Date:
Weather:
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6-10 August 2016.
Warm to hot. Variable cloud cover with some showers and periods of rain.
Wolong National Nature Reserve, Longcanggou, Xichang, Moxi and Hailuogou Glacier Park.

Golden-fronted Fulvetta

Emei Shan Liocichla

Eye-ringed Parrotbill

Indian White-eye

7 Aug. An 06:00 start to complete the drive to Longcanggou through rock strew roads from heavy rain overnight. En route we connected with Ashy-throated Parrotbill, expertly picked out by Sid from the car as we sped past. At Longcanggou the entrance gate was already open well before the official opening time of 08:00, so we slipped in before anyone asked any questions. The weather that greeted us was overcast and cool, so little bird activity early on. However, we were fortunate to find Golden-fronted Fulvetta, that contrary to its usual skulking habits was nicely out in the open. Continuing farther to the top, where currently habitat is being destroyed to build a commercial panda centre, we found the road condition bumpy and muddy but passable enabling us to spend the majority of the day along various sections of the road. Unfortunately, the main target at the top, Three-toed Parrotbill, not found but plenty of others species in the form of Red-winged Laughingthrush, Chinese Wren-Babbler heard, Emei Shan Liocichla, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Yellow-bellied Tit, Yellow-browed Tit, Black Bulbul, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Ashy-throated Warbler and a couple of pairs of Spotted Laughingthrush that remained stubbornly hidden.

Left the area around 17:00 for a longish drive to Xichang, stopping en route for Grey-hooded Parrotbill, after which heavy rain ensued. Dinner en route at one of the motorway service areas.

Arrived Xichang at 21:30 where having checked at the first hotel and unpacked the car were suddenly informed no foreigners - so repacked the vehicle, drove another block to another establishment fairly happy to accept us. It would seem foreigners can be a liability for establishments not having the correct papers. Or maybe it was just the sight of three birders - not exactly your average tourist.

8 Aug. From town we headed up the newly-repaired, environmentally-unfriendly mountain road toward Puga. Due to drainage ditches, parking off road not plentiful but a large muddy pull off provided us access to the stands of Yunnan Pine. We soon found our main targets - Yunnan Nuthatch and Black-capped Sibia - together with Brown-breasted Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Yellow-throated Bunting, Cinereous Tit, Ashy Drongo and Rusty-capped Fulvetta heard. Descended back to town, and drove to the recreational lake where we birded the edges picking up the much sought-after Eye-ringed Parrotbill.

A five hour drive to Moxi, much delayed due to landslide repairs and roadworks. Near town we stopped adjacent to the river for a quick lunch, where it immediately started raining, though not before we lucked on to the local form of Sinosuthora parrotbill, that appears to be an undescribed taxon intermediate between Ashy-throated and Eye-ringed Parrotbills.

Continued the last stretch to Moxi stopping in fields outside town for Black-headed Greenfinch but further rain killed all bird activity. Having dropped bags at our hotel, stepped outside to have three Black-headed Greenfinch fly over, though not seen by all. Persevering, despite the rain, we headed to scrub outside town, where Rufous-tailed Babbler heard, but despite much effort not seen. Due to the continuing rain we abandoned our efforts at 18:30 in favour of warm beer - a Chinese speciality it seems, as according to the locals cold beer is bad for the stomach. Knew we'd been doing something wrong the past 40 years!

9 Aug. With rain easing overnight, a beautiful morning with great weather all day. We retraced our steps to the Black-headed Greenfinch spots of yesterday; this time being rewarded with more than ten birds. Continued to town and bought tickets for Hailuogou Glacier Park. As no private vehicles are permitted inside the park it's necessary to join the tourist mob on the buses. Pretty steep at 190 Yuan per person. The ride took 50 minutes and first stopped at the Bamboo Nature Trail, which all visitors walk. Birding the trail, accompanied by hoards of noisy locals is an effort in self-control and after a half hour with few birds we returned to the road, sneaked past the buses half expecting to be called back, and continued up the road to where at least we could bird in peace, other than the blaring horns of the busses passing.

A couple of hours here produced some good flocks, with some of the best birding of the trip: Vinaceous Rosefinch, Rufous-vented Yuhina, Chinese Wren-Babbler, White-collared Yuhina, Sichuan Treecreeper, Greenish Warbler, Grey-crested Tit, Green-backed Tit, Coal Tit, Sichuan Leaf Warbler and Black-browed Tit. Returned to the Nature Trail around 12:00 to find it mostly deserted, but again not very birdy, though Snowy-browed Flycatcher seen and Streaked Barwing heard. Took the return bus at 15:00 and retraced our steps to the Rufous-tailed Babbler of yesterday, that despite the excellent weather we failed to even hear in an hour of searching. Left at 17:00 for another five hour drive, again with long delays due to landslides, arriving Yingjing at 22:00. Checked into the same hotel as before, though this time they didn't appear so pleased to see us back - maybe someone had given them a hard time for having foreigners in their hotel.

10 Aug. A return to Longcanggou where we started with a partially successful attempt on Sichuan Bush Warbler, then worked our way uphill several kilometres concentrating on a few missed species from our earlier visit. This proved rather successful with good views of Slaty Bunting and Fujian Niltava, although Emei Leaf Warbler remained absent and almost certainly had already left its breeding grounds, as likewise we didn't encounter Sulphur-breasted Warbler. With the excellent weather, butterflies were much in evidence.

Rufous-vented Yuhina

White-collared Yuhina

Constable - Dichorragia nesimachus

Himalayan Jester - Symbrenthia hypselis