Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.88    Not recorded.

 

San Tin

 

1.4.89    Not recorded.

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.90    During the standard baseline surveys one to three were recorded on eleven dates (Figure 32). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 71.

Figure 32

Greater Painted-snipe - Number of individuals per visit at

Long Valley 2000-01

 

 

 

1.4.91    However, this under represents the abundance of this species within the study area, and counts of up to 24 were made during the flushing of birds for trapping as part of the radio-telemetry programme.

 

Results of the radio-telemetry surveys

 

1.4.92    The findings of the radio-telemetry are summarised in Figures 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78. As can be seen from Figure 71 (showing all used fields), radio-tracked Greater Painted-snipe were widely recorded within the Long Valley Baseline Survey Study area.

 

Habitat selection

 

1.4.93    Differences were detected in day and night habitat preferences. Figures 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 show the number of detections for day and night for each of the main habitat types for summer, autumn, and winter. During summer and autumn, bare agricultural fields (recently harvested or ploughed) were used only at night. This habitat was not available during the winter period, as no fields were in such a condition. For each season, active wet agriculture (vegetables) was the habitat from which there were the highest number of detections (Figures 33, 34, 35). This habitat was extensively utilised during the day, and at night. The other type of active wet agriculture, a field of lotus, was utilised during summer and autumn, but not during winter when It becomes completely dry. Inactive agriculture/marsh was primarily a diurnal habitat.

 

Figure 33

Greater Painted-snipe – number of detections by habitat type of radio-tracked birds at Long Valley Summer 2000

 

Figure 34

Greater Painted-snipe – number of detections by habitat type of

radio-tracked birds at Long Valley Autumn 2000

 

Figure 35

Greater Painted-snipe – number of detections by habitat type of

radio-tracked birds at Long Valley Winter 2000-01

 

 

1.4.94    While active wet agriculture (vegetables) was consistently the habitat with the highest number of detections, it was also the most widespread habitat type within the study area (Table 5). When the data area is converted to a density to allow for the differences in habitat availability, certain habitats were shown to support higher densities than active wet agriculture (vegetables).

 

1.4.95    Lotus and inactive wet agriculture/marsh both had very high densities in summer and autumn. Densities within the three areas from which there were detections are given in Table 6. Of note is the relative lack of variation for the core Long Valley area, and the marked seasonality for the two smaller areas.

 


Table 5

Density of Greater Painted-snipe detections (bird ha-1) in Long Valley, Summer 2000 to Winter 2000-01

 

 

Total Area (ha)

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Day

Night

Day

Night

Day

Night

Active wet agriculture

36.76

0.60

1.11

1.06

1.63

0.79

1.20

Inactive wet agriculture

1.59

9.43

3.77

17.00

5.66

9.43

0

Lotus field

0.47

21.28

6.38

31.90

25.53

0

0

Pond

1.27

0

0

0

0

0

0

Active dry agriculture

0.84

0

0

0

0

0

0

Active dry agriculture

1.51

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

 

Table 6

Density of Greater Painted-snipe detections in Long Valley and

peripheral areas, Summer 2000 to Winter 2000-01

 

 

Total Area (ha)

% of inactive agriculture/ marsh & lotus

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Day

Night

Day

Night

Day

Night

Northern Area

7.13

4.0

0.28

0

2.24

4.35

0

0

Adjacent to TMA

2.70

11.7

0

0

4.07

0.74

0

0

‘Main’ Long Valley

32.60

4.4

1.38

1.53

1.96

1.66

1.35

1.35

 

 

Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo

 

Status

 

1.4.96    A scarce but widespread resident In Hong Kong (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.97    Not recorded.

San Tin

 

1.4.98         Not recorded.

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.99         Not recorded.

 

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea

 

Status

 

1.4.100     In Hong Kong a scarce passage migrant, mainly in autumn; much decreased (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.101     Not recorded.

 

San Tin

 

1.4.102     Not recorded.

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.103     Not recorded

 

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus

 

Status

 

1.4.104     In Hong Kong a scarce passage migrant, mainly in autumn; much decreased, previously a breeding species (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.105     Not recorded.

 


San Tin

 

1.4.106     Not recorded.

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.107     Not recorded

 

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

 

Status

 

1.4.108     In Hong Kong a scarce autumn passage migrant that breeds irregularly (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.109     One recorded on 14 Oct 2000. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 79.

 

San Tin

 

1.4.110     Not recorded.

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.111     Not recorded

 

Locally Important Species

 

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

 

Status

 

1.4.112     In Hong Kong a scarce passage migrant, with higher numbers in spring, and rare in summer and winter; has declined markedly during the last hundred years (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.113     Not recorded.

 

San Tin

 

1.4.114     Not recorded.

Long Valley

 

1.4.115     Not recorded

 

Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica

 

Status

 

1.4.116     In Hong Kong a scarce passage migrant and winter visitor (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.117     Not recorded

 

San Tin

 

1.4.118     Not recorded

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.119     One recorded on five dates in winter (Figure 36). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 80.

 

Figure 36

Japanese Quail - Number of individuals per visit at Long Valley 2000-01

 

 


Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

 

Status

 

1.4.120     In Hong Kong a common passage migrant, highest numbers during autumn, and uncommon winter visitor (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala

 

Status

 

1.4.121     In Hong Kong an uncommon passage migrant, commoner in autumn, and rare winter visitor (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Due to difficulties in separating Pintail and Swinhoe's Snipe G. megala, in the field (Leader and Carey in prep.), the two are dealt with together below.

 

Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipe G. stenura/megala

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.122     Not recorded

 

San Tin

 

1.4.123     One or two present on two dates in winter. Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 37.

 


Figure 37

Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe - Number of individuals per visit at

Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01

 

 

Long Valley

 

1.4.124     Regularly recorded during spring and autumn (Figure 38). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 82.

 

Figure 38

Pintail/Swinhoe’s Snipe - Number of individuals per visit at

Long Valley 2000-01

 

 


Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

 

Status

 

1.4.125     In Hong Kong a common passage migrant and winter visitor, highest numbers in winter, lowest on autumn passage (Carey et al. 2001).

 

Status during the baseline surveys

 

Lok Ma Chau

 

1.4.126     Up to five recorded, with one to four present on most dates from autumn thorough to spring (Figure 39). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 83.

 

San Tin

 

1.4.127     One or two noted on five dates (Figure 39). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 83.

 

Figure 39

Common Snipe - Number of individuals per visit at

Lok Ma Chau and San Tin winter 2000-01

 

 


Long Valley

 

1.4.128     Present on most dates autumn through to spring, with a maximum of 10 on 1 and 18 January 2000 (Figure 40). Distribution and average number per visit are shown in Figure 84.

 

Figure 40

Common Snipe - Number of individuals per visit at Long Valley 2000-01

 

 

 

Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi

 

Status

 

1.4.129     In Hong Kong a common passage migrant and winter visitor, with the taxon sinensis present all year and breeding (Carey et al. 2001).

 

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