Another year is coming to an end, and this year certainly flew by! There's not been too many exciting birds arriving at this time of the year, most winter visitors seems to have settled down, what's left has left and what's staying is staying, such as the flock of Oriental Storks, which seems to have settled down around Mai Po and surrounding area for yet another winter. I got lucky with around 20 of them circling right above my head the other day, giving phenomonal views!
 |
| Oriental Stork |
Other long staying rarity includes the Black-necked Grebe at San Tin (which I haven't really bothered to get any more photos of), plus the Glossy Ibis at Nam Sang Wai, which seems to have found the area nice enough for it to stay. Regular winter visitors such as Grey-headed Lapwings are still here and showing well along the Kam Tin River.
 |
| Glossy Ibis - long staying individual |
 |
| Grey-headed Lapwing |
I've not had much luck photographing the remaining buntings at Long Valley, although they are still around they are not making it easy. Eastern Red-rumped Swallows seems to be in quite good numbers this year, Siberian House Martins and Asian House Martins came along with these but I never got good photos of those. A flock of Black-faced Spoonbills have been visiting Long Valley more frequently lately, and allowing quite close views too!
 |
| Eastern Red-rumped Swallow |
 |
| Black-faced Spoonbill |
Other common winter visitor and residents such as Amur Stonechats and Zitting Cisticolas can be seen at close range at Long Valley, a relatively friendly White-throated Kingfisher also can be fairly approachable.
 |
| Amur Stonechat - male |
 |
| Zitting Cisticola |
 |
| White-throated Kingfisher |
I have seen Black-capped Kingfishers in two locations recently, one in New Territories and the other on Lantau, this species is getting tougher and tougher but still relatively easy to get if you go to the right places. I saw my first White's Thrush of the winter on Lantau as well, there are certainly more thrushes around this winter compared to the last, but certainly not like the eruption we had in 2022. Eastern Buzzards are now fairly common and seen in most places, I had a close encounter with this one near Tai Sang Wai.
 |
| Black-capped Kingfisher |
 |
| White's Thrush |
 |
| Eastern Buzzard |
Over at Tai Po Kau, I fail to locate any of the rarer warblers despite White-spectacled Warbler being reported by some. The best I was able to find was a Hume's Warbler which was quite vocal, although staying very high up. Ashy Drongos and Black-winged Cuckooshrikes both seems to be in good numbers this month, especially the Cuckooshrike, as I had a high count of at least 14 individuals one morning, which should be a new high count according to the Avifauna of Hong Kong, with previous high count being 8. Rufous-tailed Robin also seems to be doing well this winter, with numerous counted on every visit.
 |
| Hume's Warbler |
 |
| Ashy Drongo - race leucogensis |
 |
| Black-winged Cuckooshrike |
 |
| Rufous-tailed Robin |
Orange-bellied Leafbirds are now becoming more active, as Rhodoleia trees are about the bloom, they are already in the area waiting for the feast of nectar! Great Barbets are never easy to see in Hong Kong, and even trickier to photograph, found them quite far away on two instances for overseas guests, which is a top bird for many!
 |
| Orange-bellied Leafbird - male |
 |
| Great Barbet |
Crested Serpent Eagle still occasionally perch out in the morning, although a bit less frequently lately. Other common birds for us that maybe of interest to visiting birders are Fork-tailed Sunbirds (which we usually see), Red-billed Blue Magpie (they seem easier in parks actually), and the Blue Whistling Thrush (confiding only when they want to be).
 |
| Crested Serpent Eagle |
 |
| Fork-tailed Sunbird - male |
 |
| Red-billed Blue Magpie |
 |
| Blue Whistling Thrush |
Two of the tougher to see local resident species, the Pygmy Cupwing and Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, got lucky with the former as I heard one calling nearby at a location I have never heard them before, and very happy that this pale morph came out to greet us! We got walk away views of this wonderful species. I don't see Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler every time at Tai Po Kau, but lately they seem to have been quite stable along the access road.
 |
| Pygmy Cupwing - white morph |
 |
| Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler |
Over at Wu Kau Tang, specialty is still Barred Cuckoo Doves, which seems rather stable now and chances of seeing them there seems quite high, although getting good photos or in fact any photo is still a real challenge. Winter specialty here is the Small Niltava, and a nice looking male is back for yet another winter. The general area is also quite good for wintering Russet Bush Warblers, I had a relatively friendly one, although photographing it was still a nightmare with dozens of branches in the way at any given time.
 |
| Barred Cuckoo Dove |
 |
| Small Niltava - male |
 |
| Russet Bush Warbler |
Indochinese Green Magpies have been spreading in Hong Kong steadily, I have just learnt they have now reached Shing Mun! Although North East New Territories seems to still be the stronghold for this species. Despite not being a native species, I do enjoy seeing them in the wild. I find Wu Kau Tang to also be quite a good spot for Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, with this photogenic male often coming down quite low. Finally, not too far away near Nam Chung I had a flock of Yellow-billed Grosbeak, certainly one of my favourite wintering bird in Hong Kong, one that I don't get to see every day!
 |
| Indochinese Green Magpie |
 |
| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker- male |
 |
| Yellow-billed Grosbeak - male |
No comments:
Post a Comment