Gift of the roof of the world: Qinghai Dulan wildlife photography group enjoys a bumper harvest.

At the end of February and the beginning of March, the Qinghai wildlife photography group led by Jerry Shu made great strides and achieved great results. Let's take a look at this bright moment! Too many.

Speaking of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, I am actually no stranger. On August 20 19, I went to Ansai in Sanjiangyuan, and in June 2020, I went to Zoige, where I saw many classic species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, even those endemic to China.

But there are still many species that have not been seen, especially cats, such as snow leopard, rabbit monkey and lynx. It's good to suck cats for a while, but it's always good to suck cats. So, we came to Dulan, Qinghai to suck cats.

Why choose Dulan?

Dulan in Qinghai is a part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, located in the southeast of Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, and is known as the "oasis" of Qaidam and the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. There are majestic snow-capped mountains and vast alpine meadows here, which is a paradise for wild animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, especially cats such as snow leopards and rabbits. Guli Township is also home to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Research Station.

The altitude here is moderate (slightly lower than that of Sanjiangyuan, between 3800 and 4200), there are local experts (famous meat protection teachers), and the accommodation is relatively good (with heating and clean beds). These are the important factors that prompted us to come to dulan county to photograph wild animals.

Why did you choose early March?

For senior wildlife lovers, we don't choose a summer with more species and more comfortable weather. The end of February and the beginning of March are the mating season of snow leopards, and there may be 2-3 snow leopards in a range. In the cold winter, the river is completely frozen, and animals that used to live in high altitude areas may come down to drink water. These will increase the chances of seeing it.

What did you see in four and a half days this time?

Great achievements!

Animals: snow leopard (1 infrared, national first class), rabbit monkey (4, national second class), lynx (1 national second class), Tibetan fox (more than 30, national second class), wolf (more than 50, almost every day/. .

Birds: golden eagle (national level), giant owl (national level), alpine vulture (national level), vulture (national level), vulture owl (national level), striped owl (national level), falcon (national level) and kestrel (national level).

Taking cats and dogs as an example, we collected Qinghai Big5 (our own name), and we can see that we have photographed so many star species. Take figures as an example. The wolves we usually see are all lone wolves. It's good to have one or two wolves on a trip. We see wolves every day, and every day is a wolf. Another example is the golden eagle, one of the largest birds of prey in the world. It was very rare to find one before, but this time I looked up and saw it every day!

Of course, behind all this, it is definitely not just luck. This field trip sent a team of 1 to 1, that is, six guests (including me) and six staff members.

These staff are experts in the field of wildlife observation and photography, and also serve as drivers, chefs and the whole process.

It's these excellent professionals (Jerry, Mr. Meat Protection, Philip, Professor, Bella, Kobayashi), professional equipment (single barrel, N binoculars, N cannons, N infrared cameras, 4 walkie-talkies), as well as excellent new and old players who went to the field, that achieved such good results. I also want to express my gratitude and respect to you!

Next is the wonderful story of shooting animals:

First of all, fortunately, I didn't give up: Bobcats.

In the previous investigation, the nature guide photographed 4 lynx (family size) in June+10/October, 5438.

So let's get to the point. Enthusiastic local Tibetans gave us some clues to confirm the existence of lynx, which often appears. So, we stayed near the last shot of four lynx. Three cars stayed in the car for more than two hours, but they got nothing on the first day. On the last day, everyone unanimously decided to go to squat.

The professor found the animal path provided by Tibetans and a lot of lynx feces. It is inferred that this may be the only way for the lynx to drink water down the mountain. Professor, this car began to squat after lunch. After our car arrived, there was a struggle between the point provided by Tibetans and the point taken by the nature guide before. Finally, we chose to crouch with the professor's car at the point where the lynx was taken.

Jerry's inference is:

1. After all, we tried to find the same fence. 2. The professor found the path of animals and a lot of fresh feces. There are thawed rivers and banks suitable for lying down and drinking water, and other places are dams. Last time we saw the food of lynx here: plateau rabbit.

Besides, Ronnie once photographed a lynx. We thought the lynx was as big as a cat, but Ronnie said the lynx was very big. So it is impossible to drill through the fence (the grassland is surrounded by a fence). We found a place where the fence opened the door and felt that it increased the possibility. So we also began to squat in the car for a long time. As time went on, the sky began to snow. It's already half past six, and it's getting dark. Maybe not today.

