Birding Hong Kong
  • Home
  • Birding in Hong Kong
  • Birding Sites
    • Mai Po
    • Tai Po Kau
    • Long Valley
    • Po Toi Island
    • Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Park and other urban oases
    • The Peak
  • The Birding Year
  • Hong Kong Birding Literature
  • Guided Birding Tours*Coronavirus Update*
  • Accipiter Press Publications
    • Mai Po: The Seasons
    • Hong Kong Nature Walks
  • Links
  • GALLERIES
    • Ducks to Cormorants
    • Raptors to Jacanas
    • Snipes to Terns
    • Doves to White-eyes
  • AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF HONG KONG BIRDS 2021
  • LATEST SIGHTINGS 2022
    • January 2022
    • February 2022
    • March 2022
    • April 2022
    • May 2022
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2021 ARCHIVE
    • January 2021
    • February 2021
    • March 2021
    • April 2021
    • May 2021
    • June 2021
    • July 2021
    • August 2021
    • September 2021
    • October 2021
    • November 2021
    • December 2021
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2020 Archive
    • January 2020
    • February 2020
    • March 2020
    • April 2020
    • May 2020
    • June 2020
    • July 2020
    • August 2020
    • September 2020
    • October 2020
    • November 2020
    • December 2020
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2019 ARCHIVE
    • January 2019
    • February 2019
    • March 2019
    • April 2019
    • May 2019
    • June 2019
    • July 2019
    • August 2019
    • September 2019
    • October 2019
    • November 2019
    • December 2019
  • Bird Sightings - 2018 Archive
    • January 2018
    • February 2018
    • March 2018
    • April 2018
    • May 2018
    • June 2018
    • July 2018
    • August 2018
    • September 2018
    • October 2018
    • November 2018
    • December 2018
  • Bird Sightings - 2017 Archive
    • January 2017
    • February 2017
    • March 2017
    • April 2017
    • May 2017
    • June 2017
    • July 2017
    • August 2017
    • September 2017
    • October 2017
    • November 2017
    • December 2017
  • Blog - A BIG YEAR 2020
  • IN THE NEWS - CONSERVATION ISSUES AT HOME & ABROAD
  • Home
  • Birding in Hong Kong
  • Birding Sites
    • Mai Po
    • Tai Po Kau
    • Long Valley
    • Po Toi Island
    • Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Park and other urban oases
    • The Peak
  • The Birding Year
  • Hong Kong Birding Literature
  • Guided Birding Tours*Coronavirus Update*
  • Accipiter Press Publications
    • Mai Po: The Seasons
    • Hong Kong Nature Walks
  • Links
  • GALLERIES
    • Ducks to Cormorants
    • Raptors to Jacanas
    • Snipes to Terns
    • Doves to White-eyes
  • AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF HONG KONG BIRDS 2021
  • LATEST SIGHTINGS 2022
    • January 2022
    • February 2022
    • March 2022
    • April 2022
    • May 2022
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2021 ARCHIVE
    • January 2021
    • February 2021
    • March 2021
    • April 2021
    • May 2021
    • June 2021
    • July 2021
    • August 2021
    • September 2021
    • October 2021
    • November 2021
    • December 2021
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2020 Archive
    • January 2020
    • February 2020
    • March 2020
    • April 2020
    • May 2020
    • June 2020
    • July 2020
    • August 2020
    • September 2020
    • October 2020
    • November 2020
    • December 2020
  • BIRD SIGHTINGS - 2019 ARCHIVE
    • January 2019
    • February 2019
    • March 2019
    • April 2019
    • May 2019
    • June 2019
    • July 2019
    • August 2019
    • September 2019
    • October 2019
    • November 2019
    • December 2019
  • Bird Sightings - 2018 Archive
    • January 2018
    • February 2018
    • March 2018
    • April 2018
    • May 2018
    • June 2018
    • July 2018
    • August 2018
    • September 2018
    • October 2018
    • November 2018
    • December 2018
  • Bird Sightings - 2017 Archive
    • January 2017
    • February 2017
    • March 2017
    • April 2017
    • May 2017
    • June 2017
    • July 2017
    • August 2017
    • September 2017
    • October 2017
    • November 2017
    • December 2017
  • Blog - A BIG YEAR 2020
  • IN THE NEWS - CONSERVATION ISSUES AT HOME & ABROAD
   Birding Hong Kong
 LATEST SIGHTINGS - MAY 2022
May 1-8

Picture
Eastern Cattle Egrets in Hong Kong in May (BHK archive)
A blast of the northeast monsoon brought heavy showers to southern China on 1st & 2nd. The temperature on 2nd dropped to 16℃ which was the coolest day in May since 1917. The weather for the rest of the week was mainly fine with easterly winds and temperatures up to 29℃.
 
