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Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
7 + 5 at Tsengwen
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Longluan Lake Kenting and 4 near Puli
Great Egret Ardea alba
few Tsengwen area
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Fairly common
Pacific Reef Egret Egretta sacra
We saw the southernmost bird of Taiwan!
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
common
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
fairly common
Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
1 ad. and 1 imm. by the roadside up Anmashan, 3 at HuisunForest Reserve and 1 at Huben temple.
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
1 seen Tsengwen
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Introduced
seen twice from the freeway
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
6 birds at LongluanLake
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
About 10 in flight at Tsengwen estuary
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
A single bird seen twice near Tsengwen estuary.
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 2 near Fangliao.
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela hoya
Common and seen throughout.
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus formosae
At least 4 birds noted.
Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis
2 birds seen
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Three sightings at Anmashan and 1 at Chung yang farm Wushe
Taiwan Partridge Arborophila crudigularis Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
Two birds posed for minutes by the side of the road on our amazing drive up Anmashan only a minute after a male Mikado had done the same.
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola thoracica sonorivox Near-endemic
The distinct Taiwan form was seen on no less than 5 different tour dates.
Swinhoe's Pheasant Lophura swinhoii Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
At Anmashan 2 + 1 + 3 birds seen, amazingly all males which made us happy to finally connect with a female at Bedongyueshan…
Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
No females seen at all brrrr, but twice an ad. male showed at Dasyueshan FR.
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
1 bird flushed at Huben
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
2 near Puli with few at Twengwen and at Longluan Lake.
Greater Painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis
Up to 7 birds showed so brilliant and easy out in the open at Tsengwen that they actually became a highlight of the day which then enabled them to compete with Fairy Pitta for ‘the’ highlight of the day!
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Small numbers at Tsengwen
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
8 birds total spread over 4 tour dates
Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
Only 1 at Tsengwen
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Just 7 birds at Tsengwen
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
3 birds seen
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Good numbers Tsengwen
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus
Few at Tsengwen
Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii
1 at Tsengwen
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
1 at Tsengwen
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
4 noted Tsengwen
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
7+ Tsengwen, in summer plumage
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Small numbers Tsengwen
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Few Tsengwen
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
1 Tsengwen
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
About 10 at Tsengwen
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
2 birds noted Tsengwen
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
8 birds noted Tsengwen
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
1 bird noted Tsengwen
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
Several seen Tsengwen
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
15+ birds at Tsengwen, in beautiful summer plumage
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
15+ bird noted near Tsengwen, summer plumage
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
few at Tsengwen
Great-crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
10+ birds Tsengwen
Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis orii
common
Red Collared-Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
common Tsengwen and coast
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis formosona
common in lowlands throughout
White-bellied Pigeon Treron sieboldii soronius
10 + 2 seen Anmashan, 3 birds Wushe
Large Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides
1 seen Anmashan and more heard, also Wushe
Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus
2 + 1 seen at Anmashan, also 1 fly-by Cuckoo at Tsengwen thought to be this species.
Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis
1 seen en-route to Wushe and heard near Taiwan’s southern tip.
Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus hambroecki
Heard from behind the accommodation in Wushe but too distant to make a chance get 1 into view.
Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia glabripes
1 seen in the garden of our accommodation in Wushe
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei pardalotum
1 showed nicely on the Blue Gate track, more heard
Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis stictomus
2 seen in Dongshi with more heard. In fact, as compared with April, these were real vocal in early May for us to realize that they are (very!) common in just about every lowland town in Taiwan. Not always easy to see though as they fly quite high above the buildings and using roof tops to roost.
Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis formosanus
2 seen Anmashan and 10+ at Chung Yang farm Wushe
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
Noted on 4 tour dates.
House Swift Apus nipalensis stictomus
Common thoughout
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
A single bird at Anmashan
Taiwan Barbet Megalaima nuchalis Country endemic
Fairly common with sightings on 3 different days.
Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis
4 birds at Huisun.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos insularis
2 sightings at Bedongyueshan
Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus tancolo
At Anmashan heard on the top-walk and seen near km 34.
Fairy Pitta Pitta nympha Vulnerable
1 posed in the open for about 10 min. in the Huben area. Declined a lot here in recent years and they seem to be absent now from the perfect habitat near the famous Huben temple.
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula wattersi
4 birds at Tsengwen
Grey-throated Martin Riparia chinensis chinensis
1 near Puli and 8 birds seen at Tsengwen
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
common
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica namiyei
fairly common at lower altitudes + coast, noted on 6 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
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Several single birds noted on 6 tour dates (leucopsis)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis
1 bird only on this tour and at a rather unusual spot, on the Hehuan Pass, subsp. tschutschensis
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Only 1, at Yushan
Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
Fairly common, Anmashan, Huisun, Wushe
Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques cinereicapillus Near-endemic
Common at low to mid altitudes
Styan's Bulbul Pycnonotus taivanus Country Endemic
Plenty seen on it’s stronghold in Kenting
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 at Hehuan and Yushan NP.
Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
Three birds performed brilliantly at Anmashan.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes taivanus
Heard at Anmashan on the top-walk and 2 birds seen at HehuanPass.
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris fennelli
2 birds singing on HehuanPass.
Taiwan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus insularis Country endemic
Five sightings at Anmashan and one en-route to Huisun.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
5 birds Anmashan km 23
Taiwan Shortwing Brachypteryx goodfellowi Country endemic
2 birds seen Anmashan top walk and seen near Wushe, more heard
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
few Tsengwen
Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera striata
Anmashan and Wushe
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
Chung Yang Farm, Tsengwen.
