Camping on Po Toi is a really wild idea, especially when it is extremely windy at night. It is hard to imagine how we subsisted only on bread and biscuits. So, before leaving Po Toi on 8th, we decided to treat ourselves better by having lunch at a cafe near the pier. Noodles in seaweed soup is delicious. We met Geoff and had some nice conversation. He is surely a nice gentleman who is very informed about the island.
Nam Tam Wan is a good place for raptors. Black Kites are constantly circling in the sky, occasionally landing on boulders. An Eastern Buzzard and a Common Kestrel also did the same. For raptor, a handsome adult White-bellied Sea Eagle was also seen flying high up the sky.
Along the path overlooking Nam Tam Wan, at least 3 Blue Rock Thrushes, a Long-tailed Shrike, and a Peregrine Falcon were spotted.
Walking from the rock carving site towards the small banana plantation, many Daurian Redstarts and 2 Black-faced Buntings were seen.
Around the big banyan trees near the pier, at least 2 Blackbirds, a flock of Red-billed Starling, many Pale Thrushes, and Coucals (lesser and greater?) were feeding on the fruits.
Crested Mynas are active everywhere. Sometimes, the 2 Hair-crested Drongos are agitated by their presence and may chase after them.
Walking straight from the pier, two warblers were jumping and flying through the undergrowth. The first one is the Radde's Warbler and perhaps the second one is a Japanese Bush Warbler?
2 White-breasted Waterhens were running around the houses in the triangle surrounded by the big trees. But they are too fast. When you see them, they already made their escape.
A Pacific Reef Egret was hunting near the pier. But it seems to prefer the fish farm in the middle of Tai Wan. Some beautiful crustaceans were also seen.
Walking from the pier towards the lagoon, common birds like Red-whiskered bulbuls and Chinese bulbuls are abundant. The Hoopoe can also be there waiting for you.
The lagoon is a habitat for a Common Kingfisher. A flock of Chestnut Bulbuls favours the fruiting trees around the helipad and the lagoon. A shy Siberian Rubythroat also uses the area around the helipad as its wintering ground. A group of Scaly-breasted Munia is probably its neighbours. A Red-flanked Bluetail and several other Daurian Redstarts shared the area.
Last but not least, not related to birding, this cute pet dog on Po Toi is super-friendly. It guided us around the island. It seems to know where the birds are. Following it, I saw the Hoopoe several times, found most of the raptors and some of the other highlights. It appears to know when to cease going further to avoid flushing away the birds as I stopped to find birds. When other more fierce dogs barked at us, it made some low-frequency sounds and silenced the barking dogs. It even looked for us and slept next to my tent at night. Finally, when we left, it escorted us to the pier and went back to its owner until the ferry departed. What a nice dog! We love it!
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Last edited by louislee at 9/01/2015 15:58 ]
