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| White-shouldered Starling |
Cooler weather means much nicer conditions to be out and about, with the added incentive of some migrating birds. White-shouldered Starlings (above) may have bred in Hong Kong and are about to leave.
October can be a month of rarities - but not so much this year after Long Valley’s Red-backed Shrike.
Sand Martins, Blue-tailed Bee-Eater and Chinese Grosbeak - not rare but welcome.
Red-billed Blue Magpies are now breeding at Mai Po.
I made a couple of visits to the boardwalk at Mai Po Nature Reserve.
Out in Deep Bay, duck, such as Garganey and Pintail are growing in number.
Black-faced Spoonbills had increased to about thirty the day I took this - HK's "peak count" has been over 400 in November.
Nearby, Whiskered Terns were over the fishponds at Tai Sang Wai, they are not as fine-looking as in spring, but beauty is only feather deep !
The terns will move on, but Grey Heron numbers increase in winter.
Birding in HK is not a "wilderness experience" - foreground: abandoned pig farm, bananas and scrub-covered hillside. In the background, the high-rise on the centre and right is much-needed public housing.
Amur Falcons…. this adult male is unusual, but typically distant….
there…at least this AF is closer !
