Flocks of migratory birds have arrived at Jiaozhou Bay National Marine Park in Qingdao, using the coastal wetlands as a resting and feeding ground during their autumn journey.

On Sept 10, Far Eastern curlews, grey plovers, Saunders's gulls and dunlins were among the waterbirds spotted along the bay. Some foraged in groups along the shoreline, while others swept across the water before stopping to rest.

Jiaozhou Bay, often referred to as Qingdao's "mother bay", contains a rich mix of wetland habitats, including shallow coastal waters, tidal flats, estuaries and man-made wetlands.

These habitats provide important feeding, resting and wintering grounds for migratory waterbirds, making the bay an important stopover along bird migration routes in the Asia-Pacific region.

The arrival of the seasonal visitors also highlights the ecological importance of Jiaozhou Bay, where coastal wetlands support a wide range of bird species and play a key role in maintaining biodiversity.

Flocks of dunlins, grey plovers and Saunders's gulls rest along the shoreline in the Hongdao section of Jiaozhou Bay National Marine Park in Qingdao. [Photo/VCG]

Flocks of migratory birds fly over the Hongdao section of Jiaozhou Bay National Marine Park in Qingdao. [Photo/VCG]

Migratory birds gather on the water in the Hongdao section of Jiaozhou Bay National Marine Park in Qingdao. [Photo/VCG]