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| Grandala [Summer Wong] |
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| Temmink's Tragopan |
It was difficult to
know exactly what to expect when signing up for a China birding tour. The
country is obviously vast and amazingly diverse. In fact you could offer that
same description for the main province that we visited, Sichuan. Sichuan is an
amazing place; incredibly scenic and varied in its landscapes and cultures.
Huge mountain ranges towering over 4000 metres. Rugged, steep and beautiful
valleys cut by fast flowing stony rivers.
Fertile flat farmland stretching under sadly hazy skies – all that
pollution from all of that population has to go somewhere…The roof of the world
begins in Sichuan –the Tibetan Plateau. This ice carved high plateau with its
accompanying glacial valleys offer another unique landscape. All agreed the
scenery and landscapes were much, much more that could have been imagined and
they warrant a visit by themselves.
The birds were
fascinating but quite difficult to see well. Skulking seems more of the norm
here. Having said that, the kinds of birds that you can see here are fantastic.
Chief among them were the game birds – even though I loathe that name. I’m
talking about pheasants, partridges and the like.
We saw Chinese Monals very
well, Blood Pheasants absurdly well, White-eared and Blue-eared Pheasants well
but distant grazing like sheep on hill sides that allowed prolonged scoped
views, several sightings of Common Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Lady Amerherst
Pheasant plus Chinese Bamboo Partridge and, no doubt others… Parrotbills are a
particular group of Passerines that reach their full expression and variety in
China and we saw several of these – Great, Brown, Spectacled, Vinous-throated,
Ashy-throated and Golden. So we saw plenty but still cunningly left more to go
back for! Rosefinches were another group that I was looking forward to seeing
and we did see many of these beautiful birds. We did see a good list of birds
on our list as can be seen below.
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| Lady Amerherst Pheasant |
Our Birds
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| Blood Pheasant |
. Chestnut-throated Monal Partridge -Tetraophasis obscurus
3. Tibetan Snowcock -Tetraogallus tibetanus
4. Chinese Bamboo Partridge -Bambusicola thoracicus
5. Blood Pheasant -Ithaginis cruentus
6. Temminck's Tragopan -Tragopan temminckii
7. Koklass Pheasant -Pucrasia macrolopha - heard only
8. Chinese Monal -Lophophorus lhuysii
9. White Eared Pheasant -Crossoptilon crossoptilon
10. Blue Eared Pheasant -Crossoptilon auritum
11. Common Pheasant -Phasianus colchicus
12. Golden Pheasant -Chrysolophus pictus
13. Lady Amherst's Pheasant -Chrysolophus amherstiae
14. Little Grebe-Tachybaptus ruficollis
15. Ruddy Shelduck -Tadorna ferruginea
16. Common Merganser -Mergus merganser
17. Mallard-Anas platyrhynchos
18. Crested Ibis -
19. Black-crowned Night Heron -Nycticorax nycticorax
20. Chinese Pond Heron -Ardeola bacchus
21. Little Egret -Egretta garzetta
22. Eastern Cattle Egret-Bubulcus coromandus
23. Grey Heron -Ardea cinerea
24. Oriental Honey Buzzard-Pernis ptilorhynchus
25. Black-eared Kite -Milvus migrans
26. Lammergeier -Gypaetus barbatus
27. Himalayan Vulture / Griffon-Gyps himalayensis
28. Himalayan Buzzard -Buteo burmanicus
29. Upland Buzzard -Buteo hemilasius
30. Crested Goshawk-Accipiter trivirgatus
31. Eurasian Sparrowhawk-Accipiter nisus32. Golden Eagle -Aquila chrysaetos
33. Common Kestrel -Falco tinnunculus
34. Saker Falcon -Falco cherrug
35. Amur Falcon-Falco amurensis
36. Eurasian Hobby-Falco subbuteo
37. Black-necked Crane -Grus nigricollis
38. Common Moorhen-Gallinula chloropus
39. Common Coot-Fulica atra
40. Long-billed Plover -
41. Common Redshank-Tringa totanus
42. Common Tern -Sterna hirundo
43. Brown-headed Gull -Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
44. Feral Pigeon
45. Hill Pigeon -Columba rupestris
46. Speckled Wood Pigeon -Columba hodgsonii
47. Oriental Turtle Dove -Streptopelia orientalis
48. Spotted Dove -Spilopelia chinensis49. Large Hawk-Cuckoo -Hierococcyx sparverioides
50. Lesser Cuckoo -Cuculus poliocephalus
51. Horsfield’s / Oriental Cuckoo -Cuculus optatus
52. Common Cuckoo -Cuculus canorus
53. Asian Koel-Eudynamys scolopacea
54. Collared Owlet-Glaucidium brodiei - heard only
55. Himalayan Swiftlet -Aerodramus brevirostris
56. White-throated Needletail -Hirundapus caudacutus
57. Common Swift -Apus apus
58. Pacific Swift sf Fork-tailed Swift-Apus pacificus
59. Salim Ali’s Swift sf Fork-tailed Swift-Apus salimali
60. Black-capped Kingfisher -Halcyon pileata
61. Crested Kingfisher-Megaceryle lugubris
62. Common Kingfisher -Alcedo atthis
63. Common Hoopoe-Upupa epops - seen by members post trip in Xi'an
64. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker-Dendrocopos hyperythrus
