kmike

While flycatchers seem to be raining down all over the rest of Hong Kong, Lam Tsuen's autumn passage started with a superb male Siberian Blue Robin  which appeared on the main path at Ng Tung Chai about 50 metres before the trail down to the Lower Falls.

Other birds here included an Eastern Crowned Warbler (near the temple) and a very vocal male Hainan Blue Flycatcher (just above the orchard), plus good numbers of Mountain Tailorbirds.

Other wildlife included a Hong Kong Cascade Frog found while I was swiming at the Lower Falls and a young Wild Boar which had second thoughts about crossing the trail when it saw me and scooted away back uphill

Cheers

Mike K

kmike

This is the first record for Lam Tsuen (although I have seen one at Hong Lok Yuen) and a very good record - congratulations!

It would be very good to know where you saw this bird Lun9394.

Cheers
Mike

PS there were 3 Dollarbirds on the power lines above the Lin Au ridge and another (also on power lines) almost directly above the entrance of KFBG this morning at around 0715.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

I had 2 Dollarbirds high on the large powerlines at 7am!

Cheers
Mike

kmike

. . . and three more Dollarbirds this morning (nine so far, plus one from Dylan).

All these  birds are earlier than my previous earliest autumn record on 12 September (from 2005)
The record in one autumn in Lam Tsuen  is 55 birds (in 2007)

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

. . . and this evening there was a Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler in the marsh close to Lung A Pai, my first for the valley.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

This morning the following birds were at Ng Tung Chai between 0715 and 0945:

Lesser Shortwing - 1 scruffy juv begging for food and an adult in attendance

Eastern Crowned Warbler - 1
Mountain Tailorbird - 8

Asian Paradise Flycatcher -1
Sooty Flycatcher -1
Hainan Blue Flycatcher - 1 male

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

A few more birds this week  . . .

Tuesday 13th

1 x Dollarbird on overhead wires above Ping Long
2 x Dollarbird on overhead wires North of She Shan


Thursday 15th

2 X Dollarbird on wires over Ng Tung Chai, 1 above KFBG

Saturday 17th

Black-naped Oriole chased out of veggie patch in Ping Long by Long-tailed Shrike

Hopefully more to come this weekend   . . .

Cheers
Mike

kmike

I was also out today - but just had a single Pale-legged Leaf Warbler on the trail at the northern corner of the valley and a Dollarbird on the overhead wires first thing this morning.

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

This evening Dylan and I saw the following birds  between PakTin Kong and She Shan:

Swintail Snipe
Bunting sp.
Dusky Warbler - 1
Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Bright-capped Cisticola - 1 (1 more heard)

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

This evening Dylan and I saw the following birds  between PakTin Kong and She Shan:

Swintail Snipe
Bunting sp.
Dusky Warbler - 1
Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Bright-capped Cisticola - 1 (1 more heard)

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

First record for Lam Tsuen!

This bird was first seen very briefly on Saturday, but the views were so short that even though it could hardly have been anything else its great to have a confirmation today!

Cheers
Mike

kmike

This afternoon at Lam Tsuen Dylan and I saw the following birds were seen. Most were in the She Shan area:

Japanese Sparrowhawk - 1

Japanese Quail - 1

Swintail Snipe  - 4

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 1

Grey Wagtail - 3
Richard's Pipit  - 4

Siberian Stonechat - 1

Dusky Warbler - 3
Oriental Reed Warbler - 1
Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler - 1

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

The rainy weather brought more birds to Lam Tsuen this morning. I was out with Don Sutherland - a visitor from the USA

Tai Om & Tai Om Shan:

Crested Goshawk
Crested Serpent Eagle
Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush

Sooty Flycatcher - 2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher - 1

Ping Long:

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo - 1 (one in the veggie patch after I got home!)
Black-naped Oriole  - 1 (a fine male)

She Shan dump ground and ponds:

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 2
Black-naped Oriole - 4
Dollarbird - 1

Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler - 1
Swintail Snipe - 2
Siberian Stonechat - 1
Richard's Pipit - 1

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Lam Tsuen again held a few migrants:

Cattle Egret  - 5

Swintail Snipe - 1

Richard' Pipit  - 8
Olive-backed Pipit - 2 (first of the autumn in Lam Tsuen)

Siberian Stonechat - 3
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 (first of the autumn in Lam Tsuen)
Dusky Warbler - 2

Asian Brown Flycatcher - 2
Grey-streaked Flycatcher - 1
Sooty Flycatcher - 1
Red-throated Flycatcher - 1 (first of the autumn in Lam Tsuen)

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 1
Black Drongo - 7 (first of the autumn in Lam Tsuen!)

All the flycatchers were in the tree nursery on the trashed land in from of She Shan

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Small house development is happening all over Lam Tsuen, often preceded by unauthorised roadbuiling and illegal dumping, but the birding is still very good.

Migrants like the grosbeaks will travel all over the valley in winter, while there is still plenty of habitat for Hwamei and othe resident shrubland-dependent species.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Some pix of three of the four species of flycatcher in the tree nursery on :

Sooty Flycatcher - blotchy breast, white half-collar, dark back and short tail
Asian Brown Flycatcher - paler, longer-tailed slight smudging on the breast, pale base to the bill, pale fringes to tertials
Grey-streaked Flycatcher - Longest-tailed and longest-winged, streaks on the breast instead of blotches.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Many of the same birds at She Shan this morning between 0715 and 1045, with a few additions:

Crested Serpent Eagle - 2
Hobby - 2

Hoopoe - 1  (my first Lam Tsuen record)

Eurasian Skylark - 2

Richard's Pipit - 8
Olive-backed Pipit - 6
Grey Wagtail - 2

Dusky Warbler - 2

Zitting Cisticola - 2
Bright-capped Cisticola - 5

Grey-streaked Flycatcher - 2
Sooty Flycatcher - 1
Asian Brown Flycatcher - 1

Little Bunting - 1
Yellow-breasted Bunting - 7 (at least)

Black Drongo - 3 migrating

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Another good morning at She Shan:

Green Sandpiper - 1

Japanese Quail - 1

Eurasian Skylark - 4

Richard's Pipit - 10
Olive-backed Pipit - 6

Siberian Stonechat - 4 (+ 2 in Ping Long this afternoon)

Dusky Warbler - 9

Chestnut-eared Bunting - 2

Red-billed Starling - 2 (Ping Long)

There was also a Javan Mongoose in the veggie patch this afternoon.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Also a rather quiet walk up Ng Tung Chai:

Chinese Bulbul - migrating flock of 200

Grey-chinned & Scarlet Minivet - flock of 80

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1

Asian Stubtail
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher
Blue-and-white Flycatcher

Cheers
Mike

kmike

This morning there were 7 Amur Falcons perched on the highest power lines above Wo Hop Shek Cemetary at around 0645.

Last night another falcon, which I strongly suspect was Amur Falcon, was on the lines above Lin Au at 5:30. I went to Lin Au to try to see it. It was still there but unfortunately It flew off before I could get  a scope on it.

However since I could see these birds from my flat I reckon they belong on the Lam Tsuen list!

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

A few more migrants and winter birds this morning between Lung A Pai and She Shan:

Siberian Stonechat - 5

Chinese Blackbird - 2

Black-browed Reed Warbler - 2

Red-throated Flycatcher - 1
Asian Brown Flycatcher - 1

Bunting sp. - 4

Tere was also a Kingfisher in the stream close to Ping Long carpark yesterday and there has been an Asian Barred Owlet and a Cllared Scops calling regularly for the last few nights.

Cheers
Mike

[ Last edited by kmike at 29/10/2011 18:17 ]

kmike

Sunday morning was good around She Shan and Tin Liu Ha:

Cattle Egret - 1

Besra - 1

Oriental Turtle Dove - 1 first of the autumn

Wryneck - 1 first of the autumn

Eurasian Skylark  -  2 (possibly 3)

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 1

Red-throated Pipit - 4  first record for Lam Tsuen
Richard's Pipit - 8 including one large, very pale-looking bird.
Olive-backed Pipit - 6

Siberian Stonechat - 12

Black-browed Reed Warbler - 4
Dusky Warbler - 16
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2
Japanese Bush Warbler - 2

Red-throated Flycatcher - 2

Chestnut Bunting - 1 first of the autumn

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

There was more passage in Lam Tsuen this morning:

Cattle Egret - 1

Eurasian Skylark - 1 + ? one of the birds on the grass  between the Lam Kam Rd and She Shan (close to the tree nursery) was noticeably darker and less contrasting above, and I wonder if it might be Japanese Skylark?

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 3

Richard's Pipit - 6 including one very pale and slender bird
White Wagtail - ocularis a female. my first in Lam Tsuen this autumn.

Chinese Blackbird - 2

Siberian Stonechat - 6

Black-browed Reed Warbler - 1
Dusky Warbler - 11
Yellow-browed Warbler -1

Red-throated Flycatcher - 2 +? (one was calling like Red-breasted Flycatcher around the ponds to the north of She Shan but I was not able to get a good view. I would be interested to hear from anyone looking tomorrow).

Cheers
Mike K

[ Last edited by kmike at 5/11/2011 21:22 ]

kmike

Ashy Minivet is a very good bird for the valley Katherine!

This morning a few new migrants arrived:

Chinese Blackbird x 20

Siberian Stonechat x 6
Daurian Redstart x 2
Siberian Rubythroat x 1

Yellow-browed Warbler x 2
Dusky Warbler x 4

Red-throated Flycatcher x 3

Common Rosefinch x 1 (f)

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A decent morning at Tai Om Shan between 0730 and 1015:

Crested Serpent Eagle - 2

Rufous-tailed Robin - 3 (possibly 4)
Grey-backed Thrush - 2

Asian Stubtail - 3
Russet Bush Warbler - 2

Mystery Bush Warbler - 1 - a call that sounded so different I wasn't sure if it was a flowerpecker or a bush warbler!  Reference to Xeno Canto suggests Spotted Bush Warbler Bradypterus thoracicus - which breeds in Sichuan and would be somewhat unexpected.

Chestnut Bunting - 2

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A few new winter arrivals this week:

Monday 28th November - Ping Long

Chinese Blackbird  - 44

Tuesday 29 Nov - Tai Om Shan

Verditer - 1 (m)
Russet Bush Warbler - 3

Saturday 3 December - Ping Long - Gau Liu Ha

Ashy Drongo - 1
Black-faced Bunting - 4

Cheers
Mike

kmike

This morning a windy Lam Tsuen had the following birds:

Ping Long

Common Rosefinch (f) (same place as on 15 Nov)
Chestnut Bunting - 5
Black-faced Bunting - 2
Asian Brown Flycatcher - 1

Tin Lu Ha

Ocularis White Wagtail - 1


She Shan tree nursery

Chinese Blackbird - 10
Chinese Starling - 1
Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 1
Ashy Drongo - 1


Cheers
Mike

[ Last edited by kmike at 10/12/2011 18:29 ]

kmike

20 Chestnut Buntings and a dark-phase Oriental Honey Buzzard were seen near Ping Long before 0830 this morning.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A very few birds at Tai Om this morning :

Daurian Redstart

Russet Bush Warbler
Asian Stubtail
Manchurian Bush Warbler
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler

Tristram's Bunting - 4

Cheers
Mike

kmike

An adult Striated Heron was at KFBG at about 4:30 on the flamingo pool.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

This morning at 0930 a dark phase  Oriental Honey Buzzard (assumed to be the same bird as seen a couple of weeks previously was seen flying over She Shan.

Other birds present later this morning down there included a Red-throated Flycatcher and an Ashy Drongo.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A quiet morning at Ng Tung Chai:

Rufous-tailed Robin - 1

Grey-backed Thrush - 1

Asian Stubtail - 1
Mountain Bush Warbler - 1
Yellow-browed Warbler - 5
Pallas' Leaf Warbler - 5

Chestnut Bulbul - 2 - seem to be fewer this winter.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Another quiet morning in Lam Tsuen:

Besra - 1

Rubythroat - 3

Chinese Blackbird - 10

Dusky Warbler - 5
Bright-capped Cisticola - 2

Red-throated Flycatcher - 1

Little Bunting - 7
Black-faced Bunting - 1

Ashy Drongo - 1

Cheers
Mike K

kmike

Another quiet weekend at Lam Tsuen with no flycatchers, chats, thrushes, or interesting warblers.

The best bird was the Oriental Honey Buzzard which was seen over Tai Om Shan on Saturday morning, but apart from that a single Asian Stubtail on each day and 5-10 each of Yellow-browed Warbler and Pallas' Leaf Warbler were the rather dismal highlights.  

I did also enjoy this Chinese Blackbird perched on a tree with brillant red flowers - anyone know what is?

Cheers

Mike

kmike

Thanks Dave!
Mike

kmike

A few birds at KFBG today:

Striated Heron
Rufous-tailed Robin
Red-throated Flycatcher
Striated Yuhina

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A few more to add from the She Shan - Tin Liu Ha area

Large Hawk Cuckoo - 1 (probable - very distant)

Black-winged Cuckooshrike - 1
Ashy Drongo - 2
Hair-crested Drongo -1

Ocularis White Wagtail - 1
Grey Wagtail - 4
Richard's Pipit - 3
OBP - 20

Daurian Redstart - 1
Siberian Stonechat - 5 (mostly She Shan)
Chinese Blackbird - 4

Fan-tailed Warbler - 15
Bright-capped Cisticola - 1
Manchurian Bush Warbler - 1
Dusky Warbler - 5
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2

Red-throated Flycatcher
Brown Flycatcher (outside Dylan's house!)

Bunting sp. - 1
Large-billed Crow - 3


Cheers
Mike

kmike

A Collared Dove with a heavily worn tail was a first record for Lam Tsuen, and the Oriental Honey Buzzard showed well at Pak Tin Kong at around 10am.

Apart from that it was pretty quiet.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

A quiet Monday morning  (23 Jan) in Ng Tung Chai revealed just a Goodson's Leaf Warbler near the top falls.

2 Rufous-tailed Robins and an Asian Stubtail were at Tai Om Shan yesterday.



Cheers
Mike K