LATEST SIGHTINGS - MAY 2020
May 1-3
May 1-3
Yellow-breasted Bunting at Long Valley, 2 May 2020
Anticyclonic conditions. Fine weather with enervating temperatures up to 34⁰C in the northern New Territories on 3rd.
The Glossy Ibis remained at Mai Po until at least 1st. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong and up to two were in the Lam Tsuen valley. Three Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 1st. Also on 1st, a Eurasian Spoonbill and 15 Black-faced Spoonbills were still present at Mai Po, and a late Great Cormorant was seen along the access road.
Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported from Shek Kong catchwater, Pak Nai, Shui Hau and Man Kung on 1st, and Tai Tong on 3rd; two were at Tseung Kwan O on 3rd.
A Slaty-legged Crake was heard at Lam Tsuen on 1st and two were calling at Tai Tong on 2nd. A Grey Nightjar was also at Tai Tong on 2nd.
Seven Little Curlews flew north over Mai Po on 1st (a single bird and a flock of six). Other shorebirds at Mai Po on 1st included 148 Red Knots, a Sanderling, a Nordmann’s Greenshank, 61 Asian Dowitchers, and 18 Oriental Pratincoles. Four White-winged Terns were at Mai Po on 1st. Six Black-naped Terns and a Bridled Tern were at Tung Ping Chau on 2nd. A tern survey in southeastern waters on 3rd turned up 70 Black-naped Terns, 70 Bridled Terns, four Roseate Terns and a Greater Crested Tern.
Single Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoos were heard at Lam Tsuen and Pak Sha O on 2nd. Nine Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (separate parties of four and five) flew over Mai Po on 1st, and one was at Tung Ping Chau on 2nd. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 2nd, and Buffalo Hill – a new location for this species – on 3rd. A Brown Shrike of the taxon cristatus (rare in spring) was at Pak Sha O on 1st. Other Brown Shrikes of the taxon lucionensis (regular in spring) were a Long Valley on 2nd and Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 2nd, and another was at Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was singing at Tai Tong on 2nd. Five Two-barred Warblers were also at Tai Tong on 2nd, and one was at Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk on 3rd. Three Black-browed Reed Warblers were at Mai Po and two were at Lok Ma Chau on 1st. The Manchurian Reed Warbler was again at Lok Ma Chau on 1st. Dusky Warblers were still present in the territory, with seven at Lok Ma Chau and one at Pui O on 1st, and two at Long Valley on 2nd.
There were 50 Eyebrowed Thrushes at Tai Lam CP on 2nd. Grey-streaked Flycatchers continued to be noted in small numbers, with a high count of four at Man Kung on 1st. High counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers were ten in Tai Lam CP, nine at Shing Mun and eight at Tai Po Kau, all on 2nd. A late Rufous-tailed Robin was at Pak Sha O on 1st. A Bluethroat was still at Long Valley on 2nd.
Seven Plain Flowerpeckers were counted at Shing Mun on 2nd, and three were at Tai Po Kau on the same date.
Two Pechora Pipits were at Mai Po on 1st.
Single Yellow-breasted Buntings were at Mai Po and Long Valley on 1st, and four were at the latter site on 2nd.
The Glossy Ibis remained at Mai Po until at least 1st. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong and up to two were in the Lam Tsuen valley. Three Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 1st. Also on 1st, a Eurasian Spoonbill and 15 Black-faced Spoonbills were still present at Mai Po, and a late Great Cormorant was seen along the access road.
Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported from Shek Kong catchwater, Pak Nai, Shui Hau and Man Kung on 1st, and Tai Tong on 3rd; two were at Tseung Kwan O on 3rd.
A Slaty-legged Crake was heard at Lam Tsuen on 1st and two were calling at Tai Tong on 2nd. A Grey Nightjar was also at Tai Tong on 2nd.
