Wednesday, 27 February 2008

February 27th 2008. India - Tigers.

Spent the morning in Corbett around Dhikala, then a slow drive out of the park in the afternoon, arriving at Kumeria at 7pm.

Black-throated Thrush, Brown Crake, Crested Bunting, Black Francolin, Lineated Barbet, Bright-headed Cisticola (10+ in grasslands near resr), Collared Falconet (2), White-tailed Eagle, Red-breasted Parakeet, Black Stork, Small Pratincole (30+), Cinerious Vulture (6), White-rumped Vulture (2), Red-headed Vulture (4), European Griffon (2), Black-necked Stork (2), Pallas' Fish Eagle, Greater Flameback, Dusky Warbler and Smoky Warbler.

Also managed to get distant views of 2 Tigers.






Tuesday, 26 February 2008

February 26th 2008. India.

Moved from Nainital to Corbett NP -birded the forest on the way down.
Long-tailed Minivet, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Taiga Flycatcher, Oriental Turtle Dove and Oriental White-eye - pretty quiet really.

After spending 2 hours in Ramnagar getting park tickets, transport etc, spent the rest of the day in Corbett with a slow drive from Dhangarhi to Dhikala.
Dusky Crag Martin, Crested Kingfisher (3), Lesser Fish Eagle (2), River Lapwing, Kalij Pheasant, Black-shouldered Kite, Pallas' Fish Eagle, Black Stork (12), River Tern, Hen Harrier (1 fem), male Collared Falconet, Brown Fish Owl and Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker.

Stopped off for a few non-bird sightings - Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Elephant, Gharial, Otters and Mahseer Fish.








Monday, 25 February 2008

February 25th 2008. India.

Another full day in the Mongoli Valley, this visit a bit easier now that i know where all the various tracks lead !
Asian Barred Owlet, Black-headed Jay (only 2 this time), Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Kalij Pheasant, Little Pied Flycatcher, Lesser Yellownape, Beautiful Rosefinch, Rufous-throated Scimiter Babbler, Grey-headed Woodpecker (3), Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Brown Bullfinch (9), Red-billed Blue Magpie, Rufous Sibia, Scarlet Finch (2), Himalayan Woodpecker and Spot-winged Tit.
Also checked some fields just outside Mongoli - Rufous-breasted Accentor, Pink-browed Rosefinch (4), Rock Bunting and Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (2).





Sunday, 24 February 2008

February 24th 2008. India.

Another full day at Sattal - still full of birds !
Kalij Pheasant, Slaty-backed Forktail (on a stream just outside Sattal), Black-throated Accentor, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat (2 Males - inc 1 singing in the garden where a wedding was taking place !), Grey-winged Blackbird, Asian Barred Owlet, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Sreak-throated Woodpecker, Blue-winged Minla, Red-flanked Bluetail, Spotted Forktail, Himalayan Flameback, Greater Flameback, Olive-backed Pipit and the best Baji-puri in the area.

A few hours at Nainital late afternoon - Himalayan Swiftlet (30+), Egyptian Vulture, Steppe Eagle (50+ on rubish dump).








Saturday, 23 February 2008

February 23rd 2008. India.

All day around Nainital - White-tailed Nuthatch, Grey Treepie, White-throated Laughingthrush (22), Striated Laughingthrush, Great Barbet, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Black-throated Tit, Plain Mountain Finch, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Red-flanked Bluetail, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Rock Bunting, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Collared Grosbeak, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Spotted Forktail, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Himalayan Woodpecker and Asian Barred Owlet.






Friday, 22 February 2008

February 22nd 2008. India.

Visited Mongoli Valley - Spent the whole day there - loads of birds !
Rufous Sibia, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Striated Laughingthrush, Black-headed Jay (over 60), Spotted Forktail, Bar-headed Goose (80+ flying north), Golden Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Rufous-backed Redstart, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Chestnut Thrush, Kalij Pheasant, Slaty-headed Parakeet (100+), Lammergeier, Lagger Falcon, Mountain Bulbul and lots of Warblers.








Thursday, 21 February 2008

February 21st 2008. India.

All day spent around Sattal - a fantastic place - birds everywhere !

Highlights - 6 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, 8 Black-throated Accentor, 1 Rock Bunting, 2 Russet Sparrow, 4 Smoky Warbler, 1 Oriental Turtle Dove, 1 Golden Eagle, 2 Olive-backed Pipit, 1 Blue-throated Flycatcher, 1 Black-faced Warbler, 5 Red-flanked Bluetail, 1 Taiga Flycatcher, 1 Indian Blue Robin, 1 Black Eagle, 1 Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, 2 Plumbeous Water Redstart, 1 Rufous-throated Partridge, 1 Himalayan Flameback, 13 Red-billed Leiothrix, 1 Stipe-throated Yuhina, 3 Golden-spectacled Warbler, 1 Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, 2 Whistler's Warbler, 2 Black-chinned Babbler, 6 Great Barbet, 3 Blue-throated Barbet and 4 Red-billed Blue Magpie.










Wednesday, 20 February 2008

February 20th 2008. India.

Spent all day around Nainital - 2 Green-backed Tit, 1 Maroon-backed Accentor, 4 White-capped Water Redstart, 2 Hume's Warbler, 6 Blue Whistling Thrush, 2 Rufous Sibia, 1 Grey-hooded Warbler, 2 Himalayan Bulbul, 2 Streaked Laughingthrush, 6 Himalayan Griffon, 8 Black-throated Tit, 1 Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, 1 Blue-capped Redstart, 1 Bar-tailed Treecreeper, 4 Oriental Turtle Dove, 2 Streaked Rosefinch, 1 Blue-fronted Redstart, 2 Red-flanked Bluetail, 1 Rufous-vented Tit, 2 Golden Eagle, 1 Peregrine, 6 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, 2 Black-headed Jay, 4 Jay, 21 Pintail, 1 Bonelli's Eagle and 125+ Steppe Eagle (feeding on a rubbish dump).








Tuesday, 19 February 2008

February 19th 2008. India.

All day travelling - flight to Delhi, then 10 hour taxi ride to Nainital.

Monday, 18 February 2008

February 18th 2008. India.






A bit of an easy day - morning at Arpora, afternoon around the Biera Mar, evening at Diva Island.

3 Black-winged Stilt, 1 Marsh Sandpiper, 7 Little Stints and a Small Pratincole at Arpora.
1 Booted Eagle and a Laggar Falcon at the Biera Mar.

1 Osprey, 1 Peregrine, 2 male Pallid Harrier, 4 Yellow-wattled Lapwing, 1 Great Spotted Eagle, 1 Lesser Spotted Eagle, 1 Black-shouldered Kite, 72 Glossy Ibis, 1 Indian Darter and 2 Black-necked Ibis at Diva Island.