Taiwan - Birding Reports (1 Viewer)

[Dave 2x]

Hi all. I'm back in Taiwan (Kaohsiung) for the next six months, and looking forward to doing plenty of birding once the summer doldrums are over. Dave, Steve, hoping we'll have an opportunity to meet in the field sometime!

Cheers
Dominic
https://domthebirder.com/

Welcome back Dominic!!!

I haven't been out much lately as it's far too hot here in Taipei. I tend to spend the majority of the Taiwan summer indoors enjoying the aircon.

Following the recent typhoon, a family of 3 Mountain Scops-Owls had relocated to an area on the edge of Taipei so this Saturday night I decided to go and try my luck. Unfortunately so did many other people and the Owls were very wary, fairly unresponsive to playback and I failed to get any photos despite seeing them.

My highlight was finally managing a photo of a Formosan Gem-faced Civet (Paguma larvata taivana).

Cheers

Dave

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Wow. Love that! Maybe a better sighting than the owls.

 

[birdingaroundtaiwan]

Dave, spending the summer indoors sounds like a good idea - I've been doing the same thing - it's been hard to get motivated to go birding in this heat. I did finally make it out today for a spot of wader-watching. Highlights were a Terek Sandpiper, an adult female Greater Painted-Snipe, and a handful of the expected passage waders starting to move through. Full report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/08/07...eater-painted-snipe-donggang-area-august-8th/

 

[Dave 2x]

Dave, spending the summer indoors sounds like a good idea - I've been doing the same thing - it's been hard to get motivated to go birding in this heat. I did finally make it out today for a spot of wader-watching. Highlights were a Terek Sandpiper, an adult female Greater Painted-Snipe, and a handful of the expected passage waders starting to move through. Full report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/08/07...eater-painted-snipe-donggang-area-august-8th/

Always nice to see Terek sandpipers . I went to Tianliaoyang last weekend and the heat was unbearable. The only unexpected bird was a Yellow-billed Grosbeak which I have never seen at that location before. I did find 3 different groups of Black-throated Laughingthrushes which suggests they are on the increase in this area and possibly in the future they will be considered established enough to count.

Cheers

Dave

 

[birdingaroundtaiwan]

I did find 3 different groups of Black-throated Laughingthrushes which suggests they are on the increase in this area

Lovely birds - very enjoyable to see even if they are "only" classified as escapees at this point!

On Tuesday, I made my first visit to Qigu since my return to Taiwan. A baking hot walk out to the sandspit was rewarded with plenty of terns, including several Roseates. There was a Chinese Egret on the mudflats, and getting my eye back in with the waders is always an enjoyable experience at this time of year!

Full report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/08/11...tern-and-grey-tailed-tattler-qigu-august-9th/

 

[birdingaroundtaiwan]

I finally had the honour of meeting the great Steve M on Saturday, as well as enjoying a Little Stint among legions of the commoner migrant waders, followed by a Dark-sided Flycatcher on Monday: https://domthebirder.com/2016/08/23...-little-stint-qigu-area-august-20th-and-22nd/

Cheers and happy birding!

 

[SteveMM]

I finally had the honour of meeting the great Steve M on Saturday, as well as enjoying a Little Stint among legions of the commoner migrant waders, followed by a Dark-sided Flycatcher on Monday: https://domthebirder.com/2016/08/23...-little-stint-qigu-area-august-20th-and-22nd/

Cheers and happy birding!

Not sure about 'the great', Dom, but I'll choose to take that as a compliment anyway! It's been nice to have someone to talk to for a change over the last few days, once the initial confusion of seeing another pale-face with 'bins on on me local patch was gotten over!

As I haven't posted on here for ages, I'll post said flycatcher. There was a Gray's Gropper in 'A' around noon today, but elusive. I dipped on Amur Paradise Flycatcher last Wednesday on the coast and on Yellow-rumped Flycatcher in Tainan City today.

Lots of waders around still (Asian Dowitcher and lots of presumed Swinhoe's Snipe at Tu Cheng this afternoon). If anyone knows how to do a Latham's without seeing the tail, please let me know!

