The connection between Lesser Frigatebirds and the Black Kite roost at Magazine Gap goes back at least 23 years! To quote directly from the Avifauna: "A long-staying bird was recorded regularly in the roost of Black Kites
Milvus migrans at Magazine Gap from 8 April to 12 August 1988, with two there on the last date: another took up residence in the same roost from 27 December 1991 to 26 August 1992". A good photo of the last individual (taken by Wendy Young) appeared in the 1991 Bird Report - long before the days of digital cameras!
Other similar records (taken from the Hong Kong Bird Reports) are as follows:
1992 - singles over Aberdeen CP on 29 March, Aberdeen Harbour on 29 March and at Wong Nai Chung Gap on 13 June
1994 - one (Frigatebird sp.) at Magazine Gap on 22 March
1995 - an immature in a pre-roost gathering with Black Kites at Magazine Gap on 15 June
1997 - one (Frigatebird sp.) at Magazine Gap on 17 February
No further records from the Peak have been mentioned in subsequent Hong Kong Bird Reports (up to 2006). However, this is probably due to a lack of observer coverage during that period - 1997 and all that!. Now that the KRG is doing regular counts at Magazine Gap - and all credit to them for doing so - the records of 3 different frigatebirds (4 with the current bird?) since 2006 serves to further substantiate the connection between Lesser Frigatebirds & the Black Kite roost.
I don't,offhand, have the dates of the occurrences that Vicky refers to. Perhaps they could be posted on this thread...
David
www.hknaturewalks.com
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Last edited by ddavid at 26/08/2011 22:30 ]
