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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Birding Reports & Tips 觀鳥報告及心得 >>  Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
        
(Message started by: Andrew on Feb 19^th, 2006, 11:56am)

Title: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Feb 19^th, 2006, 11:56am

For some reason I couldn't seem to post to the old thread. Anyway 18/19 Feb 2006. Whilst everyone [?] else heads for Po Toi I have worked the woods at Ho Chung again.

18th (p.m.) birds of note were Orange-bellied leafbird (male) and Grey-backed thrush

19th (9am-11am)

Daurian redstart (F) 2
Grey-cheeked fulvetta
Rufous-capped babbler
Fork-tailed sunbird (M+F)
Grey-headed flycatcher 1
White-bellied yuhina (my first record at this site) - small flock of 3-4 birds
Grey-backed thrush
Chestnut bulbul

Andrew

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 1:19pm

22nd Feb 2006 9am -12.00

2 Crested serpent eagles
1 unidentified accipiter
Scarlet minivet - male
House swift
White-bellied yuhina
Blue-winged minla
Yellow-browed warbler
Grey-headed flycatcher
Grey-backed thrush
Greater necklaced laughingthrush
Grey cheeked fulvetta
Chestnut bulbul
Daurian redstart - male
Grey wagtail

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Feb 25^th, 2006, 2:57pm

24th February 2006

Despite spending a lot of time listening I hardly saw a thing this morning. I did see a Blyth's leaf warbler (goodsoni) and the usual Grey-backed thrush. The most interesting sighting was a bird I have seen before which, based on all the fieldguides I have, seems likely to be a female Siberian blue robin. If anyone else sees this I'd appreciate a second opinion.

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by miket on Feb 25^th, 2006, 6:18pm

Hi Andrew,

Can you give location details for your possible Blue Robin, please.

I may be able to have a look for it tomorrow.

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Feb 25^th, 2006, 6:37pm

Mike, I have seen the bird twice. Just below the house under renovation on the left hand side of the path, low down in the scrub. The second time on the left hand side of the path that bears left of the house, maybe 75-100 yards along. It has a very distinctive tail flicking or pumping (not shimmering like a redstart). It is not black/white under the tail like a red-throated flycatcher. It has a pale throat, white eye rings, in certain light the tail looks to have a blue sheen to it and the wings have a rufous wash.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by miket on Feb 25^th, 2006, 6:51pm

From what you describe, Andrew, I wonder if you have eliminated Red-flanked Bluetail (female).

Mike Turnbull

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Feb 25^th, 2006, 8:11pm

Mike, I looked through the images on the OBC site and all show a distinctive red wash on the flank which I have not seen. There is one photo of a first winter bird which is a close match from the back and doesn't show the flanks. I can't rule this out.

Andrew

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Mar 8^th, 2006, 1:47pm

I went along the lower section of Ho Chung today. I was bitten relentlessly by mozzies last time I was in the woods. Today I got dozens of small bites from tiny black flies. Irritating but hopefully no more. Nothing new by way of birdlife. I chatted to one of the locals for some time - she speaks excellent English and she raised the visit when the nets were confiscated. She was perfectly pleasant and did not ask me if I had reported them. She did say however that the farmer had had a bad year (sounds familiar to all Brits I'm sure) and he blamed the birds for the destruction to his flower crop.

I have not seen my mystery bird again. Mike Kilburn suggested Red-tailed robin but all the pictures of this I have seen indicate there should be scaling on the chest and I have not seen this, so I guess its one that got away. Mike also added it was most unlikely to be Siberian blue robin with only 3 winter records in 30 years. Another one that got away.

Walking along the stream today the main activity was mating frogs - making a dreadful din - I counted 7 pairs and a couple of unattached ones in barely a 10m stretch. Spring has sprung.

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Mar 31^st, 2006, 1:31pm

A late morning walk along the lower valley after a heavy 7s night last night and another one ahead tonight. Plaintive and Large hawk cuckoo both easily seen and possibly Chestnut-winged cuckoo too but the light was dreadful. A Crested serpent eagle was perched close-ish to the path and another was seen very distantly perched on a power pole. Little buntings still on the fields and 2 Olive-backed pipits. A female stonechat, an Asian brown flycatcher and 2 Long-tailed shrikes were the only other birds of note.

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Apr 4^th, 2006, 11:37am

My morning walk at Ho Chung today produced Plaintive cuckoo and Large Hawk cuckoo again, Red-billed starling, the Crested serpent-eagle perched close to the path again and a Yellow-cheeked tit. I have not seen Yellow-cheeked tit here before and I wondered whether others have. It was extremely humid so getting better for dragonflies too :-)

Oh, and 3 Red-billed blue magpies

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on Apr 15^th, 2006, 1:15pm

Not much to report this morning. A couple of Cattle egrets in breeding plumage and, although I am sure they are common, a pair of Grey-treepies which I haven't seen at Ho Chung before. Lots of Hair-crested drongos - a flock of maybe 12/13 birds at one point. Too windy for much else to show and damned chilly too :(

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Mike Kilburn on Apr 15^th, 2006, 10:14pm

It was miserably empty of birds in the woods today, but on a walk down from Fei Ngo Shan to Marina Cove I did see a Dollarbird, 2 groups of Hair-crested Drongos and n adult Bonelli's Eagle.

I also heard a Grey Treepie down the bottom.

Sadly I also noticed another net full of dead bats and birds. if anyone goes there, please take a photo and let me know. i will follow this up through Kadoorie Farm.

Cheers
Mike K

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by Andrew on May 2^nd, 2006, 9:39am

I did a walk on Sunday morning - lower valley only. Not much new to report. Brown shrike was my first here and there were several Cattle egrets, Common kingfisher and a nice Crested tree lizard but thats about it. Has anybody other than Mike K seen Dollarbird here?

I was more cheered to see a Crested goshawk above the Standard Chartered building in Central yesterday :)

Title: Dollar Bird of Ho Chung 蠔涌
Post by ck151062 on May 3^rd, 2006, 2:37pm

Hi Andrew,

as my experience, the Dollars Bird like to stand on the cable line along the road of Tai Nam Wu, not so much observed in the low valley.

Cheers,

Stanley

Title: Re: Ho Chung 蠔涌 2006 Spring 春
Post by miket on May 3^rd, 2006, 6:00pm

I agree. The best place in my experience, is the line which drops down into the valley on the other side of the main stream at the very end of the road at Tai Lam Wu (the end of the catchwater road and the bottom of the steps into the woods).

There are other good spots in the Sai Kung area, notably Chuk Yeung Road, just east of Sai Kung Town.

Mike Turnbull