The Ultimate In Birding Tours

Asia (and its islands)

CHINA’S SICHUAN & NORTHERN YUNNAN: The Ultimate Chinese Endemics Tour

Friday 16th May – Wednesday 4th June 2025

Leaders: Simon Mitchell and a local bird guide

20 Days Group Size Limit 7 (full)
Northern Yunnan Extension

Tuesday 13th May – Friday 16th May 2025

4 Days Group Size Limit 7
Saturday 16th May – Thursday 4th June 2026

Leaders: Pete Morris and a local bird guide

20 Days Group Size Limit 7
Northern Yunnan Extension

Wednesday 13th May – Saturday 16th May 2026

4 Days Group Size Limit 7

CHINA’S SICHUAN & NORTHERN YUNNAN BIRDING TOUR: OVERVIEW

Birdquest’s Sichuan & Northern Yunnan, China birding tours explore the richest part of this fascinating country in terms of endemic birds and other Chinese specialities. Our Sichuan & Northern Yunnan, China birding tours explore southwest China and offer an unsurpassed number of Chinese endemics and other major specialities during a single tour, not to mention fantastic scenery and wonderful cuisine.

Highlights of our Sichuan, China birding tours include a fabulous series of pheasants, including Lady Amherst’s and Golden Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan, Chinese Monal and White and Blue Eared Pheasants, Chinese (or Severtzov’s) Grouse, Verreaux’s Monal Partridge, Black-necked Crane, Sichuan Jay, Firethroat, Chinese Rubythroat, White-speckled (or Biet’s) and Sukatschev’s Laughingthrushes, Golden-fronted Fulvetta, an amazing variety of parrotbills and leaf warblers, Yunnan Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Finch (a monotypic family) and on a few occasions we have even encountered the very rare Blackthroat.

China is a vast and enigmatic land that has long fascinated outsiders. For naturalists, it has been China’s wealth of endemic birds and mammals, epitomized by the Giant Panda and the rare pheasants and other birds that inhabit the mountains along the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau, that has exerted an almost irresistible attraction. As with so many other remote areas, the difficulties associated with getting there, whether natural hazards or man-made obstacles, merely added to the fascination. Even now, with access much easier, comparatively few birders have had the opportunity to see for themselves the marvellous endemic birds of China.

The diversity of birdlife is somewhat limited in parts of the heavily populated east (although even here there are some superb areas for birding) but, in complete contrast, vast tracts of the north, west and centre of China are sparsely populated and this enormous region offers some of the finest birding in Asia. For those with a particular interest in Asian birds, or indeed for anyone who loves to travel far from the beaten track, a visit to interior China offers something uniquely rewarding.

During this exciting tour, we shall visit Sichuan and northern Yunnan, a region in the very heart of China that best reflects the astonishing avian diversity of this huge country (which has an avifauna of over 1300 species). Sichuan and northern Yunnan lie at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and these superb provinces have the richest concentration of Chinese specialities, holding around two-thirds of the country’s endemic birds! Not only do Sichuan and northern Yunnan offer the best opportunities for seeing China’s prime specialities, but due to the great diversity of their habitats, ranging from the subtropical lowlands of the Red Basin and rich evergreen foothill forests to cool temperate zone forests, alpine meadows, dramatic snow-capped mountain peaks and vast grasslands at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, there is a remarkable wealth of birds in general. Without a doubt, Sichuan and northern Yunnan are the very best of China!

This ‘Ultimate Chinese Endemics’ tour, producing more of the endemic birds of China than any other itinerary, is a fabulous adventure, with incredible scenery as well as wonderful, rarely observed birds. Dramatic improvements in the standard of accommodation and in the condition of the roads in recent years (they are now often good or even very good), combined with the discovery of new areas with easier access for birding, mean that this is no longer such a tough tour as it once was. A bonus is some of the best food we encounter on any Birdquest tour!

We start our Sichuan, China birding tour in Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan where we can look for a number of birds that are Chinese near-endemics.

From Chengdu, we travel southwards to Wawushan in the Leshan region, where the forests hold Grey-hooded and Three-toed Parrotbills, the handsome Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy and Red-winged Laughingthrushes, White-collared Yuhina, David’s, Grey-hooded and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Emei, Claudia’s, Kloss’s, and Sichuan Leaf Warblers, Sichuan and Chestnut Thrushes, Golden Bush Robin, Sichuan Treecreeper, and Yellow-bellied and Pere David’s (or Rusty-breasted) Tits. We will also have a first opportunity to find the thinly distributed Pere David’s (or Rusty-breasted) Tit. As a great mammal bonus, we also have an excellent chance of close-range views of the cute Red Panda!

