subbuteo

I will celebrate the arrival of cooler weather with a new thread.

This morning (14 November 2009) I walked from Pak Tin Kong through Ping Long and up to Tai Om Shan.  

Black-necked Starling
Black faced Laughing Thrush
White-cheeked Laughing hrush
Chinese Blackbird
Crested Bulbul
Hair-crested Drongo
Hwamei
Daurian Redstart
Siberian Stonechat
White Wagtail
Yellow-browed Warbler
Large-billed Crow
Long-tailed SHrike
Little Bunting
Crested Mynah
Lesser Coucal
Olive-backed Pipit
Tree SParrow
Chinese Pond Heron
Spotted Munia
White-backed Munia
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Common Tailorbird
Japanese White-eye
Great Tit
Dusky Warbler
Spotted Dove
Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker
Magpie Robin
Ashy Drongo
Grey-throated Minivet
Fork-tailed Sunbird
Rufous-crowned Babbler
Silver-eared Mesia
Blue-tailed Minla
Pygmy Wren Babbler
Chestnut Bulbul
Lesser Shortwing
Viloet Whistling Thrush
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Asian Stubtail Warbler- a real influx of these, more than 10 seen/heard
Blue Magpie
Chinese Bulbul
Grey Wagtail
White-brested Waterhen
Magpie
Blue Rock Thrush (phillipensis) imm

Surprisingly, no Mountain Tailorbird today.

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 14/11/2009 19:25 ]

subbuteo

She Shan this afternoon (4.20 pm 20/11/09), a single Dusky Thrush, seen well perched on a line just off the She Shan Road.  The bird was by the house beside the main path that leads down into the grassy area.  

Dylan

subbuteo

Excellent photo!  This morning (24 Nov 2009) over She Shan grassland there were at least five Red-rumped Swallows and one Barn Swallow.  Also black-faced buntings feeding at "the cairns" on the road leading down to the river.

subbuteo

9/12/09

Damp weather has dampened the birding in the last few days.  However, an unusual record this afternoon- a single male Pintail on the Lam Tsuen river immediately below the Tolo Highway flyover!  Also nearby, Collared Crow, a first for me in the valley and  Striated Heron.  Other birds seen in the last few days include Siberian Rubythroat, Black-faced Bunting, Common Buzzard and Red-billed Starlings which frequent the large tree on the left heading towards She Shan from the Lam Kam Road.  A great deal of grass-cutting has occurred in the past week so the grassland area is bare and holds very little- Richard's Pipit, and Olive-backed Pipit are common still.

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 10/12/2009 09:17 ]

subbuteo

12 December 2009

A male Grey Bushchat came over to see who was making funny noises.  First one have seen in a very long time!  The bird was in the grassy area with graves along the path up the valley (leading to Ha Tin Liu Ha) from the She Shan Road.  Perches openly, and responds to "pishing"- it came out of the grass and hovered over our heads when we were annoying Great Tits- I think we would have missed it otherwise.

subbuteo

Great to see more people birding in Lam Tsuen!  Well done, Thinfor.

Today (14/12/09 3.45pm) there was a male Plumbeous Redstart on the river directly below the Tolo Highway flyover, near the Hong Lok Yuen roundabout.  An absolutely stunning bird- and a life tick for me!  Happy days.  

Dylan

subbuteo

I have been down to the same area to search for the grey bushchat five times since Saturday morning but have not managed to relocate it.  I did hear Russet Bush Warbler this morning (15/12/09, 7.30am) calling from the area near the public toilet at Ha Tin Liu Ha.  I was not able to go and look for it but it seems to be an accessible sire, close to She Shan (10 minute easy walk).  No sign of the plumbeous redstart this morning- but I only have time to work one side of the bridge, so there is a good chance it is still about.  

