Found by Ivan TSE of the HK Birdwatching Society this morning on Ponds 16/17 Mai Po Nature Reserve. This Critically Endangered Species is "difficult" to find here in spring, and even rarer in Autumn.
A few record shots:
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| Spoon-billed Sandpiper - Eurynorhynchus pygmeus |
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| Spoon-billed Sandpiper - Eurynorhynchus pygmeus |
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| Spoon-billed Sandpiper - Eurynorhynchus pygmeus |
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| Spoon-billed Sandpiper - Eurynorhynchus pygmeus |
Yesterday (Sept. 20th) there were about sixty Great Knot on the outgoing tide.
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| Great Knot - Calidris tenuirostris |
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| Great Knot - Calidris tenuirostris |
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| Great Knot - Calidris tenuirostris |
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| Great Knot - Calidris tenuirostris |
And - as a useful comparison - three Red Knot were close to the hide, here is one of them
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| Red Knot - Calidris canutus |
In the bay, though, the most noticeable
Great Knot was struggling for it's life in the retreating tidal waters while a
Peregrine tried to pluck it out of the sea.
The Great Knot moved closer to one of the old marker poles and this disturbed the rhythm of the swooping raptor.
And, to our surprise, eventually the Peregrine gave up and flew away.
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| Peregrine - Falco peregrinus |
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Peregrine - Falco peregrinus
Unfortunately for the Great Knot, though, it had a gash on it's chest and probably won't get much further.
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At least the Peregrine didn't nab the SB Sand...................
ReplyDeleteNow THAT would have been something !
DeleteI like this post. The spoonie is always a treat. I feel sorry for the knot but at the same time, I love Peregrines. So, some mixed feeling here. Great shots as usual.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mun ! Yes, raptors have got to eat, too. In this case the Great Knot is probably doomed and the Peregrine didn't get a meal….no-one is a winner.
ReplyDeleteJohn, love the sequence. Would love to have captured this myself. I saw your Eastern Marsh Harrier post at HKBWS. Yes, it's secondary as it's just an annual routine. However, if it was a male. Either the Eastern or Pied would have us all in saliva mode!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ah Kei. Adult male Pied Harriers are rare but regular - it must only be a matter of time before someone really gets some great shots of one in HK.
ReplyDelete