South Korea and Taiwan - 9th February (Day 15)

We were up at 06:00 and after breakfast at Firefly Lodge headed to KM108 on Highway 18 that passes through Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. On our drive, at approximately KM104 two stunning Yellow-throated Marten ran across the road in front of the vehicle and we eventually had great views of these beautiful mustilids. We began the morning by birding the car park area where we had a flock of nine Grey-headed Bullfinch fly along the road, Taiwan Rosefinch, Collared Bush-robin and Steere’s Liochicla. Wandering up the road that passes the Tourist Information Centre and the Giant Taiwan Hemlock we trawled for Golden Parrotbill, Taiwan Shortwing and Taiwan Bush Warbler our only remaining species in the higher altitudinal habitats but with no success. We did enjoy further great views of three Yellow-throated Marten and bird species such as Taiwan Fulvetta, Taiwan Barwing, Taiwan Barbet and Flamecrest. We finished walking the loop trail and arrived at the Tataka Visitor Centre which was closed for refurbishment although the restaurant was open and serving terrible food, we had peanut butter on toast with hundreds and thousands! We then birded back down the road to the car seeing much the same as before, the highlight was probably a flock of six Japanese Waxwing which we saw in flight - a scarce bird in Taiwan.

After finding a hotel in the main visitor centre complex further down the road we birded a few random spots on our way back up to KM108 but saw relatively little. We spent the last few hours of the day birding at KM108 but saw much the same as we had this morning. I came across two Grey-headed Bullfinch feeding in a weedy patch but they flushed before I spotted them on the ground and flew into the forest not to be seen again. My eBird checklists for the day can be viewed here, here, here and here.

Collared Bush-Robin - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Collared Bush-Robin - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Coal Tit - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Taiwan Barbet - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

White's Thrush - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Black-throated Tit - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Flamecrest - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Taiwan Fulvetta - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Pale Thrush - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Yellow-throated Marten - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Formosan Macaque - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Formosan Macaque - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Formosan Macaque - Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, Taiwan

Links to Other Days of the Trip (Click to View)

South Korea

26th January (Day 1 and 2) – International flight then Han River area.

28th January (Day 3) – Songdo Tidal Flats and Korea National Arboretum.

29th January (Day 4) – Seosan Reclamation.

30th January (Day 5) – Seosan Reclamation then Geum River.

31st January (Day 6) – Yubu Island, and Han River.

Taiwan

1st February (Day 7) – Fly Seoul (South Korea) to Taipei (Taiwan) then Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

2nd February (Day 8) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

3rd February (Day 9) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

4th February (Day 10) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

5th February (Day11) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve then Huisin Forest Reserve.

6th February (Day 12) – Huisin Forest Reserve then Blue Gates Trail.

7th February (Day 13) –  Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area.

8th February (Day 14) – Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area then Firefly Lodge.

9th February (Day 15) – Alishan.

10th February (Day 16) – Alishan, Kenting National Park and Pintung University. 

11th February (Day 17) – Pingtung University then international flight.

South Korea and Taiwan - 3rd February (Day 9)

We started the day birding the KM50 area of Dasyueshan Forest Reserve as many of our remaining targets were in the higher elevations of the reserve. We birded the area around the main tourist complex, along the trail to the 'Sky Pond' and a track that extended south-west through bamboo dominated forest from the main car park area called the 230 Forest Road. One of the highlights of the morning was a superb White's Thrush that showed in the open feeding on Cotoneaster berries for at least 15 minutes giving us all time to study the intricacies of this superb birds plumage. Other new birds we had were a pair of Taiwan Rosefinch coming to drink on the pool at the rear of the toilet block, Taiwan Cupwing, White-browed Bush-robin, two Taiwan Thrush and Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler on the 230 Forest Road. My eBird checklists for the morning can be viewed here, here and here.

White's Thrush - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White's Thrush - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White's Thrush - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White's Thrush - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White's Thrush - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Rosefinch - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Rosefinch - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Rosefinch - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Rosefinch - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Barwing - KM50 Area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Coal Tit of subspecies ptilosus - KM50 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Coal Tit of subspecies ptilosus - KM50 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

After a superb self cook vegetable and noodle soup at the visitor centre (eBird checklist here). We headed down to KM23 and walked down the road. We enjoyed good views of Taiwan Barbet and our best views yet of Taiwan Whistling-thrush but otherwise the species here were much the same as yesterday mornings session at KM23. My eBird checklist can be viewed here.

