A flock of 14 Oriental Storks have been going around Mai Po Nature Reserve, flying back and forth and creating quite the spectacle for those lucky enough to see them. I was lucky on two occasions that the flock flew very close to me, giving phenomenal views! These endangered waterbirds while seems to have become a staple for the last two years, we should by no means take them for granted. Increased numbers of wintering birds this far south may be a result of habitat destruction further north, in which case may not be favourable for the survival of this species.
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| Oriental Storks |
I was also lucky to find a single Black Stork amongst the flock of Oriental Storks on one occasion at Mai Po, I was very happy to be able to connect with this rarer stork in Hong Kong. This one flew quite close and gave good views for me and my guests.
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| Black Stork - probably one of my best bird this month! |
Other than the storks, Mai Po's been quite productive in terms of raptors, I had both Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Eurasian Goshawk on a single day, both were too far for any meaningful photos, but otherwise seen quite well. The Eurasian Goshawk was actually much closer to begin with, but it soon flew out of sight behind the trees, only to reappear later on much further away, being harrased by a Large-billed Crow.
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| Eurasian Sparrowhawk |
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| Eurasian Goshawk - with Large-billed Crow |
Mai Po is of course also the home of our wintering eagles, Greater Spotted and Imperial can both be seen on a regular basis, only Greater Spotted Eagle gave close enough views of a decent photo though.
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| Greater Spotted Eagle |
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| Imperial Eagle |
Other birds at Mai Po includes quite a few Chinese Penduline Tits, although their numbers are lower than usual, they are still not that difficult to find at the right habitat inside the nature reserve. A few Gadwalls were also seen, although quite far away.
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| Chinese Penduline Tit |
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| Gadwall |
The long staying Common Gull at San Tin was still present last time I visited, it seems to be pretty comfortable sticking with all the Black-headed Gulls there. Other notable birds at San Tin were a few Temminck's Stints, as well as a few Buff-bellied Pipits.
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| Common Gull |
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| Temminck's Stint |
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| Buff-bellied Pipit |
Daurian Redstarts are much harder to find this winter compare to most winters here, here is a nice male at Tai Sang Wai. The long staying Citrine Wagtail at Lok Ma Chau was still present last time I visited, I do wonder how long it will stay in that area!
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| Daurian Redstart - male |
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| Citrine Wagtail |
At Lion's Nature Education Centre which was immensely entertaining last winter with lots of wintering thrushes, things were generally very quiet. A Taiga and an Asian Brown Flycatcher were the only two notable wintering birds I found. Over at Pak Tam Chung, things were also very quiet, the only friendly bird there was a very bold Eastern Cattle Egret. I saw a few Chestnut-flanked White-eyes with numerous Swinhoe's White-eyes, but none were photographable.
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| Taiga Flycatcher |
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
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| Eastern Cattle Egret |
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| Swinhoe's White-eye |
Blooming Rhodoleia continues to attracts lots of nectar feeders, Orange-bellied Leafbirds are of course the most eye-catching of them all. Blue-winged Minlas as well as Fork-tailed Sunbirds are both regular visitors to these flowering trees.
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| Orange-bellied Leafbird - male |
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| Orange-bellied Leafbird - female |
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| Blue-winged Minla |
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| Fork-tailed Sunbird - male |
In the forests of Tai Po Kau, I didn't find too many interesting wintering birds, I did have lots of photo opportunity with many of our local species though, which is also fun, although I would prefer if we get some more decent wintering birds here...
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| Rufous-capped Babbler |
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| White-bellied Erpornis |
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| Huet's Fulvetta |
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| Chestnut Bulbul |
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch |
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