ITINERARY
Matsu Archipelago and Taiwan Island
July 18–19, 2009, with July 20-26 Extension
The summer months are typhoon season; also coastal fog can disrupt air
travel. Weather may necessitate an adjustment of plans.
July 18 (Saturday), Day 1: Meet Simon Liao at Shungshan Airport
(domestic terminal, elev. 6 m; 20 ft., Taipei City), by 9 a.m. The
flight will depart at 11:00 a.m. for 50-minute flight to Nangan Island,
Matsu Archipelago. Afternoon boat to the Matsu Tern Reserve (about 3
hours there and back) for the very rare and globally endangered Chinese
Crested Tern Thelasseus bernsteini. Watch for other terns; Great Crested
(common), Black-naped (common), Roseate (common), Bridled (common),
Whiskered, Gull-billed, Caspian, Little, and Black-tailed Gull. Night in
Nangan.
July 19 (Sunday), Day 2: Weather ‘back-up' for Day 1. Return to Taipei
on the 16:10 flight from Nangan which is scheduled to arrive at
Shungshan Airport at 17:00. Matsu tour ends.
Those continuing on the Extension will overnight in Taipei and proceed
the next morning.
Extension
To Portuguese sailors in the 16th century, it was Ilha Formosa,
“Beautiful Island,” because of its lush forests and the jagged peaks of
its mountainous spine.
The island we now know as Taiwan, situated approximately 175 km (110
miles) off the coast of China, has diverse habitats; from tidal
estuaries, cultivated fields, wetlands, lowland mixed forests, to
montane deciduous broadleaf and coniferous forests.
The island still has beautiful forests and mountains, where 15 endemic
species (some authors recognize up to 29) reside: Taiwan Partridge,
Swinhoe’s Pheasant, Mikado Pheasant, Styan’s Bulbul, Flamecrest,
Formosan Whistling-Thrush, Taiwan Bush-Warbler, Collared Bush-Robin,
White-Whiskered Laughingthrush. Steere’s Liocichla, Taiwan Barwing,
White-eared Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina, Yellow Tit, and Formosan Magpie.
The main focus of the Extension tour is on the endemic species and
subspecies of Taiwan. Although more than 500 species of birds have been
recorded in the country, about 300 can be considered to occur regularly,
including more than 60 endemic subspecies. Perhaps 10 of these
subspecies are candidates for full endemic species status. Seeing the
pheasants, partridge and quail requires some luck, especially for Taiwan
Partridge. The blue, white and red male Swinhoe’s Pheasant is
unforgettable, as is the sleek blue-black male Mikado Pheasant, “King of
the Mist.” In mid-summer, the shy and secretive Taiwan Bush-Warbler will
have stopped singing, however, and be very difficult to locate. We will
be alert for the fairly common Black-browed (Muller’s) Barbet and
uncommon [Taiwan] Hwamei, next to be raised to full endemic species
status.
Taiwan is a safe, welcoming country, with good infrastructure, a strong
conservation movement, classic mountain scenery, friendly people,
wonderful food and much to offer visitors.
July 20 (Monday), Day 1: Depart YMCA hotel at 6:30 a.m. Drive west and
south to Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area in the Anmashan
Mountain Range. “Dasyueshan” translates into English as “Big Snow
Mountain” (winter only, and not every year). Night at Dasyueshan NFRA.
July 21 (Tuesday), Day 2: Walk Trail 210, elev. 2000 m. (6600 feet)
looking for the stunning Swinhoe’s and elegant Mikado Pheasants,
Collared Bush-Robin, Green-backed Tit, Brown Bullfinch, Fire-breasted
Flowerpecker, Varied and Black-throated Tits. Drive higher, to
Hsiaolaishan (Shiaosyueshan), 2600 m (8,530 ft.), looking for
White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Gray-headed
Bullfinch and other species of high elevation. In the afternoon, another
walk on Trail 210 or similar. Night at Dasyueshan NFRA.
July 22 (Wednesday), Day 3: Drive south to Huisun Forest Station,
mid-elevation forest, for Formosan Magpie, Black-browed Barbet,
Gray-capped Woodpecker, Gray-chinned Minivet, Gray Treepie, Black
Bulbul, Rufous-capped Babbler, and Malayan Night-Heron which often can
be seen foraging on the lawn. Another chance for Swinhoe’s Pheasant.
Night at Huisun Forest Station, elev. 770 m (2530 ft).
July 23 (Thursday), Day 4: Drive to Aowanda National Forest Recreation
Area, elev. 1200 m (3900 ft.) for afternoon birding. Look in Naoliao
Creek for Plumbeous Redstart, and with luck, the rare Little Forktail.
Watch for Taiwan Yuhina, Yellow (Taiwan) Tit, White-eared Sibia,
Formosan Whistling-thrush, (Taiwan) Hwamei, Fire-breasted and Plain
Flowerpeckers. Try for Mountain Scops-Owl and Northern Boobook (Brown
Hawk Owl) after dark. Night at Aowanda NFRA.
July 24 (Friday), Day 5: Morning birding at Aowanda, looking for species
that might have been missed the previous day. Drive north and ascend to
Chingjing, elev. 1750 m (5740 ft.) Chingjing (sometimes called Chingjing
Farm) is a mountain farming area which somewhat resembles New Zealand.
We will watch for Vinaceous Parrotbill and Chinese Bamboo Partridge,
which frequent the shrubby farm field edges. Night in Chingjing.
July 25 (Saturday), Day 6:
Leave Chingjing after breakfast. Continue to ascend, through Hehuanshan
Forest Recreation Area, and Wuling (“Big Wind”) Pass, elev. 3275 m
(10,750 ft.), the highest elevation of the tour, just inside the western
edge of Taroko National Park. (“Shan” means “mountain” in Mandarin.) We
will look for high-elevation species; White-whiskered Laughingthrush,
Flamecrest, Yellow Tit, Alpine Accentor, Vinaceous Rosefinch and the
crested, endemic subspecies of Coal Tit. Descending, we will continue
eastward through Taroko Gorge, in Taroko National Park. Do the “Tunnel
of the Nine Turns” 30-minute walk, watching the Liwu River far below for
Formosan Whistling-Thrush, Brown Dipper and Little Forktail. Proceed to
Tienhsiang. Night at Tienhsiang, elev. 485 m (1592 ft.
July 26 (Sunday), Day 7: In the morning, visit the Taroko National Park
Visitors Center, where another endemic species, Styan’s Bulbul, can be
found. Styan’s Bulbul is confined to the extreme east and south of
Taiwan. We will turn northward, and continue to Taipei via Yilan. On
arrival in Taipei, the tour ends.
Summary: One day and 1 night, plus weather ‘back-up’ morning on Matsu to
look for Chinese Crested Tern in the Matsu Tern Reserve, followed by 7
day Extension to look for endemic species and subspecies on Taiwan
island.
Included in price: Guide; air and boat tickets, land transportation,
from Taipei Shungshan Airport and back to Taipei at the end of the Matsu
segment or Extension; car and driver, gas, meals, accommodation,
entrance tickets, tips* except as noted below, Taiwan bird checklist.
Not included in price: Personal items, any snacks, or alcoholic
beverages that you order, *tip for driver if driver is an additional
person (we suggest NT$100 or US$3.00 per person per day). In Taiwan, it
is customary for participants to tip the driver at the end of the trip.
TRAVEL NOTE: Please arrange your incoming flight so that you arrive in
Taipei on Friday, July 17 at the latest. We can book accommodation for
you at either the YMCA International House or the Grand Hotel. On the
morning of Saturday, July 18, take a taxi to Shungshan Airport (domestic
airport in Taipei city) to meet the leader by 9 a.m.
The summer months are typhoon season; also the season of coastal fog.
Flights between Matsu and Taipei could be delayed for several hours. If
you are going on the Matsu tour only, please arrange your departing
flight for the night (late) of July 19, or better, the following day,
July 20. Taiwan Taoyuan (formerly Chiang Kai-shek) International Airport
is situated about 40 km west of Taipei; driving time is about 1 hour,
sometimes more because of traffic. If you expect to transfer directly
from Shungshan Airport to the international airport, allow 2 hours. If
you wish to stay on in Taipei for a day or more for sightseeing or
visiting the excellent National Palace Museum, we can book accommodation
for you.
Group size: 1 to 10 participants for the Extension; the boat to the tern
reserve is large enough to accommodate more.
Leader: Simon Liao
Price, US dollars: From Taipei, 9 days (Matsu plus Extension): $2900
(sharing); $3400 (single occupancy);
Price for Matsu Archipelago and Tern Reserve only: $800.
Extension only: $2100 (sharing); $2600 (single occupancy).
Deposit: $300
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT: Register for full 9 day tour, at least 60 days
before start date; get 5% off trip price.
For more information, contact:
Simon Liao birdingintaiwan@yahoo.com.tw, in Taiwan
Jo Ann MacKenzie j.a.mackenzie@telus.net, in Canada
www.birdingintaiwan.org International Taiwan Birding Association
The Taiwan Specialists