Grand tour of China

26th April – 19th May 2014

Leaders: James Eaton & Rob Hutchinson

Participants: Mike Goddard, Les Holliwell, Martin Lindop, Denzil Morgan, Mark Sutton, Peter and Dorothy Webster

Elliot’s Pheasant, Jiangxi © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia

This was a tour that took two years to put together; 10 internal flights, 14 provinces and 402 species starting in Heilongjiang, touching the Russian border and finishing with Lord Derby’s Parakeets at 4000m in pine-cloaked, snow-capped mountains of easternmost Tibet. We filled the bits in between with Jankowski’s Bunting, Siberian Cranes, Baer’s Pochard, Reeve’s Pheasant, Courtois’s Laughingthrush, Cabot’s Tragopan, Chinese Crested Tern, Hainan Leaf Warbler, Yunnan Nuthatch and Tibetan Eared Pheasant on this attempted mop-up this vast country. It was an exhausting but exhilarating tour that will linger long in our memories. Since the tour began in Beijing we couldn’t resist arriving a day early for a crazy 700km round twitch to Heng Shui Lake which proved extremely successful. The highlight, and our prime target, was no less than 14 Baer’s Pochards. The pochards were formerly common in East Asia but have undergone a severe decline in recent years and are now rare and critically endangered, so it was a treat to enjoy good views including displaying males, and excellent comparisons with the accompanying Ferruginous Ducks. Another treat here were several ‘Southern’ Reed Parrotbills which gave stonking views as they chomped through the roadside reed stems with their immense bills. Eastern Marsh Harrier, a smart male Rustic Bunting for some, Oriental Pratincole, White-winged Tern, and numerous Purple Herons completed a fine few hours birding before we headed back to Beijing ready for the start of the main tour.

The next morning we flew northwards into the vast agricultural plains that now cover much of Inner Mongolia but we were headed to some remnant natural grasslands which still host a few of Asia’s most range restricted species. First though we made some stops at wetland marshes where water-birds included educational comparisons of Tundra and Taiga Bean Geese, Tundra and Whooper Swans, alongside Greater White-fronted Goose, Grey-headed Lapwing, Avocet and several Falcated Duck. Flyover Pallas’s Sandgrouse and obliging roadside Chinese Grey Shrikes kept things ticking over until we reached the ‘protected area’ where we soon added Great Bustards which would number more than 20 by the day’s end, including a spectacular performance from one making himself as massive as possible as a Peregrine repeatedly dived and mobbed it. We were focussed on the natural grassland patches which are in pitifully short supply, and sadly have contributed to the Critically Endangered status of our target bird. Mongolian Lark and Asian Short-toed Lark, together with the ubiquitous Eurasian Skylark, were much in evidence and it wasn’t too long before a cracking male Jankowski’s Bunting appeared and it, then another, gave us a prolonged performance and we delighted in this delightfully striking species, alas slightly sobering experience knowing how rare the species has become. The same grassland patch also delivered excellent flight views of Japanese Quail, then the drive back to the hotel gave several roadside Daurian Partridge and a pair of adult Long-eared Owls accompanying three extremely cute, fluffy young. The next morning, we headed to a different grassland patch and again enjoyed excellent views of a male Jankowski’s Bunting, among the numerous Pallas’s Bunting and a single male Japanese Bunting. Three more flyover Pallas’s Sandgrouse rounded things off, although White-cheeked Starling was also new as we headed off. As we neared our next destination another major target appeared in roadside fields, Siberian Cranes, which ultimately gave perfect views as they soared overhead, with gleaming white plumage glowing against the clear blue skies. The palatial and aptly named ‘Siberian Crane Hotel’ greeted us, with Mandarin Duck and Eurasian Bittern in the garden, then a full afternoon exploring the nearby marshes gave a big list of water-birds, among which Eurasian Bittern, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit were new and a Little Bunting and single Reed Bunting joined the numerous Pallas’s Buntings.

