Snow Mountain

March 14th

A heavy pack (was acting as mule) and atrocious weather on the first day and a half meant almost no birds or birding. The summit/descent day was wonderful - for weather, birds, and scenery.

Taiwan Rosefinch.



http://focus16.com/bird/2008-03-15%20Alishan/slides/IMG_3887.html

Lots of good high elevation species (Yuhina, Collared Bush-robin, White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Vinaceous (now Taiwan) Rosefinch, Yellow-bellied Bush-warbler, Striated Prinia etc).

Several Coal Tits were found just below the glacial cirque. Taiwan Bush Warbler were singing (not seen) in the forest just above the trailhead at Wuling Farm.

New Bird:

Coal Tit    Periparus ater    "Endemic subspecies (P. a. ptilosus)"

Wuling Farm

Wuling

Wuling

Delivering clients to climb Xue Shan (Snow Mountain) gave me an opportunity to explore Wuling Farm for almost 2 days. The weather was mostly wet and cool. And, because this was a long holiday weekend, in places there were plenty of humans admiring the splendid sakura blossoms. Despite the imperfect conditions Wuling exceeded expectations - easy strolling in great great facilities. An excellent end to the first two months of this project.

Note I have a self-guided package tour for Wuling. Suitable for those wanting a bit of luxury - or with non-birders in tow.

Wuling Farm is located in a high-mountain valley 3 hours to the southeast of Taipei. Though technically within Taichung County, it is easiest to approach from Yilan County or the Hehuan/Taroko area (as Highway #8’s western section is closed between Guguan and Lishan). Note: Wuling Farm has nothing to do with Wuling - the highest pass at Hehuan Mountain.

Spent some time watching from the bridges hoping to glimpse some of the Mandarin Ducks resident here, instead I was entertained by the many Brown Dippers - the bird of the trip. Had great views of a Little Forktail travelling up and down the artificial, terraced stream (where it intersects with the main road) on the south side of the Hoya Hotel.

Caught glimpse near the tea fields on the east bank of the Cijia River of a Red-billed Blue Magpie. Hopefully this is the last specimen of this released species in Taiwan, surprised this one has not been removed.

Taiwan Partridge. 7 near the trailhead for Snow Mountain.
Brown W. Heard only. near Snow Mountain trailhead.
Black-throated Tits. Over 20 seen at various locations.
Brown-Bullfinch. 1 near Qika Cabin.
Russet Sparrow. Over 10 seen near lower tea plantation. Very pleased to see.
Green-backed Tit.
Taiwan Liocicla. A couple in scrub-trees below Snow Trailhead,
Taiwan Yuhinia. Numerous.
Plumbeous Redstart. Numerous.
Red-flanked Bluetail. 1
Rufous-faced Warbler
Eurasian Nuthatch. 2 near Snow Mountain Trail head
Striated Prinia. 2 near Taoshan Waterfall trailhead.
Brown Dipper. Found easily at all likely locations.
White-eared Sibia. About 10 at various locations.
Kestrel. Excellent views at higher campground.
Besra.
Large-billed Crow.
Tree Sparrow. Japanese White-eyes.
White, and Grey Wagtail. Light-vented Bulbul, Black Bulbul,
Eurasian Jay. 1 in the pine forest near Taoshan Waterfall.
Collared Bush Robin. 3 at Snow Mountain trailhead.
Flamecrest. 2 on the way to Qika Cabin, 2 in forest above campground area.
Mountain Scops-owl
Rufous-capped Babbler
Taiwan Barwing. Several, mostly in forest near Qika Cabin.
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta
Yellow Tit. Near campground and Qika.
Formosan Whistling Thrush. 2 near toll station.

Species hoped for but not seen: Coal Tit, Grey-throated Minivet, Vivid Niltavia, Mountain Hawk-Eagle. Neither Swinhoe’s or Mikado Pheasant were encountered. Swinhoe’s is possible at the tea/fruit farm on the east side of the river - especially in May, and the Mikado on the trail to Taoshan Waterfall. Both Swinhoe’s and Mikado are occasionally seen on the trail to Qika Cabin - which I had permission to walk this time. The upper part of Wuling (around and above the camping area) can be good for raptors.

Other fine creatures: Formosan Landlocked Salmon, Chinese Weasel, Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel, Formosan Macaque (monkey), Muntjac (Barking Deer, several heard only), Red and White Giant Flying Squirrel, other hikers reported seeing a Yellow-throated Marten.



New birds at Wuling Farm:

Brown Wood-Owl    Strix leptogrammica (heard only)
Russet Sparrow    Passer rutilans
Brown Dipper    Cinclus pallasii

Little Forktail    Enicurus scouleri    "Endemic subspecies (E. s. fortis)"
Besra    Accipiter virgatus    Taiwan Endemic Subspecies (A. v. fuscipectus)
Red-billed Blue Magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Eurasian Jay    Garrulus glandarius    "Endemic subspecies (G. g. taivanus)"

New bird March 1st in Sicao, Tainan.

Little Curlew    Numenius minutus

Yilan and Shuanglienpi

Yilan

February 26th I made my excuses and escaped to Yilan County ahead of weekend holiday traffic for a day of intensive birding far from my usual haunts. Yilan, situated in Northeastern Taiwan, is mostly lush rugged mountains, the rest is very flat rice fields decorated with houses and tedious towns. The coastal wetlands are some of Taiwan’s most important bird habitats.

Link to Google map

The road tunnel (Freeway #5) through the Xueshan mountain range makes it  convenient to visit from Taipei - but remember, avoid times when millions of Taipei folk are doing the same thing. On this damp (Yilan seems to be always wet) and cool day I explored the wetland complex in the north-east area (east of #5), and north of the Lanyang River. The best locations were the various ponds, fields and drainage channels to the south of Toucheng Town and between roads #2 and #191.

Many shorebirds to be seen. Highlights for me: 8 Black-faced Spoonbills, 1 Hoopee, 10, Vinous-throated Parotbills, 2 Water Rail, 5 Northern Lapwing, 1 Eared Grebe, 2 Purple Herons, 3 European Starling, 1 Ruff...and 2 vagrant Hooded Cranes (yes, was an undeniable twitch; near km mark 143 Road #2).

Shuanglienpi

After enough of the damp and cool plains I went to scout out the road towards bio-diverse Fushan Botanical Gardens. I’ve had repeated bad luck getting the (required) permission to visit Fushan - instead I had a quick look around Shuanglienpi (雙連埤).



Mandarin Ducks - naturally occuring.

At 400 meters elevation, Shuanglienpi (Shuang-lien-pi) is a wetland and small lakes surrounded by well forested mountains. If unable to get permission for Fushan (must apply online early - avoid weekends) I can recommend the drive to, and the walk around these very pleasant ponds.

Various good birds around (Blue Magpies, Scimitar Babblers, Grey-throated Minivets, Maroon Oriole, Dusky Fulvetta, White-bellied Erponis)  the highlight was a pair of wintering Mandarin Ducks.

New Birds seen in Yilan - wetlands and Shuanglienpi:

Water Rail    Rallus aquaticus
Eared Grebe    Podiceps nigricollis
Ruff    Philomachus pugnax
Northern Lapwing    Vanellus vanellus
Hooded Crane    Grus monacha
Mandarin Duck    Aix galericulata
Silver-backed Needletail    Hirundapus cochinchinensis    "Endemic subspecies (H. c. formosanus)"
Yellow-throated Bunting    Emberiza elegans
European Starling    Sturnus vulgaris

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

Taiping

Taiping

Spent a morning (February 6th) trying to get a glimpse of birds while driving the wife (not a birder) and daughter (indoctrinating) around the scruffy hills of Taiping, Greater Taichung. We stayed the night before in a guesthouse just off #136.

Warm, sunny weather. A representative, not too exciting, collection of birds for this kind of habitat 30 minutes out of urban Taiwan. Highlights for the wife were 6 Crested Serpent Eagles at close range, for me was what looked like a female Siberian Stonechat crossed with a Daurian Redstart scooting around the grounds of the guesthouse - the Stonechat is rare here and no recent reports exist. Other birds: 6 Red Dove, 1 Barbet, 20+ Light-vented Bulbuls, 10+ Black Bulbuls, 20+ Japanese White-eyes, 3 White Wagtails, 2 Plumbceous Redstarts, 1 male Grey-throated Minivet, 6 Little Egret, 10+ Tree Sparrows, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 15+ Scaly-breasted Munia, 3 Brown Shrike, 3 Black Drongo, 5+ Pacific Swallow, 5+ Plain (Grey-throated) Martin (overlooked before), 4 Spotted-necked Dove.

After this we went for a stroll through Tonglin Village in Wufong Area - good for Fairy Pitta in a couple months.

New Birds in Taiping, Taichung:

Grey-Throated (formerly in Plain) Martin    Riparia chinensis
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus

Puli and Lienhuachih

Near Puli and Lienhuachr.

North of Puli.

Driving back down towards Puli Town I impulsively decided to check out some of the small wet fields and plantations below the road around km mark 63. Turned out to be a lot of fun.

We saw 20+ Scaly-breasted Munia, 7 Grey Wagtails, 10+ Pacific Swallows, 20 Little Egrets, 5+ Cattle Egrets, 1 Plain Prinia, White-vented Myna, Dark Drongo, Little-ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail.

After Puli we had a short late afternoon diversion to Lienhuachih with hopes of finding Plain Flowerpeckers, instead lots of Japanese White-eyes, 3 Plumbeous Redstarts, 1 White-bellied Green Pigeon, 3 Dusky Fulvetta, 1 Eyebrowed Thrush, 5+ Black Bulbul 10+ Tree Sparrow, Prinia species, Swallow/Martin species (ignored), Black Drongo.

New Bird:

Eyebrowed Thrush    Turdus obscurus

Meifeng

Meifeng.

I secured permission to visit another part of National Taiwan University’s property - Meifeng (2,200m elevation) before lunchtime. This is an excellent place to stay - has all the advantages of nearby Chingjing but few of the negatives. Well managed - meaning most visitors have to follow a fixed package itinerary, foreign birders sometimes are given ‘special permissions’.

As well as the ‘normal’ stuff (many Sibia, Yuhinia etc), birds seen included 1 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, 2 beautiful Collared Bush-robin (see below), 1 Island Thrush (a 5-star rarity for me - and most people) on a fruit tree down in front of the accommodation block, 1 Vivid Niltavia, 1 Red-flanked Bluetail (also quite rare for me), 1 Siberian Redthroat, 1 White’s Thrush - in heavy shade - not possible to see variety (another 5-star rarity) September Edit: putting a question mark next to this - may have been misidentified, 5 Black-faced Bunting, 3 Brown-headed Bulfinch, 2  Strong-footed Bush Warbler (aka Brown-flanked), 1 Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler (heard well, badly seen), 5 Barwing,  5+ Liocichlas. Nearby saw a Large-billed Crow.

Did not see, but apparently around: Tawny Owl, White-tailed Robin, and Pygmy Wren-babbler, Grey-headed Bullfinch.

On the way out of Wushe towards Chingjing, 2 White-bellied Erponis were spotted, surprised not to see them elsewhere this trip.

If unable to get access to Meifeng (either to stay in their nice hotel, or for a day of birding) then explore the farm road 200 meters down the road at almost the 15 km mark, near a sign for Meifeng. A sharp right turn (if coming from Chingjing direction). On this trail I found Green-backed Tit and Taiwan Tit.

Also the short, south-facing, hiking trail to Sangjiao Peak near the sign in Chinese for Tsuifeng (翠峰) altitude 2,309 meters, at the 16.5km mark.


New Birds Meifeng, Nantou County.

White-bellied Yuhina (Erpornis)    Yuhina zantholeuca   
Red-flanked (Orange-flanked) Bluetail (Bush-robin) Tarsiger cyanurus
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker    Dicaeum ignipectum    "Endemic subspecies (D. i. formosum)"
Collared Bush-Robin    Tarsiger johnstoniae    Endemic species
Island Thrush    Turdus poliocephalus    "Endemic subspecies (T. p. niveiceps)"
Vivid Niltava    Niltava vivida    "Endemic subspecies (N. v. vivida)"
Red-flanked Bluetail    Tarsiger cyanurus
Siberian Rubythroat    Luscinia calliope
Scaly (White’s) Thrush    Zoothera dauma Needs confirmation.
Brown Bullfinch    Pyrrhula nipalensis    "Endemic subspecies (P. n. uchidae)"
Brownish-flanked (Strong-footed) Bush-Warbler    Cettia fortipes    "Taiwan Endemic Subspecies (C. f. robustipes)"
Yellow-bellied Bush-Warbler    Cettia acanthizoides    "Endemic subspecies (C. a. concolor)"
Taiwan Barwing    Actinodura morrisoniana    Endemic species
Steere's Liocichla    Liocichla steerii    Endemic species
Green-backed Tit    Parus monticolus    "Endemic subspecies (P. m. insperatus)"
Yellow (Taiwan) Tit    Macholophus holsti    Endemic species and Genus
Taiwan Yuhina    Yuhina brunneiceps    Endemic species

Oh go to Aogu!

The day started damp with light rain as I drove north from Tainan. On arriving at Aogu at 10am the weather was dry and cool - perfect for a full day my first full day of birding this year.

Most birds were seen from the road running alongside the South, West and North levees, the roads and viewpoint in the center were relatively unproductive.The inner section of the reserve is not yet officially open to the public, some creative navigation is needed to get around the closed entrance.

Aogu is a wetland jutting into the sea in Chiayi County. Originally farmland reclaimed from the sea, it is now being being turned into a wildlife reserve and forest recreation area.

It is easily accessed from Chiayi or Tainan. The very empty and fast Expressway #61 (or an extension of it) starts near the Black-faced Spoonbill reserve in Qigu (Chigu, Cigu).  If driving north, exit at the sign for Dongshr, follow the road alongside the highway for a couple kilometers, turn left at the bilingual sign for Aogu Wetlands. Coming south on #61, the exit for the Wetlands are well signposted in English. Be aware some of the roads in the middle of the reserve are unsurfaced. I suggest following the circular road - clearly marked as a cycle route.

East-west Expressway #84 now links inland Tainan County (Yujing etc) with Freeways #1 and #3, with Guantien (Pheasant-tailed Jacana Reserve, exit Xizhuang). When finished it will link up with #61 at Beimen. Very useful for birders in a hurry - but not many other people!

Be sure to pick up the free maps at tourist information counters: entire Taiwan, and 4 regional maps.

Several possible candidates, but the bird of the day must be the Pacific Reef-Heron - obviously the dark morph, generally uncommon and rare on Taiwan’s west coast I think. Only one seen but it behaved very well at close range.

The list below is fairly typical. Aogu is best in winter and migration time. Happy to guide visitors there - if short on time coming from Taipei, meet me at the High Speed Rail station in Chiayi. 

Birds seen in Aogu Wetland:

Common Shelduck    Tadorna tadorna    
Eurasian Wigeon    Anas penelope    
Eastern Spot-billed Duck    Anas zonorhyncha    
Northern Shoveler    Anas clypeata    
Northern Pintail    Anas acuta    
Garganey    Anas querquedula    
Green-winged Teal    Anas crecca  
Common Pochard    Aythya ferina   
Tufted Duck    Aythya fuligula    
Greater Scaup    Aythya marila    
Little Grebe    Tachybaptus ruficollis    
Great Crested Grebe    Podiceps cristatus
Great Cormorant    Phalacrocorax carbo    
Cinnamon Bittern    Ixobrychus cinnamomeus   
Gray Heron    Ardea cinerea    
Purple Heron    Ardea purpurea    
Great Egret    Ardea alba    
Intermediate Egret    Mesophoyx intermedia
Pacific Reef-Heron    Egretta sacra    
Cattle Egret    Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron    Nycticorax nycticorax   
Sacred Ibis    Threskiornis aethiopicus    
Black-headed Ibis    Threskiornis melanocephalus   
Eurasian Spoonbill    Platalea leucorodia    
Black-faced Spoonbill    Platalea minor   
Black-shouldered Kite    Elanus caeruleus
Eurasian Kestrel    Falco tinnunculus
Common Moorhen    Gallinula chloropus    
Eurasian Coot    Fulica atra   
Pacific Golden-Plover    Pluvialis fulva   
Greater Sand-Plover    Charadrius leschenaultii  
Snowy (Kentish) Plover    Charadrius alexandrinus  
Common Ringed Plover    Charadrius hiaticula    
Black-winged Stilt    Himantopus himantopus    
Pied Avocet    Recurvirostra avosetta
Common Sandpiper    Actitis hypoleucos    
Green Sandpiper    Tringa ochropus    
Common Greenshank    Tringa nebularia   
Marsh Sandpiper    Tringa stagnatilis   
Common Redshank    Tringa totanus
Whimbrel    Numenius phaeopus  
Ruddy Turnstone    Arenaria interpres    
Great Knot    Calidris tenuirostris    
Sanderling    Calidris alba
Red-necked Stint    Calidris ruficollis
Dunlin    Calidris alpina
Curlew Sandpiper    Calidris ferruginea   
Common Snipe    Gallinago gallinago    
Black-headed Gull    Chroicocephalus ridibundus   
Whiskered Tern    Chlidonias hybrida   
Red Collared-Dove    Streptopelia tranquebarica    
Spotted Dove    Streptopelia chinensis   
House Swift    Apus nipalensis    "Taiwan Endemic Subspecies (A. n. kuntzi)"
Common Kingfisher    Alcedo atthis  
Brown Shrike    Lanius cristatus
Long-tailed Shrike    Lanius schach
Eurasian Magpie    Pica pica
Bank Swallow    Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow    Hirundo rustica
Yellow-bellied Prinia    Prinia flaviventris    
Plain Prinia    Prinia inornata    "Taiwan Endemic Subspecies (P. i. flavirostris)"
Japanese White-eye    Zosterops japonicus  
Javan Myna    Acridotheres javanicus    
Common Myna    Acridotheres tristis
Black-faced Bunting    Emberiza spodocephala
White-rumped Munia    Lonchura striata

Also birds from yesterday - Rock Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Black Drongo, Light-vented Bulbul, Little Egret, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Daurian Redstart.