After a 12 hour bus journey, finally arrived at Tengchong. A small town part of Baoshan district. Weather was bit warmer than Dali. I checked for my body parts if all of them are in one piece as soon as i got out of the bus. The more i go towards south, the more i feel like i’m in India. “Alert” – tourist robbery. Eventhough the hotel was booked close to the bus station, no one seems to know (pretend) the hotel. I took a taxi n immediately the driver dropped me at the hotel which was around the corner. I was pretty shocked as this is my first experience of being a victim for tourist robbery in China. Lesson learnt. Don’t take the damn taxis in Tengchong.
Legs were already cramped due to hiking at Cangshan. I could not reach the top of the comparatively small Laifengshan park. Just birded around the entrance. Black-breasted Thrush were plenty. Black-headed Sibia, Large cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Canary flycatcher as usual in the canopies. A pair of Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher were pretty busy finding their morning breakfast. A wave of Blue-winged Minla, Silver-eared Mesia, Brown-winged Parrotbill, Red-tailed Minla passed by. I continued my way up and saw a Rusty-capped Fulvetta collecting nesting materials. One of the daredevil flycatchers, a Brown-breasted Flycatcher filled up my frame.
Golden-throated Barbets were plenty near the Pagoda but always on taller trees. Little Pied Flycatcher, Grey-Bushchat, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch were so tame. They came closer after all the walkers had left.
A female Large Niltava send me puzzling when it gave a cameo on the same perch were the female Grey Bushchat was sitting. The male Nilatava was definitely large but i was unable to get a record shot as the rain n bad light drove me for cover. A Snowy-browed Flycatcher was singing desperately for its mate.
The next day was merely a sight-seeing day @ the famous Hotpspring Scenic area. Tengchong is famous for its Jade stones and the Hotsprings. Most of the Jade stone markets were deserted. So planned to visit the famous Rehai Hotspring Scenic area. A lovely 30 minute ride on one of the rural transport taxi which is also a rip-off and needs a very good bargaining skills.
60 RMB entrance fee, additional 10RMB for the battery operated pick-ups to go to the scenice area from the entrance gate which i didn’t buy. Once again the accidental birding begins. A Slaty-backed Forktail along the stream with his other habitat species Plumbeous Redstart, White-capped Redstart, Blue Whistling Thrush. Golden-throated Barbets were heard here also. There were numerous hotspring SPA’s with attractive prices all over the way. The only thing which was attractive to me was the nesting House Swifts.
Right past the main scenic area entrance, plenty of Oriental White-eyes and Japanese White-eyes and a lonely male Mrs.Gould’s Sunbird were feeding on the nectars.
The Hotspring…Definitely not for a bath.
Steamer for boiling eggs, potato, peanut
Nothing was interesting more in this place just a bunch of regular tourists playing songs in loud speakers. I was returning to check on the Slaty-backed Forktail which i saw earlier. I was searching some flowering trees for some white-eyes and i caught up with a stunning male Orange-bellied Leafbird.
The colorful Orange-bellied Leafbird
There was also a Grey-backed Shrike and Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher in the little creek where i saw the Slaty-backed Forktail. The Forktail has made its way to an elevation where i could not reach. But looking up at the sky gave me the Oriental Honey Buzzard, Crested Goshawk and an Ashy Drongo.
Now, there is new addition to the flowering trees Crimson-breasted Sunbird and Fork-tailed Sunbird. A lonely Tibetan Siskin was sitting very close to the Crested Goshawk. A brave fella!
The last day of birding. I visited Laifengshan for the last time. The new birds i saw are a flock of Whiskered Yuhinas, Maroon-backed Accentor, Mountain Bulbul, Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Eurasian Jay, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Black-throated Tit, Verditer Flycatcher. I tried to convert a Daurian Redstart to a Hodgson’s Redstart but finally settled with Daurian. A White-browed Laughingthrush was as usual feeding in its world of leaf litter, my only Laughingthrush of the whole trip.
How come, one can go to Laifengshan and miss one of its specialities. When i was about to pack-up, i suddenly realised the call of the Slender-billed Oriole, the beauty was sitting just above me. After all , a big target became a success.
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