The bad weather at the start of the month brought in a number of late spring migrants to Hong Kong, most notably Brown Shrikes, Arctic Warblers and Grey-streaked Flycatchers. Brown Shrikes were, in fact, present in record numbers on 1st and 2nd. Other species brought in by the weather included Whiskered Terns, Eastern Cattle Egrets, Eastern Yellow Wagtails and Pechora Pipits. There were also two major rarities later in the week: a Masked Booby was off Po Toi and an Ashy Woodswallow was at Ping Yeung, both on 6th. Details below:

Greater White-fronted Goose: the long-staying bird was still at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 3rd – a very late date for a goose!
Grey Nightjar: two were at Fo Tan on 4th; one was at Tung Chung on 6th; one was at Shing Mun on 7th
Silver-backed Needletail: two were at Po Toi on 1st
Pacific Swift: highest count was 45 at Po Toi on 1st
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: four were at Nam Chung on 4th
Oriental Cuckoo: two were at Po Toi on 1st; two were at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd; two were at Lions Nature Education Centre on 8th
Slaty-legged Crake: one was at Ho Pui reservoir on 3rd; one was at Luk Keng on 5th
Little Curlew: one was at Long Valley on 2nd
Far Eastern Curlew: ten were at Mai Po on 5th
Asian Dowitcher: highest count was 222 at Mai Po on 2nd
Red-necked Phalarope: highest count was 821 off Po Toi on 7th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: one was at Mai Po on 1st with two there on 5th
Oriental Pratincole: singles were at Mai Po on 2nd and Long Valley on 3rd; highest count of birds migrating off Po Toi was ten on 4th
Gull-billed Tern: highest count was 31 of Po Toi on 4th
Greater Crested Tern: highest count was 28 off Po Toi on 4th
Little Tern: 32 were at Mai Po on 5th; highest count off Po Toi was 159 on 5th
Aleutian Tern: highest count was 312 off Po Toi on 7th;
Bridled Tern: highest count was 248 off Po Toi on 8th
Roseate Tern: highest count was 14 off Po Toi on 8th
Black-naped Tern: highest counts were 25 were in Tolo Harbour on 5th and 25 in southern waters on 7th
Common Tern: highest count at Po Toi was 456 on 5th, which is the highest count since 1999
Whiskered Tern: Widespread reports. Counts included 92 at Po Toi and 70 at Mai Po on 1st, ‘a few hundred in northeast Lantau waters’ on 2nd, 60 at San Tin on 3rd, 150 at Cheung Chau on 4th, 62 at Tai Sang Wai on 5th and 53 at Hung Hom ferry pier on 7th
White-winged Tern: Widespread reports. Highest count involved 336 off Po Toi on 7th; c. 230 were at Cheung Chau on 8th
Parasitic Jaeger: counts off Po Toi involved one on 2nd, four on 3rd, five on 4th, ten on 5th, 27 on 6th, 16 on 7th and three on 8th
Long-tailed Jaeger: one was in southern waters on 7th
Streaked Shearwater: off Po Toi, two were seen on 5th and three on 7th
Short-tailed Shearwater: one was in southern waters on 2nd. Counts off Po Toi involved one on 3rd, nine on 4th, 11 on 5th, 18 on 7th and three on 8th. The count of 18 on 7th was a new high count for the territory
Lesser Frigatebird: one was in Tolo Harbour on 5th
Masked Booby: one was off Po Toi on 6th; this will be the second HK record if accepted, the first being one, also off Po Toi, on 18 March 2008
Red-footed Booby: singles were off Green Island on 1st and Po Toi on 5th
Brown Booby: singles were off Po Toi on 2nd, 4th and 5th, and two were seen together on 6th.
Black-faced Spoonbill: highest count at Mai Po was 30 on 2nd
Cinnamon Bittern: one was at Fung Lok Wai on 2nd; one was at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 3rd
