South Korea and Taiwan - 4th February (Day 10)

We started the day birding the lower areas of Dasyueshan Forest Reserve at KM15, we were hoping to find a trail here but ended up walking through an orchard and a bamboo plantation which were both devoid of birds. The area around the bridge proved to be fairly birdy and we bumped into a feeding flock which contained a couple our targets Chestnut-bellied Tit and Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler. The bridge over the river produced a pair of Brown Dipper which were new for the trip. My eBird checklist for the site can be viewed here.

Chestnut-bellied Tit - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Chestnut-bellied Tit - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Chestnut-bellied Tit - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Grey-chinned Minivet - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler- KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Plumbeous Redstart - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Plumbeous Redstart - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Plumbeous Redstart - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

White-tailed Robin - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Brown Dipper - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Brown Dipper - KM15, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Our next stop further down the road was along the roadside at KM6 at a stakeout for the fast declining Taiwan Hwamei. The species is loosing habitat and is inbreeding with Chinese Hwamei which is imported as a cage bird for its singing abilities. The bird at this location showed quickly and well in the roadside vegetation. My eBird checklist for this location can be viewed here.

Spotted Dove - KM6, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Hwamei - KM6, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Hwamei - KM6, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Hwamei - KM6, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

Taiwan Hwamei - KM6, Dasyueshan Forest Reserve, Taiwan

The afternoon was then spent birding the road between KM16.5 to KM21 the forest here looked superb but we saw very little and failed to see our two main targets of Black-necklaced Scimitar-Babbler and Rusty Laughingthrush. Highlights were a flock of 33 Ashy Woodpigeon, Chestnut-bellied Tit and White-bellied Erpornis. My eBird checklists for the area can be viewed here and here.

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.