Tuesday, May 31, 2016

2016 Dasyueshan Bird Race Part 2

Date: 28 April 2016 (Thursday)

After 6 days of solid training and practice, we were ready for the race with full confidence.

We went up to Dasyueshan one day earlier before the actual race began. To us, it was an advantage to get ourselves familiarized with the environment there, which includes the condition of roads and tracks, the boundaries for race zone A, B and C, as well as weather condition etc.

After checking into the rooms arranged by the organizer, we immediately did a mock practice. This was proved to be a very wise move, it made us more familiar with Dasyueshan species. We also manage to locate area where Mikado Pheasant used to display its charm and beauty.

Driving up and down Dasyueshan is no joking business. The winding and narrow road condition can easily make the passengers throw out whatever food they consumed earlier. For that matter, we were very lucky to have Mr. Schumi Wu to drive us around.  His expertise and experience in Dasyueshan-driving had made our job much easier.

Date: 29 April 2016 (Friday)

At 9:30am, after reporting to the secretariat and received whatever race-documents for the team, we were led to a hall for the opening ceremony which was officiated by an officer from the Forestry Department. Following that, the chief judge illustrated the rules and regulations for the race, and emphasizing the safeties of the participants.

The race was officially flagged off after a group photo was taken. We wasted no time and sped off in the vehicle driven by Schumi Wu.

The secretariat was set up at the Dasyueshan Visitors Centre, which is also situated at the half way of Zone C.  We ignored the upper part of Zone C, and went downhill towards Zone B. Many stops were made to record species of birds seen and heard. We also disciplined ourselves for not wasting time in taking bird photo. We need to move fast in order to clock in more birds. Lunch was settled a simple way – the smelly bean curd, at a road-side stall.

Towards the late afternoon, we suddenly realized that we did not have one of the most common species, i.e. the Rock Pigeon. Scouting around the area, we finally spotted many pigeons, but unfortunately they were all caged, so we cannot include them in our list. Desperate and depressed, we continue our search, then finally saw 1 standing on a roof top, then another 2 appeared, so at the end of it, we had 3 of them.

After a quick dinner, we drove towards zone B and C. On the way, we tried our luck on nocturnal species. It was not bad after all. Luck was with us. We added 1 species of nightjar and 2 species of owl into our list.

We reached home almost midnight. Appointment for the next morning activities was at 5:00am. Tired plus body aches, we went to bed.

Date: 30 April 2016 (Saturday)

Today is the final day of the race. We need to submit our records by 10:30am.

At 4:00am, we sacrificed the comfort of the warm beds. Having a quick shower and a cup of instant noodles for breakfast, we rushed out to the car park, where Mr. Wu was already waiting. We went straight up to the upper most of the zone C at 50 Km. Over there, we clocked in many more species like Taiwanese Rosefinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch etc. These birds were really beautiful and attractive.

We decided to go down to zone A for a last attempt of the Brown Dipper. We tried very hard for this species the day before, but failed to locate it. At the entrance to the river, a lady stood guard to prevent vehicles from entering the area. Not sure of her intention, but Mr. Wu exercised his super capability of human relationship and gained us an entry into the area without any problem. I’m wondering whether he possess a degree in Psychology, but certainly he deserved a PhD for that.

After a short wait of less than half an hour, the Brown Dipper finally made an appearance at the far end downstream, making our list at the 102 mark. So this is the last bird for us to be submitted.

As mentioned earlier, the completed bird list had to be submitted to the Secretariat by 10:30am.  We were running out of time. We need to do some rushing work.
Thanks to Schumi Wu. He displayed his driving skill so perfectly that we manage to arrive at the centre in time.

All of us felt a big relief after the submission of our bird list.  We went back to our respective room to pack our luggage, ready to depart after the closing ceremony. Before that, our President Mr. Andy Lee gave a talk and slide show on “Birding in Malaysia”, but unfortunately, he had to cut short the talk to give way to the closing ceremony. After the talk, Mr. Andy Lee presented a book entitled “winged wonder Malaysia” to the President of the Chinese Wild Bird Federation.

