Springtime Flycatchers

Colourful migrant flycatchers are probably one of the most exciting thing about birding in spring, these migrants are delightful to the eye but also often a challenge to get good photographs. I visited Po Toi Island on Saturday, hoping to find some of these migrants, while it was slightly quieter than expected, we did find a few of these flycatchers scattered around the island. A single Narcissus Flycatcher was seen hawking for insects near the pier, but this one was quite shy, took a while to get a few photos. There were up to three Blue-and-White Flycatchers on the island that day, but only one showed well enough for photos. Finally, a single Ferruginous Flycatcher was also observed, this is also a regular spring migrant, often not as shy as the other two species.

Narcissus Flycatcher - male

Blue-and-White Flycatcher - male

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Other than the said flycatchers, it was actually pretty quiet on the island. A single Swinhoe's Minivet made an appearance, a female Blue Rock Thrush was found near the pier. Other people had an Oriental Cuckoo, but it was gone before I could get there.

Swinhoe's Minivet

Blue Rock Thrush -female

At Mai Po, the many Falcated Ducks were still present, there were more males than females. It is that time of the year again when Large Hawk Cuckoos are very vocal, although they are never easy to see, I spotted this one flying across and managed a quick photo.

Falcated Duck - male

Large Hawk Cuckoo

I found nothing particularly interesting at Tai Sang Wai, the Prinias are now very vocal, often displaying while perched on a blade of grass. Amur Stonechats still in good numbers, the males now moulted into their handsome breeding plumage. Zitting Cisticolas are as confiding as always. Only two Whiskered Terns were seen on the fishponds, they will likely soon be joined by their friends.

Plain Prinia

Amur Stonechat - male

Zitting Cisticola

Whiskered Tern

San Tin faired slightly better, numerous Red-throated Pipits can be seen along the tracks, while the Eurasian Skylark was still feeding around the same area.

Red-throated Pipit

Eurasian Skylark

Oriental Pratincoles now found in flocks, resting on the dried fish ponds. I counted no less than 35 of them at San Tin, most of them in their breeding plumage.

Oriental Pratincole

The dried fish ponds are perfect for migrating waders, a good number of small waders were seen feeding on the wet mud, including numerous Temminck's Stints, a few distant Long-toed Stints, and the best of the bunch was a single and relatively more friendly Little Stint that came closer to the edge for photos.

Temminck's Stint

Long-toed Stint

Little Stint

A single Greater Spotted Eagle was also seen at San Tin, our wintering raptors should soon depart, it will likely be winter when we next see them soar through our skies again.

Greater Spotted Eagle