Buntings Galore at Long Valley

Buntings are still coming through in good numbers, with Long Valley being THE place to be to see them, although with so many paddies to choose from and the fact that they don't harvest the rice anymore, it becomes much harder to see these most wanted birds. Still, with a bit of patience you get to see them in their full glory. Yellow-breasted Bunting is still by far the most 'common' bunting there, to the delight of most visiting birders.

Yellow-breasted Bunting - male

Yellow-breasted Bunting - female

A supporting cast of Little, Chestnut-eared and Black-headed Buntings also frequent the paddies, with there being at least two Black-headed Buntings. There's been a few rarer buntings turning up on few occasions, but I never saw any of those.

Little Bunting

Chestnut-eared Bunting

Black-headed Bunting - 1st individual

Black-headed Bunting - 2nd individual

The female Common Rosefinch occasionally shows up, it can fake all it want but it is never becoming a bunting.

Common Rosefinch - female

Red-throated Pipits are now back in good numbers. A few Eurasian Skylarks have been frequenting the dry fields, being a relatively less common bird than the pipits, they certainly draw more interest then the pipits.

Red-throated Pipit - female

Eurasian Skylark

Not a rare bird by any means, but a rather interesting looking Spotted Dove caught my interest, no doubt a leucistic bird that gives it this odd creamy colour.

Spotted Dove - leucisitic

Here are a couple of most commonly seen waders at Long Valley, the humble looking Wood Sandpiper, the rather elegant Marsh Sandpiper and numerous Common Snipes.

Wood Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpiper

Common Snipe

The White-throated Kingfisher is probably the most common species of kingfisher at Long Valley, though a very common species I do try my best to stop and appreciate them each time.

White-throated Kingfisher

I've noticed a slight resurgence of Oriental Magpies around New Territories, they really are under appreciated by many, freshly cut fields at Long Valley attracts them to come and forage.

Oriental Magpie

Amur Stonechat is another highly under appreciated species, their constant presence in the winter months makes birding more enjoyable.

Amur Stonechat - female

Over at Ma Tso Lung, other than the common Long-tailed Shrike, a long staying adult Brown Shrike have also been showing well, although keeping its distance with people.

Long-tailed Shrike

Brown Shrike

At San Tin, a Black-winged Kite can often be seen patrolling the area, this small raptor have become quite a species I see almost every time I go out in recent years. Eastern Buzzards can now be seen in fairly good numbers.

Black-winged Kite

Eastern Buzzard

Flocks of White-cheeked, Red-billed and White-shouldered Starlings now frequent the fish ponds, sometimes in decent size flocks. Red Collared Doves are also easily seen around the fish ponds during the winter months. A Siberian Pipit was spotted feeding on one of the dried pond, although it didn't stay very long.

White-cheeked Starling

Red Collared Dove - male

Siberian Pipit

Over at Mai Po, ducks numbers are up, including many Eastern Spot-billed Ducks. Chinese Penduline Tits are finally back after a long wait, they were quite late this year, but it was nice to finally see them back at their usual spot. A Great Bittern flew by the tower hide while I was enjoying a nice flock of Black-faced Spoonbills with two guests, a pleasant sight to see this usually secretive bird back wintering here again.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck

Chinese Penduline Tit - female

Great Bittern

November is also a great time to look for Manchurian Reed Warblers, usually a few amongst the dozens of Black-browed Reed Warblers at Fung Lok Wai. I counted at least four birds in one morning, they are not the easiest to pick out from the Black-browed Reed Warblers, but their seemingly larger bill, and brighter colour on the back, rump and tail often gives it away.

Black-browed Reed Warbler

Manchurian Reed Warbler

Fung Lok Wai is also a great place to look for Buntings, I had a few Yellow-breasted along with a few Little and Black-faced Buntings, although only a Yellow-breasted Bunting allowed for a closer inspection. The reeds here are also frequented by Yellow Bitterns, which can often be seen perched on the side of the pond for any birders care to scan through the reeds.

Yellow-breasted Bunting - female

Yellow Bittern