Adventure Birding Mongolia

Gorkhi-Terelj NP is a southern end of the Siberian boreal forest (or taiga) where you find the picturesque mountain with mixed forest trenched by beautiful valleys. Following arrival in the national park, we will check in our tourist ger camp near birding site. The afternoon we will do light walking near the campsite and see some interesting birds including Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian Rubythroat, Willow Tit, Taiga Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-browed Warbler, Chinese Bush Warbler, and Pine Bunting, and probably Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Have dinner at the restaurant of the ger camp. Next morning will drive down to riparian forest, where we will find old and big popular trees and find Oriental and Common Cuckoos, Eurasian Hoopoe, Great Spotted, Lesser Spotted, Grey-headed and Black Woodpeckers, Great and Willow Tits, Red-throated Thrush, Siberian Rubythroat, Dusky, Greenish and Yellow-browed Warblers, Taiga and Asian Brown Flycatchers, Eastern Buzzard (B. b. japonicus) and Pine Bunting. The afternoon we will do birding near campsite for Blyth’s and Richard’s Pipits, Isabelline and Northern Wheatears, Daurian Jackdaw and Red-billed Chough. Overnight in a tented camp near birding site. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 70 km paved road (1 hours).

Drive west to Khustai national park, the land of the reintroduced Takhi or Przewalski’s Wild Horse (Equus przewalskii). Thanks to the good conservation management, the species which was on the brink of extinction has now exceeded well over 300 individuals. Along with other interesting mammals, watch the fascinating birdlife including Daurian Partridge, Cinereous & Himalayan Vultures, Golden & Steppe Eagles, Upland Buzzard, Saker & Amur Falcons, Mongolian and Asian Short-toed Larks, Northern, Isabelline & Pied Wheatears, Brown Shrike and Meadow Bunting. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 160 km paved road (3 hours).

En route we visit Tsagaan Lake which is a shallow salty lake with the big amount of reedbed. The lake provides the preferable habitat for many interesting bird species such as Red-crested Pochard, Eastern Marsh Harrier, White-naped, Common and Demoiselle Cranes, Asian Dowitcher, Marsh Sandpiper, Richard Pipit, Eastern Yellow and Citrine Wagtails, Oriental Reed, Paddyfield and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warblers, Bearded Reedling, and Pallas’s and Common Reed Buntings. The shoreline of the Ugii Lake and surrounding pools are a paradise of wetland birds during both migration and breeding periods. Considering its importance for wetland birds, the lake has been designated as Ramsar Site of International Importance. The lake is a home to many waterfowls including Pintail, Garganey, Common and Red-crested Pochards, Ruddy and Common Shelducks etc. Highest opportunity for White-tailed and Pallas’s Fish Eagles and Relict & Pallas’s Gulls. The passerines include Citrine, White and Yellow Wagtails, Rock Sparrow, Small Snowfinch and Pallas’s Bunting, e.g… Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 240 km paved road (3 hours).

After breakfast, we will drive to get the boreal forest with dense larch and poplar forest in the Khangai Mountains. The road is very rough and will not drive fast. In the forest, we will see Black-billed Capercaillie, Siberian Tit (rare), Common and Red-backed Redstart, Common Rosefinch, Dusky Warbler, and Siberian Rubythroat. We will set up our tented camp near the forest edge. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 35 km paved and 145 km dust road (5-6 hours’ drive).

Today we will drive to get Arvaikheer. We will look for the beautiful Oriental Plover near the town. We might encounter a gathering of different species of vultures on a dead livestock. We will stay in clean and comfortable local hotel for having refreshment as we stayed in the tented camps for the consecutive nights. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 95 km dust road (2 hours).

After breakfast, we will drive to the south of the town to get one of the largest lakes in the Gobi. We will see Common Black-headed Gull breeding colony, Pallas’s Gull, Mongolian Gull, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Red-crested Pochard, Caspian and Little Terns, and Kentish and other small plovers. Relict Gulls will be our main target at the lake. Overnight in a tented camp near the lake. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 200 km paved and 150 km dust roads (6-7 hours’ drive).

Drive down to the valley to reach Orog Lake. In Orog Lake valley, we will see Asian Desert Warbler, Great Grey Shrike, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Crested Lark, Asian Short-toed Lark and Long-legged Buzzard, few waders and waterfowls. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 160 km dust road (3-4 hours’ drive).

After breakfast, we will drive to Ikh Bogd Mountain to get high mountain species. We will drive through very bumpy boulder rocks and running small spring. We will watch Grey-headed and Godlewski’s Buntings, Pied Wheatear (vittata), Black Redstart, Brown Accentor, Barred Warbler, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Twite, Bearded and Himalayan Vultures, Chukar, Altai Snowcock etc… If mountain road condition is in good condition, we will climb 3400 m asl mountain to get high altitude species including Hodgson’s Bushchat, Asian Rosy Finch, White-winged or Gueldenstaedt’s Redstart, Water Pipit. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km dust road (1-2 hours’ drive).

After breakfast, we will drive to Baga Bogd Uul which is a part of the Gobi Altai Mountains and famous for sightings of Altai Snowcock. The drive may take longer because of the road condition. The top birds here include Altai Snowcock, Chukar, Bearded and Himalayan Vultures, Pied Wheatear (vittata), Black Redstart, Brown Accentor, Barred and Sulphur-bellied Warblers, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Twite, Grey-necked and Godlewski’s Buntings and more. We will stay in a community-based ger camp in which you will have gers for accommodation and another bigger ger for the restaurant. The food may lack variety due to the isolation and there will be outside wooden toilet. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 150 km dust road (6 hours or more).

This is the night which we spend en route Khongoryn Els. In the saxaul trees, we will find Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline Shrike, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Long-legged Buzzard and Saxual Sparrow. Overnight in a tented camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 100 km dust road (4-5 hours’ drive).

After breakfast, we start driving to the famous Khongoryn Els, which is a beautiful singing sand dune located on the rear side of a high mountain and borders with endless desert steppe. The views of camels grazing in the miracle of the desert steppe, in front of the High Mountain, and picturesque sand dune in the sunrise, will be one of the best moments of the trip. We have a long drive to reach the place but will make stops for any interesting birds or sceneries along the way. While driving on the endless steppe, we will see Long-legged Buzzard, Desert Wheatear, and possible mammal will be the magnificent Goitered Gazelle. On the boiling ground of the Gobi, we will find Tuva toad-head agama and Mongolian racerunner. At the dinner time, we will arrive at our tourist ger camp. The remainder of the day is free to relax following the drive. Next morning will visit saxaul forest to see breeding Saxaul Sparrow, Long-legged Buzzard, Great Grey Shrike, Isabelline Shrike, Crested Lark, and Desert Wheatear, and also visit a small pond to see Pallas’s Sandgrouses drinking water. Afternoon relaxes at the ger camp due to boiling hotness. In the evening, we will observe night mammals of the Gobi desert including Gobi Jerboa and Long-eared Hedgehog. Stargazing is beautiful during the nights. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 100 km dust road (5-6 hours).

We will drive to the mountain gorge and do another exciting bird walk along the path. The interesting birds in the valley are Chukar, Bearded Vulture and Himalayan Vulture, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Accentor, Beautiful and Common Rosefinches, Twite, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Wallcreeper, Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Isabelline Shrike, Northern House Martin, Eurasian Crag Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, and probably Barred Warbler, Godlewski’s and Grey-necked Buntings and many others. Altai Snowcock is one of the challenging species in this area but we will give it a try. In the evening we will be back to the ger camp at the dinner time. Next morning, we will visit the same spot as the last evening and look for the missing species along with some mammals including Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Pika, Red Fox, and possibly Argali Wild Sheep. The afternoon we will visit Mukhart shiver valley to see some missing species. And we will drive north of the ger camp to find Oriental Plover on the wide desert steppe. Overnight in a tourist ger camp. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 50 km paved and 100 dust roads (Drive 4-5 hours).

Fly Ulaanbaatar. If time allows, visit Tuul river valley for birding at the wetland and a beautiful mix of cherry, elm, willow, and poplar. Interesting birds here include uncommon Black Stork, Black-eared Kite, Demoiselle Crane, Pied Avocet, Mongolian Gull, ‘black billed’ Common Tern longipennis, Horned Lark brandti, Barn Swallow tytleri, White-cheeked Starling, Blyth’s Pipit, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline-Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch and probably world endangered Yellow-breasted Bunting. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Farewell dinner at one of the better restaurants in Ulaanbaatar. City tour and shopping available. Overnight in a hotel. Food: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Road: Total coverage 30 km paved road (Fly 1 hour).

Transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport will be the end of our services in Mongolia.