ajohn

Once again, dumping activities have started in the Kam Tin Buffalo Fields. This time, the trucks are not just dumping at the edges of the fields but are actually driving through the Buffalo Fields to dump into the old buffalo wallows. These are the only areas which currently hold any water (especially since the ridiculously over-engineered new drainage channel has dried out the area). The scale of dumping seems to be considerably more than previously, covering much of the northern part of the Buffalo Fields (despite only starting dumping late last week!)

The usual Grey-headed Lapwing flock seems to not be using the Buffalo Fields this year. In fact, apart from a flock in the MDC which was too distant to count, I haven't seen more than 3 individuals at Kam Tin yet this autumn (compared to 23 birds this time last year). With the level of disturbance and the filling of the fields, I wonder how much longer this flock will remain in HK? Painted-snipe numbers at Kam Tin also seem to have dropped this year as have most wetland species using the Buffalo Fields (unsurprising, given how quickly they have dried out)

ajohn

It's good to see some pictures of the Buffalo Fields as they used to be. When I arrived in Hong Kong (6 years ago) there were probably about 100-150 buffalo. AFCD systematically removed them from the area around the Buffalo Fields, apparently because villagers complained that there were buffalo on their land (I suspect the villagers were unhappy that the buffalo increased the ecological value of the land and made it harder to fill the land). The herd that lived around the Buffalo Fields was completed removed by AFCD. I once tried asking the AFCD staff who were responsible for catching the buffalo why they were doing this work, and what happened to the animals, but they refused to even talk to me to explain what was happening.

There are still buffalo in the KT area. They sometimes use the Buffalo Fields for grazing at night, but do not use the area during the day as previously (they are usually in shrubland areas where there is less human disturbance). The result is that the area is becoming more overgrown and there are fewer wallows (which are created by buffalo trying to keep cool), so Kam Tin is generally less suitable for waterbirds and starlings than previously.

ajohn

The land filling at the Buffalo Fields has continued this winter. The Buffalo fields are now almost entirely destroyed (probably 1/10 the area of 3 years ago, split into a number of fragments). Nearby marshland at Shui Mei (shown on the first of David's photos) has also been filled considerably over the last few months.

I have contacted the planning department, who posted 'enforcement notices' at the site, but despite these the filling work continues (dumping taking place within 20m of the planning department notices) It seems the local villagers are now aware that they can get away with absolutely anything at Kam Tin, and that the government of Hong Kong will turn a blind eye to their activities. Other government departments (AFCD, EPD, LandsD) show absolutely no interest in the issue and shift the responsibility to others.

I think it would be disastrous for the HK natural environment if similar activity was allowed to continue in New Territories. Many sites which are currently good for birds could be allowed to get destroyed in such a way. After the imminent loss of the Buffalo Fields, which site sill be next? Shek Kong? Pui O? Lam Tsuen? Long Valley?