Boring Spring...

Spring is suppose to be all about exciting migrants, rarities turning up weekly. This year, although we have got most of regular migrants, we barely got any rarities. Those reported only stayed briefly and were not twitchable. At Tai Mei Tuk Catchment, I hardly had any notable migrating flycatchers, the only one being a Grey-streaked Flycatcher that was too far for a worthy photo. We did get a few Chinese Sparrowhawks during the peak week for these pretty raptors, two were found perched on top of dead trees early morning before joining the migrating flock heading north.

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Tai Mei Tuk Catchment is quiet otherwise, I had a nicely perched Grey Treepie the other day, a species though common here is by no means easy to get a decent photograph. I suspect Speckled Piculets are breeding nearby, but no nest been located as yet, although they are very active lately. A few Two-barred Warblers remains, they are usually very scruffy looking at this time of the year. Large Hawk Cuckoos are still calling like crazy, occasionally they can show well if there are large trees in the area.

Grey Treepie

Speckled Piculet

Two-barred Warbler

Large Hawk Cuckoo

We joined a pelagic boat trip last week, but had no luck with any good birds. Conditions were extremely foggy and visibility was down to just 50m at one point, which is not good for birds as you can imagine. The southerly wind may also have something to do with it, as we usually get more pelagic birds during easterly winds. Some Red-necked Phalaropes and a few distant Little and Greater Crested Terns were the only interesting birds of note. Before we returned to Aberdeen we added a few Black-naped Terns, likely early arrivals from the tern colonies.

Red-necked Phalarope

Black-naped Tern & Common Sandpiper

I went after the Blue-throated Bee-eater reported by Koel at Fung Lok Wai but couldn't relocate the bird as expected. A fairly friendly Black Drongo was the only notable bird there, though a very common species in Hong Kong, it is nice to get a good photo opportunity with good perch and nice background.

Black Drongo

Although we usually go looking for Nightjars at night, we occasionally do come across them during the day. Here's one that I flushed from its day roost accidentally, they are so well camouflage that they are very difficult to find unless you know where it landed.

Savanna Nightjar

The disappointing week was saved by this beautiful Brown Fish Owl the other night. Hoiling and I chanced upon this one, it was rather confiding and remained perched even after we fumbled to a better position to photograph it. A bit of consolation for the lack of migrants.

Brown Fish Owl