butter

1/ no photo - I've come across a lone bird at middle channel of Port Island in the past 2 days, it's about the size of a koel (maybe a bit smaller - comparing to the angler nearby). It looked all dark to me at first, but at the last look, I seemed to be able to get a glimpse of its greyish-blue upper body ... does anyone have an idea what this may be?
2/ there're many small fish carcasses at Lai Chi Chong on the same 2 days too - yet, the Black Kites flew by didn't seem interested. Were they fed up?

tmichael

Assuming you mean the bird is on the sea, Ancient Murrelet is a possibility, on basis of greyish back, though Koel is not a very obvious comparison species.

Even a very distant shot might be enough.

Mike Turnbull

ajohn

My assumption from the comparison with Koel was that the bird was on vegetation in Port Island. Hair-crested Drongo seemed like an option for ID.

tmichael

There's your choice - Ancient Murrelet (if on sea, unlikely in a bush) or Hair-crested Drongo (unlikely on the sea, more likely in a bush).

Mike Turnbull

butter

it's not on the sea, instead, it's like the angler > standing on bare rocks by the shore, watching the sea. I wasn't quick enough to take any photos, sorry.
it didn't seem to have a long tail like the drongo, but I'm not very sure

lkatherine

Maybe a Blue Rock Thrush?

Katherine

butter

Quote:

Original
yesterday at High Island Res., I saw another one like the 'chubby' version in this link. this time, it's near but I still don't have clear photos ... am waiting for my pals' to show you.
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/view ... 6954&extra=page%3D6

so this is my own photo, not clear at all, hope it's identifiable http://a367.yahoofs.com/hkblog/2UM62RuCBRm6YbLu5EuATgkwSclmd9RqezU-_16/blog/20110201051224478.jpg?ib_____Do07tLRQf
yet, the one I saw at Port Island is less 'chubby' and didn't have an orange front.

[ Last edited by butter at 1/02/2011 17:18 ]

HFCheung

My guess, Blue Whistling Thrush.  Size much closer to a Koel, and appear all dark at a distance.

HF Cheung

butter

here's the photo taken by my hiking pal, is this a Blue rock thrush?
http://picasaweb.google.com/slho.album/Bird?authkey=Gv1sRgCNW80Jnz4Y3nzQE&feat=directlink#5568898870860004898

brendank

Yes, Blue Rock Thrush

ajohn

Ancient Murrelet, Hair-crested Drongo, Blue Rock Thrush. It's not the most obvious set of confusion species really - all are completely different from each other!

It goes to show how important some information can be in the decription - in this case, the information that the bird was on bare rocks near the sea was vital to correct identification.

Anyway, it seems that the ID has been resolved. Well done to butter on your sighting, and well done Katherine for working out the species!

butter

Quote:

Original posted by ajohn at 2/02/2011 13:28
Ancient Murrelet, Hair-crested Drongo, Blue Rock Thrush. It's not the most obvious set of confusion species really - all are completely different from each other!

It goes to show how important some  ...

tks everybody!
Hope I can view the same bird again tmw at Port Island (the only worry is that I won't have a binocular with me)