Seven Little Curlews flew north over Mai Po on 1st (a single bird and a flock of six). Other shorebirds at Mai Po on 1st included 148 Red Knots, a Sanderling, a Nordmann’s Greenshank, 61 Asian Dowitchers, and 18 Oriental Pratincoles. Four White-winged Terns were at Mai Po on 1st. Six Black-naped Terns and a Bridled Tern were at Tung Ping Chau on 2nd. A tern survey in southeastern waters on 3rd turned up 70 Black-naped Terns, 70 Bridled Terns, four Roseate Terns and a Greater Crested Tern.
Single Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoos were heard at Lam Tsuen and Pak Sha O on 2nd. Nine Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (separate parties of four and five) flew over Mai Po on 1st, and one was at Tung Ping Chau on 2nd. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau and Tai Lam CP on 2nd, and Buffalo Hill – a new location for this species – on 3rd. A Brown Shrike of the taxon cristatus (rare in spring) was at Pak Sha O on 1st. Other Brown Shrikes of the taxon lucionensis (regular in spring) were a Long Valley on 2nd and Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 2nd, and another was at Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was singing at Tai Tong on 2nd. Five Two-barred Warblers were also at Tai Tong on 2nd, and one was at Tai Mei Tuk Family Walk on 3rd. Three Black-browed Reed Warblers were at Mai Po and two were at Lok Ma Chau on 1st. The Manchurian Reed Warbler was again at Lok Ma Chau on 1st. Dusky Warblers were still present in the territory, with seven at Lok Ma Chau and one at Pui O on 1st, and two at Long Valley on 2nd.
There were 50 Eyebrowed Thrushes at Tai Lam CP on 2nd. Grey-streaked Flycatchers continued to be noted in small numbers, with a high count of four at Man Kung on 1st. High counts of Hainan Blue Flycatchers were ten in Tai Lam CP, nine at Shing Mun and eight at Tai Po Kau, all on 2nd. A late Rufous-tailed Robin was at Pak Sha O on 1st. A Bluethroat was still at Long Valley on 2nd.
Seven Plain Flowerpeckers were counted at Shing Mun on 2nd, and three were at Tai Po Kau on the same date.
Two Pechora Pipits were at Mai Po on 1st.
Single Yellow-breasted Buntings were at Mai Po and Long Valley on 1st, and four were at the latter site on 2nd.
Bluethroat at Long Valley, 2 May 2020
May 4-10
Bridled Tern on flotsam in southern waters, 9 May 2020
The fine weather continued with southerly winds and with temperatures regularly reaching 33⁰C in the New Territories. With the onset of summer, there was a sense that migration was drawing to an abrupt close.
Three late Tufted Ducks were at Mai Po on 7th. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong and up to two were again reported from Lam Tsuen valley. Two Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 9th. Black-faced Spoonbills continued to linger on the marshes - 38 were counted on 7th, and a Eurasian Spoonbill was seen there on 9th. The only report of Chinese Sparrowhawk was of one at Pak Sha O on 9th. A Slaty-legged Crake was heard at Lam Tsuen on 5th
A variety of shorebirds were still at Mai Po albeit in much-reduced numbers. Six Asian Dowitchers and three Oriental Pratincoles were there on 7th, with five of the former and one of the latter on 9th. In addition, 47 White-winged Terns were seen there on 7th, with six on 8th. Other tern records came from offshore waters. Five Black-naped Terns and six Bridled Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 5th. A breeding-tern survey in northeastern waters on 9th produced 102 Black-naped Terns and 258 Bridled Terns, and an afternoon boat trip into southern waters on the same date turned up six Black-naped Terns, 41 Bridled Terns, seven Common Terns and two Little Terns, as well as seven Short-tailed Shearwaters and nine Red-necked Phalaropes. An unseasonal Heuglin’s Gull was at Mai Po on 5th.
Records of late Red Turtle Doves involved one at San Tin on 6th, two at Pui O on 8th, and one at Lok Ma Chau on 10th. Oriental Dollarbirds continued to pass through in small numbers with three at Lam Tsuen on 4th & 6th and one there on 9th, two at Uk Tau on 4th, and singles at Po Toi on 5th and Tai Tong on 6th. Two Chinese Penduline Tits were at Mai Po on 5th & 7th.
