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| Sacred Ibis |
This is an excellent riverside area on the western side of downtown Taipei City - especially in winter. Behind a dike and busy road, and at the confluence of the Dahan and Xindian Rivers, it feels a long way from the bustling skyscrapers.
Easiest access is via the floodgates at Guilin Road - then walk west/south along the cycle path. Also possible to enter the area from Changshun Street. Some birders observe the area from the Huajiang bridge passing overhead.
The nearest MRT (metro) station is Longshan Temple. In Chinese the nature park is 華江雁鴨自然公園. Guilin Road is 桂林路. Consider exploring the area (and further along the rivers) on the extensive bike trails. Bicycle rental possible.
***Other convenient locations to bird in downtown Taipei are the nearby Botanical Gardens, Guandu, and Daan Park, and the North/East/South edges of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial.***
Birds seen Wednesday late morning:
Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Sacred Ibis
Yellow Bittern
Great Egret
Small Egret
Black-Crowned Night-Heron
Spot-billed Duck
White-breasted Waterhen
Common Sandpiper
Spotted Dove
Common Magpie
Barn Swallow
Red Collared-Dove
Plain Prinia
Black Bulbul
Light-vented (Chinese) Bulbul
Yellow Wagtail
Crested, Javan, and Common Myna
Black-collared Starling
Tree Sparrow
Japanese White-eye
Scaly-breasted Munia
Brown Shrike
Also look out for winter/migratory ducks, sandpipers, plovers, and kingfishers.
As with many places in Taiwan rampaging feral dogs cause great disturbance to the bird life. Foreign visitors’ observations count for a lot - if you have an opinion on this (or other) issue, be sure to mention it to anyone with influence, it may prompt improvements.
