Mid-Autumn Heat

We are experiencing the hottest mid-autumn and early October ever recorded in Hong Kong, with 34°C temperature that is almost just like a mid summer day! Making hiking and being outdoors not as inviting as usual...That being said, plenty of birds are coming through at the moment for those who ventures out into the heat. While other birders have had more luck with rarer birds like Fairy Pittas and Tiger Shrikes, I am stuck with the common stuff, a few Japanese Paradise at Tai Lam showed well, as with usual autumn records, they are usually younger birds or females.

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

Other than the common resident birds, this is also a good time to look for Dark-sided Flycatchers, which can often be found hawking for insects from their perch. I managed to find a relatively 'showy' Pygmy Cupwing, although a few branches were in the way, it is still a real treat to see this highly skulking species.

Dark-sided Flycatcher

Pygmy Cupwing

Plenty of wetland birds are now coming through, including numerous waders in all shape and sizes. Red-necked Phalaropes can often be found swimming in well vegetated ponds. Common Redshanks and Marsh Sandpipers are amongst some of our usual wintering birds arriving.

Red-necked Phalarope

Common Redshank

Marsh Sandpiper

Smaller waders like Red-necked Stints and Temminck's Stints are typical of this time of the year. I've been looking out for Little Curlews, but only been seeing Whimbrels instead. Of course, there are the Kentish Plovers which are always interesting to look at.

Red-necked Stint

Temminck's Stint

Whimbrel

Kentish Plover

Other commonly seen migrants in fish ponds areas at this time of the year includes Red Collared Doves and numerous Whiskered Terns, I've been looking out for White-winged Terns but got none so far.

Red-collared Dove

Whiskered Tern

Earlier last month, while out doing surveys I noticed a strange looking bird amongst the Eurasian Tree Sparrows, turns out it was a male House Sparrow! Not exactly a bird that gets your adrenaline pumping, but they are a rarity here in Hong Kong. This is only the 4th time I've seen one in Hong Kong, certainly a species that seems to be reported more and more often here.

House Sparrow - male

Temperature is expected to start dropping next week, although still expected to be over 30°C...I am really looking forward to those cool mornings!