Monday, November 25, 2013

Birding in Basianshan

Misty morning at Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area




I went to Basianshan for 1 1/2 days! Awesome birding area. I saw lots of birds! Just awesome!
 
Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area is situated above Guguan on Provincial Highway 8 and is accessible from Guguan through forest roads. This vast 2492-hectare area ranges from 750 to 2424 meters above sea level. The highest point in this area is the central Basian Mountain. Since the numerous alpines and valleys block the gusty wind, the mean annual temperature is around 18ÂșC. With its beautiful forests and rivers, this breezy area was nominated as one of Taiwan’s top eight scenic destinations.

 Plumbeous Redstart (female)



 Plumbeous Redstart (male)


 Female Daurian Redstart (female)


 Eurasian Nuthatch


 Taiwan Whistling Thrush


 Varied Tit

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Except birds I also like to do some macro work! I take pictures of butterflies, dragonflies and whatever moves around!
Since birds are rare theses day I share a few of my favorite macro images!
Enjoy
Boris














Tuesday, September 10, 2013

The Black-naped Monarch

Finally a good image of a Black-naped Monarch!

The Black-naped Monarch or Black-naped Blue Flycatcher (Hypothymis azurea) is a slim and agile passerine bird belonging to the family of monarch flycatchers. They are sexually dimorphic with males having a distinctive black patch on the back of the head and a narrow black half collar ("necklace") while the female is duller and lacks the black markings. They have a call that is similar to that of the Asian Paradise Flycatcher and in tropical forest habitats pairs may join mixed-species foraging flocks. Populations differ slightly in plumage color and sizes.







Sunday, August 25, 2013

A rather unusual place



I caught this Munias yesterday morning! It's a rather unusual place for this birds! I have never seen this before.... But they are just having breakfast! Look at the third picture!

The Scaly-breasted Munia or Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) known in the pet trade as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia extending from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines








Sunday, August 18, 2013

Aogu wetland park

Today I went to the Aogu Wetland Forest Park, a 1,470-hectare site in Chiayi County’s Dongshi Township in southwestern Taiwan! Fantastic area for birding! High season is from December to February! I will be back in December!
 I saw a few Black-crowned Night Herons, egrets....Since it's not the the high season I only saw a few birds!



Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Da Syue Shan Trail Taiwan





At least twice a year I spend two full days at Da Syue Shan searching for endemic species such as Taiwan Whistling Thrush, the Yellow Tit, Steere’s Liocichlas, White-eared Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina, the Rusty Laughingthrush, and all the other birds you can find here!

However, Da Syue Shan’s primary attraction is the pheasants, and both Swinhoe’s and Mikado are relatively easy to see. I haven’t seen the Mikado pheasant, yet! Both species are used to people and can be found walking along the edge of the road, so if you’re quiet and careful, you should be rewarded with outstanding views.

Birds are plentiful! Really,really plentiful and it's a joy to take pictures!
Da Syue Shan is relatively close to Taichung City, with a population of just over 1 million people, making it the third largest city on the island after Taipei and Kaohsiung. Da Syue Shan is a very popular destination for the city folks and it should be avoided on weekends, if possible! 

Enjoy

Boris



View Larger Map



Here are a few of my favorite pictures I took along the 
Da Syue Shan trail:


Collared Bush-Robin (female)




 White-browed Bush-Robin (male)


White-whiskered Laughingthrush





 The "tree of life" series!


I call this tree the "The tree of life!"

It's a tree at the Da Syue Shan trail (k 23.5 Parking lot) in Taiwan! The hole is filled with water, so many birds come to quench their thirst! It's well known and photographers tend to refill it from time to time.

The White's Thrush or Scaly Thrush 





Vivid Niltava female & male








This was a rare find. A female island trush! Unfortunately not the male!




Two male Vivid Niltava




This is one of the stars! The  Swinhoe's Pheasant! Da Syue Shan is famous for its pheasants!






The female:




Japanese White-eye and sakura blossom








A Pale Thrush




Steere's Liocichla




A Plumbeous Redstart




White-eared Sibia