A daytrip to Mara-do in early June to see what late migrants were out and about. The harbour area was noticeably quieter than before, but with plenty of resident species as well as the summer breeding Barn Swallowsbeing quite active. The boat trip proved to be particularly quiet, both on the way there with basically only two Eastern Spot-billed Ducks seen flying northwards, and the return trip with nothing.
Pacific Reef Heron and Chinese Pond Herons were seen once arriving on the island, as well as a pair of late Richard’s Pipits in the northern end fields. Herons can seem like a theme in late spring on Mara Island, with other related species seen during the day including a group of three Black-crowned Night Herons, Little Heron, and Great Egret.
Regular summer visitors were moving through, including Dollarbird, Black Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Oriole, and Tiger Shrike. Ashy Minivet and Oriental Reed Warbler were also encountered, and several brief but good looks at a Common Cuckoo that we ran into a few times on the island.
Late spring generally has few Leaf Warblers and Flycatchers, with only Kamchatka and Dusky Warbler present for the former, and Asian Brown Flycatcher present for the latter. One lone Manchurian Bush Warbler was found singing in the shrubby area in the south of the island, seen very well with the distinct rufous tinged upperparts and pinker legs and bill compared with the more yellowish-brown colours of the locally common Japanese Bush Warbler.
Top spring surprises of the visit would have to be a pair of Red Collared Doves, a species I’ve seen here in late spring before, and a single Chestnut-cheeked Starling. Somewhat unusual in the context of the location was a single feral Rock Dove flying around the island, a species very common throughout the country in developed areas, but personally I have only seen them a few instances on Mara Island.
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| Pacific Reef Heron |
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| Chinese Pond Heron |
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| Richard's Pipit |
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| Pacific Swift |
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| Kamchatka Leaf Warbler |
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
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| Large-billed Crow |
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| Oriental Reed Warbler |
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| Red Collared Dove |
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| Dusky Warbler |
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| Common Cuckoo |
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| Common Cuckoo |
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| Feral Rock Dove |
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| Light-vented Bulbul |
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| Manchurian Bush Warbler |
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| Oriental Honey Buzzard |
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| Tiger Shrike |
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| Chestnut-cheeked Starling |
