LATEST SIGHTINGS - November 2017
Pallas's Reed Bunting, Tai Sang Wai, November 5 2017
November 1-5
Sunny from 1st to 3rd with temperatures reaching 28⁰C in the middle of the day, becoming cloudy and humid on 4th and 5th with temperatures in the mid-twenties.
There were reports from several locations of arriving Siberian Rubythroats, Rufous-tailed Robins, Red-flanked Bluetails and Asian Stubtails during the period under review.
Mai Po proved very productive with a number of rare and scarce birds reported, most notably a Rook of the eastern race pastinator that was first detected on 1st at the southern end of the reserve and the adjacent fish ponds at Lut Chau. It was still present on 5th. This will be the 1st record for Hong Kong if accepted. The four Tundra Bean Geese and the three Greater White-fronted Geese remained on the scrape. Other sightings of note on the reserve included Falcated Duck, Mallard, 279 Black-faced Spoonbills, two Eurasian Spoonbills, Northern Lapwing, both Eastern Imperial and Greater Spotted Eagles, 15 Black-browed Reed Warblers and 11 Siberian Rubythroats on 1st; Pied Harrier, Northern Lapwing, Eastern Water Rail and two Saunders’s Gulls on 2nd; Pied Harrier, Northern Lapwing, 1st-winter Relict Gull, two Saunders’s Gulls, Brown Crake, Eastern Water Rail, Chestnut-cheeked Starling and Grey Treepie on 3rd.
Sunny from 1st to 3rd with temperatures reaching 28⁰C in the middle of the day, becoming cloudy and humid on 4th and 5th with temperatures in the mid-twenties.
There were reports from several locations of arriving Siberian Rubythroats, Rufous-tailed Robins, Red-flanked Bluetails and Asian Stubtails during the period under review.
Mai Po proved very productive with a number of rare and scarce birds reported, most notably a Rook of the eastern race pastinator that was first detected on 1st at the southern end of the reserve and the adjacent fish ponds at Lut Chau. It was still present on 5th. This will be the 1st record for Hong Kong if accepted. The four Tundra Bean Geese and the three Greater White-fronted Geese remained on the scrape. Other sightings of note on the reserve included Falcated Duck, Mallard, 279 Black-faced Spoonbills, two Eurasian Spoonbills, Northern Lapwing, both Eastern Imperial and Greater Spotted Eagles, 15 Black-browed Reed Warblers and 11 Siberian Rubythroats on 1st; Pied Harrier, Northern Lapwing, Eastern Water Rail and two Saunders’s Gulls on 2nd; Pied Harrier, Northern Lapwing, 1st-winter Relict Gull, two Saunders’s Gulls, Brown Crake, Eastern Water Rail, Chestnut-cheeked Starling and Grey Treepie on 3rd.
Chinese Penduline Tits were much in evidence in the Mai Po reed beds, but the highest count came from the Wetland Park where there were 50 on 3rd and 5th.
Another rarity during this period was a 1st-winter male Pallas’s Reed Bunting seen and photographed at Tai Sang Wai on 3rd – see http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40277542 . The bird was still present on 5th.
The eastern race Black Redstart that was seen at Long Valley on October 29th and was thought to be a “one-day” bird, was re-found on 1st and remained until at least 5th. Other reports from Long Valley, apart from the regular Chestnut-eared and Yellow-breasted Buntings, included Cinnamon Bittern on 2nd, and two Asian House Martins on 2nd and 3rd. A female House Sparrow was present on 4th and 5th. The House Sparrow is a rare species in Hong Kong and this will be only the 4th or 5th record if accepted. Long Valley proved particularly productive on 5th. Apart from the Black Redstart and the House Sparrow, sightings included Ruddy-breasted Crake, Japanese Quail, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Eastern Buzzard, Chinese Penduline Tit, Lanceolated Warbler, two Golden-headed Cisticolas, Common Starling, Brambling, Black-headed Bunting and Yellow-browed Bunting.
