Sichuan birds

New Website

2011-09-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

We've recently opened a new Sichuan birding website at -
http://sichuanbirding.cloudaccess.net/

info on birding sites and a collection of our Sichuan bird-call recordings

Our 2010 Sichuan list

2011-03-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Lesser White-fronted Goose - only the second Sichuan record - and the first live record (there's a 50's a record of a dead bird on sale in a Chengdu market). Amazingly we spotted the bird from a hotel bedroom that overlooked a river - it hung around for 2 days before flying off.

Now were into 2011 I've totted up our Sichuan 2010 year list - although we included three cheat ticks (Grey Nightjar only heard,Yellow Bittern from a dead example on the Litang Grasslands and still a little uncertainty over getting a definite Hodgson's from Eurasian Treecreeper) it comes to well over the 400.

For those who like lists - here it goes (more photos after the list) -

Snow Partridge
Tibetan Partridge
Chinese Bamboo-Partridge
Japanese Quail
Tibetan Snowcock
Buff-throated Partridge
Chestnut–throated Partridge
Blood Pheasant
Temminck's Tragopan
Koklass Pheasant
Chinese Monal Pheasant
Common Pheasant
Golden Pheasant
Chinese Grouse
Lady Amherst's Pheasant
Blue Eared Pheasant
White Eared-Pheasant
Greylag Goose
Lesser White-fronted Goose – 2nd Sichuan record
Bar-headed Goose
Ruddy Shelduck
Mandarin Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Shoveller
Pintail
Eurasian Widgeon
Spot-billed Duck
Common Teal
Baikal Teal
Garganey
Falcated Duck
Red-crested Pochard
Common Pochard
White-eyed Pochard
Tufted Duck
Smew
Common Merganser
Eurasian Wryneck
Speckled Piculet
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Crimson-breasted Woodpecker
Darjeeling Woodpecker
White-backed Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Three-toed Woodpecker
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Bay Woodpecker
Black Woodpecker
Great Barbet
Eurasian Hoopoe
Common Kingfisher
Crested Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Large Hawk-Cuckoo
Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo
Eurasian Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo
Himalayan Cuckoo
Lesser Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
Lesser Coucal
Himalayan Swiftlet
Pacific Swift
White-throated Needletail
HouseSwift
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Collared Scops Owl
Pere David’s Owl
Chinese Tawny Owl
Northern Boobook
Little Owl
Collared Owlet
Asian Barred Owlet
Grey Nightjar - heard
Hill Pigeon
Snow Pigeon
Speckled Wood Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Oriental Turtle Dove
Red Collared Dove
Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon
Black-necked Crane
White-breasted Waterhen
Common Coot
Common Moorhen
Greater Painted Snipe
Eurasian Woodcock
Common Snipe
Swinhoes Snipe
Solitary Snipe
Northern Lapwing
Grey-headed Lapwing
Pacific Golden Plover
Grey Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Long-billed Plover
Black-winged Stilt
Curlew Sandpiper
Temminck's Stint
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Common Redshank
Black-tailed Godwit
Ibisbill
Pallas's Gull
Brown-headed Gull
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Common Tern
Whiskered Tern
Black Baza
Black-eared Kite
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Crested Serpent Eagle
White-tailed Sea Eagle
Cinereous Vulture
Himalayan Griffon
Bearded Vulture
Hen Harrier
Pied Harrier
Crested Goshawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Besra
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Northern Goshawk
Grey-faced Buzzard
Eastern Buzzard
Upland Buzzard
Golden Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Bonelli’s Eagle
Mountain Hawk-Eagle
Common Kestrel
Eurasian Hobby
Peregrine Falcon
Saker Falcon
Amur Falcon
Great Cormorant
Little Grebe
Great Crested
Little Egret
Intermediate Egret
Great Egret
Eastern Cattle Egret
Grey Heron
Chinese Pond-Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Cinnamon Bittern
Yellow Bittern – one dead example at Litang
Black Stork
Tiger Shrike
Brown Shrike
Long-tailed Shrike
Grey-backed Shrike
Chinese Grey Shrike
Eurasian Jay
Sichuan Jay
Red-billed Blue Magpie
Azure-winged Magpie
Black-billed Magpie
Spotted Nutcracker
Grey Treepie
Red-billed Chough
Yellow-billed Chough
Daurian Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Large-billed Crow
Collared Crow
Common Raven
Hume’s Groundpecker
Black-naped Oriole
Black-winged Cuckooshrike
Swinhoe's Minivet
Long-tailed Minivet
Short-billed Minivet
Ashy Drongo
Black Drongo
Spangled Drongo
Brown Dipper
White-throated Dipper
Blue Whistling-Thrush
Chestnut-bellied RockThrush
Blue Rock-Thrush
Long-tailed Thrush
Scaly Thrush
Chinese Blackbird
Grey-winged Blackbird
Japanese Thrush
Kessler's Thrush
Chestnut Thrush
Eyebrowed Thrush
Naumann's Thrush
Dusky Thrush
Chinese Thrush
Dark-sided Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Brown-breasted Flycatcher
Ferruginous Flycatcher
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Slaty-backed Flycatcher
Taiga Flycatcher
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
Slaty-blue Flycatcher
Verditer Flycatcher
Fujian Niltava
Vivid Niltava
Blue-throated Flycatcher
Indian Blue Robin
Orange-flanked Bush-Robin
Golden Bush-Robin
White-browed Bush-Robin
Rufous-headed Robin
Himalayan Rubythroat
Firethroat
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Hodgson's Redstart
Black Redstart
Daurian Redstart
White-throated Redstart
Blue-fronted Redstart
White-capped Water-Redstart
White-winged Redstart
Plumbeous Water-Redstart
White-bellied Redstart (Chinese Shortwing)
White-tailed Robin
Grandala
Little Forktail
Slaty-backed Forktail
White-crowned Forktail
Spotted Forktail
Siberian Stonechat
Grey Bushchat
White-cheeked Starling
Silky Starling
Crested Myna
Eurasian Nuthatch
Chestnut-vented Nuthatch
Przewalski's Nuthatch
Yunnan Nuthatch
Chinese Nuthatch
Wallcreeper
Bar-tailed Tree-Creeper
Sichuan Treecreeper
Hodgson’s/ Eurasian Treecreeper – still a little uncertain on separating these
Fire-capped Tit
Songar Tit
Pere David’s Tit
White-browed Tit
Rufous-vented Tit
Coal Tit
Yellow-bellied Tit
Grey-crested Tit
Eastern Great Tit
Green-backed Tit
Yellow-browed Tit
Black-throated Tit
Black-browed Tit
Sooty Tit
Sand Martin
Eurasian Crag-Martin
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Asian House-Martin
Collared Finchbill
Brown-breasted Bulbul
Light-vented Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Mountain Bulbul
Plain Prinia
Striated Prinia
Chestnut-flanked White-eye
Japanese White-eye
Brownish-flanked Bush-War
Aberrant Bush-Warbler
Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler
Spotted Bush-Warbler
Brown Bush-Warbler
Russet Bush-Warbler
Chestnut-headed Tesia
Dusky Warbler
Alpine Leaf Warbler
Buff-throated Warbler
Yellow-streaked Warbler
Buff-barred Warbler
Ashy-throated Warbler
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler
Lemon-rumped Warbler
Chinese Leaf-Warbler
Sichuan Leaf Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Hume's Warbler
Claudia’s Leaf Warbler
Greenish Warbler
Large-billed Leaf Warbler
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Emei Leaf Warbler
Kloss’s Leaf-Warbler
Sulphur-breasted Warbler
Bianchi’s Warbler
Plain-tailed Warbler
Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Rufous-faced Warbler
Goldcrest
Crested Tit Warbler
White-browed Tit-Warbler
Moustached Laughingthrush
Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush
Greater-necklaced Laughingthrush
Barred Laughingthrush
Giant Laughingthrush
Spotted Laughingthrush
Plain Laughingthrush
Buffy Laughingthrush
Hwamei
White-browed Laughingthrush
Elliot's Laughingthrush
Black-faced Laughingthrush
Red-winged Laughingthrush
Emei Shan Liocichla
Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler
Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
Winter Wren
Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler
Pygmy Wren-Babbler
Rufous-capped Babbler
Rufous-tailed Babbler
Chinese Babax
Red-billed Leiothrix
White-browed Shrike-Babbler
Green Shrike-Babbler
Streaked Barwing
Blue-winged Minla
Red-tailed Minla
Golden-breasted Fulvetta
Gold-fronted Fulvetta - pair of birds on Old Erlang Road
Spectacled Fulvetta
Chinese Fulvetta
White-browed Fulvetta
Grey-hooded Fulvetta
Dusky Fulvetta
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta
Black-capped Sibia
Stripe-throated Yuhina
White-collared Yuhina
Black-chinned Yuhina
Great Parrotbill
Three-toed Parrotbill
Brown Parrotbill
Grey-headed Parrotbill
Spectacled Parrotbill
Vinous-throated Parrotbill
Ashy-throated Parrotbill
Grey-hooded Parrotbill
Fulvous Parrotbill
Golden Parrotbill
Tibetan Lark
Greater Short-toed Lark
Oriental Skylark
Horned Lark
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
Fork-tailed Sunbird
Mrs Gould's Sunbird
House Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Russet Sparrow
Rock Sparrow
Tibetan Snowfinch
White-rumped Snowfinch
Rufous-necked Snowfinch
Forest Wagtail
White Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Citrine Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Oriental Tree Pipit
Water Pipit
Rosy Pipit
Red-throated Pipit
Richard’s Pipit
Alpine Accentor
Rufous-breasted Accentor
Maroon-backed Accentor
Robin Accentor
Brown Accentor
White-rumped Munia
Brambling
Grey-capped Greenfinch
Black-headed Greenfinch
Tibetan Siskin
Twite
Plain Mountain-Finch
Brandt's Mountain Finch
Dark-breasted Rosefinch
Common Rosefinch
Beautiful Rosefinch
Pink-rumped Rosefinch
Spot-winged Rosefinch
Three-banded Rosefinch
Vinaceous Rosefinch
White-browed Rosefinch
Streaked Rosefinch
Red-faced Rosefinch
Pink-tailed Bunting – one seen Ruoergai
Crimson-browed Finch
Grey-headed Bullfinch
Chinese Grosbeak
Collared Grosbeak
White-winged Grosbeak
Slaty Bunting
Godlewski's Bunting
Little Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Pine Bunting

