[thrush]

This bird belongs to the nominate race of the Chinese barbet (黑眉拟啄木鸟, hēiméi nǐzhuómùniǎo, Megalaima faber faber). The nominate is endemic to Hainan Island, where I photographed the little guy today. Note the way the barbet grips the branch. One can clearly see the two toes pointing backward. This is called zygodactyly, and it's a characteristic of the barbets.

[MKinHK]

A stunning shot Craig!

Cheers
Mike

[thrush]

Today at Jiānfēnglǐng I finally photographed a male red-headed trogon (红头咬鹃, hóngtóu yǎojuān, Harpactes erythrocephalus hainanus). I went off-road for this image, following the trogon down a steep hill covered with brush knee-high. I watched this unusual, small-headed bird for several minutes. This non-passerine flycatcher (and fruit eater) is most unlike a Muscicapid flycatcher. It rests on its branch for minutes at a time, whereas a Muscicapid flycatcher usually waits only seconds before darting after prey. Compared to the Muscicapids, the trogon gives the impression of being an older model, an Edsel compared to a Corvette. To be sure, the red-headed trogon is a "modern" bird, inasmuch as it and its relatives in Trogonidae are with us today; but the trogon family is an ancient one, as its pan-tropical distribution suggests. The trogon looks like no other bird in the forest. Like barbets and woodpeckers, it's a zygodactyl cavity nester, but is otherwise quite unlike them. It chirrs softly, like a motor, and it screeches suddenly. I hope to see more of these interesting birds here on Hainan.

[thrush]

Today at Jiānfēnglǐng I took this workmanlike photo of a streak-breasted scimitar babbler (棕颈钩嘴鹛, zōngjǐng gōuzuǐméi, Pomatorhinus ruficollis nigrostellatus). This image is a good example of rain-forest bird photography. First came the fleeting glimpse of the scimitar babblers high in the trees; then came the long wait, still and silent, as the babblers worked their way lower and closer; then came the adjusting of my Nikon D3s and 600 mm F/4 lens to just the right settings (F/4, 1/400, ISO 5000, focusing mode 10 m or greater). Then came the moment. Hold your breath . . . We got it. Nice job. And a new species for my hungry camera.

[AndrewHeath]

It's a testament to how far technology has come that a photo like that can be taken at ISO5000, an unthinkable setting only 4 or 5 years ago! :-) Great job, Craig!

[thrush]

Here's an exciting bird: the sultan tit (冕雀, miǎn què, Melanochlora sultanea flavocristata). I photographed this well-dressed gentleman today at Jiānfēnglǐng. As I was speaking with the researchers at the Jiānfēnglǐng Environmental Observation Station, a flock of these most unusual tits flew to a tree in the garden. The scream-like calls and gaudy plumage of the sultans caught everyone's attention. I ran back to the car, grabbed my camera, and jogged back, arriving just in time to record this image. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5.6, 1/800, ISO 1600, hand-held, 7.9 m.

[AndrewHeath]

bravo!

[thrush]

This is ssp. monachus of the black-throated laughingthrush (黑喉噪鹛, hēihóu zàoméi, Dryonastes chinensis). I'm still at Jiānfēnglǐng; I photographed the bird here this morning. Race monachus, endemic to Hǎinán Island, differs markedly from the mainland forms. Note the extremely brown upperparts and the lack of a white patch on the cheek. The browner upperparts are a characteristic of monachus, but the lack of a white patch is apparently not. Robson and the IBC mention a morph on mainland Asia ("lugens") that lacks the white patch; but I have yet to see a mention of a patchless morph on Hǎinán. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5, 1/320, ISO 3200, hand-held, 15 m.

[thrush]

Another rarity from Hǎinán: a yellow-billed nuthatch (淡紫䴓, dànzǐ shī, Sitta solangiae). This species, patchily distributed in Vietnam and Laos, is found in China only in the mountains of Hǎinán; ssp. chienfengensis is endemic to this island. What an exhilarating struggle it was to keep up with the bird wave through the dense forest. I achieved this image by distinguishing the nuthatch through a "window" (no branches or leaves obstructing my view) and firing. The opportunity was gone in seconds. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/4, 1/800, ISO 5000, 21.1 m.

[AndrewHeath]

That eye is unworldly! What a fascinating bird.

[MKinHK]

We have the dark form of Black-throated Laughingthrush in very small numbers in Hong Kong Craig.

Nice to see you racking up those Hainan-endemic species and races!

Cheers
Mike

[thrush]

An orange-bellied leafbird (橙腹叶鹎, chéngfù yèbēi, Chloropsis hardwickii lazulina) adopts a heroic pose while sipping nectar. I had climbed to the rooftop of one of the buildings here at Jiānfēnglǐng to get a level shot. Watching sublime scenes like this one, I felt I had a front-row seat to Paradise. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5.6, 1/800, ISO 5000, 8.4 m.

[thrush]

On Sunday, as it was nearing dark, I said to my assistant, "Let's not quit just yet. I'm going to drive up the mountain a ways. Maybe a silver pheasant will cross the road." We drove up the hill. Five minutes later, whaddya know, a silver pheasant crossed the road. I got an electrifying image. On Monday morning, once again driving slowly up the mountain, I got an even better image--this one. This is the Hainanese subspecies: Lophura nycthemera whiteheadi. To photograph pheasants on the roadside, I drive up the mountain at dusk and dawn. Suddenly, out of the gloom a beautiful red, white, and blue bird emerges. I have about four seconds to record an image. In that time, I have to stop the car, reach over to the foot of the passenger seat for my Nikon 600 mm F/4 lens and D3S, stick the camera through my open window, set it on the rear-view mirror, and shoot. One mistake and the bird will get away. It's thrilling to get the process right and come home with a winner. F/4, 1/100, ISO 8000, 21.1 m. I'm at Bàwánglǐng National Forest Park on Hǎinán.

[johnjemi]

Craig,
It's a great shot of a great bird !

[thrush]

Standing on a rooftop at Jiānfēnglǐng, I saw a greater racket-tailed drongo perched beside a busily drilling greater yellownape. Both birds are endemic subspecies on Hǎinán: the drongo is Dicrurus paradiseus johni, the yellownape Picus flavinucha styani. It was thrilling enough that these interesting birds happened to be visible through a window in the canopy. But I was about to see something even more interesting. Moments after I took this photo, the yellownape drilled out some food. The drongo attacked the yellownape and stole the morsel.

[thrush]

I'm doing two types of photography here on Hǎinán. One is research photography: find the rarest birds, get at least a documentation shot. The other is artistic photography. This is an artistic image. The bird pictured here, an orange-bellied leafbird (橙腹叶鹎, chéngfù yèbēi, Chloropsis hardwickii), is common across southern China. (The subspecies pictured here, lazulina, endemic to Hǎinán, does carry some ornithological interest.) I worked hard to get this shot, waiting patiently for the right moment. I worked not for research, but for the sheer thrill of getting the photo right. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/7.1, 1/2000, ISO 5000, 11.9 m.

