IDENTIFICATION

VOCALISATIONS

High-pitched and thin ‘chit’ uttered singly or in series.

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT PREFERENCE

Red-necked Phalarope has been recorded throughout most sea areas of HK, including the centre of Victoria Harbour, though the highest counts have, not surprisingly, occurred along ferry routes. It is likely that in some years the number recorded represents but a small proportion of those present in HK waters. Phalaropes are also recorded in Deep Bay and inland at low-lying marshy areas, though only small numbers are generally involved.

The passage of tropical storms in autumn can cause many birds to appear, and the highest single-site count refers to just such an occurrence; spring influxes are also associated with inclement weather, especially surges of the northeast monsoon, as noted by Vaughan and Jones (1913).

OCCURRENCE

Red-necked Phalarope is a passage migrant, common, sometimes abundant, in spring and uncommon in autumn (Figure 1).

The earliest records have occurred on 15 February, and these appear to be early migrants rather than winter visitors, as there are no records in HK during December and January; it is possible they are from the population that winters near Hainan (Liu and Chen 2020). The first significant numbers usually occur during the third week of March, though in some years very few Red-necked Phalaropes are recorded. Main passage occurs from the last week of March to the third week of April, with the highest count being 2,490 passing Po Toi in two early morning hours on 5 April 2012. The latest record of a passage migrant appears to be one on 31 May 1993. There have been a small number of summer records in nine years since 1958, all in the period from 7 June to 2 July.

The earliest autumn record is of one on 3 August 1991, and the numbers recorded are lower and more erratic than in spring. The main passage period occurs during the middle two weeks of September, and the highest single site count is 2,000 at Clearwater Bay on 16 September 2018 during the close approach of a tropical storm, while 1,500 were recorded between North Point and Po Toi on 15 September 2006 soon after the passage of a tropical depression. The number of records declines sharply after 9 October, and the latest autumn records concern a flock of 60 in Victoria Harbour on 4 November 1964 and two at Long Valley on 26 November 2014.

Vaughan and Jones (1913) noted ‘immense numbers’ in Tolo Harbour and Mirs Bay during surges of the northeast monsoon that brought rain and strong northeasterly winds. The largest influx occurred for a few days from 10 April. Dove and Goodhart (1955) recorded a similar pattern to that noted today including the first autumn records, which were brought about by the passage of a typhoon. Macfarlane and Macdonald (1966) also refer to the varying numbers recorded each year, with ‘hundreds if not thousands’ seen between Mirs Bay and Waglan during 11-16 April 1959.

BEHAVIOUR, FORAGING & DIET

Picks small aquatic invertebrates and insects from the surface of both marine and freshwater water bodies. Usually encountered at sea in loose and scattered rafts numbering up to fifty birds. When approached by boats they fly off low over the water to settle down elsewhere. Birds on inland water bodies, often driven there by inclement weather and thus tired, may allow very close approach.

RANGE & SYSTEMATICS

Monotypic. Has a circumpolar breeding distribution largely north of the Arctic Circle in Eurasia but down to approximately 55^oN in Kamchatka and North America; winters at sea in three discrete areas: off the west coast of central and northern South America, southeast of the Arabian Peninsula and between the Philippines and Indonesia in the area of the Celebes, Banda and Java Seas (Rubega et al. 2020). In China a migrant through large areas of the country; winters off Hainan (Liu and Chen 2020).

CONSERVATION STATUS

IUCN: Least Concern. Population trend decreasing.