Taiwan Barbet - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Whistling-Thrush - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Whistling-Thrush - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Whistling-Thrush - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Whistling-Thrush - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-eared Sibia - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-eared Sibia - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-eared Sibia - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-eared Sibia - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-eared Sibia - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Swinhoe's Pheasant - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Swinhoe's Pheasant - KM23 area, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

It was now 15:00 and we decided to head uphill. As we reached KM30 I heard a call I had not heard before and on stopping the car we found a group of eight Steere's Liochichla feeding along the roadside and then in the tree's above a party of 12 Brown Bullfinch of the endemic subspecies uchidai. Here we also had good views of White-backed Woodpecker of the heavily streaked subspecies insularius and Rufous-faced Warbler, a bird whose insect like trill was commonly heard but we had good views of relatively few. My eBird checklist for the location can be viewed here.

After 30 minutes the fog rolled in and we drove above it to KM35 (eBird checklist here) but it was not long before the fog had risen up the hill and shrouded us once again and so it was time to head back to the lodge after a successful days birding.

White-backed Woodpecker - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Rufous-faced Warbler - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Rufous-faced Warbler - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Brown Bullfinch - KM20, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan 

Links to Other Days of the Trip (Click to View)

South Korea

26th January (Day 1 and 2) – International flight then Han River area.

28th January (Day 3) – Songdo Tidal Flats and Korea National Arboretum.

29th January (Day 4) – Seosan Reclamation.

30th January (Day 5) – Seosan Reclamation then Geum River.

31st January (Day 6) – Yubu Island, and Han River.

Taiwan

1st February (Day 7) – Fly Seoul (South Korea) to Taipei (Taiwan) then Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

2nd February (Day 8) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

3rd February (Day 9) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

4th February (Day 10) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve.

5th February (Day11) – Dasyueshan Forest Reserve then Huisin Forest Reserve.

6th February (Day 12) – Huisin Forest Reserve then Blue Gates Trail.

7th February (Day 13) –  Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area.

8th February (Day 14) – Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area then Firefly Lodge.

9th February (Day 15) – Alishan.

10th February (Day 16) – Alishan, Kenting National Park and Pintung University. 

11th February (Day 17) – Pingtung University then international flight.

North Norfolk - 7th-10th February

Sarah had brought for me, at Christmas, a photography course with David Tipling and so we all headed up to North Norfolk for the weekend. David is a recent convert from Nikon to Olympus and is now an ambassador for Olympus. The main aim for me was to glean some of his knowledge in using the Olympus set-up for bird photography, particularly in low light. Since switching from Canon to the Olympus OMD MK-1 Mark II, I had been struggling to get the results that I had been achieving with the Canon and so felt that I needed some guidance. David's website can be viewed here, he runs a range of courses and I would throughly recommend booking with him if you are new to Olympus.

We travelled up on 7th arriving in North Norfolk at 15:00, to stretch the legs after a 4.5 hour drive we headed to Titchwell and walked out to the beach. There were large numbers of Brent Goose on the reserve but water levels were high and bird numbers low. On the beach I scanned the sea and picked up Red-necked Grebe, three Slavonian Grebe and a few Common Eider. On the beach were large numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and Sanderling. At 16:30 with Sarah cold and Tobias tired it was time to head for the hotel and a much needed beer.

On Friday 8th I met David at 07:30 in dark, windy and fairly wet conditions and we drove to his woodland hide where we spent the first few hours of the day. Despite the poor weather conditions there were good numbers of birds coming into his pool and feeders and over the morning we had good views of many common woodland birds - unfortunately, the Marsh Tit which were so vocal around the hide only dropped down for brief visits. We spent much of our time working through the camera settings and becoming familiar with the menu's and learning to shoot in the low light conditions.

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Great-spotted Woodpecker

Eurasian Blackbird

Great Tit

Common Pheasant

Coal Tit

European Robin

We then went onto Cley where the wind was blowing a gale and, at times, the rain was almost horizontal. We spent some time studying the flock of several hundred Brent Goose along the Beach Road. At the beach we walked east along the shingle to see if we could see a Glaucous Gull that had been present feeding on a dead seal but unfortunately the bird was distant and roosting on the marsh. A flock of around 30 Snow Bunting gave some consolation but it was very difficult to photograph them in the high wind.