我在海南的摄影分为两种类型。一种摄影是用于研究，找到珍稀的鸟种，至少获得一个用于我的资料的拍摄；另外 一种是艺术摄影。这是一张艺术摄影的鸟片—橙腹叶鹎，在中国南部很普遍的一种鸟。我为拍到这张照片费了不少 心思，耐心的等待好时机的到来。我现在的摄影不仅用于研究，而且更为了拍到照片那一刻的兴奋。 Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/7.1, 1/2000, ISO 5000, 11.9 m。

[AndrewHeath]

Thrush, I continuously marvel at your results! This last one was taken at ~12m distance, yes? Could you please post the original ratio image file? I'm very curious to see how close the 600mm gets you at 12m for a bird like that. In other words, how much are these cropped?

The detail is so sharp it feels like there is almost no cropping! Just curiosity from a beginner... :-) thank you for sharing!

[thrush]

At long last, I've bagged a spot-necked babbler (斑颈穗鹛, bānjǐng suìméi, Stachyris strialata swinhoei). It's yet another Hainanese endemic subspecies.

Here's how I put my spot-necked images together. Yesterday afternoon: the long, slow slog up the hill, putt-putting in my rental car, half-looking for pheasants, half-looking for babblers. Then, I heard calls that sounded like fulvettas', but weren't quite the same. My Swarovski 8 x 32 binoculars pulled in the image from the dim forest: spot-neckeds! A long wait last night produced no images but confirmed that I'd found the place.

Then the early run this morning; I saw the spot-neckeds within 60 seconds of arriving at the spot. They darted into the gloom, but I'm experienced enough to know that skulkers usually have small ranges; they'd be back. Sure enough, they were back, and I got my first set. Fair-to-middlin' shots . . . I wanted more. Another disappearance, another long wait, and then, once again, paydirt. That's the image you're viewing here. I'm wondering whether swinhoei has ever been photographed so well.

Yes sir, I hung in and fought the battle. I stood in the leech-infested forest; I held out for the spot-necked babblers.

I'm a roadside birder. I'm totally focused. Highwaymen, grim Hainan mountain highwaymen, could come to rob me, and I'd say, "Can you hold off on robbin' me a minute? I'm in the middle of shooting the Hainanese subspecies of the spot-necked babbler."

"Oh, well, in that case . . . " they'd say respectfully, backing off.

Specs: Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5.6, 1/320, ISO 8000, 11.9 m.

[thrush]

Finally, finally, finally! I've photographed the ratchet-tailed treepie (塔尾树鹊, tǎwěi shùquè). I was on a Magic Rooftop here at Jiānfēnglǐng National Forest Park on Hǎinán. A pair passed through quickly, using only the crowns of the trees. Within minutes they were gone. I arrived on Hǎinán exactly three weeks ago. Oh, I've waited a long time to see this extraordinary species. It's one of my Big Four (white-winged magpie, Hainan peacock-pheasant, and Hainan partridge are the others). The ratchet-tailed treepie is the 623rd species of bird that I've photographed in my career. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/4, 1/1250, ISO 6400, 31.6 m.

[thrush]

Originally Posted by AndrewHeath

Thrush, I continuously marvel at your results! This last one was taken at ~12m distance, yes? Could you please post the original ratio image file? I'm very curious to see how close the 600mm gets you at 12m for a bird like that. In other words, how much are these cropped?

The detail is so sharp it feels like there is almost no cropping! Just curiosity from a beginner... :-) thank you for sharing!

Hey Andrew,

I'm using about half to two-thirds of the uncropped image.

[thrush]

A true Hainanese bird wave passed over my hotel room this afternoon. In it were this yellow-billed nuthatch, a ratchet-tailed treepie (these two species in China found only in the mountains of Hainan), three greater racket-tailed drongos (in China only on Hainan and in Yunnan), and three or four spectacular sultan tits. What a sight it was! Amid the flurry, I managed to get to within 12 m of this yellow-billed nuthatch. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/5, 1/125, ISO 8000, 11.9 m. Enjoy!

[AndrewHeath]

stunning!

[thrush]

Today I achieved this personal-best image of an eyebrowed wren-babbler (纹胸鹪鹛, wénxiōng jiāoméi, Napothera epilepidota). This rare, full-body photo allows us to appreciate many of the characteristics of this tiny bird. Note the stubby tail, long bill, large head, and creamy white supercilium. Race hainana is endemic to Hǎinán. Today was my last full day at Jiānfēnglǐng National Forest Park. Nikon D3S, 600 mm, F/4, 1/160, ISO 6400, 10 m.

[thrush]

After nearly non-stop birding from late December until early March, and after a few weeks here in Shanghai preparing my images and reports, I'm finally able to rejoin our conversation. Here's the report on the Taiwan trip, plus possibly my "image of the trip": a Lanyu scops owl. I'll probably post more photos in this forum, so keep checking. You can see much more on my Web site, www.craigbrelsford.com; the blog has anecdotes from the trip, and "Latest Pictures" has all the photographs.

Taiwan, Feb.-March 2013
by Craig Brelsford
www.craigbrelsford.com
info@craigbrelsford.com

Key

The English names of birds recorded for the first time on my Taiwan trip are in bold. I then give the name of the bird in simplified Chinese characters, then Pinyin, then Latin. Latin names are at the subspecies level; if no subspecies name is given, then either the species is monotypic or I was unable to determine the subspecies. If the bird is a species or subspecies endemic to Taiwan, then I note that distinction after the Latin name. Taiwanese place names are given in Pinyin first, then traditional characters. If simplified characters differ from traditional characters, then these are given in brackets.

For taxonomy and English names, my first reference is the IOC World Bird List, Version 3.3 (http://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/family-index/). For Chinese names, my first reference is中国观鸟年报"中国鸟类名录" 2.2(2012) The CBR Checklist of [the] Birds of China v2.2 (2012).

* heard only
sp.: species
ssp.: subspecies

Summary

Taiwan lies 130 km across the Taiwan Strait from Fujian. At 35,883 sq. km, Taiwan Island is a bit larger than Belgium and a bit smaller than the combined areas of Maryland and Delaware. The Tropic of Cancer crosses the island, and the mountains reach elevations of nearly 4000 m. The coastal areas attract migrating birds. Taiwan is a hotbed of endemism. The island counts 21 endemic species of bird and 59 subspecies. For birders, few places have so much to offer in so compact an area as Taiwan. In 2008, I spent 10 days in Taiwan, doing some birding. I vowed to go back. For this trip I gave myself 19 days. My goal was to create a photographic survey of the birds of Taiwan, with an emphasis on the endemics. I am currently writing and serving as chief photographer for a photographic field guide to the birds of China (including Taiwan); any good photos I could get would be candidates for inclusion in my book. I partnered with Wú Chóng Hàn, a Taiwanese birding expert. Chóng Hàn and I drove more than 3800 km in his car, ranging from Xīnběi in the north to Kěndīng in the south. We also spent three days on Orchid Island. I can sum up the performance of Chóng Hàn in one sentence: He shares your passion for birding. In just 19 days, I observed more than a quarter of all the bird species recorded in Taiwan; I saw or heard 150 of the approximately 570 species (26 percent). I saw 17 endemic species and observed 36 endemic subspecies.

