Late Spring Vagrant : Mongolian Short-toed Lark, AGAIN!

While out guiding on 18th May, on our last stop at Long Valley, I was scanning through a flock of Eastern Yellow Wagtails when I saw a small lark amongst them, and what else can it be but another Mongolian Short-toed Lark! I couldn't quite believe it having only seen one back in March! Incredibly, this bird did not stay around and disappeared almost immediately, as far as I know no other birders saw it again despite arriving only minutes later.

Mongolian Short-toed Lark

Another good species I have seen lately were two Barred Cuckoo-doves literally right on my doorstep, this was when John visited and the day before our trip to Sabah, we just went out for a casual stroll around my place, and to my surprise I found an adult with a juvenile perched in the tree opposite my house! With increased records of this species throughout much of New Territories, I do believe they are now breeding in Hong Kong, although still a rare bird nonetheless.

Barred Cuckoo-dove - juvenile

Barred Cuckoo-dove - adult

Another good bird near home lately were several Chestnut-winged Cuckoos, I always enjoy seeing this large and colourful species, and May is often the best time to observe them, as they are most vocal during this time of the year.

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo

Other good birds at Long Valley includes a Himalayan Swiftlet earlier in the month, as well as the long staying Watercock which have now slowly moulted into sub-adult male plumage. Indian Cuckoos have been very vocal there lately and it is not difficult to see them flying around or occasionally perched on a tree somewhere. Pied Kingfishers do come through occasionally, feeding on the shallow ponds.

Himalayan Swiftlet

Watercock - male

Indian Cuckoo

Pied Kingfisher

Typical migrants at this time of the year includes Grey-streaked Flycatchers, Whiskered and White-winged Terns. All of which comes through in decent numbers.

Grey-streaked Flycatcher

White-winged Tern

Whiskered Tern

Around Mai Po, some good migrants can still be seen on the scrape, Chinese Egret are often seen at the mudflat hide, but occasionally will come into the scrape. Asian Dowitchers and Nordmann's Greenshanks can still be seen in May, although wader numbers should start to drop very soon by end of the month. Many Little Herons have now arrived for the breeding season, they can be seen flying around or perched on the mangroves in the reserve.

Chinese Egret

Asian Dowtichers

Little Heron

On a drained fishpond at Tai Sang Wai there were a good selection of waders, including Tibetan Sand Plovers, Pacific Golden Plovers, good numbers of Red-necked Stints, Curlew Sandpipers, Broad-billed Sandpipers and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers.

Tibetan Sand Plover

Pacific Golden Plover

Assorted waders: Red-necked Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Finally, some local residents that we will be left with in the next few months...Special mention for Lesser Coucals and Sooty-headed Bulbuls, both scrubland specialists with decreasing population in Hong Kong due to habitat succession, you can still find them fairly easily in suitable habitats.

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Asian Emerald Dove

Greater Coucal

Lesser Coucal

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Spring Update - Birds Coming and Going

Spring is an exciting time for birding, but it can also be slightly sad to see many of our winter visitors departing, and we won't be seeing many of those until later this year. Other than guiding, I have not been able to go out birding on my own, which leads to lack of good photos to show for, but I have seen a few excellent migrants along the way, namely Narcissus Flycatcher and Blue-tailed Bee-eater, both classic spring migrants in Hong Kong.

Narcissus Flycatcher - male

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Other spring specialty such as Chinese Barbet, Plain Flowerpecker and Hainan Blue Flycatcher are now very vocal, with some luck you get to see them well.

Chinese Barbet

Plain Flowerpecker

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - female

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - male

There were still a few lingering winter visitors around, but not many. I had a Chestnut-flanked White-eye late last month at Shek Kong Catchwater. Brown-cheeked Rails can still be occasionally seen at Long Valley, while a few Chinese Penduline TIts are still around at Mai Po.

Chestnut-flanked White-eye

Brown-cheeked Rail

Chinese Penduline Tit - female

A female Watercock turned up at Long Valley late last month, which yielded quite a lot of attention, I never waited around long enough for it to come out fully but seeing its head poking out of the vegetation was quite fun. Greater Painted Snipes were quite active, probably now in breeding. Yellow Bitterns should also be breeding now, I see the occasional one around Long Valley as well as Mai Po.

Watercock- female

Greater Painted Snipe - male

Yellow Bittern

Over at Mai Po a good range of waders are now passing through, although I haven't had much luck with seeing any of them close, so I never bothered with photos. Here are a few that did venture close to the bird hide for a decent shot. Black-faced Spoonbills can still be seen around the reserve, with some breeding plumage birds still hanging around, but likely not for much longer.

Terek Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Black-faced Spoonbill

Up on Tai Mo Shan, I guided some birders up to look for the Chinese Grassbird this spring with various degree of success, some days we get better views, but so far we have not missed them once! Brown-flanked Bush Warbler is another good bird to look for up there. Chinese Francolins are very vocal at this time of the year, but its always a tough bird to get a good look at.

Chinese Grassbird

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler

Chinese Francolin - male

Around Tai Lam, the Pale Blue Flycatcher is back for yet another year, whether it truly left the area is unknown, but I am certain this is the same bird as last year. Bay Woodpecker was seen in the same area, and Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoos are now very vocal, although getting a good look is still massively challenging with this species.

Pale Blue Flycatcher - male

Bay Woodpecker - female

Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo

Finally, a photo dump of all my favourite resident forest birds in Hong Kong, I would say forest birding is still something I enjoy more despite it being more challenging, the rewards when you do get the bird feels just a little sweeter, even when it means just getting a great view of a common species.

Rufous-capped Babbler

White-bellied Erpornis

Scarlet Minivet - male

Grey-chinned Minivet - male

Blue-winged Minla

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler

Asian Emerald Dove

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Blue Whistling Thrush

Mountain Bulbul

Speckled Piculet

Other than birds, this time of the year is great for observing wildlife in general. A Golden Kukri Snake found by Daphne provided a great photo opportunity, this is a species I have wanted to see for a long while, and one that I am always surprise took me this long to connect with. 

Golden Kukri Snake

Finally, after some rain the Neonothopanus fungi are growing again, and can be found along forest trail at this time of the year.

Neonothopanus sp.