At beautiful Longcanggou we will be hoping to find the rare endemic Golden-fronted Fulvetta and the lovely Streaked Barwing. A number of other desirable middle-altitude species are possible here, including Fujian Niltava, Chinese Blue Flycatcher and Dusky Fulvetta.

Heading further northwards, the forests of Labahe offer opportunities to encounter remarkably tame and truly stunning Temminck’s Tragopans and Lady Amherst’s Pheasants. Other species found here include Blue-fronted Redstart and Chestnut-crowned and Grey-sided Bush Warblers.

From Labahe, we continue to the famous reserve at Wolong, the site of the World Wildlife Fund’s Giant Panda research project. Here we shall search for more exciting specialities, including the superb White Eared Pheasant, the awesome Chinese Monal, the fabulous Golden Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, the stunning Firethroat, the lovely Chinese Rubythroat, the strange Grandala, Martens’s Warbler, Barred Laughingthrush, Sooty Bushtit and the unobtrusive Slaty Bunting, many amidst truly dramatic mountain scenery at the Balang Shan pass. There are even chances here for Sharpe’s Rosefinch and Tibetan Serin (or Tibetan Siskin) and a very slim one for the rare and little-known Blackthroat.

Beyond Balang Shan lies the Maerkang region where we have great chances for both Chinese Grouse and Verreaux’s Monal Partridge in the coniferous forests of Mengbi Shan, as well as Sichuan Jay and Himalayan Beautiful, Pink-rumped, Three-banded and Chinese White-browed Rosefinches.

From Maerkang, we shall continue our journey westwards, climbing over high, spruce- and scrub-clad passes, until we come to the high grasslands of the edge of the Tibetan Plateau itself, a wild landscape where swarthy Tibetan herders still graze their yaks, ponies and sheep, and where the nomadic lifestyle still continues into the 21st century.

Here, in the Ruoergai region and elsewhere, we will explore this mix of habitats for such special birds as Chinese (or Severtzov’s) Grouse, the mighty Blue Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Verreaux’s Monal Partridge, the rare Black-necked Crane, the magnificent ‘Pere David’s Owl’ (now lumped in Ural Owl), Salim Ali’s Swift, Tibetan Lark, Giant (or Tibetan) Grey Shrike, Maroon-backed Accentor, Kessler’s and Chinese Thrushes, Alpine and Chinese Leaf Warblers, the superb little Crested Tit-Warbler, Giant, Elliot’s and Snowy-cheeked (or Sukatschev’s) Laughingthrushes, Chinese Fulvetta, Spectacled Parrotbill, Daurian Jackdaw, the strange Ground Tit (or Groundpecker), White-browed and Sichuan Tits, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Przevalski’s and Chinese Nuthatches, Black-winged (or Tibetan), White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinches, and Grey-headed Bullfinch. High on many group members’ wants lists will be the lovely Przevalski’s (or Pink-tailed) Finch, which is now treated as a monotypic bird family but which is hard to see on this itinerary.

From the Tibetan Plateau grasslands around Ruoergai, already sated with China’s avian riches, we head southwards and eastwards, breaking our journey back to Chengdu at Gonggangling, situated close to the meeting point of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu provinces. Here, we will have an extra opportunity for some specialities that can prove tricky. [Note: The star attraction in the surrounding region used to be the little-known Rufous-headed Robin, which Birdquest first discovered at Jiuzhaigou in 1984, but sadly the tiny population appears to have died out, and no other regular sites are currently known!]

For some additional marvellous birds, we have an optional extension to Lijiang in northern Yunnan, situated not far from the awesome peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Here we will be searching out the little-known White-speckled (or Biet’s) Laughingthrush, Spectacled Fulvetta, Black-browed Bushtit, Yunnan Nuthatch and Rufous-tailed Babbler (or Moupinia), as well as Black-breasted Thrush, Moustached Laughingthrush, Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Yunnan Fulvetta, Black-bibbed Tit and Black-headed Greenfinch.