 

[Dave 2x]

Love that Asian Dowitcher which was a nemesis bird for me for a long time!

Another Nemesis bird for me was Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler. Despite seeing and more often hearing this bird many times it had always eluded my camera. For this particular bird I was happy to attend a photographer's stakeout at An Kang in Taipei.

1. Green Sandpiper - Tianliaoyang
2. Dusky Fulvetta - An Kang, Taipei
3. Black Drongo - Tianliaoyang
4. Black Kite - Tianliaoyang
5. Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler - An Kang, Taipei

Cheers

Dave

 

[SteveMM]

Love that Asian Dowitcher which was a nemesis bird for me for a long time! Dave

Great photos as usual, Dave.

Things happening in the south now but it still feels slow. It's pretty easy to find Little Stints amongst the regular waders, and Arctic Warblers are on the way. A Siberian Blue Robin late last week felt like a bit of an early one.

There has been Isabelline Wheatear in Chang Hua somewhere over the last few days, but not really clear exactly where. Can't go anywhere in Tainan at the moment due to all the rain!

 

[SteveMM]

Two more Siberian Blue Robins this week, a male and a female. I finally caught up with Yellow-rumped Flycatcher for the year yesterday, and got a Thick-billed Warbler Thursday in the rain (when my camera was all packed up).

 

[SteveMM]

The rain's all stopped now and it's back to burning hot and sunny again in Tainan. The right weather for one or two filter migrants like Amur Paradise Flycatcher which showed up today.

How come nothing in the north? What's going on?

 

[SteveMM]

Seawatching from Qi Gu around these last two typhoons has been quite rewarding, with 350 Garganey, 5 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, 1 Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, 1 Red-footed Booby, 304 Red-necked Phalaropes, 2 Arctic Skuas, 12 Long-tailed Skuas, 716 Brown Noddies, 5 Sooty Terns, 8 Aleutian Terns, 1941 Little Terns, and 1140 Common Terns!

It's not really possible to photograph anything with only 300 mm of lens, but a few things come do close enough to get a few blurs. Below are Garganey, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, and Brown Noddy.

 

[Dave 2x]

The rain's all stopped now and it's back to burning hot and sunny again in Tainan. The right weather for one or two filter migrants like Amur Paradise Flycatcher which showed up today.

How come nothing in the north? What's going on?

Nothing is happening in the North!!! Actually there is a few birds getting reported but nearly all at Yehliu (Claudia's Leaf-Warbler this week) which I am trying to avoid as much as possible for this migration. I did go there a couple of weeks back and had Siberian Blue Robin, Ashy Minivet and another (probably the same) Canary. Still no entrance before 8:00am which meant I missed the Fairy Pitta that had been hopping around in front of the one photographer before I got there.

I have been spending more time at Tianliaoyang but as expected not much there yet. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was the only migrant of note last weekend.

On Saturday I will be going with the TWBS to Pengjia Islet which has the possibility of some interesting sea birds if the trip doesn't get cancelled.

1. Black Kite
2. Japanese Paradise Flycatcher
3. White-rumped Munia
4. Black-winged Stilt
5. Swinhoe's Snipe

Cheers

Dave

 

[SteveMM]

Nothing is happening in the North!!! Actually there is a few birds getting reported but nearly all at Yehliu (Claudia's Leaf-Warbler this week) which I am trying to avoid as much as possible for this migration. I did go there a couple of weeks back and had Siberian Blue Robin, Ashy Minivet and another (probably the same) Canary. Still no entrance before 8:00am which meant I missed the Fairy Pitta that had been hopping around in front of the one photographer before I got there.

I have been spending more time at Tianliaoyang but as expected not much there yet. A Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was the only migrant of note last weekend.

On Saturday I will be going with the TWBS to Pengjia Islet which has the possibility of some interesting sea birds if the trip doesn't get cancelled.