Another rarity during this period was a 1st-winter male Pallas’s Reed Bunting seen and photographed at Tai Sang Wai on 3rd – see http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40277542 . The bird was still present on 5th.
The eastern race Black Redstart that was seen at Long Valley on October 29th and was thought to be a “one-day” bird, was re-found on 1st and remained until at least 5th. Other reports from Long Valley, apart from the regular Chestnut-eared and Yellow-breasted Buntings, included Cinnamon Bittern on 2nd, and two Asian House Martins on 2nd and 3rd. A female House Sparrow was present on 4th and 5th. The House Sparrow is a rare species in Hong Kong and this will be only the 4th or 5th record if accepted. Long Valley proved particularly productive on 5th. Apart from the Black Redstart and the House Sparrow, sightings included Ruddy-breasted Crake, Japanese Quail, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Eastern Buzzard, Chinese Penduline Tit, Lanceolated Warbler, two Golden-headed Cisticolas, Common Starling, Brambling, Black-headed Bunting and Yellow-browed Bunting.
Other reports of note during the period under review were as follows:
On 1st, a Grey Bushchat was at Lam Tsuen, a Grey Nightjar was at Ho Man Tin, and ten Asian House Martins, two Chinese Grassbirds, and two Eye-browed Thrushes were on Tai Mo Shan.
On 2nd, Ho Man Tin held a Bull-headed Shrike. A Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler were at Mount Davis. An Orange-headed Thrush was in Tai Po Kau and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher was on Cheung Chau. On Po Toi there had been, in fact, a total of five Yellow-throated Buntings on October 31st, but only one remained on 2nd.
On 1st, a Grey Bushchat was at Lam Tsuen, a Grey Nightjar was at Ho Man Tin, and ten Asian House Martins, two Chinese Grassbirds, and two Eye-browed Thrushes were on Tai Mo Shan.
On 2nd, Ho Man Tin held a Bull-headed Shrike. A Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler were at Mount Davis. An Orange-headed Thrush was in Tai Po Kau and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher was on Cheung Chau. On Po Toi there had been, in fact, a total of five Yellow-throated Buntings on October 31st, but only one remained on 2nd.
On 3rd, Shek Kong catchwater held White’s Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher and Japanese Quail (although presumably the latter was in the fields below the catchment) and one, probably two Dusky Thrushes were at She Shan, Lam Tsuen.
On 4th, a Bar-shouldered Dove (an Australian escapee!) was seen at Mai Po. Apparently one was seen on the reserve back in April of this year, so this may well be the same bird.
On 5th, a Cinnamon Bittern and an Eastern Water Rail were at the Wetland Park. Po Toi held a White’s Thrush along with a number of other migrants including five Black-faced Buntings and single Little and Yellow-breasted Buntings. A Plumbeous Redstart was at Tai Po.
On 4th, a Bar-shouldered Dove (an Australian escapee!) was seen at Mai Po. Apparently one was seen on the reserve back in April of this year, so this may well be the same bird.
On 5th, a Cinnamon Bittern and an Eastern Water Rail were at the Wetland Park. Po Toi held a White’s Thrush along with a number of other migrants including five Black-faced Buntings and single Little and Yellow-breasted Buntings. A Plumbeous Redstart was at Tai Po.
Rook, Lut Chau, November 5 2017 (distant record shot, much-cropped)
Tundra Bean Geese, Mai Po, November 7 2017
November 6-12
It was cloudy and humid at the beginning of the week with temperatures ranging from 21-25⁰C. It became clearer and warmer on 9th, and it seemed as though summer had returned on 10th when the temperature reached 31⁰C in the New Territories. It became cooler and cloudier over the weekend, with some rain on 12th.
The three Greater White-fronted Geese and the four Tundra Bean Geese remained at Mai Po, although only three of the bean geese were regularly seen on the scrape (pond 16/17); the other geese were often absent. The Rook could still be see in the trees at the southern end of the reserve or at the adjacent fish ponds at Lut Chau. Three Greater Scaups were at Mai Po on 6th. On 7th sightings included two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Pied Harrier, two Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Eurasian Wryneck, 65 Chinese Penduline Tits and ten Siberian Rubythroats. Seven Common Starlings and a Brambling were along the Mai Po access road on 8th. Four Gadwalls were seen on the reserve on 9th; there was a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler reported on 10th and a Eurasian Bittern on 11th. On 12th, a late Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 98 Dusky Warblers, a Two-barred Warbler, a Thick-billed Warbler and 14 Siberian Rubythroats were present on the reserve. On the mud flats, birds included an atrifrons Lesser Sand Plover, two Broad-billed Sandpipers, three Terek Sandpipers and two Saunders’s Gulls.
It was cloudy and humid at the beginning of the week with temperatures ranging from 21-25⁰C. It became clearer and warmer on 9th, and it seemed as though summer had returned on 10th when the temperature reached 31⁰C in the New Territories. It became cooler and cloudier over the weekend, with some rain on 12th.
The three Greater White-fronted Geese and the four Tundra Bean Geese remained at Mai Po, although only three of the bean geese were regularly seen on the scrape (pond 16/17); the other geese were often absent. The Rook could still be see in the trees at the southern end of the reserve or at the adjacent fish ponds at Lut Chau. Three Greater Scaups were at Mai Po on 6th. On 7th sightings included two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Pied Harrier, two Ruddy-breasted Crakes, Eurasian Wryneck, 65 Chinese Penduline Tits and ten Siberian Rubythroats. Seven Common Starlings and a Brambling were along the Mai Po access road on 8th. Four Gadwalls were seen on the reserve on 9th; there was a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler reported on 10th and a Eurasian Bittern on 11th. On 12th, a late Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 98 Dusky Warblers, a Two-barred Warbler, a Thick-billed Warbler and 14 Siberian Rubythroats were present on the reserve. On the mud flats, birds included an atrifrons Lesser Sand Plover, two Broad-billed Sandpipers, three Terek Sandpipers and two Saunders’s Gulls.
Female House Sparrow with Eurasian Tree Sparrows, Long Valley, November 6th 2017
At Long Valley, the Black Redstart continued to frequent the same area of fields. Three House Sparrows (a male and two females) were seen on 6th & 7th, and a female remained at least until 8th. Small numbers of the regular buntings continued to be seen and the Black-headed Bunting was ringed on 7th. Other sightings included Grey-headed Lapwing and a lucionensis Brown Shrike on 6th, and Eastern Water Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Japanese Quail and Eurasian Woodcock on 7th.
At Lok Ma Chau on 6th were 190 Black-faced Spoonbills, three Falcated Ducks, a Gadwall, two Japanese Quails, two Greater Spotted Eagles, three Eastern Imperial Eagles, two Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Grey-headed Lapwing, Eurasian Wryneck, ten Taiga Flycatchers, 100 Dusky Warblers, two Lanceolated Warblers, 60 Black-browed Reed Warblers and a Brambling.
At Lok Ma Chau on 6th were 190 Black-faced Spoonbills, three Falcated Ducks, a Gadwall, two Japanese Quails, two Greater Spotted Eagles, three Eastern Imperial Eagles, two Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, Grey-headed Lapwing, Eurasian Wryneck, ten Taiga Flycatchers, 100 Dusky Warblers, two Lanceolated Warblers, 60 Black-browed Reed Warblers and a Brambling.
Sightings from Ho Man Tin included Radde’s Warbler, Orange-headed Thrush and White’s Thrush on 6th, and Common Kestrel, five Eastern Buzzards, two Radde’s Warblers and two Japanese Thrushes on 9th.
Reports of Amur Falcon were of singles at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 6th, the Wetland Park and western Lantau on 7th, and seven at King’s Park on 11th.
Other records of interest during the week were as follows:
6th: A Black Stork was photographed flying over Tuen Mun. Two Eurasian Woodcocks and three Eye-browed Thrushes were at Wonderland Villas near Kwai Fong.
7th: Eastern Water Rail, Ashy Minivet, Two-barred Warbler and Sakhalin Leaf Warbler were at the Wetland Park. Two Japanese Yellow Buntings were at Po Toi.
Reports of Amur Falcon were of singles at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 6th, the Wetland Park and western Lantau on 7th, and seven at King’s Park on 11th.
Other records of interest during the week were as follows:
6th: A Black Stork was photographed flying over Tuen Mun. Two Eurasian Woodcocks and three Eye-browed Thrushes were at Wonderland Villas near Kwai Fong.
7th: Eastern Water Rail, Ashy Minivet, Two-barred Warbler and Sakhalin Leaf Warbler were at the Wetland Park. Two Japanese Yellow Buntings were at Po Toi.
8th:Two Chinese Grassbirds, 30 Vinous-throated Parrotbills, Blue Rock Thrush and Pied Harrier were seen on Tai Mo Shan. Mugimaki Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Two-barred Warbler were at Kowloon Hills catchwater. A lugens White Wagtail was at Ting Kok.
10th: Oriental Scops Owl, two Eurasian Woodcocks and a Savanna Nightjar were found at Robin’s Nest in the evening.
11th: Five Eurasian Coots, Eastern Imperial Eagle, 23 Red Turtle Doves, five Northern Skylarks, and 35 Dusky Warblers were at San Tin. Two Radde’s Warblers and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher were seen on Lamma.
12th: Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey-headed Lapwing, ten Pale Martins, seven Northern Skylarks and two Radde’s Warblers were at San Tin. An Eastern Crowned Warbler and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher were at Tai Po Kau.
10th: Oriental Scops Owl, two Eurasian Woodcocks and a Savanna Nightjar were found at Robin’s Nest in the evening.
11th: Five Eurasian Coots, Eastern Imperial Eagle, 23 Red Turtle Doves, five Northern Skylarks, and 35 Dusky Warblers were at San Tin. Two Radde’s Warblers and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher were seen on Lamma.
12th: Eurasian Spoonbill, Grey-headed Lapwing, ten Pale Martins, seven Northern Skylarks and two Radde’s Warblers were at San Tin. An Eastern Crowned Warbler and a Blue-and-white Flycatcher were at Tai Po Kau.
November 13-19
From 13th to 15th, Hong Kong experienced low cloud with rain with temperatures in the low- to mid-twenties. It became sunny and warmer on 16th, and hot on 17th (30⁰C at the Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai). The 18th was murky and humid with temperatures in the mid 20s, falling to 16⁰C on the morning of 19th with the arrival of a cold front, the coolest day of the autumn so far.
The eastern race Black Redstart continued to frequent the fields at Long Valley at least until 17th. Yellow-breasted Buntings (ten on 14th) and Chestnut-eared Buntings were present throughout, and Yellow-browed and Black-headed Bunting were seen on 13th. The latter was also noted on 14th; other birds present then included Ruddy-breasted Crake and Northern House Martin.
From 13th to 15th, Hong Kong experienced low cloud with rain with temperatures in the low- to mid-twenties. It became sunny and warmer on 16th, and hot on 17th (30⁰C at the Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai). The 18th was murky and humid with temperatures in the mid 20s, falling to 16⁰C on the morning of 19th with the arrival of a cold front, the coolest day of the autumn so far.
The eastern race Black Redstart continued to frequent the fields at Long Valley at least until 17th. Yellow-breasted Buntings (ten on 14th) and Chestnut-eared Buntings were present throughout, and Yellow-browed and Black-headed Bunting were seen on 13th. The latter was also noted on 14th; other birds present then included Ruddy-breasted Crake and Northern House Martin.
The three Greater White-fronted Geese and three of the four Tundra Bean Geese were present at Mai Po at least until the 16th, as was the Rook. Other records from the reserve included Pied Harrier, Ruddy-breasted Crake and 14 Siberian Rubythroats on 14th, and three Eurasian Spoonbills and 50 Chinese Penduline Tits on 16th.
Po Toi held Brambling, Blue-and-white Flycatcher and Red-flanked Bluetail on 14th, and Eye-browed Thrush, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and Mugimaki Flycatcher on 16th.
On 13th, a Ferruginous Duck was at Lok Ma Chau and a Japanese Thrush was at Mt Davis.
Amur Falcon, 50 Hair-crested Drongos, Radde’s Warbler and Dark-sided Flycatcher were at Shek Kong catchwater on 15th.
Po Toi held Brambling, Blue-and-white Flycatcher and Red-flanked Bluetail on 14th, and Eye-browed Thrush, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher and Mugimaki Flycatcher on 16th.
On 13th, a Ferruginous Duck was at Lok Ma Chau and a Japanese Thrush was at Mt Davis.
Amur Falcon, 50 Hair-crested Drongos, Radde’s Warbler and Dark-sided Flycatcher were at Shek Kong catchwater on 15th.
A Slaty-backed Flycatcher was found at Ho Man Tin on 16th, which will be only the third record for Hong Kong if accepted, although its dishevelled plumage may indicate it is an ex-captive bird. Ho Man Tin turned up another rare flycatcher on 17th in the form of a female Narcissus Flycatcher. Although regular in small numbers on spring passage, this species is rare in autumn.
On 18th, southwest Lantau was productive – in part, perhaps, as a result of the approaching cold front from the north. Birds seen included Crested Honey Buzzard, two Eurasian Sparrowhawks, twenty Asian House Martins, four Radde’s Warblers, two Grey Bushchats, three Yellow-breasted Buntings, ten Chestnut Buntings, Yellow-browed Bunting and Grey-capped Greenfinch. San Tin turned up two Greater Spotted and two Eastern Imperial Eagles, 45 Red Turtle Doves, Hoopoe, Grey-headed Lapwing, five Pale Martins, five Eurasian Skylarks and five Siberian Rubythroats. The Black-backed Swamphen with clipped wings that was at Long Valley on October 1st was again seen wandering tamely around the rice fields there.
On 18th, southwest Lantau was productive – in part, perhaps, as a result of the approaching cold front from the north. Birds seen included Crested Honey Buzzard, two Eurasian Sparrowhawks, twenty Asian House Martins, four Radde’s Warblers, two Grey Bushchats, three Yellow-breasted Buntings, ten Chestnut Buntings, Yellow-browed Bunting and Grey-capped Greenfinch. San Tin turned up two Greater Spotted and two Eastern Imperial Eagles, 45 Red Turtle Doves, Hoopoe, Grey-headed Lapwing, five Pale Martins, five Eurasian Skylarks and five Siberian Rubythroats. The Black-backed Swamphen with clipped wings that was at Long Valley on October 1st was again seen wandering tamely around the rice fields there.
Unfortunately on 19th, one of the three Tundra Bean Geese was found dead on the scrape at Mai Po. Birds at Ho Man Tin included Grey Nightjar, Radde’s Warbler and a good count of seven Mugimaki Flycatchers. Bull-headed Shrikes were reported from Lam Tsuen and Pak Sha O, and the Ferruginous Duck was again seen at Lok Ma Chau, along with two Pheasant-tailed Jacanas.
Japanese Thrush at Shek Kong Airfield Road (archive photograph)
November 20 – 26
The period was dominated by the northeast monsoon that brought cooler and greyer conditions to the territory, especially following a surge of the monsoon on 24th when temperatures ranged between 15-19⁰C.
There was a noticeable influx of winter migrants from 23rd with observers reporting an arrival of thrushes (mainly Grey-backed and Japanese), Red-rumped Swallows, Daurian Redstarts, Rufous-tailed Robins, Pallas’s Leaf Warblers, Asian Stubtails and various flycatchers from several sites.
The period was dominated by the northeast monsoon that brought cooler and greyer conditions to the territory, especially following a surge of the monsoon on 24th when temperatures ranged between 15-19⁰C.
There was a noticeable influx of winter migrants from 23rd with observers reporting an arrival of thrushes (mainly Grey-backed and Japanese), Red-rumped Swallows, Daurian Redstarts, Rufous-tailed Robins, Pallas’s Leaf Warblers, Asian Stubtails and various flycatchers from several sites.
Best bird of the period was arguably Crested Kingfisher. Richard Lewthwaite heard what he suspected to be this species at Bride’s Pool on November 16th. Then on 23rd John Allcock saw one, possibly the same bird, near Shuen Wan in Tolo Harbour. Crested Kingfisher used to be a scarce and local resident in Hong Kong, mainly in the northeastern New Territories, and possibly also a winter visitor. The small resident population is now thought to be extinct and this is the first record since summer 2009.
The two Tundra Bean Geese and the three Greater White-fronted Geese continued to feed at Mai Po. Other reports from there included a Gadwall, two Eurasian Sparrowhawks, five Northern Lapwings, a Black-headed Bunting (access road) and the Rook on 20th. Five Saunders’s Gulls, two Eurasian Bitterns and 132 Chinese Penduline Tits were counted there on 21st. Four Eurasian Spoonbills, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, two Greater Spotted Eagles, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Northern Lapwing and two Asian House Martins were present on 23rd. On 24th an unseasonal Oriental Pratincole was on the scrape and two Terek Sandpipers were on the mud flats.
The two Tundra Bean Geese and the three Greater White-fronted Geese continued to feed at Mai Po. Other reports from there included a Gadwall, two Eurasian Sparrowhawks, five Northern Lapwings, a Black-headed Bunting (access road) and the Rook on 20th. Five Saunders’s Gulls, two Eurasian Bitterns and 132 Chinese Penduline Tits were counted there on 21st. Four Eurasian Spoonbills, Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, two Greater Spotted Eagles, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Northern Lapwing and two Asian House Martins were present on 23rd. On 24th an unseasonal Oriental Pratincole was on the scrape and two Terek Sandpipers were on the mud flats.
Long Valley continued to attract buntings with 14 Yellow-breasted Buntings on 21st; Rustic Bunting and Yellow-throated Bunting were reported on 24th; two Black-headed Buntings were seen on 25th, and Japanese Sparrowhawk, Russet Sparrow, Chestnut-eared Bunting and the Rustic Bunting and the two Black-headed Buntings were present on 26th. The Black Redstart remained at least until 25th.
Ho Man Tin had Mugimaki Flycatcher and Japanese Thrush on 20th, and two Common Kestrels, two Mugimaki Flycatchers, Radde’s Warbler and a late Black-naped Oriole on 22nd. A Plumbeous Water Redstart was at Bride's Pool on 22nd.
Birds at San Tin included two Grey-capped Greenfinches and five Black-faced Buntings on 21st, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana on 24th, and a Pied Harrier and 30 Red-rumped Swallows on 26th.
The Wetland Park held a female Fujian Niltava on 21st and three Chinese Grosbeaks on 24th.
Ho Man Tin had Mugimaki Flycatcher and Japanese Thrush on 20th, and two Common Kestrels, two Mugimaki Flycatchers, Radde’s Warbler and a late Black-naped Oriole on 22nd. A Plumbeous Water Redstart was at Bride's Pool on 22nd.
Birds at San Tin included two Grey-capped Greenfinches and five Black-faced Buntings on 21st, a Pheasant-tailed Jacana on 24th, and a Pied Harrier and 30 Red-rumped Swallows on 26th.
The Wetland Park held a female Fujian Niltava on 21st and three Chinese Grosbeaks on 24th.
Shek Kong catchwater had eight Black-winged Cuckooshrikes (a new high count), three Mugimaki Flycatchers, two Japanese/Manchurian Bush Warblers, five Asian House Martins, Two-barred Warbler and Sakhalin Leaf Warbler on 22nd. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was seen at Shek Kong Airfield Road on 23rd & 24th. Other birds seen at Airfield Road on 24th were four Taiga Flycatchers, Dark-sided Flycatcher, two Grey-backed and three Japanese Thrushes, Two-barred Warbler and five Pallas’s Leaf Warblers – indicative of the influx of birds into the region caused by the surge of the winter monsoon. A late Arctic Warbler was there on 26th.
