1.4.51 Numbers were highest during the summer and early autumn, with a peak of 16 on 10 July 2000. During the period winter to spring 1-3 were recorded on most visits (Figure 22). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 61.
Little Egret - Number of individuals per visit at Long
Valley 2000-01
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
Status
1.4.52 In Hong Kong the Chinese Pond Heron is common and present all year, though with an undetermined migratory element. Chinese Pond Heron is particularly common in the New Territories, especially around Deep Bay and Starling Inlet, but there are only occasional records from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It can be found in almost any lowlying damp area, as well as at ornamental lakes in parks and gardens. There has been a long-term decline from a peak of 684 during the winter of 1989-90 to 179 in the winter of 1997-98. This decline may be related to a decline in fishpond area, especially as the number of Chinese Pond Herons appears to depend to some extent at least on the aggregate length of fishpond perimeter present (Young 1994). Rose and Scott (1997) estimate the east/southeast Asian wintering population (equivalent to the world population) to lie in the range 25,000 to one million, which means that with an average peak winter period count during the 1990s of 327, Deep Bay may hold 1% of the regional population (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.53 Numbers rose steadily to a peak of 78 on 13 September 2001; thereafter a steady decline in numbers was noted (Figure 23). This species flocks less and does not respond en masse to drain down of ponds like other ardeids. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 62.
San Tin
1.4.54 Most counts were of ten to fifty birds, with a peak of 84 on 29 November 2000 (Figure 23). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 62.
Number of individuals per visit at Lok Ma Chau and San
Tin winter 2000-01
Long Valley
1.4.55 Although somewhat lower during the early summer, numbers at Long Valley were generally rather consistent with ten to thirty birds on most visits (Figure 24). Peak counts were of 30 on 19 December 2000 and 33 on 12 February 2001. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 63.
Chinese Pond Heron - Number of individuals per visit
at Long Valley 2000-01
Common Teal Anas crecca
Status
1.4.56 In Hong Kong Common Teal is an abundant winter visitor to Deep Bay. Common Teal is the one of the most numerous ducks wintering in Hong Kong, and for much of the period since 1978-79, when the first winter waterfowl count was carried out, peak counts have been in the range 1500 to 3000. The winter of 1995-96, however, saw a marked increase in numbers, with 5348 on 10 February 1996 representing the highest count on record; similarly high numbers subsequently prevailed until at least the winter of 1998-99. Rose and Scott (1997) estimate the east and southeast Asian population to be in the range 100,000 to one million. The five-year mean of peak winter counts in Deep Bay during the period 1994-95 to 1998-99 was 4177, meaning that it plays host to approximately 0.4 to 4.0% of the regional population (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.57 Numbers low in a Hong Kong context, with a peak of 104 on 9 January 2001 (Figure 25). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 64.
San Tin
1.4.58 With the exception of 78 on 22 November 2001, numbers very low; absent on most visits (Figure 25). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 64.
Common Teal - Number of individuals per visit at
Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01
Long Valley
1.4.59 Single birds recorded on two dates (Figure 26). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 65.
Common Teal - Number of individuals per visit at Long
Valley 2000-01
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Status
1.4.60 In Hong Kong Common Coot is a common winter visitor, primarily to the Deep Bay area. Significant arrivals occur from around the end of October, and numbers climb steadily to the end of December, with large-scale arrivals apparently taking place at roughly fortnightly intervals. Peak numbers are present in January, and the highest count is 3245. Numbers remain near the winter peak until about mid February, after which there is usually a sharp decline. Rose and Scott (1997) provided an estimate of 100,000 to over one million for the east/southeast Asian wintering population. The five-year mean of peak counts from 1994-95 to 1998-99 is 1057, which means that Deep Bay may hold 1% or more of the regional population (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.61 Not recorded (Figure 27).
San Tin
1.4.62 One or two birds on most visits (Figure 27). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 66.
Eurasian Coot- Number of individuals per visit at
Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01
Long Valley
1.4.63 Not recorded.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Status
1.4.64 In Hong Kong the Black-winged Stilt is a common passage migrant and uncommon winter visitor. Numbers are generally highest in autumn.
1.4.65 Black-winged Stilts are generally met with on drained fishponds and gei wai, or on wet agricultural fields, and are only very rarely seen on the mudflats of Inner Deep Bay. Flocks are found throughout the Deep Bay area, and also at Long Valley and Kam Tin, with most records coming from these three sites. Rose and Scott (1997) estimated that the southeast Asian wintering population lies in the range 10,000-100,000. The five-year mean of peak counts during the period 1994-95 to 1998-99 is 310, meaning that Deep Bay supports in the range of 0.3 to 3.3% of the regional population. However, this assumes that there is no turnover during each migration season, and thus the actual figure is likely to be higher (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.66 Irregularly recorded in low numbers (<40) except for 154 on 29 November 2001(Figure 28). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 67.
San Tin
1.4.67 One record, 300 on 22 November 2000 (Figure 28), probably involves the majority of the Hong Kong winter population. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 67.
Black-winged Stilt - Number of individuals per visit
at
Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01
Long Valley
1.4.68 One record, six on 29 August 2000 (Figure 29). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 68.
Black-winged Stilt - Number of individuals per visit
at Long Valley 2000-01
Red-billed Starling Sturnus
sericeus
Status
1.4.69 In Hong Kong an abundant but localised winter visitor.
1.4.70 In most years the first Red-billed Starlings are recorded in Hong Kong during the third week of October. Numbers build up rapidly and there is an apparent peak in numbers during the first two weeks of November.
Status during the baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.71 Regularly recorded throughout the winter (Figure 30) with a maximum of178 on 31 January 2001. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 69.
San Tin
1.4.72 Recorded in far higher numbers than at Lok Ma Chau (Figure 30) with a peak of 1223 on 29 November 2001, comprising three different flocks of up to 400 birds. This figure represents about 30% of the Hong Kong wintering population. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 69.
Red-billed Starling - Number of individuals per visit
at
Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01
Long Valley
1.4.73 Recorded on six dates, with a maximum of 20 on 24 February 2001 (Figure 31). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 70.
Red-billed Starling - Number of individuals per visit
at Long Valley 2000-01
Restricted Range Species In Hong Kong
Schrenck’s Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus
Status
1.4.74 In Hong this species is a scarce passage migrant. Spring passage of Schrenck’s Bittern has been noted from the last week of April to the first week of June. Autumn passage has been recorded from the last week of August to the third week of October.
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.75 Not recorded.
San Tin
1.4.76 Not recorded.
Long Valley
1.4.77 Not recorded
Bonelli’s Eagle Heiraaetus fasciatus
Status
1.4.78 In Hong Kong Bonelli's Eagle is a locally distributed scarce resident.
1.4.79 This species has been regularly reported since 1958, and the results of the HKBWS Breeding Bird Survey indicate that possibly up to ten pairs are resident. Reports typically refer to pairs of adults soaring over hilltops or gliding along ridges, usually in poorly-vegetated areas, though also over urban areas adjacent to breeding territories and occasionally over forest. Whilst adults are only infrequently recorded over the Deep Bay marshes, young birds are regularly observed hunting waterbirds there between October and April (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.80 Not recorded.
San Tin
1.4.81 Not recorded.
Long Valley
1.4.82 Not recorded.
Northern Hobby Falco subbuteo
Status
1.4.83 In Hong Kong the Northern Hobby is an uncommon passage migrant and scarce summer visitor. It mostly occurs from late March to early November, with spring passage evident in April and May, smaller numbers reported in the summer months and autumn passage chiefly in September and October. In summer, all records are from northern, eastern and central parts of the New Territories and the species is mainly found over marshes, agricultural land and lightly-wooded hills. There are two breeding records, both involving two dependent juveniles accompanied by adults: at Ho Sheung Heung on 11 August 1994 and Crest Hill on 21 August 1997 (Carey et al. 2001).
Status during the
baseline surveys
Lok Ma Chau
1.4.84 Not recorded.
San Tin
1.4.85 Not recorded.
Long Valley.
1.4.86 Not recorded
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Status
1.4.87 In Hong Kong a passage migrant and winter visitor, with small breeding population; extremely localised and much-declined. Greater Painted-snipe is now almost exclusively a species of freshwater agricultural land and is effectively restricted to just two sites, Long Valley and Kam Tin. It breeds at both, and there are influxes in autumn, presumably of birds from the northern parts of its range in China. At both sites it prefers areas of inactive wet agriculture characterised by dense aquatic vegetation (Leader 1999), although at Kam Tin it is also found in marshy patches in a largely dry area heavily grazed by water buffalo; in addition, it has nested in the dry, grazed areas. A similar preference for inactive wet agriculture is shown in Japan where it can be readily found in areas of inactive rice paddy with emergent aquatic vegetation. During the period 1958-98 most records occurred in September to October; higher numbers at this time are thought to be due to the presence of passage birds. The drop in numbers after October in part reflects the drying out of freshwater wetlands following the start of the dry season. However, if suitable areas remain wet, numbers in some winters can be quite high into February (Carey et al. 2001).