2017 Birding Review

It's that time of the year to do an annual review, of all the excitement and joy that birding had brought us! 2017 was a pretty good year for me, I caught up with a whole range of birds I previously missed and added a few pretty exciting lifers and Hong Kong ticks. As for species counts, this was easily my best year in all my birding years so far, the final count for my year list stands at 306 species, despite the fact that I missed a few rarities here and there plus a few annual birds...Also the fact that I was working full time through most of the year, I felt I did fairly well. Anyway, time to do a count for some of the most memorable birds through the year.

1. Lesser Whitethroat ssp. blythi - Tsim Bei Tsui

This was easily one of the best bird of the year for me, where I stumbled across it while out at work without any binoculars or camera gear, it came so close that I could recognised it with my bare eyes! I managed a photograph a few days later, landing with a respectable record shot of this mega-rarity.

2. Rosy Pipit - Long Valley

Another great surprise found at Long Valley during a remarkable autumn run, this rarity is only the 4th record in Hong Kong and the 2nd autumn record. I could not have asked for more in what was probably the most spectacular November I've ever experienced, this bird was the cherry on the icing! Shame that this guy did not stay longer for others to enjoy though.

3. Baikal Bush Warbler & Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - Kowloon Bay

A joint title for two amazing rare little warblers which attracted huge attention by finding itself a home at the heart of our city, they were found by birders right in some hedges within a shopping complex at Kowloon Bay; the place you would least expect rarities to turn up. Thousands of people bustling by each day and morning commuters in suits holding starbucks coffee...and there they were, happily foraging in a few hedges and showed as well as anyone could have hoped for. No doubt one of the weirdest birding experience I've ever had.

4. Chestnut-flanked White-eye - Shek Kong Catchment

A species that is usually high prized by birders in Hong Kong, simply because they are rare and yet their carrier species are one of the commonest birds in Hong Kong, therefore you need to make either huge efforts to find one or just pure luck. With great help from John Clough I managed to get a good photo of this rarity. I was quite lucky with this species, of which I encountered three times in total throughout the year.

5. Chinese Blue Flycatcher - Shek Kong Catchment

This rare gem made an appearance for me at Shek Kong Catchment, the bird was notoriously difficult to see despite it being quite stable at one location. I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of it as well as getting a fairly respectable photo record.

6. Fairy Pitta - Ho Man Tin

You know it's a good year when you have a Pitta on your list, and I think every birder would put this bird as one of their most memorable during the year. Who would have thought such a friendly bird would appear in the middle of an urban area, fulfilling most people's dreams in seeing one of these beauties in Hong Kong. Very glad to see one in Hong Kong again after the 2014 bird I found at Tai Po Kau, although nothing could quite top the feeling of finding one by yourself, this friendly one certainly made quite an impression for everyone.

7. Hill Blue Flycatcher - King's Park

Sticking with the urban theme, another gem appeared at a different park in Kowloon, this rare flycatcher was stunning to look at and was not shy to show it off.

8. Brambling - Po Toi

An outing with Dave Bickerton to our very own migrant magnet during spring, it wasn't hugely exciting and the lack of flycatchers reflected that, although Dave found me a brilliant looking male Brambling on the day, a species I have not seen in Hong Kong for a long while. It was probably more exciting for me then it was for him who sees them often in the UK, still a great bird I reckon!

9. Mandarin Duck - Shatin

An eclipse male found at close proximity to our church at Shatin was a great bird not to be missed before sunday service! It was not shy at all, and on the day we visited gave absolutely stunning views at close range. Shame it wasn't in it's glorious plumage, but this will do for now.

10. Brown Fish Owl - Cheung Chau

This is certainly not a rarity, but it's not a bird you see everyday. A pair of these great looking owls frequented the bay at Cheung Chau and on the day I visited gave particularly great views while perched on a tree! Even some of the local residents came along to enjoy the sight of such a powerful owl in their neighbourhood.

11. Eurasian Eagle Owl - Mai Po

This is a rather sad highlight, but definitely one to remember. This powerful owl was found perched on the ground next to the footpath, to be so close to the largest owl on earth was really something. Although it was later clear something was wrong with the bird and by the end of the day it was taken away by AFCD, it did not survive captivity for long. A sad end for such a magnificent bird.

12. Siberian Blue Robin - Ho Man Tin

A species I've waited so long to get in Hong Kong despite it being an annual bird. Finally, one at Ho Man Tin gave me this long overdue Hong Kong tick and the start of the incredible autumn run.

13. Rook - Tai Sang Wai

Part of a series of rarities in November, this is the 1st confirmed record for Hong Kong. A very nice addition to the Hong Kong list and a long staying rarity that I think is still present at Tai Sang Wai.

14. Black Redstart - Long Valley

Getting this and the Rook on the same day was an absolute joy, this energetic little bird certainly brightened up November for everyone. Previous record of this species had always been short staying birds, so it was nice to finally get a very long staying one so everyone could enjoy it.

15. Pallas's Reed Bunting - Tai Sang Wai

Another great looking bunting from Tai Sang Wai, feeding along a stretch of road, this was a species that I've wanted to see in Hong Kong for a long time, glad to have this guy on my 2017 list.

16. House Sparrow - Long Valley

I wasn't expecting to find a House Sparrow, but one turned up anyway during autumn. Likely one of the commonest bird world wide, this is a rarity in Hong Kong.

17. Tundra Bean Goose - Mai Po

This is not a Hong Kong tick, but it's been a while since we got some Beans! When I heard four of these dropping into Mai Po I just got to go take a look at them. Geese had became an annual event in Hong Kong now, for whatever reason we do not know, but I am not complaining.

18. Ultramarine Flycatcher - Shek Kong Catchment

This tiny little flycatcher found by John Allcock was one of the great birds that turned up in December. There were two flycatchers that are high on my wish list in Hong Kong, the Slaty-backed Flycatcher which I missed again this year and this species, so I am glad to have caught up with at least one of the two.

19. Rufous-faced Warbler - Bride's Pool

It was a long time ago since my dad and I last saw one of these at Tai Po Kau, so I was glad to be able to refresh my memory with this beautiful warbler. 

20. Chestnut-crowned Warbler - Lung Fu Shan

Despite this not being that rare, I've missed this warbler many times. A long staying bird at Lung Fu Shan finally gave me this long awaited Hong Kong tick. I was especially fortunate to be able to observe it at close range on my own on a cool morning.

21. Small Niltava - Lung Fu Shan

Temperaments of Small Niltavas seems to varies greatly, from quite bold to very shy. A bird found at Lung Fu Shan was somewhere in between, it doesn't show very well for most of the time, but for a few minutes one late afternoon during my visit, this beautiful male perched at eye levels while singing away, allowing me to grab a few good photos.

22. Crested Kingfisher - Bride's Pool

Last but not least, a Crested Kingfisher I managed to relocate after John Allcock's initial discovery along Ting Kok Road. I heard the bird from Chung Mei near Bride's Pool and found the bird after following it's call. This had been very high on my wish list and very glad to finally nailing this huge kingfisher! Certainly a bird that will make you go "Wow" when you see it.

So, there you are, my top birds of 2017, and the list went on for much longer then I expected. Hopefully we will have an even longer list then this for 2018!

Chinese Thrush - Shing Mun

Chinese Thrush - Turdus mupinensis

Things had definitely slowed down since December started, although interesting birds may still appear around the corner, especially with colder weather we should be expecting some eruptive species from further north.

The Ultramarine Flycatcher at Shek Kong Catchment was still present, although my second visit didn't get me the desired photos I wished, the bird behaved pretty much the same, staying high up near the top of trees or down to places with terrible lighting...My shots were pretty much the same if not even a little worst then my first encounter. It also continued as an early morning bird, having a tendency to disappear after late morning.

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Other birds at Shek Kong Catchment includes a large flock of Indochinese Yuhinas, noisily making their squeaky calls. A few photogenic Silver-eared Mesias are always welcoming, they are simply gorgeous birds to look at. A large bird wave contained plenty of busy Velvet-fronted Nuthatches, all crawling around foraging for food. Although a difficult species to see well in Hong Kong, I seem to have quite good luck with the Grey Treepies, one perched for a good minute for me to take a fairly decent photo. I also heard the Speckled Piculet on the same day, although that one refused to show.

Indochinese Yuhina

Silver-eared Mesia

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Grey Treepie

On Tuesday I got news of a Chinese Thrush spotted by Sherman at Shing Mun Reservoir. A species that I've missed on previous occasions, I went early Wednesday morning hopefully to get the bird. After a few hours of waiting, the bird finally showed itself first feeding on a Wild Coffee tree, it was later relocated at a gully and showed very well for over a dozen birders. It's feather condition was however not at tip top shape, being quite scruffy overall...so definitely a possibility of it being ex-captive.  Either way I will leave that call to the record committee, but the wild bird trade is still a huge problem in Asia.

Chinese Thrush - rather scruffy looking

There weren't that many other birds to be seen on the same day, I spotted a selengensis Ashy Drongo. Bird waves with mainly Pallas's Leaf Warblers and Japanese White-eyes dominated the pace. A single male Red-flanked Bluetail was spotted around the area where the Chinese Thrush was, although it kept a good distance away.

Ashy Drongo - selengensis

Red-flanked Bluetail - male

I heard two Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers in a bird wave but they never showed well, the two species of Minivets though were more then happy to offer some great eye-level views, a treat as always.

Grey-chinned Minivet - male

Scarlet Minivet - female

Ultramarine Flycatcher & Other Goodies

Ultramarine Flycatcher - 1st winter male

December started off with a loud bang, with a 1st winter male Ultramarine Flycatcher found by John Allcock at Shek Kong Catchment. This species had been recorded in the past, but all the previous records had been rejected as suspected escapes, we won't know what the status will be for this bird, but it looks to be in pretty good shape, it was also behaving rather normally - which means it was difficult to photograph. It was lightning fast, plus tiny! It also stayed up near the canopy half the time, so I was glad with just around an hour of effort I got a respectable record shot...Either way, a great bird to begin the month with! A Bull-headed Shrike passed through while we were waiting for the flycatcher.

Ultramarine Flycatcher - great start to December!

Bull-headed Shrike

I got yet another female Mugimaki Flycatcher at Wonderland Villas, this will be my 4th here this season. Although things seems to have quietened down slightly, most Thrushes were not as easy to see, although we did have a large influx of Pallas's Leaf Warblers. The local Blue Whistling Thrush is as friendly as ever, gave a great pose for a photo.

Mugimaki Flycatcher - female

Blue Whistling Thrush

I visited Bride's Pool where I have not been for a while. Things started off really well despite my late start, I got a good look at the pair of Indochinese Green Magpies early on, although they remained in dense foliages and did not allow any photos to be taken. This species seems to have taken root in the area in recent years, and slowly increasing in numbers, but by no means an easy bird to see...I include a shot I took in Hainan back in 2010, was just a little bit better then the views I got today.

Indochinese Green Magpie - from Hainan in 2010

A very confiding Goodson's Leaf Warbler gave eye level views as it foraged in a nuthatch like fashion. A very distant male Verditer Flycatcher is a first for me this winter. I was very happy that this one showed so well, a photo opportunity not to miss!

Goodson's Leaf Warbler

Verditer Flycatcher - male

At the main barbecue site I came across a very confiding Rufous-tailed Robin, although it had a bit of a strange looking cross bill. It looked healthy otherwise, foraging constantly and looking quite plump. If a Crossbill ever wants to crossbreed with a Rufous-tailed Robin, I am sure this won't be far off.

Rufous-tailed Robin - crossbill robin more like...

Keeping with the strange bill shape theme, I spotted an Asian Stubtail not far off, it looked normal when seen from the side, but once I got a head's on view it was clear that it's got a wonky bill, very much like the Wrybill from New Zealand! Not sure whether these deformities will affects it's ability to hunt, but by the looks of it the Stubtail was fine as well.

Asian Stubtail - wrybill warbler perhaps?

The reported 1st winter male Plumbeous Redstart was absent for the morning for some reason, so I tried my luck at the nearby Chung Mei where I got a confiding female. These water loving little birds are always a delight to see, although they are very common up in China, they have remained to be an uncommon winter visitor in Hong Kong, why that is I am not sure, as we have plenty of suitable breeding habitats for them. There were supposed to be a male around, but I couldn't be bothered to wait around and was happy to get the female as it was.

Plumbeous Redstart - female

I drove past Luk Keng afterwards just to check for any Divers...I ended up counting up to 18 Great Crested Grebes, a good number for this uncommon wintering species, I often see them at Deep Bay where they will be miles away, so I was glad to found a few of them not too far offshore. I do miss those days in the UK where you can get them really up close in the reservoir...

Great Crested Grebe