1. Black Kite
2. Japanese Paradise Flycatcher
3. White-rumped Munia
4. Black-winged Stilt
5. Swinhoe's Snipe

Cheers

Dave

Such a shame about Yeh Liu. Before there was no guard on it so you just went on when you wanted. Most people tried to get there before 8:00 to avoid having to pay. Now that it's all private, I guess they really don't care about what kind of people are wanting to make use of the place, just how much money they can make from it.

It should get better up there over the next few weeks as you start to get cold fronts and rain. I have Tian Liao Yang down as an October/November kind of place. We're now into the dry season in the south, meaning that I'm stuck waiting for 'vis mig' as all the 'falls' have stopped. This morning's Hobby was a good example of the kind of thing I mean!

Good luck on your pelagic anyway. I have no idea what to do this weekend, so will probably end up staying put.

 

[Dave 2x]

The trip to Pengjia Islet was certainly enjoyable but didn't produce any major rarities. Highlights during the crossing included numerous Bulwer's Petrels, Brown Noddy and lots of Brown Boobies. On the islet itself we picked up Black-naped Oriole, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Eurasian Kestrel, 9 Chestnut-cheeked Starlings, White-shouldered Starling and White-cheeked Starling. First Buntings of the season included Black-faced, numerous Little, Yellow-browed and a nice male Tristram's.

Finally migrants!!!

A few photos:

1. Bulwer's Petrel
2. Chestnut-cheeked Starling
3. Brown Noddy
4. Brown Booby
5. White-cheeked Starling

 

[SteveMM]

The trip to Pengjia Islet was certainly enjoyable but didn't produce any major rarities. Highlights during the crossing included numerous Bulwer's Petrels, Brown Noddy and lots of Brown Boobies. On the islet itself we picked up Black-naped Oriole, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Eurasian Kestrel, 9 Chestnut-cheeked Starlings, White-shouldered Starling and White-cheeked Starling. First Buntings of the season included Black-faced, numerous Little, Yellow-browed and a nice male Tristram's.

Finally migrants!!!

A few photos:

1. Bulwer's Petrel
2. Chestnut-cheeked Starling
3. Brown Noddy
4. Brown Booby
5. White-cheeked Starling

Sounds like a nice trip all told!

There's currently a cracking Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher in Area A. Hopefully they'll both survive this typoon (the bird and the place).

 

[Dave 2x]

On Thursday 29 September 2016, Richard Foster found a stunning Orange-headed Thrush down at Cigu, so on the Friday I headed South and Richard was kind enough to pick me up and show me the bird. Steve and Dominic were already looking at the bird when we arrived...a bit strange to have 4 Brits twitching in Taiwan! Thanks again Richard!!!

On Sunday 2 October 2016 I headed to my local favorite place Tianliaoyang and although not huge quantities there were a few migrants around including a Black/Red-headed Bunting, Asian Emerald Dove, 5 Chestnut-cheeked Starlings and a Grey-streaked Flycatcher.

A few photos...

1. Orange-headed Thrush - Cigu
2. Black/Red-headed Bunting - Tianliaoyang
3. Asian Emerald Dove - Tianliaoyang

Cheers

Dave

 

[birdingaroundtaiwan]

There has been a rather splendid run of birds lately at Qigu, as I'm sure everyone will agree!

Report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/10/11/purple-patch-at-qigu/

Cheers and happy birding!

 

[SteveMM]

There has been a rather splendid run of birds lately at Qigu, as I'm sure everyone will agree!

Report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/10/11/purple-patch-at-qigu/

Cheers and happy birding!

The purple patch: Orange-headed Thrush, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher#2, Greenish Warbler, Kamchatka Leaf Warbler.

 

[Dave 2x]

The purple patch: Orange-headed Thrush, Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher#2, Greenish Warbler, Kamchatka Leaf Warbler.

A great time of the year for birding in Taiwan!!!

Some recent birds:
1. Pechora Pipit - Huajiang, Taipei
2. Narcissus Flycatcher - Taipei Botanical Gardens
3. Northern Boobook - Taipei Botanical Gardens
4. Lesser Coucal - Tianliaoyang
5. Common Chiffchaff - Great find by Dominic/Steve - Tainliaoyang

Cheers

Dave