kamfai

17-3-2012 LV

1)


2)


3)


Thanks

ddavid

I presume 1 & 2 are the same bird, which looks like a Rustic Bunting to me. Pretty rare bird in HK with I think only 1 previous record in March & several records in November.

Good find.

David

kmike

A magnificent male Rustic Bunting! congratulations!

Stonechat

輝仔, great find..

kmatthew

Great find of this great looking bird!!

ajohn

Rustic Bunting has been recorded on several occasions in March, but these spring records are generally treated as escapes in Hong Kong. Presuambly this species has the unique ability to escape only during the spring migration period...

By the way, the 3rd photo is a female Black-faced Bunting.

ddavid

I was referring to accepted records. I believe there is one  March record - at Mt Austin in 2010 - that has been accepted.

Up until at least the 2005 - 2006 Bird Report, Rustic Bunting was in Category B i.e a species which has probably occurred in HK in a wild state, but for which possibility of escape/release cannot be excluded.

It is now in Category 1 i.e. species considered to have occurred in a wild state. This change seems to be based largely on a pattern of November records (with also single records in December and January).

Perhaps now that Rustic Bunting is regarded as of definitely wild occurence, the previously unaccepted March records will be open to review ....

David

[ Last edited by ddavid at 18/03/2012 12:54 ]