BIRD WATCHING WALKS Birding
watching in Hong Kong is surprisingly accessible and rewarding. A very
wide variety of habitats, including the Ramsar Convention status,
globally significant wetland, Mai Po Marshes Reserve, situated on the
Australasia migratory route, ensures interesting birding and cultural
experiences. Long Valley and Tai Po Kau. Full and half-day bird watching itineraries are available.
Worthwhile birding declines rapidly in June, after the wonders of winter visitors and the superb spring passage migration. The intense heat and high humidity makes viewing even our common resident species a very uncomfortable experience. Things become worthwhile again in September with the onset of the southward migration.
We hope you may be able to join us between September - June. We aim to surprise you with the quality, quantity and variety of bird species found in Hong Kong's varied and convenient habitats.
Hong Kong birding: more than you may expect!
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Walk Hong Kong offers guided birdwatching tours at the WWF ( Hong Kong ) Mai Po Marshes Reserve which is the premier Hong Kong birdwatching site. For best appreciation of the birds of Mai Po wetlands including the tidal mudflats, birding tours are structured around tides. In the full day birding schedule, Mai Po Reserve needs the major portion of the day. High tides are not always enough to bring birds close to the hides; nevertheless the mudflats are an important part of the experience for most people. Many parts of Mai Po Marshes are wheelchair accessible, though not the boardwalks to the mudflat hides.
Close to Mai Po Marshes is Long Valley, an interesting area of farming often worth a visit to add several bird species not seen elsewhere in the day. Painted snipe are resident at Long Valley. Tai Po Kau Forest can be very good, though like any woodland birding it can be frustrating and disappointing. On a good day the forest provides views of some of Hong Kong’s most colourful birds: Scarlet Minivet, Orange-bellied Leaf bird, Silver-eared Mesia, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Fork-tailed Sunbird and more.
If you have interests in certain habitats or species, please do mention them.
Walk Hong Kong's birding Guides Roger Muscroft’s
recreational birding experience in Hong Kong covers over twenty-five
years. He guides clients to the best of bird watching areas, helping
them find and identify species. Some globally significant species (e.g.
Black-faced Spoonbill) are relatively easy to find at Mai Po Marshes
during the right season. Other key species include Saunders’s Gull,
Nordmann’s Greenshank and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
Roger’s
approach to bird watching is relaxed and broad, helping interested
clients experience even more than the wonderful avifauna. He does not
offer guarantees of flawlessly identifying all birds fleetingly glimpsed
or heard, or to track down an illusive target bird. The record for the
longest birding day list is not a major factor. However, Roger is
confident you will not be disappointed with your Hong Kong bird watching
experience, whether you are a novice birder, an expert or somewhere
between the two. Species totals obviously vary, but a list of around
eighty is usually achieved in quite a relaxed full day bird watching
itinerary.
John Holmes came to Hong Kong in 1978. He
soon discovered a passion for birds when rambling in Hong Kong’s
Country Parks. Since then, birding has led him to many interesting
parts of Asia. Still a committed birder, these days he participates in
Hong Kong’s monthly waterfowl counts and edits the English language
edition of the Hong Kong Birdwatching Society’s quarterly bulletin.
John is very happy to get the chance to share his enthusiasm for Hong Kong birds and birding places. John is the star on our you tube video.
David Diskin has recently joined Roger and
John on the bird watching team of Walk Hong Kong. David has spent most of his
working life in Asia, including 16 years in Hong Kong. He is the author of Birding Hong Kong: A Site Guide and one
of the co-authors of The Avifauna of Hong
Kong. More recently he has written and published Hong Kong Nature Walks: The New Territories.
Roger Muscroft
John Holmes
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General information Bird watching sites in Hong Kong are relatively undemanding in terms of physical fitness. Mai Po Marshes and the mudflats require the longest distance in walking: about 9.5 km, depending on the extent of the visit. Tai Po Kau forest is hilly. The weather is very taxing in some seasons, especially the hot and very humid summer months which are also much less interesting for birding. Our main bird watching season is late September to early May.
