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ITINERARY
ITINERARY
Matsu Archipelago, July 16–17, 2011, and Taiwan Island
Extension for Endemics, July 18-24
The summer months are typhoon season; also
coastal fog can disrupt air travel. Weather may necessitate an
adjustment of plans.
July 16 (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 17 (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.
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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 and partridge requires some
luck, especially for Taiwan Partridge. The blue, white and
red male Swinhoe’s Pheasant is unforgettable, as is the
blue-black male Mikado Pheasant, “King of the Mist.” In
mid-summer, the very shy and secretive Taiwan Bush-Warbler
will have stopped singing, however, and likely impossible to
locate. We will be alert for the fairly common Black-browed
[Taiwan] 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 18 (Monday), Day 1: Depart Dandy Da-an Hotel, Taipei at 6:30
a.m. Drive west and south to Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation
Area in the Anmashan mountain. Walk
Trail 210, elev. 2000 m. (6600 feet) looking for Mikado
Pheasants, Collared Bush-Robin, Taiwan Barwing, Steere’s Liocichla,
Taiwan Yuhina, Green-backed Tit, Brown Bullfinch, Fire-breasted
Flowerpecker, Varied and Black-throated Tits.
Night in cabins at Snow Mountain Resort,
elev. 2275m
(7465
ft.),
Dasyueshan NFRA.
July 19 (Tuesday), Day 2:
Morning birding near the cabins, then at higher elevation,
Hsiaolaishan (Shiaosyueshan), 2600 m (8,530 ft.), looking for
White-whiskered Laughingthrush,
Taiwan Bush-Warbler (very difficult in mid-summer, when
not singing), Vinaceous Rosefinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch and other
species of high elevation. In the late afternoon, try again for
Mikado Pheasant, if necessary. Second night at Snow Mountain
Resort, Dasyueshan NFRA.
July 20 (Wednesday), Day 3: Drive south to Huisun Forest Station,
mid-elevation forest, for Formosan Magpie, Maroon Oriole,
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.
Owling after dark. Night at Huisun Lodge, Huisun Forest Station,
elev. 770 m (2530 ft).
July 21 (Thursday), Day 4:
Drive south to Kwanghua village, elev. 1,000 m (3,300 ft.). This
is an area of private property where one land owner has established
a viewing station for Swinhoe’s Pheasant and Taiwan
Partridge. The partridge is the most shy and difficult of
Taiwan’s gallinaceous birds to find, but we have an excellent chance
of seeing it from viewing blinds at dusk. Night at Firefly Lodge,
Kwanghua.
July 22 (Friday), Day 5:
Morning birding at mid-elevation, looking for Rusty Laughingthrush
and ‘spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler. 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 Vinous-throated Parrotbill and
Chinese Bamboo Partridge, which frequent the shrubby farm field
edges. Night in Chingjing.
July
23 (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 24 (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.
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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. For
those registered for the full 9-day tour, the overnight in Taipei
following return from Matsu is included in the tour price.
Not
included in price: Taxi from and to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, to
Taipei Shungshan Airport, 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. Our leaders do not expect to be tipped.
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TRAVEL NOTE:
Please arrange your incoming flight so that you arrive in Taipei on
Friday, July 15 at the latest. We can book accommodation for you at
the reasonably-priced Dandy Da-an Hotel, in the Da-an District of
Taipei. The hotel is about 2 minutes’ walk from Da-an Park, where
there are trees, ponds and common birds. On the morning of
Saturday, July 16, 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 late night of July 17, or preferably, the
following day, July 18. Taiwan Taoyuan 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:
6 to 10 participants for the Extension; minimum of 6 for Matsu but
the boat to the tern reserve is large enough to accommodate more
than 10.
Leader:
Simon Liao
Price, US
dollars:
From Taipei, 9 days (Matsu plus Extension): US$2100 (sharing);
US$2600 (single occupancy);
Price for Matsu
Archipelago and Tern Reserve only: US$600.
Extension only: US$1500 (sharing); US$2000 (single occupancy).
Deposit: US$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
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