L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 12. 1998 (Budapest, 1998)

Bankovics, A.: Distribution data of wildfowl (Aves: Anatidae) in the Khangai Mountain in Mongolia

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha zonorhyncha Swinhoe,1866) The Khangai Mountain is situated at the margins of its distribution range, thus also the sporadic observations in the area could be useful. Only one record: 1 specimen on mountain tundra lake at Bajan Obo, on 16 June. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758) It was a regular inhabitant of the study area, but not as common as it is in its European ranges. Some observations at Mandai: 1 pair on the river on 9 June; 1 male at the same site on 13 June; 1 pair and 1 drake on the river on 15 June. It was more numerous in lower altitude (2000 m) at Bajan Obo: one flock of 10 birds and 1 pair on 15 June, and two display-flying groups with 2 males+1 female, and 3 males +1 female at the same site at 16 June. There were also larger flocks of 14, than 80 and 90 birds at Bajan Obo at 16 June. The groups consisted of mostly males. It was the incubation period for most of the females. There were also two records at Bajan Hongor: one female and one pair along the river Tujn Gol on 18 June. Garganey (Anas querquedula Linnaeus, 1758) Only one observation: 1 pair on the lake at Bajan Obo on 16 June. Common Teal (Anas crecca Linnaeus, 1758) There were small groups of 3+4+2 birds around the mountain-tundra lake at Bajan Obo. There were 5+3 specimens on the meadow with frozen soil under it on 17 June. Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope Linnaeus, 1758) It is a passage migrant species of the study area. There were two groups recorded: one flock of 5 birds, and the other one with 8 males at Bajan Obo on 16 June. Gad wall (Anas st repéra Linnaeus, 1758) Piechocki (1968) treated it as a common breeding species in northern Mongolia. It was found in the same status in the Khangai Mountain by our expedition in 1978. I would like to note that at the same time in the 1970s its breeding population dramatically decreased and its breeding area shrunk to 3 nesting sites in Hungary. It has not occurred along the mountain river at Mandai, but it was fairly common on the mountain lakes at Bajan Obo. By the time of our visit in the area they appeared still in pairs, although two males together without females indicated, that the incubation period had already started. Records: 2 separated pairs on the lake was observed on 15 June. Two pairs together with one male nearby on the smaller lake on 16 June and 2 males together along the floating island covered with sedge, which seemed to function as an ideal nesting place for this species in this environment. There were more birds on the far side of the larger lake: 1 pair + 1 pair with 1 male nearby and 12 specimens in a loose flock occurred on 16 June. Another pair was flushed from the clumpy meadow with perpetually frozen soil. Shoveler (Anas clypeata Linnaeus, 1758) It was observed only at Bajan Obo on 16 June. There was a small flock of 8 birds resting on a small bare island, and another 2 drakes further on the larger lake. Pochard (Aythya ferina Linnaeus, 1758) It was recorded only at Bajan Obo, although it was fairly common there. It might breed on this area, but the breeding season has just been started during our visit. There was a small flock of 4 birds (3 drakes and 1 duck) with 2 drakes nearby on the bigger lake on 15 June. There were some 20 birds scattered in smaller groups in the southwestern part of the bigger lake on 16 June. Two females among them were near the floating island covered with sedge, which could be their nesting site.