Bird Photography in Neora Valley National Park - West Bengal | April (i) 2016

Hello guys, hope you enjoy reading the posts related to birding from this blog. In the month of April 2016, I was accompanied by four birders cum bird photographers in Neora Valley National Park. Those guys continued birding in Pangolakha as well later. The timing for birding was perfect for us, as it was pre-breeding season for birds of Himalayas.

In just four days of birding we listed some rare birds which are not that much common in this part of Himalayas like - Red-throated Thrush and some skulkers like - Golden Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Brown-throated Treecreeper, White-browed Shrike Babbler (now known as Himalayan Shrike Babbler) etc.

All the participants got ample opportunities to photograph those colorful beauties beside photographing commoners as well like, Red-billed Leiothrix, Blue-winged Minla, small babbler species, warblers, flycatchers etc.

Now enjoy the photographs taken during the birding tour and let us know your thoughts on covering this birding heaven with us. You can keep in touch with us by mailing at support@goingwild.in; through which you will get updates on our upcoming birding and bird watching tours to north-east India.

Itinerary:
Here is the itinerary that we followed during the bird photography tour to Neora Valley.

13th April 2016:
We had to pick up three guys from Bagdogra Airport and one from New Jalpaiguri Rly station. After picking them up, around 10 AM we started leaving Siliguri. Since at places we were stuck by traffic it took two hours and thirty minutes to reach to Kalimpong. Around 1:30 Hrs after finishing our lunch; we drove out of Kalimpong and headed to Pedong to our home stay; where we stayed for all the days during this birding tour. In the afternoon we did some birding, while we got Himalayan Cutia, Eurasian Cuckoo and some two species of Laughingthrushes; Suraj joined us a little later. In the evening we had a discussion on next day birding planner.

14th April 2016:
Today we started very early and covered Sillerygaon birding trail in the morning. We had packed breakfast with us. In the morning birding session in Sillerygaon we had seen Himalayan Cutia twice; otherwise we saw Little Bunting, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Tickell's Thrush etc. Later as the sun came up bird activities slowed down and we moved back to our home stay. We had some egg curries with dal and rice / roti mix in lunch. Later after some rest we started our afternoon birding around 2:30 PM. This time we drove to Pedong and Lava-Alagarh birding trail. In the afternoon, the main highlight species was Black-throated Parrotbill; otherwise we just saw commoners. We drove back to our home stay around 6:30PM in the evening.

15th April 2016:
We started very early today, since we had to cover upper and lower ridges of Neora Valley. So we started around 5:30 on that day. In the first half of morning birding session, we saw Golden Babblers, Himalayan Shrike Babblers, Black-throated Parrotbill, Brown-throated Treecreepers etc. Some commons include Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Bar-throated Siva, Black-faced Warbler etc. Eventually, we saw two squirrel species which are exclusively found in North-east part of Himalayas; these were - Himalayan Striped Squirrel and Hoary-bellied Squirrel. After around 10 plus hours of birding we were really tired and moved back to Lava town to have some tea and snacks. Around 6 we left Lava and drove to Sillerygaon.

16th April 2016:
Today we again repeated upper and lower Neora Valley as previous day. We mostly did it by hiking along the pipeline roads and Kolakham village. For two hours we spent in Changey falls as well. Later in the afternoon birding session we went to Rishop and did birding alongside, Lava-Rishop trekking trail. The birds which were yet to be photographed of good quality; we got that. Though we tried our luck for Red-headed Trogon; in the next birding tour however we got Trogon.

17th April 2016:
We started very early today since it was the last day for birding in Neora Valley. In the early morning around 5:30 AM we hiked towards Damsang Fort area and got Rufous-bellied Eagle and Himalayan Swiftlet. Later while coming down we saw Tickell's Thrush and Nepal Fulvetta. Nepal Fulvetta we saw in a huge flock, but they were hard to photograph due to their skulker behaviour. After having our breakfast, we checked out from our homestay and continued our journey to Pangolakha WLS in east Sikkim for birding.

