Guandu Nature Park

The weather is really good on the last day of my 2019 Taiwan Birding Trip. I took a subway train from Taipei city travel north and exit at Guandu Station. Guandu Nature Park is just 5-10 minutes walking distance from the subway station.

I was slightly early and the park is not yet open.

My first "bird sighting" is this huge Black Wing Stilt.

While on my way to the main bridge, I saw a few Japanese White-eye.

A Common King fisher was seen at the fresh water pond area.

I walk my way to the direction of the Visitor Center and saw this Light-vented Bulbul.

While on the bridge, more birds was seen. First, is this Plain Prinia.

Follow by Yellow -bellied Prinia

and also Black-crowned Night-heron.

This Oriental Turtle-Dove is enjoying the good weather trying to dry it's feathers under the morning sun light.

Spring is coming, new leaves is forming under the clear blue sky.

Instead of going into the Bird Watching Cabin, I decided to check out the pond outside the cabin as the sunlight is directly shine at the cabin window and I can see nothing at all. This place probably best visit in the afternoon. After finding a shelter under a tree, managed to spot this Eastern Spot-billed Duck.

So as the Green-winged Teal.

Spotted a Black-naped Monarch and managed to take a picture before disappear from my sight.

I am so happy to see a fruiting tree just outside the Visitor Center. Saw some movement and and follow the movement, saw this Gray Treepie enjoying the buffet breakfast.

Another one coming to join the feast.

Just before I leave the park, saw another migratory bird - a female Daurian Redstart.

Not sure these 2 dogs is playing with the ducks or trying to catch them. The ducks seem faster than the dogs and manage to flee on time. Hope the dogs are just chasing for fun and not really attack the ducks.

With this Guandu trip, my 2019 Taiwan Winter Birding Trip is "officially" completed. One more day of shopping before my return to Singapore. It has been an exciting week here in Taiwan. Hope to come back here again soon.

Taipei Botanical Garden

After the fantastic 5 days 4 nights of special curated birding trip by my Taiwan host, we have another  3 days of free & easy in Taipei. The plan will be visit some nearby park or nature area in the morning and continue shopping & other activities in the afternoon.

Taipei Botanical Garden is my 1st "free & easy" birding venue. Free & easy means I am on my own without any guide.

Is been really a while since I last visited this garden. I vivid remember the layout of the garden.

I only have 2 hours as I am suppose to meet my friends back in the hotel for shopping and sight seeing later. So I decided to spend more times at this area since there is a fruiting tree and I am sure it will attract lots of birds.

I don't have to wait too long to see my 1st bird, a warbler.

How can I not see this one of the most common bird in Taiwan - Chinese Bulbul.

so as this Taiwan Barbet.

My guess is correct, more birds appear one after another one. The next one is this Pale thrush

I was hoping to see a Taiwan Blue Magpie, but this Common Magpie show up.

Haha... is my lucky day? This Taiwan Blue Magpie just appear out of no where.

I have seen this Grey Treepie several time for the last few days on different part of Taiwan.

Black bulbul

Happy with my short birding trip at Taipei Botanical Garden so far and I saw this Malayan Night Heron almost at the same place I saw one few years ago.

2 hours is up and one last shuttle click for this Common Morhen. Is a short but fruitful trip, indeed.

Michelin Starred Dinner Surprise

It was already dark when we arrived at Taipei and our friendly host actually pre-booked a table for us in a restaurant. I have no idea where we are going and what we going to have for dinner.

 What a surprise! It was a Michelin Starred Restaurant in Taipei - Golden Formosa (金蓬萊遵古台菜餐廳 )

 This restaurant serves the very authentic Taiwanese cuisines.

 This must be the best Taiwan food that I ever had.

 From fried taro

 to Stir-fried water lotus. Every dish is so delicious.

Especially this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. The dish's name is an allusion to the dish's ability to entice the vegetarian monks to even jump over the wall to want to have this meat-based dish.

What a good dish to summarise up this whole 2019 Taiwan Winter Trip. It was well cooked (planned) with all the best ingredients (itinerary) and slowly stew to the perfection! Every piece (birding location) is so flavorful. Thank you very much 蔚藍手札 ! Let's plan for another Summer Birding Trip some time!

Lunch at Dongshi Fisherman's Wharf

After the satisfying birding at Aogu, is time to go for lunch. The best place to go from Aogu will be the Dongshi Fisherman's Wharf (東石漁人碼頭) that is just a stone throw away.

 May be is weekday, some of the restaurant is not open for business.

Nice deco with dolphins and marine creatures.

We are here for lunch, not forgetting to do birding too. With all camera in the car, I use my mobile phone to take this photo of tree sparrow.

With this seafood lunch, our 2019 Taiwan Winter Birding trip is "officially" completed. Two years in the making and is worth the wait. This trip will not be possible without all the arrangement of my very friendly host -蔚藍手札 . Do check out her blog of her accounts of this trip. Thank you for the arrangement, thank you for showing us around, driving us around, the laughter, the experience... We seen and learn so much about Taiwan, way above all the tips/info by Trip adviser or Lonely Planet. Such as the word - Jelly Fish (水母)...

We are heading back to Taipei after the lunch. It will be another few hours of driving...

Aogu Wetland and Forest Park Pt 2

With the rain cleared, is time to check out what are the birds that awaiting for us a head.

 The very first one that we saw is a Northern Pintail. No doubt about why they are called pin tail...

As compare, the female are duller in their coloration.

I'm not very sure of the tide at that moment, may be the tide is consider high? Saw only 2 Common Redshank or may be the rest are at different part of the park?

The next duck that appear is the Northern Shoveler

The female without the bright colour as on the male duck.

Remember the lobed feet I mentioned sometimes ago...  Yes. Eurasian Coot have a pair of special lobed feet that they use to run on the water surface before taking off.

Is the Tufted Duck call "Intruder, intruder..."? :)

 Among the Tufted ducks, found Greater Scaup swim among the Tufted ducks.

Can you tell which is which, now that they are swimming side by side.

A lone Little Grebe was spotted.

 Black-headed Gull that is not in the air...

Caspian Tern perform flying stunt just like a fighter jet.

 Gray Heron about to taking off

Great Cormorant spreading wings in the not so sunny day. It is sure will take a long time to dry their feathers.

 Black-faced Spoonbill

Taiwan is now having one of the place with largest population of Sacred Ibis out of their place of origin in Africa.

 Barn Swallow with wing fully spread fly pass our vehicle.

After several attempt, managed to get a shot of this Whiskered Tern in a cold and windy morning.

 Flock of Pied Avocet

Just before we left this place for lunch, a pair of Eurasian Wigeon is here to say good bye to us. What a wonderful trip to be able to see so many different specie of birds in one morning!