wgeoff

Second Week in November

Another good week with high species counts, although many birds appeared to leave on Wednesday evening with the first signs of the next cold front. This included a Wood Sandpiper which arrived on Wednesday morning and spent the day resting on a rock in the lagoon before I saw it fly off across the harbour at dusk that evening.

The week has belonged to the Yellow-throated Buntings, found last Saturday and still there today (Thursday). How many have been involved? - I'm not sure, somewhere between three and six birds, still at least two present today, a male and a female. Here are my photos



Having seen these birds, I am quite sure the bird reported last year at the same date as a 'probable' female Yellow-throated Bunting was indeed a Yellow-throated.

Other good records for the week include the Grey Heron, returning after an unexplained absence of six weeks (where did it go?), Japanese Sparrowhawk, a latest ever autumn record (for Po Toi) of Red Turtle Dove and Black-naped Oriole, five Olive-backed Pipits which arrived out of the blue on Wednesday and left the same evening, a single flock of at least 700 Chinese Bulbuls migrating off the South Peninsular early on Wednesday morning, at least six Red-flanked Bluetails today including 2 males, the first Japanese and Grey-backed Thrushes of the winter, a Russet Bush Warbler which has taken up residence on the football field, three Fork-tailed Sunbirds, regular autumn visitors on Po Toi, many Chestnut and at least one Yellow-browed Bunting and yesterday a Brambling, presumably the same bird as seen last Sunday.

Here photos of a Fork-tailed Sunbird on the South Peninsular, presumably just arrived, a male Chestnut Bunting, the Yellow-browed Bunting and the Brambling



Two cold fronts are due to pass through in the next few days, they should bring in some new species by the middle of next week.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 12/11/2009 17:57 ]

John Holmes

This is still my favourite thread - better than any weekly drama or documentary..

Can't wait for this weeks' episode !

wgeoff

Thank you John, you’re my hero.

The autumn just gets better. The intense cold front brought in the birds and justified my decision to go over on Sunday evening and spend four days there.

As soon as the rain cleared early on Monday morning, it was apparent birds were arriving or had already arrived. My species counts kept increasing day-by-day, from 35 on Monday to 41 on Thursday, a highest ever count for this time of year. Highest ever daily counts of several species were also recorded – Asian Stub-tail Warbler (6), Manchurian Bush Warbler (10), Brownish-flanked and Russet Bush Warbler (3 each), Dusky (24) and Pallas’s Warbler (10). These are conservative numbers. On Wednesday, Dusky Warblers were everywhere, the total number on the Island must have been in the hundreds.

Surprising to me, the only family that did not record good numbers were thrushes – why? - I don’t know. But what they lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality – a Brown-headed Thrush first seen on Monday and then the superb Dark-throated Thrush found by Eling at the Temple on Thursday when looking for Yellow-throated Buntings. I reproduce two of her photos here



The bird had left the Temple area by the time I arrived 30 minutes later. There followed a mad dash around likely areas to see whether it had just relocated, and I think I saw it in flight on the rocks behind the toilet block at about 1pm. If I did, that means there’s a chance it could be there at the weekend.

Other good birds in the week – a Japanese Quail on Tuesday, a Lesser Shortwing all week, two Mountain Tailorbirds and probably two Bianchi’s Warblers following around up to three Grey-headed Flycatchers from Tuesday onwards, a superb male Mugimaki Flycatcher also from Tuesday onwards, a mystery flycatcher on Tuesday morning (see Id section), a Lanceolated Warbler on Wednesday, two Black-browed Reed Warblers also on Wednesday (rare on Po Toi – only two previous records), a Brambling freshly in on Wednesday and a Japanese Robin on Thursday,.
Here photos of the Japanese Robin, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Grey-headed and Mugimaki Flycatchers, the mystery flycatcher and the Brambling.



Finally, buntings. On Monday, just after the rain, I found a small flock of four Yellow-throated near the Ferry Terminal (three males, one female), as well as different pairs on two well-separated gravesites and another pair at the Temple – at least eight birds all together. On Tuesday there were three and by Wednesday they had all gone.
Here two last photos from this unprecedented invasion.



I think this will be the peak week of autumn. The weather prospects for next week are not good, and the season should be drawing to a close shortly after. But who knows, on Po Toi anything is possible.

eling

Geoff, sorry for my stupidity that i didn't know it's a good bird when i first spotted it.  I would bear in mind everything is possible in PT and should call for your help immediate whenever in doubt.  That's a lesson for me to learn.

Hope the bird will stay longer so that more people can see it.


BTW, I share the same view with John, reading your report is really enjoyable.

tmichael

Simply the best birding thread in the world!

I spent this week at a place called Baiwan in the Guangdong karst country about 100 km north-west of Qingyuan, itself about 55 km north of Guangzhou.

Needless to say it was freezing - below 5 degrees at times perhaps - and the numerous Red-rumped Swallows of the area were either sheltering in their tunnel-entranced nests, sitting around on the ground or, eventually, feeding very low over streams (in fact open sewers, all too often), flooded paddy stubble or patches of drying rice, peanuts, beans etc.

Mike Turnbull

wgeoff

Thanks Eling and Mike. Perhaps a slight exaggeration Mike, but I don't mind.

It was pretty cold on Po Toi too - no heating over there, and you can't blame the Great Helmsman for that. What was worse, some insect got into my bed and turned my arm into a pin-cushion - it's still itching like mad.

Eling, you did know it was a good bird and you did the right thing - take as many photos as possible when you can. The bird had just arrived and like most new arrivals on Po Toi, this is the time when they are easiest to see. They usually become much more difficult after a day or so. But I'm hoping the bird will still be around this weekend.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 21/11/2009 07:05 ]

thinfor

Birding time 觀鳥時間: 1100-1600, 21Nov09

Sunny, 13-18C

020 Pacific Reef Egret 岩鷺  x1
067 Black Kite 黑鳶 (麻鷹)
080 Common Buzzard 普通鵟  x1
099 Ruddy-breasted Crake 紅胸田雞  x1
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
282 Rufous-tailed Robin 紅尾歌鴝  x2
285 Bluethroat 藍喉歌鴝(藍點頦)  x1
286 Red-flanked Bluetail 紅脇藍尾鴝  x2+
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x1M (without tail)
298 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇  x1
302 Japanese Thrush 烏灰鶇  x1M
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x1
304 Brown-headed Thrush 赤腹鶇  x1
307 Eyebrowed Thrush 白眉鶇  x1
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
323 Asian Stubtail Warbler 鱗頭樹鶯  x3+
335 Black-browed Reed Warbler 黑眉葦鶯  x1
346.9 Mountain Tailorbird 栗頭縫葉鶯 (heard)
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯 (heard)
349 Dusky Warbler 褐柳鶯
351 Radde's Warbler 巨嘴柳鶯  x2+
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯  x2+
354 Yellow-browed Warbler 黃眉柳鶯
361 Blyth's Leaf Warbler 冠紋柳鶯  x1
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥
410 Black-faced Bunting 灰頭鵐  x1
414 Brambling 燕雀  x1
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
433 Black-collared Starling 黑領椋鳥
436 Crested Myna 八哥
440 Hair-crested Drongo 髮冠卷尾  x1
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉  x1

1 Accipiter sp, likely Japanese Sparrowhawk 日本松雀鷹

Very welcome to give your PT birding reports last week as well.  I think Geoff will be happy to see what you've seen in Po Toi so that the species count may increase (like Ruddy Crake).  I've been known that yellow-browed bunting, yellow-throated bunting, scaly thrush and bianchi's warbler were also seen on that day?

[ Last edited by thinfor at 22/11/2009 20:57 ]

wgeoff

Yes, I'm interested to see all the Po Toi records.

For instance, Bluethroat is a new species for the Po Toi list.
Where was it?

Geoff

gary

Quote:

Original posted by thinfor at 22/11/2009 20:51
Birding time 觀鳥時間: 1100-1600, 21Nov09

Sunny, 13-18C

020 Pacific Reef Egret 岩鷺  x1
067 Black Kite 黑鳶 (麻鷹)
080 Common Buzzard 普通鵟  x1
099 Ruddy-breasted Crake 紅胸田雞  x1
194 Spotted Dov ...

Thanks for your record.
May I add a few species to your list

Peregrine Falcon
White-breasted Kingfisher
White's Thrush
Goodsoni Warbler
Little Bunting
Rubythroat (heard)

thinfor

Geoff, the bluethroat was seen near the helicopter port.  It appeared near the reeds at the right side of the entrance of the trail that heads to the little stream.

A few of us saw it as well and there must be at least some records shots.

I also take this chance to specially thank Koel and both Mr Kwan for their contribution of my new ticks!

[ Last edited by thinfor at 23/11/2009 00:11 ]

wgeoff

Thanks Manson

I've now seen a photo of the Bluethroat and added it to the Po Toi list, now at 289 species.

wgeoff

Another good week but no Ruddy-breasted Crake or Bluethroat. They have both moved on.

On Wednesday I recorded 50 non-resident species, my highest ever autumn count. I think we are still seeing the effects of last week’s cold front and Tuesday/Wednesday weather was perfect for autumn migration – light NE winds, birds were moving in as well as out. Not many birds move when the wind is too strong, whatever direction.

On Wednesday at 6am I’m eating breakfast, it’s still dark but I can hear the ‘seep, seep’ of thrushes flying overhead. As the light improves, I can see thrushes passing overhead in small groups – Japanese Thrush, from the size and white underbelly of the males. By 7am when the movement stops, I’ve had 41 Japanese Thrush, 23 Red-billed Starling, 2 Olive-backed Pipits and 7 buntings of some sort – the best visible migration movement I’ve ever had on Po Toi. With another 15 Japanese Thrush seen on the Island during the day, my day total of Japanese Thrush is 56 but I must have missed dozens while it was dark.

That was the start of a really good day. There seemed to be birds everywhere. Two Barn Swallows, a Yellow Wagtail and an Arctic Warbler were very late autumn records for Po Toi. 28 Blackbirds, 9 Daurian Redstarts, 7 Asian Stub-tail Warblers and 5 Russet Bush Warblers were all good counts. Japanese White-eyes were freshly arrived in hundreds, 4 Goodson’s Leaf Warblers in the big tree by the ferry terminal were exceptional, a Radde’s and a Black-browed Reed Warbler were good and two Bramblings were very showy. But buntings again stole the show – 4 Yellow-throated, a male and three females, spent most of the afternoon in the central area together with at least one Tristram’s. The best thing about Yellow-throated – they’re not shy, like Black-faced and Little. When you hear them, you can usually see them.

Here some photos -  a Japanese Thrush, Radde’s, Black-browed Reed Warblers, a stunning male Red-flanked Blue-tail, the two Bramblings, Yellow-throated, Tristram’s and Chestnut Bunting.



I guess this autumn will have to end some time soon.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 27/11/2009 10:12 ]

thinfor

Birding time 觀鳥時間: 1100-1600, 28Nov09

Sunny and windy, 20-24C

067 Black Kite 黑鳶 (麻鷹)
192 Oriental Turtle Dove 山斑鳩  x2
193 Red Turtle Dove 火斑鳩  x1
194 Spotted Dove 珠頸斑鳩
270 Red-whiskered Bulbul 紅耳鵯
271 Chinese Bulbul 白頭鵯
279 Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯勞  x1
282 Rufous-tailed Robin 紅尾歌鴝  x1
286 Red-flanked Bluetail 紅脇藍尾鴝  x3F
287 Oriental Magpie Robin 鵲鴝
289 Daurian Redstart 北紅尾鴝  x1M
298 Blue Whistling Thrush 紫嘯鶇  x1
301 Scaly Thrush 虎斑地鶇  x1
302 Japanese Thrush 烏灰鶇  x1
303 Common Blackbird 烏鶇  x1
306 Pale Thrush 白腹鶇  x3+
347 Common Tailorbird 長尾縫葉鶯 (heard)
352 Pallas's Leaf Warbler 黃腰柳鶯  many
354 Yellow-browed Warbler 黃眉柳鶯
376 Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 橙胸姬鶲  x1M
397 Japanese White-eye 暗綠繡眼鳥
400 Tristrams Bunting 白眉鵐  x1 (probably 2)
414 Brambling 燕雀  x1
424 Eurasian Tree Sparrow 樹麻雀
436 Crested Myna 八哥
447 Large-billed Crow 大嘴烏鴉  x1
2 Falcon species, likely Peregrine Falcons

(Not seen by me)
293 Grey Bushchat 灰林(即鳥)  x1F
312 Masked Laughingthrush 黑臉噪鶥
410 Black-faced Bunting 灰頭鵐  x1

[ Last edited by thinfor at 29/11/2009 12:55 ]

wgeoff

Thanks Manson. A good list.

The Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher is a second record for Po Toi. The first was on Chirstmas Day 2006 by Siu Ping. I haven't seen one myself on Po Toi (hopefully next week). Great photos by various people.

Photos of the Grey Bushchat are on HKWildlife - a first record for this year.

The Hobby would be very late - could it have been a Kestrel?

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 29/11/2009 14:24 ]

thinfor

You're welcome, Geoff.  I think kkoel can comment on this as we saw together.  Actually, the scenario was we heard a bird calling like emergency/warning call above us at the heliport and saw 2 falcon-like species.  One was definitely a big falcon (so it should be a peregrine) but the other was much smaller and showed its characteristic swift-like flight and sycthe-shaped wings.  It really fitted to a Hobby.

BTW, they seemed they were fighting.  Interesting.  I was thinking of whether they were fighting for the prey, though I haven't seen any.  The hobby couldn't be the prey itself, could it?

wgeoff

They could have been two Peregrines, a male and a female.

The male Peregrine is much smaller than the female - the difference in size can be quite surprising especially if the male is a local bird and the female is a northern migrant.
Also males and females can often be seen fighting on Po Toi, calling at each other. The male is usually the most aggressive and makes most of the noise.

The latest autumn Hobby on record in Hong Kong is 2nd November 1982, so this would be an exceptional record.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 29/11/2009 13:07 ]

thinfor

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences, Geoff!  That made sense.  Koel and I knew it was quite uncommon to see hobbies in late Nov and we're a bit surprised too!  From the scenario, we didn't think of a pair of peregrines...your idea fits the scenario!

List amended accordingly to have 2 possible falcon species.  Please note.

[ Last edited by thinfor at 29/11/2009 12:56 ]

wgeoff

You would not be the first one to mistake a small male Peregrine for something else, including me.

In my case, I have mistaken them for both Hobby and Amur Falcon.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 29/11/2009 14:20 ]

hetta

Quote:

Original posted by wgeoff at 29/11/2009 11:21
The male Peregrine is much smaller than the female - the difference in size can be quite surprising especially if the male is a local bird and the female is a northern migrant.
Also males and females can often be seen fighting on Po Toi, calling at each other. The male is usually the most aggressive and makes most of the noise.

Thanks for sharing the observation!  

hetta

Quote:

Original posted by thinfor at 29/11/2009 11:03
BTW, they seemed they were fighting.  Interesting.  I was thinking of whether they were fighting for the prey, though I haven't seen any.  The hobby couldn't be the prey itself, could it?  

Great question.  FYI, there's observation and discussion about "raptors in the diet of Peregrines" (in other countries) recently in a raptor-conservation mailing list, in short, hobby is in the list.

[ Last edited by hetta at 29/11/2009 15:50 ]

kkoel

Thanks for Geoff's input! In fact as you mentioned it I could not have been 100% sure of the Hobby either, as the view was distant and fleeting, but the swift-like silhouette was highly suggestive. In any case it'd be safe to say 2 "falcon species"!

For your information, I did see a Hobby close in flight on 10th Nov this year. There were dense breast streaks and the range was around 20m, so I was quite sure it was a Hobby. No photos though!