Spoon-billed Sandpiper is now listed as Critically Endangered, meaning that this species is facing a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Population was estimated to 150-320 breeding pairs in recent summer breeding seasons and the decline of their numbers is so rapid in recent years.
The Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a regular spring migrant in Hong Kong and several birds could be seen at Mai Po every spring, but our regular monitoring activities also show that the numbers are also decreasing in HK from about 10 individuals 10 years ago to only one or two birds in recent springs.
Its small size and regularly associating with other small-sized shorebirds, e.g. Red-necked Stint make it less easy to be found. Their actual numbers present in Hong Kong might be higher than the numbers recorded in the regular waterbird count. In this spring, we would like to gather the information of this species as many as possible that could help to better assess its status and numbers in Hong Kong. Members are encouraged to post the sighting of this species in this forum, or send me a PM. One bird or one sighting is important for the sake of conservation of this charismatic species now. Researchers also marked some individuals with leg flags and please also report it here if you could find one of these (Remark: Flagged Spoon-billed Sandpiper still has not been seen in Hong Kong yet!)
[ Last edited by yyattung at 22/03/2011 17:53 ] Author: yyattung Time: 31/03/2011 17:15
One with a trace of breeding plumage on coverts was seen from Mai Po boardwalk, 31 March 2011. No color ring/flag. Author: yyattung Time: 4/04/2011 22:17 Subject: 4 Apr 2011, one bird
Thanks for posting pictures! Would members have photos of another individual?
This bird shows more rufous on throat, very different to the individual on 4 April. Therefore, at least two birds were presented on 4-5 April.
Tung Author: ajohn Time: 6/04/2011 00:34
Two birds were present on 5 April. This one with some red starting to show on the throat and another in full winter plumage (presumably the bird from 4th) Author: lrichard Time: 12/04/2011 17:51
One in full winter plumage seen from the new boardwalk hide on the incoming tide on 12 April. Richard Author: yyattung Time: 12/04/2011 19:16
Richard, Two birds!
Two birds in non-breeding plumage were seen in close range from WWF boardwalk hide, 12 April 2011.
One in non-breeding plumage was seen (in long distance) from Mai Po boardwalk this morning (15 April), presumably one of the two birds seen on 12 April.
One was seen from hide 3 of the scrape (Pond 16/17) this morning. This bird has more dark feathers on mantle (but the throat is still whitish), presumably another different individual seen in this spring. A minimum of six individuals were seen at Mai Po this spring.
We haven't had any sighting of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper for about 2 weeks. Previous records suggest that some birds could arrive Mai Po in early to mid-May. Please report here if you see it. Thank you!
Spring has gone and so I would like to make a conclusion right now. No Spoon-billed Sandpiper was seen or reported since late April. I have said some Spoon-billed Sandpipers had been recorded in May. The birds passing through Mai Po in May could refer to first year birds (i.e. born in the previous summer) because the young birds migrate later than the adults. Recent studies in the breeding grounds of Spoon-billed Sandpipers also reveal that the recruitment rate is very low, that is about the younger birds coming back to breeding grounds to start breeding. Therefore, the disappearance of Spoon-billed Sandpipers at Mai Po in May seems match to this finding. As mentioned before, one sighting could be significant for the conservation of this charismatic bird. Members are welcome to post any sighting of this species here in future.