At the end of our visit to this ornithological Mecca, we shall reluctantly head for home, taking back memories of many marvellous birds and an endless panoply of scenic splendour.

Birdquest pioneered Sichuan, China birding tours as far back as 1984.

What makes the Birdquest Sichuan and Northern Yunnan, China birding tour special?: As well as our very comprehensive itinerary, which is the best single itinerary there is for seeing Chinese endemic birds, and extensive experience of the area (since 1984!), the Birdquest group size limit is lower than for almost all other Sichuan birding tours (significantly so in some instances). There is a lot of forest birding in Sichuan and Yunnan and so a smaller group size limit is a major benefit to our guests.

Important: There have been closures of all or part of certain reserves in Sichuan for various reasons over the years. Flexibility has been key, and this itinerary represents our preferred route for our Sichuan birding tour but may need to be adjusted according to the situation at the time we visit. [Note: Our information is that the reserve at Erlang Shan is presently closed to foreign visitors. It is a good venue for Sharpe’s Rosefinch and Streaked Barwing in particular, so if it ever reopens to overseas birders we would want to include a visit.]

Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels are mostly of a good standard, occasionally of medium standard. Road transport is by minibus/passenger van and roads are nowadays mostly very good.

Walking: The walking effort during our Sichuan & Northern Yunnan, China birding tour is mostly easy or moderate. There are a very few optional more demanding walks including at higher altitudes.

Climate: Rather variable. At lower altitudes, it is generally warm or hot (and often rather humid), whilst at higher altitudes, temperatures range from cool to decidedly cold. At this season sunny periods alternate with rainy, overcast weather (and it may even snow at high altitudes).

Bird Photography: Opportunities during our Sichuan and Northern Yunnan, China birding tour are worthwhile.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • The rugged eastern terminus of the mighty Himalayas and some of the world’s most stunning scenery
  • Enchanting temperate forests loaded with a myriad of endemic birds
  • Being investigated by the inquisitive Grey-hooded Parrotbill
  • Seeing the shy Sichuan Partridge
  • Tracking down the pretty Golden-fronted Fulvetta at Longcanggou
  • Being circled by a tame male Temminck’s Tragopan and high-hopes of Red Panda at Labahe
  • Resplendant male Lady Amherst’s Pheasants right in front of our vehicle
  • Observing the stunning male Golden Pheasant
  • Magnificant Chinese Monals and White Eared Pheasants on the slopes of Balangshan
  • A singing male Chinese Rubythroat with a pulsating throat.
  • A vision of purple-blue Grandalas alighting in the rocky meadows
  • A rich burst of song betraying the presence of a beautiful Firethroat
  • A taste of the Tibetan Plateau at Ruoergai
  • Stately Black-necked Cranes in the meadows of Flower Lake, with the big Tibetan Lark in full song overhead
  • A Grey Wolf trotting past the crazy Ground Tit (or Groundpecker)
  • Dawn amidst high elevation conifers, in search of Pere David’s Owl, Sichuan Jay and Crested Tit-Warbler
  • The beautiful mixed forests of Sichuan, alive with warblers and babblers
  • Hoping to find the rare White-speckled (or Biet's) Laughing Thrush in Yunnan.
  • Those extra Chinese endemics and specialities at Lijiang in Yunnan that we won't see in Sichuan.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

  • NORTHERN YUNNAN EXTENSION
  • Day 1: Evening tour start at Lijiang.
  • Days 2-3: Lijiang region.
  • Day 4: Fly to Chengdu for start of main tour.
  • SICHUAN
  • Day 1: Evening tour start at Chengdu.
  • Day 2: Chengdu, then drive to Wawushan.
  • Days 3-5: Wawushan.
  • Day 6: Drive to Longcanggou.
  • Day 7: Longcanggou, then drive to Labahe.
  • Day 8: Labahe.
  • Day 9: Labahe, then drive to Wolong.
  • Days 10-11: Wolong and Balang Shan.
  • Day 12: Balang Shan, then drive to Maerkang.
  • Day 13: Mengbi Shan.
  • Day 14: Drive to Ruoergai.
  • Days 15-16: Ruoergai region.
  • Day 17: Drive to the Gonggangling.
  • Day 18: Jiuzhaigou area.
  • Day 19: Jiuzhaigou area, then return to Chengdu.
  • Day 20: Morning tour end at Chengdu airport.

