cgeoff

The following records have now completed circulation around the Records Committee, and have been accepted. All will be included in the HKBR 2005-06. The list includes two additions to the HK List, both in Category E: Purple Cochoa and Red Bishop.

If you have submitted records and wish to know their status, please get in touch with me via email or pm. I hope to be able to follow up records considered not proven with individual observers in the near future.

Geoff Carey
Chairman, Records Committee

Asian Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus
One found at Lok Mei village and transferred to KFBG on 28 September 2005 (KFBG).

Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
One at Pat Sin Leng on 27 November 2005 (JAA).

Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis
A male at Tai Po Kau on 26th December 2006 (AHp), and one there on 13th January 2007 (MLC).

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
An adult near Po Toi on 2nd March 2006 (GW).

Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica
One at Mui Tsz Lam, northeast NT, on 5th April 2005 (JAA) is presumed to be ex-captive.

Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
One at Kam Tin on 15th October 2005 (JAA).

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
A male at Po Toi during 5-29th November 2006 (GW).

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
One near Po Toi on 2nd November 2006 (GW). An adult at Po Toi on 26th August 2007 (GW).

Burmese Shrike Lanius colluroides
One near Tai Po on 7th October 2006 (GJC) is presumed to be ex-captive.

Carrion Crow Corvus corone
One at Fung Lok Wai on 20th February 2004 (JW).

Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps
Up to two in Tai Po Kau from 17th November to 29th December 2004.

Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinenis
One on Po Toi from 16th February to 24th March (GW). This is the second HK record.

Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
One near Mo Tat, south Lamma, on 4th October 2007 (JAA).

Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris
One at Tai O on 26th February 2005 (GH).

Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
Two at Mai Po on 28th October 2006 (MH).

Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
An adult male at Tai Po Kau Headland on 14th April 2007 (MLC).

Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauuricus
One at Lut Chau on 27th November and 22nd December 2004 (EMSK).

Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
One at Tai Po Kau on 16th September 2006 (JAA). One at Mai Po on 16th April 2007 (JAA) and at Po Toi on 19th April 2007 (GW).

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Two females at the mitigation wetland for the Lok Ma Chau Spurline on 1st March 2005 (JAA).

Himalayan Swiftlet Collocalia brevirostris
One at Kam Tin on 13th April 2005 (JAA).

Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx nisicolor
Singles calling at Ng Tung Chai on 1st and 29th April, 13th May and 6th June 2003 (EMSK). Species no longer considered by RC.

Japanese Grosbeak Eophona personata
One at Hang Tau Tsuen on 3rd January 2005 (JH,GJC). One at Man Uk Pin on 25th January 2005 (JAA).

Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel
One at Po Toi on 3rd May 2006 (GW).

Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
Three birds of the taxon atrifrons were seen from the boardwalk hide on 2nd September 2007 (JAA).

Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum
Singles trapped at Mai Po NR on 18th October 2003 (EMSK) and 17th September 2006 (JAA). Two were seen at San Tin on 21st September 2006 (JAA) and one at Long Valley on 19th September 2007.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
A pair was near Shui Mei, Kam Tin on 20th January 2007 (JAA). These are presumed to be ex-captive.

Mrs Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae
A male at Tai Po Kau on 18th January 2007 (JAA).

Northern Boobook Ninox japonica
One at Yung Shue Ha, south Lamma 9th May 2007 (JAA).

Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinctus
One on Po Toi on 10th and 16th March 2006, and what is presumed to be the same bird there on 22nd November 2006. First found on 18th February, also seen on 2nd October.

Pallas’s Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi
A first-winter at the mitigation wetland for the Lok Ma Chau Spurline on 8th November 2006 (MH).

Purple Cochoa Cochoa purpurea
One on Po Toi on 11th October 2007 (GW) has been accepted into Category E as the first record of this species in Hong Kong. The Records Committee could find only limited evidence of migratory behaviour in this species and the bird showed some signs of plumage damage consistent with having been in captivity.

Purple-backed Starling Sturnus sturninus
The first winter record of this species concerned a female at Lok Ma Chau on 22nd January 2005 (JAA). A rare spring record occurred at Kam Tin on 8-9th May 2005.

Red Bishop Euplectes orix
A male and a female were trapped at Mai Po NR on 18th September 2004 (CHF). An African species regularly found in captivity. Previously moved to Category F, now reinstated in Category E.

Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
One on Po Toi on 10th November 2007 and possibly the same 18th December to 31st January 2008 (GW).

Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta
One at Tai Po Kau on 4th December 2005 (JAA).

Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
One at Sam A Tsuen on 20th February 2006 and presumed same at Nam Chung on 12th March (MLC). One in flight off Po Toi on 27th February 2008 (GW). These are the second and third Hong Kong records.

Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
A juvenile at Kam Tin on 24th September 2005 (JAA).

Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus
One at Long Valley on 16th May 2006 (MH).

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata
One at Ng Tung Chai on 9th February 2004 (EMSK).

Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica
One at Long Valley on 19th November 2006 (GJC).

Small Niltava Niltava macgregoriae
One at Tai Po Kau on 15th December 2004.

Smew Mergus albellus
One at Mai Po NR on 24th December 2006 (CW).

Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata
A juvenile off Po Toi on 13th September 2006 (GW).

Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti
Singles at Tai Po Kau on 8th (GJC) and 29th November 2006 (MH), probably referring to the same individual.

Thick-billed Pigeon Treron curvirostra
One at Lam Tsuen on 12th January 2006 (MH).
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus
Single juveniles on Po Toi on 14th September (GW) and Tai Po Kau on 16th September, both in 2006 (JAA).

Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Singles of the taxon indicus were at Long Valley on 15th April 2005 and Mai Po NR on 2nd December 2007 ( both JAA).

Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys
One on Po Toi on 15th November 2006 (GW).

Yellow-legged Buttonquail Turnix tanki
One at Mai Po NR on 21st October 2006 (JAA).

Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans
One on Po Toi on 24-25th April 2006 (GW). The provenance of this bird appears uncertain.

[ Last edited by cgeoff at 18/07/2009 12:19 ]

cgeoff

The following records have successfully completed circulation around the RC. Most will be included in the 2005-06 HKBR.

Barred Buttonquail
A female at Pat Sin Leng on 27th November 2005 (JAA).

Bianchi’s/Plain-tailed Warbler
One in Tai Po Kau on 28th September 2003 (JAA).

Black-headed Bunting
A male at Tai Sang Wai on 13th and 14th February 2003 (YTY).

Black-legged Kittiwake
A first-winter at the Mai Po boardwalk on 9th February 2003.

Blue-throated Barbet
One at Mui Tsz Lam, northeast NT on 5th April 2005 (JAA).

Blue-throated Bee-eater
One on Po Toi on 17th September 2006 (MK, PW).

Blue-winged Pitta
One on Po Toi on 18 April and 1 May (GW).

Blyth’s Reed Warbler
One at Kam Tin on 15th October 2006 (JAA).

Brambling
A female at Mai Po NR on 5th January 2003 (PJL).

Bright-capped Cisticola
Two along High Junk Peak Trail, Clearwater Bay Country Park on 9th September 2000 (MT). At the time, this was an unseasonably early record.

Brown Booby
One in Tolo Channel on 15 May 2004 (RF,HL).

Carrion Crow
Two at Mai Po NR on 29 January 2004 (GJC).

Chestnut-crowned Warbler
One in Tai Po Kau on 12-13 February 2005 (PW,MW).

Collared Kingfisher
One at Plover Cove Reservoir on 23 and 25 April (PC,MRL). One was at Mai Po NR on 10 September 2005 (KML).

Cotton Pygmy Goose
Two at Mai Po NR on 29 October 2006 (FC).

Crested Honey Buzzard
Five seen from Kwun Yam Shan, KFBG on 19 October 2003 (YTY).

Diamond Dove
Ten recently released birds at Bride’s Pool on 1 October 2003 (JAA). Released into an unfamiliar environment with, probably, death to follow in fairly short order. The first record of this species in Hong Kong.

Drongo Cuckoo
A juvenile/first-winter at Tai Po Kau on 21-22 August 2004 (PW,MW).

Eurasian Sparrowhawk
One at Kam Tin on 22 March 2005 (JAA).

Fairy Pitta
One at Tai Po Kau on 29 April 2006 (PKK).

Ferruginous Duck
Two females were at Lok Ma Chau WCA on 1 March 2005 (JAA) and a male and female were at Mai Po NR on 20 December 2005. Three, including two males, were at Mai Po NR on 15 January 2006 (LB).

Fujian Niltava
A male at Sha Tin Pass on 24 December 2005 (PW,MW).

Great Frigatebird
One south of Lamma on 27 April 2008 (MLC).

Greenish Warbler
One at Ng Tung Chai on 4 January 2003 (MT). One at Tai Po Kau on 26 January 2004 (GJC).

