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The eastern front: Japan and Taiwan Dec 16 - Jan 17 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Andrew Whitehouse
- Start date
Red-flanked Bluetail
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Including a very smart male at Kogawa Dam.
Daurian Redstart
Teganuma 25/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 1
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 2
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 4
Fairly common, with some fine males seen in Kyushu.
Blue Rock-Thrush
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
One on the sea wall.
Pale Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 1
Perhaps fewer than expected.
Brown-headed Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 1
A smart male under the belt on the first day.
Dusky Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 14
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 8
Teganuma 25/12/16 9
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 15
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 3
Easier than it is in Derbyshire even.
White-cheeked Starling
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 3
Teganuma 25/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
A fairly common bird around Tokyo and elsewhere.
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Including a very smart male at Kogawa Dam.
Daurian Redstart
Teganuma 25/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 1
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 2
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 4
Fairly common, with some fine males seen in Kyushu.
Blue Rock-Thrush
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
One on the sea wall.
Pale Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 1
Perhaps fewer than expected.
Brown-headed Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 1
A smart male under the belt on the first day.
Dusky Thrush
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 14
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 8
Teganuma 25/12/16 9
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 15
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 3
Easier than it is in Derbyshire even.
White-cheeked Starling
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 3
Teganuma 25/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
A fairly common bird around Tokyo and elsewhere.
Attachments
Grey Wagtail
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 4
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
White Wagtail
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 6
Teganuma 25/12/16
Daijugarami, Saga 26/12/16
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 2
Most were a bit indeterminate, but presumably lugens. Some were more obviously that subspecies.
Japanese Wagtail
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 6
Teganuma 25/12/16 5
Quite easy to find along the main irrigation channel near Narita Airport.
Olive-backed Pipit
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Good views around the campsite.
Buff-bellied Pipit japonicus
Rausu, Hokkaido 22/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 50
One on the beach near Rausu and then lots at Arasaki.
Meadow Bunting
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 20
Teganuma 25/12/16 3
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 10
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 20
This attractive bunting is easily found in a lot of places, including around Narita.
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Rather distant views only of this one.
Rustic Bunting
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 15
Interestingly, I only saw this species in exactly the same spot as I saw them on my brief 2008 visit. This is along the irrigation channel at Narita near the Hilton Hotel. I've still never seen them anywhere else in Japan.
Black-faced Bunting pencilata
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 12
Teganuma 25/12/16 2
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 3
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 2
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 10
'Masked Bunting' - quite commonly seen around Tokyo and in Kyushu.
Grey Bunting
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 3
Views of a couple of female types and a nice look at a male.
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 2
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 4
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
White Wagtail
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 6
Teganuma 25/12/16
Daijugarami, Saga 26/12/16
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 2
Most were a bit indeterminate, but presumably lugens. Some were more obviously that subspecies.
Japanese Wagtail
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 6
Teganuma 25/12/16 5
Quite easy to find along the main irrigation channel near Narita Airport.
Olive-backed Pipit
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 2
Good views around the campsite.
Buff-bellied Pipit japonicus
Rausu, Hokkaido 22/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 50
One on the beach near Rausu and then lots at Arasaki.
Meadow Bunting
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 20
Teganuma 25/12/16 3
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 10
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 20
This attractive bunting is easily found in a lot of places, including around Narita.
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
Rather distant views only of this one.
Rustic Bunting
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 15
Interestingly, I only saw this species in exactly the same spot as I saw them on my brief 2008 visit. This is along the irrigation channel at Narita near the Hilton Hotel. I've still never seen them anywhere else in Japan.
Black-faced Bunting pencilata
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 12
Teganuma 25/12/16 2
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 3
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 2
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 10
'Masked Bunting' - quite commonly seen around Tokyo and in Kyushu.
Grey Bunting
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 3
Views of a couple of female types and a nice look at a male.
Attachments
Asian Rosy-Finch
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 24/12/16 2
Kiritappu, Hokkaido 24/12/16 20
At least two were seen rather fleetingly around the car park at Lake Furen. More were seen for longer at Kiritappu, although these were generally distant scope views. I didn't want to get shouted at by the angry owner of the bird feeders that they frequent. Very smart birds.