Red-crowned Crane and Jankowski’s Bunting, Heilongjiang

We began the following morning with a wander through the reedbed and lakes near town, finding some fine breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebes, Chinese Penduline-tit, a striking male Pied Harrier and a singing male Bluethroat. The onward drive to Qiqihar already gave our first White-naped Crane and Oriental Stork breeding on top of a huge pylon, then our first proper birding stops gave a couple of Red-crowned Cranes and a nicely perched Bittern in a small reed patch certainly not big enough to hide it! A stunning male Amur Falcon hunting by the roadside got the afternoon off to a great start, after which we experienced the rather surreal Red-crowned Crane feeding time at Zhalong Lake while at the same time enjoying some perfectly wild White-naped Cranes and two nesting pairs of Oriental Stork in the adjacent marshlands. Further explorations found a pair of ‘Northern’ Parrotbills, although the difference from their southern compatriots which we had seen near Beijing on the first day were not striking. Both Eastern Marsh and Pied Harriers quartering nearby gave good views, a couple of Swan Geese kept their distance enough to suggest wild origin, another Amur Falcon was logged, and more than 20 Great Bitterns, many posing in the open doubled the number of this species that many of us had ever seen, and the day was topped off with a male Japanese Bunting singing from a telegraph pole wire. Nearby areas the next morning gave us some migration action with many Yellow-browed Warbler, nice views of Wryneck, Taiga Flycatcher, Little Bunting and stunning males of both Yellow-throated and the much-wanted Yellow-browed Buntings. Then it was time for the longish drive across to Harbin and a southward flight to Shanghai ready for yet more new birds the next day. In excellent weather at Dongtan the next morning our two targets were quick to appear; ‘Southern’ Reed Parrotbills were numerous and showy, although we all agreed that the differences from the ‘Northern’ birds were subtle at best. Also common were the Japanese Swamp Warblers, most of which were giving their distinctive parachuting display flights far out in the marsh but a few were called in

close for excellent views. With both in the bag we enjoyed some more migrant watching for the remainder of the morning, with the numerous buntings including several Chestnut-eared, Yellow-browed, and stunning breeding-plumaged Yellow-breasted Buntings. Also in the open fields were Japanese Quail and impeccable Pacific Golden Plovers, then some more vegetated areas held a shy Grey-backed Thrush, and a series of mega flycatchers; Asian Brown, Blue-and-white, Grey-streaked, Yellow-rumped and Narcissus Flycatcher. We finished with good views of Manchurian Bush Warbler before we were on the move again, this time flying from Shanghai to Wuhan, then a drive northwards all set to search for one of China’s most spectacular endemics, although our first birding couldn’t wait until the next morning as a Northern Boobook appeared in the guesthouse garden over dinner. At more than two meters long, the male Reeves’s Pheasant is a hugely impressive bird but in spite of its size it is not an easy bird to see! Our first morning was rather frustrating with two pheasant sightings both were only flushed and seen by a few of us each time. There were other species to keep us entertained, the best of which were some cracking Yellow-rumped Flycatchers, an Oriental Scops Owl hiding away in its nest hole, Chinese Hwamei, Rufous-faced Warbler, Meadow Bunting, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Swinhoe’s Minivet and just before lunch a singing Rufous-tailed Robin. The forest was quieter in the afternoon but we made progress on the Reeves’s quest when a female glided in and perched in a large tree, allowing more, but not all of us, good views. The next morning dawned finer and the forest was noticeably livelier. Most importantly after just a short walk along the trails we were all able to enjoy views of a male Reeves’s Pheasant slinking slowly away from us across the forest floor. With Masked Laughingthrush and Eastern Crowned Warbler also added to the trip list we were able to depart with smiles, for a long drive to our next destination of Wuyuan.

