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Latin names of distinct subspecies in bold green;
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
common Tsengwen estuary
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
3 Longluan Lake
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
40+ Tsengwen estuary
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
1 seen Longluan Lake
Great Egret Ardea alba
Tsengwen and Longluan
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
About 15 Tsengwen
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
common
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
regularly recorded in small numbers
Striated Heron Butorides striata
1 seen Anmashan
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
fairly common
Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
2 sightings on Anmashan and 2 adults seen Huisun Forest Reserve
Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Introduced
About 10 at Tsengwen
Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor Endangered
Approx. 100 birds seen from the birdwatching pavilion at the Tsengwen Estuary which may only confirm its endangered status; back in 2010 we had over 600 birds present! Anyway, aren’t we blessed to have enjoyed these birds on our trip… after all it remains highly unlikely we’ll be able to repeat this by the time I’ve got grown a stylish white beard!
Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope
3 birds counted at Longluan Lake
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
200+ were present at Tsengwen estuary
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Longluan Lake
Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
50+ birds at Longluan Lake
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
2 birds noted Tsengwen estuary
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Around 20 birds at Tsengwen
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
400 + on Longluan Lake
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
2 birds at Longluan Lake.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
2 sightings of a single bird at Tsengwen Estuary
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela hoya
Rather common with regular sightings on our trip.
Eastern Marsh-Harrier Circus spilonotus
2 birds at Longluan Lake.
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus formosae
At least 5 birds noted during the tour.
Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis
Seen only once, at Anmashan.
Besra Accipiter virgatus fuscipectus
Photographed on Anmashan and also seen Wushe
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
4 birds seen at Anmashan
Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis
1 seen Anmashan and 2 Wushe
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
4 birds seen on the trip
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
One bird seen Longluan Lake
Taiwan Partridge Arborophila crudigularis Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
A huge new landslide blocked the access road to Bedongyueshan which would have been our best chance to see these elusive birds. Unfortunately heard only on this trip although John and Nollie got lucky with a sighting on the Blue Gate track as they had stayed on in the area for a few extra days after the main tour.
Taiwan Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola sonorivox Country endemic
4 birds seen at Longluan Lake, also heard Wushe
Swinhoe's Pheasant Lophura swinhoii Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
Daily sightings at Anmashan however I must note we saw an amazing total of 6 males and 6 females on the 14th. A record number for 1 day I guess!
Mikado Pheasant Syrmaticus mikado Near-threatened (NT) Country endemic
A male on the 14th on Anmashan with a pair seen the next day. At Yushan NP we added 2 females to the list.
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus taiwanus
A good find at Tsengwen ponds.
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
2 birds at Jiji endemic research station.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Longluan Lake and Jiji endemic research station.
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
50 birds at Longluan Lake
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
100+ at Tsengwen
Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
About 10 at Tsengwen
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
3+5 at Tsengwen
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
Common Tsengwen and near Longluan Lake
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Small numbers Tsengwen
Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus
6 at Tsengwen
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
20+ near Longluan
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
3 + 5 birds at Tsengwen
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Single bird seen Tsengwen
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
5 birds at Tsengwen
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Tsengwen, Longluan and 1 at Lushan
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Single at Tsengwen
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 and Longluan Lake
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
4 birds at Tsengwen
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
Single bird at Tsengwen
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
Single bird seen en-route to Kenting
Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
About 20 en-route to Kenting
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Single bird Tsengwen
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Approx. 100 birds seen at Tsengwen
Saunders’ Gull Larus saundersi
Always nice to get and we enjoyed 3+ 2 birds at Tsengwen.
Little Tern Sternula albifrons
150+ Tsengwen
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Estimated 450 and 300 birds on visits to Tsengwen
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
common Tsengwen
Ashy Wood-Pigeon Columba pulchricollis
1 + 6 + 4 + 1 at Anmashan and a few seen near Wushe.
Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis orii
Small numbers seen throughout
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
2 at Anmashan and 20+ at Chung Yang farm
Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia glabripes
Heard Wushe
Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis formosanus
About 10 birds at Anmashan
House Swift Apus nipalensis kuntzi
Good for sightings on most tour dates.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
6 birds seen during the trip
Taiwan Barbet Megalaima nuchalis Country endemic
Seen on every but 1 tour date with up to 15 daily.
Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus kaleensis
Seen on 5 tour dates.
White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos insularis
Two sightings at Anmashan, second bird was a female.
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula wattersi
3 birds at Tsengwen
Grey-throated Martin Riparia chinensis chinensis
10 birds seen at Tsengwen
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
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus
5 near Longluan Lake
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Birds noted on 5 tour dates (leucopsis)
Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
taivana (Green-headed Wagtail), en-route to Wushe, Tsengwen
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Singles Anmashan and Wushe
Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
Fairly common
Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques cinereicapillus Near-endemic
Anmashan and fairly common around Wushe
Styan's Bulbul Pycnonotus taivanus Endemic
About 40 seen at Longluan Lake.
Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis formosae
common
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus nigerrimus
common
Flamecrest Regulus goodfellowi Country endemic
A few sightings and plenty more heard Anmashan, also heard Yushan and seen Hehuan Pass.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes taivanus
Only one seen, on Anmashan
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris fennelli
Two birds on Hehuan Pass.
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
Six birds seen on the trip, near Longluan Lake and Wushe area
Taiwan Whistling-Thrush Myophonus insularis Country endemic
4 sightings Anmashan, also 2 en-route to Huisun
Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma
3 on Anmashan and 2 Yushan NP.
Taiwan Thrush Turdus niveiceps Country endemic
A pair of this great rarity seen from the car on Anmashan was a perfect find.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
Amazingly seen on every single tour date with 20+ birds recorded on most days.
Pale Thrush Turdus pallidus
Small numbers in the Wushe area only.
Brown-headed Thrush Turdus chrysolaus
Small numbers seen in the Wushe area.
Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis
We found a female on the Huhuan Pass. Rare in Taiwan and good for ‘the’ surprise find of the trip.
Taiwan Shortwing Brachypteryx goodfellowi Country endemic
This tour was scheduled a little later in November. In the first half of the month many Shortwings are still present on the breeding grounds but now they had gone down to lower altitude. This rarely is a problem because at Bedongyueshan at only 1500m asl the forest is full of them. But again, this new landslide made a visit impossible this time. We found 1 bird on the road to Bedongyueshan, it was singing but not cooperative and kept out of view.
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
1 seen Tsengwen
Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera striata
Few seen Chung Yang Farm and also en-route near Puli
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
Seen en-route near Puli
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata flavirostris
Few seen Tsengwen
Manchurian Bush-Warbler Cettia canturians
1 showed well along the road above Wushe as it was easy to squeak out
Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler Cettia fortipes robustipes
2 seen at Anmashan
Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler Cettia acanthizoides concolor
Few seen at Anmashan top and at Huhuan pass, and we got 20+ at Yushan in 1 morning
Taiwan Bush-Warbler Bradypterus alishanensis Country endemic
One bird showed well (after much effort) on the same Anmashan stake-out we used in Nov. 2010. Taiwan Bush-Warblers are not singing and highly elusive out of the breeding season. Additionally they move to lower altitudes for the winter which makes trying at any of the familiar spots from spring-time to produce nothing. Once a winter site is known things turn feasible again and we even got our bird into some bits of song after playback.
Oriental Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus orientalus
1 seen Tsengwen
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
1 seen Tsengwen
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
few seen at Jijhi endemic research station and Longluan Lake
Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
Fairly common
Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta
Another surprise find, at Jiji endemic research institute gardens, first time I see this in Taiwan.
Vivid Niltava Niltava vivida vivida
Up to 10 daily on Anmashan, also Blue Gate track Wushe
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope
1 found singing at Chung Yang farm showed well a couple times.
Taiwan Robin Tarsiger formosana Country endemic
Worryingly absent for a while but then we found 1 that showed very well on the Blue Gate track at Wushe.
Collared Bush-Robin Tarsiger johnstoniae Country endemic
Few sightings at Anmashan but up to 10 in a morning seen in Yushan NP and seen once in the Wushe area.
Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa affinis
Common along streams and waterfalls; Anmashan,, Wushe area, Yushan…
Daurian Redstart Phoenicuris auroreus
Real good numbers present on our trip especially in the Wushe area with many sightings daily.
White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum montium
A bit elusive this time with only 2 sightings but this included a fine male at Anmashan.
Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri fortis
1 seen on a small waterfall at Anmashan.
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea oberholseri
Fairly common with regular sightings.
Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax ruficeps Country endemic
A group of about 10 birds at Anmashan.
Rusty Laughingthrush Garrulax poecilorhynchus Country endemic
We encountered a group of about 10 to 15 birds at Anmashan. As compared with the spring time this is one of the more tricky species to find in November for the simple fact that it is easier to find a vocal pair in an area with a chance in 5 locations (10 birds spread out) than it would to find 1 group of 10 silently working through the vegetation.
Taiwan Hwamei Garrulax taewanus Country endemic
2 seen at Anmashan and 3 birds were singing 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
4 birds seen on our first day at Anmashan, more heard later on during the tour.
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus musicus Country endemic
Good sightings on Anmashan and at Longluan Lake.
Taiwan Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga formosana Country endemic
We heard quite a few until we found 1 very cooperative bird at Yushan NP, perfect views obtained!
Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps praecognita
Fairly common and vocal.
Taiwan Barwing Actinodura morrisoniana Country endemic
15 birds seen in Yushan NP
Taiwan Fulvetta Alcippe formosana Country endemic
About 10 seen Yushan NP and 2 birds on the Blue Gate track Wushe
Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea brunnea
2 birds seen at Anmashan and 2 Wushe area
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
One seen Huisun Forest Reserve
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
Only seen Anmashan but good for daily sightings there.
Varied Tit Sittiparus varius castaneoventris
Three sightings at Huisun FR..
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Regular encounters at Anmashan and once at Wushe
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor uchidai
Seen Anmashan and also on the Blue Gate Track.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum formosum
Single seen Anmashan
Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus simplex
common
Maroon Oriole [Red Oriole] Oriolus traillii ardens
A fine male at Huisun Forest Reserve.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
4 sightings on the tour
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach formosae
1 seen Tsengwen
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus harterti
fairly common
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
2 birds km 13 Anmashan
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus brounianus
Regular sightings at Anmashan and Huisun
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius taivanus
2 at Anmashan and 1 Yushan NP
Taiwan Blue Magpie Urocissa caerulea Country endemic
We enjoyed great views of all 3 groups usually present at Huisun Forest Reserve.
Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae formosae
common
Eurasian Magpie [Oriental Magpie] Pica pica sericea
Recorded on 4 tour dates
Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes owstoni
Up to 20 birds at Anmashan and 5 seen at 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
Single bird noted.
White-shouldered Starling Sturnus sinensis
50 birds around Longluan Lake, Kenting.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
common
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
Noted twice, at Anmashan and Chung Yang Farm.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
Once at Tsengwen
Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus formosanus
Two males and a female gave brilliant views on Hehuan Pass.
Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus
Heard what must have been this species at Yushan NP.
Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis uchidae
5 on the Blue Gate Track and a further 3 seen in flight near Wushe town.
Beavan’s Bullfinch [Owston’s] Pyrrhula erythaca owstoni
6 in flight on Anmashan and later 4 + 2 seen well in Yushan NP
Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala
1 Anmahsan, 1 Tsengwen and several seen at Chung Yang Farm near Wushe.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes
1 found at km 48, Anmashan was a nice surprise as they only reach Taiwan accidentally.
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