Mai Po Boardwalk on 09 Dec '08

I got to the farthest hide at a healthy 06:35, but the tide was lower than predicted, so all the birds were very distant. Here is a barge beyond the tideline. The barges always move up the Shenzhen river at high water, so if you see moving barges and the tide is still way out there (like today) your luck is way out too.



A single passing Eastern Marsh Harrier

Slow Week at Nam Sang Wai

Yes, there is no pleasing some people....

But there certainly seem to be fewer photographable birds about at NSW this late autumn.

Here are a couple, anyway....

Little Egret
Common Sandpiper

I'll have to use my imagination and try somewhere else !

Feeling Vulnerable ?

Collared Crow

Actually, this species is pretty much confined to the south China coast, and does not seem to occur in huge numbers anywhere. Finally, it is being recognised as of conservation concern. I must check what category. Pay attention, John.

Ringed Black-faced Spoonbill

Black-faced Spoonbill at Nam Sang Wai

I think he has lost the band on the other leg with his number, some have numbers, such as "K - 73". Monitoring and co-ordinated counting is conducted by YU Yat-tung here in Hong Kong. BFS breed in NE China and korea and disperse to South China, Taiwan, Vietnam and sometimes the Phillippines.

I posted this on the HKBWS website, and SZE has kindly advised me of the "Black-faced Spoonbill Conservation Association" webpage http://www.bfsa.org.tw/tc/colorband/index.php?lang=en.
This should be A 25.

"Hello Ducky"

All the usual suspects can be found at Nam Sang Wai on a winter morning, and I don't mean just the photographers.....

Eurasian Wigeon
Pintail
Shoveller - note two "ELLS" here
Teal

All the winter birds back at NSW, then

En Zud - Part Two

Fairy Prion
It's good Gary Melville the Captain/Guide was confident about these - all the prions look similar


Cape Petrels NZ race australe x 3




Antarctic race capense x 1