John's Hong Kong Birding Blog

Cormorants behaving Badly

2012-01-23T14:39:00.000+08:00

Several thousand Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) winter in Hong Kong every year. They gather in noisy, quarrelsome groups and hunt for fish en masse. They are the Millwall F C supporters of the bird world: - "Nobody Loves Us, We Don't Care ! " Even when the fishing is good they fight among themselves. A small fish can be quickly swallowed but if a cormorant hesitates for a moment -

Mai Po in winter - some Deep Bay birds

2012-01-11T17:18:00.000+08:00

On 3rd January the forecast tide was close to the boardwalk hides in the late afternoon. Less-than-ideal viewing conditions, but a good number (about 140) large white-headed gulls settled on the tideline as it peaked. Most of our LWHGs are "Heuglin's", with a few Mongolian (Yellow-legged) Gulls also present. But OUR "Yellow-legged" gulls don't have yellow legs, which is a source of

Hong Kong in winter: - some "fishpond birds"

2012-01-05T18:48:00.000+08:00

Black Kite -Milvus migrans....... with dead fish"prey" Mai Po Nature Reserve is surrounded by areas of commercial fishponds. In these freshwater fish are "farmed" for the Hong Kong dinner table. Hong Kong's Property developers see fishponds as potential building sites… they are large, cheap and flat. You can see the high-rise towers of Tin Shui Wai in the background here, until the late

Mai Po Boardwalk - Winter Birds

2011-12-23T18:55:00.000+08:00

Daytime high tides are often not high enough to cover the mudflats of Deep Bay in the middle of winter. (Summer high tides, on the other hand, cover the mudflats most days in April and May, making good conditions for viewing migrant waders.) This morning I went out to the furthest boardwalk hide, opened by WWF Hong Kong only a couple of years ago. The hide was built so that more birding would

Cambodia - Part III "Siem Reap and Angkor"

2011-12-21T11:35:00.000+08:00

Heading south from Stung Treng, we had a short stop at Kratie for a boat trip to view a few of the rare river dolphins.... Siem Reap is the city that has grown up adjacent to the World Heritage Site of the ruined temples of Angkor. The most famous individual historic monument is Angkor Wat - described locally as "the biggest religious monument in the world". And there are many other

Cambodia - Part II "Giant Ibis"

2011-12-17T18:44:00.000+08:00

Literally and metaphorically, Giant Ibis is the "Big One"; - the bird that visitors to the dry forests of Northern Cambodia have made the journey to see. On the morning of our first full day in the Western Siem Pang "Proposed Protected Forest" we headed off to a trepeang (forest pool) about forty minutes from the guesthouse at Siem Pang town.And yes, we were probably lucky, but there were no

Cambodia – Part I - “Up the Mekong…”

2011-12-11T18:48:00.000+08:00

I remember staying somewhere on my travels where a stroll uphill and through some woods was recommended as a “Wilderness Experience” – as if this was a good thing. In reality, though, the “Wilderness Experience” was but a short interlude between my comfortable bed and a sumptious breakfast buffet. I think what they meant was that the air was fresh and the views fine. And

First Nordmann's of Spring

2011-02-27T20:37:00.000+08:00

Nordmann's Greenshank, that is, and the first for me last Friday, although I think three were sighted earlier in the week. Nordmann's Greenshank (Tringa Guttifer) Mai Po's newest hide - beyond a zillion Avocet Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) -two shots Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) A few breaths of warm air, and the Koels are calling everywhere.

Asian House Martin (Delichon dasypus)

2011-02-19T13:08:00.000+08:00

An "Uncommon passage migrant with a few winter records" (Avifauna of Hong Kong). These may be early passage migrants. Asian House Martin Northern House Martin (D. urbicum) also occurs here. But the smallish white rump, dark wing lining, sullied flanks and dark chin - shown above - are all characteristic of Asian House Martin.

