th, Po Toi on 11th, and at Clearwater Bay CP on 12th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at at Tai Lam CP on 9th and at KFBG on 11th. The male White-throated Rock Thrush that was first seen at Tai Tong on 6th was present throughout the week.
Four Plain Flowerpeckers were singing in Tai Po Kau on 14th. An immature male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird was at Shing Mun on 14th. The number of Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) at Long Valley spiralled to 50 on 13th; 15 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were counted on the same date. Such an increase in numbers suggest that a further release of captive birds has recently occurred. Other birds at Long Valley included a Citrine Wagtail on 8th and a Buff-bellied Pipit on 12th.
Eurasian Siskins were at Tai Tong from 8th – 10th, the highest count being 20 on the last date. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley from 8th - 13th, and a male Black-headed Bunting coming into breeding plumage was there on 9th. A Common Reed Bunting: at Mai Po on 12th was probably the same bird that has been present since 10 December 2020.
The highlight of the week was the rediscovery of the Black-chinned Yuhina at Kadoorie Farm by Leo Sit on 8th. The bird proved elusive thereafter, but was seen by a few observers on 10th & 14th. The Ryukyu Minivet remained at Mt Davis during the week. Details of these and other records as follows:
At Mai Po, a male Baikal Teal was present on 13th, six Gadwall were seen on 11th, while the highest count of Falcated Ducks involved ten on 9th.
A Pacific Swift was at Long Valley on 12th. Calling Large Hawk Cuckoos were reported from several widespread sites during the week.
Two Eastern Water Rails were at Long Valley on 8th and Mai Po on 11th. Out on the Mai Po mudflats the number of Curlew Sandpipers increased from 31 on 9th to 116 on 11th. Twelve Red-necked Phalaropes were in southern waters on 13th, and 14 were off Po Toi on 14th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 14th. The highest count of Oriental Pratincoles involved 30 at San Tin on 13th.
Sixty Saunders’s Gulls were out on the Mai Po mudflats on 12th. Two Pallas’s Gulls were seen on 11th, and one was there on 14th. The highest count of mongolicus Vega Gulls was of ten on 12th, and a nominate vegae was seen on 9th, with two on 11th. A Slaty-backed Gull was present on 12th & 13th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns on the mudflats was seven on 12th, and five Caspian Terns were there on 14th.
Three Streaked Shearwaters were in southern waters on 13th. There were no reports of the two Oriental Storks at Mai Po during the week. The juvenile Lesser Frigatebird seen sporadically at Mai Po since 30 January was again present on 11th & 12th. The highest count of Eurasian Spoonbills was three at San Tin on 9th. A Eurasian Bittern was at Mai Po on 11th & 12th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Fung Lok Wai and Mai Po on 12th. A Greater Spotted Eagle was at Mai Po on 9th, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po between 9th & 12th.
Single Chinese Barbets were reported from KFBG on 9th and Tai Lam CP on 10th & 12th, and two were at Tai Po Kau on 13th & 14th. The Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 13th. A Black-naped Oriole was in King’s Park on 8th. The highest count of Black Bulbuls involved seven at Tai Lam CP on 9th. An Asian House Martin was at Long Valley on 8th.
A “new” Pale-footed Bush Warbler was at Tai Lam Chung Country Trail on 11th, and one of the two wintering birds at Heung Yuen Wai was again present on 11th. Three Black-throated Tits were at Shing Mun on 14th. Single Hume’s Leaf Warblers were at Tai Tong from 8th – 14th, and the long-staying bird of the nominate race was again at Pak Sha O on 9th. Single wintering Alström's Warbler were at Tai Tong on 8th, Pak Sha O on 9th, and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 10th; a “new” individual was at Clearwater Bay CP on 12th.
Thirty Indochinese Yuhinas were at KFBG on 9th. The Black-chinned Yuhina, a potential first for Hong Kong that was seen at KFBG on 22 January, was rediscovered on 8 March and seen again on 10th & 14th. A Common Starling was at Long Valley on 12th & 13th.
A White’s Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 9th. Five Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP on 9th, four were at Tai Tam CP on HK Island on 12th, and 15 were at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 14th. Single Red-flanked Bluetails were at Tai Lam CP on 10th, Po Toi on 11th, and at Clearwater Bay CP on 12th. Single Mugimaki Flycatchers were at at Tai Lam CP on 9th and at KFBG on 11th. The male White-throated Rock Thrush that was first seen at Tai Tong on 6th was present throughout the week.
