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Message: <blockquote data-quote="tony.saw" data-source="post: 2453937" data-attributes="member: 3058">Day 2The next morning, we headed off from the hotel at 5:30 (it gets light just after 6:00). We had decided to head for Jerry’s friend’s village at least to talk to the people there, if not to trap one. The journey went smoothly on the new road built through the hills and we turned off on an unmade road to the village. The driver suddenly stopped at a large pile of gravel blocking the road, with others ahead. Jerry’s friend had forgotten to tell him that the next two days they were relaying the road and the way was blocked. It was possible to get to the village by another way, but it would take a few hours. After a short discussion, Jerry mentioned a research station for botanists set up between local scientists and Edinburgh University. They were studding rhododendrons, which appeared to be a habitat for the laugher. It was nearby and there was a small lake there – Wenhai Lake. Right, off we go.The road deteriorated, but we eventually arrived at an entrance. The area was fenced and the road ran down the side of the fence. We got out of the car and walked down the road. Again there were a few birds around, but no sign of Biet’s. Then, suddenly came the sound of a Laugher from the other side of the fence. Frantic activity ensued as we tried to find it. We got brief glimpses through the trees and undergrowth, but nothing good enough to identify the Laugher. We tried playing the previously taped calls, but there was no response. Was it or wasn’t it? We continued down the road with no further sign and came out near the lake. There were trees near the lake and we headed in. The unmistakable shape of a laughingthrush was spotted in the trees. We crept over so that we could see a pair and recognised the sound – Elliot’s Laughingthrush! Probably the most common on our trip! Other birds were about, including a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  It was now getting hot and bird activity was dying down, so we decided to head back to Lijiang, having lunch on the way. Had we seen the bird – we decided that we could not tick it, so had one morning left.</blockquote>

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