Brent Geese - Cley-Next-The-Sea

Brent Geese - Cley-Next-The-Sea

Brent Geese - Cley-Next-The-Sea

Snow Bunting - Cley-Next-The-Sea

Snow Bunting - Cley-Next-The-Sea

We had a brief lunch stop at Morston Quay where we were hoping for an obliging Spotted Redshank but instead there was an obliging Common Redshank. We headed in-land scanning the fields and eventually found a covee of 16 Grey Partridge at fairly close range

Common Redshank - Morston Quay

Grey Partridge 

Grey Partridge

We then went onto a small stream where David had been feeding a Water Rail, it wasn't long before the bird appeared at close range but unfortunately the bird did not show for long, presumably due to the high winds. We finished the day at Holme Marshes Reserve hoping for a Bittern or a Barn Owl but saw neither. Despite the windy and occasionally wet day we had seen a few nice species and I had definitely found a new confidence with my Olympus set-up; now time to practice.

Water Rail

Water Rail - I quite like the sharp head and the movement shown in the legs and body in this shot

On Saturday we woke to a sunny day but the wind was even stronger. After a leisurely breakfast I convinced Sarah and Tobias that a short walk along the shingle at Cley to see the Glaucous Gull feeding on a dead seal was a good idea but when we arrived, not only was it nearly impossible to stand, but once again the gull was off on the marsh and was far too distant. I think even Tobias was upset at dipping seeing the gull feed on a dead seal. On the return walk a flock of some 70 Snow Bunting was some conciliation. We then headed inland to the road between Wiveton and Langham where up to four 'Tundra' Bean Goose have been present with c.3,000 Pink-footed Geese since 5th February. We stopped route to watch boxing Hare's which are always enthralling to watch. On arrival at the sugar-beet field where the geese were frequenting, there were a few birders present and I was soon onto a couple of Bean Goose. They were very easy to pick-out of the masses of Pink-footed Goose by way of their bright orange legs.

Pink-footed Goose - Between Wiveton and Langham 

'Tundra' Bean Goose with Pink-footed Goose - Between Wiveton and Langham 

Pink-footed Goose, note the Barnacle Goose at the top of the image, I failed to notice this bird and my images show two birds to be present - Between Wiveton and Langham 

We then headed to Holkham where a flock of c.30 Horned Lark have been wintering, we parked on Lady Anne Drive, which is like a zoo now that the new visitor centre has been constructed. Sarah and Tobias wanted to stay in the car due to the wind so I walked swiftly to Holkham Gap through the crowds and quickly came across a small group of birders watching the Shore Lark. The birds were moderately close, maybe 20m away, feeding in the saltmarsh vegetation. Always great to see these stunning little birds. I watched them for around 15 minutes until the flock took off and flew north much further away from the path, in flight I counted 29 birds, the largest flock I had seen in the UK.

Horned Lark - Holkham Gap

Horned Lark - Holkham Gap

Egyptian Goose - Lady Annes Drive, Holkham

After dropping Sarah back at the hotel for a spa treatment, Tobias and I set-out to look for Barn Owl, he was really keen to see Barn Owl. We drove from Burnham Market and out to the coast road and fairly quickly I spotted a distant Barn Owl hunting the meadows to the north of the coast road at Burnham Overy Mill. The bird headed north-west and we followed it along the main road to Norton Hall Farm where we eventually had great views. Tobias was made up with this and wanted a toy Barn Owl to celebrate so we popped to Titchwell where we obtained said toy and also got good views of a Woodcock in the car park. We spent the last hour of the day driving the fields inland trying to get photos and more looks of Hare but despite seeing many we never found one close enough for decent photos. The highlight was a fantastic flock of around 5,000 Pink-footed Goose that we came across in fields north of Stanhoe, as we parked on the verge next to the fields the flock took flight and passed overhead, an amazing site and sound.

Barn Owl - Norton Hall Farm, Burnham Norton

Barn Owl - Norton Hall Farm, Burnham Norton

Barn Owl - Norton Hall Farm, Burnham Norton

Eurasian Woodcock - Titchwell RSPB Car Park

On Sunday we woke to heavy rain and so afterbreakfast we headed back and were home by 14:30 just in time to watch England thrash France in the Six Nations, a fine end to a highly enjoyable weekend.