Winter Regulars & Dusky Thrush

Having lived in Tai Po for a few years, I really feel that this is one of the best district for birds in Hong Kong, given the diverse habitats and various birding hotspots from Tai Po Kau, Lam Tsuen to parts of Plover Cove area (Although the northern half of Plover Cove is part of Northern District). While Wu Kau Tang is part of Northern District, it is close enough from home that I consider it part of my local patch. I short visit one morning yielded several good species, including Barred Cuckoo Dove which I heard, a few Tristram's Buntings seen feeding on the footpath was a welcoming sight. I've found Wu Kau Tang to be quite a good area for Common Rosefinches, they seem to be regular here and often in good numbers. A good looking male Plumbeous Water Redstart was seen along Chung Mei.

Tristram's Bunting - female

Common Rosefinch - female

Common Rosefinch - male

Plumbeous Water Redstart - male

Mui Shue Hang Park situated at Tai Wo can also yield some good results in the winter months, this year it is hosting a good range of thrushes, other than the White's Thrush and Chinese Blackbirds, Japanese Thrush and Grey-backed Thrush can both be found feeding on the lawns, they were not shy at all!

Japanese Thrush - female

Grey-backed Thrush - 1st year male

The best thrush in the area was however a long staying Dusky Thrush, I don't see a lot of them in Hong Kong being a rather scarce winter visitor. This individual was baited earlier last month, but after all the photographers had gotten their photos, it was left alone to feed around the leaf litter on a slope.

Dusky Thrush

Various 'feeding stations' been setup by photographers to lure out skulking birds such as Siberian Rubythroats, Bluethroats and Indochinese Green Magpie. I didn't spend much time waiting around, but did saw the nice looking male Siberian Rubythroat hop out into the open. 

Siberian Rubythroat - male

Numbers of Pallas's Leaf Warblers seems to have increased this winter, there are far more Pallas's compared with Yellow-browed Warblers. Good thing is you get almost unlimited chance to get decent photos of these quick birds.

Pallas's Leaf Warbler

Elsewhere, Shek Kong Catchwater didn't turn up any surprises, but as always it is quite a nice area to enjoy a relaxing morning of birding, and often you will find some common but decent forest species. There seems to be more Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers there than Scarlet-backed lately. Many flocks of Indochinese Yuhinas were seen, providing excellent views.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker - female

Indochinese Yuhina

Other common forest residents were also seen along the catchwater, had great views of Grey-chinned Minivets, many Yellow-cheeked Tits and a few Velvet-fronted Nuthatches, all busy feeding in the bird wave early morning. A pair of Speckled Piculets were seen, but they stayed higher up.

Grey-chinned Minivet - male

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Speckled Piculet

Around the fish ponds of Tai Sang Wai and San Tin, numerous Asian House Martins filled the sky, you can also find Imperial Eagles drifting past occasionally. At San Tin I spotted a single drake Ferruginous Duck with the Tufted Ducks, although they remained pretty far away, therefore I didn't bother to take any proper photos. The male Bluethroat at Tai Sang Wai continues to be the focal point for many photographers, who have some pretty weird setups to try and lure the Bluethroat to pick up the worm from a hanging branch, I don't care much for those strange setup, and is more happy to see it hop along the ground as they should be.

Asian House Martin

Imperial Eagle & Black Kite

Ferruginous Duck (left) with Tufted Ducks

Bluehthroat - male

Still Busy...But Some Birds!

Still really busy lately, though I haven't got much birding time, I did went out a few times in between work to take a break and got a few easy birds. One of the better birds lately is a juvenile Von Schrenck's Bittern at Jordan Valley, a stretch of concrete channel is now naturalized and certainly created great habitat for migrants! This bittern showed very well and likely one of the most showy individual I have seen in Hong Kong. 

Von Schrenck's Bittern - juvenile

Other than migrants, the channel now provide plenty of shelter and feeding spaces for common resident species, such as Long-tailed Shrikes and White-breasted Waterhen. To my surprise the channel even attracted an Eastern Water Rail! The best bird there however was a heard only Baikal Bush Warbler, which I heard deep in cover, but unfortunately didn't show itself.

Long-tailed Shrike

White-breasted Waterhen

Eastern Water Rail

A brief morning at San Tin was quite productive, with common winter visitors such as Amur Stonechats and Chinese Penduline Tits now everywhere. A few Little Buntings were feeding a long the road, as confiding as they can possibly be! A few Red-throated Pipits were also seen, a male still with breeding plumage was quite eye-catching in the morning light. While a Taiga Flycatcher was seen calling, we should see a lot more of these very soon.

Amur Stonechat

Chinese Penduline Tit

Little Bunting

Red-throated Pipit

Taiga Flycatcher

A very showy Bailon's Crake been spotted at San Tin lately, this one attracted by the wet bread thrown into the water for the fish. Light wasn't particularly good in the morning, I managed a few better photos when it clouded over for a few minutes.

Bailon's Crake

Plenty of ducks now returned to the fishponds, including numerous common species such as Eurasian Wigeons, Eurasian Teals and Northern Pintails. A few Tufted Ducks were also present. I saw three Mallards, two males and one female, with one of the male in eclipse.

Northern Pintail

Tufted Duck

Mallard

The best duck though were a pair of Ferruginous Ducks, the female showed briefly before disappearing somewhere, likely flew off when I wasn't looking. 

Ferruginous Duck - female

The male was far more cooperative and showed exceedingly well, it allowed me to get into a good position for some decent photos. Other people also reported Common Pochards, but those were nowhere to be seen.

Ferruginous Duck - male

My recent night time ventures yielded a Savanna Nightjar, sitting in the middle of the road as always. While out filming Hong Kong Newts, I got a Striped Stream Snake, this one was very red and very unlike any Striped Stream Snakes I've seen before! So, I consider it a cool observation.

Savanna Nightjar

Striped Stream Snake