Bird News from Tim Edelsten
New tourist maps show every inch of this island as either completed golf course, industrial park, or apartment complex. Thankfully in reality some of these sites are as yet undeveloped, but its obviously only a matter of time. After an hour at the southern roost site I was forced to quit as my scope has stopped working, however in that short time I saw the following:
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha several pairs on the freshwater.
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor Eight flew in from the mudflat.
Striated Heron Butorides striata A pair was hanging around the freshwater outlet then flew over the sea when the tide came in.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Four or five.
Great Egret Ardea alba modesta Several on the freshwater.
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia One.
Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes One over the mudflat.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Five on the sea and the freshwater.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius A breeding pair on the freshwater.
Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris 500+, mostly immatures. This species seems to need freshwater for bathing.
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica. Two.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus. Several.
White Wagtail Motalla alba leucopsis Two parents feeding young.
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor, © Tim Edelsten