Group Photo

 Trip Report of Mammals  at Sexu County of Sichuan province in China

Time: 10-21 Sep 2021
Leader: Tang Jun
Participants: Hongying Zhong, Jin Wang,Yulong Peng and Ziniu Song
Vehicles: Two TOYOTA 4WD Landcruisers
Driver:Tang Jun and Nyima Zhapa
Reported by: Tang Jun
Date to report: 20 April 202

Lynx @ Tang Jun

Itinerary:

9月10日 唐军会合钟钟和火冠雀之后，从成都出发，途经二郎山隧道、泸定、康定、塔公草原抵达道孚入住

10 Sep 2021 Started from Chengdu and drive to Daofu for overnight

9月11日 一早道孚附近探索，而后经由甘孜抵达马尼干戈

11 Sep Do mammals and birds around Daofu then drive to Manigange to stay

9月12日 沿途探索考察，目睹猞猁，抵达石渠

12 Sep Do mammals before Sexu and got Lynx, stay at Sexu

9月13日 其余成员经由玉树机场抵达石渠，沿途考察

13 Sep meet other participants at Yushu airport

9月14-18日 在吕老师及其助手的指领下，川西石渠周边开展以猫科动物为主要目标的生物多样性考察活动

14-18 Sep do mammals around Sexu

9月19日 经由玉树机场返回，活动结束

19 Sep departure from Yushu airport

9月19-21日 领队唐军从玉树陆路返回成都，沿途考察

19-21 Sep 2021 Tang Jun drive back to Chengdu and do mammals and birds en route

Steppe Polecat @ Tang Jun

More detailed report:

10-12 Sep 2021: Chengdu to Shiqu/Sexu

As we were driving all the way to Sexu thus stopped few sites en route for wildlife, so we did not see that much. After we passed Manigange town and about 200km before Shiqu county where looks quite remote and very good for wildlife. We saw our first Lynx of the trip at the slope area beside the road where is about 100km before Shiqu county.

Lynx @ Tang Jun

Other mammals include: Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox, Wolf, Red Fox, Plateau Pika, White-lipped Deer, Himalyan Marmot, Wooly Hare

Red Fox @ Tang Jun

Mountain Weasel @ Tang Jun

White-lipped Deer @ Tang Jun

13-18 Sep 2021: Shiqu and around

We used Xiangde Nyima Hotel at Shiqu downtown which is a quite good one. Every day we start early (normally at about 05:30am) with packed breakfast and lunch, went to different sites around Shiqu county and try different targets, of course main for cats. And came back to hotel later afternoon or evening for a big dinner.

To the northern part of Shiqu,here is village named Gayi where is about 100km from Shiqu township, here are mountains,grasslands,wide valleys and big rocks on the slope area, this is the typical habitat for Snow Leopard. 

Habitat for Cats @ Tang Jun

We spent the first two morning to arrive here by 8:00am and looking for Snow Leopard. But each morning we only saw two huge flocks at about 400 Blue Sheep on the slope but no Snow Leopard. 

The third morning we saw 3 kids Pallas’s Cats were playing in front of a cave from the road and we decide climbed up for a better photograph chance. 

It was a hard trip to climb up with big cameras and when finally we got closer, the cats disappeared as expected which is not a surprise. 

Pallas's Cats @ Tang Jun

The other purpose to climb up was try for a better view point to the slope area where the Snow Leopard supposed to be. 

That day the Snow Leopard DID appeared but not at the supposed site and we did not have a proper view but our local driver,Nyima Zhapa who stayed along the road had a better view of the Snow Leopard.

Snow Leopard @ Nyima

And for the Lynx, also on the same direction to Snow Leopard site. It was about 20km before Snow Leopard site where is an open valley with long yellow grasses and our “second”  Lynx of the trip was hunting around.

Except the watching route to north of Shiqu county for Snow Leopard,Pallas’s Cat and Lynx, and we also searched east, west and south direction of Shiqu.

West:  Drive towards Yushu along the national road and checked the sub-roads of the main one for mammals. We saw many time of Tibetan Fox,Red Fox and Wolf. And other mammals at this direction include Blue Sheep, Argali, Mountain Weasel, Steppe Polecat and also good habitat for Snow Leopard but we did not see it.

Argali @ Tang Jun

East:The road to east is back towards Chengdu where we drove in. The main habitat is grassland and flat river valley area. We saw wolf,Tibetan Fox,Red Fox,Mountain Weasel and Plateau Pikas in this direction.

Wolf @ Tang Jun

South:The road to south is drive from high plateau down into forest valley till Yangtze River to arrive Zhenda. Here is the good habitat for Leopard (of course we did not see) and Snow Leopard as well. We do not had that much to see but Blue Sheep

19 Sep 2021: Drive south to check the site for Chinese Mountain Cat and carry on to Yushu to stay, very good dinner to celebrate

We arrived a valley where a very small village located, and following a local people, we had a look of the mix-blooded Chinese Mountain Cat.

Chinese Mountain Cat @ Tang Jun

20 Sep 2021: drop off at airport and tour ends 

记录哺乳动物/mammals：猞猁、雪豹、兔狲、荒漠猫、灰狼、藏狐、赤狐、高原兔、川西鼠兔、高原鼠兔、艾鼬、香鼬、白唇鹿、藏原羚、藏野驴、喜马拉雅旱獭；

Mammal we saw during the trip:

Snow Leopard, Pallas’s Cat,Lynx, “Chinese Mountain Cat”,Kiang, Tibetan Gazelle, Grey Wolf, Tibetan & Red Fox, Argali, Hog Budger, Steppe Polecat,Blue Sheep, White-lipped Deer, Mountain Weasel, Swinhoe's Striped Squirrel, Himalayan Marmot, Gansu & Plateau Pika, Wooly Hare

 Tibetan Fox @ Tang Jun

Gansu Pika @ Tang Jun

记录鸟类/birds：藏鹀、白眉山雀、高原山鹑、鸲岩鹨、胡兀鹫、高山兀鹫、大狂、猎隼、红隼、楔尾伯劳、虎纹伯劳、灰背伯劳、普通朱雀、拟大朱雀、藏雪鸡、雕鸮、纵纹腹小鸮、戴胜、蚁裂、红嘴山鸦、黄嘴山鸦、橙翅噪鹛、灰头鸫、棕背黑头鸫、白顶溪鸲、红腹红尾鸲、北红尾鸲、黑喉红尾鸲、黑喉石鵖、棕颈雪雀等等

Birds we saw:

Tibetan Partridge,Tibetan Snowcock,, White-browed Tit,Himalayan Vulture,Lammergeier,Upland Buzzard,Golden Eagle,Saker Falcon,Chinese Grey Shrik,Little Owl,Eagle Owl,Streaked Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch,Red-fronted Rosefinch,Robin Accentor,Brown Accentor,Bar-headed Goose,Common Merganser,Brwon-headed Gull,Red-billed Though,Alpine Though,Kessler’s Thrush,Chestnut Thrush,Brandt’s Mountain Finch,Godlewski’s Bunting

Tibetan Partridge @ Tang Jun

Lammergeier @ Tang Jun

Tibetan Bunting @ Tang Jun

White-browed Tit @ Tang Jun