I have been monitoring the Swinhoe's Plover numbers on both Dahu and Shangahizai beaches each W/E since my last posting. Last Saturday produced a real surprise with a group of about 40-50 passage birds which included around a dozen males in full breeding plumage. in early October ! I had originally decided these birds were not Swinhoe's Plover as they were so markedly different to the birds I have been used to seeing from late May onwards.However I sent photos to David Bakewell and Peter Kennerley as well as several other Plover specialists for their input. Dave is sure these were Swinhoe's Plover as they match exactly birds he sees in Malaysia in late winter. Peter Ericsson in Thailand will probably corroborate what Dave has stated. Unfortunately the weather is not looking good for this week in our area so these birds may not be there when I return at the W/E. But I am hoping some SPs will winter on the local beaches. This is the first time I have seen these birds in breeding plumage which seems to contarst so strongly with the birds breeding period plumage with which I am entirely familiar.

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