Category Wildlife

Autumn Skywatching for Birds of Prey and More in Hong Kong 

While we’ve known for some years that Grey-faced Buzzard and Chinese Sparrowhawk can pass Hong Kong in good numbers on some spring days – evidently after being deflected by easterly winds while migrating from Luzon towards southeast China (Spring Migration…

Biodiversity of Hong Kong including the Hong Kong Geopark

Introduction: Biodiversity Depleted yet Rich Lying just south of the Tropic of Cancer, and with a sub-tropical climate – summers are hot and humid, winters tend towards temperate – Hong Kong has a mostly tropical flora and fauna. Though there…

Film of Mai Po Marshes – Hong Kong’s wetland superstar

Here’s a film I made about Mai Po, using footage James Reynolds and I shot for the reserve, in English, Cantonese and Mandarin versions: Mai Po Marshes – Hong Kong’s Wetland Superstar, English narration by Sharon Kwok 米埔,香港著名的濕地巨星 – 廣東話…

Where have all the Hong Kong Barn Swallows gone?

I live on Cheung Chau, a small island in southwest Hong Kong – and became very used to it hosting many nesting pairs of Barn Swallows, which start arriving around mid-February, and stay till late summer. Been this way since…

Birdwatching in Hong Kong gives insights into wonders of nature

While human life has lately been muted in Hong Kong during springtime, local birdlife remains vibrant, offering a chance to enjoy some of the wonders and mysteries of the natural world, right outside your home.             Notably, Hong Kong is a…

Watching Hong Kong mammals

With increasing reports of wild boars – including the large male dubbed “Pigzilla” on the Peak, a couple of hikers [March 2018] mistaking a leopard cat for a tiger, and an upturn in local porcupine photos appearing online, this seems…

Hong Kong’s first Scaly-sided Merganser

From edge of Tai Lam Chung Reservoir in northwest New Territories, Hong Kong on 24 January 2023; trip to see what in birding world is a MEGA – a Scaly-sided Merganser, found by John Chow, who confirmed identity after quick…

Birds of Lion Head Mountain and Ngong Ping on Lantau, Hong Kong

In spring 2022, thanks to birding naturalist Paul Aston, I helped discover that the hills near Ngong Ping on Lantau island are good places for observing migrating birds of prey – especially Grey-faced Buzzards and Chinese Sparrowhawks, along with seeing…

Endangered Hong Kong Birds, on Flights to Oblivion

Like canaries in a coal mine, endangered species are signs of danger facing planet earth, our life support system Perhaps for many people, learning of endangered species involves wildlife that lives “out there” somewhere – like giant pandas in bamboo…

Red Tides n Sea Sparkle n the Mad Megalopolis

The end of November 2014 saw areas of inshore waters across Hong Kong and east Shenzhen turn improbably colourful thanks to extensive red tides. Night-time scenes were even more arresting, as seawater stirred by ferries or thrown stones flashed blue-green…

Birdwatching in Hong Kong is a great pastime

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You don’t need much equipment to start birdwatching. A pair of binoculars and a field guide will get you started on finding the wealth of species in Hong Kong. Do you watch wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, dragonflies, mammals, fish…

Hong Kong’s Mysterious Migratory Butterflies

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On 31 December 2011, researchers trapping butterflies at Deep Water Bay on Hong Kong Island found a Chestnut Tiger with writing on its wings. Someone had used a fine marker pen to add numbers, letters and characters including a code: “YSK541”.…

Deadliest Hong Kong Animals

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A quick look at animals with venom, killer teeth and blades. Table of Contents Giant Centipede Blue-ringed Octopus Bamboo Snake Domestic Dogs Rats with Fleas with Plague Chickens with Bird Flu Mosquitoes with Diseases Cobras Sharks Homo sapiens Giant Centipede…

Rat Snakes wrestling

On Cheung Chau one afternoon, saw two big Rat Snakes wrestling. Also known as a “dance”, this is combat between two male snakes, fighting over breeding rights They rear up, push against each other, twist and push – in this…

Top Ten Hong Kong birds

Here’s a definitive list of the top ten Hong Kong birds.(Well, ok, this is subjective; but ten top species for sure.) Criteria include global status, appearance, relationship to Hong Kong – perhaps readily seen and familiar, maybe rare worldwide but…

Beginning birdwatching in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an excellent place for birdwatching. Here, you can find global rarities that are tough to see elsewhere, encounter stunning songbirds, watch seabirds blasted inshore by typhoons (yes, typhoons – birdwatchers do far sillier things than just lurk…