To see a larger map, click on the square-like ‘enlarge’ icon in the upper right of the map box.

To see (or hide) the ‘map legend’, click on the icon with an arrow in the upper left of the map box.

To change to a satellite view, which is great for seeing the physical terrain (and for seeing really fine details by repetitive use of the + button), click on the square ‘map view’ icon in the lower left corner of the ‘map legend’.

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include surface transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers and accommodation/restaurant staff.

We also include this flight in our tour price:

Lijiang-Chengdu

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)


2025: confirmed price £5160, $6790, €6170, AUD10110. Chengdu/Chengdu.
Northern Yunnan Extension: £1100, $1450, €1310, AUD2160. Lijiang/Chengdu.
2026: provisional price £5230, $6890, €6260, AUD10260. Chengdu/Chengdu.
Northern Yunnan Extension: £1100, $1450, €1310, AUD2160. Lijiang/Chengdu.

Single Supplement: 2025: £520, $690, €620, AUD1020.
Northern Yunnan Extension: £90, $120, €100, AUD170.
Single Supplement: 2026: £520, $690, €620, AUD1020.
Northern Yunnan Extension: £90, $120, €100, AUD170.

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

Air Travel To & From The Tour:  Our in-house IATA ticket agency will be pleased to arrange your air travel on request, or you may arrange this yourself if you prefer.

SICHUAN & NORTHERN YUNNAN, CHINA BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Sichuan, China: Day 1  Our Sichuan, China birding tour begins this evening at Chengdu, where we will overnight. Airport transfers will be provided.

(If you would prefer us to arrange for any local flights inside China, we will be pleased to do so on request, even if you are arranging your international flights yourself.)

Sichuan, China: Day 2  Chengdu is situated near the western margin of the fertile plains of the Red Basin, not far from the high mountains that form the outer ramparts of the Tibetan Plateau. Early this morning we will take a look at one of Chengdu’s parks where we may well find such Chinese near-endemics as Light-vented (or Chinese) Bulbul, White-cheeked and Red-billed Starlings, Chinese (or Mandarin) Blackbird, Vinous-throated Parrotbill and the impressive Chinese (or Yellow-billed) Grosbeak. More widespread birds include More widespread species include Spotted Dove, Oriental Magpie-Robin, White-browed Laughingthrush, Black-throated Bushtit and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Today we will drive southwards to the mountainous area south and west of Leshan for a four nights stay at Wawushan.

Our route first takes us across the flat countryside of the Red Basin and through a very Chinese landscape of intensively cultivated patchwork of small fields, little villages of old-style cottages and tall clumps of bamboo. A few things seem little changed, whether it is the Chinese farmers planting the new rice crop or the villagers buying and selling from market stalls, but as we pass through the rapidly modernizing landscape, complete with high-rise buildings and an incredible amount of ongoing construction, we will gain an appreciation of just how much China’s economic boom has spread from the coast deep inland. Even the roads are a surprise to newcomers to China, with long stretches of expressway. After a time we reach the mountains and our pace of travel slows.

Along the way, we should see a few open country species such as Chinese Pond Heron, Little Egret, Barn Swallow and Long-tailed Shrike.

We will break the journey after reaching the foothills. Here amongst a mosaic of woodland patches, bamboo, cultivation and small hamlets, we may well encounter the endemic David’s Fulvetta and such near-endemics as Collared Finchbill and Yellow-bellied Tit. The breeding-endemic Swinhoe’s Minivet and near-endemic Chinese Hwamei (now much reduced by trapping) are uncommon but possible.

More widespread species that we could see here or elsewhere include Red-rumped Swallow, White Wagtail (of the form alboides), the arboreal Forest Wagtail, White-crowned Forktail, the delightful little Rufous-faced Warbler with its high-pitched, teetering song, Rufous-capped Babbler and perhaps Eurasian Jay and the smart Tiger Shrike.

Sichuan, China: Days 3-5  In the mountains of the Leshan region we will explore different habitats from attractive mixed forest all the way up to the high-altitude bamboo zone.

In the upper bamboos, we will seek out one of our prime targets, the little-known Grey-hooded Parrotbill, which is usually not too difficult to find. Emei Liocichla is another localized endemic, and this is also an excellent place to see the recently described endemic Sichuan Thrush and the endemic Sichuan Bush Warbler. Another major speciality of the area, which we have a good chance of seeing, is the endemic Sichuan Partridge.

