Starting to feel like Summer

Short-tailed Shearwater - Puffinus tenuirostris

After the excitement of the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, it might seem strange that we returned to Po Toi Island the following day.

However, a week earlier, a friend had offered to take us to Po Toi on May 3rd in a fishing sampan, owned and skippered by his father.  Naturally we agreed. I haven’t given his name here to spare him lots of messages asking for similar outings...

Swinging out south of Po Toi in the hope of seeing shearwaters or other seabirds was part of the plan.

Early on, we had good views of Red-necked Phalarope among slicks of oily-looking rubbish.  However, the reflection of Po Toi in the water made an unusual-looking setting for images of these birds.

Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 

Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus 

And the shearwaters - yes, we saw six in only about 45 minutes - most were quite distant, but this one practically flew into us.  

Short-tailed Shearwater - Puffinus tenuirostris

Short-tailed Shearwater - Puffinus tenuirostris

Po Toi itself was quiet, and the ODK did not show for the fifty-or-so photographers who had been encouraged by the results of the previous day, and made the pilgrimage to see it.

Thoughts of blue skies reminded me I haven't used these on the blog, so here are two shots of the same Lesser Frigatebird taken during a boat trip on April 29th.  

Lesser Frigatebird - Fregata ariel

Lesser Frigatebird - Fregata ariel

At Tai Sang Wai there have been a few Sand/Pale Martins around: -

Pale Martin - Riparia diluta

Pale Martin - Riparia diluta

....and this rather "left behind" - looking pratincole.

Oriental Pratincole - Glareola maldivarum

At Mai Po, wader migration has been winding down in terms of overall numbers, but there is still plenty to look at.

Grey-tailed Tattler - Heteroscelus brevipes

Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres

Long-toed Stint - Calidris subminuta

Sanderling - Calidris alba

Red-necked Stint - Calidris ruficollis

And the weather is just hotting up...