The final leg . . . .

A journey day and we are off to Huisun Forest on our way back to Taipei.

The usual suspects were seen along the way, with a wetland stop giving us a lovely display by two Common Kingfishers.   We flushed a Common Snipe when we arrived and got out of the bus, and the bird flew back again later as we progressed along the track.   Sacred Ibis fed with some egrets, and a Magpie Robin shot past at one stage.   Terek's Sandpiper were seen again, along with many of the species already seen in the last couple of days.

Black-winged Stilt

Spot of the day was by Phil who saw a Great Cormorant (looking suspiciously like the European race -sinesis, with the distinctive white face) our first of the trip and just when the 'other Sue' had said she was surprised not to have seen one!

On the post lunch journey was stopped at a bridge and surveyed the tumbling river - Brown Dipper and Plumbeous Redstart were our additions here.   Dippers are always great to watch, with their heads pushed well under the water as they feed in under the rocks.   The Redstart was a dark smoky blue grey with a red shock of a tail.

Plumbeous Redstart

At the Huisun Forest Recreation Park we checked in to our rooms and then met for a wander in the grounds.   Blue Magpie were spotted from our rooms, Varied Tit called from the top of the pine trees, but were not seen well.   Grey Treepie, Large-billed Crow, and Himalayan Black Drongo were around.    On a lawned area just below our rooms we had Malayan Night-heron feeding, enjoying some juicy fat long worms.    As we returned towards dinner we could hear Chinese Bamboo Partridge, but it did it respond to tape, so we enjoyed some butterflies instead.

Taiwan Butterfly

After dinner we could hear Mountain Scops Owl calling, we went off in pursuit and although we could tell the direction the bird was in, it would not come in to a whistled imitation - don't blame it really!   As we lay in bed that night we drifted off to duetting Mountain Scops and Brown Hawk Owl calling.