At a meeting on 12 Jul 2021, the Record Committee confirmed the recruitment of new members:
RC committee members: Gary Chow, Matthew Kwan, Tom Li, Sherman Yeung and Yat-tung Yu.
Checklist sub-committee members: Paul Leader, Richard Lewthwaite and Yat-tung Yu.
During this meeting, new members were briefed on the RC working mechanism.
At a meeting on 5 Oct 2021, the Record Committee made the following decisions.
Addition to Cat I
Herald Petrel Pterodroma heraldica on 17 March 2001 at Mai Po boardwalk. This record was previously accepted as unidentified Pterodroma petrel, and is now being accepted with more updated identification criteria available in the literature and from internet photos.
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus on 7 Nov 2020 at Lamma Island.
Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma monorhis on 27 Oct 2020 at Ap Lei Chau, HK Island. This individual was found injured and sent to KFBG for treatment. After rehabilitation, it recovered to good condition and was released into the wild at Clear Water Bay on 17-11-2020
Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei on 31 Oct 2020 at Tai Po Kau headland.
Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta on 20 Jan 2021 at KFBG.
Ryukyu Minivet Pericrocotus tegimae on 14 Feb 2021 at Mt. Davis, HK Island.
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis on 20 Mar 2021 at Mai Po boardwalk.
Short-billed Gull Larus brachyrhynchus on 25 and 26 Feb 1994 at Mai Po boardwalk, a recent split from Common Gull Larus canus accepted by IOC version 11.2. This taxon, previously treated as a subspecies of Common Gull, has been included in the HK list and the latest review of this record still agrees with this decision.
Ryukyu Flycatcher Ficedula owstoni is also a new split from Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina accepted by IOC version 11.2. The earliest accepted record was on 24 Mar 2002 at Mt. Davis, with seven accepted records subsequently. RC had only accepted records of male birds in spring (March to April), as there was no progress on reviews of female records.
The HK List now stands at 573 species in Cat I and II.
Addition to Cat III
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus on 28 May 2021 with two individuals at Fung Lok Wai.
Removal of URF submission requirement
The following species would be removed from URF submission: Brown Bobby, Sooty Tern, Common Chiffchaff, Rustic Bunting, Barred Cuckoo-dove, Chestnut Munia.
An updated HK List will soon be published. It incorporates changes introduced in the recent IOC V.11.2 species and taxonomic updates.
Yat-tung Yu
RC Chairman