Taiwan Day 1, Part 1

Crested Goshawk, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Chinese Bulbul, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Black-crowned Night Heron, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Swallowtail sp., Taipei Botanical Gardens

Grey Treepie, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Kingfisher, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Kingfisher lotus pond, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Butterfly sp, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Taiwan Barbet, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Juvenile Crested Goshawk, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Spotted Dove, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Malayan Night heron, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Red-bellied Squirrel, Taipei Botanical Gardens

Bird photographers, Taipei Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens gave us our first insight into Taiwan's birds, and our first chance to tick some endemics, with Taiwan Barbet being number one on my list (though my photos were not at all good). There were small flocks of Black Bulbuls near the entrance (like little Choughs or Black-fronted Nunbirds) and much larger flocks of elderly Taiwanes enjoying the gardens to exercise , do Tai Chi etc. The biggest flock of all was a group of photographers wh were keenly snapping juvenile Crested Goshawk, as well as Asian Brown and Grey-streaked Flycatchers.

Beware!

Probable Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Yehliu Geopark

Blue Rock Thrush, Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark, at the northern tip of the Taiwan mainland, was one of the busiest places I have ever visited, with shuffling masses of parasol toting tourists coming to see the 'unusually shaped' rocks, having been to the ugly gladiatorial arena to see the 'performing' dolphins. A few hundred yards further along, suddenly the crowds thinned to nothing. From here we walked to the Magic Toilets where a few hopeful photographers were awaiting migrants. The paradise flycatcher was the highlight here, and the eastern race Blue Rock Thrush was one of a few out on the rocks and cliffs.