MKinHK
Mike Kilburn
As you can tell by the gap since the last posting its been pretty quiet here as summer took hold. However in the last few days some of the residents have been showing off new broods - there were nurseries of Black-collared Starling (at least 7) and Crested Mynah (12) in the veggie patch, three newly fledged Masked Laughingthrushes wheezed through with their parents in close attendence, and a newly emerged Long-tailed Shrike was typically clumsy and eager for parental attention.
I finally decided to update the thread because a Chinese Pond Heron flew past the window carrying a twig, suggesting it was either conducting repairs or building another nest. I then discovered that I could see some of the bamboo where they are nesting from my roof and has my first look at two fledged birds - not quite ready to fly, but happy to flap and scramble about on the crowns of the bamboo.
Most interesting was the vigorous serpentine neckswaying both birds took up whenever an adult bird appeared - clearly hoping to attract attention and get fed!
The other breeder I'm keeping track of is White-breasted Waterhen. I've had brief views of just one of the growing chicks in the last week . . . and again a minute ago - with only a hint of grey on the face and neck, and a still-dull bill to differentiate it from its parents.
Other visible birds include a pair of Lesser Coucals which flap awkwardly to and fro above the ginger plants and still call sporadically through the day, but with nothing like the enthusiasm of early spring, and the same is true of the other cuckoos - the Large Hawk Cuckoo's brain fever has settled to a couple of utterances every morning, as has he Plaintive Cuckoo's, while the Koels and Greater Coucal have gone totally silent.
Breeding aside there have been brief appearances by pairs of both Scaly-breasted and, more uncommon, White-rumped Munias, an Eastern Great Tit and a single Sooty-haded Bulbul.
Three Crested Serpent Eagles overhead this morning included a very tatty bird, but no juvenile (which seem to be few and far between - does anyone know if they are quickly kicked off the adults' territory?)
Cheers
Mike
I finally decided to update the thread because a Chinese Pond Heron flew past the window carrying a twig, suggesting it was either conducting repairs or building another nest. I then discovered that I could see some of the bamboo where they are nesting from my roof and has my first look at two fledged birds - not quite ready to fly, but happy to flap and scramble about on the crowns of the bamboo.
Most interesting was the vigorous serpentine neckswaying both birds took up whenever an adult bird appeared - clearly hoping to attract attention and get fed!
The other breeder I'm keeping track of is White-breasted Waterhen. I've had brief views of just one of the growing chicks in the last week . . . and again a minute ago - with only a hint of grey on the face and neck, and a still-dull bill to differentiate it from its parents.
Other visible birds include a pair of Lesser Coucals which flap awkwardly to and fro above the ginger plants and still call sporadically through the day, but with nothing like the enthusiasm of early spring, and the same is true of the other cuckoos - the Large Hawk Cuckoo's brain fever has settled to a couple of utterances every morning, as has he Plaintive Cuckoo's, while the Koels and Greater Coucal have gone totally silent.
Breeding aside there have been brief appearances by pairs of both Scaly-breasted and, more uncommon, White-rumped Munias, an Eastern Great Tit and a single Sooty-haded Bulbul.
Three Crested Serpent Eagles overhead this morning included a very tatty bird, but no juvenile (which seem to be few and far between - does anyone know if they are quickly kicked off the adults' territory?)
Cheers
Mike
