Here comes Summer...

"school is out, oh happy day..." Mai Po's wader passage peaked in April, but the later passage birds are usually in fine breeding plumage.

Spring 2021's only Spoon-billed Sandpiper, a non-breeder flagged "LM" was seen on Ponds 16/17 at Mai Po on the weekend of 8th/9th May

The Red Knot were showing well, too.

Greater Painted-Snipe are establishing themselves in the grass in front of Hide 3.

Oriental Cuckoo (Cuculus optatus) and birds of passage, mostly

A year ago in May we had a Twitch for Common Cuckoo, but the attraction this morning was an Oriental Cuckoo, catching caterpillars in the banyans at the entrance to Mai Po. A "scarce passage migrant"...they don't call much so may be overlooked.

An Asian Barred Owlet appeared briefly, mobbed by a a Cinereous/Japanese Tit. Both have young at the moment, and the Tit doesn't want to give up its young to make dinner for the Owl.

At the boardwalk hides, waders waders waders

Did I mention waders ?

And this unusually-flagged Broad-billed Sandpiper, (duly reported and found to be ringed in Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu about 18 months ago).

I'd never have guessed "India" but "Bombay" (from Bombay Natural History Society) was readable on the ring, once I had the image on the computer. (Added 31 May 2021 - from the BHNS website)

Hong Kong Southern Waters 25th April 2021 - a seabird trip

A suitably-distanced masked, precautionary boat trip led us to a regular stream of Terns, eight species heading northeastwards included Little, Aleutian,Bridled,Black-naped,Common,Gull-billed, Greater Crested Tern and Caspian Tern. Aleutian Tern

Common Tern

Greater Crested Tern

Little Tern

Arctic Skuas (Parasitic Jaegers) were present, too...

Short-tailed Shearwaters are passing through HK waters now. This was the closest..

"Also-seens" included Red-necked Phalarope..

Several example of "Visible Migration" included this group of Cattle Egret, possibly arrived from the Philippines

At the Mai Po boardwalk hides, 20th April 2021

Out at the Mai Po Nature Reserve boardwalk hides today there was a fine selection of migrating birds..

None of them announced themselves as they approached within camera range, so, like me, you can work them out for yourself !