Yellow-rumped Flycatcher at Lau Shui Heung, 5 September 2018 (record photograph)
LATEST SIGHTINGS - September 2018
September 1-9
Hot and showery with southwesterly winds until 7th, after which there was a slight surge of the northeast monsoon on 8th & 9th; temperatures fell below 30⁰C (just) but it did not feel particularly autumnal.
On 1st and 2nd, at least 29 species of shorebird were recorded at Mai Po, highlights being five Asian Dowitchers and 18 atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers on 1st. Other birds on 1st included two Garganeys, two Gull-billed Terns and the over-summering Mongolian Gull (now reclassified as a race of Vega Gull Larus vegae mongolicus in line with IOC taxonomy). On 2nd, the five over-summering Black-faced Spoonbills were on the mud flats, as were an Asian Dowitcher, at least four atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, and the Mongolian Gull. The Mongolian Gull was present on the scrape during the high tide period on 9th. Also noted on 9th were two Northern Shovelers, three Eurasian Teals and five Garganeys. Six Red Turtle Doves were also seen.
September 1-9
Hot and showery with southwesterly winds until 7th, after which there was a slight surge of the northeast monsoon on 8th & 9th; temperatures fell below 30⁰C (just) but it did not feel particularly autumnal.
On 1st and 2nd, at least 29 species of shorebird were recorded at Mai Po, highlights being five Asian Dowitchers and 18 atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers on 1st. Other birds on 1st included two Garganeys, two Gull-billed Terns and the over-summering Mongolian Gull (now reclassified as a race of Vega Gull Larus vegae mongolicus in line with IOC taxonomy). On 2nd, the five over-summering Black-faced Spoonbills were on the mud flats, as were an Asian Dowitcher, at least four atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, and the Mongolian Gull. The Mongolian Gull was present on the scrape during the high tide period on 9th. Also noted on 9th were two Northern Shovelers, three Eurasian Teals and five Garganeys. Six Red Turtle Doves were also seen.
Mongolian Gull at Mai Po, 9 September 2018 (record photographs)
Shek Kong catchwater held Amur Paradise Flycatcher and Brown-breasted Flycatcher on 1st, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher on 3rd, and Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Speckled Piculet on 4th.
At Ho Man Tin, migrants were recorded as follows: Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and Asian Brown Flycatcher on 2nd, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 3rd, two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Asian Brown Flycatcher on 5th, two Eastern Crowned Warblers and Hainan Blue Flycatcher on 6th, and three Amur Paradise Flycatchers and an Oriental Cuckoo on 8th.
Two Eurasian Hobbies were at Lam Tsuen on 2nd.
At Hong Kong Wetland Park, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was present on 3rd, a Thick-billed Warbler, two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by call), an Arctic Warbler, and Asian Brown and Dark-sided Flycatchers were seen on 4th, two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers and an Asian Brown Flycatcher were noted on 5th, with a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler again present on 7th.
On 5th, birds seen at Lau Shui Heung included two Speckled Piculets, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (confirmed by call) plus another Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler unidentified to taxon, Arctic Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.
On 6th, Po Toi turned up Oriental Dollarbird, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, 30 White-shouldered Starlings and a Daurian Starling, and on 8th, two Oriental Dollarbirds, two Arctic Warblers, three Asian Brown Flycatchers and three Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. A Bridled Tern was seen from the ferry on 8th. Ten Oriental Dollarbirds, an Arctic Warbler, four Asian Brown Flycatchers and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher were reported on 9th.
On 7th, the first Siberian Blue Robin of the autumn was seen at Tai Po Kau. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was also present.
On 9th, Long Valley held twenty Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipes, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Wryneck, plus Stejneger’s Stonechat and Zitting Cisticola.
In addition, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was photographed over Shenzhen on 4th – see http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=27580&goto=lastpost#lastpost .
At Ho Man Tin, migrants were recorded as follows: Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and Asian Brown Flycatcher on 2nd, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 3rd, two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Asian Brown Flycatcher on 5th, two Eastern Crowned Warblers and Hainan Blue Flycatcher on 6th, and three Amur Paradise Flycatchers and an Oriental Cuckoo on 8th.
Two Eurasian Hobbies were at Lam Tsuen on 2nd.
At Hong Kong Wetland Park, an Amur Paradise Flycatcher was present on 3rd, a Thick-billed Warbler, two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by call), an Arctic Warbler, and Asian Brown and Dark-sided Flycatchers were seen on 4th, two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers and an Asian Brown Flycatcher were noted on 5th, with a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler again present on 7th.
On 5th, birds seen at Lau Shui Heung included two Speckled Piculets, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (confirmed by call) plus another Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler unidentified to taxon, Arctic Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.
On 6th, Po Toi turned up Oriental Dollarbird, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, 30 White-shouldered Starlings and a Daurian Starling, and on 8th, two Oriental Dollarbirds, two Arctic Warblers, three Asian Brown Flycatchers and three Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. A Bridled Tern was seen from the ferry on 8th. Ten Oriental Dollarbirds, an Arctic Warbler, four Asian Brown Flycatchers and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher were reported on 9th.
On 7th, the first Siberian Blue Robin of the autumn was seen at Tai Po Kau. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was also present.
On 9th, Long Valley held twenty Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipes, Eurasian Hobby, Eurasian Wryneck, plus Stejneger’s Stonechat and Zitting Cisticola.
In addition, a juvenile Long-tailed Skua was photographed over Shenzhen on 4th – see http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=27580&goto=lastpost#lastpost .
September 10-16
Grey Wagtail at Lau Shui Heung, 12 September 2018
Hot, hazy and humid conditions for most of the week. Tropical Cyclone Barijat passed south of Hong Kong on 12th as it headed west. The T3 signal was raised but the storm’s passing was barely perceptible. That was not the case with Severe Typhoon Mangkhut which had swept across the Pacific during the week, causing severe damage to Guam and north Luzon before entering the South China Sea late on 15th. Subsiding air in front of the storm caused the temperature to reach 35⁰C during the day on 15th, but the 16th brought gale-force winds and heavy rain to south China. Hurricane signal 10 (the highest) was raised in the morning. The storm passed closest to Hong Kong – 100 km to the south – during the afternoon, causing flooding in some areas, felling trees, damaging buildings, disrupting power supplies etc. All in all, probably the nastiest typhoon I’ve experienced in Hong Kong.
Ho Man Tin was birded by several people on a daily basis from 10th – 15th and turned up most of the migrants that you might expect to occur in Hong Kong in mid-September. Birds included Black-winged Cuckooshrike (11th), Tiger Shrike (10th-12th, 15th), Brown Shrike (daily; max. three on 11th), Black-naped Oriole (14th, 15th), Eastern Crowned Warbler (11th, 12th, 15th), Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (daily; max. four on 11th), Arctic Warbler (daily; max. six on 12th), Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher (12th), Dark-sided Flycatcher (11th), Grey-streaked Flycatcher (13th), Asian Brown Flycatcher (up to two daily), Hainan Blue Flycatcher (11th, 12th), Orange-headed Thrush (12th, 13th) Siberian Blue Robin (two on 11th & 13th; singles on 14th, 15th) and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (daily 11th-15th).
Regular reports from HK Wetland Park included the summering Great Cormorant until at least 14th, seven Himalayan Swiftlets on 13th, Tiger Shrike on 11th, two Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 11th, regular Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (max. 5 on 14th – positive id based on call*), two Arctic Warblers on 14th, Asian Brown Flycatcher almost daily, Siberian Blue Robin on 10th, and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 12th & 13th.
Mai Po held twelve Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe, Eurasian Wryneck and three Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 11th, with Eastern Marsh Harrier, Black-naped Oriole, 11 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, three Arctic Warblers, Dusky Warbler (although the first Dusky Warbler of the autumn was at Cheung Chau on 12th), Black-browed Reed Warbler and Pechora Pipit on 14th.
Thirty Whiskered Terns were at Tai Sang Wai on 11th.
Lau Shui Heung had two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by call), an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a male Siberian Blue Robin and five Grey Wagtails on 12th. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Long Valley on the same day.
On 13th, migrants on Po Toi consisted of two Chinese Goshawks, Oriental Dollarbird, Black-naped Oriole, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, four Asian Brown Flycatchers, two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, two Arctic Warblers and a Forest Wagtail. Also on 13th, there were 12 Red-rumped Swallows at Sheung Shui.
On 14th, Wo Hop Shek held Oriental Dollarbird, Black-naped Oriole and two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by calls).
An Arctic Warbler and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher were at Tai Po Kau on 15th.
