LATEST SIGHTINGS - SEPTEMBER 2021
September 1-5
September 1-5
Sunny periods with occasional showers. Temperatures up to 34⁰C.
There was plenty of evidence of autumn migration with the highlight being a Ruddy Kingfisher at Po Toi. Details follow:
Single Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 4th & 5th.
Two Asian Dowitchers and a Long-billed Dowitcher were at Mai Po on 5th.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost at Cheung Chau with Black Kites until at least 2nd.
Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at Nam Chung on 4th and Mai Po on 5th. A Black Bittern was seen at Mai Po on 5th.
Two Black-winged Kites were at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd and one was there on 5th & 6th; one was also at Long Valley on 3rd.
A Ruddy Kingfisher was seen briefly at Po Toi on 2nd. This is the 4th Hong Kong record and the third this year after singles on Po Toi on 27 April and 6 May (although all of these three sightings possibly refer to the same bird). The first was on Po Toi on 18 & 21 May 2006.
Reports of Eurasian Hobby involved one at Tai O on 5th and two at Kong Nga Po Road near Sheung Shui on 5th.
A Fairy Pitta was found at Yuen Tun Ancient Trail near Tuen Mun on 4th. Single Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were noted at Po Toi on 4th and Tai O on 5th. Single Brown Shrikes were at Ho Man Tin on 1st & 3rd, Luk Keng on 2nd and Tai O on 5th. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were reported from five sites with a high count of four at Pak Sha O on 5th. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Luk Keng on 2nd.
Three Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Lam CP on 3rd and one was at Pak Sha O on 5th. The first Pale-legged Leaf Warbler of the autumn was reported from Lung Kwu Tan on 4th, and a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Pak Sha O on 5th. Single Arctic Warblers were noted at the Peak on 1st, Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th, Tai Lam CP on 3rd and Pak Sha O on 4th & 5th.
Twelve Oriental Reed Warblers were trapped at Mai Po on 2nd. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was also caught during the same ringing session; this occurrence on 2nd equals the earliest autumn date on record. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was also seen in the same reedbed.
Single Dark-sided Flycatchers were recorded at Luk Keng on 2nd and Po Toi on 4th. An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 4th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was six at Pak Sha O on 5th. Two Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 2nd and one was there on the following day; other sightings of this species consisted of one at Shan King on 3rd, and one at Yi O and two at Po Toi on 4th.
The first Blue Rock Thrush of the season was noted at Tai Lam Chung on 2nd. A Forest Wagtail was at Shing Mun on 1st and one was at Lam Tsuen on 3rd.
There was plenty of evidence of autumn migration with the highlight being a Ruddy Kingfisher at Po Toi. Details follow:
Single Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 4th & 5th.
Two Asian Dowitchers and a Long-billed Dowitcher were at Mai Po on 5th.
The Lesser Frigatebird continued to roost at Cheung Chau with Black Kites until at least 2nd.
Single Cinnamon Bitterns were at Nam Chung on 4th and Mai Po on 5th. A Black Bittern was seen at Mai Po on 5th.
Two Black-winged Kites were at Mai Po on 1st & 2nd and one was there on 5th & 6th; one was also at Long Valley on 3rd.
A Ruddy Kingfisher was seen briefly at Po Toi on 2nd. This is the 4th Hong Kong record and the third this year after singles on Po Toi on 27 April and 6 May (although all of these three sightings possibly refer to the same bird). The first was on Po Toi on 18 & 21 May 2006.
Reports of Eurasian Hobby involved one at Tai O on 5th and two at Kong Nga Po Road near Sheung Shui on 5th.
A Fairy Pitta was found at Yuen Tun Ancient Trail near Tuen Mun on 4th. Single Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were noted at Po Toi on 4th and Tai O on 5th. Single Brown Shrikes were at Ho Man Tin on 1st & 3rd, Luk Keng on 2nd and Tai O on 5th. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were reported from five sites with a high count of four at Pak Sha O on 5th. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was at Luk Keng on 2nd.
Three Eastern Crowned Warblers were at Tai Lam CP on 3rd and one was at Pak Sha O on 5th. The first Pale-legged Leaf Warbler of the autumn was reported from Lung Kwu Tan on 4th, and a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler was at Pak Sha O on 5th. Single Arctic Warblers were noted at the Peak on 1st, Ho Man Tin on 2nd & 4th, Tai Lam CP on 3rd and Pak Sha O on 4th & 5th.
Twelve Oriental Reed Warblers were trapped at Mai Po on 2nd. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was also caught during the same ringing session; this occurrence on 2nd equals the earliest autumn date on record. A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler was also seen in the same reedbed.
