Qinghai and Tibet
24th June - 12th July 2013
Leader: Rob Hutchinson
Maximum Group Size: 8
The Tibetan Plateau is truly the ‘Roof of the World’ and during our epic journey from Qinghai in the northeastern part of the plateau to the historic city of Lhasa, we will be visiting areas only rarely explored by western birders, with an excellent chance of finding of finding all the birds endemic to the Tibetan Plateau. Amidst extraordinary scenery we will seek out Przevalski’s Finch, Ala Shan Redstart, Ground Tit, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Roborovski’s Rosefinch, Kozlov’s Bunting, Kozlov’s Babax, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Szecheny’s Partridge, Gansu Leaf Warbler and many equally mouthwatering species. As we enter the ‘Tibetan autonomous region’ we will look for some very restricted specialities; Tibetan Eared-Pheasant, Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush, Giant Babax and Lord Derby’s Parakeet.
Day 1:
International arrivals into Xining for an overnight stay.
Day 2:
We will spend the day birding at Dong Xia (2600-2900m) to the north of Xining. The area is host to several species with restricted ranges which are unlikely to be found elsewhere on the tour. The most significant is Gansu Leaf Warbler which has a small breeding range concentrated in this area of Qinghai and adjacent Gansu province. Other species which we will be looking out for include Przevalski’s and Chinese Nuthatch, and the delightful Crested Tit-Warbler.
In the afternoon we drive to Huzu Bei Shan Mountain close to the Gansu border for an overnight stay.
Day 3:
This morning will be spent in the forested mountains at Huzu Bei Shan Mountain at around 2400m where we have a good chance of finding Blue Eared-Pheasant and Severtov’s Grouse, both Chinese endemics. In the afternoon we return to Xining for an overnight stay.
Day 4:
An early morning visit to the eroded hills on the outskirts of the city in search of Pale Rosefinch, Meadow Bunting, Przevalski’s and Daurian Partridges.
We then continue up onto the plateau to the vast Koko Nor lake and adjacent lagoons and marshes at 3200m. We should expect an excellent variety of water-birds here including Bar-headed Goose, Great Black-headed Gull and perhaps our first Black-necked Cranes. Surrounding grasslands will hold our first exciting plateau birds such Ground Tit, Mongolian Lark, Tibetan Lark and Pere David’s Snowfinch. Night at Chaka.
Day 5:
We spend the morning birding at Rubber Mountain (3700–3900m). The scrubby hillsides here will give our first opportunity to search for Ala Shan Redstart, and Przevalski’s Finch (formerly considered a rosefinch) which will be a prime target for many now that it is placed in its own family, Urocynchramidae. Other species likely to be encountered this morning are Guldenstadt’s Redstart and White-browed Tit as well as a fine selection of snowfinches, larks and the ubiquitous Ground Tit. In the afternoon we bird the semi-desert areas east of town are home to Pallas’s Sangrouse, Blanford’s Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Desert Finch, Asian Short-toed Lark and most importantly Henderson’s Ground Jay. Night in Chaka.
Day 6:
We begin our exploration today in the scrubby hillsides south-west of Chaka (3600-3950m). Here we hope to find Ala Shan Redstart and Przevalski’s Partridge, both species endemic to this area of the Tibetan Plateau, together with more chances to see Przevalski’s Finch. In the afternoon we have the option of continuing our birding here, again exploring the desert areas around Chaka or returning again to Rubber Mountain. Night in Chaka.
Day 7:
Today we will drive south to Er La Pass where we will have the opportunity for some initial exploration of the area in the afternoon, which is a good opportunity to acclimatize and we might well find some exciting specialties like the enigmatic Roborovski’s Rosefinch which is not uncommon in this area. We then continue to Wenquan for a two-night stay.
Day 8:
Today will be spent exploring the Er La Pass and the Plateau to the south-east of there at 4600-4900m. Our prime target today is the elusive Tibetan Sandgrouse, here at one of its few readily accessible sites. We will again be on the lookout for other high altitude specialities including Tibetan Snowcock, Roborovski’s Rosefinch, Guldenstadt’s Redstart, Brandt’s Mountain Finch and Prince Henri’s Snowfinch. Night in Wenquan.
Day 9:
Today is a travelling day as we pass through vast rolling grasslands broken by occasional mountain ranges on our route from Wenquan to Yushe. During the journey we can expect to see many Upland Buzzards and Sakers which thrive on the abundant Black-lipped Pikas. We can also expect to see the spectacular Black-necked Crane today plus groups of Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass) and small numbers of Tibetan Gazelles. Night in Yushe.
Day 10:
Our journey today from Yushe to Nangqian will take us through spectacular gorges where among commoner species we will look out for Red-breasted Rosefinch and the giganteus form of Chinese Grey Shrike which is often split as ‘Tibetan’ Grey Shrike. We will also make several stops en-route looking for enigmatic Ibisbill. Night in Nangqian.
Day 11:
Our destination today is Kanda Shan Pass (4600-5000m) which is well known as one of the most accessible location to search for Kozlov’s Bunting. Birding around the scrubby slopes above the pass we will hope to locate this rare bunting which was something of an enigma before finally being seen regularly in the past two decades. Other species of interest here should include Przevalski’s Rosefinch, White-tailed Rubythroat, Yellow-billed Chough and electric-blue Grandala. Night in Nangqian.
Day 12:
Drive to Beizha Forest (3900m) where we will spend the rest of the day exploring the forested Valleys across the river. Night at Ga’er Monastery.
Day 13:
Another visit to Beizha Forest where we will be searching for specialities such as Szecheny’s Partridge, White Eared-Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Crested Tit-Warbler and Giant Laughingthrush on the forested slopes, whereas Kozlov’s Babax preferring scrubbier areas. In the late afternoon we will return to Nangqian for an overnight stay.
Day 14:
A full day’s drive south takes us out of Qinghai and into Xizang Autonomous region, or ‘Tibet proper’. Birding will be restricted to roadside stops as we have a long drive through dramatic, deep gorges to the town of Qamdo. Night in Qamdo.
Day 15:
Leaving Qamdo after breakfast takes us through yet more deep gorges framed by distant, snow-capped mountains. As we head further south these deep southward facing gorges become littered with thick coniferous forest as the sub-tropical valleys ascend from Assam in North-east India. It is this habitat that has brought us to eastern Tibet as it is home to one of the rarest, least-known and range-restricted parrots in the world, Lord Derby’s Parakeet. Vigilant scanning will be required as we make regular stops in the hope of finding parakeets perched or flying-by. The species composition will also begin to change, endemic Prince Henri’s Laughingthrushes will begin to appear, though we may have to wait another day or two for Giant Babax. Eventually we reach the town of Bomi for an overnight stay.
Day 16:
We spend the day driving west, continually looking out for the parakeets within the core area of its range. As we drop in elevation there is a chance of a few eastern Himalayan species, notably Ludlow’s Fulvetta, Collared Grosbeak and the scarce Green-crowned Warbler. In the afternoon we drive through Lulang Forest, another good area for the parakeet before settling down for the night in Lulang.
Day 17:
Just in case we are yet to secure the desired views of the parakeets we have a final early morning in the pine forests near Lulang before heading west to Lhasa. The scenery is, of course, spectacular as we drive through a wide valley, departing the forest-cloaked slopes and into the barren valleys flanked by snow-capped mountains. Heading over a 5500m pass we should see some species familiar from earlier in the trip – Rufous-necked, Black-winged and White-rumped Snowfinches, Brandt’s Mountain Finches and another chance of White-browed Tit. Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush and Giant Babax are also possible before we arrive into Lhasa in the early evening. Night in Lhasa.
Day 18:
This morning we visit a nearby monastery in our quest for one of the main targets on this tour; Tibetan Eared-Pheasant. The nearby bushes and village area are packed full of birds; Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush is common, as are Streaked Rosefinch, Severtzov’s Tit Warbler, Brown Accentor, Tibetan Partridge, Red-billed Chough and we should also see family parties of Giant Babax. In the afternoon we visit the magnificent Potala Palace. Although Lhasa is rapidly expanding and modernising under Chinese rule, the Potala Palace still stands as a potent symbol of Buddhist Tibet and is an experience not to be missed. Night in Lhasa.
Day 19:
Departures from Lhasa to connect with onward international departures.