Highlights

-- Photographing four endemic species and one endemic subspecies within the space of four hours from a hide in the southern mountains
-- Photographing the majestic mikado pheasant after a 10-hour wait at Dasyueshan; later at Dasyueshan, encountering the Swinhoe's pheasant
-- Crawling to within 7 m of a savanna nightjar near Táidōng
-- Photographing the Lanyu scops owl and Philippine cuckoo-dove on Orchid Island
-- Finding dozens of black-faced spoonbills at Áogǔ and Tǔchéng wetlands
-- Appreciating the well-run national parks and preserves in Taiwan and the high level of awareness of nature among the people of Taiwan

Equipment

-- Camera: Nikon D3S
-- Lens: Nikon VR 600mm F/4G
-- Binoculars: Swarovski EL 8 x 32
-- Birds of East Asia, by Mark Brazil (the only field guide in my camera pack)

The Trip

Wed. 13 Feb. 2013

At 1430 my flight left Pǔdōng International Airport in Shanghai. Two hours later, I was at Táoyuán Airport in Taiwan. A passenger mistook my suitcase for his and took it, leaving his own. The very professional staff at Air China quickly found the passenger. I exchanged some rénmínbì for Taiwanese dollars, took the shuttle bus to the Taiwan High Speed Rail station, and got on the HSR. My destination: Jiāyì (嘉義 [-义]). An hour later, my guide, Wú Chóng Hàn (吳崇漢 [吴-汉]), picked me up at the Jiāyì HSR station. Chóng Hàn's birding name is Shānlín Fēiyǔ (山林飛羽 [--飞-]). Chóng Hàn and I drove to his hometown, Hǔwěi (虎尾, "Tiger's Tail"). Hǔwěi is in centrally located Yúnlín County (雲林縣 [云-县]). Hǔwěi became our home base.

Thu. 14 Feb. 2013

I awoke to the sound of Eurasian tree sparrows (树麻雀, shù máquè, Passer montanus). I also saw Chinese bulbuls (白头鹎, báitóu bēi, Pycnonotus sinensis formosae, endemic Taiwanese subspecies). Chóng Hàn and I drove to Húběn (湖本). I noted the many red turtle doves (火斑鸠, huǒ bānjiū, Streptopelia orientalis) and Javan mynas (林八哥, lín bāgē, Acridotheres javanicus). The Javan myna is one of five introduced species of myna in Taiwan. At our spot in Húběn we found a common emerald dove (绿翅金鸠, lǜchì jīnjiū, Chalcophaps indica indica). In the trees were black bulbuls (黑短脚鹎, hēi duǎnjiǎobēi, Hypsipetes leucocephalus nigerrimus, endemic ssp.). I got good photos of a collared finchbill (领雀嘴鹎, lǐng quèzuǐbēi, Spizixos semitorques cinereicapillus, endemic ssp.). The paler grey head of cinereicapillus is obvious. We saw a few grey-chinned minivets (灰喉山椒鸟, huīhóu shānjiāoniǎo, Pericrocotus solaris griseogularis). We found two species of alcippe: dusky fulvetta (褐顶雀鹛, hèdǐng quèméi, Alcippe brunnea brunnea, endemic ssp.) and grey-cheeked fulvetta (灰眶雀鹛, huīkuàng quèméi, Alcippe morrisonia, Taiwan endemic species). Two birds were constructing a nest. They were rufous-capped babblers (红头穗鹛, hóngtóu suìméi, Stachyridopsis ruficeps praecognita, endemic ssp.). From deep in the forest came the call of a Taiwan bamboo partridge* (灰胸竹鸡, huīxiōng zhújī, Bambusicola [thoracicus] sonorivox, endemic ssp. of Chinese bamboo partridge). I got my first images of the Taiwan barbet (台湾拟啄木鸟, táiwān nǐzhuómùniǎo, Megalaima nuchalis, endemic sp.). I watched a black-naped monarch (黑枕王鹟, hēizhěn wángwēng, Hypothymis azurea oberholseri, endemic ssp.). We left Húběn and drove south toward Táinán (台南). On the freeway we saw a crested serpent eagle (蛇鵰, shédiāo, Spilornis cheela hoya, endemic ssp.). We headed east, into the mountains. We saw a male white-tailed robin (白尾蓝地鸲, báiwěi lándìqú, Cinclidium leucurum montium) and a member of the White's/scaly thrush complex (虎斑地鸫, hǔbān dìdōng, Zoothera dauma). There is a hide on the mountain. The owner of the property has been setting out maize and water at the same spot for years. The local birds have learned that the spot is a reliable source of food and water. The birds remain completely wild; they don't associate the food with man, they approach the bait nervously, and they flee at the slightest sound. Photographers must confine themselves to the hide that the owner erected, and they mustn't talk above a whisper. Even the click of a shutter can spook a bird. Once a bird commits to feeding, however, the shutter spooks it less. In this Magic Hide I had a remarkable harvest: Steere's liocichla (黄痣薮鹛, huángzhì sǒuméi, Liocichla steerii, endemic sp.), white-eared sibia 白耳奇鹛, bái'ěr qíméi, Heterophasia auricularis, endemic sp.), Swinhoe's pheasant (蓝鹇, lán xián, Lophura swinhoii, endemic sp.), Taiwan partridge (台湾山鹧鸪, táiwān shānzhègū, Arborophila crudigularis, endemic sp.), and Taiwan bamboo partridge. The bait also attracted many Oriental turtle doves (山斑鸠, shān bānjiū, Streptopelia orientalis orii, endedmic ssp.). I'm basing my identification of the turtle doves as orii (rather than the nominate race) on the basis of geography; orii is more montane, and the hide is at an elevation of 1150 m. Note however that orii is only "doubtfully distinct" (Mark Brazil, "Birds of East Asia") from the nominate race and that the nominate race is known to winter in Taiwan. We saw three individual Swinhoe's pheasants: two females and a second-year male. Back at my hotel in Hǔwěi, I heard a savanna nightjar* (林夜鹰, lín yèyīng, Caprimulgis affinis stictomus, endemic ssp.). It calls throughout the night.