A Bianchi’s Warbler, presumably the same Seicercus sp. that was seen there on October 30th, was digitally-recorded at Cheung Chau by Martin Williams on 22nd. This will be the 8th or 9th record if accepted. In addition, a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was seen and photographed on the same island on 23rd & 24th. This species is largely an early-autumn migrant through Hong Kong en route to its wintering grounds in Malaysia, Sumatra and Java, and has previously been recorded between August 2nd and October 19th. This occurrence on Cheung Chau is therefore an exceptionally late date for this species.
A Bianchi’s Warbler, presumably the same Seicercus sp. that was seen there on October 30th, was digitally-recorded at Cheung Chau by Martin Williams on 22nd. This will be the 8th or 9th record if accepted. In addition, a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was seen and photographed on the same island on 23rd & 24th. This species is largely an early-autumn migrant through Hong Kong en route to its wintering grounds in Malaysia, Sumatra and Java, and has previously been recorded between August 2nd and October 19th. This occurrence on Cheung Chau is therefore an exceptionally late date for this species.
Po Toi had Brown-headed Thrush, Lanceolated Warbler and a rare Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher on 23rd.
On 24th, the area between Tai O and Yi O on Lantau turned up several thrushes sp., including one Grey-backed Thrush and one Japanese Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail, a late Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Little Bunting. On the same day, Bride’s Pool had a 1st-winter male Blue-and-white Flycatcher and two Mugimaki Flycatchers, and Wonderland Villas held a Eurasian Woodcock and three Eyebrowed Thrushes. A White’s Thrush was seen at Pak Sha O.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Shek Kong catchwater on 26th. In "The Avifauna of Hong Kong", which was published in 2001, this warbler was described as "a passage migrant, uncommon in autumn, scarce in spring" with the latest record being of one at Tai Po Kau on 31 October 1992. Since 2006, however, there have been regular winter records e.g. in the second winter period in 2015, single birds were reported from four different sites in the New Territories.
And late news of a Rosy Pipit found by Matthew Kwan at Long Valley on 26th. This is the 4th record for Hong Kong, previous sightings as follows:
2006: one at Long Valley from May 14 - 17 2011: one on Po Toi 0n May 10 2012: one at Long Valley from October 28 - November 6.
On 24th, the area between Tai O and Yi O on Lantau turned up several thrushes sp., including one Grey-backed Thrush and one Japanese Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail, a late Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Bunting and Little Bunting. On the same day, Bride’s Pool had a 1st-winter male Blue-and-white Flycatcher and two Mugimaki Flycatchers, and Wonderland Villas held a Eurasian Woodcock and three Eyebrowed Thrushes. A White’s Thrush was seen at Pak Sha O.
An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Shek Kong catchwater on 26th. In "The Avifauna of Hong Kong", which was published in 2001, this warbler was described as "a passage migrant, uncommon in autumn, scarce in spring" with the latest record being of one at Tai Po Kau on 31 October 1992. Since 2006, however, there have been regular winter records e.g. in the second winter period in 2015, single birds were reported from four different sites in the New Territories.
And late news of a Rosy Pipit found by Matthew Kwan at Long Valley on 26th. This is the 4th record for Hong Kong, previous sightings as follows:
2006: one at Long Valley from May 14 - 17 2011: one on Po Toi 0n May 10 2012: one at Long Valley from October 28 - November 6.
Grey-backed Thrush at Tai Po Kau (archive photograph)
November 27-30
The last days of the month were warm and humid, with temperatures up to 26⁰C.
On 27th at Lok Ma Chau, the highlight was an Oriental Stork. This is the first since one was present at Mai Po from July 12th 2012 to March 11th 2013 (with two on there on the last date!) The last record prior to that was of one in January and February 2004. This stork (classified as Endangered by the IUCN) breeds in southeast Siberia and northeast China, and winters primarily along the Yangtze River in Eastern China. It occasionally wanders further southwards and is an irregular and rare winter visitor to Hong Kong. There was an exceptional influx in 1990 with 121 bird being present from November 27th to March 10th 1991 but most records are of ones and twos.
Other birds at Lok Ma Chau on 27th were Ferruginous Duck, Chinese Spot-billed Duck, 130 Black-faced Spoonbills, two Eastern Imperial Eagles, three Greater Spotted Eagles, Eurasian Woodcock, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and Hoopoe. At Mai Po, the three Greater White-fronted Geese and the two Tundra Bean Geese were still present, and Falcated Duck and Radde’s Warbler were also recorded. Wonderland Villas near Kwai Fong had Radde’s Warbler, two Mugimaki Flycatchers, three Eyebrowed Thrushes and a Japanese Thrush, and a Mugimaki Flycatcher and a Black-naped Monarch were seen at Mount Davis.
The last days of the month were warm and humid, with temperatures up to 26⁰C.
On 27th at Lok Ma Chau, the highlight was an Oriental Stork. This is the first since one was present at Mai Po from July 12th 2012 to March 11th 2013 (with two on there on the last date!) The last record prior to that was of one in January and February 2004. This stork (classified as Endangered by the IUCN) breeds in southeast Siberia and northeast China, and winters primarily along the Yangtze River in Eastern China. It occasionally wanders further southwards and is an irregular and rare winter visitor to Hong Kong. There was an exceptional influx in 1990 with 121 bird being present from November 27th to March 10th 1991 but most records are of ones and twos.
Other birds at Lok Ma Chau on 27th were Ferruginous Duck, Chinese Spot-billed Duck, 130 Black-faced Spoonbills, two Eastern Imperial Eagles, three Greater Spotted Eagles, Eurasian Woodcock, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and Hoopoe. At Mai Po, the three Greater White-fronted Geese and the two Tundra Bean Geese were still present, and Falcated Duck and Radde’s Warbler were also recorded. Wonderland Villas near Kwai Fong had Radde’s Warbler, two Mugimaki Flycatchers, three Eyebrowed Thrushes and a Japanese Thrush, and a Mugimaki Flycatcher and a Black-naped Monarch were seen at Mount Davis.
On 28th, Long Valley held the long-staying Black Redstart and a male Russet Sparrow was also present. Migrants on Po Toi included three Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers, Verditer Flycatcher, Eyebrowed and Pale Thrushes, and Brambling.
A Blunt-winged Warbler was trapped in the reed beds at Mai Po on 29th. This is the 14th record for Hong Kong, the vast majority being of birds caught in mist-nets at Mai Po. A Northern Goshawk was also seen at the reserve on the same day but its heavily damaged tail was indicative of a captive origin. (There is currently one accepted record of a wild bird – at Mai Po on December 11th 2011.) The Rook and four Common Starlings were also noted.
A Blunt-winged Warbler was trapped in the reed beds at Mai Po on 29th. This is the 14th record for Hong Kong, the vast majority being of birds caught in mist-nets at Mai Po. A Northern Goshawk was also seen at the reserve on the same day but its heavily damaged tail was indicative of a captive origin. (There is currently one accepted record of a wild bird – at Mai Po on December 11th 2011.) The Rook and four Common Starlings were also noted.
1st-winter male Ultramarine Flycatcher, Shek Kong catchwater, November 30 2017 (record shot)
Best bird of the period was a 1st-winter male Ultramarine Flycatcher found at Shek Kong catchwater by John Allcock on 29th. The bird was seen again early on 30th. There are two previous records of this species but both of them have up to now been thought of as likely escapes and placed in Category III. The first was of a 1st-winter male at KFBG on January 16th & 17th 1999; the second was of an adult male, also at KFBG, from April 5th-7th 2007. Hopefully, this latest occurrence will result in a re-assessment of the previous records and the promotion of the species to Category I.
Japanese Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Woodcock, 48 Chinese Blackbirds and the long-staying Black Redstart were at Long Valley on the afternoon of 30th.
Japanese Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Woodcock, 48 Chinese Blackbirds and the long-staying Black Redstart were at Long Valley on the afternoon of 30th.
Oriental Stork, Mai Po, August 25 2012
