Just outside the centre of Lhasa lies the wetland Lalou Dhamra. Today we carried out a census in parts of this 6.4 square km area, in a rather relaxed tempo. The altitude is still lingering in my head...
Just before entering the site we had two Grey-backed Shrikes along the road. When parking the car on the northern side of the wetland, several Citrine Wagtails and Hoopoes welcomed us. Citrine Wagtails and Oriental Skylarks were the most typical and numerous species today. Also very rewarding was three Himalayan Griffon Vultures soaring above the hills. This is the species that the Tibetan people use for their sky burials. Apparently there was a dead Yak in the mountains, and I guess the Vultures were dribbling for a bite of that one. Two Red-billed Choughs were also a new experience for me, as were some Russet Sparrows in a group of Eurasian Tree Sparrows. The local varieties of birds include Black Redstarts of the subspecies rufiventris and Twites (subspecies rufostrigata). The White Wagtails are a fine mixture of the subspecies leucopsis and alboides.
Lalou Dhamra, Lhasa, Tibet.
Black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros rufiventris sitting on the barbwire surrounding parts of the wetland.
The Hoopoe Upupa epops was a common sight today.
Total list from Lalou Dhamra: Common Hoopoe (25+), Hill Pigeon (20), Oriental Turtle Dove (5), Redshank (3), Great Black-headed Gull (5), Brown-headed Gull (5), Himalayan Griffon Vulture (3), Common Kestrel (2), Grey-backed Shrike (2), Red-billed Chough (2), Black Redstart (3), Asian House Martin (4), Oriental Skylark (35+), Russet Sparrow (3), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (10), Citrine Wagtail (30), White Wagtail (20) and Twite (15).
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