Single Dark-sided Flycatchers were recorded at Luk Keng on 2nd and Po Toi on 4th. An Asian Brown Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 4th. The highest count of Hainan Blue Flycatchers was six at Pak Sha O on 5th. Two Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were at Ho Man Tin on 2nd and one was there on the following day; other sightings of this species consisted of one at Shan King on 3rd, and one at Yi O and two at Po Toi on 4th.
The first Blue Rock Thrush of the season was noted at Tai Lam Chung on 2nd. A Forest Wagtail was at Shing Mun on 1st and one was at Lam Tsuen on 3rd.
September 6-12
Very hot during the week with temperatures reaching 36.8⁰C at Sheung Shui on 10th.
Tropical Cyclone Conson passed well to the south of Hong Kong as it headed towards Vietnam in the middle of the week. Super Typhoon Chanthu curved north from the Philippines towards Taiwan at the end of the week. None of these storm systems had a marked effect on Hong Kong and no signals were raised. However, it was the subsiding air from Chanthu that was responsible for the high temperatures in the territory.
There was an obvious increase in autumn migration, the highlight being the third Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel of the year. There was also a heavy passage of terns off Po Toi. Details below:
A Chinese Spot-billed Duck was at Mai Po on 9th.
Two Himalayan Swiftlets were at Fung Lok Wai on 7th and three were at Po Toi on 11th.
A Watercock was at Mai Po on 12th.
A Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po on 7th. Nine Long-toed Stints were on a drained pond at San Tin on 11th along with a variety of other waders and four Little Terns. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 6th & 7th, and three Asian Dowitchers were on the reserve on 10th & 11th with one there on 12th.
Two Heuglin’s Gulls flew past Po Toi on 11th.
Bart De Schutter continued his seabird counts at Po Toi from 9th – 11th. High counts of terns involved 165 Greater Crested Terns on 10th (a new record count), 33 Aleutian Terns on 10th, 80 Common Terns on 10th, and 20 White-winged Terns on 9th. Large numbers of distant, unidentified terns (presumably Common/Aleutian) were also noted, the highest day-count being an unprecedented 2,969 on 10th.
Other sightings of note during the seawatches were 11 jaegers sp. on 10th and a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel on 11th.
A boat trip into southern waters on 12th turned up ten Greater Crested Terns, 164 Aleutian Terns, 34 Common Terns and two Whiskered Terns.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 7th & 11th and a Black Bittern was seen on 6th.
Two Black-winged Kites were at Mai Po on 9th with one there on 11th & 12th, and one was at Long Valley on 10th & 11th.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Cheung Chau on 6th. Sightings of Oriental Dollarbirds consisted of one at Po Toi on 9th & 11th, two at Pak Sha O on 11th, and singles at Mt Davis and Castle Peak on 12th.
Single Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were reported from three sites. The only Tiger Shrike of the season so far was at Pak Sha O on 12th. Single Brown Shrikes were seen at three different sites. Records of Black-naped Orioles involved one at Mai Po on 7th, one at Po Toi on 9th with two there on 11th, and one at Lamma on 12th. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were widespread; sightings were mainly of single birds but six in total were at Pak Sha O on 11th.
The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the season was at Bishop Hill on 12th, and the first Dusky Warbler was at Mai Po, also on 12th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Po Toi on 7th, five were at KFBG on 9th and two were at Pak Sha O on 10th. 5th. The highest count of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers was five at Castle Peak on 12th. Arctic Warblers were widespread with a high count of six at Mt Davis on 12th.
Seven Oriental Reed Warblers were trapped at Mai Po on 9th. All records of Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers involved birds trapped at Mai Po: two on 7th, and singles on 9th & 11th.
Two Vinous-throated Parrotbills were also trapped at Mai Po on 11th but both were obviously ex-captive birds.
A Daurian Starling was at Mai Po on 11th & 12th.
Single Dark-sided Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 7th & 9th, Lung Fu Shan on 10th and Pak Sha O on 11th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were noted at six sites, all singles apart from three at Po Toi on 11th and two at Mai Po on 12th. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 10th. The only Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher reported so far this autumn was at Ho Man Tin on 6th. Single Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were reported from five sites: Lau Shui Heung on 6th, Ho Man Tin on 7th & 12th, Po Toi on 9th & 11th, and Pak Sha O and Castle Peak on 11th.
First-winter male Siberian Blue Robins were at Ho Man Tin and Castle Peak on 11th; an adult male was one of two Siberian Blue Robins at Ho Man Tin on 12th.
Tropical Cyclone Conson passed well to the south of Hong Kong as it headed towards Vietnam in the middle of the week. Super Typhoon Chanthu curved north from the Philippines towards Taiwan at the end of the week. None of these storm systems had a marked effect on Hong Kong and no signals were raised. However, it was the subsiding air from Chanthu that was responsible for the high temperatures in the territory.
There was an obvious increase in autumn migration, the highlight being the third Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel of the year. There was also a heavy passage of terns off Po Toi. Details below:
A Chinese Spot-billed Duck was at Mai Po on 9th.
