LATEST SIGHTINGS - September 2019
September 1-8
September 1-8
Chinese Hwamei at Lau Shui Heung, 7 September 2019
From 1st – 3rd September, Tropical Cyclone Kajiki moved from the Philippines towards Hainan, causing the T1 signal to be raised in Hong Kong on 1st until mid-morning on 2nd. The passing of the storm 300 km to the south brought showers and thunderstorms to the territory with slightly cooler temperatures (up to 29⁰C ) The rains persisted on 4th and 5th. Anticyclonic conditions became established from 6th to 8th when it became hot and sunny with temperatures up to 33⁰C in the New Territories.
On 1st, three atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, two Asian Dowitchers, two Gull-billed Terns, two White-winged Terns, and 30 Asian Koels were noted at Mai Po. Two drake Mandarin Ducks (presumably the same as were seen there on 12 August) and 35 Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipes were at Long Valley. Elsewhere, a Himalayan Swiftlet was at Bride’s Pool, a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Tai Tong, and an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and a Brown Shrike were at Tai Po Kau.
On 2nd, Ho Man Tin turned up Asian Brown and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. Other birds at this site during the period under review included three Arctic Warblers, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and two Yellow-rumped Flycatchers on 3rd, a Tiger Shrike, a Brown Shrike, a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, an Asian Brown Flycatcher, a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler and an Arctic Warbler on 4th, a Pacific Swift and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 5th, and a Brown Shrike, two Arctic Warblers and an Asian Brown Flycatcher on 7th.
On 3rd, birds on Po Toi and in the surrounding waters included 50 Red-necked Phalaropes, 30 Bridled Terns, five Black-naped Terns, five Aleutian Terns, an Oriental Dollarbird, three Brown Shrikes and a Forest Wagtail. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Mai Po.
On 6th, 50 Common Terns and 30 Whiskered Terns were at San Tin. Four juvenile Crested Serpent Eagles were counted at Tai Po Kau and a single juvenile was in Tai Lam CP. (Birds in juvenile plumage are not commonly seen in Hong Kong, so it seems likely these particular individuals were migrants passing through the territory.) Other birds at Tai Lam CP included a Siberian Blue Robin, a Forest Wagtail, an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and an Orange-headed Thrush. A Siberian Blue Robin was also seen at Ho Pui reservoir.
On 7th, the first Black-winged Cuckooshrike of the autumn was at Lau Shui Heung and an Arctic Warbler was at Pinewood Battery.
On 8th, Shek Kong catchwater held an Eastern Crowned Warbler, two Arctic Warblers, a Siberian Blue Robin and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.
On 1st, three atrifrons Lesser Sand Plovers, two Asian Dowitchers, two Gull-billed Terns, two White-winged Terns, and 30 Asian Koels were noted at Mai Po. Two drake Mandarin Ducks (presumably the same as were seen there on 12 August) and 35 Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipes were at Long Valley. Elsewhere, a Himalayan Swiftlet was at Bride’s Pool, a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Tai Tong, and an Amur Paradise Flycatcher and a Brown Shrike were at Tai Po Kau.
On 2nd, Ho Man Tin turned up Asian Brown and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers. Other birds at this site during the period under review included three Arctic Warblers, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and two Yellow-rumped Flycatchers on 3rd, a Tiger Shrike, a Brown Shrike, a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, an Asian Brown Flycatcher, a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler and an Arctic Warbler on 4th, a Pacific Swift and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher on 5th, and a Brown Shrike, two Arctic Warblers and an Asian Brown Flycatcher on 7th.
On 3rd, birds on Po Toi and in the surrounding waters included 50 Red-necked Phalaropes, 30 Bridled Terns, five Black-naped Terns, five Aleutian Terns, an Oriental Dollarbird, three Brown Shrikes and a Forest Wagtail. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Mai Po.
On 6th, 50 Common Terns and 30 Whiskered Terns were at San Tin. Four juvenile Crested Serpent Eagles were counted at Tai Po Kau and a single juvenile was in Tai Lam CP. (Birds in juvenile plumage are not commonly seen in Hong Kong, so it seems likely these particular individuals were migrants passing through the territory.) Other birds at Tai Lam CP included a Siberian Blue Robin, a Forest Wagtail, an Eastern Crowned Warbler, a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler and an Orange-headed Thrush. A Siberian Blue Robin was also seen at Ho Pui reservoir.
