Hong Kong seems at its most tropical in July, a month of blazing heat interrupted by thundery showers. A month when idle birders like me really need a reason to get up and out into the field bright and early.
Yesterday John Allcock texted to tell me that such a reason - in the form of an Oriental (White) Stork - had dropped into Mai Po Nature Reserve.
So, first thing this morning I bashed out to Mai Po and joined a small crowd of admirers next to Pond 21.
"What is black and white and got pink legs ?"
" Don't ask me ! "
Hong Kong's last Oriental Stork was around for a few weeks in Jan/Feb 2004, and this individual could provide a "HK tick" - even a "Life tick" - for more than a few current Hong Kong birders.
Oriental Stork breeds in East Russia and adjacent Heilongjiang in far northeast China. A population winters on the Yangtse and - apart from a big influx of over 100 birds in November 1990 - only odd ones have wintered here over the years.
This is HK's first summer record - a very unexpected bonus.
It was circling very high in the sky as I left. I hope it doesn't leave, or there will be a lot of disappointed birders at the weekend !
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Updated: 17 July 2012 - the Oriental Stork stayed around over the weekend, to the delight of many. Thomas Chan's photos on the HKBWS website here:-
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Updated: 17 July 2012 - the Oriental Stork stayed around over the weekend, to the delight of many. Thomas Chan's photos on the HKBWS website here:-
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=16706&highlight=
Plenty of other great shots of this in several earlier postings on the HKBWS website, too.
Plenty of other great shots of this in several earlier postings on the HKBWS website, too.
What a beauty! You managed to get some brilliant shots too. Usually an unepxected bonus with such rare enounters. I hope she/he knows where to go.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Russell. This is a species that I was not aware of. Is there a place on the web that has a checklist of HK birds?
ReplyDeleteHi Russell and John,
ReplyDeleteThere are now 513 species on the HK List, which is pretty good for such a small place!
You can download the latest list of HK Birds from the H K Bird Watching Society Website, see below:
List of HK Birds 香港鳥類名錄 - 2012-07-03 by HKBWS
http://www.hkbws.org.hk/BBS/viewthread.php?tid=16663&extra=page%3D1
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ReplyDeleteMun, Sorry, I accidentally deleted your comment when I thought I was replying to it - I don't know how to undo that... apologies
DeleteWould really love to see this one! Also a very rare bird in Japan.
ReplyDeleteThose shots with the Black-winged Stilts are cute!
Ayuwat,
DeleteIt's BIG, too.... the Great Egrets are a bit intimidated, I think !
Stunning bird,superb captures.
ReplyDeleteJohn.