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.