Photos

Silkroad travels: Pamir
Leaving Alichur in the direction of Murghab we came to this small freshwater lake. The view is to the Southern Alichur mountain range with its mountains of a little more than 5'000 m alt. What made or day was the sight of Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus; Streifengans) on their breeding grounds near the lake. They are adapted to high altitudes. They are even known for crossing the Himalaya mountains to reach their wintering sites. Other birds we saw that day were the Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersi, Ibisschnabel); Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos, Flussuferläufer); Eastern Pratincole (Glareola pratincola, Rotflügel-Brachschwalbe); Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris, Ohrenlerche); Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros, Hausrotschwanz); Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola, Zitronenstelze). To this list I want to add obsevations near Murghab:
the Tibetan sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus, Tibetanisches Flughuhn); Brown headed gull (Larus brunnicephalus, Braunkopf-Lachmöwe).

We often heard the double whistle of the Long-tailed Marmot (Marmota caudatus, Langschwanz-Murmeltier). But no Marco Polo sheep, no wolves, no Snow leopards ever were in sight.

Lit.: V. Flint et al. 1984. A Field Guide to the Birds of the USSR. Princeton Univ. Press.