NORTHERN INDIA TOUR REPORT A Wildlife & Birding Tour of Northern India November 28th – December 12th 2018
Participants:- Gary Elton, Karen Hunt, Nick Marshall, Nigel Mill, Dennis Morrison and Vanessa Stocking
Tour Guides for Norfolk Birding – Chris Mills & Prasanna Gautam
OVERVIEW OF THE TOUR
This tour took in the amazing sights and sounds of Northern India’s wildlife and birds.
The tour included a wide and varied cross section of habitat. Our first location was Bharatpur with a vast array of wetland species, an amazing heronry with hundreds of Storks, Egrets, Ibis and Cormorants, plus plenty of exciting passerines, raptors and waders. We then headed for 2 full days into the beautiful surroundings of the Vangat camp in the buffer zone of Corbett NP. Vangat is set in a secluded river valley alongside the Ramganga river, an area of primary and secondary forest, we enjoyed truly wild and amazing, on foot birding. We then spent 3 full days in the primary forest areas of the famous Corbett National Park and finally we finished the trip with the forest and mountain areas of Pangot and Nainatal in the foothills of the Himalaya’s.
ACCOMMODATION
All of the accommodation is of a good standard with hot water, western style toilets and a good range of food. At Bharatpur we stayed in the very nice Birders Inn, around Corbett NP we stayed at the award winning Vanghat Lodge, Tiger Camp and the luxurious and beautiful Jim Jungle Jungle retreat and up at Pangot in the foothills of the Himalayas, we stayed at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
A series of images taken during the trip can be seen at the following Facebook pages, you don’t need to be face book user to view these albums.
All images in this report are copyrighted and should not be reused without our permission. All images are copyrighted Dennis Morrison and Chris Mills Norfolk Birding.
Two stunning and iconic species, both with limited ranges and not always easy to see – Mountain Scops Owl and Ibisbill.
Tuesday 27th November 2018
The 6 members travelling from the UK, all met up with myself at Heathrow airport.
Everyone was soon through security and boarding our BA direct flight. The flight departed at around 11.40am, the flight was comfortable with good food and drink and the economy seats were relatively comfortable, though I opted for extra legroom which proved very comfortable.
Outbound flight time is around 8 hours and we arrived in Delhi at a local time of 1.30am. We got our money changed into Indian rupees in the airport and headed out into the sight, sounds and smells of Delhi! We met our local guide just outside the airport he escorted us to our minibus and driver. The luggage was loaded into the 12-seater minibus and we were soon tasting the hustle and bustle of Delhi. We soon arrived at the Hotel Ashok Country Resort, everyone was shown to their appointed rooms. The Hotel Ashok Country resort had good rooms with a mix of Indian and English breakfast.
Overnight at Hotel Ashok Country Resort.
Wednesday 28th November 2018
Before breakfast at 9.00am we had time for a quick bit of casual bleary-eyed birding around the hotel and nearby gardens before departing for Bharatpur.
The well attended and mature gardens yielded a nice mix of “introductory” Indian birds, the highlights were –
20 Indian Peafowl, 50 Feral Pigeon, 3 Yellow-footed Pigeon, 2 Shikra, 5 Black Kite, Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown-headed Barbet, 20 Ring-necked Parakeet, 10 Black Drongo, 4 Rufous Treepie, 10 House Crow, 3 Barn Swallow, 5 Red-vented Bulbul, 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 1 Hume’s Warbler, 2 Common Tailorbird 5 Oriental White-eye. 20 Jungle Babbler 2 Oriental Magpie-Robin 2 Indian Chat 2 Asian Pied Starling, Bank Myna & 5 Purple Sunbird.
We then loaded up the minibus and starting heading for Agra and the Taj Mahal, though we made steady progress this was interrupted by couple of stops for birding!
We were treated to several stunning Black-winged Kites, Indian Peafowl and hundreds of Black Kite from the moving mininbus.
We made a roadside stop for lunch and then in the afternoon we came across a nice set of pools, we pulled over and had a lovely selection of birds –
50 Bar-headed Goose, 3 Ruddy Shelduck, 12 Northern Shoveler, 8 Gadwall, 5 Indian Spot-billed Duck, 20 Northern Pintail, 10 Teal, 5 Grey Francolin, 4 Little Grebe, 20 Collared Dove, 2 Common Moorhen, 10 Eurasian Coot, 2 White-breasted Waterhen, 40 Black-winged Stilt, 20 Pied Avocet, 2 River Lapwing, 15 Red-wattled Lapwing, 2 Ruff, 10 Temminck’s Stint, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank , Marsh Sandpiper, 4 Wood Sandpiper, 20 Black-headed Gull, 1 Pallas’s Gull, 15 River Tern, 1 Painted Stork, 8 Indian Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Indian Pond Heron, 2 White-throated Kingfisher, 10 House Crow, 200 Grey-throated Martin, 5 Barn Swallow, 2 Red-vented Bulbul, 1 Zitting Cisticola, 2 Jungle Babbler, 6 Asian Pied Starling, 20 Bank Myna, 12 Citrine Wagtail and 50 White Wagtail .
Probably the biggest highlight was great views of our first Sarus Cranes, at 1.5m high these are truly wonderful enigmatic birds.
We then made another fantastic stop by the Yamuna river bridge. We risked the busy traffic as there was a mass of birds below us in the shallow waters.
Great selection of birds here:-
10 Knob-billed Duck 1 Northern Shoveler, 20 Gadwall, 20 Indian Spot-billed Duck, 2 Mallard, 20 Northern Pintail, 40 Eurasian Teal, 3 Ferruginous Duck, Little Grebe, 20 Collared Dove, 20 Eurasian Coot, 3 White-breasted Waterhen, 6 Sarus Crane, 40 Black-winged Stilt, 80 Red-wattled Lapwing, 3 White-tailed Lapwing, 10 Greater Painted-Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, 5 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Common Redshank, 15 Brown-headed Gull, 15 River Tern, 3 Asian Openbill, 10 Woolly-necked Stork, 2 Painted Stork, 2 Little Cormorant, 5 Indian Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Purple Heron, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Intermediate Egret, 200 Cattle Egret 2 Indian Pond Heron, 20 Black-headed Ibis, 10 Red-naped Ibis, 12 Black-winged Kite, 5 Western Marsh Harrier, 2 Shikra, 4 Black Kite, 1 Eurasian Hoopoe, 6 White-throated Kingfisher, 20 Ring-necked Parakeet, 1 Brown Shrike, 20 Black Drongo, 2 Rufous Treepie, 10 House Crow, 100 Grey-throated Martin, 12 Barn Swallow, 5 Red-rumped Swallow, 10 Red-vented Bulbul, 2 Plain Prinia, 10 Jungle Babbler, 1 Siberian Stonechat, 1 Pied Bushchat, 2 Indian Chat, 1 Common Starling, 12 Asian Pied Starling, 20 Common Myna, 100 Bank Myna, 3 Purple Sunbird, 20 Western Yellow Wagtail, 10 Citrine Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 House Sparrow and 2 Indian Silverbill
We were soon comfortably settled into our rooms at the Birders Inn. Evening meals were a buffet style mixture of Soup & various curries, with good choice of rice & Indian breads. Puddings were a largely a variation on rice puddings and semolina, with some very nice natural yoghurt!
