Waziwei Ecological Reserve。Taipei, Bali Township

那天潮水還末完全退去，即將西斜的太陽發出溫暖的色調，落在隨潮水微微浮動的舢舨及茂盛的水筆仔上。小白鷺四處走動覓食，步伐十分輕盈，各種不知名的鳥兒在紅樹林間悅耳鳴唱。接近木棧道的這一側，潮水全然退去，軟泥出露，各式各樣的招潮蟹及彈塗魚等，已開始活躍了起來……

The tide has not receded completely; the color of the sunset is spreading on the floating sampans and lush Kandelia. Little Egrets are walking around and looking for food. Their pace is slow and light. All different kinds of birds are singing in the Mangrove. On the side of wooden path, the tide has receded completely. All kinds of Fiddler Crabs and Mudskippers are active in the soft mud…

眼前這片生機盎然的濕地，靜謐祥和、美如畫作，有一種情緒在心頭隱隱騷動著，我什麼形容詞都吐不出來，只能不斷的輕呼著，「大自然，真美！」

The lively wetland is so quiet, peaceful, and pretty as a natural painting. I can’t describe it with any words, but it is absolutely beautiful. Our Mother Nature!

「挖仔尾」雖然為「八里左岸」沿線的景點之一，但氣氛卻大不相同，這裡不是太受觀光客青睞的地方，即便是在假日來到，也只見三三兩兩零星的遊客。但，這樣反而更好，這裡不是個適合嬉笑吵鬧的地方，而是一處需要安靜下來，享受自然、感受自然及聆聽自然的生態天堂。

註：「八里左岸」與淡水老街隔海相望，是台灣著名的旅遊景點。

Although “Waziwei” is a scenery attraction place on the “Bali Left Bank”, it has a different atmosphere due to few tourists even during weekends. However, I think it fits perfectly to the surrounding environment which is supposed to be a peaceful ecological paradise for people to feel and enjoy the nature.

PS: “Bali Left Bank” across the sea from Danshui Old Street, is a famous tourist attraction place in Taiwan.

「挖仔尾自然保護區」是淡水河系的紅樹林自然保護區，為水筆仔純林區。漫步在架高的木棧道上，可以近距離觀賞水筆仔的獨特胎生苗繁殖方式。

“Waziwei Nature Reserve” is the Mangrove Nature Reserve in Danshui, is an area for the Kandelia.Walking through the elevated wooden walkway, you can have a close look at the unique Kandelia fetus reproduction method.

河流與海洋交會的泥質濕地，是紅樹林的生育地，也是水鳥渡冬地與各種魚蝦貝蟹的棲息地。因東北方有大屯山阻擋強烈的東北季風，冬天時這裡沒有強風且依舊溫暖，吸引了上百種以上的候鳥在此渡冬。保護區的木棧道沿線設有中英文導覽解說牌，讓民眾得以了解水筆仔、水鳥與招潮蟹的相關資訊。

The muddy wetland was created by the intersection of the river and marine where the mangrove habitat is located. It is also the winter resting place for the waterfowl and habitat for all kinds of fishes, shrimps, and crabs. Because the Datun Mountain blocks the north east wind, this place is warm during the winter season which attracts hundred of birds to rest here in the winter. Along the walking wooden path in the reservation area, Chinese and English tour signs are available for visitors to get information on Kandelia, Waterfowl, and Fiddler Crab.

淡水大多是岩岸地形，這裡的砂岸地形，提供遊客一處真正得以近距離接觸河海的自然空間。這裡的招潮蟹種類繁多，數量也十分驚人，是觀察招潮蟹生態的好地方。圖中灘地上，那一個個的小白點，都是可愛招潮蟹的身影。數量之多，很驚人吧！

Danshui has a rocky terrain. The sand shore offers visitors a closer look at the marine life. There are so many kinds as well as large quantities of Fiddler Crabs. It is a great habitat area to observe the Fiddler Crabs. The white spots on the photo are the lovely Fiddler Crab figures. The number is very startling!

清白招潮蟹,Uca Lacteal (White Fiddler)

「清白招潮蟹」是最容易觀察到的招潮蟹，數量相當的多，雖然體型小（二公分以內），但白色的外殼在黑色的灘地上很難不被發現。據說，清白招潮蟹是大近視，只對動的東西敏感，而我觀察到的也是這樣，只要安靜的站在那裡幾秒，他們隨即就會冒出來，持續先前的動作，覓食的覓食、打架的打架……

“Uca lacteal” (White Fiddler) can be observed very easily. There are so many, although they are very tiny (less than 2 cm long). Because of the white shell, they can be very easily found in the black sand. It is said that Uca lacteal is near sighted and can only see moving objects. I found them the same way as well. If I stand there quietly with a few seconds, they would come out right away to look for food or continue fighting…

註：清白招潮蟹的雌蟹是二小螯，而雄蟹有一大螯一小螯，大螯長在左右兩邊的比例差不多。雄蟹喜歡揮舞著大螯，除了是向同伴示威外，也是向母蟹示愛之意。

PS: The female Uca Lacteal has 2 small claws, while the male has a large claw and a small claw. The large claw on the right or left side is almost the same size. Male Uca Lacteal likes to brandish with its large claw to show off to its peers and also gives a love signal to the female Uca lacteal.

