The lifers keep coming!

 Oriental Skylark on a brownfield site (D. Fettes)

A gorgeous White-winged Black Tern (D. Fettes)

The past few days in Taiwan have been heavenly as we traverse the west coast of the island. I had loads of lifers like the Grey-tailed Tattlers (a Redshank-like wader with plain grey wings) and Oriental Skylark. The lark was quite interesting because its song was a squeakier version of our familiar Skylark. It seemed smaller with a buffy trailing edge to its wings. I've also seen a couple do 'seconders' this week including Oriental Pratincole - a bird that I originally twitched in Gimingham, Norfolk back in the early 90's!

A full version of the birding events will appear in forthcoming issues of Bird Watching Magazine as I must admit that there is just too much to say and I'm too knackered. However, for those interested I will publish a list of the birds that I saw - possibly tomorrow.

Anyway, one more day left. More pictures tomorrow.

Slowly heading north back to Taipei

 Straited Swallows (D. Fettes)

 Brown Shrike (D. Fettes)

 Black-shouldered Kite (D. Fettes)

 Crested Goshawk (D. Fettes)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana with a Common Moorhen (D. Fettes)

The ticks keep coming!

A male Swinhoe's Pheasant (D. Fettes)

 Pacific Swallow (D. Fettes)

 Taiwan Barbet (D. Fettes)

Formosan Macaque (D. Fettes)

More from Taipei and environs

 Chinese Bulbul

 Oriental Turtle Dove

 Yellow-bellied Prinia

Rain over Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan

The world tour continues and this time I have found myself in Taiwan checking out the nature that this interesting island has to offer.

My first jet-lagged day was spent exploring the urban delights of the capital city, Taipei. Within minutes I had already clocked the first of my several ticks that included Pacific Swallow, Chinese Bulbul and the very odd behaving Malayan Night Heron. Quite reptilian-like for a heron, if you asked me!

 Malayan Night Heron (D. Fettes)

I was also happy to register my first of many Oriental Turtle Doves - a bird that I have lusted after since childhood. I was delighted to have seen my first in a 'proper' location as opposed to way off target sitting in an English garden during the middle of winter!

Oriental Turtle Dove (D. Fettes)

For those interested parties, the other birds I saw yesterday...today? I'm totally confused by the time zones, anyway they included; Tree Sparrows by the dozen, Black-billed Magpie (to give it the international name), Spotted Dove, Black Drongo, Japanese White-eye, Chinese Bulbul, Barn Swallow, Pacific Swallow, Malayan Night Heron, Taiwan Barbet, Himalayan Black Bulbul, Grey Treepie, Brown Shrike, Crested Goshawk, Oriental Turtle Dove, Eastern Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Common Moorhen, Black-eared Kite, White-breasted Waterhen, Red Turtle Dove plus a possible Eastern Buzzard drifting over that preceeded a group of c20 very high flying migrating probable Chinese Goshawks.

More from Serbia

TUB on a rocky outcrop in northern Serbia (Philly 'The Kid' Aylen)

I must apologise for my complete lack of communication over the past days since my guided trip to Serbia - which was a complete success might I add!

We had a fantastic array of species including a Pallid Harrier, several Montagu's Harriers including some fine males, truckloads of Marsh Harriers and during my recce before the guests arrived, a lovely female Hen Harrier and a late Merlin. Other bird of prey highlights during the course of the trip included brilliant views of a Long-legged Buzzard on the deck and fairly close up, several Osprey, Red-footed Falcon, Goshawk, stacks of Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, a few Hobby, a couple Saker Falcons, a Peregine and a putative Honey Buzzard. Add to that mix the multitudes of Hawfinch, several migrating Golden Orioles, Cuckoos including a rare hepatic (rufous phased) female watched in the pouring rain, tons of migrant Wood Warblers - the list goes on.

The main reason why most people came on my trip was to witness Serbia's incredible owl populations. We got to see many Long-eared Owls, Little Owl, heard Barn and Scops Owl's plus watched a mighty Ural Owl emerge from its woodland nest box too. I was lucky enough to glimpse an even mightier Eagle Owl flap from its hidden, edge of woodland perch.

It was a fantastic trip and one that I will be repeating in May 2013 when even more of Serbia's specialities will be on show. So get in touch if you fancy coming then. As a teaser, I will be running a long weekend trip to Serbia at the beginning of December 2012 to witness the truly unbelievable gatherings of Long-eared Owls in some of the villages in northern Serbia. How does the sight of nearly 200 of the blighters sitting in one tree grab you?

Keep checking my blog for further details.

Serbian amphibian adventure

Apologies for not posting anything for nigh on a thousand years but I have been super busy plus led two tours; one in Portugal and the other most recently to Serbia.

A full explaination for my absence will following in due course. For the time being, please enjoy some amphibians that were stumbled across in Serbia.