It may look like an alien to you!Red-throated Thrush was there at Neora Valley; I forgot to post that previously. Do see better quality images of Rana Banerjee, Parthasarothi Dutta and Suraj Ramamurthy. Red-throated Thrush | (Turdus ruficollis)16.04.2016 | 20th Mile, Adjacent to Neora Valley NP, West Bengal

Cute Cutia! Himalayan Cutia (Cutia nipalensis) |14.04.2016 | Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal

An early morning Tickell's Thrush. Tickell's Thrush (Turdus unicolor) |14.04.2016 | Neora Valley NP, West Bengal

From Neora Valley as well we experienced awesome sighting. Other than Himalayan Cutia, Emerald Cuckoo; here it is Golden Babbler. Golden Babbler (Stachyridopsis chrysaea) |15.04.2016 | Neora Valley NP. West Bengal

During all our birding trips to Neora Valley in this season, we saw Black-throated Parrotbills in flock. Each encounter consisted the flock size of 15-20. Mostly active through out the day until sundown. Whereas in Pangolakha we saw both Brown Parrotbills and Fulvous Parrotbills. However, we didn't had any luck to see Great Parrotbill this time. Black-throated Parrotbill (Suthora nipalensis) |15.04.2016 | Neora Valley National Park, Darjeeling, West Bengal

Some birds are so beautiful that you can't refuse to photograph them! Black-faced Warbler (Abroscopus schisticeps) |15.04.2016 | Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal

Bird-list can be seen at "click here" [Bird Photography Tour in Darjeeling district, North Bengal, at Neora Valley National Park]

Participants:
Partha Sarothi Dutta
Rana Banerjee
Mahaveer Nathawat
Suraj Ramamurthy


Other Helpful Information:
Where to Stay: Stay options are ample. Arrangements are made in prior notice only. On twin and triple sharing basis home-stays are arranged for enthusiasts by GoingWild. Otherwise you can do it all by yourself.
Best time to visit: Try to avoid this place in the months of monsoon, otherwise it is a premium location for rest eight months. Early October to late May is the best time for birding and bird photography. Even last weeks of September are considered good for pheasants.
Point of Contact: Send a mail to support@goingwild.in
One can also reach to +91-9681417974 (Dibyendu Ash) or +91-8017804277 (Soumyajit Nandy) or +91-9163631493 (Tamanud Mitra) for guided birding all over the Old-Silk Route. Arrangement for clean and subtle home-stays, dedicated car for entire birding trip along with a naturalist-cum-birder are done by GoingWild.

Bird Photography: Pangolakha WLS in April (i) 2016

As the time passes by so as water flows through Teesta river; but the birds of the Himalayas are always there in the beautiful state of Sikkim. The beauty of birding in Sikkim is beyond the description of any poetic narration. As soon as your step into the state via Rongli, you will start noticing activities and movements of bird and other fauna life in hamlets. This year in the month of April as well I had a tour to Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. A birding team from Mumbai joined me during this tour.
As they came from south-western part of India, they had to avail flight in order to save time. Pick up was arranged from Bagdogra Airport on 2nd April 2016. They had a scheduled arrival of flight around 1:40 PM. After picking them from Bagdogra, we moved towards Rongpo and there after headed towards Mankhim. Mankhim is a village adjacent to lower parts of Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. Since the distance was long (around 140 kms-5 hrs of driving), thus on day 1 after picking them up we hardly had any time left for birding. The itinerary and birding we did is as follows.

Itinerary of April 2016:

• 2nd April 2016 - Came from Bagdogra Airport to Mankhim (via Salugara-Sevok-Teesta-Melli-Rongpo-Rhenok). Reached at home stay at Mankhim around 5 PM in the afternoon. Very little time was left in our hand thus we considered it as a rest day. After having high tea, we took our dinner within a 30 minutes gap. 
• 3rd April 2016 - We started very early, around 5 AM we were hearing calls of birds around home stay. We did morning birding between 5:30-9 AM in and around Mankhim-Aritar area. After having breakfast, we did very little birding till 10-10:30 AM. Took a rest of one hour and started birding again after lunch from 2:30 PM onwards. Post afternoon birding we came back and had high tea. Took our dinner around 8:30 PM.
• 4th April 2016 - Today we had to leave Mankhim. Though we did little bit of birding in and around home stay. Post breakfast we check out from Aritar and as scheduled we started moving towards Zuluk. On the way we had our lunch. The route was Mankhim-Rhenok-Rongli-Sisney-Lingtam-Nimachen-Phadamchen-Zuluk. We did our birding on the way and arrived at Zuluk late afternoon. Had some high tea around 5:30 PM. We took our dinner a little early at 7 PM. 
• 5th April 2016 - In the morning we started around 5:30 AM nad did birding on Dhupidara-Lungthu-Laxman Chowk area with packed breakfast. We had our lunch outside. Post afternoon birding when we returned back to our home stay we took our dinner as day before at 7 PM.
• 6th April 2016 - We covered lower altitudes (Padamchen-Nimachen-Lingtam-Sisney) in the early morning and higher altitude during afternoon birding session. Post birding we took a tea break adjacent Lungthu.
• 7th April 2016 - Today we repeated same as 5th April.
• 8th April 2016 - Today we had to leave Zuluk. After doing morning birding session in and around Tambi-Lungthu from 5-8:30 AM; we had our breakfast at home stay. After freshing up, we left around 10 AM. Did our birding on the way Phadamchen-Nimachen-Rongli-Rongpo. We took our lunch at Rongpo around 2 PM. Post lunch we headed towards Siliguri. We reached Siliguri around 5-5:15 PM that day. Since both the participants were from Puna, they had to stay one night at Siliguri to catch next day flight. Flights from leave 4:30 PM at last. Thus they had to schedule flight accordingly.

