Paul Baxter, Phil & Julie Crockett, Georgina Bradbury
The following details a trip to Hong Kong in November 2002. Rather than being a comprehensive trip report, it simply lists the places we visited and the species we saw. Hopefully, it will prove useful for any birders visiting at this time of the year as we found little literature to help us plan out trip.
Itinerary
22nd November - arrived mid-afternoon
23rd November - Pok Fu Lam area, The Peak and Stanley.
24th November - Elliot Water Treatment Works (am) & Kowloon Park (pm)
25th November - Tai Po Kau, Tai Mo Shan and Long Valley
26th November - The Peak (am) and Kowloon Park (pm)
27th November - The Peak (Paul) Lamma Island (Phil & Julie)
28th November - Mai Po Nature Reserve
29th November - Lantau (Dolphin trip)
30th November - Mai Po Nature Reserve
1st December - The Peak
Trip List
Little Grebe Common at Mai Po Great Crested Grebe One from boardwalk hide at Mai Po on 28th. Great Cormorant Many thousands at Mai Po Grey Heron Very common at Mai Po NR Purple Heron Two at Mai Po NR on 30th. Great Egret Very common at Mai Po on 28th. Estimate of 300 on scrape there. Intermediate Egret Up to 20 or more at Mai Po on 28th. Little Egret Very common at Mai Po NR on 28th. Pacific Reef Egret 15+ birds seen from dolphin boat trip on 29th. Chinese Pond Heron Very common at Mai Po on 28th. Also seen in Kowloon Park at the 'Bird Lake' on 24th. Black-crowned Night Heron Fifteen birds roosting in trees at Kowloon Park at the 'Bird Lake' on 24th. A few seen at Mai Po NR on 28th. Great Bittern Up to four birds seen in flight at Mai Po on 30th, including one bird trapped and ringed. Eurasian Spoonbill A dozen or so individuals on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th. Black-faced Spoonbill Excellent views of 100+ birds at Mai Po on 28th on 'the scrape'. Occasional birds seen flying over various parts of reserve. One seen from Boardwalk Hide on mudflats. Eurasian Wigeon Common at Mai Po from Boardwalk Hide on 28th. Common Teal Common at Mai Po on 28th. Northern Pintail Common at Mai Po on 28th. Several hundred on 'the scrape'. Northern Shoveler Noted at Mai Po on 28th. Tufted Duck Three at Mai Po on 28th. Osprey Two birds seen at Mai Po on 28th. Black Kite Very common throughout Hong Kong. Thirty-two counted at The Peak on 22nd. White-bellied Sea Eagle One adult seen from the 'dolphin boat trip' on 29th. Eastern Marsh Harrier Up to four female type birds at Mai Po on 28th. Common Buzzard Two birds at The Peak on 23rd. Also seen at Mai Po on 28th. Greater Spotted Eagle Two birds at Mai Po on 28th, one from Tower Hide. Common Kestrel Singles seen at Long Valley on 25th and Mai Po on 28th. Peregrine One from the Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th and one from 'dolphin boat trip' on 29th. Chinese Francolin One at Tai Mo Shan Country Park on 25th, on dirt track near barrier. White-breasted Waterhen One in Kowloon Park at the 'Bird Lake' on 24th, one at Long Valley on 25th, and two or three noted at Mai Po NR on 28th. Common Moorhen Common at Mai Po NR on 28th. Avocet Very common at Mai Po NR, with many hundreds from Boardwalk Hide on 28th. Grey Plover One on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th. Also, many distant plovers from Boardwalk Hide. Little Ringed Plover Five birds at Long Valley on 25th, and up to a dozen birds at Mai Po on 28th. Kentish Plover Common at Mai Po NR with many hundreds from Boardwalk Hide on 28th. Single bird on 'the scrape'. Eurasian Curlew Four birds on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th. Spotted Redshank Six birds on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th. Common Redshank Many birds from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th. Marsh Sandpiper One on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th and many from the Boardwalk Hide. Common Greenshank Four birds on 'the scrape' at Mai Po on 28th, with others seen from the Boardwalk Hide. Green Sandpiper Two at Long Valley on 25th. Three at Mai Po Fishponds on 28th. Wood Sandpiper Six at Long Valley on 25th. Three at Mai Po Fishponds on 28th. Common Sandpiper One at Stanley on 23rd and 3 at Long Valley on 25th. Swinhoe's Snipe One, possibly two, birds at Long Valley on 25th. Great Knot Seven distant birds from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th. Heuglin's Gull Many distant large gulls on mudflats from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th were presumably this species. Black-headed Gull Very common on mudflats from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th. Saunder's Gull Up to 20 birds from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th. Caspian Tern One from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th. Oriental Turtle Dove Seen at various sites, with 4 at Long Valley on 25th, 1 in Kowloon Park on 26th, 12+ at Mai Po on 28th. Also seen on The Peak. Spotted Dove Common in many areas, inc. 20+ in Kowloon Park. Greater Coucal One at Mai Po NR on 30th. Lesser Coucal One on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Little Swift Seen over Hong Kong Island daily. Also many seen at Long Valley on 25th. At Mai Po, 100+ birds over ponds along access road on 28th and 30th. Pied Kingfisher One at Mai Po on 28th on 'the scrape'. Common Kingfisher Common at Mai Po on 28th, at various fishponds around reserve. White-throated Kingfisher One seen from Star Ferry crossing to Kowloon on 24th. Three at Long Valley on 25th and many at Mai Po NR on 28th. Black-capped Kingfisher Four birds from Boardwalk Hide at Mai Po on 28th giving excellent views. Dollarbird One at Tai Po Kau on 25th, along access road near houses. Sand Martin Up to 25 at Mai Po on 30th. Barn Swallow Many at Mai Po Fishponds on 30th. Red-rumped Swallow Two at Long Valley on 25th and 5 at Mai Po Fishponds on 30th. Asian House Martin Two at Mai Po Fishponds on 30th with other hirundines. Yellow Wagtail Very common at Long Valley on 25th. Several thousand emerging from roost at Mai Po on 30th. Grey Wagtail A single on The Peak on 1st December. White Wagtail Seen at numerous sites including Kowloon Park, Mai Po, Long Valley and The Peak. Richard's Pipit Up to a dozen birds at Long Valley on 25th. One of the race 'sinensis' seen at Tai Mo Shan on 25th. Olive-backed Pipit A dozen birds at Elliot Water Works in Pok Fu Lam district on 24th. Very common at Long Valley on 25th with several hundred noted. Also seen at Mai Po and The Peak. Red-throated Pipit One at Long Valley on 25th and one at Mai Po on 30th (both flyovers) Red-whiskered Bulbul Very common bird. Cannot be missed in Kowloon Park. Chinese Bulbul Very common. Sooty-headed Bulbul One on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Chestnut Bulbul Five at Tai Po Kau on 25th, and two at The Peak on 27th. Brown Shrike One on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Long-tailed Shrike Up to three seen at Tai Po Kau on 25th, and fairly common at Long Valley and Mai Po. A dark phase bird 'fuscatus' seen at Mai Po on 28th. Rufous-tailed Robin Two seen on The Peak on 27th (PB). Others heard there on further visits but very elusive. Siberian Rubythroat Three trapped at Mai Po NR on 30th. Birds heard on The Peak on 1st December but elusive. Bluethroat One trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Red-flanked Bluetail Singles seen on The Peak on 23rd, 26th and 27th (PB). A male on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Oriental Magpie Robin Fairly common, seen at Kowloon Park, Mai Po and The Peak on various dates. Daurian Redstart Female at Tai Mo Shan on 25th, up to three at Mai Po on 28th (inc. one male), and single female on The Peak on 1st Dec. Common Stonechat Up to a dozen birds at Long Valley on 25th. Blue Whistling Thrush One at Stanley on 23rd and single birds seen at The Peak on 26th & 27th. White's Thrush One on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Japanese Thrush One on Lamma Island on 27th (PC) Common Blackbird Noted at The Peak on several dates and Mai Po on 28th. Grey-backed Thrush Single bird on The Peak on 26th (PB). Other thrushes in flight were presumably this species. Pale Thrush Single bird on The Peak on 26th (PB). Eyebrowed Thrush Single male on The Peak on 26th. Masked Laughingthrush Fairly common, noted at Pok Fu Lam (in apartment grounds), The Peak and Kowloon Park (very approachable) Black-throated Laughingthrush Four seen on The Peak on 26th.
Hwamei One at The Peak on 26th (PC). Asian Stubtail Warbler One at The Peak on 27th (PB) and a further two birds seen there on 1st Dec. Others heard but not seen. Japanese Bush Warbler One trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Oriental Reed Warbler Two birds trapped at Mai Po on 30th.
Zitting Cisticola Common at Long Valley on 25th. Yellow-bellied Prinia Four birds at Elliot Water Works on 24th. Common at Mai Po with a dozen trapped on 30th. Plain Prinia Noted at Mai Po on 28th and a few trapped there on 30th. Common Tailorbird Common, seen at The Peak, Kowloon Park, Tai Po Kau and Mai Po. Dusky Warbler Two at Stanley on 23rd, one in Kowloon Park on 24th, one at Long Valley on 25th and ten trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Radde's Warbler One at The Peak on 27th (PB) and one at Lamma Island on 27th (PC). Pallas's Leaf Warbler Fairly common, noted at The Peak, Tai Po Kau, Mai Po, Elliot Water Works and Kowloon Park. Yellow-browed Warbler Fairly common, noted at The Peak, Mai Po, Tai Po Kau, Elliot Water Works and Kowloon Park. One trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Asian Brown Flycatcher Up to three birds in Kowloon Park on 24th and a single there on 26th. Grey-headed Flycatcher One in Tai Po Kau on 25th (PC). Chinese Penduline Tit Twenty trapped at Mai Po on 30th.
Great Tit Common, noted in Kowloon Park, The Peak, Tai Po Kau and Mai Po. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Fairly common, noted at Pok Fu Lam (apartment grounds), The Peak and Elliot Water Works. Fork-tailed Sunbird Two birds at Pok Fu Lam (apartment grounds) on 23rd and Elliot Water Works on 24th. Chestnut-flanked White-eye single bird with Japanese White-eyes at The Peak on 26th. Japanese White-eye Very common. Seen almost everywhere with ten trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Tristram's Bunting One at The Peak on 27th (PB). Little Bunting Two at Elliot Water Works on 24th and one at Long Valley on 25th. Yellow-browed Bunting One at The Peak on 26th. Chestnut Bunting One at Lamma Island on 27th (PC). Black-faced Bunting Up to six birds at Tai Mo Shan on 25th and four trapped at Mai Po on 30th. White-rumped Munia One group at Elliot Water Works of c40 birds on 24th. Common in Kowloon Park. Scaly-breasted Munia Five with White-rumped Munias at Elliot Water Works on 24th. Also seen at The Peak. One trapped at Mai Po on 30th. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Very common. Large numbers in Kowloon Park and Stanley (several hundred). Red-billed Starling Up to 20 birds with other starlings in Kowloon Park on 24th with ten there on 26th. White-cheeked Starling Common at Mai Po (200+) on 28th. Black-collared Starling Common in Kowloon Park. Also noted at Mai Po on 28th. Crested Myna Common in Kowloon Park and regularly seen around Hong Kong City. Ashy Drongo One at Tai Po Kau on 25th. Red-billed Blue Magpie Four in Kowloon Park on 26th and a single at The Peak on 27th (PB). Grey Treepie Seven birds in a single group at The Peak on 26th. Common Magpie Common site around Hong Kong. Large-billed Crow Up to five at The Peak on several dates. Also at Tai Po Kau on 25th. Collared Crow Three at Mai Po on 28th.