Dylan

subbuteo

There have been a nice run of birds in the valley in the last few days.  Best for me was a female and then a male Common Rosefinch on consecutive days (19-20 Dec).  They have been in the same area as a flock of Chestnut buntings.  I've had a maximum of seven together but there are more than that about.  Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler and Russet Bush Warbler have both been close to Pak Tin Kong.  Crested Goshawk, Besra, Buzzard, Black-eared Kite and Crested Serpent Eagle have been visible over the last few days.  Tristam's Bunting was at Tai Om Shan.  Daurian redstart and Red-flanked Bluetail are about in suitable habitat.  Mike Kilburn has picked up on a few other species over the last couple of days, I'm sure he'll post an update soon!   It's a great place for a walk at the minute!

Dylan

subbuteo

Hi Mike,

Haven't picked on the Yuhinas- thanks for that, will keep an eye out! There are LOTS of Pallas's warblers about aren't there!

Dylan

subbuteo

I had a Hainan Blue Flycathcer this morning at Pak Tin Kong- also plenty of Chestnut buntings again, as well as Little Bunting.  I'll go shrike hunting this afternoon!

subbuteo

No Bull-headed Shrike for me yet.

This morning (8-8.30 am 22/12/09) in the same small fung shui wood in Pak Tin Kong I had Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike, Hair-crested Drongo, Chestnut and Little Bunting, Hainan Blue Flycatcher (male), Black-naped Monarch Flycatcher (female), Red-flanked Bluetail (male and female), Mountain Tailorbird, Pallas's Warbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Rufous-capped Babbler, White-cheeked Laughing Thrush, also Russet Bush Warbler calling from grassland nearby.  A large wild boar was rummaging around.

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 22/12/2009 09:46 ]

subbuteo

Just back from a short walk to the swamp area at Pak Tin Kong- highlights were the winter-resident Chestnut and Little Buntings, Siberian Rubythroat.  Two new birds for this part of the valley a pair of Red-rumped Swallows and an Oriental Turtle Dove.  Nice and warm but the mosquitoes are back.

subbuteo

I walked from Pak Tin Kong up to Tai Om Shan yesterday morning, relatively quiet but some nice birds about- I have borrowed your list from above- can I ask how you generate these lists?  It would make reporting more complete and quicker!

28/12/09 7.15- 9.30am Cool and cloudy

022 Chinese Pond Heron 池鷺
067 Black Kite 黑鳶 (麻鷹)
075 Crested Goshawk 鳳頭鷹  x1 (heard- possibly a good Black-throated Laughing Thrush mimicking!)
101 White-breasted Waterhen 白胸苦惡鳥  x2
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
207 Plaintive Cuckoo 八聲杜鵑  x1
209 Greater Coucal 褐翅鴉鵑  x1
Lesser Coucal
260 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚  x15+
269 Scarlet Minivet 赤紅山椒鳥  x1M
Grey-chinned Minivet
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
272 Sooty-headed Bulbul 白喉紅臀鵯
Chestnut Bulbul
279 Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯勞
286 Red-flanked Bluetail 紅脇藍尾鴝  x1F/Juv
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x1F
292 Common Stonechat 黑喉石(即鳥)
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x1
Grey-backed Thrush (first I have actually seen this winter- well up the TOS path)
310 Rufous-capped Babbler 紅頭穗鶥
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler 棕頸鈎咀鶥
Pygmy Wren Babbler (heard)
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
Black-throated Laughing Thrush
Silver-eared Mesia
Lesser Shortwing (Heard)
323 Asian Stubtail Warbler 鱗頭樹鶯  (heard)
345 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹山鷦鶯(灰頭鷦鶯)  x1
Bright-capped Cisticola
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯  x1
Mountain Tailorbird
349 Dusky Warbler 褐柳鶯  x1
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯
354 Yellow Browed Warbler 黃眉柳鶯  x1
389 Great Tit 大山雀
395 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥  (heard)
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥（相思）
402 Little Bunting 小鵐  x4
410 Black-faced Bunting 灰頭鵐  x1+
421 Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥  x50+
White-rumped Munia
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾  x1
444 Common Magpie 喜鵲
Large-billed Crow
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (at Ping Long and TOS)

I think that's the lot- nothing too spectacular but a nice mornings list!

subbuteo

3/12/10 4.30-6.30 pm Pak Tin Kong- Tai Om Shan- Pak Tin Kong

A walk at dusk today- relatively quiet as the birds were settling down for the night.

141 Eurasian Woodcock 丘鷸 last bird of the evening, flew overhead at 6.15pm
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
209 Greater Coucal 褐翅鴉鵑  x1
229 Common Kingfisher 普通翠鳥
255 A Yellow Wagtail 黃鶺鴒
257 A Grey Wagtail 灰鶺鴒
260 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚  x10+
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
273 Chestnut Bulbul 栗背短腳鵯
279 Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯勞
280.5 Lesser Shortwing 白喉短翅鶇
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x2F
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x2+
Thrush sp heard
298 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇
309 Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler 棕頸鉤嘴鶥 (heard)
309.5 Pygmy Wren Babbler 小鱗胸鷦鶥
310 Rufous-capped Babbler 紅頭穗鶥
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
314 Black-throated Laughingthrush 黑喉噪鶥
315 Hwamei 畫眉
317 Silver-eared Mesia 銀耳相思鳥
323 Asian Stubtail Warbler 鱗頭樹鶯  (heard)
345 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹山鷦鶯(灰頭鷦鶯)  x1
343 Zitting Cisticola 棕扇尾鶯
346.9 Mountain Tailorbird 金頭縫葉鶯
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯  x1
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯
389 Great Tit 大山雀
395 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥  (heard)
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥（相思）
407 Chestnut Bunting 栗鵐
421 Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
439 Ashy Drongo        灰卷尾
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾  x1
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉

Looking forward to what the cold weather brings.

Dylan

subbuteo

4 January 2009 3.30-4.30pm
Hong Lok Yuen roundabout to Pak Yin Kong

16 Great Egret 大白鷺
18 Little Egret 小白鷺
22 Chinese Pond Heron 池鷺
133 Green Sandpiper 白腰草鷸
136 Common Sandpiper 磯鷸
229 Common Kingfisher 普通翠鳥
257 Grey Wagtail 灰鶺鴒
258 White Wagtail 白鶺鴒       
260 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚  x10+
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
279 Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯勞
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
292 Common Stonechat 黑喉石(即鳥)
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x6+
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
345 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹山鷦鶯(灰頭鷦鶯)  x1
343 Zitting Cisticola 棕扇尾鶯
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯  x1
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯
389 Great Tit 大山雀
395 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥  (heard)
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥（相思）
421 Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾  x5
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉

Note:  I had yellow wagtail recorded in yesterday's list by mistake.

subbuteo

That sounds like a great walk and a demanding one too!

I opted for a walk up to Ng Tung Chai which was not very productive (a very loud group of hikers on the trail didn't help) yesterday so tried Tai Om Shan afterwards.  It was colder but no dramatic change in birds seen, only Tristram's Bunting were more obvious at Tai On Shan, they were easily seen responding to pishing, both male and female; at least ten were there and more were heard foraging along the path up.

7 January 2010, 8.30 am - 1.30 pm

Crested Serpent Eagle flushed from the stream at TOS
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
257 A Grey Wagtail 灰鶺鴒
260 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚  x10+
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
273 Chestnut Bulbul 栗背短腳鵯
280.5 Lesser Shortwing 白喉短翅鶇
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
Red-flanked Bluetail 4 female/imm
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x2F
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x10+
Thrush sp heard
298 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇
309 Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler 棕頸鉤嘴鶥 (heard)
309.5 Pygmy Wren Babbler 小鱗胸鷦鶥
310 Rufous-capped Babbler 紅頭穗鶥
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
314 Black-throated Laughingthrush 黑喉噪鶥
317 Silver-eared Mesia 銀耳相思鳥
323 Asian Stubtail Warbler 鱗頭樹鶯  5+
345 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹山鷦鶯(灰頭鷦鶯)
343 Zitting Cisticola 棕扇尾鶯
346.9 Mountain Tailorbird 金頭縫葉鶯
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯  x1
Yellow-browed Warbler
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (just after temple at Ng Tung Chai)
Goodson's Warbler TOS
389 Great Tit 大山雀
395 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥（相思）
Tristram's Bunting
421 Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 8/01/2010 09:48 ]

subbuteo

24 January 2010 7am- 1pm (12 degrees, overcast)

I walked from Pak Tin Kong to Tai Om Shan and had a diversion over the other side of the valley hunting for a Bull-headed Shrike which proved elusive!  Finally got Black Bulbul!

18 Little Egret 小白鷺
022 Chinese Pond Heron 池鷺
067 Black Kite 黑鳶 (麻鷹)
075 Crested Goshawk 鳳頭鷹
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
208 Common Koel 噪鵑
209 Greater Coucal 褐翅鴉鵑  x2
229 Common Kingfisher 普通翠鳥
257 A Grey Wagtail 灰鶺鴒
258 White Wagtail 白鶺鴒   
260 Olive-backed Pipit 樹鷚  x10+
268 Grey-chinned Minivet 灰喉山椒鳥 20+ M/F
269 Scarlet Minivet 赤紅山椒鳥  x1M
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
273 Chestnut Bulbul 栗背短腳鵯
274 Black Bulbul 黑短腳鵯 9+
279 Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯勞 3
286 Red-flanked Bluetail 红脇藍尾鴝 4 imm
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x1F
290 Plumbeous Redstart 紅尾水鴝 1F near Ping Long
292 Common Stonechat 黑喉石(即鳥)
302 Japanese Thrush 烏灰鶇 x1 (+ likely heard)
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x10+
306 Pale Thrush 白腹鶇 x1
298 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇
309 Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler 棕頸鉤嘴鶥 (heard)
309.5 Pygmy Wren Babbler 小鱗胸鷦鶥
310 Rufous-capped Babbler 紅頭穗鶥
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
314 Black-throated Laughingthrush 黑喉噪鶥
315 Hwamei 畫眉
317 Silver-eared Mesia 銀耳相思鳥
323 Asian Stubtail Warbler 鱗頭樹鶯  2+
325 Japanese Bush Warbler 日本樹鶯 1
345 Yellow-bellied Prinia 黃腹山鷦鶯(灰頭鷦鶯)
343 Zitting Cisticola 棕扇尾鶯 x2
346.9 Mountain Tailorbird 金頭縫葉鶯 x2
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯  x1
349 Dusky Warbler 褐柳鶯 3 (much less common than earlier in the winter)
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯 several
354 Yellow-browed Warbler 黃眉柳鶯 several
389 Great Tit 大山雀
391 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 絨額鳾
395 Fork-tailed Sunbird 叉尾太陽鳥
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥（相思）
400 Tristram’s Bunting 白眉鵐 x2(more in there though!)
402 Little Bunting 小鵐 x2
410 Black-faced Bunting 灰頭鵐 8+ in graves at start of TOS trail
420 White-rumped Munia 白腰文鳥
421 Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
439 Ashy Drongo 灰卷尾
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾
444 Common Magpie 喜鵲
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉

I heard my first Koel (噪鵑) calling on the 20 January.  Collared Scops Owl have been calling regularly.  
An Alexandrine Parakeet (721 亞歷山大鸚鵡) was flying around Lam Tsuen San Tsuen on the 22/1/10.  
I had a Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike (265 暗灰鵑鵙) at Pak Tin Kong on the 18/1/2010

[ Last edited by subbuteo at 24/01/2010 20:54 ]

subbuteo

In the same location today at around 1 pm, a second Plumbeous Redstart joined the one Mike photographed - an adult plumaged male.  

Dylan

subbuteo

At Pak Tin Kong this morning, I watched an Ashy Drongo picking off honeybees brave enough to face the cold and rain.

Dylan

subbuteo

An early walk this morning (6.10 am 26/2/10).  I heard Savannah Nightjar calling over Ping Long / Tai Om Tsuen village. Disappointingly, and despite a lot of trying at different times, I have not heard the Brown Wood Owl since last Saturday.