22nd December
Our BA flight departed Heathrow only slightly late at 1900 on 21st, and arrived almost on time in Delhi at 1115 next day. After the usual interminable immigration and money changing antics, we met up with Raj, who soon had us on our way with our driver, Mr. Mahinder Singh. Today was down for jetlag recovery and travel, and we were soon speeding through the countryside on good roads towards Jaipur. We were soon scoring en route with 'easy' species such as Bank Myna, Indian Pied Myna, Black-winged Kite, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-throated Kingfisher, Red-wattled Lapwing, Black Drongo, Indian Roller, Indian Robin, Long-tailed Shrike and so on, and we also picked up good birds such as Black-headed Bunting and a single Oriental Turtle Dove. We stopped a couple of times for drinks and leg stretching, seeing Brown Rock Chat at Amber Fort near Jaipur, plus our first Indian Peafowl and a few waders by the Monsoon Palace. It was well after dark that we finally reached the Hotel Jhoomer Bawri.
23rd December
To the Tiger Reserve! Our jeep arrived on cue at 0615, and we were soon freezing our respective bits off in the chill dawn air - like we cared! We had a party of Painted Sandgrouse in flight before reaching the park, and almost the first bird we saw after the gates was a cracking Brown Fish Owl, perched and in flight. Good start! While our prime target was Tiger and other mammals (of which we saw Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Hanuman Langur, Northern Palm Squirrel and Indian Gazelle), we were not ignoring the superb birds! Various common waterbirds at the lakes were accompanied by Cotton Pygmy Goose (a.k.a. Quacky Duck - the world's best bird name), Purple Swamphens, Oriental Darter, Indian Cormorant and White-rumped and Long-billed Vultures. It was good to see at least a few of the latter, both of which have declined by 95%+ in India in recent years....
We got close to a Tiger too - but couldn't see it! The pugmarks were fresh, and the alarm calls sounded good, but the animal just wouldn't emerge from cover. Further birds around the park included Crested Serpent Eagle, Jungle and Large Grey Babblers, Bay-backed Shrike, Grey Francolin and Brahminy Starling. Back at the hotel over lunch, further good birds came in the form of Small Minivet, Common Iora, Plum-headed Parakeet, Hume's Warbler, Crested Honey Buzzard, Rufous Treepie, Common Woodshrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Eurasian Stone-curlew.
After an hour's negotiation with the jeep company when it looked like our afternnon jeep ride was going to be shifted to a canter (= communal open lorry - no good at all), due to the visit of a supposed VIP, we finally got our jeep as booked, and set off at 2.30ish for another ride round the park. It was rather quiet to begin with, but towards dusk, birds and animals got more active. Sadly, we could again find no Tiger - the bad news is that just a few days ago up to 15 Tiger bodies were seized near Delhi, including at least one from Ranthambore. We all felt pretty sick at such appalling news.
We scored on the bird front with Alexandrine Parakeet, Asian Palm Swift, Spotted Dove, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Osprey, Tawny Eagle, Shikra, Asian Magpie-robin, Dusky Crag Martin, Lesser Whistling Duck, Painted Stork and Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher. Also, we saw Mugger Crocodile, Wild Boar and a pair of Golden Jackals.
24th December
Julia had a bad night in the gut department - she was in no state to go out in a Jeep. So just three of us headed out at dawn - we encountered roughly the same birds, plus a Black Stork and Coppersmith Barbet...but did we see a Tiger? No! We got closer still, however, and tracked fresh pugmarks for 2 miles along the sandy tracks. But not quite close enough....
Fortunately, Julia was feeling well enough to travel by lunchtime. We left Ranthambore and headed out across agricultural plains on the lengthy journey to Bharatpur. Early on in the journey, the road was truly appalling, and we made only snail's pace progress. Along the way, however, we picked up new species such as Rosy Starling, Asian Green Bee-eater, Great Grey Shrike, and three Common Cranes, all species that we did not see elsewhere on our trip. In addition, a few Pied Bushchats, Brown-throated Martins, and various roadside waders enlivened proceedings.
By the time we reached Bharatpur, it was getting dark - it was hard for the three of us who had not been there before to believe that we were in the middle of one of the world's premier wetland bird reserves!
25th December
As expected, a bird-packed day! We tried to get a bit of pre-breakfast birding in, but it was just too foggy - we only began seriously looking after about 8 o'clock. Very quickly we were seeing crippling birds. Within minutes we had seen both Indian Scops Owl and Dusky Eagle-Owl (the latter at the nest), Black-winged Kite and Olive-backed Pipit. There were Greenish and Hume's Leaf Warblers in most patches of trees, and Red-breasted Flycatchers appeared frequently. Bluethroats darted in and out of the wet ditches. Out on the wetter areas by the main track, numerous waterbirds were obvious - various Egrets and herons, Painted Storks, Bronze-winged Jacana, Black-headed and Glossy Ibis, Bar-headed and Greylag Geese, numerous ducks including a few Spot-billed Ducks, Comb Ducks and Cotton Pygmy Geese, Purple Swamphens and scores of Citrine Wagtails. Particularly popular were at least four absolutely magnificent Black-necked Storks - incredible birds.
We paused for a few photos and a break at the temple, and then headed off on the loop around the Mansarovar lagoon. In the bushes, we were picking up passerines like Asian Magpie-robin, Plain Prinia, Common and Yellow-eyed Babblers, Blyth's Reed Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, White-eared Bulbul and some very smart eastern Black Redstarts. The Mansarovar area was the best for waterbirds - hundreds of perhaps 50 species at a time, including, rarest of all, two superb Siberian Cranes, the only remaining known birds of the central wintering population. Raptors were now getting up too, and we were seeing numerous Greater Spotted Eagles, plus Tawny Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, several Eastern Imperial Eagles, including a fine adult, Egyptian and Red-headed Vultures, Western Marsh Harrier and a crippling male Pallid Harrier. A Turkestan Shrike got some serious grilling too.
By now it was mid-afternoon, and we began dawdling homewards, via a superb group of Indian Rock Pythons sunning under the acacia scrub at Python Point. Extra birds picked up included lots of Stonechats, Bay-backed and Long-tailed Shrikes, a Wryneck, Tawny Pipit and a couple of Red Avadavats in with a flock of Indian Silverbills.
The park was very busy by four o'clock, and we were shattered - the last hour of daylight was spent around the hotel! 117 species, without even really trying!
