Quality Migrants - Pechora Pipit & Other Rarities

The past week or so had been a slight improvement in terms of rarer autumn migrants coming through, most notably a pair of long staying Pechora Pipits thats been showing well at Tai Sang Wai, I've never seen Pechora Pipits this well, they are usually quite shy and go into cover as soon as you see them. This pair was however more than happy to stroll along the side of the road, picking off insects in the long grass. For a pipit they certainly are quite smart looking birds, with well defined mantle markings that is quite distinctive.

Pechora Pipit - second bird in the background

Other notable migrants present at Tai Sang Wai includes a distant Pheasant-tailed Jacana, numerous White-winged Terns foraged around the fish ponds for small fish and prawns. I also saw Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler along the road but they gave 'typical' views, that is flying away and dropping into the tall grass.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

White-winged Tern

Great Cormorants are now returning, soon they will fill our sky and trees. Black Drongos are passing through in good numbers, easily find 10 of them around the fish ponds.

Great Cormorant

Black Drongo

No luck with Oriental Scops Owl just yet, but good views of our local Collared Scops Owl is more than welcomed. I am sure some Collared Scops Owl migrate through as well, as they have been spotted on Po Toi Island before.

Collared Scops Owl

Around Tai Mei Tuk area, I had a great view of a pair of Swinhoe's Minivet, shame I did not have my camera with me at the time! By the time I went back with my camera they were long gone. I often see Crested Serpent Eagles perched during my morning walks, I love a good photo of these lovely looking raptors whenever I get the chance! Grey Treepies were far more friendly than our local Indochinese Green Magpies, which I see regularly now but are almost impossible to photograph.

Crested Serpent Eagle

Grey Treepie

Two rarities turned up at Tai Mei Tuk Catchment, both were seen on the 16th. First a Greenish Warbler which first picked up on the call, later found it flitting about near the top of the tree, I was unable to get a good photograph of it but had a pretty good look of all the diagnostic features; single wing-bar, pale lower mandible and dark legs. The second rarity on the day came in form of a Grey-backed Shrike, of which I had terrible views of it on the top of a tree, I first noted it as a Brown Shrike, but the heavily marked breast had a Grey-backed Shrike jiz to it. Unfortunately for me, I never got a good view of the back of its tail or a proper view of its mantle in good light, so I was unable to confirm my speculations. The next day I saw a photo of the same bird by Roman, who went after the Greenish Warbler the same afternoon. His photos were much better and showed all the right features for a first year Grey-backed Shrike. Weather now much cooler, and hopefully this will bring in more birds in coming weeks!

Greenish Warbler - terrible photo...

Grey-backed Shrike - 1st year bird

Rare Warbler or Two - Greenish Warbler & Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler

A Greenish Warbler was found at Luk Keng by John Allcock, since it was not very far away I decided to give it a try. The warbler was very vocal upon arrival and easily located by following the call. It stayed high up most of the time, following various White-eyes and bulbuls as they foraged in the trees.

Greenish Warbler

On a few occasions the bird flew down to eye-levels to feed, allowing a much better look at some other visible features, including a faint single wing bar, greyish green upperparts, fairly pale and clean looking underparts, lower mandible orange with dark tip and fairly dark legs. Although on a quick glance I could have easily mistaken it for a Two-barred Warbler! Although the different call really gave it away.

Greenish Warbler

While I enjoyed excellent views of the Greenish Warbler, a few other Phylloscopus warblers were also present, including an actual Two-barred Warbler, with a faint front and strong rear wing bar. A few Yellow-browed Warblers, and a single Dusky Warbler. Not bad for a stretch of road only 20 metres long!

Two-barred Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Dusky Warbler

Continuing the warbler theme, the Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler at Telford stayed on and continues to show well. At this rate I won't be surprise if it over winters there! Even though most birders are now 'bored' with this one, I still enjoyed observing this little skulker trotting along the flowerbeds looking for insects, it really is quite a charming bird. Unfortunately for me, I missed a Pale-footed Bush Warbler by 2 hours on the day of my visit, which again leaves me with no photo of that species...

Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler - continuing...

Closer to home, I spent a morning at my local patch, delighted to find that a pair of Daurian Redstarts have returned! They are such charming birds to see and the first of the winter is always the most delightful. Other regular birds there seen includes a single Indochinese Green Magpie which flew off at the first sight of me, numerous Grey Treepies, large flocks of Scarlet Minivet and a single Ashy Minivet.

Daurian Redstart - male

Grey Treepie

Ashy Minivet

I went past Shatin Central Park the other day, the park is known to host the occasion rarity or migrant, although I didn't find anything interesting, a flock of Red-billed Blue Magpies kept me busy, this colourful species never fails to impress, and I always feel so lucky they are so common in Hong Kong. Their large size, the very long tail and bright plumage guarantee you a feast for the eyes.

Red-billed Blue Magpie