Autumn Waders in flight at Mai Po, Hong Kong

Out to the Mai Po Nature Reserve boardwalk today, 28th September.

The tide came in quite quickly, but the birds stayed around until they were reasonably close to the hides, then took off in strong sunlight.

They're heading south, of course, away from their breeding grounds, and some juvenile plumages were in evidence.

Great Knot

Marsh Sandpiper

Eurasian Curlew

Whimbrel

 Bar-tailed Godwit  -  "D1" flagged here in Hong Kong

Bar-tailed Godwit (three views)

Greater Sandplover

AND - a sure sign that winter is on it's way back - five Black-faced Spoonbills turned up as well. Here are two of them...   Hong Kong's peak count of 461 was in November 2009.

Black-faced Spoonbill