It was cold when I got back to Hong Kong last Sunday evening (Jan 30th). But today, three days later, there has been a distinct warmth in the air. It must be the approach of Lunar New Year, which heralds the start of the spring in south China.
Along the access road to Mai Po, I saw about eighty Little Swifts. These are described in The Avifauna of Hong Kong as "abundant spring migrants'...
Little Swifts (Apus affinis)
Well, I declare "spring" officially here !
(Edited, 4th February: _ since July 2010 the HK Birdwatching Society has listed these as House Swifts (Apus nipalensis) - sorry for any confusion !)
Wow, can't believe you're thinking about spring already, swifts or not.....
ReplyDeleteYou did well to capture a few decent shots, I tried (and failed) last summer.
身体健康
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year!
ReplyDeleteThe plums are beginning to blossom here in southern Japan as well. And as Stu said, you've got decent shots of the swift!
My 1D MK IV tracks the swifts quite well, but even so, most shots are distant or out-of-focus. The ones I posted were among the best out of 3 - 400.
ReplyDeleteAnyway Thanks for the compliments and Happy New Year !
BTW - since July 2010 the HK Birdwatching Society has listed these as House Swifts (Apus nipalensis)