Finally came to the moment of prize giving. We emerged as the runner-up for the ‘Friendship’ section.

The race was over, and our task/objective for the Taiwan birding trip accomplished. Off we go again.  This time, to the Taoyuan airport. On the way, we stopped over at Hsinchu to taste the very popular vermicelli for dinner.


We arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport rather early. The check-in counter was not open for service, but a long queue had already formed. The flight we travelled in, i.e.Air Asia D7377, took off according to schedule and arrived at KLIA2 around 4:30am.

Prizes for Runner Up

Appreciation

There were 2 persons in particular that we wish to extend our heartiest appreciation. Without them, we would not have enjoyed this fruitful birding tour.

1.    Patrick Li Sheng Yun

We met him during the Kuala Tahan Bird Race 2015.  He is a very responsible young man.  Currently, he is doing his Master programme in National Pintung University of Science and Technology. He helped us to arrange the accommodation, transportation, food and birding areas throughout our trip in Taiwan. He also helped us to liaise with the Dasyueshan Bird race organizer for our registration as competition team in ‘Friendship’ section. Besides, he also worked out the budget for us prior to our departure from Kuala Lumpur.
He was rather active. In order to get us the Fairy Pitta, he ran up and down the slopes, ventured into thick bushes, but unfortunately, luck was not with us. Being a kind-hearted young man, he always help us voluntarily by carrying our heavy luggage.

2.    Schumi Wu

A middle aged man with a serious face was the first impression he gave us, but after getting along with him for a short while, we realized that he was such a humorous person and extremely friendly. He took very good care of us by fulfilling our needs like providing coffee drink, took us to his friend’s tea factory, took us for a taste of wasabi bean curd, and even bought a birthday cake to celebrate Andy’s birthday.

His knowledge in bird watching industry was beyond doubt. He was a good coach and teacher. During our trip before the race, he aggressively and patiently trained us in recognizing the Taiwan birds and their names in Chinese. We can boldly say that without his coaching, we might not have done so well in the race.

Bird list for the Dasyunshan Bird Race 2016
Date:  From 29 April 2016 at 10:30am to 30 April 2016 at 10:30am

