This was a succesful trip, and Nollie and I had a great time with our guide and driver Sid Francis. Sid is from the UK but lives near Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. He is a serious and enthousiastic birder (employed in field research as well), a good driver, and skilful in logistics. He speaks enough Chinese to bring you anywhere, and where his Chinese was not sufficient, he just took his mobile phone to call his Chinese wife Meggie to have things sorted out. See his http://sichuanbirding.cloudaccess.net/. He used his own Suzuki van, with untinted windows (a rarity here but much better for birding of course), good ground clearance and ample space for our luggage and scope.

We had a flexible itinerary, so we could decide where to go depending on the weather (which was rather variable) and the road conditions, and depending on what bird species (lifers) we still needed. The highlights we saw were, among others, Severtzov's (Chinese) Grouse, Chinese Monal, Lady Amherst Pheasant, White and Blue Eared Pheasant, Black-necked Crane, Sichuan Jay, Chinese and Kessler's Thrush, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Firethroat, White-bellied, Hodgson's and White-throated Redstart, Przewalski's Nuthatch, Sichuan and Hodgson's Treecreeper, White-browed Tit, Russet and Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Crested and White-browed Tit-Warbler, Sichuan, Gansu, Chinese and Emei Leaf Warbler, Plain, Snowy-cheeked, Giant and Red-winged Laughingthrush, Hwamei, Emei Shan Liocichla, Golden-breasted, Chinese and Spectacled Fulvetta, Great, Ashy-throated, Grey-hooded, Fulvous and Golden Parrotbill, Tibetan Lark, Tibetan and Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Tibetan Siskin, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Long-tailed, Vinaceous and Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Slaty Bunting; Tibetan Fox and Pallas's Cat.

Hotels and restaurants were easy to find. We opted for hotels close to the birding sites, which means that they were sometimes a bit simpler than better hotels further away, but always with private bathroom with hot shower, for c. 10 euro to sometimes 30 euro per room (mostly around 15 euro). We preferred to eat in simple but busy restaurants, and never had any stomach problems. In the restaurants we often went straight to the kitchen to see what food they had, and we mostly had delicious tofu dishes with vegetables and rice and a beer, in total for 2 to 3 euro p.p. For the early breakfast we brought some bread and jam etc. into our room (nearly all rooms had water cookers to make tea), or had breakfast in the field. For lunch we sometimes had a meal in a restaurant, but often we had a bread lunch in the field.

Birding and driving went on for most of the daylight hours. We used our telescope quite a few times (for pheasants, raptors etc.), but we chose not to bring it on forest trails. Sid had brought all the essential bird sounds, for reference and for taping out, and he also used his recording equipment. Of course we used the MacKinnon & Phillipps field guide, and Sid could tell us which illustrations are not fully right, at least for Sichuan. Also, he knows the recent splits. We also used Mark Brazil’s Birds of Eastern Asia, which had better illustrations for some of the species. Every evening we did a roll-call for the checklist, together with Sid.

For our birding localities, see the Sichuan map below and the birding sites photo section. Our  itinerary was:

Day 1-3 Wolong hills (+ lower half of Wuyipeng mountain) and Balang pass.
Best trip ticks (all seen): Chinese Monal, Snow Partridge, White Eared Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Lammergeier, White-throated Needletail, Swinhoe's Minivet, Kessler's Thrush, Firethroat, Grandala, Sichuan Tit, Collared Finchbill, Alpine, Chinese, Claudia's and Kloss's Leaf Warbler, Bianchi's Warbler, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Rosy Pipit, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Plain and Brandt's Mountain Finch, White-browed and Red-fronted Rosefinch, Collared Grosbeak.
Day 1. We changed all the money we needed at the airport after arrival (Bank of China). This is the easiest place to change money without filling in a pile of paperwork. From the airport we drove to Wolong (ca 4 hrs drive). Arrived in afternoon, and went for a short walk to the lower part of the Wuyipeng trail. Next morning early (day 2) we went to Balang pass, in splendid weather (that's why we went there as quick as possible after our arrival in China). Second half of afternoon Wuyipeng trail and above Wolong. Day 3, whole morning on lower part of Wuyipeng trail. Afternoon drive to Chengdu, stay in Holly’s Hostel.

Day 4-5 driving and birding via Juizhaigou (JZ) to Ruoergai high plateau.
Best trip ticks: Black-necked Crane, Pallas's Gull, Collared Crow, Groundpecker, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Himalayan Bluetail, White-throated, Hodgson's and Daurian Redstart, Dusky, Yellow-streaked, Buff-throated and Rufous-faced Warbler, Plain, Elliott's and Black-faced Laughingthrush, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Tibetan Snowfinch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Tibetan Siskin, Beautiful and Pink-rumped (Stresemann's) Rosefinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Godlewski's Bunting.
Day 4: after good breakfast at Holly's drove to JZ. After the highway we made many stops when good birds were seen. Lunch in Pingwu, visit to the old temple on our request (and we were the only visitors). Night at JZ. Next morning (day 5): rain and fog. Decided not to go into JZ, but drive on to Ruoergai. Along the road stops at the productive ‘quarry track’ (rainy) and many stops on the snowy pass to look at birds along the road. Stay at Ruoergai. 