Jerry slept soundly and squatted down to watch a movie (Ronny and I didn't take a nap all the time, so we looked out of the window seriously. The four people who taught the car looked carefully and counted a lot of rabbits. In a daze, he picked up the telescope, glanced at his left rear, and suddenly shouted, am I dreaming? Lynx！

Everyone cried and got excited. I'll call the professor's car on the intercom. Jerry still didn't believe he really saw it, so he immediately took some pictures of continuous shooting to confirm. Yes, a tuft of hair on the tip of the ear, this is a lynx! Moreover, this inclined railing in front of the lynx is the same as the one in the photo of 65438+ October! At first, the lynx stood in the grass. Everyone presses the shutter like a machine gun. Jerry said afterwards that if it hadn't stood in the grass, we wouldn't have seen it at all, and the grass around it was very high.

When people in both cars started filming, it found us. Instead of running away, I slowly cut into the grass. The professor decided to use it. As a result, the two cars started the africa tour hunting mode, followed by the rut and the lynx.

Watch it come to the stone pile. We drove to the side of the lynx. But I didn't expect it. I just turned my head a few steps and lost it!

I took binoculars and swept both sides of the stone pile, and the grass beside it was also swept. No, by the third time, my God, it was right in front of us, and there was no grass cover. Its protective color blends in with the stone next to it. Let's take a look at the photos taken by my mobile phone. Can you find the lynx in the picture?

This lynx loves face very much. She continued to lie prone and turned to look at us from time to time. Then walk slowly to another stone pile. So we have plenty of time to enjoy and shoot.

It was not until it got dark that the lynx went deep into the grass and everyone watched it go. After watching for more than half an hour, the camera memory card was used up.

Second, stay or swim? Grassland cat

On the first day of entering the ditch, I had a picnic at the summer ranch at noon. Just as we were about to leave after eating, Bella suddenly said that there were rabbits on the ridge line. The little guy ran so fast that Jerry only swept his ass and tail with his cannon. Unexpectedly, only one or two hours into the ditch, there will be big goods. We have searched for rabbit cockroaches many times before, and only photographed them with infrared rays in Qumalai. It just started here, and then it appeared. Experts such as Bella habitually use binoculars to patrol when they check in. Otherwise, such a small gray spot will not be noticed at all.

The next day, the car wandered around looking for animals. At first, Bella found a Tibetan fox crossing a glacier. Then half an hour later, Mr. Zhu and I saw a gray object at the same time, which quickly went from the glacier. Jerry quickly picked up the cannon and photographed it: rabbit! You know, I'm just saying there's something across the river, and I can't describe the exact location. I didn't expect Jerry to understand at once.

After confirming that it was a rabbit, we began to track its trajectory. Like the lynx, the rabbit's protective color is also excellent. Because the ice is pure white and the contrast is too big, it caught my attention. The rabbit went up the cliff opposite, and everyone was blind. The rabbit is on the cliff in front of us, but 12 people can't find it. Through the double-tube and single-tube, we locked the rabbit's action track again. Drive the car to the river and continue to watch it cross the mountain. I lose it from time to time, because it really blends with the cliff. At this distance, the single barrel and Canon R5 have obvious advantages, so you can see or shoot more clearly.

On a hillside in the ditch, there is a small house observation point. In winter, rabbits and even snow leopards often drink water by the valley, and the probability of seeing them is very high. This observation point is an excellent shooting position. There is a famous award-winning work "The Battle of the Golden Eagle and the Rabbit", which was shot at this observation point. So, in the afternoon, the three of us also went to the small house to look for two hours, and the other two cars crossed and squatted nearby, and there was no result. This is also the normal result of wildlife observation and photography. After all, it is nature, and there is no complete law at all, only piling up time and persistent waiting. Waiting for seven or eight days is also common. It's normal to wait two hours to shoot.

On the third day, in the evening, the meat protection teacher crossed the road between Xuebaoding and Tibetan fox nursery (there are no local names, but we took them)! It was too fast, and only the meat insurance teacher caught it.

On the fourth day, our car wandered in the ditch without any special goals and tasks. At noon, the professor drove to the top of the mountain near the rabbit observation point. Bella's original intention was to patrol high places for rabbits, sheep and snow leopards. It's too windy at the top of the mountain. I'm going to get on the bus. Bella suggested waiting another five minutes. Results Two minutes later, Bella shouted: Rabbit. Immediately, I followed Bella's shouts and locked a fast-running rabbit across the river. This is the location of the observation point If someone is squatting at the observation point at this time, you can take pictures of rabbits at a close distance.

When Bella found the rabbit, I was taking pictures with my mobile phone at the same location. So, in my photo, there is actually this rabbit, but the pixel may be only 2 K. In the same scene, experts can find this rabbit, and I can only pat the scenery. What a big gap.

We immediately got on the bus and went down to the valley, hoping to catch up with the rabbit. But unfortunately, the rabbit ran so fast that we didn't leave any observers on the mountain. When we went down to the valley, the rabbit had disappeared. But in the snow beside the bridge, we saw clear rabbit footprints. It can be inferred that it came all the way from the valley, and finally it went to the water source to drink or hid in a nearby hole.

So, at noon on the fifth day, we entered the observation point again. I spent more than two hours in prison, but nothing came of it.

There is no absolute answer whether to shoot wild animals. Scientific analysis, time accumulation and a little luck may be a good way to see and photograph this rabbit.

Third, finally meet you: Snow Leopard

The star among the stars, the mountain king everyone wants to see. We also specially chose the active mating period of snow leopard. The meat protection teacher said that you can hear the roar of snow leopards in estrus at night (just like cats in spring) and showed us many infrared photos of snow leopards. But when it comes to whether you can see it, the meat protection teacher said that it will be difficult to see it in a few days.

On the first afternoon, Mr. Roubao took us to the Yi Tu observation point opposite the frozen river beach and suggested that we put an infrared camera here. It is said that this is the only way for snow leopard to patrol the territory. I also saw an iron shelf for fixing infrared rays. The meat protection teacher put it here several times before, and all of them were photographed. There are fresh snow leopard footprints, snow leopard poop and obvious animal footprints around here. All this information shows that snow leopards often go downhill.

In the next few days, we searched for snow leopards by patrolling the mountain ridge (a typical food for snow leopards), circling vultures in the air (sharing the prey that snow leopards hunt), sweeping the mountains hard, and sticking the top of snow leopards (this is also our own name, because there is a high probability here, and we have seen several dead rock sheep that may be hunted by snow leopards), but all failed.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, we went to the place where infrared rays were put to check the results. There are no snow leopards except a red fox and a flock of white-waisted snow finches. At that time, my heart was cold, and I felt that what the meat insurance teacher said might not be right. After all, it seems a little strange for snow leopards to descend from the top of the mountain to the valley (there was not much snow in the ditch at that time, and the rock sheep were still concentrated on the top of the mountain).

On the fifth day, I received infrared rays for the last time. When I opened it, I couldn't believe it: a strong and fat snow leopard appeared from the infrared image and walked calmly. Oh, my God, we really made it! Check time. On the fourth night of our disappointment, at 8: 54, this snow leopard appeared.

Still have to listen to experts! The meat protection teacher once said that the snow leopard will patrol the territory, about once every five days. We are too impatient and impatient. If we can grasp the habit of snow leopard going down the mountain during patrol, it will be a rare opportunity to shoot snow leopard at close range. You know, even if we find a snow leopard on the top of the mountain, it's only a small spot.

Fourth, online celebrities live up to their reputation: the hidden fox.

The Tibetan fox has a square face and squints, and has become an animal in the network celebrity (it can turn the big face decadence into the temperament of the network celebrity, and the Tibetan fox is impressed by you! )。 It's not surprising. We have filmed many times in all parts of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau before.

But there are so many Tibetan foxes in Dulan that you can see n foxes every day.

Many Tibetan foxes are no longer afraid of people. They rest and hunt in front of us. Some people run when they see us, while others lie down and pretend to be stones when they see us.

But this time, all the limelight of the Tibetan fox was taken away by these two little Tibetan fox babies. And we basically go to see them every day, just like we know each other. We come to play with their mother when she is out hunting.