Oriental Greenfinch
Tsurui, Hokkaido 21/12/16 1
Teganuma 25/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 50
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 40
Hawfinch
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 10
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 3
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 2
Quite easy to see in some places, particularly around Narita.
Japanese Grosbeak
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 20
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
An obliging flock of this handsome large finch at Lake Mi-ike. The one at Kogawa was a fly over.
Russet Sparrow
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 350
It was good to see large numbers of this attractive and declining sparrow around Arasaki. One flock was near the visitor centre but a much larger flock was near the sea wall.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 2
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 23/12/16 10
Kiritappu, Hokkaido 24/12/16
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 24/12/16
Teganuma 25/12/16
Daijugarami, Saga 26/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17
Mammals:
Red Fox - quite common in Hokkaido.
Japanese Weasel - one seen briefly along the sea wall at Arasaki.
Sika - seen in various places, particularly at Notsuke.
Steller's Sealion - a large group near Rausu.
Harbour Seal - seemed to be common in Hokkaido, although the similar Largha Seal also occurs there.
Harbour Porpoise - off Notsuke.
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 24/12/16 2
Kiritappu, Hokkaido 24/12/16 20
At least two were seen rather fleetingly around the car park at Lake Furen. More were seen for longer at Kiritappu, although these were generally distant scope views. I didn't want to get shouted at by the angry owner of the bird feeders that they frequent. Very smart birds.
Oriental Greenfinch
Tsurui, Hokkaido 21/12/16 1
Teganuma 25/12/16 1
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 50
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 40
Hawfinch
Narita, Chiba 20/12/16 10
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 3
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17 2
Quite easy to see in some places, particularly around Narita.
Japanese Grosbeak
Lake Mi-ike 27/12/16 20
Kogawa Dam, Kagoshima 28/12/16 1
An obliging flock of this handsome large finch at Lake Mi-ike. The one at Kogawa was a fly over.
Russet Sparrow
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16 350
It was good to see large numbers of this attractive and declining sparrow around Arasaki. One flock was near the visitor centre but a much larger flock was near the sea wall.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Nakashibetsu, Hokkaido 21/12/16 2
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 23/12/16 10
Kiritappu, Hokkaido 24/12/16
Lake Furen, Hokkaido 24/12/16
Teganuma 25/12/16
Daijugarami, Saga 26/12/16
Arasaki, Kagoshima 28/12/16
Narita, Chiba 06/01/17
Mammals:
Red Fox - quite common in Hokkaido.
Japanese Weasel - one seen briefly along the sea wall at Arasaki.
Sika - seen in various places, particularly at Notsuke.
Steller's Sealion - a large group near Rausu.
Harbour Seal - seemed to be common in Hokkaido, although the similar Largha Seal also occurs there.
Harbour Porpoise - off Notsuke.
Attachments
So that's the Japan bit of the trip done. There were a few notable misses, although not all of these were looked for that much:
Copper Pheasant (didn't really try), Green Pheasant (tried a bit harder), Eastern Water Rail (looked for in a few places), Rock Sandpiper, Parakeet and Least Auklets, Long-billed Murrelet, Japanese Waxwing, Chinese Penduline Tit (looked for at Arasaki), Pine Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Bunting (which I probably should have found in Kyushu).
But hey, I still saw some good birds and it's not so bad to have reasons to go back.
On to Taiwan...
Copper Pheasant (didn't really try), Green Pheasant (tried a bit harder), Eastern Water Rail (looked for in a few places), Rock Sandpiper, Parakeet and Least Auklets, Long-billed Murrelet, Japanese Waxwing, Chinese Penduline Tit (looked for at Arasaki), Pine Grosbeak, Yellow-throated Bunting (which I probably should have found in Kyushu).
But hey, I still saw some good birds and it's not so bad to have reasons to go back.
On to Taiwan...
Taiwan
So now on to the list for Taiwan.
Gadwall
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 10
Eurasian Wigeon
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Mallard
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 10
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Northern Shoveler
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Northern Pintail
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Eurasian Teal
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Common Pochard
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Tufted Duck
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Red-breasted Merganser
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Taiwan Hill Partridge
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 5
Three were seen very well at KM23 at Dasyueshan. This is an area where seed is put out and the birds come in quite close to the road. I also had some good views of a pair of 'non-corn-fed' birds along FR210 on the same day. Pictures from KM23 below.
Taiwan Bamboo-Partridge
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 4
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
Most records of this attractive gamebird were heard only but a group were seen quite well at Huisun and were seen a bit less favourably at Cingjing.
So now on to the list for Taiwan.
Gadwall
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 10
Eurasian Wigeon
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Mallard
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 10
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Northern Shoveler
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Northern Pintail
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Eurasian Teal
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 2/01/17
Common Pochard
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Tufted Duck
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Red-breasted Merganser
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Taiwan Hill Partridge
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 5
Three were seen very well at KM23 at Dasyueshan. This is an area where seed is put out and the birds come in quite close to the road. I also had some good views of a pair of 'non-corn-fed' birds along FR210 on the same day. Pictures from KM23 below.
Taiwan Bamboo-Partridge
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 4
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
Most records of this attractive gamebird were heard only but a group were seen quite well at Huisun and were seen a bit less favourably at Cingjing.
Attachments
Swinhoe's Pheasant
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 9
KM23 at Dasyueshan was also the spot for this preposterously attractive endemic. It took a while to see the lone male come in there, and it was always a bit wary. It looked pretty astonishing though. One of those birds you should definitely try to see if you ever get the chance.
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 9
KM23 at Dasyueshan was also the spot for this preposterously attractive endemic. It took a while to see the lone male come in there, and it was always a bit wary. It looked pretty astonishing though. One of those birds you should definitely try to see if you ever get the chance.
Attachments
Little Grebe
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Eared Grebe
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Great Cormorant
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Yellow Bittern
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Cinnamon Bittern
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
This was a new one for me - fairly easily seen at Budai wetlands, along with Yellow Bittern.
Grey Heron
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Purple Heron
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Great Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Intermediate Egret
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Little Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cattle Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Wushe to Tayouan Airport 05/01/17 1
Malayan Night-Heron
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
A couple of good sightings of this quite weird looking bird. The first flew up from the road and perched in a tree, nowhere near any water. I thought it was a raptor at first! The second was quite literally walking the streets at night, stalking about a small patch of grass next to the pavement in a quite part of the town near Huben.
Sacred Ibis
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Black-faced Spoonbill
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 26
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 5
The wetlands in the central part of the west coast of Taiwan are a stronghold for this species and it's fairly easy to see at Aogu and Budai.
Osprey
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 1
I often play a game with myself in which I try to avoid seeing an Osprey on a foreign birding trip. I'm very rarely successful at this, and so it proved on this occasion too.
Black-shouldered Kite
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Very good perched views of one and brief views of another. This is the endemic subspecies hoya, which I like to think might end up getting split one day.
Black Kite
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 3
Eastern Buzzard
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Ruddy-breasted Crake
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Rather good views of one on a small pool in the mangroves at Aogu.
Eurasian Moorhen
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Eurasian Coot
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Eared Grebe
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Great Cormorant
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Yellow Bittern
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Cinnamon Bittern
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
This was a new one for me - fairly easily seen at Budai wetlands, along with Yellow Bittern.
Grey Heron
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Purple Heron
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Great Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Intermediate Egret
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Little Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cattle Egret
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Wushe to Tayouan Airport 05/01/17 1
Malayan Night-Heron
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
A couple of good sightings of this quite weird looking bird. The first flew up from the road and perched in a tree, nowhere near any water. I thought it was a raptor at first! The second was quite literally walking the streets at night, stalking about a small patch of grass next to the pavement in a quite part of the town near Huben.
Sacred Ibis
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Black-faced Spoonbill
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 26
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 5
The wetlands in the central part of the west coast of Taiwan are a stronghold for this species and it's fairly easy to see at Aogu and Budai.
Osprey
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 1
I often play a game with myself in which I try to avoid seeing an Osprey on a foreign birding trip. I'm very rarely successful at this, and so it proved on this occasion too.
Black-shouldered Kite
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Very good perched views of one and brief views of another. This is the endemic subspecies hoya, which I like to think might end up getting split one day.
Black Kite
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 3
Eastern Buzzard
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Ruddy-breasted Crake
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Rather good views of one on a small pool in the mangroves at Aogu.
