Tag: bird tours in China

Sichuan, China

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2024 April 22-May 11  (20 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 9 pax, tour is full

2024 May 14-June 2  (20 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , private tour, tour is full

2024 June 4-June 23  (20 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , private tour, price depends on group size, tour is full

2025 May 2-May 21  (20 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 9 pax, cost: 3950 USD,  one space available

2025 May 23-June 11  (20 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 9 pax, cost: 3950 USD,  spaces available

2025 June 13-June 30  (18 days)   Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 9 pax, cost: 3650 USD,  spaces available

This tour can be connected to Qinghai Tibetan Plateau tour 2025 June 30-July 11 ( 12 days ), cost: 2900 USD,  spaces available

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See Itinerary, Price, Testimonials, birds, mammals, scenery, hotels & food Photos, Reports below

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Our Best of Sichuan Itinerary is based on many years experience of taking tours in this Province of China. The birding, scenery and food are all outstanding. We aim to try to find as many of Sichuan’s endemic or near-endemic breeding species as possible, along with a host of other more widespread Asian breeding species. Birds we will target include Black-necked Crane, Chinese Monal, White-eared, Blue-eared, Lady Amherst’s and Golden Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan, Verreaux’s Monal-partridge, Tibetan and Snow Partridges, Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Snowcock, Sichuan Wood Owl, Snowy-cheeked, Pere David’s, Elliot’s, Barred, Buffy and Giant Laughingthrushes, Emei Shan Liocichla, Chinese Wren Babbler, Moupinia, Grey-hooded, Golden, Fulvous, Great, Brown, Ashy-throated and Three-toed Parrotbills, Sichuan Jay, Tibetan Lark, Chinese and Spectacled Fulvettas, Yellow-streaked, Sulphur-breasted, Bianchi’s, Marten’s, Grey-crowned and Alstrom’s Warblers, Emei, Sichuan, Alpine, Humes, Claudia’s, Kloss’s and Chinese Leaf Warblers, White-browed and Crested Tit Warblers, Sichuan, Spotted and Baikal Bush Warblers, Pere David’s, Sichuan, White-browed and Ground Tits, Przevalski’s Nuthatches, Hodgson’s and Sichuan Treecreepers, Siberian and Chinese Rubythroats, Firethroat, Chestnut, Kessler’s, Sichuan Forest and Alpine Thrushes, Grandala, Three-banded, Chinese White-browed, Himalayan Beautiful, Red-fronted, Streaked, Pink-rumped, Dark-breasted, Sharpe’s and Long-tailed Rosefinches, Tibetan, Rufous-necked and White-rumped Snowfinches and Przevalski’s Finch, now in its very own family!

PS: Our final tour itinerary may changed a little bit due to the latest birding situation.

Day 1  Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Night in Chengdu Yinhe Dynasty Hotel.

Day 2  In the early morning we will visit a park which offers a good opportunity to see some interesting birds including Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Black-throated Tit, Yellow-billed Grosbeak ( Chinese Grosbeak ), Chinese Blackbird, White-browed Laughingthrush, Little Egret, Little Grebe and perhaps Chinese Bamboo Partridge then head to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve for an overnight stay.

Day 3  Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve is a good place to see a number of species including Golden Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan, Slaty Bunting and the rare Tawny Fish Owl and we will target these species during our stay. Commoner birds that we might encounter include Mountain Hawk Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Collared Finchbill, Brown-breasted Bulbul, , Elliot’s and White-throated Laughingthrush, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Yellow-bellied and Green-backed Tit, Crested Kingfisher, Fujian Niltava, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, Sulphur-breasted Warbler and Alstrom’s Warbler. Many mammals also occur in this area, including Takin, Reeve’s Muntjac, Tufted Deer, Tibetan Macaque, Chinese Serow, Chinese Goral and Yellow-throated Marten. If we are lucky we might see a couple of these species, and there is also an outside chance of encountering the rare Golden Snub-nosed Monkey or even Asiatic Black Bear.

Day 4  After the morning birding in Tangjiahe we head to Chuanzhusi, long drive day around 7-8 hours, birding on the way looking for Collared Crow and Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, lunch and birding stop at Huangtuliang Pass with chances for Spotted and Chestnut-crowned Bush Warblers, Long-tailed Thrush and Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch.  Night in Songpan.

