Hen Harrier, Black-faced Spoonbill, Chinese Pond Heron, White Wagtail and Others
A Hen Harrier was hunting right in front of me. I could not tell what it was after, but startled Common Pheasants kept flushing repeatedly and the harrier did not seem to catch anything… ^^; My daughter, who was watching with me, was thrilled — when the Hen Harrier banked sharply she could actually hear the wind cutting through its wings. ^^
In the channels there were wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, in the paddies several Chinese Pond Herons, and we had Saunders's Gulls and Black-headed Gulls flying together — all in all a fun day of birdwatching for the kids.
A Hen Harrier quartering the rice paddies in search of prey.
It was wheeling around so close it nearly filled the frame. The paddy birds were in total panic.
It didn't manage to catch anything in the end, but the dynamic flight was well worth watching.
A Black-faced Spoonbill resting in a canal.
Multiple Chinese Pond Herons are staying.
First-winter Taiwanese Wagtail. Staying alongside a White Wagtail.
My first Saunders's Gull of the season. It was with a Black-headed Gull but looked a little put out. ^^;
A Black-headed Gull that was with the Saunders's Gull.
Common Snipe were not seen in great numbers.
A Common Kingfisher was going back and forth along the canal.