Aogu Wetland and Forest Park

It was raining the whole night and it is still raining when we are on our way to Aogu Wetland and Forest Park.

I know that we are very near to our destination seeing this sign and it is still drizzling.

The sky finally clear out just when we arrived at our destination. We stop at Dongshih Nature and Ecology Exhibition Center for toilet break and shop for some souvenirs and pick up the information leaflet. This exhibition center is just outside the entrance of the Augo Wetland.

Can you recognise all of them? This must be the birds that can be found here...

How about these birds? These are migratory birds. I've seen some of them but not all. Hope to see them here later.

These are some of the hand-made souvenirs by the community here.

This is way too cute. I want to see the real one. Will I?

This is so real!

We are ready to visit Augo Wetland.... so excited! Stay tuned.

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

After Sun Link Sea, we planned to sat a night in Chiayi and continue our next part of the exploratory trip the day after to a wetland. After a quick lunch, while on our way to Pizitou Botanical Garden we try our luck looking for Northern Lapwing. We are just not at the right place/right time. We didn't manage to find any. After a few rounds, we go straight to Pizitou Botanical Garden.

After parking the car, just realise that the entrance to the botanical garden is over the other side of Xianghu Park. Since we are here, we just leave our car and walk through Xianghu Park to get to the botanical garden. I have no idea why this park was called Xianghu (香湖）, which means fragrant lake. Perhaps there are  lots of flower that will produce nice fragrance?

We need to cross over an canal to get to the entrance of the botanical garden. I believe this area is the back mangrove before the development as the water flow below the bridge isn't very clear and have a mild stench that usually found in mangrove area. What could we possibly find here?

There is a nice sculpture in the garden though.

So happy to finally see some movement in the canal. First is this Little egret.

 Follow by lots of Eurasian Moorhen.

Then I spotted this pair of Wood Sandpiper & Common Sandpiper walking side by side.

I was like hit a jackpot!! There are Greater Painted-snipe nicely camouflage on top of the rocks!

There are more of them! Both male & female. Greater Painted-snipe is the only bird that I knew that the female is having a brighter colour than the male.

With such a rare bird found, we really can't judge a book by it's cover! Who will expect to find them here? With this rare gems found, we saw more birds in the garden - first a Black Bulbul

 Follow by Black-naped Monarch

 Follow the call, 2 Gray Treepie was spotted.

 Follow by the Brown Shrike

A common but I didn't see them the last few days at higher altitude. Good to see this Eurasian Tree Sparrow too.

Just before we exit the garden, there are few Mallard.

When we arrived at the Pizitou Botanical Garden, the staff told us that the park is closing soon. So, we just go one round but no new birds species found. We call it a day and move to check in to our hotel. Night market a head and can't wait for tomorrow program!

Flower Center of Sun Link Sea

Visiting this Flower Center of Sun Link Sea bring back my memories of Keukenhof of Holland.

 There is a windmill as the part of the garden landscape here too.

 Looking at these tulip flowers that in multiple colour will really brings up one spirit. They are carefully & neatly arranged to give a maximum visual experience.

 From orange colour one of my favourite

 to yellow, purple and not forgetting the all time favorite...

 the pink colour.

 Red & White! Flag colour of Singapore...  :)

 What is your favorite colour?

Other than tulips, the garden also have a retail shop that visitor can buy unique plants/bonsai such as this one that looks like ginseng.

Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, I bought a pair of flower pot in the shape of mandarin oranges. I should have buy more... so many ask me where I got these after seeing them when back to Singapore.

Spring is really coming, bees are out busy collecting nectar.

After visiting Holland, I means Flower Center, is time to get ready to travel to our next destination - Chiayi. We will stop over at Chiayi to get ready for another birding exploration in a wetland not far from here. Stay tuned...

Yuehsan Trail

From Songlong Waterfall, we follow Yuehsan Trail to get to Flower Center.

 Fern, mosses covered the side of the wall along this trail.

 There are several bridges along the trail but no water flowing below as this is the dry season.

The only macro lens that I carry is the add-on lens for my mobile. These are taken with my mobile phone.

 Another hidden love message(try looking at it upside down if need to).

Is a nice walk along this trail and I was told this forest has the highest concentration of negative ion in Taiwan that some believes to be good for our health.

See this cute purple ball again, this male Plumbeous Water Redstart have a brighter colour compare to the female I saw yesterday.

 Finally get to see this Little Forktail from a shorter distance.

 I wonder what did it get for breakfast this morning?

More of them along the trail as we make our way to the Flower Center.

Songlong Rock Waterfall

We will be continuing our exploration in this beautiful forest before heading out. Songlong Tribe and Flower Center is where we are heading this morning. 

Right at the entrance is this 12m tall wooden statue. This is a popular spot as I have to wait for sometime before I can take this photo "clean" without any visitors.

As compare, this statue that symbolise energy and continuity is shun by visitors.

Follow the trail and the waterfall is right in front of us. This must be the dry season now as the waterfall (on the right of the photo) appear slower and calm.

 Before reaching the waterfall, the trail will lead us into the cave.

 Panoramic view from inside the cave.

 Water fall through mosses created this very Zen-like landscape.

 I wish I have brought my tripod to slow down my shutters further.

The moss are grown right to the top of the waterfall. Flower Center is our next place to visit.