Slow Spring - Rosy Starling & Waders

Spring migration had been pretty slow for me, mainly because my local patch had been exceedingly disappointing in producing anything of interest, a stark difference to last year's run. Work had been keeping me away from much birding for a week or so, therefore, I haven't even been able to connect with some of our more regular migrants. One of the better bird of late is a Rosy Starling moulting into adult plumage, which I suspect was the one present since November, only now prettier than before. It had been showing regularly and terrorizing the White-shouldered Starlings present.

Rosy Starling

White-shouldered Starling

I also saw a few Great Mynas mixed in with Crested Mynas, now a regularly seen species around Deep Bay area, no doubt taken up residence in Hong Kong. The only purely migrating species of interest I saw at San Tin were a few Himalayan Swiftlets.

Crested & Great Myna

 

Himalayan Swiftlet

Despite all the bulldozing happening at Long Valley, it is still a worthy area to visit during migration, over a dozen Red-necked Phalaropes feeding on the shallow ponds made for great photographic opportunities, with a few now moulting into their breeding plumage.

Red-necked Phalarope

One of the less common visitor to Long Valley is the Grey-headed Lapwing, which I was delighted to see around the shallow ponds, these ponds also attracted a small numbers of waders including Long-toed and Red-necked Stints. 

Grey-headed Lapwing

Red-necked Stint

Over at Mai Po, shorebirds migration are now in full swing, with a good number of species present on the scrape during high tide. Here are a good selection of the commoner species which came close to the hide.

Terek Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

Pied Avocet

It was hard to resist taking a few photos of this Little Grebe in full breeding plumage, especially when it swam so close in front of the hide. 

Little Grebe - breeding plumage

Some of the better migrants on the day were a few Great Knots, numerous Red Knots in breeding plumage and good numbers of Asian Dowitcher, a species I enjoy immensely seeing each spring. I also spotted a single Nordmann's Greenshank and a few Far Eastern Curlews on the scrape, but those were too far for any decent photos.

Great Knot

Red Knot - breeding plumage

Asian Dowitcher - breeding plumage

Greater Painted Snipes likely started their breeding season at Mai Po, I heard and saw at least one pair along the pond outside Education Centre.

Greater Painted Snipe - female & male

A short visit to Po Toi yielded a few Bunting species such as Black-faced, Little and a pair of Chestnut Buntings, none of which were photo friendly...The only bird photographable on the day I visited were a pair of Ashy Minivets. There is still a bit of time left for spring migration, hopefully my luck will come...

Ashy Minivet - male