Four Plain Flowerpeckers were singing in Tai Po Kau on 14th. An immature male Mrs Gould’s Sunbird was at Shing Mun on 14th. The number of Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) at Long Valley spiralled to 50 on 13th; 15 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were counted on the same date. Such an increase in numbers suggest that a further release of captive birds has recently occurred. Other birds at Long Valley included a Citrine Wagtail on 8th and a Buff-bellied Pipit on 12th.
Eurasian Siskins were at Tai Tong from 8th – 10th, the highest count being 20 on the last date. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley from 8th - 13th, and a male Black-headed Bunting coming into breeding plumage was there on 9th. A Common Reed Bunting: at Mai Po on 12th was probably the same bird that has been present since 10 December 2020.
Nordmann's Greenshank at Mai Po in March (Birding Hong Kong archive)
March 15-21
RIng-billed Gull among Black-headed Gulls and Eurasian Curlews at Mai Po, 20 March 2021
The fine weather continued with temperatures up to 29⁰C. On 20th, the maximum temperature recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory was 29.7⁰C (over 30⁰C at Mai Po), which is the hottest Vernal Equinox ever recorded in Hong Kong. A cold front on 21st brought grey skies and cooling winds to the territory; during the day, the temperature gradually fell to 17⁰C at dusk.
What was, bird-wise, a comparatively mundane week was transformed into something extra-special when Kevin Lok discovered an adult Ring-billed Gull on the mudflats at Mai Po around noon on 20th. This American gull is a major rarity in Asia, the only confirmed record for the continent being of one that was an annual winter visitor to Chosi, Japan between 2002 and 2014 (information courtesy of Mike Leven). The tidal flow at Mai Po on 20th was slow and gentle, and the water did not quite cover the mudflats at high tide, so that a variety of gulls, including the Ring-billed Gull, were visible from the various hides for four hours or so, thereby giving a number of keen local birders time to get out to the boardwalk to see this first for Hong Kong and China. Unfortunately, this seems to have been a one-day bird; there was no sign of it on 21st.
The Ring-billed Gull is the third potential first for Hong Kong so far in 2021, the others being Ryukyu Minivet and Black-chinned Yuhina; both of these were still present in the period under review. Apart from an obvious drop-off in the number of wintering water birds in the northwest New Territories, the week also saw a small arrival of summering birds (Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo, Grey Nightjar, Slaty-legged Crake) as well as a trickle of spring passage migrants (Silver-backed Needletail, Grey-faced Buzzard, Blue-and-white Flycatcher). Details of these and other birds of note below:
Two Japanese Quail, presumably spring migrants, were at Long Valley on 21st. A Silver-backed Needletail was over Tai Po Kau on 21st, and two Pacific Swifts were at Lo Fu Tau on 20th. The highest counts of Large Hawk Cuckoos concerned five calling after dark at Lam Tsuen on 16th, and five calling before dawn at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th. The first Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo of the season was heard at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A flock of 144 Red Turtle Doves at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st is unusual for spring; the count did not quite reach the record autumn number of 150 at nearby San Tin in October 2018 & 2019.
A Slaty-legged Crake was calling after dark at Uk Tau on 18th, and one was also heard along the dam at Tai Mei Tuk on 19th. These are both new early dates for calling birds, the previous earliest date being 20 March. Single Eurasian Coots were at San Tin on 18th and Mai Po on 21st.
A Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po during the week, and 39 Curlew Sandpipers were counted on 15th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank and a Long-billed Dowitcher were at Mai Po on 21st. Eight Red-necked Phalaropes were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 16th, and 119 were in southern waters on 20th. The highest count of Oriental Pratincoles involved 33 at San Tin on 18th.
Gulls on the Mai Po mudflats included a Brown-headed Gull from 15th – 21st, 44 Saunders’s Gulls on 18th, three Pallas’s Gulls on 15th with one on 18th & 21st, three nominate Vega Gulls and ten mongolicus on 21st, and a Slaty-backed Gull from 15th - 21st. The highlight, however, was the adult Ring-billed Gull seen on 20th – a first for Hong Kong and China. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns on the mudflats was 25 on 21st; ten Caspian Terns were there on 16th.