There are three foxes in this harbor, but for various reasons, when we see them, there are only two. These two are almost as long as their mothers, and it may be time to leave the nest soon.

Many times, they bask in the sun and play around the cave sealed by their mother. Turn a blind eye to the pikas running around in front of you (these pikas are really courageous).

Any animal, including man, is invincible in infancy.

Look at these photos and videos to see if there is blood.

The Legend of the Wolf five times or n times.

As mentioned earlier, it is lucky to meet wolves among animals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In our trip last year, the most time was three times.

Unexpectedly, in Dulan, we have the rhythm of wolves n times every day. Of course, there are some duplicates, including a wolf pack, probably 1 1, and there is also a lame one in it, which we have recognized and seen several times.

I also joked with Jerry, taking fewer pictures. The seven wolves filmed it and sold it to the seven wolves for advertising.

Wolves are team activities, and many times the team is neat, and wolves will stop and wait for everyone from time to time. Sometimes when I look at them through a telescope, I really think they are no different from Hal.

Wolves move quickly, mostly halfway up the mountain, but they don't run away when they see people. We can watch them for a few minutes at a time.

In the empty lynx ditch (also our name, because we can see lynx here), we also followed a group of wolves, and they almost killed a Tibetan antelope.

Six, the raptor outbreak

Golden eagles, giant owls, alpine vultures, vultures, vultures, owls, falcons and kestrels, these raptors are really full.

The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in the world. It is very rare, and one can be seen occasionally in other areas. There are many in Dulan, when I look up.

The vulture has several nests, and we often go back and forth to see if it is at home.

Pay attention to telephone poles, many of which will have big cockroaches on them.

Alpine vultures and vultures hover around the hills.

Seven, non-star highlights

In addition to star animals, don't ignore other wild animals and characteristic behaviors. This stems from our deep understanding of animals.

For example, at that time, I was talking about the relationship between pika and white-waisted snow finch, and I was going to look for snow finch at the door of pika's nest. I didn't expect to meet a white-waisted snow finch Colosseum (also named after us).

It is very elegant to watch white-waisted snow finches fight at ordinary times. What can a bird do? Nod your head and say something. As a result, in the Colosseum, we watched the white-waisted snow finch for a whole hour. It was really the kind that beat you to death. It's right next to our car. I'm never tired of playing, but I'm tired of showing it to us. If accompanied by music and commentary, this is an animal kung fu blockbuster. Birds fight, rubbing against each other repeatedly on the ground, kicking each other's heads, flapping their wings and slapping each other in the face, doing everything they can, which is quite intense. One of them was beaten, shrugged his shoulders and ran away. As a result, the winner is determined and will continue to fight after chasing the past. There is also a third party, watching the fire from the other side. We were all thinking, you'd better play together.

And this time, because of the cold winter, the rivers in the ditch were frozen into glaciers, but wild animals still had to cross them, so I saw many animals crossing the glaciers one after another, some of them were easy and some were a little hard. Very interesting pictures.

There are also many birds photographed this time, such as big stone chicken, fake work and so on. Although it is winter, there are still many birds in Dulan, which are easy to find and photograph.

This is part of our wonderful experience in Dulan for four and a half days. It is difficult to express it all in words and photos. The magnificence of the wildlife world needs you to see and experience it with your own eyes. There are too many treasures on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the roof of the world.

Eggs:

I like The Gift of the Roof of the World written by Dr. George Beals Schaller very much, so it is used in the title of my article. For specific recommendations, please refer to: Angela's travel book list VOL. 1 | Travel and reading, there must be one on the road! . Pay tribute to Dr. Xia Le and thank Dr. Xia Le for his outstanding contribution to the research and protection of wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This book tells in detail all kinds of stories about Dr. Xia Le's long-term animal protection work on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, including the stories of major species. Highly recommended!

Those who want to go to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with us to see wild animals, keep up!

This year, we will launch the summer Zoige grassland photography master class and ecological training camp to meet your popularization of wildlife on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. If you want to watch plateau animals in advance, like us, come to Dulan, Qinghai to chase animals in April!

Welcome to pay attention to the official WeChat account of nature tourism information (yet travel 20 14) to learn more about nature stories.