Here are pictures of birds that are sometimes absent from the usual Sichuan lists -

Baikal teal - always difficult to find in Sichuan - we got this lone female in the NE. Interesting to see the plumage differences with the female Common Teal

Japanese Quail - at least were assuming it's this species and not Common. A surprising find in the Alpine forest that's at the base of Balang Pass.

White-backed Woodpecker - got this bird during early 2010. This bird was at the Beisehe Reserve - we saw others at Wolong

Cinereous Vulture - not so difficult to find in the Balang area

Bonelli's Eagle - several birds were recorded in NE Sichuan

Steppe Eagle - a young bird soaring over the Ruoergai Grasslands

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo - also a young bird. We saw Buffy Laughingthrush - a host species - hanging about in the same area.

Yunnan Nuthatch - in SW Sichuan - very close to the Yunnan border.

Japanese Thrush - a spring passage bird

Spectacled Fulvetta - a lot of birders miss this species. You can find it in the Jiuzhaigou area.

Brown Bullfinch - we got a flock of these this winter

Pine bunting - another winter bird. On the Ruoergai Grasslands.

Rufous-necked Snowfinch - on the Ruoergai Grasslands. Sometimes you have to look at an awful lot of White-rumped Snowfinch before you find this bird.

And a 2011 bird - which set the year off with a bang!!!!! Sichuan's first Red-breasted Goose

Pere David's Owl and Chinese Grouse - Sichuan Birding

2010-12-08T05:49:00.000-08:00

A large Owl gulp that was found just before a sighting of Pere David's Owl in the Baxi area of NW Sichuan. This was our first clue to the presence of a big Owl. looks like there are a set of false teeth mixed up in that mess.

We've just come back from a 10 day trip that took us to Tangjiahe, Wanglang and the Baxi/Ruoergai area. By far the best bird sighted during this trip was the rare Pere David's Owl.
We got our Owl during a late afternoon search for Chinese Grouse. We were birding in the Baxi area, at a site that had given us Grouse last February. However, during this visit, the meadow/forest location turned out to be deadly silent - no Grouse, none of the usual Hares - and then we noticed the mother of all Owl gulps - a ball of hair and bones that obvious came from something big - Eagle or Pere David's Owl. On Cue a couple of Kessler's Thrush started to kick up a racket and Meggie went to take a look. As she investigated a large shape came hurtling between the trees and landed half way up one of the big pines - simply stunning - it was Pere David's!!!!!!!
We managed to follow the bird to three different locations - and although the setting sun didn't make for easy photographic conditions - Meggie was able to get a decent shot of this monster owl.
That wasn't the first contact with this species during the trip - we also got to hear it at Wanglang - but couldn't find the bird. This day we lucked in.

Our best shot of Pere David's Owl - there is debate over whether it's a separate species or an isolated subspecies of Ural Owl. The status of full species would make it China's only endemic Owl.

Another great Owl we managed to find on this last trip - Chinese Tawny Owl. We got this bird at Wanglang Panda Reserve - which is also in N Sichuan. We had been after this bird since our last trip to Wawu - where we twice ran into it, but were unable to get photos. This time we had a new high powered Torch and were able to get the Owl during our first night at Wanglang.

The morning after getting the Pere David's owl we got to the task of looking for Chinese Grouse. These birds inhabit Alpine Forest around the 3000m level - and as can be expected, in Grouse country, winter mornings are often pretty chilly. We found the birds most active when the sun - at around 10am - started to reach into their feeding areas. These birds eat the buds of willow scrub that grows in the forest valleys - its easy to see where they've been at work - and you can actually hear them nipping away at the twigs.
Chinese Grouse is an endangered species - much of its habitat has been destroyed by forestry and farming - but in Sichaun they can still be found in areas such as Baxi and Mengbishan

These nipped-off buds are tell tale signs of Grouse at work. Can't be much fun being a willow tree in this place!!!!

A Grouse photographer dying of hypothermia. Luckily she was able to see a bird or two through those misted specs.

We saw many more interesting species during our trip - but were especially pleased to get a decent shot of one of those that has been rather camera shy in the past - Sooty Tit - seen at one of best sites to find this elusive bird - Wanglang.

Streaked Barwing and White-browed Bush Robin on the Old Erlang Road - Sichuan birds

2010-11-22T16:41:00.000-08:00

One of our Barwings - a truly handsome bird

Just back from a quick trip to the Old Erlang Road, where we got 'his and hers' Streaked Barwing. The Barwing day started with a little discussion on where to bird - which resulted in a split up where me and Meggie did different sections. On my part of the trail I ran into a group of three, very showy, Streaked Barwing - and cursed our luck that Meggie wasn't present with her camera. But when I later met up with her she was beaming over having found another pair of Barwing lower down. The birds were feeding off what I presume were insects or grubs in the moss that covers tree trunks and branches. Meggie followed her birds for about 5 minutes.

One my Streaked Barwings - showing how ridiculously easy they were. The picture was taken using 17-85mm zoom - hardly a mainstream birder's lens!!!!!!!!!!

During this trip we also ran into another good bird - a male White-browed Bush Robin but in some very misty conditions. The bird made a show when we called in a Tit/Goldcrest flock. This was close to the very top of the pass - from where we could hear Koklass Pheasant calling in the distance.

On the way home we got an unexpected bird - a Juv. White-tailed Eagle sitting in a riverside tree that could be seen on the busy Chengdu to Kangding G318 road.

And that cloud and mist, that you often find in these mountains, it make birding a bit difficult - but boy can you find some great photo opportunities when this stuff is rolling in while the sun is breaking through the clouds. This is magical Sichuan at its best.

Whose eaten my porridge - is this Mummy or Daddy bear???? Certainly wouldn't like to be Goldilocks when this guy gets back home for dinner - those claws look a little sharp.

Erlang mountain used belong to the bottom of the sea. There are lots of Fossils to be found on this track - here's a huge chunk of coral. At this point point, that's close to the top of the track, you can also find sea shells.

Red Pandas at Wawu - Sichuan birds

2010-11-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

A nice study of the first Red Panda we saw on day two - up on a tree sunning itself in the early morning sun.

We're just back from the second part of our trip with Duncan and Pieter from Wildsounds - this time together with Nigel Goodgame (this guy goes into a gyrating dance every time he gets a lifer),
Anyways they had just come back from a Giant Panda trip - where after crawling and clamoring up the steep sided bamboo mountains of Foping, Shaanxi, they'd all seen their Bear - so now we were after the main target in Sichuan - Red Panda.

