MONGOLIA BIRDING TRIP REPORT 2016

by Richard & Barbara Mearns 

Photographs copyrighted by R & B Mearns

Organized by: Mongolica Travel in collaboration with Mongolian Ornithological Society

Guide: Bayanmunkh D. (Bayanaa). Camp Manager: Gerelee. Driver: Batnyamsuren (Batta).

Consulted by: Gombobaatar Sundev (Gomboo)

We had a fabulous three weeks in June 2013 and after three years we could resist the urge no longer and decided to go back. To make it different we did not return to any of the same places and went in early May to catch the main migration period. We traveled east towards the Chinese border and south to the Gobi, seeing 54 species that we did not see last time, including more lifers than we had expected (about 30, depending on classification). We especially wanted to see shorebird and thrush migration and we were not disappointed! As expected it was much cooler and dry most of the time, but in the Gobi we had a rain shower and 7 cm of snow one night. We were too early for most warblers and, as planned, too early for mosquitoes.

Bayanaa was once again our hard-working bird guide but Gomboo was with us for the first two days and towards the end it was lovely to have time again with Yumi. Our new cook and driver were both great company.

Barbara, Bayanaa, Rick, Bataa, Gerelee

7 May. Arrived at UB via Glasgow, Amsterdam and Moscow. Gomboo took us to Gachuurt and we were soon watching Citrine Wagtails (a species that we were to see on more days than any other bird). As we searched the woods for Black-billed Capercaillie we came across our first Red-flanked Bluetails, Naumann’s and Dusky Thrushes. Night in very comfortable hotel, on edge of forest.

8 May. Started at 5.00am and after a short climb upwards we were soon amongst several lekking capercaillie – an unforgettable experience. The pine and larch habitat was fantastic and we soon saw more Red-flanked Bluetails, a pair of Hazel Grouse and a Siberian Jay. By the middle of the day we were on a flight eastwards to Choibalsan. While waiting to meet us, Bayanaa had found a White’s Thrush, a Yellow-browed Bunting and a small flock of Grey-capped Greenfinches, so we rushed out to see them before we got our baggage. At the river on the edge of town there were more Grey-capped Greenfinches (a rarity in Mongolia), a Japanese Sparrowhawk and a Red Fox. Night in tent.

9 May. Long drive from Choibalsan to Buir Lake. Started the day with White’s Thrushes, Taiga Flycatchers and waders on the river. On the drive We had photo stops for Oriental Plover and Demoiselle Cranes. Arrived at the lake in the evening and camped near the shore: Gull-billed Terns, Temminck’s Stints, White-winged Scoters, Eastern Marsh Harriers and even a few Mute Swans. Night in tent, with a nearby grass fire sending up great plumes of smoke.

Oriental Plover

Lunch stop on the Menen Steppe

10 May. All day at Buir Lake, moving to a different campsite in the afternoon. A wonderful array of waders in breeding plumage: Curlew Sandpipers and Asiatic Dowitchers being particularly striking. Marsh Sandpipers were in display flight and there were good numbers of Swan Geese and a single male Mandarin Duck. Passerines included lots of Yellow Wagtails and Little Buntings, a few Naumann’s Thrushes and a Water Pipit. At the new camp site two very approachable Relict Gulls were only 200 metres away, alongside a male Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Kentish Plover and Little Stint. An Oriental Pratincole on the beach finished off the day nicely. Night in tent, very windy but we slept through it.

Our cook Gerelee

11 May. Buir Lake to Khalkh River. Started the day with long walks along the edges of nearby lagoons. Hundreds of Great Cormorants and many Common Pochards. We also saw our only Baikal Teals of the trip and the first of several Falcated Ducks. Black-headed Gulls and Common Swifts streaming past us as we had lunch, and the inevitable Taiga Flycatchers in the low scrub. Late afternoon we arrived at the Khalkh River where we were surrounded by several pairs of Amur Falcons. A late evening walk found us staring at an immature Northern Goshawk just a few metres from us in a low elm tree. Night in tent.

12 May. Khalkh River. For her birthday Barbara saw her first Azure Tits, a displaying Grey-headed Lapwing, a late Bohemian Waxwing, a group of Azure-winged Magpies, more Amur Falcons, Hobbies, and a pair of Falcated Ducks but the most memorable bird was an exquisite Long-tailed Rosefinch feeding in the elms – surely one of the most beautiful birds we have ever seen. After the endless steppe it was a surprise to see two Great Bustards flying over riverine woodland! In the late afternoon we drove to a new campsite on the other side of the river. Night in tent.