弧邊招潮蟹,Uca Arcuata (Arch Fiddlers)

「弧邊招潮蟹」在北部紅樹林中是十分常見的蟹種，也是台灣產招潮蟹中體型最大的。弧邊招潮蟹的甲殼、步足以深褐色為主，背甲有明顯的網狀花紋，故又稱「網紋招潮蟹」。雄蟹一側螯大，一側螯小，母蟹兩側皆小，大螯有密佈的疣狀顆粒，呈漂亮的橘紅色，十分搶眼。

“Uca Arcuata” (Arch Fiddlers) is often seen in the northern Mangrove, and is also the largest among all other Fiddlers in Taiwan. The shell and claws of Arch fiddlers are brown. It has the reticulate shell; it is also named “Reticular Fiddlers”. The male has a large claw on one side and small claw on the other. The female has two small claws on both sides. The large claw has verrucous particles with beautiful red orange color. Very eye catching!

弧邊招潮蟹,Uca Arcuata (Arch Fiddlers)

由洞口形狀可以判別藏在洞內的弧邊招潮蟹是公蟹還是母蟹，洞口呈火山形的為母蟹，而公蟹的洞口則與地面平齊。

You can tell the male or female Uca Arcuata (Arch Fiddlers) from the shape of the cave they stay. If the hole is a volcano-shape, it’s for female Arch Fiddlers. If the hole is leveling on the sand, it’s for male Arch Fiddlers.

台灣厚蟹, Helice Formosensis (Taiwan Helice)

台灣厚蟹，光聽名字就知道，為台灣特有種。台灣厚蟹的甲殼、步足與螫腳，皆為灰綠色，寬厚的粗螫左右等大，而背甲的兩側還有明顯的裂齒狀。

From the name Helice Formosensis (Taiwan Helice), you can tell is the endemic species in Taiwan. The shell and claw are gray green color. The thick claws on both sides are pretty much the same size. The edges of the shell have denticulations.

萬歲大眼蟹, Macrophthalmus Banzai (Long Live Big Eyes Fiddler)

「萬歲大眼蟹」的背甲呈長方型扁平狀，甲殼與步足為黑褐色，兩螯同大為黃白色，螯腳兩指下彎，指尖小巧呈匙狀。萬歲大眼蟹的揮螯的動作，是向兩側畫開再收攏，有點像高舉大喊「中華民國萬歲」的模樣，因此稱做萬歲大眼蟹。

“Macrophthalmus Banzai’s” (Long Live Big Eyes Fiddler) shell is in a flat rectangular shape. Shell and claws are brown black color. Two pincers are yellow white colors which are in the small spoon shape. The claws move from outside to inside. It looks like it is shouting for “Long Live the Republic of China (ROC)”! That was how it was named.

彈塗魚,Mudskipper

除了招潮蟹外，泥質灘地上還可以看到為數不少的彈塗魚。眼睛突起，全身灰褐色有深色的斑紋的彈塗魚，是水陸兩棲的魚類，可以在水中游泳也可以在泥灘地上彈跳、爬行，在水中時用鰓呼吸，在陸上則用濕潤的皮膚和鰓室中的水分維持呼吸。彈塗魚的胸鰭相當達發達，可以撐起身體爬行，腹鰭演化成吸盤，可以吸附在樹幹與石頭上。彈跳時，則以尾就水做短程的彈跳。

Beside the Fiddler Crabs, you can also see lots of mudskippers on the muddy sand area. The gray brown mudskipper with protruding eyes is the amphibious fish. Mudskipper can live in the water; can also crawl on the muddy sand. It breathes through the gills in the water, and maintains the water through the wet skin and gills on the land. The pectoral of the mudskipper has a great strength which helps it to crawl. The pelvic fins develop to the suckers so that it can be absorbed to the tree truck and stone. It bounces with its short tail touching the water.

【挖仔尾自然保護區】,Waziwei Ecological Reserve

觀察時間：最佳觀察時間約莫是漲潮與退潮間中間的三小時。想知道每日的潮汐時間，可至「中央氣象局的潮汐預報」查看。

The observation time: The best observation time is the three hours between the high and low tide. Please click to check the daily tide time on Central Weather Bureau

交通資訊：在捷運關渡站下車，搭紅22或紅13至挖仔尾站。紅13是沿著八里左岸景區行駛，可直接抵挖仔尾保護區入口，但平日班次很少不容易等到。若平日來的話，建議搭紅22，班次多，到挖仔尾站後，步行一小段就到了。

Transportation information: Take MRT to Kuantu Station, and then take Red 22 or Red 13 to Waziwei Station. The Red 13 is a scenic drive along the Bali Left Bank which will take you directly to the entrance of the Waziwei Ecological Reserve. However, The Red 13 does not run frequently during weekdays. If you would like to come during weekdays, you can take Red 22 to Waziwei Station, and walk shortly to the entrance. Read More