Malayan Night Heron: one was at Ho Pui reservoir on 3rd; one was at Lam Tsuen on 6th
Eastern Cattle Egret: migrants brought in by the bad weather included 120 at southwest Lantau on 2nd and 100 at Pui O on 3rd
Chinese Egret: one was at Po Toi on 2nd; two were at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd; one was at Stanley on 3rd; one was at San Tin on 4th; one was at Mai Po on 5th and five were there on 8th
Black-winged Kite: singles were at Mai Po and Fung Lok Wai on 2nd; two were at Mai Po on 5th
Crested Honey Buzzard: one was at Jordan Valley Park on 4th
Bonelli’s Eagle: one was at Ngong Ping on 4th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: noted at several sites until 7th. Highest counts involved 56 at Po Toi on 1st and 101 at Ngong Ping on 3rd
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one was at Po Toi on 1st
Grey-faced Buzzard: one was at Po Toi on 1st; two were at Ngong Ping on 3rd
Northern Boobook: one was heard at Po Toi on 3rd
Oriental Dollarbird: one was at Po Toi on 1st
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: eight were at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd
Chinese Barbet: two were at Tai Po Kau on 2nd; two were at Tai Lam CP on 3rd & 5th; one was at Tai Mo Shan on 7th
Ashy Woodswallow: one was at Ping Yeung on 6th – the third record for Hong Kong
Ashy Minivet: two were at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd; one was at Lo Kei Wan on 4th
Brown Shrike: widespread sightings from 1st-8th, especially on 1st & 2nd,  with record counts of at least 207 at Po Toi on 1st and 217 at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd; much smaller numbers elsewhere. Seemingly, this fall involved a mix of lucionensis and confusus, along with small numbers of cristatus
Ashy Drongo: one was at Po Toi on 1st
Black-naped Monarch: one was at Ting Kok on 3rd
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one was heard at Po Toi on 3rd
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one was at Ho Pui village on 3rd
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one was at Lai Chi Kok on 1st; one was at Po Toi on 2nd; three were at Tung Lung Chau on 2nd; one was at Fo Tan on 4th
Arctic Warbler: widespread sightings in small numbers from 1st-8th with a high count of ten at Po Toi on 1st
Spot-breasted Parrotbill: the confiding bird of unknown origin remained at Tai Mo Shan until at least 8th
Vinous-throated Parrotbill: eight were at Tai Mo Shan on 7th
Orange-headed Thrush: one was at Tai Po Kau on 2nd; two were at Tai Lam CP on 3rd with one there on 7th; one was at Tai Mo Shan on 8th
Eyebrowed Thrush: 15 were at Tai Lam CP on 3rd with 30 there on 5th and seven on 7th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: widespread sightings in small (generally single-digit) numbers from 1st-8th, with high counts of 11 at Clearwater Bay and 30 at southwest Lantau on 2nd, and ten at Shui Hau on 4th
Brown-breasted Flycatcher: one was at Tai Po Kau on 2nd; one was at Tai Lam CP on 3rd & 7th
Red-throated Flycatcher: one was at Po Toi on 3rd; this is a new late date, the previous latest being 28 April
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 250 were at Mai Po on 4th and 1135 were there on 5th; this is the highest count this century
Pechora Pipit: singles were at Tung Lung Chau, Big Wave Bay and southwest Lantau on 2nd, Lok Ma Chau EEA on 3rd, and Shui Hau on 3rd & 5th; nine were at Mai Po on 5th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one was at Long Valley on 4th.