Timing and itinerary schedule along with seasonal bird activity changes from month to month. This itinerary was not followed in late April.

We saw a flock of 15 plus Myzornis in the early morning. Later they moved uphill as the day progressed. Such daily migration takes places in higher altitudes. In the afternoon, the same flock would move downhill and rest there for the night. Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) |06.04.2016| Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

Other than Blood Pheasant and Shiyafale, we had Long-tailed Broadbill too from Pangolakha WLS. Long-tailed Broadbill (Sarisomus dalhousiae) |03.04.2016| Pangolakha WLS, East Sikkim

Twilight Saga of Bullfinches. Male to the left and female to the right. This foraging couple were moving uphill around mid day. Followed by some Niltavas and Golden Babblers we saw them in the hills of Chuzachen RF. 
Red-headed Bullfinch (Pyrrhula erythrocephala) |05.04.2016| Chuzachen RF, East Sikkim

Chestnut Thrush are infrequently seen in Himayalas. Previously got it from Khangchendzonga NP in February, this time got it from Pangolakha in the month of April. Photographed one is foraging on pile of compost. Farmers use organic composts as fertilizer - 'Green Sikkim'. But the worst factor being a photographer was, that compost had slugs and maggots; where this individual found protein source. Chestnut Thrush (Turdus rubrocanus) |05.04.2016| Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

Gorgeousness is everywhere for a Himalayan Monal. Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) |06.04.2016| Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

I didn't expect to see Short-eared Owl in 12,500 ft. Since, most of the records that frequently come for this species are from drier states of west. My first ever encounter of Short-eared Owl from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. 
Though it is very much wide spread through out the globe. But, certainly it brings a question of its sighting from 12,500 ft. I don't see others photographs of this species from Sikkim.
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) |06.04.2016| Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

There are no state of poverty in the womb of Pangolakha! The place is really surprising! Alongside Long-tailed Broadbill we saw Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush too. They were huge in numbers foraging alongside Common Green Magpies.
Lesser Necklaced laughingthrush (Garrulax monileger) |03.04.2016| Lower Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

When we were looking after Himalayan Brown Goral; we heard the call of a foraging flock of 4-5. Most likely courtship were going on then. The outcome were only record shots. Here is 2nd most majestic beautiful bird.
Blood Pheasant Male (♂) (Ithaginis cruentus) |06.04.2016| Upper Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

"The blues was bleeding the same blood as me." - B.B.King 
Blood Pheasant Female (♀) (Ithaginis cruentus) |06.04.2016| Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim

Shimmering beauty from lower Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (East Sikkim), during the birding trip in April '16.
 Rusty-fronted Barwing (Actinodura egertoni) |03.04.2016| Near Mankhim, lower PWLS, East Sikkim

Bird-list can be seen at "click here" [Bird Photography Tour in East Sikkim at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary]

Participants:

Sangeeta Dhanuka + 1

Other Helpful Information:

• Where to Stay: Stay options are very limited. Arrangements are made in prior notice only. On twin and triple sharing basis home-stays are arranged for enthusiasts by GoingWild.
• Best time to visit: Try to avoid this place in the months of monsoon, otherwise it is a premium location for rest eight months. Early October to late May is the best time for birding and bird photography. Even last weeks of September are considered good for pheasants.
• Point of Contact: Send a mail to support@goingwild.in
• One can also reach to +91-9681417974 (Dibyendu Ash) or +91-8017804277 (Soumyajit Nandy) or +91-9163631493 (Tamanud Mitra) for guided birding all over the Old-Silk Route. Arrangement for clean and subtle home-stays, dedicated car for entire birding trip along with a naturalist-cum-birder are done by GoingWild.

