Dasyueshan

A rather frustrating day, as the mountain was shrouded in thick mist and it also rained most of the day as well. Lovely! We were out at 6am and sheltering under the eaves of some cabins, full of optimism to start with and hopeful the weather would lift a little. You could ‘see’ the way it was going to be today when a couple of probable Pale Thrushes disappeared into the mist before we could nail them. So as we looked out into the gloom from our sheltered position, a little luck was due and it came in the form of a small flock of Rufous-crowned Laughingthrushes that just happened to pass right by us. 

Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush - an endemic of mid/high altitude forests

They were a noisy bunch and hung around long enough for us to get great views – our first endemic of the day. A short while later, David discovered a Taiwan Barwing feeding in a tree and we rushed out and quickly relocated the bird as it made its way higher up into a conifer. So what a result as I’m always a little concerned about just where we’re going to see these two species. Anyway, not a lot happened after this apart from more sheltering from the deluge, so we had our breakfast. And nice it was too! No noodles for us, just granola, cheese on toast and some nice breads! Another group here had to settle for the set breakfast but Richard had done us proud with a fine assortment of foods and even had our own coffee.

Afterwards we drove up towards the summit, stopping for half an hour at the Mikado stake-out but there was nothing doing in the dreary conditions, apart from crappy looks at our first Collared Bush-robin. About a quarter of a mile below the top we hopped out of the minibus as the weather seemed to be clearing – oh how mistaken was I! Both bush-warblers were singing but not responding to tape, yet Flamecrests were everywhere and what a stunning bird. You could say they could light up even the dullest day. Also, a pair of Nutcrackers were hanging out along the road and we eventually made up for initial silhouette views when the weather lifted slightly and could see some plumage detail as one of them fed on the ground beside the road. We walked around the corner and then a Taiwan Bush-warbler sang really close to the road, so everyone got in position and a short, quiet bit of playback from the ipod resulted in the bird coming straight in and perching completely out in the open! Of course it decided to rain heavily just at that moment and I couldn’t be bothered to take the camera out of its raincover, but we’d all seen the bird very well anyway. So with the weather deteriorating we decided to get some hot soup in the café and warm up a bit and give us some welcome relief! Afterwards we walked around the car park and made our first attempt at Taiwan Shortwing which sang its heart out from the bamboo covered slope above us but didn’t come in – no surprise there. However, a Yellowish-bellied Bush-warbler was much more responsive and we had several really nice views of a bird flitting around at eye-level and we enjoyed plenty more views of several stunning Collared Bush-robins and White-whiskered Laughingthrushes. 

Collared Bush-robin - a high altitude endemic

Buoyed by this success we opted to walk along a nearby trail but it really was dark and gloomy and a torrential downpour literally dampened any optimism with another calling shortwing – although this bird was so close but we just couldn’t see it in the dense bamboo. But the rain eased and we checked out a different spot and found ourselves watching a pair of Mikado Pheasants – the iconic bird of Taiwan! Just like that, a totally unexpected find and we were even treated to clearer conditions and much better visibility for a short while to help us ‘soak’ up the beauty of the bird. See what I did there….?

Mikado Pheasant in the mist - the best endemic?

 Then we drove back down to the lodge where I planned to have lunch and then walk some of the trails for a couple of skulkers we still needed. Well we had lunch amidst a crowd of noisy locals (bagels and cheese was nice) and then arranged to meet some 20 minutes later. However, the weather had one more trick up its sneaky sleeve and it literally chucked it down for the rest of the day. Oh and don’t forget pea-soup thick mist as well. So that was it – rain stopped birding due to a waterlogged forest! We did walk around the cabins a bit, hiding in sheltered little areas waiting for the rain to ease but it never seemed likely, so we called it quits. And met up again at 6pm for dinner. Its really strange here as everyone comes at the same time and its all over and done with very quickly and the staff are trying to get rid of us at seven!

Taiwan - Fabulous Dasyueshan

We met for breakfast at the rather civilised hour of 6.30am and tackled our first Taiwanese breakfast, which fortunately had toast, fried eggs and coffee, as well as plenty of unidentified inedible objects! So we finally left at 7.15am and drove out of the city and into the countryside at the base of Dasyueshan Mountain, following a narrow lane to a new area where there were several singing Taiwan Hwamei. 

Taiwan Hwamei - our first endemic of the tour

After a little while we had great views of a pair sat in a tree singing their hearts out on the slope above us and it was very nice to be able to watch them at leisure. As an aside, I was a little surprised to see blue skies and boy was it warm (!), especially after the heavy overnight rain. Despite this, there was a lot of bird activity with Pacific Swallows, House Swifts, Striated Swallows, and a few Silver-backed Needletails overhead, as well as lots of Vinous-throated Parrotbills, Plain Prinias, Chinese Bulbuls, Javan Mynas, Taiwan Barbet, Black-naped Monarch, Grey Treepie and Oriental Cuckoo all being noted. 

Vinous-throated Parrotbill

Best of all though, was a pair of Taiwan Scimitar-babblers that responded very well to the ipod and I managed a decent, albeit distant, record shot.  

Taiwan Scimitar-babbler - a widespread endemic

A short drive up the road to a fruiting tree and we found several Rufous-capped Babblers, Red Collared-dove, Japanese White-eye, Collared Finchbill and Himalayan Black Bulbuls that actually looked a lot different to the mainland forms. The only slight disappointment was hearing Taiwan Bamboo-partridge calling form below us, and with no access to the fields we had no hope of seeing it. It’s always a tricky species and I know it will take some finding! Another short drive higher up and we had White-bellied Erpornis, and our first views of Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, now an endemic species according to the IOC and one of a 4-way split – thanks IOC now I’ve seen them all!! The highlight for me was seeing a male Malayan Night-heron perched up in a tree, with a female sat on a nest nearby, and that’s not something you see everyday is it? 

Malayan Night-heron

With the temperature soaring, we had a nice raptor session this morning as well with lots of Crested Serpent-eagles, Japanese Sparrowhawks and a few Crested Goshawks adding some variety.

Our next stop alongside a tumbling stream gave us Brown Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Plumbeous Water-redstart, a male Grey-chinned Minivet (narcissus race..?) attacking its reflection in our wing mirror and in-your-face views of Rufous-faced Warbler. 

Rufous-faced Warbler

So from here we drove right up into the mountains, passing through great forest and marvelling at spectacular views until we reached the police station where we went inside and had our picnic lunch! What? Yeah, very surreal to use their kettle to make some tea and have a picnic on their dining table – not something you could do in the UK right? Can you imagine just popping in to the local constabulary and asking to have a picnic there and using their toilet!!!!! Welcome to friendly Taiwan! As we munched on sandwiches, cake, biscuits, fruit and all sorts the mist descended and left to go up ever higher to the Swinhoe’s Pheasant stake-out. 

Swinhoe's Pheasant - one of the key endemics

Rounding the corner just before the site, sure enough there was a male pheasant right there in front of us, with a few Steere’s Liocichlas for company. We had a nice look through the windscreen before driving by and parking further up the hill so as not to disturb the area. Sure enough we walked back downhill and sat down beside the road and had more stunning views of a truly spectacular bird for a while, chatting to some locals and also seeing a White-tailed Robin as well. Easy birding!

Steere's Liocichla - exceedingly common endemic

 Back up at the large layby a Taiwanese photographer had set up a little feeding station and allowed us in to take a look at a Taiwan Hill-partridge that was just sat in the leaf litter about 10 metres away. Nice! Always a tricky species and this really took the pressure off I can tell you. This stretch of road also gave us a Large Hawk-cuckoo that had been continually calling, and we nailed the endemic Yellow Tit and a pair of endemic Rusty Laughingthrush. How about that? 

Rusty Laughingthrush - a much scarcer endemic

A decent supporting cast of Oriental Honey-buzzard, Black-throated and Green-backed Tits, White-eared Sibia, Taiwan Yuhina, and more liocichlas and fulvettas meant that a very pleasurable hour or so was had by all. 

White-eared Sibia - another common endemic

Leaving here we continued up the mountain, stopping for a White-backed Woodpecker en-route,  and headed for the Mikado Pheasant site but it was getting late and there was nothing doing, apart from a brief White-whiskered Laughingthrush, so headed down to the lodge and an early night.

Qinghai - Tibet and Beyond! 2014

Really excited about this new tour next year, which runs from 5th - 27th June 2014. it's a long tour designed to see the very best of the Tibetan Plateau, but as I always try and do, add that something just a little different to the itinerary. So we will not head the 1500kms or whatever it is to Lhasa in the Tibetan Autonomous Region due to last year's restrictions (in fact you just couldn't go there as it was off limits), so we will fly to Xinjiang. Where? Well it's at the edge of the Takla Makan Desert and we can search for the endemic Biddulph's Ground-jay - a bird hardly any 'western' birder has seen before. Oh and we'll also drive up into the Tien Shan Mountains as well.

You can see the full itinerary at this link: http://www.zootherabirding.com/page_2878164.html

I'd like to thank my good friend Tang Jun for allowing me to use his excellent photos.

So here's a few images of the goodies in store for us...

Henderson's ground-jay

Ibisbill

Kozlov's Bunting

Kozlov's Babax

Przevalski's partridge

Pink-tailed Finch - a monotypic family

Ala Shan Redstart

Tibetan Rosefinch

Tibetan Sandgrouse

Biddulph's Ground-jay

Lammergeier mania!

During my recent visit to northern India I had the privilege to witness one of my favourite birds, the awesome Lammergeier mobbing a Himalayan Griffon Vulture. As you can see by the following photos, the Lammergeier really had a right old go at the griffon and it was awesome to be able to watch this at reasonably close range.

First of all the Lammergeier came quite low over our heads before heading out across the valley below us.

Then it suddenly swooped up and began chasing one of the griffons for no apparent reason.

And the Lammergeier actually locked talons with the griffon for a few seconds...

Before the griffon went into a steep dive and flew away. Amazing!

Madagascar Tour 26th Sept - 26th October 2013

Our extensive tour of the endemic-rich island of Madagascar is going ahead and we still have a few vacancies left. It includes all the more 'regular' sites as well as an extension to the Masoala Peninsula for the mythical Helmet Vanga.

Scaly Ground-Roller from the Zoothera 2012 Tour

This really is an amazing tour, full of superb birds like the Scaly Ground-Roller above.

Take a look at our itinerary: http://www.zootherabirding.com/page_2749050.html

And last year's tour report: http://cdn-20.create.net/sitefiles/20/7/4/207422/Madagascar_20121.pdf

If interested just email our office:  info@zootherabirding.com or ring on +44 (0)1803-431765.

Happy Birding!

More India Photos

Just had to post these photos from our dawn Elephant ride at Chitwan before proceeding with the birds from higher elevations.

Sunrise at Chitwan

Elephant ride at dawn

Another favourite from Chitwan was this Kalij Pheasant that was feeding by the path and didn't take any notice of our jeeps.

Kalij Pheasant

Well as promised here are a couple pics of the Grey-crowned Prinia from Pangot - oh how I wish I had my usual Nikon lens!!

Grey-crowned Prinia

It was pretty good up at Pangot, which is 10-15 kilometres above Nainital and a nice picturesque village. Much better to stay here than in Nainital I think. In the garden of the lodge Streaked Laughingthrush and Black-headed Jays were very common.

Streaked Laughingthrush

Black-headed Jay

Also quite common here was Russet Sparrow.

Russet Sparrow

India Wrap Up

Well have been back in the UK for over a week and been side-tracked with work commitments and family stuff. So am attempting to post a few photos from the last week up at Pangot & Sat Tal. I think it was a very successful tour with 408 species seen (broken down into 239 species seen on India 1 and 319 seen on India 2) - and that doesn't include wagtail races and heard-onlys or anything dodgy. You know some tour companies count the different 'alba' wagtail races...! Shame on you!

My personal highlight from the Himalayas tour was this Cheer Pheasant, actually 1 of 3 feeding at the traditional site above Pangot.

Cheer Pheasant

Cheer Pheasant habitat

I also liked this Collared Owlet which showed its 'false eyes' on the back of its head.

Collared Owlet

And the scenery is quite beautiful as well....

Pangot Scenery

It's an amazing setting for some cool birding - and it was near here we saw a Grey-crowned Prinia which, to me, is totally weird habitat for this species. I've only previously seen that in the Sal forest at Chitwan in Nepal. Photos to follow....

Keep an eye out for more Himalayas reminiscing tomorrow......

An Elephant Ride!

This was the morning of our Elephant safari through the grasslands and we set off with a beautiful sunrise behind us with the sounds of trumpeting wild Asian Elephants as a backdrop. It is more of an experience than anything, but we did get close to seeing a Tiger with one Elephant almost standing on it (well that’s what it looked like) as it bellowed, trumpeted and seemed to lurch sideways very quickly. All of this was observed from a distance by my group I have to add! We searched and searched but couldn’t come up with a view of the beast so had to settle for Black Francolin, Black-hooded Oriole, Yellow-eyed Babbler and best of all, a Chestnut-eared Bunting that perched nicely for us. With that over we jumped in the jeeps and drove along the Sambar Road again, but it was very quiet and all we got that was new was a little flock of Red Avadavat. 

Birding the Sambar Road

With both Pygmy Wren-babbler and Grey-bellied Tesia calling but not responding it was a very frustrating couple of hours. Upon our return we vacated the rooms and then phaffed around waiting for lunch, which gave us plenty of time to scan the scene below us. 

View from Dhikala

All the same birds were present as yesterday, albeit in smaller numbers, but a Golden Jackal was new. So as soon as lunch was over we headed back towards the Dhangari Gate on what turned out to be a very ‘birdy’ drive, starting with Greater and Himalayan Flamebacks finally being seen, followed by a Grey-faced Woodpecker. Continuing the theme, there was a fine Rufous Woodpecker, followed by Grey-capped Pygmy and Fulvous-breasted Woodpeckers as well. We also managed a pair of Large Woodshrikes and an Orange-gorgeted Flycatcher as well before reaching the main gate. 

Corbett Scenery

I must admit, Tiger Camp was sheer luxury after 2 nights at the basic Dhikala site – with chicken sandwiches and hot chocolate from room service. That’s right Frank!