thinfor

Hi all,

As the subject shown, I would like to get some ideas from experienced birders about the impact of the climate to migrating birds.  Not sure whether I have put my thread into a correct place.  Please be moved to a more appropriate one if necessary.

Recently, I was quite shocked by the bird species being seen;  Oriental Stork, Greylag Goose and Ferruginous Duck.  They are quite rare and even more surprising that they have been seen in summer.

I remembered that around early July, there was an anticyclone developed in Mainland China, bringing strong wind from North or North East.  This was not so common indeed because from my understanding strong anticyclones in Mainland China are usually developed in winter.  Supposing that those 3 species appear commonly in Mainland during summer, would that be the case that they were drifted by the anticyclone when they migrated (or whatever purpose they flew)?

This idea is stimulated by Geoff as he has been doing so much great work on observing and studying the impact of the weather in southern Hong Kong that may influence our HK bird counts.  Maybe the uncommon anticyclones or strong gust from Mainland in summer has contributed recent birds found in MPNR?

Just a wild guess and welcome for comments from the experienced.

thinfor

Thanks for your comments and guidance.

Actually I don't think I assume anything.  If I did, I thought I assumed that the weather system might somehow divert or drift the bird migration route, which was highly likely, especially during high migration season.  Instead of putting rare bird records as the consequence and the strong anticyclone as the only reason behind, what I think is the other way round.  Any consequences may result if there is any strong wind like anticyclone in Mainland during summer time?

That's why I said it's an idea.  If we collect enough weather information and birding records in the past history, we might discover some correlation between the weather and the birding reports that we had (here, of course the weather just narrows down to the strong weather system in summer like the anti-cyclone I've mentioned).

A pity that we may lack data and time to do further investigation.  Also, no birding reports do not mean the birds have not come.  They were just not being seen.

thinfor

Thanks Geoff for the links provided, so that I could examine the exact weather before I did the proposition.

And many thanks to Captain, John and Brendan also.  I've been known that for having this kind of idea, we should firstly get the birding records that are widely spread to many common species and immature rarities have to be fully considered.  Learnt much from you all!

Knowing how birds migrate and come from and to Hong Kong are still one of my most interested topics in birdwatching.