kmike

Hi Jason & Natalie

Welcome to Hong Kong.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a "guest of permit holder" access, but don't worry there will be Nordmann's Greenshanks around into June.

The best option before your permit arrives is to join a HKBWS outing to Mai Po - check the event calendar on this website.

NB on high tides Nordmann's will also come onto some of the ponds inside the reserve.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Just checked

The next HKBWS visits to Mai Po are 22 Apr and 20 May.

The full list can be found at the top right corner of the headline bar.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Swinhoe's Egret on the boardwalk this morning.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

. . . and a pic of some Black-winged Stilts, also at the Boardwalk.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

a good mix of migrants during the high tide at Mai Po today:

Striated Heron - 4
Yellow Bittern - 1
Black-faced Spoonbill - 20

Asiatic Dowitcher - 12
Nordmann's Greenshank - 2
Ruddy Turnstone - 1
Red-necked Phalarope - 1
Greater Painted-snipe - 4

Plus 22 other species of waders (all inside the reserve - I did no go to the boardwalk)

Indian Cuckoo - 3
Yellow Wagtail - 25
Black Drongo - 3
Brown Shrike - 1
Black-browed Reed Warbler - 9
Asian Paradise Flycatcher - 1
Red-billed Blue Magpie - 1 (is this rare at Mai Po?)

The highlight of the day was a Leopard Cat crossing from one of the islands on the Scrape and being closely followed by lots of egrets and Stilts.

Cheers
Mike

kmike

Thanks for the clarification on Blue Magpie John.  I think it was  Mai Po tick for me.

The Leopard Cat was definitely the highlight. Unfortunately I didn't see it on the island, just heading back towards the northern edge of the scrape with a train of egrets and herons - the stilts were definitely the most exercised - flying above the spot it where disappeared into the reeds.

Cheers
Mike