Grey-backed Shrike
One at Tai Po Kau on 22nd April 2004 (PKK). Although not reported to show signs of captive origin, the fact that this is considered to be a short-distance migrant and was followed by one of obviously captive origins at Sha Tin, means this species is placed in Category E.
One at Siu Lek Yuen, Sha Tin on 27 January 2007 (KWM). This bird showed evidence of cage damage, and the species remains in Category E.

Grey-headed Parrotbill
One in Tai Po Kau on 6 July and 28 September 2003 (JAA).

Hawfinch
One along Deep Bay Road near Mong Tsent on 22 January 2006 (JGH).

Himalayan Swiftlet
One at Kam Tin on 13 April 2005 (JAA).

Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo
One calling along Route Twisk on 4th and 6 April (GJC)

Japanese Grosbeak
One at Lam Tsuen on 17 March 2003 (MH). The date contained in the 2003-04 HKBR is incorrect. One near Tong Kung Leng, Sheung Shui on 1 January 2005 (JAPW,JGH). One at Man Uk Pin on 25 January 2005 (JAA).

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush
At least one at Tai Po Kau on 10th and 11 December 2004 (RWL). This is the first HK record, and the species has been placed in Category E.

Malayan Night Heron
An adult at Tai Lung Experimental Farm, On Po on 10 October 2005 (PKK).

Mongolian Lark
One recently-released bird at Chung Mei, 23 November 2004 (JAPW,JGH). The year stated in the 2003-04 HKBR is incorrect.

Mrs Gould’s Sunbird
A male at Tai Po Kau on 22nd, 24th and 30 January 2005 (CKC) and another there on 19 January and 23 February 2006 (YL,LB). A category review of this species is nearing completion.

Northern Boobook
One in Kowloon Park on 21 April 2004 (CM-G). One at Kam Tin on 21 October 2005 (JAA). One taken found at Chai Wan was taken into care at SPCA on 3 November 2006.

‘Olive-backed Flycatcher’ Ficedula narcissina owstoni
A male at Mount Davis on 24 March 2002 (PH,HH). A male was on Po Toi on 26th and 30th March 2006 (MW,PW,CKC). These are the first HK records. However, the taxonomic status of birds identified as owstoni is complex, while the separation of females from female elisae appears to be highly problematic. The RC is currently researching these issues.

Parasitic Jaeger
Five near Po Toi on 17 April 2005 (PW,MW).

Plain-tailed/Emei Warbler Seicercus soror/omeiensis
One was at Tai Po Kau on 9 October 2004 (MW,PW). This is the first record of this species pair in HK.

Pomarine Jaeger
Two near Po Toi on 17 April 2005 (PW,MW).

Purple-backed Starling
One at Lok Ma Chau on 22 January 2005 (JAA). This is the first winter record. One was at Kam Tin on 8-9 May 2005 (JAA); spring records are rare.

Red-footed Booby
A juvenile was at Dong Ping Chau on 7 July 2005 (KCL,KMY).

Red-tailed Minla
One bearing a plastic ring indicating captive origin was at Tai Po Kau on 4 December 2005 (JAA).

Red-throated Loon
What is presumed to be the same bird was seen at Sam A Tsuen on 20 February and at Nam Chung on 13 March (PW,MW). This bird was seen on other dates also, and further records are requested.

Rose-coloured Starling
A juvenile was at Kam Tin on 24 September 2005 (JAA).

Ruddy Kingfisher
One on Po Toi on 18 May 2006 (GT,JACM). This is the first record for HK.

Rustic Bunting
A female present at Kam Tin on 6 March 2005 (JAA) appeared to show evidence of cage damage.

Rusty Laughingthrush
One on Tai Mo Shan on 6 June 2002 (HKY,SL). This is the second HK record.

Water Rail
One of the taxon indicus was at Long Valley on 15 April 2005 (JAA).

White-spectacled Warbler
The over-wintering bird at Tai Po Kau was seen there on 15 February 2004 (GJC). One was seen at Tai Po Kau on 22 January, 6th and 12 February 2005 (PW,MW).

White-throated Laughingthrush
Seven or eight birds were at Tai Lam CP on 26 October 2006 (BH).

Yellow-bellied Tit
In 2005 two were Sha Lo Tung on 10 December (SHS) and at Mount Davis on 26 December (SHS).

Yellow-browed Bunting
One was at Long Valley on 22 September 2006 (LB).

[ Last edited by cgeoff at 18/07/2009 13:52 ]