Full day birding schedule (08:30 – 17:00) is usually Tai Po Kau forest, Mai Po Reserve and Long Valley. Half day schedule (08:30 – 13:00) is usually Tai Po Kau and Long Valley. Other full and half-day bird watching itineraries can be customized.
Pick-up and drop off for bird watching outings is normally at the easily accessible Chinese University of Hong Kong station, on the MTR East line. Transport to and from the CUHK station is by private car.
Equipment The equipment used is a Leica telescope with 20 - 60 zoom eye piece. Roger can also provide binoculars: one Leica 8 x 42 and one Minox 8 x 32. Appropriate reference books are available, primarily using 'The Birds of Hong Kong and South China.’
Fees and other details Full day: HK$2,000.00 for one or two people. HK$850.00 per person for three or four people.
Half day: HK$1,000.00 for one or two people. HK$450.00 per person for three or four people.
Full day bird watching fee includes: HK$120.00 per person paid to WWF (HK) for the necessary Mai Po Access Permits; transport from and return to pick-up point.
Please note: if a visit into Mai Po Reserve is included in a half day outing, HK$120.00 per person is added for permits.
Our maximum group size is four, unless a larger party requests a birding tour. Under the terms of Walk Hong Kong's licence, groups over four have to be responsible for their own transport arrangements. Groups over four are charged at a flat rate of HK$2,000.00 for half-day and HK$3,000.00 for full day, plus HK$120.00 per person Mai Po Marshes Reserve entry permit fee if applicable.
General requirements Please provide us with a contact phone number in Hong Kong, or the name of the hotel where you are staying, plus the name the booking is made in.
We need notification of any cancellation before the morning of your tour, as no-shows do inconvenience our other clients. It is also important that you ring us if you are delayed, as it may be possible to direct you to another meeting point en route.
Footwear We recommend you wear either robust walking shoes or trainers/sneakers. Casual sandals or open shoes are not suitable for trails, which can be rocky in places.
Clothing Sun and rainfall can be intense and a hat is recommended. During the winter season (November - March) temperatures can drop with a chilling wind, so a sweater/fleece is advisable. During the wet season (April - September) a waterproof jacket is recommended. In warmer months (May - October) it is advisable to carry a spare T-shirt or other garment to change into at the end of the hike. Skin Protection Suntan lotion should be used throughout the year, and applied frequently during the hike. Water Please carry sufficient water for your own needs. In the warmer months, this may equate to one litre for every two hours of walking. Dehydration is a real risk on hot days. Choose mineralised rather than distilled water. Consider an electrolyte replacement drink as well. Personal needs Please notify us of any medical conditions that we should be aware of. We will assume clients have their own medications for asthma or known illnesses. Insect repellent is not obligatory, but advisable if you tend to attract insects.
Payment Payment can be made in cash at the start of the tour, or by electronic money transfer pre-tour. Prices quoted in Hong Kong dollars. HK$7.75 = US$1.00 Schedule Our tours and hikes are driven by client demand. Please consult our website for the current schedule.
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Client feedback
Hello! Thank you for the lovely bird watching trip. We really enjoyed it. We had a good time in Hong Kong altogether. The bird list is the same I have except I saw Yellow-bellied Prinia in Mai Po. There were three of them just beside me in the bushes. I saw these cute birds clearly but quickly. Regards from snowy Finland.
Hey there, Arrived home safely, but a bit late last night..........24 hours of travel! Thanks again for such a great day. We were pleased to see so many species (116), especially the special ones. The following day Sue and I walked about a bit, looking for birds at the Peak, but didn’t see anything new. Doug and Carol were too tired, so just enjoyed the view. We were so glad we planned a stopover in Hong Kong as we really enjoyed the city. We had a great meal at Sai Kung and did a walkabout to see the fish in the water tanks. Sue was especially surprised to see a family with their poodles on chairs getting handouts from the meal. Pete ( an international bird tour guide from Canada, his wife and friends,
Hi John. This message is primarily in response to your bird list but I cannot begin other than by saying what a wonderful day you gave us. Thank you for the list........Thanks also for the picture of the Scaly Thrush; fantastic, but not as good as seeing the real thing thanks to you!! Best regards Terry and Jennifer (UK) (Visited Tai Po Kau, Long Valley and several other sites.)
