Sichuan Province, Western China 23rd October to 20th November 2006 John & Jemi Holmes
 
 
 
Species List
 
Species number according to Mackinnon, J. and Phillipps,K, (2000) A field guide to the Birds of China
 
 
0027 Chinese Bamboo Partridge Bambusicola thoracica
Heard in the gully at Bifengxia, near Yaan
 
0028 Blood Pheasant  Ignathis cruentus
A flock of nearly fifty, at km 23 on the Mengbi Shan Road
 
0032 Temminck's Tragopan Tragopan temminckii
Adult male on the trail upstream from reserve HQs, Tangjiahe
 
0034 Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha
Maerkang : adult male on the track up to the temple at km 14.5, Mengbi Shan Road
 
0043 White Eared-Pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon
The singleton fed by the monk at Chake Temple (14.5 km, Mengbi Shan road) was the only one seen
 
0050 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Two seen as we left Wanglang – near the village at the top end of the reservoir
 
0051 Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus
Two adult males, about 2km up the track from Tangjiahe HQs
 
0084 Mandarin Duck Aix Galericulata
Four seen from the bus on the river beside the road between Miyauluo and Wenchuan
 
0120 Specled Piculet Picumnus innominatus
In ones and twos with mixed flocks at Bifengxia
 
0122 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopus canicapillus
   With mixed flocks at Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
0128 Crimson-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos cathpharius
Well-seen female at Wanglang, a close male at Labahe
 
0131 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopus major
Two on the nature trail at Tangjiahe
 
0143 Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus
Outside the homestay at Danba, and another up near the top of the hill above
 
0163 Hoopoe  Upupa epops
Noted at Wanglang NNR HQs, and on farmland here and there
 
0179 Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris
Several individuals at Tangjiahe, including a pair trying to loot the ornamental pond at park HQs
 
0201 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
Bifengxia
 
0247 Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei
   Heard at both Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
0248 Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides
   Heard at dusk one day at Tangjiahe
0264 Hill Pigeon Columba rupestris
Two flocks of 15 to 20 each at Jiaju Tibetan Village, Danba
 
0265 Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota
Umpteen at Dangling, in the snow, surprisingly enough
 
0274 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Five at a roost above Jiaju Village, Danba
 
0276 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Odd birds noted in the lowlands
 
0468 Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus
In twos and threes daily at Dangling, and also noted at Mengbi Shan
 
0470 Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis
Over the hilltops at Dangling and Mengbi shan
 
0482 Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
Noted near Dangling, and also at Mengbi shan
 
0487 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Near Dangling we saw one narrowly miss a White-cheeked Nuthatch !
 
0494 Upland Buzzard Buteo hemilasius
Singles here and there
 
0500 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Noted at Dangling and Mengbi shan
 
0535 Little Egret Egretta garzetta
One on the river near Danba
 
0616 Long-Tailed Shrike Lanius schach
Singles on wires in populated areas on the plains
 
0617 Grey-Backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus
Widespread in upland areas over 2,500 metres
 
0621 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
A party of seven on the nature trail, Tangjiahe. Also noted at Dangling
 
0623 Sichuan Jay  Perisoreus internigrans
Up to eleven noted at the upper end of the road to Mengbi shan, near Maerkang
  
0626 Red-Billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha
Four at Tangjiahe, max count was eight at Labahe
 
0632 Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae
Up to eight noted at Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
 
0636 Black-Billed Magpie Pica pica
Race bottanensis (differentiated by calls) noteworthy at Dangling
  
   0640 Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes
   Noted in 2,500+ pine areas, such as Wanglang, Dangling and Mengbi shan
 
0641 Red-Billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Sizeable flocks near Jiaju Tibetan village, Danba – also between Zhuokeji and Mengbi shan
 
0644 Daurian Jackdaw Corvus dauurica
Seen along the road between Danba and Dangling
 
0647 Carrion Crow Corvus corone
Mainly noted near Dangling.
 
0648 Large-Billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
Widespread
 
0677 Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
Three to four daily, Bifengxia
 
0687 White-Throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
Seen on the river from the restaurant at Labahe
 
0688 Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
Resident at Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
 
0694 Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
In wooded streams at Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
 
0700 Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma
Up to five on the nature trail at Tangjiahe
 
0706 Grey-Winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul
Single male noted along the nature trail at Tangjiahe
 
0707 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
Up to 15 daily at Bifengxia
 
0710 Kessler's Thrush Turdus kessleri
Single noted along the Mengbi shan road
 
0717 Dusky Thrush Turdus naumanni
Pair seen briefly at Mengbi shan
 
0773 Orange-Flanked Bush-Robin Tarsiger cyanurus
Several daily at Wanglang and Tangjiahe
 
0778 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
Noted near the cattle pen at Jiaju Tibetan village
 
0785 Hodgson's Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni
A male on the washing lines at Tangjiahe was the first noted
 
0786 White-Throated Redstart Phoenicurus schisticeps
Eleven was the maximum daily count, between Zhuokeji and the pass at km 30
 