Late Two-barred Warblers continued to be reported as follows: three at Tai Tong on 6th with one there on 8th; one at Pak Sha O on 7th with two there on 9th and one on 10th; one at Lam Tsuen on 8th & 9th; two at Lau Shui Heung on 10th. There were also reports from Mai Po of lingering Black-browed Reed Warblers (singles from 5th – 8th) and Dusky Warblers (two on 5th, singles on 8th & 9th). Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at King’s Park on 4th and Po Toi on 5th. An Orange-headed Thrush was at Lam Tsuen on 5th.
Three Pechora Pipits flew over Mai Po on 9th.
A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Long Valley on 7th. A Black-faced Bunting and a Yellow-browed Bunting were at Po Toi on 5th. The latter is a new late date, the previous latest date being 1 May.
Three late Tufted Ducks were at Mai Po on 7th. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong and up to two were again reported from Lam Tsuen valley. Two Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 9th. Black-faced Spoonbills continued to linger on the marshes - 38 were counted on 7th, and a Eurasian Spoonbill was seen there on 9th. The only report of Chinese Sparrowhawk was of one at Pak Sha O on 9th. A Slaty-legged Crake was heard at Lam Tsuen on 5th
A variety of shorebirds were still at Mai Po albeit in much-reduced numbers. Six Asian Dowitchers and three Oriental Pratincoles were there on 7th, with five of the former and one of the latter on 9th. In addition, 47 White-winged Terns were seen there on 7th, with six on 8th. Other tern records came from offshore waters. Five Black-naped Terns and six Bridled Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 5th. A breeding-tern survey in northeastern waters on 9th produced 102 Black-naped Terns and 258 Bridled Terns, and an afternoon boat trip into southern waters on the same date turned up six Black-naped Terns, 41 Bridled Terns, seven Common Terns and two Little Terns, as well as seven Short-tailed Shearwaters and nine Red-necked Phalaropes. An unseasonal Heuglin’s Gull was at Mai Po on 5th.
Records of late Red Turtle Doves involved one at San Tin on 6th, two at Pui O on 8th, and one at Lok Ma Chau on 10th. Oriental Dollarbirds continued to pass through in small numbers with three at Lam Tsuen on 4th & 6th and one there on 9th, two at Uk Tau on 4th, and singles at Po Toi on 5th and Tai Tong on 6th. Two Chinese Penduline Tits were at Mai Po on 5th & 7th.
Late Two-barred Warblers continued to be reported as follows: three at Tai Tong on 6th with one there on 8th; one at Pak Sha O on 7th with two there on 9th and one on 10th; one at Lam Tsuen on 8th & 9th; two at Lau Shui Heung on 10th. There were also reports from Mai Po of lingering Black-browed Reed Warblers (singles from 5th – 8th) and Dusky Warblers (two on 5th, singles on 8th & 9th). Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at King’s Park on 4th and Po Toi on 5th. An Orange-headed Thrush was at Lam Tsuen on 5th.
Three Pechora Pipits flew over Mai Po on 9th.
A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Long Valley on 7th. A Black-faced Bunting and a Yellow-browed Bunting were at Po Toi on 5th. The latter is a new late date, the previous latest date being 1 May.
May 11-17
Malayan Night Heron at Tai Tong, 14 May 2020
A trough of low pressure brought a few localised showers at the start of the week, but for the most part it was hot and sunny with temperatures again regularly up to 32⁰C.
Nine Black-faced Spoonbills were still at Mai Po on 15th. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong, and singles were heard at night at KFBG on 12th and Ng Tung Chai on 16th. Passage Eastern Cattle Egrets were reported from urban areas with 39 at Kowloon Tsai Park on 12th and 69 there on 14th. Two Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 16th.