Siberian Cranes, Jilin © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia

Courtois’s Laughingthrush was considered a lost species until some excellent ornithological investigative work tracked down their breeding grounds to remnant patches of tall trees protected by local villages in this area of rural China as recently as the year 2000. Our morning here dawned rather gloomy but fortunately the laughers were easily located and gave progressively better views during the couple of hours which we spent here, culminating in stunning views as a whole group of this gregarious species raided the adjacent tea plantations for nesting material. A most unexpected highlight here was a wintering flock of at least 40 Japanese Waxwings which had decided to stick around into May, a tick for most of us, including both James and Rob! Bad weather soon set in and the lashing rain meant a Pied Falconet dip at our next stop was inevitable so we hit the road again, bound for Emeifang where we would spend our time in the coming days. Emeifang’s targets included three galliforms which were to be among the most skulking and elusive targets of the trip. Our first try for Elliot’s Pheasant on the first afternoon was a soggy affair, and although a few Silver Pheasants did venture out, the fact that flocks of Mandarin Duck were swimming around in the favoured fields was a good indication that perhaps things were a little too wet! The next morning dawned misty and cold but thankfully dry. Buffy Laughingthrush was seen well before we took to the road in search of tragopans, but more Silver Pheasants were the best we could muster so we set off on foot instead. The likes of Indochinese and Black-chinned Yuhina, Huet’s Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Grey-headed Parrotbill and White-spectacled Warbler kept things ticking over. Highlights though were two skulkers; a Rickett’s Partridge which was teased onto the roadside, before flying across twice, then settling to call on the slope below us so that everyone could get views at some stage. The other was Spotted Wren Babbler which gave stunning views, a brilliant bird anyway but of extra special interest given that it was recently found to be a monotypic family and is now known simply as Elachura. In the afternoon we tried again for Elliot’s Pheasant, this time with great success as a pair gave prolonged and unobscured views, undoubtedly one of the most stunning

birds of the trip! A superb day ended with another key target – Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler – another south-east China endemic, seen very well. We were still missing Cabot’s Tragopan so this was our main target the next morning, as we slowly cruised the forest-lined road. Our first sighting was rather frustrating as the bird was sitting in a tree that was just a little too close to the road and was disturbed before we could get looks. Undeterred we continued searching and on our second drive we finally had our prize appear by the roadside, not just one but two male tragopans which gave us almost continual views for almost an hour as they pranced around the mossy roadside forest. Thrilled with this success we made the most of the fine weather with a delightful forest walk that delivered us a singing Hartet’s Warbler (another regional endemic), besides Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Red-billed Leiothrix and more views of White-spectacled Warbler. Happy with our success we decided to head off a little earlier than planned to give extra chances at a mega rare tern that awaited us on the coast. Dawn had barely broken the next morning when we were on board small fishing boats being punted along the narrow channel leading out towards the estuary, racing against the dropping tide to avoid being stranded for several hours. The dropping tide is ideal for waders and terns and whilst waiting for the latter, we picked through the thousands of waders, mostly Turnstone, Sanderling, Red-necked Stint and Dunlin but with some very dapper breeding plumaged Spotted Redshank and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, and breeding Swinhoe’s (White-faced) Plover. After a short wait the first Greater Crested Terns and a single Gull-billed Tern appeared on the shoreline and at the same time a couple of extremely distant but clearly very pale terns were picked up. These pale terns were followed for quite some time until finally they headed our way, watched with increasing excitement, until they dropped in among the other terns before us, and we were enjoying perfect views of a pair of the critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern amongst their commoner relatives. The very pale upperparts, orange bill with clear black tip, were easily seen as they loafed, preened and displayed to one another before our eyes. Then all too soon it was time to leave, and the muddy trek back out to the boats was hardly noticed in light of the mornings birds. The nearby grasses held a single Black-browed Reed Warbler, several more Chinese Penduline-tits and several sonitans Yellow-bellied Prinia which impressed us with their distinctive vocalisations.

