Category birding

Telford Garden – Hong Kong hotspot for skulking wetland birds

Telford Gardens, a private housing estate in Kowloon Bay, East Kowloon, has become an unlikely hotspot for migratory birds, notably for seeing some normally secretive wetland species such as Locustella warblers and rails. Unless you arrived here when there are…

Autumn Skywatching for Birds of Prey and More in Hong Kong 

While we’ve known for some years that Grey-faced Buzzard and Chinese Sparrowhawk can pass Hong Kong in good numbers on some spring days – evidently after being deflected by easterly winds while migrating from Luzon towards southeast China (Spring Migration…

Where have all the Hong Kong Barn Swallows gone?

I live on Cheung Chau, a small island in southwest Hong Kong – and became very used to it hosting many nesting pairs of Barn Swallows, which start arriving around mid-February, and stay till late summer. Been this way since…

Birdwatching in Hong Kong gives insights into wonders of nature

While human life has lately been muted in Hong Kong during springtime, local birdlife remains vibrant, offering a chance to enjoy some of the wonders and mysteries of the natural world, right outside your home.             Notably, Hong Kong is a…

Hong Kong’s first Scaly-sided Merganser

From edge of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir in northwest New Territories, Hong Kong on 24 January 2023; trip to see what in birding world is a MEGA – a Scaly-sided Merganser, found by John Chow, who confirmed identity after quick…

Birds of Lion Head Mountain and Ngong Ping on Lantau, Hong Kong

In spring 2022, thanks to birding naturalist Paul Aston, I helped discover that the hills near Ngong Ping on Lantau island are good places for observing migrating birds of prey – especially Grey-faced Buzzards and Chinese Sparrowhawks, along with seeing…

Endangered Hong Kong Birds, on Flights to Oblivion

Like canaries in a coal mine, endangered species are signs of danger facing planet earth, our life support system Perhaps for many people, learning of endangered species involves wildlife that lives “out there” somewhere – like giant pandas in bamboo…

Birdwatching in Hong Kong is a great pastime

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You don’t need much equipment to start birdwatching. A pair of binoculars and a field guide will get you started on finding the wealth of species in Hong Kong. Do you watch wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, dragonflies, mammals, fish…

Top Ten Hong Kong birds

Here’s a definitive list of the top ten Hong Kong birds.(Well, ok, this is subjective; but ten top species for sure.) Criteria include global status, appearance, relationship to Hong Kong – perhaps readily seen and familiar, maybe rare worldwide but…

Beginning birdwatching in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an excellent place for birdwatching. Here, you can find global rarities that are tough to see elsewhere, encounter stunning songbirds, watch seabirds blasted inshore by typhoons (yes, typhoons – birdwatchers do far sillier things than just lurk…