0787 Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
Noted from the bus in farmland areas, near Tianquan and along the road between Danba and Maerkang
 
0789 Blue-Fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis
Tangjiahe, Wanglang and between Danba and Dangling
 
0790 White-Capped Water-Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Widespread near suitable streams and rivers
 
0791 Plumbeous Water-Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus
See 0790
 
0795 Grandala Grandala coelicolor
    Flock of 200+ near Wanglang HQs
0796 Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri
Tanjiahe and Bifengxia
 
0798 Slaty-Backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus
Bifengxia
 
0799 White-Crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti
Wanglang and Bifengxia
 
0800 Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus
Single passing the “Teng Shui Bingguan”, Bifengxia
 
0807 Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea
Open hillsides and farmland
 
0829 Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
On wires in farmland areas
 
0832 Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Noted at Tangjiahe and near Dangling
 
0833 Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis
Several noted in a mixed flock on the nature trail, Tangjiahe
 
0838 White-cheeked Nuthatch Sitta leucopsis
A single at Wanglang (below HQs) and up to six near Dangling
 
0844 Eurasian Tree-Creeper Certhia familiaris  (Taxonomy of Treecreepers under review? – these should all be race hodgsonii, according to the 2005 China Bird Report)
Mainly twos and three with mixed flocks in pine-wooded areas – Wanglang, Dangling and near Mengbi Shan
 
0845 Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana
Single near Dangling. There were probably others, but you’ve got to see them well
 
0847b  Sichuan Treecreeper  Certhia tianquanensis
Two seen near Dangling
 
0848 Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Quite common in suitable streamside scrub
 
0852 Marsh Tit Parus palustris 0853 Willow Tit Parus montanus
I confess ! We haven’t really “got a grip” on these.  Songar Tits ?
 
0855 Rusty-Breasted Tit Parus davidi
Seen daily at Wanglang, with mixed flocks, max count 12
 
0858 Rufous-Vented Tit Parus rubidiventris
Seen in several areas, spruce above 2,500m – 20+ near Dangling was the highest count
 
0859 Coal Tit Parus ater
Only two noted, at Wanglang, the “Tit capital” of Sichuan
 
0860 Yellow-Bellied Tit Parus venustulus
Up to eight daily at Bifengxia
 
0861 Grey-Crested Tit Parus dichrous
Widespread in upland –above 2,500m – pine areas, notably Wanglang, and Dangling
 
0862 Great Tit Parus major
Common
 
0864 Green-Backed Tit Parus monticolus
Widespread in uplands
 
0870 Yellow-Browed Tit Sylviparus modestus
Noted mainly near Bifengxia and Labahe
 
0873 Black-Throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
Around the accommodation at Bifengxia, other lower sites such as Tangjiahe and Jiaju Tibetan Village
 
0875 Black-Browed Tit Aegithalos bonvaloti
Common between Danba and Dangling, also near Mengbi Shan. Replaced by 0876 in Wanglang and to a lesser extent, Tangjiahe
 
0876 White-Necklaced Tit (Sooty Tit) Aegithalos fuliginosus
See account for 0875
 
0881 Dusky Crag-Martin Hirundo concolor
Over twenty at the lower end of the Dangling to Danba valley
 
0882 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
No, missed them!
 
0887 Asian House-Martin Delichon dasypus
Only noted near Bifengxia
 
0889 Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Noted at the upland pine forest sites on this trip of Wanglang, Dangling and Mengbi shan
 
0892 Collared Finchbill Spizixos semitorques
Max day count 10+ at Bifengxia
 
0897 Brown-Breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
Near Qingqi (Tangjiahe) and Jiaju Tibetan village
 
0898 Light-Vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis
Single at a temple near the guesthouse, Chengdu
 
0970 White-browed Tit Warbler Leptopoecile sophiae
   Up to five noted at km31 on the Mengbi Shan road.
0971 Crested Tit Warbler Leptopeocile elegans
A few (less than ten) daily at Dangling, also noted between Mengbi shan and Zhuokeji
 
0982 Orange (Buff) -Barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher
Common around Dangling and similar habitat elsewhere
 
0984 Pallas’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus
Numerous in Wanglang and Tangjiahe
 
1008 Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
    Max count 12 daily at Bifengxia
1026 Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush Garrulax sukatschewi
    Two pairs seen at Wanglang
1027 Moustached Laughingthrush Garrulax cineraceus
Up to six near the entrance gate at Bifengxia
 
1029 Barred Laughingthrush Garrulax lunulatus
Six along the trail upstream from reserve HQs
 
1031 Giant Laughingthrush Garrulax maximus
Common in upland areas such as around Dangling and near Maerkang
 
1032 Spotted Laughingthrush Garrulax ocellatus
Noisy party noted along the trail upstream from HQs
 
1036 Hwamei Garrulax canorus
Quite common at Bifengxia – as in summer – highest day count 15
 
1041 Elliot's Laughingthrush Garrulax elliotii
Noisy and much seen in upland areas visited
 
1044 Black-Faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis
Maximum of five seen at Wanglang, one at Tangjiahe. Also at Labahe
 
