#3: [08-Aug-06]

#2: [13-Jul-04] (incomplete)

25-Jul-1991 -- Each year a Tibetan tribal festival is held in a field on the western outskirts of Yushu (Jyekundo). In July 1991, with a number of travelling companions, we spent nearly a week in tented accommodation at the festival site (Photo #1 taken on 25th July). I was recording the birds seen, and for location purposes was using ONC G-8 1:1000000 map (Edition 3, Dec'1973). From the extract attached as Photo #2 it was deduced we were at or about 33N 97E.

The field was in a narrow valley at ca. 13000' asl and surrounded by high mountains. The display of national costumes was spectacular. Horseracing, archery, wrestling were among the sports on display. There was an ad hoc tented monastery with yellow-hat sect monks. Music making, singing and dancing went on into the night. Foreign visitors were scarce (us!), but made very welcome and urged into joining in the merry-making.

Birds recorded there were Black Kite, Himalayan Griffon-vulture, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Common Tern, Common Swift, Pacific Swift, Hoopoe, Oriental Skylark, Crag-martin, White Wagtail, Citrine Wagtail (breeding), White-backed Thrush, Grey-backed Shrike, Jay, Collared Treepie, Red-billed Chough, Raven, Tree Sparrow, and Blanford's Snowfinch.

The main road running south from Xining to Sichuan runs through Wusu a few miles east and north of Yushu, so Yushu is easily reached from there by a short paved road which crosses the upper Yangtse en route. Armed with a GPS the exact confluence would probably present little difficulty of approach to future visitors.