Located in south-western China, Yunnan Province has recorded over 770 bird species, including several species that are restricted to this tiny area of southern China and neighboring northern Myanmar and remote north-east India, ranking first in China in terms of total bird species. Yunnan has a varied climate ranging from subtropical forests in the hills and lowlands to cool temperate forests in the higher mountains. Highlights include Mrs. Hume’s Pheasants, Yunnan and Giant Nuthatches, Red-tailed and the rare and endangered White-speckled Laughingthrushes, superb Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Chinese Babax, Chinese and Black-breasted Thrushes, Rusty-capped, Yellow-throated, Spectacled and Yunnan Fulvetta, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Black-headed Greenfinch, Beautiful and Black-headed Sibia, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Godlewski’s Bunting and Black-bibbed Tit.
Yunnan & Giant Nuthatches, Red-tailed, Blue-winged & Elliott's Laughingthrushes, Chinese Babax, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, White-tailed Robin, Crested Finchbill, Chinese & Black-breasted Thrushes, Rosy Minivet, Rusty-capped, Yellow-throated, Spectacled and Yunnan Fulvettas, Grey-headed and Brown-winged Parrotbills, Black-headed Greenfinch, Beautiful and Black-headed Sibias, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Black-streaked and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers, Godlewski’s & Yellow-throated Buntings, Black-bibbed Tit, Black-browed Bushtit, Collared Grosbeak, Russet, Brown & Aberrant Bush Warblers, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, White-bellied Redstart, White-collared Yuhina, Bar-throated Minla, Grey-bellied Tesia, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Rufous-throated and Hill Partridges, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Pin-tailed & Wedge-tailed Green Pigeons, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Spotted Nutcracker, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Fire-capped Tit, Vivid & Fujian Niltavas, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, chance of Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler and White-speckled Laughingthrush.
coniferous (mostly pine) & broad-leaved forest, bamboo, secondary forest, wetlands (open water & reedbeds), scrub, open fields
warm to moderate, cooler in the higher lying areas
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local birding leader
moderate
very comfortable to rather basic
moderate to easy with some tricky species
spectacular scenery, seldom-visited forests and mountains
good to excellent
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.
David Hoddinott was an excellent bird guide, finding and identifying birds at amazing speed and ease. He had researched the field well, and knew where to find the birds. He also had researched the literature and was versed in all the newest taxonomic changes. He was very patient in assuring that all the participants got on the bird.
David Hoddinott is an outstanding leader. Always conscious of the need to ensure that everyone sees each bird, he does, rightly, expect concentration and a positive approach throughout. This is the second time that I have travelled with David and I hope that I have the opportunity again in the future. Thank you.
Glen Valentine is an incredible guide and has real talent. We very much appreciate him and always find his tours fun and so rewarding with great birds, great views even in freezing conditions. Any tour with Glen is a guaranteed success and a good time. Daniel Danckwerts will be a great asset to RBT and contributed to the success of the tour. He is also personable and has a great sense of humour. He wasn't all that slow with his scope either and we all saw some fine birds through his scope. We are never surprised at the excellence of RBT guides.
As usual, Glen Valentine was fantastic. I have travelled with him before and it never ceases to amaze me how he can hear and spot birds so effectively. And his enthusiasm is contagious. You know that he has seen any given bird on previous trips but it's as though he is seeing it for the first time with you! Daniel Danckwerts was also on the tour "learning the ropes". Very knowledgeable and a good asset to have on the tour. A superb spotter! All in all, this was a fantastic trip. I would recommend it to anyone.
Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland
Tour Leader: Daniel Danckwerts
Tour Leader: André Bernon
Tour Leader: Robert Williams
Tour Leader: Nigel Redman
China - Sichuan Birding 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights: Qinghai Extension 2019 - May 2019
China - Highlights 2019 - May 2019
China - Sichuan Birding II 2018 - May 2018
China - Sichuan Birding I 2018 - May 2018
China - Southeast in Spring 2018 - April 2018
China - Reeves's Pheasant & Crested Ibis Extension 2018 - April 2018
China - Sichuan Birding 2017 - May 2017
China - Yunnan Extension 2017 - May 2017
China - Tibetan Plateau & Beidaihe 2016 - September 2016
China - Lhasa Birding & Cultural Extension 2016 - September 2016
China - Menart Przevalski's Finch Ext 2016 - May 2016
China - Sichuan Birding 2016 - May 2016
China - Yunnan Extension 2016 - May 2016
China - Southeast in Winter 2012 - November 2012
China - Tibetan Plateau & Beidaihe 2009 - August 2009
China - Panda Extension 2008 - September 2008
China - Tibetan Plateau & Beidaihe 2007 - October 2007
China - Giant Panda & Crested Ibis Extension 2007 - September 2007