Day

Location

Places to stay and visit

Meals

D 1

Ulaanbaatar

Morning arrival in Ulaanbaatar where we transfer to a comfortable Hovsgol travel hotel in the city. Our initial birding is along the Tuul River just outside the city. Overhead we hope to see flocks of Pacific Swifts, Red-billed Chough and Black Kite. Riverine scrub is home to Azure Tit, Common Rosefinch and Yellow Breasted Bunting. Later in the day, we visit the grassy slopes of the Zaisan Valley, home to Isabelline Wheatear and Blyth’s Pipit. Overnight in hotel.

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D 2

Ogii Lake

Today we travel west to the steppe lake of Ogii Nuur. As we leave the city, we begin to see birds characteristic of the Mongolian steppe such as Horned and Mongolian Larks, Demoiselle Crane, Upland Buzzard, Amur Falcon and groups of Hill Pigeons. Lakes and rivers may host Ruddy Shelduck and, possibly, White-naped Crane. We arrive at Ogii Nuur where we camp for two nights.Overnight in Ogii Nuur camp.

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D 3

Ogii Lake

The lake and adjacent marshes of Ogii Nuur are excellent for wildfowl including the scarce Falcated Duck. Flooded meadows attract grazing Swan and Bar Headed Geese, whilst waders include Black-winged Stilt, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff and, possibly, Asian Dowitcher. White-winged Terns are common whilst raptors may include Eastern Marsh Harrier and White-tailed Eagle.Overnight in Ogii Nuur camp.

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D 4/5/6

DAY 4: Towards Urd tamiryin gol /Arkhangain Bulgan sum/ Overnight in Tsenher Jiguur tourist camp /100km/  
DAY 5: Drive to Hul sayan davaa 200 km. Overnight in tents
DAY 6: Drive to Shargaljuut 200 km. Overnight in tents

We undertake the long journey south towards the Gobi desert, passing through rolling steppe and a variety of mountain habitats. We stop at any areas worthy of investigation looking for Steppe Eagle, Pere David’s Snowfinch and Daurian Jackdaw. Rocky areas are home to Pied Wheatear and Rock Petronia. Patches of larch forest may host Arctic Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Willow Tit.One overnight stay in a tourist camp, with the other nights camping.

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D 7/8

Drive to Buun Tsagaan nuur /235km/Overnight in tents

Today we enter a wide valley with a number of steppe-desert lakes. The landscape is a dramatic but barren one and home to Pallas’s Sandgrouse and Henderson’s Ground Jay. We eventually reach the lake of Boon Tsaagan Nuur, our birding base. The major target here is the rarely seen Relict Gull breeding on islands in the lake and feeding along the shore. Waders can also be found and may include Long-toed Stint. Marshes are home to Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler and Bearded Tit. Nearby pools have Ferruginous Duck and Red-crested Pochard. Other species we may encounter include Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Great Black-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern and Eurasian Spoonbill.

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D 9

Buun Tsagaan Nuur

Today we head east through the desert to Orog Nuur where we may find a number of species not seen previously at Boon Tsaagen Nuur. Overnight camping. /160km /Overnight in tents.

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D10

Gobi 3n Saikhan National Park

Today we pass the mountain massif of Ikh Bogd Uul on our way to some of the world’s largest sand dunes in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park at Khongoryn Els. Areas of saxaul scrub are home to Saxaul Sparrow, Steppe Grey and Isabelline Shrikes, Desert Warbler and Desert Wheatear. We may also see Goitered Gazelle. Overnight in tourist camp nearby Ikh Bogd uul Gobi camel’s tourist camp.

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D 11

Khongor sand dunes

Our journey continues through the desert and low arid hills where we may find Saker Falcon and Mongolian Finch. Later in the day, we arrive at a tourist camp overlooking the magnificent sand dunes of Khongoryn Els where we overnight. Overnight in Juulchin Gobi 2 tourist camp.

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D 12 /13

Gobi Altai

Today we travel through the desert to arrive at steppe on the edge of the Gobi Altai Mountains. Here we stay in a tourist camp surrounded by trees that often attract passing migrants. On the surrounding steppe we should locate Oriental Plover, Greater Sand-plover and, maybe, Great Bustard. Two nights in Juulchin Gobi 3 tourist camp.

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D 14

Yoll Valley

Today we visit Yolyn Am, a mountain valley. We search the high slopes for Altai Snow cock, White-winged Snow finch, Great Rose finch and Wall creeper. On the lower slopes we should find Sulphur-bellied Warbler, endemic Kozlov’s Accentor, Black Redstart, Beautiful Rose finch and Godlewski’s Bunting. Overhead raptors should include Lammergeyer, Cinereous Vulture, Himalayan Griffon Vulture and Golden Eagle. Overnight in tourist camp Juulchin Govi

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D 15/16

Ulaanbaatar

Travel to Bulagtai/ airport nearby the tourist camp/ for a flight back to Ulaanbaatar where we overnight. City tour: Visit Gandantegchlen monastery,  Nature history museum, National history museum.  Overnight in hotel.

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Terelj National Park

We travel north east to Terelj where explore a huge area of mixed forest on the southern edge of the vast Siberian Taiga. Species we hope to find include Swinhoe’s Snipe, Oriental Cuckoo, Citrine Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-flanked Bluetail, Daurian Redstart, Red-throated Thrush, Greenish, Arctic, Yellow-browed and Dusky Warblers, Pine Bunting and Long-tailed Rosefinch. Overhead raptors may include Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard and Booted Eagle. With luck, we may find the elusive Black-billed Capercaillie or Eurasian Nutcracker. Accommodation in a tourist camp. Overnight in tourist camp. Overnight in Terelj Lodge tourist camp.

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After some final birding around Terelj National Park /80km/, we drive back to Ulaanbaatar for an overnight stay. Overnight in hotel.

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