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Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
common Tsengwen estuary
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
5+ Tsengwen estuary and 10+ Longluan Lake
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
50+ Tsengwen estuary, few Longluan Lake
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
2 seen Longluan Lake
Great Egret Ardea alba
few en-route and more seen Tsengwen and Longluan
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Tsengwen and Longluan
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
common
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
regularly recorded in small numbers
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
fairly common
Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
We enjoyed 1 imm. in the tropical botanical garden in Chushan.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
2 birds Longluan Lake
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor Endangered
Almost 1/3 of the entire world population was present at the Tsengwen estuary during our visit, an amazing 608 birds! No need to tell you that they provided us with an unforgettable spectacle. See photos.
Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope
50+ seen at Tsengwen and 10 birds counted at Longluan Lake
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
200+ were present on pools at Tsengwen estuary
Garganey Anas querquedula
20+ on pools at Tsengwen
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
5 at Longluan Lake
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
5 birds at Longluan Lake
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
At least 2 birds noted Tsengwen estuary
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Around 25 birds at Tsengwen and 10 at Longluan Lake
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
100+ on Longluan Lake
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Described as an accidental winter visitor to Taiwan, we noted 2 small groups at Longluan Lake, totaling about 15 birds and indeed a new species on my Taiwan list.
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
A bird seen en-route on the freeway near Miaoli and 1 bird present at Longluan Lake.
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus
A few birds seen almost daily.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
I’m not sure sightings of this species have become more regular in Taiwan lately. Mark Brazil does note it only as a local resident on Kinmen island (belongs to Taiwan), not as present on mainland Taiwan. The species does get increasingly recorded in E China though. We did see 2 birds, both from the freeway and on our journey between Chiali and Dongshih. Another surprise find and write-in species on our trip list. Of course also new on my Taiwan list.
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 near Dapeng Bay. My second ever sighting in Taiwan.
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela hoya
A total of 8 birds seen on this trip.
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus formosae
At least 6 birds noted during the tour.
Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis
Seen only once, at Anmashan.
Besra Accipiter virgatus fuscipectus
Seen perched at Huben.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Seen twice on this trip.
Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus
We obviously catched some late raptor migration in the Kenting area. Three late Grey-faced Buzzards together were busy making their way south over Longluan Lake.
Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus
The same as above applies for this species. Three singles seen on migration at Longluan lake.
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Some amazing encounters with this one. Twice we got a bird good for eye-level views to enjoy and at Bedongyueshan we had a bird perched which is apparently very rare to come by as they usually perch inside the forest interior. Our bird enjoyed some early hour sunshine at the forest edge. A total of 5 birds seen during our trip.
Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis
Certainly scarce in Taiwan and we did better than average with 3 sightings. All at Anmashan and all three at different elevation.
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
A good number of this increasingly scarce species in East Asia with 5 birds seen.
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
One bird seen Longluan Lake, a winterer only in Taiwan and good to see.
Taiwan Partridge Arborophila crudigularis Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
At Bedongyueshan, 2 birds flushed one by one and at close range on the track gave reasonably good flight views before disappearing and later on we got another bird that flew in to playback. Heard also at Anmashan and Huisun Forest Reserve.
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola thoracica sonorivox Near-endemic
A nice group of 10+ birds scurried across the track near the tea plantation clearing at Bedongyueshan. Plenty more heard throughout the tour.
Swinhoe's Pheasant Lophura swinhoii Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
A superb male posed also on this tour for photos at Anmashan. Then at Bedongyueshan we saw 2 more males and no less than 5 females. On the Blue Gate track near Wushe, 1 male and 2 females were seen. In total we got an amazing 11 different birds seen on the tour, a record so far.
Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
Another “Pheasant record” and one I won’t beat easily again… No less than 16 different birds seen on the tour must be good! It all started with a superb group of 4 males and 3 females at Anmashan, which we watched for 20 minutes and at a range of up to just 4 meters away while they simply kept foraging undisturbed in the roadside grasses. An unforgettable experience and so good to see these birds be so confiding as a result of zero hunting pressure. Rare enough in Asia! We went on to score on Mikado’s at Yushan NP despite the rainy weather. A good start we made with 3 females encountered on our first evening, then on the next morning we got 3 males by the roadside first thing, then little later another 2 males and a female.
(Rudy-breasted Crake) Porzana fusca
A dead bird by the roadside at Longluan Lake.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Longluan Lake and Jiji endemic research station.
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
10 birds at Longluan Lake
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Small numbers at Tsengwen and Longluan
Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum
A single bird seen near Longluan Lake.
Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
A scarce winter visitor to Taiwan, we got 1 bird at Longluan Lake.
Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
Good number at Tsengwen and Longluan.
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
10+ at Tsengwen
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
2 birds seen Tsengwen and 50+ in wet fields near Longluan Lake
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Small numbers Tsengwen
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus
Small numbers at Tsengwen
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
A single bird at Tsengwen
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Single bird seen on coast en-route to Kenting.
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
3 birds at Tsengwen
Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
1 bird at Tsengwen
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Tsengwen, Longluan and 1 at Lushan
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Single bird at Tsengwen
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Small numbers Tsengwen and Longluan
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Good numbers Tsengwen and few Longluan
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Few Tsengwen, Longluan and also noted en-route to Wushe.
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
5+ birds at Tsengwen
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Good number at Tsengwen
Little Stint Calidris minuta
2 birds at Tsengwen
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
10+ birds noted Tsengwen and a single Longluan
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
500+ Tsengwen
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Approx. 10 birds seen at Tsengwen
Saunders’ Gull Larus saundersi
Always nice to get and we enjoyed 3 birds at Tsengwen.
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
Several on coast near Tsengwen
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
50+ birds near Tsengwen
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
5+ birds noted near Tsengwen, 10 near Dapeng Bay
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
2 Tsengwen, 1 Longluan
Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
A single bird out to sea at Tsengwen.
Ashy Wood-Pigeon Columba pulchricollis
Seen on 4 tour dates, with a max. of 20 birds at the Blue Gate track near Wushe.
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
Lots more birds around of this species than on previous visits in April. Seen on 7 tour dates with approx. 50 birds seen at Anmashan, another 50 or so at Bedongyueshan and 20+ at the Blue Gate track. Remember that this isn’t an easy to get species on the Asian mainland…
Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei pardalotum
Heard Bedongyueshan and Anmashan
Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis formosanus
The beautiful clear weather enjoyed on the first 5 days of our journey provided us with plenty sightings of this species up in the blue skies… At least 10 birds daily at Anmashan, 30+ at Bedongyueshan, and also seen Blue Gate track Wushe.
Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
Singles noted at Anmashan.
House Swift Apus nipalensis stictomus
Good for sightings on all tour dates.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
A single bird at Tsengwen and another in the river at Anmashan while watching Brown Dipper.
Taiwan Barbet Megalaima nuchalis Country endemic
Recorded on most tour dates with a max. of 5 birds seen in a single day.
Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis
Heard Anmashan and Huisun, seen at Chung Yang Farm and we saw at least 5 birds at Jiji endemic station.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos insularis
Two sightings at Anmashan
Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus tancolo
Definitely scarce and easy to miss in Taiwan but we taped in 1 bird at Anmashan with later 2 birds seen close to the first location. Then a single bird was also seen at Bedongyueshan.
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula wattersi
A single bird at Tsengwen seen singing high up in the air.
Grey-throated Martin Riparia chinensis chinensis
3 birds seen at Tsengwen and 1 Longluan Lake
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Few in the lowlands.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica namiyei
fairly common at lower altitudes + coast, noted on all tour dates
Asian Martin Delichon dasypus nigrimentalis
common at higher altitudes
Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata striolata
fairly common, usually in and near towns
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
1 bird only, near Longluan Lake
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Several single birds noted on the tour, mainly in the Wushe area (leucopsis)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
taivana (Green-headed Wagtail), 15+ birds seen en-route to Wushe
tschutschensis (Alaska Wagtail), 2 birds Tsengwen
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Few throughout but seen on all tour dates.
Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
Fairly common
Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques cinereicapillus Near-endemic
Surprisingly absent from Anmashan, Huisun and Chung Yang farm near Wushe. We noted a few though at Huben.
Styan's Bulbul Pycnonotus taivanus Endemic
Plenty seen 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, also heard Bedongyueshan and Hehuan Pass.
Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
We found 3 birds at Anmashan of which 1 gave good close views. The other two at 1 point disappeared under a waterfall which must presumably have been their nesting spot.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes taivanus
Only one seen, at Hehuan Pass.
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris fennelli
Two birds by the top parking lot on Hehuan Pass.
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
Two birds seen near Longluan Lake.
Taiwan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus insularis Country endemic
Several sightings Anmashan, also Wushe and Yushan NP.
Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma
Four individuals seen, great views of 1 at Anmashan and then singles at Wushe and Yushan NP.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
Seen on 4 tour dates with max. 10+ at Chung Yang Farm near Wushe.
Taiwan Shortwing Brachypteryx goodfellowi Country endemic
1 bird seen Anmashan top walk, then great views on the Blue Gate track Wushe, total 4 birds seen, more heard.
Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera striata
Few seen Chung Yang Farm, heard Anmashan.
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata flavirostris
Few seen Tsengwen
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler Cettia fortipes robustipes
Few seen at Anmashan, one bird only got briefly into song once (autumn).
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler Cettia acanthizoides concolor
Seen well at Anmashan top (also song here) and photographed at Huhuan pass.
(Taiwan Bush-Warbler) Bradypterus alishanensis Country endemic
Not usually singing at this time of year, although I thought once to hear a few bits of song at Anmashan but nothing thereafter to confirm this. In the same location we followed movements of a Bush-warbler through dense vegetation as it called continuously and different from both previous species on this list. It was then seen briefly in flight and might have well been a Taiwan Bush-Warbler. While Taiwan Bush-Warbler is tricky to find in November, it must be said that almost all of the other important target species on Taiwan are pretty vocal indeed in this season with equal chances on sightings as would be in the breeding season. Add the much greater chance on good weather, which is important with most endemics having a home in the mountains, and one knows that November indeed is a prime season for birding in Taiwan. On this trip we enjoyed 5 full days in a row with brilliant blue skies and quite a bit of interesting migration going on still.
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
heard Huisun Forest Reserve
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
2 birds seen at Jijhi endemic research station
Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
Fairly common
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra innexa
A female seen at Anmashan while a male showed well at Bedongyueshan.
Vivid Niltava Niltava vivida vivida
Several sightings Anmashan, then at one time on the Blue Gate track we basically got surrounded by 6 or 7 birds when they came in from all sides on tape playback –extremely responsive for autumn!
White-browed Robin Tarsiger indicus formosana
Definitely seen more of those than on the average April visit with regular sightings on the higher altitudes at Anmashan including some fine males showing well. Also seen in the Wushe area.
Collared Bush-Robin Tarsiger johnstoniae Country endemic
Daily sightings at Anmashan, and few at Yushan NP and in the Wushe area.
Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa affinis
Common along streams and waterfalls; Anmashan, en-route Bedongyueshan, Wushe area, Yushan.
Daurian Redstart Phoenicuris auroreus
Another one not normally on the list for a late spring visit but this November was good for a fine male and 4 females seen in the Wushe area where they favoured the fruit orchards.
White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum montium
Three sightings at Anmashan with more birds heard singing.
Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri fortis
Seen on 2 dates on a small waterfall at Anmashan.
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
Single bird seen at Hehuan pass.
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea oberholseri
Fairly common with regular sightings.
Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taewanus Country endemic
1 bird heard at a roadside stop en-route to Huisun, 4 birds showed at Chung Yang Farm and 1 seen briefly at Longluan Lake.
White-whiskered Laughingthrush Garrulax morrisonianus Country endemic
Fairly common at higher altitudes of Anmashan, Hehuan and Yushan.
Steere’s Liocichla Liocichla steerii Country endemic
common throughout in the mountains
Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis Country endemic
Two calling birds at Anmashan showed after some work and persistence put in. At Bedongyueshan we obtained good views of a couple birds more easily.
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus musicus Country endemic
Pretty vocal in November which resulted in quite a few more sightings than on our tour last April. Seen at Anmashan, Huisun Forest Reserve, Wushe area and Huben.
Taiwan Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga formosana Country endemic
Anmashan might not be the best spot to connect with this species and we gave up on a bird singing from dense vegetation knowing more and better chances would come up later on the tour. And indeed, some good sightings followed at Blue Gate track and at Bedongyueshan where 1 bird performed brilliant and close by in sparse undergrowth for excellent looks.
Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps praecognita
Fairly common and vocal.
Taiwan Barwing Actinodura morrisoniana Country endemic
3 different sightings on this tour again. We first got a few birds at Anmashan, then 1 bird at Bedongyueshan which is not the most regular spot for the species and later on we saw another 2 birds on the Blue Gate track.
Taiwan Fulvetta Alcippe formosana Country endemic
Quite a few seen Anmashan top walk and on the Blue Gate track Wushe.
Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea brunnea
Two birds seen at Anmashan and we watched 4 birds at close range for 15 min. at 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
Two birds seen at Huben.
Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus bulomachus
About 10 birds at Chung Yang Farm seen well and we saw another 4 birds at Anmashan on the last tour day.
Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
fairly common
Coal Tit Periparus ater ptisolus
seen only at Anmashan top
Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus insperatus
fairly common and regularly encountered
Yellow Tit Macholophus holsti Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
4 + 2 birds seen at Anmashan on different dates.
Varied Tit Sittiparus varius castaneoventris
They were easy at Huisun last April but proved difficult to find on this trip. After much effort just 1 bird came into view in the end and only briefly at that.
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Regular encounters at Anmashan and Bedongyueshan
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor uchidai
Only 1 bird seen, at Anmashan, but more heard, also on the Blue Gate Track.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum formosum
Seen twice, at Anmashan and Bedongyueshan, more heard.
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus simplex
common
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
A few seen near Tsengwen and about 10 birds around Longluan Lake
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach formosae
4 birds seen en-route along the coast
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus harterti
fairly common
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus brounianus
Regular sightings at Anmashan and also seen Huben.
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius taivanus
Regular encounters at Anmashan and 1 seen on the Blue Gate track.
Taiwan Blue Magpie Urocissa caerulea Country endemic
We enjoyed great views of 2 different groups at Huisun Forest Reserve.
Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae formosae
common
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
A single bird en-route near Tsengwen and 1 near the airport.
Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes owstoni
Up to 5 birds daily at Anmashan.
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
small numbers throughout
Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus Introduced
several noted en-route throughout
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Introduced
Single bird noted.
White-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis
A nice surprise with 8 birds seen near Longluan Lake, Kenting.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
common
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
Small numbers at Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
Few at Tsengwen and Longluan Lake.
Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus formosanus
A female gave great views at km 47, Anmashan.
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
A nice surprise find at Anmashan top walk. Brambling is a rare/accidental winter visitor to Taiwan.
Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis uchidae
We had scope views of 2 birds on a first brief visit to the Blue Gate Track. The next morning 5 birds showed there nearby the first spot.
Beavan’s Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca owstoni
Lots of berries around on the Anmashan top walk made it easy for us to find this otherwise tricky species. A nice group of 5 birds showed at close range for as long as we wanted as they were busy feeding.
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala
5 birds seen at Chung Yang Farm near Wushe.
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