Have a look at the photographs taken by birding participants:

Sangeeta Dhanuka's Album

Birding in Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim March 2016

As the time passes by so as water flows through Teesta river; but the birds of the Himalayas are always there in the beautiful state of Sikkim. The beauty of birding in Sikkim is beyond the description of any poetic narration. As soon as your step into the state via Rongli, you will start noticing activities and movements of bird and other fauna life in hamlets. This year in the month of March, I had a tour to Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary. A birding team from Mumbai , along with two lady from Puna joined me during this tour. 

As they came from south-western part of India, they had to avail flight in order to save time. Thus, previous night (24th March) one team stayed at New Jalpaiguri at Hotel Tirupati (http://tirupatilodge.com/ - 9641144244) and another team stayed at Royal Sarovar Portico in Siliguri(http://www.sarovarhotels.com/siliguri-hotels/royal-sarovar-portico). Our scheduled commencement of the tour was 25th March early morning. We picked up first team from Hotel Tirupati and second one from Royal Sarovar Portico by 9 AM. 

As the season started with bumper sightings of Little owl and Himalayan Serow in the month of Feb; month of March was no less than that. The luck continued favoring in terms of bird sightings. In the month of March, tour duration in Pangolakha WLS were between 25th to 29th. The days were partly clear and sunny during mornings. By 11 pm, clouds would pack birding in upper elevation; that time we continued our birding to lower elevations. Himalayan Musk Deer, Moupin's Pika, Yellow-throated Marten marten are the names of few from mammalian fauna; whereas, Himalayan Monal (all 4 days sighting), Fire-tailed Myzornis, Tufted Duck, Fire-tailed Sunbird are among the avian fauna that the team got during this bird photography tour.

Have a look at the day-wise itinerary in the month of March that we followed:

• 25th March 2016 - Morning pick up from hotels between 8 to 9 AM. After crossing Rongli, we started birding. We just had 2-3 hrs of birding time on that day. Overnight we stayed at home stay at Zuluk. We did birding on the way coming up to Zuluk. Overnight we rested in home stay at Zuluk.

• 26th March 2016 - Very early morning we went out for birding. Halted at Laxman Chowk, Lungthung. At place we took put stopped for tea and breakfast. We took our lunch at home stay after returning back from morning birding. After a while, we moved out around 3:30 PM for afternoon birding session at lower elevation; which lasted for about two hours or so. Overnight at home stay at Zuluk.

• 27th March 2016 - Same as that of 26th March; but concentrated on different trails - Lungthu, Dhupidara. Afternoon birding downhill in and around Phadamchen, Nimachen, Suchachen forest block.

• 28th March 2016 - Full day outing; took breakfast and lunch outside. Day was sunny and clear. Drove up to Bedang Tso and found some high land species.

• 29th March 2016 - Morning birding till 9 AM we spent our time up to Kanchi Golai; which is 5 kms away from Zuluk. Post breakfast we checked out around 10 AM from home stay. Did birding on the way up to Rongpo till mid day (1 PM). From Rongpo Post lunch we drove to New Jalpaiguri. 

Gorgeous Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) from recent birding tour to Pangolakha in the month of March (25th - 29th) of 2016.

Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) - habitat shot on Rhododendron shrubbery.

Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) female ♀

Who are most beautiful 

- Males or females? 

Needless to say; you got the answer now! ;)

Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster) - One of the most elusive and elegant mammal from higher ridges of East Sikkim - Pangolakha WLS from March 2016 tour.

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) - Post winter, summer migration starts from March-April. We just saw an individual in the last week of March, during the birding tour. Though post autumn gathering in lowlands in and around salt-pans, coastal belts and inland water ways are common. For breeding they choose shallow brackish water highland lakes of Himalayas. Photographed it fromPangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim. Date: 27.03.2016; Place: Near Tso Bedang (a high alt marshland), East Sikkim

Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Another tiny little cutie, which forages in and around open forests and human habitat in gullies and stone gaping of walls. 

Date: 25th March to 29th March

Habitat:

• Montane Forest.
• Temperate Coniferous.
• Broadleaf.
• Wetland.
• Riverine.
• Alluvial.
• Alpine steppe.
• Sub Alpine Forest.
• Cold desert climate.
• Tundra Valley.
• High altitude marshes.
• Cultivation Land.
• Human Habitat.

