travelogue-ketki: FLOCKS OF BIRDS-NEORA VALLEY +LAVA JAN 18

FLOCKS OF BIRDS-NEORA VALLEY +LAVA JAN 18

FLOCKS OF BIRDS-THIS WINTER AT NEORA -LAVA

DR KIRAN MARTHAK-PHOTOGRAPHER

MS RODA -FRIEND

MYSELF- BIRDER

MR KALYAN SUBBA-GUIDE -9832346152

MR JAYANTA ROY-DRIVER-9735954863

MR ASIT BISWAS- ORGANISER-9831031980 (DID NOT ACCOMPANY)

The COLD did not stop us from taking plunge to go to Lava Neora valley. I had heard so much about the birding in that area that I just wanted to go there since along time.

The timing was not right though since birds also feel cold. Birds were really not seen after 2.30 pm when fog would come in from any where and cold breeze would allow not only us to get indoors but BIRDS too would hide away.

Luckily for me MORNINGS were good and sighting few -but a huge flocks of same species were seen

25 Jan 2018- travel day - reached Neora valley jungle lodge after sundown- that is in the east it is 5.15 pm - after tea and pakora - rested and tried to adjust to intense cold of minus -1degrees.

26 Jan 2018- 7.30 am birding time. Flocks of dark breasted rose finches -of about 20 on one tree. Rofous sibias where in every possible tree; so common was the bird. A leucosceptrum tree attracted green backed tits, grey hooded warbler, fire tailed sunbird and green tailed sunbirds, rofous vented and whiskered yuhinas.

I was amazed to see 4 Himalayan cutias together.

Golden throated Barbet and flocks of birds came by.

Following Lunch we went to the pipe line route for birding but there was fair amount of picnickers and windy weather so not much birding except the collared owlet.

27th Jan: Neora valley national Park

Went a little late since weather was not good -too cold, the birding on route was also poor -only saw chestnut crowned laughing thrushes and maroon backed accentors. At the ticket office the field guides (they are useless but it is mandatory to take one) put out cooked rice where the chestnut crowned laughing thrushes come right out and you can get good views of them. Suddenly a wren Eurasian came close to us and was merrily searching for worms.

On the return -the sun god smiled a bit and good birds were seen.

We saw a plain backed thrush, maroon accentors, Himalayan blue tail male and female. But the best part was a spotted fork tail on the road -without a waterbody close by.

Noon was spent at Kolakham village.-Huge flock of dark breasted rose finches seen sitting on the wire soaking in the little sunlight which was there.

There were blue rock thrush male and orange bellied leaf birds (4) sitting along with 6 black bulbuls and rufous sibia all basking on one bare tree. Heard the lesser yellow nape and saw a flock of green tailed sunbirds with rufous vented yuhinas. Suddenly the fog came down by 3.30 pm and we had to return back to camp.

28th January 2018

Lazily by 7.30 we started birding and the driver said we missed the green billed Magpie. We started our walk and saw the most amazing bird on the pathway- golden bush robin. At this height? Was what our guide kalyanda was wondering....It is always found above 14,000 feet but there it was waiting to clicked by Kiran. My tree was full of rufous sibia, rufous vented Yuhinas, green tailed Sunbird and one of them was developing a long tail as well. We returned for breakfast we saw a cuckoo dove and scimitar babbler and grey treepie. It was our last day at the camp. After packing we went down a bit in search of green magpie but no luck and again weather did not allow us any birding.

We went to stay at Samabiyong tea estate -a wonderful place, but had water issues.

29th January: birding in the morning around the tea estate. Not many birds except the himalayan blue tail and blue fronted red start and large Niltava and jungle owlet. Left for Lava -birded near the Algarh road near Rishab lodge- but not much sighting. Sadly we went for lunch at Orchid restaurant and went to Monestry. Sadly again not much of birding possible. Returned back to enjoy the hotel

30 January: Birded around the tea estate. Flocks of little buntings (about 10) together with paddy field pipits and 2 tree pipits. Blue fronted redstart male female made their appearance. There was surprise bird which foxed Kalyanda and Me . Finally In Mumbai I could Identify it as FIRST WINTER SUB-ADULT FEMALE OF GOLDEN BUSH ROBIN

We started our downwards journey birding en route. Jody stopped at a point when 2 himalayan bulbuls were behaving in a nuthatch way. We saw 2 fulvous breasted woodpeckers and a flock of crimson fronted tits, one jungle owlet and heard the grey headed canary flycatcher. Reached the railway tract at Gurumara where we did some birding. Not much except a group of 25 green imperial pigeons, crimson sunbirds, chest headed bee eater and fairy blue bird.

In the evening Joyda suggested -Chapramari wild life Sanctuary- At sundown it was difficult to spot birds there but we saw 2 black headed bulbuls, pied Hornbill, elephants, wild boars, bisons and peacocks.

Some sort of cultural programme was also complimentary- ASK ME THIS PLACE IS AVOIDABLE.

Our stay at Riverwood retreat was amazing. A place one should visit at least once- birding was too good with 4 trees of red silk cotton tree flowering. They were the hub for all birds. I had always taught that 20 species would be seen at one go in the garden on one tree. Flocks of Spangled drongos were there at every flower. Jungle Babblers, purple rumped sunbirds, black hooded oriole, pied starling, common mynas, red vented and whiskered bulbuls, crimson sunbirds,common and jungle crows, common ashy drongos, flocks of red breasted parakeets and many came and went. Around this place there is a waterbody where we saw Marsh Partidge, Stock billed kingfisher, wood snapper and a surprise visitor green billed Malkoha.

At noon we left for Kalimpong to stay at Sinclairs. We took rest there-for 2 days and returned to Mumbai.

ALL IN ALL LESS SPECIES BUT WHATEVER WE SAW WAS IN HUGE NUMBERS

A FEW PHOTOS :