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Lung Fu Shan Autumn 2010

Lung Fu Shan Autumn 2010

21/8 afternoon @ Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre

Asian Paradise Flycatcher X 1

An early record~

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A good reward for birding in the heat of summer

Cheers
Mike
Mike KilburnVice Chairman, HKBWSChairman, Conservation Committee

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Today morning ~8:15am, interestingly, I saw a pied kingfisher was chased by 2-3 red-billed blue magpies and the kingfisher then flew toward the direction of Victoria Harbour.

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A smart Asian Brown Flycatcher is back!=]

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7-9-2010
11:00

Eastern Crowned Warbler
Asian Brown Flycatcher

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So much rain today.  Waited until 2:00 pm and the rain was still heavy but I didn't want to wait any longer.  The Canon 7D is weatherproof... I hope.  

In the Po Shan Road area there were quite a few birds.  A group of 3 Asian Brown Flycatchers were not bothered by the rain.  There were a few warblers around but hard to get on them due to the rain.  Stopped by the Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher location.  No sign of it--maybe moved on.  Just I was ready to head home an Asian Paradise Flycatcher flew by chasing a moth.  Managed a few photos.  On the way home, a Swift flew by that looked like a Pacific.


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Out in the morning on Po Shan Road before the noon rain came. Some rain around 10am.  So glad the Canon 7d is weatherproof.  Lots of birds moving around.  Maybe go back later today if the rain isn't bad. Here is a list.  

Besra--fantastic views.  Post some photos in a minute.
Forest Wagtail--1
Dark-sided Flycatcher--1
Asian Brown Flycatcer--7
Asian Paradise Flycatcher--1
Eastern Crowned Warbler--5
Arctic Warbler--2
possible Greenish Warbler--need to check photos
had one flycatcher that was very yellow underneath but didn't get a very clear view
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler--2
Silver-eared Mesia--12

Brendan

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13 Sep 2010-Po Shan Road

In the Po Shan Road area today the best bird was a Siberian Blue Robin.  Sorry for the low quality pictures.  Michelle and Peters photos from TPK are much better.  

Also in the area today lots of Arctic (~10) and Eastern Crowned Warblers (~4) Warblers and 1-2 Asian Brown Flycatchers.

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15 Sep 2010--Po Shan Road

Best bird was a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler.  Also there are at least 2 and maybe 3 Besra in the area.  Kept seeing a Besra everywhere I went.

The good birds from this weekend, Asian Paradise Fly, Forest Wagtail, and Siberian Blue Robin, all seem to have left.  A few Arctic Warblers are still around.  Probably the Besras are not helping the numbers of other birds.

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Palelegged.JPG (108.62 KB)

15/09/2010 10:31

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Besra15Sep.JPG (98.96 KB)

15/09/2010 10:31

Besra15Sep.JPG

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Quote:
Original posted by brendank at 15/09/2010 10:31
15 Sep 2010--Po Shan Road

Best bird was a Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler.  Also there are at least 2 and maybe 3 Besra in the area.  Kept seeing a Besra everywhere I went.

The good birds from thi ...
A forest wagtail, arctic warbler and pale-legged leaf/sakhalin leaf warbler were still there today afternoon in the end of Po Shan Rd.

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Good to know the Forest Wagtail is still around.  Guess it was hiding from me today morning.

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Quote:
Original posted by brendank at 15/09/2010 23:40
Good to know the Forest Wagtail is still around.  Guess it was hiding from me today morning.
As limited by my schedule, I could only go there after 11:00am. In the afternoon, there are not much birds could be found (by me only?). Would you mind telling me the time that you usually went to there? I wonder if the time was very important for birding at that site, thank you very much=]

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I suspect Po Shan Road is a bit of a migrant trap.  Birds heading south stop when they hit the vast concrete jungle of Sai Wan/Sheng Wan/Central.  Furthermore, this location is much better in the fall than in the spring.  This site also seems better when there is some precipitations during the night as this seems to make migrants land more than clear skies. There certainly were a lot more birds during this rainy weekend than during the (sunny and pleasant) week. The area there is quite small.  Of course, it is at the base of the mountain so there is a lot of habitat but not much that is accessible.  It's an area that is best to check frequently because it doesn't take much time and because migrants don't seem to stick around there a long time.  I usually go there in the morning but it can certainly be good in the afternoon too.