Day 6-8 Ruoergai and Baxi valley, and drive to JZ.
Best trip ticks: Blood Pheasant, Chinese (Severtzov's) Grouse, Blue Eared Pheasant, Black Woodpecker, Little Owl, Himalayan Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Sichuan Jay, Short-billed Minivet, Siberian Rubythroat, Daurian (Purple-backed) Starling, Przevalski's Nuthatch, Wallcreeper, Hodgson's Treecreeper, White-browed, Rufous-vented and Grey-crested Tit, Yellow-bellied and Spotted Bush Warbler, Sichuan and Gansu Leaf Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, Snowy-cheeked and Giant Laughingthrush, Chinese Fulvetta, Tibetan Lark, White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Citrine Wagtail calcarata, White-winged Grosbeak, Pallas's Cat (!), Tibetan Fox.
Day 6: morning to Baxi road, birding along road and in bushy side valley. Also short visit to monastery, on our request. Afternoon: driving westwards from Ruoergai to Flower Lake (we chose not to take the ridiculous drive in a 4WD with tinted windows to the FlowerLake proper, but instead walk from the main road into even better Tibetan Lark habitat). Day 7: most of the day in Baxi valley, now also higher up into the coniferous forest. Day 8: morning drive westward to the ‘First Bend in the Yellow River’, afternoon drive to JZ, dusk walk on ‘quarry track’ again, late arrival in JZ.

Day 9-11: JZ to Pingwu to Ya'an to Wawu hills.
Best trip ticks: Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon, Chinese Sparrowhawk, Brown Dipper, (Chinese) Blackbird, Chinese (Song) Thrush, Dark-sided, Ferruginous, Yellow-rumped and Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Little Forktail, Yellow-bellied Tit, Brown-flanked and Russet Bush Warbler, Eastern Crowned and Emei Leaf Warbler, Hwamei, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Red-billed Leiothrix, Spectacled and Dusky Fulvetta, White-collared Yuhina, Ashy-throated and Golden Parrotbill, Forest Wagtail, Long-tailed and Vinaceous Rosefinch, Slaty, Black-faced and Elegant (Yellow-throated) Bunting.
Day 9: rain again! So skipped a visit to the JZ park again. Birding at many stops along the road to Pingwu. Side road to Monkey park for the first km, and further on the main road several stops on the forested pass West. Night in Pingwu. Day 10: morning visit to forest park above Pingwu town, and to the famous market hall. Driving for most of the rest of the day, short walk uphill after lunch. Night in Ya’an. Day 11: drive to Wawu, many stops along road: scenic side valley with stream, side track uphill, veggie gardens along forest, end of afternoon birding lower part Wawu and along the road to cable car. Dusk drive to find tragopan and Lady A Pheasant. Stay at one of the cottages near lower cable car station.

Day 12-14 Wawu and back to Chengdu; departure on day 15.
Best trip ticks: Lady Amherst Pheasant (males), Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo, Oriental Pratincole, Grey-headed Lapwing, Long-billed Plover, Grey-faced Buzzard, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Golden Bush Robin, White-bellied Redstart, Sichuan Treecreeper, Chestnut-crowned, Aberrant and Brown Bush Warbler, Spotted, Buffy and Red-winged Laughingthrush, Emei Shan Liocichla, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Chinese Babax, Grey-hooded Fulvetta, Great, Brown, Grey-hooded and Fulvous Parrotbill, Yellow-billed Grosbeak.
Day 12 Dawn drive for Lady A pheasant, then to Wawu top forest, still many visitors because of public holiday, found one quiet trail, afternoon drive down for bush-warblers and pheasants, stay in same room. Day 13 dawn pheasant drive, again to top forest, late afternoon along road. Day 14 morning birding along road, then drive back to Chengdu via Long-billed Plover site. Stay at Holly’s again. Day 15, some shopping at electronics mall Computer World together with Sid and Meggie (thanks Meggie for bargaining for us!) to buy some extra birdsound equipment etc. Final checklist in restaurant in departure hall.

So, we traded the extremely busy Juizhaigou national park in for other, lower birding sites nearby as the weather happened to be too rainy and misty at both days we were in JZ. We probably even got more lifers this way.

On this 15-day well-guided private trip we observed 258 bird species of which 116 were lifers (seen). As we mainly went for lifers, we occasionally skipped possible trip ticks which would take a long time. See the complete species list below. See also comments at the birding site photos and our modest bird photos. Listen to some sound recordings below the species list.

Apart from birds we keep many other nice memories of China and the Chinese. See the section with other photos. It was a pleasure to be there.

For a larger view of this list, click here.

