LCY

Po Toi island 24.3.2012









[ Last edited by LCY at 26/03/2012 21:51 ]

gary

I wonder whether it is Silver-backed or Brown-backed Needletail.
Please see my response in other thread in Po Toi Spring.

LCY

Actually, I wonder too as the white lores are very obvious in my photos. Hmmmm.....I am not sure.

LCY

Comparing to the Brown-backed Needletail photos in the below link,
http://digdeep1962.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

and photos of silver-backed needletail in another link,
http://www.pbase.com/peterericsson/image/122569268

I guess the one(or may be 3) in Po Toi today is/are Brown-backed.

Louis

[ Last edited by LCY at 25/03/2012 01:05 ]

kmatthew

I will think this look very likely as a Brown-backed Needletail! A great record! possibly the first record in China??

[ Last edited by kmatthew at 25/03/2012 01:06 ]

LCY

Yes, I always think Brown-backed needletail is ranged in SE Asia only. Also, as I saw a silver-backed first today and raise my camera to focus the closest one in that group. Thus, I thought what I have seen today are all Silver-backed. This is the first time for me to see the silver-backed and Brown-backed (if ID is confirmed) at field.


Louis

kmatthew

Congratulations! Did you get any photos of the other needletails? It would be great for a comparison!

LCY

According to the EXIF of the photos,The birds only stayed above me for 1 min (1106 hrs to 1107 hrs)and later flew to Tin Hau Temple directions. I took photo of this individual only. But at 1224 hours, I encounter a needletail again and their photos are below









Louis

wgeoff

Apart from the white loral spot, the needles on the first bird are longer and more obvious than on a (normal) Silver-backed, so I also go for Brown-backed on the first bird.

A great record if accepted and great photos of such a fast-flying bird.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 25/03/2012 15:01 ]

John Holmes

Nice shots and great find !

kmatthew

Yes, the second bird looks like a Silver-backed Needletail, the grey throat is much more well defined and as John said the needles are much longer in the first bird. Great find indeed!

Jonathmartinez

Really great find, and good pictures to support the sighting. The one showing the bird catching the fly is simply fantastic.
Congratulations.

Jonathan

LCY

Thank you very much guys especially Gary for point out the bird's features. Po Toi is such a magic island that these strange birds were found. Let's keep on exploring Po Toi Island and other places of HK.

Louis

brendank

Great find!