After the excitement of the pair of Swinhoe's Pheasants we sat down for a spot of lunch and to discuss the next move. This would involve driving further uphill to an altitude of 2,400 metres.
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However, before this there was the small matter of signing in to the
Dasyueshan National Forest Recreational Area proper and paying the appropriate fee. We would also take a little time to view the Lodge Gate Garden, a term I use in the loosest possible way to describe a 100 square yard area of course grass, stones and mud, fallen branches and 2 Portaloos. There were already half a dozen birders awaiting the re-appearance of this most fantastic
Red-flanked Bluetail
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already showing interest in the 'meal-worm' bait that had been strategically placed.
We only watched for 30 minutes or so as the word was there could be much more afoot, so continuing the upward journey we stopped at a well know site for
FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER,
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another 'endemic' Sub-species (ES) and a 'Lifer' as denoted again by the emboldened red type.
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Extremely tiny, very mobile and distant it was certainly a 'scope job, but as can be seen a few images were captured. Almost at our destination but by no means near the top of the mountain we encountered part of the
Hong Kong Birding Societyintent on the same mission as ourselves. There was chance here of 3 worthy additions to all of my own lists, and within a matter of minutes the first obligingly appeared. It is considered that
WHITE-BROWED ROBIN will soon become
TAIWAN ROBIN, an 'endemic' (E) in its own right and no longer (ES),
JOHNSTONE'S ROBIN (E)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSb774PQ_gypsnq-XCex7Z6a3xTgHEXg5lTGL-B7GnAcWoIJLODrjf0zrrJDbR7hxbe_fB36zSQeJsKYh6xtOHdxD3bi-hSbF0tbvLsa9rIwdZMyODe9EsdyyhHFlCbkb1r7eG54an1rm/s400/IMG_6990.JPG)
PALLAS'S SQUIRREL
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlGVmsphR6aXQggi9Vg9gzKSopbRoVCzh4Up1TQI7jz4vNoxSyAY-q8uHnIPNbyRCAXBeQe7ntfhq-QB2lChf8hz7GUE7m-GALwmZgeuHQOKt2nP0d8_n8B3atRZZHynoyCEXZd0xmylUl/s400/IMG_7008.JPG)
along with birds that were now becoming familiar, the Laughingthrush and Rosefinch.
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In fact we returned to the home and business premises of his 84 year old friend
Ching Che Chiu who had cooked us
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifVaz9i4I_UdpIJw8Qle9R7D8M8BlTGf9QjxJLLbIGhfeXRGNd3F6c0Jytsar4c0uAc0i0p6Kh0xtvHRUIJxMm3Pk7EkwpIVz1Lsjn5WWFZkbbQLyGNe8RMEAEDtNHWATHiodOgrA1gn_/s400/DSCN3805.JPG)
a fine meal of chicken and a variety of vegetables. Ching and I seemed to hit it off right away, so much so that I waived one of my strictest travel rules, no alcohol. The food and a few drinks with this great character, inventor, artist, craftsman and father of 2 International Champion Ice Skates who could not fail to be impressed. His daughters had represented their country at the Birmingham Exhibition Center in 2002 with the photographs and etchings on show as proof. The drink did me no harm at all and with lack of sleep the previous night it was decided a 'rest day' was in order.
As a parting gift Wu gave me copies of his 'pride & joy, photographs of a
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLsTtoa5oV_QjSztLuXTZOfu6hpDdUBoSuOaKI4aFQ2VG8EA9hZmEj06XzH2ezrzOI6AaVsZthU2mltYhPDKNFW66oMsXWCzGjLdotmxumcokXT6kn319nS3cJBdMh3QYcdifFqB7D-5L/s400/IMG_6012-%25E7%2599%25BD%25E8%2597%258D%25E9%25B5%25B2-%25E4%25BF%25AE.tif)
leaucistic / part albino TAIWAN BLUE MAGPIE and a fine
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MOUNTAIN SCOPS OWL - Oh to have seen them both!
There could never be enough words to thank such kindness and generosity that I have received except to reiterate that, if they did ever get to my neck of the woods - then wait and see!