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Taiwan - Birding Reports (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dave 2x
- Start date
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
It's a nomenclature thing. In Asia, they're called Buff-bellied pipit, but Clements still calls it American pipit, probably because 3 of the 4 subspecies are found in N. America.
I know Clements hasn't split them yet. I'm pretty sure the other authorities haven't yet, either.
I know Clements hasn't split them yet. I'm pretty sure the other authorities haven't yet, either.
Dave 2x
Well-known member
Dave 2x
Well-known member
Thanks Gretchen!
This Saturday (26 April) I tried Yehliu situated on the North coast of Taiwan. Yehliu had been getting good reports all week of various flycatchers and buntings including a long tailed Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the birds) due to the good weather everything had left. The only bird remaining was a Yellow-breasted Bunting surrounded by 100 photographers!
On Sunday I joined a trip to Guishan (Turtle) Island off the coast of Yilan. Highlights included a lifer Chestnut-eared Bunting, 2 male Chestnut Buntings, Chinese Pond-Heron, lots of Fork-tailed Swifts, 3 Streaked Shearwaters on the crossing, lots of Brown-eared Bulbuls (common on this island) and a King Ratsnake.
Here's a few photos from the weekend...
This Saturday (26 April) I tried Yehliu situated on the North coast of Taiwan. Yehliu had been getting good reports all week of various flycatchers and buntings including a long tailed Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the birds) due to the good weather everything had left. The only bird remaining was a Yellow-breasted Bunting surrounded by 100 photographers!
On Sunday I joined a trip to Guishan (Turtle) Island off the coast of Yilan. Highlights included a lifer Chestnut-eared Bunting, 2 male Chestnut Buntings, Chinese Pond-Heron, lots of Fork-tailed Swifts, 3 Streaked Shearwaters on the crossing, lots of Brown-eared Bulbuls (common on this island) and a King Ratsnake.
Here's a few photos from the weekend...
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Nice stuff! I trust the weather was better this year than last year. Still hope I can make it back there some day to get a proper trip to Guishandao.
As to your earlier question about the niltava, not sure if you reached a decision on it, but books around here say that the rufous-bellied would have a more glistening crown and would lack the indent on the neck that the vivid, and the nilatava in your photo, have. So I would think vivid but I don't know about Fujian.
As to your earlier question about the niltava, not sure if you reached a decision on it, but books around here say that the rufous-bellied would have a more glistening crown and would lack the indent on the neck that the vivid, and the nilatava in your photo, have. So I would think vivid but I don't know about Fujian.
Dave 2x
Well-known member
Yep the weather was better....which always means less birds! You are right the Niltava is just a Vivid Niltava. The one we saw at Yehliu is now apparently thought to be a Fujian rather than a Rufous-bellied...but nobody is 100% certain.
Will be back at Turtle Island this Saturday...hoping for something good!
Dave 2x
Well-known member
Saturday (3 May) I joined the taipei Wild Bird Society on their annual spring trip to Guishan (Turtle) Island. Birding was even slower this weekend with very few migrants despite the heavy constant rain. Great reports coming in from Matsu Islands, so I guess a lot of migrants have passed us already.
Highlights of this trip were a Lesser Frigatebird (not seen by me), perhaps 10 or more Yellow-browed Buntings, a Little Bunting, Black-faced Buntings, a single Brambling, lots of Brown-eared Bulbuls, Pacific Reef Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Olive-backed Pipits, Common Terns, Great Crested Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes (not seen by me), lots of Oriental Skylarks, a single Oriental Pratincole, Black-tailed Gull and a Striated Heron (which I don't see very often in Taiwan).
A few photos...including a couple more from last week.
Highlights of this trip were a Lesser Frigatebird (not seen by me), perhaps 10 or more Yellow-browed Buntings, a Little Bunting, Black-faced Buntings, a single Brambling, lots of Brown-eared Bulbuls, Pacific Reef Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Olive-backed Pipits, Common Terns, Great Crested Terns, Red-necked Phalaropes (not seen by me), lots of Oriental Skylarks, a single Oriental Pratincole, Black-tailed Gull and a Striated Heron (which I don't see very often in Taiwan).
A few photos...including a couple more from last week.
