Three black-faced spoonbills, a rare and endangered species, are recently seen at Shuangdong Lake wetland of Dongshan island in Fujian province. [Photo by Huang Shujin/ For chinadaily.com.cn]

Three black-faced spoonbills, a rare and endangered species, were recently seen at Shuangdong Lake wetland of Dongshan island in Fujian province.

The wetland has drawn bird watchers' attention with its abundant flocks of birds. This marked the first sighting of this species in the area.

"Among the flock, I noticed three large, distinctive birds foraging in the lake," said a local bird watcher surnamed Xie. "Their graceful movements were captivating as they dipped their spoon-shaped beaks into the mud. I quickly captured the moment."

Upon closer inspection by experts, the birds were confirmed to be black-faced spoonbills. This species is known for its selective habitat preferences, requiring feeding grounds abundant with food and tranquil, secure areas for rest.

The island has a good air quality rating of 98.9 percent. The proportion of Grade I and Grade II seawater quality in coastal waters has reached 98.37 percent, according to data from local authorities. China has a five-tier quality system for surface water, with Grade I representing the highest quality level.

Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.