Pacific Swift

And in the late afternoon, a few Pacific Swifts were among the House Swifts and Swallows over the ponds near Mai Po Nature Reserve..






Apus pacificus

There is some debate in birding circles here about how the Pacific Swifts in HK might be either the south China race "kanoi", or the nominate race, "pacificus" .

If "kanoi" are confusable with House Swifts - well, these were MUCH bigger and should be the nominate "pacificus".

Oriental Pratincole 普通燕鴴

Due to the high winds yesterday, the insects must have been concentrated low over one corner of a particular fishpond on Mai Po Access Road.

There was a veritable cloud of Barn Swallows and about half-a-dozen of these...



Oriental Pratincole

Sabah Trip highlights

We visited Danum Valley, Kinabatangan River (with Robert Chong), Sepilok, Mt. Kinabalu and the Rafflesia Centre in the Crocker Range.

Most useful Trip Report on the interweb-thingy was the 2007 account by Wendy Newnham, which is still very useful. Thanks again for that, Wendy ! We shall write-up a brief Trip Report i.d.c.



Crested Fireback, Danum Valley


Diard's Trogon, Danum Valley



Black-and-Crimson Pitta, Danum Valley


Oriental Bay Owl, Kinabatangan River


Bornean Bristlehead, Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok

We saw a good variety of mammals, too.

More later.