Two Himalayan Swiftlets were at Fung Lok Wai on 7th and three were at Po Toi on 11th.
A Watercock was at Mai Po on 12th.
A Far Eastern Curlew was at Mai Po on 7th. Nine Long-toed Stints were on a drained pond at San Tin on 11th along with a variety of other waders and four Little Terns. A Long-billed Dowitcher was at Mai Po on 6th & 7th, and three Asian Dowitchers were on the reserve on 10th & 11th with one there on 12th.
Two Heuglin’s Gulls flew past Po Toi on 11th.
Bart De Schutter continued his seabird counts at Po Toi from 9th – 11th. High counts of terns involved 165 Greater Crested Terns on 10th (a new record count), 33 Aleutian Terns on 10th, 80 Common Terns on 10th, and 20 White-winged Terns on 9th. Large numbers of distant, unidentified terns (presumably Common/Aleutian) were also noted, the highest day-count being an unprecedented 2,969 on 10th.
Other sightings of note during the seawatches were 11 jaegers sp. on 10th and a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel on 11th.
A boat trip into southern waters on 12th turned up ten Greater Crested Terns, 164 Aleutian Terns, 34 Common Terns and two Whiskered Terns.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 7th & 11th and a Black Bittern was seen on 6th.
Two Black-winged Kites were at Mai Po on 9th with one there on 11th & 12th, and one was at Long Valley on 10th & 11th.
A Eurasian Hoopoe was at Cheung Chau on 6th. Sightings of Oriental Dollarbirds consisted of one at Po Toi on 9th & 11th, two at Pak Sha O on 11th, and singles at Mt Davis and Castle Peak on 12th.
Single Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were reported from three sites. The only Tiger Shrike of the season so far was at Pak Sha O on 12th. Single Brown Shrikes were seen at three different sites. Records of Black-naped Orioles involved one at Mai Po on 7th, one at Po Toi on 9th with two there on 11th, and one at Lamma on 12th. Amur Paradise Flycatchers were widespread; sightings were mainly of single birds but six in total were at Pak Sha O on 11th.
The first Yellow-browed Warbler of the season was at Bishop Hill on 12th, and the first Dusky Warbler was at Mai Po, also on 12th. An Eastern Crowned Warbler was at Po Toi on 7th, five were at KFBG on 9th and two were at Pak Sha O on 10th. 5th. The highest count of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers was five at Castle Peak on 12th. Arctic Warblers were widespread with a high count of six at Mt Davis on 12th.
Seven Oriental Reed Warblers were trapped at Mai Po on 9th. All records of Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers involved birds trapped at Mai Po: two on 7th, and singles on 9th & 11th.
Two Vinous-throated Parrotbills were also trapped at Mai Po on 11th but both were obviously ex-captive birds.
A Daurian Starling was at Mai Po on 11th & 12th.
Single Dark-sided Flycatchers were at Po Toi on 7th & 9th, Lung Fu Shan on 10th and Pak Sha O on 11th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were noted at six sites, all singles apart from three at Po Toi on 11th and two at Mai Po on 12th. A Brown-breasted Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 10th. The only Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher reported so far this autumn was at Ho Man Tin on 6th. Single Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were reported from five sites: Lau Shui Heung on 6th, Ho Man Tin on 7th & 12th, Po Toi on 9th & 11th, and Pak Sha O and Castle Peak on 11th.
First-winter male Siberian Blue Robins were at Ho Man Tin and Castle Peak on 11th; an adult male was one of two Siberian Blue Robins at Ho Man Tin on 12th.
September 13-19
Generally hot and sunny during the week with a few showers. Temperatures regularly reached 32⁰C.
Plenty of migrants were observed passing through the territory with sites such as Mai Po, Tai Po Kau, Tai Lam CP, Po Toi, Ho Man Tin and Pak Sha O receiving considerable attention from birders. Details as follows:
Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 16th, and 18 Garganey were there on 19th. A Garganey and 34 Eurasian Teal were observed migrating past Po Toi on 18th.
At least seven Himalayan Swiftlets were at Po Toi on 16th and two were there on 18th. Six Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 16th and ten were there on 17th; two were at Mai Po on 19th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was digitally recorded as it called over Pak Sha O on the night of 12th/13th; this was presumably a passage migrant. A Watercock was at Mai Po on 19th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Mai Po on 18th. A Eurasian Woodcock was flushed at Shui Hau on 18th; this is a new early arrival date by four days.
A Heuglin’s Gull flew past Po Toi on 17th.
