badesc

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

badesc

Thank you Dylan and John for your reaction. Much appreciated!

badesc

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 ]

badesc

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

badesc

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

badesc

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

Thank you for the advice.


Bart