Good pictures of some Ba Bao Shan rarities. (Ba Bao Shan - recently also called Nanling National Nature Reserve and Nanling National Forest Park - is a traditional HKBWS name for the area running from the fields at Ruyang up to the Shi Ken Kong summit, the highest in Guangdong).
Meadow Bunting is a very rare summer visitor (one previous record dated 13 June 1988, when thought breeding). The photographs confirm the subspecies as castaneiceps, which is the southernmost breeder. Key features distinguishing castaneiceps from other subspecies are chestnut ear coverts, indistinctly streaked upperparts and relatively broad breast band.
Grey Bushchat & Russet Sparow are both rare in summer at Ba Bao Shan.
I'm doubtful about the ID of the prinia. The white tail tips suggest Rufescent Prinia, which has been claimed and would be a first for Ba Bao Shan, but tail length, eye colour & pattern & colour of ear coverts all seem right for Plain Prinia. Author: Mon Time: 12/06/2009 00:44
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