Baihualing to Laifengshan

We split the group with some of us going back up to the top of the road in search of Gould’s Shortwing, with the same result as last time. We dipped. A pair of Brown Bullfinchesand a brief pair of Mrs Hume’s Pheasants our only compensations for a tricky walk along an overgrown path. The group in the hide were successful with a group of 9 Mountain Bamboo-Partridges performing right in front of the hide, as well as further great views of many previously seen species. After lunch we drove 3 hours to Tengchong.

The next day we birded Laifengshan all morning, a good area right on the edge of Tengchong and we found it to be quite productive. Walking up the paved road to the temple at the top of the mountain we found Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Slender-billed Oriole, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, a pair of Bar-tailed Treecreepers, Black-breasted Thrush, a singing Davison’s Leaf Warbler, Blyth’s Shrike-Babbler, Grey-winged Blackbird and a bunch of common species. 

Bar-tailed Treecreeper

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

At the top a few of the group got on to White-browed Piculet, whilst Darjeeling Woodpecker showed well and there were further views of the oriole. A flock of approx. 70+ Tibetan Serins were making quite a noise, and there was also Fire-tailed Sunbird and Bay Woodpecker as well. 

Red-billed Leiothrix

Mountain Bulbul

White-tailed Robin

Plenty of action at the drinking pool

Tibetan Serin

Whiskered Yuhina and Blue-winged Minla

Daurian Redstart

We came across a photo blind and feeding station up here that was a  surprise and lots of birds were coming down to the pool to drink and bathe such as Red-billed Leiothrix, White-tailed Robin, all 3 minlas, Mountain Bulbul, Maroon-backed Accentor and even some Tibetan Serins. At 1pm we left on the drive to our next base at Nabang.

A Good Day!

We visited a feeding station each side of lunchtime beginning with a stake-out for Chinese Bamboo Partridge that failed to materialise. However, this feeding station produced a female Scarlet Finch that came into a nearby tree and showed to everyone before flying off into the valley. New birds here included several Crested Finchbills, Streaked Spiderhunter and Vinaceous Rosefinch.  

Streaked Spiderhunter

Olive-backed Pipit

And we also saw Grey-chinned Minivet, Golden-throated Barbet, Long-tailed Sibia, a flock of Black Bulbuls including a few of the white-headed race, at least 9 Olive-backed Pipits, another Spot-throated Babbler that actually came into the hide, Himalayan Bluetail, Orange-bellied Leafbird, a pair of Golden Bush-Robins, brief White-browed Shortwing, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Hill Prinia, a pair of Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrushes, and a pair of awesome Slender-billed Scimitar-Babblers.

Golden-throated Barbet and Red-tailed Laughingthrush

Golden-throated Barbet

Long-tailed Sibia

Himalayan Bluetail - uncropped

Blue-winged Leafbird

Golden Bush Robin (female)

Golden Bush Robin (male)

Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler

On the walk back to the hotel we enjoyed fine views of a pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills.

A pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills skulking in the bushes

In the afternoon we visited the highest feeding station where at least 5 Grey-sided Laughingthrushes, Hill Partridge and saw a flock of 50+ Black-throated Parrotbills moving quickly through the bushes were the stand-out birds. 

Grey-sided Laughingthrush

Grey-winged Blackbird

Hill Partridge

There were all the usual suspects present but we added Grey-winged Blackbird and Grey-backed Thrush to our list, as well as getting further views of Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush and Long-tailed Thrush. 

Red-tailed Laughingthrush

Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler

Long-tailed Thrush

Red-tailed Laughingthrush

This was the quietest feeding station overall but it still gave us superb views of everything. Just a shame we were 3 days late for the Ward’s Trogon!

Hide Birding Rules! Part 2....

Continuing on from my last post at one of the bird hides/photo blinds/feeding stations at Baihualing.... The later afternoon from the same hide produced 3 female and a male Himalayan Bluetail, a pair of Golden Bush-Robins, 2 Rufous-throated Partridges, Blue-fronted Redstart, a group of Rusty-capped Fulvettas, 4 Black-breasted Thrushes, 2 Chestnut-vented Nuthatches, Large Niltava, 4 Yellow-cheeked Tits and lots more. 

The photo opps were amazing and it’s a total privilege to see so many birds at such close range. This was another great session from the photo hide...

Himalayan Bluetail

Golden Bush-Robin (female)

Golden Bush-Robin (male)

Rufous-throated Partridge

Blue-fronted Redstart

Rusty-capped Fulvetta

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Hide Birding Rules! Part 1...

It took most of the morning to find the tricky Grey-bellied Wren-Babbler, but we scored big-time with some great views. We walked up the mountain for a few kilometres in search of this bird and Cachar Babbler but didn’t really get a sniff of this bird, however we did see Great Barbet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, White-bellied Erpornis, Grey-chinned Minivet, Maroon Oriole, Fire-tailed Sunbird, and we had a flock of Yellow-throated Fulvettas.

In the afternoon we visited another feeding station where amongst the 37 species seen, new birds included Spot-throated Babbler, Long-tailed Sibia, Grey-throated Babbler, Red-tailed and Blue-winged Minla, Long-tailed Thrush, a pair of Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush, 2 Maroon-backed Accentors, Black-throated Sunbird, and also a Davison’s Leaf Warbler. 

Spot-throated Babbler

Blue-winged Minla

Red-tailed Minla

Long-tailed Thrush

Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush

Rusty-capped Fulvetta

Maroon-backed Accentor

Black-throated Sunbird

I will post the rest of our session from this afternoon on a separate blog post...