Our last Rufous-headed Robin at Jiuzhagou 2015, Client Photo:Miguel Rocco

 Jiuzhaigou and Surrounds – formerly, the main reason to visit Jiuzhaigou was the chance of seeing Rufous-headed Robin, but unfortunately sightings of this rare and enigmatic species dried up at its usual sites around 2015. Most of the other key birds – can be seen in forest outside the park. A new access road has been built to the west of town, and parts of the almost deserted old road make for good birding  with Snowy-browed Nuthatch, Pere David’s Tit, Chinese Song Thrush and very easy Chinese Leaf Warbler. On the arid east side, you have chances for Long-tailed Rosefinch (spp. Henrici) and although landscaping work has cleaned up a lot of the native scrub/long grasses there are still Spectacled Fulvetta and Parrotbill in the area. Birding areas further to the west and east give other Jiuzhaigou  species – like David’s Bush Warbler and Three-banded Rosefinch – and additional species like Chinese Rubythroat and Crested Tit Warbler.

Jiuzhaigou is a very scenic area but it’s also China’s most visited national park. Although many of the best birding areas inside are quiet, with most visitors using park busses and just stopping at the famous scenic sites, it can be pretty manic and exhausting – if you don’t like crowds (unfortunately you can’t totally avoid them), this is not the place to come!