Day 5  Early morning birding in Gongganglin forest, then head to Ruoergai, night in Ruoergai

Gongganglin is an area of high altitude coniferous forest not far from Juizhaigou, and is one of the best places to encounter Sichuan Wood Owl, which we will search for as it gets light. After that we will concentrate on other target species that are sometimes seen in this area, including Blue-eared Pheasant, White-browed and Crested Tit Warblers, Chinese White-browed, Pink-rumped and Three-banded Rosefinches, Siberian Rubythroat, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, White-throated and White-bellied Redstart,  Severtzov’s (Chinese) Grouse is also very occasionally seen in this area, but very hard to find.

Days 6- 7  Birding in the Ruoergai area including Baxi forest and the Tibetan Plateau, night in Ruoergai.

We will spend two days birding near Ruoergai, with one morning concentrating on Baxi forest and the other on the Tibetan Plateau. Baxi is the probably the best place in Sichuan to find Blue-eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Three-banded Rosefinch, Przevalski’s (White-Cheeked) Nuthatch, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Chinese Fulvetta, Sichuan Tit, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Giant Laughingthrush and Black Woodpecker, and we will concentrate on these species. Commoner birds here include species such as Chestnut and Kessler’s Thrush, Chinese, Greenish and Buff-barred Warbler, and Grey-headed Bulfinch. Wolves have been seen in this vicinity, but are extremely rare.

Our second morning will be either spent at Baxi, if we have missed anything important there, or we can potentially target Przevalski’s Finch (Pink-tailed Bunting) and Tibetan (Black-winged) Snowfinch about an hour from our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the high plains of the Tibetan Plateau where we will look for Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Lark, Rufous-necked and White-rumped Snowfinch, Horned Lark and perhaps Twite. Tibetan Grey Shrike is sometimes also seen in the Ruoergai area whilst Ground-tit is fairly common, even at the edge of town.

Day 8  Today is a rather long travel day (320km), our destination being Maerkang, but there are plenty of good birds to see on route and we will stop several times at key sites for birds that we still need. These may include Tibetan Partridge, Saker Falcon, Przevalski’s Finch (if still needed), White-browed Tit Warbler, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit, Pere David’s (Plain) Laughingthrush, Azure-winged Magpie, Tibetan Snowfinch, and Little Owl. Night in Maerkang.

Day 9  In the early morning we will drive up into the mountains to visit the beautiful pine forests of Mengbishan. This is the best place in Sichuan to find the often elusive Sichuan Jay and Verreaux’s Monal-partridge (Chestnut-throated Monal Partridge), and there is a good supporting cast including Blood Pheasant, Giant Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Crested Tit-Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta, Crimson-browed Finch and Collared Grosbeak. Other notable birds in this area include Himalayan Bluetail, Giant Laughingthrush, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Streaked, Himalayan Beautiful, Pink-rumped and Chinese White-browed Rosefinches. White Eared Pheasant, Three-banded Rosefinch and Black Woodpecker are also possible but rare. Night in Maerkang.

Day 10  This is a travel day, with birding on the way, passing some magnificent scenery on route to Wolong, where we spend the night. Birds we will search for on route include Long-tailed Rosefinches of the distinctive race henrici, Wallcreeper, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Hill Pigeon, Hodgson’s Redstart and Asian House Martin along with both species of chough. If we arrive early enough in Wolong we will also have time to look for the recently recognized Sichuan Forest Thrush and Firethroat.

Day 11  We will start the day very early, have breakfast in an area that is good for Chinese Monal and White-eared Pheasant and occasionally Koklass Pheasant before we head back up towards the Balang Shan Pass if the weather is good. Balang Shan supports a number of high-altitude species, including Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Partridge, Red-fronted and Streaked Rosefinch, Brandt’s Mountain Finch, Alpine Accentor, Rosy Pipit, and with luck, Grandala. We will bird down the mountain during the afternoon and eventually spend the night in Wolong. On route we will stop frequently to look for a variety of species including Himalayan Griffon, Yellow-billed and Red-billed Chough, Firethroat, Giant and Barred Laughingthrushes, Alpine Thrush, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Slaty Bunting, recently split Chinese Rubythroat, Crested Tit Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Collared and White-winged Grosbeak, Kessler’s and Chestnut Thrushes. The area we visit is extremely good for Rosefinches, and we might encounter any of the following species during our two full days here: Sharpe’s Chinese Beautiful, Chinese White-browed, Dark-breasted, Vinaceous, and Pink-rumped Rosefinch. Night in Wolong.