What was, bird-wise, a comparatively mundane week was transformed into something extra-special when Kevin Lok discovered an adult Ring-billed Gull on the mudflats at Mai Po around noon on 20th. This American gull is a major rarity in Asia, the only confirmed record for the continent being of one that was an annual winter visitor to Chosi, Japan between 2002 and 2014 (information courtesy of Mike Leven). The tidal flow at Mai Po on 20th was slow and gentle, and the water did not quite cover the mudflats at high tide, so that a variety of gulls, including the Ring-billed Gull, were visible from the various hides for four hours or so, thereby giving a number of keen local birders time to get out to the boardwalk to see this first for Hong Kong and China. Unfortunately, this seems to have been a one-day bird; there was no sign of it on 21st.
The Ring-billed Gull is the third potential first for Hong Kong so far in 2021, the others being Ryukyu Minivet and Black-chinned Yuhina; both of these were still present in the period under review. Apart from an obvious drop-off in the number of wintering water birds in the northwest New Territories, the week also saw a small arrival of summering birds (Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo, Grey Nightjar, Slaty-legged Crake) as well as a trickle of spring passage migrants (Silver-backed Needletail, Grey-faced Buzzard, Blue-and-white Flycatcher). Details of these and other birds of note below:
Two Japanese Quail, presumably spring migrants, were at Long Valley on 21st. A Silver-backed Needletail was over Tai Po Kau on 21st, and two Pacific Swifts were at Lo Fu Tau on 20th. The highest counts of Large Hawk Cuckoos concerned five calling after dark at Lam Tsuen on 16th, and five calling before dawn at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th. The first Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo of the season was heard at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A flock of 144 Red Turtle Doves at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st is unusual for spring; the count did not quite reach the record autumn number of 150 at nearby San Tin in October 2018 & 2019.
A Slaty-legged Crake was calling after dark at Uk Tau on 18th, and one was also heard along the dam at Tai Mei Tuk on 19th. These are both new early dates for calling birds, the previous earliest date being 20 March. Single Eurasian Coots were at San Tin on 18th and Mai Po on 21st.
A Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po during the week, and 39 Curlew Sandpipers were counted on 15th. A Nordmann’s Greenshank and a Long-billed Dowitcher were at Mai Po on 21st. Eight Red-necked Phalaropes were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 16th, and 119 were in southern waters on 20th. The highest count of Oriental Pratincoles involved 33 at San Tin on 18th.
Gulls on the Mai Po mudflats included a Brown-headed Gull from 15th – 21st, 44 Saunders’s Gulls on 18th, three Pallas’s Gulls on 15th with one on 18th & 21st, three nominate Vega Gulls and ten mongolicus on 21st, and a Slaty-backed Gull from 15th - 21st. The highlight, however, was the adult Ring-billed Gull seen on 20th – a first for Hong Kong and China. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns on the mudflats was 25 on 21st; ten Caspian Terns were there on 16th.
Ring-billed Gull (left) among Heuglin's Gulls at Mai Po, 20 March 2021
Ring-billed Gull at Mai Po, 20 March 2021
The long-staying juvenile Lesser Frigatebird was seen again at Mai Po on 15th & 19th. The highest count of Eurasian Spoonbills was three at San Tin on 18th. Thirty Black-faced Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 21st. A Eurasian Bittern was at Mai Po on 17th & 18th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 16th. A Greater Spotted Eagle was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 15th. The first Grey-faced Buzzard of the spring was reported from Mui Tsz Lam on 20th. Ten Collared Scops Owls were calling at Yung Shue O after dark on 17th, and a Brown Fish Owl was observed around the boats on the Cheung Chau seafront on the evening of 15th; this is a fairly regular site for the fish owl. Two Grey Nightjars were calling at Mui Tsz Lam after dark on 19th.
Two Chinese Barbets were singing regularly at Tai Po Kau during the week, and one was at KFBG on 19th. The Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 20th. The long-staying Grey-backed Shrike was again seen at Lam Tsuen on 15th. Two Brown Shrikes were at Lai Chi Kok on 15th. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Tai Tam CP on 16th, Palm Springs on 18th & 21st, and at Leung Tin Au trail and Leung King on 20th. An Indochinese Green Magpie (Cat III) was at Tai Tong on 21st. Three Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP on 19th.
Both of the Hume’s Leaf Warblers at Tai Tong and Mt Davis remained throughout the week. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Tai Po Kau on 16th & 21st. Alström's Warblers were reported from Tai Lam CP on 16th and Pak Sha O on 21st. Additional warblers noted on 16th were a long-staying Greenish Warbler at Fanling Golf Course, and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Tai Lam CP.
A Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush (Cat III) was at Chuen Lung on 15th. The elusive Black-chinned Yuhina was reported from KFBG on 15th & 18th.
A White’s Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 19th. Seven Japanese Thrushes were at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Also on 21st, six Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP and eight were at Tai Po Kau. A White-rumped Shama (Cat III) was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Two Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Po Kau on 19th and one was at Tai Tong on 21st. The first Blue-and-white Flycatcher of the spring was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A Red-flanked Bluetail was at Po Toi on 16th. A Mugimaki Flycatcher was at at Tai Lam CP on 16th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were recorded in Tai Po Kau on 21st, and one was at Lam Tsuen on 20th & 21st. Fifteen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 25 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 17th. A Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley on 21st.
A male Eurasian Siskin was at Tiu Tang Lung on 17th. The highest count of Tristram’s Buntings concerned five at Tai Lam CP on 16th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 20th & 21st, and a Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Yi O on 20th. The wintering Common Reed Bunting was again seen at Mai Po on 17th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 16th. A Greater Spotted Eagle was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 21st, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 15th. The first Grey-faced Buzzard of the spring was reported from Mui Tsz Lam on 20th. Ten Collared Scops Owls were calling at Yung Shue O after dark on 17th, and a Brown Fish Owl was observed around the boats on the Cheung Chau seafront on the evening of 15th; this is a fairly regular site for the fish owl. Two Grey Nightjars were calling at Mui Tsz Lam after dark on 19th.
Two Chinese Barbets were singing regularly at Tai Po Kau during the week, and one was at KFBG on 19th. The Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 20th. The long-staying Grey-backed Shrike was again seen at Lam Tsuen on 15th. Two Brown Shrikes were at Lai Chi Kok on 15th. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Tai Tam CP on 16th, Palm Springs on 18th & 21st, and at Leung Tin Au trail and Leung King on 20th. An Indochinese Green Magpie (Cat III) was at Tai Tong on 21st. Three Black Bulbuls were at Tai Lam CP on 19th.
Both of the Hume’s Leaf Warblers at Tai Tong and Mt Davis remained throughout the week. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Tai Po Kau on 16th & 21st. Alström's Warblers were reported from Tai Lam CP on 16th and Pak Sha O on 21st. Additional warblers noted on 16th were a long-staying Greenish Warbler at Fanling Golf Course, and a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Tai Lam CP.
A Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush (Cat III) was at Chuen Lung on 15th. The elusive Black-chinned Yuhina was reported from KFBG on 15th & 18th.
A White’s Thrush was at Tai Lam CP on 19th. Seven Japanese Thrushes were at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Also on 21st, six Eyebrowed Thrushes were at Tai Lam CP and eight were at Tai Po Kau. A White-rumped Shama (Cat III) was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. Two Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Po Kau on 19th and one was at Tai Tong on 21st. The first Blue-and-white Flycatcher of the spring was at Tai Po Kau on 21st. A Red-flanked Bluetail was at Po Toi on 16th. A Mugimaki Flycatcher was at at Tai Lam CP on 16th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were recorded in Tai Po Kau on 21st, and one was at Lam Tsuen on 20th & 21st. Fifteen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 25 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 17th. A Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley on 21st.
A male Eurasian Siskin was at Tiu Tang Lung on 17th. The highest count of Tristram’s Buntings concerned five at Tai Lam CP on 16th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 20th & 21st, and a Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Yi O on 20th. The wintering Common Reed Bunting was again seen at Mai Po on 17th.
Hume's Leaf Warbler at Tai Tong, 15 March 2021.
March 22-31
Greater Crested Tern in southern waters, 27 March 2021
The northeast monsoon brought cool, overcast weather to the territory from 22nd – 24th. After this, conditions improved and temperatures slowly rose to 30⁰C towards the end of the month when an easterly airstream was replaced by winds from the south.
There were further signs of arriving summer visitors but the number of passage shorebirds at Mai Po remained low and, in general, passerine migrants proved rather scare. However, there was a fair movement of Grey-faced Buzzards through the territory between 24th & 28th, most notably on 26th. Four Glossy Ibis flew into Mai Po on 30th, making this the third year in succession that this species has occurred in Hong Kong. Details of these and other species below:
Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 31st.
Large Hawk Cuckoos were commonly reported in the New Territories with a high count of eight calling at Shek Kong catchwater on 23rd & 29th. Single Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were heard at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, Pak Sha O on 26th, Shek Kong catchwater and Ho Pui reservoir on 29th, and Lam Tsuen on 30th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was calling after dark at Uk Tau on 28th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Lam Tsuen on 30th.
The number of Far Eastern Curlews at Mai Po had increased to four by 29th. An Oriental Plover was on the scrape at Mai Po on 31st. Other waders at Mai Po included a Ruddy Turnstone on 26th, 83 Great Knot on 27th, a Red Knot on 29th, a Broad-billed Sandpiper on 26th & 27th, 110 Curlew Sandpipers on 28th, a Long-billed Dowitcher on 22nd & 28th, 11 Terek Sandpipers on 29th, and a Nordmann’s Greenshank on 28th; the highest count of Oriental Pratincoles was eight on 29th. Elsewhere, a flock of 20 Bar-tailed Godwits was observed migrating over southern waters on 27th, and a Eurasian Woodcock was at Po Toi on 26th. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes involved 196 moving off Po Toi in a two-hour period on 26th.
Up to three different Saunders’s Gulls lingered at Mai Po between 26th & 30th. Other gulls noted, apart from the regular Black-headed Gulls and Heuglin’s Gulls, were two immature Pallas’s Gulls on 22nd & 28th, a Black-tailed Gull between 22nd & 27th, four mongolicus Vega Gulls on 28th. and a Slaty-backed Gull on 26th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns was 20 on 31st; nine Caspian Terns were present on 26th. Reports of Greater Crested Terns involved one in southern waters on 24th, with eight in southern waters on 27th and one off Po Toi on 29th. A Little Tern was at Mai Po on 26th, and two were seen there on 28th; seven were in southern waters on 27th.
A Pomarine Jaeger, a Long-tailed Jaeger, and an Ancient Murrelet were in southern waters on 27th, as was a party of five Streaked Shearwaters. An earlier Streaked Shearwater was in southern waters on 24th, and one was off Po Toi on 29th.
The long-staying juvenile Lesser Frigatebird was seen again at Mai Po on 27th & 28th. Four Glossy Ibis flew into Mai Po on 30th and spent some time on the scrape. This species used to be a very rare vagrant to Hong Kong, with records of single birds in 1978 and 1994. However, two were present in the northwest New Territories between 20 March and 24 April 2019, and a single bird turned up in the same area in 2020 and remained from 9 April to 15 June. The four birds were not reported on 31st, but hopefully they are still somewhere in the general area and will linger for a while. Single Eurasian Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 28th & 29th, and one was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 31st. Fifty-one Black-faced Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 29th. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 24th & 29th. There was an obvious arrival of Malayan Night Herons into the territory with singles heard on Night Bird Surveys at Shan King on 24th, Shek Kong catchwater and south Lantau catchwater on 29th, and Lam Tsuen and Leung King on 30th.
A Greater Spotted Eagle was at San Tin on 26th, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 30th. A Bonelli’s Eagle and a Japanese Sparrowhawk were at Ping Fung Shan on 27th. Another Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Kai Kung Leng on 31st.
There was a movement of Grey-faced Buzzards through the territory as follows:
24th: eight at Po Toi
25th: six at Cheung Chau
26th: 38 at Lung Kwu Tan, eight at Po Toi, two at Ho Man Tin, 18 at Tai Au Mun, four at Nam Chung, five at Mai Po
27th: two at Lung Kwu Tan, 15 at Hok Tau, three at Tai Au Mun
28th: two at Stonecutter’s Island, five at Tung Lung Chau on 28th
31st: two at Long Valley.
A Collared Scops Owls was heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 23rd, 28th & 30th. A Collared Owlet was calling at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th & 25th, and at Ng Tung Chai on 26th; these are the first records of this species away from Tai Po Kau since it was first noted there on 23 April 2019. Two Grey Nightjars were at Kowloon Hills catchwater on the evening of 30th, and singles were at King Fung and Wang Tong in the early morning on 31st.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Lamma (Sok Kwu Wan) on 29th. The first Blue-tailed Bee-eaters of the spring were seen at Mai Po on 30th, and two were there on 31st. A single Chinese Barbet was calling at KFBG from 22nd – 31st, two were calling at Tai Po Kau on 23rd & 27th, and two were calling at Tai Lam CP on 24th, with one at the latter site until at least 29th. A Eurasian Wryneck was at Ma Tso Lung on 26th.