Pingwu temple

           Severtzov's Grouse *    Bx     d   Tetrastes sewerzowi        Chinese Grouse (~Hazelhen), in bushy side valley
               Snow Partridge *    Bl     d   Lerwa lerwa                on crest of mountain ridge
 (Verreaux's Monal-Partridge)     Bl h    d   Tetraophasis obscurus      Chestnut-throated Partridge
           (Tibetan Snowcock)     Bl h    d   Tetraogallus tibetanus     before pass in snowy side valley
   (Chinese Bamboo Partridge)   Ch>Wa h   d   Bambusicola thoracicus     at a ruined river bed with some remaining gardens
               Blood Pheasant *    Bx     d   Ithaginis cruentus         close views in half open woodland
        (Temminck's Tragopan)     Wu h    d   Tragopan temminckii        heard Wuyipeng far above us
                Chinese Monal *    Bl     d   Lophophorus lhuysii        within 5 minutes after arrival, on grassland slope
         White Eared Pheasant *    Bl     d   Crossoptilon crossoptilon  same slope as Monal, group of c. 5
          Blue Eared Pheasant *    Bx     d   Crossoptilon auritum       4 on small arable fields opposite valley side
              Common Pheasant    JZ>Ru  ddddd Phasianus colchicus        the dark form (no collar): suehchanensis
            (Golden Pheasant)    Wo h     dd  Chrysolophus pictus        sev heard Wolong and Wuyipeng trails
      Lady Amherst's Pheasant *    Wa    ddd  Chrysolophus amherstiae    3 males on road
                Greylag Goose      Ru     d   Anser anser
             Bar-headed Goose      Ru     d   Anser indicus
               Ruddy Shelduck      Ru    dddd Tadorna ferruginea
                      Mallard     >JZ    ddd  Anas platyrhynchos
             Common Merganser    JZ>Ru    dd  Mergus merganser
                 Little Grebe      Wo     dd  Tachybaptus ruficollis
    Black-crowned Night Heron    Wo>Ch   dddd Nycticorax nycticorax
           Chinese Pond Heron    Ch>Wo  ddddd Ardeola bacchus            in rice fields etc.
         Eastern Cattle Egret    Ch>JZ  ddddd Bubulcus coromandus        with yak cattle
                   Grey Heron    Wa>JZ    d   Ardea cinerea
                 Little Egret    Ch>JZ  ddddd Egretta garzetta
            Cinereous Vulture      Ru     dd  Aegypius monachus
             Black-eared Kite *    Ru    dddd Milvus lineatus            when split from Black Kite (not in IOC yet)
              Bearded Vulture      Bl    ddd  Gypaetus barbatus          Lammergeier,  several, closeby sometimes
            Himalayan Vulture      Ru   ddddd Gyps himalayensis          small and large groups
          Chinese Sparrowhawk *   >Wa     dd  Accipiter soloensis        chasing prey closeby & on wire, near Ya'an; also Wawu
         Eurasian Sparrowhawk      Wo     dd  Accipiter nisus
           Grey-faced Buzzard      Wa     d   Butastur indicus           lower part Wawu, last morning
            Himalayan Buzzard *    Bx    ddd  Buteo refectus             several in forest of Baxi road
               Upland Buzzard      Bl    dddd Buteo hemilasius           sev. along road from Ruoergai to Yellow River
                 Golden Eagle      Bl    ddd  Aquila chrysaetos          above ridge crests
               Eurasian Hobby      Ru     d   Falco subbuteo             1 on small electr. pole, see photo
                 Saker Falcon      Ru     d   Falco cherrug              sev. before and around Flower Lake
             Peregrine Falcon    Wo>Ch    d   Falco peregrinus
               Common Moorhen      JZ     d   Gallinula chloropus
           Black-necked Crane *    Ru    ddd  Grus nigricollis           sev. small family groups (2-3) on grasslands Tib. plateau
          Grey-headed Lapwing    Wa>Ch    d   Vanellus cinereus          just before Chengdu, from the highway
           Long-billed Plover *  Hr, Ch   d   Charadrius placidus        in river bed Huangya & at river park Chengdu
              Common Redshank      Ru    ddd  Tringa totanus
          Oriental Pratincole      Hr     d   Glareola maldivarum        above river Huangya
            Brown-headed Gull      Ru    ddd  Chroicocephalus brunnicephaon the grassy plains
                Pallas's Gull    JZ>Ru    d   Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus    Greater Black-headed Gull, near Ruoergai town
               Whiskered Tern      Ru     dd  Chlidonias hybrida
                  Snow Pigeon *    Wo     dd  Columba leuconota          higher on slopes, in flight & rest
         Speckled Wood Pigeon *    Wu     dd  Columba hodgsonii          in open part of Wuyipeng slope
         Oriental Turtle Dove      Ru   ddddd Streptopelia orientalis
              Red Turtle Dove      Wo    ddd  Streptopelia tranquebarica
                 Spotted Dove      Wo     dd  Stigmatopelia chinensis
    Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon      Wa    ddd  Treron sphenurus           a few flying halfway Wawu road, etc.
                   Asian Koel     >Wa   ddddd Eudynamys scolopaceus      sev. heard, one seen flying
            Large Hawk-Cuckoo *  Ch>Pi  ddddddHierococcyx sparverioides  often heard,  seen along road to Pingwu and at Wawu
        Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo *  Wa(N)   ddd  Hierococcyx nisicolor      sev. heard near top Wawu road, briefly seen 1 morning
                Lesser Cuckoo *   >Wa   ddddddCuculus poliocephalus      many heard, twice seen while calling, hence tickable
