Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
Nice, Sid. My mouth is watering for next month!
A thoroughly enjoyable trip... big, big thanks to Sid for his expertise, local knowledge, company and not least for doing all the driving.
I should add that we also saw Tibetan Wolf, Tibetan Fox, Goral, Takin, Marmot, Pikas (not sure which) and Giant Panda poo.
Mike - Tawny Fish Owl was seen by Sid and Rob only (spot-lit at Tangjiahe)
Mark - we were followed "for our protection" throughout our sojourn to the Tibetan Plateau until we got to Jiuzhaigou.
Terry
Many thanks to Roland for taking three of us (AL, PAJM, BR) around the key sites of Shaanxi and Sichuan over three weeks. We then finished our trip with 2 days in North Yunnan where Biet's laughingthrush was the main prize.
....
Dear all,
despite several attempts at various sites, I am still on the hunt for Purple Cochoa, Streaked Barwing and Blanfords rosefinch.
I know they have all been seen at Emei. Does anyone know how productive a sept/oct/nov visit would be? Could cochoas be calling? Where on Emei has Str Bw been seen?
Thanks,
jocko
As for Blanford's Rosefinch - Frank Lambert made recording of the bird, last year at Tangjiahe - Roland and Mark Maddock (McMadd) apparently had an "interesting" Rosefinch during an early spring trip to Emei - but its still a species that I've yet to fully get to grips with.
I've just returned from a 20 day trip to Qinghai, where did a Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan circle. Got nearly all the special Qinghai bird species - Tibetan Bunting, Babax, Rosefinch, Henderson's Groundjay, Blanford's, Pere David's and Henry's Snowfinches, Pink-tailed Bunting, Ala Shan Redstart, Gansu Leaf Warbler and Pallas's Sandgrouse - only big miss was Tibetan Sandgrouse - weather was a little inclement for the trudge over a 5000m high barren tabletop mountain where this bird hangs out(Erla Mountain). Doing the circle works very nicely - and brought the best views of Tibetan Gazelle, and Foxes in the NW areas of Sichuan, rather than Qinghai - plus the added extras of, Pine Buntings in Gansu, a new spot for Sichuan Jay, Calling Pere David's Owl and Chinese Serow with young.
I'll be posting up pics in a couple of weeks time.
Tried my best to string one - and I'm sure I can conjure one up in Photoshop!!!!What? No Sillem's Sid...??