The first species, a juvenile Steppe Eagle, was photographed at Mai Po Nature Reserve by a local photographer on 22 December 2008. It was originally assumed by the photographer as a Greater Spotted Eagle which regularly winters in small numbers in Hong Kong. Luckily however the Eagle was re-spotted last weekend at Mai Po to the delight of local bird watchers. The Steppe Eagle has a large global distribution, but is less common in Eastern Asia.

Ten days later on New Years Day a Tundra Bean Goose was discovered on the intertidal mudflats. Tundra Bean Goose is a globally widespread species which travels between breeding grounds in the high Arctic to wintering grounds in the temperate and subtropical zones. The individual seen at Mai Po is considerably further south than its core wintering grounds in Central China.

The third new species, an American Wigeon, was found by local birders in Deep Bay. This new bird to Hong Kong, recorded on February 25th, is an extremely rare vagrant in Asia.

"It is thought this bird mixed with a flock of Eurasian Wigeon near the northern breeding grounds, and then migrated with them down the East-Asian Australasian Flyway instead of the North American Flyways. There have been a couple of individuals reported from Japan and Korea over the years", said Bena Smith Reserve Manager.

"Because these are single birds, climate change doesn't appear to be a factor", said Mr Smith. "It is possible the Steppe Eagle was overlooked by bird watchers and had in fact been in Hong Kong all winter whereas the Tundra Bean Goose had always been a possible bird for Hong Kong. It is clear that bird watching and bird photography is becoming a popular hobby in Hong Kong, so it is not surprising that new bird species are being picked up by these visitors to the Reserve," he continued.