No.
Name of species
Amount
1
Eastern Spot-billed Duck  花嘴鸭
4
2
Taiwan Partridge 台湾山鹧鸪
2
3
Chinese Bamboo Partridge竹鸡
1
4
Swinhoe’s Pheasant籃腹鷴
2
5
Mikado Pheasant黒长尾雉
1
6
Little Egret小白鹭
12
7
Cattle Egret黄头鹭
1
8
Black-crowned Night-Heron夜鹭
8
9
Malayan Night-heron黒冠森鹭
2
10
Crested Serpant-Eagle大冠鹫
1
11
Mountain Hawk-Eagle熊鹰
1
12
Black eagle林鵰
1
13
White-breasted Waterhen白腹秧鸡
1
14
Common Moorhen红冠水鸡
1
15
Little Ringed Plover小環頸鸻
1
16
Common Sandpiper磯鹝
3
17
Green Sandpiper白腰草鹬
2
18
Rock Pigeon野鸽
3
19
Ashy Wood-Pigeon灰林鸽
1
20
Oriental Turtle-Dove金背鸠
1
21
Red Collard-Dove红鸠
4
22
Spotted Dove珠頸斑鸠
4
23
Emerald Dove翠翼鸠
2
24
White-bellied Pigeon綠鸠
1
25
Large Hawk Cuckoo鹰鹃
2
26
Oriental Cuckoo北方中杜鹃
2
27
Mountain Scops-Owl黄嘴角鸮
1
28
Collard Owlet鵂鹠
1
29
Savanna Nightjar台湾夜鹰
1
30
House Swift小雨燕
20
31
Common Kingfisher翠鸟
5
32
Taiwan Barbet五色鸟
3
33
Gray-capped Woodpecker小啄木
1
34
White-backed Woodpecker大赤啄木
1
35
Gray-faced Woodpecker绿啄木
2
36
Gray-chinned Minivet灰喉山椒鳥
2
37
Brown Shrike红尾伯勞
2
38
Long-tailed Shrike棕背伯勞
1
39
White-bellied Yuhina绿畫眉
1
40
Black Drongo大卷尾
11
41
Black-naped Monarch黒枕蓝鹟
1
42
Eurasian Jay松鸦
1
43
Gray Treepie树鹊
4
44
Eurasian Nutcracker星鸦
2
45
Large-billed Crow巨嘴鸦
5
46
Barn Swallow家燕
5
47
Pacific Swallow洋燕
20
48
Red-rumped Swallow金腰燕
2
49
Asian House-Martin東方毛脚燕
200
50
Coal Tit煤山雀
2
51
Green-backed Tit青背山雀
15
52
Yellow Tit黄山雀
2
53
Black-throated Tit红頭山雀
10
54
Eurasian Nuthatch茶腹鳾
3
55
Eurasian Wren鹪鹩
1
56
Brown Dipper河烏
1
57
Collared Finchbill白環鹦嘴鹎
14
58
Light-vented Bulbul白頭翁
28
59
Black Bulbul红嘴黑鵯
12
60
Flamecrest火冠戴菊鸟
4
61
Rufous-faced Warbler棕面鶯
1
62
Yellowish-billed Bush-Warbler深山鶯
4
63
Striated Prinia红纹鹪鶯
3
64
Yellow-bellied Prinia灰頭鹪鶯
1
65
Plain Prinia褐頭鹪鶯
1
66
Taiwan Fulvetta褐頭花翼
1
67
Vinous-throated Parrotbill粉红鸚嘴
2
68
Golden Parrotbill黄羽鸚嘴
2
69
Taiwan Yuhina冠羽畫眉
15
70
Japanese White-eye绿繡眼
15
71
Dusky Fulvetta頭鳥缐
1
72
Gray-cheeked Fulvetta繡眼畫眉
6
73
Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush台湾白喉嗓眉
2
74
Rusty Laughingthrush棕嗓眉
1
75
Taiwan Hwamei台湾畫眉
2
76
White-whiskered Laughingthrush台湾嗓眉
10
77
White-eared Sibia白耳畫眉
8
78
Steere’s Liocichla黄胸藪眉
8
79
Taiwan Barwing紋翼畫眉
1
80
Rufous-capped Babbler山红頭
3
81
Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler大彎嘴
1
82
Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler小彎嘴
1
83
Ferruginous Flycatcher红尾鹟
1
84
Vivid Niltava黄腹流璃
3
85
White-browed Shortwing小翼鶇
2
86
Formosan Whistling-Thrush台湾紫嘯鶇
2
87
Little Forktail小剪尾
1
88
White-tailed Robin白尾鴝
4
89
White-browed Bush-Robin白眉林鴝
2
90
Collared Bush-Robin栗背林鴝
3
91
Plumbeous Redstart鉛色水鶇
5
92
Blue Rock-Thrush藍磯鶇
1
93
Javan Myna白尾八哥
7
94
Common Myna家八哥
5
95
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker红胸啄花
1
96
Gray Wagtail灰鶺鸽
1
97
White Wagtail白鶺鴿
3
98
Brown Bullfinch褐鷽
1
99
Gray-headed Bullfinch灰鷽
2
100
Vinaceous Rosefinch 台湾朱雀
8
101
Eurasian Tree Sparrow麻雀
32
102
White-rumped Munia白腰文
4


1 comment:

  1. 103rd bird species sighted by Team Malaysia continues in Part 3 of the Dasyueshan Bird Race 2016

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