Spring Break in Taiwan 1

I was able to spend two weeks visiting family, relatives and friends this March in my home country Taiwan. And of course I also had a few lifers during the trip. During the period, I observed some wintering birds that had not left and some spring birds that had arrived. Totaled up over 80 species of birds

Taipei Botanical Garden台北植物園
Located in one of the most populated cities in Taiwan, Taipei,  it is one of the parks many new nature photographers and nearby residents frequently go to. The garden is within kilometers from Taiwan's president's office and some of the most renowned high school in the country so it is also a pleasant alternative route, for both people and animals, to the noisy roads.

Taiwan Barbet

I guess this is one of the must-see-endemic species of birds commonly breed throughout Taiwan. Barbets are colourful, yet still can conceal themselves well.Only species of their kind found on the island. They dig holes in trees for nests, similar to woodpeckers.

Taiwan Barbet

 Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler

Another endemic species often found in the botanical garden, They prefer slowly moving in thick bushes, sometimes in small groups, rather than being seen on branches. This was the best look I got after about 10 minutes of waiting on the same spot.

Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler

 Common Kingfisher male

these relatively small (16 cm in length) are about half the size of a Belted Kingfisher. They mainly feed on small fish and tadpoles. Like many other kingfishers, they sit on branches and structures above ponds. Males have black lower mandible while females' are orange. Their bright blue feather and orange belly or the sound of them breaking water's surface often give their position away, but these ones here probably are used to people and seem to pay little attention to their approach.

Common Kingfisher

 Daurian Redstart female

the white patches on the wings, beside the uniformly orange tail, is a great field mark.

Daurian Redstart

 Brown-headed Thrush

many of these wintering songbirds had started their way back to breeding grounds at this time. I saw more thrushes in Jinshan on the most north coastline later during my stay.

Brown-headed Thrush

 Spotted Dove

One of the most common birds in cities. 

 Oriental Turtle-Dove

pretty much these are the more colourful version of Spotted Dove, having light orange to gold patterns on the wings. Not seen in cities as often, but I had my high count of them at this location this time.

White-breasted Waterhen

 Malayan Night-Heron

often confident of their camouflage and would not move even if you are only a few meters away.

Little Egret

this bird and its buddy egrets found a shallow corner where fishing is easy. They seemed to be picking up fish after fish with short time in between and without walking much more than 2 meters.

 Great Egret

enjoying its share

 Great Egret and the big lotus pond

more posts coming soon