Rhodolea in Full Bloom

The Rhodolea Trees around Tai Po Kau are now in full bloom, attracting many nectar loving species to the area, Orange-bellied Leafbirds are of course the most notable and often the noisiest of the bunch. Colourful males are always a lovely model, but the bright green females are also quite interesting to look at.

Orange-bellied Leafbird - male

Orange-bellied Leafbird - female

A few Hair-crested Drongos were also attracted to the tree, being a species that are seen mostly high up near the canopy, it is always nice to see them feeding low down and at close range, where you can appreciate their peculiar plumage and crest.

Hair-crested Drongo

The various flowering trees plus lower temperature lately means birds are generally quite active, Blue-winged Minlas for example are showing very well lately, Mountain Bulbuls which rely heavily on nectar have also been very active.

Blue-winged Minla

Mountain Bulbul

Along with other 'usual suspects', Tai Po Kau is always worth going. You cannot go wrong with seeing a bird wave up close, when numerous species dances around you at close range, even if they are our common species.

White-bellied Erpornis

Huet's Fulvetta

Silver-eared Mesia

Yellow-cheeked Tit - male

Speckled Piculet

Grey-chinned Minivet - male

You are almost guarantee to see a Rufous-tailed Robin at this time of the year if you put some effort in, while not every encounter end up with a good photo, it is not too difficult to get a good look at this wintering species. Bumping into Indochinese Yuhinas however require a lot more luck, this winter visitor is more of an eruptive species, some years  you may see them everywhere, and some years you only see a few flocks, this winter seems to be the latter, and I haven't seen them as often as other winters.

Rufous-tailed Robin

Indochinese Yuhina

Getting good photos of common species like Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker is also no easy task, they generally show better if there are fruiting mistletoe plants around. Got quite lucky with this male at the car park of Tai Po Kau, where it showed exceptionally well, a real treat!

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker - male

Over at Tai Tong, a Forest Wagtail had been reported. I went to give it a go the other day, and found it walking along the barbecue site casually. Unfortunately, this bird seems to have a deformed or broken bill, but otherwise looks healthy. It was able to catch and swallowed a grasshopper during my observation, so hopefully it is well enough to survive through the winter.

Forest Wagtail

The Black-capped Kingfisher out on the Deep Bay mudflat have been showing very well, unlike previous years where they would be hiding in the mangroves for prolonged period of time, this one perched right out in the open sometimes, occasionally flying out to catch fiddlers crabs or mudskippers, a real gem of a bird to see!

Black-capped Kingfisher

You do get a good selection of birds at this time of the year in Mai Po, while it is generally nothing hugely rare or exciting, they are some quality wintering species. Here are a few examples...

Grey Plover

Eurasian Wigeon

Black-faced Spoonbill

Black Kite & Imperial Eagle

Taiga Flycatcher

Temminck's Stint

Falcated Duck - male

Northern Lapwing

White-cheeked Starling

Oriental Storks are always a highlight of the day if you get to see them well, some days we don't see them at all, but they more often than not turn up around the reserve at some point, either resting on the scrape or soaring past our heads.

Oriental Storks

While the Black-necked Grebe is still present at Tai Sang Wai, I have not bothered taking much photos of it since it never came very close. The Bluethroat is still around, but now abandoned by the photographers, therefore retreating back into the cover, you can still see it along the track though. Zitting Cisticolas are in good numbers there, you can get quite good views of them sitting on the tall grass. You can always count on Tai Sang Wai as a regular spot to see Collared Crows, this vulnerable species can often be seen foraging around the fish ponds.

Bluethroat

Zitting Cisticola

Collared Crow

The Brown Shrike at Lok Ma Chau have stayed on and continued to show well around the farm fields, although it is becoming more unpredictable and may hide for prolonged period of time occasionally. The long staying Citrine Wagtail have also been showing quite well, it seems to get chased around by the Eastern Yellow Wagtails there, luckily it still likes to stick around the cabbage field there.

Brown Shrike

Citrine Wagtail