Guandu, looking for Sacred Ibis

The day I went to the Guandu plains it was raining so bad, I had to wear 2 layers of rainclothing to stay dry.
I had read on a trip report it could be crowded, because many school trips went there, but Monday was usually quiet. I found out why: The Guandu Nature Center was closed on Mondays. I could have gone back, but I decided to walk around the premises, an area that is outside the reserve and has some bird-watching fascilities (!) The first hours I didn't see much out of the usual. (Prinia's Cisticola's and Chinese Bulbuls) except for an enormous amount of Black-crowned Night Herons. They seemed to be everywhere!
Cattle Egret, Magpies and Myna's were also noted, but they didn't come out much during the rain. By the end of the afternoon it cleared a bit and I started seeing the Ibis flying over toward their nesting ground in the mangroves.

Sacred Ibis ,トキ

Guandu Temple

  

Guandu again, トキ

When I returned the next day the rain had stopped. I could now enter the nature center and I was quite impressed with the set-up. Bird-watching shelters on every corner, with mosquito screens and even a swivel stand for scopes and cameras. In the main building there were several strong scopes set up and assistance from knowledgeable staff was available. There were drinks in a cafeteria and souvenirs in a shop that sold things from T-shirts to guide books, binoculars and outdoor clothing. Eco-tourism is doing well!

Sacred Ibis   in the field, トキ

Mynas and Starlings were well represented

Javan Myna:

 

picking insects between the hairs of cattle

Black-collared Starling nesting pair:

 

 in the far distance, a Taiwan endemic subspecies Crested Myna:

Finally some decent pics of the 

 Taiwan (or Mueller's) Barbet

 

A young bird, maybe Chinese Grey Shrike?

I had not brought a macro lense, but could not resist this dragonfly.

Malayan Night Heron ズグロミゾゴイ

The main reason for birders to visit the parks in Taipei is to see the Malayan Night Heron. In all other countries this bird is rarely seen, but here they breed right in the middle of town.

ズグロミゾゴイ

 

Looking for worms or something bigger...

Effortlessly swallowing frogs, their throat feathers waggling in digestion.

There are several records of nests in the Botanical Gardens and this time we found one at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial grounds with 3 chicks and 2 busy parents.

During mating season the markings on the face turn blue

Juveniles are grey mottled, but the blue face indicates it's breeding

There are several records of nests in the Botanical Gardens and this time we found one at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial grounds with 3 chicks and 2 busy parents.

On the 12th of April there were just a few bunches of grey down visible from below, but on my last day in Taiwan, when I went to check on them before my returning flight they were very active and getting ready for the future.

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Chiang Kai-shek birds

Just a few blocks away from the Botanical Gardens Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

The Gardens are full of birds. And people of course.

A very common sight: Black Drongo, demonstrating acrobatic flights around the fishpond. I wonder if they do that only in mating season. Their name and appearance invoke moody impressions, like characters from some Japanese animation. Red-collared Doves on the other hand appear so peaceful.

The ever present Magpies seem less vocal and less prominent then in Japan.

Black Drongo

Red-collared Doves and Earasian Tree Sparrows

 

A “peaceful argument” about the best spot

Common Magpie

 

fledglings playing with something unedible