We were back in the forest this month for a couple more ring sessions! At last the weather is finally turning cooler, but the birds are still as active as ever!
Following on from last month’s adult Japanese Sparrowhawk, this month we ended up with an adult male Besra! Like most raptor species, males are smaller than females in this species. They are similar in appearance to Japanese Sparrowhawks, however can be differentiated but the width of the dark bars running across their tail, the shorter primary projection and the generally broader mesial (middle throat) stripe.
Another highlight of our ringing sessions was this beautiful little Asian Stubtail! These guys are typically quite difficult to spot in the field, spending their time hopping around the undergrowth, more often hear with their short high-pitched alarm calls. Most individuals caught show a uniform wing with no moult limits. Interestingly, this bird has two median coverts that look potentially juvenile…could this be a 1st calendar year bird?
Daily Totals
| Species | Original | Recapture |
| Asian Stubtail | 1 | 0 |
| Bay Woodpecker | 1 | 0 |
| Besra | 1 | 0 |
| Chestnut Bulbul | 2 | 0 |
| Cinereous Tit | 3 | 1 |
| Eastern Crowned Warbler | 2 | 0 |
| Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush | 0 | 1 |
| Grey-backed Thrush | 2 | 0 |
| Huet’s Fulvetta | 2 | 1 |
| Pale-legged Leaf Warbler | 1 | 0 |
| Red-billed Leiothrix | 5 | 1 |
| Red-flanked Bluetail | 1 | 0 |
| Rufous-capped Babbler | 1 | 2 |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | 1 | 0 |
| Grand Total | 23 | 6 |
*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 wilfully 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.*