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler Cettia fortipes robustipes
3 seen of which 1 very cooperative (fly my head off…) at Anmashan and more heard, also heard Chung Yang Farm Wushe
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler Cettia acanthizoides concolor
Two seen Anmashan top and more heard, also HehuanPass and Yushan NP.
Taiwan Bush-Warbler Bradypterus alishanensis Country endemic
2 birds showed very well at Anmashan, few more heard incl. at Yushan NP and HehuanPass.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
1 seen HuisunForest Reserve
Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
Fairly common and recorded on every tour date in the mountains.
Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea
3 + 1 birds seen well near Anmashan top parking lot, 1 Wushe and 2 nesting at Yushan.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra innexa
1 flew across the road en-route to Huisun and heard singing at Bedongyueshan
Vivid [Taiwan] Niltava Niltava vivida vivida
Several sightings Anmashan, Blue Gate track
White-browed [Taiwan] Robin Tarsiger indicus formosana
1 seen briefly Anmashan top walk and a male seen very well at Yushan NP
Collared Bush-Robin Tarsiger johnstoniae Country endemic
Approx. 10 Anmashan, few HehuanPass and common as usual at Yushan NP.
Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa affinis
5 birds seen at Anmashan and a few near Wushe
White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum montium
Fairly common and seen on most tour dates.
Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri fortis
Two seen on a small waterfall at Anmashan and 1 seen on the road nearby.
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea oberholseri
Anmashan, Huisun, Huben, Wushe and Kenting
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
4 sightings, a pair at Anmashan km 12, then a single feeding on berries at km 23 and also seen near our accommodation at Wushe and at Chung Yang farm.
Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taewanus Country endemic
Seen Chung Yang farm and near our accommodation in Wushe. Heard Anmashan.
White-whiskered Laughingthrush Garrulax morrisonianus Country endemic
Fairly common at higher altitudes. Seen Anmashan, Hehuan, Yushan.
Steere's Liocichla Liocichla steerii Country endemic
common throughout in the mountains
Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis Country endemic
One seen briefly feeding on berries together with Rusty LT at Anmashan km 23, also seen briefly near our accommodation in Wushe and at Bedongyueshan. Actually much more vocal now than I’ve experienced previous on April trips with plenty heard throughout. This is not a scarce bird!
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus musicus Country endemic
Two sightings at Anmashan and a pair seen in open scrub near Kenting. More heard.
Taiwan Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga formosana Country endemic
Seen well after much work on our way back down from Hehuan. Later seen much more easily at Yushan NP. More heard.
Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps praecognita
Fairly common
Taiwan Barwing Actinodura morrisoniana Country endemic
3 birds seen at the Blue Gate track, heard Anmashan
Taiwan Fulvetta Alcippe formosana Country endemic
2 seen Anmashan top walk and 3 showed very well at Yushan NP
Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea brunnea
Brief views Anmashan and Huben, more heard.
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
3 birds seen, Anmashan, HuisunForest Reserve and Huben.
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus bulomachus
5+ birds proved easy to find and showed well at Chung Yang Farm
Golden Parrotbill Paradoxornis verreauxi morrisonianus
Two good sightings of a pair at Yushan NP. Second time we saw them collecting nesting material.
Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
Regular sightings Anmashan, Wushe area, Yushan NP
Coal Tit Periparus ater ptisolus
seen only at Anmashan top and Yushan
Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus insperatus
Regularly encountered in small numbers
Yellow Tit Macholophus holsti Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
1 + 3 at Anmashan and 1 on the Blue Gate track
Varied Tit Sittiparus varius castaneoventris
Took a while to connect at Huisun due to heavy rain showers but we finally succeeded by about 1pm when 2 birds showed very well.
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Quite a few sightings, Anmashan, Blue Gate track, Bedongyueshan
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum formosum
Heard at HuisunForest Reserve.
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus simplex
common
Maroon [Red] Oriole Oriolus traillii ardens
A pair seen at Huisun Forest Reserve
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Still 5 lingering birds seen, this late in spring.
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach formosae
2 Tsengwen
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, Wushe and Yushan
Taiwan Blue Magpie Urocissa caerulea Country endemic
Members of all 3 HuisunForest Reserve groups seen well incl. birds seen nesting.
Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae formosae
common
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
4 near Taoyuan airport
Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes owstoni
Heard Anmashan top and 2 seen Yushan NP
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
small numbers throughout
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Introduced
1 sighting
Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus Introduced
plenty noted en-route throughout
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
common
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
Few at Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
few Tsengwen
Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus formosanus
A pair + 1 male seen Anmashan and a pair seen at Yushan NP.
Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis uchidae
7 birds seen at the Blue Gate track.
Beavan’s Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca owstoni
A superb pair showing for a prolonged time at close range at Anmashan. Highlight! Later also a male seen on top of a pine at Anmashan and heard Yushan.
Mammals
Formosan Rock Macaque Macaca cyclopis Vulnerable (VU)
Few sightings Anmashan
Pallas's Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus
rather common
Maritime Striped Squirrel Tamiops maritimus
Few seen Anmashan
Perny's Long-nosed Squirrel Dremomys pernyi
few seen Anmashan
Formosan Sika Deer Cervus Nippon taioanus
3 seen Kenting
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