Other specialities here include the restricted-range Chinese Bamboo Partridge, the breeding-endemic Emei and Claudias and breeding-near-endemic Kloss’s and Sichuan Leaf Warblers, the breeding-endemic Martens’s and Alstrom’s Warblers, the attractive, near-endemic Red-winged and endemic Buffy Laughingthrushes, the near-endemic Ashy-throated and Golden Parrotbills, near-endemic Golden Parrotbill, the endemic Dusky and Grey-hooded Fulvettas, the sweet-singing, breeding-endemic Chinese Blue Flycatcher, the restricted-range Chestnut-vented Nuthatch and with luck the uncommon, range-restricted Fujian Niltava.

This is a very birdy location, and we will also have our first chances for many other goodies such as the near-endemic Temminck’s Tragopan, the superb near-endemic Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, one of the most beautiful but most secretive of China’s pheasants, the near-endemic White-collared Yuhina, the spectacular Golden-breasted Fulvetta, the endemic Three-toed Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, the endemic Sichuan Treecreeper (a species of high-altitude conifers), the pretty Fire-capped Tit and the endemic Pere David’s (or Rusty-breasted) Tit.

A great bonus at Wawushan is a good chance of a close-up encounter with the very cute Red Panda!

More widespread species that we may well encounter include Crested (or Oriental) Honey Buzzard, the shy Koklass Pheasant, the vocal Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, Himalayan and Lesser Cuckoos, Asian Koel, Grey Nightjar, White-throated Needletail, Grey-headed, Grey-capped, Great Spotted, Darjeeling, White-backed, Crimson-breasted and Bay Woodpeckers and the sneaky Speckled Piculet.

An astonishing array of passerines includes the colourful Long-tailed Minivet, Eurasian Wren, skulking Indian Blue, White-browed and Golden Bush Robins, Plumbeous Water Redstart, White-capped Redstart, the skulking White-bellied Redstart, the secretive White-tailed Robin, Grey Bushchat, Blue Whistling Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Verditer, Rufous-gorgeted, Ferruginous, Dark-sided and Brown-breasted Flycatchers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Brown-flanked, Yellow-bellied and Aberrant Bush Warblers, the skulking Spotted and Brown Bush Warblers, Bianchi’s, Grey-crowned, Chestnut-crowned and Ashy-throated Warblers, Greenish, Large-billed Leaf and Hume’s Leaf Warblers, the secretive Pygmy Cupwing, the bold Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Red-billed Leiothrix, Red-tailed Minla, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, White-throated Laughingthrush, the shy Spotted Laughingthrush, White-browed Fulvetta, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Yellow-browed, Coal, Rufous-vented, Grey Crested and Green-backed Tits, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Large-billed Crow, Hair-crested Drongo, the beautiful Gould’s Sunbird, Japanese and Chestnut-flanked White-eyes, Olive-backed Pipit, Grey Wagtail and Vinaceous Rosefinch.

Sichuan China: Day 6  After some final birding in the mountains of the Leshan region we will travel further west to Longcanggou for a two nights stay.

Sichuan China: Day 7  The beautiful Longcanggou area is the best place in Sichuan for the uncommon endemic Gold-fronted Fulvetta and this will of course be our prime target. Another important speciality is the near-endemic Streaked Barwing.

Longcanggou is a great birding area and, as well as these two major specialities, we have good chances here to encounter many of the species already mentioned for earlier in the tour.

Sichuan, China: Day 8  After some final birding at Longcanggou we will make our way northwards to Labahe National Nature Reserve for a two nights stay.

Sichuan, China: Day 9  At higher levels at Labahe the areas of evergreen broadleaf woodland give way to deciduous woodland and ultimately open scrubby, grassy or bamboo-covered areas and stands of mixed coniferous-rhododendron forest (some of the latter will still be in flower at this season). While enjoying Labahe, some superb vistas can be had across a seemingly endless series of mountain ridges.

At Labahe we have a very good chance of getting great views of the incredible Temminck’s Tragopan and the beautiful Lady Amherst’s Pheasant. We will also be searching for Great and Brown Parrotbills and the uncommon Fulvous Parrotbill, and both Chestnut-crowned and Grey-sided Bush Warblers. We also have a first chance for the shy Slaty Bunting.