65. Darjeeling Woodpecker -Dendrocopos darjellensis - missed by me!
66. Great Spotted Woodpecker -Dendrocopos major
67. Black Woodpecker-Dryocopus martius
68. Grey-faced Woodpecker-Picus canus
69. Long-tailed Minivet -Pericrocotus ethologus
70. Swinhoe's Minivet -Pericrocotus cantonensis
71. Long-tailed Shrike -Lanius schach
72. Grey-backed Shrike -Lanius tephronotus
73. Chinese Grey Shrike -Lanius sphenocercus
74. Black-naped Oriole -Oriolus chinensis
75. Black Drongo -Dicrurus macrocercus
76. Ashy Drongo-Dicrurus leucophaeus
77. Sichuan Jay -Perisoreus internigrans
78. Eurasian Jay -Garrulus glandarius
79. Azure-winged Magpie -Cyanopica cyanus
80. Red-billed Blue Magpie -Urocissa erythrorhyncha
81. Common Magpie -Pica pica
82. Spotted Nutcracker -Nucifraga caryocatactes
83. Red-billed Chough -Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
84. Alpine/ Yellow-billed Chough -Pyrrhocorax graculus
85. Daurian Jackdaw -Coloeus dauuricus
86. Carrion Crow -Corvus corone - missed by me!
87. Collared Crow-Corvus torquatus
88. Large-billed Crow -Corvus macrorhynchos
89. Sichuan Tit -Poecile weigoldicus
90. White-browed Tit -Poecile superciliosus
91. Black-throated Tit-Aegithalos concinnus
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| White-browed Rosefinch female |
93. Rufous-vented Tit -Periparus rubidiventris
94. Coal Tit -Periparus ater
95. Yellow-bellied Tit -Periparus venustulus
96. Grey-crested Tit -Lophophanes dichrous
97. Great Japanese Tit -Parus major
98. Green-backed Tit -Parus monticolus
99. Yellow-browed Tit -Sylviparus modestus
100. Fire-capped Tit -Cephalopyrus flammiceps
101. Ground Tit -Pseudopodoces humilis
102. Tibetan Lark -Melanocorypha maxima
103. Oriental Skylark -Alauda gulgula
104. Horned Lark -Eremophila alpestris
105. Collared Finchbill -Spizixos semitorques
106. Mountain Bulbul-Ixos mcclellandi
107. Black Bulbul-Pycnonotus atriceps
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| Black-necked Crane |
108. Brown-breasted Bulbul -Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
109. Chinese/ Light-vented Bulbul -Pycnonotus sinensis
110. Barn Swallow -Hirundo rustica
111. Red-rumped Swallow -Cecropis daurica
112. Eurasian Crag Martin -Ptyonoprogne rupestris
113. Asian House Martin -Delichon dasypus
114. Sand Martin
115. Goldcrest -Regulus regulus
116. Chestnut-headed Tesia -Tesia castaneocoronata
117. Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler -Cettia fortipes
118. Aberrant Bush Warbler -Cettia flavolivacea
119. Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler -Cettia acanthizoides
120. Spotted Bush Warbler-Bradypterus thoracicus
