Yes, the front had looked promising - I thought yesterday's boat ride looked wonderfully timed, inc with chance of Chinese Goshawks.
Before taking boat, met Ruy Baretto, who told me of the goshawks being "like mosquitoes" on day of over 900 seen over Po Toi last spring.
But, I'd already seen weather charts showing the front (with cloud, maybe still some rain) hadn't yet reached north Luzon till late aft Tuesday, so wondered if many birds would have left northern Philippines. Even so, as soon as boat in, I went up to hilltop pagoda, tried migration watch for half an hour: one or two Black Kites, a Pacific Swift and a Barn Swallow the only birds I noticed flying about (none looking like being on the move). Bah!
Charts looked more promising for movement today; but no one birding Po Toi? (and I'm yet to look on Cheung Chau, where I've never yet seen movement of Chinese Gos, tho have seen G-f Buzzards pass over in numbers on a couple of days in past). Thanks to Geoff for adding the note below.
More rain (front/trough?) forecast for next Tues and Wed...
Went to Po Toi on Sun, for mix of birding and hiking w family n friends. Saw the fire burning. Firemen arrived by helicopter in. Two guys, one spraying, one beating, surprisingly effective - helped by lack of wind.
Too bad re fires. But without them, would surely be far more cover across Po Toi, so reducing its appeal for vagrant-fans (flip side: like elsewhere in HK if not massively deforested, could perhaps enjoy seeing birds like range of woodpeckers, plus hornbill or two ....)
Maybe mildly entertaining - I've been blogging re birds and some other creatures (with birds sparse, also noted butterflies etc) on Cheung Chau, in
Martin's blog. Not completely apples n oranges when comparing w Po Toi - I tend to only go out for an hour or so, also note birds around my place, but clearly far fewer migrants. Saddest thing: had 2 Emerald Doves one day, so thought may breed, but a few days later found badly injured, dying Emerald Dove; haven't seen or heard this species here since.
