johnallcock
Well-known member
Following the passage of Typhoon Utor this morning, I was hoping to find some unusual birds today. The storm had blown some terns onto the ponds just outside the reserve, which surprisingly turned out to be Common Terns. In HK, Common tends to occur mostly at sea and is unusual inshore, and this is the first time I've seen a flock feeding over the fishponds. This gave the chance for some really good views (sorry, no camera with me...). There were birds showing characteristics of both longipennis (black bills, very dark underparts) and minussensis/tibetana (mostly red bills, slightly paler underparts). Does anyone know how to separate minussensis/tibetana? - I'm not sure myself. As well as 22 Common Terns there was also a first-summer Whsikered Tern in the flock.
The reserve itself was quieter, but the shorebirds had come in for the high tide. These included my first Grey Plovers and Long-toed Stint of the autumn. The last few days have also had returning Pacific Golden Plover and Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipe. No passerine migrants yet, but they should start arriving fairly soon.
The reserve itself was quieter, but the shorebirds had come in for the high tide. These included my first Grey Plovers and Long-toed Stint of the autumn. The last few days have also had returning Pacific Golden Plover and Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipe. No passerine migrants yet, but they should start arriving fairly soon.