More widespread birds we may well encounter here include Himalayan Swiftlet, Brown Dipper, White-browed Shortwing, Blue-fronted Redstart, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Black-chinned Yuhina, Spotted Nutcracker, Russet Sparrow and Dark-breasted Rosefinch.

Labahe is a superb area and we will also have chances to catch up with many other species, including such specialities as Streaked Barwing. There is even another chance of encountering the lovely Red Panda.

Sichuan, China: Day 10  After some final birding at Labahe we will continue our journey to Wolong for a three nights stay.

Sichuan, China: Days 11-12  The Wolong Giant Panda Reserve is world-famous as a result of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s research and conservation efforts to save the species from extinction. The pioneering work on pandas by George Schaller was carried out in this beautiful region of forested mountains, bamboo thickets, alpine meadows and jagged, snow-covered peaks. During our stay in this wonderful part of China, we will be able to explore areas from about 2000m right up to the high alpine zone above 4000m. We shall be birding amidst some breathtaking mountain scenery, with the surrounding peaks rising to over 5500m and the even higher peak of Siguniang visible in the distance.

By using a road that climbs over the incredibly spectacular Balang Shan range by way of a high pass at over 4500m we can drive right up to the habitat of Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Partridge (nowadays hard to see) and the amazingly beautiful but endangered endemic Chinese Monal! At the highest altitudes, where patches of snow-free rocks project above the snow, we may well find gorgeous, indigo-coloured Grandalas, Alpine Accentors  and restless flocks of Plain Mountain Finches feeding on insects in this seemingly inhospitable environment. (Now that the old road over the pass is closed, replaced by a tunnel, Snow Partridge has become hard to see and Red-breasted Rosefinch and Brandt’s Mountain Finch are no longer likely to be seen.)

Here also we will look for the incomparable endemic White Eared Pheasant, for we should find these magnificent creatures feeding out in the open early in the morning. At dawn, the loud, barking calls of Koklass Pheasants ring out across the forest. Areas of high-altitude scrub hold the stunning endemic Chinese Rubythroat.

In the attractive mixed forests and scrub at lower elevations, we will be concentrating on several endemics including the spectacular endemic Golden Pheasant, Black-streaked Laughingthrush, the shy Barred Laughingthrush, Sooty Bushtit and the retiring Slaty Bunting. In the thickets of bamboo in the forest, the strikingly-plumaged endemic Firethroat is particularly easy to see in this area.

We should also come across one or more of the rarer species of the Wolong area, which include the endemic Rufous-tailed Babbler (or Rufous-tailed Moupinia), the near-endemic Black-browed Bushtit, the near-endemic Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch and the near-endemic Tibetan Serin (or Tibetan Siskin). We have observed the very rare Blackthroat very occasionally, so we even have a slim chance of seeing this little-known endemic breeder.

Amongst the many other species that we should encounter in this wonderful reserve are Bearded Vulture (or Lammergeier), the handsome Snow Pigeon, White-throated Dipper, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Alpine Chough and Streaked Rosefinch. If we are in luck we will also encounter Mountain Hawk-Eagle.

Sichuan, Birding: Day 13  After some final birding at Balang Shan, we will continue to the town of Maerkang for a two nights stay. We will likely encounter Hill Pigeon, Eurasian Crag Martin, Hodgson’s Redstart and Blue Rock Thrush along the way and perhaps the superb Wallcreeper.

Sichuan, China: Day 14  In the early morning we will climb up high into the mountains by road to an area of coniferous forest on Mengbi Shan where we will have another chance to look for some of the specialities of the high-altitude spruce forest. Foremost among these are such endemics as the impressive Giant Laughingthrush, the very localized Sichuan Jay and the attractive Chinese White-browed and Pink-rumped (or Stresemann’s) Rosefinches, as well as the near-endemic Chinese Babax and Three-banded Rosefinch.

We may well add such other new species as the huge Black Woodpecker, the smart White-throated Redstart, Daurian Redstart, Greenish Warbler, Goldcrest, Carrion Crow and both White-winged Grosbeak and the even more impressive Collared Grosbeak. With luck, we will also encounter the handsome Rufous-bellied Woodpecker.

Sichuan, China: Day 15  From Maerkang we head northwards, climbing over a high, spruce- and scrub-clad pass until we come to the high grasslands of the edge of the Tibetan Plateau itself, a wild landscape where swarthy Tibetan herders still graze their yaks, ponies and sheep, and where the nomadic lifestyle still continues into the 21st century, albeit aided by modern vehicles, mobile phones and all the rest!

