Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Tour price (Per person): USD6,795 * GBP5,244 * EUR6,240 * AUD10,307
Can be linked with: China - Yunnan Extension OBC 2025
China is a vast land of remarkable diversity and brilliant birds. Sichuan Province showcases China’s finest and most rewarding birding hotspots and we will explore some of the most pristine and remote regions for the many special breeding residents. We will search a variety of habitats ranging from moss-draped, broad-leaved and coniferous forests and extensive hillsides covered with bamboo, to the vast alpine meadows and scrubby slopes of the Tibetan Plateau. The scenery on this tour is truly spectacular with amazing panoramic views of forest-clad mountains and snow-capped peaks throughout the tour. Pheasants are of particular interest and we will be on the lookout for an astonishing ten species! These include White Eared and Blue Eared, Golden, Koklass, Blood and Lady Amherst’s Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan and Chinese Monal. The supporting cast includes an astonishing ten species of Parrotbill that include Great, Three-toed, Spectacled, Ashy-throated, Grey-hooded, Fulvous, Golden and Przevalski’s Parrotbills, as well as Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge, Tibetan and Snow Partridges, Tibetan Snowcock, the rare Pere David’s Owl, Chinese Grouse, Wallcreeper, Snow Pigeon, stately Black-necked Crane, Darjeeling and Black Woodpeckers, range-restricted Emei Shan Liocichla, Pere David’s Tit, the recently described Sichuan Treecreeper, spectacular Firethroat, White-browed and Crested Tit-Warblers, Przevalski’s and Chinese Nuthatches, Sichuan Jay, stunning Grandala and an amazing selection of laughingthrushes, warblers, snowfinches and rosefinches. We may even encounter the endemic and monotypic Przevalski’s Finch (Pinktail) and the unique and bizarre Ibisbill. Fascinating cultures, dramatic and breath-taking landscapes, plus a bounty of exceptional and beautiful birds all make for one of the most rewarding birding experiences in all of Asia.
White Eared, Blue Eared, Golden, Koklass, Blood & Lady Amherst’s Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan, Chinese Monal, Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge, Tibetan & Snow Partridges, Tibetan Snowcock, Chinese Grouse, Upland Buzzard, Brown-cheeked Rail, Black-necked Crane, Snow & Hill Pigeons, Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo, Salim Ali's Swift, Pere David’s, Himalayan and Tawny Fish Owls, Saker Falcon, Crested Kingfisher, Black and Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Tibetan Lark, Collared Finchbill, Chinese Wren-babbler (Cupwing), Wallcreeper, Collared Crow, Sichuan Jay, Emei Shan Liocichla, Fire-capped, White-browed, Pere David's, Sichuan, Yellow-bellied & Ground Tits, Sichuan Treecreeper, White-browed & Crested Tit-Warblers, Przevalski's & Chinese Nuthatches, Sooty Bushtit, Emei & Sichuan Leaf Warblers, Chestnut-crowned, Golden-fronted, Golden-breasted, Chinese, Spwectacled, Grey-hooded & David's Fulvettas, Sichuan, Spotted & Brown Bush Warblers, Snowy-cheeked, Barred, Giant, Spotted, Plain, Buffy, Elliot's & Red-winged Laughingthrushes, Streaked Barwing, Rufous-tailed Babbler (Moupinia), Great, Three-toed, Ashy-throated, Golden & Grey-hooded Parrotbills, Chinese and Collared Grosbeaks, Grandala, Firethroat, Red-billed Starling, Sichuan, Long-tailed & Kessler's Thrushes, Fujian Niltava, White-bellied Redstart, White-browed & Golden Bush Robins, Tibetan, White-rumped & Rufous-necked Snowfinches, Maroon-breasted Accentor, Blanford's, Sharpe's, Streaked, Red-fronted, Vinaceous, Three-banded, Chinese White-browed, Himalayan Beautiful & Pink-rumped Rosefinches, Tibetan Serin, Slaty & Godlewski's Buntings & Przevalski's Finch
Golden Takin, Milne-Edward's Macaque, Chinese Serow, Tufted Deer, Chinese Goral, Tibetan Fox, Hog Badger & Grey Wolf. Chances for Giant & Red Panda, Asiatic Black Bear & Pallas’s Cat
temperate coniferous (pine, spruce & fir) and mixed (oak & rhododendron) broad-leaved forest, bamboo forest, alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau, rivers, mountain valleys, mountains and high-altitude passes
warm to moderate in the lower lying areas, cold with some snow in the higher lying areas (most of the trip)
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
moderate
very comfortable
moderate with some tricky and some easy species
fabulous mountain scenery, extensive broad-leaved, coniferous and bamboo forests, fascinating people and culture, rarely visited reserves and wilderness areas
good
David Hoddinott was an excellent bird guide, finding and identifying birds at amazing speed and ease. He had researched the field well, and knew where to find the birds. He also had researched the literature and was versed in all the newest taxonomic changes. He was very patient in assuring that all the participants got on the bird.
David Hoddinott is an outstanding leader. Always conscious of the need to ensure that everyone sees each bird, he does, rightly, expect concentration and a positive approach throughout. This is the second time that I have travelled with David and I hope that I have the opportunity again in the future. Thank you.
Paul Varney, was very well prepared, despite not having birdied much in China before he had studied the likely birds at each place and particularly he had leaner the calls, so vital in identifying almost identical leaf warblers. He was calm and flexible when logistical issues arose. I would happily tour with him again.
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.
As usual, Glen Valentine was fantastic. I have travelled with him before and it never ceases to amaze me how he can hear and spot birds so effectively. And his enthusiasm is contagious. You know that he has seen any given bird on previous trips but it's as though he is seeing it for the first time with you! Daniel Danckwerts was also on the tour "learning the ropes". Very knowledgeable and a good asset to have on the tour. A superb spotter! All in all, this was a fantastic trip. I would recommend it to anyone.
China - Sichuan Birding II 2024 - June 2024
China - Yunnan Extension II 2024 - June 2024
China - Sichuan Birding III 2024 - June 2024
China - Qinghai Extension 2024 - April 2024
China - Highlights 2024 - April 2024
China - Sichuan Birding 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights: Qinghai Extension 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights 2019 - May 2019
China - Sichuan Birding II 2018 - May 2018
China - Sichuan Birding I 2018 - May 2018
China - Southeast in Spring 2018 - April 2018
China - Reeves's Pheasant & Crested Ibis Extension 2018 - April 2018
China - Sichuan Birding 2017 - May 2017
China - Yunnan Extension 2017 - May 2017
China - Tibetan Plateau & Beidaihe 2016 - September 2016
China - Lhasa Birding & Cultural Extension 2016 - September 2016
China - Menart Przevalski's Finch Ext 2016 - May 2016
China - Sichuan Birding 2016 - May 2016