Finally, on 16th, before the full force of Mangkhut was felt in the territory, c. 2000 Red-necked Phalaropes were seen close to shore at Clearwater Bay; this is the second highest count on record, the first being 2,490 moving northeast off Po Toi in two hours on 5 April 2012. Later in the afternoon, a few waders were brought down in the flat area at She Shan in the Lam Tsuen valley: a Lesser Sand Plover, two Kentish Plovers, a Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe, 20 Green Sandpipers, ten Wood Sandpipers and an Oriental Pratincole.
Regular reports from HK Wetland Park included the summering Great Cormorant until at least 14th, seven Himalayan Swiftlets on 13th, Tiger Shrike on 11th, two Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 11th, regular Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (max. 5 on 14th – positive id based on call*), two Arctic Warblers on 14th, Asian Brown Flycatcher almost daily, Siberian Blue Robin on 10th, and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 12th & 13th.
Mai Po held twelve Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe, Eurasian Wryneck and three Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 11th, with Eastern Marsh Harrier, Black-naped Oriole, 11 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, three Arctic Warblers, Dusky Warbler (although the first Dusky Warbler of the autumn was at Cheung Chau on 12th), Black-browed Reed Warbler and Pechora Pipit on 14th.
Thirty Whiskered Terns were at Tai Sang Wai on 11th.
Lau Shui Heung had two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by call), an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a male Siberian Blue Robin and five Grey Wagtails on 12th. A Cinnamon Bittern was at Long Valley on the same day.
On 13th, migrants on Po Toi consisted of two Chinese Goshawks, Oriental Dollarbird, Black-naped Oriole, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, four Asian Brown Flycatchers, two Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, two Arctic Warblers and a Forest Wagtail. Also on 13th, there were 12 Red-rumped Swallows at Sheung Shui.
On 14th, Wo Hop Shek held Oriental Dollarbird, Black-naped Oriole and two Pale-legged Leaf Warblers (confirmed by calls).
An Arctic Warbler and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher were at Tai Po Kau on 15th.
Finally, on 16th, before the full force of Mangkhut was felt in the territory, c. 2000 Red-necked Phalaropes were seen close to shore at Clearwater Bay; this is the second highest count on record, the first being 2,490 moving northeast off Po Toi in two hours on 5 April 2012. Later in the afternoon, a few waders were brought down in the flat area at She Shan in the Lam Tsuen valley: a Lesser Sand Plover, two Kentish Plovers, a Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe, 20 Green Sandpipers, ten Wood Sandpipers and an Oriental Pratincole.
* Pale-legged Leaf and Sakhalin Leaf Warblers are impossible to separate on plumage in the field. Currently, the only way to identify them is on call. They both give a fairly distinctive “chink” note which is often repeated. The calls are very similar but that of Pale-legged Leaf Warbler is higher pitched than that of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler – over 5,000 Hz for Pale-legged Leaf Warbler but under 5,000 Hz for Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (mean 5729.29 +/- 77.23 Hz for Pale-legged Leaf, 4786.58 +/- 191.08 Hz for Sakhalin Leaf)#. This difference may or may not be audible in the field depending on the observers’ experience and/or their “musical” ear. To ascertain the pitch of the call I record it on my iPhone in the field and then transfer the sound file on to my computer once I’m back home. Free software (such as Ravenlite) is available for download on the internet and this can generate a sonogram showing the frequency of the call.
# Chananya Hungnon, Jenjit Khudamrongsawat, Sontaya Manawattana, Andrew J. Pierce & Philip D. Round. 2017. Distinguishing between Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus borealoides and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler P. tenellipes on call. Forktail 33: 77-80
# Chananya Hungnon, Jenjit Khudamrongsawat, Sontaya Manawattana, Andrew J. Pierce & Philip D. Round. 2017. Distinguishing between Sakhalin Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus borealoides and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler P. tenellipes on call. Forktail 33: 77-80
September 17-23
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Mai Po in September (archive image)
The 17th dawned wet and windy after the passage of Typhoon Mangkhut, which proved to be the strongest storm to hit the territory since records began fifty years ago. The remainder of the week proved to be fine and very hot with temperatures reaching 33⁰C on 22nd.
Mangkhut blew down at least 17,000 trees throughout Hong Kong and many of the ones still standing look shredded and forlorn. Many country park trails remain inaccessible and Mai Po is closed until next week so the paths can be cleared and the hides repaired.
In the aftermath of the storm, a dead Streaked Shearwater was found near High Island and an injured bird was picked up by the SPCA in Tseung Kwan O. Apart from that, there wasn’t much evidence of storm-blown seabirds apart from a scattering of Red-necked Phalaropes on the coast and inland, and a few terns (Black-naped, Little, Bridled and Whiskered) offshore.
There was some discussion about the effect on the storm on land birds with some observers suggesting that Chinese Bulbuls in particular had become much scarcer in their local areas. Whether this is a result of high levels of mortality or whether the birds have moved to other areas in search of shelter and food is difficult to know for sure.
Migrants, however, seem to be passing through as usual, and there were regular reports from Ho Man Tin, Shek Kong catchwater and the HK Wetland Park. The usual suspects were widespread: Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-winged Cuckooshrikes (max. three at Shek Kong catchwater on 22nd), Brown Shrikes, Arctic Warblers (max. five at Ho Man Tin on 22nd) , Pale-legged/ Sakhalin Leaf Warblers (max. four at Po Toi on 18th and Ho Man Tin on 19th), and Asian Brown Flycatchers (max. four at Po Toi on 18th). Up to two definite Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were identified on call at the Wetland Park and Shek Kong catchwater but so far there have been no claimed records of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, indicative perhaps of how much commoner Pale-legged Leaf Warbler is here in September.
Other records of interest by date as follows:
On 17th, the grassland area at She Shan held two Red-necked Phalaropes, four Green Sandpipers, 14 Wood Sandpipers, a Marsh Sandpiper, an Oriental Pratincole, and 14 Zitting Cisticolas.
On 18th, single Japanese and Amur Paradise Flycatchers were at Shek Kong catchwater. Mai Po had Cinnamon Bittern, Eastern Marsh Harrier and two Yellow-breasted Buntings. Po Toi – which was hard hit by the typhoon; many buildings damaged, a number of trees down – had, in addition to the migrants mentioned above, Black-naped Oriole, Yellow-browed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Grey-streaked Flycatcher.
A Black-naped Oriole, 50 Chestnut-collared Yuhinas and a Siberian Blue Robin were at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th, and Ho Man Tin had Blue Rock Thrush and Chinese Grosbeak apart from the more usual migrants. A Siberian Blue Robin was at Ho Man Tin on 20th.
Birds reported on 21st included 16 Red-necked Phalaropes at Long Valley, the first Amur Falcon of the autumn at Nam Sang Wai ( a new earliest date, the previous being 3rd October), Amur Paradise Flycatcher at Ma On Shan CP, and Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher and Siberian Blue Robin at Ho Man Tin.
On 22nd, birds seen at San Tin included Lesser Whistling Duck, Common Pochard, 30 Red-necked Phalaropes, a Red Turtle Dove, a Sand Martin, two Black-browed Reed Warblers, two Oriental Reed Warblers, a Yellow-browed Warbler and two Dusky Warblers.
A Dark-sided Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 23rd.
Mangkhut blew down at least 17,000 trees throughout Hong Kong and many of the ones still standing look shredded and forlorn. Many country park trails remain inaccessible and Mai Po is closed until next week so the paths can be cleared and the hides repaired.
In the aftermath of the storm, a dead Streaked Shearwater was found near High Island and an injured bird was picked up by the SPCA in Tseung Kwan O. Apart from that, there wasn’t much evidence of storm-blown seabirds apart from a scattering of Red-necked Phalaropes on the coast and inland, and a few terns (Black-naped, Little, Bridled and Whiskered) offshore.
There was some discussion about the effect on the storm on land birds with some observers suggesting that Chinese Bulbuls in particular had become much scarcer in their local areas. Whether this is a result of high levels of mortality or whether the birds have moved to other areas in search of shelter and food is difficult to know for sure.
Migrants, however, seem to be passing through as usual, and there were regular reports from Ho Man Tin, Shek Kong catchwater and the HK Wetland Park. The usual suspects were widespread: Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-winged Cuckooshrikes (max. three at Shek Kong catchwater on 22nd), Brown Shrikes, Arctic Warblers (max. five at Ho Man Tin on 22nd) , Pale-legged/ Sakhalin Leaf Warblers (max. four at Po Toi on 18th and Ho Man Tin on 19th), and Asian Brown Flycatchers (max. four at Po Toi on 18th). Up to two definite Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were identified on call at the Wetland Park and Shek Kong catchwater but so far there have been no claimed records of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, indicative perhaps of how much commoner Pale-legged Leaf Warbler is here in September.
Other records of interest by date as follows:
On 17th, the grassland area at She Shan held two Red-necked Phalaropes, four Green Sandpipers, 14 Wood Sandpipers, a Marsh Sandpiper, an Oriental Pratincole, and 14 Zitting Cisticolas.
On 18th, single Japanese and Amur Paradise Flycatchers were at Shek Kong catchwater. Mai Po had Cinnamon Bittern, Eastern Marsh Harrier and two Yellow-breasted Buntings. Po Toi – which was hard hit by the typhoon; many buildings damaged, a number of trees down – had, in addition to the migrants mentioned above, Black-naped Oriole, Yellow-browed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler and Grey-streaked Flycatcher.
A Black-naped Oriole, 50 Chestnut-collared Yuhinas and a Siberian Blue Robin were at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th, and Ho Man Tin had Blue Rock Thrush and Chinese Grosbeak apart from the more usual migrants. A Siberian Blue Robin was at Ho Man Tin on 20th.
Birds reported on 21st included 16 Red-necked Phalaropes at Long Valley, the first Amur Falcon of the autumn at Nam Sang Wai ( a new earliest date, the previous being 3rd October), Amur Paradise Flycatcher at Ma On Shan CP, and Grey-streaked Flycatcher, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher and Siberian Blue Robin at Ho Man Tin.
On 22nd, birds seen at San Tin included Lesser Whistling Duck, Common Pochard, 30 Red-necked Phalaropes, a Red Turtle Dove, a Sand Martin, two Black-browed Reed Warblers, two Oriental Reed Warblers, a Yellow-browed Warbler and two Dusky Warblers.
A Dark-sided Flycatcher was at Tai Lam CP on 23rd.
Dark-sided Flycatcher at Lung Fu Shan in September (archive image)
September 24-30
The weather was generally fine and sunny with the northeast monsoon dominating from 26th. Early mornings felt cool and fresh, but the freshness soon gave way to temperatures of over 30⁰C. It was still hard work out in the field in the middle of the day.
There were continuing records of the commoner passage birds from a number of places (with most reports from the regularly watched sites of Mai Po, HK Wetland Park, San Tin, Shek Kong catchwater and Ho Man Tin); these included Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-naped Orioles, Black Drongos, Brown Shrikes, Oriental Reed Warblers (48 at San Tin on 30th), Arctic Warblers, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warblers, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, Asian Brown Flycatchers and Dark-sided Flycatchers.
There was also a noticeable arrival of wintering birds, albeit in generally small numbers c.f. October/November (and doubtless some of these will have just been passing through Hong Kong) with records of Great Cormorants, ducks (Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon all noted), Red Turtle Doves, Ashy Drongos, Black-winged Cuckooshrikes, Stejneger’s Stonechats, Blue Rock Thrushes, Chinese Blackbirds, Taiga Flycatchers, Dusky Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas and Richard’s Pipits.
Reports of particular note were:
Lesser Whistling Duck: the long-staying bird was still at San Tin on 30th
Garganey: 101 at Mai Po on 29th
Common Pochard: the long-staying bird was still at San Tin on 30th
Black-faced Spoonbill: four of the five summering birds were still at Mai Po on 29th
Black-winged Kite: two at Mai Po on 26th, with one on 29th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: four at Mai Po on 27th
Baillon’s Crake: one at San Tin on 30th
Yellow-legged Buttonquail: one at San Tin on 29th
Grey-headed Lapwing: three at the regular wintering site on the Kam Tin River on 29th
Little Curlew: one at Mai Po on 27th
Red-necked Phalarope: up to 25 remained at San Tin (with 35 on 29th) and five at Long Valley until the end of the month
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: singles at Long Valley on 25th and Ho Man Tin on 26th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: 14 at Mai Po on 26th
Great Barbet: up to eight feeding in a large fig tree at Tai Po Kau Park on 30th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Mai Po on 26th, with two on 27th
Amur Falcon: one at Long Valley on 30th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Long Valley on 25th
Fairy Pitta: one at Po Toi on 27th. (The second of the autumn; apparently, one was seen at Route Twisk on 10th)
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin until 28th
Ashy Drongo: one of the dark race hopwoodi was at Tai Po Kau on 30th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at Mai Po on 29th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 27th
Two-barred Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 26th & 29th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: singles reported from Ho Man Tin on 29th and Tai Lam CP on 30th
Goodson’s Leaf /Claudia’s Leaf Warbler: one, either Goodson’s Leaf Warbler of the race fokhiensis or Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, was photographed at Ho Man Tin on 24th. See http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=27617&goto=lastpost#lastpost
Black-browed Reed Warbler: eight at San Tin on 30th
Chestnut-collared Yuhina: 30 were at Shek Kong catchwater on 25th
Orange-headed Thrush: up to two at Ho Man Tin until the end of the month; one at Mai Po on 29th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at San Tin from 27th - 30th
Verditer Flycatcher: two at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th
Siberian Blue Robin: up to two at Ho Man Tin from 26th – 28th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Shek Kong catchwater on 25th, and Ho Man Tin on 25th & 26th
Forest Wagtail: two at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th
Chinese Grosbeak: two at Mai Po on 29th
Little Bunting: singles at San Tin on 27th and Long Valley on 30th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: two at San Tin on 29th.
The weather was generally fine and sunny with the northeast monsoon dominating from 26th. Early mornings felt cool and fresh, but the freshness soon gave way to temperatures of over 30⁰C. It was still hard work out in the field in the middle of the day.
There were continuing records of the commoner passage birds from a number of places (with most reports from the regularly watched sites of Mai Po, HK Wetland Park, San Tin, Shek Kong catchwater and Ho Man Tin); these included Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-naped Orioles, Black Drongos, Brown Shrikes, Oriental Reed Warblers (48 at San Tin on 30th), Arctic Warblers, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warblers, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, Asian Brown Flycatchers and Dark-sided Flycatchers.
There was also a noticeable arrival of wintering birds, albeit in generally small numbers c.f. October/November (and doubtless some of these will have just been passing through Hong Kong) with records of Great Cormorants, ducks (Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon all noted), Red Turtle Doves, Ashy Drongos, Black-winged Cuckooshrikes, Stejneger’s Stonechats, Blue Rock Thrushes, Chinese Blackbirds, Taiga Flycatchers, Dusky Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Zitting Cisticolas and Richard’s Pipits.
Reports of particular note were:
Lesser Whistling Duck: the long-staying bird was still at San Tin on 30th
Garganey: 101 at Mai Po on 29th
Common Pochard: the long-staying bird was still at San Tin on 30th
Black-faced Spoonbill: four of the five summering birds were still at Mai Po on 29th
Black-winged Kite: two at Mai Po on 26th, with one on 29th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: four at Mai Po on 27th
Baillon’s Crake: one at San Tin on 30th
Yellow-legged Buttonquail: one at San Tin on 29th
Grey-headed Lapwing: three at the regular wintering site on the Kam Tin River on 29th
Little Curlew: one at Mai Po on 27th
Red-necked Phalarope: up to 25 remained at San Tin (with 35 on 29th) and five at Long Valley until the end of the month
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: singles at Long Valley on 25th and Ho Man Tin on 26th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: 14 at Mai Po on 26th
Great Barbet: up to eight feeding in a large fig tree at Tai Po Kau Park on 30th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Mai Po on 26th, with two on 27th
Amur Falcon: one at Long Valley on 30th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Long Valley on 25th
Fairy Pitta: one at Po Toi on 27th. (The second of the autumn; apparently, one was seen at Route Twisk on 10th)
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin until 28th
Ashy Drongo: one of the dark race hopwoodi was at Tai Po Kau on 30th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at Mai Po on 29th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 27th
Two-barred Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 26th & 29th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: singles reported from Ho Man Tin on 29th and Tai Lam CP on 30th
Goodson’s Leaf /Claudia’s Leaf Warbler: one, either Goodson’s Leaf Warbler of the race fokhiensis or Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, was photographed at Ho Man Tin on 24th. See http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=27617&goto=lastpost#lastpost
Black-browed Reed Warbler: eight at San Tin on 30th
Chestnut-collared Yuhina: 30 were at Shek Kong catchwater on 25th
Orange-headed Thrush: up to two at Ho Man Tin until the end of the month; one at Mai Po on 29th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at San Tin from 27th - 30th
Verditer Flycatcher: two at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th
Siberian Blue Robin: up to two at Ho Man Tin from 26th – 28th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Shek Kong catchwater on 25th, and Ho Man Tin on 25th & 26th
Forest Wagtail: two at Shek Kong catchwater on 29th
Chinese Grosbeak: two at Mai Po on 29th
Little Bunting: singles at San Tin on 27th and Long Valley on 30th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: two at San Tin on 29th.
