Red-billed Blue Magpie - a stunner
If you ask me what is the most colourful and impressive looking bird species in Hong Kong, I probably would answer Fairy Pitta; that's quite obvious. But, if you ask me what is the most colourful and impressive looking RESIDENT bird species, then the title probably will goes to Red-billed Blue Magpies, or Blue Magpies as we usually call them. Their colourful plumage, large size and long tails really make them centre for attention.
They really are quite common, although not a bird that you see on an every day basis unless you're in an area where they occur regularly, but you will see them every now and then gliding across roads while you're on the bus, or hear their cheery and very noisy calls on a tall tree in the park. It just so happens that a flock of these awesome looking magpies lives right where I work, so I have the privilege to pretty much see them everyday. It ALSO just so happens that I got my camera with me this day, and upon hearing their noisy calls I went up to the second floor to try get some decent shots.
Kai Yip estate in the background
And decent shots I got! The group were not shy and gave excellent views. As I was a floor up, I had situated myself right at eye-level with these impressive looking birds. Tt was perfect conditions for photography, as you really need the right lighting for their bluish purple sheen to really show through!
I enjoyed great views for over ten minutes before they decided to move on and make noise somewhere else. A very good show from my very good neighbour! Bad thing about having them at your work place is that they really distract you from your work on hand...I better get some earplugs soon.
They have successfully distracted me from my work...
Hi Mathew. I bumped into your blog by accident when I was trying to identify (yes, identify) a type of bird which live (I guess) in the Tin Shui Wai Park. I post what I know about these birds here as, by doing so, I hope they would get some recognition (if not protection) by bird watching people like you here in HK. They look very much like what are shown here in this blog. I never thought I would see birds with such a long tail in HK so I thought they were "immigrants" from the Mainland. Having seen what is said here in this blog I now think they could have emigrated to TSW from other parts of HK. They certainly have made TSW Park their home now. At least on 2 occasions they were seen chasing away a hawk at tree top level. Obviously they have become so 'territorial'. Your blog is very, very interesting indeed. HK needs people like you - I mean you are a nature lover of some sort. Great to see your work, and please keep it up.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for reading, Red-billed Blue Magpies are fairly common around Tin Shui Wai as well, over the years they have simply increased in numbers in most of HK, I think simply because they are so adaptable.
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