On 7th, the first Black-winged Cuckooshrike of the autumn was at Lau Shui Heung and an Arctic Warbler was at Pinewood Battery.
On 8th, Shek Kong catchwater held an Eastern Crowned Warbler, two Arctic Warblers, a Siberian Blue Robin and a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.
September 9-15
Anticyclonic conditions prevailed for most of the week. The weather was hot and sunny with temperatures in the New Territories regularly reaching 33+⁰C.
There was late news of two rarities on 8 September. The first of these was a male Chinese Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin. If accepted, this will be the ninth Hong Kong record and also a new early date, the previous being 18 October. The second rarity was of an adult Red-footed Booby with a badly damaged wing at Man Kok Tsui on Lantau Island. This is the 13th record for Hong Kong; all occurrences have been between 3 May and 9 October.
Turning to the week under review, the migrant hot spots of Ho Man Tin and Po Toi were well covered; these and other sites turned up Brown Shrikes, Arctic Warblers, Asian Brown Flycatchers and Hainan Blue Flycatchers along with a number of other early autumn migrants. Highlights were the second Green-backed Flycatcher of the autumn and a new high count of Oriental Dollarbirds.
Records of note as follows:
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 14th
Black-winged Kite: one at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Crested Honey Buzzard: one at Mt Davis on 11th
Asian Dowitcher: two at Mai Po on 9th, 10th & 15th
Long-billed Dowitcher: the long-staying, breeding-plumaged adult was at Mai Po on 9th; a different bird in non-breeding plumage was at Mai Po on 10th; one on 15th was presumably one or other of these two birds
Red-necked Phalarope: 20 from the Po Toi ferry on 15th
Gull-billed Tern: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Eurasian Hobby: one near Sheung Shui on 13th and one at Po Toi on 15th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi on 10th & 12th with ten there on 15th, one at Ho Man Tin on 11th, five at Tai Tong on 14th, one at Tai Lam CP on 14th, and an exceptional count of 28 at Tai Tong on 15th; the previous highest count = 16 at Tai Po Kau on 21 April 1988
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Po Toi on 10th, 12th & 15th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike one at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Brown Shrike: highest count was four at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Black-naped Oriole: two at Po Toi on 10th with one there on 15th
Ashy Drongo: the first birds of the autumn were singles at Tai Lam CP on 13th & 14th; the one on 13th was considered to be of the subspecies salangensis; the bird on 14th was probably a different bird but was seen poorly and was unidentified to taxon
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 9th & 12th is a new early record, the previous early date being 17 September
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 13th with three there on 14th and one there on 15th, one at Shing Mun on 15th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Dusky Warbler: the first bird of the autumn was at Mai Po on 15th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 13th with two there on 14th and three there on 15th, one at Shing Mun on 15th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: three at Tai Lam CP and two at Lion Rock CP on 15th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 14th with eight there on 15th, four at Tai Tong on 14th with three there on 15th, and three at Lion Rock CP on 15th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was five at Tai Tong and at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Shing Mun on 15th; if accepted this will be a new earliest autumn record, the previous earliest date being 27 September
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Mai Po on 14th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Golden-headed Cisticola: two at Tsim Bei Tsui on 14th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 15th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Tai Lam CP on 13th & 14th, Tai Tong on 14th, and Po Toi and Lion Rock CP on 15th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was six at Po Toi on 10th & 12th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: a female reported from Po Toi on 15th
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Mai Po on 14th and one in fields below Shek Kong catchwater on 15th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin on 10th, Mai Po on 14th and Po Toi on 15th
Green-backed Flycatcher: one at Fanling Golf Course on 12th; the second report of this rare flycatcher this autumn following one at Ho Man Tin on 23 August
Red-throated Flycatcher: the first bird of the season was at Po Toi on 15th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 11th
Plain Flowerpecker: three at Tai Tong on 14th
Forest Wagtail: one at Shek Kong catchwater on 11th
Red-throated Pipit: one at San Tin on 14th – a new earliest date by two days.
Anticyclonic conditions prevailed for most of the week. The weather was hot and sunny with temperatures in the New Territories regularly reaching 33+⁰C.
