7 May 2016

Mai Po boardwalk hides - first week of May 2016

There always seem to be a lot of factors to consider when trying to judge the timing and height of the tides at the boardwalk at Mai Po.

Generally, I'll look at the predicted tides for Tsim Bei Tsui and plan accordingly: -

http://www.weather.gov.hk/tide/eTBTtide.htm

Also, while walking out to the Border Fence, there is the "Real Time Time" to spur me along, usually because I fear I'll be late...

http://www.weather.gov.hk/tide/marine/hko_tb.htm

And there's always a concern that, even if the tide is a good height, there may not be any birds on it. Capricious things, birds.

Lesser and Greater Sand Plover - Charadrius mongolus and C. leschenaultii

Little Tern - Sterna albifrons


Little Tern - Sterna albifrons

Terek Sandpiper (asleep), Greater Sand Plover, Gull-billed Tern
Greater Sand Plover, Red-necked Stints

(mostly) Curlew SandpipersCalidris ferruginea

Terek Sandpiper (wing-stretch) with Lesser Sand Plover

Five wader species in this shot....

Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
As you can see, things fell into place nicely earlier this week.  There are not as many waders around as there were a couple of weeks ago, but a lot of them are in breeding plumage now.

They'll have to hurry.

8 comments:

  1. Fantastic as always especially the Curlew Sands in breeding plumage, something I've never seen in the flesh (or feathers).

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    1. Thanks, Stu - it's been a great spring show but it's coming to an end now.

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  2. What a wonderful assortment of shorebirds. Mai Po really is a fabulous spot.

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    1. Thanks, David - there always seems to be something to look at at Mai Po.

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  3. Great to see so many waders in breeding plumage. Really like the group shots of different species together - just how I most enjoy seeing them!

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    1. Thanks Jeremy, I like my waders "assorted" too!

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  4. Great shots - nice to see some of the waders in breeding plumage - RN Stints are common here, but almost never have a red neck!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. Thanks Stewart, we get some Victorian-flagged waders passing through here, so the stints may have gained some breeding colour along the way!

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