Eurasian Moorhen
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Eurasian Coot
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Attachments
Black-winged Stilt
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Pied Avocet
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 9
Pacific Golden-Plover
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 30
Kentish Plover
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Little Ringed Plover
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 5
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 20
Dunlin
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Common Sandpiper
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 3
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Green Sandpiper
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Common Greenshank
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Marsh Sandpiper
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Wood Sandpiper
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 19
Black-headed Gull
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Heuglin's Gull
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
I'm actually not totally sure what this was, although probably a 'taimyrensis' type thing.
Caspian Tern
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Whiskered Tern
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Feral Pigeon
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Ashy Wood-Pigeon
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 4
I was quite pleased with this one, as I thought I might end up missing it altogether. I actually had good views of one bird perched high in the canopy. The other three birds flew out of the same trees.
Oriental Turtle-Dove
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Red Collared-Dove
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 10
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Spotted Dove
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
White-bellied Pigeon
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 7
Good views of one perched at KM23 at Dasyueshan. Several in flight at Dapu.
Mountain Scops-Owl hambroecki
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 4
Heard calling distantly at Route 159 - my first bird of 2017, in fact. At Huben I wandered along the Lungkuomai Trail at dusk and soon heard quite a few calling. With a bit of 'encouragement' one came in close and showed very well on a low branch. Lovely toffee-coloured small owl.
Savanna Nightjar stictomus
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Linnei, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
This worked out quite well in the end. One was heard a long way off at Route 159. I then spent a while trying to get close to at least one calling bird at Huben. This didn't work. I then set off into the night to drive to Puli and promptly took the wrong route to get onto the main highway. I ended up on the other side of the highway along a quiet country road and immediately had two nightjars flying about, with one sitting nicely on the road for a while.
House Swift
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 100
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Common Kingfisher
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 10
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Taiwan Barbet
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 3
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
This colourful endemic was easily heard in most places and not that hard to see. It seemed to turn up at all altitudes, but was perhaps commonest at low to mid levels. Sometimes they would associate with bird flocks.
Gray-capped Woodpecker
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
Peregrine Falcon
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 1
Another bird I playfully try to avoid on foreign birding trips. That didn't work out very well on this occasion either.
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Pied Avocet
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 9
Pacific Golden-Plover
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 30
Kentish Plover
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Little Ringed Plover
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 5
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 20
Dunlin
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Common Sandpiper
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 3
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Green Sandpiper
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Common Greenshank
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Marsh Sandpiper
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Wood Sandpiper
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 19
Black-headed Gull
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Heuglin's Gull
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
I'm actually not totally sure what this was, although probably a 'taimyrensis' type thing.
Caspian Tern
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Whiskered Tern
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Feral Pigeon
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Ashy Wood-Pigeon
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 4
I was quite pleased with this one, as I thought I might end up missing it altogether. I actually had good views of one bird perched high in the canopy. The other three birds flew out of the same trees.
Oriental Turtle-Dove
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Red Collared-Dove
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 10
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Spotted Dove
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
White-bellied Pigeon
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 7
Good views of one perched at KM23 at Dasyueshan. Several in flight at Dapu.
Mountain Scops-Owl hambroecki
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 4
Heard calling distantly at Route 159 - my first bird of 2017, in fact. At Huben I wandered along the Lungkuomai Trail at dusk and soon heard quite a few calling. With a bit of 'encouragement' one came in close and showed very well on a low branch. Lovely toffee-coloured small owl.
Savanna Nightjar stictomus
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Linnei, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
This worked out quite well in the end. One was heard a long way off at Route 159. I then spent a while trying to get close to at least one calling bird at Huben. This didn't work. I then set off into the night to drive to Puli and promptly took the wrong route to get onto the main highway. I ended up on the other side of the highway along a quiet country road and immediately had two nightjars flying about, with one sitting nicely on the road for a while.
House Swift
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 100
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Common Kingfisher
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 10
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Taiwan Barbet
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 3
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
This colourful endemic was easily heard in most places and not that hard to see. It seemed to turn up at all altitudes, but was perhaps commonest at low to mid levels. Sometimes they would associate with bird flocks.
Gray-capped Woodpecker
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
Peregrine Falcon
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 1
Another bird I playfully try to avoid on foreign birding trips. That didn't work out very well on this occasion either.
Attachments
Gray-chinned Minivet
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Route 159 01/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Reasonably common at middle elevations.
