Booted Warbler - rebooted!

The Booted Warbler have been showing well lately at the same patch of reed bed I last saw it around two weeks ago, likely to be wintering here this season! Hoi Ling and I arrived at the spot at around 8am, only a handful of birders were there. Strong easterly winds were blowing pretty hard and the reeds were all swaying back and forth in the wind, which made spotting such a small bird that much more challenging! After an hour of waiting and being blown about by the winds, we changed our spot to a more protected part of the reed bed where wind was less strong, sure enough the warbler was near the edge of that patch! It showed very well for a minute or so before dropping back down into the tall reeds, not before I got some decent record shots. A very clean looking warbler, the Booted have a reed warbler like appearance but with behaviour more closely resembling a Phylloscopus warbler.

Booted Warbler - a rare warbler species in Hong Kong

The reed bed where the Booted Warbler lurks.

Other birds around Mai Po on the same day were not so much exciting, but still adding together for a pleasant outing. An increase of dabbling ducks were obvious, a handsome but lonesome drake Northern Pintail at the duck pond, along with some Northern Shovelers. Wigeons were also in good numbers all around the place.

Drake Northern Pintail with Northern Shovelers, also Coot and Moorhens.

Eurasian Wigeon

On our way to the bird hide a Long-tailed Shrike was in the way sitting on a wooden post.

Long-tailed Shrike

Bird hide #1 was packed when we arrived, apparently a Greater Spotted Eagle had caused quite a stir as it feeds on a duck carcass. This majestic eagle species is a regular winter visitor in Hong Kong, especially common in Deep Bay area. It ate until it was quite full and after some preening and wiping off scraps from it's talons, it took off into the distance soon afterwards with the sound of shutters bursting away in the hide.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Seeing that the show was over we headed over to bird hide #6, where an Imperial Eagle was also feeding at the far side of the pond, another regular winter visitor to Deep Bay and one of the largest Eagle species we have in Hong Kong, it soon took off and I managed a few distance shots. Other birds of prey patrolling the sky were a few Black Kites, also feeding on some scraps of duck on one of the island. An Eastern Marsh Harrier went past a few times, but remained a bit far for any decent shots.

Imperial Eagle

Black Kite

Eastern Marsh Harrier

At the scrape, a single lonesome Eurasian Spoonbill stood in front of the hide, not following the flock of Black-faced Spoonbills. There weren't a lot of waders around, a few Greenshanks and Spotted Redshanks were close enough that was remotely worthy for a photo.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Spotted Redshank and Common Greenshanks

On the way out we saw a few Daurian Redstarts, this bold female was one that gave close views. These lively birds do add a bit of colour into the birding trip, always there to show off their reddish rumps as you follow them on the trail.

Daurian Redstart - female

Finally, back out at the car park, a very tamed Asian Brown Flycatcher, allowing very close views. This individual had been ringed, but I can't quite make out the whole sequence of numbers.

Asian Brown Flycatcher - ringed individual