It took three visits to Mount Davis on Hong Kong Island before we successfully “twitched” HK’s first Ryukyu Minivet. After a few East China records this past winter, this species was seen first at the site in mid-February. Since then it has appeared intermittently near Sitting Out Area No.2 on the road to the Youth Hostel.
While waiting there were a few other woodland species to enjoy.
Mount Davis has commanding views to the west, and Green Island is in Hong Kong Harbour to the north.
Early butterflies appeared on all the flowering trees. My 1988 Urban Council Book “Hong Kong Insects” identifies these as Common Black Jezebels (Delias aglaja), … ”notable for being brighter on the underwing than on the upperwing..”
They certainly don’t name butterflies like they used to.
The Blue-winged Minla (last four photos) etcetera, were taken at KFBG.
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| Crested Goshawk - Accipiter trivirgatus |
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| Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike -Lalage melaschistos |
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| Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike -Lalage melaschistos |
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| Green Island |
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| White-bellied Sea Eagle - Haliaeetus leucogaster (with Black Kite, Milvus migrans) |
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| Scarlet Minivet - Pericrocotus speciosus |
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| Scarlet Minivet - Pericrocotus speciosus |
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| Common Black Jezebel - Delias aglaja |
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| Common Black Jezebel - Delias aglaja |
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| Blue-winged Minla - Minla cyanouroptera |
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| Black-throated Laughingthrush - Garrulax chinensis |
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| Yellow-cheeked Tit - Machlolophus spilonotus |
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| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch - Sitta frontalis |
I think that you and I should be designated to provide common names for species, John, then we would liven up the lists! I can assure you that first up for my florid imagination would be Common Kingfisher, uncommonly beautiful of course, and worthy of a name like Cleopatra's Comet, or Speedy Dazzler or similar appellation. Here in North America we have a Red-bellied Woodpecker, bearing only a hardly noticeable red smudge on its lower abdomen. I would rename it right away to Beautiful Wood Driller, or other over-the-top options, all depending on the number of glasses of wine I had imbibed! And as for that Gascoigne's Gnatcatcher........
ReplyDeleteHi David, Yes - any species with “Common” in its name needs a new agent...
DeleteHi, did you take the photo of the White-bellied Eagle at Mt. Davis? And the Yellow-cheeked Tit and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch?
ReplyDeleteWBSE, yes, Mt Davis. - the YC Tit, Minla and Nuthatch were at KFBG, sorry I should have made that clearer. I got tangled up in drafting this post - and still can’t space out the text !
DeleteThanks. I am happy to learn that I was not hallucinating when I saw a White-bellied Eagle from Mt. Davis.
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