China part 1 - Mai Po, Hong Kong

2 May - After dropping the bags off on arrival from London, straight off to Mai Po as peak spring migration season and a good high tide time of 2pm. An excellent 26 species of wader seen, with highlights including a single Nordmann's Greenshank that I picked out from its commoner cousins by paler upper parts, shorter dumper shape and yellow bill base ; 2 large Far Eastern Curlews, with buff rumps in flight; superb Asian Dowitchers, Curlew Sandpipers and Red Knot, all in red summer plumage, as were the Pacific Golden Plovers - confiding birds on the receding tide at Deep Bay in the afternoon, including Red-necked Stints, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 2 Grey-tailed Tattlers and Tereks - large numbers of Avocets, and a big flock of striking Spotted Redshanks in their black summer plumage. Also at least 12 Black-faced Spoonbills left facing migration shortly after most of their congeners left to breed. Well worth the extra day and a fascinating spectacle, with good photo opportunities,photos to follow in a few weeks. JM.