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B2A Taiwan 2011 13 – 20 April   Bob Walton and Stijn De Win   Anmashan, Huisun Forest Reserve, Wushe area, Tsengwen Estuary, Longluan Lake and Yushan National Park

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis 30+ at Tsengwen and few Longluan Lake   Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea 5 at Longluan Lake Kenting   Great Egret  Ardea alba several en-route and Tsengwen   Intermediate Egret  Egretta intermedia few at Tsengwen and Longluan Lake   Little Egret  Egretta garzetta Fairly common   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, 1 found on the nest at Huisun Forest Reserve with another adult seen in the same reserve.   Cinnamon Bittern  Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 1 seen Tsengwen   Black-faced Spoonbill  Platalea minor Thirteen birds remained on the regular roost at the lagoon in the Tsengwen Estuary. No less than 608 birds had been present on our November 2010 visit. Clearly most had left for the breeding grounds by the date of April 16th. Eurasian Wigeon  Anas Penelope 3 birds seen at Tsengwen   Eurasian Teal  Anas crecca 10+ were present on pools at Tsengwen estuary   Garganey  Anas querquedula 1 male on pools near Tsengwen   Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos About 10 at Longluan Lake   Eastern Spot-billed Duck  Anas zonorhyncha 15 birds at Longluan Lake an 2 seen in flight near Huben   Northern Shoveler  Anas clypeata 1 seen  at Tsengwen   Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula 1 on Longluan Lake    Osprey  Pandion haliaetus A bird seen en-route from the freeway on 13th  and 1 bird at Tsengwen Estuary.   Oriental Honey-buzzard  Pernis ptilorhynchus A single bird seen at Chung Yang farm Wushe.   Black-eared Kite  Milvus lineatus Scarce and local in Taiwan with perhaps a population of less than a 100 birds, but we were lucky to see 1 at Longluan Lake. First time I get it at this locality.   Crested Serpent-Eagle  Spilornis cheela hoya Common and seen throughout.   Crested Goshawk  Accipiter trivirgatus formosae At least 7 birds noted during 5 tour dates.   Besra  Accipiter virgatus fuscipectus 2 birds seen, Anmashan and Wushe   Eastern Buzzard  Buteo japonicus A single noted at Longluan lake.   Black Eagle   Ictinaetus malayensis Three sightings near Wushe. Perfect close views of a bird perched at the Blue Gate track.   Taiwan Partridge  Arborophila crudigularis  Near-threatened (NT)  Country endemic It looks like we’ve got a new stake-out for this one. On our first day of the trip 1 bird came out and showed for a prolonged time and this was actually the first time I managed to photograph this shy and difficult to find species. We were so lucky! Pressure off on this most tricky endemic on our first afternoon birding.   Chinese Bamboo-Partridge  Bambusicola thoracica sonorivox  Near-endemic The distinct Taiwan form seen first at Anmashan (2 birds), then later another nice sighting of  2 birds  at Longluan Lake were again, as with the Partridge,  I managed my first ever good photos of the species.   Swinhoe's Pheasant  Lophura swinhoii  Near-threatened (NT)  Country endemic Only seen at Anmashan on this trip but with 9 different birds that won’t be something to complain about. A male and 2 females performed on our first afternoon. On the drive up the next day we encountered a pair and later on (after finding Mikado!) we got 3 females and 1 male on the drive down the mountain.   Mikado Pheasant  Syrmaticus mikado  Near-threatened (NT)  Country endemic A brilliant adult male found at Anmashan on April 14th, then at Yushan NP we got 2 sightings of each 1 female.   Slaty-breasted Rail  Gallirallus striatus 1 bird at Tsengwen was a good find by Bob   Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus Several noted at Twengwen and also 5+ at Longluan Lake.   Eurasian Coot  Fulica atra 5 at Longluan Lake   Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus Small numbers at Tsengwen   Oriental Pratincole  Glareola maldivarum A single bird seen at Longluan Lake.   Pacific Golden-Plover  Pluvialis fulva 20+ at Tsengwen, attaining summer plumage.   Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola Just 2  birds at Tsengwen   Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius 1 in pools near Longluan Lake   Kentish Plover  Charadrius alexandrinus Good numbers Tsengwen   Lesser Sandplover  Charadrius mongolus Few at Tsengwen   Bar-tailed Godwit  Limosa lapponica 10 at Tsengwen   Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus About 10 at Tsengwen   Terek Sandpiper  Xenus cinereus 2 noted Tsengwen   Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos Few Tsengwen, 1 Longluan Lake   Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia Small numbers Tsengwen and Longluan   Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis Few Tsengwen, 1 at Longluan   Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola Few Tsengwen and Longluan   Common Redshank  Tringa totanus Few Tsengwen   Red-necked Stint  Calidris ruficollis Just only 10 at Tsengwen   Long-toed Stint  Calidris subminuta 2 birds noted Tsengwen and 8 at Longluan Lake   Little Tern  Sternula albifrons Several seen  Tsengwen   Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica 5 at Tsengwen lagoon   Caspian Tern  Hydroprogne caspia 5 birds at Tsengwen   Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida 1 bird noted near Tsengwen   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 Two at Anmashan on our first day and approx. 10 on the next. Then also 2 + 2 birds on the drive up to Yushan NP on 17th.   Large Hawk-Cuckoo  Cuculus sparverioides Heard  Bedongyueshan   Oriental Cuckoo  Cuculus optatus Seen only once and in flight but heard on 3 other occasions.   Lesser Coucal  Centropus bengalensis Heard at Longluan lake   Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus  hambroecki Although common in most of Asia, this tiny owl usually is extremely difficult to get into view. We got very lucky when 1 bird was calling right next to the road up Anmashan. Even then, it took some minutes to locate but rewards were high with great views enjoyed and photos taken.   Collared Owlet  Glaucidium brodiei pardalotum Good scope views of 1 at Anmashan and also heard Bedongyueshan and Blue Gate near Wushe   Savanna Nightjar  Caprimulgus affinis stictomus Heard only from out of the hotel window on the 8th floor in Chiali town.   Silver-backed Needletail  Hirundapus cochinchinensis formosanus 10+ performed in the blue skies of  the Anmashan top walk.   House Swift  Apus nipalensis stictomus Common thoughout   Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis A single bird found at Tsengwen   Taiwan Barbet  Megalaima nuchalis  Country endemic Fairly common with sightings on 4 different days.   Grey-capped Woodpecker  Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis 1 seen Anmashan and 2 birds at Huisun.   White-backed Woodpecker  Dendrocopos leucotos insularis 3 sightings at Anmashan and more heard at Blue Gate track Wushe   Grey-faced Woodpecker  Picus canus tancolo 2 birds seen at Anmashan   Oriental Skylark  Alauda gulgula  wattersi 3 birds at Tsengwen and 2 at Longluan Lake   Grey-throated Martin  Riparia chinensis chinensis 2 birds seen at Tsengwen and a single at Longluan   Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica common   Pacific Swallow  Hirundo tahitica namiyei fairly common at lower altitudes + coast, noted on 4 tour dates   Asian Martin  Delichon dasypus nigrimentalis common at higher altitudes with 50+ birds seen Anmashan   Striated Swallow  Cecropis striolata striolata fairly common in lowlands   Richard’s Pipit  Anthus richardi 1 bird only, at Tsengwen Estuary   Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni 5+ birds seen Anmashan   White Wagtail  Motacilla alba Several single birds noted, mainly in the Wushe area (leucopsis)   Eastern Yellow Wagtail  Motacilla tschutschensis 10+ seen in flight only Tsengwen   Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea Only 1, at Anmashan   Grey-chinned Minivet  Pericrocotus solaris Fairly common at Anmashan   Collared Finchbill  Spizixos semitorques cinereicapillus  Near-endemic Common at low to mid altitudes   Styan's Bulbul  Pycnonotus taivanus Endemic Plenty seen on it’s stronghold at Longluan Lake.   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.  One bird on the Anmashan top walk was particularly cooperative in such that I managed some decent photos of this lively species (digiscoped) for the first time.   Winter Wren  Troglodytes troglodytes taivanus Seen at Anmashan on the top-walk and at Hehuan Pass.   Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris fennelli A single bird enjoyed by the third parking lot on Hehuan Pass.   