26th December
Boxing Day - all healthy! We met up with Jagdish Prasad, a guide Raj had recommended for us, at 7.30am, and headed off into the woods. We were hoping he could find us a few of the trickier dry land birds we hadn't yet seen. We started off around the Nursery, soon scoring with Indian Grey Hornbill, Brown-headed Barbet, Ashy Drongo, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Spotted Owlet, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and Indian Nuthatch. A regular spot for Tickell's Thrush was too busy (Monkeys!) by the time we got there, alas.
We birded slowly along the wooded tracks by the Hanuman temple, seeing goodies like Crested Honey Buzzard en route, before Jagdish took us into the woods for a staked out roost of Large-tailed Nightjar. He found us not one but two of them, a pair, roosting on ground about 10 metres apart. Fantastic views and photos had by all!
A few hundred yards later on, a bird flew up from a wet ditch to the trees - Tickell's Thrush! This was a major target bird for Simon, and he thoroughly enjoyed excellent views.
It was getting hot and a bit busy again by now, and we headed off along the brick path trail to escape the crowds by the temple. This is reputed to be a good spot for Spotted Creeper, but sadly we did not connect. We did, however, manage to locate a roosting Indian Nightjar, high in a snag of a dead tree. Nilgai and Sambar kept us company in the dry fields beyond the lagoons.
Quick fire lists of birds don't really do Bharatpur justice. Although 2001 had been quite a dry year, there were still tons of waterbirds about - wherever you looked there were Oriental Darters, Indian Pond-herons, Medium and Eastern Cattle Egrets, Glossy Ibis and more besides. We took a punt ride late in the afternoon - very quiet and relaxing, even when Simon did the punting for a bit! - scoring further with Shikra, Asian Openbill, White-tailed Lapwing, more Black-necked Storks, Sarus Crane and numerous Kingfishers. Bharatpur remains one of Simon's favourite birding spots on Earth.
27th December
Today was essentially a non-birding travel day - Bharatpur to Nainital, some 400km....
In dense fog, we left early and headed for Agra, where we did homage to the standard tourist trail at the Taj Mahal. Not that we left our bins behind - River Lapwing, Ruddy Shelduck and lots of Black Kites and Egyptian Vultures were on the Yamuna River behind the Taj.
The journey was indeed long, but really entertaining, passing as we did through big towns and smll villages, the usual chaos of Indian streetlife ensuring interest at every turn, and the countryside leaving us impressed at how many birds there are in intensely farmed areas, at least compared with Britain! Indian Rollers, Black Drongos, shrikes, kingfishers, herons and egrets, doves and mynas everywhere - never a dull moment! We even had brief views of Indian River Tern over the Ganges en route!
We didn't hit the hills until after dark, and Mahinder drove us expertly up precipitous mountain roads to our destination, the hill station of Nainital. It was bizarre to round a bend after 35km of darkness and find a humming little town beside a floodlit lake at 2000m+! We checked in to the Vikram Vintage Inn, and immediately ordered hot water bottles - as expected, it was pretty cold up here!
28th December
Crisp and cold this morning in Nainital - excellent! A quick look around the hotel before breakfast produced a Red-billed Blue Magpie and an Oriental Turtle Dove, but it was clear that bird activity was still subdued, at least until the sun got up properly. So we tanked up on toast etc., and set off through wooded lanes towards town. We made fantastically slow progress - almost every bird was a tick! Within minutes we had scored with Grey Bushchat, Rufous Sibia, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, White-tailed Nuthatch, Blue-fronted and Blue-capped Redstarts, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Himalayan Bulbul, Green-backed and Black-throated Tits, Buff-barred and Grey-headed Warblers, Oriental White-eye, Streaked Laughingthrush and numerous Blue Whistling Thrushes. It took us a good two hours to reach the town centre and the cable car lift, leaving us with just time for a cup of tea before getting the first cable car up at 10.30am. It was by now clear that it was neither very cold in Nainital this winter (yet), nor was there much water, so the fabled (and rank) gullies near the hotel were not going to be as good as we'd hoped. In particular, we were struck by the complete lack of Turdus thrushes, contra previous trip reports - it would appear that the relatively mild weather meant that such birds were probably still at higher altitudes and spread thinly through the forests. Still, you can't have everything!
We were soon at the top of Snow View, enjoying crystal clear views of the Himalayas to the north - do go in the morning, as by lunchtime it was quite hazy, and the mountains were invisible by 3.00pm. Around the ridge at the top we saw Spot-winged Tit, more Treecreepers and Nuthatches, Eurasian and at least one Himalayan Vulture, Red-billed Chough and Raven, Grey-headed Woodpecker, a cracking Eurasian Jay of the local plain-headed form, and brief views of an Alpine Thrush, flashing a Zoothera underwing at us as it flew. Additionally, Lemon-rumped and Blyth's Leaf Warblers were active in bushes along the ridge. We found Bronzed Drongo and Striated Laughingthrush by the TV tower, and then headed steeply uphill through (largely quiet) woods towards Cheena Peak. Star birds here were three Pied Shrike-babblers, the sexes so different that we thought we had two species at first! Also, we had Himalayan and Scaly-bellied Woodpeckers, Rufous-naped Tit, numerous Rufous Sibias, and most obscurely but most excitingly, a Scaly-breasted Cupwing, feeding in a dank gully. There is a handy café at the very top of the hill, ideal for resting up before the steep and lengthy decent (knee pain!) down the western end of the ridge, to the so-called 'Higher Fields' (really a village), and thence down to the hotel just as dusk was falling. An absolutely brilliant day in the field, with well over 25 new species!
29th December
We decided to spend today at lower altitude (our legs were telling us to!), and explore the quieter roads on the western and southern sides of the town. It was chilly again, especially out of the sun, but we were soon finding lots of new birds. Early strikes included Hill Partridge, Great Barbet and Brown-fronted Woodpecker, plus a crippling White-capped Redstart. A densely vegetated hillside by the Kumaon University produced Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, and Black-chinned Babblers in the leaf litter. Most of the common birds from yesterday were also about in good numbers, especially Grey-headed Warbler, Himalayan Bulbul and Green-backed Tit. Mountain Bulbul was new, however. A raucous calling flock of birds resolved themselves into White-throated Laughingthrushes - at least 125 of therm! They were crossing the road in a loose band, rather like Jays doing a 'follow-my-leader' trick. Lovely, elegant birds.
After tea at the Naini Retreat Hotel, we birded the track to the south of there. Black-headed Jay was a particular highlight here, along with Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Himalayan Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Red-flanked Bluetail (2, including a crippling adult male - at last!), another Scaly-breasted Cupwing, again in a wet gully (good habitat tip there!), 2 Rufous-breasted Accentors, and more Blue-fronted and White-capped Redstarts.
