BIRDING IN TAIWAN
ENDEMICS and BLACK-FACED SPOONBILL
NOVEMBER 3–16, 2008
LEADERS: SIMON LIAO, Honourary Chairman, Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan
and Jo Ann MacKenzie, Taiwan International Birding Association (Canada)
SUMMARY:
• 1 to 12 participants (no minimum)
• Major habitats of the west coast, central mountains, Taroko Gorge, the
southeast
• Moderate pace
• Mostly easy to moderate walking; some steep paths in “high mountain”
habitat
• Accommodation with private bathrooms
• Chilly to cold at high elevations; warm to hot and humid at low
elevations
• Transportation by air-conditioned bus
• Opportunities to sample Taiwanese culture and cuisine
ITINERARY
4 November (Tuesday), Day 1
Pick-up at hotel in Taipei. Drive south and begin to climb to Dasyueshan
National Forest Recreation Area in the Anmashan mountain range, birding
along Mt. Tahsueh Road on the way. Arriving at Dasyueshan, we will walk
Trail 210, elev. 2000 m (6600 feet) looking for Swinhoe’s and Mikado
Pheasants, Collared Bush-Robin, Taiwan Yuhina, Green-backed Tit, Brown
Bullfinch, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Varied and Black-throated Tits.
Continue birding in the afternoon. Night at Snow Mountain Resort,
Dasyueshan NFRA, 2275 m (7500 ft.)
Taiwan Yuhina
5 November (Wednesday), Day 2
Early morning birding at higher elevation, Hsiaolaishan (Shiaosyueshan),
2600 m (8,530 ft.), looking for White-whiskered Laughingthrush,
Vinaceous Rosefinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch and other species of high
elevation. We will have all day to explore the forest trails. Night at
Snow Mountain Resort, Dasyueshan NFRA
6 November (Thursday), Day 3
In the morning, drive south to Huisun Forest Station, 700 m (2300 ft.)
elevation, birding along the way. Look for Swinhoe’s Pheasant, if not
found at Dasyueshan. Watch for Malayan Night-Heron on the lawn, Formosan
Magpie, Ashy Wood-Pigeon, Black-browed Barbet, Gray-capped Woodpecker,
Gray-chinned Minivet, Gray Treepie, Black Bulbul, Rufous-capped Babbler,
Rufous-faced Warbler and White-bellied Yuhina. After dark, try for
Mountain Scops-Owl. Night at Huisun Forest Station.
7 November (Friday), Day 4
Early morning birding. Leaving Huisun after breakfast, we backtrack
somewhat, then continue eastward through Puli, the geographic center of
Taiwan, and begin to climb again via Wushe toward Aowanda National
Forest Recreation Area, elev. 1200 m (3900 ft.) At Aowanda, we will
climb the waterfall trail beside Naoliao Creek, looking for Plumbeous
Redstart and with luck, the rare Little Forktail. We will watch for
Taiwan Yuhina, Yellow Tit, Varied Tit, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker,
Black-browed Barbet, and after dark, try for Northern Boobook. Night at
Aowanda NFRA.
8 November (Saturday), Day 5
Early morning birding. Leaving Aowanda, we will drive to Chingjing, with
birding stops along the way, looking for raptors and forest species.
Night in Chingjing, elev. 1750 m (5740 ft.)
9 November (Sunday), Day 6
Before leaving Chingjing, we will look for Chinese Bamboo Partridge,
Vinaceous Parrotbill and other species of brushy habitat. Then we will
drive higher yet, to the Hehuanshan Forest Recreation Area, elev. 3275 m
(10,750 ft.), the highest elevation of the tour, just inside the western
edge of Taroko National Park. (“Shan,” means “mountain “or “hill” in
Mandarin; in this case, “mountain.”) We will look for White-whiskered
Laughingthrush, Flamecrest, Yellow Tit, Alpine Accentor,
Vinaceous Rosefinch, and Coal Tit, Periparus ater ptilosus, the crested
Taiwan endemic sub-species. We will continue eastward through the upper
part of the Taroko Gorge, in Taroko National Park, to Tienhsiang looking
for Styan’s Bulbul. On the way, we will visit the spectacular Taroko
“Marble Gorge.” The gorge is one of the scenic wonders of Asia, created
by immense tectonic forces combined with erosion by the Liwu River. We
will watch for Brown Dipper, Little Forktail, and Fork-tailed Swift
among the hundreds of House Swifts. Night at Tienhsiang, elev. 485 m
(1592 ft.)
10 November (Monday), Day 7
Early morning birding in the Tienhsiang area. We will exit through the
park’s East Gate, turn south to Hualien and drive along Taiwan’s scenic
east coast, crossing the Tropic of Cancer to Chihpen, with birding stops
along the way. Near Chihshiang, we will look for the endemic Taiwan
subspecies of the familiar, but native and wild Ring-necked Pheasant.
Night in Taitung.
