Waterfowl Count September 2001
Summary Report

The September 2001 waterbird count took place on the 16th, and coverage of the Ramsar Site was complete, apart from the sites of Lut Chau/Tai Sang Wai, and Deep Bay B (Mai Po boardwalk). Given that this count, like other summer counts, was carried out when there is no mud exposed in front of the boardwalk, there is unlikely to have been large numbers of waterbirds at the latter site. Elsewhere in the Deep Bay area, San Tin was not counted.

A total of 4,566 waterbirds were recorded in the Deep Bay area (including Fu Tian), of which 3,087 were present in the Ramsar Site. The largest group comprised migrant waders at 2670, reflecting the peak of autumn passage, which occurs around this time. The second largest group comprised ardeids, which numbered 1621. A count of 242 ducks and grebes indicates the first arrival of wintering birds.

It can be seen that this year¡¦s count was about average for the month.