There was late news of two rarities on 8 September. The first of these was a male Chinese Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin. If accepted, this will be the ninth Hong Kong record and also a new early date, the previous being 18 October. The second rarity was of an adult Red-footed Booby with a badly damaged wing at Man Kok Tsui on Lantau Island. This is the 13th record for Hong Kong; all occurrences have been between 3 May and 9 October.
Turning to the week under review, the migrant hot spots of Ho Man Tin and Po Toi were well covered; these and other sites turned up Brown Shrikes, Arctic Warblers, Asian Brown Flycatchers and Hainan Blue Flycatchers along with a number of other early autumn migrants. Highlights were the second Green-backed Flycatcher of the autumn and a new high count of Oriental Dollarbirds.
Records of note as follows:
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 14th
Black-winged Kite: one at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Crested Honey Buzzard: one at Mt Davis on 11th
Asian Dowitcher: two at Mai Po on 9th, 10th & 15th
Long-billed Dowitcher: the long-staying, breeding-plumaged adult was at Mai Po on 9th; a different bird in non-breeding plumage was at Mai Po on 10th; one on 15th was presumably one or other of these two birds
Red-necked Phalarope: 20 from the Po Toi ferry on 15th
Gull-billed Tern: one at Mai Po on 9th & 10th
Eurasian Hobby: one near Sheung Shui on 13th and one at Po Toi on 15th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi on 10th & 12th with ten there on 15th, one at Ho Man Tin on 11th, five at Tai Tong on 14th, one at Tai Lam CP on 14th, and an exceptional count of 28 at Tai Tong on 15th; the previous highest count = 16 at Tai Po Kau on 21 April 1988
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Po Toi on 10th, 12th & 15th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike one at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Brown Shrike: highest count was four at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Black-naped Oriole: two at Po Toi on 10th with one there on 15th
Ashy Drongo: the first birds of the autumn were singles at Tai Lam CP on 13th & 14th; the one on 13th was considered to be of the subspecies salangensis; the bird on 14th was probably a different bird but was seen poorly and was unidentified to taxon
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 9th & 12th is a new early record, the previous early date being 17 September
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 13th with three there on 14th and one there on 15th, one at Shing Mun on 15th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Lam CP on 14th
Dusky Warbler: the first bird of the autumn was at Mai Po on 15th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 13th with two there on 14th and three there on 15th, one at Shing Mun on 15th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: three at Tai Lam CP and two at Lion Rock CP on 15th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 14th with eight there on 15th, four at Tai Tong on 14th with three there on 15th, and three at Lion Rock CP on 15th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was five at Tai Tong and at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Shing Mun on 15th; if accepted this will be a new earliest autumn record, the previous earliest date being 27 September
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Mai Po on 14th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Lok Ma Chau on 13th
Golden-headed Cisticola: two at Tsim Bei Tsui on 14th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Tai Lam CP on 15th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Tai Lam CP on 13th & 14th, Tai Tong on 14th, and Po Toi and Lion Rock CP on 15th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was six at Po Toi on 10th & 12th
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: a female reported from Po Toi on 15th
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Mai Po on 14th and one in fields below Shek Kong catchwater on 15th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin on 10th, Mai Po on 14th and Po Toi on 15th
Green-backed Flycatcher: one at Fanling Golf Course on 12th; the second report of this rare flycatcher this autumn following one at Ho Man Tin on 23 August
Red-throated Flycatcher: the first bird of the season was at Po Toi on 15th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 11th
Plain Flowerpecker: three at Tai Tong on 14th
Forest Wagtail: one at Shek Kong catchwater on 11th
Red-throated Pipit: one at San Tin on 14th – a new earliest date by two days.
UPDATE: 16 SEPTEMBER
Note that based upon a series of photos, John Allcock and Jonathan Martinez have suggested the blue flycatcher identified as a male Chinese Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin on 8 September is, in fact, an orange-coloured morph of Hainan Blue Flycatcher. Apparently, there are several recent undocumented occurrences of this form in Hong Kong, It is currently given subspecific status as Cyornis hainanus klossi by the IOC and HBW.
Note that based upon a series of photos, John Allcock and Jonathan Martinez have suggested the blue flycatcher identified as a male Chinese Blue Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin on 8 September is, in fact, an orange-coloured morph of Hainan Blue Flycatcher. Apparently, there are several recent undocumented occurrences of this form in Hong Kong, It is currently given subspecific status as Cyornis hainanus klossi by the IOC and HBW.
