Day 3, Langmusi to Rouergai, 9/13/15

After birding and lunch at Gansu Gahai Zecha Nature Preserve we headed back south towards Langmusi on the Gansu/Sichuan border which is famous for its Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.  Now it was time for some regular tourist stuff.  Sid says most of his birding and mammal watching clients have no interests in visiting monasteries but I can't imagine not taking the opportunity to see such wonders.  Here we are at the gate.

Here's looking back from inside the gate.  What looks like snow on the distant hillside is actually thousands of paper prayers strewn on the ground.

No we're not in south Texas anymore.

Despite the marvels around us, Sid and I couldn't resist checking out an ancient grove of trees where we found Goldcrest and Hodgson's Treecreeper which has been split from Eurasian Treecreeper.

Luckily Honey was still exploring and taking photos.

We rejoined her to see stuff that far more entertaining than treecreepers.

A contemplative Red-billed Chough taking sanctuary in a temple.

And then it was time to mess around with the friendly monks.

Looking for a place to eat back in the village.

The man took our order and went back to playing with his grandchild.

Spicy sweet and sour eggplant, pork with onions and some incredible refried potatoes.

Back to birding.  Checking out our Ibisbill stream again we found some Brown-hooded Gulls.  The solid black primary tips are pretty diagnostic.

But going through my photos I found a Black-headed Gull that we missed in the field.

 At a scenic viewing spot on a pass we were fortunate to find several Himalayan Griffons.  They get buffier as they age.

Well what better way for a magnificent day to end than with a Tibetan Fox glowing in the late afternoon sun.