             Himalayan Cuckoo *    Wt   ddddddCuculus saturatus          Oriental Cuckoo (Du. Boskoekoek), many heard, seen Wt
                Common Cuckoo      Ru   ddddddCuculus canorus            remarkably common in very open terrain on Tib. plateau
                   Little Owl      Ru     d   Athene noctua              a few on wires along the road to Yellow River
           Himalayan Swiftlet      Wo    ddd  Aerodramus brevirostris    together with the needletails
    White-throated Needletail *    Wo    ddd  Hirundapus caudacutus      seen well below and above, big!
            Fork-tailed Swift      Wo   ddddd Apus pacificus             Pacific Swift (Du. Sib. Gierzwaluw)
                  House Swift      Wo     d   Apus nipalensis            also together with the needletails
      Black-capped Kingfisher    Wo>Ch    dd  Halcyon pileata
              Eurasian Hoopoe      Wo     d   Upupa epops
     Great Spotted Woodpecker      Bx     dd  Dendrocopos major
(Euras. Three-toed Woodpecker)    Wt h    d   Picoides tridactylus       its specific drumming is unmistakable
             Black Woodpecker      Bx     d   Dryocopus martius          a pair seen and heard, in coniferous forest
       Grey-headed Woodpecker     >Wa     dd  Picus canus                a few heard, one seen by N only
            Swinhoe's Minivet    Wo>Ch    d   Pericrocotus cantonensis   at small arable field with gardens at quake victims camp
          Long-tailed Minivet      Wo    ddd  Pericrocotus ethologus
         Short-billed Minivet      Bx     dd  Pericrocotus brevirostris  in coniferous forest along the road
                 Tiger Shrike    Wo>Ch    d   Lanius tigrinus
                 Brown Shrike    Wo>Ch   dddd Lanius cristatus
           Long-tailed Shrike    Ch>Wo   ddd  Lanius schach
           Grey-backed Shrike      Wo   ddddddLanius tephronotus         very common
           Black-naped Oriole    Pi>Ch    dd  Oriolus chinensis          short woodland hill stroll as a break during the driving
                 Black Drongo      Bx    ddd  Dicrurus macrocercus
              Spangled Drongo     >Wa     dd  Dicrurus bracteatus
                  Sichuan Jay *    Bx     d   Perisoreus internigrans    5 birds at 20 m in coniferous trees high in Baxi valley
                 Eurasian Jay     >Wa     dd  Garrulus glandarius
          Azure-winged Magpie *    Ru    ddd  Cyanopica cyanus           (Iberian now split), small groups at bushes, settlements
       Red-billed Blue Magpie      Wo   ddddddUrocissa erythrorhyncha
              Eurasian Magpie    Wo>JZ    dd  Pica pica
            Red-billed Chough      Ru    dddd Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
                Alpine Chough      Bl     d   Pyrrhocorax graculus
              Daurian Jackdaw *    Ru    dddd Coloeus dauuricus          along the roads near Ruoergai
                 Carrion Crow      Wo   ddddddCorvus corone
                Collared Crow *  Pi>JZ    dd  Corvus torquatus           at small river along the road
            Large-billed Crow    Wo>Ch    dd  Corvus macrorhynchos
               Northern Raven      Ru     d   Corvus corax
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher     >JZ   ddddd Culicicapa ceylonensis
                  Sichuan Tit *  Bl, Bx  dddd Poecile weigoldicus        when split from Willow>Songar Tit, see photo
             White-browed Tit *    Bx     d   Poecile superciliosus      at erosion gully when entering Baxi valley
            Rufous-vented Tit *    Bx    dddd Periparus rubidiventris    commonest tit in coniferous forests, also Wawu
                     Coal Tit      Wt     dd  Periparus ater
           Yellow-bellied Tit *  JZ>Pi   ddd  Periparus venustulus       at one of the short stops along the river E of JZ
             Grey Crested Tit *    Bx     d+  Lophophanes dichrous       in tit group in coniferous forest higher up in Baxi valley
                    Great Tit      Bx    ddd  Parus major
             Green-backed Tit      Pi   ddddddParus monticolus
                 Groundpecker *    Ru    ddd  Parus humilis              common on drier soil of Tibetan plateau
                 Tibetan Lark *    Ru     dd  Melanocorypha maxima       in moist grassland near Flower Lake, singing & displaying
             Oriental Skylark    JZ>Ru   ddd  Alauda gulgula
                  Horned Lark    JZ>Ru   ddd  Eremophila alpestris       many on drier areas of Tibetan Plateau
           Collared Finchbill *    Ch   ddddddSpizixos semitorques       many along the road, often together with other bulbuls
        Brown-breasted Bulbul      Wo    dddd Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
          Light-vented Bulbul *    Ch   ddddd Pycnonotus sinensis        our first lifer (as predicted by Sid), near airport
                 Black Bulbul     >Wa     dd  Hypsipetes leucocephalus   here all with whitish hood
                  Sand Martin     >Ch     dd  Riparia riparia
                 Barn Swallow     >Ch    ddd  Hirundo rustica
         Eurasian Crag Martin      Wo     dd  Ptyonoprogne rupestris
           Asian House Martin      Wo   ddddddDelichon dasypus
           Red-rumped Swallow     >Ch   ddddd Cecropis daurica           commoner than Barn Swallow
   Brown-flanked Bush Warbler    JZ>Pi  ddddddCettia fortipes            singing many bushy places; first at road to Monkey park
Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler *    Wt     d   Cettia major               in bamboo understorey of Top forest Wawu; lifer for Sid
        Aberrant Bush Warbler      Wt     dd  Cettia flavolivacea        many calling in bamboo thickets Wawu Top
  Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler *    Bx   ddddd Cettia acanthizoides       funny song, 1st taped out on bushy slope of side valley
         Rufous-faced Warbler *   >JZ    dddd Abroscopus albogularis     1st seen in tall bamboo across stream along road
       Black-throated Bushtit      Ch     dd  Aegithalos concinnus       roof terrace of Holly Hostel Chengdu, and river park
     White-browed Tit-warbler *    Bl     dd  Leptopoecile sophiae       on the other side of the pass in low shrubs left of road
          Crested Tit-warbler *    Bx     d   Leptopoecile elegans       near the pass in fir forest, in large flock of tits etc.
                Dusky Warbler    JZ>Ru    d   Phylloscopus fuscatus      a patch of scrub at a section of disused road
          Alpine Leaf Warbler *    Bl    ddd  Phylloscopus occisinensis  (split fom Tickell's), always above the tree line
        Buff-throated Warbler *    JZ     dd  Phylloscopus subaffinis    at quarry track W of JZ
      Yellow-streaked Warbler *  JZ>Ru   dddd Phylloscopus armandii      first in low bushes on snowy pass from JZ to Ruoergai
          Buff-barred Warbler      Wo   ddddddPhylloscopus pulcher       often flitting around, showing white outer tail
           Gansu Leaf Warbler *    Bx     d   Phylloscopus kansuensis    in upper part of Chinese Grouse side valley, call&closeby
         Chinese Leaf Warbler *    Wo    dddd Phylloscopus yunnanensis   first on Wuyipeng trail
          Hume's Leaf Warbler      Wo    ddd  Phylloscopus humei         first on Wuyipeng trail
             Greenish Warbler      Wo   ddddddPhylloscopus trochiloides  many heard & seen often while looking at other warblers
    Large-billed Leaf Warbler      Wo   ddddddPhylloscopus magnirostris  often heard, a few times seen well & singing (Wawu)
      Eastern Crowned Warbler      Pi     d   Phylloscopus coronatus     Pingwu forest park
       Claudia's Leaf Warbler *    Wu    ddd  Phylloscopus claudiae      alternate wing flicking & song Wuyipeng trail
            Emei Leaf Warbler *    Wa    ddd  Phylloscopus emeiensis     Wawu road, upper part
         Kloss's Leaf Warbler *    Wu     d   Phylloscopus ogilviegranti simultaneous wing flicking, middle part of lower Wu trail
         Sichuan Leaf Warbler *    Bx     d   Phylloscopus forresti      conif forest (at Black Wp pair), singing and responding
            Bianchi's Warbler *    Wu   ddddd Seicercus valentini        many seen & heard
            Martens's Warbler *    Wa     d   Seicercus omeiensis        while crawling in bamboo for Golden Pbill, Wawu rd upper 
         Spotted Bush Warbler *    Bx    ddd  Bradypterus thoracicus     second time quarry track, right at stream, at dusk, song!
           Brown Bush Warbler *    Wt     d   Bradypterus luteoventris   open bamboo area, song and (briefly,J) seen
          Russet Bush Warbler *    Wa    dddd Bradypterus mandelli       well seen & heard in lower Wawu park, in bend of road
            (Striated Prinia)   Pi>Wa h   d   Prinia crinigera
                 Plain Prinia      Hr     d   Prinia inornata            in scope from bridge at Huangya
Black-streakd ScimitarBabbler *    JZ    ddd  Pomatorhinus gravivox      at dump near JZ, making rounds around us
Streak-breasted ScimitarBabbl *    Wu     d   Pomatorhinus ruficollis    seen near long opening in slope forest
(Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler)     Wa h    d   Pnoepyga albiventer
           Pygmy Wren-Babbler      Wa     dd  Pnoepyga pusilla           surprisingly easily seen after playback along road
                Chinese Babax *    Wa    ddd  Babax lanceolatus          only seen well on the last occasion, group near road
         Plain Laughingthrush *  JZ>Ru   dddd Garrulax davidi            at shrine on snowy pass
 Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush *  Bx(N)    d   Garrulax sukatschewi       in bottom of Baxi valley, heard long time
      (Barred Laughingthrush)     Wo h    dd  Garrulax lunulatus
         Giant Laughingthrush *    Bx    ddd  Garrulax maximus           see photo, easily seen feeding on grass of side valley
       Spotted Laughingthrush      Wa    ddd  Garrulax ocellatus         popped up when we just checked the sound, see photo
         Buffy Laughingthrush *    Wa     dd  Garrulax berthemyi         (split fr Rusty), group seen well (belly, eyepatch) &call
               Chinese Hwamei *   >Wa    ddd  Garrulax canorus           showing very well along stream of forktails
  White-browed Laughingthrush *    Ch   ddddd Garrulax sannio            easiest seen on last day in river park
      Elliot's Laughingthrush *   >JZ   ddddddGarrulax elliotii          commonest laugher but only seen well after a few days
   Black-faced Laughingthrush *   >JZ    ddd  Garrulax affinis           along 'pipeline trail'
    Red-winged Laughingthrush *    Wa    ddd  Garrulax formosus          heard and finally seen Wawu upper part of road
          Emei Shan Liocichla *    Wa    dddd Liocichla omeiensis        singing loud, brief views (N better)
         Red-billed Leiothrix     >Wa     dd  Leiothrix lutea            side track walk
     Golden-breasted Fulvetta *    Wu     dd  Alcippe chrysotis          at 1 m around us while walking back Wu trail