September 16-22
Asian Brown Flycatcher at Mai Po in September (Birding Hong Kong archive)
A surge of the northeast monsoon during the week caused temperatures to fall to the low 20s during the night, bringing a hint of autumn to the territory, but temperature still rose to the low 30s during the day. Generally fine and dry.
Regular migrants were much in evidence, including reports of Great Cormorants, Red Turtle Doves, Oriental Turtle Doves, Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-naped Orioles, Black Drongos, Brown Shrikes, Oriental Reed Warblers, Dusky Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warblers, Arctic Warblers, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers (including several reports of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers identified on call but no claims of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler as yet) Asian Brown Flycatchers, Stejneger’s Stonechats, Zitting Cisticolas, Eastern Yellow Wagtails and Richard’s Pipits.
Records of note as follows:
Black-faced Spoonbill: the two summering birds were still at Mai Po on 19th
Von Schrenck’s Bittern: one at Shing Mun on 19th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eastern Marsh Harrier: two at Lut Chau on 22nd
Eurasian Woodcock: one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Red-necked Phalarope: 50 from the Po Toi ferry on 17th, 40 on 19th
Whiskered Tern: 30 at San Tin on 22nd
Himalayan Swiftlet: four at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eurasian Hobby: one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Oriental Dollarbird: highest count was 11 in the Ho Pui area on 18th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at San Tin on 20th
Ashy Minivet: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Black-winged Cuckooshrike one at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th and one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin from 16th – 21st
Black-naped Oriole: six were at Fan Lau on 22nd
Black Drongo: 25 at San Tin on 22nd
Ashy Drongo: three at Fan Lau, two at Yi O and four elsewhere on southwest Lantau on 22nd
Sand Martin: one at San Tin on 20th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th, one at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th
Oriental Reed Warbler: 30 were at San Tin on 22nd
Black-browed Reed Warbler: two at San Tin on 22nd
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one at San Tin on 22nd
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at San Tin on 18th and two there on 20th & 22nd
Lanceolated Warbler: one at San Tin on 20th
Daurian Starling: one at San Tin on 22nd
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 18th & 19th with two there on 22nd, two at Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was eight at Po Toi on 17th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: singles at Po Toi on 19th and Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Uk Tau on 17th, Shek Kong catchwater on 19th and Ng Tung Chai, Ho Pui reservoir and Tai Lam CP on 22nd
Asian Brown Flycatcher: eight were at Fan Lau on 22nd
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 17th
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th & 18th with four there on 19th – this is a new high count at a single site, the previous record being of three at north Lantau on 25 September 2004; two were also at Tai Lam CP on 18th and one at Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Slaty-backed Forktail: four together at Shing Mun at the same site where birds have been seen sporadically since September 2017. Presumably this was a family party including at least two locally-bred juveniles – the first breeding record since the 1990s
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Pui reservoir on 18th, and at Ho Man Tin and Tai Po Kau on 19th
Red-throated (Taiga) Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 22nd
Stejneger’s Stonechat: 13 were at Yi O on 22nd
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Po Toi on 17th with two there on 19th
Forest Wagtail: one at Fan Lau on 22nd and one elsewhere on southwest Lantau on the same date
Olive-backed Pipit: three at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 150 were at San Tin on 22nd
Common Rosefinch: one at Yi O on 22nd – a new earliest autumn record by six days
Yellow-breasted Bunting: two at Lut Chau on 19th, and singles at San Tin on 20th, Long Valley on 21st and Yi O on 22nd.
Regular migrants were much in evidence, including reports of Great Cormorants, Red Turtle Doves, Oriental Turtle Doves, Oriental Dollarbirds, Black-naped Orioles, Black Drongos, Brown Shrikes, Oriental Reed Warblers, Dusky Warblers, Yellow-browed Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warblers, Arctic Warblers, Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers (including several reports of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers identified on call but no claims of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler as yet) Asian Brown Flycatchers, Stejneger’s Stonechats, Zitting Cisticolas, Eastern Yellow Wagtails and Richard’s Pipits.