Day 12  We will head back into the mountains before light, this time probably concentrating first on some birds in the lower part of the valley (although this depends on weather and what we saw the previous day). Night in Wolong.

Day 13  After another early start, we spend the morning birding between Wolong and Rilong, before heading to Longcanggou, where we spend the night. If time allowed we will spend the afternoon looking for some low altitude species such as Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Chinese Blue Flycatcher in Longcanggou. 

Day 14  This will be a full day in Longcanggou which is the best place for parrotiblls in Sichuan, with chances of seeing Three-toed, Golden, Great, Brown and Ashy-throated Parrotbills and perhaps also Grey-hooded. There is also a reasonable chance of Temminck’s Tragopan along with a number of other special species such as Grey-hooded, Gold-fronted and Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Streaked Barwing, Sichuan Treecreeper, Red-winged, Buffy, Spotted and Elliot’s Laughingthrushes, Emei Shan Liocichla, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Wren Babbler, Sichuan, Spotted and Brown Bush Warblers and White-bellied Redstart. Red Panda is also seen here regularly.

Day 15  Morning birding in Longcanggou for missed species previously then drive from Longcanggou to Luding. Night in Luding.

Day 16  Luding is not far from Erlang Shan, where we will spend the day looking for a different set of birds. Erlang Shan is the best place to see Lady Amherst’s Pheasant and Moupinia (Rufous-tailed Babbler) and we will target these two species along with Chinese Song Thrush, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Streaked Barwing, Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied Tit, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Black-browed Bushtit, Golden Bush Robin, Brown, Grey-hooded, Fulvous and Great Parrotbills and a number of species that we may have missed previously, such as Firethroat and Barred Laughingthrush. Sharpe’s Rosefinch is also a possibility at this site. Night in Luding.

Day 17  After morning birding in Erlang Shan for missed species previously then head to Labahe, night in Labahe.

Day 18  Full day birding in Labahe Provincial Nature Reserve, Night in Labahe.

Labahe is another great place for Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan along with other rare birds like Sichuan Treecreeper, Pere David’s and Fire-capped Tit, quite a few parrotbill species : Fulvous, Brown, Great and Golden Parrotbills.  And other nice small species : Chinese and Pygmy Wren-babbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Sichuan, Large-billed and Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, David’s Fulvetta , Stripe-throated and White-collared Yuhina, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Goldcrest, Fujian Niltava, Verditer, Slaty-blue, Ferruginous and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, Himalayan (White-browed) Shortwing and Brown Dipper. Red Panda has a possibility there. 

Day 19  After morning birding in Labahe then drive back to Chengdu with a brief stop for Swinhoe’s Minivet (near Ya’an) and Forest Wagtail. Night in Chengdu. 

Day 20  Departure.

Price

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Sichuan tour cost depends on group size.

To book tours or custom design private tours please contact us 

If you are an international birding company looking for a ground agent price please contact us

Testimonials

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Hi Summer,

I trust it will find you well.

Even if as a local Chinese birder, especially after several short visits, I know it is never an easy trip to birding in Sichuan. Long distance travel, dense jungle and unfamiliar species have kept me from making up my mind to start a real birding trip to Sichuan, until I know you were not busy this year. Frankly, I am still impressed with the whole fantastic trip, which I believe the best trip I ever took before. It exceeded all my expectations in any way. Not only we got almost 100% targets, plus much more bonus species, but you did a fabulous job of organizing the logistics especially including varied delicious dinners and snacks. Your sharp eyes and prefect knowledge of sounds always led us to find birds/mammals successfully (You even found a Red-Panda without scopes, how did you do that!), moreover your dedication of tireless effort to search the targets eventually made all of those happened!

Anyway, thanks again for all the success and fun in the great two weeks. Certainly hope to visit with you again in near future, in China or outside China. And hope you and your business going well.

Keep safe and health.

Yours,

Vinc

Vinc Ong — China — Sichuan birding tour, 9-23 May 2020

Hi Summer,

You probably thought I had forgotten all about you.

I have sent the rest of your money today so it should be in your account very soon. I hope that all is going well with you and your business is going well.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the part of my holiday that I spent with you learning a great appreciation of China as well as meeting so many birds with you. Thank you so much for making it all so successful.

I have had many computer problems( and have now bought a new one) so I was wondering if it would be possible for you to send any photos that I missed out on since our trip ended. You kindly allowed me to download all that you had on your computer but I did not get the phone ones and I do not know if you have had any come in from the rest of the group. If there are any that you can supply to me I would be very grateful. If it is possible to put them onto a memory stick and post it, that would do very well.

Thank you once more for a fantastic experience in Sichuan and Yunnan with the BEST Chinese bird tour and the most knowledgable tour leader!

Best regards to you,

Cynthia Jones – Australia —  Sichuan & Lijiang, north Yunnan birding tour,  25 April-13 May 2019

Hi Summer,

I hope you’re well and that your remaining tours over the summer went well.  First of all, thanks so much for organising and leading the Sichuan tour in June.  I really enjoyed it and have some great memories of some fantastic birds.

I’d also like to thank you for arranging my time in Tibet.  Things ran smoothly and I was able to see all the speciality birds (Tibetan Eared Pheasant, Giant Babax, Prince Henri’s Laughingthrush, Derbyan Parakeet) pretty easily and well.  I also had an enjoyable time in eastern China, seeing species like Grey-headed Parrotbill, Reed Parrotbill, Chestnut Bulbul and Chinese Bamboo-partridge.

As I’ve mentioned to you before, I might be interested in further tours in China specifically to southeast China in winter and to Yunnan, either in winter or spring.  The problem tends to be that there are only certain times that I can travel.  For winter I can travel between around the middle of December and middle of January and in spring I can travel in the first three weeks of April.  Outside of those times isn’t really possible.  If you have any tours scheduled for those destinations during those periods I might be interested in joining them.  Let me know if this is possible.

All the best,

Andrew Whitehouse — UK —  Sichuan tour, 3-20 June 2018

Hi Summer,

Thanks again for a great trip. We all got home safely. You really made a good job of organising the logistics and finding the birds for us. I have updated my world life list on Surfbirds and mentioned your company. Click on this link.

http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/surfbirds/display.cgi?list=list1&lowVal=0&highVal=49

I hope to do some more birding in China with you in the future! Good luck with your next trip. I look forward to seeing some of your photos from our trip when you have time.

Best wishes

John Clark — from UK with a bird list over 8500 species in the world — Sichuan & Lijiang, north Yunnan birding tour,  9 – 31 May 2018

Hi Summer

Thanks for the great two weeks birding and the company. Appreciate all your effort finding the hard to find species and how professional you are. After the tour, think we have gained a new Friend as well. Will send you pictures once we get back and processed them properly. You want me to write a trip report for this? I don’t mind writing……. will likely come back to Chengdu next year to do the Plant tour. Not sure if you are interested?

Alvin Francis —  Singapore —  Sichuan bird photography tour,  15 April – 5 May 2018

Hi Summer,

Just a short note to thank you once again for an excellent trip which both Louise & I thoroughly enjoyed. We were particularly impressed by your commitment to maximising our opportunities for new birds and by your determination and ability to find them. There may be some guides who will “go the extra mile” for their clients, but you are the first we have met to go an extra 1000 kilometers!

As promised, I have produced a trip report which I would be happy for you to link on your website. I hope it will help encourage potential clients to enjoy your excellent service.

We hope to return to China one day, hopefully soon, and will certainly be in touch when we do.

With our very best regards,

Mark & Louise Smiles — UK — Shanxi & Sichuan birding tour, 26 March – 11 April 2018

Map

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Birds, mammals & scenery in Sichuan

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Hotels & food on Sichuan tour

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Reports

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Qinghai Tibetan Plateau

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2024 July 12-23  (12 days)  Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 14 pax, cost: 2650 USD,  spaces available

2025 June 30-July 11  (12 days)  Leader : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, max group size : 14 pax, cost: 2900 USD,  spaces available

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See Itinerary, Price,Testimonials, birds, mammals, scenery, hotels & food Photos, Reports below

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Day 1 Arrive at Xining, birding at Xining hills, night in Xining

Possible birds in Xining hills: Pale Rosefinch, Red-billed Chough, Pied Wheatear, Meadow bunting, Godlewski’s Bunting, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Rufous-tailed/Common Rock Thrush, Common Pheasant, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Przevalski’s  Partridge.

Day 2 Morning birding at Dongxia forest park , drive to Gonghe, 185km, 3 hours drive, birding at Gonghe, night in Gonghe

Possible birds in Dongxia forest park : Gansu Leaf Warbler, Przevalski’s and Chinese Nuthatch, Crested Tit Warbler, Goldcrest, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese White-browed and Common Rosefinches, Yellow-streaked Warbler, White-throated Redstart, Chinese Song Thrush, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, White-winged Grosbeak, Black-faced Bunting, Grey-headed Bullfinch.

Day 3 Birding at Gonghe and Mt.Ela then head to Maduo, 340km, 4 hours drive, night in Maduo

Target birds near Gonghe : Mongolian Finch, Mongolian Lark, Desert Finch, Desert Whitethroat, Pine Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Isabelline and Desert Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Twite, White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinches.

Target birds in Mt.Ela : Roboroveski’s/Tibetan Rosefinch, Guldenstadt’s/White-winged Redstart, Prince Henry’s/White-winged Snowfinch, Brandt’s and Plain Mountain Finches.

Day 4 Drive from Maduo to Nangqian via Yushu, night at Nangqian, 500km, 7 hours drive, night in Nangqian

Possible birds on the way from Maduo to Nangqian : Ibisbill, Upland Buzzard, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Saker Falcon, Daurian Jackdaw, Little Owl,  Ruddy Shelduck, Bar-headed Goose, Common Redshank, Brown-headed Gull, Common Tern, Pale Martin, Citrine Wagtail, Salim Ali’s Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin,  Asian House Martin,  White-rumped, Tibetan and Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Common Hoopoe, Kessler’s Thrush, Tibetan Grey Shrike,  Brown Deeper, Black, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, Alpine Leaf Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Streaked, Common and Great Rosefinches.

Day 5 Birding at Kanda Shan, night in Nangqian

Possible birds in Kanda Shan : Tibetan Bunting, Tibatan Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, White-eared Pheasant, Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge  (Buff-throated Partridge), Eurasian Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle, Tibetan Babax, Chinese Rubythroat,  Grandala, Chinese Beautiful, Red-fronted and Streaked Rosefinches, White-browed Tit, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit Warbler, Snow Pigeon, White-capped Redstart, Plain Mountain Finch, White-winged Grosbeak. There is also good chances for Blue Sheep.

Day 6 Birding at Baizha forest, night in Nangqian.

Possible birds in Baizha forest : Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Buff-throated Partridge), Blood and White-eared Pheasant, Elliot’s and Giant Laughingthrush, Three-banded, Pink-rumped and Common Rosefinches, White-throated Deeper, Tibetan Babax, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Long-tailed Thrush, Black and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Himalayan Bluetail, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Rosy Pipit, Rufous-vented, Grey-crested and Sichuan Tit, Chinese Fulvetta, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-breasted and Maroon-backed Accentors, Salim Ali’s Swift, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler. There is also good chances for Blue Sheep.

Day 7 Drive from Nangqian to Qumalai, birding and mammal watching on the way, night at Qumalai, 400km, 5 hours drive, night in Qumalai

Day 8 Drive from Qumalai to Golmud, 480 km, 6 hours drive,  birding and mammal watching on the way, night at Golmud

Target birds and mammals on the way from Qumalai to Golmud : Tibetan Sandgrouse, Lesser Sand Plover, Saker Falcon, Upland Buzzard, Little Owl, Desert Whitethroat, Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox, Kiang, Tibetan Wolf. 

Day 9 Drive from Golmud to Chaka via Dulan, 470km, 6 hours drive , night in Chaka

Target birds at Dulan:  Ala Shan Redstart, Przevalski’s Partridge, Pine Bunting, White-winged Grosbeak, Black Redstart.

Day 10 Birding at Chaka area, night in Chaka

Target birds in Chaka area: Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Tibetan and Himalayan Snowcocks, Przevalski’s Partridge, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Mongolian Lark, Blanford’s/Plain-backed Snowfinch, Wallcreeper, Desert and Isabelline Wheatears, Pine Bunting, Tibetan Grey Shrike.

