Roof of Asia Explorer：Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Expedition

Arrival in Xining by flight, transfer to hotel,activities will be arrange according to flight arrival time.

Leave early in the morning, drive to Dongxia forest park( 1 hr) in the north of the city , Birding there, then drive southwest to Gonghe county, 188km, 2.5 hours drive, birding at Gonghe, night in Gonghe. Possible species for Dongxia forest park : Gansu Leaf Warbler,Yellow-streaked Warbler,Crested Tit Warbler,Goldcrest, Elliot’s Laughingthrush,Przevalski’s Nuthatch,Chinese Nuthatch,Siberian Rubythroat White-throated Redstart,Chinese White-browed Rosefinch,Common Rosefinch,White-winged Grosbeak,Grey-headed Bullfinch,Black-faced Bunting.Possible species in Gonghe :Lesser Whitethroat,Isabelline Wheatear,Desert Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Twite, Mongolian Finch ,Desert Finch, Black-faced Bunting, Pine Bunting

Birding nearby Gonghe county early in the morning, then drive to Ela.Mountain( 188kms/2.5hrs drive, 4500 metres high) for birding,then heading to Maduo, (180km/2.5hrs drive), night in Maduo. Morning's birding around Gonghe: Przevalski’s  Partridge(Rusty-necklaced Partridge), Pale Rosefinch, Desert Finch, Mongolian Finch, Lesser Whitethroat. Mountain.Ela : Himalayan Snowcock,Tibetan Rosefinch, Guldenstadt’s/White-winged Redstart, Tibetan Snowfinch, Brandt’s and Plain Mountain Finches;  We may also pick some other species on the way to Maduo: Mongolian Lark, Streaked Rosefinch, White-browed Tit, Black-winged Snowfinch, etc

Drive from Maduo to Yushu(330km/ 4.5hrs), birding on the way, species possible:

Lammergeier,Himalayan Griffon,Upland Buzzard,Saker Falcon,Little Owl,Giant Grey Shrike,Ibisbill,Ruddy Shelduck,Bar-headed Goose,Common Redshank,Brown-headed Gull,Common Tern,Salim Ali’s Swift,Red-rumped Swallow,Pale Martin,Eurasian Crag Martin,Asian House Martin,Citrine Wagtail,Mongolian Lark,Kessler’s Thrush,Black Redstart,Hodgson’s Redstart,Blue-fronted Redstart,Tickell’s/Alpine Leaf Warbler,Daurian Jackdaw,Common Hoopoe, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Great Rosefinch.

Drive towards Nangqian(170kms/2.5hrs), in search of the species we may still missing from day 4,if we arrive there early, birding around Nangqian,night at Nangqian county.

Drive to nearby Kanda Mountain( 35kms/1hr, 4200 metres high) , Full day birding at Kanda Mountain :Tibetan Snowcock,Tibetan Partridge,Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Buff-throated Partridge), White-eared Pheasant, Tibetan Bunting, Chinese Rubythroat, White-capped Redstart, Grandala, White-browed Tit, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit Warbler, Tibetan Babax, Snow Pigeon, Wallcreeper, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch Streaked Rosefinch, Plain Mountain Finch, White-winged Grosbeak,etc.

Drive to the nearby Baizha Forest( 35kms/1hr, 3800 metres high),Full day birding here : Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Buff-throated Partridge),White-eared Pheasant,Tibetan Babax, Elliot’s Laughingthrush,Giant Laughingthrush,Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Chinese Fulvetta, Himalayan Bluetail, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Long-tailed Thrush, Rufous-breasted Accentors, Maroon-backed Accentors, Crested Tit Warbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Rufous-vented Tit, Grey-crested Tit, Sichuan Tit, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, White-throated Dipper, Black Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker ,Rosy Pipit, Salim Ali’s Swift, Three-banded Rosefinches,Pink-rumped Rosefinches,Common Rosefinches

Drive from Nangqian to Qumalai(400kms/ 5hrs) Birding along the way, night at Qumalai,We will drive through wetlands and high-platue meadow, Beautiful scenery along the way.

Drive from Qumalai to Golmud(480 km/6 hrs),  birding  along the way, night at Golmud. Speices possible:Tibetan Sandgrouse, Tibetan Sand Plover, Saker Falcon, Upland Buzzard, Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat etc.

Drive from Golmud to Dulan(350km/4.5 hours ) , birding along the way,  night in Dulan. Species possible:Henderson’s Ground Jay, Tarim Babbler,Isabelline Shrike,Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Short-toed Lark, Bearded Reedling

Drive from Dulan to Chaka(135kms/1.5hrs), visit one of the valley for Ala Shan/Przevalski’s Redstart,Black Redstart,Przevalski’s Partridge,Daurian Partridge, Eurasion Eagle-owl, Pine Bunting, Giant Grey Shrike, White-winged Grosbeak, Wallcreeper, Brown Accentor, etc, night in Chaka.

Drive to Rubber mountain nearby Koko Nor lake / Qinghai lake, birding around, then drive back to Xining.Species to look for: Pallas’s Sandgrouse,Henderson’s Ground Jay, Desert Wheatears, Isabelline Wheatears,Mongolian Lark,Przevalski’s Finch(Pinktail), White-browed Tit, Blanford’s/Plain-backed Snowfinch ,White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Pere David’s Snowfinch,Robin Accentor,Brown Accentor,Dusky Warbler,Tickel’s / Alpine Leaf Warbler,Black-necked Crane,Bar-headed Goose,Brown-headed Gull,Ground Tit,Mongolian Lark,Hume’s Short-toed Lark,Tibetan Lark,Pale Martin.

According to flight departure time to arrange activity today, can arrange culture activity or city tour if time allows, then drive to Xining airport for departure.

Mammals possible: Pallas's Cat, Kiang, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox,Red Fox, Kiang, Gray Wolf, Goitered Gazelle,Przewalski’s Gazelle,Blue Sheep,etc.

This tour can extend to visit Wild Yak Vally for Sillem's Rosefinch, which is another3 days expedition ( to allow the 2nd trying)

Notes:

Sillem's Rosefinch Observation Requirements

1. Timing & Activity Demands

Early morning departure

Long-duration walking at 5,000 metres altitude

2. Travel Logistics

One-way driving time from Xidatan base to observation site: 5–6 hours

Vehicle requirement: At least two 4×4 off-road vehicles

3. Permit Application

Need to secure entry permits for the protected mountain area from the Golmud Forestry Bureau at least 1 week in advance; submit passports/IDs of all tour members for approval.