Rock Bunting
Emberiza cia
A few birds were reported from Rumbak Valley and along the Indus between Upshi and Mahe
Bridge.
Red-fronted Serin
Serinus pusillus
Common in Rumbak Valley (up to 50 birds daily) and in Nubra Valley; smaller numbers observed in and above Leh, around Upper Sumdo in Changtang and at Tso Moriri.
Rumbak, 2.7.04
Twite
Carduelis flavirostris
Common around Rumbak and Yurutse in Rumbak Valley and at most sites in the Changtang
region, where around 80 birds were estimated around Tso Kar on 11th.
Yurutse, 4.7.04
Plain Mountain Finch
Leucosticte nemoricola
Common in Rumbak Valley between Rumbak and Ganda La above 4000m, where up to 30 individuals were seen daily. Moreover, singles were seen near Sumdo in the Changtang area and at Sumur in Nubra
Valley at only around 3000m.
Yurutse, 5.7.2004
Brandt’s Mountain Finch
Leucosticte brandti
Common to abundant in the Changtang area,
where up to a few hundred birds (maximum: about 400, including a flock of 300, at Startsapuk Tso on 12th) were seen daily. Less common in upper Rumbak Valley above 4500m, where 20+ birds were noted below Ganda La on 3rd and 10 birds west of Yurutse
on 4th.
Upper Rumbak Valley, 4.7.2004
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus
Common in Leh and along Indus between Thikse and Choglamsar as well as between Zinchen and Yurutse in Rumbak Valley. Abundant in Nubra
Valley, where up to a hundred birds were estimated daily.
Shey Marshes, 14.7.2004
Red-mantled Rosefinch
Carpodacus rhodochlamys
A pair was observed in a small forest at Zinchen (lower Rumbak Valley) on 1st, where at least 4 birds (2 males, 2 females) were present on 5th. There are only a few previous records of this species from Ladakh.
Male, Zinchen, 5.7.04
Female, Zinchen, 5.7.04
Streaked Rosefinch
Carpodacus
rubicilloides
Reasonably common in Rumbak Valley between Rumbak and Ganda La, where 3-15 birds were observed daily. Furthermore, 3 birds were noted at Upper Sumdo
on 8th.
Rumbak, 2.7.2004
Great Rosefinch
Carpodacus rubicilla
Regularly reported from Upper Rumbak Valley and the Changtang area, with a total of 8 observation of 1-4 birds. Sites included Rumbak to Ganda La (especially around Yurutse), Upper Sumdo, Tso Moriri and Tso
Kar.
Yurutse, 3.7.2004
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Common to abundant at all sites up to 4000m. Rarer higher up, with a few birds seen at Tso Moriri at more than 4500m.
Tibetan Snowfinch
Montifringilla adamsi
Common above 4000m in upper Rumbak Valley and in the Changtang area as well as around Taglang La and Khardung La. Highest count was around 50 birds at Startsapuk Tso on 12th, including two presumably melanistic
juveniles with blackish body.
Rumbak, 2.7.04
Juvenile, Rumbak, 5.7.04
Blanford’s / Plain-backed Snowfinch
Montifringilla blanfordi
Present around the campsite at Tso Kar (at the spring opposite to Thukse village), where 2 juveniles were seen from 10th to 12th, with 2 adults also there on 11th and at least one on 12th. Around 10 birds, including many juveniles, were seen in a large flock of Brandt’s Mountain Finches at the southern end of Startsapuk Tso
on 12th. Blanford’s Snowfinch is a rare summer visitor / resident in Ladakh.
Juvenile, Tso Kar, 10.7.2004
Brahminy Starling
Sturnus pagodarum
A single bird was present around the campsite at Tso Kar (at the spring opposite to Thukse
village) at 4550m from 10th to 13th. Brahminy Starling is an occasional vagrant
to Ladakh in summer and autumn and this might be the highest observation ever.
Tso Kar, 10.7.2004
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Oriolus oriolus
1-2 birds were reported
from the Indus Valley between Thikse and Choglamsar (30th of june and 20th of july) and from Diskit and Sumur in Nubra Valley (17th of july).
Black-billed Magpie
Pica pica
Common in all lower regions visited (up to around 40 birds seen daily), locally up to nearly 4500m (in Rumbak
Valley).
Red-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
Common in Rumbak Valley and at most sites in Changtang and Nubra valley (up to 20 a day); small numbers around the Shey
Marshes.
Yellow-billed Chough
Pyrrhocorax graculus
More local than Red-billed Chough, not seen in the Changtang region. Sites included Rumbak Valley between Rumbak and Ganda La (maximum: around 80 birds on 3rd), above Leh, Khardung La and around Sumur and Panamik in Nubra
Valley.
Eurasian Jackdaw
Corvus monedula
4 birds were observed at the bridge at Choglamsar on 30th of june. Eurasian
Jackdaw is only occasionally seen as far east in Ladakh.
Choglamsar, 30.6.04
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
orientalis
Only seen in the Indus Valley between Thikse and Choglamsar, with around 10
birds reported on 30th of June but only a single bird on 14th of July.
( * note that ‘orientalis’ birds look very different from western Carrion Crows
and could easily be mistaken for immature Rooks).
Shey Marshes, 30.6.04
Common Raven
Corvus corax
A few birds seen in the Changtang area between Thazang Guru Tso and Tso Moriri, at Tso Moriri, Puga and at the campsite at Tso Kar.
Single birds were also noted at Khardung La.
Hume’s Groundpecker
Pseudopodoces humilis
Two pairs were found at the southern end of Startsapuk Tso, both of them feeding their chicks in nest holes. One nest was found in the ground (possibly an old pika hole) at the eastern end of the village (which is only inhabited in winter) south of the lake. The second nest was situated in a steep sandy face in a small valley at the mountain slope a
few hundred meters south of the bank, around 500 meters east of the village. At the first site there was an additional adult bird present. Hume’s Groundpecker occurs mainly in the extreme eastern parts of Ladakh, which are not accessible to foreigners. Our observations may be the first breeding records in accessible areas.
Startsapuk Tso, 12.7.2004
MAMMALS
Wolf
Canis lupus
A single individual was observed at Tso Kar on 12th.
Tso Kar, 12.7.2004
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
A single individual was noted between Tso Kar salt lake and Startsapuk Tso on 12th. Kiang,
Tibetan Wild Ass
Equus kiang
Common in the plains around Tso Kar, with a maximum of 105+ individuals counted on 11th. A few were observed along the Leh-Manali road south of Taglang
La.
Tso Kar, 11.7.2004
Bharal, Blue Sheep
Pseudois nayaur
Mainly observed in upper Rumbak Valley. A group of 16 females/juveniles was seen just above Rumbak and 3 males near Ganda La on 3rd. 3
different groups (9 females/juveniles, 31 females/juveniles, 18 males) were seen at different locations in upper Rumbak Valley on 4th. Moreover, 10 females/juveniles were noted north of Taglang La on 13th and 7 males along the Leh-Manali Road near Lachung
La on 20th.
Rumbak, 3.7.2004
Argali
Ovis ammon hodgsoni
The only observation was a group of 70+ females/juveniles above Rumtse north of Taglang
La on 20th.
Himalayan / Long-tailed Marmot
Marmota bobak / caudate
Unidentified
Marmots were commonly observed in upper Rumbak Valley, in the Changtang area, at Khardung La and along the Leh-Manali
road, mostly at altitudes above 4500m.
Probable Himalayan Marmot, Upper Rumbak Valley, 3.7.04
Woolly Hare
Lepus oiostolus
Rather common in upper Rumbak Valley, where around 5 individuals were observed
almost daily.
Cape Hare
Lepus capensis
A few individuals were seen daily in Nubra Valley.
Upper Rumbak Valley, 4.7.2004
Pika sp.
Ochotona sp.
Common in
Rumbak Valley, in the Changtang area and in Nubra Valley. Several species occur
in Ladakh but are difficult to identify in the field.
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