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This little gem is a White-browed Tit-Warbler, photographed near the town of Wenquan high on the Tibetan Plateau. Neither a tit nor a warbler, this one is more closely related to the Bushtit of western N. America than it is to the tits or warblers. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
This was only the second time that Field Guides has offered this itinerary co-led by China expert Jesper Hornskov, and it was a roaring success again! The first half of our tour was spent in the rich wetlands and grassland habitats of northeastern China -- the region formerly known as Manchuria -- before we jetted our way to the west and the high elevations of Qinghai Province. We had a bit of a hiccup at the start of the tour, but we certainly made the best of it. In short order, after hearing the bad news about our flight, we had a bus and were out birding north of Beijing looking at some real gems, as well as getting a look at a section of the renowned Great Wall. Thanks to all for your flexibility and patience!
Then we were off to Manchuria the next morning, making stops at three important reserves during our time there. Momoge Reserve, our first destination, had some water level issues that developed through the spring, but we were still able to locate our prize there, thanks to the scouting efforts of Mr. Li. Our first afternoon in the area found us staring through the scopes at nearly 300 Critically Endangered Siberian Cranes on their way north to the breeding grounds. Fantastic!! The next morning, we enjoyed leisurely looks at the Endangered Rufous-backed (Jankovski's) Bunting at Tumuji Reserve (hardly a reserve at all!). It was a bittersweet sighting since the remaining habitat there was quickly disappearing and the prospects for this beautiful bunting appeared dim indeed.
Then it was off to Xianghai Reserve and more cranes. This time it was Endangered Red-crowned Crane and White-naped Crane (nesting together and rearing a hybrid chick!). We certainly got an eyeful of the Red-crowned! Wonderful, too, was the sighting of an Endangered Oriental Stork attending a newly hatched chick in a nest near our hotel. Perhaps eclipsing the rarity of seeing these two cranes and the stork on the breeding grounds in China was our sighting of a pair (!) of Critically Endangered Baer's Pochards, first found by one of the reserve's biologists a week or so before our arrival. While it's not as rare, chasing down that displaying Oriental Plover near Xianghai was also a lot of fun!
After a brief, but productive, stay overnight in Beijing, we headed to the center of the country and Qinghai Province. We acclimated a bit to the higher elevation that was yet to come by birding some of the mountainous habitats nearby, finding some great birds here before we ascended the Tibetan Plateau. We had to deal with some real weather when we drove up to Koko Nor, hardly being able to make out the shore of this huge lake through the falling snow! The bad weather didn't last long and soon changed for the better when we pushed on to Rubber Mountain just south of the lake, where we found the monotypic Przevalski's Rosefinch at the first spot we tried! The next couple of days saw us searching for a number of specialties in the productive Chaka area, with some of the best finds being the gorgeous and endemic Ala Shan (Przevalski's) Redstart, nesting Mongolian Ground-Jay, a surprise Bearded Reedling, and the shy Przevalski's Partridge. Our newly renovated hotel here really made our stay much more enjoyable than had been the case in the past.
Then it was on to the south and Er La Pass, with our highest elevations of the tour. There weren't as many birds to look for here amid the glorious high-elevation scenery, but what we found was pretty special. We were able to track down another pair of Przevalski"s Rosefinches for more looks, as well as a few near-mythical Tibetan Rosefinches on the high slopes. Lammergeiers, Himalayan Griffons, Saker Falcons, and Upland Buzzards plied the skies above the snow-covered peaks while we sought out six species of snowfinches, Bar-headed Goose, Tibetan Snowcock, Black-headed Mountain-Finch, White-winged Redstart, Wallcreeper, Tibetan and Hume's larks, Ground Tit, White-backed Thrush, and Streaked, Chinese Beautiful-, and Great rosefinches, among others. Another stop -- in better weather -- in the Koko Nor area on our way back to Xining gave us better looks at the likes of Black-necked Crane, Whooper Swan, Pallas's Gull, and many other breeding and migrant waterbirds, as well as some fine migrant landbirds such as Scaly, Eyebrowed, Red-throated, and Dusky thrushes, and a lost Striated Heron!
Thanks need to go out to our crews in Manchuria and in Qinghai. All were helpful and good-natured and eager to accommodate us. You can't ask for anything more than that! Thanks also to Jesper Hornskov, my co-leader on this adventure, who arranged every last detail for us, fed us, kept us laughing, and found some fabulous birds for us all! I hope we have many years of tours together ahead of us. And thanks to all of you for your good company, your persistence, your energy, your sense of humor, and your flexibility. Those are all essential qualities for a tour such as this to the wilds of Manchuria and Qinghai! I hope our paths cross again soon on another tour!
--Dave
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
Przevalski's Rosefinch is usually the big draw to this tour for family listers, or for anyone who loves brilliant and beautiful pink birds. This male obliged us at our first stop on Rubber Mountain. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SWAN GOOSE (Anser cygnoides) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons)
GRAYLAG GOOSE (Anser anser) [N]
BAR-HEADED GOOSE (Anser indicus)
WHOOPER SWAN (Cygnus cygnus) [N]
RUDDY SHELDUCK (Tadorna ferruginea) [N]
COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
EURASIAN WIGEON (Anas penelope)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
EASTERN SPOT-BILLED DUCK (Anas zonorhyncha)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GARGANEY (Anas querquedula)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (EURASIAN) (Anas crecca crecca)
RED-CRESTED POCHARD (Netta rufina)
COMMON POCHARD (Aythya ferina)
FERRUGINOUS DUCK (Aythya nyroca)
BAER'S POCHARD (Aythya baeri)
The Qinghai Province portion of this tour is loaded with great mountain scenery, like this view that we had in the Huzhu Mountains near Xining. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula) GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
PRZEVALSKI'S PARTRIDGE (Alectoris magna) [E]
VERREAUX'S PARTRIDGE (Tetraophasis obscurus) [E*]
We found this mixed pair of Red-crowned & White-naped cranes tending a tiny hybrid chick at Xianghai Reserve! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
TIBETAN SNOWCOCK (Tetraogallus tibetanus) DAURIAN PARTRIDGE (Perdix dauurica)
JAPANESE QUAIL (Coturnix japonica)
BLOOD PHEASANT (Ithaginis cruentus)
BLUE EARED-PHEASANT (Crossoptilon auritum) [E]
RING-NECKED PHEASANT (Phasianus colchicus)
SEVERTZOV'S GROUSE (Bonasa sewerzowi) [E]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus) [N]
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) [N]
Ciconiidae (Storks)
BLACK STORK (Ciconia nigra)
ORIENTAL STORK (Ciconia boyciana) [N]
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
Enjoying our only views of 250+ Siberian Cranes early during the tour at Momoge Reserve (Photo by participant John Keith)
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BITTERN (Botaurus stellaris)
GRAY HERON (Ardea cinerea) [N]
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)
GREAT EGRET (AUSTRALASIAN) (Ardea alba modesta)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)
CHINESE POND-HERON (Ardeola bacchus)
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
EURASIAN SPOONBILL (Platalea leucorodia) [N]
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
LAMMERGEIER (Gypaetus barbatus)
HIMALAYAN GRIFFON (Gyps himalayensis)
SHORT-TOED EAGLE (Circaetus gallicus)
One of a pair of Oriental Scops-Owls -- calling in the middle of the afternoon -- at the Beijing Botanical Gardens (Photo by participant John Keith)
BOOTED EAGLE (Hieraaetus pennatus) STEPPE EAGLE (Aquila nipalensis)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER (Circus spilonotus)
PIED HARRIER (Circus melanoleucos)
EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus)
BLACK KITE (BLACK-EARED) (Milvus migrans lineatus)
COMMON BUZZARD (HIMALAYAN) (Buteo buteo burmanicus)
COMMON BUZZARD (JAPONICUS) (Buteo buteo japonicus)
UPLAND BUZZARD (Buteo hemilasius)
Otididae (Bustards)
GREAT BUSTARD (Otis tarda)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
EURASIAN COOT (Fulica atra)
Gruidae (Cranes)
We see plenty of shorebirds on this tour, and this one, the Common Redshank, is pretty representative of the trip since it's found from the lowlands of Manchuria up to the highest wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
SIBERIAN CRANE (Grus leucogeranus) WHITE-NAPED CRANE (Grus vipio)
COMMON CRANE (Grus grus)
BLACK-NECKED CRANE (Grus nigricollis)
RED-CROWNED CRANE (Grus japonensis)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) [N]
PIED AVOCET (Recurvirostra avosetta) [N]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
NORTHERN LAPWING (Vanellus vanellus)
This confiding male Pallas's Sandgrouse was a surprise find in a fallow field next to Tumuji Reserve. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GRAY-HEADED LAPWING (Vanellus cinereus) LESSER SAND-PLOVER (TIBETAN) (Charadrius mongolus schaeferi)
KENTISH PLOVER (KENTISH) (Charadrius alexandrinus alexandrinus)
LONG-BILLED PLOVER (Charadrius placidus)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius)
ORIENTAL PLOVER (Charadrius veredus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
TEREK SANDPIPER (Xenus cinereus)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus)
SPOTTED REDSHANK (Tringa erythropus)
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
MARSH SANDPIPER (Tringa stagnatilis)
This tour is the best in the world for the variety of snowfinches (genus Montifringilla) possible. This endemic Tibetan (Henri's) Snowfinch is one of the tougher ones to find, but we did exceptionally well with it this year. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola) COMMON REDSHANK (Tringa totanus)
WHIMBREL (SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus)
EURASIAN CURLEW (Numenius arquata)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (EUROPEAN) (Limosa limosa limosa)
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT (SIBERIAN) (Limosa limosa melanuroides)
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER (Calidris acuminata)
TEMMINCK'S STINT (Calidris temminckii)
COMMON SNIPE (Gallinago gallinago)
PIN-TAILED SNIPE (Gallinago stenura)
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE (Glareola maldivarum)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
BLACK-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
We had nine species of fancy Phoenicurus redstarts on this tour, with none more beautiful than this adult male White-throated Redstart. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BROWN-HEADED GULL (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) PALLAS'S GULL (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus)
CASPIAN GULL (MONGOLIAN) (Larus cachinnans mongolicus)
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
WHITE-WINGED TERN (Chlidonias leucopterus)
WHISKERED TERN (Chlidonias hybrida)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo tibetana)
COMMON TERN (SIBERIAN) (Sterna hirundo longipennis)
Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
PALLAS'S SANDGROUSE (Syrrhaptes paradoxus)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
HILL PIGEON (Columba rupestris)
ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE (Streptopelia orientalis)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx sparverioides)
INDIAN CUCKOO (Cuculus micropterus)
COMMON CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus)
Strigidae (Owls)
Normally a skulker and really difficult to see, this Scaly Thrush was incredibly easy to see in a poplar grove near Koko Nor. It was a great finale before we descended the Plateau! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL (Otus sunia stictonotus) EURASIAN EAGLE-OWL (Bubo bubo)
LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua)
Apodidae (Swifts)
COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus pekinensis)
SALIM ALI'S SWIFT (Apus salimalii) [E]
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata)
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops) [N]
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus scintilliceps)
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos major)
GRAY-FACED WOODPECKER (Picus canus) [*]
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)
AMUR FALCON (Falco amurensis)
MERLIN (Falco columbarius)
An astounding find on the tour was this female Bearded Reedling -- miles form the nearest appropriate habitat -- in the poplars near Chaka. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
EURASIAN HOBBY (Falco subbuteo) SAKER FALCON (Falco cherrug)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
ISABELLINE SHRIKE (DAURIAN) (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)
GRAY-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius tephronotus)
CHINESE GRAY SHRIKE (Lanius sphenocercus)
CHINESE GRAY SHRIKE (Lanius sphenocercus giganteus) [E]
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
EURASIAN JAY (Garrulus glandarius)
AZURE-WINGED MAGPIE (Cyanopica cyanus)
RED-BILLED BLUE-MAGPIE (Urocissa erythrorhyncha)
EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)
EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica bottanensis)
MONGOLIAN GROUND-JAY (Podoces hendersoni) [N]
RED-BILLED CHOUGH (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
On the prowl for the endemic Severtzov's Grouse (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
DAURIAN JACKDAW (Corvus dauuricus) ROOK (Corvus frugilegus)
CARRION CROW (Corvus corone)
LARGE-BILLED CROW (Corvus macrorhynchos)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Panuridae (Bearded Reedling)
BEARDED REEDLING (Panurus biarmicus)
Alaudidae (Larks)
TIBETAN LARK (Melanocorypha maxima)
MONGOLIAN LARK (Melanocorypha mongolica)
HUME'S LARK (Calandrella acutirostris)
LESSER SHORT-TOED LARK (ASIAN) (Calandrella rufescens cheleensis) [N]
CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)
SKY LARK (Alauda arvensis)
ORIENTAL SKYLARK (Alauda gulgula)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris elwesi)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
China is fabulously rich in parids, like this endemic White-browed Tit high on Rubber Mountain on the Tibetan Plateau. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) PALE SAND MARTIN (Riparia diluta)
EURASIAN CRAG-MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica) [N]
ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN (Delichon dasypus)
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
MARSH TIT (Poecile palustris) [N]
SONGAR TIT (Poecile songarus affinis)
WHITE-BROWED TIT (Poecile superciliosus) [E]
RUFOUS-VENTED TIT (Periparus rubidiventris)
YELLOW-BELLIED TIT (Periparus venustulus) [E*]
GRAY-CRESTED TIT (Lophophanes dichrous)
JAPANESE TIT (Parus minor)
GROUND TIT (Pseudopodoces humilis) [E]
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
CHINESE PENDULINE-TIT (Remiz consobrinus) [E]
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
WHITE-BROWED TIT-WARBLER (Leptopoecile sophiae)
A late-evening stroll down to the creek in Wenquan yielded some great looks of this female Wallcreeper -- high on everyone's "gotta see" list! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
CRESTED TIT-WARBLER (Leptopoecile elegans) [E] SILVER-THROATED TIT (Aegithalos glaucogularis vinaceus) [E]
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
PRZEVALSKI'S NUTHATCH (Sitta przewalskii) [E]
SNOWY-BROWED NUTHATCH (Sitta villosa)
Tichodromidae (Wallcreeper)
WALLCREEPER (Tichodroma muraria)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
EURASIAN TREECREEPER (Certhia familiaris)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
EURASIAN WREN (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Cinclidae (Dippers)
WHITE-THROATED DIPPER (Cinclus cinclus) [N]
BROWN DIPPER (Cinclus pallasii) [N]
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
LIGHT-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus sinensis)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
One of the most widespread of our many buntings on the tour, this stunning Meadow Bunting was one of the early prizes on our first afternoon. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
GOLDCREST (Regulus regulus) Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
DUSKY WARBLER (Phylloscopus fuscatus)
ALPINE LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus occisinensis) [E]
YELLOW-STREAKED WARBLER (Phylloscopus armandii)
RADDE'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus schwarzi)
BUFF-BARRED WARBLER (Phylloscopus pulcher)
PALLAS'S LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus proregulus)
GANSU LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus kansuensis) [E]
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus)
HUME'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus humei)
ARCTIC WARBLER (Phylloscopus borealis)
GREENISH WARBLER (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
GREENISH WARBLER (GREENISH) (Phylloscopus trochiloides obscuratus)
Sylvidae (Sylvids)
MARGELANIC WHITETHROAT (Sylvia margelanica)
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
We weren't able to find an Ibisbill along the river north of Beijing that first afternoon, but this scarce Long-billed Plover was a nice consolation prize. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHITE-BROWED CHINESE WARBLER (Rhopophilus pekinensis) VINOUS-THROATED PARROTBILL (Sinosuthora webbiana)
Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-FLANKED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops erythropleurus)
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
PERE DAVID'S LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla davidi) [E]
ELLIOT'S LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Trochalopteron elliotii) [E]
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa sibirica)
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris)
GRAY-STREAKED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa griseisticta)
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane)
It's never common anywhere along our route, and we worked hard to find our first Blanford's Snowfinch -- but we didn't work very hard to find this, our second bird, at the rest stop along the highway! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
BLUETHROAT (Luscinia svecica) SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT (Calliope calliope)
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL (Tarsiger cyanurus)
TAIGA FLYCATCHER (Ficedula albicilla)
KOREAN FLYCATCHER (Ficedula zanthopygia)
NARCISSUS FLYCATCHER (GREEN-BACKED) (Ficedula narcissina elisae)
BLUE-FRONTED REDSTART (Phoenicurus frontalis)
PLUMBEOUS REDSTART (Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
WHITE-CAPPED REDSTART (Phoenicurus leucocephalus)
ALA SHAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus alaschanicus) [E]
HODGSON'S REDSTART (Phoenicurus hodgsoni)
There may not be a lizard that occurs at higher elevations in the world than this Przevalski's Toadhead Agama that we found near Chaka. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHITE-THROATED REDSTART (Phoenicurus schisticeps) WHITE-WINGED REDSTART (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus)
BLACK REDSTART (Phoenicurus ochruros)
DAURIAN REDSTART (Phoenicurus auroreus)
RUFOUS-TAILED ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola saxatilis)
SIBERIAN STONECHAT (SIBERIAN) (Saxicola maurus maurus)
PIED WHEATEAR (Oenanthe pleschanka)
DESERT WHEATEAR (Oenanthe deserti)
ISABELLINE WHEATEAR (Oenanthe isabellina) [N]
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
SCALY THRUSH (WHITE'S) (Zoothera dauma aurea)
EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula mandarinus)
This isn't a bad trip for accentors, especially if you've never seen one before! This Rufous-breasted was the common accentor in the spruce and mixed forests near Xining. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
CHESTNUT THRUSH (Turdus rubrocanus) WHITE-BACKED THRUSH (Turdus kessleri)
EYEBROWED THRUSH (Turdus obscurus)
BLACK-THROATED THRUSH (Turdus atrogularis)
RED-THROATED THRUSH (Turdus ruficollis)
DUSKY THRUSH (Turdus eunomus)
CHINESE THRUSH (Turdus mupinensis) [E]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
CRESTED MYNA (Acridotheres cristatellus) [I]
DAURIAN STARLING (Sturnia sturnina)
RED-BILLED STARLING (Sturnus sericeus)
WHITE-CHEEKED STARLING (Sturnus cineraceus)
Prunellidae (Accentors)
ROBIN ACCENTOR (Prunella rubeculoides)
RUFOUS-BREASTED ACCENTOR (Prunella strophiata)
BROWN ACCENTOR (Prunella fulvescens)
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
EASTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL (Motacilla tschutschensis)
CITRINE WAGTAIL (Motacilla citreola)
GRAY WAGTAIL (Motacilla cinerea)
This tour is fantastic for fringillid finches, like the rosefinches, mountain-finches, and this big White-winged Grosbeak near Xining. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba) RICHARD'S PIPIT (Anthus richardi)
ROSY PIPIT (Anthus roseatus)
OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT (Anthus hodgsoni)
RED-THROATED PIPIT (Anthus cervinus)
WATER PIPIT (Anthus spinoletta)
AMERICAN PIPIT (SIBERIAN) (Anthus rubescens japonicus)
Urocynchramidae (Przevalski's Rosefinch)
PRZEVALSKI'S ROSEFINCH (Urocynchramus pylzowi) [E]
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
PINE BUNTING (Emberiza leucocephalos)
GODLEWSKI'S BUNTING (Emberiza godlewskii)
MEADOW BUNTING (Emberiza cioides)
RUFOUS-BACKED BUNTING (Emberiza jankowskii) [E]
YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING (Emberiza chrysophrys)
This gorgeous endemic Ala Shan (Przevalski's) Redstart was the prize for the group before it started snowing again in the mountains near Chaka. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
LITTLE BUNTING (Emberiza pusilla) YELLOW-THROATED BUNTING (Emberiza elegans)
BLACK-FACED BUNTING (Emberiza spodocephala)
PALLAS'S BUNTING (Emberiza pallasi)
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies)
BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla)
BLACK-HEADED MOUNTAIN-FINCH (Leucosticte brandti)
MONGOLIAN FINCH (Bucanetes mongolicus)
GRAY-HEADED BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula erythaca)
CHINESE BEAUTIFUL ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus davidianus argyrophrys)
CHINESE WHITE-BROWED ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus dubius dubius) [E]
TIBETAN ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus roborowskii) [E]
STREAKED ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus rubicilloides)
SPOTTED ROSEFINCH (Carpodacus severtzovi)
ORIENTAL GREENFINCH (Chloris sinica)
EURASIAN SISKIN (Spinus spinus)
We had to deal with some late snow up on the Tibetan Plateau, but it hardly slowed us down at all. We were still able to spot a trio of rare Black-necked Cranes from this spot, despite all of the white stuff. (Photo by participant John Keith)
TWITE (Carduelis flavirostris) YELLOW-BILLED GROSBEAK (Eophona migratoria)
WHITE-WINGED GROSBEAK (Mycerobas carnipes)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
ROCK PETRONIA (Petronia petronia)
TIBETAN SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla henrici) [E]
BLACK-WINGED SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla adamsi)
WHITE-RUMPED SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla taczanowskii)
PERE DAVID'S SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla davidiana)
RUFOUS-NECKED SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla ruficollis)
BLANFORD'S SNOWFINCH (Montifringilla blanfordi)
One of the big prizes on the highest slopes that we explored on the Tibetan Plateau was this odd Tibetan Rosefinch, which is only known from five or six sites in the entire world! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
AMUR HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus amurensis) PLATEAU PIKA (Ochotona curzoniae)
GANSU PIKA (Ochotona cansus) [E]
TOLAI HARE (Lepus tolai)
WOOLLY HARE (Lepus oiostolus)
HIMALAYAN MARMOT (Marmota himalayana)
DAURIAN GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus dauricus)
TIBETAN DWARF HAMSTER (Cricetulus tibetanus)
RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes)
KIANG (Equus kiang)
RED DEER (Cervus elaphus)
GOA (Procapra picticaudata)
BHARAL (Pseudois nayaur)
Totals for the tour: 283 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa