A 2.1 metre tide was predicted at Mai Po, possibly one of the last of the year that would get anywhere near the boardwalk hides.
It was still overcast early on, but there was a large group of roosting gulls on the tideline. From this group Saunders’ Gulls were taking to the air, and foraging over the mudflat, searching for mudskippers.
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| Saunders' Gull - Chroicocecephalus saundersi |
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| Saunders' Gull - Chroicocecephalus saundersi |
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| Saunders' Gull - Chroicocecephalus saundersi |
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| Saunders' Gull - Chroicocecephalus saundersi |
Also present, Dunlin. For me, the “What’s that calidrid?” calidrid.
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| Dunlin - Calidris alpina |
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| Dunlin - Calidris alpina |
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| Dunlin - Calidris alpina |
A few other birds came obligingly close to the hide.
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| Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus |
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| Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola |
The sun came out.....
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| Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta |
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(Mostly) Black-headed Gulls on the mudflat
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- and on the way back to the Reserve entrance, this female Daurian Redstart posed for me in the shade of a pathside mangrove.
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| Daurian Redstart - Phoenicurus auroreus |
Looking back towards the Border Security Fence, I saw a distant Eastern Imperial Eagle, interacting with a relatively puny-looking Black Kite.
The eagle must have gone in a loop around the top of Mai Po because a few minutes later, it passed right over me.
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| Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca |
Plenty of winter birds for an eagle to prey on now.....
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| Pond 7, Mai Po Nature Reserve |
What a wonderful spot Mai Po is! I am always amazed at the amount of mud, muck and goop gulls ingest with some of their prey without ill effect. The microbia in their gut must be amazing!
ReplyDeleteGulls must have guts of teflon and steel....
DeleteEnvious as usual. Guess the eagles will be gone by mid April?
ReplyDeleteYes, Stu - but sightings can be patchy, even in mid-winter !
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