Blue Rock-Thrush  Monticola solitarius philippensis An adult male showed well at Huisun Forest Reserve.   Taiwan Whistling-Thrush  Myophonus insularis  Country endemic Three sightings at Anmashan, one showing close-up as seen from the car.   Scaly Thrush  Zoothera dauma Singles as both Anmashan and at Bedongyueshan.   Pale Thrush  Turdus pallidus At least 5 birds seen at Anmashan and 1 on the drive to Huisun.   Brown-headed Thrush  Turdus chrysolaus Just 1 seen. A very bright adult male at Longluan Lake Kenting.   Taiwan Shortwing  Brachypteryx goodfellowi  Country endemic 2 birds seen Anmashan top walk, 1 gave my best views ever at the Blue Gate track, few more heard.   Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis few Tsengwen and Longluan   Striated Prinia  Prinia crinigera striata Recorded on every single tour date.   Plain Prinia  Prinia inornata Chung Yang Farm,  Tsengwen and Longluan   Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler  Cettia fortipes robustipes One seen well at Anmashan and more heard, also heard Chung Yang Farm Wushe   Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler  Cettia acanthizoides concolor Three seen Anmashan top and 1 at Hehuan Pass, heard at Yushan NP.   Taiwan Bush-Warbler  Bradypterus alishanensis  Country endemic 1 bird showed very well at Anmashan and 1 seen Huhuan Pass. Few more heard incl. at Yushan NP.   Yellow-browed Warbler  Phylloscopus inornatus heard Huisun Forest Reserve   Rufous-faced Warbler  Abroscopus albogularis Fairly common and recorded on every single tour date.   Ferruginous Flycatcher  Muscicapa ferruginea 2 birds seen well near Anmashan top parking lot.   Vivid Niltava  Niltava vivida vivida Several sightings Anmashan, Blue Gate and Yushan NP   White-browed Robin  Tarsiger indicus formosana 5 birds seen Anmashan top walk and 2  seen Yushan NP   Collared Bush-Robin  Tarsiger johnstoniae  Country endemic Approx. 10 Anmashan, 5+ Hehuan Pass and common as usual at Yushan NP with 20+ recorded.   Plumbeous Redstart  Rhyacornis fuliginosa affinis A male in Yushan NP and 5+ seen at Anmashan   White-tailed Robin  Cinclidium leucurum montium Fairly common and seen on most tour dates.   Little Forktail  Enicurus scouleri fortis A single on a small waterfall at Anmashan.   Black-naped Monarch  Hypothymis azurea oberholseri Anmashan, Huisun, Huben and Wushe   Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush  Garrulax ruficeps  Country endemic A group of about 15 birds at Anmashan. At Bedongyueshan we enjoyed several sightings throughout the morning.   Rusty Laughingthrush  Garrulax poecilorhynchus  Country endemic 3 sightings, a pair at Anmashan, a single feeding on berries seen from the balcony of our accommodation at Wushe and 3 birds found by sound and later seen well with Rufous-crowned at Bedongyueshan.   Taiwan Hwamei  Garrulax taewanus  Country endemic 2 birds seen at a roadside stop en-route from Huisun, heard Chung Yang Farm, 5 easy to observe at Longluan Lake. A bird seen crossing the road on the lower reaches of Anmashan was my first sighting at the site.   White-whiskered Laughingthrush  Garrulax morrisonianus  Country endemic Fairly common at higher altitudes and especially so at Yushan NP where we saw 10+ birds. Anmashan held 4 birds and Hehuan Pass two.   Steere's Liocichla  Liocichla steerii  Country endemic common throughout in the mountains   Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler  Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis  Country endemic Two birds at Bedongyueshan put in a performance as usual. Briefly heard at Anmashan and Blue Gate.   Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler  Pomatorhinus musicus  Country endemic Two sightings at Anmashan and quite a few more heard incl. at Huisun and in the Wushe area.   Taiwan Wren-Babbler  Pnoepyga formosana  Country endemic Blue Gate track did the trick again although it remained heard only on our first attempt. Seen very well the next morning though. Heard also at Anmashan and Yushan NPs.   Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps praecognita Fairly common   Taiwan Barwing  Actinodura morrisoniana  Country endemic No less than 6 birds seen at the Blue Gate track.   Taiwan Fulvetta  Alcippe formosana  Country endemic About 5 seen Anmashan top walk, then 10+  at Yushan NP with 1 recorded on the Blue Gate track.   