Home»All Albums & Groups»Hong Kong & Macau - February, 2013»Mai Po - Platalea minor (黑脸琵鸳) Black-Faced Spoonbill (Endangered Species)

~ The greatest of surprises!…a flock of seven Platalea minor, Black-Faced Spoonbill (黑脸琵鸳), an Endangered Species…while others were gathering around the guide to hear an explanation about fishponds, I spotted these magnificent birds flying in V-formation in the distance…mistaking them for egrets, which don't typically fly in such a formation, I tracked them with the handheld EOS 1D X and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II super telephoto…it was at home 11 days later while post-processing images that I was thrilled to discover that the 'egrets' were, in fact, the rarest of the rare, Platalea minor…one of the highlights of my brief journey as a nature photographer…how appropriate that as I post-processed these images I happened to be enjoying Mahler's D major Symphony!