Start of Year Rarities

A Common Gull was reported at San Tin by Tim Woodward, feeding amongst the large flock of Black-headed Gulls! I've always wondered if any gulls will follow those into the fish ponds, turns out they do! Since I had a full day tour and was in the area, I thought I would give it a try. Luckily, I managed to relocate the bird myself and we got great views of this 1st winter bird. This is very likely the same Common Gull reportedly seen out on the mudflat earlier on. Common Gulls are not common at all in Hong Kong, while they are almost reported each year, they never stay very long, making them quite an easy bird to miss. The usual race we get here are kamtschatschensis, also sometimes known as the Kamchatka Gull.

Common Gull -1st winter kamtschatschensis

Another surprise drop-in for us during the tour was a juvenile Greater White-fronted Goose, which literally flew in and dropped into the pond right in front of us! I've not seen any since those reported in November, so this one must be a new arrival.

Greater White-fronted Goose

Other good birds at Mai Po includes a few more Chinese Penduline Tits than previous month, some more of them seems to have found their way to the reedbeds at Mai Po, although their numbers are still much lower than previous years. I am getting good numbers of Oriental Turtle Doves at the moment, including this very tame juvenile. The Northern Lapwings at Mai Po have been showing well, although staying quite far away.

Chinese Penduline Tit

Oriental Turtle Dove

Northern Lapwing

Greater Spotted Eagles can often be seen drifting past, although I've not had one close enough for a good photo for a while. A pair of Gadwalls have been seen lately in Mai Po, again not seen up close!

Greater Spotted Eagle

Gadwall - male & female

Daurian Redstarts numbers are way lower than usual, it takes a lot of effort nowadays to find even one! Here's a nice male by the side of the footpath at Mai Po. The access footpath is also a great place to find Black-faced Buntings feeding, such as this lovely looking male and a perched female.

Daurian Redstart

Black-faced Bunting - male & female

With news of the imminent destruction of San Tin, I've been keeping an eye out for the many birds that winters there, especially Black-faced Spoonbills, and lately with a fish pond at the suitable water level, there were a lot of them feeding on the pond. I counted 22 Black-faced Spoonbills feeding on the pond one day, which is a very sizeable proportion of our wintering spoonbills! It just shows you how important this piece of wetland is, and it would be a huge mistake for this area to be destroyed. At dusk I took the opportunity to take some photos of Black-faced Spoonbills under the sunset, the sight will surely be in my memory for a very long time.

Eurasian Spoonbill & Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-faced Spoonbill

Other birds I took photos of at the fish ponds includes a few Azure-winged Magpies feeding on the bread, and a very nice looking Little Ringed Plover by the road.

Azure-winged Magpie

Little Ringed Plover

Over at Long Valley, I've been looking into a few ponds from the outside, and successfully getting Greater Painted Snipes. They are so camouflage that it often take a while and from a few different angles until I find them. Here's a male half hidden behind the dry grass.

Greater Painted Snipe - male

At Tai Po Kau, top bird for me was no doubt a male White-tailed Robin, which came as a complete surprise! This is a rare winter visitor to Hong Kong, although last year's friendly bird near the peak probably mean a lot of people are no longer interested in them, I still think they are cracking looking birds, especially the males with the dark blue plumage.

White-tailed Robin - male

I've had quite a bit of luck with the two White-spectacled Warblers, having seen them on numerous occasions, even able to get a few good photos of the green-crowned individual. These cracking little birds are always exciting to see no matter how many times you've seen them.

White-spectacled Warbler

Other good birds seen together in the bird waves includes a nice looking male Verditer Flycatcher, it came down really low when it was foraging which allowed me to get a few good photos. Quite a few Hartert's Leaf Warblers have been following the bird waves, they are always very distinct, making them the easiest warbler to identify with just a glance. 

Verditer Flycatcher - male

Hartert's Leaf Warbler

Mountain Bulbuls can often be seen foraging low down on the fruits of the Wild Coffee. Huet's Fulvettas and Silver-eared Mesias also often feeds quite low down amongst the bird waves. I barely seen any Indochinese Yuhinas until this first week of January, their numbers are also much lower than previous winters.

Mountain Bulbul

Huet's Fulvetta

Silver-eared Mesia

Indochinese Yuhina

Speckled Piculets have also been seen on numerous occasions lately, you can often hear it pecking away on a branch in the bird waves. Bay Woodpecker's not been showing well lately, I only connected with them on one occasion, a male was seen well but very far away.

Speckled Piculet

Bay Woodpecker - male

The Rhodoleia trees are now starting to flower, attracting Orange-bellied Leafbirds to come for its nectar. Males really are stunning looking birds that no birder can get bored of!

Orange-bellied Leafbird - male

The Crested Serpent Eagle have been returning once again to its favourite perch, this time I just so happen to see it while it was devouring a Changeable Lizard!

Crested Serepent Eagle with Changeable Lizard