PO TOI OUTING 25/4/09 - SUMMARY OF SIGHTINGS
The day started 2 hours later than planned due to the late arrival of the boat which was expecting to turn up the next day. As a consequence the day was extended and the return to Aberdeen was not until 6pm. During late morning a cold front passed over HK with thundery squally showers resulting in the issue of the Amber Rainstorm Warning by HK Observatory.
The highlights of the day were at least 5 Chinese Goshawks and a Black Bittern at Po Toi, and 2 Arctic Skuas [=Jaegers] flushed off the sea south west of Po Toi. A second Black Bittern was recovered exhausted from the sea and taken to Kadoorie Farm Animal Hospital. Red-necked Phalaropes were widespread and four tern species were recorded [Aleutian, Common, Bridled and Black-naped].
A total of 47 species was recorded including Aberdeen as follows:-
1. Grey Heron. 1 at Aberden and 1 at Po Toi.
2. Little Egret. Flock of 30 at Po Toi as well as several at Aberdeen.
3. Pacific Reef Egret. 4 at Po Toi and 1 at Aberdeen.
4. Cattle Egret. 1 at Po Toi.
5. Chinese Pond Heron. 1 at Po Toi.
6. Black-crowned Night Heron. 1 at Aberdeen.
7. Black Bittern. 1 at Po Toi and 1 recovered from sea in exhausted condition south-west of Po Toi and taken to Kadoorie Farm Animal Hospital. A distant small flock of birds may also have been this species or other ardeids.
8. Black Kite. Numerous around Aberdeen and East Lanmma Channel. 1 at Po Toi.
9. Chinese Goshawk. At least 5 seen singly at Po Toi hawking dragonflies.
10. Peregrine Falcon. 1 at Aberdeen.
11. White-breasted Waterhen. Heard at Po Toi.
12. Pacific Golden Plover. Flock of c20 over the sea near Po Toi.
13. Eurasian Curlew. Flock of c40 over the sea near Po Toi.
14. Terek Sandpiper. Several with Pacific Golden Plover flock.
15. Common Sandpiper. 2 at Po Toi.
16. Red-necked Phalarope. Total of 153 in groups up to 30.
17. Arctic Jaeger. 2 light phase adults flushed off sea south-west of Po Toi, and 1 distant Jaeger sp.
18. Common Tern. Out of total of 34 Common/Aleutian Terns, at least 4 Common.
19. Black-naped Tern. 13 in southern waters.
20. Aleutian Tern. Out of total of 34 Common/Aleutian Terns, at least 9 Aleutian.
21. Bridled Tern. 2 in southern waters.
22. Oriental Turtle Dove. 1 at Po Toi.
23. Spotted Dove. Several at Po Toi and Aberdeen.
24. Greater Coucal. At least 2 heard at Po Toi.
25. Little Swift. Small numbers over Aberdeen.
26. Common Kingfisher. 1 at Po Toi.
27. Barn Swallow. Several at Aberdeen and in East Lamma Channel.
28. Yellow Wagtail. 1 heard at Po Toi.
29. Red-Whiskered Bulbul. Small numbers at Po Toi and Aberdeen.
30. Chinese Bulbul. Small numbers at Po Toi and Aberdeen.
31. Oriental Magpie Robin. At least 2 at Aberdeen and 2 at Po Toi.
32. Blue Rock Thrush. A female at Po Toi.
33. Blue Whistling Thrush. Several at Po Toi.
34. Eyebrowed Thrush. 2 at Po Toi.
35. Masked Laughingthrush. Several at Po Toi.
36. Common Tailorbird. Heard at Po Toi.
37. Yellow-browed Warbler. Heard at Po Toi.
38. Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. 1 at Po Toi.
39. Grey-streaked Flycatcher. At least 2 at Po Toi.
40. Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Common at Aberdeen.
41. Red-billed Starling. 1 at Po Toi.
42. Black-collared Starling. At least 2 at Aberdeen.
43. Crested Myna. Common at Po Toi.
44. Black Drongo. At least 5 at Po Toi.
45. Hair-crested Drongo. 2 at Po Toi.
46. Common Magpie. 1 at Aberdeen.
47. Large-billed Crow. 2 at Po Toi.