Hi Roger from a sunny but cold Southend. First thank you for two wonderful days. Mai Po was excellent and the tour the next day equally good; both days just what we asked for. Thank you also for the bird list and the wonderful pictures of the Purple Heron. What a bird and such wonderful views. Best regards, Terry and Jennifer (UK) (Visited Mai Po - full day + full day 'scenic drive in New Territories, with birds as a bonus!)
ROGER, we did get the email and went out to the butterfly gardens, it was very slow but i did get a new bird, the grey backed thrush. so it was worth the trip out. we got nothing new at kowloon park on the sunday but we did see 3 more parakeets there which were ALEXANDRINE. had very good looks at them. the 26th was a really great day. thanks for the effort you put in. the dabman. Bill/USA & Easy/Australia
Roger: Thank you for your fine guide service and excellent company this week. Thanks for providing the bird list of our observations. I very much appreciate your ability to recall everything that we could identify. Two questions for you. Could you give me the name of the reserve that we visited first on 12/28? And could you remind me of the mostly blue/grey thrush that you thought I might have seen in Kowloon Park, near the mosque? Thanks again for a great day. Next time I'll plan to catch the high tide. Best wishes. Cordially, Dan
Dear Roger Thank you so much for the super two days I[we] had with you. Also thank you for the list which I will work through carefully, especially after I’ve entered everything on the computer. The program then gives me a list as a product of the records. It will be a week or two before I can even start; so I hope you won’t mind if I try to reconcile any queries with you after that?
Anyway thank you so much for your expertise & really enjoyable company in Hong Kong. As you know I was a relatively reluctant visitor in the first place but our time birding together completely changed that way of thinking! Thank you too to John. It is just such good fun to be out discussing birds with like minded company.
We saw a heck of a lot. I was, I suppose, a weeny bit disappointed about the Gulls. I had no idea there would be so few; I had already pictured myself trying to understand Mongolian from Caspian & Vega from Herring! So, if our daughter stays in NZ, any future visits will have to be in the winter!
But I really did enjoy it & thank you so much. We would love to see you up here if ever you can. ATB Mike & Annie ( www.nwbirds.co.uk)
Hi Roger, Even though it was raining throughout the day, my wife and I enjoyed the birding trip. Your skillful adjustment of the programme/sites based on the changing weather conditions enabled us to still see a fair number of birds. The attention to details also ensured we remained comfortable even on a wet day. Thanks for the detailed bird list. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of scientific names in the bird list as it enables me to make reference in my local bird guide which uses different common bird names from those in Hong Kong. Thanks also for the sightseeing recommendations, Michelle and I had a good walk about in Sai Kung and enjoyed the seafood very much. Regards, Hin (Singapore)
Hello John, Thank you for some very enjoyable scouting and birding in HK. The group enjoyed their time and their HK birds very much. I have been fortunate to have a great, positive group to hang out with and that this trip has allowed me so many days of birding, in what was originally going to be a culture only tour! For me personally it was great to return to HK, to meet Geoff, Paul, you and Roger, and to re-familiarize with many southern species. I hope that there will be a chance to go birding together again in the future. I hope that Mai Po will re-open soon and that you will enjoy a pleasant spring of photography and birding. Best wishes, Dr Mark A. Brazil Author, Consultant, Naturalist and Lecturer - Mark Brazil website
John
I must just quickly let you know what a very special part of our holiday
our morning with you on Friday the 9th April was!!
We were so delightfully surprised at the number of first ticks we got on
that morning. On the way there Graham was not happy about being
dragged out on a walk which would exacerbate his knee condition.