There was a movement of Ashy Minivets through the territory with one at Tai Lam CP on 28th, one at Po Toi on 29th with two there on 30th, and five at Mai Po and ten at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 29th. The wintering Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 27th. Two Brown Shrikes were at Ho Man Tin on 23rd, with one there on 24th, and one was at Tai Po Kau on 23rd. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, Palm Springs on 24th & 25th, and at Po Toi on 30th. Two Indochinese Green Magpies (Cat III) were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd, and three were there on 30th. Four Black Bulbuls were at KFBG on 22nd, and six were at Tai Lam CP and two at Tai Po Kau on 23rd. Five Asian House Martins were reported from Ma Tso Lung on 28th.
A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was at KFBG on 30th & 31st. Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Pak Sha O on 27th and Po Toi on 28th. An Alström's Warbler was at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd. A Martens’s Warbler at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th & 25th is potentially the ninth or tenth record for Hong Kong. Two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 30th. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was singing at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 30th, and a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was singing along Mai Po access road from 28th – 31st.
Six Chinese Grassbirds were at Ping Fung Shan on 27th. Two Chinese Babaxes (Cat IIC) and a Vinous-throated Parrotbill were at Tai Mo Shan on 31st. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Lam CP on 24th and seven were there on 25th. Sightings of Chestnut-flanked White-eyes involved one at Tai Po Kau on 26th, two at Pak Sha O on 27th, and one at Mt Davis on 29th.
Single Grey-Backed Thrushes were at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd and Tai Lam CP on 26th. The highest count of Japanese Thrushes was ten at both Tai Po Kau and Tung Lung Chau on 23rd. Records of Eyebrowed Thrushes consisted of four at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd, four at Tai Lam CP, two at Tai Po Kau and three at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd, one at Tai Lam CP on 25th, and six at KFBG on 31st. A Pale Thrush and a Brown-headed Thrush were at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd, and a Dusky Thrush was seen at Ho Man Tin between 24th & 28th. A Chinese Thrush reported from Po Toi on 27th will be only the sixth Hong Kong record if accepted.
Single White-rumped Shamas (Cat III) were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd and Kowloon Hills catchwater on 30th. Single Asian Brown Flycatchers were at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th, Mt Davis on 25th, Po Toi on 25th & 26th, and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and KFBG on 30th. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 26th & 28th, and another was at KFBG on 31st. A Red-flanked Bluetail was at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd. A male Narcissus Flycatcher was at KFBG on 30th & 31st, and a male Mugimaki Flycatcher was at the same site on 31st. . A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 24th & 26th, and a different individual was there on 29th.
Six Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd, and single birds were reported from Hok Tau and Tai Po Kau on 27th, Lam Tsuen on 28th, and Tai Lam CP on 29th. Twenty-eight Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and eight White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 28th.
A Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley on 22nd, and two were at Tai Sang Wai on 31st. A White Wagtail leucopsis x alboides hybrid was seen and photographed by Morten and Ben Lisse at Mai Po on 28th. Apparently, this is a returning bird that had been seen by Roman Lo in 2019 (at Mai Po on 24 March & 5 May, and at nearby Lut Chau on 8 April) and in 2020 (at Mai Po on 11 May). This is only the second Hong Kong record of this hybrid after one long-staying bird at Chek Lap Kok from January 2013 - December 2015.
Three Upland Pipits were at Ping Fung Shan on 23rd, and two were there on 27th & 29th. (There is also late news of two to three birds at the same site on 12 February.) Two Tristram’s Buntings were at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, and four were there on 25th. A Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Long Valley on 27th.
There were further signs of arriving summer visitors but the number of passage shorebirds at Mai Po remained low and, in general, passerine migrants proved rather scare. However, there was a fair movement of Grey-faced Buzzards through the territory between 24th & 28th, most notably on 26th. Four Glossy Ibis flew into Mai Po on 30th, making this the third year in succession that this species has occurred in Hong Kong. Details of these and other species below:
Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 31st.
Large Hawk Cuckoos were commonly reported in the New Territories with a high count of eight calling at Shek Kong catchwater on 23rd & 29th. Single Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos were heard at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, Pak Sha O on 26th, Shek Kong catchwater and Ho Pui reservoir on 29th, and Lam Tsuen on 30th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was calling after dark at Uk Tau on 28th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was at Lam Tsuen on 30th.
