LATEST SIGHTINGS - MAY 2021
May 1-9
May 1-9
Unsettled weather with a few showers until 6th, after which anticyclonic conditions brought very hot weather to the territory; the mercury rose to over 33⁰C on 8th & 9th.
Apart from the usual migrants to be expected in early May, a number of scarce/rare species were recorded including Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Grey-headed Swamphen, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Sooty Tern, Ruddy Kingfisher and Japanese Leaf Warbler. Details below:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 2nd.
Single White-throated and Silver-backed Needletails were at Shui Tsan Tin on 2nd, and two White-throated Needletails were at Long Valley on 3rd. Pacific Swifts were reported in ones and twos from Mt Nicholson, Mt Davis, Tai Lam CP and Mai Po; in addition, five at the East Ninepins on 8th were presumably of the race A.p. kurodae that breeds in small numbers on Waglan and the Ninepins.
A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at the Kap Lung Forest Trail on 1st. The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was three at Wu Kau Tang on 1st and three at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Three Lesser Cuckoos singing at Tai Mo Shan on 8th were the first birds of the spring. Up to two Oriental Cuckoos were at Mai Pol from 1st – 5th.
A Grey-headed Swamphen that was apparently first seen in a restricted area at the HK Wetland Park on 22 & 23 April was again seen on 5th. Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: one at Wung Yiu on 1st, two at Keung Shan catchwater on 1st, one at Discovery Bay on 2nd, one at Man Kam To on 3rd, and one at Ho Pui Reservoir on 8th.
At Grey-headed Lapwing was at Long Valley on 7th. Two Far Eastern Curlews were at Mai Po on 2nd & 4th. and two were there on 27th; one was also at Mai Po on 28th. Four Ruddy Turnstones were at Shek Ngau Chau on 2nd, and six were at Mai Po on 4th. Sixty Red Knots were at Mai Po on 9th. So far, the only Spoon-billed Sandpiper of the spring was one on the scrape at Mai Po on 8th & 9th; this individual bore a white leg flag with the letters LM on it, indicating that this was a head-started bird from the breeding grounds at Chukotka, Russia in summer 2020 (information courtesy of Mike Leven). Other waders at Mai Po included three Sanderlings and a Little Stint on 2nd, a flyover Pectoral Sandpiper on 7th, and 11 Asian Dowitchers on 2nd. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes involved 70 in the Tolo Channel on 1st. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 1st with two there on 2nd. Oriental Pratincole records consisted of 17 along the Mai Po access road on 1st, seven at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th, and four at Mai Po on 8th.
Thirty-six Gull-billed Terns were at Mai Po on 9th. Two Greater Crested Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 3rd, There was an excellent count of 76 Little Terns at Mai Po on 7th, which is the highest count in Hong Kong since 1999. A hundred and ten Bridled Terns were at Castle Rock, Po Toi, on 3rd & 4th. A juvenile Sooty Tern was seen between Lamma and Cheung Chau on 5th. Both Whiskered and White-winged Terns were reported in good numbers from widespread sites. The highest counts of Whiskered Terns involved 70 at Tso Wo Hang on 3rd and 72 at Mai Po on 7th. White-winged Terns were more numerous with counts of 200 at Nam Sang Wai and 186 at San Tin on 8th.
A Streaked Shearwater was seen in eastern waters on 8th. Single Lesser Frigatebirds were seen over Hong Kong Park on 1st and at Sai Kung on 5th.
Apart from the usual migrants to be expected in early May, a number of scarce/rare species were recorded including Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo, Grey-headed Swamphen, Pectoral Sandpiper, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Sooty Tern, Ruddy Kingfisher and Japanese Leaf Warbler. Details below:
A Japanese Quail was at Long Valley on 2nd.
Single White-throated and Silver-backed Needletails were at Shui Tsan Tin on 2nd, and two White-throated Needletails were at Long Valley on 3rd. Pacific Swifts were reported in ones and twos from Mt Nicholson, Mt Davis, Tai Lam CP and Mai Po; in addition, five at the East Ninepins on 8th were presumably of the race A.p. kurodae that breeds in small numbers on Waglan and the Ninepins.
A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at the Kap Lung Forest Trail on 1st. The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was three at Wu Kau Tang on 1st and three at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Three Lesser Cuckoos singing at Tai Mo Shan on 8th were the first birds of the spring. Up to two Oriental Cuckoos were at Mai Pol from 1st – 5th.
A Grey-headed Swamphen that was apparently first seen in a restricted area at the HK Wetland Park on 22 & 23 April was again seen on 5th. Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: one at Wung Yiu on 1st, two at Keung Shan catchwater on 1st, one at Discovery Bay on 2nd, one at Man Kam To on 3rd, and one at Ho Pui Reservoir on 8th.
