Mongolia Day 5

We had a 7am breakfast before setting out on the drive to our next Ger Camp at Khongor Els. Our first comfort stop gave us a few Rock Sparrows around an abandoned building, but the next stop at Bayandalai Plantation was a bit better. Migrants weren’t in abundance but we did get a Thick-billed Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, several Dusky Warblers, Richard’s Pipit, 3 Little Buntings, a Black-faced Bunting and a flyby Chinese Pond-Heron. 

 

Driving for a few more hours across some pretty dramatic scenery and a random roadside stop got us a pair of superb Mongolian Ground-Jays. Another key target species and we just happened to bump into a pair at our first attempt. 

Mongolian Ground Jays

And shortly after we stopped for lunch beside a small group of trees and a pool and stream. A few Mongolian Finches were found, with at least 25 counted a little later beside a tiny stream. On the pond was a Little Ringed Plover and 2 Isabelline Shrikes, with a fast disappearing Richard’s Pipit here as well. 

This small plantation was choc full of migrants

Here's the guys looking for migrants...

We checked the trees out several times, and on each visit added something different, so birds may well have been arriving all of the time. Our initial inspection produced 3 Common Rosefinches and nothing else, but further investigation either side of lunch produced a Thick-billed Warbler showing well, Brambling, a few Hawfinches, more Common Rosefinches, and along the stream at least 2 Citrine Wagtails and a White-cheeked Starling. 

This male Brambling found the shadiest spot to shelter from the midday heat

Despite being rather common in Mongolia, I never really took a good shot of a Hawfinch

A last stop before reaching the Ger camp was for a pair of Steppe Grey Shrikes. And what a spot this was with amazing views of the Khongor sand dunes below us...

Our palatial residence for the night

Here's our view of the Khongor Sand Dunes from the balcony of our Ger

However, we decided this afternoon to just stay one night here, instead of the two we had booked, as all we needed in the vicinity was Asian Desert Warbler, Saxaul Sparrow and some decent views of Pallas’s Sandgrouse…. But we enjoyed the ensuite gers that proved to be very spacious, and I think we enjoyed the cold beers in the restaurant even more!