16 Days Tibet and Qinghai Plateau Endemic Birding

16 Days Tibet and Qinghai Plateau Endemic Birding

Day 1:

Our tour officially begins this evening at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), with an overnight stay in the city. Our local ground handler will distribute all official permits required to access Tibetan.

Day 2:

We board a morning flight bound for Nyingchi and commence our birding programme. This area represents the prime location to seek range-restricted Lord Derby's Parakeet, though locating this species often demands careful searching. We will also encounter our first near-endemics such as Brown-cheeked Laughingthrush and Giant Babax, together with widespread Himalayan taxa including Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Black-headed Greenfinch and Pink-rumped Rosefinch. Overnight accommodation in Nyingchi (3000m).

Day 3:

We spend the morning birding locally before embarking on a five-hour westward drive towards Lhasa. Following dinner, participants may choose to wander vibrant local markets or take an evening drive to visit Jokhang Temple. Overnight in Lhasa (3600 m).

Day 4:

An early-morning visit to a monastery offers reliable opportunities to observe habituated, approachable Tibetan Eared Pheasant. The surrounding terrain also holds sought-after specialties including Tibetan Snowcock, Tibetan Blackbird, White-browed Tit-warbler, Brown Accentor and Streaked Rosefinch. Subject to flight timings, we will either tour the awe-inspiring Potala Palace midday, or transfer onwards by air to Yushu. Overnight: Lhasa or Yushu (3600 m).

Day 5:

We now travel deep into the heart of the Tibetan Plateau. Around Yushu, flocks of Salim Ali's Swift frequently wheel over the urban area. Our five-hour southbound drive to Nangqian traverses spectacular mountain scenery, with multiple stops at river overlooks offering potential sightings of Ibisbill. Scrub habitats harbour endemic White-browed Tit and charismatic Ground Tit, while we hope to connect with Great Rosefinch and Red-fronted Rosefinch. Raptors feature prominently throughout the drive; Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Upland Buzzard and Saker Falcon are all plausible. Plateau mammals are regularly encountered, so we will keep watch for Himalayan Marmot, Woolly Hare, Tibetan Fox and Tibetan Gazelle. Overnight in Nangqian (3700m).

Days 6–7:

We dedicate two full days to birding around Nangqian, focusing our efforts on Kandashan Pass and Beizha Forest. The pass is home to striking high-altitude endemic Tibetan Bunting, one of the region’s most desirable avian targets. At lower elevations within the forest zone, we search for Buff-throated Monal-Partridge, Tibetan Partridge, Tibetan Babax, Chinese Rubythroat and elegant Crested Tit-warbler, with many additional species awaiting discovery. Prospective sightings include Blood Pheasant, White Eared Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Daurian Jackdaw, Giant Laughingthrush, Sichuan Tit, Grey-crested Tit, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Hume's Leaf Warbler, White-winged Grosbeak and Maroon-backed Accentor, and with luck, scarce Three-banded Rosefinch. Redstarts are exceptionally well represented here: White-capped, Black, Hodgson's, White-throated, Daurian and Blue-fronted Redstart are all likely to be recorded. Two overnights in Nangqian (3700m).

Day 8:

The coming days feature lengthy driving stages across expansive open plateau terrain. Today we travel to Qumalai for the night (10 hours en route). Wetland areas alongside our route hold promise for Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose and Ruddy Shelduck. Overhead, displaying Common Redshank and insect-hunting Pale Martin can be observed. High mountain passes merit regular stops as we search for Tibetan (Henri’s) Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch and Rufous-necked Snowfinch. Overnight Qumalai (4100m).

Day 9: 

A seven-hour drive brings us to Xidatan for our overnight stay. We make stops across barren stony plains to search for one of our major objectives, Tibetan Sandgrouse. Our route passes through Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve, where small groups of Kiang and Tibetan Gazelle can be expected. Overnight Xidatan (4200m).

Day 10:

We depart well before sunrise, travelling deep into Wild Yak Valley. This is a demanding day: several hours of bumpy travel over rocky tracks precedes our hike into a remote boulder-strewn valley above 5000 m. This remote location offers our best shot at finding Sillem's Rosefinch, one of Central Asia’s most elusive, poorly documented plateau endemics. Success relies partially on fortune, yet the species is reliably recorded at this site. Far more numerous is the distinctive Tibetan (Roborovski's) Rosefinch, and we should also encounter widespread Blanford's Snowfinch and Brandt's Mountain Finch. In the afternoon we retrace our route back to the main highway, keeping a sharp lookout for Wild Yak. Overnight Xidatan (4200 m).

Day 11:

Today features the final long driving segment of the tour, a five-hour eastward journey towards Dulan. We stand a good chance of finding Mongolian Ground Jay and may connect with Mongolian Finch. Vigilant observation could also yield Goitered Gazelle. Overnight in Dulan (3200 m).

Day 12:

Habitats shift distinctly this morning as we explore juniper-rich valleys within the Ala Shan Mountains. We target both Przevalski’s Partridge and Daurian Partridge, alongside range-limited Przevalski's Redstart. Potential sightings extend to Wallcreeper, White-backed Thrush, Isabelline Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Pine Bunting, Godlewski's Bunting, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch and Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch. Afterwards we continue east for two hours towards Chaka. This afternoon we explore grasslands fringing vast Chaka Salt Lake, where we seek Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Mongolian Lark and Asian Short-toed Lark. More widespread species such as Isabelline Shrike, Oriental Skylark, Horned Lark and Rosy Pipit may also be encountered. Overnight Chaka (3100 m).

Day 13:

We head into nearby mountain terrain this morning to seek out the monotypic Przevalski's Finch (Przevalski's Pinktail), which can be seen with relative ease in this area. Alongside this coveted endemic we anticipate Güldenstädt's Redstart, Smoky Warbler, Robin Accentor and Rufous-breasted Accentor. In the afternoon we can revisit the surrounding grasslands to chase any missing target species. Overnight Chaka (3100m).

Day 14:

An early three-hour drive takes us to the shores of Koko Nur. This locale delivers our strongest opportunity to locate several sought-after specialties: Tibetan Lark, Hume's Short-toed Lark, Mongolian Finch, restricted-range Pale Rosefinch, and vocally distinctive “Margelanic” Lesser Whitethroat. We also hope to encounter Tibetan Sand Plover in full breeding plumage, should we not have already found them earlier on the journey. Overnight Longyangxia (2700m).

Day 15:

If required, we will revisit prime habitat for Pale Rosefinch in the morning before continuing three hours east to Xining. Our afternoon session at a productive site close to town targets two highly range-restricted breeding birds: Gansu Leaf Warbler and Qilian Bluetail. Additional possibilities include Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Chinese Nuthatch, Chinese Thrush, Plain Laughingthrush, Siberian Rubythroat and Yellow-streaked Warbler. Overnight Xining (2300 m).

Day 16: 

At dawn we visit Dong Xia or alternative nearby pine forest to search for any outstanding targets, including scarce Chinese Grouse. The tour concludes with departures from Xining International Airport (XNN) in the late afternoon.