Records of note as follows:
Black-faced Spoonbill: the two summering birds were still at Mai Po on 19th
Von Schrenck’s Bittern: one at Shing Mun on 19th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eastern Marsh Harrier: two at Lut Chau on 22nd
Eurasian Woodcock: one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Red-necked Phalarope: 50 from the Po Toi ferry on 17th, 40 on 19th
Whiskered Tern: 30 at San Tin on 22nd
Himalayan Swiftlet: four at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eurasian Hobby: one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Oriental Dollarbird: highest count was 11 in the Ho Pui area on 18th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at San Tin on 20th
Ashy Minivet: one at Fan Lau on 22nd
Black-winged Cuckooshrike one at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th and one at southwest Lantau on 22nd
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin from 16th – 21st
Black-naped Oriole: six were at Fan Lau on 22nd
Black Drongo: 25 at San Tin on 22nd
Ashy Drongo: three at Fan Lau, two at Yi O and four elsewhere on southwest Lantau on 22nd
Sand Martin: one at San Tin on 20th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th, one at Shek Kong catchwater on 19th
Oriental Reed Warbler: 30 were at San Tin on 22nd
Black-browed Reed Warbler: two at San Tin on 22nd
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one at San Tin on 22nd
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at San Tin on 18th and two there on 20th & 22nd
Lanceolated Warbler: one at San Tin on 20th
Daurian Starling: one at San Tin on 22nd
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 18th & 19th with two there on 22nd, two at Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was eight at Po Toi on 17th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: singles at Po Toi on 19th and Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Uk Tau on 17th, Shek Kong catchwater on 19th and Ng Tung Chai, Ho Pui reservoir and Tai Lam CP on 22nd
Asian Brown Flycatcher: eight were at Fan Lau on 22nd
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 17th
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Ho Man Tin on 16th & 18th with four there on 19th – this is a new high count at a single site, the previous record being of three at north Lantau on 25 September 2004; two were also at Tai Lam CP on 18th and one at Ng Tung Chai on 22nd
Slaty-backed Forktail: four together at Shing Mun at the same site where birds have been seen sporadically since September 2017. Presumably this was a family party including at least two locally-bred juveniles – the first breeding record since the 1990s
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Pui reservoir on 18th, and at Ho Man Tin and Tai Po Kau on 19th
Red-throated (Taiga) Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 22nd
Stejneger’s Stonechat: 13 were at Yi O on 22nd
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Po Toi on 17th with two there on 19th
Forest Wagtail: one at Fan Lau on 22nd and one elsewhere on southwest Lantau on the same date
Olive-backed Pipit: three at Fan Lau on 22nd
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 150 were at San Tin on 22nd
Common Rosefinch: one at Yi O on 22nd – a new earliest autumn record by six days
Yellow-breasted Bunting: two at Lut Chau on 19th, and singles at San Tin on 20th, Long Valley on 21st and Yi O on 22nd.
September 23 - 30
1st-winter Red-backed Shrike at Long Valley, 29 September 2019
The northeast monsoon was again dominant bringing somewhat cooler nights to southern China but it was still very hot – up to 34⁰C on occasion in the New Territories – in the middle of the day.
There was continued movement of birds passing through Hong Kong en route to their wintering grounds in southeast Asia. Species involved included Garganey, Pintail Snipe, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Whiskered Tern, Oriental Dollarbird, Eurasian Hobby, Brown Shrike Black-naped Oriole, Black Drongo, Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Orange-headed Thrush, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, and Dark-sided Flycatcher.
There were also arriving winter visitors (albeit with the proviso that some of these may also be moving through). Species involved included Great Cormorant, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Teal, Common Snipe, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Ashy Drongo, Dusky Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chinese Blackbird, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-throated (Taiga) Flycatcher, Stejneger’s Stonechat, Zitting Cisticola, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Richard’s Pipit and Olive-backed Pipit.