Temperature Range: -10°C ~ 15°C

Altitude Range: 3000' to 13500' (from MSL)

Bird Checklist (As per Birds of Indian Subcontinent field guide by Richard Gmimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp):

1. Hill Partridge
2. Himalayan Monal
3. Kalij Pheasant
4. Tufted Duck
5. Common Kestrel
6. Himalayan Vulture
7. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
8. Himalayan Buzzard
9. Mountain Hawk Eagle
10. Snow Pigeon
11. Oriental Turtle Dove
12. Large Hawk Cuckoo
13. Asian Barred Owlet
14. Golden-throated Barbet
15. Blue-throated Barbet
16. Scarlet Minivet
17. Spangled Drongo
18. Black Drongo
19. White-throated Fantail
20. Yellow-bellied Fantail
21. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie
22. Common Green Magpie
23. Grey Treepie
24. House Crow
25. Green-backed Tit
26. Black-throated Tit
27. Himalayan Bulbul
28. Red-vented Bulbul
29. Black Bulbul
30. Black-throated Prinia
31. Grey-sided Bush Warbler
32. Mandelli's Leaf Warbler
33. Greenish Warbler
34. Grey-hooded Warbler
35. Grey-throated Babbler
36. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler
37. White-throated Laughingthrush
38. Striated Laughingthrush
39. Black-faced Laughingthrush
40. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
41. Bar-throated Siva
42. Golden-breasted Fulvetta
43. White-browed Fulvetta
44. Rufous-winged Fulvetta
45. Rufous Sibia
46. Whiskered Yuhina
47. Stripe-throated Yuhina
48. Rufous-vented Yuhina
49. Fire-tailed Myzornis
50. Winter Wren
51. White-tailed Nuthatch
52. Wallcreeper
53. Common Myna
54. Blue Whistling Thrush
55. Grey-winged Blackbird
56. Chestnut Thrush
57. White-browed Shortwing
58. Golden Bush Robin
59. Oriental Magpie Robin
60. Plumbeous Water Redstart
61. Blue-fronted Redstart
62. White-capped Redstart
63. Slaty-backed Forktail
64. Chestnut-belied Rock Thrush
65. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
66. Little Pied Flycatcher
67. Verditer Flycatcher
68. Large Niltava
69. Black-throated Sunbird
70. Green-tailed Sunbird
71. Fire-tailed Sunbird
72. Russet Sparrow
73. Eurasian Treesparrow
74. Rufous-breasted Accentor
75. Grey Wagtail
76. Olive-backed Pipit
77. Rosy Pipit
78. Plain Mountain Finch
79. Common Rosefinch
80. Dark-breasted Rosefinch
81. Dark-rumped Rosefinch
82. White-browed Rosefinch
83. Red-headed Bullfinch
84. Little Bunting
85. Asian Barred Owlet
86. Whiskered Yuhina
87. Great Barbet

Mammal checklist (as per the Indian Mammals | A Field Guide by Vivek Menon):

1. Himalayan Musk Deer
2. Large-eared Pika
3. Moupin’s Pika
4. Yellow-throated Marten
5. Himalayan Striped Squirrel

Participants:

1. Dibyendu Ash(L)
2. Glay Namgyal Bhutia
3. Suyog Ghodke
4. Sudhir Sawant
5. Vijay Joshi
6. Makarand Vispute
7. Medha Vispute
8. Bhavita Toliya
9. Triveni Nanjappa

Other Helpful Information:

1. Where to Stay: Stay options are very limited. Arrangements are made in prior notice only. On twin and triple sharing basis home-stays are arranged for enthusiasts by GoingWild.
2. Best time to visit: Try to avoid this place in the months of monsoon, otherwise it is a premium location for rest eight months. Early October to late May is the best time for birding and bird photography. Even last weeks of September are considered good for pheasants.
3. Point of Contact: Send a mail to support@goingwild.in
4. One can also reach to +91-9681417974 (Dibyendu Ash) or +91-8017804277 (Soumyajit Nandy) or +91-9163631493 (Tamanud Mitra) for guided birding all over the Old-Silk Route. Arrangement for clean and subtle home-stays, dedicated car for entire birding trip along with a naturalist-cum-birder are done by GoingWild.

Have a look at the photographs taken by birding participants:

Suyog Ghodke: 

• Golden-naped Finch 

• Himalayan Monal

• Fire-tailed Myzornis

• Yellow-throated Marten

• White-browed Rosefinch

• Rosy Pipit

Sudhir Sawant:

• Eurasian Wren 

Hope you enjoyed the reading, feel free to share!