Birding In Taiwan

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 16^th 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.