2013 Highlights

2013 Highlights

Slaty-legged Crake - pleased to find reliable spot.

 

Anyone who has spent time with me will know I am proud of Taiwan, and the Taiwanese way of dealing with most things. Large tracts of Taiwan are in pristine condition, and many Taiwanese have a progressive attitude to conservation issues.

 

You will also know I voice lots of criticism - so I am delighted that 2013 saw the release of the documentary-movie Beyond Beauty: Taiwan From Above that so vividly highlights challenges to Taiwan’s environment. It has been the trigger for much debate and ‘action’. Please go see it, it has relevance anywhere we humans touch, not just Taiwan.

 

Chinese Thrush spotted in Wulai,
3rd record of Taiwan. Not my photo.

Well funded, top directors, and breaking records at the box office it ranks with the likes of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring as a wake up call for change. Filmed entirely from the air, it starts and ends with dazzling views of Taiwan. But this is not pretty tourism-promoting propaganda, complex issues are tackled: pollution, over-development, resource extraction, production, transport, emissions, energy use, and most importantly our connection to it all.

 

I hope this stunning film, warts and all, brings changes in 2014 and beyond.

A Baer's Pochard. Found twice in December. Chuffed!

 

...and to all the other resident and visiting birds (and birders). Happy New Year!

 

 

Starting 2013 slowly.

A new year, not a big year, but keeping my new bird sightings noted.

As expected, endemics have been a bit slow to rouse this winter season, usually takes a bit more time and accepting a few will just not or pop into view.

Vivid Niltava ww543

The highlight at Wulai (as well as Red Oriole, Blue Magpie, and great flocks of Minivet at Neidong FRA) was a Verditer Flycatcher at the elementary school at Fushan. Remember this is in New Taipei City/Taipei County not the Botanical Gardens at Fushan Yilan County. A very nice bonus were three Mandarin Ducks in the river just above the last part of Fushan Village. Hike the path on the north side of the river.

The reported Baer’s Pochard at Shrgang Reservoir eluded me, but on the third try the (single male visiting this winter) Scaly-sided Merganser gave excellent views. Best to search from the road on the north side of the reservoir - a wide section of the downhill road overlooks the best
place.

Doesn’t sound likely, but managed to entertain the family (non-birding wife, kids, mother-in-law) AND see some excellent birds on a daytrip to the Pheasant-tailed Jacana Reserve, one of them being a pair of Baer’s Pochards.

Also present were plenty of Pintail, N. Shoveler, G.W Teal, E Wigeon, Jacana and Black-winged Stilts.  A few Garganey, Coot, and Common Snipe were nice to have when try to get second looks at Baikal Teal and Falcated Teal (first time on Taiwan-proper for me I think). The furthest pond viewable from the last hide seems to hold the best birds.

I saw 2 Smew at Beimen late December but not recorded in last year’s list.

New Birds:

Verditer Flycatcher    Eumyias thalassinus
Smew    Mergellus albellus
Baer's Pochard    Aythya baeri