The spotted dove (珠頸斑鳩, streptopelia chinensis) is native to southern China, south Asia and south-east Asia, and it’s commonly found in Hong Kong. Its other names include the lace-necked dove or pearl-necked dove, because of the distinctive black and white spotted plumage around its side- and hind-neck. Today, this fine specimen fluttered in to rest on the window ledge below me (hence the awkward angle of this shot). It glanced at me a couple of times, then sat for some time in silence, seemingly contemplating the incoming storm. A gentle, quietly joyous encounter.