Twenty-one Gull-billed Terns were noted off Po Toi on 16th and a further six were seen on 17th. Greater Crested Terns were also seen migrating past the island from 16th -18th with a high count of 103 on 17th. Fifteen Aleutian Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 14th and 30 were seen from the ferry on 16th; 30 were in southern waters on 17th. Seawatching from Po Toi itself turned up only two identifiable Aleutian Terns on 16th and three on 17th. However, from 16th – 18th, hundreds of distant Common/Aleutian Terns were counted passing Po Toi on a daily basis: 1,490 on 16th, 1,900 on 17th, and 777 on 18th. The only concrete report of Common Terns involved six in southern waters on 17th.
See https://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=30166& goto=lastpost#lastpost for an ongoing account of seawatching at Po Toi this autumn.
Six Whiskered Terns were at San Tin on 15th, 11 were at Mai Po on 16th, and 23 were in southern waters on 17th. Five White-winged Terns were also in southern waters on 17th.
An unseasonal Short-tailed Shearwater was reported from the Po Toi ferry on 16th.
A Von Schrenck’s Bittern was at Lam Tsuen on 16th and a Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on the same day.
Sightings of Black-winged Kites involved one at Lok Ma Chau Village on 17th, two at Mai Po on 18th with one there on 19th, and one at Wo Shang Wai on 18th & 19th. Two Bonelli’s Eagles were at Lau Shui Heung on 13th. The first Eastern Marsh Harrier of the autumn was at Lung Kwu Tan on 18th.
The long-staying Collared Owlet was again heard at Tai Po Kau on 17th.
Four Oriental Dollarbirds were at Po Toi on 17th and at Tung Lung Chau on 18th. Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were reported from three sites. A Tiger Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 17th and two were there on 18th. Brown Shrikes were reported from five scattered sites, all singles apart from two at Ho Man Tin on 16th. Records of Black-naped Orioles involved one at Po Toi on 14th with two there on 16th & 17th, and five at Mai Po on 18th. The first seasonal sightings of Ashy Drongo consisted of singles at Pak Sha O on 17th and 18th, and at Tai Lam CP on 19th.
Fewer Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted this week, with reports from just four sites. Single Japanese Paradise Flycatchers were at Pak Sha O on 17th and 18th, and at Yan Yee Road on 19th.
Single Yellow-browed Warblers were at Ho Man Tin on 17th and Po Toi on 17th. Dusky Warblers were noted as follows: one at San Tin on 15th & 17th, one at Wo Shang Wai on 18th, and three at Mai Po on 19th. Eastern Crowned Warblers were seen at five sites, all singles apart from two at Tai Lam CP on 13th. The first autumn records of Two-barred Warbler involved one at Pak Sha O on 17th, and two at Ho Man Tin on 18th with one again at Ho Man Tin on 19th. Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were widespread with a high count of six at Shing Mun on 17th. There were no confirmed reports of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Arctic Warblers were widely reported with high counts of seven at Tai Lam CP on 13th, at Mai Po on 14th, and at Tai Po Kau and Pak Sha O on 17th. The first Hartert’s Leaf Warbler of the season was seen at Tai Po Kau on 16th.
Warblers trapped by ringers at Mai Po included 20 Oriental Reed Warblers, a Black-browed Reed Warbler, 17 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, two Lanceolated Warblers and a Manchurian Reed Warbler on 17th. A Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler was also trapped at Mai Po on 14th; this is the tenth Hong Kong record.
Five Zitting Cisticolas were at Mai Po on 14th.
Sightings of Daurian Starlings consisted of two at Mai Po on 14th, six at Tai Po Waterfront Park on 15th, and one among 90 White-shouldered Starlings at Po Toi on 16th.
Plenty of migrants were observed passing through the territory with sites such as Mai Po, Tai Po Kau, Tai Lam CP, Po Toi, Ho Man Tin and Pak Sha O receiving considerable attention from birders. Details as follows:
Two Chinese Spot-billed Ducks were at Mai Po on 16th, and 18 Garganey were there on 19th. A Garganey and 34 Eurasian Teal were observed migrating past Po Toi on 18th.
At least seven Himalayan Swiftlets were at Po Toi on 16th and two were there on 18th. Six Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 16th and ten were there on 17th; two were at Mai Po on 19th.
A Slaty-legged Crake was digitally recorded as it called over Pak Sha O on the night of 12th/13th; this was presumably a passage migrant. A Watercock was at Mai Po on 19th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Mai Po on 18th. A Eurasian Woodcock was flushed at Shui Hau on 18th; this is a new early arrival date by four days.
A Heuglin’s Gull flew past Po Toi on 17th.
Twenty-one Gull-billed Terns were noted off Po Toi on 16th and a further six were seen on 17th. Greater Crested Terns were also seen migrating past the island from 16th -18th with a high count of 103 on 17th. Fifteen Aleutian Terns were seen from the Po Toi ferry on 14th and 30 were seen from the ferry on 16th; 30 were in southern waters on 17th. Seawatching from Po Toi itself turned up only two identifiable Aleutian Terns on 16th and three on 17th. However, from 16th – 18th, hundreds of distant Common/Aleutian Terns were counted passing Po Toi on a daily basis: 1,490 on 16th, 1,900 on 17th, and 777 on 18th. The only concrete report of Common Terns involved six in southern waters on 17th.