             Chinese Fulvetta *    Bx     d   Alcippe striaticollis      up in small tree in side valley with prickly oak
          Spectacled Fulvetta *    JZ     d   Alcippe ruficapilla        at dump of JZ
         Grey-hooded Fulvetta *    Wt     dd  Alcippe cinereiceps        in bushes of top forest, a few
               Dusky Fulvetta *   >Wa     d   Alcippe brunnea            at steep uphill track open woodland
        White-collared Yuhina *   JZ>   ddddd Yuhina diademata           several, often well exposed
             Great Parrotbill *    Wt    ddd  Conostoma oemodium         sev seen well in top forest, one sunbathing (photo)
             Brown Parrotbill *  Wt(J)    d   Paradoxornis unicolor      over trail in open bamboo area: all warm brown & heard
   Vinous-throated Parrotbill *  Wo>Ch   ddd  Paradoxornis webbianus     along river, late afternoon; also rd to Monkey park
     Ashy-throated Parrotbill *    Wa     d   Paradoxornis alphonsianus  at steep uphill track open woodland, several
       Grey-hooded Parrotbill *    Wt     d   Paradoxornis zappeyi       crossed trail after open bamboo area
           Fulvous Parrotbill *    Wt     d   Paradoxornis fulvifrons    common, cute, quick in low bamboo, some at 1 m!
            Golden Parrotbill *    Wa     d   Paradoxornis verreauxi     during crawl in bamboo side gully upper Wawu road
   Chestnut-flanked White-eye      Pi     d   Zosterops erythropleurus   forest park Pingwu town
           Japanese White-eye      Pi     dd  Zosterops japonicus        forest park Pingwu town
                  Winter Wren      Bx     dd  Troglodytes troglodytes    a few heard, one seen
     Chestnut-vented Nuthatch      Wt     d   Sitta nagaensis
        Przevalski's Nuthatch *    Bx     dd  Sitta przewalskii          split from White-cheeked N.; in mixed forest near stream
                  Wallcreeper      Bx     d   Tichodroma muraria         along road
        Hodgson's Treecreeper *    Bx     dd  Certhia hodgsoni           in the fir trees at eye level, song; see photo
          Sichuan Treecreeper *    Wt     d   Certhia tianquanensis      many heard and several seen in the fir trees
                 Crested Myna *    Ch    dddd Acridotheres cristatellus  common at habitations
          Red-billed Starling *    Hr     dd  Spodiopsar sericeus        Silky Starling; best seen from bridge, flying across river
       White-cheeked Starling *-N  Hr     dd  Spodiopsar cineraceus      characteristic pattern from above in flight, from bridge
             Daurian Starling *    Ru     d   Agropsar sturninus         Purple-backed Starling, nesting at pole in town; lifer f Sid
        Blue Whistling Thrush      Wo   ddddddMyophonus caeruleus        many seen at road during search for LA pheasant
         (Long-tailed Thrush)     Wo h    d   Zoothera dixoni
             Common Blackbird      Pi    ddd  Turdus merula              few seen, is subsp. mandarinus: Chinese Blackbird
              Chestnut Thrush *    Wo   ddddddTurdus rubrocanus          often (and first) seen on wire near woodland
             Kessler's Thrush *    Bl    ddd  Turdus kessleri            small groups above tree line
               Chinese Thrush *  JZ>Pi    d   Turdus mupinensis          Chinese Song Thrush, singing in fir top near pass
          Siberian Rubythroat    Ru>JZ    d   Luscinia calliope          in bushy terrain between road and river, territorial
                   Firethroat *    Wu     d   Luscinia pectardens        at 1 m above us in tree while we sat on the  trail
            Indian Blue Robin      Wu    dddd Luscinia brunnea           same trail as Firethroat but lower on slope
           Himalayan Bluetail *    Bx    ddd  Tarsiger rufilatus         split fr Red-fl Bluetail; same spot as Prz Nuthatch
            Golden Bush Robin      Wt     dd  Tarsiger chrysaeus         seen on trail between bamboo undergrowth, female and male
        Oriental Magpie-Robin     >JZ    dddd Copsychus saularis         not common, e.g. at temple of Pingwu
               Black Redstart    JZ>Ru   dddd Phoenicurus ochruros       more often near rocks than on buildings
           Hodgson's Redstart *    Bx    ddd  Phoenicurus hodgsoni       first a female JZ>Ru (photo), male along Baxi road
      White-throated Redstart *    JZ    dddd Phoenicurus schisticeps    quarry track, later also on wires etc.
             Daurian Redstart *-N  Pi    dddd Phoenicurus auroreus       on temple roof in Pingwu town
        Blue-fronted Redstart   Bl, JZ>R ddd  Phoenicurus frontalis      near the pass of Balang; open end of quarry track
       White-bellied Redstart *    Wt     d   Hodgsonius phaenicuroides  Wawu (Sid's stake-out)
     Plumbeous Water Redstart      Wo   ddddddRhyacornis fuliginosa      common in streams
        White-capped Redstart      Wo   ddddddChaimarrornis leucocephalusWhite-capped Water Redstart
                     Grandala *    Bl     dd  Grandala coelicolor        first at Balang (photo), group during snow >Ruoergai
              Little Forktail     >Wa     d   Enicurus scouleri          3-4 pairs in beautiful forest stream before Wawu
        Slaty-backed Forktail     >Wa     d   Enicurus schistaceus       a few in same stream as Little Forktail
           Siberian Stonechat    JZ>Ru    dd  Saxicola maurus            along the road, not many
               Grey Bush Chat     >Wa     d   Saxicola ferreus           once only
