Sunbirds in the Rain

Have been quite busy lately and haven't got much time to do any proper birding, my 500mm lens have been sitting in my dry cabinet for weeks! Seeing that I had a Sunday afternoon free, I really wanted to just go out somewhere, but the weather wasn't ideal as of late, with constant drizzle and damp weather that make you want to stay home in front of the tele. Many birders reported hearing and seeing the Chinese Barbet at Tai Po Kau lately, so I thought it was worth giving that a shot. It was wet when I got there, so I didn't take my camera out. A small bird wave while heading up had Scarlet Minivets, Chestnut Bulbuls, Silver-eared Mesias, Rufous-capped Babblers and a pair of Cinerous Tits. No barbets were calling unfortunately.

Seeing that the weather wasn't going to improve, I stationed myself at the Coral Trees which are now in full bloom and waited to see whatever comes for the nectar. Soon after, a male Fork-tailed Sunbird came by, these energetic little birds can brighten up any gloomy day, their iridescent plumage glimmers even under such terrible lighting. To the surprise of many non-birding Hong Kongers, this colourful little gem is in fact quite common and can be found in most urban parks. But to get good views, you need to visit flowering trees, and the Coral Trees are one of their favourite.

The Fork-tailed Sunbird is our only resident Sunbird species, where as the rarer Mrs. Gould's Sunbird may occur in winter but we don't get them every year; a species that is still missing on my Hong Kong's list...

Fork-tailed Sunbird