With 10 of China’s 17 Parrotbill species present in Sichuan, this province is the place to visit for those Bird Photographers interested in this avian group. This Bird-Photo-Tour will start in Chengdu in Sichuan Province before moving to Meishan Prefecture and then onto Aba Prefecture. There will be opportunities to photograph the following Parrotbills: Three-toed, Grey-hooded, Great, Brown, Golden, Ashy-throated, Fulvous, Grey-headed and Spectacled Parrotbills, three of which are endemic to China. There will also be numerous other special birds to photograph including five more endemic species: Sichuan Jay, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Chinese Grouse, Sichuan Owl and Przevalski's Nuthatch. This 13-day Bird-Photo-Tour to China's Sichuan Province will focus on enjoying close photographic encounters with some of China's unique birds whilst being in the magnificent environment of both Meishan and Aba Prefectures, the latter forming part of the Tibetan Plateau.
3 Endemics: Three-toed Parrotbill / Grey-hooded Parrotbill / Spectacled Parrotbills.
7 Near Endemic Parrotbills: Great Parrotbill / Brown Parrotbill / Vinous-throated Parrotbill / Ashy-throated Parrotbill / Fulvous Parrotbill / Golden Parrotbill / Grey-headed Parrotbill.
10 Species of Parrotbills: Great Parrotbill / Brown Parrotbill / Ashy-throated Parrotbill/ Fulvous Parrotbill / Golden Parrotbill / Grey-headed Parrotbill / Spot-breasted Parrotbill / Three-toed Parrotbill / Grey-hooded Parrotbill / Spectacled Parrotbill.
Others: Sichuan Jay / Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush / Chinese Grouse / Pere David's Owl.
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, Sichuan Province, Meishan Prefecture [6N / 5D / 11S]. Arrive ChengDu, Drive east 5-hours, 240km, to Meishan Prefecture. Photographic Targets: Three-toed Parrotbill / Grey-hooded Parrotbill / Great Parrotbill / Brown Parrotbill / Golden Parrotbill / Ashy-throated Parrotbill / Fulvous Parrotbill.
Days 7-8 Travel Day [1N / 0D / 0S]. Drive 9-Hours, 450km, from Meishan Prefecture to Aba Prefecture.
Days 8-12, Sichuan Province, Aba Prefecture [4N / 4D / 8S]. Photographic Targets: Spectacled Parrotbill / Sichuan Jay / Chinese Grouse / Pere David's Owl / Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush / Przevalski's Nuthatch.
Days 12-13 Travel Day [1N / 0D / 0S]. Drive 9-Hours, 450km, from Aba Prefecture to Mianyang Airport.
[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.
: Sichuan
: Parrotbills
: Qinghai
: Guangxi
: Southern
: Guangdong
: Hainan
: Yunnan
: Cranes
: Pheasants
: Sichuan
: Parrotbills
: Qinghai
: Guangxi
: Southern
: Guangdong
: Hainan
: Yunnan
: Cranes
: Pheasants
: Sichuan
: 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 some requirement to hike (iv) Some of the locations are at altitude around 3500m-4500m (v) There is no camping. Summary: as some of the locations are at altitude, this trip has been graded as 'Medium'.
