We were up early for a walk along the river looking for Azure Tits and White-headed Penduline tits. The level of the water was quite high but David found a White-breasted Waterhen on the opposite bank but it disappeared before we could catch up with it. We found some European and Azure-winged Magpies but still no sign of Daurian Jackdaws although we could hear jackdaws calling. As we made our way back towards the hotel David was investigating some odd sounds and I checked out the flowers, finding wild delphiniums.
The sounds turned out to be a Pica and as I scanned the trees, I found a couple of Azure Tits. Views were Ok but photographs were difficult. They then flew to another tree where they were easier to see but no easier to photograph.
We made our way back, exploring the area nearer to the hotel when David heard penduline tits calling. After a bit of searching, David found a small family party of juveniles feeding in the tops of the aspens. We spent a bit of time trying to photograph them then i made my way into breakfast and to tell the others.
David appeared eventually and after breakfast we all went back outside to see the Penduline. We also found an Azure Tit which gave really good views as it flitted around the docks and plants in the field area in the hotel grounds. There were also some nice flowers including three different Alliums, a yellow poppy and some pinks.
We got called back to the hotel to set off so we loaded up the cars and set off. We drove out a different way to our arrival and drove parallel to the river, crossing an old railway line with a dismantled bridge, to some pools with lots of terns feeding over them. Some of the Common Terns were of the race longipennis. White-winged Terns were also present. There were also Redshanks and lots of Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Pochards and Goldeneyes.
The way out was tricky but brought us to a paved road near an industrial complex. We then drove west to Hustai National Park. We turned off the road onto the Park track and then stopped for a walk around. There were various larks including the striking Mongolian Lark as well as brilliant views of Demoiselle Cranes, Upland Buzzards and Saker Falcons using the posts as vantage points.
We stopped at the visitors Centre for lunch which was a self-service buffet, eaten outside and included Mongolian Tea, which is very milky and sweet. We found our first Long-tailed Ground Squirrels and Siberian Marmots.
After lunch we drove along the tracks, stopping for distant views of Przewalski Horses on the tops. We drove round to a hot spot for Daurian Partridge. We spent some time searching through the rocks and slopes. There were some lovely flowers dotted about, including a very blue gentian.
Just as we were giving up, David came along the slope to say he’d had a partridge, so we made our way back to the rocks the partridge had disappeared into. We spent quite a bit of time searching but no luck. We were making our way to the cars when it suddenly appeared out of the rocks in front of Chris, flew a short way towards Alan, checked and then went back the other way and was lost to sight over the hill. More searching was unlucky so we made our way to the Research Station for dinner and bed. As we approached the camp we noticed some Magpies mobbing something near some rocks. As I scanned a small, grey cat came into view, slinking along and then disappeared into the rocks, Pallas’ cat! We called the others back and spent some time watching the area but there were no more signs of the cat and the Magpies went quiet so we headed on to the camp. The station wasn’t quite what we had imagined, expecting a group of researchers and a scientific establishment. Instead, it was a wooden building housing the caretaker and family plus a dining/activity room. There were several small buildings dotted about as accommodation and there was a recently installed solar-powered shower. The toilets were a long-drop, three cubicle block situated up the bank on the opposite side of the valley. The grassy areas between the buildings and toilets made it a very pleasant walk to and from the facilities, but not sure what it would be like in winter.
The sounds turned out to be a Pica and as I scanned the trees, I found a couple of Azure Tits. Views were Ok but photographs were difficult. They then flew to another tree where they were easier to see but no easier to photograph.
We made our way back, exploring the area nearer to the hotel when David heard penduline tits calling. After a bit of searching, David found a small family party of juveniles feeding in the tops of the aspens. We spent a bit of time trying to photograph them then i made my way into breakfast and to tell the others.
David appeared eventually and after breakfast we all went back outside to see the Penduline. We also found an Azure Tit which gave really good views as it flitted around the docks and plants in the field area in the hotel grounds. There were also some nice flowers including three different Alliums, a yellow poppy and some pinks.
We got called back to the hotel to set off so we loaded up the cars and set off. We drove out a different way to our arrival and drove parallel to the river, crossing an old railway line with a dismantled bridge, to some pools with lots of terns feeding over them. Some of the Common Terns were of the race longipennis. White-winged Terns were also present. There were also Redshanks and lots of Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Pochards and Goldeneyes.
We stopped at the visitors Centre for lunch which was a self-service buffet, eaten outside and included Mongolian Tea, which is very milky and sweet. We found our first Long-tailed Ground Squirrels and Siberian Marmots.
After lunch we drove along the tracks, stopping for distant views of Przewalski Horses on the tops. We drove round to a hot spot for Daurian Partridge. We spent some time searching through the rocks and slopes. There were some lovely flowers dotted about, including a very blue gentian.
Just as we were giving up, David came along the slope to say he’d had a partridge, so we made our way back to the rocks the partridge had disappeared into. We spent quite a bit of time searching but no luck. We were making our way to the cars when it suddenly appeared out of the rocks in front of Chris, flew a short way towards Alan, checked and then went back the other way and was lost to sight over the hill. More searching was unlucky so we made our way to the Research Station for dinner and bed. As we approached the camp we noticed some Magpies mobbing something near some rocks. As I scanned a small, grey cat came into view, slinking along and then disappeared into the rocks, Pallas’ cat! We called the others back and spent some time watching the area but there were no more signs of the cat and the Magpies went quiet so we headed on to the camp. The station wasn’t quite what we had imagined, expecting a group of researchers and a scientific establishment. Instead, it was a wooden building housing the caretaker and family plus a dining/activity room. There were several small buildings dotted about as accommodation and there was a recently installed solar-powered shower. The toilets were a long-drop, three cubicle block situated up the bank on the opposite side of the valley. The grassy areas between the buildings and toilets made it a very pleasant walk to and from the facilities, but not sure what it would be like in winter.
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