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birdingaroundtaiwan
Well-known member
Just came across this thread, it's good to hear what's been seen elsewhere in Taiwan. I'm based in Kaohsiung, and bird mainly along the south-west coast as far north as Chiayi, and the southern mountains as far as Yushan/Alishan.
I've found one or two good birds over the last few weeks, including Asian Dowitcher at Aogu last Sunday, Tristram's Bunting at Donggang on Tuesday, and at least ten individual Chinese Egrets so far this spring.
I'm keeping a regularly updated blog about my birding in Taiwan, here: http://birdingaroundtaiwan.com/.
Happy birding!
Cheers.
I've found one or two good birds over the last few weeks, including Asian Dowitcher at Aogu last Sunday, Tristram's Bunting at Donggang on Tuesday, and at least ten individual Chinese Egrets so far this spring.
I'm keeping a regularly updated blog about my birding in Taiwan, here: http://birdingaroundtaiwan.com/.
Happy birding!
Cheers.
schiffornis
AWBirder
Finding this thread and your blogs/photos really interesting. I'm heading over to Taiwan next week for 2 weeks birding, looking for the Fairy Pitta and endemics and keen to see as much as possible really. Would also be keen to see the Black-faced Spoonbills if there are some still around?
Thanks, Andy
Thanks, Andy
birdingaroundtaiwan
Well-known member
^ Andy, there were still Black-faced Spoonbills at both Budai and Aogu last weekend .... I saw about 40 in total. Hopefully there will still be one or two late lingerers by the time you arrive 
I'll be at Alishan and Yushan National Park next weekend (May 17th and 18th), looking to get some of the high-altitude birds on to the year list. I hope it won't be too rainy up there. Let me know if you're around at the same time.
I'll be at Alishan and Yushan National Park next weekend (May 17th and 18th), looking to get some of the high-altitude birds on to the year list. I hope it won't be too rainy up there. Let me know if you're around at the same time.
Dave 2x
Well-known member
Andy, even in the North of Taiwan there are still some Spoonbills around, including one in the middle of Taipei (Huajiang) this week. Budai and Aogu are of course a much better bet!
Here's some pics from Watzuwei Nature Reserve close to Taipei from May 2013...this is another area that is also a reliable place for Chinese Egret.
Cheers
Dave
Here's some pics from Watzuwei Nature Reserve close to Taipei from May 2013...this is another area that is also a reliable place for Chinese Egret.
Cheers
Dave
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birdingaroundtaiwan
Well-known member
Dave, just to make you jealous, I found my second Asian Dowitcher in just seven days in Tainan yesterday. There was a Gull-billed Tern and a Little Bunting at Qigu, and dazzling migrant White-winged Terns have started to appear with the Whiskered Terns at fishponds.
Full report on my blog.
Happy birding!
Cheers.
Full report on my blog.
Happy birding!
Cheers.
Dave 2x
Well-known member
I am jealous, but good to know there are still some passing through! They never seem to be reported in the North of Taiwan so I guess I need to head South more often!
My birding was limited this weekend...only managed to escape for a couple of hours at Huajiang. Only none-common birds (for this location) were a Chinese Pond Heron and at least 4 Oriental Reed Warblers. First time I have seen any Reed-Warblers at this location.
Cheers
Dave
schiffornis
AWBirder
Thanks for the info both, really helpful. Our plans are not really set yet and probably won't know our route until Tues/Wed -depends on a few things. We're hoping to get over to Lanyu too all being well - if we can work out when the boats go/come back!
Cheers, Andy
Cheers, Andy
birdingaroundtaiwan
Well-known member
A much quieter morning around Tainan today, with migrant waders noticeably much fewer in number - and no sign of Saturday's Asian Dowitcher. Fewer birds + hot and sultry weather = a distinct feeling that summer is on the way :-(
Late in the morning, I finally rescued a new bird for the year in the form of a pair of Azure-winged Magpies at Sihcao Artillery Fort. This is an introduced species in Taiwan, but it's an attractive bird and in the context of this morning's very lean pickings it was most welcome!
Full report on my blog.
Cheers and happy birding!
Late in the morning, I finally rescued a new bird for the year in the form of a pair of Azure-winged Magpies at Sihcao Artillery Fort. This is an introduced species in Taiwan, but it's an attractive bird and in the context of this morning's very lean pickings it was most welcome!
Full report on my blog.
Cheers and happy birding!
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