Mid Summer Observations

Work and numerous things had kept me from birding during the day, the last time I went out for birding was earlier in the month at Tai Tong, I was looking for the Malayan Night Heron that had been reported there on a few occasions previously but couldn't connect. Things were pretty quiet otherwise, the only interesting bird I got was a lone Plain Flowerpecker which gave good views. A male Hainan Blue Flycatcher also showed briefly, while many common forest species were not so cooperative, a few very shy Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers allowed a photo through the trees.

Plain Flowerpecker

Hainan Blue Flycatcher - male

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler

Other than birds, I went out several times for night walks, although I couldn't say they were particularly successful. One of the most common and widespread snake is probably the Brahminy Blind Snake, most people will likely dismiss them as worms instead of snake, I chanced upon this individual on the trail at night. I also found four different Mock Vipers in one night at Tai Po Kau, they are diurnal and often curled around trees at night.

Brahminy Blind Snake

Mock Viper

It was the National Moth Week last week, so we 'celebrated' by joining one of the mothing session with Dr. Roger Kendrick with fairly good results, here are some of the moths we saw.

Ambulyx sericeipennis

Saroba pustulifera

Genus Parotis

Notarcha tigrina

Paracymoriza vagalis

Neogurelca hyas

One of the best moth was this yet to be described moth from genus Coenodomus, it's bizarre looking antenna certainly makes it an interesting moth to look at. My personal favourite though was this beautiful looking Euplocia membliaria, a very uncommon moth in Hong Kong with only a handful of previous records.

Genus Coenodomus

Euplocia membliaria

Other insects of interest of the night includes a sleeping Idionyx victor. A water beetle from the genus Cybister which constantly crashed into the lights kept us entertained, I seldomly see them out of water. While the most impressive was probably this male Xylotrupes gideon, or the Brown Rhinoceros Beetle, an impressive creature with sharp claws to help it grip on trees, but can also grip tightly on ones skin...

Idionyx victor

Genus Cybister

Xylotrupes gideon

Finally, I end my post with this impressive Oleander Hawk Moth I found at home, they are always impressive to see no matter how many times I've seen them.

Oleander Hawk Moth