Mt Dasyueshan, Taiwan. Day 2

Leaving the mikado's we drove as far up as the road went, to about 2500m. From here it was a short hike to the border of the broadleaf forest. It was still early and at some places still dark. My young companions had fast legs and I could feel the weight of my camera and bino's. But the flycatchers and bushrobins made me lightfooted. There were Tits, Flamecrests and Parrotbills in the treetops and a monkey in the shadows.

Yuhina's in the Rhododendron flowers would not wait for me to focus, but the Rosefinches (next post) at the parking lot had no problem with that.

Flamecrest, Taiwan endemic

      

Ferruginous Flycatcher, migrant

Taiwan Rock Monkey (Macaque)

Collared Bush Robin, Male. Taiwan endemic

 




Collared Bush Robin, female

We saw these robins at the start of the trail, where we could constantly hear them calling.

  

Taiwan Yuhina

      

Lychen and fungus

One of many sp. of Rhododendron

Mt. Dasyueshan, more birds on the 1st day

The rest of the afternoon we stayed at another pheasant location, hoping to see the Mikado Pheasant.

Wayne and I sat quietly on the cold rocks (the thermometer had sagged a couple of inches) till there was no more light. A small glimpse of a female Mikado from 100m down was all we got, but there were other birds.

White-eared Sibia, endemic

Taiwan Yuhina, endemic

Taiwan striped squirrel

Vinaceous Rosefinch

Spotted or Eurasian Nutcracker

Steere's Liocichlia, another Taiwan endemic. I couldn't get a better picture than this.

I'll have to get back here and try harder.