subbuteo

I will be leaving Lam Tsuen () and moving shortly to Yung Shue O so was prospecting my new patch this afternoon.  I took a short walk along the Pak Tam trail.

Blue Magpie 5
Red-tailed Robin 1
Red-flanked Bluetail 1
Asian Stubtail 5
Manchurian Bush Warbler 1
Mountain Tailorbird 1
Rufous-capped Babbler 6
Tristram's Bunting 1 female

Also several thrushes but in scrub and impossible to see.

It looks promising!

Dylan

subbuteo

Saturday 21st December 2013

7.30-9.00 am

My first proper walk in daylight and not as long as I would like as I have still have a lot to do at home!  Initial impression is birdlife is certainly different here compared to Lam Tsuen, more of some things, less of others.  Less open space, more scrub and forest.  There seem to an awful lot of thrushes about.  A porcupine was an interesting experience for my dog last night.


Pak Tam Trail, HK-

3.0 kilometer(s)
Comments:     8C partly cloudy and light wind.  Nice to be out on proper daylight!

33 species

Black Kite   1
Spotted Dove   1
Scarlet Minivet   4
Long-tailed Shrike   1
Ashy Drongo   2
Common Magpie  2
Large-billed Crow   3
Cinereous Tit   4
Red-whiskered Bulbul   30
Chinese Bulbul  20
Chestnut Bulbul   10
Asian Stubtail   1
Manchurian Bush-Warbler   1
Pallas's Warbler   1
Yellow-browed Warbler   1
Common Tailorbird   6
Japanese White-eye   20
Rufous-capped Babbler   15
Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler   5
Chinese Hwamei   2
Black-throated Laughingthrush   4
Oriental Magpie-Robin   2
Daurian Redstart   2
Grey-backed Thrush   1 more heard
Japanese Thrush   1  several more heard but only actually saw one
Chinese Blackbird   8
Black-collared Starling   2
Red-billed Starling   8
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker   3
Fork-tailed Sunbird   1
Grey Wagtail   1
White/Pied Wagtail   2
Tree Sparrow   30

Dylan

handrew

Interesting list, Dylan. I'm just over the hill on Chuk Yeung Road below the MacLehose trail. I've seen all of these here in 4 years except Asian Stubtail and Ashy Drongo. Here the numbers tend to be small and it's basically road birding, lots of hikers. I'd be happy to add Stubtail and Ashy Drongo to my list.

lalan

I had record one Fujian Niltava on the road to Cheung Sheung on 19/12/2013.

subbuteo

Thanks Andrew, I'm fortunate in that are a few good trails a short distance from my door.  I hope to do some proper walks soon.  I was pleased to see a Mountain Bulbul in the camphor tree when I was taking a break (from unpacking) up on the roof this afternoon.  I had been hearing it call and not realised what it was.

Dylan

handrew

If you are close to a Camphor tree look out for this moth. They should be on the wing January - March I think. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29954808@N00/3279971835/. I believe camphor is the larval food plant.

subbuteo

26 December 2013

Thanks, Andrew. Is this the species with the spectacular large green caterpillar?  I have seen some huge caterpillars under camphor before.  I found a mantis ootheca on our roof this morning which I keep an eye on.

I inadvertently walked up to Cheung Sheung this afternoon.  I was ill-shod and ill-equipped due to over extending a quick dog walk. Cheung Sheung is a great area, I will have to try and get there regularly, lots of open forest and grassy areas, swampy ground tramped over by cows and boar.  It looks like it should have good birds and there were a few unexpected species.

Grey Treepie 1 seen
Lesser Shortwing 1
Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush 5
White's Thrush
Grey-backed Thrush
Forest Wagtail 1
Olive-backed Pipit 3

Dylan

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 26/12/2013 18:46 ]

handrew

Dylan, the larva is yellowish green with turquoise/green lines running along it.

I added Asian Stubtail to my Chuk Yeung Road list today. Also saw Chestnut-capped Babbler and Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler. Your patch sounds excellent. Is there parking at YSO? I've heard cars are 'vulnerable'.

subbuteo

Hi Andrew, YSO is reached via a closed road but it only seems to be closed during public holidays so far.  You need an AFCD permit to access if the road entry is manned.  There is no official government parking.  There seems to be parking available in the village as long as you don't take what is clearly someone's space, I was shouted at for parking in front of my own place in my own space.  All parties acted reasonably and it ended amicably!

