Part 153 - Primula identifications on Dungshinggang and grandala nest observations

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SUMMARY:
Notes confirm several Primula identifications from Dungshinggang and describe the scented P. obtusifolia under boulders. At about 15,500 feet the diarist found and photographed a grandala nest with nearly fledged young and a fragment of eggshell. A halt day is noted with intermittent fine weather and heavy rain before heading up a valley.

CONTENT:
unforgivable. P. menziesiana is the primula we got on the Dungshinggang 3301. I don't think there can be any doubt of that now. 3374 - 3384 are P. umbratilis, I have already taken P. bellidifolia, or a subspecies on Dungshinggang, 3288. P. obtusifolia is a most beautiful flower, with a strong scent, and looks particularly nice under the huge boulders where it grows, where the pale colour of the flower is thrown up by the black background.

At about 15,500' today I heard grandala, and when the mist cleared, saw a pair, each with a mouthful of food. They were a little worried obviously waiting for us to go. Eventually the male flew into the rocks, and gave the site of the nest away. It was built on a very small ledge on a rock face. This time I could with difficulty get to 3 ft away and saw the nest clearly, with two nearly fully fledged young. I took a few photos, then waited in between two huge boulders for the female to come, which she did, and I got a photo of her feeding the chicks. Away below, lying on some snow, I found about half an egg shell, enough to give a rough idea of what the egg is like.

10th July. Halt. Rained all night: fine part of the morning and one hour's sun this afternoon, then very heavy rain. We went up a valley to