By now it was mid afternoon, and we made our way back to town, via a particularly rank open sewer, reputedly a Forktail site - no luck, but many Grey Wagtails, Plumbeous and White-capped Redstarts and other delightful congeners of human faeces....
Chris and Simon took a final turn up the hill beyond the Vikram Vintage Inn - only to have to rush back to get the girls when we found an Asian Barred Owlet in broad daylight! Mahinder did the shortest drive of the trip and ran them up the hill, just in time to see the bird! Chris and Simon ended the day with another Hill Partridge and Rock Bunting, and a lovely walk, in what we think were the 'Lower Fields', again a village on the side of the next valley over.
We spent the evening eating and playing snooker on the hotel's ancient but serviceable table....and Chris started to feel ill.
30th December
Gut disaster. Chris was really, really ill - he'd been up all night and looked dreadful. We went for a walk while the others waited to see if there'd be any improvement (there wasn't) - we picked up Lineated Barbet, Whiskered Yuhina, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, a very brief Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, Oriental Turtle Dove and Brown-flanked Bush-warbler. We spent much of the morning consulting and wondering, before calling the doctor, extending our stay for an extra night, and desperately trying to work out the changed logistics. We quickly dismissed the option of going on without the others - Chris's condition was just too uncertain, and we were on this trip as a team. Jacky was obviously very concerned too, especially after the doctor diagnosed severe gastroenteritic food poisoning. We reckon it was an omelette Chris had the day before in town. He went straight on antibiotics and various other drugs, guzzled Dioralyte, and crashed out. He was quiet enough by lunchtime for us to leave him to sleep, and the rest of us went out to salvage an afternoon in the field at the Mangoli Valley.
En route, we stopped by a hairpin in the road and saw Russet Sparrow in with a flock of at least 30 cracking Altai Accentors. As soon as we reached the village of Bajun, we were seeing good birds - Himalayan Prinia first, quickly followed by a mixed flock of Laughingthrushes - mostly White-throated and Streaked, but also in with them Striated, Chestnut-crowned and best of all a single, stunning, White-crested. Red-billed Blue Magpie seemed common, and we rapidly picked up new species in the forms of Ashy-throated and Green-crowned warblers, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Black-throated Accentor, Grey Treepie and Black Francolin. The valley is a lovely, quiet mix of densely wooded slopes and family run farms - Shangri-la! The river was a particular target, especially after a local lad who tagged along confidently recognised a picture of a Forktail! We were not disappointed - in a magical 10 second burst, a Common Kingfisher attracted our attention, and we locked our bins onto a superb Spotted Forktail, right beside an adult male Green-tailed Sunbird! No anti-climax here - one of our biggest target birds nailed successfully. We saw a further two Forktails lower down the valley. Also about were many Long-tailed Shrikes, Red-vented Bulbuls, Jungle Babbler, Grey Bushchats and Stonechats, some of the latter resembling 'Siberian' forms. A fantastic place to go birding.
Back at the hotel, Chris was much improved but far from OK - we collectively crossed our fingers for the next day.
31st December
Chris was much better, though still a bit ropey, but now we were somewhat iffy...oh dear. We were fine to travel the shortish distance down to Corbett, however, so we packed our bags and hit the road. We didn't want to stop much on the way, but we did still see Russet Sparrow and Red-flanked Bluetail from the van, plus a small party of Kalij Pheasants. We stopped only once - for a Common Green Magpie which frustratingly proceeded to melt away into the trees.
Down in the foothills, the fog was still quite bad - crossing the rivers was weird in the pea-soup miasma - but we did see River Lapwing and various other waders and kingfishers. By the time we reached Corbett, Simon was feeling really poorly. On arriving at Camp Forktail, about 25km north of Ramnagar, after a brief but crippling Crested Kingfisher, we had to walk 500 yards up a really steep track to find the Camp - bad timing! Simon had to crash for two hours to have a chance of birding later on. The camp was fantastic (even Simon could see that!) - very like Backwoods in Goa, but a bit bigger, with a substantial dining area under cover. Comfy beds, thick duvets, clean bathroom attachment tents, excellent food. The guys running the place were very welcoming and professional, and knew their birds! Once Simon was vaguely serviceable, we had Yellow-bellied and White-throated Fantails, Grey-rumped Treeswift, Grey-breasted Prinia and a superb Brown Fish Owl right by the entrance track.
But our main target was the River Kosi at Ramnagar, one of those mythical places you only read about. In reality, it resembles a sewer in places, and we had quite a lot of hassle from the local under-10s. But what birds! Loads of hirundines about, plus Common Chiffchaffs, Yellow-bellied Fantail and circling raptors. However, the main interest was on the river itself. Again encouraged by a local lad's protestations of recognition from the bird book, we pressed north from the water tower, and scanned the rocky river bed. A pair of Great Stone-curlews was good enough, but while watching them Chris went all quiet. 'Simon', he said, 'have a look at this grey bird here.' Simon peered through his 'scope - 'WALLCREEPER!' One of our all-time dream birds finally scored! 'No, you wally [or words to that effect!], IBISBILL!' He looked again - we were both right! A male Ibisbill was perched quietly among the rocks, with Great Stone-curlews walking past it, and a Wallcreeper fluttering on the rock in front. It's strange how birding can cure all manner of physical ailments at times like that - Simon was feeling very much improved!
We arrived back at the Camp in time for a final evening walk down to the river - Chris was relieved to get back Spotted Forktail, and we also had Muntjac Deer, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Slaty-blue Flycatcher and best of all, not one but two Chestnut-headed Tesias. A (probably Large-tailed) Nightjar flew over the Camp at dusk. Exhausted but happy, we ate a simple meal and crashed out well before midnight!
1st January
All were healthy for the first time in days! We set off shortly after daybreak in a jeep, heading for the southern gate into the National Park. We scored en route, with several Red Junglefowl - a 'poultry' reward for our early start, you might think. But things swiftly got hugely exciting, as three enormous Great Hornbills whoomped across the road and disappeared into the dense teak forest. Our circuit inside the park was very productive indeed. Early on, we found a good fruiting fig tree, which supported three different barbet species - Lineated, Brown-headed and Blue-throated. Also, we had several woodpeckers - Grey-capped Pygmy, Fulvous-breasted, Scaly-bellied and a Himalayan Flameback.
Around a village compound in the park, we connected with Variable Wheatear at its only local site, plus Long-billed Pipit (of the extremely dark local form), Blue Rock Thrush, Brown Rock Chat and a crippling male semirufus Black Redstart. We passed close to the area where a group had seen Tiger the day before, and again found very fresh pugmarks. Again, we heard alarm calls, this time from a Muntjac - allegedly the most reliable alarm-caller in the jungle. Sadly, again, the Tiger wouldn't show. This really was our last roll of the dice - we shall simply have to go back!
