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

Wulai

Maroon Oriole. Source below.

The warm weather brought out the birds in Wulai - but thankfully not too many people on St Patrick's Day. I was guiding some (not into early starts, or roughing it too much) bird photographers.

Wulai (烏來) is in a valley surrounded by high, well-forested, mountains less than an an hour south of Taipei. Usually excellent for self-guided forest birding. From Xindian (Sindian) MRT station take the bus to Wulai Village. If on foot, enter the busy village, as soon as you cross the narrow bridge turn left towards signposted Xiaoyi. After 100 meters you will be away from any weekend crowds. Either follow this road as far as you wish, or vere right uphill through the graveyard.

The road continues east toward Xiaoyi, alongside and across the Tonghou Stream.
 

The only new birds for me were the Black-throated Laughingthrush - an established escapee and the Japanese Bush-warbler. Other birds seen well included Formosan Magpie, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler, Varied Tit, Large-billed Crow, Rufous-capped Babbler, Maroon Oriole, Grey-throated Minivet, White-bellied Erponis, Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Plumbaceous Redstart, Crested Goshawk, Crested Serpent Eagle, Japanese White-eye, Black Bulbul, and Grey Treepie.

After Wulai and the Tonghou Stream, I reccommend taking the road south towards Fushan. After the minature railway and waterfall, cross the suspension bridge to the walking trail on the other side of the river that leads to Neidong Forest. Can be a good area for the Varied Tit.


New Birds:

Black-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax chinensis
Japanese Bush-Warbler    Cettia diphone

http://blog.yam.com/phdwhite/article/5926397