A long drive today, but the
scenery was outstanding as we passed through huge steep-sided river valleys and
up to Jiajin Shan at 4155m at the pass. We saw a few birds such as Brown Dipper, Crested Myna and a migrating Arctic
Warbler that shouldn’t have been here, before reaching the mountain. Once
the road began to rise and lunch beckoned we hit paydirt with a small group of
totally unexpected Spectacled Parrotbills
– try saying that really quickly! I was amazed that they were here but there
was a reasonable stand of bamboo and the birds responded quickly to the ipod
and came to check us out. An Alpine
Leaf-warbler showed here as well before we drove on up into the pine
forest.
We had several Himalayan Griffons, as well as more
migrating Oriental Honey-buzzards, Eurasian Kestrel, Himalayan Buzzard and a Lammergeier
as well to boost our raptor list. A huge flock of White-collared Yuhinas and Buff-barred
Warblers came down to check out the owlet tape and a Rufous-vented Tit was also with them. But then Peter C spotted a
pair of Przewalski’s Nuthatch on the
other side of the road and we could watch these delightful birds for several
minutes below us.
 |
| Pallas's Reed Bunting - an extremely rare bird in Sichuan |
Further up above the tree
line a couple odd-looking birds crossed the road in front of the coach and we
pulled over to check them out. Unbelievably they were Pallas’s Reed Buntings, on their way north to Siberia or further east
no doubt, and I was blown away as we were at around 3400m….!!!! There was also
a few Rosy Pipits and our first Blue-fronted Redstarts. Frustratingly
the pass at 4155m was shrouded in low cloud and when a Tibetan Snowcock began calling things got even more frustrating as
we just could not see it in the poor visibility. Oh well, will have to leave
that one for tomorrow…. Continuing on we had a few Eurasian Crag-martins as well.
We eventually arrived at our
comfortable hotel in Rilong at 6.45pm and that left just enough daylight for a
few of the group to see Hill Pigeon
and White-throated Redstart behind
the hotel.
Oh the rice in the post title.... Just sick of it really!
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