Taiwan - Birding Reports (1 Viewer)

[Dave 2x]

and a few more...

1. Chestnut-cheeked Starlings - Tianliaoyang
2. Pechora Pipit - Tianliaoyang
3. Grey-streaked Flycatcher - Tianliaoyang
4. Bull-headed Shrike - Thanks for the ID Steve - Tianliaoyang
5. Red-rumped Swallow - Tianliaoyang

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

Tuesday 28 October 2016 was a Public Holiday and thankfully a Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) also chose that day to visit Taiwan.

I wish I had got better photos of it but it was difficult shooting through a large crowd.

A few pics...

1. Lapland Longspur - North Coast
2. Black Kite - North Coast
3. Black Kite - North Coast
4. Grey-streaked Flycatcher - Tianliaoyang

Cheers

Dave

 

[SteveMM]

Hard not to enjoy that shrike, even though it had been tamed!

 

[Dave 2x]

Hard not to enjoy that shrike, even though it had been tamed!

For sure the Shrike was a nice bird to see in Taiwan. When I was there it flew away from the photographers and I had it to myself for 20 minutes...great bird!

Thanks for the heads up on the Amur Falcon...another great bird this long weekend!

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

Last weekend we made a trip to Guishan island (Turtle Island) in Yilan. Number of species was low but still a rewarding trip with some good quality migrants:

1 to 3. Taiga Flycatcher
4. Chestnut Bunting
5. Mugimaki Flycatcher

 

[Dave 2x]

...and some more photos

1 to 4. Mugimaki Flycatcher
5. Arctic type Warbler

 

[Dave 2x]

More pics...

1 to 3. Yellow Bunting

 

[Dave 2x]

On the Sunday I made a trip to Jinshan to twitch the Chinese Grey Shrike which was performing well for a large number of photographers.

1 to 3. Chinese Grey Shrike

Monday was a Public Holiday so back to Tianliaoyang where the highlight was a much wanted Amur Falcon (thanks for the info Steve) although it never came close enough for good photos.

4. Amur Falcon
5. Formosan Whistling Thrush

 

[Paul Rhodes]

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

Glad someone not only saw but photographed chiffchaff Dave following my sighting two years ago at Yehliu probably overlooked imo great pictures as always particularly the Mugimaki best wishes !

 

[birdingaroundtaiwan]

As my second long stay in Taiwan nears its end, I made the long trip north to Dasyueshan for the final time, with my main objective being better views of Mikado Pheasant, a bird I'd only seen once before. In this regard it was a spectacularly successful trip, with a nice supporting cast of mountain endemics seen, plus some mammal interest with Formosan Serow and Yellow-throated Marten both showing well.

Full report here: https://domthebirder.com/2016/11/10/mikado-pheasant-and-central-mountain-endemics-november-5th-7th/

 

[Dave 2x]

The weather is far too good for migrants in the North of Taiwan. Seems to be hot and sunny every day.

A few birds from last week:

1. Chestnut-eared Bunting - Tianliaoyang
2. Pied Avocet - Huajiang
3. Pallas's Bunting - Tianliaoyang
4. European Starling - Tianliaoyang
5. Osprey - Tianliaoyang

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

Last weekend was also tough for birding with hot sunny weather. Not many quality migrants around but did pick up a Bluethroat, Chestnut-eared Bunting and best of all a Long-billed Plover.

1. Chinese Pond-Heron - Tianliaoyang
2. Chestnut-eared Bunting - Tianliaoyang
3. Black Kite - Tianliaoyang
4. Long-tailed Shrike - Tianliaoyang
5. Long-billed Plover - Tianliaoyang

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

A few of my recent sightings in the North of Taiwan. Dipped yet again on a Tundra Swan in Yilan.

1. Common Merganser - Tianliaoyang
2. Eurasian Kestrel - Tianliaoayang
3. Japanese Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus abramus) - Tianliaoyang
4. Black-winged Stilt - Yilan
5. Black-winged Stilt - Yilan

 

[Dave 2x]

A few birds for the New Year...

