As we were crossing the
Gobi on our
way to the Yol valley we saw these antelope.
Our driver gave chase
much to the
dismay of our group.
We crossed this pass
where we stopped
to walk and try to spot wildlife.
We saw some gazelles and
eagles but
they stayed too far away to get good pictures.
We did see a surprising
variety of
wildflowers though.
The Yol valley started
as a wide
grassy field but as we entered it became narrower and rockier.
Finally becoming a gorge
with a
stream cascading through it.
The variety of
habitats
supported a mix of flora and fauna.
This looks like one of
the wild
Przewalski horses that once roamed the area.
Little gerbils and pikas
were all
over the place at the entrance to the valley.
We couldn't resist
taking picture
after picture, each was cuter than the one before.
The red winged wall
hopper is the
only bird we saw that day that I can be sure of it's name.
I like it when the name
describes the
bird exactly.
We saw lots hopping on
the rock face
and probing for bugs in the cracks.
This is currently
unidentified, by me
at least.
If you know what it is
please send me
a note.
These may be eagles,
buzzards,
griffins or vultures.
They were all
very large raptor
or similar birds.
This valley is also called the Lammergeier valley and because the name
is the same as that of a type of vulture.
It is sometimes called the
valley of the vultures or valley of the eagles.
We spotted ibex on the
cliffs above
us.
Along the way we stopped
at a little
museum with a display of mounted animals and birds and this collection
of dinosaur eggs.
Our accommodations for
the night
included this huge ger dinning room.
Most of our group and
our guide at
the airport ready to return to Ulaanbataar.
Many thanks to our
friends from the
trip for sharing their good company, videos, and pictures with us and
with you.
Thanks again Alice, Lee,
Eleanor,
Michael, Joyce, David, Juliana, Tom, Stu, and Tanner.