May 9-15
Picture
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Mai Po in May (BHK archive)
A trough of low pressure over the northern part of the South China Sea brought low cloud and heavy rain during the week. It rained continuously on 11th & 12th; two Amber Rainstorm Warnings were issued on 12th and a Red Rainstorm Warning on the early morning of 13th meant that schools were cancelled for the day. The rain was less intense at the end of the week but it remained cloudy and showery. It was relatively cool with temperatures in the mid-twenties.
 
The rain continued to bring migrants to the territory, notably two Tiger Shrikes and a Fairy Pitta to urban Kowloon and five Blue-throated Bee-eaters to Mai Po. Details below:


White-throated Needletail: three were at Lions Nature Education Centre on 13th
Pacific Swift: highest counts were 11 at Lions Nature Education Centre on 13th and 20 at Sai Kung on 15th
Lesser Cuckoo: the first bird of the season was one at Pak Nai on 14th
Oriental Cuckoo: two were at Lions Nature Education Centre on 9th & 10th
Watercock: one was at San Tin on 14th
Little Curlew: up to two were at Mai Po from 9th – 15th
Far Eastern Curlew:  highest count at Mai Po was five on 14th
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper: 171 were at Mai Po on 14th
Red-necked Phalarope: 266 were in southeastern waters on 9th
Nordmann’s Greenshank: one was at Mai Po on 9th with two there on 14th
Oriental Pratincole: one was at Mai Po on 10th with two there on 14th; one was off Po Toi on 15th
Gull-billed Tern: 92 were at Mai Po on 14th
Caspian Tern: four were at Mai Po on 14th
Greater Crested Tern: three were in southeastern waters on 9th; eight were off Po Toi on 15th
Little Tern: three were at Mai Po on 9th, 14th & 15th; one was at Cheung Chau on 10th
Aleutian Tern: 37 were in southeastern waters on 9th
Bridled Tern: highest count was 145 off Po Toi on 15th
Roseate Tern: two were seen from the Wong Shek-Tap Mun ferry on 13th; six were at Tap Mun on 14th; ten were seen from the central-Cheung Chau ferry on 14th; nine were seen at Po Toi on 15th
Black-naped Tern: highest counts involved 30 from the Wong Shek-Tap Mun ferry on 13th and 30 at Castle Rock near Po Toi on 15th
Common Tern: 53 were in southeastern waters on 9th
Whiskered Tern: widespread reports including 150 in Victoria Harbour on 9th, 80 at Cheung Chau on 10th and 66 at Ma Tso Lung on 14th
White-winged Tern: widespread reports including 168 in southeastern waters and 60 in Victoria Harbour on 9th, 80 at Cheung Chau on 10th and 62 at Mai Po on 15th
Short-tailed Shearwater: two were in southeastern waters on 9th and one was off Po Toi on 15th
Lesser Frigatebird: one was at Causeway Bay on 10th
Black-faced Spoonbill: highest count at Mai Po was 40 on 14th
Cinnamon Bittern: one was at Mai Po on 14th & 15th
 Malayan Night Heron: one was at Lam Tsuen on 13th
Chinese Egret: two were at Mai Po on 9th; two were at Pak Nai and one was at Tsim Bei Tsui on 15th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: singles were at Ho Pui reservoir on 9th, Po Toi on 12th, and  Po Toi,  Pui O and Sai Kung on 15th
Oriental Dollarbird: two were at Ho Man Tin on 12th; one was at Lam Tsuen on 13th; one was at Tai Tong and four were at Shek Kong catchwater on 14th; five were at Pui O, two were at Po Toi and one was at Fung Lok Wai on 15th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: three were at Mai Po on 15th
Blue-throated Bee-eater: five were at Mai Po on 15th; the tenth Hong Kong record
Eurasian Hobby: one was at San Tin on 14th
Fairy Pitta: one was at King’s Park on 13th
Ashy Minivet: one was at Po Toi on 15th
Tiger Shrike: single adult males were at King’s Park on 13th and Ho Man Tin on 13th & 14th; these are the second and third spring records for Hong Kong, the first being an adult male at Ho Man Tin on 23 May 2017
Brown Shrike: widespread reports; highest count was seven at Ho Man Tin on 10th
Black-naped Oriole: singles were at Po Toi and South Horizons on 15th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: a female was at Ho Man Tin on 13th & 14th; one was at Po Toi on 15th. These are new late spring dates, the previous latest date being 6 May
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: two 1st-summer males were at Ho Man Tin on 13th & 14th
Sand Martin: 20 were at Tai Sang Wai on 13th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one was at Tung Lung Chau on 9th
Arctic Warbler: widespread reports; highest count was eight at Fo Tan on 9th
Orange-headed Thrush: one was at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Eyebrowed Thrush: two were at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: ones and twos reported from several sites during the week; 15 were at Po Toi on 15th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: two were at King’s Park on 13th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: widespread reports; highest count was five at Lions Nature Education Centre on 10th
White-tailed Robin: one was singing at Tai Lam CP on 14th; this was at a different location to the bird heard at the end of April but could possibly be the same bird relocating
 Pechora Pipit: one was at Tai Sang Wai on 13th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one was at Heung Yuen Wai on 10th

********************************************************
​Please note that these are unchecked reports. Records of rarities and of unseasonal occurrences may be subject to assessment by the HKBWS Records Committee. A checklist showing species  for which a description is required can be found at the HKBWS website - http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=28249&extra=page%3D1
All images & text © David Diskin unless otherwise stated
dadiskin@outlook.com