Tai Tong Country Park, Yuen Long

2011-02-17T18:25:00.000+08:00

After a tip-off, we went to the fringes of Tai Tong Country Park - which is well away from where we would normally go birding. But after two good days there I realize we should go there more often ! Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher Black Bulbul (Toad fans... look away now !) Greater-necklaced Laughingthrush Olive-backed Pipit Red-flanked Bluetail Grey-backed Thrush (m) Pale Thrush

WWF Big Bird Race, Hong Kong 12th Feb 2011 06:30 to 18:30

2011-02-13T12:22:00.001+08:00

On the principle that a picture is worth a thousand words - a thousand of mine, anyway - some Coolpix shots from yesterday. Pre-dawn at Ho Chung Listening At Tai Po Kau Gavin, Andrew and Tim The "All-Stars" - l. to r. - Dave Stanton, Mike Turnbull, Chris Campion and Geoff Welch WE were the "Wandering Tattlers" Even though a cold front had just reached Hong Kong, mercifully, it didn't rain. It is

Nam Sang Wai - Part V

2011-02-10T17:10:00.000+08:00

Yes, to the sound of dead horses being flogged and barrels being scraped, here it comes. I popped down to NSW again on Tuesday, 8th February. As I stood at the back of the car I saw (probably the same individual) White's Thrush in the same spot as last week. But away to the right, a Grey-backed Thrush was being chased off the grassland by a Pale Thrush... Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus) More of

Nam Sang Wai - Part IV

2011-02-04T19:44:00.000+08:00

I have been noting how many different birds I can photograph in a winter from one spot, in this case the slipway at Nam Sang Wai. This is the fourth collection of images. As I was getting the camera out of the back of the car yesterday morning, Jemi spotted this White's Thrush in the grass between the road and the old police post. A "bonus bird" for NSW. White's Thrush (Zoothera aurea) Zoothera

Lunar New Year's Eve

2011-02-02T19:28:00.001+08:00

It was cold when I got back to Hong Kong last Sunday evening (Jan 30th). But today, three days later, there has been a distinct warmth in the air. It must be the approach of Lunar New Year, which heralds the start of the spring in south China. Along the access road to Mai Po, I saw about eighty Little Swifts. These are described in The Avifauna of Hong Kong as "abundant spring migrants'..

"The one that got away" - Mai Po, Hong Kong

2011-01-27T14:33:00.000+08:00

This picture was taken at one of Mai Po's boardwalk hides on a sunny afternoon in late November. I brought the photo file to the UK with me on a memory stick. I saw the Grey Heron giving this snake a good tug before the snake managed to escape. Both the Heron and the Little Egret close by manage to look alarmed or excited. (The snake's head is visible to the right of the mangrove shoot)

(Eastern) Imperial Eagles at Mai Po, Hong Kong

2010-12-21T17:04:00.000+08:00

Adult in flight (actually, it was so close with the 800mm I clipped the wingtip off this shot !) juvenile/first winter juvenile/first winter They seemed to be fighting over something in the grass, but I couldn't see what it wasalso present: Collared Crow and Greater Spotted Eagle "Head over heels" - one of the two senior Imperial Eagles tumbled junior right off his perch

Nam Sang Wai - Part III

2010-12-18T03:38:00.001+08:00

Another dozen species from Nam Sang Wai - all photos taken in the last few weeks Common Snipe Greater Spotted Eagle (the briefest of fly-bys) Pintail (Oriental) Magpie Robin Chinese Spotbill Marsh Sandpiper White-breasted Kingfisher (doing well not to get covered in slime) Pied Kingfisher Common Teal Collared Crow Purple Heron Little Egret If I've counted correctly - and,

Enraptured by Raptors at Mai Po

2010-12-01T21:09:00.001+08:00

This photos were taken at Pond 20, Mai Po Nature Reserve, today. Five birds - three species - Greater Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagles, a fly-by Black Kite ! Greater Spotted Eagles - interesting submissive pose here - "Don't scratch me again, please !" Greater Spotted Eagle Black Kite Eastern Imperial Eagle - a first-year, unlike the two in the first photo in this series Eastern Marsh

517 for 1

2010-12-01T20:56:00.000+08:00

The First Ashes Test Match, Australia vs. England has just concluded in Brisbane. The game was drawn, and there are four games left in the series. In the second innings England - who looked in deep trouble earlier in the game - scored a stunning 517 for one. The first three England batsmen got 100s for the first time since 1924. Amid all the (probably premature) back-slapping, little mention

Nam Sang Wai - part II

2010-11-27T19:59:00.001+08:00

Considering the muck and goo at the edge of the water at Nam Sang Wai, I was going to call this series of posts from NSW "The Dirty Dozen". But actually it might be the "Dirty Two Dozen" OR the "Dirty Three Dozen" depending on how many different species I can record there this winter. There are no access restrictions, and it is a popular place for people starting out in nature photography to