The number of Far Eastern Curlews at Mai Po had increased to four by 29th. An Oriental Plover was on the scrape at Mai Po on 31st. Other waders at Mai Po included a Ruddy Turnstone on 26th, 83 Great Knot on 27th, a Red Knot on 29th, a Broad-billed Sandpiper on 26th & 27th, 110 Curlew Sandpipers on 28th, a Long-billed Dowitcher on 22nd & 28th, 11 Terek Sandpipers on 29th, and a Nordmann’s Greenshank on 28th; the highest count of Oriental Pratincoles was eight on 29th. Elsewhere, a flock of 20 Bar-tailed Godwits was observed migrating over southern waters on 27th, and a Eurasian Woodcock was at Po Toi on 26th. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes involved 196 moving off Po Toi in a two-hour period on 26th.
Up to three different Saunders’s Gulls lingered at Mai Po between 26th & 30th. Other gulls noted, apart from the regular Black-headed Gulls and Heuglin’s Gulls, were two immature Pallas’s Gulls on 22nd & 28th, a Black-tailed Gull between 22nd & 27th, four mongolicus Vega Gulls on 28th. and a Slaty-backed Gull on 26th. The highest count of Gull-billed Terns was 20 on 31st; nine Caspian Terns were present on 26th. Reports of Greater Crested Terns involved one in southern waters on 24th, with eight in southern waters on 27th and one off Po Toi on 29th. A Little Tern was at Mai Po on 26th, and two were seen there on 28th; seven were in southern waters on 27th.
A Pomarine Jaeger, a Long-tailed Jaeger, and an Ancient Murrelet were in southern waters on 27th, as was a party of five Streaked Shearwaters. An earlier Streaked Shearwater was in southern waters on 24th, and one was off Po Toi on 29th.
The long-staying juvenile Lesser Frigatebird was seen again at Mai Po on 27th & 28th. Four Glossy Ibis flew into Mai Po on 30th and spent some time on the scrape. This species used to be a very rare vagrant to Hong Kong, with records of single birds in 1978 and 1994. However, two were present in the northwest New Territories between 20 March and 24 April 2019, and a single bird turned up in the same area in 2020 and remained from 9 April to 15 June. The four birds were not reported on 31st, but hopefully they are still somewhere in the general area and will linger for a while. Single Eurasian Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 28th & 29th, and one was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 31st. Fifty-one Black-faced Spoonbills were at Mai Po on 29th. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 24th & 29th. There was an obvious arrival of Malayan Night Herons into the territory with singles heard on Night Bird Surveys at Shan King on 24th, Shek Kong catchwater and south Lantau catchwater on 29th, and Lam Tsuen and Leung King on 30th.
A Greater Spotted Eagle was at San Tin on 26th, and an Eastern Imperial Eagle was at Mai Po on 30th. A Bonelli’s Eagle and a Japanese Sparrowhawk were at Ping Fung Shan on 27th. Another Japanese Sparrowhawk was at Kai Kung Leng on 31st.
There was a movement of Grey-faced Buzzards through the territory as follows:
24th: eight at Po Toi
25th: six at Cheung Chau
26th: 38 at Lung Kwu Tan, eight at Po Toi, two at Ho Man Tin, 18 at Tai Au Mun, four at Nam Chung, five at Mai Po
27th: two at Lung Kwu Tan, 15 at Hok Tau, three at Tai Au Mun
28th: two at Stonecutter’s Island, five at Tung Lung Chau on 28th
31st: two at Long Valley.
A Collared Scops Owls was heard calling briefly during the day at Po Toi on 23rd, 28th & 30th. A Collared Owlet was calling at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th & 25th, and at Ng Tung Chai on 26th; these are the first records of this species away from Tai Po Kau since it was first noted there on 23 April 2019. Two Grey Nightjars were at Kowloon Hills catchwater on the evening of 30th, and singles were at King Fung and Wang Tong in the early morning on 31st.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Lamma (Sok Kwu Wan) on 29th. The first Blue-tailed Bee-eaters of the spring were seen at Mai Po on 30th, and two were there on 31st. A single Chinese Barbet was calling at KFBG from 22nd – 31st, two were calling at Tai Po Kau on 23rd & 27th, and two were calling at Tai Lam CP on 24th, with one at the latter site until at least 29th. A Eurasian Wryneck was at Ma Tso Lung on 26th.