Wawu Mountain is about the easiest site for Red Pandas around here - its already shown for us with three earlier groups. – but the weather, namely the infamous Wawu mists, can make this a difficult location.
Our project got under way with a clear morning and on day one a Red Panda was spotted – but frustratingly only by Meggie!!!!!!!
We now had an area where we knew where a Panda was present – but there was a touch of nervous tension in the air – since staking out the area after the initial sighting gave nothing and by mid-afternoon a mist had fallen making further watching impossible.
Next morning – we woke, after a night that had seen some very heavy rain, highly relieved by the sight of clear skies. We watched the area of Meggie’s sighting, and around 9 am the Panda politely came into view to give, for around 10 minutes, an uninterrupted look at this stunning animal. It was seen in a small tree, into which it had probably climbed with the intention of warming up. When first viewed the Panda had ice on one of its ears - but that soon melted away as it thawed out in the rising morning sun.

Soon after Nigel found two more Pandas – which seemed to include a juv. Needless to say this brought on yet another dance!!!!!!

The Red Panda pair - this is the first time we've seen two Pandas together.

Other good stuff for our visitors were the Lady A’s and the Temminck’s Tragopan seen during “chicken-run” on the park access road. But here we also had a few nervous tinges – since Lady A, surprisingly almost all male, were numerous, while after about 6 runs there wasn’t a Tragopan in sight. Luckily this changed on the very last run. Done in a light mist and drizzly rain - weather conditions that often induce chickens to abandon the wet forest floor for the firmer feel of a road and roadside blocks – we suddenly bumped into 6 Tragopan, including one fine male which gave us some prolonged views. 10 minutes later the mist closed in – we were very lucky!!!!!

Lady A scuttles into the safety of scrub - the usual view of this stunning bird

The male Temminck's Tragopan who decided to pose - falling mist, rain and shooting through the windscreen didn't help this shot taken by Pieter.

Parrotbills also showed nicely on this trip - and Grey-hooded, sometimes a hard to find bird, was very easy at the correct locations.

Grey-hooded Parrotbill - people watching from the top of a bamboo stem.

Golden Parrotbill were also not that difficult in the bamboo at the middle sections of the access road. These hyperactive creatures are a great looking bird.

And one of the Parrotbills the wildsounds guys needed for their list - Brown. They already had the very similar Three-toed from Foping - and after a toe count of were happy that 3 front toes + 1 back toe meant a 101% positive ID for this lifer.

Autumn trips to Wolong and Balang - Sichuan birds

2010-10-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

With all the road problems caused by the combination of residual earthquake damage and the heavy rains of the summer - it's good to report that our drier autumn weather has once again made Wolong and Balang Pass fairly easy destinations to reach via the quick route from Chengdu - the road that passes through Dujiangyan. In fact, if you're lucky, then its possible to get to Wolong Town with a 3 hour drive. Give 5 hours and you could be looking down on the clouds, while basking in the alpine sun on top of the 4,600m Balang pass.

Of course under that cloud cover things can be a little less bright. This was the situation just a couple of day's ago when we were guiding Duncan Macdonald and Pieter Wessels of Wildsounds. But after an initial morning of being frustrated by mist, on the second, we were lucky enough to get a couple of male roadside Chinese Monal. The chill of the snow was certainly effectively countered by the thrill of getting so close to these stunning birds. That pic was taken by Pieter.
Other gamebirds encountered included The usual Koklass Pheasant, Rufous-throated Partridge, Snow Partridge and Tibetan Snowcock (I'm afraid mostly heard rather than seen). However this autumn there were no signs of White-eared Pheasant up at Balang or Golden Pheasant or Temminck's Tragopan at Wolong - these birds were much easier to find during the summer.

Lots of other birds about - here's a great shot of White-browed Tit Warbler. Meggie managed to capture that red eye - which gives this bird a bit of a sinister look!!!!

As ever lots of Alpine Accentor up on high rocky areas of the pass.

Down in the valleys closer to Wolong we got close to this Black-faced Laughingthrush.

Late October also saw a few passage migrants still hanging about in the warmer valley bottoms - here's a female Golden Bush Robin.

And it wasn't only birds - here's a Chinese Goral that was found close to the entrance of Denghsheng Valley. Other mammals included Blue Sheep, Short-tailed Macaques and Mountain Weasel.

And here's Meggie - while the clouds roll past at over 4,500m - displaying an alarming new fashion trend. High altitude Wellington boots!!!!!!!

Litang Grasslands - Sichuan birds

2010-09-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Juvenile Lammergeier - this awesome species was seen on several occasions during our last trip to Litang. The other common species of Vulture in the area, Himalayan Griffon, can be seen in great numbers during occasions when the Locals practice Tibetan style funerals - Known as sky-burial - where the birds are allowed to feed on the corpses of the dead.

If you take the highway west from Chengdu, which eventually leads to Lhasa, a drive of around 10 hours should bring you close to an area of plateau grassland that's situated close to the Tibetan town of Litang. This flat plain that nestles between the mountains, is high - the town being over 4000m in altitude. A combination of pasture, river, mountain and marsh provides the type of habitat where it's possible to see many of the interesting species that are associated with the eastern side of the Tibetan Plateau. With good road Connections - the town is a major junction on the overland route to both Yunnan and Tibet - making it a logical stop-off for anybody exploring this part of Sichuan.

Streaked Rosefinch - the common Rosefinch species on this grassland. You often see this bird around habitation.

Tibetan Snowfinch - another species that 'digs' around those dumps, ditches and manure heaps that are part of the smaller Tibetan villages and homesteads. This bird is far easier to find at Litang than the Ruo Er Gai grassland of NW Sichuan. Plain and Brandt's Mountain Finch were also seen.

Bar-headed Goose - the road that leads towards the Tibetan border at Batang follows the course of a river. Although duck and other wetland species are not found in the same type of numbers as Ruo Er Gai (no Black Necked Crane left at Litang) - we found Common Tern, Redshank, Bar-headed Geese, Common Merganser and Ruddy Shelduck.

Ibisbill - is also present on the river. The best place to find this species are on stony river banks - sometimes where gravel extraction has taken place.

Himalayan Marmot - an ever present sight, and sound, on the drier parts of the grassland.

During June, July and August the grassland pasture becomes a good habitat for flower hunters.

This small Gentian, in the Swertia family (Felworts), is part of the Litang flora.

And of course there are all the usual 'grasland suspects' - here's Hume's Groundpecker (or Ground Tit - depending on what you're calling it today). This little extrovert of a bird - with its cocky mannerisms - always gives excellent entertainment value.

Chinese Grey Shrike - another good location for this sought after tick. Tibetan lark were also seen.

Little Owl - as a kid, in South Wales, we had a birding site, a bracken covered valley, where we would often find this Owl. Strange to think I'd be finding the same bird - so many tears latter - up on the Tibetan Plateau.

Birding Sichuan 2010 - Sichuan birds

2010-08-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Lots of these Chickens seen this year - Blue-eared Pheasant. Pictured during late winter in the Baxi area of NW Sichuan.

It’s still difficult in the PRC to get onto blogspot – but this time we think we’ve finally weaved our way around the problem , and can once again resume giving regular updates on Sichuan birding.
2010 has seen us making a lot of trips through Sichuan and a couple of sorties into neighboring Yunnan. Birding has been very good - even though during the last couple of months things have been made difficult with heavy rains, resultant landslides and other road blocking developments. However where there’s a will there’s a way – and our birding has gone on non-stop despite the annoying combined interventions of weather gods and road-building clowns. Luckily Sichuan holds a lot of wild country – so when things, with construction and heavy traffic, look bad from the roads–it often helps to be mobile, energetic and imaginative. Getting off the usual beaten birding- track can often pay good dividends!!!!!
A good example of this was this year’s quest after two of our more wanted Sichuan species - Sichuan Jay and Tibetan Snowcock. When on trips we were not able to find these birds at their usual haunts of Mengbi (Jay) and Balang (Snowcock) – due to weather and road factors - we were able to make them up, just past Rou Er Gai, on the Baxi to Jiuzhaigou road.

Sichuan Jay - pictured in Baxi. Just a 100 meters or so up the road and you hit the cloud line with near zero visibility. luckily our birds seemingly were avoiding that fog!!!!

One of our highest birds of the year was Red-faced Rosefinch - this guy is around 4,600m - on the very top of the Balang Pass.

This year we got Rufous-headed Robin on our two trips to the tourist ghetto of Jiuzhaigou – at two different park locations. Song-wise – if in the right area – and the bird is calling, then you can pick it up very close to the main walking track. However converting heard calls into good visual observations can be a wee bit tricky – with this prime skulker being the master of not being seen while merrily singing in front of your nose.
An annoying change at JZ has been the rise in admission ticket price. Formerly deemed very expensive, that 2 day ticket has now- during the period from April onto December – been changed to a one day ticket with only a very small price reduction!!!!! This of course near doubles admission price – so save your pennies to afford the JZ experience and make sure you don’t have to spend too many days chasing that darned Robin.

Not as pretty or melodic as the Rufous-headed Robin - but just as difficult to find - Solitary Snipe. seen at about 3,200m, during early spring, on the high pass between Moxi and Kangding.

During August – often considered a bad birding, wet and difficult to travel month (although we never expected how wet it would be this year) – we took off on an alternative Sichuan birding route that enabled us to combine Sichuan with Yunnan. A route that took us onto the high Tibetan grasslands at Litang – carrying on over the plateau to Yunnan and the Zhongdian area – through the tourist fleshpots of Lijiang and Dali – and to the useful birding location of Zixi Mountain before heading back on the motorway to Sichuan via Kunming.
The route home took us very close to the Sichuan Hill partridge area on the Sichuan/Yunnan Border – and with the motorway Yunnan is now just a day’s drive away from Chengdu.
Lots of good birds were had on this tour – it was nice to blend exciting high grassland species such as Ibisbill and Chinese Grey shrike with the likes of Yunnan goodies such as Giant Nuthatch and Black Eagle.

Giant Nuthatch - certainly a whopper - especially when seen in company of other Nuthatch species.

Seen in Both Sichuan and Yunnan - Lady A. This fine male was pictured on the stone road that leads up Tangsang Mountain, Dali, Yunnan.

Some pictures from a recent trip tp Ruo Er Gai - Sichuan birds

2010-03-09T00:15:00.000-08:00

During a chilly trip made to this area a week back we saw many interesting birds on the grasslands and marshes.
The first picture is Chinese Grey Shrike - these were quite common birds - several were seen perched up on telegraph wires.

Hume's Groundpecker - this bird was photographed in one of the quarries - excavating for food in a sandy cliff-face.

The weather might not have been exactly heralding spring - but Black Storks on passage indicated that migrants were on the move back north. Four of the these great birds were seen.

Tibetan Lark - one of the special birds of Ruo Er Gai - this bird was photographed close to the Flower lake site.

Eagle Owl - looking very magisterial, this epic predator was found holed up in a small quarry.

Back Again

2010-02-14T21:11:00.001-08:00

Found a new connection to get onto to Blogger - so hopefully we can add more updates and pictures from our Sichuan trips.
The above picture is Tibetan Snowcock we got last week - at Moxi. Our original Target were Monal Pheasant - but we only got to hear them. Chasing Snowcock is a pretty tiring game - these birds live well over the 4000m mark.

Sichuan Bird Watching - Streaked Barwing

2009-09-26T02:34:00.001-07:00

Sichuan Birdwatching - A trip to Wanglang

2009-09-07T03:31:00.000-07:00

Sichuan bird guiding with Sid and Meggie Francis – chengduuk@hotmail.com - Chengdu the gateway to the birds of Sichuan.
We've just found a way to circumnavigate the China firewall which has been blocking us from putting pictures on our blog - and once again we can now publish illustrated articles onto this blog - that is untill the next trick from the censors.

We also have Sichuan birdwatching thread at birdforum - we hope birders can find some useful info in there, or use the thread to ask us questions about their Sichuan visit - you'll find it at -
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=149725

Three-banded Rosefinch - this male is a pretty striking bird - we spotted him on one of the moss covered, primeval like conifer trees that are a feature of the forests at Wanglang. Like other Rosefinches it will respond to calls - this one being brought in by playing White-browed Rosefinch.

Well we tried to stay at home and complete some of those chores we've been promising ourselves to do for ages - but the temptation to get out and bird was far too strong - and being weak-willed...............................
Anyways it seemed a good time to take up north to check out Wanglang and Tangjiahe Panda reserves - and have a look at how the post-quake road mending is coming along.
Areas close to Wanglang were badly hit by the quake - and although the reserve itself is more or less untouched – access by road, when driving the most direct routes from Chengdu, were very badly affected. However, now you can make the journey to Wanglang in 8 hours - and although there are quite a few klm's of unsurfaced temporary road to negotiate - the birds at the end of the journey make all those bumps worthwhile.

Chesnut-headed Tesia - this is a warbler on stilts!!!! Tesia - are lumped under the title of Ground Warbler - being distinguished by short-tails and skulking behavior. But they can become very inquisitive when subjected to a bit of "phishing" - however getting that good shot almost needs an X-ray camera lens that can shoot through dense foliage. We found this bird off the normal paths - in a really dank and damp part of the forest.

Wanglang is a pretty friendly reserve - and it's not spoilt by being "over-touristicated." The basic accommodation is cheap - 60RMB/bed - but if you're into more plush living, there are wooden chalets that cater for a little more luxury. The restaurant is also pretty good for such an out of the way place.
But of course what makes this place is the habitat - nice rough tracks, which are drivable, take you into virgin like conifer forest. There are also walking trails - some being boardwalks - while others being paths into the denser parts of the forest. There are three main valleys to walk - and if you felt really fit – and had a few days to spare - you could walk to either Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong.
One of the best valleys - one we haven't fully explored - comes before you reach the hotel/workplace area (you have to cross the river) - this valley should give the best chance (and of course a rather slim one) for Giant Panda, with March being the best month for finding one.

Chinese Thrush - a shy endemic - which is not that difficult to find up in the Wanglang, Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong areas

Wanglang has an interesting bird list. Being a good site for Blue-eared Pheasant - they'll feed on the pastures that border onto the accommodation area. The best time to see them is when the grass is short - we had good views in early June - but now, during late summer, the grass is longer, so viewing is rather impaired. The only Blue-eared Pheasant we saw on this trip was a group of eight - in a forest area - that hustled their way quickly over the road - and sunk away into the invisibility of dense scrub.

Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush - a very range-restricted endemic - this is a good tick. You can find these laughers in the bamboo that grows around the board-walk area at the end of the right-hand fork of the driving track.

We spent 3 nights at Wanglang - and then moved off to Tangjiahe - our next blog article will be about this reserve.

We're in business again - we can post pictures back onto our blog

2009-09-07T02:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there - after a little cunning it seems we have finally circumnavigated the China Firewall and can now add fully illustrated blogs to this site (well at least fingers crossed). And what better pic to celebrate this achievement than a shy China Endemic - Chinese Thrush.

Next step is to see how difficult it is to upload a whole article.

Here's a Blood Pheasant male - we got this bird during our recent Moxi trip.

Sichuan Birdwatching - a recent trip to Moxi

2009-09-05T02:35:00.000-07:00

We're just back from Moxi - which is 5/6 hours outside Chengdu. The birding was great - we got Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker and Streaked Rosefinch, and on the way back a walk up the old Erlang road gave a few Temminck's Tragopan.
As usual, because of the China Firewall block to blogspot - I cant put any pictures up here - so to get an illustrated report on the trip go to my birdforum blog at (I go under the name china guy) -
http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=2134

We've also got pics up in our Sichuan birding thread at -
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=149725

Sichuan Birdwatching - Trips to N Sichuan - Wangland and Tangjiahe

2009-08-23T05:06:00.000-07:00

We're still not able to put up any pics on this blog - but were still writing.
We've just come back from a week in N Sichuan - at Wanglang and Tangjiahe resereves. Post quake conditions are ok - and the roads out to this area are constantly being mended.
At Wanglang we got Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush - but missed Rusty-throated Parrotbill at Tangjiahe.
For fuller reports and pictures go to our birdforum blog - we write under the name china guy.
http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=2101
http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=2087

Sichuan Birdwatching - The blogger block is still on - but we're still going strong

2009-08-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hi there - it's August 2009 - and, because of local censorship of the internet, we still can't get into our blog,through legitimate means (we have to use a proxy server), which allows us to write - but not to post pics.
July was a hot and wet month - but we once again got into the Wolong/Balang Pass areas - and luckily around the Wuyipeng reserve area last year's quake damage is pretty insignificant - so the birding is good and our old friends, the summer leeches, are still a' biting!!!! Balang is still suffering from a bit of road construction mess - but not half as bad as before - and although their is still workers accommodation near the Monal stake-out - the birding around here was also pretty good, considering the misty conditions.
In all, with a trip that also went to the Baoxin area and then around to Bi Feng Xia and Wawu - we got 185 species in 6 birding days - and a nice Red Panda at Wawu.
To see some pics of this trip go to our Birdforum blog at -

http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=1866

this post and the one that folows it shows, that despite wet, grey conditions - you can still catch a lot of birds out here (even during the less fancied summer months - you just have to work a little harder)

To catch up with all our current Sichuan birding - take alook at our Birdforum site -

http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?u=6819

We go under the name of - china guy

and if you need advice or help with a Sichuan birding trip - please contact us at our usual Email

chengduuk@hotmail.com

2009-07-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Sichuan Birdwatching - We're having problems using blogspot from China

2009-06-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

At the moment the situation for Chinese internet users means that there are restrictions with regard to blog use - and I'm afraid blogspot is not openly available to us anymore!!!!
We still maintain a birding blog on birdforum - the link to our main page being -
http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?u=6819

Lots of good stuff here - with pics and reports from our spring/summer 2009 trips - and other general Sichuan birding stuff.
I'll still experiment with trying to get stuff onto here - but lets hope these blogs are once again allowed to open up - so we can more easily highlight how great a birding destination Sichuan is.

Sichuan Birdwatching - Sichuan a Birding Hotspot

2008-12-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Chinese Fulvetta - one of the China endemics that can be found in Sichuan

Sichuan Birding
For a variety of reasons, Sichuan is a fantastic birding destination. Within easy reach, of the provincial capital Chengdu, are diverse habitats, ranging from sub-tropical mountain forest to the high grasslands of the Tibetan plateau. These areas home a great diversity of species, which include the countries richest list of endemics and breeding endemics.

Through ongoing taxonomical studies – new distinct species are constantly being recognized among birds that were formerly recognized as sub-species – and Chinese checklists are quickly outdated. However if we were to take the Avibase – China Checklist as a reference, then we are told that China contains 53 endemics and 18 breeding endemics – an total of 71.
From the checklist Avibase provides, we can then discover that 36 of these species are found within Sichuan – making it the major endemic hotspot of China. (see list at the foot of this article)
http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=cn&list=clements

Another reference, from The Institute of Zoology, Beijing, found at - http://www.springerlink.com/content/r41645v6u5272v20/fulltext.pdf - gives us tables and charts to further emphasize how important Sichuan is as an ornithological region.

In one of their charts, in the form of a color coded China map that relates to the density and distribution of endemic species, we can see how Sichuan (outlined in red) rates as a major species diversity hotspot when compared with the rest of the country.
Sichuan areas with high endemic lists include the Emei/Wawu areas and the Qionglai Mountain range (the famous Wolong Panda reserve, a favored birding destination, is located within this range – but due to the 2008 earthquake the reserve is now closed to the public . This range can be visited from alternative sites – including Laba He Forest park).

Sichuan almost twice the size of the UK – lies in the west of Central China , and the western regions of the province meet the Tibet Plateau and the Himalayas. Chengdu itself lies within the densely populated and intensively cultivated Sichuan basin (located within Eastern Sichuan) – but within close driving distance, to the West and North, one can already access a Sub-tropical habitat – that can be described as the Panda Zone. Further West and we are already heading up onto the Mountain Grasslands and Alpine Forest of the Tibetan Plateau.

Climate
Taken as a whole, Sichuan experiences a great variety of climates.
These range between -
A Monsoon type climate with long hot sticky summers and Short cool/cold winters - always expect a high chance of foggy hazy conditions, with little real sun or blue skies (China’s lowest sunshine hours are found in Eastern Sichuan). These type of weather conditions can be a be a problem for birders who are visiting the lower mountain sites such as Emei and Wawu – since fog/low cloud is often present around the summits.

An example of those misty conditions that can make birding difficult - howver going down often improves the situation - and amazingly if you cross high mountain passes into another valley system the weather sometimes changes.

An Alpine climate in the high west and north, where winters are long and cold and summers are short and mild – but masses of sun (bring your sunblock).

Up on the grasslands the sun can be very strong - even outside the summer period.

The Birding season
A favored birding season for visitors – especially in the sub-tropical locations - is during April/May and Early June – during the height of the breeding season, but before the summer gets too hot. During this period the temperatures have not reached their uncomfortable summer peaks, the humidity is not at its stickiest (clearer days – less risk of foggy/cloudy conditions on the sub-tropical mountains) and the type of heavy rain that’s often experienced during August and September is a rarity. During this period the birds are active – and calling – which make playback an effective method of luring birds out of dense undergrowth.
During July, August – activity dies down and birds seem to be less active and more difficult to spot at temperature and humidity levels soar.

However, in the mountainous west if you go travel to those altitudes around 4,000m it’s not unusual to find snow still lying on the high passes even during May and nights can be quite chilly up here until we get into June. The summer months of June, July and August are good months for visiting these higher regions, since they can be pleasantly warm, while the birds that live at high-altitude are still very active during these summer months.

During the spring and autumn months– all areas becoming interesting birding locations. But during these times unusual species can turn up in locations well way from the usual birding hotspots. During these months many species on passage pass through Chengdu. Sichuan also has areas where bird of prey passage can be observed.

Long-billed Plover - an interesting passage migrant and winter visitor to the muddy river areas around Chengdu.

Winter is also an exciting time, since many high altitude species flock and come down to lower heights – making it much easier to spot them. Some of the best places to watch during this period are in the valleys bellow the high mountain ranges. Winter also brings ducks – but the number and quality of suitable wintering sites is being seriously affected by population pressure. Northern migrants also over-winter in Sichuan.

Effects of the earthquake
During May 2008 Sichuan was badly affected by a huge earthquake – and a few well known birding sites suffered great damage due to landslides. Wolong and the Balang pass are no longer open to the public. However other famous sites like Emei and Wawu were almost totally unaffected by the quakes are remain fully open. Even sites like the Qingcheng Mountains – close to Dujiangyan - which were also badly affected are now once again open. However even though we’ve lost access to couple of prime birding sites – there are still so many alternative locations that still make Sichuan a birding hot spot of China.

A scence at Qingcheng Mountain where a rather large rock tumbled down the mountain during the quake - amazingly a lot of clearing work has already been completed since we took this pic in June - this area, which is desperate to get its tourist industry working again, is once again open for birding

Slaty Bunting - an endemic that can be found as a winter vistor in Chengdu

List of Endemic/Breeding Endemics found in Sichuan (after data found at – avibase.bsc-eoc.org/ )
Severtzov's Grouse Bonasa sewerzow
Sichuan Partridge Arborophila rufipectus
Chinese Monal Lophophorus lhuysii
Blue Eared-Pheasant Crossoptilon auritum
Reeves' Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
Père David's Owl Strix davidi
Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis
Crested Tit-Warbler Leptopoecile elegans
Chinese Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus yunnanensis
Emei Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus emeiensis
Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti
Martens's Warbler Seicercus omeiensis
Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni
Père David's Laughingthrush Garrulax davidi
Sukatschev's Laughingthrush Garrulax sukatschewi
Barred Laughingthrush Garrulax lunulatus
Biet's Laughingthrush Garrulax bieti
Giant Laughingthrush Garrulax maximus
Gray-faced Liocichla Liocichla omeiensis
Rufous-tailed Babbler Chrysomma poecilotis
Chinese Fulvetta Alcippe striaticollis
Grey-hooded Fulvetta Fulvetta cinereiceps
Three-toed Parrotbill Paradoxornis paradoxus
Spectacled Parrotbill Paradoxornis conspicillatus
Gray-hooded Parrotbill Paradoxornis zappeyi
Rusty-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis przewalskii
Sooty Tit Aegithalos fuliginosus
White-browed Tit Poecile superciliosa
Père David's Tit Poecile davidi
Yellow-bellied Tit Pardaliparus venustulus
Sichuan Treecreeper Certhia tianquanensis
Sichuan Jay Perisoreus internigrans
Pink-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus eos
Three-banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus
Slaty Bunting Latoucheornis siemsseni

Sichuan Birdwatching - Birding at the Top Of the World

2008-11-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

Giant Laughingthrush - one of those wonderful species that can be observed in upland Sichuan

Sichuan is a gateway to Tibet – and, heading out from Chengdu, the westward bound birder will soon be entering areas of great elevation - where Western Sichuan meets the Tibetan Plateau. Here the scene is soaring mountain ranges, Yak grazed grasslands, nomadic herders, Tibetan temples and villages – a land of Eagles and Vultures – a unique experience in terms of birding and culture

This rolling grassland scenery was taken on the road to Ganzi

The Grasslands
If you travel from Chengdu on the famous 318 Lhasa route – within around 6 hours you’ll get to Kangding. Within this small city you’ll suddenly notice that Tibetans, often dressed in traditional clothing, have become a common part of the street-scene. Kangding is also the gateway to the grassland areas that lie close by – but if you’re traveling in this direction it can be a good idea to stay in Kangding for a day to start your acclimatization for altitude. The next part of your journey west will then take you over the 4,300m Zhedou Mountain pass – with its Accentors, Blood Pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Himalayan Rubythroat, Grandala, Himalayan Griffons, Lammergeier and a host of other species – where going over “onto the other side” finally brings you onto the Grassland . From here you can get to destinations like Tagong, Yajiang, Litang, Dao Cheng, Ganzi and Dege. This area is spectacular to say the least – rolling grasslands – alpine forest, the best of which we’ve found around around Yajiang (where Derbyan Parakeet is still hanging on). On the Grassland you get up into a whole new world – the clock goes backwards when looking at some of the nomadic folk who come in from the mountains with their Yak herds. The birds are also exciting, and apart from those named above include– Snow pigeon, Hume’s Groundpecker, Snowfinch species, Rosefinch species, Kessler’s Thrush, Giant Laughingthrush, Golden Eagle Upland Buzzard and Ibisbill.

Ibisbill - I'm afraid this is my best shot of this bird, which is amazingly well camouflaged in around the stones within its favoured habitat.

Plain Mountain Finch - up on the top of Zhedou Mountain

Maerkang and Rou Er Gai
These again are fantastic areas – Maerkang being situated in more rural valley type situations with fantastic stone villages that are built up onto the mountain sides. You can also find the ancient “watch tower” constructions in this area – but nobody really knows what exact functions these buildings played (theories jump between - defense, storage, village status-symbol). Much of the area is more arid than the grasslands further south but we still meet forest - especially on Mengbi Mountain (Mengbishan) – a location which gains its birding fame as a location for spotting Sichuan Jay.
Ruo Er Gai is a wet land – but there are other habitat types close by. The species that draw birders here is the Black-necked Crane. But we also have two highly interesting Laughing thrushes located here – Plain and Snowy-cheeked.

Hume's Groundpecker - in the field this bird, when seen flying, resembles a Wheatear.

Grandala - the Jewel of the high passes

Juizhaigou and Songpan
As a famed tourist destination – certain places in this area suffers a bit from over development, noisy tourist crowds and high prices. But if you keep out of the way of the charter traffic there are still peaceful areas and of course a lot of interesting birds.
Once again a scenic stunner – here we have a lot of good forest habitat.
One of the great bird in this area is – Blue-eared Pheasant. A good way to get around is by horse trekking - even though you need a steady hand to use your binoculars on the back of a horse.

Tibetan Snowfich - this one was see close to Litang

Blue-eared Pheasant - this picture isn't too steady, but it was taken from a Horse!!!!

Sichuan Birdwatching - Birds from our October trip to Tagong, Moxi and Erlang.

2008-10-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

The mighty 7,ooom peak of Gongga Mountain seen from the Kangding Airport road - if you don't see any birds in this area then at least you have this sight to console you. However we saw birds - scroll down to see them.

We made this trip mainly to check out the travel situation passed Kangding - this area has been closed over the summer because of an Olympic security clamp-down. The good news is that the area is again open - although there are still checkpoints. As a foreigner I was expecting to be stopped - but the only time a policeman came to talk to us was with a big smile and kind advice - telling us about a road that was under repair and giving us an alternative route (the new Kangding Airport to Tagong "track" is now open - although not finished it's quite okay for all vehicles).
During this trip we got to the Tibetan grassland of Tagong (still in Sichuan about 8-10 hours drive from Chengdu) - we then headed to Moxi - and finished up doing some walking around the Erlang Mountain.
We took pictures of 32 species - but saw many more. Notable species that we saw but didn't get pics of are - a female Temminck's Tragopan (Erlang), a single Hobby and many Oriental Honey-buzzard migrating over the Erlang pass, 3 Streaked Barwing (Erlang), Rusty-breasted Tit (Erlang and Moxi), Rusty-capped Fulvetta (Moxi), Grey-breasted Prinia (Yanzi Mountain), Moustached Laughingthrush (near Luding) and Brown Parrotbill (near Kangding).

Scroll down to get a few pics of some of the other birds.
To see pics in a larger format - just click on them.

Better start with a picture of the photographer - the better half. She has recently highjacked the camera - and is starting to become a bird photo nut. As for me - I'm learning how to shut-up constantly scream-whispering - "take that, take that, take that........."

Yellow-legged Buttonquail - I'm starting to fall over this bird - only a week or so ago it was a lifer! We got a more or less repeat of our encounter at Laba Ha - a bird crossing the road. This time at about 2,000m on a place we call Yanzi Mountain - the road between Kangding and Moxi.

White-winged Redstart - this was a lifer. This bird winters around Tagong - a real stunner. (Don't confuse this bird with white-capped Water Redstart - which has a very similar illustration in the guide book. In the field they have a whole other look)

White-browed Rosefinch - a couple of noisy males. my wife thought they sounded like goats!!! Again up Yanzi mountain about 2 minutes before we ran into the Buttonquail

Another White-browed species - this time - White-browed Tit Warbler. This is a quality bird - we saw this at about 3,500m on the Tagong side of Zheduo Mountain. This is a male - but it isn't that well marked - but still a hansdsome blighter.

Wallcreeper - well you're going to have to click on the pic to get a bigger version if you want a clearer look. We often see this bird, but this is our first pic.

Twite - of course you don't have to go to Tibet to see a Twite - but its fun to see 'em here.

Tickell's Leaf Warbler - identifying Sichuanese Warblers can be a real pain in the backside - but with that strong eyestripe, yellow underside, clean green back and bill colour there ain't much doubt that we've found Mr. Tickell's bird. Tagong grassland - about 3,000m

Stripe-throated Yuhina - what a cutey. with a hair-cut like that it must be a punk-bird. This is in Forest near Erlang tunnel - a great birding location. About 10 minutes before we got this guy we'd had a brief run-in with three Streaked Barwing. There also Red Panda around here - we talked to some road menders who had seen one on the track just the day before.

Tree Sparrow - well this one is different from those back home - for starters it's perched on a Tibetan prayer-flag!!! Subspecies tibetanus - on the Tagong Grassland.

Horned Skylark (Shore Lark) - cold up here, about 4,300m on the top of Zheduo Mountain. We both had trouble holding the camera still because of a combined wind and shiver factor. Only Twite and Shore Lark up here today - lot more action at this height in the summer.

Russet Sparrow - this lovely bird looks very nice when it gives you the eye to eye stare. From a parking place near Luding.

Robin Accentor - loads of these birds around Tagong - but we could never quite get a picture in the right light. This one is in the backyard of the temple - feeding around the weeds that grow in between the stupas.

Raven - here the brilliant sunlight that you can find at high altitude helped Meggie get a magnificent photo. The bird is scavenging around some rubbish left by road workers - on the Zheduo Mountain. That same sunlight burnt my poor nose to a near cinder!!!

Olive-backed Pipit - loads of these birds about on passage. This tired bird was on Erlang Mountain.

Orange-flanked Bush Robin - these birds were flocking with Blue-fronted Redstart. In Chengdu - in some of the parks - we can also find these two species together. Moxi

Magpie - yeps, British gardeners - we get 'em here as well. But you'll be glad to find out that if you wish to set up a bird-table on the Tibetan Plateau - there are no troublesome Grey Squirells.

Lammergeier - the family is out here. That dark bird that looks a wee bit like Cinerous Vulture is a Lamme - photos can sometimes decieve. This is up Zheduo Mountain but there were also Lammergeier around Tagong.

Himmalayan Griffon - meets the moon (meeting in a natural manner - didn't bring them face to face via Photoshop - just a little sharpening on the vulture image). Lots of this bird around as usual. Zheduo, and Tagong being the main locations with a single bird on the Moxi side of Yanzi Mountain.

Hill Pigeon - on a cold morning trying to find a hot tin roof. Poor blighters have found a cold tiled version. Tagong Grasslands.

Grey-crested Tit - I lost meggie in a bush for 20 minutes, and she came back with this. Another great punk-bird!!!! Moxi.

Grandala - most birders see these birds, during the summer, on high mountain passes around 4,000m. But now in October they've already flown down - these are around 2,000m (Yanzi Mountain). The blue on the males is quite fantastic - no photo will ever capture the true quality of this bird.

Godlewski's Bunting - the common Bunting around Tagong.

Golden Eagle - not much of a pic, but everybody likes to see an Eagle. This bird was near Moxi - while we got a pair on the new Kangding airport road about an hour out of Tagong.

Elliot's Laughingthrush - Meggie really has captured the spirit of this nosy bird in this pic. Erlang Mountain.

Daurian Jackdaw - some brit birders may reckon this bird should be called Hooded Jackdaw. Tagong

Red-billed Chough - another hot tin roof seeker. A pair of glossy looking critters - posing in an intense sunrise.

Chinese Sparrowhawk - I got this one. A bit like clay-pidgeon shooting - flash - and a second to let loose with a shot. I hit him!!!

Chinese Babax - Another time I lost my wife to a bush - she was gone a long time in getting this one. We saw Baxax in Moxi and near Kangding - on both occasions in the company of Elliot's Laughers.

Brown Accentor - on pile of Yak doings. This is another bird you see in summer at the 4,000m range - but again its moved down a few hundred metres to "warmer" climes. Zheduo Mountain.

Brown-breasted Bulbul - a common bird of farmland in the mid-elevation zones. This one is near Luding.

Blue-fronted Redstart - in the exact same tree as the Orange-flanked Bush Robin. This is female - but there were males around as well. Moxi.

Beautiful Rosefinch - rosefiches can be a pain to identify from the guide-book. Best get a photo and then check them out at the OBC and birdforum sites. This male is on the Tagong side of Zheduo Mountain.

Wawu and Emei Mountains

2008-10-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

Fulvous Parrotbill gathering nesting material on Wawu

Within easy driving distance from Chengdu we have areas of mountain, peaking up around the 3,000m level, that are clad in lush sub-tropical forest. Two famous birding locations that meet this description are Emei and Wawu Mountains. These two sites are within a couple of hours of each other, where close distance means they can almost be birded in combination. It's important to note that the country road that joins these sites also gives chances for interesting watching. Of the two Wawu– a virgin conifer forest covered table-top, where the under storey is blanketed in a thick sea of dwarf bamboo - has become a very popular tick-spot. Emei and Wawu were unaffected by the big quake, and are totally open - everything is functioning normally including the cable-car lifts.

Both of these parks contain some spectacular species – with a wealth of bird life at all elevations. Our favorite birds at Emei include Blue-winged Minla, White-bellied Redstart and Emei Shan Liocichla ( Emei also has a Warbler named after it – Emei Leaf Warbler – and both the Emei birds are also found on Wawu). Wawu is a Parrotbill paradise with Three-toed, Fulvous and Grey-hooded all to be spied out in the thick matt of bamboo, while Great Parrotbill can be often be spotted calling from the forest trees.
To get a better idea of the long lists that can be accumulated at these sites just Google-up Emei or Wawu, and read through the numerous reports that have been written on these places. In one of those reports there is also mention of a Wawu encounter with a Red Panda.

Swinhoe's Minivet - a passage migrant spotted in parkland at the base of Emei

The best ways of watching Emei and Wawu is a vehicle/foot combination – since good birds can be seen on the many kilometers of road within both parks – roads that give access to all elevations, and ones that can also lead the birder to the smaller more secluded, non-tourists tracks. On Emei the main tourist walk-way up the mountain is a seemingly endless stone stairway – which can get slippery during wet weather. For those who don't want all that climbing, you can drive up to end the station (stopping in temples - and birding from road stops as you go) and get a cable-car up to the top. Getting onto Wawu’s summit is a15km drive to a cable-car station. Here the major walk-ways are on the summit area, and are a far more level affair than Emei's up, up and more up followed by a return journey of down, down and yet more down.

The dense forest at the summit of Wawu

So many of the species found in these locations – like Laughingthrushes, Bush Warblers, Scimitar Babblers and the big Parrotbills are such timid skulkers, that playback often seems the best way of getting decent views. We use cheap a Chinese made voice recorder and a mini-speaker – it works just fine. Always remember that you have to use great caution with this method, since excess playback risks driving a bird out of its territory.
Footwear is also something to think about – I’ve already mentioned slippery stone stairs – and those boots with hard Vibram type soles can literally act like ice-skates on wet stone surfaces. I use rubber soled sport's shoes – but then again these are often rather leaky if we take onto a wet, muddy side track. However, on most occasions, I’ll take wet feet over worrying about a badly bruised bum.

Remember both these sites can also be popular with tourists – with Emei always attracting great numbers of visitors during the summer season and national holidays (which gives one plus point – a lot of hotels to choose from). Wawu is a quieter location - which means only three hotels. The two birding hotels are those found at the summit and by the lower cable car station – both of which are in very good birding locations. If you need to spend the night at the park gates – take the hotels just outside the park – they are far cheaper. With all these places, make sure you bargain your room price – you can get discounts. It’s also a good idea to bring along some food, since the meals inside the park can be poor and, by normal Chinese standards, expensive – a few snacks will help you along.

When the birding gets too much, you could ignore those signs that warn you not to jump - at the top of Emei

The last word of warning is about the weather - both sites have an annoying tendency to cloud in. When this happens the top elevations become very difficult to watch. Sometimes in such situations – especially if it’s raining - we just pack bags and take off down the road to Laba He. But patience can pay off, since just as quickly as those mists roll in, so can they also disappear - often leaving vivid blue skies in their wake. Such is life for the Sichuan birder.

Laba He Forest Park

2008-10-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

Last week we had a guest with limited birding time – who we planned to guide around the famous birding site of Wawu Mountain. At first the weather looked okay - but by afternoon everything had closed in and a quick change of plan was needed!

Cute White-collared Yuhinas are very common birds of Laba He

Luckily close-by we have a have one wonderful back-up Site – the Laba He Forest park – whose large area includes some prime birding habitat (using country roads you make this place in 2 to 3 hours from Wawu – on the motorway it's 4 hours from Chengdu).
This site is also a good place to see animals – and includes Panda habitat. Of course you stand very little chance of seeing a Panda – you will see Samba Deer, and there are very good chances of seeing troops of Short-tailed Macaque monkeys or even high altitude grazers such as Takin.

A Short-tailed Macaque - deep in thought.This is the big dominant male of the troupe

Of course there is wealth of bird life including Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan and Streaked Barwing. Our birding was tough on this last trip – and although we got our Lady A and Tragapon – other birds were disappointing but they included Spotted Nutcracker and Red-billed Magpie, Bay woodpecker, Speckled Wood Pigeon and dazzling Golden-breasted Fulvetta. However no Barwing, and none of the birds we’ve seen on former visits such as Brown Parrotbill, Barred and Spotted Laughingthrushes, not even the normally common Elliot’s Laughingthrush wanted to show!!!

Here's Elliot's Laughingthrush from another trip earlier on in the year.

To get to see some of the animals the park has constructed boardwalks and viewing platforms, and there are many miles of trail – that take you up to altitudes where you can walk within primary forest and get to scope onto alpine pastures. Of course these features are also great for bird watching.
Accommodation is also good – it includes a luxury hotel – Chalet accommodation – a cheaper hotel –and even camping sites that’s out on the trail. You can get decent accommodation here for 200RMB/night – although I think anyone who demands real 5 star treatment will be disappointed.

One of the board walks - this one has mesh to give grip when wet - others don't and can be very slippy!!!

What is really great about this place is that its quiet – not the throngs of noisy local tourists that often spoil more famous sights that birders often visit in Sichuan (Emei and Jiuzhaigou come to mind here). This place is still one of those hidden gems that can make a Sichuan holiday so unique and rewarding.

Qingcheng Mountains

2008-10-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

The Red-billed Leiothrix are a colorful and active bird - and easily found in many areas around Chengdu

Around 40kms from Chengdu, the town of Dujiangyan hit world headlines back in May because it was badly affected by the Sichuan earthquake. I only live 20kms from this town, and can report that, 4 months after the quake, things are very much on the mend – and that Dujiangyan and surrounding areas have once again opened up to tourists and travelers. In fact in a bid to boost the local economy – tourists are now being openly encouraged to visit this area! This is good news for birders since the town lies under a chain of small mountains (well at least small by Sichuan standards) called the Qingcheng mountains (the highest peak reaching 2,700m). There are two main tourist sites here – the most famous being called the front mountain and another quieter site called the back mountain. These mountains contain both broad-leaf and conifer habitats – and at the back-mountain you can find some very picturesque mountain streams - a lot of small waterfalls in deep narrow gorges.
There are also good birding spots away from the main tourist areas, and its possible to find rewarding rough trails – especially in the vicinity of the highest peak, Zhaogongshan – which can give some good birding.

At the top viewing point of Qingcheng Front Mountain - on a chilly, but bright, Febuary morning

Post quake, most of the trails up the Front Mountain and Zhaogongshan are completely passable – but because of landslides some of the path on the Back Mountain has been badly damaged. However new temporary tracks are being made all the time – and with a bit of a scramble it’s now possible to get to the top. However the Back Mountain is the best habitat for Forktails close to Chengdu (you can get out to Forktail sites in an hour and half from downtown Chengdu) – so for those with limited Sichuan birding time, this area could be a tick-rich location.

A Collared Owlet we caught enjoying a meal

The Front Mountain.
If you take a walk on the front mountain – then around the temples (this mountain has important religious significance for Taoists – and the walk up here is a stone stairway that links several monasteries together) you may see Black-headed Sibia together with the usual host of Collared Finchbills and during the summer the white-headed variety of Black Bulbul. These temples are also good spots for viewing the canopy of the mountain forest – and early morning summer watching may well bring – among other stuff - calling Collared Owlets, Spangled Drongos, Red-billed Blue Magpies, Black-naped Orioles or a passing Crested Goshawk.
If you take into the wooded areas down in the scrub you should easily be able to get Red-billed Leiothrix and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler . For those who are lucky, there’s always a chance for a glimpse of a quick moving Golden Pheasant – but if you don’t get to see them, you’ll certainly hear them if you're birding during spring or early summer.
All of these species are also present in the winter – but during this season flocks of small passerines, which are often dominated by Grey-cheeked Fulvetta and White-collared Yuhina. Winter also brings in altitude migrants, which of course include various species of Laughinthrush.
There have also been April reports for Temmnick’s Tragopan for this site.

A word of warning! The front mountain is a major tourist site – and, during late mornings and afternoons of holidays or weekends, noisy crowds can be the norm. Another factor that adds to birder stress are the many hawkers/vendors,who try to bend your ear in attempting to find a new customer. To cap all of this there are guys who will carry you up the mountain stairway on a stretcher like contraption built out of bamboo and canvas. Some of these folk may follow you up a path for a long distance hoping you’ll tire and hire their services. Needless to say – this can be a pain – but early mornings will get you out of the worst of this mess. You can actually overnight in the mountain monasteries (a cold experience in winter) – which sets you up nicely for an early morning watch.

We got this Grey-headed Bullfinch on the Back Mountain

The Back Mountain.
This is a far more Birder friendly site – less crowded, and away from weekends, during off-season, it can be very peaceful. Again a stairway of stone – but here there are more areas where you don’t have to climb/descend. The path follows a mountain steam and some of the small waterfalls are very nice.

In this habitat Forktails are the species of note – a single visit can bring you little, Slaty-backed, Spotted and White-crowned. To get that Slaty–backed start watching on the river stretches at the base of the mountain (well before the entrance to the mountain – you can also pick up plenty of Brown Dipper here). Little is the commonest Forktail and can often be seen flicking around in the stream that flows through the end village – White-crowned and Spotted can be seen from much of the path that leads to the summit.

Little Forktail - one of the four Forktails to be found on Qingcheng

Once again this is a good location for winter passerines – we’ve had goodies like Barred, Spotted and Red-winged Laughingthrush and that dazzler of a bird – Gold-fronted Fulvetta. This area is also a good spot to pick up that mini-woodpecker – Speckled Piculet.
As mentioned before – this place was badly hit by the quake. In the old days there was a lot of accommodation for those who wanted to stay on the mountain – but I reckon we’ll have to wait to the summer of 09 before any of that is in place again.

There are some great walks around Zhaogongshan

Zhaogongshan
I’ve never seen this part of Qingcheng mentioned in any foreign bird reports – but in the area around the 2,700m Zhaogong Mountain birding can be good. To trek around here you have to use small farmer’s trails – but there is one larger path that leads to Temple on the summit. However these are not well marked routes that are found in the more popular tourist spots, but because this place is less disturbed you may get a better chance to spot Golden Pheasant. Temminck’s Tragopan has also been reported. I’ve seen Great and Grey-headed Parrotbill in this area, Spot-breasted and Brown Parrotbill have also been reported as winter birds.
It's quite possible to find accommodation on the mountain – either in the temples (there is one at the summit) or at lower elevations in small guest-houses.

Birding in Chengdu

2008-10-02T08:55:00.001-07:00

Chengdu – the capital of Sichuan province – is located in the West of China. This important city, the fourth largest in China, has become a popular travel destination, especially for those who intend to visit neighboring Tibet.
For birdwatchers, even though this is a modern polluted, developing city so typical of the new China, Chengdu is a fascinating area – and even within the city boundaries there are opportunities to spot interesting species. Short drives outside the city will of course give even greater opportunities – and within a days driving you can be transported out to areas that have world-famous reputations for their ornithological diversification. If you’re more adventurous 2/3day trips will give you the chance to spot some of the species that are associated with the Tibetan plateau.

Vinous-throated Parrotbill - a common bird in Chengdu

During winter and migration periods – uncommon species can turn up in the city – there has even been a very recent record of an Ibisbill smack bang in a city center river location. But apart from vagrants it’s quite easy to find locations where an interesting variety of birds, more commonly associated with the area, can be found.
Since most visitors come in the summer then it’s the resident and summer species list that’s usually the most of interest – and this contains, even within the parks in about the city center Chinese specialties such as Black-throated Tit, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, White-browed Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Grosbeak.
If you were a winter visitor then a city center watch could bring you Long-billed Plover and Ferrunginous Duck, Snowy-browed Flycatcher and Orange-flanked Bush Robin.
Taking trips to the outskirts of Chengdu will of course prove a big dividend for your bird watching – and a hour and a half will bring you into areas where you can watch 3 Forktail species, or get a chance to see Golden Pheasant or Painted Snipe. Again season makes a big difference and migration and winter can bring visitors from high altitude locations.

WHERE TO WATCH IN THE CITY
A good indication is to buy a city map – English versions are easily available and look for the green areas that indicate a park.

DUFU PARK
The best of these seems to be the park around the Dufu Cottage tourist site. This consists of a newly built park surrounding the older area of the Dufu cottage. The newly built park now has trees and shrubs that are maturing which can only improve the birding opportunities. However for best results – and less staring faces – try to get there early and if possible give it a miss on those crowded weekends. A nice feature of this park is a small lake where you can always see Little Egret (a common Chengdu bird) and maybe get a summer glimpse of White-breasted Waterhen. The big trees that are close to the lake are a good place to see Yellow-billed Grossbeaks. This lake is also a fairly good spot for winter Ferrunginous Duck (usually small flocks of 2 or 3 birds) and the whole area can throw up some interesting stuff.
The actual compound of Dufu cottage has its own park – and in here there are a lot of trees of great age – with a resultant richness in species. You have to pay an entrance fee to get in – which of course makes this a less popular destination for us guys who are regularly birding in Chengdu – but a lot of birders have given interesting lists for this little park within a park.

A male Yellow-billed Grosbeak

SICHUAN UNIVERSITY
This is another area that contains nice old trees – and even though this place obviously contains a lot of buildings, roads and all the other stuff a large campus should have – you can still find nice little areas that are attractive to birds. This area will hold all your typical Chengdu species – but where it is good is during the migration and winter periods where those trees attract some of the more interesting species, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker is a winter visitor here – and specialties such as Golden Bush Robin have been recorded.
This location isn't such a huge crowd puller – but still many people gather here especially during weekends.

WANJIAN TOMB PARK (Yongling mausoleum)
This is a small park but again with lots of nice old trees and a burial site of some old ancient general of the Tang Dynasty – it also has some nice stagnant ponds that attract flycatching species especially during migration times. I’ve noted Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Tiger shrike and Ferrunginous Flycatcher here.
The great thing about this place is that it doesn’t attract the crowds – but you do have to pay an admission fee. It also has a nice tea house so you can sit, sip and watch!

Female Asian Paradise-flycatcher pictured at Wanjian park

CITY CENTER RIVERS
Two big Rivers run through the heart of Chengdu – and for most of their lengths they are bounded by green park type areas that make them areas where you once again can spot the common Chengdu species. The river environment itself is interesting, even though most of river-banks comprise of man made wall – but during periods where water levels are down exposing mud and stone the bird watching is better.. The best areas are on the outskirts of the city – but near the center – on the river closer to the famous River-viewing Pavilion Park there is shallow river habitat and even a place in the park where there is something approaching a natural grass bank. In this kind of habitat – during migration and winter time – look out for Long-billed plover and other waders. Also during winter periods Plumbeous Water Redstart can be found. Otherwise Little Egrets are common residents and if there’s a little cover and it’s quiet then this species maybe joined by Chinese Pond and Black–crowned Night Herons. During the summer months a constant sight in this habitat will be Red-rumped Swallow.