The birds really did make up for any disappointment, however. We disturbed another two Great Hornbills, and thankfully one of them perched up, showing brilliantly and well enough for Chris to digiscope it! The dry river bed produced another Wallcreeper, and other new birds included Slaty-headed Parakeet (along with Rose-ringed and Alexandrine), Jungle Owlet (along with another Asian Barred Owlet), Changeable Hawk-eagle, Black-hooded Oriole, Indian Cuckooshrike, 2 separate male Himalayan Rubythroats, Crimson Sunbird, Tickell's Leaf Warbler, a very brief Little Pied Flycatcher, and (unexpected) Rusty-tailed Flycatcher and White-rumped Shama.
Further goodies came in the form of Black Stork, Cinereous Vulture, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Jungle, Himalayan and Ashy Prinias, Green-crowned, Grey-headed and Lemon-rumped Warblers, Red-breasted and Slaty-blue Flycatchers, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Grey-rumped Treeswift, White-rumped Spinetail, Small and Scarlet Minivets, White-throated and Yellow-bellied Fantails, Velvet-fronted and Indian Nuthatch, Orange-headed Thrush and both treepies.
It really was a bird-packed and very exciting final 'proper' morning for Julia and me - we saw almost 100 species away from significant water in less than five hours!
Back at Camp Forktail, a cracking female Crested Kingfisher allowed close approach, and after a final log call and packing, we said our goodbyes to Chris and Jacky, and left for Delhi at about 2.00 pm. The ride back was smooth and uneventful - back to the familiar plains birds in good numbers, including a huge gathering of at least 300 Eastern Cattle Egrets and 200 Black Kites around a gruesome-looking charnel house outside Moradabad. Sadly, we didn't reach the Ganges Bridge before nightfall, so we couldn't try for Gangetic River Dolphin - all we could see there were the distant funeral pyres along the right bank of the holy river.
Back in Delhi, we reached the functional but unexciting Hotel Metro Heights at about 9.00 pm. Crash out time!
2nd January
Dense fog today, and no time anyway! We needed to be at the airport by 11.00 am, so it was breakfast at the hotel with Raj, then a final drive with him and Mahinder to IG Airport. Fond farewells over, we proceeded to get stuck in lengthy delays, most relating to hand luggage searches, rechargeable batteries, silk ties dropped in puddles of questionable fluid, aggressive and unpleasant security officers and typical (unamusing at the end of a trip) Indian bureaucracy. Let's not dwell on it!
Success? No Tigers, but feel the bird quality! Siberian Crane, Wallcreeper, Ibisbill, Himalayan Rubythroat, Great Hornbill, Great Barbet, Crested Kingfisher, Red-billed Blue and Common Green Magpies, Great Stone-curlew, Spotted Forktail, White-crested Laughingthrush, Tickell's Thrush and Brown Fish-owl - dream birds the lot of them!
Postscript : Chris and Jacky stayed on for a further two nights - Simon had to get back to work on 3rd January, frustratingly. During their extra time at Corbett, the National Park was actually inaccessible, since park staff held a one-day strike. Undeterred, they explored areas outside the Park, notching up some 30 extra species (in alphabetical order):
Ashy Bulbul, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Bearded Vulture, Black-headed Gull, Blue-winged Minla, Brown Dipper, Brown-headed Gull, Chestnut-crowned Bush-warbler, Chukar Partridge, Common Rosefinch, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Greater Yellownape, Grey-winged Blackbird, Himalayan Swiftlet, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Yellownape, Little Forktail, Long-tailed Minivet, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Nepal House Martin, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Rufous Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Savanna Nightjar, Small Niltava, Upland Buzzard, Verditer Flycatcher, White-capped Bunting and Yellow-legged Gull.
Black Francolin | Francolinus francolinus | A male and two females in fields at the Mangoli Valley |
Grey Francolin | Ortygornis pondicerianus | Up to 30 at Ranthambore and 13 at Bharatpur |
Red Junglefowl | Gallus gallus | Six at Corbett, all foraging on roads and tracks in the early morning |
Hill Partridge | Arborophila torqueola | Two separate birds on steep hillsides at Nainital |
Kalij Pheasant | Lophura leucomelanos | A small party of 4+ by the road on the descent from Nainital |
Indian Peafowl | Pavo cristatus | Abundant at Ranthambore, and a few scattered birds in the plains around Delhi and Agra. Many appear to live in a feral state on intensively farmed land |
Lesser Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna javanica | 10 at Ranthambore and 15 at Bharatpur |
Greylag Goose | Anser anser | 500+ at Bharatpur |
Bar-headed Goose | Anser indicus | 200+ at Bharatpur |
Ruddy Shelduck | Tadorna ferruginea | Two at the Taj Mahal, 5 at the Ganges River crossing and a further 12 at Ramnagar |
Knob-billed Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos | Six at Ranthambore, and up to 2 at Bharatpur - this is a scarce species indeed |
Cotton Pygmy Goose | Nettapus coromandelianus | 25+ at Ranthambore and 20 at Bharatpur |
Gadwall | Mareca strepera | 50 at Ranthambore and 250+ at Bharatpur |
Eurasian Wigeon | Mareca penelope | 50 at Ranthambore and 50+ at Bharatpur |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Just one seen, at Bharatpur |
Indian Spot-billed Duck | Anas poecilorhyncha | About 30 at Bharatpur |
Northern Shoveler | Spatula clypeata | 17+ at Ranthambore, 50+ at Bharatpur and 2 at the River Ganges crossing |
Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | 3+ at Ranthambore and 200+ at Bharatpur |
Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | Many at Ranthambore and many 100s at Bharatpur |
Common Pochard | Aythya ferina | 15 at Ranthambore and 150 at the River Ganges crossing |
Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | 200+ at the River Ganges crossing |
Common Buttonquail | Turnix sylvaticus | Two ran across the main road into Ranthambore NP behind the jeep |
Barred Buttonquail | Turnix suscitator | One flushed but then invisible on the ground at Bharatpur |
Eurasian Wryneck | Jynx torquilla | One seen at Bharatpur |
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus nanus | One from a punt ride at Bharatpur |
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus | One at Corbett |
Brown-fronted Woodpecker | Dendrocoptes auriceps | Two noted at Nainital |
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker | Dendrocopos macei | One at Corbett |
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker | Leiopicus mahrattensis | Four at Bharatpur |
Himalayan Woodpecker | Dendrocopos himalayensis | A total of 6 in woodlands around Nainital |
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker | Picus squamatus | One at Nainital and a further 3 at Corbett |
Grey-headed Woodpecker | Picus canus | Three at Nainital, one at the Mangoli Valley and another at Corbett |
Himalayan Flameback | Dinopium shorii | One at Corbett |
Black-rumped Flameback | Dinopium benghalense | Two at Ranthambore, 5 at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett |
Great Barbet | Psilopogon virens | One seen at extremely close range at Nainital, and another briefly in flight there |
Brown-headed Barbet | Psilopogon zeylanicus | Five at Bharatpur - also heard and another 4 seen at Corbett |
Lineated Barbet | Psilopogon lineatus | Two briefly at Nainital, and another 3 at Corbett |
Blue-throated Barbet | Psilopogon asiaticus | One at Corbett |
Coppersmith Barbet | Psilopogon haemacephalus | Four at Ranthambore, about 11 at Bharatpur, and 1 at Corbett |
Indian Grey Hornbill | Ocyceros birostris | Four at Bharatpur and 1 at the Taj Mahal |
Great Hornbill | Buceros bicornis | One of the highlights of the trip. Three flew noisily across the main road at Corbett, and later the same day we located two more in the park, one of which gave prolonged views. |
Common Hoopoe | Upupa epops | About 16 noted in the lowlands |
Indian Roller | Coracias benghalensis | Up to 40 noted in the lowlands |
Common Kingfisher | Alcedo atthis | Five around Bharatpur and a further 6 in the hills |
White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis | Perhaps 100 seen in the lowlands, and another 5 or so at Corbett |
Crested Kingfisher | Megaceryle lugubris | Brief views of one in flight near Camp Forktail, and then prolonged views of it or another there the next day |
Pied Kingfisher | Ceryle rudis | Two at Ranthambore, up to 6 at Bharatpur and 2 near Agra |
Asian Green Bee-eater | Merops orientalis | Only seen between Ranthambore and Bharatpur - about 30 noted |
Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis | Ten at Bharatpur and a further 7 elsewhere in the lowlands |
Alexandrine Parakeet | Psittacula eupatria | Three at Ranthambore and 5 at Corbett |
Rose-ringed Parakeet | Psittacula krameri | Abundant in the lowlands and Corbett but absent at Nainital |
Slaty-headed Parakeet | Psittacula himalayana | Five in a fruiting tree at Corbett |
Plum-headed Parakeet | Psittacula cyanocephala | About a dozen at Ranthambore |
White-rumped Spinetail | Zoonavena sylvatica | Up to 60 at Corbett |
Asian Palm Swift | Cypsiurus balasiensis | 50+ at Ranthambore |
House Swift | Apus nipalensis | Several small parties in the plains, and 10 at Corbett |
Grey-rumped Treeswift | Hemiprocne longipennis | Up to 60 at Corbett |
Indian Scops Owl | Otus bakkamoena | Two pairs found roosting at Bharatpur |
Dusky Eagle-Owl | Ketupa coromanda | One on the nest at Bharatpur |
Brown Fish Owl | Ketupa zeylonensis | One at dawn at the main gate at Ranthambore, and another which gave crippling views in broad daylight by Camp Forktail |
Asian Barred Owlet | Glaucidium cuculoides | An excellent series of records - one both morning and evening west of the hotel in Nainital, and at least one near Camp Forktail |
Jungle Owlet | Glaucidium radiatum | Brief but good views of one at Corbett |
Spotted Owlet | Athene brama | Two roosting at Bharatpur |
Large-tailed Nightjar | Caprimulgus macrurus | A pair roosting on the ground at the Nursery at Bharatpur, separated by a few yards. Also, a probable flew over Camp Forktail at dusk |
Indian Nightjar | Caprimulgus asiaticus | One roosting in a tree at Bharatpur |
Rock Dove | Columba livia | Many feral birds around habitation, and some more pukka-looking birds in the hills |
Oriental Turtle Dove | Streptopelia orientalis | Two singles at Nainital |
Laughing Dove | Spilopelia senegalensis | About 12 in the lowlands |
Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis | About 12 at Ranthambore and 10+ near Ramnagar |
Eurasian Collared Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Present in good numbers around habitation |
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon | Treron phoenicopterus | Fifteen at Bharatpur |
Siberian Crane | Leucogeranus leucogeranus | As hoped, the wintering pair was seen at Bharatpur. This species remains critically endangered, and it remains to be seen how long it will be easily accessible to birders. A superb sight. |
Sarus Crane | Antigone antigone | Four seen at Bharatpur, including one juvenile |
Common Crane | Grus grus | Three flying over agricultural land west of Bharatpur |
White-breasted Waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus | Common in the lowlands near water |
Purple Swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | 15 at Ranthambore and 100+ at Bharatpur |
Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | Common in lowland wetlands |
Eurasian Coot | Fulica atra | A few at Ranthambore and common at Bharatpur |
Painted Sandgrouse | Pterocles indicus | Three just after dawn at Ranthambore |
Black-tailed Godwit | Limosa limosa | Six at Jaipur and another 2 in flight at Bharatpur |
Common Redshank | Tringa totanus | Five singles noted |
Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia | Fourteen noted at various sites |
Green Sandpiper | Tringa ochropus | Nineteen noted at various sites |
Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola | A few at Ranthambore and roadside pools and 50+ at Bharatpur |
Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos | Eight or so at various sites |
Little Stint | Calidris minuta | Ten near Jaipur |
Temminck's Stint | Calidris temminckii | One on the River Kosi at Ramnagar |
Dunlin | Calidris alpina | 20 at the Taj Mahal |
Ruff | Calidris pugnax | About 30 at Bharatpur and 20 at the GRC |
Pheasant-tailed Jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus | 10 at Ranthambore and 1at Bharatpur |
Bronze-winged Jacana | Metopidius indicus | Perhaps 30 at Bharatpur and, more surpsingly, 3 on a eutrophic pool at the roadside near Moradabad |
Eurasian Stone-curlew | Burhinus oedicnemus | Five in dense scrub at Ranthambore, 3 at Bharatpur and heard at the Mangoli Valley |
Great Stone-curlew | Esacus recurvirostris | Two at the River Kosi at Ramnagar |
Ibisbill | Ibidorhyncha struthersii | A superb male located about 500m north of the circular tower on the River Kosi at Ramnagar |
Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | Common at roadside pools and rivers, but surprisingly rare at Bharatpur, where only 3 seen |
River Lapwing | Vanellus duvaucelii | One at the Taj Mahal and a further 8 around Ramnagar and Corbett |
Red-wattled Lapwing | Vanellus indicus | Common in the lowlands |
White-tailed Lapwing | Vanellus leucurus | Up to 15 at Bharatpur |
River Tern | Sterna aurantia | Three at Ranthambore and another two en route from Bharatpur to Moradabad |
Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | Two at Ranthambore |
Crested Honey Buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus | One at Ranthambore and excellent views of four at Bharatpur |
Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus | 26 noted in the lowlands |
Black Kite | Milvus migrans | Not noted until Agra, and thence common around habitation |
Egyptian Vulture | Neophron percnopterus | 5+ at Bharatpur, 50+ around Agra and a few others in the lowlands |
White-rumped Vulture | Gyps bengalensis | Just three seen, all at Ranthambore |
Indian Vulture | Gyps indicus | As with the previous species, alrmingly few seen - just 13 at Ranthambore, although encouragingly including a breeding pair |
Himalayan Vulture | Gyps himalayensis | Two certain individuals over the mountains at Nainital |
Griffon Vulture | Gyps fulvus | Up to 20 in the hills, mostly at Nainital |
Cinereous Vulture | Aegypius monachus | One over Corbett NP was a considerable surprise |
Red-headed Vulture | Sarcogyps calvus | Up to 3 at Bharatpur and another 2 at Corbett |
Crested Serpent Eagle | Spilornis cheela | 2 or 3 at Ranthambore, up to 4 at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett |
Western Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | Only sen at Bharatpur, where probably 3 present |
Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus | An excellent male in a dry area at Bharatpur |
Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | One ringtail quartering hillslopes at the 'low fields' at Nainital |
Shikra | Tachyspiza badia | Eight noted in the lowlands |
Greater Spotted Eagle | Clanga clanga | Up to 20 at Bharatpur |
Tawny Eagle | Aquila rapax | One at Ranthambore and 5+ at Bharatpur |
Steppe Eagle | Aquila nipalensis | One at Nainital and another at Corbett |
Eastern Imperial Eagle | Aquila heliaca | 3+ at Bharatpur including fantastic views of an adult |
Changeable Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus cirrhatus | One in good voice at Corbett |
Common Kestrel | Falco tinnunculus | One at Bharatpur and a male on three occasions at Nainital |
Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis | Present in double figures at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and the River Ganges crossing |
Oriental Darter | Anhinga melanogaster | One at Ranthambore and 25+ at Bharatpur |
Indian Cormorant | Phalacrocorax fuscicollis | Present in small numbers at Ranthambore and many at Bharatpur |
Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | 50+ at Ranthambore and similar numbers at Bharatpur |
Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | One at Ranthambore, 20+ at Bharatpur and a few others in the lowlands |
Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | About 20 noted |
Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | Two at Ranthambore and up to 20 at Bharatpur |
Great Egret | Ardea alba | Five noted at Bharatpur and a few other nearby wetlands |
Medium Egret | Ardea intermedia | Seven at Ranthambore, 50+ at Bharatpur and a few at roadside wetlands |
Eastern Cattle Egret | Ardea coromanda | Common in the lowlands, with an amazing congregation of 250+ at an abbatoir near Ramnagar |
Indian Pond Heron | Ardeola grayii | Abundant throughout the lowlands |
Little Heron | Butorides atricapilla | One flushed from bankside vegetation at Bharatpur |
Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | About 20 seen at Bharatpur |
Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | 30 at Bharatpur |
Black-headed Ibis | Threskiornis melanocephalus | Seven at Ranthambore and about 15 at Bharatpur |
Eurasian Spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | 50+ at Bharatpur |
Great White Pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus | 13 in flight over Bharatpur |
Painted Stork | Mycteria leucocephala | 10 at Ranthambore, 200+ at Bharatpur and one one a pool near Agra |
Asian Openbill | Anastomus oscitans | Two at Bharatpur |
Asian Woolly-necked Stork | Ciconia episcopus | Two at Ranthambore and 10 at Bharatpur |
Black Stork | Ciconia nigra | One at Ranthambore and three at Corbett |
Black-necked Stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | Up to five magnificent birds at Bharatpur |
Isabelline Shrike | Lanius isabellinus | An adult |
Bay-backed Shrike | Lanius vittatus | About 10 in the lowlands |
Long-tailed Shrike | Lanius schach | Some 25 seen in the lowlands, mostly at Ranthambore and Bharatpur |
Great Grey Shrike | Lanius excubitor | About six between Ranthambore and Bharatpur |
Eurasian Jay | Garrulus glandarius | One beautiful bird of the plain-headed bispecularis form at Nainital |
Black-headed Jay | Garrulus lanceolatus | 40+, most in one loose flock, at Nainital |
Red-billed Blue Magpie | Urocissa erythroryncha | Sightings were quite hard to come by in Nainital, with just four seen briefly, but seven showed much better in the Mangoli Valley |
Common Green Magpie | Cissa chinensis | Frustratingly brief views of two singles in the hills below Nainital and at Corbett |
Rufous Treepie | Dendrocitta vagabunda | Common at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and a few present at Corbett |
Grey Treepie | Dendrocitta formosae | Four in the Mangoli Valley and about 3 at Corbett |
Red-billed Chough | Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax | One at Nainital |
House Crow | Corvus splendens | Common in the lowlands |
Large-billed Crow | Corvus macrorhynchos | Common in the hills, and also present at Ranthambore and Bharatpur. The birds at Nainital appeared to be of the rather Raven-like form intermedius, sometimes split as a species |
Northern Raven | Corvus corax | Three at Nainital |
Black-hooded Oriole | Oriolus xanthornus | Two at Corbett |
Indian Cuckooshrike | Coracina macei | Three at Corbett |
Small Minivet | Pericrocotus cinnamomeus | 25+ at Ranthambore and 2 at Corbett, apparently of the forms pallidus and peregrinus respectively |
Scarlet Minivet | Pericrocotus flammeus | A female at Bharatpur and a pair at Corbett |
Yellow-bellied Fantail | Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus | Four at Corbett |
White-throated Fantail | Rhipidura albicollis | Up to 8 at Corbett and Ramnagar |
White-browed Fantail | Rhipidura aureola | 10+ at Ranthambore |
Black Drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus | Common in the lowlands |
Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus | Only identified with certainty at Bharatpur, where 5 were seen |
White-bellied Drongo | Dicrurus caerulescens | Up to four at Ranthambore |
Bronzed Drongo | Dicrurus aeneus | Three at Nainital |
Common Iora | Aegithina tiphia | One by the hotel at Ranthambore |
Common Woodshrike | Tephrodornis pondicerianus | About 10 at Ranthambore and 5 at Bharatpur |
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush | Monticola rufiventris | A superb male on a thickly wooded slope on the southern side of Nainital. Surprisingly, it spent all its time perched in trees |
Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius | A female around a village compound at Corbett |
Blue Whistling Thrush | Myophonus caeruleus | A common bird of the hills, with up to 25+ per day around Nainital and Corbett |
Orange-headed Thrush | Geokichla citrina | An excellent adult feeding in leaf litter at Corbett |
Alpine Thrush | Zoothera mollissima | One briefly on the deck and in flight along the high mountain ridge at Nainital |
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher | Ficedula ruficauda | One at Corbett was a most unexpected bonus, given that almost the entire population winters in the Western Ghats of southern India |
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher | Ficedula strophiata | Two excellent males in the Mangoli Valley, and a female at Corbett |
Red-breasted Flycatcher | Ficedula parva | Two at Ranthambore and about 23 at Bharatpur were either of the form parva or indeterminate |
Little Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula westermanni | Brief views of a male in a bird wave at Corbett |
Slaty-blue Flycatcher | Ficedula tricolor | Two birds at separate locations at Corbett |
Rufous-bellied Niltava | Niltava sundara | A stunning male at Camp Forktail, Corbett |
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis | Two at Ranthambore, one at Bharatpur, one at the Mangoli Valley and 1 at Camp Forktail, Corbett |
Himalayan Rubythroat | Calliope pectoralis | Two excellent males at Corbett. As an aside, we could not locate the wintering male Siberian Rubythroat by the barrier at Bharatpur |
Bluethroat | Luscinia svecica | Quite common at Bharatpur, with about 12 noted |
Red-flanked Bluetail | Tarsiger cyanurus | A male and two female types in and around Nainitalnital. Less common than expected. |
Oriental Magpie-Robin | Copsychus saularis | A very few at Ranthambore and Corbett, but common at Bharatpur, with 50 a day estimated |
White-rumped Shama | Copsychus malabaricus | A pleasing surprise was a female in a bird wave at Corbett |
Indian Robin | Copsychus fulicatus | A common species, though absent from the Nainital area |
Blue-capped Redstart | Phoenicurus coeruleocephala | Seven in the Nainital area, all but two of them males |
Black Redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | About 30 noted, mostly females/immatures, but at least three superb males of the red-bellied form phoenicuroides |
Blue-fronted Redstart | Phoenicurus frontalis | Six in the hills around Nainital |
White-capped Redstart | Phoenicurus leucocephalus | Quite common around streams in the hills - five around Nainital, 3 in the Mangoli Valley and about 11 sightings at Corbett and Ramnagar |
Plumbeous Water Redstart | Phoenicurus fuliginosus | Similarly frequent - 15 noted at similar sites to the previous species |
Spotted Forktail | Enicurus maculatus | One of the big target birds of the trip, we found three in the Mangoli Valley, and saw another along the river by Camp Forktail, Corbett |
Siberian Stonechat | Saxicola maurus | About 20 at Bharatpur, 4 in the Mangoli Valley, and 4 at Ramnagar. Most of the former seemed to be of the local resident form indica, but birds in the hills more closely resembled one of the migrant 'Siberian' forms |
Pied Bush Chat | Saxicola caprata | About 15 at Bharatpur and 1 at Corbett |
Jerdon's Bush Chat | Saxicola jerdoni | A single male in Nainital, and then a further 14 at Corbett and Ramnagar |
Variable Wheatear | Oenanthe picata | A single male at a village compound at Corbett, apparently the only regular site in the park for the species |
Brown Rock Chat | Oenanthe fusca | Five at Amber Fort near Jaipur, and two at Corbett |
Brahminy Starling | Sturnia pagodarum | A very few near Ranthambore, and about 30 at Bharatpur |
Rosy Starling | Pastor roseus | An excellent roadside flock of about 20 between Ranthambore and Bharatpur |
Indian Pied Myna | Gracupica contra | Four near Ranthambore, and up to 50 daily at Bharatpur, Agra and nearby lowland sites |
Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis | A common bird throughout, especially in the hills |
Bank Myna | Acridotheres ginginianus | Commoner further west than Common Myna, and a familiar roadside bird, but absent from the high hills |
Indian Nuthatch | Sitta castanea | Two at Bharatpur and a further 2 at Corbett |
White-tailed Nuthatch | Sitta himalayensis | Up to 20 sightings in the hills around Nainital |
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis | Six in two groups at Corbett |
Wallcreeper | Tichodroma muraria | Good, if slightly distant views of two individuals, at the River Kosi, Ramnagar, and along a dry river bed at Corbett |
Bar-tailed Treecreeper | Certhia himalayana | About 8 noted at Nainital |
Rufous-naped Tit | Periparus rufonuchalis | At least one at Nainital, but possibly overlooked |
Coal (Spot-winged) Tit | Periparus ater melanolophus | 12+ at Nainital |
Great Tit | Parus major | 11+ at Ranthambore and 2 at Corbett, of the 'Grey' cinereus form |
Green-backed Tit | Parus monticolus | Common at Nainital and the Mangoli Valley, with 30+ a day not unusual |
Himalayan Black-lored Tit | Machlolophus xanthogenys | One at Nainital, and a further 3 in the Mangoli Valley |
Black-throated Bushtit | Aegithalos concinnus | 20+ per day in the hills at Nainital |
Brown-throated Martin | Riparia paludicola | 20 per day at Bharatpur, and 15 at Ramnagar |
Eurasian Crag Martin | Ptyonoprogne rupestris | 7+ at Nainital |
Dusky Crag Martin | Ptyonoprogne concolor | 40+ at Ranthambore and 10 at Ramnagar |
Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | 3+ at Bharatpur and 75+ around the River Ganges crossing |
Wire-tailed Swallow | Hirundo smithii | 1+ on wires near Ranthambore |
Streak-throated Swallow | Petrochelidon fluvicola | 1+ at Camp Forktail, Corbett |
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow | Cecropis daurica | 4+ at Ranthambore, 4 at Bharatpur and about 25 in and around Corbett |
Red-whiskered Bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus | Two at Corbett |
White-eared Bulbul | Pycnonotus leucotis | Only seen at Bharatpur, where 15+ per day |
Himalayan Bulbul | Pycnonotus leucogenys | Up to 20 per day at Nainital, and c.9 at Corbett |
Red-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer | Common in the lowlands, and about 15 in the hills, but absent at Nainital |
Mountain Bulbul | Ixos mcclellandii | Five at Nainital |
Himalayan Prinia | Prinia crinigera | One at the Mangoli Valley and another at Corbett |
Grey-breasted Prinia | Prinia hodgsonii | About 14 at Corbett |
Jungle Prinia | Prinia sylvatica | 1+ at Corbett |
Plain Prinia | Prinia inornata | 3 at Ranthambore and 25+ at Bharatpur |
Ashy Prinia | Prinia socialis | One near Jaipur, 6 at Bharatpur and 1 at Corbett |
Indian White-eye | Zosterops palpebrosus | One at Ranthambore, and common in the hills, with up to 30 per day at Nainital and 5 per day around Corbett |
Chestnut-headed Tesia | Cettia castaneocoronata | Two superb adults within 200m of each other close to Camp Forktail, Corbett - our guide had only ever seen one before! |
Brown-flanked Bush Warbler | Horornis fortipes | One at the 'low fields' in Nainital |
Blyth's Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus dumetorum | Only noted at Bharatpur, where four seen |
Common Tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius | Four at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett |
Common Chiffchaff | Phylloscopus collybita | About 25 at Bharatpur and a further 7 at Ramnagar. All were apparently of the form tristis, but only 2 were heard to call |
Tickell's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus affinis | Two at Corbett |
Buff-barred Warbler | Phylloscopus pulcher | One of the more distinctive Phylloscs, a total of 10 was noted in the hills around Nainital |
Ashy-throated Warbler | Phylloscopus maculipennis | Two in the Mangoli Valley |
Lemon-rumped Warbler | Phylloscopus chloronotus | At least 13 in the hills of Nainital and Corbett |
Hume's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus humei | Two seen at Ranthambore, and at least 15 seen and heard at Bharatpur - others suspected too |
Greenish Warbler | Phylloscopus trochiloides | The commonest Phyllosc in the plains, with many at Ranthambore and at least 24 at Bharatpur |
Blyth's Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus reguloides | Three identified at Nainital |
Green-crowned Warbler | Phylloscopus burkii | One at the Mangoli Valley, one from the car on the descent to Ramnagar, and another at Corbett |
Green-crowned Warbler | Phylloscopus burkii | The commonest warbler in the hills, with 18 around Nainital and 2 at Corbett |
White-throated Laughingthrush | Pterorhinus albogularis | After a day with none in Nainital, we found a flock of over 120 birds on the south-west side of town - there were another 20 or so at the Mangoli Valley |
White-crested Laughingthrush | Garrulax leucolophus | An absolutely stunning adult with other Laughing-thrushes at the Mangoli Valley |
Striated Laughingthrush | Grammatoptila striata | Two in the high forests of China Peak, Nainital, and another 4 at the Mangoli Valley |
Streaked Laughingthrush | Trochalopteron lineatum | The commonest laughingthrush - up to 100 per day at Nainital |
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush | Trochalopteron erythrocephalum | 10 at Nainital and 2 at the Mangoli Valley |
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler | Erythrogenys erythrogenys | Groups of 3 and 2 at Nainital |
Scaly-breasted Cupwing | Pnoepyga albiventer | We were very fortunate to find two separate birds at Nainital - both in damp gullies in thick woodland |
Black-chinned Babbler | Cyanoderma pyrrhops | Thirteen at Nainital, 2 at the Mangoli Valley and 2 at Corbett |
Yellow-eyed Babbler | Chrysomma sinense | About 12 at Bharatpur |
Common Babbler | Argya caudata | Just two seen, both at Bharatpur |
Large Grey Babbler | Argya malcolmi | 20 at Ranthambore, 2 at Bharatpur and 2+ near Agra |
Jungle Babbler | Argya striata | Abundant at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and Corbett |
Pied Shrike-babbler | Pteruthius flaviscapis | A really crippling party of 2 males and a female, the sexes quite dissimlar, in the high forests of China Peak, Nainital |
Rufous Sibia | Heterophasia capistrata | Delightfully common at Nainital, with upwards of 25 seen. Very noisy and not shy |
Whiskered Yuhina | Yuhina flavicollis | Brief views of one at the 'low fields' at Nainital |
Lesser Whitethroat | Curruca curruca | A few at Ranthambore, abundant at Bharatpur, and 1 at Corbett. All those eamined closely resembled the forms blythi and althaea - certainly none raised suspicions of minula |
Purple Sunbird | Cinnyris asiaticus | Five at Ranthambore and 5 at Bharatpur |
Green-tailed Sunbird | Aethopyga nipalensis | A stunning male at the Mangoli Valley |
Crimson Sunbird | Aethopyga siparaja | An eclipse male at Corbettbett |
House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Abundant around settlements |
Russet Sparrow | Passer cinnamomeus | Two on the way from Nainital to the Mangoli Valley, and another from the car on the descent to Ramnagar |
Yellow-throated Sparrow | Gymnoris xanthocollis | One |
White Wagtail | Motacilla alba | Three in Rajasthan, but oddly none at Bharatpur, and a further 20 or so in the hills and plains around Ramnagar and Corbett. A mixture of forms present, including personata and dukhunensis |
White-browed Wagtail | Motacilla maderaspatensis | Three near Bharatpuraratpur, 6 near Agra and 6 at Corbettbett |
Citrine Wagtail | Motacilla citreola | The commonest wagtail by far, but only seen at Bharatpur, where probably 50+ seen |
Western Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla flava | One 'dark-headed' bird near Bharatpur |
Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea | A total of 15 at a variety of sites |
Paddyfield Pipit | Anthus rufulus | Three at Bharatpur, and about 3 other large pipits that were thought to be of this species elsewhere |
Tawny Pipit | Anthus campestris | Two at Bharatpur |
Olive-backed Pipit | Anthus hodgsoni | The commonest pipit - c. 20 at Bharatpur, and a further 5 or so in the hills |
Long-billed Pipit | Anthus similis | Two very rufous birds of the form jerdoni at Corbett |
Rufous-breasted Accentor | Prunella strophiata | Two on the southern side of Nainital |
Black-throated Accentor | Prunella atrogularis | Two at the Mangoli Valley |
Altai Accentor | Prunella himalayana | An excellent flock of at least 30 birds by the roadside between Nainital and the Mangoli Valley |
Red Avadavat | Amandava amandava | Three flew over with Indian Silverbills at Bharatpur |
Indian Silverbill | Euodice malabarica | About 30 noted in the plains |
Yellow-breasted Greenfinch | Chloris spinoides | One very briefly at Nainital, and another female at the Mangoli Valley |
Dark-breasted Rosefinch | Procarduelis nipalensis | Two excellent pink birds at Nainital |
Rock Bunting | Emberiza cia | Two in the 'low fields' at Nainital |
Black-headed Bunting | Emberiza melanocephala | About 10 on the run west from Delhi |