See https://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/redirect.php?tid=30166& goto=lastpost#lastpost for an ongoing account of seawatching at Po Toi this autumn.
Six Whiskered Terns were at San Tin on 15th, 11 were at Mai Po on 16th, and 23 were in southern waters on 17th. Five White-winged Terns were also in southern waters on 17th.
An unseasonal Short-tailed Shearwater was reported from the Po Toi ferry on 16th.
A Von Schrenck’s Bittern was at Lam Tsuen on 16th and a Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on the same day.
Sightings of Black-winged Kites involved one at Lok Ma Chau Village on 17th, two at Mai Po on 18th with one there on 19th, and one at Wo Shang Wai on 18th & 19th. Two Bonelli’s Eagles were at Lau Shui Heung on 13th. The first Eastern Marsh Harrier of the autumn was at Lung Kwu Tan on 18th.
The long-staying Collared Owlet was again heard at Tai Po Kau on 17th.
Four Oriental Dollarbirds were at Po Toi on 17th and at Tung Lung Chau on 18th. Black-winged Cuckooshrikes were reported from three sites. A Tiger Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 17th and two were there on 18th. Brown Shrikes were reported from five scattered sites, all singles apart from two at Ho Man Tin on 16th. Records of Black-naped Orioles involved one at Po Toi on 14th with two there on 16th & 17th, and five at Mai Po on 18th. The first seasonal sightings of Ashy Drongo consisted of singles at Pak Sha O on 17th and 18th, and at Tai Lam CP on 19th.
Fewer Amur Paradise Flycatchers were noted this week, with reports from just four sites. Single Japanese Paradise Flycatchers were at Pak Sha O on 17th and 18th, and at Yan Yee Road on 19th.
Single Yellow-browed Warblers were at Ho Man Tin on 17th and Po Toi on 17th. Dusky Warblers were noted as follows: one at San Tin on 15th & 17th, one at Wo Shang Wai on 18th, and three at Mai Po on 19th. Eastern Crowned Warblers were seen at five sites, all singles apart from two at Tai Lam CP on 13th. The first autumn records of Two-barred Warbler involved one at Pak Sha O on 17th, and two at Ho Man Tin on 18th with one again at Ho Man Tin on 19th. Pale-legged Leaf Warblers were widespread with a high count of six at Shing Mun on 17th. There were no confirmed reports of Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Arctic Warblers were widely reported with high counts of seven at Tai Lam CP on 13th, at Mai Po on 14th, and at Tai Po Kau and Pak Sha O on 17th. The first Hartert’s Leaf Warbler of the season was seen at Tai Po Kau on 16th.
Warblers trapped by ringers at Mai Po included 20 Oriental Reed Warblers, a Black-browed Reed Warbler, 17 Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, two Lanceolated Warblers and a Manchurian Reed Warbler on 17th. A Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler was also trapped at Mai Po on 14th; this is the tenth Hong Kong record.
Five Zitting Cisticolas were at Mai Po on 14th.
Sightings of Daurian Starlings consisted of two at Mai Po on 14th, six at Tai Po Waterfront Park on 15th, and one among 90 White-shouldered Starlings at Po Toi on 16th.
Dark-sided Flycatchers were seen at several widespread sites, all singles except for two at Tai Lam CP on 19th. Asian Brown Flycatchers were also widely reported with the highest count being four at Ho Man Tin on 18th. The only Grey-streaked Flycatcher was one at Tung Lung Chau on 19th. A Ferruginous Flycatcher at Tai Lam CP on 13th was the 11th autumn record. A Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher was trapped at Tai Po Kau on 16th. Yellow-rumped Flycatchers were seen at five sites, all singles apart from two at Po Toi on 17th.
There was a decent passage of Siberian Blue Robins through the territory: two were at Ho Man Tin on 13th with singles there on 17th & 19th; one was trapped at Mai Po on 14th and two were trapped there on 18th; one was at Pak Sha O on 14th; one was at Tai Po Kau on 15th and two were trapped there on 16th; two were at Tai Lam CP on 19th; two were at Shan King on 19th.
Single Stejneger’s Stonechats were at Mai Po on 13th & 16th, and at Pak Sha O on 17th & 18th; two were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 19th.
One hundred and sixty-eight Eastern Yellow Wagtails were at Mai Po on 14th. The first Yellow-breasted Bunting of the autumn was at Mai Po on 17th.
There was a decent passage of Siberian Blue Robins through the territory: two were at Ho Man Tin on 13th with singles there on 17th & 19th; one was trapped at Mai Po on 14th and two were trapped there on 18th; one was at Pak Sha O on 14th; one was at Tai Po Kau on 15th and two were trapped there on 16th; two were at Tai Lam CP on 19th; two were at Shan King on 19th.
Single Stejneger’s Stonechats were at Mai Po on 13th & 16th, and at Pak Sha O on 17th & 18th; two were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 19th.
One hundred and sixty-eight Eastern Yellow Wagtails were at Mai Po on 14th. The first Yellow-breasted Bunting of the autumn was at Mai Po on 17th.
September 20-30
Generally fine and hot with occasional showers. Winds were from the east and temperatures were up to 32⁰C until 27th, after which light winds prevailed. Temperatures then rose to 34⁰C - even higher in the northern New Territories where it was 35.7⁰C at Tai Mei Tuk on the last day of the month. It was, in fact, the hottest September ever recorded in Hong Kong.
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-naped Oriole, Black Drongo, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, 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 Collared Dove, Oriental Turtle Dove, Great Cormorant, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Ashy Drongo, Yellow-browed Warbler, Two-barred Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Red-throated Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Stejneger’s Stonechat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Richard’s Pipit.
Garganey were regularly reported from the northwest New Territories with high counts of 16 at Mai Po on 24th and 15 at San Tin on 25th. The first Northern Shoveler of the season was at San Tin on 28th & 29th, and the first Eurasian Wigeons consisted of five at San Tin on 28th. The first Northern Pintail was at Mai Po on 27th.
Reports of Himalayan Swiftlets involved one at Po Toi on 25th with three there on 30th, two at Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, four at Cheung Chau on 28th, and one at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. Five Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 30th.
Single Oriental Cuckoos were at Mai Po on 22nd and at Tung Lung Chau on 25th.
A Baillon’s Crake was at Mai Po on 22nd. A Watercock was at Mai Po on 22nd & 29th. A Grey-headed Lapwing was at Mai Po on 25th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Mai Po on 29th. Four Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 30th.
A 1st-calendar-year Black-tailed Gull flew past Po Toi on 24th. Other seabirds of note off Po Toi were a Parasitic Jaeger on 25th and a Long-tailed Jaeger on 24th. Two jaegers sp. were also seen on 25th. A Red-footed Booby was seen on 23rd.
Tern numbers, however, were way down from previous weeks, heralding the end of their autumn passage through south China waters. Counts of Greater Crested Terns consisted of three on 23rd, 18 on 24th and 33 on 25th. Two Bridled Terns were noted on 24th with just one going by on 25th. Single Common Terns were seen on 23rd & 25th.
Elsewhere Whiskered Tern were seen at Mai Po and San Tin, the highest count being 26 at Mai Po on 27th.
A Lesser Frigatebird was off Cheung Chau on 24th, and a frigatebird sp., either Lesser or Christmas, was photographed over Ho Man Tin on 29th.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 24th, and a Black Bittern was noted there between 21st and 26th.
At least two Black-winged Kites were in the northwest New Territories during the period under review. Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported from Mt Davis on 28th and Lung Kwu Tan on 29th, and single Japanese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po on 26th, 27th & 29th. Up to three Eastern Marsh Harriers were at Mai Po between 22nd and 29th. A Pied Harrier was at Mai Po on 29th.
The Collared Owlet was again at Tai Po Kau on 25th & 26th. A Eurasian Eagle Owl was seen at Mt Davis on 26th.
The highest count of Oriental Dollarbirds involved ten at Tai Tong on 25th. The first Black-capped Kingfishers of the autumn consisted of one at Mai Po on 24th & 26th, and one at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were noted flying over Mai Po between 22nd and 30th, with at least 20 there on 27th & 29th. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Mai Po between 21st and 27th, and three were seen together there on 30th.
Two Common Kestrels were at Leung Tin Au on 26th, and one was at Lung Kwu Tan on 29th. Single Eurasian Hobbies were at Po Toi on 21st, 28th & 30th, at Long Valley on 22nd, and at Tung Lung Chau on 25th.
Single Ashy Minivets were at Tai Lam CP on 24th, Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, and Shan Liu Road and Po Toi on 30th. A Tiger Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 29th. The highest count of Black-naped Orioles was 13 at Mt Davis on 26th. The highest count of Ashy Drongos was three at Leung King on 26th. There was some passage of Black Drongos: 33 were at Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, 45 were counted heading southwest in parties of threes and fours along the Mai Po accesss road on the early morning of 29th, and 36 were at Long Valley on 30th.
A Black-naped Monarch was at Lau Shui Heung on 21st. Single Japanese Paradise Flycatchers were at Shek Kong catchwater on 21st, Tai Lam CP on 21st, 22nd & 27th, Po Toi on 28th, and Shing Mun on 29th.
Two hundred and seventy-five Large-billed Crows were at Leung Tin Au on 26th – a new high count for the territory.
An Asian Stubtail was trapped at HK Wetland Park on 28th, and one was heard at Tai lam CP on 29th; both are new early autumn dates for this species. Single Sakhalin Leaf Warblers were identified at Mai Po on 20th, Pak Sha O on 26th, and Ho Man Tin on 29th & 30th. The highest count of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers was of 16 along a 17km stretch of Tai Lam CP on 20th. Eleven Arctic Warblers were also counted along the same transect. A Hartert’s Leaf Warbler was at Tai Tong on 22nd.
Warblers trapped by ringers in a reedbed at Mai Po included 29 Oriental Reed Warblers on 27th, 13 Black-browed Reed Warblers on 30th, single Manchurian Reed Warblers on 22nd & 27th, ten Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 27th, a Middendorf’s Grasshopper Warbler on 27th, a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler on 21st and six Lanceolated Warblers on 30th. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was also seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 20th.
Golden-headed Cisticolas were noted as follows: two at Tai Lam Chung Country Trail on 20th, one at Leung Tin Au on 26th, one at Mai Po on 27th, and three at Ping Yeung on 28th.
Two Daurian Starlings were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. A juvenile Rosy Starling was photographed on Po Toi on 28th. An Orange-headed Thrush was at Ho Man Tin on 30th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Lamma on 28th, Po Toi on 28th & 30th, and Ho Man Tin and Mai Po on 30th. The highest count of Dark-sided Flycatchers was three at Tai Po Kau on 26th, and the highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers involved ten at Po Toi on 25th. A Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin on 30th. Single Verditer Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 21st and at Pak Sha O on 26th. The only Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 26th. A male Mugimaki Flycatcher at Po Toi on 28th was the first ever September record, the previous earliest autumn date being 4 October. Single Red-throated Flycatchers were at Tai Mei Tuk catchment on 25th and Tai Po Kau on 26th.
Siberian Blue Robins were reported as follows: singles at Tai Lam CP on 20th & 27th, one trapped at Mai Po on 27th, and singles at Ho Man Tin on 28th & 30th with two there on 29th. The first Bluethroat of the autumn was one trapped at Mai Po on 30th, and the first Siberian Rubythroat was trapped there on 27th.
A Slaty-backed Forktail was at Shing Mun on 27th & 30th. A Forest Wagtail was at Tai Lam CP on 20th.
A Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Pak Sha O on 26th, and two Black-faced Buntings were at Po Toi on 30th.
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-naped Oriole, Black Drongo, Amur Paradise Flycatcher, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, 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 Collared Dove, Oriental Turtle Dove, Great Cormorant, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Ashy Drongo, Yellow-browed Warbler, Two-barred Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Red-throated Flycatcher, Blue Rock Thrush, Stejneger’s Stonechat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Wagtail and Richard’s Pipit.
Garganey were regularly reported from the northwest New Territories with high counts of 16 at Mai Po on 24th and 15 at San Tin on 25th. The first Northern Shoveler of the season was at San Tin on 28th & 29th, and the first Eurasian Wigeons consisted of five at San Tin on 28th. The first Northern Pintail was at Mai Po on 27th.
Reports of Himalayan Swiftlets involved one at Po Toi on 25th with three there on 30th, two at Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, four at Cheung Chau on 28th, and one at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. Five Pacific Swifts were at Po Toi on 30th.
Single Oriental Cuckoos were at Mai Po on 22nd and at Tung Lung Chau on 25th.
A Baillon’s Crake was at Mai Po on 22nd. A Watercock was at Mai Po on 22nd & 29th. A Grey-headed Lapwing was at Mai Po on 25th. A Pheasant-tailed Jacana was at Mai Po on 29th. Four Long-toed Stints were at San Tin on 30th.
A 1st-calendar-year Black-tailed Gull flew past Po Toi on 24th. Other seabirds of note off Po Toi were a Parasitic Jaeger on 25th and a Long-tailed Jaeger on 24th. Two jaegers sp. were also seen on 25th. A Red-footed Booby was seen on 23rd.
Tern numbers, however, were way down from previous weeks, heralding the end of their autumn passage through south China waters. Counts of Greater Crested Terns consisted of three on 23rd, 18 on 24th and 33 on 25th. Two Bridled Terns were noted on 24th with just one going by on 25th. Single Common Terns were seen on 23rd & 25th.
Elsewhere Whiskered Tern were seen at Mai Po and San Tin, the highest count being 26 at Mai Po on 27th.
A Lesser Frigatebird was off Cheung Chau on 24th, and a frigatebird sp., either Lesser or Christmas, was photographed over Ho Man Tin on 29th.
A Cinnamon Bittern was at Mai Po on 24th, and a Black Bittern was noted there between 21st and 26th.
At least two Black-winged Kites were in the northwest New Territories during the period under review. Single Chinese Sparrowhawks were reported from Mt Davis on 28th and Lung Kwu Tan on 29th, and single Japanese Sparrowhawks were noted at Mai Po on 26th, 27th & 29th. Up to three Eastern Marsh Harriers were at Mai Po between 22nd and 29th. A Pied Harrier was at Mai Po on 29th.
The Collared Owlet was again at Tai Po Kau on 25th & 26th. A Eurasian Eagle Owl was seen at Mt Davis on 26th.
The highest count of Oriental Dollarbirds involved ten at Tai Tong on 25th. The first Black-capped Kingfishers of the autumn consisted of one at Mai Po on 24th & 26th, and one at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were noted flying over Mai Po between 22nd and 30th, with at least 20 there on 27th & 29th. Single Eurasian Wrynecks were at Mai Po between 21st and 27th, and three were seen together there on 30th.
Two Common Kestrels were at Leung Tin Au on 26th, and one was at Lung Kwu Tan on 29th. Single Eurasian Hobbies were at Po Toi on 21st, 28th & 30th, at Long Valley on 22nd, and at Tung Lung Chau on 25th.
Single Ashy Minivets were at Tai Lam CP on 24th, Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, and Shan Liu Road and Po Toi on 30th. A Tiger Shrike was at Ho Man Tin on 29th. The highest count of Black-naped Orioles was 13 at Mt Davis on 26th. The highest count of Ashy Drongos was three at Leung King on 26th. There was some passage of Black Drongos: 33 were at Lung Kwu Tan on 25th, 45 were counted heading southwest in parties of threes and fours along the Mai Po accesss road on the early morning of 29th, and 36 were at Long Valley on 30th.
A Black-naped Monarch was at Lau Shui Heung on 21st. Single Japanese Paradise Flycatchers were at Shek Kong catchwater on 21st, Tai Lam CP on 21st, 22nd & 27th, Po Toi on 28th, and Shing Mun on 29th.
Two hundred and seventy-five Large-billed Crows were at Leung Tin Au on 26th – a new high count for the territory.
An Asian Stubtail was trapped at HK Wetland Park on 28th, and one was heard at Tai lam CP on 29th; both are new early autumn dates for this species. Single Sakhalin Leaf Warblers were identified at Mai Po on 20th, Pak Sha O on 26th, and Ho Man Tin on 29th & 30th. The highest count of Pale-legged Leaf Warblers was of 16 along a 17km stretch of Tai Lam CP on 20th. Eleven Arctic Warblers were also counted along the same transect. A Hartert’s Leaf Warbler was at Tai Tong on 22nd.
Warblers trapped by ringers in a reedbed at Mai Po included 29 Oriental Reed Warblers on 27th, 13 Black-browed Reed Warblers on 30th, single Manchurian Reed Warblers on 22nd & 27th, ten Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers on 27th, a Middendorf’s Grasshopper Warbler on 27th, a Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler on 21st and six Lanceolated Warblers on 30th. A Manchurian Reed Warbler was also seen at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 20th.
Golden-headed Cisticolas were noted as follows: two at Tai Lam Chung Country Trail on 20th, one at Leung Tin Au on 26th, one at Mai Po on 27th, and three at Ping Yeung on 28th.
Two Daurian Starlings were at Lok Ma Chau EEA on 28th. A juvenile Rosy Starling was photographed on Po Toi on 28th. An Orange-headed Thrush was at Ho Man Tin on 30th.
Single Grey-streaked Flycatchers were at Lamma on 28th, Po Toi on 28th & 30th, and Ho Man Tin and Mai Po on 30th. The highest count of Dark-sided Flycatchers was three at Tai Po Kau on 26th, and the highest count of Asian Brown Flycatchers involved ten at Po Toi on 25th. A Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher was at Ho Man Tin on 30th. Single Verditer Flycatchers were at Tai Lam CP on 21st and at Pak Sha O on 26th. The only Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was at Pak Sha O on 26th. A male Mugimaki Flycatcher at Po Toi on 28th was the first ever September record, the previous earliest autumn date being 4 October. Single Red-throated Flycatchers were at Tai Mei Tuk catchment on 25th and Tai Po Kau on 26th.
Siberian Blue Robins were reported as follows: singles at Tai Lam CP on 20th & 27th, one trapped at Mai Po on 27th, and singles at Ho Man Tin on 28th & 30th with two there on 29th. The first Bluethroat of the autumn was one trapped at Mai Po on 30th, and the first Siberian Rubythroat was trapped there on 27th.
A Slaty-backed Forktail was at Shing Mun on 27th & 30th. A Forest Wagtail was at Tai Lam CP on 20th.
A Yellow-breasted Bunting was at Pak Sha O on 26th, and two Black-faced Buntings were at Po Toi on 30th.
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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