TAIWAN - 18th February

Back up at the ringing site before dawn to open the nets where, over the next couple of hours we caught a few things new including a DUSKY FULVETTA, a cracking Dusky Thrush, a female Siberian Rubythroat and a couple of Grey-cheeked Fulvettas.   It was a much nicer day with the sun even poking through on occasion so mid-morning I decided to drive up to a bit higher elevation but it was fairly quiet and a soon as I hit about 2,100m it was very thick, low cloud but I did manage a few nice FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKERS, a couple of Jays – of the very distinctive race G. g. taivanus and good views of a range of other stuff such as Taiwan Barbet, Black-throated Tit, White-eared Sibia and Pale Thrush.

                The nice weather meant there were a few raptors cruising around the ringing site when I got back early afternoon including a beast of a BLACK EAGLE high over the tops, a displaying CRESTED GOSHAWK puffing out his white undertail coverts and good perched views of an adult male BESRA.   The rest of the afternoon was pretty quiet with the same range of things caught including more Black-faced Buntings (with a smart adult male) and another female Siberian Rubythroat while around the site there were 10+ Little Buntings with the Black-faced Buntings, a big flock of White-rumped Munias, 20+ Tree Pipits, a flock of Collared Finchbills and a couple of Bronzed Drongos.

                I snuck off down the hill a bit early and was rewarded with a cracking WHITE’S THRUSH just outside the accommodation at dusk!

 

Dusky Thrush

Siberian Rubythroat

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta

Dusky Fulvetta

White-rumped Munia

Taiwan Barbet

White-eared Sibia

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Black-throated Tit

Black Eagle - not a great photo but you can see the distinctive shape

Besra

Displaying Crested Goshawk

Oriental Turtle Dove

Black-faced Bunting

Large-billed Crow

Hybrid Light-vented x Styan's Bulbul

Whites Thrush