1. Hen Harrier with Teal at Guandu
2. Long-eared Owl on it's day roost at Guandu
3. An unexpected first record for Taiwan - Burmese Shrike at Kaohsiung. Photo was taken on 31 Dec but the bird is still around.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

A few birds from Saturday 4 February 2017. Male Bluethroat also still showing at Tianliaoyang but no pics this time.

1. Long-billed Plover - Tianliaoayang. 2 birds present in the early morning.
2. Chestnut-eared Bunting - Tianliaoyang. Wintering bird.
3. Green Sandpiper - Tianliaoyang
4. Black-footed Albatross - Magang Harbour
5. Greater Flamingo - Yilan. Great Crested Grebe also present.

 

[Sharpbill]

I am visiting Taiwan early March on a birding trip. I believe that upper areas of the Dasyueshan forest road are, or will be, closed for repair. Can anyone advise how seriously this impacts on finding some specialities of the area, eg Mikado Pheasant? For any species that are now out of bounds are there reasonably accessible alternative sites in the near vicinity?

Thanks, John

 

[Dave 2x]

I am visiting Taiwan early March on a birding trip. I believe that upper areas of the Dasyueshan forest road are, or will be, closed for repair. Can anyone advise how seriously this impacts on finding some specialities of the area, eg Mikado Pheasant? For any species that are now out of bounds are there reasonably accessible alternative sites in the near vicinity?

Thanks, John

Sorry John, apparently the road is already closed from about the 43km mark. This does make finding the Mikado Pheasant more difficult and I personally don't have any alternative sites. Try sending Richard Foster an email as he may be able to help.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Dave 2x]

Not much time available this last weekend but managed a quick trip to Tianliaoyang on Saturday morning. The wintering Bluethroat is still present and has now been tamed by local photographers.

1. Greater Flamingo - Yilan
2. Northern Lapwing - Tianliaoyang
3. Daurian Redstart - Tianliaoyang
4. White Wagtail - Tianliaoyang
5. Bluethroat - Tianliaoyang

 

[Dave 2x]

Saturday 18 February 2017

As nothing much was getting reported in the North, I took the HSR down to Taichung to twitch the Brown-cheeked Rail and Fujian Niltava that have been reported on ebird over the last 2 weeks.

For once both birds were cooperative!

1. Ruddy-breasted Crake - Taichung
2. Brown-cheeked Rail - Taichung
3. Fujian Niltava - Taichung

 

[Jan van der Laan]

Sorry John, apparently the road is already closed from about the 43km mark. This does make finding the Mikado Pheasant more difficult and I personally don't have any alternative sites. Try sending Richard Foster an email as he may be able to help.

Cheers

Dave

I was there on 29 & 30 April. The road is still closed as there was a landslide just above KM 47. There is a steep walking trail from KM 43 all the way up to KM 49 - it takes three hours - and you can see almost all specialties along this trail like Barwing, Golden Parrotbill, Shortwing, Flamecrest, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Taiwan Bush Warbler and Taiwan Fulvetta. At KM 49 the road was blocked by a gate, but the gate was open and some hikers went in, we followed them on foot at a distance and at KM 48 a police car passed us, but they only greeted us. We passed the landslide without problems (vehicles can still drive there) and we arrived at KM47. It was Sunday, so there were no people at work. It was completely silent and the place where the MIkado Pheasant used to be was blocked by several lorries, two bulldozers, a crane and sevaral piles of stones and plastic pipes. Not expecting the pheasant anymore, we sat down and opened a bag of crackers at 15:55 hours. Then from nder one of the lorries, the male Mikado appeared and started to make soft calls to us, clearly complaining about something. Also several White-whiskered Laughingthtrushes came in to have their pictures taken.
We left the place an half hour later and took the chance the gate would be open as well at KM 43. It wasn't but there was a small trail on the left to bypass the gate. We expected the police to gave us a warm welcome, but there was nobody anymore.
I would not recommend the way we did it, but we just took the opportunity as it was a Sunday and we did not want to walk the trail again.