14th April to 6th May 2009 Sichuan Report
Reported by Tang Jun
All photos are made by Tang Jun during this trip
Date: 14 April to 6th May
Route: Chengdu Panda Center, Baita Lake, Wawu Mountain, Jiajin Mountain, Balang Mountain, Mengbi Mountain Forest at Maerkhang, Grassland and Baxi Forest at Ruoergai, Gonggangling Forest at Jiuzhaigou, Jiuzhaigou NR, Walang NR
Participants: Tang Jun; Lily & Ken from Canada and Billy from US
Lily started to talk to me regarding their birding tour to Sichuan, China in 2007 but due to the earthquake in 2008, at last we meet together in 2009.
Thanks Lily choose my agent and kind move their time week earlier as I have another group in early May. After I see them off 6th May fly to Beidaihe for another week birding. I departure my next trip on 7th May with other birders.
Thanks a lot Billy to bring me some books of birds from US.
14 April Due to Ken is his 70’s and not that good on his health, so they arrival at Chengdu one day earlier from HK and take a day rest at this pleasant city. We did a huge shopping in Chengdu for the coming 3 weeks trip and Billy bought a lot of diet Coca.
15 April we did a small birding in Chengdu Bauhuatan Park and the Panda Center, Ken walked about 4km today and looks still very good. We saw some city birds can not be missed and especially saw the Golden Pheasant at the Panda Center.
16 April We departure about 5pam and drive 1 hour to Baita lake to some easy birding, what the main purpose is the Bamboo Partridge and the Yellow-throated Bunting plus other common birds, we did it and had a nice dinner at Chongzhou City for the local famous chicken then get back to Chengdu for overnight at the same good hotel.
17th April we drove 240km to Wawu Mountain via Ya’an City, where we stop to buy some very fresh bread and had a good lunch. And did a short at birding along the Ya’an Qiyi River, where is the lowest place I saw Ibisbill in winter. After we got into the main gate of Wawu Forest Park, we drove another 25 up to the end of the road, where is the hotel we will stay the coming 3 nights and where is the start of the cable car up to the summit. On the way we drove from the main gate to our hotel, we saw Lady AM quite well.
 
  18th April we started about 530am to drive down about to the place for some morning birds and we almost forget to come back to the restaurant for breakfast, but no problem, as in our car, I always prepare lots of food and hot water plus fruits and coffee as well. So birds now is more important than breakfast, after some good birding at the place, we drove back to our hotel as today we plan to stay the whole day at the summit area of the mountain. The cable car start at 0800am and 30mins get up to the summit. When we got to the summit, we took a pleasant walk around about 5km along the quiet path with bamboo and primary forest standing beside. We saw some good birds include 4 Parrotbills and others then after the lunch at the summit restaurant, we walked back to the cable car station before 5pm and catch the last car down to our hotel.
19th April we spent the whole day at the slope area of Wawu Mountain. Without waste our time for birds, we eat our breakfast beside the roads and enjoying the birding start from the hotel down to the foot area. Because during the noon time, birds are not that good, so we drove back to our hotel for the lunch and take a short break, I have to worried about Ken’s health and there is still a tough trip in the coming days. Abpout 4pam, we drove down again for birding and come back for dinner at 7pm.
  20th April we started early again down to the mountain for pheasants and come back for breakfast, then pack our bags for check out. Then we drove towards to the next destination named Baoxing County. Where is the place for the first report of the Giant Panda. Due to the quake in May 2008, many rebuilding are carrying on of the roads thus we spend a long to get to this small town. We spent the night at a nice hotel which is the best with hot water and clean, warm room. We are wake up the next morning by the callings of the Common & Golden Pheasants just behind our hotel.
21st April We refuse to wait the breakfast at the hotel as it is too late for birders and I want to get to the summit area of Jiajin Mountain for birds. Jiajin Mountain summit (pass) is the place for Chinese Monal and some other good birds plus mammals. After birding around and we carry on to Rilong Town where we will use as the basecamp for Balang Mountain and Wolong area. After the earthquake, the road from Chengdu directly to Wolong is under traffic control and no admittance for tourism vehicles. So I use Rilong town where has lot of good hotel choice and located the other side of Balang Mountain.
