LATEST SIGHTINGS - SEPTEMBER 2020
September 1 -6
September 1 -6
The 2020 summer (June to August) proved to be the hottest summer in Hong Kong since records began in 1884. The hot weather continued into September, but temperatures were reduced a little by localised afternoon thunderstorms for most of the week. The Red Rainstorm warning was issued on 5th as a trough of low pressure became established over the south China coast.
Passage migrants continued to arrive, the highlight perhaps being a Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher that spent the week in a small patch of woodland at Ho Man Tin.
Records of note included:
Himalayan Swiftlet: two at Mai Po on 4th; singles at Pak Sha O and Pui O on 5th; three at Mai Po on 6th
Large Hawk Cuckoo: one at Ho Man Tin on 3rd
Red Turtle Dove: one at Mai Po on 1st
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 6th
Eurasian Whimbrel: 45 from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Asian Dowitcher: the Long Valley bird was still present on 1st
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: the highest count was five at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Common Snipe: one at Pui O on 5th
Grey-tailed Tattler: a good count of 22 at Pak Nai on 1st
Gull-billed Tern: two from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Bridled Tern: 50 from the Po Toi ferry on 1st, with 65 from the ferry on 5th but only six reported on 6th
Common Tern: two from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Great Cormorant: the first bird of the autumn was at San Tin/Lok Ma Chau on 6th
Black-faced Spoonbill: the six summering birds were still at Mai Po on 1st
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Black-winged Kite: one at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one reported from Mai Po on 6th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi on 1st & 6th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Ho Man Tin on 4th
Eurasian Hobby: singles at Mai Po and San Tin on 6th
Black-winged cuckooshrike: one at Pak Sha O on 5th; one at Mai Po on 6th
Tiger Shrike: a juvenile at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Brown Shrike: singles at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and Mai Po on 1st, and Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Po Kau in 1st with one there on 4th; one at Tuen Mun Leung King on 2nd; three at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd with one there on 5th; four at Pak Sha O on 5th; one at Tai Lam Chung and five at Pak Sha O on 6th – the latter count equals the highest count on record of five at Tai Po Kau on 21 August 2019
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one at Tai Po Kau on 3rd & 6th.
Passage migrants continued to arrive, the highlight perhaps being a Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher that spent the week in a small patch of woodland at Ho Man Tin.
Records of note included:
Himalayan Swiftlet: two at Mai Po on 4th; singles at Pak Sha O and Pui O on 5th; three at Mai Po on 6th
Large Hawk Cuckoo: one at Ho Man Tin on 3rd
Red Turtle Dove: one at Mai Po on 1st
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 6th
Eurasian Whimbrel: 45 from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Asian Dowitcher: the Long Valley bird was still present on 1st
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: the highest count was five at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Common Snipe: one at Pui O on 5th
Grey-tailed Tattler: a good count of 22 at Pak Nai on 1st
Gull-billed Tern: two from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Bridled Tern: 50 from the Po Toi ferry on 1st, with 65 from the ferry on 5th but only six reported on 6th
Common Tern: two from the Po Toi ferry on 1st
Great Cormorant: the first bird of the autumn was at San Tin/Lok Ma Chau on 6th
Black-faced Spoonbill: the six summering birds were still at Mai Po on 1st
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Black-winged Kite: one at Mai Po on 1st & 4th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one reported from Mai Po on 6th
Oriental Dollarbird: one at Po Toi on 1st & 6th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Ho Man Tin on 4th
Eurasian Hobby: singles at Mai Po and San Tin on 6th
Black-winged cuckooshrike: one at Pak Sha O on 5th; one at Mai Po on 6th
Tiger Shrike: a juvenile at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Brown Shrike: singles at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and Mai Po on 1st, and Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: two at Tai Po Kau in 1st with one there on 4th; one at Tuen Mun Leung King on 2nd; three at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd with one there on 5th; four at Pak Sha O on 5th; one at Tai Lam Chung and five at Pak Sha O on 6th – the latter count equals the highest count on record of five at Tai Po Kau on 21 August 2019
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one at Tai Po Kau on 3rd & 6th.
Eastern Crowned Warbler: three at Tai Lam CP on 1st; one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd; one at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: two at King’s Park on 3rd; one at Ho Man Tin on 4th; one at Bride’s Pool on 5th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 6th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers: two at Pak Nai on 5th; one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 5th
Arctic Warbler: reported from several sites, the highest count being four at Tai Lam CP on 1st
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest counts were four at Mai Po on 1st with five there on 4th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: singles at Mai Po on 1st & 4th, and San Tin on 6th
Zitting Cisticola: three at Mai Po on 1st, with two there on 4th; singles at Yi O & Tai O on 3rd; six at She Shan on 5th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Mai Po on 1st
Indochinese Yuhina: 60 at Ng Tung Chai on 6th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Lau Shui Heung on 5th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: two at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: reported from several sites, the highest count being three at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: up to four reported from six sites
Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher: one well-watched bird at Ho Man Tin from 1st to 6th – see https://ebird.org/checklist/S73238243 for Chun Fai Lo’s photos of this bird
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 1st
Siberian Blue Robin: a male at Ho Man Tin on 2nd – a new early autumn date by two days; a female there on 5th
Siberian Rubythroat: a singing male at King’s Park on 4th was judged to be ex-captive; the earliest autumn date for this species is 24 September
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 1st; one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd, with two there on 4th; one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd
Stejneger’s Stonechat: one at Long Valley on 1st; one at Lut Chau on 2nd; four at Mai Po on 4th; one at Pui O on 5th
Chestnut Munia (Cat. IIC): continuing at Long Valley where at least five were seen on 1st; four were also at Mai Po on 1st, with two there on 4th
White-headed Munia (Cat. III): continuing at Long Valley where seventy were seen on 1st; five were also at Mai Po on 1st, with eight there on 4th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: highest counts were 44 at Mai Po on 1st and 35 at Yi O on 3rd
Citrine Wagtail: a very early 1st-winter bird was at Yi O on 3rd – the previous earliest autumn date is 30 September
Chinese Grosbeak: six at Yuen Long Park on 2nd
Yellow-breasted Bunting: singles at Mai Po on 1st, Po Toi on 5th, and San Tin on 6th.
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: two at King’s Park on 3rd; one at Ho Man Tin on 4th; one at Bride’s Pool on 5th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 6th
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers: two at Pak Nai on 5th; one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 5th
Arctic Warbler: reported from several sites, the highest count being four at Tai Lam CP on 1st
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest counts were four at Mai Po on 1st with five there on 4th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: singles at Mai Po on 1st & 4th, and San Tin on 6th
Zitting Cisticola: three at Mai Po on 1st, with two there on 4th; singles at Yi O & Tai O on 3rd; six at She Shan on 5th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Mai Po on 1st
Indochinese Yuhina: 60 at Ng Tung Chai on 6th
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Lau Shui Heung on 5th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: two at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: reported from several sites, the highest count being three at Tuen Mun West on 6th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: up to four reported from six sites
Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher: one well-watched bird at Ho Man Tin from 1st to 6th – see https://ebird.org/checklist/S73238243 for Chun Fai Lo’s photos of this bird
Verditer Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 1st
Siberian Blue Robin: a male at Ho Man Tin on 2nd – a new early autumn date by two days; a female there on 5th
Siberian Rubythroat: a singing male at King’s Park on 4th was judged to be ex-captive; the earliest autumn date for this species is 24 September
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: one at Po Toi on 1st; one at Ho Man Tin on 2nd, with two there on 4th; one at Lau Shui Heung on 3rd
Stejneger’s Stonechat: one at Long Valley on 1st; one at Lut Chau on 2nd; four at Mai Po on 4th; one at Pui O on 5th
Chestnut Munia (Cat. IIC): continuing at Long Valley where at least five were seen on 1st; four were also at Mai Po on 1st, with two there on 4th
White-headed Munia (Cat. III): continuing at Long Valley where seventy were seen on 1st; five were also at Mai Po on 1st, with eight there on 4th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: highest counts were 44 at Mai Po on 1st and 35 at Yi O on 3rd
Citrine Wagtail: a very early 1st-winter bird was at Yi O on 3rd – the previous earliest autumn date is 30 September
Chinese Grosbeak: six at Yuen Long Park on 2nd
Yellow-breasted Bunting: singles at Mai Po on 1st, Po Toi on 5th, and San Tin on 6th.
September 7-13
The week was dominated by a broad trough of low pressure over the south China coast that brought showers and thunderstorms to the region. Temperatures were slightly lower than in recent weeks – the maximum being around 31⁰C.