A Chinese Sparrowhawk was reported from Ho Man Tin on 14th. Night Bird Surveys turned up calling Slaty-legged Crakes as follows: three at KFBG on 12th; singles at Shing Mun catchwater and Mai Po, and 15 at Tai Tam on 15th; one at Ng Tung Chai, one at Wu Kau Tang, six at Bride’s Pool and two on the Peak on 16th. The count of 15 at Tai Tam is not quite the highest on record, which was of 17 along Bride's Pool Rd on 17 April 2001.
A Little Stint was at Mai Po on 16th. Terns were back at the breeding colony on Po Toi rock on 12th when a rough count of 40+ Black-naped Terns, 60+ Bridled Terns, and several Roseate Terns was made from the ferry. Up to 15 Black-naped Terns and three Roseate Terns were fishing offshore from the Tin Hau temple at Po Toi during the day. At Mai Po, 65 White-winged Terns and 20 Whiskered Terns were seen on 15th.
A Red Turtle Dove was at Po Toi on 12th. The first Lesser Cuckoo of the season was calling in Tai Po Kau from 14th – 16th. Other records of calling birds involved two at Wu Kau Tang and one at Bride's Pool after dark on 16th. The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was of four at Tai Lam CP on 14th. Two Grey Nightjars were at Wu Kau Tang and five were at Bride’s Pool on 16th. A late Black-capped Kingfisher was at Tai Tong on 16th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Lam CP and at Tai Po Kau on 14th. The highest count of Brown Shrikes involved 17 at Kai Tak Runway Park on 14th. Two Black-naped Orioles were at Tai Tong on 13th. A white-headed Black Bulbul was at Po Toi on 12th.
A Dusky Warbler was at Lok Ma Chau, and two Two-barred Warblers were at Pak Sha O on 13th. One of the Two-barred Warblers was still present at Pak Sha O on 17th, a new latest date by two days. An Arctic Warbler was at Po Toi on 12th and one was at Kai Tak Runway Park on 14th. A Chinese Grassbird was at Robin’s Nest on 11th.
An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 12th, and a Grey-streaked Flycatcher was at Tai Tong on 13th.
A Little Bunting was at San Tin on 13th.
Nine Black-faced Spoonbills were still at Mai Po on 15th. Malayan Night Herons continued to be reported from Tai Tong, and singles were heard at night at KFBG on 12th and Ng Tung Chai on 16th. Passage Eastern Cattle Egrets were reported from urban areas with 39 at Kowloon Tsai Park on 12th and 69 there on 14th. Two Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po on 16th.
A Chinese Sparrowhawk was reported from Ho Man Tin on 14th. Night Bird Surveys turned up calling Slaty-legged Crakes as follows: three at KFBG on 12th; singles at Shing Mun catchwater and Mai Po, and 15 at Tai Tam on 15th; one at Ng Tung Chai, one at Wu Kau Tang, six at Bride’s Pool and two on the Peak on 16th. The count of 15 at Tai Tam is not quite the highest on record, which was of 17 along Bride's Pool Rd on 17 April 2001.
A Little Stint was at Mai Po on 16th. Terns were back at the breeding colony on Po Toi rock on 12th when a rough count of 40+ Black-naped Terns, 60+ Bridled Terns, and several Roseate Terns was made from the ferry. Up to 15 Black-naped Terns and three Roseate Terns were fishing offshore from the Tin Hau temple at Po Toi during the day. At Mai Po, 65 White-winged Terns and 20 Whiskered Terns were seen on 15th.
A Red Turtle Dove was at Po Toi on 12th. The first Lesser Cuckoo of the season was calling in Tai Po Kau from 14th – 16th. Other records of calling birds involved two at Wu Kau Tang and one at Bride's Pool after dark on 16th. The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was of four at Tai Lam CP on 14th. Two Grey Nightjars were at Wu Kau Tang and five were at Bride’s Pool on 16th. A late Black-capped Kingfisher was at Tai Tong on 16th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Lam CP and at Tai Po Kau on 14th. The highest count of Brown Shrikes involved 17 at Kai Tak Runway Park on 14th. Two Black-naped Orioles were at Tai Tong on 13th. A white-headed Black Bulbul was at Po Toi on 12th.
A Dusky Warbler was at Lok Ma Chau, and two Two-barred Warblers were at Pak Sha O on 13th. One of the Two-barred Warblers was still present at Pak Sha O on 17th, a new latest date by two days. An Arctic Warbler was at Po Toi on 12th and one was at Kai Tak Runway Park on 14th. A Chinese Grassbird was at Robin’s Nest on 11th.
An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 12th, and a Grey-streaked Flycatcher was at Tai Tong on 13th.
A Little Bunting was at San Tin on 13th.
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo at Nam Chung, 14 May 2020
May 18-24
Common Cuckoo at Mai Po, 22 May 2020
Low pressure systems during the week brought unsettled weather to southern China with occasional heavy showers and squally thunderstorms. Temperatures largely remained under 30⁰C.
The highlight of the week was a Common Cuckoo present at Mai Po from 20th – 23rd.
First, however, late news from Night Bird Surveys on the evening of 17th: there were two Grey Nightjars between Wonderland Villas and Piper’s Hill, a Slaty-legged Crake at Braemar’s Hill, a Malayan Night Heron and a Grey Nightjar at Tai Tong, and a Malayan Night Heron and five Slaty-legged Crakes at Lam Tsuen.
On 18th, 72 migrant Eastern Cattle Egrets were counted at Deep Water Bay Beach.
On 19th, a very late Dusky Thrush was seen at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway; the previous latest date for this species is 5 May. Also on 19th, 11 Eastern Cattle Egrets were at Kowloon Tsai Park and a Brown Shrike and a Grey-streaked Flycatcher were reported from Long Valley.
The highlight of the week was a Common Cuckoo present at Mai Po from 20th – 23rd.
First, however, late news from Night Bird Surveys on the evening of 17th: there were two Grey Nightjars between Wonderland Villas and Piper’s Hill, a Slaty-legged Crake at Braemar’s Hill, a Malayan Night Heron and a Grey Nightjar at Tai Tong, and a Malayan Night Heron and five Slaty-legged Crakes at Lam Tsuen.
On 18th, 72 migrant Eastern Cattle Egrets were counted at Deep Water Bay Beach.
On 19th, a very late Dusky Thrush was seen at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway; the previous latest date for this species is 5 May. Also on 19th, 11 Eastern Cattle Egrets were at Kowloon Tsai Park and a Brown Shrike and a Grey-streaked Flycatcher were reported from Long Valley.
Common Cuckoo at Mai Po, 22 May 2020
On 20th, Peter and Michelle Wong discovered a Common Cuckoo singing on the tree-covered knoll next to the Mai Po car park. This is only the second record of this species for Hong Kong and proved very popular with bird watchers and bird photographers during its stay. (See Roman Lo’s eBird post at https://ebird.org/checklist/S69391276 for a set of images and an audio recording of this bird.)
The first record of this species in Hong Kong was at Po Toi on 4 April 2007. This bird did not call but was identified from a number of photographs taken by Geoff Welch on the day. The very narrow grey breast bars across the underparts ruled out the similar Oriental Cuckoo and indicated this individual was nominate Cuculus canorus canorus. The Mai Po bird was somewhat different in having thicker grey barring on the underparts but its cuck-oo song clearly showed it was a Common Cuckoo. However, there is speculation that this individual is of the taxon Cuculus canorus bakeri which breeds from southwest China (west Sichuan) to the Himalayan foothills in north India, Nepal, Myanmar, northwest Thailand, north Laos, and north Vietnam; it winters to Assam, east Bengal and southeast Asia.
