Here's the list - going through the tick sheets I could find 6 more species which takes us up to 320 birds.
Only during the last half of the trip did we get full song from skulky songsters such as Chesnut-headed Tesia, the Seicercus Warblers and White-bellied Redstart. My guests chose not to enter Jiuzhaigou - we judged a grey 25th May, the date we were in the vicinity, a tad early for singing RH Robin - all the other birds, especially Spectacled Parrotbill and Chinese Nuthatch, we easily got outside the park. However two other songsters - Firethroat and Himalayan Rubythroat - were in prime voice by May1st in the Wolong/Balang area.
With the closure of Wawu Geo Park a combination of Labahe, Lower Wawu outside the park and the area on the west of Wawu brought nearly all our birds - including 3-toed Parrotbill, Grey-hooded Parrotbill and Buffy Laugher. The only big misses were Chestnut-crowned Bush warbler and the usually easy to find Spotted Bush Warbler. The latter I hear in JZ and Wolong areas but for this trip was totally stum!!!!!
Our Monal was not a very satisfactory sighting - one guest spotting a bird gliding down a distant slope to disappear in usual gamebird style. However lots of other great Chicken sightings including two nice Male Golden Pheasants on the Wuyipeng trail, a pair of stunning male Temminck's Tragopan at Longchangou and the funny sight of a road parked Tibetan Partridge holding up traffic on the Ruoergai grasslands - cars were beeping to to get that guy to move to the side. Unfortunately we weren't so lucky with Grey Shrikes - it was too late for the last of the wintering Chinese Grey Shrike and after watching about 2 million miles of wires no Tibetan Grey!!!!!!
Craziest sightings of the trip - not one but two Chengdu city Woodcock sightings - on the park in the river habitat by the New Exhibition Center.
And a Rufous-vented Yuhina in with a flock of White-collared at Moxi - a bird I've seen in Yunnan, that was a Sichuan lifer for me.
Most pleasing finds included once again getting an often asked for bird, Swinhoes Minivets, at a site close to Dujiangyan. This was the site where i found the bird last June - looks like they breed in the area. Watching at other seeming suitable sites brought none of this minivet. Other breeding bird found for a second time were the Daurian Starlings in Ruoergai town and the Oriental Pratincoles at Hongya - 10 birds were seen flying.
Our highlight must be the Gold-fronted Fulvetta - so far the last 3 visits to Gezihua have given this bird.
As for pictures - we have to wait for one of my guests, Augusto Faustinio, to upload some of his pics here. During the trip he got the nickname Alphamale - for the feat of scoping a White-eared Pheasant at around a kilometers range. If ladies selected their beaus on their Chicken spotting abilities then Augusto would have been swamped with female admirers - but unfortunately powerful sportscars and wads of money still seem to be the main currency of mainstream alphamales - but we can live in hope.
Its interesting that after 15 downloads that nobody has come with a suggestion for that mystery song in my last post - very intriguing
I'd like to put more calls on today - but this evening after a very heavy rain storm the internet has ground down to very slow crawl - so it'll have to be another day!!!!