Fri. 15 Feb. 2013

Jacana Eco-educational Nature Park is in Nántóu County (南投縣 [--县]). In Chinese, the wetland park is known as Húlúpí (葫蘆埤 [-芦-]). At the entrance, we saw a grey treepie (灰树鹊, huī shùquè, Dendrocitta formosae formosae, endemic ssp.). Other passerines: Chinese bulbul, green-headed wagtail (黄鹡鸰, huángjílíng, Motacilla flava taivana, ssp. of yellow wagtail), and brown shrike (红尾伯劳, hóngwěi bóláo, Lanius cristatus). Red turtle doves were in the area. We found three species of duck: garganey (白眉鸭, báiméi yā, Anas querquedula), gadwall (赤膀鸭, chìbǎng yā, Anas strepera), and Eurasian teal (绿翅鸭, lǜchì yā, Anas crecca). Eurasian teal was predominant. Egrets: great egret (大白鹭, dà báilù, Casmerodius albus), little egret (白鹭, báilù, Egretta garzetta garzetta), and eastern cattle egret (牛背鹭, niúbèi lù, Bulbulcus coromandus). Other birds: pheasant-tailed jacana (水雉, shuǐ zhì, Hydrophasianus chirurgus), black-winged stilt (黑翅长脚鹬, hēichì chángjiǎoyù, Himantopus himantopus himantopus), common moorhen (黑水鸡, hēi shuǐjī, Gallinula chloropus chloropus). In the afternoon we failed to find barred buttonquails near Jiāyì. Driving by the rice paddies, we saw several long-toed stints (长趾滨鹬, chángzhǐ bīnyù, Calidris subminuta) mixed in with the most numerous shorebird, wood sandpiper (林鹬, lín yù, Tringa glareola). We found a single ruddy-breasted crake (红胸田鸡, hóngxiōng tiánjī, Porzana fusca). We saw black drongos (黑卷尾, hēi juǎnwěi, Dicrurus macrocercus harterii, endemic ssp.) and a few scaly-breasted munias (斑文鸟, bān wénniǎo, Lonchura punctulata topela). In a field of grain we found a zitting cisticola (棕扇尾莺, zōng shānwěiyīng, Cisticola juncidis tinnabulans). In the same field were plain prinias (褐头鹪莺, hètóu jiāoyīng, Prinia inornata flavirostris, endemic ssp.). We spotted a common kestrel (红隼, hóng sǔn, Falco tinnunculus). Other birds: green-headed wagtail, Javan myna, red turtle dove, and spotted dove (珠颈斑鸠, zhūjǐng bānjiū, Streptopelia chinensis chinensis). Red turtle doves were much more commonly seen than spotteds. We found a large flock of Pacific swallows (洋燕, yáng yàn, Hirundo tahitica namiyei, endemic ssp.). Pacifics lack the blue breast-band of the barn swallow. On our way back to Hǔwěi, we found another of the five introduced species of myna in Taiwan: common myna (家八哥, jiā bāgē, Acridotheres tristis). At sunset in Hǔwěi, we saw house swifts (小白腰雨燕, xiǎo báiyāoyǔyàn, Apus nipalensis kuntzi, endemic ssp.).

Sat. 16 Feb. 2013

At dawn Chóng Hàn and I drove into the mountains of Nántóu County. We reached our spot along the side of the road at about 1200 m above sea level. The most abundant bird was Taiwan yuhina (褐头凤鹛, hètóu fèngméi, Yuhina brunneiceps, endemic sp.). There appeared to be a few flocks, each containing about 20 birds. One yuhina had lost an eye (it looked as if it had been pecked out) but was feeding vigorously and keeping up with its fellows. We found Steere's liocichlas and green-backed tits (绿背山雀, lǜbèi shānquè, Parus monticolus insperatus, endemic ssp.). Our target bird, rufous-crowned laughingthrush, a Taiwanese endemic, did not appear. We drove downhill, taking a narrow forest road to a bamboo plantation. Near the plantation was a secondary forest. I found three male Taiwan niltavas (棕腹蓝仙鹟, zōngfù lánxiānwēng, Niltava [vivida] vivida, endemic ssp. of vivid niltava). White-eared sibias were in the canopy, and Steere's liocichlas were busy on the forest floor. Grey-cheeked fulvettas and rufous-capped babblers were numerous and active, as were rufous-faced warblers (棕脸鹟莺, zōngliǎn wēngyīng, Abroscopus albogularis fulvifacies). We found a pair of black-naped monarchs. Back on the main road, we saw black bulbuls and a Japanese sparrowhawk (日本松雀鹰, rìběn sōngquèyīng, Accipiter gularis). We drove back down the mountain to Dǒuliù (斗六). On the campus of Transworld University, we photographed Malayan night herons (黑冠鳽, hēiguān yán, Gorsachius melanolophus). Other birds on the campus: red turtle dove, black drongo, Javan myna, spotted dove, and Baikal wagtail (白鹡鸰, bái jílíng, Motacilla alba leucopsis, ssp. of white wagtail). I spent the night in Hǔwěi.

Sun. 17 Feb. 2013

In the morning, Chóng Hàn and I drove north to Wūlái (烏來 [乌来]). Wūlái is a mountainous scenic area in Xīnběi (新北). The elevations here ranged between 200 m and 300 m. Our target bird: brown dipper (褐河乌, hè héwū, Cinclus pallasii pallasii). We found just one, and it took us all day to find it. More common along the fast-flowing streams were plumbeous water redstarts (红尾水鸲, hóngwěi shuǐqú, Rhyacornis fulignosa affinis, endemic ssp.) and grey wagtails (灰鹡鸰, huī jílíng, Motacilla cinerea). Some of the grey wagtails had assumed breeding plumage. The forests contained grey-chinned minivets, grey treepies, black bulbuls, white-bellied erpornis (白腹凤鹛, báifù fèngméi, Erpornis zantholeuca griseiloris), and black-throated bushtits (红头长尾山雀, hóngtóu chángwěishānquè, Aegithalos concinnus concinnus). We saw crested serpent eagles, and there were a few large-billed crows (大嘴乌鸦, dàzuǐ wūyā, Corvus macrorhynchos colonorum). We found a flock of about 10 white-bellied green pigeons (红翅绿鸠, hóngchì lǜjiū, Treron sieboldii sororius, endemic ssp.). After dark, Chóng Hàn and I drove through Táiběi (台北) to Mt. Yángmíng (陽明山 [阳--]). As I was enjoying my bath in the hot spring, redolent of sulfur, I heard a mountain scops owl* (黄嘴角鸮, huángzuǐ jiǎoxiāo, Otus spilocephalus hambroecki, endemic ssp.). The elevation here is 425 m.

Mon. 18 Feb. 2013

As soon as it was light, I heard the call of my target bird: Taiwan whistling thrush (台湾紫啸鸫, táiwān zǐxiàodōng, Myophonus insularis, endemic sp.). I opened the window of my hot-spring bathroom, and there it was, high on a rooftop. In the park near the hotel, we found a single Malayan night heron. It didn't take long before I'd photographed my second target species: Taiwan blue magpie (台湾蓝鹊, táiwān lánquè, Urocissa caerulea, endemic sp.). White-bellied green pigeons, Oriental turtle doves, grey treepies, and black bulbuls were also present in the park. A pale thrush (白腹鸫, báifù dōng, Turdus pallidus) came to within 2 m of us. I got compelling images of the whistling thrushes bathing in a stream. In the afternoon Chóng Hàn and I drove to Dasyueshan (大雪山) National Forest Recreation Area. We drove to a well-known spot along the main road at an elevation of about 2540 m. I photographed a white-whiskered laughingthrush (玉山噪鹛, yùshān zàoméi, Trochalopteron morrisonianium, endemic sp.) and a female Taiwan shortwing (蓝短翅鸫, lán duǎnchìdōng, Brachypteryx montana goodfellowi, endemic ssp. of white-browed shortwing). The mikado pheasants didn't come to the spot along the road. We drove down the mountain, enjoying the stunning scenery: pink sky and purple mountaintops like islands in a sea of cloud. We spent the night at the lodge, 2250 m above sea level. Mountain scops owls* were calling.

Tues. 19 Feb. 2013

At dawn we were at the spot along the road awaiting the mikado pheasants. They didn't arrive. We waited until about 1030. White-whiskered laughingthrushes hang around the spot, gobbling up the scraps left by the many photographers. There were in addition large-billed crow, Taiwan yuhina, collared bush robin (台湾林鸲, táiwān línqú, Tarsiger johnstoniae, endemic sp.), vinaceous rosefinch (酒红朱雀, jiǔhóng zhūquè, Carpodacus vinaceus formosanus, endemic ssp.), and spotted nutcracker (星鸦, xīng yā, Nucifraga caryocatactes owstoni, endemic ssp.). After about five hours, we moved to a spot at about 1500 m above sea level. The photographers use a crotch of a tree as a natural birdbath, regularly filling it with water. Steere's liocichla appeared, and I got good shots of two Taiwan yuhinas bathing. I had my heart set on island thrushes; they did not appear. We returned to the mikado spot, but the pheasants did not appear. As darkness came on, I photographed a Formosan Reeves's muntjac (山羌, shān qiāng, Muntiacus reevesi macrurus, endemic ssp.).

Wed. 20 Feb. 2013

In the morning, another long vigil along the road for the mikado pheasant. White-whiskered laughingthrushes entertained us. A large-billed crow flew in. A mixed flock flew through: rufous-faced babblers, Taiwan yuhinas. I heard a rufous-capped babbler* and spotted nutcrackers*. A pair of green-backed tits passed through. Finally, at 1655, I did it! After a 21-hour vigil covering parts of three days, including 10 consecutive hours today, I photographed the mikado pheasant (黑长尾雉, hēi chángwěizhì, Syrmaticus mikado, endemic sp.). The light was beginning to fail. Suddenly, the noble king appeared, accompanied by his bride. The mikado pheasant is one of the symbols of Taiwan; it appears on Taiwan's thousand-dollar note. As soon as the pheasants had crossed the road and disappeared, Chóng Hàn and I left KM 47. We drove to the entrance gate, looking for shortwings. None appeared. I saw a lone Taiwan bamboo partridge. Still elated after our success with the mikado, Chóng Hàn and I drove back to home base at Hǔwěi.

Thu. 21 Feb. 2013

At dawn, Chóng Hàn and I drove to Bùdài (布袋), a wetland in Jiāyì County. We saw dozens of species, the most notable being the smew (白秋沙鸭, bái qiūshāyā, Mergellus albellus). There only were a few in the lake, all males. The most numerous duck, numbering in the dozens, was Eurasian wigeon (赤颈鸭, chìjǐng yā, Anas penelope). Less numerous was northern shoveler (琵嘴鸭, pízuǐ yā, Anas clypeata). We saw a single female northern pintail (针尾鸭, zhēnwěi yā, Anas acuta). Other birds (already recorded): little egret, great egret, common moorhen. New birds: Caspian tern (红嘴巨鸥, hóngzuǐ jù'ōu, Hydroprogne caspia), a gull of the herring-gull complex, most likely Vega gull (西伯利亚银鸥, xībólìyà yín'ōu, Larus vegae), grey heron (苍鹭, cāng lù, Ardea cinerea), common sandpiper (矶鹬, jī yù, Actitis hypoleucos), great cormorant (普通鸬鹚, pǔtōng lúcí, Phalacrocorax carbo), common greenshank (青脚鹬, qīngjiǎoyù, Tringa nebularia), and African sacred ibis (埃及圣䴉, āijí shènghuán, Threskiornis aethiopicus). The African sacred ibis is a sub-Saharan African bird that has become established in Taiwan. I found a common magpie (喜鹊, xǐquè, Pica pica) and little grebes (小䴙䴘, xiǎo pìtī, Tachybaptus ruficollis). We found a large roosting flock of pied avocets (反嘴鹬, fǎnzuǐ yù, Recurvirostra avosetta). The flock contained about 200 individuals. I got my first-ever views and photos of the white-shouldered starling (灰背椋鸟, huībèi liángniǎo, Sturnus sinensis). We drove to National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. Xiǎo Lǐ, a student at Pingtung, joined Chóng Hàn and me. The campus is spacious and heavily forested. Brown shrikes and black drongos are common in the open areas. We drove to one of the forested areas. At the entrance, we saw a crested goshawk (凤头鹰, fèngtóu yīng, Accipiter trivirgatus formosae, endemic ssp.). Next we saw, roosting in the crown of a tree, an ashy wood pigeon (灰林鸽, huī língē, Columba pulchricollis). In the forest was a grey-capped pygmy woodpecker (星头啄木鸟, xīngtóu zhuómùniǎo, Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis, endemic ssp.). Outside, near the garbage dump, black kites (黑鸢, hēi yuān, Milvus migrans formosanus) were soaring. Our group split up; Chóng Hàn went downhill ahead of Xiǎo Lǐ and me. Xiǎo Lǐ and I found Taiwan barbets feasting on fruit. A grey treepie appeared. Xiǎo Lǐ and I were mimicking the calls of the maroon oriole (朱鹂, zhū lí, Oriolus [traillii] ardens, endemic ssp.). I handled the catlike mewing, while Xiǎo Lǐ imitated the fluty whistle. Our method worked; a female flew in and investigated us. Below, at the lake, we found a common moorhen and a single common kingfisher (普通翠鸟, pǔtōng cuìniǎo, Alcedo atthis bengalensis). We saw Pacific swallows and striated swallows (斑腰燕, bānyāo yàn, Cecropis striolata). At another spot on campus, we photographed white-bellied green pigeons. Other birds: spotted dove, red turtle dove, and lesser coucal (小鸦鹃, xiǎo yājuān, Centropus bengalensis lignator). Chóng Hàn and I drove on a twisting mountain road to the east coast. On a lonely road in Zhīběn (知本), we photographed a savanna nightjar. The bird was resting in the middle of the road. I crawled to within 7 m of the nightjar. Chóng Hàn and I spent the night in Táidōng (台東 [-东]).

Fri. 22 Feb. 2013

Our flight took off from Táidōng Airport at 1015. At this time of year, there are no boats to Orchid Island, known in Chinese as Lányǔ (蘭嶼 [兰屿]). That's regrettable; I've read that during the two-hour boat ride one can view seabirds. The flight took 25 minutes. The passengers were crammed into the tight cabin of the small propeller plane. The captain left the door to the cockpit open, allowing us to watch the pilots operate the flying machine. We were flying just a few hundred meters over the turquoise waters of the Philippine Sea. The flight alone was worth the price of the ticket. But I was getting more. My ticket was to Lányǔ, 47 square kilometers of forested mountain jutting out of the sea, home to some compelling bird species. We got off to a fast start. Driving out of the airport in our rented Nissan, we found a female red-bellied rock thrush (蓝矶鸫, lán jīdōng, Monticola solitarius philippensis, ssp. of blue rock thrush). The red-bellied rock thrush is resident on Lányǔ. The rock thrush was perching on a rooftop; I photographed her from the car. I then emerged, hearing the grating calls of a brown-eared bulbul (栗耳短脚鹎, lì'ěr duǎnjiǎobēi, Microscelis amaurotis harterti, endemic ssp.). I got my first-ever view and photographs of that bird, which is common on Lányǔ (Lányǔ is the heartland of the subspecies; it's rare on the main island). After the bulbul disappeared, I looked below to the beach. Just at the edge of the crashing waves was a Pacific reef egret (岩鹭, yán lù, Egretta sacra sacra). I photographed the egret flying, the surf in the background. I had three species, two brand-new to me, in the space of three minutes. Welcome to Lányǔ! We drove on. We turned off the coastal ring road near the village of Yěyíncūn (野銀村 [-银-]). We drove slowly uphill through farmland to Scops Owl Forest. Here I got my first-ever views and photos of the lowland white-eye (低地绣眼鸟, dīdì xiùyǎnniǎo, Zosterops meyeni batanis). In Taiwan, the lowland white-eye is found only on Lányǔ. Brown-eared bulbuls were noisily present here. We saw no other species. Driving through the towns in search of a restaurant, we found Eurasian tree sparrows. Brown shrikes winter on Lányǔ; we saw a few. A lesser coucal flew across the road. We drove to the forest at Xīgǔ (西谷). We stood in the forest for hours, seeing little. Butterflies float through the forest, giving the place a dreamlike quality. Large leaves drop heavily to the floor. We saw many lowland white-eyes, and brown-eared bulbuls were noisy and conspicuous in the canopy. I stumbled upon a pale thrush. Walking out of the forest, I found a female Daurian redstart (北红尾鸲, běi hóngwěiqú, Phoenicurus auroreus). Chóng Hàn and I drove to Yěyíncūn, the village where we were staying the night. I got dramatic images of the surf crashing into the rocks, Lesser Orchid Island in the background. We stopped again at Scops Owl Forest. We heard the call of the Lanyu scops owl* (琉球角鸮, liúqiú jiǎoxiāo, Otus [elegans] botelensis, endemic ssp. of Ryukyu scops owl). The Lanyu scops owl lives only on this island. After dark, Chóng Hàn and I drove back to Scops Owl Forest. We walked into the pitch-black darkness. Lanyu scops owls were calling. We followed their hoots, picking our way carefully. After about an hour, we saw a shape moving in the gloom: an owl! Chóng Hàn shined his flashlights on them, and my camera and I went to work. I finished the shoot within 10 minutes, to disturb the owls as little as possible.

Sat. 23 Feb. 2013

We were out at sunrise. On the road just outside Yěyíncūn was a dusky thrush (斑鸫, bān dōng, Turdus eunomus). We drove into Scops Owl Forest. Immediately I saw a Philippine cuckoo-dove (菲律宾鹃鸠, fēilǜbīn juānjiū, Macropygia tenuirostris phaea). It alighted on a high branch, then flew away. I got a poor image. Brown-eared bulbuls were ever-present. Pale thrushes were making their thin contact calls and occasionally appearing; I noted the familiarity of that contact call, which I often hear in the parks of Shanghai, in a forest in which nearly every other bird was strange to me. We left the forest and drove back to Yěyíncūn for breakfast. Along the way we found a brown-headed thrush (赤胸鸫, chìxiōng dōng, Turdus chrysolaus). Having breakfast at Yěyíncūn, I drank a can of Hey Song Sarsaparilla, delicious root beer made in Taiwan. I quickly became addicted. Driving out of Yěyíncūn, we found a grey wagtail and a Baikal wagtail (M. a. leucopsis) on the narrow road. Driving on the coastal road, we slowly circuited the island, enjoying the dramatic scenery. We found pale, dusky, and Naumann's thrushes (红尾鸫, hóngwěi dōng, Turdus naumanni). I got another exciting image of a Pacific reef egret amid the waves, plus fine images of a male red-bellied rock thrush and a northern lapwing (凤头麦鸡, fèngtóu màijī, Vanellus vanellus). Orchid Island is the extreme eastern edge of the northern lapwing's huge Eurasian distribution. The peewit is rare enough on Taiwan Island; to see one here on Orchid was quite an event. I found another Daurian redstart, a male. Brown shrikes were common. We saw a common kestrel. We rested after lunch and left our rooms at 1400. We drove to Xīgǔ. My sole focus was to photograph a Philippine cuckoo-dove. The forest was silent except for the breeze, the distant roar of the sea, and an occasional rustling on the forest floor, caused by small lizards and thrushes. We gave up and returned to Scops Owl Forest. Again, quiet. Driving along the coastal road, I was shooting a craggy island in the distance when I saw, tiny in my lens, a western osprey (鹗, è, Pandion haliaetus haliaetus). The brave hunter was operating around the lonely island, the turbulent sea below. Seeing the bird reminded me that in this world there are still places where birds can go but men cannot go. Chóng Hàn told me that almost no one visits the islets around Lányǔ, because docking on them is dangerous. Later on, we found a pair of white-breasted waterhens (白胸苦恶鸟, báixiōng kǔ'ě'niǎo, Amaurornis phoenicurus phoenicurus).

Sun. 24 Feb. 2013

Chóng Hán and I left our rooms at 0600. Driving on the road to the Scops Owl Forest, we again found a brown-headed thrush. Pale thrushes were also present. Almost as soon as I entered Scops Owl Forest, I saw a Philippine cuckoo-dove. It bounced around in the crown of the tree above me then ejected itself into another, more distant tree. A common emerald dove briefly rested on a distant tree. Many cuckoo-doves were calling. I saw them flying from high branch to high branch. A few times the doves came close, but my photographs were unsatisfactory. I saw a pair descending from the upper canopy. I struggled through the undergrowth after them. I found one on a branch, its entire body except the head hidden by the trunk of the tree. I moved to the right, to a point where only the long tail remained hidden. I decided to cash in my chips here rather than move further right. I acquired some good images. The doves flew off. It was nearly eight o'clock; the cuckoo-doves were calling much less now. The sky, barely visible through the dome-like canopy of the tropical forest, had brightened considerably; the forest was a patchwork of sun and shadows. I heard calls and still was getting long-distance shots until 0830, but most of the doves had withdrawn up the steep slopes. The brown-eared bulbuls were screaming. One perched on a low branch with a pleasing green background. On the road back to Yěyíncūn, I photographed a brown-headed thrush. High above Yěyíncūn was an eastern buzzard (普通鵟, pǔtōng kuáng, Buteo japonicus). Chóng Hàn and I drove to the very windy summit of the island's tallest mountain, where we grabbed some landscape shots. Almost the entire mountain is forested; there are no villages in the interior; the few thousand residents live almost exclusively along the coast. We drove down to the airport. The representative of our rental car agency very generously allowed us to keep the car another two hours, free. We drove back to Xīgǔ but only saw the bulbuls and white-eyes. We called it quits. After another thrilling plane ride, we arrived in Táidōng. We headed south. We stopped at a park in Héngchūn (恆春 [恒-]) and within five minutes had photographed the Taiwan bulbul (台湾鹎, táiwān bēi, Pycnonotus taivanus, endemic sp.). The Taiwan bulbul is distinctive. The head is more strongly marked than in the Chinese bulbul, there is no white "bandanna" on the rear crown, and there is an obvious red spot on the lower mandible. We spent the night in Kěndīng (墾丁 [垦-]), the Miami Beach of Taiwan. The place was full of tourists.

Mon. 25 Feb. 2013

In a scrubby area a few minutes' drive from downtown Kěndīng, I photographed Taiwan hwameis (台湾画眉, táiwān huàméi, Leucodioptron taewanum, endemic sp.). On the road to Mǎnzhōu (滿洲 [满-]), we found a pair of Oriental skylarks (小云雀, xiǎo yúnquè, Alauda gulgula). Taiwan bulbuls were abundant everywhere; I saw no Chinese bulbuls in the area. Eastern cattle egret, brown shrike, and black drongo were in the fields around Mǎnzhōu. We drove back to Pingtung University. Xiǎo Lǐ and his fellow student Gecko joined Chóng Hàn and me. It was hot: about 35 degrees. The four of us quickly found a black-naped oriole (黑枕黄鹂, hēizhěn huánglí, Oriolus chinensis diffusus). I got photos of a grey-capped pygmy woodpecker. Xiǎo Lǐ and Gecko found our target bird: Taiwan green pigeons (红顶绿鸠, hóngdǐng lǜjiū, Treron formosae formosae, endemic ssp. of whistling green pigeon). The pigeons were resting in the branches of a small tree. The angle was good, but the midday sun was strong. My photographs clearly show the green undertail coverts and the red crown; the red on these birds was faint. Chóng Hàn and I drove to Tǔchéng (土城), a wetland near Táinán. We saw a large flock of Kentish plovers (环颈鸻, huánjǐng héng, Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis). Driving on, we found our target bird: black-faced spoonbills (黑脸琵鹭, hēiliǎn pílù, Platalea minor). A flock of about 25 was in a fish pond. In and around that wetland, I saw a few new species: Pacific golden plover (金斑鸻, jīnbān héng, Pluvialis fulva), common redshank (红脚鹬, hóngjiǎo yù, Tringa totanus ussuriensis), red-necked stint (红颈滨鹬, hóngjǐng bīnyù, Calidris ruficollis), and black-crowned night heron (夜鹭, yè lù, Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax). Northern shovelers were once again numerous, as were black-winged stilts and common greenshanks. Little and great egrets were abundant. Along an elevated highway, we found a rookery of little egrets in the crowns of some trees. The crowns of the trees were just a few meters from the busy highway above. It's amazing that the egrets have gotten used to cars whizzing by just meters from their nests and chicks. Other previously seen species: grey heron, eastern cattle egret, common sandpiper, common moorhen, little grebe, red turtle dove. We spent the night in Hǔwěi.

Tues. 26 Feb. 2013

On a foggy morning, we drove to the wetland called Áogǔ (鰲鼓 [鳌-]). On the way there, we found common mynas, striated swallows, and black-faced buntings (灰头鹀, huītóu wū, Emberiza spodocephala). Áogǔ is rich in birds. It's one of the main wintering sites of the black-faced spoonbill. Compared to similar wetlands in mainland China, birds at Áogǔ are more abundant and fear man less. Ducks: northern pintail, tufted duck (凤头潜鸭, fèngtóu qiányā, Aythya filigula), two falcated ducks (罗纹鸭, luó wén yā, Anas falcata; occasionally seen in Taiwan; used Chóng Hàn's scope), a single male Eurasian teal, and a single female gadwall. Rails: common moorhen, common coot (骨顶鸡, gǔdǐng jī). Other non-passerines: red turtle dove, black-winged stilt, common kingfisher, African sacred ibis, Caspian tern, black-faced spoonbill (about 50; very shy, very sensitive), great cormorant, little egret, great egret, Eurasian curlew (白腰杓鹬, báiyāo sháoyù, Numenius arquata), Far Eastern curlew (大杓鹬, dà sháoyù, Numenius madagascariensis), grey plover (灰斑鸻, huībān héng, Pluvialis squatarola squatarola), exactly two purple herons (草鹭, cǎo lù, Ardea purpurea manilensis), common snipe (扇尾沙锥, shānwěi shāzhuī, Gallinago gallinago), and black-headed gull (红嘴鸥, hóngzuǐ ōu, Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Passerines: plain-tailed prinia, common magpie, black drongo, Daurian redstart, Chinese bulbul, Pacific swallow, Manchurian bush warbler (满洲树莺, mǎnzhōu shùyīng, Horornis borealis), and long-tailed shrike (棕背伯劳, zōngbèi bóláo, Lanius schach formosae, endemic ssp.). After dark, Chóng Hàn and I drove to Ālǐshān (阿里山).

Wed. 27 Feb. 2013

In the morning around the statue of Chiang Kai-shek at Ālǐshān (elev. 2300 m), Chóng Hàn and I saw a scaly thrush and a red-flanked bluetail (红胁蓝尾鸲, hóngxié lánwěiqú, Luscinia cyanura). I followed a pair of flamecrests (台湾戴菊, táiwān dàijú, Regulus goodfellowi, endemic sp.). I had my first views ever of the Taiwan barwing (台湾斑翅鹛, táiwān bānchìméi, Actinodura morrisoniana, endemic sp.). Other birds: green-backed tit, collared bush robin, Taiwan yuhina, large-billed crow, plumbeous water redstart, and Steere's liocichla. We drove 21 km up the mountain to Tataka Visitor Center at Yùshān (玉山) National Park. Elevation: 2600 m. We saw pale and brown-headed thrushes, and I had my first views ever in Taiwan of the eyebrowed thrush (白眉鸫, báiméi dōng, Turdus obscurus). A large flock of white-whiskered laughingthrushes lives around the visitor center. I had my first look at a Taiwan fulvetta (玉山雀鹛, yùshān quèméi, Fulvetta formosana, endemic sp.) as well as a Taiwan yellow-bellied bush warbler (黄腹树莺, huángfù shùyīng, Horornis [acanthizoides] concolor, endemic ssp. of yellow-bellied bush warbler). I got close to a male Taiwan shortwing. Some black-throated bushtits flew through, and spotted nutcrackers were a common sight atop the tallest trees. I photographed a coal tit (煤山雀, méi shānquè, Periparus ater ptilosus, endemic ssp.). We stayed at Tataka until nightfall. At 1945 we began our search for Himalayan owls (灰林鸮, huītóu línxiāo, Strix nivicola yamadae, endemic ssp.). Driving slowly down the mountain road, we encountered this species twice, photographing a female the second time. We also found a Formosan Reeves's muntjac feeding in the narrow strip of grass along the side of the road. I was astounded by the sight of a red and white giant flying squirrel (红白鼯鼠, hóngbái wúshǔ, Petaurista alborufus). The jumbo rodent was high in a tree; we got a few photographs. We spent the night at Ālǐshān.

Thu. 28 Feb. 2013

Chóng Hàn and I checked out of our hotel at Ālǐshān and drove to Tataka. On the way up, we saw a Taiwan whistling thrush and some shy Formosan rock macaques (台湾猕猴, táiwān míhóu, Macaca cyclopis, endemic sp.). Rounding a bend, we found two mikado pheasants, a king and his bride, feeding along the side of the road. Back at Tataka, we saw a dusky thrush along with most of the other species seen yesterday. At 1000 we left Yùshān for Dasyueshan. There, we found a female white-tailed robin. At the photographers' spot, a male Swinhoe's pheasant appeared. At the crotch in the tree, I found Steere's liocichlas and a female Swinhoe's pheasant. Chóng Hàn and I spent the night at a hot-spring hotel in Gǔguān (谷關 [-关]).

Fri. 1 March 2013

At Bā Xiān Shān (八仙山), I caught only a fleeting glimpse of a yellow tit (台湾黄山雀, táiwān huángshānquè, Parus holsti, endemic sp.). I was not satisfied with my photographs of the Taiwan varied tit (杂色山雀, zásè shānquè, Parus [varius] castaneoventris, endemic ssp. of varied tit). For the first time in Taiwan, I saw bronzed drongos (古铜色卷尾, gǔtóngsè juǎnwěi, Dicrurus aeneus braunianus, endemic ssp.). My photographic highlight was a splendid male maroon oriole. Other previously seen species: Taiwan bamboo partridge (an individual on the wall along the road), spotted dove, grey treepie, black-naped monarch, Baikal wagtail, grey wagtail, Taiwan whistling thrush, pale thrush, grey-cheeked fulvetta, black bulbul, plumbeous water redstart, crested serpent eagle, grey-chinned minivet, little egret, Japanese white-eye, and white-bellied erpornis. We found some Formosan rock macaques. Our spot at Bā Xiān Shān was about 950 m above sea level. As darkness approached, we departed for Shānlínxī (衫林溪). On the way, we found another red and white giant flying squirrel. At our hotel at Shānlínxī, we heard a mountain scops owl*.

Sat. 2 March 2013

At Shānlínxī, for the first time on this trip, I had to deal with rain. The highlight was getting my first good photographs of the Taiwan barwing. Chóng Hàn and I were at a spot about 1700 m above sea level. A flock of about 10 barwings arrived, shadowed by Steere's liocichlas, white-eared sibias, and Taiwan yuhinas. Each species is endemic to Taiwan; you can imagine the satisfaction I got from the sight of them all together. The barwings combed through a flowering tree for nectar, then descended to the lower branches to glean arthropods. The Taiwan barwing is not a particularly hard bird to find; one simply needs to be in the right habitat and have a little luck. At that spot we also found rufous-capped babbler, black-throated bushtit, green-backed tit, and brown bullfinch (褐灰雀, hè huīquè, Pyrrhula nipalensis uchidai, endemic ssp.). Along the stream, the most common bird was little forktail (小燕尾, xiǎo yànwěi, Enicurus scouleri). We also saw Taiwan whistling thrushes, plumbeous water redstarts, and grey wagtails. Around the waterfall, nesting in the adjacent cave, were a few dozen Asian house martins (烟腹毛脚燕, yānfù máojiǎoyàn, Delichon dasypus nigrimentale). We drove downhill and took a quick walk into the forest. We found a male and female snowy-browed flycatcher (棕胸蓝姬鹟, zōngxiōng lánjīwēng, Ficedula hyperythra innexa, endemic ssp.). We drove back to the lowlands. In the fields around Dǒuliù we found little ringed plovers (金眶鸻, jīnkuàng héng, Charadrius dubius curonicus) and dozens of greater painted-snipe (彩鹬, cǎi yù, Rostratula benghalensis benghalensis). There were also brown shrikes, yellow wagtails, Eurasian tree sparrows, a single male Daurian redstart, Pacific golden plovers, and red turtle doves.

Sun. 3 March 2013

Met Chóng Hàn at my hotel at 0445. We drove to the same spot that we'd used on 16 Feb. Our goal was to photograph the rufous-crowned laughingthrush and the grey-sided scimitar babbler. The fog was very thick, then came the rain. I was unable to find my two target species. I saw a big mixed flock including black-throated bushtits, Japanese white-eyes, rufous-capped babblers, and Taiwan yuhinas. A single pale thrush was nearby. I managed a photograph of a dusky fulvetta and rufous-capped babblers. We drove back to the lowlands. Around Dòunán we found more greater painted-snipes as well as yellow wagtails, common moorhens, and barn swallows (家燕, jiā yàn, Hirundo rustica). Exhausted but satisfied after my hard, successful trip, I took the high-speed train to Táoyuán Airport and at 1745 flew back to Pǔdōng.

[thrush]

I know I promised more Taiwan images, but I couldn't resist sharing this one from Hǎinán. Question: Is bird photography science or sport? Answer: both. This image required the fast reflexes of an athlete, and it shows behavior that the human eye can't appreciate without a high-performance camera. Everything came together here: simple background, great action, good bird (olive-backed sunbird, 黄腹花蜜鸟, huángfù huāmìniǎo, Cinnyris jugularis rhizophorae). Sunbirds are often likened to hummingbirds. Although unlike hummingbirds they cannot fly backward, and though Nectariniidae (sunbirds) and Trochilidae (hummingbirds) are distantly related evolutionarily, sunbirds share the hummingbirds' love of nectar, and like hummingbirds they are tiny. Photo taken last month at Jiānfēnglǐng National Forest Park, Hǎinán, China, using my Nikon D3S and 600 mm F/4 lens. F/6.3, 1/4000, ISO 5000, 8.9 m.