Grey-headed Lapwing

Amur Falcon

13 May. Khalkh River to Ikh Tashgai Lakes. Awoke to the sound of White-cheeked Starlings and during breakfast a Grey-capped Greenfinch perched beside us. A beautiful walk through the elms produced Oriental Turtle Dove with a nest, Amur Falcons, Little Buntings and Pallas’s Leaf Warblers.

We were dropped off by the river for a couple of hours while the time got supplies and we were entertained by more Grey-headed Lapwings, Daurian Redstarts, Hill Pigeons, waders and buntings.

After a relatively short drive to the steppe lakes, we were soon amongst more Marsh Sandpipers, Pied Avocets, Swan Geese and both species of shelducks. In the evening there was a truly spectacular hour or so when thousands and thousands of Bean Geese flew past our camp – one of the best ornithological spectacles that we have ever seen (and we are used to seeing big flocks of geese on the Scottish side of the Solway). Night in tent.

Bean Geese flying over Mongolian herders' family

Bean Geese

14 May. Ikh Tashgai Lakes. The Bean Geese roosted nearby and as they went off to feed at dawn Barbara estimated 27,000 birds but there could have many more flying in other directions. The rest of the day was filled with lake and reed-bed watching: White-winged Scoters, Black-necked Grebes, Relict Gulls, Eastern Marsh Harriers, Common Cranes with a few White-naped Cranes and three Hooded Cranes. Discovered that we were too early for most of the warblers and buntings but it was no great hardship. Night in tent.

Relict Gull

Relict Gulls and Pied Avocet

15 May. Ikh Tashgai Lakes to Khalkh River. An extensive reed-bed search produced Bearded Reedling but no Reed Parrotbills. A lake and pool with over 40 Red-necked Stints was a special treat but it was hard to concentrate with so many other birds around. After lunch we made our way back to the Khalk River where we caught up with Olive-backed Pipits, Naumann’s Thrushes, Common Rosefinches and Eastern Rooks at their rookery in the low elms. Night in tent.

White-winged Scoters

Red-necked Sting

16 May. Khalkh River to the Khalkh Delta at Buir Lake. The surprise of the morning walk beside the river was a Chinese Pond Heron. The delta was a beautiful spot, coinciding with one of our hottest days. A flock of over 50 Asiatic Dowitchers was quite spectacular in their brick red plumage, with a few Curlew Sandpipers even darker, and Spotted Redshanks very black. There were also Long-toed Stints, Temminck’s Stints and the usual Northern Lapwings. In the reeds and willows there were Great White Egrets and a Purple Heron. Night in tent.

17 May. Khalkh Delta to Choibalsan. On the delta we got better views of a Greater Sand Plover and then it was time for the drive back to Choibalsan. Our lunch stop was in the middle of open steppe, apparently birdless until we realised that some taller plants held a confiding Pallas’s Leaf Warbler, Little Bunting and Taiga Flycatchers. Mongolian Gazelles seen again on this drive. At the river at Choibalsan birds included about 50 Taiga Flycatchers on the edge of the willows, Daurian Redstart, Olive-backed Pipit and Little Buntings. Spot-billed Ducks on the river and our only Eurasian Curlew. Night in hotel.

Little Bunting

Pallas' Leaf Warbler

18 May. Choibalsan. An exploration of the trees near the hotel produced a couple of Japanese Sparrowhawks (one clutching a Pallas’s Leaf Warbler), a pair of Amur Falcons, Common Rosefinches and our first Eye-browed Thrush. A lake about 10 miles out of town boasted a flock of 18 Spotted Redshanks, 2 male Ruffs, 2 pairs of Falcated Ducks, 20 Demoiselle Cranes, 20 Whooper Swans and a Black-faced Bunting on the shoreline. After lunch the adjacent lake surprised us with about 20 Lapland Buntings coming to drink, as did a couple of Mongolian Gazelles. A stop by a different part of the river turned up a Wryneck and a Eurasian Siskin. Finished at about 6pm to allow the team to start their drive to UB. Night in hotel.

