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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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