Mai Po 24 Mar 2018

I am a lazy birder, still haven't finished the Hokkaido series..... However, since I haven't birded in Hong Kong for long, so we went to Mai Po for half day today. For nothing but just a relaxing day. Not many exciting records, we did not see the possible Glaucous Gull (or hybrid) which recently seen there, but we found a Styan's Grasshopper Warbler (they usually winter here), sadly just heard the call and song only even though we played back several times. You can check my ebird for the whole checklist.

Rufous-tailed Robin - a tame one

Saunder's Gull

a strange spoonbill, I at first identified as a Eurasian Spoonbill but it should show white feathered skin (not bare like this) and reddish throat and pale tip of bill in such breeding plumage. For this bird, it is more likely to be a Black-faced Spoonbill with a unusual large bare yellow skin (or even a hybrid?)

closer look

Pallas's Gull, summer plumage, but this one is not a fully adult, you can see the black pattern in primary coverts etc. Probably a 4CY.

same Pallas's, with some taimyrensis

Slaty-backed Gull, i never seen a worn bird like this in Hong Kong, with two taimyrensis

same bird with a taimyrensis, you can see the contrasting upperwing pattern which is unlike Glaucous-winged Gull, which is also pale with a strong wholely black bill.

and a very worn taimyrensis

best bird of today(?) - Oriental Honey Buzzard, I identified as a Grey-faced Buzzard by naked eyes before it came to my viewfinder.......