Taiwan

Day 1-2: After a morning tour start at Taipei International Airport (TPE), we will head straight to Dasyueshan National Park. Birding the road and trails in this wonderful protected area for the better part of two days is sure to already acquaint us with many Taiwanese specialties. The spectacular gamebird duo of Mikado Pheasant and Swinhoe's Pheasant are often approachable on the roadside, while Taiwan Partridge usually takes more effort in quiet gullies. The beautiful broadleaf forest also contains some cracking passerines, like Rufous-crowned Laughingthrush, Rusty Laughingthrush, Taiwan Liocichla, Taiwan Barwing, and White-eared Sibia.

A long list of other endemics includes Yellow Tit, Taiwan Barbet, Taiwan Cupwing, Taiwan Bush Warbler, Taiwan Yuhina, Taiwan Fulvetta, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler, Taiwan Bush Robin, Taiwan Vivid Niltava, Taiwan Whistling Thrush, and Taiwan Shortwing. A few other restricted-range birds like Collared Finchbill, Dusky Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler will be seen, along with a large number of more widespread East Asian species. Some of these are represented by distinctive endemic subspecies, like that of the scarce Brown Bullfinch.

Day 3: Following some final birding at Dasyueshan, we'll drive towards the centre of the island. Several stops along the way will give us first chances for Taiwan Blue Magpie, along with the scarce Chestnut-bellied Tit. Tea plantations and rural scrub around our lodging this evening are a great area to look for the declining Taiwan Hwamei and the skulking Black-necklaced Scimitar Babbler. Overnight in Wushe.

Day 4: At dawn we will be up at Hehuan Pass. White-whiskered Laughingthrush hop around the carpark, while the high elevation grassland with small pockets of coniferous forest hosts Taiwan Rosefinch, the adorable Flamecrest, and many Collared Bush Robin. This is also the best area for Taiwan Bullfinch. Afterwards, we'll move back west to Douliou. This is an excellent area to search for the wonderful Fairy Pitta. Local guides usually have several territories staked out, and the birds are just arriving back at this time so are extremely vocal and responsive. Overnight in Douliou.

Day 5: Today can be used to retry the pitta if needed, but otherwise we will partake in a little twitching. Douliou is perfectly positioned to follow up on any recent Taiwan Thrush sightings (certainly the hardest endemic, requiring both persistence and luck to see in spring). We'll try our best before heading to the slopes of Alishan National Forest for overnight.

Day 6: This morning we have opportunities again for all the birds of Dasyueshan, including both Mikado Pheasant and Swinhoe's Pheasant should they still be evading us. The surprisingly important Striped Prinia is quite common here, while endemic forms of Southern Nutcracker and Golden Parrotbill are good chances. Spotlighting usually turns up a skulking Mountain Scops Owl, and hopefully we will get lucky with Himalayan Owl.

Day 7: As we make our way to the southern tip of the island, there will be at least one stop to enjoy Pheasant-tailed Jacana in sublime breeding plumage. In the afternoon we will arrive at Hengcung and focus on seeing Styan's Bulbul and the attractive red subspecies of Maroon Oriole.

Day 8: Crossing by ferry to Lanyu Island, today is all about finding the scarce "Taiwan" Whistling Green Pigeon. Forested gullies here also hold endemic forms of Black Paradise Flycatcher and Ryukyu Scops Owl, while recently-arrived Northern Boobook can be found at night. Overnight on Lanyu Island.

Day 9: More time for birding this morning, keeping an eye out for any interesting migrants before crossing back over to the mainland after lunch. This afternoon will allow our first attempts at Chinese Egret and Black-faced Spoonbill. If we still need it, there are some convenient town parks in which we can look for Malayan Night Heron. Overnight in Tainan.

Day 10: This is our twitching day, where we can also explore coastal migrant traps or retry any missing endemics as we work our way towards Taipei. Eventually we will reach the north-east coast. Overnight in Yilin.

Day 11: A pelagic today will be an exciting opportunity to enjoy the stunning Aleutian Tern in breeding plumage as they make their way back to the Bering Sea. There are chances for Sooty Tern and Bridled Tern too, while the common tubenoses which come to feed on chum are Black-footed Albatross, Bulwer's Petrel, Streaked Shearwater, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and Flesh-footed Shearwater. Possible rarities include Red-tailed Tropicbird, Short-tailed Albatross, Swinhoe's Storm Petrel, Kermadec Petrel, and even Bonin Petrel (the latter a true vagrant but previously recorded during May on this pelagic). Overnight in Yilin.

Day 12: This is our backup day for the pelagic, or otherwise our final backup day for any remaining endemics. We expect to have seen everything by this point, but there are good sites around Yilin and eastern Taipei to try for most birds again (especially the tricky Taiwan Bamboo Partridge and wonderful Taiwan Blue Magpie). Coastal migrant traps might produce lingering passerines like Black-faced Bunting, along with potentially Oriental Pratincole or White-shouldered Starling. In the late afternoon we'll return to Taipei International Airport (TPE) where the tour ends in time for evening flights.