We shall make a series of birding stops along the way. We will pass through some incredible landscapes, enjoying the unfolding scenic marvels that seem to stretch forever. When we can manage to take our eyes off the snow-covered peaks and rolling grasslands, we will look for our first Tibetan Plateau specialities. There is even a chance for Ibisbill along the rivers, although the species is scarce in this region.

Eventually, we will arrive at the remote town of Ruoergai, our base for the next three nights.

Sichuan, China: Days 16-17  From Ruoergai, we are able to explore a mix of habitats ranging from ancient conifer forests to the rolling grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau.

In the former habitat, we will be searching for some very special birds including such endemics as Severtzov’s (or Chinese) Grouse, the bold Verreaux’s Monal Partridge, the impressive Blue Eared Pheasant, the magnificent ‘Pere David’s Owl’ (now lumped in Ural Owl), Chinese Thrush, the handsome Snowy-cheeked (or Sukatschev’s) Laughingthrush, the noisy Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Chinese Fulvetta, Spectacled Parrotbill and the endearing little Przevalski’s Nuthatch. Other specialities of this fine area include the breeding-endemic Yellow-streaked Warbler and Chinese Leaf Warbler plus such near-endemics as Salim Ali’s Swift, the superb little Crested Tit-Warbler and Chinese (or White-browed) Nuthatch.

Other new birds may well include the unobtrusive Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker (represented here by the dark and distinctive funebris subspecies), the smart Siberian Rubythroat, the secretive Maroon-backed Accentor, Rufous-breasted Accentor and Hodgson’s Treecreeper.

In the more open grasslands of the Tibetan plateau, crossed by meandering rivers, and dotted with marshes, we will look for another set of special birds. We may awake to a crisp early morning, with mist hanging low over the wide grasslands which will gradually clear to reveal the deep blue sky that is typical of remote, high-altitude regions. The star attraction of this fine area is the rare and endangered near-endemic Black-necked Crane, which still breeds in some of the wetlands. The supporting cast is a good one too! Best of all is the delightful little near-endemic Ground Tit (formerly known as Groundpecker or Hume’s Ground Jay, these strange birds are now thought to be aberrant tits rather than ground jays) that bounds across the steppe-like some kind of bizarre wheatear, stopping every so often to peck furiously at the ground! Other goodies include the impressive Upland Buzzard, the near-endemic Tibetan Lark, the impressive endemic Giant (or Tibetan) Grey Shrike, the smart endemic Kessler’s Thrush and the charismatic, near-endemic White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinches. With luck, we will also encounter Black-winged (or Tibetan) Snowfinch.

We shall also search valleys clothed in high-altitude scrub for the near-endemic Tibetan Partridge, the lilac-tinged White-browed (or Severtzov’s) Tit-Warbler, the endemic White-browed and Sichuan Tits, Dusky Warbler, the breeding-endemic Alpine Leaf Warbler and the endemic Plain (or Pere David’s) Laughingthrush.

A much-wanted bird in this characteristic habitat is the endemic Przevalski’s Finch (also known as Pink-tailed Finch), an interesting species that is now placed in its own family. It is not as easy to find in this region as in Qinghai further to the west, but Birdquest were the first to find this species in this area (back in the 1980s!) and we have a real chance of success.

Other more widespread species in this region of China include Common Pheasant (indigenous here), Black Stork, Greylag Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Common Merganser (or Goosander), Himalayan (Griffon) Vulture, Black Kite, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Himalayan Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Common Kestrel, Saker Falcon, Common Redshank, Common Tern, Common Cuckoo, Eurasian Hoopoe, Horned Lark, Oriental Skylark, Rosy and Blyth’s Pipits, the lovely Citrine Wagtail (here of the attractive black-backed race calcarata which may be split in future as Tibetan Wagtail), Asian House Martin, the attractive Himalayan Bluetail, Black Redstart (complete with red belly here), Blue-fronted Redstart, Siberian Stonechat, Long-tailed Thrush, Buff-barred Warbler, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Eurasian and Asian Azure-winged Magpies, Red-billed Chough, the smart Daurian Jackdaw, the huge Tibetan race of the Northern Raven, Japanese Tit, Grey-backed Shrike, Twite (of the interesting interior Asian form, which may represent a distinct species), Himalayan Beautiful and Common Rosefinches, Grey-headed Bullfinch and Godlewski’s Bunting. We may also see one or two of the more uncommon species such as Bar-headed Goose or Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

We should also encounter good numbers of pikas and perhaps a few larger mammals such as Tibetan Fox or Grey Wolf which are attracted to the sometimes abundant prey

Sichuan, China: Day 18  Today we will travel southwards and then eastwards to the Gonggangling pass area for an overnight stay, making some stops for birding along the way.

The Gonggangling region is a scenic area of high, snow-covered peaks, dense coniferous and mixed forests, large areas of scrub and often cloud-wreathed hillsides covered in flowering rhododendrons and azaleas. This interesting area offers us an extra chance to look for a few tricky endemics, including Chinese Grouse and Pere David’s Owl.

[Note: The prime speciality of this region used to be the lovely Rufous-headed Robin. This little-known and extremely elusive species was only known (as a breeding species) from the neighbouring province of Shaanxi before Birdquest first discovered it in the scenic Jiuzhaigou Valley in 1984 (the first record from China in the modern era). Sadly the population now appears to have either died out or been reduced to a tiny number, perhaps through habitat change. Unless the situation changes we are unlikely to see this jewel of a bird.]

Sichuan, China: Day 19  After some final birding this morning we will return to the city of Chengdu, where our travels through this incomparable part of China end. We will certainly deserve our traditional Chinese banquet this evening!

Sichuan, China: Day 20  Our Sichuan, China birding tour ends this morning at Chengdu airport.

 

NORTHERN YUNNAN EXTENSION

Yunnan, China: Day 1  Our tour starts in the evening in the town of Lijiang, situated in northern Yunnan province in southwest China, where we will stay for four nights. Airport transfers will be provided.

(If you would prefer us to arrange for any local flights inside China, we will be pleased to do so on request, even if you are arranging your international flights yourself.)

Yunnan, China: Days 2-3  Lijiang is the principal settlement of the Naxi people, a matriarchal society with some fascinating social customs and the old town, dating back to the 12th century, is well worth seeing. At this point the mighty Yangtze River makes a long loop to the north before resuming its flow towards the China Sea, forming a natural boundary to the spectacular, snow-capped peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains, rising to over 5500m (18000ft), that tower above the town. This ornithologically little-known area offers a feast of dramatically beautiful scenery, with deep valleys clothed in deciduous and coniferous woodland giving way at higher altitudes to alpine meadows and icy peaks.

Some special birds can be found in the Lijiang area and in particular, we will be wanting to see several endemics including the rare and localized White-speckled (or Biet’s) Laughingthrush (though depressingly this species is becoming increasingly difficult to find due to trapping), Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler and Spectacled Fulvetta (a different-looking form compared to those in northern Sichuan). The endemic Lady Amherst’s Pheasant is also possible, although easier in Sichuan.

Important near-endemics include the inquisitive Rufous-tailed Babbler (or Rufous-tailed Moupinia), the little-known Brown-winged Parrotbill, Black-bibbed Tit, Black-browed Bushtit, Yunnan Nuthatch and Black-headed Greenfinch.

Other good birds include the handsome Black-breasted Thrush, the smart Black-headed Sibia and the secretive Rusty-capped Fulvetta.

More widespread species that we may well encounter include Asian Barred Owlet, Brown-breasted and Himalayan Black Bulbuls, Grey-winged Blackbird, Black-faced, Davison’s Leaf and Buff-throated Warblers, the localized Rosy Minivet, White-browed and Green Shrike-babblers, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Buff-bellied Flowerpecker and Black Drongo.

We will also have our first encounters with many species that also occur in Sichuan.

Yunnan, China: Day 4  Today we will travel by air to Chengdu in Sichuan province where we will join up with those arriving for the main tour. The flight routing could be direct but is more likely to involve connecting flights.

CHINA'S SICHUAN & NORTHERN YUNNAN 2024 TOUR REPORT

by Simon Mitchell

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SICHUAN, CHINA TOUR REPORT 2019

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CHINA'S SICHUAN TOUR REPORT 2018

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CHINA'S SICHUAN TOUR REPORT 2017

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Other China and region birding tours by Birdquest include: