‘EASY’ MONGOLIA TOUR REPORT 2026

19 - 30 May 2026

Hannu Jännes

Our inaugural ‘Easy’ Mongolia birding tour was a great success. In just eleven days, we saw the vast majority of Mongolia’s speciality birds while keeping the itinerary comfortable throughout: every night was spent either in a hotel or in a very comfortable ger (yurt) resort, with no need for basic camping. The wide range of habitats was reflected in an exciting avifauna that encompassed both Siberian and Central Asian forms, including a number unique to Mongolia and its immediate surroundings. Our adventure began in the north around the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where we soon found the three target birds: Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-crowned Penduline Tit and Azure Tit. We then moved on to the Khentiy Mountains, where the absolute highlight was a lek of half a dozen amazing Black-billed Capercaillies. The steppes and lakes in the north gave us Swan Goose, Falcated Duck, Stejneger’s Scoter, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Siberian, White-naped and Demoiselle Cranes, Mongolian Gull, some colourful waders including Asian Dowitcher, Mongolian Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark, Siberian House Martin, Blyth’s Pipit, Pere David’s Snowfinch and Pallas’s Reed Bunting. In the south, in the valleys of the Gobi Altai Mountains, we found Altai Snowcock (heard only), Kozlov’s (or Mongolian) and Brown Accentors, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, White-winged Snowfinch, Godlewski’s Bunting, Bearded Vulture, Wallcreeper and, as a big bonus, a cute Pallas’s Cat. The dry steppes just north of the Gobi Altai rewarded us with a breeding pair of Oriental Plovers and many Pallas’s Sandgrouse, while around Khongoryn Els, a spectacular area of huge sand dunes, we saw the attractive Saxaul Sparrow, Mongolian Finch and Mongolian Ground Jay. Finally, a short visit to Hustai National Park gave us an opportunity to see the reintroduced Przewalski’s Horse in good numbers and provided good views of Daurian Partridge. A prominent feature throughout the tour was the occurrence of many migrating passerines, which were attracted to even the smallest groups of trees or bushes for food and shelter. Dusky, Pallas’s Leaf and Arctic Warblers, Taiga and Asian Brown Flycatchers and Hawfinch were the most frequently sighted species, but we also enjoyed sightings of Eyebrowed, Dusky and Naumann’s Thrushes, Siberian Blue Robin, Siberian Rubythroat, Two-barred and Thick-billed Warblers and Dark-sided Flycatcher.

Mammals are a prominent feature of this tour and, in addition to Pallas’s Cat, we saw Red Fox, Long-eared Hedgehog, Wapiti, Siberian Ibex, Goitered and Mongolian Gazelles, Argali, Tolai Hare, Daurian and Pallas’s Pikas, Tarbagan Marmot, Alashan and Long-tailed Ground Squirrels, Northern Three-toed and Siberian Jerboas, Brandt’s Vole and Central Midday Jird.

Our ‘Easy’ Mongolia tour got off to an easy start, with most of the first day spent birding close to our pleasant hotel, situated along the nearby Tuul (or Tola) River on the outskirts of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Here, the three specialities—the fluffy Azure Tit, the dainty White-crowned Penduline Tit (at the nest) and the lovely Siberian Long-tailed Rosefinch—were found without much difficulty. Additional species included Bar-headed and Swan Geese, Mandarin Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Common Merganser, Eastern Spot-billed Duck, a single Black Stork, Great Cormorant, Common and Fork-tailed Swifts, Golden Eagle, large numbers of ‘Black-eared’ Black Kites (form lineatus), Common Hoopoe, a few Amur Falcons, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, the baicalensis form of White Wagtail, Great Tit, Daurian Jackdaw, Azure-winged Magpie, Red-billed Chough, ‘Oriental’ Carrion Crow, ‘Oriental’ Rook, Northern Raven, White-cheeked Starling, Daurian Redstart, a breeding pair of Pied Wheatears and a few Northern Wheatears, 70 Hawfinches (they were everywhere), Common Rosefinch and Eurasian Siskin. A selection of interesting migrants included Brown Shrike, Pallas’s Leaf, Dusky and Arctic Warblers, many Taiga and a few Asian Brown Flycatchers, Siberian Rubythroat, several Eyebrowed Thrushes and Little and Black-faced Buntings. Sightings of Dusky and Naumann’s Thrushes and Siberian Blue Robin were the only ones of the tour. In addition, we sighted Wapitis and Tarbagan Marmots here.

An afternoon visit to a nearby lake yielded breeding Whooper Swan, some Common Goldeneyes, Common Pochards, Tufted Ducks, Garganeys, five Falcated Ducks (the only ones of the tour), Gadwalls, a single Eurasian Wigeon, a pair of Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teals, Great Crested Grebes, Eurasian Coots, a few Black-winged Stilts, good numbers of Wood Sandpipers, a few Temminck’s Stints, a single Long-toed Stint for Edde, two Eurasian Spoonbills, the only Great Egret of the tour, our first Horned Larks, a gathering of 70 Citrine Wagtails, the tschutschensis and macronyx forms of Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Pallas’s Reed Buntings and the only Red-throated Pipit of the tour.

Next day birding near the hotel yielded a very showy Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and many of the same birds we had seen the previous day. Then it was time to pack the vehicles and head east to our next destination, the city of Baganuur, for a one-night stay. On the way, we did a little sightseeing, visiting the amazing Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, a 40-metre-tall, stainless-steel, statue erected in 2008 to honour the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongol Empire. Quite a sight! A few roadside birding stops produced Demoiselle Cranes, a total of 32 Cinereous Vultures, our first Grey Herons (a rare sight on this tour) and Isabelline Wheatears. After check-in and lunch at our comfortable hotel in Baganuur, we headed for the Kherlen River to explore the riverside habitat, where new and interesting birds included Mongolian Gull, two White-tailed Eagles, Siberian House and Sand Martins, Rock Sparrow and singing Blyth’s Pipits. A late-afternoon visit to a nearby plantation turned up some Black-faced Buntings and Arctic Warblers.

The next morning it was a 02.30 start for our destination, a forest area in the Khentiy Mountains north of Mongonmorit, where we arrived after a three-hour drive through partially roadless steppes. After a short walk in the larch forest, we started to hear the magical popping sound of our main target, the magnificent Black-billed Capercaillie, and soon located a total of perhaps five males sitting in trees and displaying on the ground some 50–70 metres away. During the next half-hour we enjoyed great scope views of the lekking males, but unfortunately the weather was cloudy, and it soon started raining, meaning that the photo opportunities were not great. As the rain intensified, we retreated to our vehicles for shelter and breakfast. Later, when the weather cleared, we birded in the surrounding forest, finding a gorgeous male Red-throated Thrush, the remains of a male Hazel Grouse, Common Cuckoo, Eastern Buzzards, a heard-only Black Woodpecker for some, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Tit, heard-only White’s Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail, Common Redstart, Common Rock Thrush, one Tree and good numbers of Olive-backed Pipits, two Pine Buntings and two Mistle Thrushes. After lunch in Mongonmorit, we started our journey south towards our next destination near Gun Galuut, stopping en route at a saline lake, where new birds included Common Shelduck, Pied Avocet and Spotted Redshank. We reached our very comfortable ger resort, with a beautiful view over the Kherlen River valley, in the late afternoon.

The next morning started in grim weather, with low temperatures, strong winds and even some rain showers, as we birded the bird-rich steppe lakes of Gun Galuut and Aygiin Nur. Despite the conditions, there were plenty of birds around and we enjoyed a great morning’s birding. Highlights included three Siberian Cranes, four beautiful White-naped Cranes, many Demoiselle Cranes and a single Common Crane, half a dozen Stejneger’s Scoters, Little and Black-necked Grebes, White-winged and Whiskered Terns, Mongolian Gulls, Steppe and White-tailed Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Eastern Marsh Harrier and Isabelline and Brown Shrikes. Waders were on the move, and we saw Pacific Golden Plover, 14 Whimbrels, three Black-tailed Godwits, Asian Dowitcher, Marsh Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpipers and Temminck’s, Long-toed, Little and Red-necked Stints (the last for Edde only).

In the afternoon, we visited the scenic Kherlen River valley, where we enjoyed additional views of the handsome White-naped Cranes and saw a female Hen Harrier, several splendid Mongolian Larks and Asian Short-toed Larks. A walk along the edge of a vast stand of willows yielded a pair of White-crowned Penduline Tits, a Wryneck and one of the few Lesser Whitethroats seen on the tour. A short walk up a rocky valley rewarded us with three Argali, Red Fox, a brief Yellow-breasted Bunting and two singing Meadow Buntings.

The next morning, before a very long drive south to the Gobi, we rechecked the steppe lakes, where new birds included a first-summer Common Gull and a flock of Horned Grebes. Later, we visited a nest box occupied by a Saker Falcon, which provided decent scope views. Another short stop, about 30 kilometres south of Zuunmod, produced Pere David’s Snowfinches. Next came a long drive—nearly 700 kilometres in total for the day—southwest through the heart of the country towards the distant Gobi Altai range. This involved first crossing more of the wide steppe lands of central Mongolia before eventually penetrating the much drier lands at the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. We reached our pleasant ger resort somewhat late in the evening, seeing our first Long-legged Buzzards, a brief Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Crested Larks, Desert Wheatears and Mongolian Gazelles on the way.

The following morning, we started early to reach the rocky gorges of Yolyn Am, at 2,000m asl, by sunrise and spent the first half of the day in this scenic and birdy area. During our visit, we explored the valleys, slopes and ridges, as well as the entrance to the deep and spectacular Yolyn Am gorge (Yolyn Am means ‘Valley of the Bearded Vulture’). Birds encountered during the morning included a heard-only Altai Snowcock for some, Chukar Partridge, the only Bearded Vulture of the tour and five Himalayan Vultures, Eurasian Crag Martin, a pair of Sulphur-bellied Warblers, Barred Warbler, two Wallcreepers, Black Redstart, a few of the little-known Kozlov’s Accentor (Mongolia’s sole endemic breeding bird), several Brown Accentors, many White-winged Snowfinches, Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, Twite and Godlewski’s Bunting. As an unexpected bonus, we had great scope views of Pallas’s Cat, an excellent spot by Nastaa. Other mammals seen in this excellent area included Pallas’s Pika, Alashan and Long-tailed Ground Squirrels, Argali and good numbers of Siberian Ibex.

In the afternoon, it was back out onto the endless open plains, where, after some dedicated searching, our main quarry, Oriental Plover, was located. Initially the bird, a male, was really far away, but after a careful approach we discovered that it was accompanied by a female, which at one point settled down on its nest. We did not want to disturb the female any further and left her there, but the male proved to be very confiding and offered great views and photo opportunities. It was also good to get wonderful views of Greater Sand Plovers in their beautiful breeding garb.

The next day we travelled to beautiful Khongoryn Els, where we arrived in time for lunch. Birding along the way produced our first Asian Desert Warblers, many Mongolian Finches and 50 Pallas’s Sandgrouse, with some really good views, including a female with chicks.

Then we birded the Khongoryn Els area, with its impressive sand dunes as a backdrop. Highlights included Saxaul Sparrow, Eurasian Nightjar (found by Simon), Pacific Golden Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Temminck’s, Long-toed and Little Stints, Green Sandpiper, a few more Long-legged Buzzards, Great Grey Shrike (pallidirostris) and Yellow-breasted Bunting. A short spotlighting session around the resort after dark produced Common Long-eared Hedgehog and Northern Three-toed Jerboa.

We left Khongoryn Els behind early the next morning, as we had a bird to catch, and headed back towards Gobi Nomad Lodge, this time following the more southerly route. The huge sand dunes, patterned by shadows and sunlit ridges, created an amazing texture of wavy lines in the early morning sun, and we had to stop more than once to photograph the view. After a 50-kilometre drive, we reached the habitat of Mongolian Ground Jay, an important target species for most of us. After some scanning and a couple of distant glimpses, we found the right spot and soon obtained great views of this very special bird. In total, we estimated that we saw ten different individuals at this hotspot. Other birds seen during the journey included Little Owl at one of the many cattle farms along the way and 80 or so Pallas’s Sandgrouse.

In the afternoon, Nastaa, our guide, first took us to a Desert Finch nest in downtown Dalanzadgad, where we had the female sitting on the nest and the male also showing briefly. A walk in the city park produced the usual migrants: Pallas’s Leaf, Arctic and Dusky Warblers. A very windy visit to a reservoir on the outskirts of the city produced a Chinese Pond Heron, our first leucopsis White Wagtail and Stock Dove, all new for the list.

Next morning we headed back to the Yolyn Am valley for a second try for Altai Snowcock, but unfortunately the weather, with gale-force winds, rain and sleet and low cloud with minimal visibility, made it impossible to do any meaningful birding. After about two hours, we called it a day and moved on. A breakfast stop at a reservoir on the outskirts of Dalanzadgad yielded a flock of 60 White-winged Terns and two Whiskered Terns in beautiful morning light. The rest of the day was spent travelling back to Ulaanbaatar, where we arrived late in the evening, having stopped on route at Nastaa’s friend’s house for lunch.

The next morning saw us around our hotel along the Tuul River, where the main find was a Thick-billed Warbler, a first for this tour. Then a quick visit to a nearby lake, which now held far fewer birds than on our first visit, before we drove to our accommodation near Hustai National Park, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, birding along the main valley of Hustai NP yielded some Steppe and Golden Eagles, two Crested Honey Buzzards (a new bird for us), Saker Falcon and the usual Isabelline Wheatears and Mongolian Larks that are so common in this habitat. A visit to a secluded side valley rewarded us with our main avian target, a confiding pair of Daurian Partridges, and Eurasian Hobby (another new bird for us). We also enjoyed good views and photo opportunities of Pied Wheatear and Meadow Bunting. Hustai NP is famous for its reintroduced Przewalski’s Horse (or Takhi, as it is known in Mongolian), and we had good views of this major tourist attraction during the afternoon.

Next morning in Hustai NP gave us great views of the Wild Horses that gather in the bottoms of the valleys for the night. Avian highlights in various parts of the area included our first Two-barred Warblers of the tour. After a late breakfast, it was time to leave Hustai to visit a large wetland area by the Tuul River, where, amongst many wildfowl we had already seen earlier, we saw Greylag Goose, Red-crested Pochard, and had good views of Common Snipe, Ruff, Paddyfield Warbler, Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Asian Dowitcher. In the evening, two Dark-sided Flycatchers by our hotel in Ulaanbaatar were the last new birds for the tour. After dinner and drinks at the hotel, it was time to say our goodbyes and thank everyone for their excellent company, which, together with all the wonderful birds and exciting places, combined to make this such a memorable trip.

‘BIRDS OF THE TRIP’ WINNERS:

1st: Black-billed Capercaillie

2nd: Oriental Plover

3rd: Mongolian Ground Jay

4th: Siberian Crane

5th: Wallcreeper

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follow AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025b. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025b

BIRDS

Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Bar-headed Goose  Anser indicus  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Greylag Goose (Eastern G G)  Anser [anser] rubrirostris  40 at the Tuul River on our last day.

Swan Goose ◊  Anser cygnoides  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Mandarin Duck  Aix galericulata  A few at the Mongolica hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Common Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna  Good numbers at a lake near Mongonmorit, at Gun Galuut and the Tuva River marshes.

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea  Omnipresent at wetlands and surrounding areas throughout.

Stejneger’s Scoter ◊  Melanitta stejnegeri  Six near Gun Galuut.

Common Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula  Widespread in small numbers at wetlands throughout the tour.

Common Merganser (Goosander)  Mergus merganser  Small numbers at some rivers and wetlands.

Red-crested Pochard  Netta rufina  Six at the Tuul River on our last day.

Common Pochard  Aythya ferina  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula  Small numbers at some wetlands.

Garganey  Spatula querquedula  Small numbers at some wetlands.

Northern Shoveler  Spatula clypeata  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Falcated Duck  Mareca falcata  Five at Swan Pool on our first day.

Gadwall  Mareca strepera  Widespread at wetlands.

Eurasian Wigeon  Mareca penelope  Small numbers at four different wetlands.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Chinese S-b D)  Anas zonorhyncha  Only a handful of birds were seen.

Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Northern Pintail  Anas acuta  Only a few were noted.

Green-winged Teal (Common T)  Anas crecca  Widespread at wetlands throughout the tour.

Hazel Grouse ◊  Tetrastes bonasia  Remnants of a male were found in Khentiy mountains.

Black-billed Capercaillie ◊  Tetrao urogalloides  Great views of six lekking males in Khentiy mountains.

Daurian Partridge ◊  Perdix dauurica  A pair at Hustai NP.

Altai Snowcock ◊  Tetraogallus altaicus  Heard only by some at Yolun Am valley.

Chukar Partridge  Alectoris chukar  Great views of four at Yolun Am valley.

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis  Two sightings of a single bird.

Horned Grebe (Slavonian G)  Podiceps auritus  Three at Gun Galuut on our last morning.

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus  Widespread in small numbers at wetlands.

Black-necked Grebe (Eared G)  Podiceps nigricollis  A maximum count of 18 at Gun Galuut.

Common Cuckoo (Eurasian C)  Cuculus canorus  A handful of observations.

Pallas’s Sandgrouse ◊  Syrrhaptes paradoxus  Up to 80 a day, including a female with chicks, in the Gobi area.

Eurasian Collared Dove  Streptopelia decaocto  Small numbers were noted on five days.

Hill Pigeon ◊  Columba rupestris  One in Yolun Am valley.

Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral Pigeon)  Columba [livia] var_domestica

Stock Dove  Columba oenas  Two in the outskirts of Dalanzadgad.

Siberian Crane ◊  Leucogeranus leucogeranus  A total of three at Gun Galuut was an unexpected bonus.

White-naped Crane ◊  Antigone vipio  A total of seven with some good views at Gun Galuut and Kherlen river valley. Probably the most stylish crane.

Demoiselle Crane ◊  Grus virgo  Widespread,, noted on seven days with 45 at Gun Galuut being the maximum count.

Common Crane  Grus grus  One at Gun Galuut.

Eurasian Coot (Common C)  Fulica atra  Widespread at wetlands.

Pied Avocet  Recurvirostra avosetta

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

Pacific Golden Plover  Pluvialis fulva  One at Gun Galuut and three at Khongoryn Els.

Little Ringed Plover  Thinornis dubius  Common at wetlands and braided river valleys.

Northern Lapwing  Vanellus vanellus  Common at some wetlands.

Oriental Plover ◊  Anarhynchus veredus  Great views of breeding pair in the steppes below Yolun Am.

Greater Sand Plover  Anarhynchus leschenaultii  Small numbers in the steppes in the south.

Eurasian Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus  A flock of 14 at Gun Galuut.

Black-tailed Godwit ◊ (Eastern B-t G)  Limosa [limosa] melanuroides  Three at Gun Galuut and ten at Tuul River marshes.

Asian Dowitcher ◊ (Asiatic D)  Limnodromus semipalmatus  One at Gun Galuut and five at Tuul River marshes.

Pin-tailed Snipe (Pintail S)  Gallinago stenura  One for some at our accommodation in Kherlen valley.

Common Snipe  Gallinago gallinago  Three at Tuul River marshes.

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos  Widespread in small numbers.

Red-necked Phalarope  Phalaropus lobatus  One at Khongoryn Els.

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus  Two were noted.

Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis  Four at Gun Galuut and ten at Tuul River marshes.

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola  Widespread at wetlands.

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus  Widespread at wetlands.

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus  One at a lake near Mongonmorit.

Ruff  Calidris pugnax  Two at Tuul River marshes.

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea  Three at Gun Galuut and two at Tuul River marshes.

Red-necked Stint  Calidris ruficollis  One was photographed by Edde at Gun Galuut.

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii  Widespread in small numbers at wetlands.

Long-toed Stint  Calidris subminuta  Widespread in small numbers at wetlands.

Little Stint  Calidris minuta  Small numbers were seen on three days.

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida  Two sightings, first one at Gun Galuut and then two in the outskirts of Dalanzadgad.

White-winged Tern (W-w Black T)  Chlidonias leucopterus  First a singleton at Gun Galuut and then good numbers in the south near Dalanzadgad and again in the north near Hustai and at the Tuul river marshes.

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo  Widespread.

Black-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus  Small numbers were noted on many wetland areas.

Common Gull  Larus canus  A first-summer bird at Gun Galuut.

Mongolian Gull ◊  Larus mongolicus  Noted on four days.

Black Stork  Ciconia nigra  Three sightings in the north at the beginning of the tour.

Great Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo  A few near our hotel in Ulanbaatar and at Gun Galuut.

Eurasian Spoonbill  Platalea leucorodia  Two at Swan Pool near Ulanbaatar and one at Gun Galuut.

Chinese Pond Heron  Ardeola bacchus  One near Dalanzadgad.

Great Egret  Ardea alba  One at Swan Pool near Ulanbaatar

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea  Small numbers at some wetlands.

Eurasian Nightjar  Caprimulgus europaeus  Thanks to Simon’s perseverance we added this species at Khongoryn Els.

Fork-tailed Swift  Apus pacificus  Widespread.

Common Swift  Apus apus  Widespread.

Little Owl  Athene noctua  One was spotted by Fritz near Khongoryn Els.

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)  Gypaetus barbatus  One at Yolun Am.

Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H B)  Pernis [ptilorhynchus] orientalis  Two at Hustai NP.

Cinereous Vulture (Eurasian Black V)  Aegypius monachus  Widespread and common.

Himalayan Vulture (H Griffon V)  Gyps himalayensis  Six at Yolun Am and one near Khongoryn Els.

Steppe Eagle  Aquila nipalensis  Scattered few with a maximum of eight at Hustai NP.

Golden Eagle  Aquila chrysaetos  Small numbers were noted on five days.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus  One at Bulgan reservoir in the south. In addition, two unidentified Accipiters were seen.

Hen Harrier  Circus cyaneus  One at the Kherlen river.

Eastern Marsh Harrier  Circus spilonotus  One at Gun Galuut and another at the Tuul River marshes.

Black Kite (Black-eared K)  Milvus [migrans] lineatus  Widespread and common.

White-tailed Eagle  Haliaeetus albicilla  Two by the Kherlen river near Baganuur and one at Gun Galuut.

Upland Buzzard ◊  Buteo hemilasius  Small numbers noted on five days.

Long-legged Buzzard  Buteo rufinus  Small numbers noted in the south.

Eastern Buzzard ◊ (Japanese B)  Buteo japonicus  Two in the forests near Mongonmorit.

Common Hoopoe  Upupa epops  Widespread sightings through the tour.

Eurasian Wryneck  Jynx torquilla  One at Kherlen valley and two in Hustai NP.

Black Woodpecker  Dryocopus martius  Heard only in Khentiy mountains by Simon and Edde.

Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopos major  Five in Khentiy mountains.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker  Dryobates minor  Great views of one near Ulanbaatar.

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus  Only a few identified. In addition, 10 unidentified kestrels (tinnunculus/naumanni) were seen.

Amur Falcon ◊  Falco amurensis  Small numbers in the north.

Eurasian Hobby  Falco subbuteo  Two in Hustai NP.

Saker Falcon ◊  Falco cherrug  One inside a nest box near Gun Galuut and then two in Hustai and one very showy individual at the Tuul river area.

Great Grey Shrike ◊ (Steppe G S)  Lanius [excubitor] pallidirostris  Only one brief sighting in Khongoryn Els.

Isabelline Shrike  Lanius isabellinus  Common around Gun Galuut and then again in the south.

Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus  Widespread.

Red-billed Chough  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax  Common and widespread.

Azure-winged Magpie (Asian A-w M)  Cyanopica cyanus  A few around our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Eurasian Magpie  Pica pica  Widespread.

Mongolian Ground Jay  Podoces hendersoni  Ten or so, with excellent views, in the south.

Daurian Jackdaw ◊  Coloeus dauuricus  Common and widespread.

Rook ◊ (Oriental R)  Corvus [frugilegus] pastinator  Common and widespread.

Northern Raven (Common R)  Corvus corax  Widespread in small numbers.

Carrion Crow ◊ (Oriental C)  Corvus [corone] orientalis  Widespread in small numbers.

White-crowned Penduline Tit ◊  Remiz coronatus  Small numbers, including a pair at nest, around our hotel in Ulanbaatar, and two in the willows at the Kherlen River.

Azure Tit ◊  Cyanistes cyanus  Small numbers around our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Great Tit  Parus major  Small numbers around our hotel in Ulanbaatar

Coal Tit  Periparus ater  Heard only in Khentiy mountains.

Willow Tit  Poecile montanus  Six in Khentiy mountains.

Eurasian Skylark  Alauda arvensis  Rather common around Gun Galuut and then again at the Tuul River marshes.

Crested Lark  Galerida cristata  Small numbers in the south.

Horned Lark ◊ (Mongolian H L)  Eremophila [alpestris] brandti  Widespread.

Mongolian Lark ◊  Melanocorypha mongolica  Common in the steppe habitats in the north.

Asian Short-toed Lark ◊  Alaudala cheleensis  Common in some steppe areas along the northern parts of our route.

Turkestan Short-toed Lark ◊  Alaudala heinei  Not positively identified in the field, but birds occurring in southern Mongolia, in the Dalanzadgad-Khogoryn Els area, should be of this species.

Thick-billed Warbler ◊  Arundinax aedon  One near the hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Paddyfield Warbler ◊  Acrocephalus agricola  One at a small reed bed at the Tuul River marshes.

Sand Martin (Bank Swallow)  Riparia riparia ijimae  Several encounters along the larger rivers in the north.

Pale Martin ◊  Riparia diluta  Non-leader bird was identified at Gun Galuut.

Eurasian Crag Martin  Ptyonoprogne rupestris  A few seen in the south.

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica  Widespread.

Siberian House Martin ◊  Delichon lagopodum  Sighted on three days.

Yellow-browed Warbler  Phylloscopus inornatus  A handful of individuals, all in the north.

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus proregulus  One of the commonest migrants, noted almost daily.

Sulphur-bellied Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus griseolus  Two, a pair, at Yolun Am.

Dusky Warbler  Phylloscopus fuscatus  Common migrant, noted almost daily.

Two-barred Warbler (T-b Greenish W)  Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus  Two with brilliant views, in Hustai NP.

Arctic Warbler  Phylloscopus borealis  Common migrant.

Barred Warbler  Curruca nisoria  Two sightings in the south.

Lesser Whitethroat  Curruca curruca  Only two sightings.

Asian Desert Warbler ◊  Curruca nana  Noted on two days in Gobi.

Wallcreeper  Tichodroma muraria  Two, a pair, at Yolun Am.

White-cheeked Starling ◊  Spodiopsar cineraceus  Widespread in small numbers.

White’s Thrush ◊  Zoothera aurea  Heard only in the Khentiy mountains.

Mistle Thrush  Turdus viscivorus  Two in the Khentiy mountains.

Red-throated Thrush ◊  Turdus ruficollis  A brilliant male in the Khentiy mountains.

Naumann’s Thrush ◊  Turdus naumanni  A singleton at our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Dusky Thrush ◊  Turdus eunomus  A singleton at our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Eyebrowed Thrush ◊  Turdus obscurus  Ten or so in the north during the first three days of the tour.

Dark-sided Flycatcher  Muscicapa sibirica  Two at our hotel in Ulanbaatar in the last evening.

Asian Brown Flycatcher  Muscicapa dauurica  Small numbers were seen

Siberian Rubythroat  Calliope calliope  A total of five birds, all in the north, were seen

Siberian Blue Robin  Larvivora cyane  A singleton at our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F)  Ficedula albicilla  A widespread migrant.

Red-flanked Bluetail  Tarsiger cyanurus  One female at Khentiy mountains.

Daurian Redstart  Phoenicurus auroreus  Noted on five days.

Black Redstart (Eastern B R)  Phoenicurus ochruros  Two at Yolun Am on both visits.

Common Redstart  Phoenicurus phoenicurus  Four in Khentiy mountains, where breeding, and one migrant at Gobi Nomad Lodge.

Common Rock Thrush (Rufous-tailed R T)  Monticola saxatilis  Two in Khentiy mountains.

Siberian Stonechat (Siberian S)  Saxicola [maurus] maurus  One at Gun Galuut was the only observation.

Desert Wheatear  Oenanthe deserti  Rather common in the south.

Pied Wheatear  Oenanthe pleschanka  Breeding pairs noted near Ulanbaatar, Kherlen River valley and Hustai NP.

Northern Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe  Rather widespread in small numbers.

Isabelline Wheatear  Oenanthe isabellina  Widespread and often common.

Kozlov’s Accentor ◊ (Mongolian A)  Prunella koslowi  Two, with great views, at Yolun Am. A breeding endemic.

Brown Accentor ◊  Prunella fulvescens  Great views at Yolun Am, where fairly common.

Rock Sparrow (Rock Petronia)  Petronia petronia  Widespread.

White-winged Snowfinch  Montifringilla nivalis  Common at Yolun Am.

Pere David’s Snowfinch ◊ (Small S)  Pyrgilauda davidiana  Ten or so were seen

Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus  Widespread.

Saxaul Sparrow ◊  Passer ammodendri  Four, with great views, at Khongoryn Els.

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus  Scattered records of small numbers.

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea  A few scattered records.

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola  Widespread at wetland sites. Usually in small numbers but 70 at Swan Lake near Ulanbaatar.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Alaskan W)  Motacilla [tschutschensis] tschutschensis  Two at Swan Lake near Ulanbaatar.

Eastern Yellow Wagtail (E Grey-headed W)  Motacilla [tschutschensis] macronyx  Six at Swan Lake near Ulanbaatar and five at the Tuul River marsh.

White Wagtail ◊ (Baikal W)  Motacilla [alba] baicalensis  Fairly widespread.

White Wagtail ◊ (Amur W, Chinese W)  Motacilla [alba] leucopsis  Two in the outskirts of Dalanzadgad.

Blyth’s Pipit ◊  Anthus godlewskii  Fairly common at several highland sites.

Richard’s Pipit  Anthus richardi  A handful of birds noted.

Tree Pipit  Anthus trivialis  One in Khentiy mountains.

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni  Common in Khentiy mountains, scattered few elsewhere.

Red-throated Pipit  Anthus cervinus  One near the Swan Pool near Ulanbaatar.

Water Pipit ◊  Anthus spinoletta  One at Yolun Am on our second visit.

Hawfinch  Coccothraustes coccothraustes  Widespread and occasionally numerous migrant.

Common Rosefinch (Scarlet R)  Carpodacus erythrinus  A scattering of sightings.

Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus davidianus  Four at Yolun Am.

Long-tailed Rosefinch  Carpodacus sibiricus  Four, including a pair at nest, on three days at our hotel near Ulanbaatar.

Mongolian Finch ◊  Bucanetes mongolicus  Locally common in the Khongoryn Els area.

Desert Finch  Rhodospiza obsoleta  A pair at nest in downtown Dalanzadgad.

Twite  Linaria flavirostris  Two at Yolun Am.

Eurasian Siskin  Spinus spinus  One at our hotel near Ulanbaatar and a flock of five near Bulgan reservoir in the south.

Pallas’s Reed Bunting ◊  Emberiza pallasi  A scattering of sightings.

Yellow-breasted Bunting ◊  Emberiza aureola  Three sightings of this declining species.

Little Bunting  Emberiza pusilla  One at the hotel near Ulanbaatar and another one in the Kherlen river valley.

Black-faced Bunting  Emberiza spodocephala  A scattering of records.

Meadow Bunting ◊  Emberiza cioides  Two males at the Kherlen River Valley and a pair in Hustai NP.

Godlewski’s Bunting ◊  Emberiza godlewskii  Four at Yolun Am.

Pine Bunting ◊  Emberiza leucocephalos  Two in Khentyi mountains.

MAMMALS

Common Long-eared Hedgehog  Hemiechinus auritus  One was spotlighted at our resort in Khongoryn Els.

Pallas’s Cat (Manul)  Otocolobus manul  One at Yolun Am was a nice surprise.

Red Fox  Vulpes vulpes  One in Kherlen Valley.

Wild Horse (introduced)  Equus [ferus] przewalskii  Common in Hustai.

Wapiti (American Elk)  Cervus canadensis  Common in Hustai NP and four at our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Siberian Ibex  Capra sibirica  40 or so in Yolun Am and one at our hotel in Ulanbaatar.

Goitered Gazelle (Black-tailed G)  Gazella subgutturosa  Good sightings in the south.

Argali  Ovis ammon  Three in the Kherlen River valley and four in Hustai NP.

Mongolian Gazelle  Procapra gutturosa  Three en route to Gobi and total of 11 in the Khongoryn Els area.

Tolai Hare  Lepus tolai  Scattered records.

Daurian Pika  Ochotona dauurica  Seen at Yolun Am and on route to Khongoryn Els.

Pallas’s Pika (Mongolian P)  Ochotona pallasi  Seen at Yolun Am and enroute to Khongoryn Els.

Tarbagan Marmot  Marmota sibirica  Very common in Hustai NP but only a few elsewhere.

Alashan Ground Squirrel  Spermophilus alashanicus  A handful of individuals in the south.

Long-tailed Ground Squirrel  Urocitellus undulatus  Rather common in Hustai NP and a few elsewhere.

Northern Three-toed Jerboa (Hairy-footed J)  Dipus sagitta  Good showing at our camp in Khongoryn Els.

Siberian Jerboa  Orientallactaga sibirica  Seen on the drive between Mongonmorit and Gun Galuut.

Brandt’s Vole  Lasiopodomys brandtii  Noted in Hustai NP.

Central Midday Jird  Meriones meridianus  Rather common in the south.

REPTILES

Gobi Racerunner  Eremias przewalskii

Tuvan Toed-headed Agama  Phrynocephalus versicolor