Two Blue-and-white Flycatchers - Hooray!

Some years ago, I found Cheung Chau could be good for seeing migrants such as flycatchers during April - with the best variety around this time. But lately, hasn't been so productive: last spring, for instance, I heard news of flycatchers in several places - especially Po Toi island, where there was a highly impressive series of bird records - yet found no good ones on Cheung Chau.

So, very pleasing that when went round se Cheung Chau this aft, found two male Blue-and-white Flycatchers in trees at the top of Fa Peng Valley. These are beautiful birds: brilliant blue above, clean white below, with black throat and face capped by shining blue crown.

Despite being so distinctly patterned, easily overlooked - can sit quietly amidst foliage; I noticed one of these as it made sally after insects. Waited, and saw the second bird in same tree.

There were also two Little Swifts (House Swifts) flying over the trees - also a migrant on Cheung Chau, and not breeding, even though breed as close as Mui Wo ferry pier. Lower in Fa Peng Valley, a Chinese Pond Heron was another migrant.

This is good weather for seeing migrants such as flycatchers: winds that were recently from north, now more from east, are against direction of migration; with rain a few days ago, and still some showers, birds arriving along the coast are often stopping to rest and feed, rather than continue long flights.

With cool weather, swallows were flying very low through and over Cheung Chau streets - just above people's heads, and skimming over the ground. In pairs now - like the two here - with nest just along from Katie's dessert shop.