Birders Inn has large comfortable en-suite rooms with hot showers set in nice lawned grounds and is just a short distance of 200m to the Park entrance.
Overnight at Birders Inn, Bharatpur.
Thursday 29th November 2018
We all arrived for an early breakfast served at 6.00am. Immediately after breakfast just after 6.30am we met up with our local guide Brijendra and our rickshaw drivers who accompanied us over the next two and half days whilst visiting the park.
Brijendra Singh is very knowledgeable on all the flora and fauna. He has excellent knowledge of the parks birds and wildlife and I highly recommend him. The park is a haven for storks, egrets, ducks, waders and also good for raptors too.
The birding in the park was immediate, intense and very exciting!! It was slow progress as the birds came thick and fast. Over the next few hours we saw an amazing array of birds, exploring the main and side track to the nursery area.
The highlights in the morning were as follows:-
30 Indian Peafowl, 8 Grey Francolin, 20 Laughing Dove, 2 Greater Coucal, 4 Asian Koel, 2 Common Hawk-Cuckoo, 2 Common Moorhen, 1 Grey-headed Swamphen, 5 White-breasted Waterhen, 8 Black-winged Stilt, 2 Red-wattled Lapwing, 2 Bronze-winged Jacana, 3 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Greenshank, 5 Common Redshank, 20 Painted Stork, 5 Little Cormorant, 10 Indian Cormorant, 20 Dalmatian Pelican, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Purple Heron, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Intermediate Egret, 3 Little Egret, 10 Cattle Egret, 12 Indian Pond Heron, 2 Striated Heron, 2 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 2 Glossy Ibis, 15 Black-headed Ibis, 4 Eurasian Spoonbill, 30 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Black Kite, 6 Spotted Owlet, 3 Eurasian Hoopoe, 2 Indian Grey Hornbill, 3 White-throated Kingfisher, 1 Coppersmith Barbet, 3 Black-rumped Flameback, 100 Ring-necked Parakeet, 2 Long-tailed Shrike, 5 Black Drongo, 5 Rufous Treepie, 20 House Crow, 2 Large-billed Crow, 2 Barn Swallow, 1 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, 20 Red-vented Bulbul, 6 White-eared Bulbul, 5 Hume’s Warbler, 2 Common Chiffchaff, 2 Greenish Warbler, 2 Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 1 Common Tailorbird, 10 Ashy Prinia, 5 Plain Prinia, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Yellow-eyed Babbler, 6 Common Babbler, 2 Large Grey Babbler, 6 Indian Robin, 8 Oriental Magpie-Robin, 6 Bluethroat, 3 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 3 Eastern Black Redstart, 2 Orange-headed Thrush, 25 Brahminy Starling, 30 Common Myna, 5 Purple Sunbird, 2 Grey Wagtail, 4 Citrine Wagtail, 1 Olive-backed Pipit, 6 Indian Silverbill and 6 Scaly-breasted Munia
By midday it was getting hot and we had enjoyed a wonderful morning’s introduction to the birds, we headed back for a break and lunch. We then headed back out into another area of the park in the afternoon, heading towards the main Egret and heronry area for dusk. A lot more wetland birds this afternoon.
The highlights in the afternoon were as follows:-
70 Lesser Whistling-Duck, 3 Knob-billed Duck, 2 Cotton Pygmy-Goose, 2 Garganey, 10 Northern Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 50 Eurasian Teal, 100 Eurasian Coot, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 100 Painted Stork, 12 Oriental Darter, 50 Little Cormorant, 30 Great Cormorant, 50 Indian Cormorant, Black Bittern, 4 Purple Heron, 6 Great White Egret, 4 Intermediate Egret, 10 Little Egret, 20 Indian Pond Heron, 3 Striated Heron, 20 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 20 Glossy Ibis, 15 Black-headed Ibis, 10 Eurasian Spoonbill, Black-winged Kite, 3 Greater Spotted Eagle, 2 Western Marsh Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Black Kite, Dusky Eagle Owl, 4 Common Kingfisher, 10 White-throated Kingfisher, 1 Pied Kingfisher, 1 Coppersmith Barbet, 100 Grey-throated Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, 3 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, 6 Hume’s Warbler, 10 Common Chiffchaff, 2 Greenish Warbler, 2 Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 10 Ashy Prinia, 10 Plain Prinia, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Common Babbler, 5 Large Grey Babbler, 4 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 5 Asian Pied Starling and 3 Grey Wagtail.
The main colony area was just truly wonderful with large numbers of Great White, Little, and Intermediate Egrets, Purple & Grey Herons, Indian Darter, Little and Indian Cormorants, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Spoonbill, Black-headed Ibis and Glossy Ibis.
This amazing spectacle across the water was complimented by the overhead activity of Plain Martins and Barn and a Wire-tailed Swallow. We also had unprecedented views of the Dusky Eagle Owl showing wonderfully out in the open!
As well as the avifauna we also saw Spotted Deer, Sambar, Nilgai, Rhesus Macaque and Golden Jackal.
We headed back after a fantastic first full day on the reserve.
After dinner and a log call, everyone was tired and off to bed for a well earned sleep and rest.
Overnight
at Birders Inn, Bharatpur.
Friday 30th November 2018
After a 6.00am breakfast we departed around 6.40am for the park again aboard the rickshaws. The visit was split into two visits, morning and afternoon. We arrived back at Birders Inn for lunch at around 12.30pm and then headed back out into the park at 2pm till dusk.
Avian highlights and new birds in the morning on the central and west areas as follows:- 20 Lesser Whistling-Duck, 6 Knob-billed Duck, 2 Cotton Pygmy-Goose, 20 Northern Shoveler, 30 Gadwall, 6 Eurasian Wigeon, 100 Northern Pintail, 30 Eurasian Teal, 12 Common Pochard, 5 Greater Flamingo, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 60 Great White Pelican, 20 Dalmatian Pelican, 5 Purple Heron, 10 Great White Egret, 2 Intermediate Egret, 2 Glossy Ibis, 30 Eurasian Spoonbill, 1 Black-winged Kite, 20 Egyptian Vulture, Crested Serpent-Eagle, Indian Spotted Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle, 3 Western Marsh Harrier, 2 Shikra, 2 Black Kite, 2 Indian Grey Hornbill, 4 Common Kingfisher, 3 White-throated Kingfisher, 2 Coppersmith Barbet, 2 Brown-headed Barbet, 1 Black-rumped Flameback, 1 Common Woodshrike, 2 Bay-backed Shrike, 3 Long-tailed Shrike, 4 Rufous Treepie, 5 Grey-throated Martin, 3 Red-rumped Swallow, 10 Hume’s Warbler, 15 Common Chiffchaff, 5 Greenish Warbler, 20 Blyth’s Reed Warbler, 2 Common Tailorbird, 20 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Oriental White-eye, 4 Jungle Babbler, 4 Indian Robin, 6 Oriental Magpie-Robin, 4 Bluethroat, 10 Red-breasted Flycatcher, 4 Eastern Black Redstart, 4 Asian Pied Starling, 3 Grey Wagtail, 10 Citrine Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail and 4 Olive-backed Pipit.
