The southern Chinese province of Hainan is a tropical island in the South China Sea that offers much to the bird photographer with endemic species including the endangered Hainan Peacock-Pheasant, the colourful Hainan Partridge and the lemon-yellow Hainan Leaf Warbler. There are only two areas of tropical rainforest in China, in parts of southern Yunnan Province and on Hainan Island and these rainforests are also home to a number of range-restricted species including the Eyebrowed Wren Babbler, Red-headed Trogon and Sultan Tit, all of which we will work towards enjoying close photographic encounters. After sun down our attention will turn to obtaining portraits of a number of owls including Oriental Bay Owl, Eastern Grass Owl, Eastern Barn Owl, Mountain Scops Owl and Collared Scops Owl. [For those photographers wanting a longer Bird-Photo-Tour to this part of China, Bird-Photo-Tours Asia does offer a 12-day post-tour extension to Guangxi and Guangdong Provinces respectively where our main photographic objectives are to obtain portraits of many of the endemic species from this region of China including the recently discovered Nonggang Babbler, White-winged Magpie, Cabot's Tragopan, White-necklaced Partridge and Grey-sided Scimitar Babbler].
Pheasants / Partridges: Hainan Peacock Pheasant / Silver Pheasant / Hainan Partridge
Owls: Oriental Bay Owl / Eastern Grass Owl / Eastern Barn Owl / Collared Scops Owl / Mountain Scops Owl
Others: Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush / Red-headed Trogon / White-winged Magpie / Indochinese Green Magpie / Hainan Leaf Warbler
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-7, Hainan Province [6N / 5D / 10S]. Arrive in Sanya International Airport and drive 4-hours to Ledong County. Photographic Targets: Hainan Peacock Pheasant / Hainan Partridge / Hainan Leaf Warbler / Yellow-billed Nuthatch / Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush / Black-throated Laughingthrush / Sultan Tit / Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler / Red-headed Trogon / White-bellied Erpornis / Chestnut Bulbul / Huet’s Fulvetta / Spot-necked Babbler / Puff-throated Bulbul / Grey-chinned Minivet/ Oriental Bay Owl / Eastern Grass Owl / Eastern Barn Owl / Collared Scops Owl / Mountain Scops Owl.
Day 7, Hainan Province [0N / 0D / 0S]. Depart Sanya International Airport [END].
[Key: N=Night, D=Full Day, S = Session / Half-Day]
Steven was born in Gansu Province in northwest China before moving to Jiangxi Province on China’s east coast where he graduated as an International Tour Guide. Commencing trading as a guide, Steven initially focused on cultural tours before moving to bird guiding in 2008. This move into ecotourism was influenced by China’s largest freshwater lake, Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, which in winter is home to 98% of the global population of the critically endangered Siberian Crane. It was a 2008 encounter with that species that proved pivotal and sparked Steven’s passion for birds. Fast forwarding 15-years, Steven is now one of China’s top bird guides, leading tours throughout most of China’s important bird photography locations. Steven’s kind and gentle personality, fluent English language skills, sound field identification abilities, care and thoughtfulness for others, and in particular his strong knowledge of how to support the needs of the bird photographer, have all combined to produce Steven’s strong guiding reputation especially so within the bird photography community.
: Parrotbills
: Qinghai
: Guangxi
: Southern
: Guangdong
: Hainan
: Yunnan
: Cranes
: Pheasants
: Parrotbills
: Qinghai
: Guangxi
: Southern
: Guangdong
: Hainan
: Yunnan
: Cranes
: Pheasants
: Parrotbills
: Qinghai
: Guangxi
: Southern
: Guangdong
: Hainan
: Yunnan
: Cranes
: Pheasants
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping. Summary: for these five reasons this trip has been graded as 'Easy'.