Brown Shrike
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 3
Most seemed to be lucionensis (see photo).
Long-tailed Shrike
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
White-bellied Erpornis
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Usually in bird flocks - quite cute birds.
Black Drongo
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 5
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Bronzed Drongo braunianus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 4
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 10
Much more of a forest bird than the previous species.
Black-naped Monarch oberholseri
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 2
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Eurasian Jay taivanus
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Taiwan Blue-Magpie
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 3
I eventually managed to find a group of this gorgeous, deep blue endemic near the entrance gate to Huisun. They gave good views but fairly quickly headed off into the forest.
Gray Treepie formosae
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 4
Eurasian Magpie
Wushe to Tayouan Airport 05/01/17 1
Eurasian Nutcracker owstoni
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 6
Not very good views of a few owstoni, generally in flight. Seemed to be quite common here by call though.
Large-billed Crow
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Gray-throated Martin
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 20
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 10
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Numerous in lower lying wetland and riverine areas.
Barn Swallow
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Pacific Swallow
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
A regularly encountered species, although it's perhaps easy to overlook.
Striated Swallow
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 20
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17 35
Asian House-Martin
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 100
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 100
Large numbers breeding around Cingjing.
Coal Tit ptilosus
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 10
One of the distinctive crested subspecies. They really ought to split them don't you think. I mean they split all the 'Great Tits'...
Chestnut-bellied (Taiwan Varied) Tit
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
They did split this one, quite recently, though. It's the small and neat looking Taiwan form of Varied Tit, with a couple seen quite well at Huisun.
Green-backed Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 9
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
The 'ultra' Great Tit.
Yellow Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
I saw a few of these very nicely on my first morning at Dasyueshan, but then didn't see them again. Absolute crackerjack birds.
Black-throated Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 40
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 2
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 20
Busy and numerous flock forming species, which is easily encountered at most elevations.
Eurasian Nuthatch
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Subspecies sinensis, which rather surprisingly isn't endemic to Taiwan.
Eurasian Wren taivanus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 3
A high altitude bird in Taiwan. Best view were behind the toilets at KM50 at Dasyueshan.
Brown Dipper
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Nice to pick this species up again in Taiwan.
Collared Finchbill
Route 159 01/01/17 4
Some good views by the roadside of this attractive bulbul, but rather surprisingly it wasn't seen again.
Light-vented Bulbul formosae
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17
Black Bulbul nigerrimus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 10
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Route 159 01/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Reasonably common at middle elevations.
Brown Shrike
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 3
Most seemed to be lucionensis (see photo).
Long-tailed Shrike
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17 4
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
White-bellied Erpornis
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Usually in bird flocks - quite cute birds.
Black Drongo
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 5
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Bronzed Drongo braunianus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 4
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 10
Much more of a forest bird than the previous species.
Black-naped Monarch oberholseri
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 2
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Eurasian Jay taivanus
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Taiwan Blue-Magpie
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 3
I eventually managed to find a group of this gorgeous, deep blue endemic near the entrance gate to Huisun. They gave good views but fairly quickly headed off into the forest.
Gray Treepie formosae
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 4
Eurasian Magpie
Wushe to Tayouan Airport 05/01/17 1
Eurasian Nutcracker owstoni
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 6
Not very good views of a few owstoni, generally in flight. Seemed to be quite common here by call though.
Large-billed Crow
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Gray-throated Martin
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 20
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 10
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Numerous in lower lying wetland and riverine areas.
Barn Swallow
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Pacific Swallow
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 1
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
A regularly encountered species, although it's perhaps easy to overlook.
Striated Swallow
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17 20
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17 35
Asian House-Martin
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 100
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 100
Large numbers breeding around Cingjing.
Coal Tit ptilosus
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 10
One of the distinctive crested subspecies. They really ought to split them don't you think. I mean they split all the 'Great Tits'...
Chestnut-bellied (Taiwan Varied) Tit
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 2
They did split this one, quite recently, though. It's the small and neat looking Taiwan form of Varied Tit, with a couple seen quite well at Huisun.
Green-backed Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 9
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
The 'ultra' Great Tit.
Yellow Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
I saw a few of these very nicely on my first morning at Dasyueshan, but then didn't see them again. Absolute crackerjack birds.
Black-throated Tit
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 40
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 2
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 20
Busy and numerous flock forming species, which is easily encountered at most elevations.