Dusky Fulvetta  Alcippe brunnea brunnea Seen well at Huisun Forest Reserve. They proved skulky and difficult at  Anmashan this time where only heard, also heard Bedongyueshan.   Grey-cheeked Fulvetta  Alcippe morrisonia morrisonia Fairly common   White-eared Sibia  Heterophasia auricularis  Country endemic common   Taiwan Yuhina  Yuhina brunneiceps  Country endemic fairly common in flocks   White-bellied Erpornis  Erpornis zantholeuca 2 birds seen, Huisun Forest Reserve, heard at Huben.   Vinous-throated Parrotbill  Paradoxornis webbianus bulomachus 1 seen Anmashan and 3 birds at Chung Yang Farm   Golden Parrotbill  Paradoxornis verreauxi morrisonianus Took a while to find this time but then we got lucky with  an incredibly lively flock of no less than 25 birds showing at Yushan. I heard the comment; “They are like a flock of mosquitoes going through the bush.” And indeed, I must confirm, the experience could be described just like that.   Black-throated Tit  Aegithalos concinnus Regular sightings Anmashan, Wushe area, Yushan NP   Coal Tit  Periparus ater ptisolus seen only at Anmashan top, heard Yushan   Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus insperatus Regularly encountered in small numbers   Yellow Tit  Macholophus holsti  Near-threatened (NT)  Country endemic 1 at Anmashan, 2 on the Blue Gate track and 1 at Bedongyueshan   Varied Tit  Sittiparus varius castaneoventris 5+ at Huisun showing exceptionally well (low down rather than treetops)   Eurasian Nuthatch  Sitta europaea Only seen twice, Anmashan and Blue Gate track   Plain Flowerpecker  Dicaeum concolor uchidai Good views at  Blue Gate track Wushe, also briefly seen Anmashan   Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  Dicaeum ignipectum formosum Several seen well on the Blue Gate track, heard at Huisun Forest Reserve.   Japanese White-eye  Zosterops japonicus simplex common   Maroon [Red] Oriole  Oriolus traillii ardens 2 males at Huisun Forest Reserve   Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus only 1 lingering bird seen on the coast near Tsengwen but quite a few were seen at Longluan   Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach formosae 3 near Tsengwen and 1 at Longluan   Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus harterti Common in lowlands   Bronzed Drongo  Dicrurus aeneus brounianus Fairly common Anmashan and Wushe area   Eurasian Jay  Garrulus glandarius taivanus Encounters at Anmashan only.   Taiwan Blue Magpie  Urocissa caerulea  Country endemic 20+ at Huisun Forest Reserve incl. birds seen nesting Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae formosae common   Eurasian Nutcracker  Nucifraga caryocatactes owstoni Anmashan top; 5+   Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos small numbers throughout   Javan Myna  Acridotheres javanicus  Introduced several noted en-route throughout   Black-collared Starling  Gracupica nigricollis  Introduced 1 seen en-route to Wushe   Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus common   White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata Few at Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm   Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata 3 birds seen only, Tsengwen and Huben   Vinaceous Rosefinch  Carpodacus vinaceus formosanus A female and 2 males at Hehuan Pass and a pair seen at Yushan NP.   Brown Bullfinch  Pyrrhula nipalensis uchidae 5 + 6 birds showed at the  Blue Gate track.   Beavan’s Bullfinch  Pyrrhula erythaca owstoni A superb pair showing for a prolonged time at close range at Yushan NP. Highlight!   Black-faced Bunting  Emberiza spodocephala Approx. 15 birds seen at Chung Yang Farm near Wushe although just a couple showed well.       Mammals   Formosan Rock Macaque  Macaca cyclopis  Vulnerable (VU) Fairly common Anmashan   Red-and White Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista alborufus 2 brilliant sightings at Anmashan   Pallas's Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus rather common   Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel Dremomys pernyi few seen Anmashan   Siberian Weasel Mustela sibirica 1 showed well at Yushan NP with 2 more seen at Anmashan

Formosan Rock Macaque -Anmashan                                       Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel -Anmashan

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