There was a movement of Ashy Minivets through the territory with one at Tai Lam CP on 28th, one at Po Toi on 29th with two there on 30th, and five at Mai Po and ten at Lamma (Tai Peng) on 29th. The wintering Ryukyu Minivet was still at Mt Davis on 27th. Two Brown Shrikes were at Ho Man Tin on 23rd, with one there on 24th, and one was at Tai Po Kau on 23rd. Single Black-naped Monarchs were at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, Palm Springs on 24th & 25th, and at Po Toi on 30th. Two Indochinese Green Magpies (Cat III) were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd, and three were there on 30th. Four Black Bulbuls were at KFBG on 22nd, and six were at Tai Lam CP and two at Tai Po Kau on 23rd. Five Asian House Martins were reported from Ma Tso Lung on 28th.
A Hume’s Leaf Warbler was at KFBG on 30th & 31st. Single Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Pak Sha O on 27th and Po Toi on 28th. An Alström's Warbler was at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd. A Martens’s Warbler at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th & 25th is potentially the ninth or tenth record for Hong Kong. Two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 30th. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was singing at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 30th, and a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was singing along Mai Po access road from 28th – 31st.
Six Chinese Grassbirds were at Ping Fung Shan on 27th. Two Chinese Babaxes (Cat IIC) and a Vinous-throated Parrotbill were at Tai Mo Shan on 31st. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Lam CP on 24th and seven were there on 25th. Sightings of Chestnut-flanked White-eyes involved one at Tai Po Kau on 26th, two at Pak Sha O on 27th, and one at Mt Davis on 29th.
Single Grey-Backed Thrushes were at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd and Tai Lam CP on 26th. The highest count of Japanese Thrushes was ten at both Tai Po Kau and Tung Lung Chau on 23rd. Records of Eyebrowed Thrushes consisted of four at Tai Mei Tuk catchwater on 22nd, four at Tai Lam CP, two at Tai Po Kau and three at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd, one at Tai Lam CP on 25th, and six at KFBG on 31st. A Pale Thrush and a Brown-headed Thrush were at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd, and a Dusky Thrush was seen at Ho Man Tin between 24th & 28th. A Chinese Thrush reported from Po Toi on 27th will be only the sixth Hong Kong record if accepted.
Single White-rumped Shamas (Cat III) were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd and Kowloon Hills catchwater on 30th. Single Asian Brown Flycatchers were at Kap Lung Ancient Trail on 24th, Mt Davis on 25th, Po Toi on 25th & 26th, and Tai Mei Tuk catchwater and KFBG on 30th. A Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 26th & 28th, and another was at KFBG on 31st. A Red-flanked Bluetail was at Tung Lung Chau on 23rd. A male Narcissus Flycatcher was at KFBG on 30th & 31st, and a male Mugimaki Flycatcher was at the same site on 31st. . A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 24th & 26th, and a different individual was there on 29th.
Six Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd, and single birds were reported from Hok Tau and Tai Po Kau on 27th, Lam Tsuen on 28th, and Tai Lam CP on 29th. Twenty-eight Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and eight White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 28th.
A Citrine Wagtail was at Long Valley on 22nd, and two were at Tai Sang Wai on 31st. A White Wagtail leucopsis x alboides hybrid was seen and photographed by Morten and Ben Lisse at Mai Po on 28th. Apparently, this is a returning bird that had been seen by Roman Lo in 2019 (at Mai Po on 24 March & 5 May, and at nearby Lut Chau on 8 April) and in 2020 (at Mai Po on 11 May). This is only the second Hong Kong record of this hybrid after one long-staying bird at Chek Lap Kok from January 2013 - December 2015.
Three Upland Pipits were at Ping Fung Shan on 23rd, and two were there on 27th & 29th. (There is also late news of two to three birds at the same site on 12 February.) Two Tristram’s Buntings were at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, and four were there on 25th. A Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Long Valley on 27th.
White Wagtail M.a. leucopsis x alboides hybrid at Mai Po, 28 March 2021 - photograph © Ben Lisse
With special thanks to Ben (& Morten) Lisse for allowing me to reproduce the image of the hybrid White Wagtail, and to Roman Lo for supplying earlier (2019 & 2020) records of the same individual.
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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
