kmatthew

3/1/2007

A nice short walk around the forest next to the estate today with plenty of birds around, alot of thrushes feeding on few of the big fruiting trees. The fruiting trees also attracted a large number of Chestnut Bulbul. The Mugimaki Flycatcher and the Eyebrowed Thrush are both new ticks for Wonderland Villas as well!

Olive-Backed Pipit x7
Chestnut Bulbul x40
Red-Flanked Bluetail x3
Pale Thrush x2
Eyebrowed Thrush x4
Grey-Backed Thrush x10
Scaly Thrush x1
Yellow-Browed Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Asian Brown Flycatcher x1
Mugimaki Flycatcher x1
Red-Billed Leiothrix
Silver-Eared Mesia
Trstram's Bunting x6

kmatthew

4/1/2006

Another very good afternoon for thrushes, feeding on the same tree. The Japenese Thrush seems to have joined the big party in the tree and was feeding with the other thrushes. The Mugimaki Flycatcher was seen again at the same place. The birds seems to only arrive after 12pm when most of the people are gone, as i went up there before noon and there was no sign of any thrushes or other birds.

Chestnut Bulbul
Red-Flanked Bluetail x2
Durian Redstart x1
Minivets (heard)
Eyebrowed Thrush
Pale Thrush
Blue Whistling Thrush (heard)
Grey-Backed Thrush
Japenese Thrush x1 (male)
Yellow-Browed Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Mugimaki Flycatcher x1
Streak-Breasted Scimitar Babbler (heard)
Silver-Eard Mesia (a very large group of around 20-30)
Hwamei x4
Fork-Tailed Sunbird x4
Japnese White-Eye
Tristram's Bunting x6 more expose today.

kmatthew

5/1/2006

A more quiet afternoon, still with plenty of birds. including atleast 2 Mugimaki Flycatcher, one stunning male and atleast 1 female. The Scaly Thrushes are back at the same place. More Japense Thrushes were seen today, with more pale thrushes as well. But there was only 1 eyebrowed thrush today, near to the fruiting tree.

Black Kite x2 flying around the estate
Spotted Dove
Emerald Dove x2 near to the gulley next to the road where the Scaly Thrushes are.
Greater Coucal x1
Olive-Backed Pipit x1
Grey Wagtail x1
Chesnut Bulbul
Red-Flanked Bluetail x3
Durian Redstart x2 both female
Eyebrowed Thrush x1
Pale Thrush
Blue Whistling Thrush
Grey-Backed Thrush
Japenese Thrush x3
Scaly Thrush x2
Yellow Browed Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Mugimaki Flycatcher x2 male and female
Silver-Eard Mesia
Black-Throated Laughingthrush
Hwamei
Masked Laughingthrush
Rufous-capped Babbler (heard)
Tristram's Bunting
White-Rumped Munia


Mugimaki Flycatcher male

Mugimaki Flycatcher female

Tristram's Bunting

Emerald Dove

Japnese Thrush

kmike

Great stuff Matthew!

Where is Wonderland Villas?

Cheers
Mike K

kkitty

5/1/07
Wonderland Villas

Thanks Matthew for this report.

Mike, the birding place is next to the Minibus Terminus 47M.   Hope this help.

wgeoff

Is there a Dodo in Wonderland Villas?

Seriously though, it looks like a great place. I love male Mugimakis.

How many more places like this remain to be discovered in Hong Kong? That's why it's so exciting to be a birdwatcher here.

kmike

Thanks Kitty

Are there any more general directions about the location? I don't even know if it is on Hong Kong Kowloon or Lantau!

Please shine the light of guidance on the darkness of my ignorance!!

Cheers
Mike K

wgeoff

Kwai Chung, Mike.

Just east of the Tsing Yi bridge.

kkitty

Mike, Wonderland Villas is close to Lai King MTR Station (Kowloon).

These are the maps I found.  (Sorry for the small size  :wink: )

http://www.shkrealestate.com.hk/wonderland/pic/bigmap.jpg

http://www.shkrealestate.com.hk/wonderland/pic/bigsite.jpg

kmatthew

Thanks for all of your comments! I never thought Wonderland Villas will draw so much attention for birders. And I do wish there is a dodo in the area, I will look for it tomorow and let you know Geoff.

But it have been a while since we discovered the great natural treasures in Wonderland Villas, by now there are about 97 species recorded, and some are very rare species. The new species never seems to stop coming.

The directions of coming here is going to the Lai King MTR staion, and take the mini bus 47M and stop at the shopping mall of Wonderland Villas. Then cross the road and walk up the hill, where you will soon come to an entrence to a foot path. Most birds can be seen near the footpath at around 12:00-5:00pm.

Another place for birds in the area is a road leading to "Chaung Hung Village"(not sure about the spelling), there are plenty of birds there as well and a Leopard Cat have been seen there before.

Remind you all who want to go there though, that it is supposingly a footpath for residents, but as long as you don't bother the residents, it should be ok.:p

Good Luck to people who wants to visit, I will probably keep looking for some new birds in the area and let you all know.

blackdogto

Unbeliverable that such area is very close to urban area :shock:
I live very close to there and will visit later!!
Thanks matthew!!

tmichael

Although people may not have heard of Wonderland Villas, I think they may be familiar with it as the long white "wall-like" residential building, built in the mid-80s I think, high up along a ridge above Kwai Chung.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Mike Turmbull

kmatthew

Thats right Mike, that is Wonderland Villas. Even though it was a little bit windy today, the birds still seems  to be willing to come out. Even though I was looking very hard, i still fail to find a Dodo, sorry Geoff!

6/1/2007

Olive-Backed Pipit
Chestnut Bulbul
Red-Flanked Bluetail
Eyebrowed Thrush x1
Pale Thrush
Blue Whistling Thrush
Grey-Backed Thrush
Japenese Thrush
Scaly Thrush
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Mugimaki Flycatcher x1 The stunning male was out again, this time more clearly.
Silver-Eared Mesia
Masked Laughingthrush
Hwamei
Rufous-Capped Babbler (heard)
Tristram's Bunting

深藍-Owen

Thanks Matthew show us this beautiful bird today.

Wonderland Villas
06/01/2007

Mugimaki Flycatcher 鴝姬鶲 (Male)

kmatthew

Great photos Owen!!My photos are not as good as yours, as I am not as skilled ...I did took a photo of the Mugimaki Flycatcher fighting with the Red-Flanked Bluetail today though, which I think is the only interesting photo I took of the bird.

kmatthew

7/1/2007

The birds seems to have quiet down on the little hill footpath, probably because the thrushes finished all the fruits on the fruiting tree. Since there were not many birds in the hill today, we walked down into the valley and found more birds present there today, including a group of Striated Yuhina which is our first record for Wonderland Villas.

Black Kite x2 saw sitting on the big electricity pole.
Striated Heron (not seen by me, also the first record in Wonderland Villas!)
Emerald Dove x1 one saw in the valley.
Spotted Dove
Olive-Backed Pipit
Chestnut Bulbul
Rufous-Tailed Robin x2 1 male and 1 female saw in the valley.
Red-Flanked Bluetail x2
Eyebrowed Thrush x1 seems to have moved down into the valley to other fruiting trees.
Pale Thrush
Blue Whistling Thrush
Grey-Backed Thrush
Japanese Thrush (not seen by me)
Scaly Thrush x1
Dusky Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Yellow-Browed Warbler
Mugimaki Flycatcher x1 female(not seen by me)
Silver-Eared Mesia in big flock, also moved into the valley.
Masked Laughingthrush
Hwamei
Black-Throated Laughingthrush
Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush x5 both picticollis and pectoralis race were seen.
Rufous-Capped Babbler (heard)
Striated Yuhina x10 first record in Wonderland Villas.
Fork-Tailed Sunbird
Large-Billed Crow
Tristram's Bunting


Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush race pectoralis


Eyebrowed Thrush


Rufous-Tailed Robin

ckacheung

May I know how to go to Wonderful Villas ?>??
which part of the location ? I have tried but in vain

kmatthew

After you arrive at Wonderland Villas, by coming in from the 47M minibus, where you can get on it in Lai King MTR staion. You stop at the Parking lot stop near to the Wonderland Villas Mall, where you cross the road. Go up the slope and you shall come to the entrence of the footpath.

But to go into the Valley, you go pass the two entrence of the footpath, and get to a round about, where you should see a head of you a blocked road. Keep walking into a road with stairs leading down to the village. You will find birds through out the path as you follow the stream through the valley. The path should go in a loop, so you will end up where the Shopping Mall is in the end. Do mind some of the dogs, but they should be locked up. Though we have walked through once with a dog not locked in. :?

kmatthew

8/1/2007

Didn't went up to the little hill today, just went down into the village. But the flock of Striated Yuhina and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush were not seen again.

Spotted Dove
Olive-Backed Pipit
Chestnut Bulbul
Sooty-Headed Bulbul
Rufous-Tailed Robin x2 male and female.
Red-Flanked Bluetail x3
Pale Thrush
Blue Whistling Thrush
Grey-Backed Thrush
Dusky Warbler
Yellow Browed Warbler
Silver-Eared Mesia
Streak-Breasted Scimitar Babbler
Masked Laughingthrush
Black-Throated Laughingthrush
Rufous-Capped Babbler
Forked-Tailed Sunbird
Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker
Tristram's Bunting

sammysam

Matthew, Thank you very much~~ You have introduced an amazing trip for me.  :

sammysam

13/1/07, I saw 4 Blue Magpies flying together at about 5:30pm

kmatthew

You are welcome sammy, It was great pleasure meeting you!   I left HK last week, so i won't be able to keep an eye on the birds any more. I will have to wait til Easter when I go back to keep on the report . Hopefully there will be some migrants when i get back.

sammysam

13/1/07  I heard a bird sound like this
bird sound
Reference web.

So close to me but can't find it. Once I move, it stop sound....

Matthew, have u heard it before?

tmichael

Hi Sammy,

What time of day did you hear it?

There are other possibilities, amongst regularly reported species at Wonderland.

Mike

lalan

we heard that call in the afternoon(about 3pm)
the call just like collared scops owl but the sound is more low and dense.

ktzehoi

Dear Alan,

May I know where did you record the call of this mysterious species.
Was it in the valley next to Cheunghang village or was it near the fitness trail? As a resident of Wonderland Villas, we haven't heard this sort of call before. Collar scop owl 's call can be readily heard in Wonderland Villas but the call you recorded was rather low pitched not typical of Collar scop owl. Maybe we can relay this to John and Jemi for their comment. Could it really be the long eared owl as your reference web has suggested?
I would be very interested to know!

TH

tmichael

Are you familiar with the call of Emerald Dove?

Seems like a possible explanation for such a call heard during the daytime.

It'd be interesting to hear a recording of the bird itself.

Mike Turnbull

sgeoff

Which sound is it?  Clicking on the "bird sound" link just goes to the owl page.

lalan

[quote:993b2efd89="tmichael"]Are you familiar with the call of Emerald Dove?

Seems like a possible explanation for such a call heard during the daytime.

It'd be interesting to hear a recording of the bird itself.

Mike Turnbull[/quote]

Can anyone can show me the Call of Emerald Dove?THX

sammysam

[quote:518c227176="ktzehoi"]Dear Alan,

May I know where did you record the call of this mysterious species.
Was it in the valley next to Cheunghang village or was it near the fitness trail? As a resident of Wonderland Villas, we haven't heard this sort of call before. Collar scop owl 's call can be readily heard in Wonderland Villas but the call you recorded was rather low pitched not typical of Collar scop owl. Maybe we can relay this to John and Jemi for their comment. Could it really be the long eared owl as your reference web has suggested?
I would be very interested to know!

TH[/quote]

Under the valley next to Cheunghang village. Near a fruit garden and beside a small stream.

ktzehoi

I also saw one emerald dove near the area you described a few weeks ago with Matthew.

I have mistaken the sound tract you quoted as the actual recording of its call. Of course it was very different. The call of the emerald dove was much softer, while a bit sad and spooky.

Hope you can see it soon. It was very beautiful.

kmatthew

I havn't heard this call before in Wonderland Villas, but i agree that this could be a Emerald Dove. I have heard wierd bird calls similar to this before, but two note each time, and i presume that it was an Emerald Dove as well.  

kmatthew

26/8/2008

Not birds I am reporting but this Greater Green Snake at forest foot path at 11:00 this morning!!

Birds lately include some Silver-eared Mesias, Rufous-caped Babblers & other local residents. A of pair Blue Whistling Thrush have bred this year and seemed successful.

















[ Last edited by kmatthew at 26/08/2008 11:49 ]

HKBWS Vicky

係咪翠青蛇呀？
影得好靚好清楚呀！！最尾o個張連條舌開叉都見到....勁!!

kmatthew

Yes, 翠青蛇!!

kmike

Great pix Matthew!

Cheers
Mike

kmatthew

Thanks Mike . Saw a flock of about 9 Greater necklaced Luaghingthrush yesterday, shame I didn't have my camera at the time as they came pretty close!!

vkym

Amazing!! 我住响嗰度都超過20年啦，都唔知道個喥有噤多靚嘅雀仔，Matthew 您好犀利呀!! 睇嚟我都要花多啲時去行吓先。仲有，啲相好靚呀！

kmatthew

dear vkym,

Yes, Wonderland Villas is a very good place indeed!!  My bird list here is on 110 already I think.... A lot of rarities have been recorded in the pass, I am expecting more in the future!!

ajosh

I was thinking of going birding early (around 6:30) this coming Sunday morning.  I can manage getting to the Wonderland Villas, but I have never been there before.  Are there any particular spots that I should know about?  I would love to go along with a more experienced birder if anyone is interested.  

Thanks,

Josh

ajosh

From reading the thread it seems as though the best times are in the afternoon.  I am busy Sunday afternoon, so am I wasting a trip by going early in the morning?  

Thanks,

Josh

kmatthew

Hi Josh,

It is good in the morning most of the time, the best walk will be down to the village in the valley. I find winter afternoon more interesting for some reason...but mornings will be good all year round. There is the forest trail which is part of the estate which can be birdy sometimes, but most of the time it remains pretty quiet.

The village walk can be reach by the mini bus and walk there down some stairs near the shopping mall. Mind the dogs as some of them do come out and bark at you while you walk pass.

I am not in HK at the moment, or I would be able to show you around...I won't be back until xmas...

Cheers, Matt

ajosh

Thanks so much.  

Looking forward to it.  Let me know when you get back.  Maybe we can go together then.  

- Josh

ctakming

各位師兄：
請問咁多惡犬自由走動，應該點處理好呢？
Please give me some advices. Thanks!

kmatthew

Well, I normally try to avoid the dogs. But there are times when there is only one path and the dog is right in the way of you. I normally ask the owner to move the dog away...

kmatthew

1/4/2009

yellow-browed Warbler
Pallas's Leaf Warbler
Black Kite
Peregrine Falcon x1
Large Hawk Cuckoo x1 seen
Asian Brown Flycatcher x1
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler x1
Greater-necklaced Laughingthrush x6
Black-throated Laughingthrush
Hwamei
Common Magpie x1(a rather uncommon sighting for Wonderland Villas)

Greater-necklaced Laughingthrush

kmatthew

6/4/2009

Collard Scops Owl (heard)
Indian Muntjac x1 seen at the foot of the hill

kmatthew

15/4/2009

A new tick for Wonderland Villas, a Crested Serpent Eagle flew right pass my window!!  Flying next to it was a Chinese Goshawk.