Wintering Birds - Japanese Robins & Thrushes

There are several species in Hong Kong that tells you we are truly into the winter months, Japanese Robin is one of those. This rare winter visitor is a treat to see every single time, and this year we seem to have a good numbers of them around at several different locations. I found at least 3 at Tai Po Kau, with other birders reporting up to four! This one in particular showed fairly well, although I had to crank my ISO up to 6400 to get anything usable. Still, a brilliant looking bird that is surely one of my favourite winter birds to encounter.

Japanese Robin - male

This winter's been exceptional for thrushes, in particular White's Thrush, which seems to be everywhere! I haven't caught up with any photogenic ones yet, but saw at least 3 in one day at Tai Po Kau. Other species such as Japanese Thrush as well as Grey-backed Thrush are also in good numbers. 

White's Thrush

Japanese Thrush - male

Grey-backed Thrush - male

Though considered common, the usual species at Tai Po Kau are still a nice addition to a day's birding if you see them well. Winter is probably some of the best time to see these fine forest birds in action, as they congregate in large feeding flocks.

Grey-chinned Minivet - female

Huet's Fulvetta

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Chestnut Bulbul

Black-throated Laughingthrush

Mountain Bulbul

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Leaf Warblers are all passage migrants or winter visitors in Hong Kong, you will often find many in these feeding flocks, the most numerous being Pallas's Leaf Warblers and Yellow-browed Warblers. Eastern Crowned Warbler seems to be wintering in Hong Kong regularly now, while this seems to be a great year for Rufous-faced Warbler, I saw at least three in a feeding flock at Tai Po Kau.

Pallas's Leaf Warbler

Eastern Crowned Warbler

Rufous-faced Warbler

Wintering flycatchers includes Daurian Redstarts which is especially common this winter. Asian Brown Flycatchers can also be found occasionally in suitable habitats.

Daurian Redstart - female

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Over to the fishponds near Deep Bay, Eurasian Coots numbers are up this year, I don't remember seeing so many of them for a long time, Black-faced Spoonbills are also a regular sight around the fishponds.

Eurasian Coot

Black-faced Spoonbill & Great Egret

Black-winged Kites seems a lot more common than they used to be, I see one or two every time I visit Mai Po, as well as other fishponds area such as Tai Sang Wai and Fung Lok Wai. Eastern Marsh Harriers are also a regularly encountered species of raptors in these areas.

Black-winged Kite

Eastern Marsh Harrier - female

Finally, some Common Starlings to round things off, this 'common' species is an uncommon winter visitor to Hong Kong. I found several of them at Tai Sang Wai, along with a very nice looking male Red Collared Dove and numerous Eurasian Collared Dove. If it wasn't for the Red Collared Dove this could well have been a photo taken in the UK!

Common Starling, Red Collared Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove