WOODLAND BIRD IN HONG KONG

Tung Ping Chau 

On 7 January 2001, we went to Tung Ping Chau having our second bird-watching cum hiking activity.  Tough we did not see many birds this time, we both enjoyed the trip very much.  Tung Ping Chau is really a nice place.  Remote from the busy urban area, everything is so peaceful there.  So, this trip was definitely good for us, the city dwellers, to take a real spiritual rest.  

At the Ma Liu Shiu pier, where we took boat to Tung Ping Chau, we already spotted few shore birds, namely Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Great Egret, and Common Sandpiper.  On the way towards Tung Ping Chau, we also saw a number of Great Egrets flying over us.  It was so close and near, fantastic!!!!!! 

Arriving in Tung Ping Chau, before we could start our bird-watching walk, the first gate we needed to get through was the policemen checking our HKID card to make sure of no I.I.  OK, everything done.  We could start our tracking.  We walked to the fung shui woodland around the police post and the disused Ping Chau Camp.  Walking along the footpath, we kept hearing numerous birds' callings.  But we always failed to find where they were.  Indeed, this is a challenge of watching woodland birds, especially for us as the bird-watching beginners.  As the woodland vegetations are so dense and bushy, birds can easily hide up and use the color of nature to protect themselves.  Consequently, we only successfully saw the Chinese Bulbuls, Crested Bulbuls, Spotted Dove, Magpie Robin, and Japanese White Eyes.  Over the high sky, we saw Kits and Eagles.  But the number of species was surely more than the above, as we did hear many many birds calling.  

            

Crested Bulbul (Acknowledgment: photo provided by Michelle) 

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Another reason why we hardly saw the birds is wrong timing.  Normally, between 11:00 to 17:00 is not the best time for the search of migrants.  But we were on the island exactly during that times.  So, bird-watchers are suggested to take the Saturday ferry and stay on the island overnight, then you can enjoy bird-watching during early morning.  

Though we did not see many birds, we were not disappointed at all.  We do understand the rule that birds are in wild.  They are not obliged to show up for us.

After lunch, we headed the abandoned reservoir, hoping that we could see more birds.  Surprisingly, we saw some interesting and new species, such as Plain Prinia, Great Tit, and Arctic Warbler, which is a passage migrant and is found of great number on Tung Ping Chau.    

  Great Tit

(Source: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's website)

                

   

RED TIDE

Off the pier at Ma Liu Shiu, sailing via Tolo Harbour and Mirs Bay, we saw a number of spots with red tide.  We even saw its outbreak on Tung Ping Chau.

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red tide

Algal blooms are natural phenomena in which microscopic, single-celled algae multiply very fast or "bloom". Some algal blooms discolour the seawater turning it to pink, red, brown, reddish-brown or deep green and are called Red Tides.
An algal bloom is caused by a combination of factors that encourage algal growth which include sunlight, nutrients, trace elements, salinity, water temperature and water flow. The continuation of any algal bloom is therefore dependent on the changes of these factors.

Acknowledgement: Thanks Mr. Bob THOMPSON for providing the photos 

Though Red tide is a natural phenomenon, man-made pollutions can be a factor intensifying its occurrence.  The domestic and industrial sewage discharges, containing nitrogen and phosphorus, provide organic nutrients for the blooming of algae.  Receiving the sewage discharge from the big new towns of Shatin, Taipo, and Ma On Shan everyday, Tolo Harbour has been suffering from organic pollutions over the two decades, revealed by the increasing outbreak of red tide from less than 5 times a year in early 80's to more than 25 in 90's.            

One of the indicator on the outbreak of red tide is dead fish.  On Tung Ping Chau, we also found a number of dead fishes on land.

        To be an environmental citizen, it is our responsibility to report any occurrence of red tide if you see it.  The AFCD's red tide reporting hotline is:

Telephone No.: 2150 7081 (office hours)

7110 3388 call 1368 or 9166 3472 (24 hours)

Facsimile No.: 2152 0383

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Brief Introduction of Tung Ping Chau

Tung Ping Chau, a flat-topped island, is located on the north-eastern part of Tai Pang Wan (Mirs Bay).  It is a good place for passerine migrants in the spring, autumn, and for thrushes, bush warblers and robins in winter.  The boat journey through Tolo Harbour and Mirs Bay is especially good for seabirds such as Terns and Red-necked Phalarope, and more rarely Ancient Auk and Long-tailed Skua.  White-bellied Sea Eagle is frequently seen from the boat as it steams up the Tolo Channel.  This is the best site in Hong Kong for Black-backed Wagtail.  The waters surrounding the island are very clean, providing a for coral and fish flousrihing.  The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department is proposing the designation of Tung Ping Chau as the fourth Marine Park in Hong Kong.

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Black-naped Tern

(Acknowledgement: Photo extracted from the Bird Watching Society)

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A photo extracted from the website of Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department Shale geomorphology on Tung Ping Chau, formed by hardened mud or clay under the sea.

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