BBC defence expert thrilled to the endemic species of Taiwan but it is still a British favourite he loves most

                                            

Frank Gardner - BBC man is a keen birder

BBC defence correspondent and BTO president Frank Gardner has revealed his favourite bird.

In a short presentation to today's annual meeting of the latter, he said he never tired watching the robin in the parks of London - with the goldfinch not far behind.  

                                      

Somehow you can't beat a robin

In October, Mr Gardner was  on a work assignment to Taiwan to research the mood in that country over a perceived threat from its much larger neighbour, China.

He found the capital, Taipei, "drizzly" but enjoyed time off in the mountains and above the cloud layer where his "excellent" guide found him numerous endemics including Mikado pheasant - unofficial national bird of Taiwan.

"They are very keen on their birds in Taiwan," he declared

A huge downside for him (and others) this year has been the devastating impact of  bird flu.

When he visited St Mawes in Cornwall in summer, he looked for ward to watching gannets, but saw none.

He compared this unfavourably with a trip, in summer 2021, to  when the cliffs were "teeming" with gannets, razorbills, guillemots and more.

 It was "puffintastic,"he enthused.