After a break around lunch we headed back out to the main track moving to the centre point then taking the west track to a raised viewing platform for the last hour of light. Stunning views over the wetland from here, with a great variety and large numbers of birds, plus Spotted Deer, Nilgai and Golden Jackal as we left the park.
Bird highlights as follows:- 2 Bar-headed Goose, 5 Knob-billed Duck, 49 Northern Shoveler, 6 Eurasian Wigeon, 100 Northern Pintail, 2 Little Swift, 100 Grey-headed Swamphen, 120 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Common Snipe, 3 Green Sandpiper, 140 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Asian Openbill, 5 Woolly-necked Stork, 100 Painted Stork, 10 Oriental Darter, 60 Great White Pelican, 20 Dalmatian Pelican, Black Bittern, 6 Purple Heron, 2 Striated Heron, 5 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 20 Glossy Ibis, 40 Eurasian Spoonbill, 5 Greater Spotted Eagle, 2 Steppe Eagle, 8 Western Marsh Harrier, 1 Dusky Eagle Owl, 6 Common Kingfisher, 8 White-throated Kingfisher, 2 Pied Kingfisher, 2 Brown-headed Barbet, 3 Black-rumped Flameback, 5 Long-tailed Shrike, Indian Golden Oriole, 50 Grey-throated Martin, 2 Barn Swallow, 3 Wire-tailed Swallow, 2 Large Grey Babbler and 40 Citrine Wagtail.
We got back had tea and biscuits, showered and finished with dinner and the log call.
The group total already topped 130+ species!
Overnight at Birders Inn, Bharatpur.
Bharatpur images – top to bottom Red-breasted Flycatcher, Spot-billed Duck, Greater Spotted Eagle, Citrine wagtail, Bronze-winged Jacana, Great White Pelican, Nilgai & Indian Golden Oriole
Bharatpur and farmland images – top to bottom White-throated Kingfisher, Painted Stork, Rhesus Macaque, Isabelline Wheatear, Ashy Crowned Sparrow-lark & Spotted Owlet
Vanghat images – Rufous-bellied Niltava, Spotted Forktail, Scarlet Minivet, Greater Yellownape, Great Hornbill, Group at the waterfall
Tuesday 4th December 2018
This morning we were up early again and after tea and biscuits, we took a packed breakfast to explore the other forest area. We took another raft ride across the river to explore the steep wooded area until early afternoon. The birding in the forest ebbed and flowed, with quiet spells, suddenly broken up by intense periods of birds quickly appearing in the trees. We also headed up to a beautiful waterfall area.
The first bird to put hairs up on the back of our necks, was undoubtedly a superb Tawny Fish Owl, belying its presence when it swept across out view moving to a new perch. We had great views of this along with the intense forest flocks of birds, including the stunning flocks of Minivets. A Little Forktail at the waterfall was superb and a perched Collared Falconet were our other major highlights.
There was lots to see:- 5 Kalij Pheasant, 1 Asian Emerald Dove, 1 Great Cormorant, 9 Himalayan Griffon, 1 Shikra, 2 Pallas’s Fish-Eagle, 1 Lesser Fish-Eagle, 1 Tawny Fish-Owl, 1 White-throated Kingfisher, 3 Great Barbet, 1 Lineated Barbet, 3 Blue-throated Barbet, 4 Grey-capped Woodpecker, 1 Brown-fronted Woodpecker, 2 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, 1 Rufous Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Yellownapel 1 Grey-headed Woodpecker, 1 Collared Falconet, 20 Slaty-headed Parakeet, 10 Plum-headed Parakeet, 3 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, 10 Long-tailed Minivet, 12 Scarlet Minivet, 1 Long-tailed Shrike, 10 Bronzed Drongo, 1 Spangled Drongo, 4 White-throated Fantail, 1 Common Green-Magpie, 6 Grey Treepie, 1 Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, 3 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, 5 Cinereous Tit, 2 Himalayan Black-lored Tit, 3 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, 2 White-tailed Nuthatch, 5 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, 3 Black-crested Bulbul, 12 Red-vented Bulbul, 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 1 Lemon-rumped Warbler, 5 Grey-hooded Warbler, 10 Grey-breasted Prinia, 30 Oriental White-eye, 10 Black-chinned Babbler, 20 Jungle Babbler, 15 White-crested Laughingthrush, 5 Red-billed Leiothrix, 4 Blue Whistling-Thrush, Little Forktail, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, 15 Plumbeous Redstart, 12 White-capped Redstart, 2 Grey Bushchat, Grey-winged Blackbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, 2 Grey Wagtail and 2 White-browed Wagtail.
We arrived back for a late lunch and after a break, we finished the day with some birding and photography by the river. The Bronzed Drongos were active and hawking insects as the light faded. As we headed back there was Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Black-crested Bulbul, White-throated Laughing thrush, White-crested Laughing-thrush, plus a female Crimson Sunbird.
We finished the day with an evening meal, a camp fire and a glass of wine or a beer!
Overnight Vangat River Camp
Wednesday 5th December 2018
We took a breakfast walk just as it was getting light. This proved a good decision, we could hear the Great Hornbills calling but we would see them? Suddenly Anil our local guide pointed to them perched high in the trees on the far side of the river valley. We managed to get the scope on them but we needn’t have worried, they took to the air and then flew towards us!
Three fantastic, huge silhouettes as three Great Hornbills, passed right overhead, wonderful! Other highlights during the walk were:- Asian Emerald Dove, 3 Great Cormorant, 7 Himalayan Griffon, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, 3 Great Hornbill, 4 Great Barbet, 3 Blue-throated Barbet, 1 Grey-capped Woodpecker, 2 Lesser Yellownape, 1 Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Grey-headed Woodpecker, 20 Slaty-headed Parakeet, 1 Red-breasted Parakeet, 20 Scarlet Minivet, 1 Long-tailed Shrike, 2 Bronzed Drongo, 3 White-throated Fantail, 6 Red-billed Blue-Magpie, 1 Common Green-Magpie, 6 Grey Treepie, 1 Large-billed Crow, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, 3 Black-crested Bulbul, 10 Red-vented Bulbul, 20 Himalayan Bulbul, 5 Ashy Bulbul, Chestnut-headed Tesia, 3 Puff-throated Babbler, 12 White-throated Laughingthrush, 5 Blue-winged Minla, Rufous-bellied Niltava, 4 Blue Whistling-Thrush, 2 Siberian Rubythroat, Himalayan Bluetail, 3 Slaty-blue Flycatcher, 5 Plumbeous Redstart, 2 White-capped Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, 1 Black-throated Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Grey Wagtail and 3 White-browed Wagtail .
After breakfast, our cases were packed and it was time to leave the beautiful camp of Vangat. We were met at the river bridge and we now transferred back to Tiger Camp on the edge of Corbett NP. We had a quick lunch and then transferred into jeeps for the first of our jeep safaris. Due to access issues at Dikala this year we had made slightly different arrangements and stayed in accommodation outside the park.