There was a good spread of typical September migrants in the territory:
Himalayan Swiftlet: five at Lok Ma Chau on 7th; one at Mai Po on 8th; two at Lok Ma Chau on 12th; one at San Tin on 13th
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Mai Po on 11th; one at San Tin on 13th
Red Turtle Dove: two at Mai Po on 9th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 11th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: one at Lok Ma Chau on 7th
Pintail Snipe: one trapped at Mai Po on 9th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: highest counts were six in Kowloon Tsai Park and five at Long Valley on 8th
Greater Crested Tern: 11 were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 8th
Bridled Tern: only one from the Po Toi ferry on 10th, indicating that the summering birds have now moved away from Castle Rock
Whiskered Tern: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
White-winged Tern: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Great Cormorant: seven at Lok Ma Chau on 7th with three there on 12th & 13th; c.100 flying over Tai Tong on the morning of 13th
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 9th; one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Black-winged Kite: two at Mai Po on 9th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Mai Po on 11th
Oriental Dollarbird: singles at Uk Tau and Lamma on 9th; singles at Uk Tau and Lau Shui Heung, and 13 at Tai Tong on 13th
Black-capped Kingfisher: one at Tai Lam Chung from 9th – 13th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: singles at Tai Lam CP and Mui Wo on 11th; one at Pak Sha O on 12th; one at Tai Lam CP on 13th
Brown Shrike: singles at Pak Sha O on 7th & 12th, Long Valley on 8th, Ho Man Tin on 10th & 11th, Mai Po on 11th, and Po Toi on 13th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: three at Pak Sha O and one at Tai Po Kau on 7th; three at Tai Po Kau on 9th; one at Tai Lam CP on 11th; at least five at Pak Sha O on 12th; one at Lau Shui Heung, one at Tai Lam CP, three at Pak Sha O, and three at Tuen Mun West on 13th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: singles at Po Toi on 8th, Tai Lam CP on 11th & 13th, and at Pak Sha O on 12th
Red-rumped Swallow: 19 at Hang Tau on 7th; nine at Shek Wu Wai on 9th; six at Tai Mo Shan on 11th
Yellow-browed Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 10th; one at the Peak on 11th; two at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 7th; one at Tai Lam CP on 9th; three at Pak Sha O on 12th with one there on 13th; five at Tuen Mun West on 13th; eleven – a new high count - at Tai Lam CP on 13th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at King Fung, Tuen Mun on 12th (id. confirmed from the sonogram of a recording)
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at King’s Park and one at Ho Man Tin on 7th; one at Ho Man Tin on 8th; four at Ho Man Tin and two at King’s Park on 10th; one at Mai Po and one at Ho Man Tin on 11th; one at Tai Lam CP, three at Ho Man Tin, and four at Tuen Mun West on 13th.
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Mo Shan on 11th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was five at Tuen Mun West on 13th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 13th is a new early date by two days
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest count was seven at San Tin on 13th
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: recorded in ones and twos from Lok Ma Chau, San Tin and Long Valley; seven were at Mai Po on 9th with nine there on 11th;
Lanceolated Warbler: one at Mai Po on 11th
Zitting Cisticola: highest count was five at Lam Tsuen on 7th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Lam Tsuen on 8th
Daurian Starling: one at Long Valley on 7th
White-shouldered Starling: 130 at Lok Ma Chau on 7th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at Tai Tong on 13th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 9th, and at Tai Lam CP and Pak Sha O on 13th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was three at the Peak on 12th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: highest count was four at Tai Po Kau on 7th; an orange-morph bird was at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 7th
Siberian Blue Robin: a female reported from Ho Man Tin on 10th, with a 1st-winter male there from 11th – 13th; one also at Tai Lam CP on 11th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: up to two at Ho Man Tin from 7th – 13th; one at Mai Po on 11th; singles at Pak Sha O and Castle Peak on 12th; singles at Tuen Mun West, Pak Sha O and Po Toi on 13th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 8th & 10th
Stejneger’s Stonechat: two at Mai Po on 9th; singles at Kai Tak Runway Park and She Shan on 12th
Plain Flowerpecker: two at Tai Po Kau on 7th
Chestnut Munia (Cat IIC): one at Lok Ma Chau on 7th; ten at Long Valley on 8th
White-headed Munia (Cat III): three at Long Valley on 8th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 70 were at Mai Po on 9th
Richard’s Pipit: one at Po Toi on 10th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: singles at Mai Po on 9th & 11th
There was a good spread of typical September migrants in the territory:
Himalayan Swiftlet: five at Lok Ma Chau on 7th; one at Mai Po on 8th; two at Lok Ma Chau on 12th; one at San Tin on 13th
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Mai Po on 11th; one at San Tin on 13th
Red Turtle Dove: two at Mai Po on 9th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 11th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: one at Lok Ma Chau on 7th
Pintail Snipe: one trapped at Mai Po on 9th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: highest counts were six in Kowloon Tsai Park and five at Long Valley on 8th
Greater Crested Tern: 11 were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 8th
Bridled Tern: only one from the Po Toi ferry on 10th, indicating that the summering birds have now moved away from Castle Rock
Whiskered Tern: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
White-winged Tern: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Great Cormorant: seven at Lok Ma Chau on 7th with three there on 12th & 13th; c.100 flying over Tai Tong on the morning of 13th
Cinnamon Bittern: one at Mai Po on 9th; one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Black-winged Kite: two at Mai Po on 9th
Eurasian Hoopoe: one at Mai Po on 11th
Oriental Dollarbird: singles at Uk Tau and Lamma on 9th; singles at Uk Tau and Lau Shui Heung, and 13 at Tai Tong on 13th
Black-capped Kingfisher: one at Tai Lam Chung from 9th – 13th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: singles at Tai Lam CP and Mui Wo on 11th; one at Pak Sha O on 12th; one at Tai Lam CP on 13th
Brown Shrike: singles at Pak Sha O on 7th & 12th, Long Valley on 8th, Ho Man Tin on 10th & 11th, Mai Po on 11th, and Po Toi on 13th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: three at Pak Sha O and one at Tai Po Kau on 7th; three at Tai Po Kau on 9th; one at Tai Lam CP on 11th; at least five at Pak Sha O on 12th; one at Lau Shui Heung, one at Tai Lam CP, three at Pak Sha O, and three at Tuen Mun West on 13th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: singles at Po Toi on 8th, Tai Lam CP on 11th & 13th, and at Pak Sha O on 12th
Red-rumped Swallow: 19 at Hang Tau on 7th; nine at Shek Wu Wai on 9th; six at Tai Mo Shan on 11th
Yellow-browed Warbler: one at Ho Man Tin on 10th; one at the Peak on 11th; two at Ho Man Tin on 13th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: one at Tai Po Kau on 7th; one at Tai Lam CP on 9th; three at Pak Sha O on 12th with one there on 13th; five at Tuen Mun West on 13th; eleven – a new high count - at Tai Lam CP on 13th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at King Fung, Tuen Mun on 12th (id. confirmed from the sonogram of a recording)
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: one at King’s Park and one at Ho Man Tin on 7th; one at Ho Man Tin on 8th; four at Ho Man Tin and two at King’s Park on 10th; one at Mai Po and one at Ho Man Tin on 11th; one at Tai Lam CP, three at Ho Man Tin, and four at Tuen Mun West on 13th.
Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Mo Shan on 11th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was five at Tuen Mun West on 13th
Sulphur-breasted Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 13th is a new early date by two days
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest count was seven at San Tin on 13th
Manchurian Reed Warbler: one at San Tin on 12th & 13th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: recorded in ones and twos from Lok Ma Chau, San Tin and Long Valley; seven were at Mai Po on 9th with nine there on 11th;
Lanceolated Warbler: one at Mai Po on 11th
Zitting Cisticola: highest count was five at Lam Tsuen on 7th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Lam Tsuen on 8th
Daurian Starling: one at Long Valley on 7th
White-shouldered Starling: 130 at Lok Ma Chau on 7th
Grey-streaked Flycatcher: one at Tai Tong on 13th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 9th, and at Tai Lam CP and Pak Sha O on 13th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was three at the Peak on 12th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: highest count was four at Tai Po Kau on 7th; an orange-morph bird was at Yan Yee Road, Sai Kung on 7th
Siberian Blue Robin: a female reported from Ho Man Tin on 10th, with a 1st-winter male there from 11th – 13th; one also at Tai Lam CP on 11th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: up to two at Ho Man Tin from 7th – 13th; one at Mai Po on 11th; singles at Pak Sha O and Castle Peak on 12th; singles at Tuen Mun West, Pak Sha O and Po Toi on 13th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 8th & 10th
Stejneger’s Stonechat: two at Mai Po on 9th; singles at Kai Tak Runway Park and She Shan on 12th
Plain Flowerpecker: two at Tai Po Kau on 7th
Chestnut Munia (Cat IIC): one at Lok Ma Chau on 7th; ten at Long Valley on 8th
White-headed Munia (Cat III): three at Long Valley on 8th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 70 were at Mai Po on 9th
Richard’s Pipit: one at Po Toi on 10th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: singles at Mai Po on 9th & 11th
Many thanks to Frank Saunders Jr for allowing me to publish his photograph of the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher at Pak Sha O. Frank's website can be found at www.frankswildlife.photos .
