Telford 29 Sep 2019 - dipped the warbler

As expected we dipped the Pale-footed Bush Warbler, only the Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler left...

immature Eurasian Tree Sparrow

immature Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler - focus on tail

Long Valley 28 Sep 2019 - Red-backed Shrike

Heard the news of a Red-backed Shrike in LV so we tried in afternoon though it is mot my HK tick nor lifer. The shrike was found shortly after arrival, and got great view. Studying bird ID is my favorite and probably I am going to write a post about the Red-backed shrike.

Other migrants were slow, only Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler and Plaintive Cuckoo worth mentioning (well also an escaped White-headed Munia) before I got the news of a Pale-footed Bush Warbler in Kowloon at 5pm. Can I trade the Red-backed Shrike with a HK tick lol....

2019 HK big year is 257 and the full list here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S60168989

Red-backed Shrike - shrikes are wire lover, note the whitish belly and small bill. Also the browner ear coverts than Brown Shrike

Red-backed Shrike - the back. For the first winter Red-backed Shrike you can see black subterminal band on tertials, greater coverts and scaling upperparts, a bit different from Brown Shrike. The long primary projection is not easy to be seen in this photo.

Red-backed Shrike - other key features comparative to Brown Shrike are more whitish short supercilium, white fringes on undertail (more prominent on outer two feathers) and the tail is more square-ended

Red-backed Shrike - the whole jizz is also more compacted than Brown.

Ho Man Tin 22 Sep 2019 - infinite working days

Getting a bit tired after infinite works, no time for a proper birding so Ho Man Tin is the only choice.

No Tiger Shrike or other interesting flycatcher, we got a calling Taiga Flycatcher, Orange-headed Thrush and a single Ashy Minivet. For the phylloscopus, at least one calling Pale-legged Leaf Warbler (other are non-vocal), some Arctic and Yellow-browed Warbler.

Wish there is no mega rarity before I am free. 👽👽👽

My 2019 HK Big Year is 254.

Today’s list as here (well I walked 5km ?!):  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59996909

Pale-legged / Sakhalin Leaf Warbler 1

male Orange-headed Thrush

male Orange-headed Thrush

Pale-legged / Sakhalin Leaf Warbler 2

Ashy Minivet

Blue Whistling Thrush

Ho Man Tin 21 Sep 2019 - Tiger Shrike

A mid afternoon walk, I did not see any flycatchers while other saw Blue-and-white and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. Anyway, still several phylloscopus in the migrant list including Yellow-browed, Arctic, Pale-legged and Dusky Warbler.

Best bird should be the Tiger Shrike thanks to Peter.

List: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59967540

Spotted Dove

Arctic Warbler - this one showed two prominent wingbars

Arctic Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler - note the fringed tertials

Tiger Shrike

Tiger Shrike

Tiger Shrike

Cheungchau 14 Sep 2019 - Alcohol night

We enjoyed a night full with alcohol and one Brown Fish Owl (sadly gone quickly without photo) and 5 Black-crowned Night Heron....

Beer

Wine

Sake

dont froget to eBird: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59792151

Chai Wan 8 Sep 2019 - migrantless backyard

A really hot day with zero migrants..... Highlight?... Black-throated Laughingthrush without photos.

14 species list: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59599523

Japanese Tit

Eastern Spotted Dove - a perfect raptor perch....

Red-whiskered and Light-vented Bulbul - secret bulbul bath

Ho Man Tin 7 Sep 2019 - hot morning

A very quiet and hot morning resulted Hainan Blue Flycatcher and non-calling Arctic Warbler....

eBird: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59567830

Common Tailorbird

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - female through the leaf

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - always out focus

Arctic Warbler - not calling

Long Valley 1 Sep 2019 - new season

We had a very causal walk to start the new season, I did not even bring my bins out. The target is still the Swinhoe’s Snipe but only Swinhoe’s / Pintail Snipe can be recorded in the list today, none is safely identifiable.

No Grasshopper-warbler too, only an Oriental Reed Warbler was flushed.

The full list: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59420185

Swinhoe's / Pintail Snipe 1

Swinhoe's / Pintail Snipe 2

Swinhoe's / Pintail Snipe 3 - presumed to be Pintail Snipe by the unclear tail pattern

Oriental Reed Warbler

Common Sandpiper

immature Scaly-breasted Munia

Green and Wood Sandpiper

Red-necked Stint