Spring passage at Po Toi
The island of Po Toi, readily accessible by ferry from Hong Kong Island, is a favoured spot for observing birds on migration.
Since much of the island is bare or has low scrub cover, the trees surrounding the village and along the creek behind it are the main 'hotspots' offering shelter for migrants. A variety of buntings pass through, which today included Black-faced, Little and Yellow-browed Buntings, mostly foraging in the tree litter on the north side of the creek. The trees beside the creek harboured a flock of Ashy Minivets, while a Pacific Swift was feeding with Barn Swallows near the harbour.
By mid morning, raptors can often be seen soaring on the thermals. Today these included two Grey-faced Buzzards on northbound migration and a Crested Serpent Eagle. Soaring with them was an immature Lesser Frigatebird, a scarce spring and summer visitor which typically pursues terns to rob them of their fish.
The ferry ride between Aberdeen or Stanley and Po Toi offers a chance to view occasional seabirds. For most of the year there are few birds on this stretch of sea, but resident White-bellied Sea Eagles can sometimes be encountered perched or in flight. In spring and autumn, Red-necked Phalaropes are often present on the water.
Another attraction of Po Toi is that several butterfly species which are scarce on the mainland are common here. The Green Flash and Yellow Orange Tip were examples today.
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