Late October saw the temperature dropped slightly, it was still very warm during midday, but definitely not as hot as earlier in the month. The north easterly winds seems to have moved some winter migrants through, as we are finally seeing some more wintering birds, most notable was my first Daurian Redstart of the season, these wonderful looking birds are usually fairly common in most winters, except for last winter where their numbers seems generally lower, hopefully we will have a good year with lots of these wonderful birds wintering!
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| Daurian Redstart - male |
Other wintering birds arriving in good numbers are Great Cormorants, they now fill the skies and you would see flocks flying around the Deep Bay area constantly. Wintering flocks or migrating Light-vented Bulbuls can now be seen often, and Red-throated Pipits are also starting to arrive, such as this one I saw at San Tin.
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| Great Cormorant |
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| Light-vented Bulbul |
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| Red-throated Pipit |
At one of my survey site, Greater Painted Snipes have returned as the rice in the paddyfields starts to ripe, a pair of Northern Lapwings also made an appearance, the first of the season I believe. Eurasian Kestrels are now regularly seen in suitable habitats.
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| Greater Painted Snipe - male |
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| Northern Lapwing |
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| Eurasian Kestrel - female |
It is also now the season for buntings! Yellow-breasted Buntings are arriving in good numbers, seen at various sites around Deep Bay area and near Long Valley. A few were seen feeding on the paddyfield planted at Mai Po as well, there were three other species including Black-headed, Chestnut-eared and Little present as well, but the distance of the paddyfield from the footpath makes it almost impossible to take photos. At my survey site I had another Black-headed Bunting, a much more confiding individual.
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| Yellow-breasted Bunting |
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| Black-headed Bunting - juvenile |
Common Snipes and Temminck's Stints are now both fairly regularly seen around the fish ponds, although I haven't had much luck with any other notable waders there. There was a bit of an influx of Medium Egrets, and I would see many of those together with Little and Great Egrets feeding on the ponds.
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| Common Snipe |
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| Temminck's Stint |
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| Little, Medium, Great Egret and Chinese Pond Heron |
Some wintering raptors are returning to Mai Po, such as this young Peregrine which seemed to be having fun on the scrape. Eastern Marsh Harriers can be seen fairly regularly at Mai Po as well, although I have yet to see any wintering eagles returning.
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| Peregrine Falcon |
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| Eastern Marsh Harrier - female |
Tai Po Kau continues to be rather mediocre, I have not been able to turn up too much interesting birds. The Dark-sided Flycatcher was still present last time I visited, on the exact same tree and branch! Ashy Drongos have been rather active lately and can be seen near the entrance.
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| Dark-sided Flycatcher - juvenile |
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| Ashy Drongo - race leucogensis |
The bird waves have been generally quite high up, making observing birds that much more difficult. A good cast of local birds always adds a bit of colour, and make every visit a bit more interesting. A Lesser Shortwing have been showing relatively well, although always staying in the dark undergrowth, with a bit of patience you may get unobstructed views. I spotted a Dingy Duskhawker along the stream, another not so common forest dragonfly species we get in Hong Kong.
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch |
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| Yellow-cheeked Tit - male |
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| Huet's Fulvetta |
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| Lesser Shortwing |
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| Dingy Duskhawker |
Over at the magical Telford Gardens, a few Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers remained, here are two different individuals seen on the same day at two different flowerbeds. The long staying Band-bellied Crake finally left, having stayed for a total of 21 days, the crake have entertained enough birders and decided it was finally time to move on, not before it finally came out for much better views in its last week at Telford.
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| Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler |
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| Band-bellied Crake - Bon voyage! |
