Endemics Tour

Endemics and BF Spoonbill Tour

Come on Black-necklaced Scimitar-babbler...

April 17-26th.

Just been co-guiding (well sorting the logistics more like) for a 10-day group tour of Taiwan. Very successful - all endemics, most potential splits, and many, many other excellent birds seen.

Asian Dowitcher

Highlights (other than satisfied clients) - were several close-up views of Mikado Pheasants, great views of Collared Scops-owl and Mountain Scops-owl, over 30 Asiatic Dowitchers, lots of easily photographed Sandpipers, a Middendorff’s Grasshopper Warbler at high elevation - and a Taiwan Lesser Salamander (Hynobius fuca). The Crested Drongo was unusualy far inland - usually only seen closer to the coasts in Taiwan.

As has been the case for the last few months, the only place to reliably offer up the Taiwan Partridge was the feeding station at Fireflies Homestay in mid-level Alishan. Also a good place for Swinhoe's Pheasant, Collared/Mountain Scops Owl and various mammals. Call the numbers on the website (in Chinese - I can help book).


New birds:

Japanese Sparrowhawk    Accipiter gularis
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper    Calidris acuminata
Terek Sandpiper    Xenus cinereus  
Broad-billed Sandpiper    Limicola falcinellus
Asian Dowitcher    Limnodromus semipalmatus
Red Knot    Calidris canutus
Himalayan (Oriental) Cuckoo    Cuculus saturatus
Hair-crested Drongo    Dicrurus hottentottus
Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler    Locustella ochotensis
Snowy-browed Flycatcher    Ficedula hyperythra    "Endemic subspecies (F. h. innexa)"
Ferruginous Flycatcher    Muscicapa ferruginea
Little Bunting    Emberiza pusilla
Indian Silverbill    Euodice malabarica
Emerald Dove    Chalcophaps indica
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

Sicao, Tainan Feb 21st and 22nd

Spent a few hours away from the office in nearby Sicao, just to the north of Tainan. The many aquaculture ponds and the odd bit of ‘unused’ wetland can be quite productive. Pondering the conflict between the aims of the newly formed Taijiang National Park and the sprawling edges of urban Tainan. Moan, moan...

In addition to the obvious ponds visible from the main road (#17), I’ve found the most reliable spots to be on the western side of the road. Before getting to Qigu, turn left at the fire station, Half way to the refuse incinerator, wander out among the ponds and ditches.

Not much new to over-excite me: I don’t think I have previously recorded Ruddy Shelduck (5), and a single Yellow Bittern.

Also seen in Sicao:

Black-faced Spoonbill, Coot, Grebe, WB Waterhen, Moorhen
Oriental Magpie-Robins, various Gulls (have overlooked recording Caspian), B Shrike, Magpie, Myna,
Egrets: Large, Intermediate, Little, and Cattle.
Heron: Striated, Grey, Black--crowned Night,
Little Grebe, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Sacred Ibis
Various doves: Spotted, Red-collared, and the previously un-noted Eurasian Collared-Dove.
Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Common Redshank, Pacific Golden Plover, Kentish P, other tedious creatures in winter plumage....
Various ducks including: Tufted, N Pintail, Green-winged T, Garganey, N Shoveller, E Wigeon,  Spot-billed, Green-winged,
Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Common Kingfisher, Tree Sparrow,
Prinia Plain and Yellow Light-vented Bulbul, Japanese White-eyes, Scaly-breasted Munia,

Birds of most days in Sicao are the plentiful  Pied Avocets - lovely birds, never tire of seeing them!

Over the weekend I will be working in northern Taiwan. Looking forward to finding some really good birds along the way - up high, and along the North coast.


New birds seen in Sicao:

Ruddy Shelduck    Tadorna ferruginea
Yellow Bittern    Ixobrychus sinensis
Eurasian Collared-Dove    Streptopelia decaocto Edit 9/28, this needs confirmation.
Caspian Gull    Larus cachinnans

Tedious to thrilling.

Morning and early afternoon in Qigu (Chigu): BFS reserve, North, and east Qigu, Tsengwen River.  More details coming soon.

New birds seen in Qigu.

Falcated Duck    Anas falcata (on the way - in Sihcao, next to #17)
Gadwall    Anas strepera
Chinese Pond-Heron    Ardeola bacchus
Slaty-legged Crake    Rallina eurizonoides    "Endemic subspecies (R. e. formosana)"
Lesser Sand-Plover    Charadrius mongolus
Marsh Sandpiper    Tringa stagnatilis   
Bar-tailed Godwit    Limosa lapponica
Long-toed Stint    Calidris subminuta
Black-tailed Gull    Larus crassirostris
Slaty-backed Gull    Larus schistisagus
*Dusky Warbler    Phylloscopus fuscatus  
Oriental Reed-Warbler    Acrocephalus orientalis
Striated Prinia    Prinia crinigera    "Endemic subspecies (P. c. striata)"
*Crested Myna    Acridotheres cristatellus    "Taiwan Endemic Subspecies (A. c. formosanus)"