Location: Harenna Forest, Ethiopia.
Date: 2018 Mar 24 – 8.24 PM.
Summary: Rarely seen in Ethiopia; only two other recent records (as at 2019).
Paul Carter
Mammal-watching Trip across Central and Western Mongolia (2019 Aug 4-30)
Report by Paul Carter
Trip with Kevin Bryan, Ian Thompson, Sjef Ollers and Anja Palmans
Version 1: 30 Nov 2019
Pdf version of this report here; updates to this report will be done in the website post only.
pcarter66 @ outlook.com
Table of Contents
1. SUMMARY
2. LOGISTICS AND REFERENCES
3. ITINERARY
4. LIST OF MAMMALS SEEN
5. LIST OF MAMMALS RECORDED AND SITES
6. PHOTOS
7. SITE NOTES
1. Summary
This four-week road-trip covered 5,300 km across Central and Western Mongolia (excluding the southern Gobi). Key sites visited were Hustai NP, Boon Tsagaan Nuur, Sharga, Gobi B SPA, Jargalant Uul, Tavan Bogd NP, Khurgas Nuur area and the Khangai Mountains. The focus was on mammals and we identified 44 species, with another two heard (Lynx and Wolf). Some of the bats seen and recorded have yet to be identified. Rodents were surprisingly scarce on some nights and we only had two mustelids. Small-mammal highlights included Steppe Zokor, Zaisan Mole Vole, Grey Marmot, Five-toed Pygmy Jerboa and Thick-tailed Pygmy Jerboa.
Route Map (numbers 4 to 29 show overnight dates and sites; names in red show places camped at whilst at names in purple we used hotels or gers; route in red is the out-leg; that in purple the return leg):
From 2002 to 2007 my work in Mongolia, as an exploration geologist, included various helicopter-based trips (using Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopters). One of these trips involved 4 days around western Mongolia and I had always wanted to return to the region and its spectacular scenery, especially the Tavan Bogd area. Due to the remote travel it was best done with at least two vehicles and Ian Thompson, Kevin Bryan, Sjef Ollers and Anja Palmans were keen; none of them had yet visited Mongolia.
I organised three land-cruisers through Erka (my work driver for over 3 years); I had last used him in 2016. He drove one vehicle whilst his son Kuchee and Erka’s friend Mugi drove the other two. They were all safe drivers and excellent bush mechanics and spent many hours servicing the cars, often late into the night. Erka’s niece Bella came along as our translator.
A limited selection of mammal photos is shown in section 6 of this report. A more extensive selection of trip and mammal photos is also available (80 pages, 70 MB). Continue reading
Riverine Rabbit at Dunedin Farm (South Africa) – March 2016
Edited (2021): I revisited the site in 2018 (again with Clide Carter) and in 2021 and a post summarizing all 2016-2021 data replaces this 2016 post. Species lists and other site information have therefore been removed from this 2016 post. Records in 2016 of Round-eared Sengi and Long-tailed Serotine are retracted in the new post.
Summary: Dunedin Farm offers excellent potential to see the rare, endemic Riverine Rabbit. After a visit to the nearby Karoo National Park, my father (Clide Carter) and I booked a night at the Riverine Rabbit Retreat on Dunedin Farm (Western Cape, South Africa). We had low expectations of seeing the Riverine Rabbit but after some pointers from Johan Moolman (the farm owner) we had great views of one before sunset; and saw another two with Johan the next morning. We extended our stay for another two nights once we realized the potential for other smaller mammals and reptiles. Our trip total of 17 mammals included Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox, Cape Sengi and Hewitt’s Red Rock Hare. This trip report morphed into a site guide as there is nothing else published and I believe it is most likely the best place to look for Riverine Rabbit.
Riverine Rabbit
Dunedin Farm and Riverine Rabbit Retreat
Dunedin Farm is a working farm owned by Johan and Marietha Moolman. They and their two sons are very keen on the local wildlife and were extremely helpful in giving us a detailed rundown on all the species and locations that they knew of. Manus (13) is especially keen and a local authority on the resident birds which include some Karoo specialties. Continue reading
Sichuan (China) mammal trip – Oct 2015
On a mammal-watching trip to Sichuan in October 2015 we saw 29 mammal species including Red Panda, Chinese Mountain Cat, Pallas’s Cat and Chinese Zokor. Places visited included Tangjiahe, Ruoergai, Wolong and Balangshan Pass. The group included Dominique Brugiere, Holly Faithfull and Sid Francis (trip leader). The Sichuan trip report (pdf) here.
This Sichuan trip followed our Tibetan Plateau trip with Jon Hall; his report for that trip is on mammalwatching.com.
Way Kambas (Sumatra) mammal trip – Aug 2014
I visited Way Kambas NP, South Sumatra, in August 2014 and used Hari, an excellent local guide, for much of my time there. The 31 mammal species seen included great views of Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel, Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse, six bats; and a brief view of Marbled Cat. Birds included Large Frogmouth, Reddish Scops Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Fireback and White-winged Duck.
Link to trip report (pdf) including photos: 20140816-WayKambas(Sumatra)-PaulCarter-TRv2
Sabah (Borneo) mammal trip – March 2014
On a 23-day trip around Sabah (Borneo), with Jo Dale in March-April 2014, we saw 56 mammals (including 8 primates, 15 squirrels and 10 bats).
Jo joined me on Day 5 after I had visited Crocker Range and Poring Hot Springs. Other key sites included Kinabalu NP, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. My trip report (pdf with photos) is here.
Taman Negara (Malaysia) mammal trip – June 2012
On a 5 day visit with Dave Sargeant to Taman Negara NP (Peninsular Malaysia), in mid-June 2012, we saw 23 mammal species, 125 birds and 3 snakes. We spent 4 nights in the Kuala Tahan area and then 2 nights at Sungai Relau. The mammals seen included Malayan Tapir, Leopard Cat, Sundaic Arboreal Niviventer, Bower’s Berylmys, Grey Tree Rat and 6 squirrel species. Link to trip report pdf including photos: 20120617-TamanNegara(Malaysia)-PaulCarter-TRv2.
Birds seen included Large Frogmouth, Barred Eagle-Owl, Jambu Fruit Dove and Garnet Pitta. Dave’s detailed report on the birding is posted on his website norththailandbirding.com