However he hardly felt any effects at all and this has confirmed to him
that this is a pastime we could enjoy together. I hate watching sport
which he is passionate and very knowledgable about. But we could do bird
walks all over the world together thus getting out and about in nature
without upsetting his knee!!! The leisurely excercise would do him the
world of good. So your morning with us was a good marriage enrichment
outing as well as a wonderful birding experience. It has also taught
me that it is not only "wild nature" which harbours the abundace of
bird life we experienced in the market gardens. My son's young friends
were amazed to learn there were even enough birds left in China and
especially Hong Kong to make a walk worthwhile!! We have introduced
many people in South Africa and Hong Kong to your websites as well.
The highlihgts for me were the sightings of Asure Asian Magpie and the
rare Spoonbill. Thanks for taking us down that track to the gate of the
closed Mai PoWetland. We will definitely try and book a tour with you
in that reserve possibly in June or a less humid time next year.
Anyway we wish you well in your future birding endeavours. Thank again.
Kind Regards from us both, Kath Australia Birdwatching April 2010
We really enjoyed our
day with Roger we felt very indulged with our private guide! We
appreciated the social history, environmental aspect, the human
interaction with the physical environment (farming), the personal
account as well as the birding of Hong Kong provided by Roger. It has
been an excellent way to learn about a major city. Have a great day. Cheers Sarah & Kate, Australia, birdwatching
April 2010
Hi Roger I have not
replied earlier as I knew you were away - I hope all is well with your
family. Thankyou for the bird list, that was an amazing number of
birds and I wasn't even counting. I had a fantastic day even if you felt
things were low key at Long Valley and Tai Po Kau. You still managed to
find birds for me as I chatted away!! The view of the birds from the
hides at Mai Po is stunning - it is like being in a different world - a
private bird world. Thankyou for your time and effort, I had a fantastic
day. Saying to people 'I went bird watching in HK' fails to convey
what an amazing experience it is. You are a gem! C Fowler UK full day birding
Roger
Thanks for the list - haven't worked out how to print it off yet, but
will do soon so we can have a good look at it - seems OK so far. We hit
Melbourne last night in fine style - pretty hot today, but we can live
with that knowing what it has been like back home! We most thoroughly
enjoyed the day and it wasn't a step too far at all the way we ended
it. We both got back to the hotel having done far more than we
expected but feeling uplifted because of it, so don't worry about that.
We are now enjoying being out in the lovely countryside about an hour
north west of Melbourne - lots of birds here too and the odd roo
plodding around in the bush! All the best David & Ellie Full day birding 18th January
Dear Roger
I am sorry to be so late in getting back to you. On our return to the
UK I managed to pick up a fairly bad dose of swine flu from which I am
still recovering and Chris has suffered from a dreadful cold. But we
must say a BIG thank you for our day together - we really enjoyed it
and saw so many birds ...it was just what we needed. I have a lot of
work to do on my own birding list, but when it is ready I will send it
over, and I will have a look at the blog as well.
We managed to get back to Tai Po Kau on our own for another visit. We
saw a Crested Goshawk - really close in a tree on the RHS side of the
main path, just below the picnic area, and had fabulous views of
Scarlet Minivets moving in a mixed flock through the canopy further
along. Flycatchers and warblers were everywhere and all at once!
We also did the HK Wetland Park which was good for Temminks Stint and
good views of an Osprey - but too many cameras in the hide to make it
comfortable.
Our trip to Tap Mun was fairly quiet because we were concentrating on
the photography with Jackie, but we managed a pretty good sighting from
the ferry of two White-Bellied Sea Eagles soaring with their wings held
in a V-shape and a Pacific Reef Egret around the island harbour.
Our last birding trip was along the Lugard Road around The Peak. We
sat to munch our sandwiches on one of the benches just a few hundred
yards from the start and were quite suprised to see a male Mugimaki
Flycatcher !
We had a brilliant time in HK and are indebted to you for helping us to
adjust to the different habitats and avifauna of the region. It made
a big difference. Every good wish Russ & Chris (Bird-watching Nov 09. From UK)
Dear Roger
Thank you for your e mails and especially for the amazing list. No
wonder it was such a fantastic day! I enjoyed every minute of it,
helped along by your knowledge, experience and enthusiasm. You did a
wonderful job both in finding 86 different species of birds and in
keeping the three of us happy when our experience was so varied.