I think it will take me a while to crack 100 species here (I'm on 61 just now) but it is all good so far!  

Dylan

subbuteo

29 December 2013

I did a a bit of an "Allcock" today and had a nine hour hike through Sai Kung West Country Park:  Yung Shue O- Cheung Sheung- Pak Sha O, Sham Chung and back to Yung Shue O.

Cheung Sheung

Brown-headed Thrush
White's Thrush
Red-flanked Bluetail 3
Daurian Redstart
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler 4
Orange-bellied Leafbird a pair (m/f) guarding a rodelia (spelling?) which was just starting to flower
Tristram's Bunting 5 male and female at the same tree

Pak Sha O

Emerald Dove
Rufous-tailed Robin
Asian Stubtail

Looked for the Piculet and Marten's Warbler with no joy.

Sham Chung- a very strange habitat for HK, lots of open space and grass, not very birdy though.

Osprey  1
White-bellied Sea Eagle 3
Stejneger's Stonechat 2
Richard's Pipit 3
Oriental Turtle Dove 2
Chinese Bulbul 200+ huge flock on shrubs at the mudflat

At least ten Pallas's Warbler seen/heard during the walk and a similar number of Yellow-browed.

Dylan

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 30/12/2013 12:10 ]

kmike

Great stuff Dylan

Looks like there is huge potential. I think you'll get 100 in no time at all

Cheers
Mike

ajohn

It's always great to see your name getting into the vocabulary (or at least a spelling variation of it - can I make a plea for "doing an Allcock" instead!).

I've done that walk or something similar several times before. I agree that Cheung Sheung has real potential - the best I've managed there has been 3 Orange-headed Thrushes (together) but there should be more turning up. Look out for other wildlife as well as birds - there seems to be a lot of biodiversity in Jacob's Ladder and Cheung Sheung.

subbuteo

Corrected, John, sorry!  No shortage of porcupines around the village, barking deer calling and signs of wild boar too.  

I saw a striated heron and a pale-legged leaf warbler this morning along the catchment which has brought me up to 73 species (I'm including Cheung Sheung in my patch which I may regret as it is a good climb!) inside a fortnight so maybe 100 isn't unreasonable.  I was very pleased with Osprey and the WBSE, clearly 3 Fathoms Cove is good for fish!  Haven't tracked down the Brown Fish Owl yet though.

Dylan

handrew

The WBSEs fly from Sai Kung towards Kei Ling Ha Lo Wai late afternoons. At least that seems to be the direction on a map. I have seen WBSEs in KLHLW so I guess that's the territory. Close to you. They come from Yeung Chau, past our house. There is occasionally an Osprey below us too. I think you'll sail through 100 no problem. I have seen Bonelli's at Ho Chung and Lions Nature Education Centre so keep your eyes open but I've yet to see one from our house in 4 years.

subbuteo

Thanks, Andrew.  It takes a while to build up an idea of where/when to look for things.  I am missing my big dead tree to find birds easily in, the forest around here is much harder work.


31 December 2013

YSO to Cheung Sheung

Crested Goshawk
Forest Wagtail- again at the campsite, very approachable- it walked up to me.
Orange-bellied Leafbird 2
Oriental Turtle Dove 2
Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush 2 separate flocks 4/8 individuals
Pygmy Wren Babbler
Japanese Thrush 2
Grey-backed Thrush 5
Brown-headed Thrush 1- seen on walk down Jacob's Ladder this time.
White's Thrush 1


I suspect also Pale/ Eye-browed Thrush from the calls but couldn't get onto any.  

Dylan

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 31/12/2013 12:19 ]

subbuteo

1 Jan- 6 Jan 2014

Recent sightings from Yung Shue O /Cheung Sheung

Birds in bold are new for me in YSO; now at 84 species in three weeks.

