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Message: <blockquote data-quote="PJSharp" data-source="post: 3550803" data-attributes="member: 118519">Day 6(Part 2)From hide 1 at the eastern end of the main scrape it was clear that large numbers or waders and terns, being harried by an Eastern Marsh Harrier were present at the far west end. So we moved along to hides 5 and 6 to check these out. Highlights included a Saunder’s Gull amongst the many Gull-billed and Caspian Terns, Far Eastern Curlew, Greater Sandplover, good numbers of Terek Sandpipers and a few Pacific Golden Plovers amongst many more common waders. We failex to pick out either Asiatic Dowitcher or Nordman’s Greenshank.As the first few waders looked to be moving back out to the tidal mudflats three of us followed them, heading to the Northern mangrove hide. The walk along the pontoons to the hide produced little, but thanfully when we reached the hide the tide hadn’t receded too far. Black-faced Spoonbills were still present, though mostly roosting (so far only 3 had been seen in flight), a couple of Whiskered Terns lurked amidst the larger Caspian and Gull-billed Terns and Black-headed Gulls, a few Broad-billed Sandpipers scurried about in with the many Red-necked Stints, and a Little Stint, pointed out by another friendly birder in the hide (thank you John), who also gave some helpful tips on seperating the Lesser and Greater Sandplovers present.In summarising a few of the better birds I rather underplay the sheer number of birds - waders, gulls, terns, egrets and ducks present. It was fantastic birding, even without any of the enigmatic Spoonbilled Sandpipers, Nordman’s Greenshank or Asiatic Dowitchers we were hoping for. By about 2pm the tide and attendent birds had gone too far out, so I made my way back through the mangroves. After having been teased by the prospect of (not) seeing Pleske’s Grasshopper Warbler, I tried to convince myself a skulking [/B]Oriental Reed Warbler[/B] might be one, but I saw it just too well!On reaching the boundary gate I returned South, having time to spare. These pools held very little compared to visits earlier in the year on previous visits, but did hold the only Eastern Spot-billed Duck of my visit, and oddly the only two Great Cormorant, usually present in the 100s. From here I retraced my route to the mangrove hide gate and then cut east back across the reserve to re-visit hide 8 and then the tower hide. By now rain had set in, and I added little new, a soggy Eastern Buzzard being my penultimate new bird for the day. The final new bird was a Common Kingfisher on one of the fishponds as I approached the warden’s hut on my exit. Oddly I only saw two kingfishers all day - and pretty much my first and last birds in the reserve.I returned my pass about 4:30, and the lady on reception kindly called a taxi to take me back to Yuen Long. By 5:30 I was back in Kowloon.More, but I suspect only urban birding (in HK), to come, all the best, Paul</blockquote>

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