Good day today, beginning with the HKBWS outing to Tai Mo Shan and extending on my own to Tai Po Kau.
In order of record:
1) Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler: Many throughout the day, certainly more than 10 which appears to be the high count. I would estimate 35 over the 15km+ of hiking on this route. Singing almost constantly.
2) Chinese Francolin: also calling through the grasslands, saw 1 male between Tai Mo Shan and Lead Mine Pass.
3) Upland Pipit: 1 spotted on a rock on Tai Mo Shan, above the vehicle barrier but before the summit
4) Richards Pipit: 6, usually in pairs, between the summit and Lead Mine Pass
5) Large Grass Warbler: 4, all singles, between the summit and Lead Mine Pass. Notably I did not see any on the group route up to the summit - it may be easier to find these past the summit (which appeared less crowed and a bit more birdy overall)
6) Russet Bush-Warbler: 1, singing, between the summit and Lead Mine Pass
7) Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo: 1, calling, also seen in flight just beyond Lead Mine Pass en route to Tai Po Kau.
8) Large Hawk-Cuckoo: Many calling between Lead Mine Pass and Tai Po Kau.
Good birding! Feel free to email for more detail at
jasonmann@post.harvard.edu
Jason Mann