We entered the Corbett park at Bijrani gate. We were soon admiring the recent pugmarks of Tigers and enjoying several new birds, highlights this afternoon were:- Red Junglefowl, Black-winged Kite, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Eurasian Hoopoe, Lineated Barbet, Himalayan Flameback, 4 Black-rumped Flameback, 100 Plum-headed Parakeet, 1 Long-tailed Shrike, 1 Black-hooded Oriole, 1 White-bellied Drongo, 12 Red-rumped Swallow, Bar-tailed Treecreeper 5 Grey-hooded Warbler, 10 Oriental White-eye, 2 Siberian Stonechat and Golden-fronted Leafbird.
Overnight at Tiger Camp
Thursday 6th December 2018
After tea and biscuits we headed out again at 6.15am for Bijrani zone a pre-breakfast drive arriving back at 10.30 for breakfast.
We saw quite a few new bird species again compared to the previous day, we had a frustrating hour though as deer alarm calls and a Macaque signalled the proximity of a Tiger, we were close to an open river bed area, but the Tiger never appeared. We then had a call from one of our other roving jeep drivers to say he had just seen a Tiger and we headed off quickly, it was about 20 minutes to the location, we arrived and joined the other jeeps but the Tiger had just crept up the hillside and was now out of view, frustrating!
Birding highlights in the morning were 2 Yellow-footed Pigeon, 2 Pin-tailed Pigeon, White-rumped Needletail, Crested Treeswift, Green Sandpiper, 7 Black Stork, 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle, 1 Jungle Owlet, 2 Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Lineated Barbet, 2 Blue-throated Barbet, 1 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, 1 Himalayan Flameback, 2 Black-rumped Flameback, 1 Streak-throated Woodpecker, 2 Grey-headed Woodpecker, 1 Common Woodshrike, 5 Common Iora, 10 Scarlet Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Common Green-Magpie, 5 Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle), Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Hume’s Warbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler and 2 Siberian Stonechat.
We arrived back and had a great late breakfast, always enjoyable when you’ve been out early! After breakfast we had an hour or so before lunch and we took a lazy walk around the gardens and headed down to the Kosi river at the bottom of the resort gardens.
Birds here – 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 4 River Lapwing, 3 Ashy Drongo, 2 Rufous Treepie, 30 Grey-throated Martin, 10 Barn Swallow, 4 Red-rumped Swallow, 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 10 Hume’s Warbler, 10 Jungle Babbler, 4 Plumbeous Redstart, 4 White-browed Wagtail and 2 Paddyfield Pipit.
After lunch we headed back out in the jeeps and explored a different area of the Bijrani zone.
Birding was slightly quieter in the early afternoon but Blue-bearded Bee-eater was a definite highlight, other birds of note – Green Sandpiper, Red-headed Vulture, 4 Himalayan Griffon, Steppe Eagle, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Crested Kingfisher, Eurasian Wryneck, Maroon Oriole, 8 Grey-breasted Prinia, Rusty-tailed Flycatcher, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Grey Wagtail, 2 White-browed Wagtail and 2 White Wagtail.
Friday 7th December 2018
After tea and biscuits we headed out again at 6.15am for a pre-breakfast drive arriving back at 10.30 for breakfast. This was our 4th and last drive in the Bijani zone, we were unlucky with Tiger as we missed an early morning encounter seen by another jeep about 5 minutes before we arrived, but this was compensated by a real nice mornings birding.
Highlights as follows:- Indian Peafowl, 5 Rock Dove, 3 Asian Emerald Dove, 2 White-rumped Needletail, 10 Crested Treeswift, Green Sandpiper, 10 Egyptian Vulture, 1 Black Vulture, 1 Himalayan Griffon, 2 Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, 10 Black Kite, 1 Eurasian Hoopoe, 1 White-throated Kingfisher, 1 Coppersmith Barbet, 1 Lineated Barbet, 1 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, 1 Collared Falconet, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet, 3 Common Woodshrike, 1 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, 5 Common Iora, Long-tailed Shrike, 3 Black-hooded Oriole, 1 White-bellied Drongo, White-throated Fantail, 3 Large-billed Crow, (Indian Jungle) 3 Grey-throated Martin, 3 Red-rumped Swallow, 5 Red-vented Bulbul, 20 Himalayan Bulbul, Hume’s Warbler, 4 Grey-hooded Warbler, 7 Grey-breasted Prinia, 3 Plain Prinia, Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Yellow-eyed Babbler, 10 Oriental White-eye, 5 Jungle Babbler, Indian Robin, Blue Whistling-Thrush, 2 Himalayan Rubythroat, 2 Slaty-blue Flycatcher, 7 Siberian Stonechat (Siberian), Grey Bushchat, 15 Black-throated Thrush, Grey Wagtail, White-browed Wagtail, 3 Paddyfield Pipit and female White-capped Bunting.
After breakfast we transferred to our next accommodation, the beautiful and luxurious Jims Jungle Resort – a beautiful lodge with great gardens and wonderful food! We enjoyed a lovely lunch and then headed in the jeeps to the Jhirna zone of Corbett NP.
Again lots of birds this afternoon and a definite highlight seeing both Oriental Pied and Great hornbills. Other avian highlights:- Indian Peafowl, 4 Red Junglefowl, Rock Dove, 4 Crested Treeswift, 2 Red-wattled Lapwing, 2 Cattle Egret (Eastern), Black-winged Kite, Black Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, 15 Himalayan Griffon, 2 Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Shikra 2 Black Kite, Spotted Owlet, 4 Great Hornbill, 2 Oriental Pied-Hornbill, 2 White-throated Kingfisher, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, 2 Coppersmith Barbet, 3 Lineated Barbet, Black-rumped Flameback, Peregrine Falcon, 10 Plum-headed Parakeet, 10 Small Minivet, 2 Long-tailed Shrike, 2 Black-hooded Oriole, Ashy Drongo, 4 Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle), 5 Grey-throated Martin, 4 Barn Swallow, 3 Red-rumped Swallow, 5 Black-crested Bulbul, 4 Red-vented Bulbul, 7 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 15 Himalayan Bulbu,l 3 Hume’s Warbler, 2 Grey-hooded Warbler, 6 Oriental White-eye, 2 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, 20 Jungle Babbler, Indian Robin, Eastern Black Redstart, Pied Bushchat, 2 Common Myna, 3 Golden-fronted Leafbird, Grey Wagtail and Citrine Wagtail.
Overnight at Jungle Jims Lodge
Saturday 8th December 6.30am – 1030am Corbett NP Jhirna zone – Jeep safari
After tea and biscuits we headed out again at 6.15am for a pre-breakfast drive arriving back at 10.30 for breakfast. This was our final safari drive in Corbett NP and in the Bijani zone, we had been unlucky with Tiger thus far and we all kept our fingers crossed, though it proved for the first time in 4 years not to be! However, the quality of birding, scenery and the experience meant everyone was still full of enthusiasm and we again enjoyed a constant flow of birds –
30 Indian Peafowl, 2 Black Francolin, 2 Red Junglefowl, 100 Crested Treeswift, Eurasian Coot, 2 Cattle Egret, Black-winged Kite, 10 Himalayan Griffon, Hen Harrier, 2 Great Hornbill, 8 Oriental Pied-Hornbill, White-throated Kingfisher, 4 Lineated Barbet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, 2 Black-rumped Flameback, 2 Grey-headed Woodpecker, 20 Plum-headed Parakeet, , Common Iora, 10 Scarlet Minivet, Great Grey Shrike, 4 Black-hooded Oriole, 2 Ashy Drongo, White-bellied Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, 2 Spangled Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, 2 White-throated Fantail, 5 Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle), 5 Grey-throated Martin, 2 Barn Swallow, 2 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Black-crested Bulbul, 4 Red-vented Bulbul, 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul, 7 Himalayan Bulbul, 4 Hume’s Warbler, Greenish Warbler, 2 Grey-hooded Warbler, 4 Plain Prinia, Lesser Whitethroat, Oriental White-eye, 15 Jungle Babbler, 2 Indian Robin, 5 Blue Whistling-Thrush, 2 Siberian Stonechat, 2 Grey Bushchat, 4 Golden-fronted Leafbird, Purple Sunbird and Long-billed Pipit.
Back for breakfast to Jim Jungles Lodge. Post breakfast we loaded up the minibus and just as we were leaving, a nice flock came through the lodge area, notable birds were:-
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, 4 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Jungle Owlet and Black Bulbul.
We headed off and stopped off at the dam area on the Kosi barrage near Ramnagar – lots of activity here and the Dusky Crag Martin was new for the trip!
Birds recorded here :- 200 Ruddy Shelduck, 4 Gadwall, 4 Rock Dove, 20 Crested Treeswift, 2 Common Moorhen, 3 Red-wattled Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, 2 Little Cormorant, 80 Great Cormorant (Continental), 25 Indian Cormorant, 5 Cattle Egret (Eastern), 2 Indian Pond Heron, Black-winged Kite, 2 Black Kite, 2 White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, 4 Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle), 35 Grey-throated Martin, Dusky Crag Martin, 5 Barn Swallow, 2 Red-rumped Swallow, 10 Red-vented Bulbul, 10 Himalayan Bulbul, 4 Grey-hooded Warbler, 10 Jungle Babbler, Indian Robin, 3 Blue Whistling-Thrush and 5 Common Myna.
We took the steady and winding journey up into the foothills of Himalaya’s, we passed through the outskirts of Nainatal and the first Ooh’s and Ahh’s were not for birds, but the amazing distant 8000m Himalayan snow topped peaks rising up on the skyline as we neared Pangot!
We arrived at Jungle Lore Lodge, Pangot late afternoon, the flock of 50 White-throated Laughing-thrush at 5m entertaining everyone on arrival!
After a quick cuppa there was just enough time for a quick wander around the camp, with a nice selection of new birds in our new forested habitat at 1500m above sea level.
1 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 10 Black-headed Jay, 1 Grey Treepie, Grey-hooded Warbler, Striated Laughingthrush, , 2 Streaked Laughingthrush, 4 Rufous Sibia and 20 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch.
After dinner we tried for the Mountain Scops Owl, but without any response or luck.
Overnight
at Jungle Lore, Pangot. Jungle Lore features a group of rustic bungalows set in
the foothills of the Himalayas, food is good and the restaurant area is lovely.
The rooms are comfortable, with western hot showers, toilets etc.
Sunday 9th December 2018
After tea and biscuits at 6.15am we headed up to visit the highest part of the valley the Vinayak area at 1800m with Pheasants on our minds.
We arrived on the higher tracks as the sun was rising, truly amazing views across to the high Himalayas, we stopped and took some quick images. After a couple of brief stops to listen and search we were still out of luck with the Koklass. With no calls we headed higher into the forest and then the open mountainous grassland area.
Scanning here produced close Himalayan Griffon Vulture and then the local guide found a real star and sought after species. It took a few minutes, as we could see initially was grass moving, then the bird’s head appeared, and then the tail, and eventually we could all see an unmistakable male Cheer Pheasant. It afforded good views and we took turns to enjoy this globally threated species. Also in this area and whilst eating our packed breakfast we enjoyed 4 Kalij Pheasant, 8 Alpine Swift, 10 Himalayan Griffon, ringtail Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, 2 Himalayan Buzzard a Collared Owlet calling and 20 Himalayan Accentor.
The higher elevation forest birding provided small parties of birds and we managed to locate:-
3 Himalayan Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, 10 Eurasian Jay, 12 Eurasian Crag Martin, 4 Coal Tit (Black-crested), 2 Green-backed Tit, 1 Cinereous Tit, 1 Himalayan Black-lored Tit, 10 Black-throated Tit, 1 White-tailed Nuthatch, 6 Himalayan Bulbul, 2 Buff-barred Warbler, 3 Grey-hooded Warbler 2 Striated Prinia 2 Oriental White-eye 1 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler 8 Streaked Laughingthrush, 2 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, 10 Rufous Sibia and 5 Blue Whistling-Thrush.
The highest point provided us with superb views of a real stunner, a superb male Himalayan Bluetail along with a female. We continued on into a more open habitat which provided Blue-capped Redstart, 2 Mistle Thrush, 150 Himalayan Accentor, 5 Rock Bunting, 20 House Sparrow and 15 Russet Sparrow.
We then headed back down through the forest but it was now late morning and the activity was slowing.
After a leisurely lunch we walked around the camp, we had nice views of 15 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch and then visited a screen complete with a feeding and drinking pool area that the camp has set up. We enjoyed nice close views of:- 20 Black-headed Jay, 2 Green-backed Tit, 8 Black-throated Tit, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, 2 Buff-barred Warbler, 1 Striated Prinia, 10 Oriental White-eye, 2 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, 3 Striated Laughing-thrush, 40 White-throated Laughing-thrush, 5 Streaked Laughing-thrush, 2 Chestnut-crowned Laughing-thrush, and 5 Rufous Sibia.
It had been a great day, and we thought we had finished birding for the day. That was after dinner when I treid again for the Owl. This time the Mountain Scops Owl arrived calling and at very close range we had amazing torchlight views of this tricky, nocturnal species!
Overnight at Jungle Lore, Pangot.
Pangot images – top to bottom Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler, Chestnut-crowned laughing-thrush, Himalayan Bluetail, Red-billed Blue magpie, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler
Corbett & Pangot images – top to bottom Plum-headed Parakeet, Greater Flameback, Cheer Pheasant, Blue-throated barbet, Black-throated thrush, Group at foothills, Asian Barred owlet & Mountain Scops Owl
Pangot images – top to bottom Black-headed Jay, Black-crested Bulbul, Rufous Sibia, Himalayan Accentor, Red Junglefowl, Views to Himalayas, Russet Sparrow & Steppe Eagle
Monday 10th December 2018
After a discussion amongst the group, we decided to have another attempt for Koklass pheasants, so it was a repeat performance of yesterday morning with tea and biscuits at 6.15am. We searched the lower half without success and stopped off again to admire the amazing view towards the snow topped Himalaya. We couldn’t find any Koklass but we did have good views of several Kalij Pheasant.