Apart from the Common Cuckoo, Mai Po turned up a few other birds of interest. On 21st, a female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was seen. On 22nd, among the water birds on the reserve and out on the mud flats were 19 lingering Black-faced Spoonbills, a Chinese Egret, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, a good spread of waders including 46 Great Knots, 55 Grey-tailed Tattlers, four Nordmann’s Greenshanks, and five Oriental Pratincoles, a late Black-headed Gull, 17 Gull-billed Terns, 11 Whiskered Terns, and 106 White-winged Terns. A somewhat elusive Lesser Cuckoo was also in the same area as the Common Cuckoo. The Lesser Cuckoo was still present on 23rd, and another was heard elsewhere on the reserve. A Chinese Egret, a Glossy ibis, a Grey-headed Lapwing, four Oriental Pratincoles, and three Red Turtle Doves were also seen on the reserve.
Elsewhere on 23rd, three Oriental Dollarbirds were at Wu Kau Tang and one was at Ho Pui village; two Eurasian Hobbies were at Ta Kwu Ling; a Lesser Cuckoo and a Chinese Barbet were in Tai Po Kau.
On 24th, the Glossy Ibis, the Chinese Egret, six Nordmann's Greenshanks and a Little Tern were at Mai Po, and a Lesser Cuckoo was again heard on the reserve. However, there was no sign of the Common Cuckoo. Also on 24th, a pair of Black-naped Orioles was at Shek Wu Wai near San Tin.
The first record of this species in Hong Kong was at Po Toi on 4 April 2007. This bird did not call but was identified from a number of photographs taken by Geoff Welch on the day. The very narrow grey breast bars across the underparts ruled out the similar Oriental Cuckoo and indicated this individual was nominate Cuculus canorus canorus. The Mai Po bird was somewhat different in having thicker grey barring on the underparts but its cuck-oo song clearly showed it was a Common Cuckoo. However, there is speculation that this individual is of the taxon Cuculus canorus bakeri which breeds from southwest China (west Sichuan) to the Himalayan foothills in north India, Nepal, Myanmar, northwest Thailand, north Laos, and north Vietnam; it winters to Assam, east Bengal and southeast Asia.
Apart from the Common Cuckoo, Mai Po turned up a few other birds of interest. On 21st, a female Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was seen. On 22nd, among the water birds on the reserve and out on the mud flats were 19 lingering Black-faced Spoonbills, a Chinese Egret, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, a good spread of waders including 46 Great Knots, 55 Grey-tailed Tattlers, four Nordmann’s Greenshanks, and five Oriental Pratincoles, a late Black-headed Gull, 17 Gull-billed Terns, 11 Whiskered Terns, and 106 White-winged Terns. A somewhat elusive Lesser Cuckoo was also in the same area as the Common Cuckoo. The Lesser Cuckoo was still present on 23rd, and another was heard elsewhere on the reserve. A Chinese Egret, a Glossy ibis, a Grey-headed Lapwing, four Oriental Pratincoles, and three Red Turtle Doves were also seen on the reserve.
Elsewhere on 23rd, three Oriental Dollarbirds were at Wu Kau Tang and one was at Ho Pui village; two Eurasian Hobbies were at Ta Kwu Ling; a Lesser Cuckoo and a Chinese Barbet were in Tai Po Kau.
On 24th, the Glossy Ibis, the Chinese Egret, six Nordmann's Greenshanks and a Little Tern were at Mai Po, and a Lesser Cuckoo was again heard on the reserve. However, there was no sign of the Common Cuckoo. Also on 24th, a pair of Black-naped Orioles was at Shek Wu Wai near San Tin.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana at Mai Po, 22 May 2020
May 25-31
Unsettled weather throughout the week with heavy showers and squally thunderstorms. In most areas, temperatures did not exceed 30⁰C.
On 25th, Mai Po still held 18 Black-faced Spoonbills, a Chinese Egret, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, 45 Great Knots, ten Red Knots and two Black-headed Gulls. A Cotton Pygmy Goose was found on the reserve on 28th. This is the 13th Hong Kong record, but only the 5th in spring. The previous sightings have occurred between 10th and 29th May, but this individual was present until at least the 31st, thus extending the date of the latest sighting by two days. Other sightings at Mai Po on 28th included a Tufted Duck, the Glossy Ibis, 11 Black-faced Spoonbills, 65 Whimbrels, two Asian Dowitchers, three Nordmann’s Greenshanks and six Gull-billed Terns. The Glossy Ibis was still present on 31st. Also on 31st, birds noted included a Eurasian Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, a Cinnamon Bittern, two Slaty-breasted Rails and two Eurasian Hobbies.
On 26th, 23 Eastern Cattle Egrets were at Kowloon Tsai Park on 26th, and at night a Slaty-legged Crake was calling in the Wun Yiu area. A Lesser Cuckoo was heard at Lin Au.
On 27th, a Chinese Grassbird was seen at Ma On Shan, and a Lesser Cuckoo, a Chinese Barbet and five Black Bulbuls (three adults & two juveniles) were at Tai Lam CP.
On 28th, two Roseate Terns and 50 Black-naped Terns were counted at Kung Chau, and 120 Bridled Terns and 13 Black-naped Terns were at Shek Ngau Chau.
On 30th, a Common Tern was seen near Chi Ma Wan. A Lesser Cuckoo was heard at Tai Lam CP.
On 31st, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau. Single Lesser Cuckoos were heard at Tai Mo Shan and Tai Po Kau. In the afternoon, a Sooty Tern was seen from the Tolo Harbour ferry near Ma On Shan; this is only the 13th record of this species in Hong Kong although it has appeared annually since 2015 (except for 2017).
And late news of a Jacobin Cuckoo that was seen and photographed at Mai Po on 30th - a potential first for Hong Kong if accepted. The occurrence of this bird was not generally made known until the evening of 31st, which is in stark (negative) contrast to the immediate release of the news of the Common Cuckoo on 20 May (see above)!
Unsettled weather throughout the week with heavy showers and squally thunderstorms. In most areas, temperatures did not exceed 30⁰C.
On 25th, Mai Po still held 18 Black-faced Spoonbills, a Chinese Egret, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana, 45 Great Knots, ten Red Knots and two Black-headed Gulls. A Cotton Pygmy Goose was found on the reserve on 28th. This is the 13th Hong Kong record, but only the 5th in spring. The previous sightings have occurred between 10th and 29th May, but this individual was present until at least the 31st, thus extending the date of the latest sighting by two days. Other sightings at Mai Po on 28th included a Tufted Duck, the Glossy Ibis, 11 Black-faced Spoonbills, 65 Whimbrels, two Asian Dowitchers, three Nordmann’s Greenshanks and six Gull-billed Terns. The Glossy Ibis was still present on 31st. Also on 31st, birds noted included a Eurasian Wigeon, a Tufted Duck, a Cinnamon Bittern, two Slaty-breasted Rails and two Eurasian Hobbies.
On 26th, 23 Eastern Cattle Egrets were at Kowloon Tsai Park on 26th, and at night a Slaty-legged Crake was calling in the Wun Yiu area. A Lesser Cuckoo was heard at Lin Au.
On 27th, a Chinese Grassbird was seen at Ma On Shan, and a Lesser Cuckoo, a Chinese Barbet and five Black Bulbuls (three adults & two juveniles) were at Tai Lam CP.
On 28th, two Roseate Terns and 50 Black-naped Terns were counted at Kung Chau, and 120 Bridled Terns and 13 Black-naped Terns were at Shek Ngau Chau.
On 30th, a Common Tern was seen near Chi Ma Wan. A Lesser Cuckoo was heard at Tai Lam CP.
On 31st, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau. Single Lesser Cuckoos were heard at Tai Mo Shan and Tai Po Kau. In the afternoon, a Sooty Tern was seen from the Tolo Harbour ferry near Ma On Shan; this is only the 13th record of this species in Hong Kong although it has appeared annually since 2015 (except for 2017).
And late news of a Jacobin Cuckoo that was seen and photographed at Mai Po on 30th - a potential first for Hong Kong if accepted. The occurrence of this bird was not generally made known until the evening of 31st, which is in stark (negative) contrast to the immediate release of the news of the Common Cuckoo on 20 May (see above)!
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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=28893&extra=page%3D1