Records of note as follows:
Black-faced Spoonbill: the two summering birds at Mai Po remained to the end of the month
Von Schrenck’s Bittern: one at Long Valley on 25th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one at Mai Po on 23rd
Pied Harrier: one at San Tin on 29th; one at Nam Sang Wai on 30th
Baillon’s Crake: one at Long Valley on 28th
Yellow-legged Buttonquail: one at Ho Man Tin on 24th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 28th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: one at Lok Ma Chau on 25th
Long-billed Dowitcher: an adult at Mai Po on 30th had remnants of breeding plumage so presumably was the same bird first seen on 11August; unfortunately it is now injured and lacks its right tarsus
Eurasian Woodcock: one at the Peak on 30th
Indian Cuckoo: a cuckoo photographed at Ho Man Tin on 24th seems to be this species. Indian Cuckoo is a regular summer visitor to Hong Kong but extreme dates are 10 March to 10 August, so such a late date is unprecedented
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Po Toi on 24th
Himalayan Swiftlet: one at Long Valley on 29th and one along Mai Po access road on 30th
Eurasian Wryneck: singles at Lok Ma Chau on 25th and Nam Sang Wai on 30th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: 17 at Mai Po on the morning of 30th with seven along the Mai Po access road in the late afternoon of the same day
Fairy Pitta: one at Po Toi on 26th
Ashy Minivet: eight at Ho Man Tin on 30th
Tiger Shrike: one at Fanling Golf Course on 26th; one at Ho Man Tin on 27th & 28th
Above three images: 1st-winter Red-backed Shrike at Long Valley on 29 September 2019
Red-backed Shrike: one at Long Valley on 28th & 29th is the 7th or 8th record for Hong Kong
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 27th with two there on 30th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: three at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, with two there on 25th
Manchurian Bush Warbler: the first bird of the autumn was at Tai Lam CP on 25th, a new early date by one day; one further record at Tai Lam CP on 30th
Asian Stubtail: one at Tai Lam CP on 30th is a new early record by one day
Alstrom’s Warbler: one at Leadmine Pass on 27th will be about the 11th record if accepted
Two-barred Warbler: one at Hong Kong University on 24th; two at Po Toi on 26th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: singles at Po Toi on 26th, Tai Po Kau on 28th, and Mai Po and Nam Sang Wai on 30th, with two at Tai Lam CP also on 30th
Goodson’s Leaf Warbler: one of the nominate race at Tai Lam CP on 30th
Black-browed Reed Warbler: 20 at Lok Ma Chau on 25th
Thick-billed Warbler: one at Nam Sang Wai on 30th
Daurian Starling: two at Long Valley on 29th
White’s Thrush: one at the Peak on 30th equals the earliest date on record
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin on 25th & 30th, and Po Toi on 26th
Lesser Shortwing: 14 were counted in Tai Lam CP on 25; this equals the previous highest count of 14 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1 Nov 2017
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd with two there on 25th, and one at Ho Man Tin on 25th, 27th & 30th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin and Lok Ma Chau on 25th
Forest Wagtail: one at Po Toi on 24th
White Wagtail: the first autumn report of the race M. a. ocularis was of one at Lam Tsuen on 29th
Common Rosefinch: one at Po Toi on 26th
Little Bunting: one at San Tin on 29th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 27th with two there on 30th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: three at Tai Lam CP on 23rd, with two there on 25th
Manchurian Bush Warbler: the first bird of the autumn was at Tai Lam CP on 25th, a new early date by one day; one further record at Tai Lam CP on 30th
Asian Stubtail: one at Tai Lam CP on 30th is a new early record by one day
Alstrom’s Warbler: one at Leadmine Pass on 27th will be about the 11th record if accepted
Two-barred Warbler: one at Hong Kong University on 24th; two at Po Toi on 26th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: singles at Po Toi on 26th, Tai Po Kau on 28th, and Mai Po and Nam Sang Wai on 30th, with two at Tai Lam CP also on 30th
Goodson’s Leaf Warbler: one of the nominate race at Tai Lam CP on 30th
Black-browed Reed Warbler: 20 at Lok Ma Chau on 25th
Thick-billed Warbler: one at Nam Sang Wai on 30th
Daurian Starling: two at Long Valley on 29th
White’s Thrush: one at the Peak on 30th equals the earliest date on record
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin on 25th & 30th, and Po Toi on 26th
Lesser Shortwing: 14 were counted in Tai Lam CP on 25; this equals the previous highest count of 14 at Shek Kong catchwater on 1 Nov 2017
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd with two there on 25th, and one at Ho Man Tin on 25th, 27th & 30th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin and Lok Ma Chau on 25th
Forest Wagtail: one at Po Toi on 24th
White Wagtail: the first autumn report of the race M. a. ocularis was of one at Lam Tsuen on 29th
Common Rosefinch: one at Po Toi on 26th
Little Bunting: one at San Tin on 29th
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
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