A lovely Black-necked Grebe turned up at Tai Sang Wai lately and have been showing exceedingly well for everyone, a great bird to see as always and the second consecutive year that we have had one turning up in Hong Kong. They are far rarer than people think, as there are fewer than 15 records in Hong Kong so far, and getting them on consecutive years only happened once between 2002 and 2003.
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| Black-necked Grebe |
The Ferruginous Ducks at Tam Kon Chau have stayed there all month, and seems very comfortable with their wintering home. I finally had a day free to get some better photographs of them, you never know when you may get another chance to photograph them up close!
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| Ferruginous Duck - male & female |
Mai Po's been fairly popular this winter, mainly due to the continuing Hen Harrier and Brahminy Kite, the latter I have not had the luck to bump into. A Ruddy Shelduck also appeared and seems to have stayed on around the scrape. While some reported seeing it quite close, it was never very close to the bird hide whenever I was there. Nonetheless, a great bird to see.
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| Ruddy Shelduck |
The small flock of Oriental Storks have been going in and out of Mai Po, its always a treat when you see them either soaring above or perched on the scrape somewhere. They are becoming such a regular sighting that most birders nowadays take very little notice of them, but I still enjoy each and every encounter with this majestic species.
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| Oriental Storks |
Even though I have had no luck with the Brahminy Kite, both Greater Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagles can be regularly seen in Mai Po. Both of these majestic raptors are often bullied by the local Black Kites.
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| Eastern Imperial Eagle & Black Kite |
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| Greater Spotted Eagle |
Other wintering birds such as Chinese Penduline Tits and Black-faced Buntings continue to show well at Mai Po, both species can be confiding if you are lucky.
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| Chinese Penduline Tit |
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| Black-faced Bunting - female |
A fairly confiding Siberian Pipit have been spotted near the entrance of Mai Po, I am always happy to find this rather uncommon species.
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| Siberian Pipit |
I got very lucky with a male Siberian Rubythroat that showed very well at Mai Po, even though it is a species that will often show very well at feeding station, seeing a truly wild one so well feels extra special.
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| Siberian Rubythroat - male |
Whereas the male Bluethroat is showing exceedingly well at Tai Sang Wai at the moment, a bird that I can never get bored of seeing, a real crowd pleaser for sure.
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| Bluethroat - male |
Black-faced Spoonbills are now easily seen at almost all of our wetland sites, outside of Mai Po you can find them around San Tin, Tai Sang Wai, Long Valley and Nam Sang Wai. Great to see them all the same wherever it is.
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| Black-faced Spoonbills |
Some of the drakes Eurasian Teals are finally moulting into their lovely plumage, I think most ducks are underated, they are all stunning to look at up close.
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| Eurasian Teal - male |
Tai Po Kau's been more or less the same, I have been trying to reconnect with the White-spectacled Warbler with little luck, although the usual suspects are never boring. I was especially pleased with a male Orange-bellied Leafbird at close range one day, they are never easy when Rhodoleia are not in bloom.
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| Orange-bellied Leafbird - male |
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| Grey-chinned Minivet - male |
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| Grey-chinned Minivet - female |
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| Huet's Fulvetta |
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| Great Barbet |
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch |
Ground dwelling skulkers such as Pygmy Cupwings and Asian Stubtails are always a treat to see well, while wintering Grey-backed Thrush that allows you to get a good look are never easy to come across these days. Rufous-tailed Robins are probably the easiest of the skulkers, but still great to see them whenever possible.
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| Pygmy Cupwing |
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| Asian Stubtail |
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| Grey-backed Thrush - female |
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| Rufous-tailed Robin |
The most interesting bird at Tai Po Kau was probably a very late Dark-sided Flycatcher, by December there are usually very few records of this species.
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| Dark-sided Flycatcher - juvenile |
Finally, some regular birds of Shek Kong Catchwater, Speckled Piculets often show well here, Verditer Flycatchers and Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers are of course a regular wintering species, but no doubt some of the star bird of this birding site.
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| Speckled Piculet |
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| Verditer Flycatcher - female |
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| Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher |
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