[MKinHK]

A quiet return to the patch after a 10 day break in China, during which time I nailed Chinese Parrotbill at Dongtan National Nature Reserve on Chongming Island near Shanghai (heartfelt thanks to Choimo and Viator of BF, plus Ms Gan of Fudan University for offering such willing help, both with with the logistics and fidig the parrotbills - China tick no 905 for me!)

I also participated in an orgaised county survey in Zhejiang that will forever make me grateful not to live off a migration route! However, this baseline survey was paid for by the provincial Government and sets a wnderful example for local governments in ther parts of China.

Back at home the principal birds of interest were a couple of Arctic Warblers, an Eastern-crowned Warbler and a very confiding juvenile Dark-sided Flycatcher, which gave superb views at close range. This species is very variable in its breast pattern, with birds showing anything from an all-dark breast to broad streaks, and, like this bird a fine pattern of regularly-spaced spots.

[Mark Bruce]

Sounds like a you had a good trip. Good to hear about a provincial government paying for a survey.

I'm glad you're seeing Arctic Warblers as I'm not seeing many and there should be quite a few about now.

I'm starting to look out for our first Siberian Rubythroats now.

[MKinHK]

Originally Posted by Mark Bruce

Sounds like a you had a good trip. Good to hear about a provincial government paying for a survey.

I'm glad you're seeing Arctic Warblers as I'm not seeing many and there should be quite a few about now.

I'm starting to look out for our first Siberian Rubythroats now.

Very much hoping that the model for the surveys can serve as a case study for other provinces.

I had a male Siberian Rubythroat at Dongtan (Shanghai) on 30th Sept, so I guess the early birds will be in Taiwan already - also the earliest HK record is on 8th October.

We also had our first Rufous-tailed Robin of the winter yesterday - a week earlier than the previous early date.

Slightly surprised by your lack of Arctic Warblers - possibly the weather that's made this such a good early autumn here has diverted them away from Taiwan.

Other goodies in HK while I was away included an Orange-breasted Green Pigeon that stayed arond for a few weeks in the spring, and a Pallas' Reed Bunting - just the second record for HK. As I saw the pigeon in the spring and the Reed Parrotbill was a lifer I feel more than amply compensated.

Cheers
Mike

[MKinHK]

No time to get out this week, bt a Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike in the bare tree opposite my house was a nice surprise this morning - two birds overwintered last year - hope this one stays.

Yesterday the same bare tree played host to a burning hot male Scarlet Minivet - a resident species, put performed wonderfully in bright sunlight for non-birding girlfriend.

[MKinHK]

A changing of the guard this morning as the first late autumn migrants/winter visitors arrived. Best of these was a first winter male Siberian Thrush, my first of the year on the patch. It obviously decided it was far enough away from me to feel safe, and ended up giving prolonged views, especially of the underparts.

It had a strong buffy supercilium which curved round the ear coverts - typical of 1st winter males, with a slightly mucky face and a curious mix of brown spots on the throat and centre of the breast , but reassuring amounts of slate grey on the flanks, and breast sides, and nicely white-tipped undertail coverts.

Another bird also flew from the same spot but I never got onto it.

Other signs of the approaching winter included the first Grey-headed Flycatcher of the winter (doing its distinctive 'Silly billy call), 20-odd Striated Yuhinas in a tight, noisy flock and a wonderful flock around 80 Grey-chinned Minivets with a couple of accompanying Scarlets. Thye pished in very close so I enjoyed superb views of these birds which a dd a wonderful splash of colour to my winter birding every year. I looked in vain for Ashy or Swinhoe's, both of which pass through in small and very small numbers respectively, but no joy. I did, however flight views of have my first Hair-crested Drongo for for several months.

As with all good guard changes there was still a presence from the previous shift - singles each of Asian Paradise Flyactcher and Greenish Warbler showed briefly, and it was good to hear a couple of Lesser Shortwings away from the top spot. With more time a record count of Mountain Tailorbirds (up to 4 with the best areas not covered) was on the cards, but guilt at being late for work finally kicked in and I had to turn back early.

A very nice morning nonetheless!

Cheers

Mike

[Mark Bruce]

Good to hear that your wintering birds are arriving. I'm expecting ours any day now. Waiting for wintering Brown Shrike and Blue Rock-Thrush in the garden.

[MKinHK]

This morning started with the Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike back in the tree in front of my house, and although lacking the starlet quality of yesterday's Siberian Thrush, it was notable for the continuing good run of autumn passage phylloscopus warbers - with Eastern Crowned and Arctic Warblers both showing briefly.

I once again had an Asian Paradise Flycatcher following a flock of Silver-eared Mesias, the Grey-chinned Minivet flock had thinned out to about 60 birds, and the Grey-headed Flycatcher was singing away further up the valley. I thought I heard White-bellied Yuhina (a scarce bird at Ng Tung Chai) in the same flock, but never got onto it.

I also heard a Pygmy Wren Babbler calling close to the path, but it took exception to my presence and disappeared before I could get a look at it.

[Mark Bruce]

Sounds like you had a good morning, too, Mike. I woke up to find this little beauty sitting outside my window. Guess our winter birds are here.

[MKinHK]

Lucionensis Brown Shrikes are terrific birds! The Long-taileds rule the roost here, but a colleague has one in the garden.

A quiet morning in the forest, with Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike in front of my house and Grey-headed Flycatcher, seen for the first time, after two days of calls only, the pick of the bunch. There was also a late Arctic Warbler,and good verbals from some of the residents including Lesser Shortwing - 4 birds a new high count for the year- and Pygmy Wren babbler again close to the path.

Cheers

Mike

[MKinHK]

A great new patch and house tick this morning - a female/immature Black-headed Bunting popped up in the bare tree in front of my house!

There are about 10-15 records of BHB in Hong Kong, all of them in agricultural areas. While not as good a bird as a the Speckled Piculet last month, its the first genuine rarity I've had from my house.

In Hong Kong Black-headed buning is principally an autumn visitor bird to agricultural areas, which is not exactly what NTC is known for, but the fields around the village have attracted flocks of over 100 Little Buntings in past winters, and we have a good range of more common farmland species such as Black-collared Starling, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Plaintive Cuckoo and Crested Mynah.

I 'm happy to say that identification is fairly straightforward. There are no records of Red-headed Buntings in HK, so the only bird to eliminate is immature/female Common Rosefinch, which also comes through HK in autumn, which is hardly rocket science!

Just done a count: My patch year list is 135 out of a total patch list of 166 (4 years of residence plus 10+ visits previously).

[MKinHK]

A good morning for flycatchers, and more signs of the coming of winter:

2 Dark-sided Flycatchers were traditional late autumn migrants, but the 4 Grey-headed Flycatchers and a stunning male Black-naped Monarch were definitie harbingers of winter, as was the escaped White-throated Fantail, which is now in its 3rd or 4th winter in the valley.

A Yellow-cheeked Tit was no 136 on the patch this year, making 150 a probably unattainable, but tantalisingly possible, target for the year.

It felt like there were birds there to be discoverd, but time-pressure from work meant I had to walk aay from a big mixed feeding flock.

[MKinHK]

Yesterday's trip up the valley I finally saw the first Blue-and-white Flycatcher of the autumn - a first winter male. In addition, a female Black-naped Monarch was clearly different to the pristine male of the previous posting. There were the now expected 3 Grey-headed Flycatchers and Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike, while Olive-backed Pipits (3 today) and 5 Yellow-browed Warblers hinted at a new arrival.

The Yellow-cheeked Tit again showed well, and a male Buff-bellied Flowerpecker was the first seen this year - almost 10 months afer hearing one on Jan 1.

[MKinHK]

More winter arrivals this morning - a wonderful male Verditer Flycatcher and a much more dowdy Blyth's Leaf Warbler (the white-bellied race) being the pick of the bunch. The male Black-naped Monarch again showed well and the 3 Grey-headed Flycatchers seemed to be holding onto the same territorities.
6 OBPs was also a new high count for the winter, but YBW were down to 2, suggesting passage in ongoing. The Black-winged Cuckooshrike was again in the tree in front of my house.

Was tempted to claim a flyby sparrowhawk as Eurasian and a new patch tick, but with the discussion ongoing in the ID/taxonomy thread, decided that better views would definitely be required!

[Mark Bruce]

You're getting a lot of wintering birds, Mike. I'm not really seeing that many arrivals around the house. No Blue Rock Thrush, yet. Closer to the coast quite a few wintering birds around. I'm going into the mountains for the weekend, so I should get an idea of wintering birds at higher altitudes.

[MKinHK]

There seems to be a really good flow of a few new winter visitors each time I go up the valley (or look out the window!) at the moment, which I'm really enjoying - not all passage periods are like this!

However, no regular winter thrushes here yet, although Chinese Blackbird and White's Thrush have been seen on Po Toi Island. I was speculating with a mate that all the warm weather further north in China is holding them up until a decent cold front pushes through. It seemed strange to have seen Grey-backed Thrush in Zhejiang almost a month ago and not to have had a sniff down here yet. Then I checked the Hong Kong Avifauna and saw that they do not arrive here before the second week of November and the earliest ever record is today! It always pays to check the data!

Maybe the typhoon in the S China Sea will do something wierd - late typhoons have a way of delivering unusual birds - but we'll have to see which way it goes first - its having a major dither at the present.

Away from the patch missing HK's first Cotton Pygmy Goose in 30 years (other commitments) was a tough one to take, but I guess the Black-headed Bunting and the Piculet really made up for it!

Very interested to her what you pick up in the mountains - was really tantalised by my one-night stay there a few years ago. I hope that when you winter visitors do arrive, it will be with an influx of goodies that makes it worth the wait.

Cheers
Mike

[MKinHK]

New for the autumn on the patch this morning was a really well marked female Daurian Redstart seen off the balcony this morning.

Better still, but not at Ng Tung Chai, was HK's second Sulphur-breasted Warbler and my 16th HK tick this year! In HK SBW needs to be separated from Goodson's Leaf Warbler, which also has yellow underparts, but grey rather than black eyestripe and Lateral crown stripes. The yellow underparts are not as extensive, nor is the yellow colour so rich.

I also had great views of a Pygmy Wren Babbler, a couple of White-bellied Yuhinas and saw my first Asian Stubtail of the autumn. My first and belated Chinese Blackbird was heard close to Tai Po Kau - really should be at Ng Tung Chai any day now.

[MKinHK]

Finally heard and saw a Chinese Blackbird on the way out of the village yesterday evening. This bird is half as big again as the typical UK Blackbird, and has a rather strangled single note call, with none of the beautiful liquid warbling of the slenderer UK birds. The split must surely be a matter of time.

Much more exciting was a dash from work to see HK's first Lesser White-fronted Goose - 2 juveniles turned up this morning and were finally identified around 3 this afternoon. I managed to get there at 5 and had good views in late aftenoon sunlight - lovely! - 17th HK tick of the year!

The first week of November is the traditional week for rare geese - presumably overshoots aiming for Poyang or Donting or other lakes in the Yangtze River basin. a huge proportion of the global population of Lesser White-font winters there.

[Mark Bruce]

Lovely. That's a grrrreat spot ! I've only seen a Lesser White-fronted Goose once. It was the end of January this year and I, my wife and two mates were looking for Northern Lapwing in the rice fields around town. We spotted a goose. I lifted my bins and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The others were saying what's that. I stood there like an idiot shaking and making strange noises because I was so excited I couldn't speak.

[MKinHK]

Hi Mark

I know the feeling - its a good job I was on my own when I found the piculet as trying to speak to anyone else would have brought on a seious attack of the wibbles!

its a good job I did a runner from work yesterday - the birds were gone this morning!

How did you get on in the mountains?

[Mark Bruce]

Originally Posted by MKinHK

Hi Mark

I know the feeling - its a good job I was on my own when I found the piculet as trying to speak to anyone else would have brought on a seious attack of the wibbles!

its a good job I did a runner from work yesterday - the birds were gone this morning!

How did you get on in the mountains?

The mountains were very cold but still great. Lots of ice but no snow yet. The cold does drive a number of species to lower elevations. As time was short we only birded pretty high up 2600-3500 m. I saw Alpine Accentor, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Large-billed Crow, Nutcracker, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Green-backed Tit, Coal Tit, Black-throated Tit, Nuthatch, Collared Bush Robin, Taiwan Yuhina, Streak-throated Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, Rufous-capped Babbler, Taiwan Firecrest, Grey Wagtail, and Asian House Martin. I think I caught a sight of a Winter Wren diving into the undergrowth.

[MKinHK]

Originally Posted by Mark Bruce

The mountains were very cold but still great. Lots of ice but no snow yet. The cold does drive a number of species to lower elevations. As time was short we only birded pretty high up 2600-3500 m. I saw Alpine Accentor, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Large-billed Crow, Nutcracker, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Green-backed Tit, Coal Tit, Black-throated Tit, Nuthatch, Collared Bush Robin, Taiwan Yuhina, Streak-throated Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, Rufous-capped Babbler, Taiwan Firecrest, Grey Wagtail, and Asian House Martin. I think I caught a sight of a Winter Wren diving into the undergrowth.

Hi Mark

lots of good stuff there - I especially want to see the laughingthrush and the Firecrest. I always remember being blown away by my first Alpine Accentor - the books really don't do them justice.

A good morning in NTC. Ashy Drongo and Pallas' Leaf Warbler were newly in and a good set of flycatchers included repeat views of Gray-headed, Blue-and-white and the pristine male Black-naped Monarch and Verditer.

Most interesting, however, was protracted views of White-throateded Fantail. This bird is an interesting one. It was presumed to be extralimital and an escape when first discovered, but now it has returned for its third winter and, since has never been seen in the summer, a couple of members of the HK records committee are beginning to consider the possibility of wild origin.

Today it gave its best ever views - chasing Grey-headed Flycatchers around - showing wonderful aerodynamic manoeuverability with its tail fanned out. It also gave its distinctive musical song - a top bird all round!

Other highlights included Black-winged Cuckooshrike in the forest with a flock of Scarlet and Grey-chinned Minivets, a new record count of five singing Lesser Shortwings, A, A white-bellied Blyth's Leaf Warbler and another unidentified Phyllosc - big and clumsy as an Arctic, but with an all yellow lower mandible, male Scarlet-backed and Buff-bellied Flowerpeckers in the same tree briefly, a Yellow-cheeked Tit, a good-sized flock of 15 or so Rufous-capped Babblers, a tightly-packed flock of about 100 Chinese Bulbuls - probably arriving migrants, and for curiosity value, Black-throated Laughing thrushes imitating both Besra and Large Hawk Cuckoo!

. . . and all in just 2 hours!

[Mark Bruce]

Some great sightings. I better make a plan for a visit. When you come to see those Fairy Pitta we'll take you up into the mountains for the laughingthrush and the Firecrest. In this weather both the Alpine Accentor and WW Laughingthrush look like little balls of wool. I never get tired of seeing either and they are very approachable.

[MKinHK]

No chance to get out since coming back from a quickie weekend trip to Guangxi in W China, but Chinese Blackbirds are now properly in and doing things properly flying over the house in small flocks - 12 yesterday and 3 so far this morning.

The Guangxi trip was a good one - to a reserve called Nonggang Shan in the far southwest near the Vietnam border. Major targets were White-winged Magpie, Indochinese Green Magpie, Limestone Wren Babbler, Large Scimitar Babbler and Pied Hornbill.

We saw over 20 WW Magpies, 2 ICGMs (both a wonderful!) and heard the Scimitar Babbler and Bar-backed Partridge. Other good China birds included Broad-billed Warbler, Dark-necked Tailorbird, White-rumped Shama. Apparently Chinese Leaf Warbler was a first for the province. I'll post a full trip report in a couple of days on the appropriate thread.


Cheers
Mike

[MKinHK]

Woke up too late to go into the forest this morning but the Black-winged Cuckooshrike and a wonderful pair of Scarlet Minivets were in the big tree 30m from the house and best of all a Wryneck flipped up from the scruffy patch of grass in front of the house, then dropped back down, allowing wonderful close views through the scope for a couple of minutes- a new patch tick! - no 168.

[Tanny]

Hi you Guys, I’ve just hopped on to this thread and have had a ball writing down all the new names of birds you have mentioned, now I’me off into the Internet to try and find pictures of them. I am surprised that no other member of the Bird Forum hasn’t joined in to help you out. There is one Australian member who lives in Hong Kong most of the time, called Neil, he is the most prolific photographer in Bird Forum and has posted the most pictures in the Gallery, and there are a lot of pictures of the birds you two have mentioned. The first place I will have to look into will be the Database, I’me sure I will find most of them there. Thanks for the entertainment, great reading, keep it up and thanks. Tanny.