22nd-23rd April We started very early up to the Balang Mountain area with packed breakfast and lunch, we spent the two whole days at the area and even some road working are carrying on, but we still managed to see the birds what we want. After each fruitful trip, we get back to our hotel for a good dinner and nice sleep.
24th April today we up to Balang Mountain again for a short morning birding then come back to our hotel before 12am to check out. After a light lunch at the hotel, we carry on to our next destination where drive north about 200km and into the Tibetan area and high altitude. We stopped a short time at Mengbi forest where we will spend two whole days. I always use Jiarong International Hotel which is a 4 stars and Tibetan style. The only thing is not that good is the disco bar of the hotel. But if we can understand Tibetan is always enjoying singing and dancing then no problem. So the next morning, disco songs still in our brains and we go for birding…
25th-26th April we spent two whole days at Mengbi forest, Mengbi is definitely one of the best place for birds in center China. Here we will can see 6-8 different game birds and another endemic bird: Sichuan Jay. Birding condition is quite good, we just lightly walk along the road and in some place, we will see what we want. The road we walking along is not that busy traffic and quiet the most of the day. We packed our breakfast from hotel and make the lunch at the forest to ensure the most time for birds. Then drive back to Maerkhang for good dinner.
 
  27th April we carry on to north still to the biggest wetland of China. But unfortunately, we were stopped by the police at the middle way due to the problem of Tibetan area. So we have to drive back a little and someplace we turn left try to join another way to carry on to north. We get to a place Named Chuan Zhu Si when is very late but we found a very good hotel to overnight. That day was a very tough day, I am tired on driving and Ken fell sick.
28th April due to Ken feel sick so Ken and Lily stay at the good hotel for rest and I and Bill try to get to Ruoergai without stop by the police. We are luck and we start very early and police still in beds and we success to go through the check point. I and Ken drive fast to arrive the wetland and the Baxi Forest, we did a good birding trip at Ruoergai, include Chinese Grouse and the Black Necked Crane and other Bill’s target birds. We sleep at Ruoergai Grand Hotel that night and had a nice dinner.
29th April we decide go back to Baxi Forest again on very early departure and check out of our hotel directly. We spend the morning at the forest and see the Blue Eared pheasant then drive fast back to Chun Zhu Si pick up Ken and Lily. Ken looks very good after two good nights rest at the good hotel. Then we are together again and carry to Jiuzhaigou NR again.
30th April -2nd May we spend all the days inside the famous National Park. Too many tourists and we walked slowly in some valleys of the park where no tourists. But is is very difficult to get off the park bus where we want to stop. I send Lily to talk to the driver and at last the driver stopped for us maybe we war OLD FOREIGNERS.
3rd - 4th May we drive to Walang NR and spent two night inside the park. Fortunately, there are quite few tourists inside the park and we drive two path of the park and see some good birds. Here Ken and Lily very happy as we saw the Blue Eared Pheasant again and very good view.
5th May some morning and last birding at the park, just when we drive pout of the park, we saw a pair of White Crowned Forktail walking along the river. We spend the almost whole day drive back to Chengdu and a celebration dinner at the good restaurant.
6th May I do not have a good rest for the old birders as I am sure they will be happy, we did a early morning birding again at the park to pick up another two new birds of the trip. Then back to the hotel for a late breakfast and check out drive to the airport to see them off to Beidaihe for another week birding. As I do not have time to go with them as booked by another tour, so only arranged everything at Beidaihe for these kind three little older birders. I heard later from Lily that their birding trip at Beidaihe is so so due to bad weather. They can not go to Happy Island and have to spend all the time at Baidaihe.
Lily said that she will come back again to go to Qinghai Tibet Plateau and I am waiting |
