Himalayan Birding Tour Day 01 Delhi-Saatal
Drive in the morning to Saatal (7 hours). Afternoon birding with a guide
near the lodge. This habitats offers different species like White-crested
Laughing Thrushes, black winged kite, Red-billed Leothrix, Himalayan Ruby
throat, crested and rock bunting. This scattered and deliberately
undeveloped area is one of the most pleasant destinations. Overnight stay.
Day 02 Saatal Full day birding in and around Saatal.
Look for laughing thrushes, accentors, woodpeckers etc. Overnight stay.
Day
03 Saatal- Pangot (Nainital) You will be transferred to Pangot (2
hr.), a journey that takes you on one of the world's more spectacular
mountain roads as we climb up into the Kumaon Hills on our way to this
delightful "lake city." One can stop along the way to look for
birds which may include blue whistling thrush, yellow billed blue magpie,
blue capped rock chat, white capped redstart etc. Rest of the day free for
birding at Pangot. One can see Slaty headed parakeet, grey bushchat,
long-tailed shrike, lesser kestrel, shikra, chestnut bellied rock thrush
etc. Streaked Laughing-Thrush is a common garden bird here.
Day
04 Pangot A long trail leads up to Cheena Peak, which at 2610
metres offers views of the Garhwal Himalayas including Nanda Devi. Also a
very good birding area is the quiet old road through forests towards Corbett
National Park. The viewpoint is alive with Grey headed Canary flycatchers,
White-throated Laughing thrushes, Grey-winged Blackbirds and green backed
tits. We can also look for Hill Barbet, Slaty grey Woodpecker, black chinned
babbler, black headed and maroon orioles. Nearby mountains could include
Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Lammergeier and Chukar, Khalij Pheasant, crimson
Sunbird and the Fire-capped Tit.
Day 05 Pangot-Ranikhet
Early start for a 3.5-hour drive to Ranikhet through the Himalayan
roads. Rest of the day birding in the surroundings. One can see fire-tailed
or green tailed sunbirds, sultan tits, scaly breasted wren-babbler, Black
bulbul, Black capped Sibia, Black Eagle, King Vulture, Black breasted
sunbird, Blue throated Barbet etc.
Day 06 Ranikhet Full
day birding in Ranikhet and surrounding areas. You could come across Blue
whistling thrush, Booted Hawk Eagle, Broad billed roller, green, gold or
rose finch, Brown crested tit etc.
Day 07 Ranikhet-Corbett
National Park Corbett Tiger reserve has a spectacular avifauna
diversity. About 580 species of resident and migratory birds have been
recorded in and around the reserve and 49 species of diurnal raptors are
found here forming a characteristic element of the avifauna. Great pied
hornbill, Pallas's fishing eagle, lesser grey headed fishing eagle,
red-thighed falconet are some of the endangered birds found in Corbett. More
birds include Tawny Fish Owl, Great Hornbill, scaly bellied woodpecker, red
breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, grey headed Fish Eagle, Stork-billed
Kingfisher and Himalayan Rubythroat. Tiger Camp makes an ideal base for
birding.
Day 08 Dhikala Forest Lodge (Corbett National Park)
Drive early morning to Dhikala tourism zone. Arrive at the main
tourist complex, Dhikala check in. Afternoon visit to the grasslands for
birding. Overnight stay at Dhikala Forest Lodge. Birding in the lower jungle
track along the Ramganga river is very rewarding for water birds such as
river lapwings, waders, mergansers and other waterfowl. While relaxing at
the lodge or visiting the grasslands one can see large-tailed nightjar,
jungle owlet, spot-bellied owlet, grass owl, common and white-tailed
stonechat, black francolin, purple and crimson sunbird, golden-fronted
leafbird, black-shouldered kite, hen harrier, changeable hawk-eagle etc.
Day
09 Corbett National Park Morning elephant safari through the
grasslands and dense forests. This is the best mode of transport for
wildlife viewing. Return at 0900 hours for breakfast and then spend time
till lunch on a watchtower overlooking a water hole. Drive to Tiger Camp.
Arrive Tiger Camp for dinner. Overnight stay.Some of the best birding areas
of Dhikala are Sambhar Road and Khinanauli. One can expect to see great
slaty woodpecker, great hornbill, puff-throated babbler, white-rumped shama,
pallas's fish eagle etc.
Day 10 Corbett National Park
Full day at Corbett with a morning or evening elephant / jeep ride into
the park. You may search the boulder-strewn river for the rare and elusive
Ibisbill as well as brown dipper. The best birding areas are in the buffer
zone along the Kosi River near Tiger Camp. You can also bird-watch across
the river from the resort which can be crossed by a bridge a short distance
upriver from the hotel or by wading across the Kosi. It can be fairly
rewarding as one can see mergansers, crested kingfisher, green heron, egrets
and cormorants etc.
Day 11 Corbett National Park-Delhi
You will explore the river edge at Kumeria for Brown Fish Owl, barred
owlet, Plumbeous Redstart, brown dipper and the three species of forktails.
Many new species are possible in the forest and could include Crested Tree
Swift, Spangled Drongo and Blue-bearded Bee-eater. Drive back to Delhi at
noon. Arrive Delhi in the evening (6 hour drive).
Best time to
visit is between mid-October to April. Bird sightings depend
greatly on season, timing, and patience. Sightings mentioned in
the itinerary are only a guide and cannot be guaranteed.
