News snake sighting

Over at Mui Wo I was lucky to meet my first Copperhead racer snake.  Alerted by our neighbor who was franticly ringing our doorbell .  I eventually worked out what was wrong when the snake made a dash for freedom by zooming off towards the undergrowth from its hiding place behind the plant pots.   I guess it was between 1 and 1.5m long and its markings were clear and bright.   The dark stripes down its sides were in high contrast to its lighter shade skin.  Although not venomous the snake is known to be quick to strike out in defense.   The photo below is not the actual snake but lifted from the internet.

Helicopter action on the beach

We had some excitement on the beach today. A Government Flying Service helicopter appeared hovering over the beach and then lowered down three crew members who then uplifted our neighbour to hospital. The old fellah was in a bad way and looked quite unwell. Although apparently this si not his first helicopter journey and according to some, it will not be his last!

And even more

And more

More from Henry

Henry's holiday in Hong Kong 2012

Henry's pictures

Sweet corn all planted

More bugs and lizards at Man Kok Tsui

Lantern Bug

Lantern Bug

Lantern Bug

Paris Peacock Butterfly

Gecko Chinensis

Gecko Chinensis

Spring is definitely in the air.   A magnificent buzzard was patrolling the hillsides, occasionally calling and then dropping down like a stone.   Not sure if it was displaying / trying to impress a mate but it was great to watch.  Alas no photos though.

The butterflies were definitely out in force.  These two certainly had things on their mind as they got down to business in the bushes.  The photo does not really do their colours justice.   Brilliant greens.

Meanwhile down in the fruit trees we discovered the branches to be literally crawling with these horny critters. Apparently folklore dictates anyone bitten by one of these will die unless they have sex within 24 hours.   Will report back tomorrow.   In fact they do not bite and the strange shape is their mouth that they use to suck spa from lychee and longan trees.

Then my instant tattoo appeared.   The gecko was lucky to live as I first thought I had a cockroach on my leg or some other less attractive beasty and just managed to stop myself swatting it.

Changeable Lizard

Changeable Lizard on guard at the vegetable patch

Nature spotted recently

Over Christmas we made a trip to Cheung Chau.   As we were sat on the seafront, minding our own business and watching the fishing crews sort out their nets we saw five or six kites wheeling around and diving down to pick up scraps floating in the harbour.  Nothing new there except for the arrival of a very sleek falcon that  seemed to be joining in the fun too.   It was too far away to identify it properly.   It was obviously smaller than the kites by about 25% or so and had the classic falcon wings but with a rather long and squarely shaped tail.

(June 25th - Now after much trawling of bird books and silhouette images, I am pleased to say the bird was or was probably an Eastern Marsh Harrier.   Another first for me too.)

Out at Man Kok Tsui on New Years Day we watched a large and powerful bird of prey cruising the updrafts from the hill sides.  Square winged with fingered feathers and a wide rounded tail.  Alas, again it was just a silhouette and we had no way of sizing it against other birds but it was certainly large and soured perfectly.

Over on the Mui Wo side we were treated to a great daytime view of a Muntjak deer that had wandered out onto the raod from the hillside at Nam Shan.   Somehow, despite the rattling diesel engine of our taxi the deer seemed completely unflustered and after blocking the taxi's path for a few seconds it decided to turn back and calmly sauntered off into the trees.

A splendid example of a red billed blue magpie was seen sunning itself in the treetops in the Tung Chung Road pass between Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak on Sunday morning and later that same day I spotted a Jay hunting in the treeline at the Western side of the airport (near to the business aviation buildings).
  
 

Looks kinda cute

Our little project!

What on earth is going on?

Sadly our neighbours have decided to make a fish farm at Man Kok Tsui.  The land us is designated as for agricultural purposes only, fish farming not being agriculture noone is quite sure what is going to happen.  Suffice to say there are diggers everywhere and pallets of cement and bricks have been delivered and line up along the beach.  An area of about 500 square meters has been completely flattened, all the trees removed and a huge hole is being dug down into the sand. 

Its a real mess and a real shame, however there is light at the end of the tunnel as yesterday two reporters were on hand taking photos and asking questions.  They told me that they will check the land use carefully before approaching the government to ask what is going on.   If the works are found to be illegal then the work will be stopped and someone will have to put it all back to how it was.   I only hope that the do this quickly.

Burmese python - Mui Wo

This snake slithered onto next door's front yard area in Mui Wo, yesterday evening.  During the afternoon the usually placid dogs that laze around in the garden next door were frantic, barking and generally very very excited.   I had a rake around in the shrubs nearby but never saw a thing.   Maybe I need my eyes testing as the python was appeared to be 7 or 8 feet long,  See the shoes in the pictures for a scale reference.   I grabbed an empty wheely bin and put it on its side next to the snake's head.   Within a few seconds it had taken the hint and was coiled up inside so I simply righted the bin and closed the lid.   Eventually the cops turned up and the snake was put into a rice sack and they carried it away.