Wildlife in Extreme Heat

Weather's been hot the say the least, 32°C is now the norm, with many days exceeding 35°C or even higher temperatures. While there are very few interesting birds around in July, many of our residents and breeding species still shows well. Lately a pair of Brown-breasted Flycatchers were seen along the stream at Tai Po Kau with chicks, this scarce breeding species are not always easy to find as they never seem to breed at the same spot along the stream.

Brown-breasted Flycatcher - juvenile

Forest species generally are still quite active in the summer months, by July many have finished nesting, family groups are now going around foraging around the forest, and feeding flocks are starting to form again. Here is a selection of forest species around Tai Mo Shan, Tai Po Kau and Pat Sin Leng area.

Common Emerald Dove

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler

Great Barbet

Fork-tailed Sunbird - male

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Mountain Bulbul

Speckled Piculet

Common Tailorbird

Plain Flowerpecker

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Due to work I had to visit mid-levels, and the 'star bird' of the area is of course the feral population Yellow-crested Cockatoo. This critically endangered species is commonly seen around Hong Kong Island, although getting good views are not always easy. Got lucky with a few feeding on a Hackberry tree, where they came down quite low and showed very well.

Yellow-crested Cockatoo

A single White-faced Plover have been seen around my survey site, I am kind of hoping they may nest again but I haven't yet seen any indication of breeding behaviour, although annual occurrence of this species here through the summer months seems to suggest regular breeding does occur if not every year.

White-faced Plover - female

I haven't really been out much herping, but I have seen a few things during our night walks. Chinese Water Dragons are always interseting to see, especially at night whne you get to see them sleeping up close. Many-banded Kraits are common, but I still enjoy seeing them. Bamboo Pit Viper is by far our most common snake, but any encounter with them is much welcomed.

Chinese Water Dragon

Many-banded Krait

Bamboo Pit Viper

One of the more interesting insect I have seen lately is the Aphaena discolor, a rather uncommon species of Planthopper in Hong Kong. Painted Jezebels are quite plentiful lately, while Purple Sapphires are always a joy to see.

Aphaena discolor

Painted Jezebel

Purple Sapphire

Early Summer - Let the Quiet Season Begin

Hot just about describes the weather lately, the worst kind of heat where it is also very humid, so it is not the most comfortable being outside. Tai Mo Shan being slightly higher in elevation does provide some relief for the heat, where it is often a few degrees lower. Just so happen that lately I had a few tours specifically trying for the Chinese Grassbird, still nice to see them every single time, and they have been incredibly kind to me, as I've been able to connect with them every time we head up to the summit area.

Chinese Grassbird

Chinese Francolins have been very vocal lately, but not that they are any easier to photograph, either they disappear once you try to approach them, or the mist is too heavy for me to take any usable photos.

Chinese Francolin

Francolin habitat

Chinese Hwameis are much more approachable, especially when they are in song. I encountered this very friendly one during one of my visits, while a common species I still enjoy seeing them well as they are usually quite skulking.

Chinese Hwamei

Brown-flanked Bush Warblers are calling in good numbers, however the usual haunts of Russet Bush Warblers have been almost all but empty, I have heard at best one or two birds past the summit towards Sze Fong Shan. Whether they are just recovering from an unsuccessful year of breeding or something is stopping them from coming here to breed I am not sure, but I know this is definitely not normal. I have also noticed a drop in Vinous-throated Parrotbills, which previously I would almost certainly see every single time I go up.

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler

Down a bit lower, Lesser Cuckoos are now very active and there were quite a few of them around. This relatively friendly individual finally allowed me to get a half decent shot of this usually shy species.

Lesser Cuckoo

The Pale Blue Flycatcher is still around, singing its heart out as always. I also came across a lovely looking male Fire-breasted Flowerpecker in the area, a real treat to see as always! Great Barbets can be seen around the area as well, the previously very vocal Chinese Barbets have now all gone silent, presumably all paired up and breeding somewhere?

Pale Blue Flycatcher - male

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker - male

Great Barbet

Even further down around Kap Lung, I had a pair of Indochinese Yuhinas carrying food for their young, while fairly common in winter, not many stay around to breed in Hong Kong. Hainan Blue Flycatchers can still be heard singing, such as this lovely male displaying in its territory.

Indochinese Yuhina

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - male

Other local birds I encountered were two Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers and a family group of Yellow-cheeked Tits that consisted of ten individuals! Some of which came in close and gave nice views.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

There's been quite a lot of Neolucanus sinicus championi around all over the place, this impressive looking stag beetle is slightly less common than the Prosopocoilus biplagiatus.

Neolucanus sinicus championi

Other wildlife encounter includes this massive Chinese Softshell Turtle which was crossing the road, while they are commonly sold as food in local wet markets, I don't actually often see them in the wild, probably because they are mostly aquatic and rarely seen outside of water.

Chinese Softshell Turtle

Finally, a Brown Fish Owl I encountered during an evening excursion after dinner, certainly a widespread species in Hong Kong but still a lovely owl to see as always.

Brown Fish Owl

Breeding White-faced Plover, AGAIN!

Having found breeding White-faced Plovers at my survey site two years before, I have always kept my eyes peeled for this rare wader in the area. June to July seems to be a good time to look for this species, and this is the 3rd consecutive year I have found them here during the summer months, and the second time they have been found breeding. They seem to prefer sandy substrate with some pebbles and slightly wet ground, they almost always steer clear of areas that are too well vegetated. This year I found a female with two chicks, although they were quite alert and kept a safe distance from me. 

White-faced Plover - Note the extensive white on inner primaries and the white tail

White-faced Plover - juvenile

White-faced Plover looks very similar to Kentish Plovers, females are not always easy to tell apart, they do seem to have slightly richer colour on the crown and ear covert, a slightly larger bill, and legs are pinkish instead of a darker greenish grey. Having recorded them on 3 consecutive summers, I do wonder if this species is overlooked in other suitable sites around Hong Kong.

White-faced Plover - adult female

Kentish Plover - adult female

Also in the area were a few returning Greater Sand Plovers and lots of Oriental Pratincoles, many of which are juveniles.

Greater Sand Plover - juvenile

Oriental Pratincole - juvenile

I haven't been out at night that much, an evening out with Chester and his family at Tai Po Kau yielded two young Many-banded Kraits, I have found these young kraits to look the most attractive, as this is the life stage when their bandings have the most contrast.

Many-banded Krait - juvenile

A very cooperative adult Mock Viper was also wonderful to see, even though they are a common forest species, I've always been fond of them, each of them have so much character!

A friendly Mock Viper

Other than that, it was just the normal cast of Günther's Frog and Hong Kong Whipping Frogs (known locally as Brown Tree Frogs) to fill in the gaps in between the snakes.

Günther's Frog

Hong Kong Whipping Frog