After eating our packed breakfast we headed lower down we had a nice flock with 2 Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, 2 Himalayan Woodpecker, 3 Himalayan Shrike-Babbler, 2 Common Raven, 5 Yellow-browed Tit, 5 Black-throated Tit, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, 8 Black-faced Warbler, 3 Buff-barred Warbler, 2 Blue-capped Redstart, Fire-tailed Sunbird, 1 Green-tailed Sunbird.
We headed down for lunch and then headed out into the lower valley area of Mahrora. We did several stops as we descended and we had a great afternoon with lots of birds, including several new species in the scrubby open habitat.
Highlights were:- 70 Himalayan Griffon, 5 Steppe Eagle, 2 Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 1 Asian Barred Owlet, 1 Great Barbet, 1 Grey-headed Woodpecker, 4 Long-tailed Minivet, Long-tailed Shrike, 12 Bronzed Drongo, 2 Black-headed Jay, 1 Red-billed Blue-Magpie, 20 Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle), 3 Eurasian Crag Martin, 1 Green-backed Tit, 2 Cinereous Tit, 4 Himalayan Black-lored Tit, 2 Wallcreeper, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, 10 Himalayan Bulbul, 35 Black Bulbul, Ashy-throated Warbler, 10 Buff-barred Warbler, 6 Grey-hooded Warbler, 2 Striated Prinia, Whiskered Yuhina, Black-chinned Babbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, 3 Striated Laughingthrush, 10 White-throated Laughingthrush, 5 Streaked Laughingthrush, 2 Blue-winged Minla, 12 Blue Whistling-Thrush, Spotted Forktail, 4 Blue-fronted Redstart, 3 Blue-capped Redstart, 2 Siberian Stonechat, 1 Fire-tailed Sunbird, 25 Himalayan Accentor, 2 Pink-browed Rosefinch, 20 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, 10 Rock Bunting and 3 Russet Sparrow
We had another lovely evening, our last up in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Tuesday 11th December
Our last morning! Several of us headed out for a pre-breakfast walk whilst others decided to relax and have a lie in! We took a walk around the camp 7.15am to 8.45am.
Excellent close views of 3 Black-throated thrush, plus 2 Black Francolin, 8 Rock Dove, 2 Red-breasted Parakeet, 2 Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Red-vented Bulbul, 2 Himalayan Bulbul, 2 Grey-hooded Warbler, 2 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, 1 Striated Laughingthrush, 50 White-throated Laughingthrush, 6 Streaked Laughingthrush, 3 Rufous Sibia, and 10 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch
After breakfast we said farewell and headed down towards Kathgodom, we stopped off en-route at Tulsi river bridge.
This gave us our last new species of the trip a female Common Rosefinch , also 5 Red-vented Bulbul, 5 Himalayan Bulbul, 3 Pale-rumped Warbler, 3 Chestnut-crowned Laughing-thrush.
The group then boarded the train back to Delhi on a largely uneventful journey. Where eventually everyone was dropped off at the airport.
Wednesday 12th December 2019
The group departed from Delhi for Heathrow in the early hours of Wednesday 12th December.
Systematic List of Birds recorded
1 Lesser Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna javanica
2 Bar-headed Goose – Anser indicus
3 Greylag Goose – Anser anser
4 Knob-billed Duck – Sarkidiornis melanotos
5 Ruddy Shelduck – Tadorna ferruginea
6 Cotton Pygmy-Goose – Nettapus coromandelianus
7 Garganey – Spatula querquedula
8 Northern Shoveler – Spatula clypeata
9 Gadwall – Mareca strepera
10 Eurasian Wigeon – Mareca penelope
11 Indian Spot-billed Duck – Anas poecilorhyncha
12 Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos
13 Northern Pintail – Anas acuta
14 Eurasian Teal – Anas crecca
15 Red-crested Pochard – Netta rufina
16 Common Pochard – Aythya ferina
17 Ferruginous Duck – Aythya nyroca
18 Hill Partridge – Arborophila torqueola
19 Indian Peafowl – Pavo cristatus
20 Black Francolin – Francolinus francolinus
21 Grey Francolin – Francolinus pondicerianus
22 Red Junglefowl – Gallus gallus
23 Cheer Pheasant – Catreus wallichii
24 Kalij Pheasant – Lophura leucomelanos
25 Greater Flamingo – Phoenicopterus roseus
26 Little Grebe – Tachybaptus ruficollis
27 Great Crested Grebe – Podiceps cristatus
28 Rock Dove – Columba livia
29 Collared Dove – Streptopelia decaocto
30 Red Collared Dove – Streptopelia tranquebarica
31 Laughing Dove – Streptopelia senegalensis
32 Asian Emerald Dove – Chalcophaps indica
33 Yellow-footed Pigeon – Treron phoenicopterus
34 Pin-tailed Pigeon – Treron apicauda
35 Greater Coucal – Centropus sinensis
36 Asian Koel – Eudynamys scolopaceus
37 Common Hawk-Cuckoo – Hierococcyx varius
38 White-rumped Needletail – Zoonavena sylvatica
39 Himalayan Swiftlet – Aerodramus brevirostris
40 Alpine Swift – Apus melba
41 Little Swift – Apus affinis
42 Crested Treeswift – Hemiprocne coronata
43 Common Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus
44 Eurasian Coot – Fulica atra
45 Grey-headed Swamphen – Porphyrio poliocephalus
46 White-breasted Waterhen – Amaurornis phoenicurus
47 Sarus Crane – Antigone antigone
48 Black-winged Stilt – Himantopus himantopus
49 Pied Avocet – Recurvirostra avosetta
50 Ibisbill – Ibidorhyncha struthersii
51 River Lapwing – Vanellus duvaucelii
52 Red-wattled Lapwing – Vanellus indicus
53 White-tailed Lapwing – Vanellus leucurus
54 Greater Painted-Snipe – Rostratula benghalensis
55 Pheasant-tailed Jacana – Hydrophasianus chirurgus
56 Bronze-winged Jacana – Metopidius indicus
57 Black-tailed Godwit – Limosa limosa
58 Ruff – Calidris pugnax
59 Temminck’s Stint – Calidris temminckii
60 Common Snipe – Gallinago gallinago
61 Common Sandpiper – Actitis hypoleucos
62 Green Sandpiper – Tringa ochropus
63 Spotted Redshank – Tringa erythropus
64 Common Greenshank – Tringa nebularia
65 Marsh Sandpiper – Tringa stagnatilis
66 Wood Sandpiper – Tringa glareola
67 Common Redshank – Tringa totanus
68 Indian Courser – Cursorius coromandelicus
69 Black-headed Gull – Chroicocephalus ridibundus
70 Brown-headed Gull – Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
71 Pallas’s Gull – Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus
72 Whiskered Tern – Chlidonias hybrida
73 River Tern – Sterna aurantia
74 Asian Openbill – Anastomus oscitans
75 Black Stork – Ciconia nigra
76 Woolly-necked Stork – Ciconia episcopus
77 Black-necked Stork – Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