Speckled Piculet - Picumnus innominatus

2010-11-25T17:32:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday (20th Nov 2010) we decided to get away from the madding crowds elsewhere and birded Shek Kong Water Catchment Road. It is advanced secondary woodland - like Tai Po Kau - and many of TPK's resident birds are there too. However we found one rarity - a Speckled Piculet. Hong Kong's first record was as long ago as 1996 near Ma On Shan, netted by Mike Leven when he was ringing birds

Early Winter from the Mai Po Boardwalk Hides

2010-11-20T18:29:00.005+08:00

A Deep Bay tide height of around 2.1 metres brings the waterline up to the oldest Mai Po Boardwalk hides, which have been there since the late 1980s. However siltation is continuously raising the levels of the mudflats and fewer and fewer daytime high tides reach the hides each winter. ( Not such a problem in spring, though; -tides are much higher in April and May, so migrant wader viewing is

Nam Sang Wai, Hong Kong

2010-11-11T19:00:00.004+08:00

Near the old police post at Nam Sang Wai the Kam Tin and Yuen Long River channels meet. Three elements are required for good photo opportunities..1) Low tide - between 0.5 and 1.0 metres is ideal;2) Early morning sunshine;3) Wintering birds present, such as duck, Black-faced Spoonbills, Herons and WadersShovellerSpotted RedshankBlack-faced SpoonbillCommon GreenshankBlack-winged StiltGrey HeronOh

The Fab Four

2010-11-04T17:23:00.005+08:00

The "Fab" here refers not to the Beatles, of course, but to Anser fabalis, - the Bean Goose.Last Saturday three were sighted at some distance on the tidal mudflats of Deep Bay, but like most people, I missed them.A Sunday report - more like a rumour - elsewhere in Deep Bay and then it went quiet. Geese can be very brief visitors to Hong Kong, I recall Greylags that lingered for just an afternoon

Long Valley Hallowe'en

2010-11-02T17:39:00.004+08:00

There are a few pumpkins at Long Valley, but no witches that I've noticed.Last Sunday (Oct. 31st) was a day of the finest autumnal Hong Kong weather, it was fine, clear and cool.We ended our birding day at LV.Pacific Golden PloverYellow Wagtail (taivana)Olive-backed PipitWood SandpiperAfter the sun had set, a few latestayers - including us - were treated to the sight of a Chestnut Bittern

Po Toi Boat Trip

2010-10-18T20:13:00.003+08:00

An under-subscribed Hong Kong Birdwatching Society boat trip to Po Toi Island … “and HK’s southern waters”.Bus, train and tunnel bus (170 Hung Hom to Wah Kwai) got me to Aberdeen Public Pier in good time for the 07:30 sailing. The public ferry at 10:00hrs to Po Toi would have been rather cheaper, but the society’s hired boat had a good head start.Choppy weather, but it looked like experienced

Pied Kingfishers at Mai Po Nature Reserve

2010-10-07T16:11:00.002+08:00

This time yesterday I was in Hide No.8 at MPNR.Some rarities have been seen there in the last few days, mainly netted by the bird ringers.Nothing exotic for me, but fine views of a pair of Pied Kingfishers close to the hide were more than adequate compensation.Like a lot of people, it was the charisma of kingfishers that lured me into birding.Pied Kingfishers

A "First" for Hong Kong - European Roller

2010-10-07T14:59:00.002+08:00

Out of AfricaThe autumn, southerly migration of birds is going on right now. What the Hong Kong Observatory called “a replenishment of the winter monsoon” brought cold grey weather last Tuesday (Oct 5th) and with it lots of birds. John Allcock kindly phoned me around mid-day with news of a European Roller sighted (by Dave Stanton) near Black Point Power Station, which is about as far west as you

Introduction to Belgium - Bruges and Ghent

2010-10-03T16:43:00.005+08:00

Belgium - what's not to like ?We travelled by train to Brussels from St Pancras in London in less than two hours - Channel Tunnel - Tick - and Bruges, where these pics were taken was just an hour further on...Sadly, we missed PercyLeffe beerThree hundred and-a-lot steps to the topThree-litre beer glass for the very braveWe settled on "the finest beer in the world" - a lot of them claim that,

The wild west midlands (of England)