Certainly you were very kind and encouraging to me as a complete
beginner in the presence of those with considerable experience! And it
was great to visit such contrasting areas of the Northern New
Territories. It has certainly wetted my appetite and who knows I might
even be seriously hooked now! Joanna. UK Full day bird-watching 23 Nov 09 Dear Roger Many thanks for the list and advice on binos. We didn't see a redshank and I cannot help you on the bunting - a "don't know". We
had a memorable day with you. Apart from seeing many new species, we
thoroughly enjoyed visiting some beautiful spots and varied habitats. Hoping to be in touch next time to tap further into your expertise. With best wishes,Tom & Angela (UK)Bird watching Nov 09
Hi Roger We really had a good time and thoroughly enjoyed our day birding. I have been recounting tales of the bird list *(82 species)* to my pro birding friend, Andy, and he is very jealous. He did not see anywhere near as much stuff as we did (ha ha!) when he visited. I think you are correct about the hobby, it was a fine looking specimen. Anyway, thanks once again and the next time we come to Hong Kong, we will do it again! Best wishes Andy & Rebecca (UK)
Have had an excellent day out with Roger, covering a variety of sites and thereby different habitats, thus maximising the range of species picked up. Through meticulous planning Roger ensured that we moved around sites at a relaxed pace, but one that ensured that we arrived at key points at the right time to benefit from the tide pushing birds to show their best. I also appreciated the advice based on nearly 30 years of HK birding in commenting on the birds I had seen, and others I had not been likely to see, in my travels around HK, also the after sales service in providing a list of the birds we recorded.....they were coming too thick and fast for me to take notes whilst we were watching.
Best wishes, Mike. Birdwatching March 09 (Mike is a very experienced birder and ringer from Scotland. 91 species recorded, many new for Mike. In his own words: '...from my own look through the book yesterday I reckon that I had 50 new species for me......that is more than I have ever had in a day anywhere.....and there were some pretty superb birds amongst them.')
Roger, Thank you so much for a wonderful day. At first I couldn't believe the total count--82 species! But I checked through the list and it sure looks right. Thanks to you, we now know the places we want to return for some more fabulous birdwatching while we're here in Hong Kong. We both really enjoyed your company, and appreciated that you took the time to list all the birds we saw. Also, what a treat it was to see the festival preparations in Ho Sheung Heung and taste soya with ginger and sugar! You are a multi-talented guide--birds and local culture! I was serious when I said that if you ever find yourself near Washington, DC, we'd love to show you some of our favorite birding spots. Thanks again, Janet Full day Bird watching March 2009
Dear Roger We were sad that we had not left more time for our four days "transit" in Hong Kong; I don't think that either of us realised quite how much open space & nature walking would be in Hong Kong when we devised our world trip. So thank you so much for showing a small part of it to us. We had such a thoroughly enjoyably day with you and the Gavin Maxwell lecture was a real bonus. Despite the spoonbills, eagles, kingfishers and even the wonderful Painted Snipe seen during the day, the highlight for me still has to be the "disappearing" Chinese Pond Heron. Thanks for the great pictures and the checklist. From our perspective, the experience could not have been improved. Thank you for providing the highlight to our visit to Hong Kong. With kind regards Nicholas & Karen Bird watching
Hello Roger, We have enjoyed looking through the (bird)list you sent us; I think we had managed about 50!* It has been good fun remembering that beautiful day in Hong Kong on some cold winter evenings in England. We spent a few days in Oxford at the end of last week, and one day we had a walk along the Thames and saw heron and great crested grebe. Our very best wishes to you. Tim and Christine UK Bird watching (*88 species were recorded)
The bird watching trip with Roger was wonderful - we saw so many birds before even leaving the car park, it was a prelude to the day ahead. I just loved it. Roger knew so much about the environment, the birds it was wonderful. Julie & Dean, Australia Lamma Island and Bird watching tours