However, having said all that, I would say seeing Forest Wagtail and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler is already quite good and those certainly are good birds for a afternoon birding trip.

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Quote:
Original posted by brendank at 16/09/2010 20:53
I suspect Po Shan Road is a bit of a migrant trap.  Birds heading south stop when they hit the vast concrete jungle of Sai Wan/Sheng Wan/Central.  Furthermore, this location is much better in the fall ...
Thank you very much! Hope more species of bird could be seen later!

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A female/immature Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was on Po Shan Road this morning.  The dial on my camera had shifted so I messed up the shot up a bit.  Also a number of both Eastern Crowned and Arctic Warblers.



[ Last edited by brendank at 17/09/2010 10:43 ]

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Today a bit quiet on Po Shan Road.  Best bird was a nice close Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler.  About a dozen Arctic Warblers around too.  

2 photographs of the the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler.


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22 Sep 2010-Po Shan Road

Had a warbler that confused me for a while today. Decided it must be the first of the Autumn Yellow-browed Warbler based on the small, darkish bill and clear double wingbars.

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yellowbrowed1.JPG (39.3 KB)

22/09/2010 11:14

yellowbrowed1.JPG

yellowbrowed2.JPG (38.91 KB)

22/09/2010 11:14

yellowbrowed2.JPG

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23 Sep 2010 -- Po Shan Road

After returning from Po Toi where I managed to miss the Wryneck, I stopped for a short time at Po Shan Road.  On Po Toi Island today there were good numbers of both Dark-sided and Asian Brown Flycatchers and this was repeated here.  I had at least 3 each or Dark-sided and Asian Brown Flycatchers.  

At dusk, I like to walk down the concrete trail at the end of Po Shan Road hoping for thrushes and other birds to come out on the trail.  This strategy proved to be productive tonight when I had the second Siberian Blue Robin of the season out on the trail.  It was female tonight, unlike the immature Siberian Blue Robin I had at almost exactly the same location about 10 days ago.  Unfortunately, it was so dark that all my photos were really blurry and dim.

Photo of one of the Dark-sided Flycatchers.


[ Last edited by brendank at 23/09/2010 21:27 ]

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24 Sep 2010--Po Shan Road

I could not relocate the Siberian Blue Robin or any of the Grey-sided Flycatchers seen yesterday but an Asian Paradise Flycatcher was seen from the concrete trail.  About a half dozen Arctic and 1 Eastern-crowned Warbler also remain.

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26 September 2010-Po Shan Road

Most warblers (4 species) I have ever seen on Po Shan Road (or in Hong Kong for that matter).  The highlight was having a small flock of 5 Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers.  Have been looking really hard for a Greenish Warbler but as of yet no candidates. Despite the large numbers of warblers the only other migrant was a Dark-sided Flycatcher.

5 Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers
2 Yellow-browed Warblers
~30 Arctic Warblers
2 Eastern Crowned Warblers
1 Grey-streaked Flycatcher

Photos of the Pale-legged, Yellow-browed and Arctic Warbler.


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Po Shan Road--30 Sep 2010

I haven't posted anything here for a while mainly because there haven't been many birds on Po Shan Road this week.  Most of the warblers from Sunday have left. Two Dark-sided Flycatchers have been hanging around.

Today the Dark-sided Flycatchers were joined by a Grey-streaked Flycatcher.  I also saw a Coucal which based on size I thought was a Lesser Coucal.  I have never seen either species of Coucal before on Po Shan Road so maybe post breeding dispersal.  The only warbler I had today was a Yellow-browed.

