Another busy day today, filled with predominantly Little Buntings, but some other nice species as well, including a Black-faced Bunting!
This individual was a young female, which could be determined by the lack of the grey usually present in the faces of males, and the lack of contrast between the face and breast. We could also determine the age of this bird based off the juvenile quality of the Primary Coverts, flight feathers and tail feathers.
Continuing with the day, we ended up with another young Bluethroat in the nets! This time a young female, with incredibly little blue/rufous/black in the breast and face, and a moult limit in the Greater Coverts!
Other nice highlights to the day were 3 Chestnut-eared Buntings, including this 1st calendar year individual. This bird showed a clear moult limit between the all moulted Greater Coverts (as is common with most Bunting species) and the unmoulted, juvenile Primary Coverts. Furthermore, the tail feathers are narrow, pointed and worn- all juvenile characteristics.
Another productive day with the Buntings!
Daily Totals
| Species | Original | Recapture |
| Black-faced Bunting | 1 | 1 |
| Bluethroat | 1 | 2 |
| Chestnut-eared Bunting | 2 | 1 |
| Chinese Penduline Tit | 1 | 0 |
| Dusky Warbler | 0 | 2 |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | 18 | 0 |
| Little Bunting | 72 | 13 |
| Plain Prinia | 0 | 1 |
| White Wagtail | 2 | 0 |
| Yellow-breasted Bunting | 5 | 0 |
*Please note that all wild birds, their nests, and eggs are highly protected (under Wild Animals Protection Ordinate, Cap. 170) in Hong Kong. It is an offence to willfully disturb, take, remove, or injure wild birds or their nests/eggs. The actions described here were undertaken by trained professionals holding the necessary licenses and permits issued by the AFCD.*
