[A CHAPLIN]

I spent two weeks in West-Central Taiwan. The major goal of the trip was to spend time looking for Fairy Pitta in the Huben area of Yunlin County. Fairy Pitta have long been an interest of mine and I wanted to focus on spending quite a bit of time in the Huben/Hushan area. I also visited local temples and other sites around Huben. BFs Mark Bruce and Dr Scott Lin of TESRI took me around Huben over several days. In all, I had several sightings of four individual Fairy Pittas. As it was quite late in the breeding season we had to work very hard to get sightings. The ease of early breeding season sightings had passed and many hours in very hot and humid conditions over a period of nine days were put in to get good sightings. Sadly, the construction of Hushan Dam is taking its toll on the Huben/Hushan IBA and the future of the Fairy Pitta in this important breeding area remains uncertain.


I did two day trips into the mountains to bird at Hsitou Forest and Shanlinhsi Forest. The botanical gardens at the Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute (TESRI) in Jiji and Sun Moon Lake were also visited. I did a day trip to the City of Tainan to visit the old temples and historical sites of Taiwan’s historical and cultural capital.


I didn’t go all out chasing numbers and trying to tick all the Taiwan endemics on the trip as the focus was to spend time focusing on the Fairy Pittas. I was still able to notch up over sixty species including some of the endemics on the trip.


Taiwan’s montane forests are really lovely. Birding in these mountain forests is lovely and offers a welcome escape from the very hot and humid lowlands.


A list of bird species seen follows (endemics in bold):

1. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2. Great Egret Ardea alba
3. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
4. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
5. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
6. Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
7. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
8. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
9. Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela
10. Chinese Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola thoracica
11. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
12. Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
13. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
14. Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
15. Rock Pigeon Columba livia
16. Large Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides
17. Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus
18. House Swift Apus nipalensis
19. Taiwan BarbetMegalaima nuchalis formerlyBlack Browed Barbet Megalaima oorti nuchalis
20. Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha
21. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
22. Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
23. Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata
24. White Wagtail Motacilla alba
25. Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques
26. Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis
27. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
28. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
29. Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera
30. Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
31. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
32. Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
33. Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea
34. Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra
35. Vivid Niltava Niltava vivida
36. White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum
37. Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri
38. Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa
39. Black-naped Blue Monarch Hypothymis azurea
40. Rusty LaughingthrushGarrulax poecilorhynchus
41. Steere's Liocichla Liocichla steerii
42. Taiwan Scimitar-BabblerPomatorhinus musicus formerly Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis musicus
43. Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps
44. Taiwan BarwingActinodura morrisoniana
45. Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea
46. Taiwan FulvettaAlcippe formosana formerly Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia formosana
47. White-eared SibiaHeterophasia auricularis
48. Taiwan YuhinaYuhina brunneiceps
49. White-bellied Yuhina Yuhina zantholeuca
50. Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
51. Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
52. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
53. Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
54. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosa
55. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
56. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
57. White-vented Myna Acridotheres javanicus
58. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
59. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
60. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
61. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata

All my thanks go to Mark Bruce and his wife Oscar for My Trip of a Lifetime, especially to Mark for taking the time and having the patience to show me so many beautiful birds and temples in the beautiful country of Taiwan.

Ann

[delia todd]

Wow Ann, what a wonderful trip.

I am so glad you enjoyed it and all those birds you saw brilliant!

Any chance of some pictures?

D

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Delia,

It was a fabulous trip, the National Parks in Taiwan are beautiful and empty of people (busy at weekends I believe) there was just Mark and I walking around looking and listening to the birds.

Sorry no photos of my own as I am such a lousy photographer Mark was my camera man. I saw the birds and he took the photos for me. He is in Malaya this week and hopes to meet up with Dr Singh (I look forward to reading that report). When he returns I will ask him to post a selection for me I have around 300 on a CD but they are not all birds of course

Ann

[Mary Evelyn]

My dear friend Ann,what a great list of birds.Pleased you are home safe and sound too.

[MKinHK]

A nice report Ann - and very helpful to know that the pittas get much harder later in the breeding season.

Still hoping to get to Taiwan again to see the Pittas and the high mountains - my appetite is re-whetted - its so close to Hong Kong!

Cheers
Mike

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Mike

Thank you, it was unbelieavable walking through empty forests and mountains higher than the clouds, I would love to see more of the country.

I am an avid Fairy fan and to see 4 individuals on one visit was very special to me and the Japanese who were there at the same time kept saying "happy", they could see I was and so were they, a very special moment I will never forget especially as one crossed the road right in front of where we were stood talking about our other sightings.

I have never seen so many brightly coloured birds or species in my life, they made my garden birds look drab like our weather but I love them all.

Ann

[Hanno]

Hi Ann,

Great trip. I went last year and loved Taiwan, the people, and the food. Great birds, too though we went too late in the year for the Pittas and our goal were the endemics anyway.

[Andrew]

Hi Ann,

Pleased to see number 20 on the list ensures that the trip to the east was a success. Looking forward to any photos mark may be able to attach here.

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Mark Bruce]

Sorry for the delay in getting some photos up. I've been away in Malaysia birding with Dr Manjeet and Jason Tan and only got back late last night.

The Fairy Pittas weren't very cooperative when it came to photos. I've posted a very blurred shot of a jumping pitta. Other shots are Steere's Liocichla, Taiwan Yuhina, White-eared Sibia, and Ferruginous Flycatcher.

[Mark Bruce]

A few more shots: Striated Swallow, Malayan Night Heron, Collared Finchbill, White-vented Myna, and Vivid Niltava.