Japanese Sparrowhawk

19 May. Choibalsan to UB. Had a little birding near the hotel and saw more Eye-browed Thrushes, Siberian Rubythroats and a Dusky Warbler. A former classmate of Bayanaa dropped us off at a lake near the airport for a few hours where there were over 50 White-winged Scoters, 80 Common Shelduck, a small number of waders, pairs of Citrine Wagtails and a pair of Isabelline Shrikes thinking of nesting in a very small bush. Our plane was delayed for several hours because of strong winds at UB so there was no time for birding on arrival. Night in hotel.

20 May. UB to DZ. The long drive south had a few highlights, notably our best views of Black Vulture and Steppe Eagles beside the road. We stopped short of DZ to camp in some some low hills and found Asian Desert Warbler building a nest, a pair of Pallas’s Buntings, a pair of Pallas’s Sandgrouse and flocks of Mongolian Finches. Night in tent.

Steppe Eagle

21 May. DZ to Yolyn Am. About noon we arrived at a gorge not far from Yolyn Am and saw our first tourists – as well as Mongolian Pika, Midday Gerbil, Beautiful Rosefinch and Godlewski’s Bunting. At Yolyn Am there were more tourists and more species, including Black Redstart, Stonechat, Isabelline Wheatear, White-winged Snowfinch, Dusky Thrush, Rock Thrush, Grey Wagtail, Red-billed Chough, Lammergeier and Himalayan Griffon. We also had excellent views of several Koslov’s Accentors. It was an extremely cold evening and so it was decided to hire a ger for the night so that it would be warmer for us and easier for cooking. Night in ger with stove.

Midday Gerbil

Kozlov’s Accentor

22 May. Yolyn Am to Khongoryn Els. Awoke to three inches of snow! Undaunted we set of to Yolyn Am past a herd of snow-covered Yaks and back down into the gorge. Too early and cold for most things but Grey Wagtails and Snowfinches were already active and on the middle slopes there were a few Siberian Ibex. Driving west we were soon out of the snow and our lunch stop allowed us to find a Great Grey Shrike nest and Desert Wheatears. A few poplars at a vegetable patch in the Gobi had a flock of Common Rosefinches, Brown Shrike, Great Grey Shrike and a few warblers and flycatchers. Our final stop was a small wetland, at the base of vast and spectacular sand dunes, where flocks of Mongolian Finches were coming to drink amongst a few Wood Sandpipers and Ruddy Shelducks. Night in tent.

Himalayan Griffon

Pallas’s Sandgrouse

23 May. Khongoryn Els and two Saxaul Forests. At 6am we were down at the edge of the dunes where Ruddy Shelducks had ducklings on the pools and Ravens had recently fledged young at a small tree half way up the massive dunes. At 9am the first Pallas’s Sandgrouse came to drink and they kept coming in pairs and small groups for the next 30 minutes. The nearby Saxaul forest was a strange new habitat for us with unusual flowers and Great Gerbils on show, plus more Ravens and a Long-legged Buzzard. Brilliant sunshine suddenly turned to rain but it quickly passed. Across the river there was green pasture adjacent to the dunes where we took on water and found a Chinese Pond Heron, Greater Sand Plovers, Eurasian Spoonbills and Lesser Kestrels. In the afternoon we drove west to another Saxaul forest and after much hard work by Bayanaa he was finally able to show us a pair of shy, elusive Saxaul Sparrows. Night in tent.

Great Gerbil

Cistanche deserticola (a parasitic plant on Saxaul)

24 May. To the Middle Beautiful Mountains. Near yesterday’s spring we suddenly had a brief view of two Saxaul Sparrows perched beside the vehicle, then we were off back eastwards. Had good views of Henderson’s Ground Jays near our lunch stop. As soon as we arrived at the mountains we saw a few Siberian Ibex on the slopes, with Lammergeiers overhead. Drove up through the gorge seeing Pied Wheatears, Rock Thrushes and Godlewski’s Buntings. At supper a pair of Chukars came close to the vehicle. Night in tent.

Khongoryn Els

Ruddy Shelduck

25 May. Back to DZ. Morning chorus of Mongolian Finches. After breakfast we walked down the gorge and before we were picked up we had seen an Oriental Honey Buzzard on migration. We saw a few distant Goitered Gazzelles as we headed for another plantation. Among the trees there were about 10 Collared Doves, a Siberian Rubythroat, Dusky Warbler, Arctic Warbler, and Dusky Thrush. An hour later we were in a small gorge still full of hard-packed ice so we had to walk up it to see a Saker, Lammergeier and nest building Crag Martins. At DZ we explored a couple of patches of trees and had our best view of a Red-throated Thrush and a very low Oriental Honey Buzzard. Night in tent near airport.

26 May. DZ to UB. Our morning flight left early but Yumi was there to meet us in UB and take us birding in nearby riverine woodland. Azure Tits were nesting in a tree hole, Daurian Jackdaws were collecting nest material, Long-tailed Rosefinches were singing, Hoopoes were calling, Amur Falcons were perched in the trees and we saw Azure-winged Magpies. In the afternoon she took us to conifer and birch woodland where we found nesting Black Kites, a Spotted Nutcracker within a few feet of us, three Brown Shrikes, and Choughs on the meadows and. Night in a UB hotel.

27 May. UB ponds. Yumi took us to some nearby ponds and though we did not find Yellow-breasted Buntings there were Richard’s Pipits and Black-faced Buntings singing in the willows, and White-winged Black Terns and a Little Gull on the ponds. We finished our birding for the trip with close views of a nest building White-crowned Penduline Tit.  Afternoon shopping in UB and in the evening we were re-united with our team for a memorable farewell dinner.

Little Gull

White-crowned Penduline Tit

28 May. The early morning flight to Moscow took us over western Mongolia.

CARBON OFF-SETTING: Our travels contribute to global warming so we have again offset with www.climatestewards.org Barbara has visited their tree-planting projects in Ghana and thoroughly recommends them to anyone who wants their cash to do more than just carbon off-setting: the new woodland is mostly on school land, so students learn agro-forestry skills and get involved in wider conservation education.

MONGOLIAN BIRDING EXPERIENCE by Melanie Simmons (4-19th August 2015)

After a very successful trip with Sicklebill Safaris to Papua New Guinea in 2009 we booked our birding trip to Mongolia with great anticipation. Our prior knowledge was very limited but our experience with Mongolia – the people, our itinerary, our wonderful guides and our overall adventure far exceeded all expectations.

Asian Dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus

From the time we were met at the Ulaanbaatar airport by our guide Sundev Gombobaatar (Gomboo) we felt relaxed and welcome. Our comfortable locally owned and managed city hotel was well located, run by helpful staff and included a good restaurant. We enjoyed a spectacular performance by the Mongolian National Song and Dance Ensemble on our first evening. Next day we thrilled to a full day with Gomboo birding around the city ponds (gravel pits), along the beautiful Tuul River and the old railway, we saw Demoiselle Crane, Hoopoe, Tufted Pochard, Great-crested Grebe, Azure Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail. Our lunch in the first of many tourist ger camps will long be remembered for the amazing content of Mongolian artifacts. With this introduction to Mongolia we knew we were destined for a  privileged birding safari.

Przewalski's wild horse, Equus ferus przewalskii

Beyond the country’s capital for the next two weeks in taiga forests, mountain steppes interspersed with lakes, marshes and rivers, semi-desert regions and adjoining high rocky mountains we were guided by Gomboo firstly and then by one of his well-trained guides. With their expert spotting eyes and well-tuned ears our guides offered us unforgettable birding memories.

Siberian Crane, Grus leucogeranus

Around the lakes and marshes in the steppe country migrating waders and shorebirds still in full breeding plumage were replenishing fat stores en-route from their breeding grounds in Siberia to the southern hemisphere along the Pacific flyways. We lost ourselves in wondrous hours of close up birding learning finite details differentiating the many sandpipers, stints, curlews, plovers and waterfowl. Our tits in the taiga moment where for one glorious mid-afternoon we were surrounded by twittering long-tailed, coal, willow and grey tits simultaneously made for a magic memory. With our guides’ enthusiasm and passion they managed to raise raptors to a higher level in our birding desires, the oft maligned vultures now being recognised for the magnificent birds they are.

Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo

Beyond the birding experience life in rural Mongolia was opened to us through visits to nomad gers, fermented fares’ milk and hard cheese hospitality, the large herds of goats and sheep, yaks, domesticated horses, the Argali sheep, deer sightings, the successful reintroduction of the Takai, the stunning wildflowers, a seabuck-thorn plantation, an old monastery and numerous Shaman shrines. Our accommodation beyond Ulaanbaatar was mostly in tourist ger camps. This unique experience was warm and comfortable with adequate mainly Mongolian meals provided.

Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia

Our last few days in Ulaanbaatar the many museums, the Winter Palace, the Gandan Kilid Monastery (“the great place of complete joy”), the high quality Cashmere House and the central Chinggis Khaan Square provided us with a rich introduction to the glorious past and hopeful future of this little known country to us and many of our Australian compatriots.

Demoiselle Crane, Anthropoides virgo

Our three week trip was well organised, guides were exceptionally knowledgeable and caring, the Mongolians a very friendly people and we were treated with the greatest of respect. Above all –it was FUN. Thank you Mongolia!

Melanie Simmons, Queensland, Australia Download Birdlist

BIRDING MONGOLIA - Birding with Miksture (16 June – 3 July 2014)

Pallas's Reed Bunting Emberiza pallasi.

Dear Birdwatcher,

The very name Mongolia conjures images of a vast, remote and distant land; the land of Genghis Khan (Chingis Khaan) and the Mongol hordes. While Mongolia is certainly vast and much of it is remote, it is also home to an exciting array of poorly known and rarely observed birds that occur only here. As we traversed this vast land, we travelled on rarely used roads, and occasionally drove across steppe grasslands using GPS to navigate our way to exciting wetlands where no roads venture.

In Mongolia the nomadic lifestyle, even today is still the norm, a land of awesome landscapes, pro-fuse wildflowers and fantastic birdlife. Mongolia conjures up images of endless grasslands, the wastes of the Gobi Desert, yurts and wild horsemen. This is the land from whence came the hordes of Genghis Khan and his successors, newer less colorful history followed and today Mongolia is an unknown land, far away in the heart of Asia, about which one hears little.

Nomadic Family in Khangai High Mountain.

With its tiny population of only two and a half million scattered across a huge area, it is one of the least densely settled countries on earth – a true wilderness where most of the land is still the domain of wild creatures rather than man. Mongolia is the crossroads of East Asia. In the north is the southern edge of the Siberian taiga, in the center the seemingly endless steppe and in the south the sands of the Gobi Desert. Adding further diversity to this mixture are the mountains and a multiplicity of lakes and marshes.

Flock of Swan Geese Anser cygnoides.

Mongolia is one of the important breeding and stopover sites for Palearctic species. Breeding birds occur in many different habitats (from taiga forest through different steppes to Gobi desert including wetlands). Migratory birds pass through Mongolia from Siberian Taiga to wintering grounds. It means that you will have a unique opportunity to see not only breeding Palearctic species but also migratory species during both breeding and migration seasons. Untouched landscape and nomadic lifestyle give chance to discover a new species for the birds list of the country. The peaceful country and friendly field company attract many birdwatchers to Mongolia.

Mongolian Accentor Prunella koslowi.

We started in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where we watched Daurian Jackdaws and Pacific Swifts above the city. We soon left the city far behind as we ventured into Mongolia’s hinterland. First nights were spent in the Siberian taiga forest. Here in the cool broadleaf forest, the birds were different to those we later would encounter, with many woodland species typical of Siberia: Siberian Rubythroats dazzling us with their ruby-red throats. Pine Buntings wheeze from a tree-tops and, while Nutcrackers and thrushes called to attract our attention. The icing on the cake was the Black-billed Capercaillie.

Mongolian Ground-jay Podoces hendersoni.

We stayed in tourist ger (yurt) camps, (locally known as ‘gers’) for accommodation, and in some places, there were no accommodations, so we set up tents. Fortunately, accompanied throughout by our highly-experienced camp crew, who took care of all the camp chores, leaving us free to enjoy the wildlife. Great camping beside our personal lake, watching Relict and Great Black-headed Gulls cavorting along the shoreline. Everywhere good numbers of raptors: Breeding Steppe Eagles, Upland buzzards, and Saker falcons on small rock boulders, electric poles and pylons and feeding nestlings, and flock of Cinereous and Himalayan vultures feed on carrion on middle of steppe.

Eventually we returned to Ulaanbaatar.

Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii.

The wide range of habitats is reflected in an exciting avifauna which encompasses both Siberian and Central Asian species, including species unique to Mongolia and its immediate surroundings. Prime specialties include Oriental Plover, Asian Dowitcher, Black Capercaille, Swinhoe’s Snipe, Relict Gull, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Mongolian Lark, Hodgson’s Bushchat, Red-throated Thrush, Chinese Bush Warbler, Azure Tit, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Saxaul Sparrow, Père David’s Snowfinch and Pine and Pallas’s Reed Buntings, while a rich supporting cast includes Swan Goose, Stejneger’s Scoter, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Amur Falcon, Demoiselle and White-naped Cranes, Mongolian Gull, Hill Pigeon, Asian Short-toed Lark, Pale Martin, Blyth’s Pipit, Brown Accentor, Güldenstädt’s Redstart, Eyebrowed Thrush, Thick-billed Warbler, White-crowned Pendu-line Tit, Steppe Grey Shrike, White-cheeked Starling, Mongolian Finch and Grey-necked Bunting.

Late spring and early summer is a delightful season when birds are in breeding plumage, and migrants are passing through on their way north. Marvelous birding and travel through wide open spaces with very few people make for a wonderful and never-to-be-forgotten experience. A real adventure in fact. This journey provided excellent birding in this great country.

Domestic Camel.

This report solely reflects the species list.

Participants contributed with observations: Anders Grindlund, Per Undeland, Arne Holgersson, Per-Erik Pershagen, Stig Holmstedt, Birgit and Bernt Waldemarsson

Acknowledgement certainly goes to my Mongolian team. They accompanied us during the journey and are my friends.

Kind regards,

Michael Westerbjerg Andersen/Miksture, Bishkek 28.10.2014 DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

Fascinating Bird Photographing Tour to Mongolia in July 2014 By Akira Nomura

Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) was a bonus bird to me. This male came out of reeds suddenly with 3 females to stare at us with dignity. At first glance, his magnificent bearded face reminded me of the hero of Mongolia, that is, Chinggis Khaan.

As a bird photographer, my ultimate satisfaction is to photograph all bird species occurring in Japan and designated by The Ornithological Society of Japan as ‘Bird of Japan’. This was the first trip to Mongolia to commemorate the 25th year of my bird photographing career as well as to take photograph the birds that I have not seen before among the ‘Bird of Japan’. I gained an opportunity to know Prof. Sundev Gombobaatar from The Mongolian Ornithological Society when I contributed my photos to the publication for Mongolian Red List of Birds of 2011. I call him ‘Gomboo san’ intimately in Japanese through the cooperation and I was very glad that he invited me. I sent him the email of the list of birds that I wanted to photograph in order to increase the percentage of my satisfaction as much as possible. Thanks to his arrangements for the itinerary and transportation, I could take almost the listed birds.

Red throated Thrush(Turdus ruficollis) is a common breeding visitor to Mongolia. It is a rear wanderer and adult and juvenile never visible at the same sight in Japan.

He walked around in the habitats and found out my expecting birds. Indeed! He found out them much earlier than I did and what I have done was to press the shutter of my camera after his instructions. Moreover he found out the birds that I did not expect among the ‘Bird of Japan’ and subspecies as an exciting bonus! I visited Mongolia on July 5th of 2014 when it was late for breeding season. Instead it was good for me that I could take photograph lovely juveniles of many species and sometimes with their adults.

Pied Wheatear(Oenanthe pleschanka) is a common breeding to Mongolia. It is a rare wanderer and such beautiful white and black plumage hardly visible in Japan.

During my stay in Mongolia, I was too busy searching and photographing the birds to enjoy all the different habitats and beautiful scenery in Mongolia. Mongolia is such a vast and attractive country that many foreign bird watchers are fascinated to visit. I saw 89 species of birds which were rather few and the reasons were because we mainly looked for the listed birds and I spent much time on photographing to get my satisfactory image and finish. Therefore I decided to come back to Mongolia in next season in order to go to other districts such as Gobi desert where I could not go and to see other many Mongolian birds.

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) is a common breeding visitor to Mongolia. It is a rare wanderer and such a bright red plumage hardly visible in Japan.

Lastly, I thank Gomboo san and a driver for their attendance of whole 8-days stay, even in the Naadam Holiday. Without their cooperation, I could not end my first trip to Mongolia in satisfaction and with great fun. DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT