Thursday, February 28, 2013

White Wagtail

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. It has a toehold in Alaska as a scarce breeder. In some areas, notably Britain and Ireland, the sub-species Pied Wagtail (M. a. yarrellii) predominates.

This is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures.



Brown Shrike

The Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) is a bird in the shrike family that is found mainly in Asia. It is closely related to the Red-backed Shrike (L. collurio) and Isabelline Shrike (L. isabellinus).







Sakura Blossom

The Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus), also known as the mejiro (メジロ, 目白), is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. The specific epithet is occasionally written japonica, but this is incorrect due to the gender of the genus. Its native range includes much of east Asia, including Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It has been intentionally introduced to other parts of the world as a pet and as pest control, with mixed results. As one of the native species of the Japanese islands, it has been depicted in Japanese art on numerous occasions, and historically was kept as a cage bird.




Swinhoe's Pheasant

A large blackish-blue pheasant.  Short white crest; upper back and elongated central tail feathers silvery-white.  Scapulars purple-maroon.  Plumage generally velvety-black, glossed with iridescent blue-green scaling on upper-parts and streaks on underparts.  Facial area and wattles are red. Female:  Smaller; general plumage grayish-brown with fine barring on wings.  Wings and tail dark chestnut.  Lacks crest and has reduced red facial wattles.  Underparts cinnamon with black barring.  Iris, brown; bill, yellowish-horn; legs, red.


Oriental Magpie-Robin

The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but now considered an Old World flycatcher. They are distinctive black and white birds with a long tail that is held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. Distributed in most of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, they are common birds in urban gardens as well as forests. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds.




Black-faced Spoonbill

My first shot of a black-faced Spoonbill! Around 100 Spoonbills started to stay just 5 km from where I live! Exciting! I hope I can get some better images soon!
The black-faced Spoonbill is one almost extinct bird in the world and protected by regulation. The Black-faced Spoonbill is a large wading bird. Males and females look alike, with long, black bills and black facial skin. During the breeding season adult birds also develop yellow ornamental feathers on the head and breast, and yellow patches of skin under the eyes.
Every year, between September and April next year, large flocks of an endangered species, the "Black-faced Spoonbills", visit Taiwan to spend the winter here. In 2011, the global population of Black-faced Spoonbills was approximately 2,600, with 1,500, or more than half of the population, appearing in Tainan.
The number of black-faced spoonbills in southern Taiwan’s Tainan region has hit a record high of more than 1,500, according to Taijiang National Park Headquarters Jan. 14.2013!


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Black-crowned Night Heron

A Black-crowned Night Heron in a maple tree.

The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where replaced by the closely related Rufous Night Heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).







Daurian Redstart

The male Daurian Redstart is a small (15 cm), colourful bird with brownish-black face, back, throat and wings, and bright rufous underparts.  The crown and nape are grey with silvery edges.  There is a prominent white wing patch, and the central tail feathers are blackish, the rest of the tail being rufous.  The female is brownish overall, with a white wing patch, and rufous tail with dark brownish central feathers.  The bill and feet are black.The Daurian Redstart breeds in Siberia, northeast China, Tibet and Mongolia.  It is a common winter resident in most parts of Taiwan, from low to medium elevations, including secondary forest, clearings, gardens, and open areas near settlements.

 Female Daurian Redstart

 Female Daurian Redstart

Female Daurian Redstart

Male Daurian Redstart

The tree of life!

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.

 Vivid Niltava female x2

 This is a rare find. A female island trush!

  Vivid Niltava male x2
White's Thrush or Scaly Thrush

Kingfisher

A few of my recent kingfisher images!



The Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, also known as Eurasian Kingfisher or River Kingfisher, is a small kingfisher with seven subspecies recognized within its wide distribution across Eurasia and North Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but migrates from areas where rivers freeze in winter.

This sparrow-sized bird has the typical short-tailed, large-headed kingfisher profile; it has blue upperparts, orange underparts and a long bill. It feeds mainly on fish, caught by diving, and has special visual adaptions to enable it to see prey under water. The glossy white eggs are laid in a nest at the end of a burrow in a riverbank.







Hello Friends,

My name is Boris Smokrovic and I am from Germany . I left Germany in August 2000 and since 2001 I live in Taiwan. Taiwan is extraordinary and I love the life in Taiwan. I live near the seaside in southern Taiwan, so the wetlands are nearby! The mountains (up to 3000 m ) are in reach within a few hours....You get the point!
I am married and I have a 9 year old son (born 2002) .
I started taking pictures a couple of month ago and I am deeply in love with "photography". At moment I am concentrating on Nature & Landscape Photography. I am especially interested in bird photography. Birds had always a special place in my heart and taking pictures of birds is a great pleasure.


I hope you enjoy my pictures.
Boris