Tai Po kau

Spider Tree at the roadside is food plant for the larvae of Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe). Nectar of Billygoat-weed are favoured by various butterflies such as Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha), Transparent 6-line Blue (Nacaduba kurava) and Glassy Tiger (Parantica aglea).

Move forward and pass through the dam and the creek. The ground is often wet due to the overflow of the river. Butterflies include Glassy Bluebottle (Graphium cloanthus) and Common Mapwing (Cyrestis thyodamas) are attracted to the water. Butterflies are relatively stable when they are sucking water, so it is a good time to watch them closely.

In addition, one can often find Blue Admiral (Kaniska canace) here. They have eye-catching blue strips on their wings, allowing them to be easily identified even at a distance.

Just outside the Outdoor Study Centre is an area that was originally a fruit garden. It has become a butterfly garden after being abandoned. The leaves of the Mandarin and Lemon tree here are the food of Swallowtail caterpillars, so many female butterflies come here to find suitable places for laying eggs whilst the males come to find their partners. Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) and Red Helen (Papilio helenus) are frequent visitors.

The path at the left side of the fruit garden, which heads to another side of the Outdoor Study Centre, is a hotspot for seeing Browns, Fauns and Duffers. You may also find the scarce Common Duffer (Discophora sondaica).

A pond sits in the centre of the Outdoor Study Centre, where many butterflies enjoy sunbathing here. Indian Red Admiral (Vanessa indica) and Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana) are among them.

Next to the pond is an area packed with Pagoda Flower, which blooms throughout the year and supplies plentiful nectar for butterflies. Stop by for a while, you will spot Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona), Great Mormon (Papilio memnon) and Red-base Jezebel (Delias pasithoe).

At the entrance to the path stand several Common Red-stem Fig. The ripen fruits fallen on the ground are target of butterflies which love juices of rotten fruits. In general Nymphs are difficult to observe. When they are sipping fruit juice, however, they are less alert and may be more closely approached. Here you will also find Common Archduke (Lexias pardalis) and White-edged Blue Baron (Euthalia phemius).

You now get to the essence of butterfly watching! This is the bamboo garden at the far end of the Outdoor Study Centre. There are two legally protected plants here: India Birthwort and Illigera. They are the food source for caterpillars of Common Birdwing (Troides Helena), Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus), Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) and White Dragontail (Lamproptera curius). All the adults of these species have their own characteristics. Common Birdwing and Golden Birdwing have eye-catching golden patches on their wings whilst White Dragontail has special transparent wings. Common Birdwing and Golden Birdwing are the only legally protected insects in Hong Kong. They are rarely seen butterflies, so try your luck here!