wgeoff

2nd December.

A cold day, definitely the start of winter.

Signs of new birds with the cold front were a near record count (for Po Toi) of Pallas's Leaf Warbler, higher counts of Pale Thrush (at least ten) and some other thrushes also present, a Grey Heron on the fish farm, also a White-throated Kingfisher there, and my first Russet Bush Warbler of the winter.

Best bird was a Dusky Thrush, a different throat pattern to the bird 2 weeks ago so another new arrival



Hoping for more on Thursday although the rain forecast may make it a difficult day.

wgeoff

Cold but no rain. Five other birdwatchers to help, we put together a good list but nothing exceptional.

Many of the leaf warblers on Tuesday had left but there were more thrushes around.
Best was a Brown-headed Thrush seen by the helipad and photographed at a distance by Koel Ko. Also 15 Pale Thrush, a record count for me on Po Toi, and a single White's Thrush which only briefly showed its rear end



Po Toi seems to be attractive to Pale Thrush, also usually to Japanese Thrush but none were seen.

Now several flocks of Chestnut Bulbuls and a few Oriental Turtle Doves, mostly in advanced feather moult and finding it difficult to fly



Other species seen, not all by me

Hoopoe, still there
Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike, a latest autumn date for Po Toi where it does not winter
Stubtail, Manchurian and Brown-flanked Bush Warblers
Greenish Warbler, the same bird near the Ferry Pier now for four weeks

The next week may be the last for migrants - still hoping for something really good.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 5/12/2014 15:27 ]

wgeoff

Covering two visits, Sunday and Tuesday.

Still many Pale Thrush, high count 20 on Tuesday, also Japanese Thrush, Blackbird and the first Grey-backed Thrush (for me) on Tuesday.
The Hoopoe still there, also at least two Two-barred Warblers with birds in three different places, and now both Russet and Manchurian Bush Warblers in various locations.

Best birds - a Scarlet Minivet on Tuesday (could it be one of the flock seen three weeks ago?) and a Radde's Warbler behind the house above the Ferry Pier on Sunday - the same location as Harry and wife found one three weeks ago also - same bird?

Here photos of the Minivet and the Radde's, with a Dusky Warbler in the same location for comparison with the Radde's




[ Last edited by wgeoff at 10/12/2014 09:41 ]

wgeoff

Cold and quiet today.

Still the Hoopoe, on Po Toi since 18th September, with at least 14 Pale Thrush, also with Japanese and Grey-backed, and my latest ever Hair-crested Drongo for Po Toi



Also this odd looking raptor, looks like a cross between a Black Kite and a Buzzard to me - any comments?



[ Last edited by wgeoff at 17/12/2014 12:21 ]

ajohn

The raptor looks like a Black Kite to me, albeit with a shallower tail fork than usual (moult perhaps?)

wgeoff

Thank you John, I think you are right. The bird was still there yesterday, under attack from a Peregrine.

Also the usual species including the Hoopoe and 21 Pale Thrush, a new high count, plus the Brown-headed Thrush first photographed by Koel Ko on 4th December, once again only photographed at distance next to the helipad



But the bird was at the edge of the helipad when I first saw it so if someone waits there some time, it may come down.
The Helipad is also a good location to see the Hoopoe and some Pale Thrush.

Please note that a contractor is replacing the waterpipe from the Upper Reservoir down Green Pigeon Lane to the Sister's Cafe. Please avoid this waterpipe, in particular do not sit or stand on it as it has not yet been secured properly and will break easily.



[ Last edited by wgeoff at 19/12/2014 10:26 ]

JohnC

I camped for two nights on Po Toi.  Arrived on Sunday 28th and left on Tuesday 30th.  Didn’t see anything special, I looked for the Chinese Thrush that might have been there but couldn’t find it.  
On Monday bees took over the Island, I counted 4 swarms.  I’ve heard that they are less likely to sting when they are swarming, they didn’t seem to mind me when I got close to one of them.  

A good experience anyway, I might try it again during spring migration.

Here is my list

Black Kite (many)
Black-faced Bunting 1 (behind the temple)
Blue Rock Thrush 7
Chestnut Bulbul 5
Common Kingfisher 1
Common Tailorbird 2
Crested Myna 70+
Daurian Redstart  (many)
Dusky Warbler 1
Common Blackbird 1
Eurasian Hoopoe (it popped up all over the place)
Fork-tailed Sunbird 1
Grey-backed Thrush 2
Greater Coucal 4
Hair-crested Drongo 1
Japanese White-eye  (many)
Large-billed Crow 2
Lesser Coucal 1
Chinese Bulbul (many)
Long-tailed Shrike 2
Masked Laughingthrush (many)
Scaly-breasted Munia 1
Olive-backed Pipit 1
Oriental Magpie Robin (many)
Oriental Turtle Dove 4
Pacific Reef Egret 6
Pale Thrush 6
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler (many)
Peregrine Falcon 1
Plain Prinia 2
Red-billed Starling 5
Red-flanked Bluetail 3
Red-whiskered Bulbul (many)
Spotted Dove (many)
White Wagtail 1
Whit-throated Kingfisher 1
Yellow-browed Warbler (many)






















PS. A man was measuring the path from the ferry to the Temple, he said they will make a new one.  

And Happy New Year!

[ Last edited by JohnC at 31/12/2014 21:28 ]