1059 Streak-Breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis
In mixed flocks at Wanglang, Bifengxia and Labahe
 
1071 Bar-winged Wren-babbler Spelaeornis troglodytoides
Single, all-brown (juvenile?) noted on the track upstream from Tangjiahe HQs
 
1076 Rufous-Capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps
Noted in mixed flock at Tangjiahe and Bifengxia
 
1083 Rufous-tailed Babbler Chrysomma poecilotis
A single in roadside scrub uphill from Danba
 
1084 Chinese Babax Babax lanceolatus
On the nature trail at Tangjiahe and around Chake temple, near Zhuokeji
 
1088 Red-Billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea
Notably Bifengxia and Tangjiahe
 
1198 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Noted near habitation in the lowlands
 
1105 Golden-breasted Fulvetta Alcippe chrysotis
Flock of about thirty near Motianling, Tangjiahe
 
1109 White-browed Fulvetta Alcippe vinipectus
At Danba, Dangling and a few near Mengbi shan
 
1110 Chinese Fulvetta Alcippe striaticollis
Outnumbered by cinereiceps at Wanglang, single figures at Mengbi shan and up to thirty daily at Dangling
 
   1111 Spectacled Fulvetta Alcippe ruficapilla
   Tangjiahe, on the nature trail and on the track upstream of reserve HQs
 
1112 Streak-throated Fulvetta Alcippe cinereiceps  (Grey-hooded Fulvetta)
The commonest fulvetta at Wanglang, and numerous at Labahe as well.
 
1115 Dusky Fulvetta Alcippe brunnea
Flock of six to seven noted, Bifengxia , near Yaan
 
1118 Grey-Cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia
Bifengxia and Tangjiahe – common member of mixed flocks
 
1131 White-Collared Yuhina Yuhina diademata
Max day count 60, feeding on roadside berries near Mengbishan. Also seen at Tangjiahe and around Danba and Dangling
 
1134 Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta
    Party of 15 at Bifengxia
1138 Great Parrotbill Conostoma oemodium
Pairs seen near the upper end of the boardwalk, Labahe
 
1140 Brown Parrotbill Paradoxornis unicolor
Party of 25+ from boardwalk at Labahe
 
1144 Spectacled Parrotbill Paradoxornis conspicillatus
Flock of 15-20 below HQs at Wanglang, a flock of 50+ near Motianling, Tangjiahe
 
1145 Vinous-Throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus
Party of 40 at the lower end of the nature trail, Tangjiahe
 
1147 Ashy-Throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis alphonsianus
Small parties at Bifengxia, about a dozen in a flock uphill from Danba
 
1207 White Wagtail Motacilla alba
Widespread in lowlands
 
1212 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Near running water, more notably at lower elevations
 
1218 Olive-Backed Tree Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
In the hedgerows at Danba
 
1228 Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides
Single at the roadside, Mengbi shan (km31)
 
1229 Rufous-Breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata
Commonest accentor on this trip, at Tangjiahe, Wanglang, Dangling and Mengbi shan
 
1234 Maroon-Backed Accentor Prunella immaculata
Six in the woodland near Dangling, the only ones on this trip
 
1244 Brambling Fringilla montefringilla
    Noted in ones and twos at Tangjiahe
1246 Grey-Capped Greenfinch Carduelis sinica
Flock of 20+ near Danba village
 
1268 Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus pulcherrimus
A few near Chake Temple, Zhuokeji. Dozens at Daibagou, near Dangling
 
1271 Vinaceous Rosefinch Carpodacus vinaceus
Single female near Tangjiahe HQs
 
1277 White-Browed Rosefinch Carpodacus thura
A few at Chake Temple, near Zhuokeji, noted also at Wanglang NNR and at Dangling
 
1286 Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
Five or six (race himalayana ) noted at Daibagou, near Dangling
 
1290 Grey-Headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca
Up to 12 daily at Wanglang, also seen at Tangjiahe, and just two at Chake Temple, near Zhuokeji
 
1297 White-Winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes
Party of five, roosting in a pine near sunset, Dangling
 
1301 Slaty Bunting Latoucheornis siemsseni
Ones and twos seen daily at Tangjiahe (seen in July there, too)
 
1306 Godlewski's Bunting Emberiza godlewskii
    Singles near Danba
1313 Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla
Over 20 around the grounds of Wanglang NNR HQs
 
 
 
Mammals
 
Takin    Budorcas taxicolor   - Tangjiahe – party of 20 between access gate and HQs
 
Reeves’ Muntjac  Munjacius reevesi –Tangjiahe – on the nature trail and along the track upstream of HQs
 
Tufted Deer  Latin?  – Tangjiahe – single by riverside
 
Yellow-throated Marten – Martes flavigula – Track upstream of Tangjiahe HQs
 
 
All rights reserved copyright John & Jemi Holmes 2006