Fairy Pitta and Other October Migrants

A very friendly Fairy Pitta turned up at Ho Man Tin last week, two pairs of my guests were fortunate enough to have been able to see it during the tour before it continued on its migration. Its been an exceptional season for Fairy Pittas, with numerous turning up at various locations, although I haven't actively looked for those, it was nice to get one in the city that you can get to easily, a real treat for birders and photographers alike. This particular individual is a juvenile, like most that turns up in autumn, while it is not yet in its prime, juveniles are just as stunning to look at.

Fairy Pitta

The other autumn feature is the Grasshopper warblers at Telford Gardens, this year there's been a Pleske's running around with the usual Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers. I was unable to get a photo of the Pleske's on my short visit, but the Pallas's showed exceptionally well while I was there.

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler

Buntings are another main feature of autumn migration, Long Valley is again where most birders go to look for buntings. I connected with a few lately, including Chestnut-eared, Black-headed and numerous Yellow-breasted, there are far less Little Buntings than I expected, I saw one only in the past week or so.

Chestnut-eared Bunting

Black-headed Bunting - juvenile

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Otherwise, Long Valley's been rather average, with some common migrants all round, but nothing spectacular. We certainly need a cold front to come through to bring more birds down.

White-shouldered Starling

Eurasian Kestrel

Pied Kingfisher

Mai Po have been rather disappointing lately, with very few interesting migrants around, and the scrape was under maintenance, meaning there were no waders on there! I do hope it improves later in the month, but at the moment I do not enjoy going there in the intense heat. Only notable bird of interest was a very weird looking leucistic Asian Brown Flycatcher. The flock of Eurasian Curlews were unable to find anywhere to land last time I was there, as the scrape was completely drained, and the other ponds were at a wrong water level...You can see two Far Eastern Curlews within the flock.

Asian Brown Flycatcher - leucistic indivdual

Eurasian Curlew & Far Eastern Curlew

Tai Po Kau's been rather average all autumn for migrants, it had a few good moments but again nothing too spectacular. That being said, I still enjoy going there nonetheless as the local birds are always great to see, and they are by no means easy half the time! Here is a collection of local species there that I manage to photograph lately.

Mountain Tailorbird

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker - male

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker - female

Rufous-capped Babbler

Huet's Fulvetta

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Blue-winged Minla

Great Barbet

Blue Whistling Thrush

White-rumped Shama

There are very few proper migrants around the forest reserve, the Ashy Drongo have been showing at Tai Po Kau Park, where you can often see it in the early hours in the morning. There seems to be a small influx of Two-barred Warblers, although it doesn't make them any easier to see well.

Ashy Drongo - race leucogensis

Two-barred Warbler

I have skipped Shek Kong Catchwater for quite a while, but a few migrants are returning there, including a few Black-winged Cuckooshrikes, a female Verditer Flycatcher was seen in a feeding flock as well. Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher is back but remains a bit elusive. Speckled Piculet is always a highlight there whenever we see one, and when one shows well I always take some time to photograph them.

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - male

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - female

Verditer Flycatcher - female

Speckled Piculet

Intense heat is continuing, and it seems like it will be breaking the record for hottest October day next week, not something I am looking to.