September 14-20
Wet, wet, wet. Low pressure systems dominated the week, bringing heavy rain every day to the territory. There was particularly heavy rain and thunderstorms on 15th. Winds were mainly from the east and temperatures in the high twenties.
Migration was good at the beginning of the week. The unprecedented movement of Himalayan Swiftlets through the northwest New Territories continued. The reedbed ringers at Mai Po had a good session on 16th when birds present included a Black Bittern and a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler. The migrant hotspot of Ho Man Tin turned up two of the most sought-after September migrants, namely Tiger Shrike and Fairy Pitta, with a supporting cast that included Siberian Blue Robins and a number of flycatchers and warblers. Tai Lam Country Park held a Fairy Pitta on the same day as the one at Ho Man Tin.
Species of note included the following:
Garganey: at least 14 at Mai Po on14th, with 30 there on 15th and 25 on 16th
Himalayan Swiftlet: four at Mai Po on 14th; one at Lam Tsuen on 15th; one at Mai Po on 16th; two at Mai Po on 17th This makes 24 birds recorded since passage was first noted on 4th September - an unprecedented number in such a short period of time
Red Turtle Dove: one at Mai Po on 16th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: seven were at Long Valley on 17th
Common Snipe: ten were at Long Valley on 17th
Gull-billed Tern: one at San Tin on 19th
Bridled Tern: four from the Central ferry off Hei Ling Chau on 15th; three from the Po Toi ferry on 19th
Common Tern: three from the Central ferry off Hei Ling Chau on 15th
Whiskered Tern: six at San Tin on 14th; 14 at Mai Po on 16th; six at Kai Tak Runway Park on 18th; 25 at San Tin on 19th; 11 at Mai Po on 20th
White-winged Tern: four at Mai Po on 14th; two at San Tin on 16th with one there on 19th & 20th
Black-faced Spoonbill: five at Mai Po on 15th
Von Schrenck’s Bittern: an adult male at Mai Po on 20th
Cinnamon Bittern: two at Mai Po on 16th; one at Ho Sheung Heung on 17th
Black Bittern: one at Mai Po on 16th
Black-winged Kite: singles at Long Valley on 14th, Mai Po on 17th & 20th, and San Tin on 18th & 19th
Besra: three at Tai Lam Chung on 19th is a good count
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one at Mai Po on 20th
Eurasian Hoopoe: singles at Lok Ma Chau and Po Toi on 20th
Oriental Dollarbird: highest count was five at Tai Lam Chung on 19th
Black-capped Kingfisher: the bird at Tai Lam Chung continued to be seen through to 20th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: six at Mai Po on 16th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at King’s Park on 15th
Common Kestrel: one at Long Valley on 14th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Mai Po on 14th & 17th; one at Long Valley on 17th & 18th
Fairy Pitta: singles at Ho Man Tin and Tai Lam CP on 16th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: one at San Tin on 19th
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin until 15th was first seen on 11th
Brown Shrike: highest count was three at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Black-naped Oriole: one at Long Valley on 16th
Black-naped Monarch: two at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at King’s Park on 15th; one at Mai Po on 17th
Red-rumped Swallow: regularly seen at Long Valley with a count of ten there on 16th
Black-throated Tit: one at Shing Mun on 14th
Dusky Warbler: one at Lam Tsuen on 14th; one at San Tin on 19th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: three at Tai Lam CP on 16th, with five there on 20th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: up to two at Ho Man Tin to 18th; one at King’s Park on 15th; two at Tai Lam CP on 16th; one at Long Valley on 17th; one at San Tin on 19th; one at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was four at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest count was ten at Mai Po on 17th and at San Tin on 19th
Black-browed Reed Warbler: one at Mai Po on 20th is the first of the autumn
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: reported from Mai Po, San Tin and Long Valley; highest count was eleven at Mai Po on 16th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Mai Po on 16th
Zitting Cisticola: highest count was 13 at Mai Po on 16th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Indochinese Yuhina: ten at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Daurian Starling: one at Lok Ma Chau on 16th; one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin and Shing Mun on 14th; two at Tai Lam CP and one at Ho Man Tin on 16th; two at Pak Sha O on 19th; singles at Pak Sha O, Tai Lam CP and Mai Po on 20th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was four at Po Toi on 15th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: one at Pak Sha O on 19th; two at Tai Tong and one at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Siberian Blue Robin: a 1st-winter male at Ho Man Tin until 16th, with a female also present on 16th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin until 16th; singles at Mai Po and Pak Sha O on 20th
Red-throated Flycatcher: the first bird of the autumn was reported from Ho Man Tin on 18th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 15th; one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Chestnut Munia (Cat IIC): 14 at Mai Po on 16th; four at Long Valley on 17th
White-headed Munia (Cat III): seven at Mai Po on 16th; five at Long Valley on 17th
Forest Wagtail: one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 17th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 19th; one at Tai Tong on 20th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 60 at Long Valley on 16th
Richard’s Pipit: three at Mai Po on 16th; five at Lam Tsuen on 18th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one at Mai Po on 16th.
Migration was good at the beginning of the week. The unprecedented movement of Himalayan Swiftlets through the northwest New Territories continued. The reedbed ringers at Mai Po had a good session on 16th when birds present included a Black Bittern and a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler. The migrant hotspot of Ho Man Tin turned up two of the most sought-after September migrants, namely Tiger Shrike and Fairy Pitta, with a supporting cast that included Siberian Blue Robins and a number of flycatchers and warblers. Tai Lam Country Park held a Fairy Pitta on the same day as the one at Ho Man Tin.
Species of note included the following:
Garganey: at least 14 at Mai Po on14th, with 30 there on 15th and 25 on 16th
Himalayan Swiftlet: four at Mai Po on 14th; one at Lam Tsuen on 15th; one at Mai Po on 16th; two at Mai Po on 17th This makes 24 birds recorded since passage was first noted on 4th September - an unprecedented number in such a short period of time
Red Turtle Dove: one at Mai Po on 16th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: seven were at Long Valley on 17th
Common Snipe: ten were at Long Valley on 17th
Gull-billed Tern: one at San Tin on 19th
Bridled Tern: four from the Central ferry off Hei Ling Chau on 15th; three from the Po Toi ferry on 19th
Common Tern: three from the Central ferry off Hei Ling Chau on 15th
Whiskered Tern: six at San Tin on 14th; 14 at Mai Po on 16th; six at Kai Tak Runway Park on 18th; 25 at San Tin on 19th; 11 at Mai Po on 20th
White-winged Tern: four at Mai Po on 14th; two at San Tin on 16th with one there on 19th & 20th
Black-faced Spoonbill: five at Mai Po on 15th
Von Schrenck’s Bittern: an adult male at Mai Po on 20th
Cinnamon Bittern: two at Mai Po on 16th; one at Ho Sheung Heung on 17th
Black Bittern: one at Mai Po on 16th
Black-winged Kite: singles at Long Valley on 14th, Mai Po on 17th & 20th, and San Tin on 18th & 19th
Besra: three at Tai Lam Chung on 19th is a good count
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one at Mai Po on 20th
Eurasian Hoopoe: singles at Lok Ma Chau and Po Toi on 20th
Oriental Dollarbird: highest count was five at Tai Lam Chung on 19th
Black-capped Kingfisher: the bird at Tai Lam Chung continued to be seen through to 20th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: six at Mai Po on 16th
Eurasian Wryneck: one at King’s Park on 15th
Common Kestrel: one at Long Valley on 14th
Eurasian Hobby: one at Mai Po on 14th & 17th; one at Long Valley on 17th & 18th
Fairy Pitta: singles at Ho Man Tin and Tai Lam CP on 16th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: one at San Tin on 19th
Tiger Shrike: one at Ho Man Tin until 15th was first seen on 11th
Brown Shrike: highest count was three at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Black-naped Oriole: one at Long Valley on 16th
Black-naped Monarch: two at Ho Man Tin on 14th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: one at King’s Park on 15th; one at Mai Po on 17th
Red-rumped Swallow: regularly seen at Long Valley with a count of ten there on 16th
Black-throated Tit: one at Shing Mun on 14th
Dusky Warbler: one at Lam Tsuen on 14th; one at San Tin on 19th
Eastern Crowned Warbler: three at Tai Lam CP on 16th, with five there on 20th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: up to two at Ho Man Tin to 18th; one at King’s Park on 15th; two at Tai Lam CP on 16th; one at Long Valley on 17th; one at San Tin on 19th; one at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was four at Tai Lam CP on 16th
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest count was ten at Mai Po on 17th and at San Tin on 19th
Black-browed Reed Warbler: one at Mai Po on 20th is the first of the autumn
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: reported from Mai Po, San Tin and Long Valley; highest count was eleven at Mai Po on 16th
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one at Mai Po on 16th
Zitting Cisticola: highest count was 13 at Mai Po on 16th
