The Windbreak Forest

The windbreak forest in Tainan is one of my favorite birding spots to visit, especially during the fall and spring migration. The windbreak forest is located in Qigu, right next to the ocean. Its main purpose is to stop strong sea winds and sand from blowing futher inland. The forest is mainly composed of beefwood trees, which look similar to conifers. The windbreak forest is typically a short rest-stop for migrating birds. This makes it equal parts frustrating and rewarding, because when I hear of an exotic bird reported there, it is often gone by the time I have a chance to check. However, sometimes I get lucky and see some lifers there.

Ashy Minivet

Some common birds found there are Pale Thrush, Brown-headed Thrush, Black-faced Bunting, Manchurian Bush-warbler, Oriental Magpie-robin, and White’s Thrush. Some more exotic birds that I’ve seen there include Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, and Red-flanked Bluetail.

Pechora Pipit

I usually visit about two or three times a month during migration. I like to go birding pretty early, so we almost always get there before seven, which in some cases is a bit too early for the birds. On my first lap through the forest, it is usually quiet except for the occasional chirp and the rustling of leaves.

Blue-and-white Flycatcher

What I like about the windbreak forest is how quiet it is and when you can only hear the chatter of the birds and the gentle breeze filtering through the trees. I’m amazed that even though the windbreak forest is not very big, there is often a dazzling array of birds waiting to be found. Just like birding in general, visiting the windbreak forest has a large element of luck involved, but it is that element of luck and the chance of seeing a lifer that makes my trips to the windbreak forest all the more rewarding.

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Blue-winged Leafbird

In the next few blog posts, I will be talking about some cool birds that I saw. This particular post I will be sharing about the Blue-winged Leafbird. This bird is very attractive, it has a green back, crown, a yellow belly and breast, a blue-tipped wing, and a black throat. This Leafbird is usually found in broadleaf forests. It is related to fairy-bluebirds, birds I also saw in Malaysia. The Blue-winged Leafbirds are omnivores, mainly consuming insects and arthropods, and the occasional fruit. Besides that it is presumed to consume nectar as well. Leafbirds are interesting because they are one of the few birds that evolved in South-east Asia, and later spread to the himalayas and other parts of Asia. I saw this bird on the second day in Kubah, around noon. It was before the pavilion where we were going to head back. There was a lot of commotion, and all sorts of different birds started to show up, Fulvettas, Orioles, Drongos and of course, two Blue-winged Leafbirds. It was me t

Rare in Taiwan, common in Malaysia

In this blog post I am going to talk about relatively common birds that I saw in Sarawak, but that are rare in Taiwan. There will be seven birds that I will share: the Brahminy Kite, White-breasted Woodswallow, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Western Hooded Pitta, Pied Triller, Scarlet Minivet, and the Collared Kingfisher. Brahminy Kite Four of the seven birds were seen in and around Kuching, and quite effortlessly. I will arrange the birds in the order of which I saw them, the first being the White-breasted Woodswallow. This bird is very unique looking, with a grayish head and back, a large beak, and a white breast. Woodswallows are quite interesting because, despite their name, they are not swallows, but rather part of a group related to Corvids aka crows and ravens. They belong in the family Artamidae, and are related to butcherbirds and the Australian Magpie. Its behavior is similar to flycatchers. They are insectivores, sallying bugs from the sky. We saw this bird right outside our

Kenting Raptor Migration

Crested Serpent-Eagle Every October, my family travels south to Kenting (in Pingtung) on the national Day of Taiwan. We visit for the purpose of seeing the breath-taking migration of raptors - thousands upon thousands - journeying to their wintering grounds. Because Taiwan is a key rest stop for birds, there are many places to observe this particular migration. A kettle of raptors Of all the migrating raptors, the Grey-faced Buzzard and the Chinese Sparrowhawk are the ones that are the most abundant. Hundreds of thousands pass through Taiwan every year. The Grey-faced Buzzard is a medium-sized raptor, with a mouse-gray face, a black-tipped beak, a very obvious throat streak, brownish wings, horizontal streaking in the underbody, and bright orange talons. The Chinese Sparrowhawk on the other hand is much smaller in size, has a blueish-gray back and head, and black-tipped wings. Adults lack a throat streak, whereas juveniles have one. Grey-faced Buzzard This year we had a slight cha

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