121. Brown Bush Warbler -Bradypterus luteoventris
122. Sichuan Bush Warbler -Locustella chengi
123. Rufous-faced Warbler -Abroscopus albogularis
124. White-browed Tit Warbler -Leptopoecile sophiae
125. Sulphur-breasted Warbler - Pylloscopus ricketti
126. Dusky Warbler -Phylloscopus fuscatus
127. Alpine Leaf Warbler sf Tickell’s-Phylloscopus occisinensis
128. Buff-throated Warbler -Phylloscopus subaffinis
129. Yellow-streaked Warbler -Phylloscopus armandii
130. Buff-barred Warbler -Phylloscopus pulcher
131. Ashy-throated Warbler-Phylloscopus maculipennis
132. Sichuan Leaf Warbler sf Lemon-rumped-Phylloscopus forresti
133. Chinese Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus yunnanensis
134. Hume's Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus humei
135. Greenish Warbler -Phylloscopus trochiloides
136. Large-billed Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus magnirostris
137.
Claudia's
Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus claudiae138. Emei Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus emeiensis
139. Kloss's Leaf Warbler -Phylloscopus ogilviegranti
140. Bianchi's Warbler -Seicercus valentini
141. Martens's Warbler -Seicercus omeiensis
142. Alstrom’s Warbler-Seicercus soror
143. Chestnut-crowned Warbler -Seicercus castaniceps
144. Plain Prinia -Prinia inornata
145. Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler -Pomatorhinus gravivox - missed by me!
146. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler -Pomatorhinus ruficollis - missed by me!
147. Winter / Eurasian Wren -Troglodytes troglodytes
148. Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler -Pnoepyga albiventer - heard only
149. Pygmy Wren Babbler -Pnoepyga pusilla
150. Rufous-capped Babbler -Stachyridopsis ruficeps
151. Rufous-tailed Babbler -Moupinia poecilotis
152. Red-billed Leiothrix-Leiothrix lutea
153. Chinese Babax -Babax lanceolatus
154. White-throated Laughingthrush -Garrulax albogularis
155. Plain / Pere David’s Laughingthrush -Pterorhinus davidi
156. White-browed Laughingthrush -Pterorhinus sannio
157. Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush -Ianthocincla sukatschewi
158. Barred Laughingthrush -Ianthocincla lunulata - missed by me!
159. Giant Laughingthrush -Ianthocincla maxima
160. Spotted Laughingthrush -Ianthocincla ocellata - heard only
161. Hwamei -Leucodioptron canorum - missed by me!
162. Elliot's Laughingthrush -Trochalopteron elliotii
163. Red-winged Laughingthrush -Trochalopteron formosum - heard only
164. Emei Shan Liocichla -Liocichla omeiensis - missed by me!
165. Blue-winged Minla -Minla cyanouroptera
166.
Red-tailed
Minla -Minla ignotincta - missed by me167. White-browed Fulvetta
168. Golden-breasted Fulvetta -Lioparus chrysotis
169. Chinese Fulvetta -Fulvetta striaticollis
170. Spectacled Fulvetta -Fulvetta ruficapilla
171. Grey-hooded Fulvetta -Fulvetta cinereiceps
172. Grey-cheeked Fulvetta -
173. Black-chinned Yuhina-Yuhina nigrimenta
174. Stripe-throated Yuhina -Yuhina gularis
175. White-collared Yuhina -Yuhina diademata
176. Great Parrotbill -Conostoma oemodium
177. Brown Parrotbill -Cholornis unicolor - missed by me!
178. Spectacled Parrotbill -Sinosuthora conspicillata
179. Vinous-throated Parrotbill -Sinosuthora webbiana
180. Ashy-throated Parrotbill -Sinosuthora alphonsiana
181. Golden Parrotbill -Suthora verreauxi
182. Chestnut-flanked White-eye -Zosterops erythropleurus
183. Japanese White-eye -Zosterops japonicus
184. Eurasian Nuthatch -Sitta europaea
185. Przevalski's / White-cheeked Nuthatch -Sitta przewalskii
186. Wallcreeper -Tichodroma muraria
187. Hodgson's Treecreeper -Certhia hodgsoni
188. Crested Myna -Acridotheres cristatellus
189. Red-billed Starling -Spodiopsar sericeus
190. White-cheeked Starling-Spodiopsar cineraceus
191. Blue Whistling Thrush -Myophonus caeruleus
192. Chinese Blackbird -Turdus mandarinus
193. Chestnut Thrush -Turdus rubrocanus
194. Kessler's Thrush -Turdus kessleri
195. Chinese Thrush -Turdus mupinensis
196. Blue Rock Thrush -Monticola solitarius
197. White-browed Shortwing -Brachypteryx montana - heard only
198. Siberian Rubythroat -Luscinia calliope
199. White-tailed Rubythroat -Luscinia pectoralis
200. Firethroat -Luscinia pectardens
201. Indian Blue Robin -Luscinia brunnea
202. Himalayan / Orange-flanked Bluetail -Tarsiger rufilatus
203. Golden Bush Robin -Tarsiger chrysaeus
204. Oriental Magpie Robin -Copsychus saularis
205. White-tailed Robin -Myiomela leucura - heard only
206. Black Redstart -Phoenicurus ochruros
207. Hodgson's Redstart -Phoenicurus hodgsoni
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| Black Woodpecker |
208. Daurian Redstart -Phoenicurus auroreus
209. Blue-fronted Redstart -Phoenicurus frontalis
210. White-throated Redstart -Phoenicurus schisticeps
211. White-bellied Redstart -Hodgsonius phaenicuroides - missed by me!
212. Plumbeous Water Redstart -Rhyacornis fuliginosa
213. White-capped Water Redstart -Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
214. Grandala -Grandala coelicolor
215. Little Forktail-Enicurus scouleri
216. White-crowned Forktail -Enicurus leschenaulti
217. Spotted Forktail-Enicurus maculatus
218. Common / Siberian Stonechat -Saxicola maurus
219. Grey Bushchat -Saxicola ferreus
220. Ultramarine Flycatcher
221. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher-Culicicapa ceylonensis