Golden-headed Cisticola: one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Indochinese Yuhina: ten at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Daurian Starling: one at Lok Ma Chau on 16th; one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: singles at Ho Man Tin and Shing Mun on 14th; two at Tai Lam CP and one at Ho Man Tin on 16th; two at Pak Sha O on 19th; singles at Pak Sha O, Tai Lam CP and Mai Po on 20th
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was four at Po Toi on 15th
Hainan Blue Flycatcher: one at Pak Sha O on 19th; two at Tai Tong and one at Tai Lam CP on 20th
Siberian Blue Robin: a 1st-winter male at Ho Man Tin until 16th, with a female also present on 16th
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin until 16th; singles at Mai Po and Pak Sha O on 20th
Red-throated Flycatcher: the first bird of the autumn was reported from Ho Man Tin on 18th
Blue Rock Thrush: one at Ho Man Tin on 15th; one at Deep Bay Road on 20th
Chestnut Munia (Cat IIC): 14 at Mai Po on 16th; four at Long Valley on 17th
White-headed Munia (Cat III): seven at Mai Po on 16th; five at Long Valley on 17th
Forest Wagtail: one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 17th; one at Tai Lam Chung on 19th; one at Tai Tong on 20th
Eastern Yellow Wagtail: 60 at Long Valley on 16th
Richard’s Pipit: three at Mai Po on 16th; five at Lam Tsuen on 18th
Yellow-breasted Bunting: one at Mai Po on 16th.
September 21-30
Easterly winds brought showers and thunderstorms to the territory throughout the period under review. There was a weak surge of the northeast monsoon on 24th & 25th. Temperatures were slightly cooler – mainly in the high twenties –towards the end of the month.
There was continued movement of birds passing through Hong Kong en route to their wintering grounds in southeast Asia. Widespread species that most birders out in the field would expect to connect with included Garganey, Oriental Dollarbird, Brown Shrike, Black Drongo, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Chinese Blackbird, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Hainan Blue Flycatcher,
There were also common winter visitors arriving in small numbers (albeit with the proviso that some of these may also be moving through). Species involved included Eurasian Teal, Red Turtle Dove, Great Cormorant, Yellow-browed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Red-throated (Taiga) Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Stejneger’s Stonechat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Richard’s Pipit.
Reports of interest as follows (includes a couple of records from 20 September):
Garganey: 42 at Mai Po on 27th & 29th
Himalayan Swiftlet: three at Mai Po and one at San Tin on 27th; one at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun on 28th
Pacific Swift: 20 at Tung Lung Cahu on 24th; one at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun on 28th
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo: one at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Large Hawk Cuckoo: one at Fanling Golf Course on 29th is a new late date by four days
Oriental Cuckoo: one at Lok Ma Chau/San Tin on 24th
Slaty-breasted Rail: one at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 27th
Watercock: one at Long Valley on 26th
Grey-headed Lapwing: one at Mai Po on 27th
Pheasant-tailed Jacana: singles at Lok Ma Chau and Long Valley on 28th
Asian Dowitcher: two at Mai Po on 29th
Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe: 12 at Long Valley on 23rd
Common Snipe: 23 at Long Valley on 23rd
Whiskered Tern: highest count at San Tin, where a flock was present for much of the period under review, was 150 on 24th; 19 were at Mui Wo on 24th
White-winged Tern: singles at San Tin on 24th & 27th, and at Mai Po on 27th
Black-faced Spoonbill: one was seen at Mai Po on 27th
Cinnamon Bittern: singles at Mai Po and San Tin on 25th, and Mai Po on 27th
Black-crowned Night Heron: 160 over Deep Bay at Mai Po on 27th
Eastern Cattle Egret: 50 heading south over Lai Chi Kok on 25th; 46 at Mai Po on 27th
Pacific Reef Heron: 11 at Tung Lung Chau on 24th is a good count for this species
Black-winged Kite: regular throughout at Mai Po with three there on 27th; one at San Tin on 24th
Crested Honey Buzzard: two reported from Yau Tong on 30th
Bonelli’s Eagle: one at Sham Wat, Lantau on 20th; one at San Tin on 27th
Chinese Sparrowhawk: two at Fan Lau on 27th
Japanese Sparrowhawk: one at Fan Lau on 27th
Eastern Marsh Harrier: one at San Tin on 27th
Oriental Dollarbird: highest count was five at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Blue-tailed Bee-eater: six at Palm Springs on 22nd
Eurasian Wryneck: one at Mai Po on 23rd & 30th; one at Lok Ma Chau on 28th
Common Kestrel: singles at Tung Lung Chau on 24th, and Long Valley on 26th & 27th
Eurasian Hobby: two at San Tin on 24th; one at Tung Lung Chau on 26th; one at Mai Po on 27th & 28th
Black-winged Cuckooshrike: singles at Yuen Long Bypass Floodway on 23rd, and Mai Po on 27th
Brown Shrike: highest count was 11 at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Black-naped Oriole: singles at Ma Tso Lung and Po Toi on 22nd; one at Po Toi on 24th; one at Tung Lung Chau on 26th; two at Mai Po on 27th; two at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun on 28th; two at Ho Sheung Heung on 30th
Black-naped Monarch: one at Tai Po Kau on 27th
Amur Paradise Flycatcher: highest count was two at Lau Shui Heung on 29th
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher: one at Tai Lam CP on 23rd; one at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Red-rumped Swallow: regular at Long Valley with a count of ten there on 22nd
Dusky Warbler: highest count was eight at She Shan, Lam Tsuen on 29th
Two-barred Warbler: one at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler: one reported from Mai Po on 22nd; three reported from King’s Park on 30th
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler: highest count was seven at Fanling Golf Course on 29th
Arctic Warbler: highest count was four at Tung Lung Chau on 24th
Oriental Reed Warbler: highest count was 12 at Mai Po on 25th & 30th
Black-browed Reed Warbler: three were at San Tin on 28th, with one there on 30th
Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: highest count was six at Mai Po on 23rd
Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler: one was at Mai Po on 23rd
Lanceolated Warbler: one at Long Valley on 26th
Daurian Starling: three were at Tung Lung Chau on 24th;
Orange-headed Thrush: one at Lau Shui Heung on 29th
Dark-sided Flycatcher: highest count was four at Po Toi on 22nd
Asian Brown Flycatcher: highest count was five at Po Toi on 22nd
Blue-and-white Flycatcher: one at Ho Man Tin on 21st
Verditer Flycatcher: one at King Lei Ha on 20th
Siberian Blue Robin: one at Mai Po on 25th; one at King’s Park on 28th; one at Ho Man Tin on 29th; three at King’s Park on 30th
Bluethroat: one at Mai Po on 30th was the first of the autumn
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher: one at Tai Tong on 26th; singles at Shek Kong catchwater and Ho Man Tin on 27th;
Blue Rock Thrush: highest count was four at Chek Lap Kok on 28th
Chestnut Munia (Cat IIC): two at Long Valley on 23rd & 27th; 12 at Mai Po on 23rd & 30th; five at Yi O on 25th
White-headed Munia (Cat III): present at Long Valley throughout with a high count of 30 on 27th; one at Mai Po on 23rd & 25th; eight at Yi O on 25th
Forest Wagtail: one at Fan Lau on 27th
Richard’s Pipit: highest count was four at Mai Po on 30th
Olive-backed Pipit: three at the Peak on 30th were the first of the season
Pechora Pipit: one at Mai Po on 25th
Red-throated Pipit: one at Mai Po on 25th was the first of the autumn
Little Bunting: one at San Tin on 30th was the first of the season
Yellow-breasted Bunting: two at San Tin on 27th.
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Please note that these are unchecked reports. Records of rarities and of unseasonal occurrences may be subject to assessment by the HKBWS Records Committee. A checklist showing species for which a description is required can be found at the HKBWS website - http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=28893&extra=page%3D1