Part 122 - Tsona to Dongkar via Gorpo La; crossings of Cho La and Me La; camp at Shengbe (Aug 15–22)

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SUMMARY:
The party left Tsona for Dongkar via the Gorpo La, re-entering the Nyam Jang Chu valley in dry, sunny conditions and noting several bird records. They descended the Nyam Jang Chu, crossed the Cho La into the wetter Taree Rong Chu Valley, then on 22 Aug crossed the Me La to resume camp at Shengbe, with views over the Nyam Dzong Chu Valley from the Tibetan plateau. Notes reference related descriptions in Ludlow’s pages 89–92.

CONTENT:
Aug 15-22

Hrs 16. On Aug 15 left Tsona for Dongkar, re-entered into the Nyam Jang Chu valley by the Gorpo La, (17,750). We both fell in love with Dongkar. It lies within the dry zone & we basked in the rays of a Tibetan sun & saw beauty in the bareness of the surrounding mountains. Here we saw
Hrs 30 Pica pica bottanensis - see Hrs 30
Hrs 473 Carpodacus erythrinus roseatus - Rose Finch Hrs 473
Hrs 478 Emberiza cia khamensis - Bunting see Hrs 478

Descending the Nyam Jang Chu, we crossed the Cho La into the Taree Rong Chu Valley, where the vegetation showed the rainfall to be considerable, though we were still north of the main range. Here we found
Hrs 501. Perdix hodgsoniae hodgsoniae - Partridge
Hrs 293 Leptopoecile sophiae obscura
Hrs 386 Phylloscopus affinis
Hrs 268 Hodgsonius phoenicuroides phoenicuroides

Our new pass, the Cho La, took us across the Himalayan Range, & we overlooked the beautiful valley we had gazed into from the Me La the previous year. On 22 Aug we crossed the Me La & took up our quarters in our old camp at Shengbe.

Ludlow p. 89-90
Sangla - we had a magnificent view of
the Nyam Dzong Chu Valley stretching away
to the North, whilst immediately below us to
the west Dongkar with Dzong could be
easily discerned.
We were standing on the Tibetan plateau
country & it was at once realized that the
main Himalayan range was to the south of us.
Story of lost bird in Nyam Dzong Chu
p. 90-91-92