wgeoff

Re the Po Toi October thread, thanks Mr Tai and for coconutcat, the Rufous-tailed Robin was near the Ferry Pier and the Brown-flanked Bush Warbler was behind the Helipad.  

4th November

A good day with lots of birds around following the passage of the cold front on Sunday, in particular near record counts for Po Toi of 21 Common Blackbirds and 20 Dusky Warblers. Best bird was the Japanese Yellow Bunting seen close-up but briefly by the photographers next to the Helipad - here two excellent photos by Peter Ho




Also seen (not all by me)

Savanna Nightjar - disturbed from a gravesite above the Sister's Cafe
Eurasian Hoopoe - now been there for at least six weeks
Red-flanked Bluetail - the first arrivals, at least 3 birds
Black-browed Reed Warbler - unusual on Po Toi
Mountain Tailorbird - 3
Red-throated Flycatcher
Tristram's Bunting - 2, around the Sister's Cafe
Black-faced Bunting - several, including this odd-looking bird, changing into adult male plumage? (photo thanks to Peter Ho)



Brambling, near the Sister's Cafe, photos here by Esther http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=22002 show this is a different bird to either one seen last week
Common Rosefinch - sitting on top of the tall open tree just below the School, indicated it had just arrived and was looking around
Red-billed Starling - first of the winter
Black-naped Oriole - quite late
Hair-crested Drongo - up to 10 still around.

and a total of 28 non-resident species, a very good count for just 3 hours.

Also from the ferry, a low-down group of at least 12 Black-tailed Gulls with a wheeling group of at least 50 others very high up, presumably also Black-tailed - a very unusual record for this time of the year.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 5/11/2014 13:51 ]

wgeoff

Not as many birds around as Tuesday, only six Blackbirds and nine Dusky Warblers, so some birds had left but also others probably arrived as is typical with an autumn cold front - it often takes a few days to have full effect.

Best bird that I saw was a female Yellow-throated Bunting around the helipad, only a brief view but enough, unfortunately my camera failed to focus when I really needed it so no photo.

Other new species for autumn, White's Thrush in their usual winter station near the generator, Two-barred Warbler in the large tree just before the Sister's Cafe and the first winter flocks of Japanese White-eye.
Also another Brambling inside the Sister's Cafe when I first arrived, a different bird to Esther's on Tuesday, much less colourful, and another Japanese Yellow Bunting at the gravesites between the Upper School and Green Pigeon Lane, again different and less colourful than Tuesday's bird.





Also a very late (for Po Toi) Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike, in fact equaling my latest ever before in 2006, and a Mugimaki and Blue-and-white Flycatcher, not seen by me.

But the most interesting bird was saved for the Ferry going home. Andy So asked me to look at his photos of an unusual looking flycatcher, here they are



A seicercus (Golden-spectacled) Warbler, in the same area and, from the photos, actually the same tree, just past the Sister's Cafe on the left hand side of the dirt path, as I reported one 10 days ago.
I identified that as Martens's Warbler, based on the call sounding like a Dusky Warbler, and this certainly looks like the same bird although the wing bar on the left-hand side looks a bit stronger than my bird (I only saw the right-hand side of my bird). I think it's the same bird so I will submit it as Martens's, together with mine, and leave it to the Records Committee to sort out.

Anyway, thanks Andy for an exciting return Ferry, usually rather boring at this time of year.

The resurgence of the north-east winds may bring in more birds this weekend and next week, hopefully some more thrushes and some more goodies.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 7/11/2014 09:10 ]

wgeoff

Thanks wazy

A much quieter day today. Only three buntings seen, all Black-faced. Other species of note

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - one over the Sister's Cafe
Japanese Thrush - the first two of winter, behind the restaurant
Brambling - a very colourful male near the Sister's Cafe, another different bird. Very co-operative for photographs, kept the big lenses very busy




The seicercus was not seen, not surprising as it's regular territory past the Sister's Cafe is difficult to approach and, like many birds on Po Toi, it becomes more difficult to see as it stays longer (now over 2 weeks). But it was seen and heard again on Sunday, and, after discussion with those who saw and heard it, I'm starting to believe it is a Bianchi's, which would fit the plumage better than Martens's.

Something that I did see is here, now in the living room of my place, all of it, followed by head, middle and tail



the discarded skin from a Burmese Python, measures 3 metres long so the Python must have been at least a bit longer.
I won't tell you where I found it - might scare you away.

Does anyone collect snake skins?

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 12/11/2014 10:25 ]

wgeoff

I can't be sure - the snake wasn't around. I was going mainly on the length - do Rat Snakes reach 3 metres long?

I guess the skin shrinks as it comes off and then dries out. The max width of this skin when flat is 10+cm so the diameter would be at least 7cm even without shrinkage - seems a bit fat for a Rat Snake.

Any snake skin experts?

wgeoff

Here you are Ivan - top and bottom

wgeoff

Thanks Gary, Ivan and John for the correct ID.

I knew there were lots of rats on Po Toi - here's the evidence!

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 13/11/2014 09:14 ]

wgeoff

A quiet start but a good day by the end, with the help of Koel Ko.

Some interesting species (not all seen by me)

Amur Falcon - fly-over, high up
Eurasian Hoopoe - again, behind the Community Centre
Eurasian Woodcock - one in the valley past the Sister's Cafe, a late autumn bird for Po Toi
Eyebrowed Thrush - two near the Upper Reservoir
Asian Stubtail - my first of autumn, also near the Upper Reservoir
Brown-flanked Bush Warbler - two around the helipad
Four species of flycatcher
Dark-sided - at the School
Asia Brown - behind the Restaurant
Mugimaki - behind the Toilet Block
Red-breasted - Green Pigeon Lane, just past the Sister's Cafe
Japanese Yellow Bunting - photo seen of the colourful bird, possibly male, at the gravesites between the School and Green Pigeon Lane

Here my photos of the Hoopoe, Mugimaki and Red-breasted Flycatchers



But pick of the day belongs to Koel Ko, who found and got these excellent photographs of another Seicercus Warbler, a different one to the one seen near the Sister's Cafe over the last three weeks.
This one was up the concrete steps leading away from the helipad



Again, a Bianchi's/Martens's type but with weaker wing-bars than the other bird. No call, but the white outer-tail feathers may help ID this bird - I'm going with Bianchi's.

Colder weather forecast for earlier next week, maybe more birds around

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 14/11/2014 09:08 ]

wgeoff

Another day when the birds were there but needed to be searched out. I always wonder on these days what we miss in only three hours available - in my dreams.
Helped today by Lo Chun Fai, Alex Ware and Teddy Chua, good to see Teddy back in action after a long illness brought about by too much marathon running.

Large numbers of Daurian Redstarts, mostly males. I counted 24, others had more, this is my second highest count. These birds had obviously arrived recently (less than 10 counted last week), together with a few thrushes and warblers, some good species.

A Dusky Thrush near the ferry pier and an Eyebrowed Thrush under the big tree next to the Sister's Cafe. These are my photos, the Dusky Thrush never showed itself in full




and here's a rather better one of the Eyebrowed Thrush from Lo Chun Fai



Also Japanese Thrush and some remaining Blackbirds.

This is my third autumn Dusky Thrush on Po Toi, previous records were on 14th November 2006 and 17th November 2010 - so together with 18th November 2014, all within 4 days of one another. I never cease to be amazed by the regularity and consistency of bird migration.

Many Pallas's Warblers now arrived, plus Yellow-browed, the Two-barred Warbler from last week still around and Faijai found an Eastern Crowned Warbler, photo thanks to him



A Brambling and at least two of the Scarlet Minivets from last week seen, but not so many buntings, just one Chestnut and five Black-faced. The Scarlet Minivets are a second record for me on Po Toi, the previous was on 9th November 2010.

The construction of an Opera House covering the whole (and more) of the helipad did not help the buntings, this is usually a good area for them.



Also a favourite area for the big lenses, they will not like it.
I don't know when the Opera is due, haven't seen any adverts on the island yet, but sometimes these constructions stay around for several months - bad news for the helipad area.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 19/11/2014 10:30 ]

wgeoff

Yes, I think you a right.
I know they hold this special opera every three years.
So maybe it's there until next March!

wgeoff

Not such a good day today, many birds had left since Tuesday - only 7 Daurian Redstarts counted.

Company of Harry Miller and his wife Nanita - they came to see thrushes, but didn't see any except one Blackbird. I only saw one Japanese Thrush but I did hear quite a few, as usual so difficult to see.

Harry and Nanita found the best bird, a Radde's Warbler near the ferry pier, see here

http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=22171

An unusual colour combination of grey around the head and quite bright olive on the wings so I guess a first year bird.

Also the Hoopoe and Brambling still there but nothing else of real note.
The next change in weather is not due until next Wednesday.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 21/11/2014 08:37 ]

wgeoff

A really hot summer's day (??).

Only two birders, Mr T P Luk and me, no big lenses - where were they I wonder? But we both enjoy our own company so no problem.

A few interesting birds also. Best for me was a really fast overflying adult male Amur Falcon - easily told by the contrasting white and dark underwing pattern. This is the first time I have definitely seen an adult male on Po Toi - have they been seen elsewhere? It is also very late, but there have been many records of Amur Falcon this year.

Also a Red-breasted Flycatcher around the Ferry Pier



First found from the call, as is usual with this species.
Red-breasted Flycatcher is a November and early April special for Po Toi, but maybe one will winter again this year, like in winter 2007-08.

Other birds of interest, a Peregrine which was probably a northern migrant, the Eurasian Hoopoe still there, at least four newly arrived Chestnut Bulbuls and a Pale Thrush.
Chestnut Bulbul is a wintering species on Po Toi, although not every year.

I'm waiting for the next weather change - should start later today but the big change is now forecast for next Monday, should have us shivering by next Tuesday.

wgeoff

Rain most of the three hours today - the first I can remember for many weeks. Three other birdwatchers, a couple (sorry, don't know your names) and John Clough, a newish birdwatcher who just wanders around with a camera and no binoculars but gets some of the best photos of the best birds. Another Brendan in the making I think.

Much the same birds as Tuesday, the weather didn't help to find anything new. Some interesting species

Eurasian Hoopoe - good photos by John of the bird sitting on the new Opera House structure.
Pale Thrush - at least three in the central area
Eyebrowed Thrush - one near the Sister's Cafe. I think this is the same bird as photographed on 18th November, but it stays in the inaccessible woodland to the right of the football field and only comes into view occasionally
Manchurian Bush Warbler - my first of the winter
Two-barred Warbler - photographed by John, I think this is the same bird from earlier in November
Red-breasted Flycatcher - Tuesday's bird, still around the Ferry Pier but disappears somewhere and is difficult to find

A cold front on Monday - maybe something new next week.