             Blue Rock Thrush     >JZ     dd  Monticola solitarius       sev. during ascent of mountain area from Chengdu basin
        Dark-sided Flycatcher *  JZ>Pi    dd  Muscicapa sibirica         seen well in woodland Monkey park rd
    Brown-breasted Flycatcher      Pi     d   Muscicapa muttui           forest park Pingwu town
       Ferruginous Flycatcher    JZ>Pi    dd  Muscicapa ferruginea       trail from S-bend in road, near stream
     Yellow-rumped Flycatcher *    Pi     d   Ficedula zanthopygia       in trees across stream near old houses
      Slaty-backed Flycatcher *  JZ>Ru  ddddd Ficedula hodgsonii         open spot at end of quarry track
   Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher      Wt     dd  Ficedula strophiata        in fir trees, reddish gorget seen
          Verditer Flycatcher      Wa     dd  Eumyias thalassinus        along road & along cable lift
      Chinese Blue Flycatcher *   >Wa     d   Cyornis glaucicomans       split fr Blue-throated Flyc.; loud singing dark plantation L
                 Brown Dipper    JZ>Pi    dd  Cinclus pallasii           at streams, twice
         Mrs. Gould's Sunbird      Wo    ddd  Aethopyga gouldiae         seen a few only
               Russet Sparrow    Wo>JZ    dd  Passer rutilans            at habitations
        Eurasian Tree Sparrow      Wo   ddddddPasser montanus            often, but not many
                 Rock Sparrow    JZ>Ru   ddd  Petronia petronia          along roads, few; paler than in Spain; yellow spot 1x seen
            Tibetan Snowfinch *   >Ru     dd  Montifringilla adamsi      in fresh snow (!) along road up to Tibetan plateau
       White-rumped Snowfinch *    Ru     dd  Onychostruthus taczanowskiithe common snowfinch in the grassy plains
      Rufous-necked Snowfinch *    Ru     d   Pyrgilauda ruficollis      a pair flew up and down past us to nest, Flower Lake rd
           White-rumped Munia    Wo>JZ    d   Lonchura striata
              Alpine Accentor      Bl     d   Prunella collaris          on bare ground in Balang pass, see photo
     Rufous-breasted Accentor      Bl     d   Prunella strophiata        on stony slope while searching for snowcock
       Maroon-backed Accentor *  JZ>Ru    dd  Prunella immaculata        on quarry track; also upper Baxi road below us
               Forest Wagtail      Pi     d   Dendronanthus indicus      at bottom of Pingwu town forest park
              Citrine Wagtail      Ru     dd  Motacilla citreola         best along road to Yellow River, on poles in wet grassland
                 Grey Wagtail      Wo   ddddddMotacilla cinerea          often along roads in wooded areas with streams
                White Wagtail      Wo   ddddddMotacilla alba             the marked subsp. alboides (but not usually split)
           Olive-backed Pipit      Bl     dd  Anthus hodgsoni            in upper part pass, grassy areas
                   Rosy Pipit      Bl     dd  Anthus roseatus            in upper part pass, grassy areas
                  Water Pipit    JZ>Ru    d   Anthus spinoletta          dozens at end of quarry track W of JZ
                Tibetan Serin *    JZ     dd  Serinus thibetanus         Tibetan Siskin, flock at start of quarry track W of JZ
       Grey-capped Greenfinch *-N  Wo     dd  Carduelis sinica           Oriental G.; on wire near quake victims camp
              Eurasian Siskin    JZ>Ru    d   Carduelis spinus           one seen well, female, quarry track
                        Twite    JZ>Ru    dd  Carduelis flavirostris     in arable fields, a few
         Plain Mountain Finch      Bl     d   Leucosticte nemoricola     many on grass Balang
      Brandt's Mountain Finch *    Bl     d   Leucosticte brandti        few on grass Balang
        Long-tailed Rosefinch *    JZ     d   Uragus sibiricus           mating pair at river bend beside tunnel W of JZ
             Common Rosefinch    JZ>Ru   dddd Carpodacus erythrinus      sev. heard, a few seen
  Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch *  JZ>Ru   ddd  Carpodacus davidianus      in snowy pass, but not very beautiful!
       Stresemann's Rosefinch *  JZ>Ru    d   Carpodacus eos             Pink-rumped R., near shrine of snowy pass
          Vinaceous Rosefinch *  JZ>Pi    d   Carpodacus vinaceus        trail at S-bend in road, bushy spot near stream
Chinese White-browed Rosefinch*    Bl    dddd Carpodacus dubius          first rosefinch, typical song, see photo & comment
        Red-fronted Rosefinch *    Bl     d   Carpodacus puniceus        on bare ground at pass, see photo
        Grey-headed Bullfinch *    JZ    dddd Pyrrhula erythaca          sev. along quarry track W of JZ, and sev. elsewhere
             Chinese Grosbeak *    Ch     d   Eophona migratoria         Yellow-billed G.; Chengdu river park, female in bare tree
            Collared Grosbeak      Bl     d   Mycerobas affinis          in bushes at Monal site
        White-winged Grosbeak *    Bx     d   Mycerobas carnipes         along Baxi road, in conif. forest
                Slaty Bunting *    Wa     d   Emberiza siemsseni         in open forest at base of Wawu park
          Godlewski's Bunting *    JZ   ddddddEmberiza godlewskii        many along the road, see photo in snow
      Yellow-throated Bunting *    Pi     dd  Emberiza elegans           Elegant B; Pingwu forest park, and >Wa uphill track
          Black-faced Bunting      JZ     d   Emberiza spodocephala      (Du. Maskergors), singing at river side JZ valley