At Grey-headed Lapwing was at Long Valley on 7th. Two Far Eastern Curlews were at Mai Po on 2nd & 4th. and two were there on 27th; one was also at Mai Po on 28th. Four Ruddy Turnstones were at Shek Ngau Chau on 2nd, and six were at Mai Po on 4th. Sixty Red Knots were at Mai Po on 9th. So far, the only Spoon-billed Sandpiper of the spring was one on the scrape at Mai Po on 8th & 9th; this individual bore a white leg flag with the letters LM on it, indicating that this was a head-started bird from the breeding grounds at Chukotka, Russia in summer 2020 (information courtesy of Mike Leven). Other waders at Mai Po included three Sanderlings and a Little Stint on 2nd, a flyover Pectoral Sandpiper on 7th, and 11 Asian Dowitchers on 2nd. The highest count of Red-necked Phalaropes involved 70 in the Tolo Channel on 1st. A Nordmann’s Greenshank was at Mai Po on 1st with two there on 2nd. Oriental Pratincole records consisted of 17 along the Mai Po access road on 1st, seven at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th, and four at Mai Po on 8th.
Thirty-six Gull-billed Terns were at Mai Po on 9th. Two Greater Crested Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 3rd, There was an excellent count of 76 Little Terns at Mai Po on 7th, which is the highest count in Hong Kong since 1999. A hundred and ten Bridled Terns were at Castle Rock, Po Toi, on 3rd & 4th. A juvenile Sooty Tern was seen between Lamma and Cheung Chau on 5th. Both Whiskered and White-winged Terns were reported in good numbers from widespread sites. The highest counts of Whiskered Terns involved 70 at Tso Wo Hang on 3rd and 72 at Mai Po on 7th. White-winged Terns were more numerous with counts of 200 at Nam Sang Wai and 186 at San Tin on 8th.
A Streaked Shearwater was seen in eastern waters on 8th. Single Lesser Frigatebirds were seen over Hong Kong Park on 1st and at Sai Kung on 5th.
Fifty-six Black-faced Spoonbills, mainly juveniles, remained at Mai Po on 2nd. Reports of Cinnamon Bitterns consisted of one at Lok Ma Chau EEA and three at HK Wetland Park on 5th, and one at Mai Po on 7th, Single Malayan Night Herons were at Lam Tsuen on 4th and Ho Pui Reservoir on 8th, A hundred and fifty-four Eastern Cattle Egrets were counted at Tso Wo Hang on 3rd. Up to two Chinese Egrets were at Mai Po between 1st & 9th,
A Black-winged Kite was at Long valley on 2nd, and one was at Mai Po on 7th & 8th. Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po on 1st, Cheung Chau on 2nd, Po Toi on 3rd & 7th, Tai Lam Chung on 5th, and Mt Davis on 6th; two were at Tai O on 4th, A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 4th. A Northern Boobook was at Ho Man Tin on 4th.
Single Oriental Dollarbirds were reported from six sites, and two were at Lam Tsuen on 2nd. A Ruddy Kingfisher was seen briefly at Po Toi on 6th. This is the second record this spring after one, also at Po Toi on 27 April. Nine Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 2nd and seven were at Mt Davis on 4th. A Chinese Barbet was at Ho Chung on 1st, and up to three were singing at Tai Po Kau throughout the period under review.
An Amur Falcon flew over Mai Po on 30 April; this is only the 4th spring record. A Eurasian Hobby was at Tong Fuk, Lantau on 2nd. A Fairy Pitta was at Po Toi on 6th. Single Ashy Minivets were at Shan King on 2nd and Po Toi on 6th. Passage Brown Shrikes were widespread in small numbers, the highest count being 25 at Po Toi on 6th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd, and one was at Po Toi on 4th. Up to two Japanese Paradise Flycatchers continued to be observed at Po Toi until 6th. A Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher at Tai Lam CP on 7th is the first ever May record of this species.
Two Black Bulbuls were at Tai Po Kau on 4th, and nine were at Tai Lam CP on 8th. Twelve Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 7th.
Twenty Mountain Tailorbirds were singing at Tai Po Kau on 4th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler at Po Toi on 7th equalled the latest spring date for this species. A Pale-legged Leaf Warbler was at Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
Arctic Warblers were widespread in small numbers, the most seen being ten at Po Toi on 7th. However, in addition to six positively identified Arctic Warblers at Po Toi on 6th, another 20+ “Arctic-type warblers” were also reported. The six Arctic Warblers were identified on call; the others were silent birds.
The problem is that the Arctic Warbler was split into three different species ten years ago: these are Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis - breeds north Europe to north Siberia, west Alaska and northeast China; winters to southeast Asia (Indochina, Thailand, Malay Peninsula), and Indonesia; Japanese Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus xanthodryas - breeds Japan (Honshu to Kyushu); winters Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Java and locally east to the Moluccas; Kamchatka Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus examinandus - breeds in northeast Russia (Kamchatka, Sakhalin Is, Kuril Is.) and north Japan (Hokkaido); winter records from the Philippines south to Bali and Lesser Sundas.
Identifying these species away from their breeding grounds is difficult, but it does seem there are significant vocal differences between the three. There have been two accepted records of Japanese Leaf Warbler in Hong Kong, and at least three others are awaiting review. A Phylloscopus warbler heard and recorded at Tai Lam CP on 6th by Morten and Ben Lisse has been tentatively identified as Japanese Leaf Warbler, and may well prove to be the 4th or 5th Hong Kong record once it has been assessed along with the previous claims. Most likely, Japanese Leaf Warbler is a scarce/very scarce migrant to Hong Kong. As yet, there have been no claims of Kamchatka Leaf Warbler in the territory.
Other warblers reported were the long-staying, singing Manchurian Reed Warbler at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th, a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler at the same site on 4th, and a Lanceolated Warbler at Po Toi on 6th.
At Tai Mo Shan on 8th, a Chinese Grassbird was singing, and a total of 12 Vinous-throated Parrotbills, including fledged young, were seen in three separate parties.
Singing Orange-headed Thrushes were noted at four sites, all singles apart from three at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Eyebrowed Thrushes continued to be reported from three sites with a high count of 21 at Tai Lam CP on 6th; 18+ other unidentified thrushes at Tai Lam CP on the same date were almost certainly Eyebrowed Thrushes too. Four White-rumped Shamas (Cat III) were noted between Pak Tam Chung and Yan Yee Road on 7th, and one was at Kei Ling Ha on 8th.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers were widespread with reports of ones and twos from seven different sites; the highest count was ten at Mt Davis on 6th. A Dark-sided Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 3rd; this species is rare at this season and this is only the 9th spring record. Three Asian Brown Flycatchers were at Pak Sha O on 5th. Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were Tai Po Kau from 4th - 7th, and one was at Tai Lam CP on 8th.A
Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 3rd. Reports of Hainan Blue Flycatchers included eight at Tai Po Kau on 6th, and eight at Tai Lam CP on 7th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 1st. A Narcissus Flycatcher was at Cheung Chau on 6th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 5th, and up to two were at Lam Tsuen throughout the period under review. Twenty-five Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 33 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 2nd.
The only Forest Wagtail reported this spring was at Ho Man Tin on 5th, Seventy tschutschensis Eastern Yellow Wagtails were at Long Valley on 6th and Mai Po on 8th, and a Citrine Wagtail was reported from Long Valley on 8th. Single Pechora Pipits were at Po Toi on 6th and Mt Davis on 6th & 7th.
A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Mai Po on 7th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 2nd, and three Yellow-breasted Buntings were seen there on 1st, with four on 2nd.
A Black-winged Kite was at Long valley on 2nd, and one was at Mai Po on 7th & 8th. Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po on 1st, Cheung Chau on 2nd, Po Toi on 3rd & 7th, Tai Lam Chung on 5th, and Mt Davis on 6th; two were at Tai O on 4th, A Collared Owlet was heard in Tai Po Kau on 4th. A Northern Boobook was at Ho Man Tin on 4th.
Single Oriental Dollarbirds were reported from six sites, and two were at Lam Tsuen on 2nd. A Ruddy Kingfisher was seen briefly at Po Toi on 6th. This is the second record this spring after one, also at Po Toi on 27 April. Nine Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were at Mai Po on 2nd and seven were at Mt Davis on 4th. A Chinese Barbet was at Ho Chung on 1st, and up to three were singing at Tai Po Kau throughout the period under review.
An Amur Falcon flew over Mai Po on 30 April; this is only the 4th spring record. A Eurasian Hobby was at Tong Fuk, Lantau on 2nd. A Fairy Pitta was at Po Toi on 6th. Single Ashy Minivets were at Shan King on 2nd and Po Toi on 6th. Passage Brown Shrikes were widespread in small numbers, the highest count being 25 at Po Toi on 6th. A Black-naped Oriole was at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd, and one was at Po Toi on 4th. Up to two Japanese Paradise Flycatchers continued to be observed at Po Toi until 6th. A Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher at Tai Lam CP on 7th is the first ever May record of this species.
Two Black Bulbuls were at Tai Po Kau on 4th, and nine were at Tai Lam CP on 8th. Twelve Sand Martins were at Mai Po on 7th.
Twenty Mountain Tailorbirds were singing at Tai Po Kau on 4th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler at Po Toi on 7th equalled the latest spring date for this species. A Pale-legged Leaf Warbler was at Ho Man Tin on 3rd.
Arctic Warblers were widespread in small numbers, the most seen being ten at Po Toi on 7th. However, in addition to six positively identified Arctic Warblers at Po Toi on 6th, another 20+ “Arctic-type warblers” were also reported. The six Arctic Warblers were identified on call; the others were silent birds.
The problem is that the Arctic Warbler was split into three different species ten years ago: these are Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis - breeds north Europe to north Siberia, west Alaska and northeast China; winters to southeast Asia (Indochina, Thailand, Malay Peninsula), and Indonesia; Japanese Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus xanthodryas - breeds Japan (Honshu to Kyushu); winters Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Java and locally east to the Moluccas; Kamchatka Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus examinandus - breeds in northeast Russia (Kamchatka, Sakhalin Is, Kuril Is.) and north Japan (Hokkaido); winter records from the Philippines south to Bali and Lesser Sundas.
Identifying these species away from their breeding grounds is difficult, but it does seem there are significant vocal differences between the three. There have been two accepted records of Japanese Leaf Warbler in Hong Kong, and at least three others are awaiting review. A Phylloscopus warbler heard and recorded at Tai Lam CP on 6th by Morten and Ben Lisse has been tentatively identified as Japanese Leaf Warbler, and may well prove to be the 4th or 5th Hong Kong record once it has been assessed along with the previous claims. Most likely, Japanese Leaf Warbler is a scarce/very scarce migrant to Hong Kong. As yet, there have been no claims of Kamchatka Leaf Warbler in the territory.
Other warblers reported were the long-staying, singing Manchurian Reed Warbler at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 6th, a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler at the same site on 4th, and a Lanceolated Warbler at Po Toi on 6th.
At Tai Mo Shan on 8th, a Chinese Grassbird was singing, and a total of 12 Vinous-throated Parrotbills, including fledged young, were seen in three separate parties.
Singing Orange-headed Thrushes were noted at four sites, all singles apart from three at Tai Po Kau on 6th. Eyebrowed Thrushes continued to be reported from three sites with a high count of 21 at Tai Lam CP on 6th; 18+ other unidentified thrushes at Tai Lam CP on the same date were almost certainly Eyebrowed Thrushes too. Four White-rumped Shamas (Cat III) were noted between Pak Tam Chung and Yan Yee Road on 7th, and one was at Kei Ling Ha on 8th.
Grey-streaked Flycatchers were widespread with reports of ones and twos from seven different sites; the highest count was ten at Mt Davis on 6th. A Dark-sided Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 3rd; this species is rare at this season and this is only the 9th spring record. Three Asian Brown Flycatchers were at Pak Sha O on 5th. Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were Tai Po Kau from 4th - 7th, and one was at Tai Lam CP on 8th.A
Ferruginous Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 3rd. Reports of Hainan Blue Flycatchers included eight at Tai Po Kau on 6th, and eight at Tai Lam CP on 7th. A Blue-and-white Flycatcher was at Po Toi on 1st. A Narcissus Flycatcher was at Cheung Chau on 6th.
Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 5th, and up to two were at Lam Tsuen throughout the period under review. Twenty-five Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 33 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were at Long Valley on 2nd.
The only Forest Wagtail reported this spring was at Ho Man Tin on 5th, Seventy tschutschensis Eastern Yellow Wagtails were at Long Valley on 6th and Mai Po on 8th, and a Citrine Wagtail was reported from Long Valley on 8th. Single Pechora Pipits were at Po Toi on 6th and Mt Davis on 6th & 7th.
A Grey-capped Greenfinch was at Mai Po on 7th. A Chestnut-eared Bunting was at Long Valley on 2nd, and three Yellow-breasted Buntings were seen there on 1st, with four on 2nd.
May 10-16
Summer came in with a vengeance: anticyclonic conditions; southerly winds; little rain; daily temperatures over 32⁰C at the start of the week rising to 34⁰C on the weekend of 15th & 16th.
Apart from a decent movement of terns off Po Toi during the week, there was a marked decline in the number of migrants passing through the territory. The records below include a few from 9 May that I missed from my last posting.
Pacific Swifts were reported as follows: two at Tai Lam CP on 13th, two at Sai Kung on 14th, and five at Stanley on 14th. A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at Hoi Ha on 10th & 11th, and at Pak Sha O on 14th. Two Lesser Cuckoos were at Kap Lung on 16th.
Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: singles at Shek Kong catchwater and Heung Yuen Wai on 9th, one at Lam Tsuen on 11th, two at the Peak on 12th, one at Discovery Bay and three between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 14th, and one between Wonderland Villas and Pipers Hill on 15th.
Wader records from Mai Po included a Far Eastern Curlew on 15th, a Ruddy Turnstone, and two Asian Dowitchers on 10th, a Nordmann’s Greenshank on 10th & 15th, and four Oriental Pratincoles on 13th with one there on 14th.Twenty Grey-tailed Tattlers were at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
Ten Gull-billed Terns remained at Mai Po on 15th. Twenty-two Whiskered Terns were noted at Mai Po on 13th, and 38 White-winged Terns were there on 14th. In addition, 19 Whiskered Terns were at Sha Kiu on 15th.
Daily movements of seabirds were noted off the southern tip of Po Toi during morning and afternoon seawatches conducted by Bart de Schutter throughout the week. Total counts of migrating terns during the seven-day period were: six Gull-billed Terns, 29 Greater Crested Terns, 18 Little Terns, 13 Aleutian Terns, 27 Roseate Terns, 26 Black-naped Terns, 66 Common Terns, 28 Whiskered Terns and 466 White-winged Terns. In addition, at least 155 locally breeding Bridled Terns, along with small numbers of summering Black-naped and Roseate Terns were noted offshore on a daily basis.
Other seabirds noted were Parasitic Jaegers with a total count of seven – one on 10th, one on 11th, and five on 13th, and Short-tailed Shearwaters with a count of 16 - three on 10th, three on 11th, two on 12th, two on 13th, three on 14th, three on 15th.
A Red-footed Booby was seen in waters south of Po Toi on 15th.
A trip to southern waters on 16th turned up 108 Bridled Terns, 31 Roseate terns, 38 Black-naped Terns and six Common Terns. Also seen were a Pomarine Jaeger and a Short-tailed Shearwater.
Ten Black-faced Spoonbills, remained at Mai Po on 14th. A Von Schrenck's Bittern was at Mui Wo on 10th. Two Cinnamon Bitterns were at Mai Po on 14th and one was at Shan Pui River, Yuen Long on 16th. A Malayan Night Heron was at Tai Tong on 9th. A Chinese Egret was at Waglan Island on 15th, and two were also at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 10th. Three Grey Nightjars were between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 14th, and four were between Wonderland Villas and Pipers Hill on 15th. At least one Chinese Barbet was singing in the Lead Mine Pass/Shing Mun area on 11th, two were at Tai Po Kau on 11th, one was at Tai Lam CP on 13th, and one was at Lead Mine Pass on 16th. A Eurasian Hobby was at Shek Kong catchwater on 9th. A Brown Shrike was at Po Toi on 11th & 12th.
Seven Black Bulbuls at Tai Lam CP on 11th included a juvenile; two were also at Tai Po Kau on 11th. Four Two-barred Warblers were at Tai Tong on 9th. Arctic Warblers were reported as follows: one at Po Toi on 10th, two at King’s Park on 11th, one at Ho Man Tin and two at Tai Lam CP on 13th, and one at Lam Tsuen on 14th.
At Tai Mo Shan on 11th, three Chinese Babaxes and ten Vinous-throated Parrotbills, were seen.
An Eyebrowed Thrush was at Pak Sha O on 11th. A Grey-streaked Flycatcher was at Shek Kong catchwater on 9th & 10th. Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 10th and at Tai Po Kau on 15th. Eight Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 11th.
Seventeen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) were at Long Valley on 13th. White-headed Munias (Cat III) were noted as follows: two at Po Toi on 11th, one at Tai Mo Shan on 11th, and one at Long Valley on 13th.
The hybrid alboides x leucopsis White Wagtail was seen again at Mai Po on 11th.
Apart from a decent movement of terns off Po Toi during the week, there was a marked decline in the number of migrants passing through the territory. The records below include a few from 9 May that I missed from my last posting.
Pacific Swifts were reported as follows: two at Tai Lam CP on 13th, two at Sai Kung on 14th, and five at Stanley on 14th. A Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo was heard at Hoi Ha on 10th & 11th, and at Pak Sha O on 14th. Two Lesser Cuckoos were at Kap Lung on 16th.
Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: singles at Shek Kong catchwater and Heung Yuen Wai on 9th, one at Lam Tsuen on 11th, two at the Peak on 12th, one at Discovery Bay and three between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 14th, and one between Wonderland Villas and Pipers Hill on 15th.
Wader records from Mai Po included a Far Eastern Curlew on 15th, a Ruddy Turnstone, and two Asian Dowitchers on 10th, a Nordmann’s Greenshank on 10th & 15th, and four Oriental Pratincoles on 13th with one there on 14th.Twenty Grey-tailed Tattlers were at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
Ten Gull-billed Terns remained at Mai Po on 15th. Twenty-two Whiskered Terns were noted at Mai Po on 13th, and 38 White-winged Terns were there on 14th. In addition, 19 Whiskered Terns were at Sha Kiu on 15th.
Daily movements of seabirds were noted off the southern tip of Po Toi during morning and afternoon seawatches conducted by Bart de Schutter throughout the week. Total counts of migrating terns during the seven-day period were: six Gull-billed Terns, 29 Greater Crested Terns, 18 Little Terns, 13 Aleutian Terns, 27 Roseate Terns, 26 Black-naped Terns, 66 Common Terns, 28 Whiskered Terns and 466 White-winged Terns. In addition, at least 155 locally breeding Bridled Terns, along with small numbers of summering Black-naped and Roseate Terns were noted offshore on a daily basis.
Other seabirds noted were Parasitic Jaegers with a total count of seven – one on 10th, one on 11th, and five on 13th, and Short-tailed Shearwaters with a count of 16 - three on 10th, three on 11th, two on 12th, two on 13th, three on 14th, three on 15th.
A Red-footed Booby was seen in waters south of Po Toi on 15th.
A trip to southern waters on 16th turned up 108 Bridled Terns, 31 Roseate terns, 38 Black-naped Terns and six Common Terns. Also seen were a Pomarine Jaeger and a Short-tailed Shearwater.
Ten Black-faced Spoonbills, remained at Mai Po on 14th. A Von Schrenck's Bittern was at Mui Wo on 10th. Two Cinnamon Bitterns were at Mai Po on 14th and one was at Shan Pui River, Yuen Long on 16th. A Malayan Night Heron was at Tai Tong on 9th. A Chinese Egret was at Waglan Island on 15th, and two were also at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
A Black-winged Kite was at Mai Po on 10th. Three Grey Nightjars were between Ngong Ping and Shek Mun Kap on 14th, and four were between Wonderland Villas and Pipers Hill on 15th. At least one Chinese Barbet was singing in the Lead Mine Pass/Shing Mun area on 11th, two were at Tai Po Kau on 11th, one was at Tai Lam CP on 13th, and one was at Lead Mine Pass on 16th. A Eurasian Hobby was at Shek Kong catchwater on 9th. A Brown Shrike was at Po Toi on 11th & 12th.
Seven Black Bulbuls at Tai Lam CP on 11th included a juvenile; two were also at Tai Po Kau on 11th. Four Two-barred Warblers were at Tai Tong on 9th. Arctic Warblers were reported as follows: one at Po Toi on 10th, two at King’s Park on 11th, one at Ho Man Tin and two at Tai Lam CP on 13th, and one at Lam Tsuen on 14th.
At Tai Mo Shan on 11th, three Chinese Babaxes and ten Vinous-throated Parrotbills, were seen.
An Eyebrowed Thrush was at Pak Sha O on 11th. A Grey-streaked Flycatcher was at Shek Kong catchwater on 9th & 10th. Single Brown-breasted Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 10th and at Tai Po Kau on 15th. Eight Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 11th.
Seventeen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) were at Long Valley on 13th. White-headed Munias (Cat III) were noted as follows: two at Po Toi on 11th, one at Tai Mo Shan on 11th, and one at Long Valley on 13th.
The hybrid alboides x leucopsis White Wagtail was seen again at Mai Po on 11th.
May 17-23
Anticyclonic conditions persisted. Winds continued from the south. There were a few negligible showers. Daily temperatures were over 33⁰C - it was 36.5⁰C at Tai Mei Tuk from 21st - 23rd.
First of all, news came to light of a Brown-eared Bulbul at Lai Chi Kok on 29 April. This will be the second record of this species in Hong Kong if accepted.
Four Pacific Swifts were at Kap Lung on 19th, two were at Tai Mo Shan on 22nd, and two were also at Ma On Shan CP on 22nd.
The Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo first heard at Pak Sha O on 14th remained until at least 21st. Single Lesser Cuckoos were at Tai Po Kau on 17th & 19th, Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, Ng Tung Chai on 17th & 23rd, Shing Mun on 19th, KFBG on 20th, and Ma On Shan CP and Tai Lam CP on 22nd; two were at the latter site on 21st.
A juvenile Oriental Turtle Dove was seen with an adult at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th. This is, I think, the first evidence of breeding in Hong Kong since 2003.
Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: one at Ng Tung Chai on 17th, two at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, one at Lam Tsuen on 18th, two at Shing Mun on 19th, two at KFBG on 20th, one at Uk Tau on 21st, and one at Shing Mun on 21st.
A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th. Ten White-winged Terns were at Mai Po on 19th. Seven Black-faced Spoonbills remained at Mai Po on 23rd. Two Cinnamon Bitterns were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th, and two were at Fung Lok Wai on 19th, Single Malayan Night Herons were at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, Lam Tsuen on 17th & 21st, Tai Tong on 19th, and Pui O on 23rd. A Chinese Egret was at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
Three Grey Nightjars were at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, two were at Lam Tei Irrigation Reservoir on 20th, and two were at Kowloon Hills catchwater on 22nd.
An Oriental Dollarbird was reported from Tai Lam Chung on 18th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau on 17th & 23rd, and at Tai Mo Shan and Ng Tung Chai on 23rd. A pair of Black Bulbuls was at Ng Tung Chai on 17th, and two were at Tai Lam CP and one was at Shing Mun on 22nd.
An Arctic Warbler was at Ho Man Tin on 17th.
Two Chinese Babaxes were at Tai Mo Shan on 22nd, and 12 Vinous-throated Parrotbills were at the same site on 23rd. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Kap Lung on 19th.
There was a good count of 120 White-shouldered Starlings at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th, no doubt attracted by the nest boxes specially prepared for them.
Orange-headed Thrushes were noted as follows: a pair at Tai Po Kau on 19th, one at Shing Mun on 19th, a pair at Tai Lam CP on 21st, and one at Ma On Shan CP on 22nd. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was in Tai Po Kau on 22nd. Seven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 21st, and ten were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd.
Three Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 17th. Thirteen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 20 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were still at Long Valley on 19th.
First of all, news came to light of a Brown-eared Bulbul at Lai Chi Kok on 29 April. This will be the second record of this species in Hong Kong if accepted.
Four Pacific Swifts were at Kap Lung on 19th, two were at Tai Mo Shan on 22nd, and two were also at Ma On Shan CP on 22nd.
The Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo first heard at Pak Sha O on 14th remained until at least 21st. Single Lesser Cuckoos were at Tai Po Kau on 17th & 19th, Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, Ng Tung Chai on 17th & 23rd, Shing Mun on 19th, KFBG on 20th, and Ma On Shan CP and Tai Lam CP on 22nd; two were at the latter site on 21st.
A juvenile Oriental Turtle Dove was seen with an adult at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th. This is, I think, the first evidence of breeding in Hong Kong since 2003.
Calling Slaty-legged Crakes were reported after dark as follows: one at Ng Tung Chai on 17th, two at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, one at Lam Tsuen on 18th, two at Shing Mun on 19th, two at KFBG on 20th, one at Uk Tau on 21st, and one at Shing Mun on 21st.
A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th. Ten White-winged Terns were at Mai Po on 19th. Seven Black-faced Spoonbills remained at Mai Po on 23rd. Two Cinnamon Bitterns were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th, and two were at Fung Lok Wai on 19th, Single Malayan Night Herons were at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, Lam Tsuen on 17th & 21st, Tai Tong on 19th, and Pui O on 23rd. A Chinese Egret was at Sha Kiu near Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th.
Three Grey Nightjars were at Wang Shan Keuk on 17th, two were at Lam Tei Irrigation Reservoir on 20th, and two were at Kowloon Hills catchwater on 22nd.
An Oriental Dollarbird was reported from Tai Lam Chung on 18th. Single Chinese Barbets were at Tai Po Kau on 17th & 23rd, and at Tai Mo Shan and Ng Tung Chai on 23rd. A pair of Black Bulbuls was at Ng Tung Chai on 17th, and two were at Tai Lam CP and one was at Shing Mun on 22nd.
An Arctic Warbler was at Ho Man Tin on 17th.
Two Chinese Babaxes were at Tai Mo Shan on 22nd, and 12 Vinous-throated Parrotbills were at the same site on 23rd. Ten Indochinese Yuhinas were at Kap Lung on 19th.
There was a good count of 120 White-shouldered Starlings at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 17th, no doubt attracted by the nest boxes specially prepared for them.
Orange-headed Thrushes were noted as follows: a pair at Tai Po Kau on 19th, one at Shing Mun on 19th, a pair at Tai Lam CP on 21st, and one at Ma On Shan CP on 22nd. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was in Tai Po Kau on 22nd. Seven Hainan Blue Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 21st, and ten were at Tai Po Kau on 23rd.
Three Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau on 17th. Thirteen Chestnut Munias (Cat IIC) and 20 White-headed Munias (Cat III) were still at Long Valley on 19th.
May 24-31
The weather at the end of May remained hot with temperatures up to 34⁰C in the New Territories. The occasional shower/thunderstorm brought a little relief. Winds were from the south or southwest.
Highlights were a Grey-headed Swamphen at Fung Lok Wai and a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel off Po Toi.
The Grey-headed Swamphen was found at Fung Lok Wai on 24th and remained at least until 30th, although at times it could be elusive. This is probably the same bird that was seen at HK Wetland Park from 22 April – 5 May. Birders out looking for the swamphen at Fung Lok Wai turned up a few other species of interest including up to eight Yellow Bitterns, single Cinnamon Bitterns on 25th, 28th & 30th, a Black-winged Kite on 28th, and two Bar-headed Geese flying over on 28th. This is the first time that Bar-headed Goose has been recorded in Hong Kong, but one of the birds showed damage to the primaries on the right wing which suggests that the birds were of captive origin.
Bart de Schutter spent 25th – 27th seawatching from Po Toi. Apart from the regular breeding terns (Roseate, Bridled and Black-naped) on nearby Castle Rock, birds noted included a rather late 2nd calendar-year Heuglin’s Gull on 25th, two Greater Crested Terns on 26th, three migrating Roseate Terns on 26th, seven Common Terns on 25th, with three in total on 26th, 14 White-winged Terns on 25th, a dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger on 26th, five Short-tailed Shearwaters in total (one on 25th, three on 26th, one on 27th), and a Lesser Frigatebird on 26th. Two Black Bulbuls were seen migrating over the sea on 27th. The best bird, however, was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel on 27th, first seen flying southwest and then returning and heading northeast.
Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel is something of an enigma in Hong Kong. A small colony of c.100 pairs breeds off Nan’ao Island, Shantou in eastern Guangdong c.300 kilometers from Hong Kong, and it is almost certainly a scarce passage migrant through southern waters. However, it is not yet officially on the Hong Kong list in spite of a number of claims.
The first report was of an injured captive bird on a fishing boat at Lamma on 12 June 1961. This was definitely identified as Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel but it could not be ascertained if the bird had actually been found in HK waters.
There were five reports of dark-rumped Storm Petrels seen from boats in HK waters between 1987 and 2000, and another was seen flying past Po Toi on 30 May 2012. None of these sightings were accepted as definite Swinhoe’s.
In 2020, a definite Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel was found injured at Ap Lei Chau waterfront on 27 October. It was rehabilitated at KFBG’s Wild Animal Rescue Centre and released at Clear Water Bay on 17 November. I had assumed that this would be accepted as the first Hong Kong record but someone has pointed out to me that the bird’s badly damaged wing could indicate it had been captured and kept under control on a fishing boat outside of HK waters and then released or somehow escaped when it reached Aberdeen harbour. This record awaits assessment by the HKBWS Records Committee, as does Bart’s recent sighting.
Away from Fung Lok Wai and Po To, sightings of interest included the following:
The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was at least four at Tai Lam CP on 28th. Lesser Cuckoos were noted as follows: singles at Tai Lam CP and Shing Mun on 24th, one at Tai Po Kau on 24th & 25th, two at the Hunchbacks on 28th, one at Tai Mo Shan on 28th & 29th, and one at Mai Po on 30th.
Reports of Slaty-legged Crakes involved one at Tai Po Kau on 24th, two at Shing Mun on 24th, and one at Lam Tsuen on 28th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was heard at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 29th.
Two Oriental Pratincoles were at Mai Po on 30th, including a juvenile. Juveniles are regularly seen at Mai Po in early summer indicating that they probably breed not too far to the north of Hong Kong. A Black-winged Kite was also at Mai Po on 30th.
A breeding-tern survey in northeast waters on 28th turned up 454 Bridled Terns, mostly at Shek Ngau Chau, and 131 Black-naped Terns, mainly at Kung Chau. A Lesser Frigatebird was in Sai Kung harbour on 28th.
Seven Black-faced Spoonbills were still at Mai Po on 30th. A Malayan Night Heron was at Tai Tong on 27th, and two were at Lam Tsuen on 27th.
A Grey Nightjar was at Pak Sha O on 27th, and two were at Tai Lam Chung on 28th. Reports of Chinese Barbets consisted of two at KFBG on 26th, three at Tai Mo Shan on 26th with one there on 29th, and one at Tai Lam CP on 28th. A Brown Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 27th, and an Arctic Warbler was reported from Mt Davis on 25th.
Birds noted at Tai Mo Shan on 28th included a Chinese Grassbird, three Chinese Babaxes, and six Vinous-throated Parrotbills. Seven Vinous-throated Parrotbills were also seen there on 29th.
Two Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Lam CP on 28th. Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau and one was at Shek Kong catchwater on 30th.
Highlights were a Grey-headed Swamphen at Fung Lok Wai and a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel off Po Toi.
The Grey-headed Swamphen was found at Fung Lok Wai on 24th and remained at least until 30th, although at times it could be elusive. This is probably the same bird that was seen at HK Wetland Park from 22 April – 5 May. Birders out looking for the swamphen at Fung Lok Wai turned up a few other species of interest including up to eight Yellow Bitterns, single Cinnamon Bitterns on 25th, 28th & 30th, a Black-winged Kite on 28th, and two Bar-headed Geese flying over on 28th. This is the first time that Bar-headed Goose has been recorded in Hong Kong, but one of the birds showed damage to the primaries on the right wing which suggests that the birds were of captive origin.
Bart de Schutter spent 25th – 27th seawatching from Po Toi. Apart from the regular breeding terns (Roseate, Bridled and Black-naped) on nearby Castle Rock, birds noted included a rather late 2nd calendar-year Heuglin’s Gull on 25th, two Greater Crested Terns on 26th, three migrating Roseate Terns on 26th, seven Common Terns on 25th, with three in total on 26th, 14 White-winged Terns on 25th, a dark-morph Parasitic Jaeger on 26th, five Short-tailed Shearwaters in total (one on 25th, three on 26th, one on 27th), and a Lesser Frigatebird on 26th. Two Black Bulbuls were seen migrating over the sea on 27th. The best bird, however, was a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel on 27th, first seen flying southwest and then returning and heading northeast.
Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel is something of an enigma in Hong Kong. A small colony of c.100 pairs breeds off Nan’ao Island, Shantou in eastern Guangdong c.300 kilometers from Hong Kong, and it is almost certainly a scarce passage migrant through southern waters. However, it is not yet officially on the Hong Kong list in spite of a number of claims.
The first report was of an injured captive bird on a fishing boat at Lamma on 12 June 1961. This was definitely identified as Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel but it could not be ascertained if the bird had actually been found in HK waters.
There were five reports of dark-rumped Storm Petrels seen from boats in HK waters between 1987 and 2000, and another was seen flying past Po Toi on 30 May 2012. None of these sightings were accepted as definite Swinhoe’s.
In 2020, a definite Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel was found injured at Ap Lei Chau waterfront on 27 October. It was rehabilitated at KFBG’s Wild Animal Rescue Centre and released at Clear Water Bay on 17 November. I had assumed that this would be accepted as the first Hong Kong record but someone has pointed out to me that the bird’s badly damaged wing could indicate it had been captured and kept under control on a fishing boat outside of HK waters and then released or somehow escaped when it reached Aberdeen harbour. This record awaits assessment by the HKBWS Records Committee, as does Bart’s recent sighting.
Away from Fung Lok Wai and Po To, sightings of interest included the following:
The highest count of Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos was at least four at Tai Lam CP on 28th. Lesser Cuckoos were noted as follows: singles at Tai Lam CP and Shing Mun on 24th, one at Tai Po Kau on 24th & 25th, two at the Hunchbacks on 28th, one at Tai Mo Shan on 28th & 29th, and one at Mai Po on 30th.
Reports of Slaty-legged Crakes involved one at Tai Po Kau on 24th, two at Shing Mun on 24th, and one at Lam Tsuen on 28th. A Slaty-breasted Rail was heard at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 29th.
Two Oriental Pratincoles were at Mai Po on 30th, including a juvenile. Juveniles are regularly seen at Mai Po in early summer indicating that they probably breed not too far to the north of Hong Kong. A Black-winged Kite was also at Mai Po on 30th.
A breeding-tern survey in northeast waters on 28th turned up 454 Bridled Terns, mostly at Shek Ngau Chau, and 131 Black-naped Terns, mainly at Kung Chau. A Lesser Frigatebird was in Sai Kung harbour on 28th.
Seven Black-faced Spoonbills were still at Mai Po on 30th. A Malayan Night Heron was at Tai Tong on 27th, and two were at Lam Tsuen on 27th.
A Grey Nightjar was at Pak Sha O on 27th, and two were at Tai Lam Chung on 28th. Reports of Chinese Barbets consisted of two at KFBG on 26th, three at Tai Mo Shan on 26th with one there on 29th, and one at Tai Lam CP on 28th. A Brown Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 27th, and an Arctic Warbler was reported from Mt Davis on 25th.
Birds noted at Tai Mo Shan on 28th included a Chinese Grassbird, three Chinese Babaxes, and six Vinous-throated Parrotbills. Seven Vinous-throated Parrotbills were also seen there on 29th.
Two Indochinese Yuhinas were at Tai Lam CP on 28th. Five Plain Flowerpeckers were at Tai Po Kau and one was at Shek Kong catchwater on 30th.
********************
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