12 Days Qinghai Endemic Birding Tour

Located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, which is the fourth largest province in China. The Plateau, with an average elevation of 3000 meters, is referred to as The Roof of the World and is the sources of three of China's major rivers, the Yangtze River, Yellow River and Mekong River. Snow capped mountains, ice peaks, deserts, vast pastures and myriad lakes weave Qinghai unique, fascinating and colorful natural landscapes. Qinghai Lake is the largest inland saline lake in the country and is an excellent place for bird watching. It's a popular bird tour destination.

These high-elevation plains are home to a number of bird species that have been seen by relatively few foreign birders. Tibetan Rosefinch, Przewalski's Rosefinch, Tibetan Babax, Buff-throated Monal Partridge, Tibetan Bunting, Przevalski’s Partridge, Ala Shan Redstart, Ibisbill,Black-necked Crane, six species Snowfinches, will be among the many exciting species we will be targeted here.


Best Season: from June to August
ITINERARY

Qinghai Birding Tours


 

Itinerary

D1,  Your arrival in Xining

Flight to Xining airport(2200m), you’ll meet your guide at the airport.

Overnight at Xining（2200m）.

 



D2  Morning birding in Yaozigou Valley, and head to Gonghe in the afternoon

Birding along the way at Longyangxia area

Target birds:

Gansu Leaf Warbler, Chinese Nuthatch, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Plain Mountain & Elliot's Laughingthrush, Siberian Rubythroat, Alpine & Smoky Warbler, White-browed Tit Wabler and Crested Tit Wabler

Overnight at Gonghe（2800m）.

 

 


 

D3,  Birding around Gonghe and Mt.Elashan pass(4700m),  then drive to Yushu, (480km, 7 hours) for overnight.

Target birds:

Gonghe:

Przevalski’s  Partridge, Pale Rosefinch,  Pied Wheatear, Meadow bunting, Godlewski’s Bunting, Pine Bunting, Rufous-breasted Accentor,Red-billed Chough,Rufous-tailed Rockthrush, Daurian Partridge, Mongolian Finch, Mongolian Lark, Desert Finch, Desert Whitethroat, Black-faced Bunting, Isabelline and Desert Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Twite, White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinches.

Mt. Elashan: Tibetan Rosefinch, White-winged Redstart, Henry’s/White-winged Snowfinch, Brandt’s and Plain Mountain Finches.

Overnight at Yushu（3600m）.  

 


 

D4, Drive from Maduo to Nangqian, (170km, 3 hours) 

Possible birds on the way from Yushu to Nangqian :   Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier,Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Daurian Jackdaw, Little Owl, Ibisbill, Ruddy  Bar-headed Goose,Shelduck, Common Redshank, Brown-headed Gull, Common Tern, Citrine Wagtail, Pale Martin,  Salim Ali’s Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin,Asian House Martin,  White-rumped snowfinch, Tibetan snowfinch and Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Tibetan Grey Shrike,  Black, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, Common Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch , and Great Rosefinch.

Overnight at Nangqian（3600m）  

  


 

Day 5,  Birding at Baizha forest in Nangqian,

Target birds:

Tibetan Babax, Buff-throated Partridge, White-eared Pheasant,Blood Pheasant, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Giant Laughingthrush, Three-banded Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch, White-throated Deeper,  Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Black and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Himalayan Bluetail, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Rosy Pipit, Long-tailed Thrush, Sichuan Tit, Rufous-vented Tit, Grey-crested Tit,  Chinese Fulvetta, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Salim Ali’s Swift,Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler,

Overnight at Nangqian（3600m）


  


Day 6 Birding at Mt. KandaShan in Nangqian

Target birds:

Tibetan Bunting, Tibetan Babax, Tibetan Partridge, Tibatan Snowcock, White-eared Pheasant, Buff-throated Partridge,  Grandala,Golden Eagle,   Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch,  Streaked Rosefinch, Chinese Rubythroat, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit, White-browed Tit Warbler, Snow Pigeon, Plain Mountain Finch, White-winged Grosbeak, White-capped Redstart.

Overnight at Nangqian（3600m）

  


 

Day 7 Drive from Nangqian to Qumalai,

Birding and mammal watching on the way, (400km, 6 hours drive) 

We’ll make some stop at the usual places for the mammals,  hope to see the Pallas’ cat, Agali, Tibetan Fox, White-lipped Deer, etc.

Overnight at Qumalai（4200m）

 



 

Day 8 Drive from Qumalai to Golmud, (500 km, 6 hours)  

Birding and mammal watching on the way

Target birds and mammals: 

Tibetan Sandgrouse, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Little Owl, Desert Whitethroat,Lesser Sand Plover, 

Wild Yak, Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan Gazelle, Kiang, Tibetan Fox, Tibetan Brown Bear, Wolf. 

Overnight at Golmud（2800m）

 


 

Day 9 Drive from Golmud to Chaka (470km, 5 hours drive)

Target birds:  Ala Shan Redstart  

Overnight at Chaka（3000m）

 


 

Day 10 Birding around Chaka

Target birds:

Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Mogolian Ground Jay, Mongolian Lark, Plain-backed Snowfinch, Wallcreeper, Ground Tit, Desert and Isabelline Wheatears

Overnight at Chaka（3000m）

 


 

Day 11 Chaka to Xining

Morning birding at Mt. Xiangpishan and Koko Nor Lake / Qinghai Lake, and drive to Xining

Target birds:

Mt. Xiangpishan: Przevalski’s Finch, White-browed Tit, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Tibetan Snowfinch,  Robin Accentor, Brown Accentor, Dusky Warbler, Alpine Leaf Warbler, White-browed Tit.

Qinghai Lake: Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Brown-headed Gull, Ground Tit, Mongolian Lark, Hume’s Lark, Short-toed Lark, Tibetan Lark, Pere David’s Snowfinch.

Overnight at Xining（2200m）

 


 

Day 12 Departure from Xining Airport.