and that list -
Bird List Sichuan Spring Trip 2012 – 22days, April 16 – May 7
Louis Boon, Augusto Faustino, Sid Francis
Locations visited –
Sichuan University Chengdu - SU
River New Exhibition Center Chengdu EC
Labahe – LB
Sichuan University - SU
Moxi - M
Old Erlang Road – OER
Wanglang - WL
Pingwu - P
Outside Jiuzhaiggou - JZ
Ruoergai Grasslands - RG
Baxi Forest - BX
Mengbishan - MG
Balang - B
Wolong - W
Duijangyan – D
Hongya - H
Lower Wawu - WA
West of Wawu Gezihua - WG
West of Wawu Longchangou – L
Ya’an area - Y
1. Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa - flock 7 birds B
2. Chinese Bamboo-Partridge Bambusicola thoracica - WA, G
3. Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae – Single and pair RG
4. Tibetan Snowcock Tetraogallus tibetanus - s ingle with Snow Parts B
5. Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus - BX, B
6. Koklass pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha - B
7. Chestnut-throated Partridge Tetraophasis obscures - B
8. Temminck's Tragopan Tragopan temminckii – W, L
9. Chinese Monal Pheasant Lophophorus lhuysii – Augusto one brief view of bird flying B
10. White Eared-Pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon – MG, B
11. Blue Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon auritum - WL, BX
12. Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus – JZ, RG, BX
13. Lady Amherst's Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae – LB, L mostly males
14. Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus - WL female walking road outside park, W 2 males
15. Chinese Grouse Tetrastes sewerzowi – BX many three locations
16. Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus - RG
17. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea - RG
18. Gadwall Anas strepera - EC, RG
19. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos – EC, RG
20. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha - EC
21. Common Teal Anas crecca - RG
22. Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata - P reservoir before Pingwu pair displaying
23. Common Merganser Mergus merganser – BX, RG
24. Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus - D
25. Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus - LB
26. Crimson-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos cathpharius - L
27. Darjeeling Woodpecker Dendrocopos darjellensis – LB, B
28. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus – heard several locations
29. Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
30. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
31. Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioide – heard everywhere seen twice
32. Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus - D
33. Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturates – heard L
34. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea – heard many locations
35. Himalayan Swiftlet Collocalia brevirostris - LB
36. Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus
37. HouseSwift Apus affinis
38. ChineseTawny Owl Strix nivicolum – WL single bird in headlights, Sid only
39. Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo – RG nest one young
40. Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei- heard WA
41. Speckled Wood Pigeon Columba hodgsonii – M, G, L
42. Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris – RG, MG
43. Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota – B
44. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
45. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
46. Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis – RG many birds had returned
47. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus - JZ
48. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - JZ
49. Common Coot Fulica atra – P reservoir Pingwu
50. Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola – EC seen twice on two separate days
51. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago – EC
52. Solitary Snipe, Gallinago solitaria – JZ single bird on a dammed part of river that flows past park
53. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum - H 10 birds seen displaying
54. Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus - RG single bird
55. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus – RG
56. Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultia – RG single bird in Lesser flock
57. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius – EC, H
58. Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus – EC, H young seen at H
59. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus - EC
60. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus - EC
61. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola - EC
62. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos – EC, H
63. Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis - H
64. Common Redshank Tringa tetanus – RG
65. Greenshank Tringa nebularia - EC
66. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata - RG
67. Pallas's Gull Larus ichthyaetus - RG
68. Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus - RG
69. Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus – RG, B
70. Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis – RG, B
71. Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus – RG, B 2 birds
72. Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes - WG, Y
73. Black-eared Kite. Milvus linaetus – RG, BX
74. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus - M, L, Y passage flocks 50+ birds at Y
75. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus – RG ringtail
76. Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicas – JZ passage birds
77. Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus – M, BX, MG, B
78. Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius – JZ, RG
79. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos – RG, BX, B
80. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis – RG 2 birds
81. Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalense – L
82. Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis – JZ, MG
83. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus - LB, M, WL, BX
84. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus –, WL, BX, RG passage
85. Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis – M, Y
86. Besra Accipiter virgatu - WA
87. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus – RG, MG, B
88. Amur Falcon Falco amurebsis – RG single
89. Saker Falcon Falco cherrug – RG 3 birds
90. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
91. Great Egret Casmerodius albus - EC
92. Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus - RG
93. Chinese Pond-Heron Ardeola bacchus - EC
94. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - EC
95. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - EC
96. Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus - EC
97. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
98. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus
99. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
100. Sichuan Jay Perisoreus internigrans – BX around 15 birds in a roadside flock
101. Black-billed Magpie Pica pica
102. Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyana - RG
103. Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha
104. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
105. Yellow-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus - B
106. Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauurica – RG, BX
107. Carrion Crow Corvus corone
108. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
109. Collared Crow Corvus torquatus – P single bird on river leading to Pingwu
110. Common Raven Corvus corax
111. Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis - D
112. Swinhoe's Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis – D around 5 birds at our usual location
113. Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus - common
114. Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris – BX single pair
115. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
116. Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
117. White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
118. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
119. Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
120. Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitaries
121. Chestnut-bellied RockThrush Monticola rufiventris – LB single male
122. Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
123. Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima – M many passage birds over two days
124. Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni - M, WL passage Moxi in fewer numbers than plain-backed – heard Wanglang
125. Chinese Blackbird Turdus mandarinus
126. ChestnutThrush Turdus rubrocanus
127. Kessler's Thrush Turdus kessleri – JZ, BX, B
128. Dusky Thrush Turdus euonmus - M
129. Naumann's Thrush Turdus naumanni - M
130. Red-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis – RG loose flocks passage
131. Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis – M, WL, B
132. White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx Montana – L common
133. Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica – JZ, heard singing L
134. Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica – D
135. Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui - Y
136. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia – M
137. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata – LB, MX, W, L
138. Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla – EC, P, B
139. Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra - SU
140. Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina – OER, L
141. Fujian Niltava Niltava davidi - SU
142. Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis glaucicomans – WA, WG, L, Y
143. Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea – W
144. Himalayan Bluetail Tarsiger rufilatus – common in all suitable habitat
145. Golden Bush-Robin Tarsiger chrysaeus – LB, M, L
146. Himalayan Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis – B singing
147. Firethroat Luscinia pectardens – W singing 1st May
148. Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
149. White-throated Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus – common in north
150. Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni - M, WG, BX, W
151. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
152. Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis – common all upland areas
153. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros - RG
154. White-capped Water-Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
155. Plumbeous Water-Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus
156. White-bellied Redstart Hodgsonius phoenicuroides – L first heard singing 6th May
157. White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaultia
158. White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucurum – L heard only
159. Grandala Grandala coelicolor - B
160. Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
161. Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea
162. White-cheeked Starling Sturnus cineraceus – WL, RG
163. Daurian Starling Sturnus sturninus – RG Ruoergai town, 4 birds in with a flock of white cheeked
164. Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
165. Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis
166. Przewalski's Nuthatch Sitta przewalskii – BX single bird
167. Chinese Nuthatch Sitta villosa – JZ a pair on bend 7 direction RG
168. Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria - M, WL, BX
169. Hodgson's Treecreeper Certhia hodgsoni – WL, BX
170. Bar-tailed Tree-Creeper Certhia himalayana - M
171. Sichuan Tree-Creerper Certhia tianquanensis – WL. L
172. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
173. Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps - LB, W, WG
174. Sichuan Tit Parus weigoldicus – RG, BX, B
175. White-browed Tit Parus superciliosus – RG, BX
176. Rufous-vented Tit Parus rubidiventris
177. Coal Tit Parus ater
178. Yellow-bellied Tit Parus venustulus
179. Grey-crested Tit Parus dichrous
180. Great Tit Parus major
181. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
182. Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus
183. Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
184. Black-browed Tit Aegithalos bonvalotis
185. Sooty Tit Aegithalos fuliginosus – WL, W
186. Hume’s Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis - RG
187. Eurasian Crag-Martin Hirundo rupestris
188. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
189. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
190. Asian House-Martin Delichon dasypus
191. Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques
192. Brown-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
193. Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis
194. Himalayan Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
195. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
196. Striated Prinia Prinia criniger - heard
197. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
198. Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus
199. Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus – P
200. Brownish-flanked Bush-War Cettia fortipes
201. Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler Cettia acanthizoides
202. Aberrant Bush-Warbler Cettia flavolivaceus – D, L
203. Brown Bush-Warbler Bradypterus luteoventris – LB, L
204. Russet Bush-Warbler Bradypterus seebohmi – WA, WG
205. Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata – L common at this location
206. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus - RG
207. Alpine Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus occisinensis
208. Buff-throated Warbler Phylloscopus subaffinis
209. Yellow-streaked Warbler Phylloscopus armandii
210. Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher
211. Sichuan Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus forresti
212. Chinese Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus yunnanensis
213. Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei
214. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
215. Large-billed Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
216. Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus - P
217. Emei Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus emeiensis – OER and Wawu area
218. Claudia's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus Claudia
219. Kloss's Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus ogilivie-grantii - lower areas around Yaan/ Wawu
220. Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti – D, and lower areas around Yaan/ Wawu
221. Bianchi’s Warbler Seicercus valentine - W, L
222. Plain-tailed Warbler Seicercus soror - WG
223. Marten’s warbler Seicercus omeiensis – W, WG, L
224. Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps - WG
225. Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
226. Goldcrest Regulus regulus
227. Moustached Laughingthrush Garrulax cineraceus – WA single responding to playback
228. Sukatschev's Laughing thrush Garrulax sukatschewi - WL
229. Barred Laughingthrush Garrulax lunulatus – MX, OER
230. Giant Laughingthrush Garrulax maximus – WL, MG, B
231. Spotted Laughingthrush Garrulax ocellatus – MX, L
232. Buffy Laughingthrush Garrulax berthemyi – L
233. Hwamei Garrulax canorus - WA
234. Plain Laughingthrush Garrulax davidi – BX, RG
235. White-browed Laughingthrush Garrulax sannio
236. Elliot's Laughingthrush Garrulax elliotii
237. Black-faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis – MX, L
238. Red-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax formosus - WG
239. Omei Shan Liocichla Liocichla omeiensis - L
240. Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus gravivox
241. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis
242. Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga albiventer - MX
243. Pygmy Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla
244. Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps
245. Rufous-tailed Babbler Chrysomma poecilotis – MX pair on boardwalk
246. Green Shrike Babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus – WL, WA
247. Chinese Babax Babax lanceolatus - OER, WL
248. Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea
249. Golden-breasted Fulvetta Alcippe chrysotis - LB
250. Gold-fronted Fulvetta Alcippe variegaticeps – WG single bird to Owlet call
251. Spectacled Fulvetta Alcippe ruficapilla – WL
252. White-browed Fulvetta Alcippe vinipectus – M, MG
253. Chinese Fulvetta Alcippe striaticollis – JZ, BX, MG
254. Grey-hooded Fulvetta Alcippe cinereiceps
255. Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea - WA
256. David's Fulvetta Alcippe davidi – D, WG, L
257. Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis - MX
258. White-collared Yuhina Yuhina diademata
259. Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis – MX Sichuan lifer for Sid
260. Great Parrotbill Conostoma aemodium - LB, WL, W
261. Three-toed Parrotbill Paradoxornis paradoxus – L carrying nesting material
262. Brown Parrotbill Paradoxornis unicolor - L
263. Grey-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis gularis – WG flock
264. Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis - MX
265. Vinous-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus - EC
266. Ashy-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis alphonsianus – L. MX, WA, Y
267. Grey-hooded Parrotbill Sinosuthora zappeyi – L single bird seen twice
268. Fulvous Parrotbill Suthora fulvifrons - L
269. Golden Parrotbill Paradoxornis verreauxi – L, WG
270. Spectacled Parrotbill Paradoxornis conspicillat – JZ two separate locations
271. Tibetan Lark Melanocorypha maxima - RG
272. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula - RG
273. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris - RG
274. Mrs Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae
275. Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans
276. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
277. Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia - RG
278. Tibetan Snowfinch Montifringilla adamsi - RG
279. White-rumped Snowfinch Pyrgilauda taczanowskii - RG
280. Rufous-necked Snowfinch Pyrgilauda ruficollis - RG
281. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus – D, Y
282. White Wagtail Motacilla alba
283. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
284. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola – EC, RG
285. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
286. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta- widespread
287. Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus - widespread
288. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi – RG a couple of passage birds
289. Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii – RG passage flock
290. Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris - B
291. Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides – RG
292. Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata - widespread
293. Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculate - MX
294. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
295. Grey-capped Greenfinch Carduelis sinica
296. Black-headed Greenfinch Carduelis ambigua – M parking place site feeding around nut vendor stalls
297. Twite Carduelis flavirost
298. Plain Mountain-Finch Leucosticte nemoricola
299. Brandt's Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti – RG two birds in a flock of Twite
300. Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - L
301. Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus nipalensis - B
302. Dark-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus edwardsii – LB, OER, MG
303. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus - B
304. Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus davidianus – widespread at altitude
305. Pink-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus eos – JZ, BX
306. Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus - WG
307. Chinese White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus dubius – common at altitude
308. Sharpe's Rosefinch Carpodacus verreauxii – LB, OER
309. Three-banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus - MG
310. Streaked Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilloides – MG, B
311. Red-fronted Rosefinch Carpodacus puniceus - B
312. Yellow-billed Grosbeak Eophona migratoria - EC
313. Collared Grosbeak Mycerobas affinis – B single female in white-winged flock
314. White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes – WL,,BX, B
315. Slaty Bunting Latoucheornis siemsseni - WG
316. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla
317. Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala – JZ, D
318. Godlewski's Bunting Emberiza godlewskii
319. Elegant bunting Emberiza elegans
320. Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides - P