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.
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| 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.
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| Barred Cuckoo-dove - juvenile |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Himalayan Swiftlet |
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| Watercock - male |
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| Indian Cuckoo |
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| 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.
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| Grey-streaked Flycatcher |
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| White-winged Tern |
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| 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.
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| Chinese Egret |
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| Asian Dowtichers |
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| 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.
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| Tibetan Sand Plover |
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| Pacific Golden Plover |
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| 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.
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch |
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| Asian Emerald Dove |
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| Greater Coucal |
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| Lesser Coucal |
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| Sooty-headed Bulbul |
Beautiful photos. ❤️
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