78 Painted Stork – Mycteria leucocephala
79 Oriental Darter – Anhinga melanogaster
80 Little Cormorant – Microcarbo niger
81 Great Cormorant – Phalacrocorax carbo
82 Indian Cormorant – Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
83 Great White Pelican – Pelecanus onocrotalus
84 Dalmatian Pelican – Pelecanus crispus
85 Yellow Bittern – Ixobrychus sinensis
86 Black Bittern – Ixobrychus flavicollis
87 Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea
88 Purple Heron – Ardea purpurea
89 Great White Egret – Ardea alba
90 Intermediate Egret – Ardea intermedia
91 Little Egret – Egretta garzetta
92 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
93 Indian Pond Heron – Ardeola grayii
94 Striated Heron – Butorides striata
95 Black-crowned Night-Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax
96 Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus
97 Black-headed Ibis – Threskiornis melanocephalus
98 Red-naped Ibis – Pseudibis papillosa
99 Eurasian Spoonbill – Platalea leucorodia
100 Black-winged Kite – Elanus caeruleus
101 Egyptian Vulture – Neophron percnopterus
102 Red-headed Vulture – Sarcogyps calvus
103 Black Vulture – Aegypius monachus
104 Himalayan Griffon – Gyps himalayensis
105 Crested Serpent-Eagle – Spilornis cheela
106 Changeable Hawk-Eagle – Nisaetus limnaeetus
107 Mountain Hawk-Eagle – Nisaetus nipalensis
108 Rufous-bellied Eagle – Lophotriorchis kienerii
109 Indian Spotted Eagle – Clanga hastata
110 Greater Spotted Eagle – Clanga clanga
111 Booted Eagle – Hieraaetus pennatus
112 Steppe Eagle – Aquila nipalensis
113 Imperial Eagle – Aquila heliaca
114 Bonelli’s Eagle – Aquila fasciata
115 Western Marsh Harrier – Circus aeruginosus
116 Hen Harrier – Circus cyaneus
117 Pallid Harrier – Circus macrourus
118 Shikra – Accipiter badius
119 Eurasian Sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus
120 Black Kite – Milvus migrans
121 Black-eared Kite – Milvus migrans linaetus
122 Pallas’s Fish-Eagle – Haliaeetus leucoryphus
123 Lesser Fish-Eagle – Haliaeetus humilis
124 Himalayan Buzzard – Buteo refectus
125 Mountain Scops Owl – Otus spilocephalus
126 Dusky Eagle Owl – Bubo coromandus
127 Tawny Fish-Owl – Ketupa flavipes
128 Collared Owlet – Glaucidium brodiei
129 Asian Barred Owlet – Glaucidium cuculoides
130 Jungle Owlet – Glaucidium radiatum
131 Spotted Owlet – Athene brama
132 Eurasian Hoopoe – Upupa epops
133 Great Hornbill – Buceros bicornis
134 Indian Grey Hornbill – Ocyceros birostris
135 Oriental Pied-Hornbill – Anthracoceros albirostris
136 Common Kingfisher – Alcedo atthis
137 White-throated Kingfisher – Halcyon smyrnensis
138 Crested Kingfisher – Megaceryle lugubris
139 Pied Kingfisher – Ceryle rudis
140 Blue-bearded Bee-eater – Nyctyornis athertoni
141 Green Bee-eater – Merops orientalis
142 Indian Roller – Coracias benghalensis
143 Coppersmith Barbet – Psilopogon haemacephalus
144 Great Barbet – Psilopogon virens
145 Lineated Barbet – Psilopogon lineatus
146 Brown-headed Barbet – Psilopogon zeylanicus
147 Blue-throated Barbet – Psilopogon asiaticus
148 Eurasian Wryneck – Jynx torquilla
149 Brown-capped Woodpecker – Yungipicus nanus
150 Grey-capped Woodpecker – Yungipicus canicapillus
151 Brown-fronted Woodpecker – Dendrocoptes auriceps
152 Rufous-bellied Woodpecker – Dendrocopos hyperythrus
153 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos macei
154 Himalayan Woodpecker – Dendrocopos himalayensis
155 Rufous Woodpecker – Micropternus brachyurus
156 Himalayan Flameback – Dinopium shorii
157 Black-rumped Flameback – Dinopium benghalense
158 Lesser Yellownape – Picus chlorolophus
159 Streak-throated Woodpecker – Picus xanthopygaeus
160 Scaly-bellied Woodpecker – Picus squamatus
161 Grey-headed Woodpecker – Picus canus
162 Collared Falconet – Microhierax caerulescens
163 Common Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus
164 Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus
165 Ring-necked Parakeet – Psittacula krameri
166 Slaty-headed Parakeet – Psittacula himalayana
167 Plum-headed Parakeet – Psittacula cyanocephala
168 Red-breasted Parakeet – Psittacula alexandri
169 Common Woodshrike – Tephrodornis pondicerianus
170 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike – Hemipus picatus
171 Common Iora – Aegithina tiphia
172 Small Minivet – Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
173 Long-tailed Minivet – Pericrocotus ethologus
174 Scarlet Minivet – Pericrocotus speciosus
175 Brown Shrike – Lanius cristatus
176 Bay-backed Shrike – Lanius vittatus
177 Long-tailed Shrike – Lanius schach
178 Great Grey Shrike – Lanius excubitor
179 Himalayan Shrike-Babbler – Pteruthius ripleyi
180 Indian Golden Oriole – Oriolus kundoo
181 Black-hooded Oriole – Oriolus xanthornus
182 Maroon Oriole – Oriolus traillii
183 Black Drongo – Dicrurus macrocercus
184 Ashy Drongo – Dicrurus leucophaeus
185 White-bellied Drongo – Dicrurus caerulescens
186 Bronzed Drongo – Dicrurus aeneus
187 Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus remifer
188 Spangled Drongo – Dicrurus bracteatus
189 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo – Dicrurus paradiseus
190 White-throated Fantail – Rhipidura albicollis
191 White-browed Fantail – Rhipidura aureola
192 Eurasian Jay – Garrulus glandarius
193 Black-headed Jay – Garrulus lanceolatus
194 Red-billed Blue-Magpie – Urocissa erythroryncha
195 Common Green-Magpie – Cissa chinensis
196 Rufous Treepie – Dendrocitta vagabunda
197 Grey Treepie – Dendrocitta formosae
198 House Crow – Corvus splendens
199 Large-billed Crow – Corvus macrorhynchos
200 Eastern Jungle Crow – Corvus levaillantii
201 Common Raven – Corvus corax
202 Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark – Eremopterix griseus
203 Indian Bushlark – Mirafra erythroptera
204 Greater Short-toed Lark – Calandrella brachydactyla
205 Crested Lark – Galerida cristata
206 Grey-throated Martin – Riparia chinensis
207 Eurasian Crag Martin – Ptyonoprogne rupestris
208 Dusky Crag Martin – Ptyonoprogne concolor
209 Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
210 Wire-tailed Swallow – Hirundo smithii
211 Red-rumped Swallow – Cecropis daurica
212 Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail – Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus
213 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher – Culicicapa ceylonensis
214 Yellow-browed Tit – Sylviparus modestus
215 Coal Tit – Periparus ater
216 Green-backed Tit – Parus monticolus
217 Cinereous Tit – Parus cinereus
218 Himalayan Black-lored Tit – Machlolophus xanthogenys
219 Black-throated Tit – Aegithalos concinnus
220 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch – Sitta cinnamoventris
221 White-tailed Nuthatch – Sitta himalayensis
222 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch – Sitta frontalis
223 Wallcreeper – Tichodroma muraria
224 Bar-tailed Treecreeper – Certhia himalayana
225 Brown Dipper – Cinclus pallasii
226 Black-crested Bulbul – Rubigula flaviventris
227 Red-vented Bulbul – Pycnonotus cafer
228 Red-whiskered Bulbul – Pycnonotus jocosus
229 White-eared Bulbul – Pycnonotus leucotis
230 Himalayan Bulbul – Pycnonotus leucogenys
231 Black Bulbul – Hypsipetes leucocephalus
232 Ashy Bulbul – Hemixos flavala
233 Grey-sided Bush Warbler – Cettia brunnifrons
234 Chestnut-headed Tesia – Cettia castaneocoronata
235 Black-faced Warbler – Abroscopus schisticeps
236 Ashy-throated Warbler – Phylloscopus maculipennis
237 Buff-barred Warbler – Phylloscopus pulcher
238 Hume’s Warbler – Phylloscopus humei
239 Pale-rumped Warbler – Phylloscopus chloronotus
240 Common Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybita
241 Greenish Warbler – Phylloscopus trochiloides
242 Grey-hooded Warbler – Phylloscopus xanthoschistos
243 Blyth’s Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus dumetorum
244 Clamorous Reed Warbler – Acrocephalus stentoreus
245 Common Tailorbird – Orthotomus sutorius
246 Striated Prinia – Prinia crinigera
247 Grey-breasted Prinia – Prinia hodgsonii
248 Yellow-bellied Prinia – Prinia flaviventris
249 Ashy Prinia – Prinia socialis
250 Plain Prinia – Prinia inornata
251 Zitting Cisticola – Cisticola juncidis
252 Lesser Whitethroat – Sylvia curruca
253 Yellow-eyed Babbler – Chrysomma sinense
254 Whiskered Yuhina – Yuhina flavicollis
255 Oriental White-eye – Zosterops palpebrosus
256 Black-chinned Babbler – Cyanoderma pyrrhops
257 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler – Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys
258 Puff-throated Babbler – Pellorneum ruficeps
259 Striated Laughingthrush – Grammatoptila striata
260 Common Babbler – Turdoides caudata
261 Striated Babbler – Turdoides earlei
262 Large Grey Babbler – Turdoides malcolmi
263 Jungle Babbler – Turdoides striata
264 White-crested Laughingthrush – Garrulax leucolophus
265 White-throated Laughingthrush – Ianthocincla albogularis
266 Streaked Laughingthrush – Trochalopteron lineatum
267 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush – Trochalopteron erythrocephalum
268 Rufous Sibia – Heterophasia capistrata
269 Red-billed Leiothrix – Leiothrix lutea
270 Blue-winged Minla – Actinodura cyanouroptera
271 Indian Robin – Copsychus fulicatus
272 Oriental Magpie-Robin – Copsychus saularis
273 Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher – Cyornis tickelliae
274 Small Niltava – Niltava macgrigoriae
275 Rufous-bellied Niltava – Niltava sundara
276 Bluethroat – Luscinia svecica
277 Blue Whistling-Thrush – Myophonus caeruleus
278 Little Forktail – Enicurus scouleri
279 Spotted Forktail – Enicurus maculatus
280 Siberian Rubythroat – Calliope calliope
281 Himalayan Rubythroat – Calliope pectoralis
282 Himalayan Bluetail – Tarsiger rufilatus
283 Slaty-blue Flycatcher – Ficedula tricolor
284 Rusty-tailed Flycatcher – Ficedula ruficauda
285 Red-breasted Flycatcher – Ficedula parva
286 Blue-fronted Redstart – Phoenicurus frontalis
287 Plumbeous Redstart – Phoenicurus fuliginosus
288 White-capped Redstart – Phoenicurus leucocephalus
289 Blue-capped Redstart – Phoenicurus coeruleocephala
290 Black Redstart – Phoenicurus ochruros
291 Blue Rock Thrush – Monticola solitarius
292 Siberian Stonechat – Saxicola maurus
293 Pied Bushchat – Saxicola caprata
294 Grey Bushchat – Saxicola ferreus
295 Indian Chat – Cercomela fusca
296 Desert Wheatear – Oenanthe deserti
297 Isabelline Wheatear – Oenanthe isabellina
298 Long-billed Thrush – Zoothera monticola
299 Orange-headed Thrush – Geokichla citrina
300 Mistle Thrush – Turdus viscivorus
301 Grey-winged Blackbird – Turdus boulboul
302 Black-throated Thrush – Turdus atrogularis
303 Common Starling – Sturnus vulgaris
304 Asian Pied Starling – Gracupica contra
305 Brahminy Starling – Sturnia pagodarum
306 Common Myna – Acridotheres tristis
307 Bank Myna – Acridotheres ginginianus
308 Golden-fronted Leafbird – Chloropsis aurifrons
309 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker – Dicaeum ignipectus
310 Purple Sunbird – Cinnyris asiaticus
311 Fire-tailed Sunbird – Aethopyga ignicauda
312 Black-throated Sunbird – Aethopyga saturata
313 Green-tailed Sunbird – Aethopyga nipalensis
314 Crimson Sunbird – Aethopyga siparaja
315 Himalayan Accentor – Prunella himalayana
316 Grey Wagtail – Motacilla cinerea
317 Western Yellow Wagtail – Motacilla flava
318 Citrine Wagtail – Motacilla citreola
319 White-browed Wagtail – Motacilla maderaspatensis
320 Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail – Motacilla alba
321 Paddyfield Pipit – Anthus rufulus
322 Long-billed Pipit – Anthus similis
323 Tawny Pipit – Anthus campestris
324 Olive-backed Pipit – Anthus hodgsoni
325 Common Rosefinch – Carpodacus erythrinus
326 Pink-browed Rosefinch – Carpodacus rodochroa
327 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch – Chloris spinoides
328 Rock Bunting – Emberiza cia
329 Chestnut-breasted Bunting – Emberiza stewarti
330 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus
331 Russet Sparrow – Passer cinnamomeus
332 Bengal Weaver – Ploceus benghalensis
333 Red Avadavat – Amandava amandava
334 Indian Silverbill – Euodice malabarica
335 Scaly-breasted Munia – Lonchura punctulata
MAMMALS
Greater Indian Fruit Bat
Rhesus Macaque
Hanuman Langur
Golden Jackal
Indian Grey Mongoose
Indian Elephant
Wild Boar
Ghoral
Indian Muntjac
Sambar
Spotted Deer or Chital
Nilgai
Five-striped Ground Squirrel
OTHERS
Soft-celled Ganges Turtle
Golden Mahseer (fish)
Future Tours
If you are interested in joining us this tour will run again in December 2019. Please visit the website for details – www.norfolkbirding.com
Norfolk Birding
Tel: 07876 357677