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Taiwan Blue Magpie -Huisun FR

 

Birdtours2asia

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Finest birding in Asia

 

Crested Serpent Eagle -Shimen Reservoir

 

Steere's Liocichla -Yushan NP

 

Red-necked Stint -Tsengwen Estuary

 

Collared Finchbill -Anmashan

 

All birds photographed ‘on tour’

are opportunity shots by

Stijn De Win

 

Ashy Wood-Pigeon  - Bedongyueshan

 

Chinese Bulbul -Anmashan

 

Ferruginous Flycatcher -Blue Gate track

 

'kaleensis' -Huisun Forest Reserve

 

Grey-chinned Minivet -Anmashan

 

Vivid Niltava -Anmashan

 

Varied Tit -Huisun Forest Reserve

 

Grey Treepie -Anmashan

 

Little Forktail -Dasyueshan

 

Vinaceous Rosefinch -Yushan NP

 

Malayan Night Heron -near Sun Moon Lake

 

White-whiskered Laughingthrush - Yushan

 

Oriental Cuckoo -Anmashan

 

Pacific Golden Plover -Tsengwen

 

Plumbeous Water Redstart -Wushe

 

White-backed Woodpecker -Blue Gate track

 

Yellow Tit -Blue Gate track Wushe

 

Do not panic! We never had it.

 

White-browed Robin -Yushan NP

 

Taiwan Frog -Blue Gate track Wushe

 

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper -Tsengwen

 

Taiwan Barbet -Anmashan

 

Formosan Macaque sound recording -Yushan

 

 

All photographs © Stijn De Win

Copyright © Birding2asia 2008-2011. All rights reserved.

      

B2A - Taiwan 2010

Endemics quest (all of 'm)

2 - 10 April

    

Participants ; Chuck and Jacqui Probst

Tour leader ; Stijn De Win

    

Trip list taxonomy follow "Birds of East Asia" by Mark Brazil.

Latin names of distinct subspecies in bold green.

Click link in common name of birds to get a free downloadable sound recording made on this trip.

 

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

few Tsengwen

 

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

1 Tsengwen estuary

 

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

few Tsengwen

 

Great Egret Ardea alba

few en-route

 

Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia

few on several tour dates

 

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

few en-route and Tsengwen

 

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

regularly recorded in small numbers

 

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

fairly common

 

Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus

1 by the roadside up Anmashan, 2 near Sun Moon Lake

 

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

1 bird Tsengwen estuary

 

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

2 seen Tsengwen

 

Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Introduced

2 in flight en-route from HW, 1 Tsengwen

 

(Black-faced Spoonbill)

None were present at the usual roost at Twengwen during our brief morning visit. Birds were scheduled to arrive again in the afternoon due to changing tides, locals assured us. We however decided to move on for a different afternoon program as Chuck had seen Black-faced Spoonbills previous in Vietnam and Japan so weren't an important target species for us.

 

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

6 were present on pools at Tsengwen estuary

 

Garganey Anas querquedula

1 male on pools near Tsengwen

 

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

A single bird noted near Wushe.

 

Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela  hoya

Fairly common and seen throughout.

 

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus  formosae

At least 5 birds noted during the tour.

 

Japanese Sparrowhawk  Accipiter gularis

Smaller but distant Sparrowhawks seen at Wushe and Yushan probably this species, Besra could not be excluded with certainty.

 

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malayensis

Two birds on our first day at Anmashan and another 1 later on.

 

Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis

Certainly scarce in Taiwan so 1 bird on our first afternoon at Anmashan was a good record.

 

Taiwan Partridge Arborophila crudigularis Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic

At Bedongyueshan, 1 bird was briefly seen sitting in the open by the roadside only by Stijn. Later we flushed another bird from it's roost up a tree and then, little later, yet another bird flew in to playback. Heard also at Anmashan and HuisunForest Reserve.

 

Chinese Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola thoracica  sonorivox  Near-endemic

Several birds seen on 3 different tour dates and heard on another additional 3 dates.

 

Swinhoe's Pheasant  Lophura swinhoii Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic

A superb male posed for photos at Anmashan, then we saw 3 different males and 1 female on visits to Bedongyueshan with another male to perform brilliant (incl. display and sound) at Yushan NP. In total 6 different birds seen on 5 different tour dates!

 

Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic

A female that crossed the track on our walk at Dasyueshan gave brief views to start with. Then at Yushan NP, first a pair showed very well, then another female was in the open for quite a while with another male noted later on at a 3rd spot. We thus recorded 5 different birds on 2 tour dates.

 

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Several noted at Twengwen

 

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Small numbers at Tsengwen

 

Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva

Good number at Tsengwen, attaining summer plumage.

 

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Few at Tsengwen

 

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

Small numbers Tsengwen

 

Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus

Small numbers at Tsengwen

 

Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii

Few at Tsengwen

 

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Few in pools near Tsengwen

 

Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis

1 bird at Tsengwen

 

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

10+ noted Tsengwen

 

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

only 2 birds Tsengwen

 

Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes

1 bird at Tsengwen lagoon

 

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Small numbers Tsengwen

 

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

Good numbers Tsengwen

 

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Few Tsengwen

 

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

1 bird Tsengwen

 

Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris

As was last year, just a single bird from the hides at Tsengwen lagoon.

 

Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis

Good number at Tsengwen

 

Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta

2 birds noted Tsengwen

 

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata

3 birds showed well at Tsengwen

 

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea

only 1 bird noted Tsengwen

 

Dunlin Calidris alpina

Small number Tsengwen

 

Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus

A single bird with Caspian Terns at Tsengwen

 

Little Tern Sternula albifrons

Several on coast near Tsengwen

 

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica

1 at Tsengwen lagoon

 

Caspian Tern  Hydroprogne caspia

50+ birds near Tsengwen and several birds noted near Putai.

 

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

20+ birds noted near Tsengwen

 

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

single bird near Tsengwen

 

Ashy Wood-Pigeon Columba pulchricollis

Several seen Anmashan, at Bedongyueshan incl. perched and 1 Yushan NP

 

Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis  orii

common

 

Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

common Tsengwen and coast

 

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis  formosona

fairly common in lowlands throughout

 

White-bellied Pigeon Treron sieboldii  soronius

Seen on 5 different tour dates incl. many perched. Makes Taiwan possibly the best place to see this species in Asia.

 

Large Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides

Heard only once, en-route to Bedongyueshan

 

Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus

Seen on 2 tour dates and plenty more heard. All birds heard sound like optatus, not saturatus (Himalayan Cuckoo). Mark Brazil regards saturatus as the resident form on Taiwan but the situation needs clarification as has been pointed out by others previous.

 

Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei  pardalotum

Heard Bedongyueshan an Blue Gate near Wushe

 

Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis  stictomus

1 seen en-route from Yushan to Tsengwen

 

Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis  formosanus

3 en-route to Huisun and later 2 birds seen Yushan NP

 

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus

Singles noted on 3 tour dates in the mountains

 

House Swift Apus nipalensis  stictomus

common

 

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

A single bird Tsengwen

 

Taiwan Barbet Megalaima nuchalis  Country endemic

Recorded on every single tour date with 8 birds actually seen.

 

Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus  kaleensis

Seen on 4 dates with a maximum day count of 5 birds at Huisun.

 

White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos  insularis

Males performed well at Dasyueshan and Blue Gate Wushe, a female seen Bedongyueshan. Declining populations in Europe make Taiwan now an important stronghold for the species.

 

Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus  tancolo

Definitely scarce and easy to miss in Taiwan but we taped in 1 bird at Anmashan with another heard at Yushan NP.

 

Grey-throated Martin Riparia chinensis  chinensis

10+ birds seen at Tsengwen

 

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

common

 

Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica  namiyei

fairly common at lower altitudes + coast, noted on 3 tour dates

 

Asian Martin Delichon dasypus  nigrimentalis

common at higher altitudes

 

Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata  striolata

fairly common, usually near towns

 

Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

1 only seen, en-route to Wushe

 

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

2x2 birds in Wushe area

 

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

30+ birds in fields en-route to Wushe (baicalensis) Several single birds noted in Wushe area (leucopsis)

 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava

taivana (Green-headed Wagtail), 1 bird en-route Wushe, tschutschensis (Alaska Wagtail), 10+ Tsengwen

 

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Few throughout

 

Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris

Fairly common

 

Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques  cinereicapillus  Near-endemic

Common in foothills

 

(Styan's Bulbul)

Chuck and Jackie had seen Styan's Bulbul near Taitung on a little pre-tour extension, so we opted out for the drive and visit to Kenting, where birds are abundant and impossible to miss.

 

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Introduced

A single bird Chiali town.

 

Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis  formosae

common

 

Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus  nigerrimus

common

 

Flamecrest Regulus goodfellowi Country endemic

Quite a few sightings and plenty more heard Anmashan, later also seen Yushan NP

 

Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes  taivanus

Seen at Anmashan on the top-walk.

 

Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris  fennelli

A single bird in thick fog by the first parking lot on HehuanPass.

 

Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius

A single bird seen on coast near Tsengwen.

 

Taiwan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus insularis Country endemic

Several sightings Anmashan, en-route to Huisun and Yushan NP

 

Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma

Plenty sightings by the roadsides at Anmashan and Yushan, 11 birds total.

 

Pale Thrush Turdus pallidus

2 sightings, 3 birds at Yushan NP

 

Brown-headed Thrush Turdus chrysolaus

15+ birds noted Chung Yang Farm near Wushe.

 

Taiwan Shortwing Brachypteryx goodfellowi Country endemic

2 birds seen Anmashan top walk, 1 seen Blue Gate, few more heard

 

Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera  striata

Few Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm

 

Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris

few Tsengwen

 

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata

Chung Yang Farm and Tsengwen

 

Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler Cettia fortipes  robustipes

Seen well at Anmashan, also heard Chung Yang Farm Wushe

 

Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler Cettia acanthizoides  concolor

Seen Anmashan top and Yushan NP

 

Taiwan Bush-Warbler  Bradypterus alishanensis Country endemic

2 birds seen Anmashan, at different spots, at least 4 seen Yushan NP, plenty more heard

 

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

heard HuisunForest Reserve

 

Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis

Fairly common

 

Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea

2 birds seen well Blue Gate track, 1 was singing here

 

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra  innexa

A pair on the Blue Gate track showed well.

 

Vivid Niltava Niltava vivida  vivida

Several sightings Anmashan, Blue Gate and Yushan NP

 

Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus

1 seen briefly Anmashan top walk

 

White-browed Robin Tarsiger indicus  formosana

Male and female seen Anmashan top walk, 1 near Wushe and a male seen Yushan NP

 

Collared Bush-Robin Tarsiger johnstoniae Country endemic

10+ daily Anmashan, few in fog up Hehuan Pass and incredibly common at Yushan NP, we must have recorded 50+ birds on our morning there.

 

Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa  affinis

2 males and later a pair seen en-route Bedongyueshan

 

White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum  montium

Fairly common and seen on most tour dates.

 

Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri  fortis

A pair on a small waterfall at Anmashan and 2 birds seen Yushan NP

 

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea  oberholseri

2 brief sightings and more heard, Anmashan, Huisun and Wushe

 

Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax ruficeps  Country endemic

Real good numbers seen on this tour. 8 birds on our first day at Anmashan with another group of 10+ birds the next day. Then at Bedongyueshan at least 2 big groups seen daily.

 

Rusty Laughingthrush Garrulax poecilorhynchus Country endemic

3 sightings, always paired, Anmashan, Bedongyueshan and Yushan

 

Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taewanus Country endemic

1 bird seen at a roadside stop en-route to Huisun, 2 birds seen very well at Chung Yang Farm, few more heard

 

White-whiskered Laughingthrush Garrulax morrisonianus Country endemic

Fairly common at higher altitudes and especially so at Yushan NP where we must have recorded 50+ birds on our morning when birds come out to feed by the roadsides.

 

Steere's Liocichla Liocichla steerii Country endemic

common throughout in the mountains

 

Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis Country endemic

Heard on quite a few tour dates but 2 birds at Bedongyueshan performed exceptionally well. My best views ever!

 

Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus musicus Country endemic

Actually the first bird of the trip we took photos of. At Anmashan on our first afternoon birding and first roadside stop.

 

Taiwan Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga formosana Country endemic

Blue Gate track is probably the best spot for them but birds were quiet at first, however, we managed to tape in 1 at a stake-out spot. Later in the day a few more started singing along the track. Also heard in a couple spots at Yushan NP.

 

Rufous-capped BabblerStachyris ruficeps  praecognita

common

 

Taiwan Barwing Actinodura morrisoniana Country endemic

3 different sightings is a good record. We first got a pair at Anmashan, then 2 birds on the Blue Gate track with 3 birds seen at Yushan NP.

 

Taiwan Fulvetta Alcippe formosana Country endemic

Quite a few seen Anmashan top walk, only 1 bird at Yushan NP.

 

Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea  brunnea

Seen well at Anmashan, also heard Bedongyueshan

 

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia  morrisonia

common

 

White-eared Sibia Heterophasia auricularis Country endemic

common

 

Taiwan Yuhina Yuhina brunneiceps Country endemic

fairly common in flocks

 

White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca

only 1 bird seen, HuisunForest Reserve

 

Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus  bulomachus

4 birds at Chung Yang Farm

 

Golden Parrotbill Paradoxornis verreauxi  morrisonianus

A nice flock at Anmashan top walk, 2 birds seen Yushan NP

 

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

fairly common

 

Coal Tit Periparus ater  ptisolus

seen only at Anmashan top

 

Green-backed TitParus monticolus  insperatus

fairly common and regularly encountered

 

Yellow Tit Macholophus holsti Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic

seen on 4 tour dates, 8 birds total, Anmashan, Blue Gate, Bedongyueshan

 

Varied Tit Sittiparus varius  castaneoventris

10+ at Huisun is a real good number

 

Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea

Only seen twice, Anmashan and Bedongyueshan

 

Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor  uchidai

Good views at Anmashan and Blue Gate track Wushe

 

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum  formosum

Seen well at HuisunForest Reserve.

 

Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus  simplex

common

 

Maroon [Red] Oriole Oriolus traillii  ardens

2 males and a female at HuisunForest Reserve, another male en-route to Wushe

 

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

only 1 lingering bird seen on the coast near Tsengwen

 

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus  harterti

fairly common

 

Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus  brounianus

few seen Anmashan and Huisun

 

Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius  taivanus

Encounters at Anmashan, Blue Gate track and Yushan NP

 

Taiwan Blue Magpie Urocissa caerulea Country endemic

15+2+10 birds respectively at HuisunForest Reserve. This reserve has 3 different groups in 3 different locations. I've never missed seeing a single of these groups on my 3 last visits. 3x3=9! Huisun is excellent!

 

Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae  formosae

common

 

Eurasian Magpie Pica pica

a single bird en-route to Tsengwen

 

Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes  owstoni

Anmashan top and Yushan NP

 

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

small numbers throughout

 

Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus  Introduced

several noted en-route throughout

 

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Introduced

few Tsengwen

 

Red-billed Starling Sturnus sericeus

Single imm. bird en-route Tsengwen

 

Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans

We recorded this very scarce species at exactly the same spot near Wushe as we did last year; 2 males and a female present.

 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

common

 

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata

Few at Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm

 

Vinaceous Rosefinch  Carpodacus vinaceus  formosanus

Only 1 bird seen at Yushan NP. It gave a good performance though.

 

Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis  uchidae

First a single seen en-route to Blue Gate track, then on the track 2 more birds of which 1 was good for scope views.

 

Beavan’s Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca  owstoni

2 birds seen briefly only by Stijn, Anmashan top

 

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla

2 birds seen near Wushe

 

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala

5+ birds seen at Chung Yang Farm near Wushe, then 5 seen at Yushan NP

  

  

  

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