222. Dark-sided Flycatcher -Muscicapa sibirica
223. Slaty-backed Flycatcher -Ficedula hodgsonii
224. Slaty-blue Flycatcher -Ficedula tricolor
225. Verditer Flycatcher -Eumyias thalassinus
226. Chinese Blue Flycatcher -Cyornis glaucicomans - heard only
227. White-throated Dipper -Cinclus cinclus
228. Brown Dipper -Cinclus pallasii
229. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker -Dicaeum ignipectus
230. Mrs Gould's Sunbird -Aethopyga gouldiae
231. Russet Sparrow -Passer rutilans
232. Eurasian Tree Sparrow -Passer montanus
233. Tibetan Snowfinch -Montifringilla adamsi
234. White-rumped Snowfinch -Onychostruthus taczanowskii
235. Rufous-necked Snowfinch -Pyrgilauda ruficollis
236. Plain Mountain Finch -Leucosticte nemoricola
237. Brandt's Mountain Finch -Leucosticte brandti
238. Alpine Accentor -Prunella collaris
239. Rufous-breasted Accentor -Prunella strophiata
240. Maroon-backed Accentor -Prunella immaculata
241. Citrine Wagtail -Motacilla citreola
242. Grey Wagtail -Motacilla cinerea
243. White Wagtail -Motacilla alba
244. Olive-backed Pipit -Anthus hodgsoni
245. Rosy Pipit -Anthus roseatus
246. White-rumped Munia -Lonchura striata - missed by me!
247. Tibetan Serin / Siskin-Serinus thibetanus
248. Grey-capped Greenfinch -Carduelis sinica
249. Twite -Carduelis flavirostris
250. Pink-tailed / Przevalski’s Rosefinch-Urocynchramus pylzowi
251. Long-tailed Rosefinch -Uragus sibiricus
252. Dark-breasted Rosefinch -Carpodacus nipalensis
253. Common Rosefinch -Carpodacus erythrinus
254. Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch -Carpodacus davidianus
255. Pink-rumped Rosefinch -Carpodacus eos
256. Vinaceous Rosefinch -Carpodacus vinaceus
257. Three-banded Rosefinch -Carpodacus trifasciatus
258. Sharpe's Rosefinch -Carpodacus verreauxii
259. Chinese White-browed Rosefinch -Carpodacus dubius
260. Streaked Rosefinch -Carpodacus rubicilloides
261. Red-fronted Rosefinch -Carpodacus puniceus
262. Brown Bullfinch
263. Grey-headed Bullfinch -Pyrrhula erythaca
264. Chinese Grosbeak -Eophona migratoria
265. Collared Grosbeak -Mycerobas affinis
266. White-winged Grosbeak -Mycerobas carnipes
267. Slaty Bunting -Latoucheornis siemsseni
268. Godlewski's Bunting -Emberiza godlewskii
269. Yellow-throated Bunting -Emberiza elegans
270. Little Bunting -Emberiza - missed by me!
Mammal List
2. Tibetan Macaque
3. Himalayan Marmot
4. Pere David’s Rock Squirrel
5. Swinehoe’s Striped Squirrel
6. Perny’s Long-nosed Squirrel
7. Plateau Pika
8. Moupin Pika
9. Woolly Hare
10. Yellow-throated Marten
11. Siberian Weasel
12.
Wild
Boar13. Tufted Deer
14. Reeve’s Muntjac
15. Domestic Yak
16. Takin
17. Chinese Serow
18. Chinese Goral
All of the other
aspects that make a trip successful or not were well covered in China. The road
network was generally excellent and often simply amazing in its size and scale.
Enormous elevated roadways and huge tunnel complexes are fast becoming the norm.
Obviously this infrastructure helps speed travel through and across difficult
terrain. Hotels were generally very good. The food was excellent and I am
pleased to report that our group’s use of chopsticks improved markedly on the
trip.
Lastly some words are
needed to describe our guide, Summer Wong. First I want to say that her efforts
were an important factor that made our trip both enjoyable and memorable.
Summer is an excellent birder, a great organiser and an enthusiastic guide. We
all were impressed with her energy, professionalism and concern for our
comfort. Her patience in fulfilling our requests, often after long days, was very
much appreciated. She is an intelligent
lady with an excellent personality for guiding; the right mix of good humour
and charm. Summer is a very knowledgeable bird guide; she knows the birds,
their calls and songs and, importantly where to find them very well. Her
English, given that it is her second language, is excellent. She is very
personable and makes great efforts to ensure that every aspect of her tours is
of a high standard. She does however walk very fast and sometimes does not even
have the good manners to breathe heavily. Despite that last failing I would not
hesitate to recommend her for your next Sichuan Bird tour!!
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| China Birding Guide - Summer Wong |
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