Part 73 - Lubong and Tangdong entries: birds, rhododendrons, and Su La route report

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SUMMARY:
Notes on finches, monal, and partridge near the Karma La, with rhododendrons (including Rhod. scopulorum) observed in flower and seed around Tsakchung, Tangdong, and Lubong. A man from Pemako reports the Su La route may be possible with coolies, while at Tangdong the party rests, collects flea sticks and peach seed, and remarks on the Loto Dingpon’s inefficiency and signs of spring.

CONTENT:
blossom - big flowers of a good colour. I got into a bunch of finches in the forest this side of the pass and collected four. They appear different to any we have so far collected. Their call is different to the orange-breasted bullfinch, but I did here see one or two orange-breasted bullfinches sitting feeding with these birds. Rhododendrons have come on quite a bit since we went to Tsakchung; we found many of the red lanatum one, and one or two virgatum Ser. in flower.

28th Feb. Lubong. Some rain at night, mostly clouded today. On the way up to the Karma La I put up six monal, all ♀'s and was unable to see if they were 'dang' or 'tse'. Otherwise only game seen were partridge. The rhododendron which we saw in bud on our way to Tsakchung was just out - only one flower - but it is a fine rhod. and I am glad we have a fair amount of seed of it, collected before, both at Tangdong and at Tsakchung. (Rhod. scopulorum 12264 in flower: 12231 in seed and 12231A). Otherwise nothing of interest, except a thrush found in the same spot as on our way out. The man whom we met at Tsakchung, who had come up from Pemako, says the Su La route is possible, and he thinks we will be able to get coolies. He would perhaps help us too, as he knows Loba language and has been through the country to the south of Tortong. This opens up possibilities, and we may yet get out that way.

1st March Tangdong. Some rain at night, but a lovely day. We were in by 10.30, but enjoyed having plenty of time to sit and rest. Most of this time we spent in hunting for flea sticks, both of which have given us a lot of trouble lately. Our hunt was very successful and a good bag resulted. We find the same peach in flower here. It has a most beautiful very large flower, so we took seed. Coolies very poor today. The Loto Dingpon is not nearly so efficient as the Lome one, and there always seems to be great talk when he is about, and then inefficiency. There is a great difference again visible. Rhod. virgatum is in flower in several places. Trees are showing life and catkins visible here and there. The sky also shows a change. There are more cumulus clouds about, which I take to be a sign of spring.