Black Kites at Tianchi Lake

Tianchi Lake or The Heavenly of Tianshan is situated 1900m above sea level in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, in Northwestern China. It is an alpine glacial lake surrounded by montane forests. It is a major national tourist attraction, denominated by its five A (AAAAA) rating, meaning it is an area of outstanding beauty that has been prepared for mass tourism. And in China this means big numbers.

However, a short walk up the forested slopes and a away from the main visitor centres there is tranquillity to be found. And that is where I recorded this summer soundscape. The species that dominates this recording is the black kite (Milvus migrans), but there are other background species, including nutcrackers (Nucifraga caryocatactes) towards the end, and plenty of insect buzzing, giving it that characteristic summer drone.