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Pallas’s Sandgrouse Edge of Gobi Desert M O N G O L I A day to explore the lake which is our best site for Pallas’s Fish Eagle – one of Mongolia’s special birds. White-tailed Eagle might also turn up, and Steppe Eagles and Upland Buzzards will be everywhere. The lake supports many Swan and Bar-headed Geese as well as gulls and terns. Desert Wheatear breed by the ger camp and Horned Larks are numerous. Day 8 Today we drive back to Ulaanbaatar, checking some of the sites we visited on our outward journey looking for any species we might have missed. We stay overnight in Ulaanbaatar. Days 9 & 10 We take a morning flight to Dalanzangad in the south of Mongolia, in the great Gobi Desert. From here we drive to one of the Altai ridges – Baga Bogd. We drive for most of the day to get there but break the journey with a few birding stops – here we can see the beautiful Pallas’s Sandgrouse virtually everywhere and we can carefully look for the even more beautiful Oriental Plover and for Greater Sand Plover. We reach our ger camp, where we stay for two nights, in the evening. The next day we have an early start as it is about an hour’s drive to reach our main area today – a picturesque gorge and the home of the Altai Snowcock – another Mongolian highlight. We can normally see the calling males from the point where our vehicles drop us, but after a bit of a climb, and a half a mile walk, we come nearer to the displaying males and we can enjoy their gentle whistling calls, watch them feeding and eventually see one fly above us, crossing the narrow gorge and landing on the opposite slope. Other birds we can look for in the gorge are Wallcreeper, White-winged and Mongolian Finches, Common Rosefinch, Brown and Alpine Accentors, Godlewski’s Bunting, Golden Eagle, Hill Pigeon, Rock Sparrow and Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush. Later we can descend a little and look for another of our targets – Henderson’s Ground Jay. The rest of the day is spent in the area of our camp, or we may visit another wetland situated some 25 km away. Days 11 & 12 Today we have a long drive to our destination, the famous Gobi’s sand dunes. On the way we can see numerous sandgrouse, Pied and Desert Wheatears, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Ortolan Bunting, Saker, Long-legged and Upland Buzzards and Eurasian Griffon and Eurasian Black Vultures. We can look for Henderson’s Ground Jay and also hope for our first encounter with the handsome Saxaul Sparrow. Goiterred Gazelles are also found in the area but we have to be quick to spot them as they disappear quickly. We stay for two nights in a ger camp in front of the amazing sand dunes. After the long drive yesterday we have a more relaxing day today, enjoying the view of the sand dunes and we can look for Saxaul Sparrow along the river, where they usually come to drink. There are also a few more pairs of the Henderson’s Ground Jay around, plus sandgrouse, Desert Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Ruddy Shelduck and Horned Lark. Later, a short drive brings us back to the camp with its nice restaurant for cold drinks and dinner. Day 13 We depart after breakfast and after a few hours’ drive, with a couple of short stops, we arrive at Yoliin Am – the valley of the Lammergeiers. Here we can see these magnificent raptors as well as Saker Falcon, Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk and Upland Buzzard. Mongolia’s only endemic bird, Kozlov’s Accentor, is found here as well as Brown Accentor, Common and Beautiful Rosefinches, Godlewski’s Bunting, Whitewinged Snowfinch and Wallcreeper. Great Rosefinch is much rarer but we also have a chance to find this too. The gorge itself is a spectacular formation and being here is a privilege. Towards its lower end the gorge becomes less narrow and turns into a wide valley. Here we can find Barred Warbler and wheatears. We stay overnight in a nearby camp. Days 14 & 15 We make an early start in order to catch our return flight to Ulaanbaatar, where we stay overnight. We can continue birding and look for species such as Azure Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Baikal Wagtail, Pine and Meadow Buntings, Twobarred, Yellow-browed, Pallas’s and Dusky Warblers, Taiga Flycatcher and Brown Shrike. The capital city of Ulaanbaatar is strikingly different compared with the traditional life in the countryside gers and small settlements. There are a couple of historical and cultural sites we can visit and we can also buy some fine cashmere products to bring home as presents. In the morning we catch our return flight to London where we arrive later that evening. Outline Itinerary Day 1 Depart London Day 2 Arrive Ulaanbaatar and transfer to Terelj National Park Day 3 Terelj National Park Days 4-5 Hustai National Park Days 6-7 Ogii Lake Day 8 Ulaanbaatar Days 9-10 Baga Bogd Days 11-12 Gobi Desert Day 13 Yoliin Am Day 14 Ulaanbaatar Day 15 Depart Ulaanbaatar, arrive London Party Size Maximum of 12 clients. Accommodation Comfortable accommodation in twin/double and single rooms throughout the tour. The hotel at Ulaanbaatar has private facilities. Outside of the capital we will be staying in traditional ger camps. The gers have proper beds. There are separate toilets and wash rooms and meals will be served in a restaurant/converted ger. Transport By small coach and 4 x 4 vehicles. Includes All flights, meals, accommodation, transport, entry fees, services of the leaders, airport taxes and tips. Gradings Ger camp Good/Tented 230 Hot to Cool Moderate Special Moderate Good Moderate Scheduled To make a booking please call Ornitholidays on 01794 519445 77
TA I W A N Taiwan Island Endemics Sunday 13 April – Friday 25 April 2014 Leaders: Simon Boyes and Chiang Kuen-Dar 2014 Cost £3,799 single room supplement £340 W hen the Portuguese first saw this subtropical island, situated just 100 miles off mainland China, they called it Ilha Formosa, or the ‘beautiful island.’ Taiwan is relatively small but it has a spine of mountains, where more than Kenting one hundred peaks are over 3,000m high. Its east coast is rugged, while the west side of the island is flat and fertile with many areas put over to agriculture, including fish farms and rice paddies. Most imagine the country to be heavily industrialized, as indeed it is around the major cities; though there is also excellent primary forest, rushing rivers, coastal vegetation and an envied extensive national park structure. Taiwan’s bird list now exceeds 500 species, including 24 endemics (though new splits are on the cards). The central mountains contain most of these, and we will spend much of our time here, where the scenery is glorious and the air fresh. We will search for star attractions such as the breathtaking Swinhoe’s and Mikado Pheasants, and the dazzling Taiwan Blue Magpie. We can look for the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, which has a world population of about 2,700, at its key wintering site on the west coast. We should see most of the endemic birds, and many other resident species. By visiting in mid April, we should encounter drier conditions than occur in later months; and migration of many species will be in progress. We will encounter neither the oppressive heat and humidity of summer, nor the extreme cold (in the mountains) of mid-winter. Douliou Tainan Dasyueshan Kaoshing City Taipei TAIWAN Huisun The experience of birding in Taiwan is now enhanced by the recent publication of the excellent Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia, by Mark Brazil. Also, if you enjoy good Chinese food then this is a great holiday to choose! Travel with Simon to find out why Taiwan is such a popular Asian destination. This will be Ornitholidays fourth tour to Taiwan. Mikado Pheasant ITINERARY Days 1 to 3 We leave London on a scheduled evening flight to Taipei, where we arrive the following evening and transfer to our hotel in the city, for a twonight stay. The next morning we visit Wulai, a resort village (with hot springs) in a spectacular forested valley. Here we seek Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Plumbeous Redstart, Silver-backed Needletail and White-bellied Green Pigeon. It is also a good area for raptors: Crested Goshawk, Crested Serpent Eagle, Black Eagle and Oriental Honey-buzzard are all possible. Later we visit Taipei’s Botanical Gardens, where we hope to find the endemic Taiwan Barbet and Taiwan Scimitar-Babbler. Malayan Night Heron, uncommon and secretive over much of its range, is comparatively easy to find on the island, and is often in these gardens. Other birds could include Grey Treepie, Black-naped Monarch and Japanese White-eye. Days 4 to 6 We head south from the capital, and climb into the mountains. Basing ourselves at Dasyueshan Forest Recreation Area, we will begin our search for many of Taiwan's more spectacular endemics. This area, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 metres in elevation, features both temperate mixed forest and boreal conifer forest of fir, hemlock and cypress. Top among these endemics are Mikado and Swinhoe's Pheasants, but we will also be alert for Flamecrest, Rufouscrowned and Rusty Laughingthrushes, Taiwan Barwing and Taiwan Sibia. Steere's Liocichla and Taiwan Yuhina will become familiar birds here. We will also climb (in our vehicle) for higher altitude species, such as White-whiskered Laughingthrush, Johnstone's Robin, Yellowbellied Bush-Warbler, Ashy Woodpigeon and Vinaceous Rosefinch. We also have good chances for White-bellied Green Pigeon, Bronzed Drongo, Scaly Thrush, Rufous-faced Warbler, Snowy-browed Flycatcher and Vivid Niltava. Taiwan Whistling Thrush and Little Forktails occur along the mountain streams. We will keep an eye on the treetops for the distinctive island subspecies of Spotted Nutcracker, (owstoni), which are the least spotted of all forms and a candidate for a future split. With patience, 78 For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 2014 49 Our Forty-Nin
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49 Our Forty-Ninth Year ORNITHOLIDA
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I S O R N I T H O L I D AY S R I G
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L AT E 2 0 1 3 T O U R S Summary of
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T O U R G R A D I N G Tour Grading
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G R E E N TA X E S A N D C A R B O
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Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA
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U S A - U TA H & A R I Z O N A USA
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M E X I C O Mexico Western Mexican
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C O S TA R I C A Costa Rica Classic
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Page 35 and 36: G U YA N A Guyana Rainforests, Wate
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N E T H E R L A N D S Netherlands W
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I C E L A N D Iceland Winter Wonder
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I C E L A N D Iceland Land of Ice &
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T U R K E Y Turkey Turkish Delight
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B E L A R U S Belarus Europe’s La
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F I N L A N D Finland Owls, Woodpec
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H U N G A R Y Hungary Spring Tour S
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R O M A N I A Romania Danube Delta
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B U L G A R I A Bulgaria at Leisure
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O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Our
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O U R T E A M O F L E A D E R S Blu
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C A L E N D A R Calendar 2014 JANUA
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C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
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C O N D I T I O N S O F B O O K I N
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ORNITHOLIDAYS 29 Straight Mile Roms
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