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5 Oct 10--Po Shan Road

Last few I time I have checked Po Shan Road there have been very few birds. Definitely no Rollers around. Today was still quite slow. Two Asian Brown Flycatchers, one Arctic Warbler, and a Crested Goshawk.  Only second Crested Goshawk I have had on Po Shan Road.

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6 Oct 10--Po Shan Road

Want to be out looking for the Roller but simply not enough time today! A fast trip to Po Shan Road produced one Dusky/Radde's Warbler.  I didn't get a photo which frustrated me because it seems (given a number of other reports) Radde's Warbler is at least possible.  I also had a Blue Rock Thrush perched high on Realty Gardens.

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7 Oct 10--Po Shan Road

Just 2 Dark-sided Flycatchers.  Not much else.

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8 Oct 10--Po Shan Road

Today still rather quiet.  One each of Red-throated Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Eastern Crowned Warbler.



[ Last edited by brendank at 8/10/2010 13:44 ]

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Seems very buffy on the flanks if not everywhere below?

Uppertail coverts not fully visible - do appear blackish.

Any more shots? Call noted?

Possible Red-breasted?

Mike Turnbull

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Believe me Mike, I was very very interested in this bird and ran home to look at my field guides!  I have never seen a Red-throated Flycatcher this buffy before.

The problem I had with Red-breasted Flycatcher is that I just can't see any paleness on the base of the bill on this bird in any photo.  And the bill structure seems more like a Red-throated than a Red-breasted from pics I saw on the net and in the photo guide.  

I didn't really consider the uppertail coverts. I suppose it should be blacker on Red-throated?

No calls heard.

I do have some more photos but I am not at home now.  I can post later tonight.

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Actually you are right about the bill colour issue - I'd forgotten about that feature.

Not sure bill-shape is relevant, but maybe.

Still, to see any other angles would be interesting.

Mike Turnbull

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Actually you are right about the bill colour issue - I'd forgotten about that feature.

Not sure bill-shape is relevant, but maybe.

Still, to see any other angles would be interesting.

Mike Turnbull

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Mike, this is the best shot I got of the uppertail coverts.  They look quite black to me so I would definitely lean toward a very bright Red-throated Flycatcher.  It would have be nice but...

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Seems so, on basis of bill + uppertail covs.

Nonetheless surprisingly warm and buffy for Taiga/Red-throated.

Interesting individual.

Mike Turnbull

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12 Oct 2010--Po Shan Road

There have been very few migrants for the last 2 weeks then suddenly a lot today though nothing unusual.  Did not see any Black Drongos.

17 Arctic Warbler
3 Yellow-browed Warbler
3 Asian Brown Flycatcher

By the Lung Fu Shan environmental education center I also saw a Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.  I have never seen this species at Lung Fu Shan before so maybe a migrant?

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This is common to hear flowerpecker's call in the morning near the University Road. But I don't know if it/they are Scarlet-backed or Buff-bellied flowerpecker.

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Hi Brendank,
Scaly-backed Flowerpeckers can also be found in summer.

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Up to about ten years ago, maybe a little longer Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers were in my experience totally absent (I lived there in Mid-Levels/The Peak from 1987-1997) , though we did get the odd Fire-breasted eg in the Coombe Road area. I assumed at the time that this meant mistletoe was absent or rare in the area.

In the last ten years certainly around where I work (Borrett Road near Bowen Road) they have become numerous; I don't often get to check out the id but they sound like Sb and it's logical that a very common NT species has now re-colonised HK Island.

Mike Turnbull

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The same is true on Lantau - SbF was very rare at the time of the avifauna but now seems to be more regular ( I have seen it at Pui O and Mui Wo). Populations in the NT seem to be doing well, and presumably these are now spreading to some of these other sites.

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No doubt Sb Flowerpecker does bread at Lung Fu Shan but near the environmental center I haven't heard or seen one before and I am in this area at least briefly everyday.  Surely, they can't be anywhere near as common at Lung Fu Shan as at TPK.

Since Sb Flowpeckers are colonizing HK island, I hope Crested Serpent Eagles, Mountain Bulbuls, Great Barbets, Pygmy Wren Babblers, Hainan Blue Flycatchers, Bay Woodpeckers, etc will follow suit!

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13 Oct 2010 - Po Shan Road

1 Asian Paradise Flycatcher
1 Asian Brown Flycatcher
1 Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler
6 Arctic Warbler
6 Yellow-browed Warbler

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22 October 2010--Po Shan Road

Over the last two weeks Po Shan Road has been extremely quiet.  Today there was a lot of activity and lots of birds although nothing rare.

5 Asian Brown Flycatchers
1 Red-throated Flycatcher (seems to be the buffy one I saw 8 Oct)
4 Arctic Warblers
11 Yellow-browed Warblers

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After a very good September, October on Po Shan Road has been quiet boring.  Today, 3 Arctic Warblers and 2 Asian Brown Flycatchers remain but not much else.  I have been searching hard for Greenish Warbler. It is a good time now for one to appear.

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Unfortunately, Po Shan Road has been as bad as Po Toi is been good.  This is of course frustrating when one considers that birds which arrive at Po Toi must be flying over HK Island.  Today it was quite still 2 Arctic Warbler (getting late for them) amongst about 6 Yellow-browed Warblers.

Also, a bit of hawk flight.  Four Common Buzzards were circling overhead and a Peregrine Falcon passed by.

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I think most migrants on Po Toi in autumn arrive from a north east direction, flying around the coastline probably from the Guangdong coast further east from Hong Kong, not via Hong Kong Island. This comes from visible migration confirmed by early overnight radar studies in the 70's and 80's. Some of them on Po Toi also come in from Dangan Island having arrived there the previous night from the same coastal migration route.

A few of them, like the Siskins, leave Po Toi heading in the direction of Hong Kong Island. Most head off towards Lamma or directly south west, missing Hong Kong altogether.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 30/10/2010 18:12 ]

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That would imply that Shek O and Sai Kung would be good spots as well as they are on the coastal route too.  Seems few people go to Sai Kung and no one goes to Shek O.

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Yes, but you have to take other factors into account like suitable habitat for all types of migrants to feed and rest, and the multiplying effect of the Dangan Islands.

Sai Kung is too big to cover. Basalt, Town Island and Tung Lung Chau would be good (also in spring) but only if they have the right habitat. Shek O would be OK but it's not an island so birds can leave more easily. None of these will get the Dangan Island effect to the same extent as Po Toi. And then there's the question of getting there.

If I had the time and money, I'd go for Dangan Island itself (the north end) or a place called Gangkou on the coast of Guangdong east of Hong Kong (see inside cover of Birds of Hong Kong and South China). But then these aren't in Hong Kong.

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Po Shan Road is back in business! Nothing much at all in October but some good birds today.

1 Blue-and-white Flycatcher
3 Mugimaki Flycatcher
1 Daurian Redstart
1 Arctic Warbler (getting late)
6 Yellow-browed Warbler

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9 Nov 10 - Po Shan Road

1 Verditer Flycatcher (first of the fall for me; last year 3 birds wintered on Po Shan Road)
1 Mugimaki Flycatcher

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No time for Po Shan Road this morning but a Scaly Thrush was seen behind the main campus of HKU.

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I didn't go to Po Shan Road today due to time constraints but a first of the fall for me Pallas's Leaf Warbler and a Crested Goshawk were near Lung Fu Shan environmental education center.

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a goodsoni Blyth's Leaf Warbler this morning

plus a juvenile Bonelli's Eagle on 9/11

[ Last edited by bond at 11/11/2010 16:29 ]

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12 Nov 2010--PoShan Road

Meet Fatchun this morning on Po Shan Road and the pattern developing is that I get to see the good birds he discovers.  Today he found this lovely Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (my 13th flycatcher species on Po Shan Road) on the cement trail!  I believe this is latest fall record according to the Avifauna.  Has there been any later records?

We also had a possible Greenish Warbler.  I can post some pics of that later.

He also had a Rufous-tailed Robin.  I saw an Asian Brown Flycatcher and when leaving a Mugimaki Flycatcher.


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