There was nothing to worry about. Sam (the joke was that he's my 'cousin') was as friendly and approachable as anyone who's friendly and approachable, even more so since there're obviously connections in place to speed up the getting-to-know-you process. Somehow all these big impressive-sounding resumes and titles really do affect an acquaintance's view of a person. Eeeks, my, how we have really come to brand people... just like that. :| Thiha also commented that he had expected someone older...
Anyway, Sam later gave a talk to an audience of SBWR volunteers and NParks staff on "Hong Kong Wetland Parks and Wetland Restoration". Interesting. The main focus was on how HK does not have any significant extant wetland areas (which they define as freshwater, and not mangroves) and so this team of scientists, ecologists and civil engineers go around picking sites in which to create patches of wetland. He also touched on conservation issues and threats to existing wetlands like the famous Mai Po Marshes.
We exchanged contacts, and when I told him of my past difficulties in gaining access to Mai Po (since 'they' wanted months of advance booking for an entry permit), he offered to bring me around the next time I went back to HK. Nice...
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While trotting around during the rest of the afternoon, I came across a British birder, struggling in the Main Hide to identify some of the waders. He said he's from Kent ("Do you know where Kent is? Canterbury?") I nodded yes, and that I'm studying in London. "Oh...?" Then we started comparing birding experiences in both countries, and we talked about how lovely Singapore's weather is, and yadda yadda... after more bird-talk and ID tips, he gave me his name card, and told me to email him should I ever feel like visiting Kent - "You'll need a local to bring you around to experience the countryside".
That mades the fourth British birding contact I have on my list... all kindly old(er) men (and women).
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Didn't see any birds of interest. Managed to see the croc again though, plus a few roosting Lesser dog-faced fruit bats. Robert saw a hornbill at the Mangrove Boardwalk, but by the time I got there, it was gone! :( He said that the groups of noisy students most probably scared it away. Grrr... there were too many school groups this Sat. Told two groups off - I could hear them laughing and singing and running, even, from up to a kilometre away!
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