[Hanno]

White-rumped Munias:-)

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Mark,

Thank you for finding time to post up some photos for me I know you only had a few hours sleep when you got back from Malaysia and were off again.

The Fairy jumped when it saw me looking at it folks, Mark is made of stronger stuff.

Ann

[Marmot]

Well Ann you have suprised me I never pictured you venturing over to the other side of the World.

It sounds wonderful and I am really pleased that you enjoyed yourself. Must be one of the most in distance BF meets.

[Larry Lade]

Great Shots, Mark!

Glad you had a good time Ann, and that you got to see all those birds!

[Dave B Smith]

I'm sure that trip report and those photos have whetted more than a few appetites, mine included! Thanks to both for posting.

[Mary Evelyn]

Lovely pics Mark.Hope you had a wonderful time with the Doc too.

Eeh hey Ann , brave lady

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

Originally Posted by A CHAPLIN

Hi Delia,

It was a fabulous trip, the National Parks in Taiwan are beautiful and empty of people (busy at weekends I believe) there was just Mark and I walking around looking and listening to the birds.

Sorry no photos of my own as I am such a lousy photographer Mark was my camera man. I saw the birds and he took the photos for me. He is in Malaya this week and hopes to meet up with Dr Singh (I look forward to reading that report). When he returns I will ask him to post a selection for me I have around 300 on a CD but they are not all birds of course

Ann

From what Mark told me you had a real wonderful trip..you had lovely birds seen there.....i wish i was in Taiwan during you stay there..thanks for sharing the trip report with us..oh by the way Mark went back with all his body parts intact....i know you were worried......regards...Manjeet.

[Mark Bruce]

It was great to finally meet Ann in person. I'll post the Singapore/Malaysia trip report (and the Dr Manjeet report ) in a day or two.

Good to hear this whetted a few appetites. Hope to see a few more of you on Ilha Formosa .

[Andrew]

Thanks for the photographs, such sublime birds and their names are so exotic, I had never heard of such birds as Steere's Liocichla for example! That would confuse a few during a pub chat here.

[Mark Bruce]

Ann's having internet trouble so I'll post our Singapore bird list.

We arrived on the evening of Saturday 28 June. All birds were seen in the Singapore Botanical Gardens with the exception of the Collared Kingfisher (Fort Canning Park) and Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Kranji Military Cemetery).

Singapore Bird List

1. Striated Heron Butorides striatus
2. Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
3. Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus
4. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
5. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
6. Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
7. Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata
8. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
9. Rock Dove Columba livia
10. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
11. Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
12. Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus
13. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus
14. Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda
15. Common Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
16. Edible-nest Swiftlet Collocalia fuciphaga
17. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
18. House Swift Apus affinis
19. Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
20. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
21. Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris
22. Blue-throated Bee-EaterMerops viridis
23. Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
24. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
25. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis
26. Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
27. Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
28. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
29. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
30. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutoris
31. Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea
32. Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
33. Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
34. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
35. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
36. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
37. Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
38. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
39. Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus
40. Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
41. Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
42. House Crow Corvus splendens
43. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

[Allen S. Moore]

Originally Posted by Mark Bruce

Ann's having internet trouble so I'll post our Singapore bird list.

We arrived on the evening of Saturday 28 June. All birds were seen in the Singapore Botanical Gardens with the exception of the Collared Kingfisher (Fort Canning Park) and Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Kranji Military Cemetery).

Singapore Bird List

1. Striated Heron Butorides striatus
2. Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
3. Brahminy Kite Haliastur Indus
4. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
5. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
6. Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
7. Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata
8. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
9. Rock Dove Columba livia
10. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
11. Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
12. Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus
13. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus
14. Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda
15. Common Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
16. Edible-nest Swiftlet Collocalia fuciphaga
17. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
18. House Swift Apus affinis
19. Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
20. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
21. Collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris
22. Blue-throated Bee-EaterMerops viridis
23. Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
24. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
25. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis
26. Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
27. Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
28. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
29. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
30. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutoris
31. Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea
32. Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
33. Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
34. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
35. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
36. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
37. Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
38. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
39. Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus
40. Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
41. Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
42. House Crow Corvus splendens
43. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

Interesting list of species, thanks. Allen

[Mary Evelyn]

Just a bump, hoping Ann is back soon.

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Folks,

Just to let you know I am at last re-connected to the net, it has been the most frustrating and lonely 2 weeks of my life since I joined BF where I have made many friends and had my "trip of a lifetime" thanks to Mark.

I don't go far as Margaret (Marmot) knows but when I do I make up for it and so glad I did. Formosa (Taiwan) is a beautiful country I saw many beautiful birds, Indian Pitta top of the list, met Mark the most wonderful patient knowledgeable birder around who looked after this old lady so well, every day was magical and memorable. I know he has shown many other younger birders Taiwan (Hanno for one), so more used to to them than a gentle stroll with me, sorry don't know how else to put that.

Thanks Mark for posting the Singapore birds and glad you enjoyed your time in Malaysia and thank you Dr Singh for ensuring he returned refreshed and invigorated.

Ann

[deborah4]

Great to read about your trip Ann, sounds like a real adventure - really envy you having seen that wonderful landscape I've seen pictures of in Mark's reports from the area. Also grand those Fairies are getting the tourist attraction they deserve and need I believe.

Well done you for going for it

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by Dr Manjeet Singh

Mark went back with all his body parts intact....i know you were worried......regards...Manjeet.

Careful Doc, we'd be changing your name to Doc Frankenstein if you keep that up - sounds very sinister :