Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia : Scattered records (usually of small numbers, but locally fairlycommon) on the Tibetan Plateau south to Nangqian and west to Chaka.

Blanford¡¯s Snowfinch (Plain-backed S) Montifringilla blanfordi : A much more localized species thansome of the other snowfinches. Nine were seen at Chaka.

Rufous-necked Snowfinch Montifringilla ruficollis : The commonest and most widespread snowfinchon the Tibetan Plateau, although largely absent in certain areas in Southeast Qinghai andChaka.

P¨¨re David¡¯s Snowfinch (Small S) Montifringilla davidiana : One of the most localized snowfinchspecies: five at Lake Qinghai.

White-rumped Snowfinch Montifringilla taczanowskii : Less numerous and widespread than Rufousnecked,but still quite common in suitable habitat.

Adams¡¯s Snowfinch (Tibetan S, Black-winged S) Montifringilla adamsi : Scattered records of smallnumbers on Tibetan Plateau.

Prince Henri¡¯s Snowfinch Montifringilla henrici : Fairly common at high passes from Er La toBayankala Shan. This very distinctive form, which is very different from typical Whitewinged(or Eurasian) Snowfinch M. nivalis , was treated as specifically distinct by Roselaarin Birds of the Western Palearctic (Volume 9,1994).

ESTRILDIDAE

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata: One was seen at Chengdu on our last morning.

FRINGILLIDAE

Grey-capped Greenfinch Carduelis sinica : Eight in the Xining area, a few at Gonghe and one atChaka.

Tibetan Siskin Carduelis thibetana: A total of eight at Beizha forest.

Twite Carduelis flavirostris : A common and widespread bird on the Tibetan Plateau. Subspeciesinvolved is miniakensis , which is very different in appearance from the nominate race ofnorthwest Europe.

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra : Relatively common bird this year. 20 at the forest reserve nearLaoye Shan, one at Huzu Bei Shan, and a total of 30 at Beizha forest. Subspeciesinvolved is himalayensis .

Plain Mountain Finch Leucosticte nemoricola : Relatively common at Er La, where maximum countwas 15. In addition two were seen at a pass north of Chaka.

Brandt¡¯s Mountain Finch (Black-headed M F) Leucosticte brandti : This is a species of the highest andbleakest mountains. One was noted at Bayankala Shan and eight at Er La pass.

Desert Finch Rhodospiza obsoleta: Brief views of one in flight at Gonghe on our first visit, andbrilliant views of a male there on our second visit.

Mongolian Finch (M Trumpeter F) Bucanetes mongolicus : Six birds were seen in the dry hills nearGonghe.

17 : Birdquest Tibet: The Roof of the World 2007

Common Rosefinch (Scarlet R) Carpodacus erythrinus : Small numbers in the Xining area andSoutheast Qinghai. In addition one between Reting and Lhasa. Subspecies involved is roseatus.

Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus davidianus : Three at Huzu Bei Shan, a total of 10 inSoutheast Qinghai and five near Chaka.

Pink-rumped Rosefinch (Stresemann¡¯s R) Carpodacus eos : Fairly common in Southeast Qinghai andat Reting.

Three-banded Rosefinch Carpodacus trifasciatus : One male was seen at Beizha forest, right at theedge of the species¡¯ range.

Chinese White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus dubius : Fairly common in the forests north of Xiningand in Southeast Qinghai. In addition two were heard at Reting.

Streaked Rosefinch (Eastern Great R) Carpodacus rubicilloides : Small numbers were noted at HuzuBei Shan, in Southeast Qinghai and between Lhasa and Reting Gompa.

Red-breasted Rosefinch (Red-fronted R) Carpodacus rubicilla: A total of nine birds including somevery showy adult males were seen near Yushu. This rosefinch has been regarded as thesongbird that breeds at the highest altitude in the Palearctic.

Roborovski¡¯s Rosefinch (Tibetan R) Kozlowia roborowskii : A total of nine birds, including someextremely well seen individuals, at Bayankala Shan and three more at Er La. Voted as¡®The Bird of the Trip¡¯. It is considered as Data deficient by BirdLife International in¡® Threatened Birds of the World ¡¯ and is surely one of the most wanted birds of the TibetanPlateau!

Przevalski¡¯s Rosefinch (Pink-tailed R) Urocynchramus pylzowi : One singing male was seen twicebetween Wenquan and Yushu, and one was between Heimaihe and Chaka. Stunningviews of this very special ¡®rosefinch-bunting¡¯!

Grey-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca : Small numbers in the forest north of Xining and inSoutheast Qinghai.

White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas carnipes : A big flock of 30 at Laoye Shan, a total of eight atHuzu Bei Shan, two near Nangqian area, one near Chaka and six at Reting Gompa.

Yellow-billed Grosbeak (Chinese G) Eophona migratoria : A total of nine at Chengdu.

EMBERIZIDAE

Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala: One male was seen and two more heard near LaoyeShan. Subspecies involved is sordida.

Kozlov¡¯s Bunting (Tibetan B) Emberiza koslowi : We had great views of a pair in the Nangqian area.This is a MEGA, with a distribution restricted to valleys of the Mekong and Yangtze inQinghai and adjacent Chamdo in Tibet. Very much one of the tour favourites and strongcontender for top bird. It is considered as Near-threatened by BirdLife International in¡® Threatened Birds of the World ¡¯.

Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos : One male was seen very well and another heard near Chaka.

Subspecies involved is fronto .

Godlewski¡¯s Bunting Emberiza godlewskii : Fairly common and widespread in Qinghai and Tibet.

Meadow Bunting Emberiza cioides : Small numbers at Laoye Shan and in the dry hills above Xining.

18 : Birdquest Tibet: The Roof of the World 2007

MAMMALSBlack-lipped Pika Ochotona curzoniae : Locally abundant on the high plains.

Chinese Red Pika Ochotona erythrotis : Scattered singles of this Chinchilla looking pika in SoutheastQinghai.

Cape Hare Lepus capensis: A few were noted.

Woolly Hare Lepus oiostolus : Widespread in small numbers on the Tibetan Plateau.

Himalayan Marmot Marmota himalayana : Widespread and fairly common on the Tibetan Plateau.

Pallas¡¯s Cat Felix manul: Several sets of fresh foot prints in the snow on the top of Er La.

Tibetan Fox Vulpes ferrilata : One between Xining and Wenquan, and one on the high plainsbetween Maduo and Yushu.

Mountain Weasel (Pale W) Mustela altaica : One was recorded at Beizha forest.

Asiatic Wild Ass (Kiang) Equus hemionus : A total of 30 were observed on the high plains betweenWenquan and Yushu.

Thorold¡¯s Deer (White-lipped D) Cervus albirostris: A group of six between Yushu and Nanqian.

Tibetan Gazelle Procapra picticaudata : Very common between Wenquan and Yushu.

Bharal (Blue Sheep) Pseudois nayaur: Up to 25 were noted above the monastery at Beizha.