2010-10-03T15:27:00.006+08:00

Ah, there you are !Yes, I confess it's been a while - I was back in the United Kingdom, seeing family and friends, and probably eating far too much.Well, you have to, to keep out that european cold weather.A couple of "wildlife highlights" from my mother's back garden...Suburban FoxGarden FrogUpton Warren Nature Reserve is nearby, and we went a couple of times, being members of the

Birds in bronze - SanXingDui

2010-08-09T16:57:00.003+08:00

More than three thousand years ago there was a population of sun-worshipping people living on the plains of Sichuan, near what is now Chengdu. The museum is about 50km north of Sichuan's capital city, where a treasure trove of mainly bronze relics was discovered in the summer of 1986.The museum is really well laid out, and the artefacts speak for themselves, but it seems that not much is known

Towards Sichuan's "Wild West" - Bamei, Ganze Prefecture

2010-08-09T16:38:00.006+08:00

Bamei is a town north of Tagong, about 3000m in elevation. There is a monastery nearby.Until a few days ago, to me, it was just a dot on a map between Tagong and Danba, in western Sichuan.But when we got there I was pleasantly surprised. The place was a bit dusty, but the view of the snow-capped peak of Yala Shan - obscured by a new radio mast, I admit - helped to make the place feel a bit

Bamei to Danba, Ganze, Western Sichuan

2010-08-09T16:15:00.003+08:00

There has been a LOT of rain in parts of China this year, bringing tragedy to many people.Our 18 days in Sichuan were - luckily for us - mostly dry.We found the plains very hot and hazy near Chengdu, but the weather around Kangding and further west was bright and clear, as you can see here.....Grasslands near BameiYala Shan, 5820mThen the road followed the river through an interesting gorge, with

Don't be sad

2010-07-18T07:09:00.003+08:00

We're leaving today for three weeks in sunny Sichuan; well beyond the realms of bl*ggerOrang, Danum ValleyRegular postings will be resumed in August. Meanwhile, - enjoy your summer !

White-shouldered Starling - Sturnus sinensis

2010-07-13T10:29:00.003+08:00

Although this species occurs in small numbers in winter and as a passage migrant, it is easiest to see as a breeding species in the summertime in Hong Kong.Sturnus sinensisFrom my 1974 edition of "Hong Kong Birds" by G.A.C. Herklots "This beautiful little starling arrives in the Colony towards the end of March and leaves in mid-September or shortly afterwards… It feeds for the most part on

Independence Day

2010-07-04T11:32:00.003+08:00

But not yet for this juvenile Bonelli's Eagle, photographed with an adult from our rooftop this morning.... Bonelli's Eagles Bonelli's Eagle -adultBonelli's Eagle - juvenileHOT again today - "Phew - whatta scorcha !" (Old summertime headline from the British SUN newspaper)

A life on the ocean waves..

2010-06-19T19:00:00.001+08:00

News of rarities in HK can be a roundabout process, despite the best efforts of the rarity finders themselves, and the volunteer keepers of the free-local-call birdlines in English and Cantonese.When we re-found George Ho's Blue-throated Bee-eater on the last Sunday in May, I phoned one or two people in case they hadn't heard…. including Graham T. , - who was actually in Dubai where it must have

"Hung Fa Leng" - northeast New Territories

2010-06-16T19:10:00.003+08:00

Overcast skies and light rain brought a bit of relief from the summer sunshine.Off to the hills for a short stroll, then.Starling Inlet - not named after a bird, but after a ship that was named after a bird - "HMS Starling"near Au Ha TsuenBuilt in 1933 ? - a minor miracle this place hasn't already been converted into peach-tiled village houses.Rose Myrtle - the fruit should be edible in a couple

"Panda Bird" - What's in a name ?

2010-06-10T08:37:00.002+08:00

Here's a photo of a Black-throated Tit, taken in Yunnan Province, China, in October last year. Does the name really matter ? It looks like a panda to me, although I admit that it's a LOT smaller than a panda. I first saw this species in Fujian Province, China, in 1986. The more experienced birders on the trip - everyone else, basically - used the English name "Red-headed Tit", after Prof.

"Brain Fever" bird

2010-06-04T08:32:00.003+08:00

The "Brain-fever Bird" gets a mention in one of Rudyard Kipling's Indian poems about freemasonry, written in the 1890s : -"So man on man got talkin'An' not a Brother stirredTill morning waked the parrotsAn that damn brain fever bird…"Heirococcyx sparverioides - the Large Hawk Cuckoo is still alive and well both in India and south China and the places in between.Here's one I photographed last week

Blue-throated Bee-eater - a Sunday "Twitch"

2010-05-31T14:02:00.008+08:00

Last Saturday evening I got a telephone tip-off to say that a Blue-throated Bee-eater was sitting on some wires less than two kilometres from where we live.I "high-tailed" it up to Kwu Tung and met the finder, George Ho. I saw his photos and the wires the bird had been on, but the Bee-Eater was gone. Then the heavens opened, and it rained heavily until after it got dark.George posted details of

Last Call for spring migrants

2010-05-24T16:50:00.002+08:00

Nice sunlight at the Mai Po boardwalk today. It was cool first thing this morning, but pretty soon felt like summer had arrived.Gull-billed Tern (Breeding Plumage)Gull-billed Tern - Non-breeding plumageOsprey with fishCaspian TernsAnd a VERY LATE Long-billed DowitcherA few waders apart from the Dowitcher were still about, but they stayed on the tideline.

john & jemi Photographs

2010-05-22T22:17:00.009+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/pp_hk/waders/waders/some.htmlhttp://johnjemi.hk/pp_hk/terns/terns/little_tern.htmlhttp://johnjemi.hk/pp_hk/waders/109/index.htmlmore to come...J & J

International Moth Night - May 16th

2010-05-20T17:31:00.003+08:00

Darkness.Light traps.Exotic unearthly creatures....... and some insects as well...Yes, it was Hong Kong's version of "International Moth Night" with civilized temperatures and the odd bottle of Shiraz.Many Thanks to Roger Kendrick, Andrew Hardacre, R & K Barretto and everyone else for a most diverting evening.

"WMBD" - 2010

2010-05-17T20:15:00.005+08:00

No, NOT an American Radio Station, but "World Migratory Bird Day". This year it was actually TWO days, the weekend of 8th and 9th of May. Birdlife International's WMBD is aimed at focussing attention on Globally Threatened Migratory Birds. Here are some Globally Threatened Migratory Birds seen at Mai Po in the past few days...Black-faced Spoonbill - EndangeredNordmann's Greenshank -

Waders at the Mai Po boardwalk, 11th and 12th May

2010-05-12T20:40:00.005+08:00

Some not-too-high tides at Mai Po these last few days, and we made an effort to catch some of the more tardy northbound waders on the Deep Bay tideline. Red-necked Stint - one of about 2,000 on TuesdayTerek SandpiperBroadbilled SandpipersRed Knot - with supporting castGreater SandploverA good "find" for us was this Little Stint. In non-breeding plumage they are very hard to separate from

Po Toi and HK southern waters, Sunday 2nd May

2010-05-03T16:01:00.002+08:00

A birdwatching society boat trip, on a boat intermediate in size between these....A couple of Arctic Skuas were seen... this one flew closest to the boat...Arctic SkuaAnd a shearwater, doing exactly what it says in the species job description ...Short-tailed ShearwaterWe saw over one hundred phalarope on the open sea. Their presence in is usually a good sign that seabird migrants are around.

Hainan 2009 11

2010-05-02T12:37:00.000+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/hn09_11/index.html

Yunnan 2009 09

2010-05-01T15:24:00.005+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/yn09_09/index.html

Yunnan 2009 03

2010-05-01T15:12:00.003+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/yn09_03/index.html

Gansu 2009 05

2010-05-01T15:09:00.004+08:00

India North East 2007

2010-05-01T10:14:00.000+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/as/in/inne07_12//index.html

Fujian 2008 06

2010-05-01T09:06:00.000+08:00

Yunnan 2008 03

2010-05-01T07:19:00.000+08:00

Japan 2006 Feb

2010-05-01T05:16:00.000+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/as/jp/jp06_02/index.html

Kazakhstan

2010-05-01T03:19:00.000+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/as/kz/kz05/index.html

West China 2005

2010-05-01T02:36:00.000+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/cn/wc05_04/index.html

Myanmar 2005 02

2010-05-01T02:01:00.002+08:00

http://johnjemi.hk/journey_tr/as/bm/burma05_02/index.html

Waders at Mai Po

2010-04-27T20:24:00.005+08:00

A good variety of late spring waders around at Mai Po Nature Reserve in the last few days.Far Eastern CurlewRed-necked Stint with Western Australian leg flagCurlew Sandpiper with Victoria or South Australia leg flagLesser Sandploverf Greater Sandplover - already reported via the AWSG websiteA variety of "the usual suspects" including Pacific Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocets etc.This

Terns at Mai Po Access Road, 20th and 21st April

2010-04-22T21:52:00.001+08:00

On the principle that if you take enough photos, SOME will look fairly decent, I weeded my way through seven hundred shots of Whiskered Tern taken in the late afternoon of 20th April....Whiskered TernAnd, as if vying for attention, the Little Terns performed pretty well the following morning (on the 21st).Little TernsBoth these species of Tern are passage migrants in Hong Kong. Usually we just

Pale Martin at Mai Po Access road

2010-04-19T21:00:00.000+08:00

Lots of Barn Swallows over the fishonds, and, among them, a few of the south China race - fohkinensis - of Pale MartinPale Martins

Citrine Wagtails at Long Valley

2010-04-18T22:00:00.000+08:00

Well, to be more precise, ONE Citrine Wagtail, from three different angles.I didn't see the two or three others in the area.Citrine Wagtail, Long Valley, Hong Kong

A convocation of Pratincoles

2010-04-16T21:44:00.002+08:00

On Mai Po Access Road today the Oriental Pratincoles favoured one particular fishpond bund.I thought they looked very solemn and serious, like a group of academics.... so "convocation" is my new collective noun for them.I hope it catches on.Oriental Pratincoles

Swiftlets on Mt. Kinabalu - some "dodgei" records ?

2010-04-15T20:50:00.006+08:00

In early March we spent some time at Mt Kinabalu, Sabah.There we saw quite a few swiftlets, a family we don't get much practice with in Hong Kong.Mt. Kinabalu is a site for the very local and newly-split "Bornean Swiftlet" - Collocalia dodgei. And, as it was in both the new field guides, like most birders, we thought we'd go and look for it. On two different mornings at the Timpohon Gate (

Terns at Mai Po Access Road

2010-04-14T15:29:00.003+08:00

As I was saying, different days, different ternsWhiskered Tern

Terns over Mai Po access road

2010-04-13T19:09:00.004+08:00

Last monday (April 5th), strong winds stopped a good few migrants, and - as is often the case - terns were blown inland.Here some views from Mai Po Access RoadGull-billed TernsGull-billed Tern (with charming construction site sand silo as backdrop)Gull-billed TernLittle TernDifferent days, different terns.Still shut out of Mai Po. Disappointed !

Mai Po still "closed"

2010-04-10T19:03:00.003+08:00

... and, - I hear you say - " Glenn Miller is STILL missing !"Well, it has seemed like a long time since March 31st.Here are two shots from a day before the "closure" of Great Knots with leg flags Black-over-white - flagged at Chongming Island, near Shanghai"KDB" on a yellow flag - flagged last autumn near Broome, Western AustraliaThis afternoon I was birding on the access road to Mai Po - like

The promise of youth - Part One

2010-04-06T21:50:00.003+08:00

David Ifon Gower (Leics and England)I'm talking about cricket here. In 1976, when I was a student, I went to see Middlesex vs Leicestershire play at Lord's in the English County Championship. There were few spectators at the ground.I used to bat (badly) left-handed myself, so I was interested to see a stylish young left-handed batsman called David Gower make his first First-class hundred in

PoToi Boat Trip - 4th April 2010

2010-04-05T10:53:00.003+08:00

Paul Leader organised a boat trip to mainly look for seabirds, but we called in at Po Toi Island too.There were a few migrant landbirds in the nooks and crannies of the island, sheltering from the foggy eastery winds.Narcissus FlycatcherFantail SnipeGrey-faced BuzzardGrey-faced BuzzardAnd in fairly choppy seas afterwards, a few seabirds, including the three species of skuas (jaegers) known to

Mai Po Nature Reserve "closed" for 21 days...

2010-04-02T13:20:00.004+08:00

A dead Barn Swallow with H5N1 was found on 26th March near Castle Peak road, and reported to AFCD.The positive 'flu test gave the Government a chance to leap into action.... so they've closed Mai Po Nature Reserve for 21 days from the evening of March 31st. This despite the fact that no-one in the world is known to have caught avian 'flu from a wild bird !Here are some Black-tailed Godwit shot