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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Birding Reports & Tips 觀鳥報告及心得 >>  Golden spectacled warbler
        
(Message started by: kwan on Nov 20^th, 2002, 2:00pm)

Title: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by kwan on Nov 20^th, 2002, 2:00pm

A Golden Spectacled warbler was seen at Tai Po Kau this morning.

The Brown breasted flycatcher was seen along the stream, same location as last winter.

Title: Re: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by Albatross on Nov 20^th, 2002, 2:15pm

Hi Kwan,

What time did you see the Flycatcher?

also, where is the warbler?

'Golden-spectacled Warbler' is not a 'simple' species, 'it' consists some 'species', but in very minor difference. It is better to write down descriptions as detail as possible of the 'Golden-spectacled' Warbler.

Further information is referred to 'The Avifauna of Hong Kong' and 'A field guide of birds of Southeast Asia' by Craig Robson.

Albatross

Title: Re: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by kwan on Nov 20^th, 2002, 2:31pm

I saw the brown breasted flycatcher at around 11:30 along the stream.

The "Golden Spectacled warbler" was seen at the hill side outside the AFCD office buildings. It has a grey crown, a black eyebrow. Golden yellow underpart and very yellowish green upperpart.

Title: Re: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by kwan on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 4:49pm

Today we saw two "golden spectacled warbler". One resemble the one which I saw few days ago. Grey cap with black eye brow and golden eye ring.

Another "golden spectacled warbler" had a very prominent white eye ring. The crown color was not as gray as the last one and the black eye brow was not obvious as well. Could it be a "white spectacled warbler"?

Both was seen along the stream and keep close to the undergrowth.

Title: Re: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by Paul Leader on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 7:21pm

The identification of the 'Gold-spectacled' and White-spectalced complex is VERY difficult, complex and confusing! The former 'Gold-spec' group has been split into six distinct species, of which two have occured in HK, S. valentini, and S. tephrocephalus. At least one other occurs in SE China, S.sorror and could occur in HK in winter. In addition, White-spectacled, occurs at Ba Bao Shan (rare) and Wu Yi Shan (very common). However the subspecies that occurs in SE China does not have a white eyering, it is yellow. It also occurs in two very distinct morphs or pluamges, one of which looks like S. valentini, and the other like S. tephrocephalus (I told you it was complex!). However, the eyering has an obvious break in it, above the eye. But this is very difficult to observe in the field.

For those interested, I plan to do an indoor talk in March 2003 on difficult species in HK which will include this group and others.

Title: Re: Golden spectacled warbler
Post by kwan on Dec 1^st, 2002, 11:21pm

Today we saw two "golden" warblers with prominent white eyerings along the stream at Tai Po Kau.

They followed the bird wave and keep to mid storey and undergrowth. They are smaller in size than the "golden spectacled complex" warbler. Both with light grey crown, golden yellow underpart. Yellowish upperpart with a little greenish tint. As they moved very fast, we don't have a very good view to identify the species but we are sure about the white eyerings and the golden body.

So if you go to Tai Po Kau, watch out for these tiny birds long the stream especially when there is a bird wave.