Total 116 lifers (shared total). N: 112 lifers, J: 114 lifers. Total: 258 species observed (Sid 261)

Sid had three more species: Himalayan Rubythroat heard (which we preferred not to search for at that moment, it was not a lifer),
White-browed Shrike-Babbler (heard), and he saw Darjeeling Woodpecker in Wt tickable (just not tickable for us, we only saw the back)


Mammals
             Himalayan Marmot *    Ru    dddd Marmota himalayana         common between the picas, and other open areas
                 Pallas's Cat *    Ru     d   Felis manul                probably 'the best bird of the trip'
                  Tibetan Fox *    Ru     d   Vulpes ferrilata           three adults in a grassy plain
                      Red Fox      Ru     d   Vulpes vulpes
                Mountain Hare *    Ru     d   Lepus timidus
                 Plateau Pica *    Ru     dd  Ochotona cursoniae         abundant on the drier plateau grasslands
             Siberian Roedeer *    Bx     d   Capreolus pygargus         see photo
                Chinese Serow *    Bx     d   Capricornus milneedwardsii see photo
   Swinhoe's Striped Squirrel *    Wt     dd  Tamiops swinhoei           on trail in coniferous forest        
        

Sound recordings
With my LS-11 Olympus voice recorder I made the following recordings of bird songs, all in stereo:
Firethroat, Wolong
Tibetan Lark, Ruoergai
Oriental Skylark, Ruoergai
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, road to Monkey park
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Pingwu (with Rufous-faced Warbler trill)
Chinese Blue Flycatcher, road to Wawu
Lesser Cuckoo, Wawu
Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Wawu
White-bellied Redstart, Wawu
Chinese Babax, Wawu
Several of these recordings are also linked on the bird photo page

See also photos of birding sites   -   bird photos   -   other photos