Osprey at the fish farms in Three Fathoms Cove
Grey Heron at the fish farms in Three Fathoms Cove
Striated Heronflushed out of the catchment before YSO
Woodcock
Forest Wagtail- again at the Cheung Sheung campsite, very approachable- it walked up to me.
Orange-bellied Leafbird 2 flyover at the Cheung Sheung campsite
Oriental Turtle Dove 2 at the Cheung Sheung campsite
Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush at the Cheung Sheung campsite
Russet Bush Warbler - rough grassland behind the mangrove
Japanese Thrush
Grey-backed Thrush
White's Thrush

Dylan

subbuteo

An update of all bird species seen at Yung Shue O (including Sham Chung and Cheung Sheung) since I moved there in December.  Birds are in order of recording so a bit of a mess.  I have now reached 91 species.  The Brown Fish Owl was a long time looked for but found unexpectedly along the road when driving home- a spectacular bird.

It has been rather quiet recently, the thrushes have all but disappeared, a few returning with the current cold weather.


Dylan


PS excuse species names and spelling, this is a direct cut and paste from eBird which differs from HKBWS standards.

Row	Species	Count	Location	Date
1	Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus	1	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
2	Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus	4	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
3	Asian Stubtail - Urosphena squameiceps	1	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
4	Mountain Tailorbird - Phyllergates cucullatus	1	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
5	Yellow-browed Warbler - Phylloscopus inornatus	1	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
6	Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis	1	Yung Shue O	02 Dec 2013
7	Black Kite - Milvus migrans	4	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
8	Red-billed Blue-Magpie - Urocissa erythrorhyncha	5	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
9	Japanese Tit - Parus minor	2	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
10	Light-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus sinensis	2	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
11	Chestnut Bulbul - Hemixos castanonotus	20	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
12	Manchurian Bush-Warbler - Horornis canturians	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
13	Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius	6	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
14	Yellow-bellied Prinia - Prinia flaviventris	2	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
15	Japanese White-eye - Zosterops japonicus	10	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
16	Rufous-capped Babbler - Cyanoderma ruficeps	6	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
17	Chinese Hwamei - Garrulax canorus	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
18	Black-throated Laughingthrush - Ianthocincla chinensis	2	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
19	Rufous-tailed Robin - Larvivora sibilans	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
20	Blue Whistling-Thrush - Myophonus caeruleus	2	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
21	Siberian Rubythroat - Calliope calliope	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
22	Red-flanked Bluetail - Tarsiger cyanurus	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
23	Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker - Dicaeum cruentatum	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
24	Fork-tailed Sunbird - Aethopyga christinae	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
25	Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
26	Tristram's Bunting - Emberiza tristrami	1	Pak Tam Trail	07 Dec 2013
27	Common Magpie - Pica pica	1	Yung Shue O	10 Dec 2013
28	Masked Laughingthrush - Garrulax perspicillatus	4	Yung Shue O	10 Dec 2013
29	Blackbird - Turdus merula	1	Pak Tam Trail	16 Dec 2013
30	Eyebrowed Thrush - Turdus obscurus	5	Pak Tam Trail	16 Dec 2013
31	Grey-backed Thrush - Turdus hortulorum	3	Pak Tam Trail	17 Dec 2013
32	Pallas's Warbler - Phylloscopus proregulus	1	Pak Tam Trail	18 Dec 2013
33	Daurian Redstart - Phoenicurus auroreus	1	Pak Tam Trail	18 Dec 2013
34	Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach	1	Yung Shue O Road	19 Dec 2013
35	Collared Scops-Owl - Otus lettia	1	Pak Tam Trail	19 Dec 2013
36	Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis	1	Pak Tam Trail	20 Dec 2013
37	Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler - Pomatorhinus ruficollis	1	Pak Tam Trail	20 Dec 2013
38	Scarlet Minivet - Pericrocotus speciosus	4	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
39	Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos	3	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
40	Japanese Thrush - Turdus cardis	1	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
41	Black-collared Starling - Gracupica nigricollis	2	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
42	Red-billed Starling - Sturnus sericeus	8	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
43	Fire-breasted Flowerpecker - Dicaeum ignipectum	3	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
44	White/Pied Wagtail - Motacilla alba	2	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
45	Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus	30	Pak Tam Trail	21 Dec 2013
46	Mountain Bulbul - Ixos mcclellandii	1	Yung Shue O	22 Dec 2013
47	Little Egret - Egretta garzetta	2	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
48	Besra - Accipiter virgatus	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
49	Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
50	Greater Coucal - Centropus sinensis	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
51	Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler - Horornis fortipes	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
52	Dusky Warbler - Phylloscopus fuscatus	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
53	Fan-tailed Warbler - Cisticola juncidis	3	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
54	Scaly Thrush - Zoothera dauma	1	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
55	Olive-backed Pipit - Anthus hodgsoni	4	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
56	Black-faced Bunting - Emberiza spodocephala	4	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
57	Nutmeg Mannikin - Lonchura punctulata	3	Yung Shue O	23 Dec 2013
58	Grey Treepie - Dendrocitta formosae	1	Cheung Sheung	26 Dec 2013
59	Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush - Ianthocincla pectoralis	5	Cheung Sheung	26 Dec 2013
60	Lesser Shortwing - Brachypteryx leucophrys	1	Cheung Sheung	26 Dec 2013
61	Forest Wagtail - Dendronanthus indicus	1	Cheung Sheung	26 Dec 2013
62	Emerald Dove - Chalcophaps indica	1	Cheung Sheung	29 Dec 2013
63	Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler - Phylloscopus tenellipes	1	Cheung Sheung	29 Dec 2013
64	Brown-headed Thrush - Turdus chrysolaus	1	Cheung Sheung	29 Dec 2013
65	Orange-bellied Leafbird - Chloropsis hardwickii	2	Cheung Sheung	29 Dec 2013
66	Great Egret - Ardea alba	22	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
67	Osprey - Pandion haliaetus	1	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
68	White-bellied Sea-Eagle - Haliaeetus leucogaster	3	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
69	Oriental Turtle-Dove - Streptopelia orientalis	2	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
70	White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis	1	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
71	Collared Crow - Corvus torquatus	2	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
72	Siberian Stonechat - Saxicola maurus	2	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
73	Richard's Pipit - Anthus richardi	3	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
74	Little Bunting - Emberiza pusilla	2	Sham Chung	29 Dec 2013
75	Striated Heron - Butorides striata	1	Yung Shue O	30 Dec 2013
76	Pygmy Cupwing - Pnoepyga pusilla	1	Yung Shue O	31 Dec 2013
77	Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides	1	Yung Shue O	31 Dec 2013
78	Crested Goshawk - Accipiter trivirgatus	1	Cheung Sheung	31 Dec 2013
79	Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea	1	Yung Shue O	31 Dec 2013
80	House Swift - Apus nipalensis	24	Sham Chung	01 Jan 2014
81	Common Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis	1	Sham Chung	01 Jan 2014
82	Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus	1	Sham Chung	01 Jan 2014
83	Russet Bush-Warbler - Locustella mandelli	1	Yung Shue O	02 Jan 2014
84	Eurasian Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola	1	Yung Shue O	06 Jan 2014
85	Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax	1	Yung Shue O	23 Jan 2014
86	Pin-tailed Snipe - Gallinago stenura	1	Yung Shue O	29 Jan 2014
87	White-rumped Munia - Lonchura striata	4	Yung Shue O	29 Jan 2014
88	Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo	1	Yung Shue O	01 Feb 2014
89	Taiga Flycatcher - Ficedula albicilla	1	Yung Shue O	04 Feb 2014
90	Brown Fish-Owl - Ketupa zeylonensis	1	Yung Shue O	05 Feb 2014
91	Black-capped Kingfisher - Halcyon pileata	1	Sham Chung	08 Feb 2014

Apologies for the way this has pasted.

subbuteo

A few nice birds about today, Hartert's Warbler at the start of the Cheung Sheung (Jacob's Ladder) trail.  Also, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler and Mountain Tailorbird.  I had a look for the dark faced Black-throated Laughing Thrush but only saw the normal form.  I have been puzzled by these birds!  

Grey Treepie have been around the village all day but only heard.  This afternoon I discovered a female Grey Bushchat at the front of the village calling above a marshy area of yams, ferns and water spinach.  I haven't been looking at this location but will from now on.  A Rufous-tailed Robin was scrabbling around in leaf litter and popped up when I pished. Osprey was perched on rocks out in the bay.

Dylan