This elegant Fork-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga christinae, 叉尾太陽鳥) was spotted today in the Hong Kong Park. It hangs on a Red-vein Chinese Lantern (紋瓣懸鈴花) sipping nectar from the flower. This is the second time I met a Fork-tailed Sunbird.
The Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea, 小葵花鳳頭鸚鵡), which is an introduced species, has a white plumage with yellow or orange crest and can be seen in major parks and Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island.
In fact a large flock of them can be seen on treetops along the Bowen Drive and Bowen Road, Mid-levels every early morning as they are flying from canopy to canopy making a very loud noise.
This Yellow-crested Cockatoo was seen in the Hong Kong Park a few days ago as it was sitting on a branch sun-bathing.
The Fork-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga christinae, 叉尾太陽鳥), a resident, is commonly found in woodland and major urban parks in Hong Kong. The male has a metallic blue-green head, dark crimson throat and upper breast as well as decurved bill.
This Fork-tailed Sunbird (Male) was spotted yesterday morning (23 Feb. 2020) in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens which is the oldest park in the territory.
The Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonica, 暗綠繡眼鳥) is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. A resident with bright green upperparts, yellow throat and vent with a prominent white eyering. It can be commonly seen in woodland and urban parks in Hong Kong.
They sip the nectar and eat the insects they find among the petals and twigs. Frequently travel in vocal and active flocks.
These photos were taken yesterday (23 Feb. 2020) near the Cotton Tree Drive inside Hong Kong Park which is a great place for viewing flowers and watching birds. I found them moving in swift bouncing flight through the canopy of the Cotton Tree.
The Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus 池鷺) a small heron species with white wings, a yellow bill with a black tip, yellow eyes and legs. In breeding season, feathers on its head and neck turn dark wine-red, while those on its back turn greyish blue and those on its belly turn white. It is greyish-brown with streaks on head, neck and breast at other times.
This Chinese Pond Heron was spotted in Lake Ad Excellentiam of the Chinese University, Shatin a few days ago. It was found idling still on a fence just above the water surface.
Yellow Bitterns ( Ixobrychus sinensis 黃葦鳽) are small ardeid with yellow bill and legs. They have black cap and flight feathers and their belly are light brown.
Reed marsh is their ideal habitat. They often build nests inside reed marsh using reeds as the raw material, it is hard to find them. Its light brown feathers act as a perfect camouflage, when it stands still among the reeds.
I was lucky that I saw this yellow bittern striding slowly amid the lotus stalks in the upper lotus pond in the Shing Mun Valley Park, Tai Wo Hau a few days ago.
The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax 夜鷺), or black-capped night heron, is a medium-sized heron with yellow legs. Adult has black crown and black with grey and white wings and long white plumes on back of head. I encountered the first guy standing at the edge of a fish pond in the Hong Kong Park staring motionlessly on the 20th of this month.
The other one that I encountered was at the Lake Ad Excellentiam in the Chinese University, Shatin a few days ago, where the night-Heron was standing still on a fence just above the water surface, waiting to ambush its prey.
Walking home after a photo session in the Hong Kong Park this morning, I spotted this Chinese Bulbul, which is white hindcrown and olive back, standing on a branch of a tree down the Justice Road next to the Conrad Hotel. I took a few pictures of this beautiful guy.
The attractive Java Sparrows (爪哇禾雀) , with its immaculate grey, white and black plumage, have been a favourite caged bird and used as a fortune-telling bird. The adult can easily be recognized, with its grey upperparts and breast, pink belly, white-cheeked black head, red eye-ring, pink feet and thick red bill. They are highly socialized, forging for food in groups.
The Edward Youde Aviary of Hong Kong Park, after a recent renovation, reopens in early February this year. As it is still a Public Holiday in Hong Kong, many people come here for a glimpse of the lovely birds.
Below are some pictures I took this morning inside the Aviary.
Eurasian Tree Sparrows are so common and abundant in Hong Kong that they can be seen everywhere. The upperparts of the plumage are brownish and their cheek and throat have black spots. They feed on seeds and insects.
They had earned the title of “Hong Kong’s “Favourite Bird” in a vote for their lovely appearance and the fact they can be found almost everywhere. People also admired their energy and ability to survive in any environment – reflecting the character of the people of Hong Kong!
This photography of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow sitting on a Rhodoleia (Hong Kong Rose吊鐘王) was taken in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Garden this morning.
The Common Tailorbird (長尾縫葉鶯) is a common resident and is widely distributed in Hong Kong. It has a reddish-brown forehead, olive-green upperpart and whitish underpart and a long tail that it “wags” frequently. It has a unique way of building nests by stitching one or two leaves with plant fibres to form a cradle, in which it builds the nest with grass.
Below is a photo of a Common Tailorbird spotted in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens this morning.
Blue Whistling Thrush (紫嘯鶇), which is also called Violet Whistling Thrush, Himalayan Whistling Thrush, is a common resident in Hong Kong and can be found widely in shrubland and woodland throughout Hong Kong.
Blue Whistling Thrush, which fans its tail often, is dark violet overall in colour, sprinkled with pale dots. It can be found feeding along forest streams, and in open spaces or gardens. This kind of Thrush have been seen on hillsides along Bowen Road in the early morning recently.
This Blue Whistling Thrush was spotted along the hillside near the Edward Youde Aviary in the Hong Kong Park yesterday.
Spotted Dove(珠頸斑鳩), which is also called Spotted-necked Dove, Spot-necked Dove, Pearl-necked Dove, is often seen in the countryside, urban parks and wooded areas in Hong Kong.
It is the most commonly seen resident dove in Hong Kong. It looks like pigeon with white-spotted black collar around the side of the neck and hindneck.
This Spotted Dove was spotted at Bowen Road this morning.
A spotted dove was spotted in the Hong Kong Park a few day days ago.
It was sunny and dry at Bowen Road this morning. Flocks of Black-throated Laughing Thrush(黑喉噪眉), Red-billed Blue Magpies(紅嘴藍鵲) and Hwamei(畫眉) and Red-whiskered Bulbuls flew down from the treetops to fetch their food along the road.
The Red-whiskered Bulbul is not easily mistaken for any other species of bird. It has a tall pointed black crest, white cheeks, brown back and a long white-tipped tail. The red whisker mark, from which it gets its name, is located below the eye.
Here are some pictures I took this morning.
It was fine and dry this morning though a bit cool at Bowen Road. Apart from the flocks of Black-throated Laughing Thrushes(黑喉噪眉), Red-billed Blue Magpies(紅嘴藍鵲) and Hwamei(畫眉) that come up daily to fetch their food, there came a couple of Chinese Bulbuls perching on the treetops. This is the second time this week I spotted Chinese Bulbuls(白頭鵯) that rarely appear here.
Chinese Bulbuls have a distinctive white hindcrown and olive back, hence its traditional Chinese name: “white-haired old man”(白頭翁). Chinese Bulbuls are widespread and commonly found in urban and rural areas. They will sometimes join together with Red-whiskered Bulbuls, feeding on berries and insects, papaya being their favourite.
Here are some pictures that I took this morning.
