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Notes Comments
THE BLACK-NAPED ORIOLE (Oriolus chinensis indicus).
First date reported this year March 29th perched in the top branches of a Cananga tree in the Botanical gardens, this must be an early comer as the bird was not seen until April 30th last year. On April 13th an Oriole was seen and heard in full song in a garden at Tai Po. THE ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophacus hopwoodi).
This rare visitor has been observed in the Botanical gardens since January 6th, at the time of writing April 6th the bird is still with us. On page 65 Vol. III, No. 1, of the Hong Kong Naturalist, it was stated that this was the first time we have recorded the Ashy Drongo, this is incorrect for in February and March 1930 a solitary bird was seen in these gardens, sec page 90 Vol. I, No. 2, of the Hong Kong Naturalist.
On April 6th, the day on which the Black-naped Oriole was first seen, an observer watched these two rare species perched close together on the same tree in the Botanical gardens,
BIRDS OF THE SHAM CHUN VALLEY.
As a typical example of the number of species of birds that can be seen in an afternoon in the New Territory, the following list is given, it was compiled by a party of five observers on March 19th whilst walking up the Sham Chun valley towards the villages of San Uk Ling and Muk Wo.
This district was entirely new ground to all in the party:-
Chinese Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis insignis).
Eastern Little Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis bengalensis). Eastern White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon symrnensis fusca). Chinese Fan-tail Warbler (Cisticola juncidis tintinnabulans). Brown Bush-Warbler (Oreopneuste f. fuscata).
Eastern Quail (Coturnix c. japanica).
South China Grey Tit (Parus cinereus commixtus),
Chinese Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus cathœcus).
Chinese Tailor Bird (Orthotomus sutorius longicauda).
Black Necked Mynah (Gracupica nigricollis).
Chinese Crested Mynah (Aethiopsar c. cristatellus).
Chinese Red-vented Bulbul (Molpastes hæmorrhous chrysorrhoides).
Chinese Red-whiskered Bulbul (Otocompsa emeria jocosa).
Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis).
Richard's Pipit (Anthus r. richardi).
Eastern Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis hodgsoni).
Chinese Dayal Bird (Copsychus saularis prosthopellus).
Chinese Rufous-backed Shrike (Lanius s. schach).
Eastern House Swallow (Hirundo rustica gutturalis).
White-rumped Swift (Apus p. pacificus).
Chinese Stonechat (Saxicola torquata stejnegeri). Daurian Redstart (Phœnicurus a, auroreus). Crow Pheasant (Centropus s. sinensis).
South China White-Eye (Zosterops simplex simplex).
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Chinese Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus saturatus). Eastern Turtle Dove (Streptopelia o. orientalis). Black-cared Kite (Milvus lineatus).
Eastern Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus calidus).
Chinese Magpie (Pica pica sericea).
Little Egret (Egretta g. garzetta).
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus).
Chinese Blackbird (Turdus merula mandarinus).
Grey Wagtail (Budytes cinereus caspicus). White-faced Wagtail (Motacilla alba leucopsis).
TOTAL 34 SPECIES.
It will be noticed that several of the common species were not seen, such as the Blue Magpie, Babbling Thrush, Violet Whistling Thrush, Kestrel, Collared Crow and Cuckoo, so that it seems reasonable to suppose that by putting in a whole day upwards of 40 different species might be observed. We ask readers to endeavour to better this total and forward to us their list for comparison.
NESTING NOTES.-March and early April, 1932.
Nests have been observed as follows:-
Chinese Magpie (Pica p. serica) March 14th in University compound; March 17th Kai Lung, nest in a pine tree at 30 feet containing 3 youngsters estimated at not less than a fortnight old; March 17th near Lower Kai Lung in a pine tree at 20 feet, nest with one egg; March 19th Victoria Road in a pine tree at 15 feet,—2 eggs; March 22nd Kam Tin in a Melia tree at 30 fcct,-4 eggs, these eggs were especially large for a magpie measuring 1.1 by 1.45 inches as compared with an average of 0.9 by 1.3, but as the nest was that of a Magpic and the bird was seen leaving the nest there can be no doubt as to the identity of the eggs.
Collared Crow (Corvus torquatus) March 17th at San Tin situated 40 feet up in the fork of a Banian Tree. The nest was composed of small branches, grass and mud, and contained 3 young birds about a week old; March 19th Aberdeen district in a Pine Tree at 18 feet, nest composed of small branches and pine needles lined with cotton wool, 5 eggs, four eggs were a uniform colour one egg much lighter average size of the eggs 1.6 by 1.2 inches. These are the first records we have made of the nests of these birds in the colony. The note of the Collared Crow is a harsh deep croak somewhat reminiscent of the raven.
Back-necked Mynah (Gracupica nigricollis). On April 6th two nests seen in the process of building in the fork of Bombax trees near Kam Tin village. The nests are untidy looking made chiefly of dried grasses which the birds could be seen taking to the nest.
Black-eared Kite (Milvus melanotis).
March 18th below Lugard
road 18 feet up in a Litsea tree, one egg very pale colour; March 18th be- low Harlech road 25 feet up in a Pine tree, three eggs all very pale colour; March 22nd below Stubbs Road 18 feet up in a pine tree-3 eggs, two of these eggs were heavily marked with chocolate and dark brown spots and
The Hong Kong Naturalist.
May 1932.
169
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