Taiwan birding trip - November 2005
I don't remember who shouted "Painted Snipe" first, but I do remember George Clulow showing me the opening in thick grass where this magificient bird was last seen. Focusing the scope produced not only one, but 15 (or so) Painted Snipe running through this small opening. For me, it was the bird of the trip - It is one thing to see Painted Snipe paintings in birding guides, but to see it close and personal is breath-taking! For 10 minutes we watched this incrediable bird. Just one of the 107 lifers I saw on this trip.
Although not in the same class of most birders in our group (many who sported world bird lists of 2000 plus) headed by Simon Laio, Honorary Chairman of the Wild Bird Federation of Taiwan, I did pass the 1000 world bird mark on the first day (9 day trip). About 85 percent of our Taiwan birding adventure was active birdwatching - the other part included press conferences, school visit, temple visits, and dinners with Taiwan government dignitaries. Avian Flu was BIG news in Taiwan, and the sight of an international birding group here to purposely watch wild birds and not be worried about (or catch) Avian Flu, got the attention of the Taiwan press. Fortunately, we had our "experts" explaining that watching wild birds posed NO threat to anyone. Our story and pictures appeared in several papers and on Taiwan television. (As a member of the Vancouver media, it was interesting to see how the local Taiwan press handled the event, and what questions they asked.)
Simon and Jo Ann MacKenzie put on a wonderful tour, and their knowledge of Taiwan birds is impressive. Great birds I will remember include Spot-billed Duck, Tiger Bittern, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Swinhoe's Pheasant, Black-winged Stilts, Black-tailed Godwit, Saunders' Gull, Japanese Green Pigeon, Common Kingfisher, Flamecrest, Steere's Liocichla, Golden Parrotbill (my second favorite bird of the trip), Yellow Tit, Formosan Magpie, and of course Black-faced Spoonbill - just to mention a few.
As the only vegetarian of the group, I was more than a little worried about what I could and couldn't eat. But Simon took charge - and made sure I was looked after at every meal break - wheather it be a quick 7-11 stop, or a special meal put on by a Taiwan Senator. Thank you Simon!!!!
A special word to those bringing long lenses and hoping for closeups of many of these incredible birds. You might want to follow the example of Allan Ridley of California, who is the king of "digiscoping" - (taking digital pictures through a scope). They were great!
Thank you all for such a great birding experience in wonderful Taiwan! Again, special thanks to Jo Ann MacKenzie, Rob Butler and Simon... And Rob, you are right... Simon is a god!!!!!
