Eastern Imperial Eagles at Mai Po Nature Reserve, Hong Kong

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

A fine afternoon in mid-January. 

I knew I was due to do a Waterfowl Count at Mai Po on Sunday Jan 19th, and a circumnavigation of the reserve would be required.  

“Time spent in reccee is never wasted” they say. So it seemed a good reason to stretch the legs and check out the paths at the southern end of Mai Po, adjacent to the fishponds at Lut Chau.

In the summer the bunds become muddy and overgrown, but I remembered that conditions are usually drier and clearer in mid-winter, and snakes likely to be less of a hazard. 

Among the thirty-or-so Black Kites circling above the open water and reedbeds were two Eastern Imperial Eagles, a first or second winter bird and an adult.

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Later these settled in a tree beside Pond 21.  When I got closer, I found two young Imperial Eagles standing on a grassy bank accompanied by several Collared Crows.  The adult Imperial was in a tree nearby, striking a heraldic pose as it fended off the attentions of a Black Kite.

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Royal Air Force Cap badge

Meanwhile, the  juveniles standing at the pond edge nearby reminded me of barnyard chickens. Large and fearsome barnyard chickens.

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

The reason for the young eagles’ interest in that particular area was revealed when one of them popped out of the long grass with a dried - but well-pecked - piece of fish. 

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Almost immediately the other bird threatened the first bird, causing it to drop and abandon the fish. 

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Aquila heliaca

The dried fish was abandoned to the crows. 

Both juvenile eagles went to roost as the sun set over the phragmites reedbeds.