‘Northern’ Parrotbill, Heilongjiang and Reed Parrotbill, Shanghai

As we had succeeded so early with the terns, and the tide not ideally timed for us for a repeat visit we decided to explore Fujian a little and picked a high mountain to the south-west of Fuzhou – Shiniushan. The roadside habitat looked great, as did the bamboo cover on the summit. Unfortunately, thick mist and drizzle spoiled our time here with Chinese Babax and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush being the only two notables. We returned to Fuzhou for a late evening flight to Nanning in Guangxi province, though the delayed flight meant that we did not arrive until nearly midnight, ready for an early morning long drive. Unfortunately, our driver managed to get us lost en-route so we only arrived at Nonggang National Nature Reserve, close to the Vietnamese border by the mid-morning, and to make matters worse the access road was under construction meaning an additional 30 minute walk. Frustratingly, we encountered some rough luck here, with only James seeing the recently discovered and described Nonggang Babbler on two occasions, while the next morning it tantalised us further, hearing them at two separate sites but the difficult limestone karst terrain got the better of us. We did however encounter another speciality of the area, a singing Limestone Leaf Warbler. This species, described as recently as 2010, is only found in the karst forests here and sparsely through to central Laos. Outside the forest, nesting Crested Bunting was noted but there was little else in the intense, sweltering heat and the ever-present unnerving sound of persistent cicadas. Our next stop was the island of Hainan – the most southerly, and tropical point of China. With two full days birding to hand we were expecting to shed the disappointment of Nonggang off our backs. The first morning started well as our first birds were several Chinese Barbets – a range-restricted species endemic to southernmost China – followed by several Hainan Leaf Warblers in a mixed flock comprising largely of them and Yellow-billed Nuthatch, a welcome tick for those that had missed them on a previous trip to Vietnam. However the deafening cicada noise

throughout our stay was the worse any of us had ever encountered making it extremely difficult to even hear a bird, and consequently, they couldn’t hear us either! Other than the vocally-distinct Pale Blue Flycatchers that were both numerous and distinctive, we did not have a single bird respond to us during our entire stay – quite phenomenal! Even the Black-throated Laughingthrush, usually a vocally common bird had shut up shop. With persistence we finally tracked down Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush, another Hainanese speciality that otherwise occurs only in less accessible areas of Vietnam and Laos. Hainan Partridge was only heard the once. One of the big surprises was Blue-rumped Pitta, a male of which flushed up on to a rock, peering down at us on a couple of occasions for several seconds each time.

Limestone Leaf Warbler, Nonggang and Cabot’s Tragopan, Fujian

Moving north-west next, to the Myanmar border in northern Yunnan we centred ourselves in Lijiang for a couple of nights, and finally, after a week of pretty terrible cuisine we found comfort in the form of pizza, though whether it was truly that tasty or we had just missed more familiar food was open to debate. Lijiang has little native habitat remaining and is well-known for its historical, and very pleasant ‘old town’, which was in fact largely rebuilt 20 years ago to attract tourism to admire its narrow, lantern-lined, cobbled streets, waterways, tiny shops and multiple eateries. Our full day in the area was superb, with birds dripping from the trees in the morning. In the roadside scrub were Black-browed and Black-throated Bushtits, Kloss’s and Blyth’s Leaf Warblers, Black-faced, Bianchi’s and Marten’s Warblers, some furtive fulvettas included Spectacled, Rusty-capped and numerous White-browed and Mrs Gould’s Sunbird all appeared in feeding flocks though the highlight of the morning was the gloriously-plumed male Lady Amherst’s Pheasant that rather noisily strolled past us, so close that bins weren’t even required. In the more open areas we found Black-headed Greenfinches and also the hoped-for Moupinia, a pair of which circled and sang to us literally by our toes then noses! This Chinese endemic, restricted largely to northern Yunnan and southern-western Sichuan is a rather robust, long-tailed babbler that is more akin to a prinia in many respects, and is equally nondescript! Exploring a different habitat in the early afternoon – a poplar plantation, our first bird was a Black-breasted Thrush, the main target here, shortly followed by several Rosy Minivet and Common Rosefinch, though it took some effort (well, a lot of strolling around) before we finally found a small group of the Yunnan near-endemic Brown-winged Parrotbill feeding in some long grasses and eventually affording excellent views. With no time to waste we headed for a conifer plantation further along the road, and though it took just a couple of minutes to find the next Yunnan speciality, a pair of vocal Yunnan Nuthatch it was the small flock of Silver-throated Bushtits, a distinctive split from our familiar Long-tailed Tit, that were a bigger surprise – we didn’t realise they occurred so far south and west. Though the nuthatch has recently been found in a single locality in both India and Myanmar it remains a true northern Yunnan speciality and we enjoyed prolonged views as they chatted away just above us. A pair of Striated Prinia rounded the avian delights off before the day was ended in perfection once again – Pizza! The next morning found ourselves wandering up and down a beautiful valley in search of Biet’s Laughingthrush, a species that is in dire trouble due to habitat loss and capture for the bird-trade – and indeed we found them in cages just outside the forest. Despite a brief vocal encounter overcast conditions and a touch of precipitation shut it, and most other birds, up for the morning. We encountered much the same as the previous morning, along with Rufous-vented Niltava and higher up the valley, Black-faced and Giant Laughingthrushes, along with a welcome flock of Grey-headed Bullfinch. A final wander through the pines added an additional new species – Black-bibbed Tit before it was time for our next flight, via Chengdu to the centrepiece of the tour – Tibet.

