"Reed Warbler Week"

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

But first...

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

Ma Cho Lung Police Post

The Hong Observatory prediction of mostly clear, cool and sunny weather for early October came true.

I spent a few hours in Ma Cho Lung, an area of fishponds between the old (1950s) Police Post and the high rise of Shenzhen, north of the Border Security Fence.

Shenzhen Highrise

Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis

Chestnut-eared Bunting - Emberiza fucata

Von Schrencks Bittern - Ixobrychus eurhythmus

Seeing a nightjar-like raptor after sunset, I was fairly sure I had an Amur Falcon, but the photos (iso 5000) reveal a Hobby, probably hunting bats.

Eurasian Hobby - Falco subbuteo

The first week of October is peak migration time for Acrocephalus warblers, Dave Diskin found this Manchurian Reed Warbler at Mai Po Access Road.

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

There was a supporting “Acro” cast around, too.  

Oriental Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus orientalis

Black-browed Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

Fortunately I’ve got the book. It is co-authored by Peter Kennerley, who lived in HK in the 1980s.  In person he has a great knack of explaining advanced bird topics without talking down to his audience. This comes through in his written work too. 

Manchurian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus tangorum

Finally, a resident species "far more often heard than seen"...

Chinese Francolin - Francolinus pintadeanus

Chinese Francolin - Francolinus pintadeanus