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Subject: Bird locations [Print This Page]
Author: badesc    Time: 10/01/2013 00:00     Subject: Bird locations

Dear all,

I'll be in Hong Kong again next month. Several passerines are high on my wanted-list, but fairly common in HK. However, would anybody want to point out some exact spots where the chances of seeing them is the highest?

Little Bunting
Olive-backed Pipit
Citrine Wagtail
Dusky Warbler
White's Trush

Apart from that, I'm interested in gulls. I know Deep Bay is a good spot, but are there any fishing harbours or rubbish dumps with gulls? Here in Western Europe, harbours are a good spot to observe gulls, often at close range (birds tend to be tame around busy harbours).

By the way: In the US there is a system called eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird/). One can submit sightings of birds or consult maps. Worldwide, and managed from Holland, we have Observado (http://observado.org/index.php). It is a similar platform, but can be used all over the world, and thus also in Hong Kong. It is open to every (serious) birder to use it to submit sightings.

Do you have a platform like these here? It is very convenient and one can easy look up where species have bees seen.

Thanks in advance!
Bart
Author: subbuteo    Time: 10/01/2013 06:38

Hi Bart,

I've just discovered ebirder and I am getting to know it a little better. Lam Tsuen valley, where I live, would give you three of those birds fairly easily- the pipit, warbler and bunting (in order of likelihood).  The Whites Thrush is about but hard to pick up regularly.  I always found it in winter on the Peak, at the Mt Austin park (which should also provide the pipit).  Citrine Wagtail is not so easy but Long Valley would be a good site.

I am sure others will have plenty of suggestions.  

Dylan
Author: ajohn    Time: 10/01/2013 22:08

Olive-backed Pipit and Dusky Warbler are both very widespread and should be easy to see. Olive-backed can be found anywhere with both trees and open ground (even some urban parks). Dusky Warbler prefers low grass/scrub, especially near water.
The other species you mention are not always so easy to see. For White's Thrush try wooded areas (Tai Po Kau can be good, especially the picnic sites, although the birds may get disturbed by people). Citrine Wagtail is easiest at Long Valley - there are often 3 or 4 birds present if you take the time to check through all the Yellow Wagtails. Little Bunting prefers open country areas - Lam Tsuen and Long Valley are perhaps the easiest sites, but there are others.

Gulls in HK don't visit rubbish tips and fishing ports in the same way as other countries. Although you can see them offshore, your best chance of good views of gulls is at the boardwalk hides at Mai Po.
Author: badesc    Time: 14/01/2013 00:53

Thank you Dylan and John for your reaction. Much appreciated!
Author: badesc    Time: 20/02/2013 22:52

Let me very briefly reply again. I could not visit all sites that were suggested and focused on the ones which I thought would provide the highest changes.

Yes, the pipit and the warbler are easy to see. Actually needless to ask for any location.

Olive-backed Pipits, the first ones at Tai Po Kau: http://bit.ly/ZgwDI4

Dusky Warblers, the first one at Lamma Island: http://bit.ly/WWC68n

I did expect to see just one Scaly Trush, but with two attempts at Tai Po Kau, could not find any.

No Little Buntings either, for which I looked twice at Long Valley.

And, alas, no Citrine Wagtail, after looking at every 'yellow' wagtail at Long Valley, even on the day that Wilson Dring saw one (http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... &extra=page%3D1).

Larger gulls were not numerous at Deep Bay/Mai Po boardwalk, often at a far distance (producing lousy photographs) and with their legs in the water. I managed to saw Heuglin's, Mongolian and Vegae however, but still am going to the photo's that I've taken. And I of course enjoyed the Saunders' Gulls and many many other species.

http://observado.org/gebied/view ... amp;g=1&u=63179
http://observado.org/gebied/view ... amp;g=1&u=63179
http://observado.org/gebied/view ... amp;g=1&u=63179

Plenty of reasons for a future visit to HK ;-). I want to thank the people of the WWF HK and the HKBWS for helping me in various ways!

(Yes, after I'm done, I will submit the records in Excel).

[ Last edited by badesc at 20/02/2013 22:55 ]
Author: wilsondring    Time: 20/02/2013 22:59

on the day I found that citrine wagtail, there were also chestnut eared bunting as well as a male and female black-faced bunting.  little bunting has been seen at LV but none that i have seen recently in the past month or two.

the most recently scaley thrush i've seen was at yuen long tai tong.

a week before your next visit to hk, please drop me a line and i am more than happy to provide the latest update on the locations which my friends and i share ..
Author: tbob    Time: 21/02/2013 07:12

I photographed a Scaly Thrush at Nam Sang Wai, it was along the short road to AFCD office

http://m.flickr.com/photos/jingbar/8458057692/lightbox/

Bob
Author: badesc    Time: 21/02/2013 13:00

Quote:
Original posted by wilsondring at 20/02/2013 22:59
on the day I found that citrine wagtail, there were also chestnut eared bunting as well as a male and female black-faced bunting.  little bunting has been seen at LV but none that i have seen recently ...
Thank you very much for you kind offer, Wilson. I certainly will get in contact with you prior to my next visit. Looking forward to it!

Cheers,

Bart
Author: badesc    Time: 22/08/2013 16:02

Hi Folks,

I am thinking about another visit to Hong Kong next year, this time in spring.

There is just one species that I very much would like to see  and that is, of course, Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Apart from that, I'd like all other waders and shorebirds.

The last full week (I don't have more time than one week) of April, 21st to 27th, seems to be the best week in spring. Good changes to see a lot of birds, just in time for some early migrants and also just in time for some late ones, such as White-winged Terns. And Spoon-billed Sandpipers have been seen in this period. Maybe a bit late for Nordmann's Greenshank, but good for most other waders.

Is this a correct assessment? Would any of you have any suggestions about timing a week in spring?

All answers are, again, much appreciated! Thanks in advance!


Bart
Author: lrichard    Time: 23/08/2013 10:19

Hi Bart

Bird diversity in HK in April usually peaks during the first two weeks of the month then tails off. For closest views of shorebirds, it's best to match your visit with a period when day-time high tides reach 2.0 metres or higher. You can check out the tides predicted for Tsim Bei Tsui (near Mai Po) on the HK Observatory website:

http://www.hko.gov.hk/tide/eTBTtext2014.html

Cheers

Richard
Author: ajohn    Time: 23/08/2013 12:43

As Richard mentions, the tide is all-important for shorebirds. Based on the predicted tides for next April, I think you would be better coming the week before (i.e. 14th-21st rather than 21st-28th). The tides are high in the middle of the day, which means that birds should be pushed off the mudflats onto the roost sites at Mai Po. Even if the tide is lower than predicted, birds should still be close to the hides. This week is also likely to be good timing for Spoon-billed Sandpipers and Nordmann's Greenshanks. Most shorebird species will be around and in breeding plumage, although some of the later migrants may not be in large numbers (and it may be too early for White-winged Tern, which is a late migrant).

Also there may be a better chance of wintering species if you come earlier (including a chance for those you missed before - Citrine Wagtail, Little Bunting and possibly White's Thrush)
Author: badesc    Time: 25/08/2013 03:24

Okay, Richard and John, I've moved the planning to one week earlier.

Thank you for the advice.


Bart



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