Day 11 Morning birding at Rubber mountain and Koko Nor lake / Qinghaihu lake, drive to Xining, night in Xining

Rubber mountain possible for Przevalski’s Finch, White-browed Tit, White-rumped, Rufous-necked and Tibetan Snowfinch, Robin and Brown Accentor, Dusky Warbler, Alpine Leaf Warbler.

Koko Nor lake area is possible for Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Brown-headed Gull, Ground Tit, Mongolian, Hume’s Short-toed and Tibetan Lark, Pere David’s Snowfinch.

Day 12 Departure

Price

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Qinghai tour cost depends on group size.

To book tours or custom design private tours please contact us 

If you are an international birding company looking for a ground agent price please contact us

Testimonials

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Hi Summer,

We all arrived safe and  back in Belgium!

Many thanks once again for the perfect organization of our birding trip. As you know we thoroughly enjoyed every single day!

We were all amazed by your talent and capabilities to combine a seamless management of logistics, a tireless effort to search for every single bird species, your total care for our well-being (not in the least by ensuring we had splendid and varied gastronomic dinners) and your great sense of humour.   

Now it tastes for more adventures in China. Especially as you made the trip so enjoyable!

See you on our next trip!

Greetings,

Peter Boesman — Belgium — Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet birding tour,  4-25 July 2019

Hi Summer,

Great to hear you’re well and kicking. Many thanks for the many photos. Good fun.

We totally agree that it was a fantastic tour with you. We are already looking forward to a future trip… a mammal trip in autumn or a Yunnan trip or a northeast China spring trip… We’ll see.

Take good care. We’ll keep in touch.

Big hug,

Kathleen & Mark

Hi Summer,

we’ve tried to send you a whatsapp message, but it doesn’t look as if it works that way.

Anyway, we wanted to thank you for a terrific tour through Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet. You did a fabulous job , found all the birds and solved all the logistical problems easily. Added to that, you made the trip a real gastronomical delight. We’ll have a look at my missing birds and mammals and see where in China we would be able to do a nice clean up trip with you in the future.

Enjoy your time off. Take good care of yourself.

All the very best,

Kathleen & Mark Van Beirs — Belgium — Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet birding tour,  4-25 July 2019

Dear Summer!

Greetings from Finland! We had nice (and long) flight to Finland and now we are safely at home. We want to thank you very much for excellent trip and guiding us! We both liked trip very much!
Also we both are satisfied of photos of many species! I had good laugh for photo of Markku with hat!

I have added some recordings to Xeno-Canto. Recording of Pale Rosefinch was the first of this species, but also nice one of Tibetan Sandgrouse.

I hope You have had nice birding in Sichuan? I hope also, that You will enjoy visiting in England!

Please, send me a wish list of photos of species, which You want to add Your Trip report.

All the Best

Jarmo and Markku — Finland — Qinghai birding tour,  29 June – 20 July 2017

Birds, mammals & scenery on Qinghai tour

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Hotels & food on Qinghai tour

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Tour reports

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Winter Eastern China

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winter eastern China tour ( 15 days )

Tour leader : Summer Wong

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See Itinerary, birds, mammals, scenery, hotels & food Photos, Testimonials, Price, Reports below

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Day 1 Arrive at Shanghai, birding at Shanghai when time allowed, night in Shanghai

Day 2 Morning birding in Shanghai, then head to Wuyuan, 500km, 6.5 hours drive, night in Wuyuan

Possible birds in Shanghai area: Reed Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Chinese Penduline Tit, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental Magpie, Common Kestrel, Spotted and Oriental Turtle Dove, Pallas’s Reed Bunting, Light-vented Bulbul,Eurasian Hoopoe, Plain Prinia, Little and Great Crested Grebe, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Falcated Duck.

Day 3 Full day birding in Wuyuan, night in Wuyuan

Possible birds in Wuyuan area: Mandarin Duck, Scaly-sided Merganser, Pied Falconet, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Short-tailed Parrotbill, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, Chinese Hwamei, Moustached, Buffy and Masked Laughingthrushes, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Silver Pheasant, White-breasted Waterhen, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Long-billed Plover, Black-winged Kite, Black Eagle, Eastern Buzzard, Collared Owlet, Common Kingfisher, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Brown Shrike, Grey Treepie, Japanese Tit, Collared Finchbill, Rufous-faced Warbler, Black-throated Bushtit, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Dusky and Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese Yuhina, Red-billed and Black-collared Starling, Grey-backed Thrush, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Red-flanked Bluetail, White-crowned Forktail, Daurian Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Fork-tailed Sunbird, White-rumped and Scaly-breasted Munia, Chinese Grosbeak, Yellow-browed, Black-faced and Tristram’s Buntings, Pallas’s Reed Bunting.

Day 4 Morning birding in Wuyuan then head to Jiujiang, 270km, 3.5 hours drive, night in Jiujiang

Day 5 Morning birding in Northern Poyang Lake,  then head to Dongzhai, 420km, 5.5 hours drive, afternoon birding in Dongzhai if time allowed, night in Dongzhai

Possible birds in Northern Poyang Lake area: Baer’s Pochard, Siberian Crane, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Swan Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Grey Heron, Common Kingfisher, Yellow-browed Warbler, White-browed and Masked Laughingthrush, Red-billed, White-cheeked and Black-collared Starling, Dusky Thrush, Chinese Grosbeak, Little, Rustic, Yellow-throated and Black-faced Bunting.

Day 6 Morning birding in Dongzhai then head to Poyang Lake, 520km, 6.5 hours drive, night in Wucheng

Possible birds in Dongzhai area: Reeves’s Pheasant, Crested Ibis, Brown Crake, Crested Kingfisher, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Treepie, Oriental Magpie, Collared Crow, Coal and JapaneseTit, Collared Finchbill, Brown-breasted, Light-vented, Mountain and Chestnut Bulbul, Rufous-faced Warbler, Silver-throated and Black-throated Bushtits, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Chinese Hwamei, Masked Laughingthrush, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Red-flanked Bluetail, White-crowned Forktail, White-rumped Munia, Eurasian Siskin, Little, Meadow, Yellow-browed, Rustic, Yellow-throated and Black-faced Bunting. 

Day 7 Full day birding in Poyang Lake, night in Wucheng

Possible birds in Wucheng, Poyang Lake area: Siberian, Common, Hooded and White-naped Cranes, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Common Pheasant, Swan Goose, Tundra Bean Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Brown Crake, Japanese Quail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Common Snipe, Northern Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Oriental Stork, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Eastern Marsh and Hen Harriers, White-throated and Pied Kingfisher, Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, Zitting Cisticola, Marsh Grassbird, Plain Prinia, Red-billed, White-cheeked and Black-collared Starlings, Chinese Blackbird, Hwamei, Grey-backed and Pale Thrushes, White-rumped and Scaly-breasted Munias, Olive-backed and Buff-bellied Pipits, Chinese Grosbeak, Chestnut-eared and Black-faced Buntings. 

Day 8 Morning birding in Poyang Lake, then head to Emei Feng, 420km, 5.5 hours drive, night in Taining

Day 9 Full day birding in Emei Feng, night in Taining

Possible birds in Emei Feng area: Cabot’s Tragopan, Elliot’s, Silver and Koklass Pheasants, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Mandarin Duck, Sultan, Yellow-cheeked and Japanese Tits, Dusky and Huet’s Fulvettas, Chinese Hwamei, Masked, Moustached and Buffy Laughingthrushes, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, House Swift, Black-winged Kite, Black Eagle, Collared and Asian Barred Owlet, Great Barbet, Common Kestrel, Grey-chinned Minivet, Bull-headed Shrike, White-bellied Erpornis, Indochinese Yuhina, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, Grey Treepie, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Finchbill, Mountain Bulbul, Rufous-faced Warbler, Black-throated Bushtit, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-sided and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers, Crested Myna, Black-collared Starling, Dusky and White’s Thrushes, White-crowned, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail, Siberian Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Brambling, Little and Black-faced Buntings. 

Day 10 Morning birding in Emeifeng then head to Jiangle, 110km, 2 hours drive, afternoon birding when time allowed, night in Jiangle

Day 11 Morning birding in Jiangle then head to Junfeng Shan, 90km, 2 hours drive, night in Ziyun Village

Possible birds in Jiangle area: Blyth’s and Common Kingfisher, Elliot’s and Silver Pheasants, Red-headed Trogon, Chinese and Great Barbets, White-breasted Waterhen, Striated Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle, Grey-chinned Minivet, White-bellied Erpornis, Japanese and Yellow-cheeked Tit, Light-vented, Mountain and Chestnut Bulbul, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler, Huet’s Fulvetta, Indochinese and Black-chinned Yuhina, White’s Thrush, Little, White-crowned and Slaty-backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Tristram’s Bunting. 

Day 12 Morning birding in Junfeng Shan, then head to Sanming, 90km, 1.5 hours drive, afternoon birding in Sanming, night in Sanming

Day 13 Morning birding in Sanming, then head to Fuzhou, 220km, 3 hours drive, night in Fuzhou

Possible birds in Junfeng Shan and Sanming area: White-necklaced Partridge, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Cabot’s Tragopan, Elliot’s and Silver Pheasants, Chinese Barbet, Mandarin Duck, Green Sandpiper, Black-crowned Night Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Crested Goshawk, Collared Owlet, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Wryneck, Scarlet and Grey-chinned Minivets, White-bellied Erpornis, Sultan, Japanese and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Light-vented, Mountain and Chestnut Bulbuls, Red-rumped Swallow, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Grey-sided and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers, Rufous-capped Babbler, Dusky and Huet’s Fulvettas, Indochinese Yuhina, Black-collared Starlings, White-crowned Forktail, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Little, Black-faced and Tristram’s Buntings. 

Day 14 Morning birding in Fuzhou forest park then head to Changle, 60km, 1 hour drive,  night in Changle

Possible birds in Fuzhou forest park: White-necklaced and Chinese Bamboo Partridges, Silver Pheasant, Spotted Elachura, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Chinese Pond Heron, Great Barbet, Grey Treepie, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Collared Finchbill, Red-whiskered, Light-vented, Mountain, Black and Chestnut Bulbul, Rufous-faced and Yellow-browed Warblers, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Common Tailorbird, Grey-sided and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Huet’s Fulvetta, Red-billed Leiothri, Chinese Hwamei, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Indochinese Yuhina, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Pale Thrush, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Slaty-backed and White-crowed Forktail, Tristram’s Bunting. 

Day 15 Morning birding in Minjiang Estuary then head to Changle airport, departure 

Possible birds in Minjiang Estuary area: Spoon-billed, Common, Green and Marsh Sandpipers, Eurasian and Black-faced Spoonbill, Tundra Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Eurasian Teal, Northern Pintail, Little Grebe, Oriental Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Common Moorhen, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Black-bellied, Little Ringed and Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Temminck’s and Red-necked Stint,  Sanderling, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank,  Saunders’s, Relict, Black-headed, Black-tailed and Mongolian Gull, Caspian Tern, Oriental Stork, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great and Little Egret, Chinese Pond Heron, Osprey, Black-winged Kite, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Eastern Buzzard, Eurasian Hoopoe, Eurasian Wryneck, Eurasian Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental Magpie, Plain and Yellow-bellied Prinia, Light-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbul, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Manchurian Bush Warbler, Swinhoe’s White-eye, Black-collared and Red-billed Starling, Crested Myna, Chinese Blackbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bluethroat, Daurian Redstart, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Richard’s, Olive-backed, Red-throated and American/Buff-bellied Pipits, Grey-capped Greenfinch, Black-faced Bunting.

 

 Birds on eastern China tour

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Hotels & food on eastern China tour

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Testimonials

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Dear Summer,

My tour with you was really unforgettable!
Not only did we manage to see almost all major targets, plus some bonus species, we also had amazing views on most of them. You’re an amazing birder, with very sharp eyes. The itinerary was not 100% fixed so because of the flexibility we were able to see more than planned. You really went above and beyond to show me all the species I wanted to see, even the common ones, I guess not many people ask for the Brown-breasted Bulbul. or all the buntings, but this makes us bunting experts now.
Not only the birding was amazing, but also just travelling with you. We had a lot of fun together and I had a great time.

The food was also very good; the spicier, the better.  I think the colli flower dish at Wuyuan and the spicy breakfast near Emeifeng were some of my favourites.

Thanks again for everything…
All the best wishes!

Wouter Van Gasse — Belgium —  eastern China winter tour,  26 Nov – 11 Dec 2019 

 

Price

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Eastern China tour cost depends on group size.

To book tours or custom design private tours please contact us 

If you are an international birding company looking for a ground agent price please contact us

 

Tour reports

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