Yunnan Nuthatch and Moupinia, Yunnan

Tibetan Eared Pheasant and Lord Derby’s Parakeet, Tibet

In 2012 four of the group were on our Tibetan plateau tour that was denied access to Lhasa, and Mark had previously visited only Qinghai, so it made the visit to Tibet that extra bit special for most of us – the relief of actually putting our feet on the Tibetan soil was immense! Typically, our flight was delayed an hour but with a fine blue sky and new birds in store our tails were up and we headed straight from the airport to a remote monastery perched high up a barren hillside – well, it was remote up until early this year. We were stunned to find that a road had been carved out and ran all the way up to the actual monastery, some 500m higher in elevation than just the previous year! Though it was disappointing to see that the sacred homes of so many Tibetans had been opened up for free access to tourists it was very welcome to drive straight up there and within five minutes we had all three of the Lhasa specialities birds within metres of us! Walking at over 4000m is not fun, so watching several Tibetan Eared Pheasants sat under bushes, trying to escape the searing midday sun was most enjoyable – they did occasionally get up, move around a little, chase each other but ultimately sat back under the bush as quick as they could. Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush was typically common though furtive, giving the photographers the run-around. A family of Giant Babax clumsily patrolled through the scrub taking a little bit longer to give us the views we had been craving. Around the monastery, Hill Pigeons cooed and Godlewski’s Buntings fidgeted around before we took a walk back down the valley – more pheasants, babax and laughingthrush were joined by some stunning Severtzov’s Tit Warblers, Alpine Leaf Warbler and hulking Streaked Rosefinches. By our bus a pair of Tibetan Partridges fed quietly and Tibetan Blackbirds, our final target here, sang away – sounding more like a Song Thrush than our garden Blackbirds. In the early evening we paid homage to one of the most iconic symbols on earth – the Potala Palace. Rising above the historic city of Lhasa it is quite magnificent, particularly in the early morning as we watched the thousands of pilgrims walk clockwise around the architectural masterpiece, some going about their daily routine, others having travelled months, even years to savour this moment. The rest of Lhasa however has turned into a construction

eye-sore so we were keen to head out in the morning, east. Our first roadside stop, by a small pool amidst the gravel extraction, to admire several displaying Goosander held the added bonus of a feeding Ibisbill – our only one of the trip – and two Pale Martin. We had a long drive today, driving 410km east, and were fascinated by the changing of habitats, with the bare, rocky hillsides that surrounded Lhasa gradually becoming more vegetated, with Ground-tits bobbing about, Sichuan Tits singing, and at a 5000m pass, both Rufous-necked and Black-winged Snowfinches. Eventually we dropped in elevation and the steep, snow-capped mountains gradually became dominated by conifer draped hillsides. Our final full day of the tour was spent in one of the scenic, conifer-dominated deep gorges, the raging torrents drowning out most of the bird-noise and at our breakfast stop we found the sole reason for being here as we came upon a small group of Lord Derby’s Parakeets also enjoying their breakfast – pine cones! Quite what a parakeet is doing at 4000m in elevation, munching on pine cones is anyone’s guess, but it was well worth the effort being here for this moment. Later in the morning, lower down we found a larger group of 12 parakeets allowing us wonderfully close views as we watched them directly above us, cracking open the cones with real force and meaning. The supporting cast was quite low, with a few notables – Yellow-billed Blue Magpies, Rufous-fronted Bushtits (a nice comparison with the Black-browed from Lijiang), Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Indian Blue Robin, Lammergeier and a flock of 15 Snow Pigeons flying over a beautiful lunch setting in a traditional Tibetan village with freshly baked Tibetan bread. A nice ending to quite an incredible tour – the only downside was that our 10th internal flight was the only one that was seriously delayed, by nearly 4 hours so some of us had some scrambling around for new international flights back home – you take the rough with the smooth on these kind of ground-breaking tours! The tour recorded a total of 402 species of which 13 were heard only. For further information on Birdtour Asia tours to the China please contact us via our e-mail or click here for our scheduled departure tours. Bird-of-the-tour 1 = Cabot’s Tragopan 2 = Elliot’s Pheasnt 3 = Reed Parrotbill 4 = Siberian Crane 5 = Courtois’s Laughingthrush

More photos from the tour

Chinese Grey Shrike and Long-eared Owl, Heilongjiang

Chinese Penduline Tit and Daurian Partridge, Heilongjiang

Limacodidae sp, Hainan and Yellow-browed Bunting, Heilongjiang

Oriental Stork and Swan Goose, Heilongjiang

Eastern Marsh Harrier and Amur Falcon, Heilongjiang

Buffy Laughingthrush and Elachura, Jiangxi

Elliot’s Pheasant and Pale Blue Flycatcher, Hainan

Black-browed Bushtit, Yunnan and Rufous-fronted Bushtit, Tibet

Black-headed Greenfinch and Black-faced Warbler, Yunnan

Black-bibbed Tit and Brown-winged Parrotbill, Yunnan

Sevetzov’s Tit Warbler and Tibetan Partridge, Tibet

Lord Derby’s Parakeet and Sichuan Tit, Tibet

Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush and Giant Babax, Tibet

Potala Palace, Tibet © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia

Systematic List

PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

'Eurasian' Great Egret Casmerodius albus

'Eastern' Great Egret Casmerodius [albus] modestus

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia intermedia

Little Egret Egretta garzetta garzetta

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

'Eastern' Cattle Egret Bubulcus [ibis] coromandus

Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris

CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Oriental Stork Ciconia boyciana

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus

Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii

Swan Goose Anser cygnoides

Tundra Bean Goose Anser [fabalis] serrirostris

Middendorff's Goose Anser [fabalis] middendorffi

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus

Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea

Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

Falcated Duck Anas falcata

Gadwall Anas strepera

Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Chinese Spot-bill Anas poecilorhyncha

Garganey Anas querquedula

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

Common Pochard Aythya ferina

Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca

Baer's Pochard Aythya baeri

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Goosander Mergus merganser

FALCONIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris

Black Kite Milvus [migrans] lineatus

Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus

Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis

Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus

Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos

Crested Goshawk Tachyspiza trivirgatus indicus

Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus nisosimilis

Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus

Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Mountain Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis nipalensis

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Amur Falcon Falco amurensis

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus japonensis

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Daurian Partridge Perdix dauurica

Tibetan Partridge Perdix hodgsoniae

Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica

Rickett's Partridge Arborophila gingica

Hainan Partridge Arborophila ardens Heard only

Chinese Bamboo Partridge Bambusicola thoracicus

Cabot's Tragopan Tragopan caboti

Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera fokiensis

Tibetan Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon harmani

Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti

Reeves' Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii

Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus karpowi

Phasianus colchicus pallasi

Phasianus colchicus decollatus

Lady Amherst's Pheasant Chrysolophus amherstiae

GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus

White-naped Crane Grus vipio

Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

GRUIFORMES: Otididae

Great Bustard Otis tarda

CHARADRIIFORMES: Ibidorhynchidae

Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae

Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius curonicus

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus nihonensis

Swinhoe's Plover Charadrius [alexandrinus] dealbatus

Siberian Plover (Lesser Sandplover) Charadrius mongolus

Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus semipalmatus

'Eastern' Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa melanuroides

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica

Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus variegatus

Little Curlew Numenius minutus

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Sanderling Ereunetes alba

Red-necked Stint Ereunetes ruficollis

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Ereunetes acuminata

Curlew Sandpiper Ereunetes ferruginea

Dunlin Ereunetes alpina

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Sternidae

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica affinis

White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida

Common Tern Sterna hirundo tibetana

Sterna hirundo longipennis

Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii

Chinese Crested Tern Thalasseus bernsteini

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris

Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota

Speckled Wood Pigeon Columba hodgsonii

Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis orientalis

Streptopelia orientalis agricola

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis

Barred Cuckoo Dove Macropygia unchall minor

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenura sphenura Heard only

Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia griseicapilla

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Lord Derby's Parakeet Psittacula derbiana

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Large Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides

Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus

Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Heard only

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Heard only

Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia erythrocampe Heard only

Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia strictonotus

Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei brodiei Heard only

Northern Boobook Ninox japonica

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jokata

Heard only APODIFORMES: Apodidae

Common Swift Apus apus

Pacific Swift Apus pacificus

Salim Ali's Swift Apus salimalii

House Swift Apus [affinis] nipalensis

Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae

Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis bengalensis

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

CORACIIFORMES: Upupidae

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

PICIFORMES: Capitonidae

Great Barbet Megalaima virens

Chinese Barbet Megalaima faber sini

PICIFORMES: Picidae

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus chinensis

Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus

Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major cabanisi

Grey-faced Woodpecker Picus canus sobrinus

Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis sinensis

PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae

Blue-rumped Pitta Hydrornis soror

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Mongolian Lark Melanocorypha mongolica

Asian Short-toed Lark Calandrella cheleensis

Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis

Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Eurasian Sand Martin Riparia riparia ijimae

Pale Sand Martin Riparia diluta fohkienensis

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris

Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus nigrimentale

Delichon dasypus cashmeriense

Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi

Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens japonicus

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus

White Wagtail Motacilla alba leucopsis

Motacilla alba ocularis alboides

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis tschutschensis

Motacilla tschutschensis simillima

Motacilla tschutschensis taivana

Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei

Black-winged Cuckooshrike Lalage melaschistos

Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus

Swinhoe's Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis

Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus

Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus fohkiensis

Pericrocotus speciosus speciosus

Pericrocotus speciosus fraterculus

Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris griseogularis

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques

Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Brown-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous

Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis sinensis

Pycnonotus sinensis hainanus

Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster

Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus pallidus

Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii holtii

Chestnut Bulbul Hemixos castanonotus

Himalayan Black Bulbul Hypsipetes l. leucocephalus

Hypsipetes leucocephalus perniger

PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae

Goldcrest Regulus regulus

PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae

Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii lazulina

PASSERIFORMES: Cinclidae

White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus

Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii

PASSERIFORMES: Prunellidae

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus

Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina Heard only

Grey-backed Thrush Turdus hortulorum

Black-breasted Thrush Turdus dissimilis

White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus

Chinese Blackbird Turdus mandarinus

Tibetan Blackbird Tudus maxima

Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus

PASSERIFORMES: Bombycillidae

Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera parumstriata

Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens rufescens

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata extensicauda

Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia sonitans sonitans

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae

Manchurian Bush Warbler Horornis canturians

Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler Horornis fortipes davidiana

Russet Bush Warbler Locustella seebohmi

Marsh Grassbird Locustella pryeri

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis

Severtzov’s Tit-Warbler Leptopoecile sophiae

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus

Alpine Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus occisinensis

Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis

Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus

Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus

Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes

Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris

Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus

Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides

Hartert's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus goodsoni

Hainan Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus hainanus

Kloss's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus ogilviegranti

Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti

Limestone Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus calciatilis

Grey-crowned Warbler Seicercus tephrocephalus

Martens's Warbler Seicercus omeiensis

Whistler's Warbler Seicercus whistleri

Bianchi's Warbler Seicercus valentini

White-spectacled Warbler Seicercus affinis intermedius

Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps

Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris

Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia

Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki

Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula hodgsonii

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata

Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina

Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus

Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara

Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus Heard only

Pale Blue Flycatcher Cyornis unicolor diaoluoensis

Rufous-tailed Robin Luscinia sibilans

Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica

Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni

White-throated Redstart Phoenicurus schisticeps

Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus

White-capped Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus

Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa

White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti

Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus stejnegeri

Saxicola maurus przewalskii

Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Amur Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone [paradisi] incei

