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.
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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 |
