Work continues to be busy this past month or two, with barely anytime for birding. We have been sneaking off for some night time walks after work on occasions, with moderate success! Best reward for our efforts was no doubt a Pointed Scale Viper, a rare snake that is quite localised in Hong Kong, this is the first time I've ever seen one, and what luck it was to find it sitting on the side of the footpath! With this species I have now completed my quest to see all three species of vipers in Hong Kong.
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| Pointed Scale Viper - fabulous species and master of camouflage! |
Our second best snake was a Banded Krait, one of my favourite snake species in Hong Kong, despite their notoriety, this highly venomous species is actually fairly gentle, when disturbed they will curl up and hide it's head under the body.
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| Banded Kriat |
Other snakes we encounter a lot these days are Common Wolf Snakes, here is a particular small one found on the side of the road, likely just hatched not too long ago. Bamboo Pit Vipers are in no short supply and we often see one or two when we go out. We also encountered a Futsing Wolf Snake while doing a night walk with a group, so I didn't bother with any photos, but it was quite the beauty.
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| Common Wolf Snake |
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| Bamboo Pit Viper |
We probably have more exotic turtle species in Hong Kong than we have local ones, which is most unfortunate, it is not uncommon to find highly exotic species on occasion, such as this critically endangered Annam Leaf Turtle. We have actually picked up Amboina Box Turtle in the past and she gave birth to three healthy turtles that was a cross between Annam Leaf Turtle and Amboina Box Turtle...All these mix and match is not good for any population of turtles including our own Golden Coin Turtles!
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| Annam Leaf Turtle |
I also have a soft spot for amphibians, and consider myself quite lucky to have seen all but 2 species of frogs in Hong Kong. Here are a nice collection of a few regularly seen species, including the Short-legged Toad, Lesser Spiny Frog, Brown Wood Frog and Brown Tree Frog.
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| Short-legged Toad |
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| Lesser Spiny Frog |
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| Brown Wood Frog |
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| Brown Tree Frog |
Reptiles and amphibians are not the only animal we encounter at night, here is a rather confiding Chinese Porcupine I saw at Lung Fu Shan. Porcupines are not rare in Hong Kong, although most of the time they run off when they sense they are being watched, occasionally you get confiding ones like this where you can observe they at close range.
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| Chinese Porcupine |
Summer months are great for insects, in Hong Kong we have a fair share of interesting critters for all to discover if you care to look. Here are some highlights from last month, including the fabulous Prosopocoilus biplagiatus, Xylotrupes sp., Xystrocera globosa and the locally rare Pyrops watanabei.
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| Prosopocoilus biplagiatus |
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| Xylotrupes sp. |
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| Xystrocera globosa |
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| Pyrops watanabei |
The lack of bird photos is not to be alarmed, I have been keeping track of some bird movements, just haven't been out looking for them as much, birds related subjects shall resume soon as autumn migration is underway. First, here are some local resident birds for you.
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| Speckled Piculet |
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| Huet's Fulvetta |
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| Yellow-cheeked Tit - male |
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| Crested Serpent Eagle |
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| White-bellied Sea Eagle |
One of my better mid-summer find was a family of Orange-headed Thrush at Tai Po Kau, while a resident in Hong Kong this species is not particularly common and is still exciting to see even for me. This rather confiding juvenile provided very close views.
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| Orange-headed Thrush - juvenile |
