Making the decision to try the Blue Gates Trail over making a morning visit to Chun Yang Farm paid dividends at the first gully where we obtained good views of a Taiwan Wren Babbler. Whilst joined by a foreign European birder we later coaxed a second individual into view that briefly stopped on the pipes before crossing the trail in front of us. A quick walk to the end of the trail and back failed to produce any other new species so we were soon on our way to Dasyueshan Amnashan. Arriving at the forest station we were initially told that all the accommodation was fully booked but a helpful ranger told us we could sleep in an old wooden cottage not now normally let. Despite being cold it had all other facilities so we quickly dropped our luggage and made our way to the Km47 Mikado Pheasant stakeout only to be told by birders present there that we had narrowly missed a pair by 2 minutes. Hearing of others having made three unsuccessful visits did little to reassure us, but after a tense hour, the pair thankfully put in another appearance just before dusk allowing outstanding views - superb!
MIKADO PHEASANT 2 pair ex.
Eastern Cattle Egret 5
Indian Black Eagle 1
Red Turtle Dove 1
Spotted Dove 3
House Swift 20
Grey Treepie 3
Red-rumped Swallow 2
Pacific Swallow 10
Black-throated Tit 10
Chinese Bulbul 6
Himalayan Black Bulbul 20
Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler 2
Rufous-faced Warbler 2
TAIWAN WREN BABBLER 2 ex.
White-whiskered Laughingthrush 2
Steere's Liocichla 5
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta 20
Taiwan Yuhina 6
Taiwan Whistling Thrush 1
Eye-browed Thrush 1
Taiwan Shortwing h
White-tailed Robin 1 male
Tree Sparrow 10
Grey Wagtail 1
Vinaceous Rosefinch 1 male
Brown Bullfinch 7
Blue Gates Trail (JFC)
Dasyueshan Anmashan (JFC)
Pair of Mikado Pheasants at Dasyueshan Anmashan Km 47