PASSERIFORMES: Elachuridae

Elachura Elachura formosus

PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae

Masked Laughingthrush Garrulax perspicillatus

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis

Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax castanotis

Black-throated Laughingthrush Dryonastes chinensis monachus Heard only

Courtois's Laughingthrush Dryonastes courtoisi

Biet's Laughingthrush Ianthocincla bieti Heard only

Giant Laughingthrush Ianthocincla maximus

Buffy Laughingthrush Dryonastes berthemyi

Chinese Hwamei Leucodioptron canorum

White-browed Laughingthrush Pterorhinus sannio

Elliot's Laughingthrush Trochalopteron elliotii

Prince Henry's Laughingthrush Trochalopteron henrici

Black-faced Laughingthrush Trochalopteron affinis

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli Heard only

Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus gravivox

Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus swinhoei

Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis

Streaked Wren-Babbler Napothera brevicaudata

Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler Napothera epilepidota

Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps

Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps

Spot-necked Babbler Stachyris striolata

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Macronous gularis Heard only

Moupinia Chrysomma poecilotis

Chinese Babax Babax lanceolatus

Giant Babax Babax waddelli

Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea

Chestnut-tailed Minla Chrysominla strigula

White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus

Spectacled Fulvetta Fulvetta ruficapilla

Rusty-capped Fulvetta Schoeniparus dubia

Huet's Fulvetta Alcippe hueti

Black-headed Sibia Heterophasia desgodinsi

Indochinese Yuhina Yuhina torqueola

White-collared Yuhina Yuhina diademata

Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis

Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta

PASSERIFORMES: Paradoxornithidae

Grey-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus gularis

Vinous-throated Parrotbill Sinornis webbianus

Brown-winged Parrotbill Sinornis brunneus

Reed Parrotbill Paradoxornis heudei

'Northern' Reed Parrotbill Paradoxornis [heudei] polivanovi

PASSERIFORMES: Panuridae

Bearded Reedling Panurus biarmicus

PASSERIFORMES: Aegithalidae

Silver-throated Bushtit Aegithalos [caudatus] glaucogularis

Black-throated Bushtit Aegithalos concinnus

Black-browed Bushtit Aegithalos bonvaloti

Rufous-fronted Bushtit Aegithalos iouschistos

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Black-bibbed Tit Poecile hypermelaenus

Sichuan Tit Poecile weigoldicus

Yellow-bellied Tit Pardaliparus venustulus

Japanese Tit Parus minor minor

Parus minor tibetanus

Parus minor commixtus

Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus

Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus

Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea

Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis

PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Yunnan Nuthatch Sitta yunnanensis

Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae

PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae

Chinese Penduline-Tit Remiz consobrinus

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae

Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae

Fork-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga christinae

PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae

Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectum

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae

Chestnut-flanked White-eye Zosterops erythropleurus

Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus

Chinese Grey Shrike Lanius sphenocercus

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris

Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha

Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae

Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus nigra

Eurasian Magpie Pica pica sericea

Pica pica bottanensis

Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauuricus

'Eastern' Rook Corvus frugilegus pastinator

Carrion Crow Corvus corone orientalis

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos colonorum

Corvus macrorhynchos mandschuricus

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus

Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis

Red-billed Starling Sturnus sericeus

White-cheeked Starling Sturnus cineraceus

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Black-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla adamsi

Rufous-necked Snowfinch Montifringilla ruficollis

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata

PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Brandt's Mountain-Finch Leucosticte brandti

Crimson-browed Finch Pinicola subhimachala

Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus

Pink-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus eos

Chinese White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus dubius

Streaked Rosefinch Carpodacus rubicilloides

Black-headed Greenfinch Carduelis ambigua

Oriental Greenfinch Carduelis sinica

Grey-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca

PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae

Crested Bunting Melophus lathami

Godlewski's Bunting Emberiza godlewskii

Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides

Jankowski's Bunting Emberiza jankowskii

Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata

Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla

Yellow-browed Bunting Emberiza chrysophrys

Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans

Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala

Pallas's Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi pallasi

Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

Japanese Reed Bunting Emberiza yessoensis

Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica

PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidea

Blyth's Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius aeralatus

Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca

Mammals

Daurian Ground Squirrel Spermophilus dauricus

Pallas's Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus

Swinhoe's Striped Squirrel Tamiops maritimus

Yunnan Hare Lepus yunnanensis

Siberian Cranes, Jilin © James Eaton / Birdtour Asia

The tour recorded a total of 402 species of which 13 were heard only. For further information on Birdtour Asia tours to the China please contact us via our e-mail or click here for our scheduled departure tours.