11 November (Tuesday), Day 8
Morning birding in the Chihpen area; mid-elevation, looking for [Taiwan]
Hwamei, White-bellied Yuhina, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Maroon
Oriole, Black-naped Monarch while watching for such raptors as Black
Eagle and Crested Serpent-Eagle. Drive south to Kenting in Taiwan’s
tropical “far south.” Night in Kenting.
12 November (Wednesday), Day 9
Birding in the Kenting area, including Kenting National Park and Long
Luan Tan (Lake), looking for Ruddy-breasted Crake, White-breasted
Waterhen and other wetland species. Endemic Styan’s Bulbul is easily
found in the Kenting area. Drive northward; night in Tainan.
13 November (Thursday), Day 10
Birding in the Tainan-Chiku area wetlands, where a large percentage of
the world’s Black-faced Spoonbills winter. Saunders’ Gull also winters
in the area. Cinnamon Bittern and Yellow Bittern are possible. We will
visit the very specialized water-chestnut habitat in the Kwangtien
wetland for Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Turning east, we will pass the city
of Chiayi and begin to climb toward Alishan. Night in Kwanghua, elev.
1,000 m (3,300 ft.)
14 November (Friday), Day 11
Early morning birding in private broadleaf forest in the Kwanghua area;
best chance for Taiwan Partridge. Swinhoe’s Pheasant is also possible.
Continue to “high mountain” habitat in Alishan Forest Recreation Area.
After reaching Alishan, we will have the rest of the day to look for
species we may have missed in montane habitat earlier. Night in Alishan
NFRA.
15 November (Saturday), Day 12
Early morning birding, Alishan, and Tataka Recreation Area, 2600 m
(8,536 ft.) in Yushan National Park for more “high mountain”
specialties. The drive will provide our best chance for Mikado Pheasant.
Yushan National Park is known as “The ridge of the roof of Taiwan.” We
will be within sight of Yushan Peak, also called Jade Mountain. At 3952
m (just under 13,000 ft.), Yushan Peak is the highest mountain in East
Asia. We will look for Eurasian Nutcracker, Gray-headed Bullfinch,
White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Flamecrest, Yellowish-bellied
Bush-Warbler, Streak-breasted Fulvetta, Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler
and Golden Parrotbill. With much luck, we might come across Taiwan
Bush-Warbler (very difficult to find outside of the breeding season).
Then it will be time to leave the high mountains and return to lowlands.
The post-harvest fields in Huatan, south of Changhua are often
productive in fall for migrant and wintering seed-eaters such as
Black-faced Bunting, Oriental Skylark, Yellow Wagtail, Zitting Cisticola,
and if we are lucky, Siberian Rubythroat. Night in Changhua.
16 November (Sunday), Day 13
After breakfast, drive north to Taipei county, with a stop for a
cultural highlight, the Sanshia Temple, noted for its exquisite stone
and wood wildlife carvings, including more than 100 different birds. We
will stroll along an artisans’ street. Continue to Taipei (elev. 6 m; 20
ft.) to Chinese Handicrafts Mart, for a shopping opportunity. The
4-floor store has a wide range of Taiwan items, from inexpensive
souvenirs to fine art at fair, government–approved prices. Supper. The
tour concludes.
TRAVEL NOTE: Please arrange your incoming flight so that you arrive in
Taipei on Monday, May 5 at the latest. We can book accommodation for you
at either the YMCA International House or the Grand Hotel. On the
morning of Tuesday, May 6, you will be picked up at the hotel to begin
the tour.
Please arrange your departing flight for late on the evening of May 18,
or the following day, May 19. 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 wish to stay on in Taipei for
a day or more, we can book accommodation for you.
GROUP SIZE:
Maximum of 12 participants with 2 leaders
COST PER PERSON:
From Taipei, Taiwan: 13 days
$4000 (sharing); $4500 (single)
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT: Register at least 60 days before start date; get
5% off trip price.
DEPOSIT: $500
For further information, please contact:
Simon Liao
E-mail: birdingintaiwan@yahoo.com.tw
Taiwan
or
Jo Ann MacKenzie
15341 – 21 Avenue
Surrey, BC, V4A 6A8
Canada
Phone: 604-538-1676
E-mail: j.a.mackenzie@telus.net
TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL BIRDING ASSOCIATION
www.birdingintaiwan.org
The Taiwan Specialists
Good birds, good food, good friends!
GROUP SIZE:
Maximum of 12 participants with 2 leaders
COST PER PERSON:
From Taipei, Taiwan: 13 days
$4000 (sharing); $4500 (single)
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT: Register at least 60 days before start date; get
5% off trip price.
DEPOSIT: $500
For further information, please contact:
Simon Liao
E-mail: birdingintaiwan@yahoo.com.tw
Taiwan
or
Jo Ann MacKenzie
15341 – 21 Avenue
Surrey, BC, V4A 6A8
Canada
Phone: 604-538-1676
E-mail: j.a.mackenzie@telus.net
TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL BIRDING ASSOCIATION
www.birdingintaiwan.org
The Taiwan Specialists
Good birds, good food, good friends!