Dermot Breen's Blog: Taiwan 23rd March 2018

Sunday, 13 May 2018

Taiwan 23rd March 2018

We started off the day in Yushan National Park up at around 2,600 metres in elevation. As we were driving up to one of the car parks we happened upon a pair of Mikado Pheasants. This was the first and only male that we saw during the trip. They were walking on top of roadside concrete barriers. I was in the back right hand side of the van which was about the worst position in the van so no photos taken unfortunately but it was still great to catch up with a male Mikado. When we arrived at the car park it was still very overcast and dull. The temperatures again came as a bit of a shock as it started of at a chilly 4 degrees Celsius. Thankfully we had come prepared with several layers of clothing on. There was a great quality of species here with a further three new endemics for the trip - Flamecrest, Taiwan Fulvetta and Taiwan Rosefinch. We were also treated to several Collared Bush Robins which were real stunners especially when the light improved as the morning progressed. We also had a few White-browed Bush Robins and a single Red-flanked Bluetail. Great to see three Tarsiger species in the one area which represents half of the species in that genus. Some rather approachable Spotted Nutcrakers were also in the area. The endemic subspecies owstoni is very distinct in being largely unspotted on the body - potential future split "- Taiwan Unspotted Nutcracker"? We also had two different White's Thrush in the general area and both gave brief but close views. Interesting how they seem to run rather than hop like most other thrushes. A few Formosan Rock Macaques in the car park were a little too habituated to visiting tourists and one male troop leader was a rather aggressive little so and so! Other lifers picked up today were Golden Parrotbill, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler and White-browed Bush Robin.