Po Toi Island - 29th November 2009

Some gusts of cool winter air, and some winter visitors have turned up on Po Toi.

If the birds hadn't found Po Toi, who knows where they'd be - next stop the Philippines ?

About two dozen (!) photographers were on the 08:15 ferry from Aberdeen. I can say that I think coverage of Po Toi yesterday was thorough.

There didn't seem to be many people birding for the sake of birding, almost everyone on Po Toi for the birds had a camera.

Including, obviously, me.

We left on the 16:30 boat to Stanley. A hardy few stayed on until the 18:00 ferry back to Aberdeen, but it would have been pretty dark by then.

Red-flanked Bluetail


Daurian Redstart


Little Bunting


Pale Thrush


Pallas's Warbler

Mai Po, 18th November 2009

From the Tower hide, an obliging Imperial Eagle gave us a "Fly past" ...








and a Pied Kingfisher (female)



at the boardwalk, a few Temminck's Stint were poking around...


it was as Cold as Christmas out there - a Hong Kong Christmas, anyway, temperatures down to single figures in centigrade.

Swifts and Swallows at Mai Po 17th Nov 2009

A cold front has come through, and the harsh wind yesterday seemed to drive the insects and birds lower,

In late afternoon yesterday we went to Mai Po and found a flock that was mainly Barn Swallows in front of the Tower Hide, just above water level.

Here are some birds that WEREN'T Barn Swallows



Asian House Martin






Red-rumped Swallow


Pale Martins - race fohkinensis