10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

The Black-tailed Godwits that we observe here in Australia breed in east Siberia and Mongolia. In non-breeding plumage they are almost brown, but add a reddish brown colour when they are in breeding plumage. All of the migratory shorebirds make incredible journeys around the world to breed.

Mongolia 147

Mongolia Australia Breeding Asia 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

The HBW even mentions the importance of Ruoergai for this species: “Key sites for migrants include the Ruoergai Plateau (China), which is also an important breeding area” Common Mergansers also seem to use these wetlands as breeding area.

China 172

China Mongolia Birds Russia 172

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2012

They breed in the arid inland areas in Mongolia and northern China and then migrate south into coastal parts of south-east Asia and northern Australia. After good rains we get a variety of locusts and this will attract various insect-feeding birds from afar. Here are some photos of a lone Oriental Plover on Cable Beach.

Mongolia 181

Mongolia Asia China Shelters 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

The Brown-headed Gull is a bird of Asia, breeding from Turkmenistan to Mongolia, and winters along the coasts of Asia. This gull is closely related to, and necessary to separate from, the Black-headed Gull , a bird familiar to any birder from Europe (or even just anyone from Europe!). Notice the white iris.

Turkmenistan 154

Turkmenistan Mongolia Asia Europe 154

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

This species, one of the heaviest birds able to fly, was once common through most of southern and central Europe and all the way to Mongolia, but was driven to extinction by hunting and changes in agricultural practises in most of its European range during the 19th and early 20th century.

Germany 101

Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2023

This species might indeed merit a bit more research – the only paper I found on its breeding looked at only 7 nests (of which 3 failed). BirdingAsia has a report on the first Rosy Pipit seen in Mongolia. Being wet seems to help, though.

Birds 130

Birds China Science Research 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

I am not sure about the security situation in Iraq these days but at least some people do ornithological research there – resulting in papers such as one titled “Breeding observations of the Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines , 1789) in Iraq” Impressive.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130