Eurasian Nuthatch
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Subspecies sinensis, which rather surprisingly isn't endemic to Taiwan.
Eurasian Wren taivanus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 3
A high altitude bird in Taiwan. Best view were behind the toilets at KM50 at Dasyueshan.
Brown Dipper
Route 159 01/01/17 1
Nice to pick this species up again in Taiwan.
Collared Finchbill
Route 159 01/01/17 4
Some good views by the roadside of this attractive bulbul, but rather surprisingly it wasn't seen again.
Light-vented Bulbul formosae
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17
Black Bulbul nigerrimus
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 10
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Attachments
Flamecrest
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 15
More often heard than seen but seen very well on occasions. This is certainly one of the birds to see if you go to Taiwan. Definitely a lot more than just a 'funny Goldcrest'.
Taiwan Cupwing
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 3
Good views of a couple of these 'pocket rockets' along the Blue Gate Trail. They have a remarkably loud and penetrating song.
Rufous-faced Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 9
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 5
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 2
This attractive species was quite a regular feature of mixed flocks.
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 3
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
These were the devil's own job to get good views of. Quite skulking birds that stick low to the ground and never sit still. As soon as you got the bins on them they were off. One was seen a bit better when it was singing. Even then it didn't stay still for long.
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Much easier to see than the previous species. Sometimes in bird flocks. They really are quite yellow on the belly.
Arctic Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 1
The only one I heard (at Puli Dizang) sounded like a 'normal' Arctic Warbler.
Yellow-bellied Prinia
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
This was in the town on waste ground outside my hotel.
Plain Prinia
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 3
Taiwan Fulvetta
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 2
Some fairly good views of this dinky high altitude endemic. The three species of fulvetta in Taiwan are apparently now reckoned to be in three different families. Taxonomists eh. What are they like!
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 2
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 15
More often heard than seen but seen very well on occasions. This is certainly one of the birds to see if you go to Taiwan. Definitely a lot more than just a 'funny Goldcrest'.
Taiwan Cupwing
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 3
Good views of a couple of these 'pocket rockets' along the Blue Gate Trail. They have a remarkably loud and penetrating song.
Rufous-faced Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 9
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 5
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 2
This attractive species was quite a regular feature of mixed flocks.
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 3
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
These were the devil's own job to get good views of. Quite skulking birds that stick low to the ground and never sit still. As soon as you got the bins on them they were off. One was seen a bit better when it was singing. Even then it didn't stay still for long.
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Much easier to see than the previous species. Sometimes in bird flocks. They really are quite yellow on the belly.
Arctic Warbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17 1
The only one I heard (at Puli Dizang) sounded like a 'normal' Arctic Warbler.
Yellow-bellied Prinia
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 1
This was in the town on waste ground outside my hotel.
Plain Prinia
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 3
Taiwan Fulvetta
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 2
Some fairly good views of this dinky high altitude endemic. The three species of fulvetta in Taiwan are apparently now reckoned to be in three different families. Taxonomists eh. What are they like!
Attachments
Taiwan Yuhina
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 65
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 30
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 15
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 10
One of the more frequently encountered endemics, at least at mid-altitudes, these are real bundles of energy.
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 65
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 30
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 15
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 10
One of the more frequently encountered endemics, at least at mid-altitudes, these are real bundles of energy.
Attachments
Japanese White-eye simplex
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 10
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Rufous-capped Babbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
This vocal but small babbler was seen a few times in mixed flocks.
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
Fairly easily encountered at lower altitudes and not too hard to see.
Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler
Route 159 01/01/17 3
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 6
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
This species was heard regularly but was really hard to see. They tended to skulk very low and would only come out very quickly. Eventually seen at Cingjing on the final morning, but not really well.
Dusky Fulvetta
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 3
Another hard species to see. Very skulking but some reasonable views were eventually managed at Cingjing.
Morrison's (Grey-cheeked) Fulvetta
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 50
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17 2
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 10
A common flock-forming species of middle elevations. Often very numerous and busy. An awful lot easier to see than Dusky Fulvetta, with completely different behaviour.
Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 10
I sort of got lucky with these. On my first morning I pulled up at KM23 and immediately got on to a flock of these flying across the road. I didn't get really prolonged views unfortunately (should have been there a minute earlier!) but I knew I might not easily get another chance at this sometimes elusive species. That turned out to be correct, as I never saw any more.
White-whiskered Laughingthrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 6
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 3
Seen well on a few occasions at higher altitudes.
White-eared (Taiwan) Sibia
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 27
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Route 159 01/01/17 4
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 4
A common and easily seen endemic. That shouldn't detract from how thoroughly excellent they are.
Steere's Liocichla
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Route 159 01/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 15
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 5
Another quite fetching and characterful endemic that's regularly encountered. They would come in very close for the same seeds put out for gamebirds at KM23.
Taiwan Barwing
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
This endemic is not as easily found as the previous two, but was encountered a couple of times in bird flocks.
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 10
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Rufous-capped Babbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
This vocal but small babbler was seen a few times in mixed flocks.
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 4
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
Fairly easily encountered at lower altitudes and not too hard to see.
Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler
Route 159 01/01/17 3
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 6
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 2
This species was heard regularly but was really hard to see. They tended to skulk very low and would only come out very quickly. Eventually seen at Cingjing on the final morning, but not really well.
Dusky Fulvetta
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 3
Another hard species to see. Very skulking but some reasonable views were eventually managed at Cingjing.
Morrison's (Grey-cheeked) Fulvetta
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 50
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16
Route 159 01/01/17 2
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 10
A common flock-forming species of middle elevations. Often very numerous and busy. An awful lot easier to see than Dusky Fulvetta, with completely different behaviour.
Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 10
I sort of got lucky with these. On my first morning I pulled up at KM23 and immediately got on to a flock of these flying across the road. I didn't get really prolonged views unfortunately (should have been there a minute earlier!) but I knew I might not easily get another chance at this sometimes elusive species. That turned out to be correct, as I never saw any more.
White-whiskered Laughingthrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17 6
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 3
Seen well on a few occasions at higher altitudes.
White-eared (Taiwan) Sibia
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 27
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Route 159 01/01/17 4
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 4
A common and easily seen endemic. That shouldn't detract from how thoroughly excellent they are.
Steere's Liocichla
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Route 159 01/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 15
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 5
Another quite fetching and characterful endemic that's regularly encountered. They would come in very close for the same seeds put out for gamebirds at KM23.
Taiwan Barwing
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 5
This endemic is not as easily found as the previous two, but was encountered a couple of times in bird flocks.
Attachments
Vivid Niltava vivida
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 13
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 1
Quite numerous at Dasyueshan in particular. Often around berry-bearing trees.
Taiwan Whistling-Thrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Seen reasonably well at KM23 at Dasyueshan. Sometimes quite vocal towards the end of the day.
Little Forktail
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Very good views at KM41 on a small waterfall. A really terrific bird.
Collared Bush-Robin
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
The only one was a male seen reasonably well at KM23. This species and other robins were puzzlingly scarce.
Plumbeous Redstart affinis
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Fairly easy to find around flowing water. One bird at KM23 seemed to be quite consciously posing for photos, presumably in the hope of some reward (see pictures).
Daurian Redstart
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 13
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 10
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17 1
Quite numerous at Dasyueshan in particular. Often around berry-bearing trees.
Taiwan Whistling-Thrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17 2
Seen reasonably well at KM23 at Dasyueshan. Sometimes quite vocal towards the end of the day.
Little Forktail
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Very good views at KM41 on a small waterfall. A really terrific bird.
Collared Bush-Robin
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
The only one was a male seen reasonably well at KM23. This species and other robins were puzzlingly scarce.
Plumbeous Redstart affinis
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 1
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 2
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Fairly easy to find around flowing water. One bird at KM23 seemed to be quite consciously posing for photos, presumably in the hope of some reward (see pictures).
Daurian Redstart
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 1
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Attachments
Island (Taiwan) Thrush niviceps
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 1
This is one of the toughest endemics and I had fairly low expectations of seeing it, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. On my first morning at KM23 at least three (two males and a female) piled in to the fruiting trees next to the road within about ten minutes of my arrival. Easy life. I also saw one in a bird flock on Blue Gate Trail.
Pale Thrush
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
Brown-headed Thrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 4
Common Myna
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 4
Javan Myna
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 4
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 25
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17
Crested Myna formosanus
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 7
Some good views of the endemic subspecies in the paddyfields near Puli.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker formosum
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Rather brief views of a male.
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 3
Blue Gate Trail 04/01/17 1
This is one of the toughest endemics and I had fairly low expectations of seeing it, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. On my first morning at KM23 at least three (two males and a female) piled in to the fruiting trees next to the road within about ten minutes of my arrival. Easy life. I also saw one in a bird flock on Blue Gate Trail.
Pale Thrush
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 1
Brown-headed Thrush
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 31/12/16 1
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 4
Common Myna
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 4
Javan Myna
Shigang Dam, Taichung 31/12/16 4
Aogu, Chiayi 02/01/17
Huben, Yunlin 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 25
Budai, Chiayi 21/01/17
Crested Myna formosanus
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 7
Some good views of the endemic subspecies in the paddyfields near Puli.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker formosum
Huisun Forest, Nantou 03/01/17 1
Rather brief views of a male.
Attachments
Alpine Accentor fenelli
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 6
I was lucky enough to have good weather on the pass at Hehuan and a look around the car park soon turned up a ridiculously confiding group of Alpine Accentors. The endemic subspecies is pretty distinctive - surely one for a split at some stage. I like how they alwasys seem to have a mountain in their eyes.
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 6
I was lucky enough to have good weather on the pass at Hehuan and a look around the car park soon turned up a ridiculously confiding group of Alpine Accentors. The endemic subspecies is pretty distinctive - surely one for a split at some stage. I like how they alwasys seem to have a mountain in their eyes.
Attachments
Eastern Yellow Wagtail
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 30
Not always easy to assign to subspecies but there seemed to be some fairly obvious taivana at Puli.
Grey Wagtail
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Route 159 01/01/17
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
White Wagtail
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
Seemed to be leucopsis, at least where it was possible to tell.
Olive-backed Pipit
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Black-faced Bunting
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Grey-headed (Owston's) Bullfinch owstoni
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Pair seen badly at KM50. Call was distinctive.
Taiwan Rosefinch
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 1
I thought I was going to, somewhat embarrasingly, miss this. I looked around for them quite a bit at higher altitudes but they were nowhere to be seen. It was basically my last chance to see them at the pass near Hehuan late in the afternoon on my last full day. There hadn't been any around earlier in the day, when I'd been watching the accentors in the same place. I started wandering around and was just about to step over the very low wall around the car park when I found my boot heading rapidly towards one. Happily the bird itself wasn't too perturbed to have my size 11s coming its way and it continued to sit about, quietly chomping away on some seeds for several minutes. It was an absolutely humdinging male.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
White-rumped Munia
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Scaly-breasted Munia
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 5
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17 2
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 30
Not always easy to assign to subspecies but there seemed to be some fairly obvious taivana at Puli.
Grey Wagtail
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Route 159 01/01/17
Tataka, Nantou 01/01/17
Dapu, Chiayi 01/01/17
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
White Wagtail
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 5
Puli Dizang Temple 03/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
Cingjing Farm 05/01/17
Seemed to be leucopsis, at least where it was possible to tell.
Olive-backed Pipit
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 10
Black-faced Bunting
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16 2
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17 2
Grey-headed (Owston's) Bullfinch owstoni
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 2
Pair seen badly at KM50. Call was distinctive.
Taiwan Rosefinch
Hehuan, Nantou 04/01/17 1
I thought I was going to, somewhat embarrasingly, miss this. I looked around for them quite a bit at higher altitudes but they were nowhere to be seen. It was basically my last chance to see them at the pass near Hehuan late in the afternoon on my last full day. There hadn't been any around earlier in the day, when I'd been watching the accentors in the same place. I started wandering around and was just about to step over the very low wall around the car park when I found my boot heading rapidly towards one. Happily the bird itself wasn't too perturbed to have my size 11s coming its way and it continued to sit about, quietly chomping away on some seeds for several minutes. It was an absolutely humdinging male.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Shigang Dam, Taichung 29/12/16
Budai, Chiayi 02/01/17
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17
Cingjing Farm 04/01/17
White-rumped Munia
Dasyueshan Forest Road, Miaoli 30/12/16 5
Scaly-breasted Munia
Puli Gongtiangou 03/01/17 5
Attachments
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