My first full day in Hong Kong was dark and wet. I was picked up by John Holmes, a resident Hong Kong birder who kindly showed me around Mai Po and evirons.
Mai Po is a famous wetland site and had been high on my wish list for many many years. I knew it was going to be a good day when even the aceess road with its fishponds had some wonderful birds such as lots of Chinese Pond Herons. A common bird in Hong Kong but still pretty exciting for a novice like me.
A shame it was so dark and I only had my shorter lens.
There were many interesting birds around: House Swift, Azure-winged Magpie, White-Shouldered Starling, Grey and Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Wood Sandpiper, Oriental Pratincole, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Tailorbird, Collared Dove, Pied Kingfisher, Yellow Bittern, Collared Crow, Chinese Bulbul, Yellow-bellied and Plain Prinia, Dusky and Yellow-browed Warbler (both hear only), Little Grebe, Barn Swallow, Masked Laughing Thrush, Common and Crested Mynah, other common birds which i’d also seen at Kowloon Park and other stuff I’ve probably forgotten. And all this before we’d even entered the mangroves…………
