Saturday 2nd May - Wednesday 20th May 2009

All the birds of BHUTAN
at half the price!    

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The north-eastern corner of India is one of the least visited regions of the sub-continent and is home to some of the rarest and sought-after specialities of the Oriental Region. Our tour focuses on the mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh, and in particular the relatively ‘new’ hot-spot of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. The region is bordered by Bhutan to the west, Tibet to the north and Myanmar (Burma) to the east, and so it can’t fail to produce a rich and varied birdlife. This is an extraordinary place where the cool misty forest-cloaked mountainsides are home to enigmatic species such as Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Wedge-billed Wren-babbler, Fire-tailed Myzornis and Beautiful Nuthatch. Our exploration of the area will also include some secluded valleys further north, where Black-tailed Crakes and Ibisbills reside, and exciting new ‘hot spots’ where Himalayan Monal, Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Partridge, Snow Pigeon, Grandala and White-throated Redstart can be found, and are areas where few other birders have ever visited, allowing an enormous scope for finding the odd surprise or three! Add to this the potential to see Satyr, Temminck’s and Blyth’s Tragopans, Blood Pheasant, and a wide selection of true Himalayan specialities, including the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla. This is a truly exciting destination for the adventurous birder.

Our Tour Itinerary

Day 1
We will meet at London for the overnight scheduled flight to Kolkata via the Middle East.

Days 2 - 3
Arriving in Kolkata early this morning, we will transfer to a hotel for breakfast before taking the short flight to Guwahati Airport in the state of Assam. On arrival we will drive across Assam and head to Balukpong in Arunachal Pradesh for the night. For anyone with an interest in birds of the eastern Himalayas and who has a keen sense of adventure; this will be a unique experience as we visit one of the remotest corners of the Indian Subcontinent in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Situated on the border with Chinese Tibet and Bhutan, we will visit areas that are still relatively unexplored with lush temperate and tropical forests and an altitudinal range from 200m to 4500m. It supports some of the most mouth-watering birds on offer anywhere in Asia. We are visiting at a time of year when the higher altitude specialities have returned from lower elevations, and we have an outstanding opportunity to find some of the most mouth-watering and enigmatic Himalayan specialities. Indeed, we will expect the unexpected. The Sessa Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the sites that is still relatively unexplored, yet full of birds. Species to look out for include Long-tailed Sibia, Indian White-hooded Babbler, Blue-naped Pitta, Green Cochoa, White-throated Bulbul, Golden-throated and Great Barbets, Rufous-faced and Yellow-bellied Warblers, Lesser and Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbills, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Red-headed Trogon, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, White-spectacled Warbler, Long-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Mountain Tailorbird, Great Hornbill, Grey Treepie and both Bronzed and Ashy Drongos. However, many of these species can now be found at higher altitudes, so by mid-afternoon we will leave for the couple of hours drive to Dirang, stopping along the way to check out a site for Yellow-rumped Honeyguide.

Days 4 - 8
We will stay at a centrally located small, family run hotel which gives us access to several key areas, that really have not been fully explored, let alone visited by western birders! As long as there has not been any heavy snowfall and the high mountain tops are clear of mist we will drive up to around 4500 metres to Se La Pass in search of some high altitude specialities, as well as looking forward to augmenting the species list with birds of fir, rhododendron scrub and alpine meadows. In fact we will visit a recently discovered new ‘hot spot’ where the spectacular Himalayan Monal is relatively common, but the fact that Sclater’s Monal has been seen here is very exciting. Very few people have visited this area and the chances of some really exciting discoveries await, but just to whet the appetite even further there is Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Snow Pigeon, Grandala, White-throated Redstart, Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin, Bhutan and Spotted Laughingthrush, White-collared Blackbird, White-browed Tit- Warbler, Beautiful and White-browed Rosefinches, Gold-naped and Crimson-browed Finches and both Brandt’s and Plain Mountain-Finch as well! Another high altitude site our guide has found also now gives us the opportunity to search for Snow Partridge and Tibetan Snowcock and on our last tour we also found the near-mythical Gould’s Shortwing at what was probably a newly discovered breeding site! Will the excitement ever stop!

We will also check a secluded little valley that holds Black-tailed Crake, Long-billed Plover, Little Forktail, Wallcreeper, Daurian, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstarts, Ultramarine and Brown-breasted Flycatchers and Hume’s (formerly Yellowish-bellied), Strong-footed (formerly called Brownish-flanked) and Grey-sided Bush-Warblers, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Slender-billed Oriole, plus the occasional Rufous-breasted Accentor. There are normally a good range of ‘commoner’ species such as Himalayan Buzzard, Oriental Turtle Dove, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher (formerly called Crested Kingfisher), Grey-backed Shrike, Green-backed Tit, Brown Dipper, White-capped River-Chat, Plumbeous Water-Redstart, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, and Grey-crested Tit.

Another area that we have unofficially named ‘Magic Mountain’ was first birded by us on an earlier visit in 2007 and the possibilities here are very exciting. New discoveries await and we could find Satyr Tragopan, Blood Pheasant, Ward’s Trogon, Blue-fronted Robin, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Plain-backed Thrush, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Rusty-capped and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, Rufous-fronted Tit, Brown, Great and Fulvous Parrotbills, Dark-breasted Rosefinches, Bar-winged, Scaly-breasted and Pygmy Wren-Babblers, Green-tailed Sunbird, Silver-eared Mesia, Bar-throated and Red-tailed Minla. Can you believe we saw 11 Fire-tailed Myzornis in one day! We will spend 6 nights at a conveniently situated, small but friendly hotel in Dirang which gives superb views of the surrounding mountains.

Days 9 - 10
Our aim today is to drive to the fully serviced Lama Camp, and we shall pass excellent habitat along the way so expect numerous stops and it will probably be mid-afternoon before we reach the camp. Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng District is located in Western Arunachal Pradesh. It is named after the Kameng River which drains the basin of Gori Chen and Kangto peaks, and this region is spread below the Himalayas on the borders with Tibet in the north and Bhutan in the west. The topography is truly amazing, rising from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, through tangled ridges on the watershed of the Himalayas. The biggest advantage of Eaglenest over other montane forests of Arunachal is a jeep track which cuts right through its heart from the pass at 2800m down to the flood plains of Assam at 100m - its easy access, excellent forest and wide altitudinal range is a unique combination for Arunachal. In fact the contiguous forests of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Nameri National Park (in Assam) and the surrounding blocks of reserve forests encompassing over 2500 square kilometers, form one of the largest protected regions of Arunachal. During our visit, we will concentrate our efforts on the species-rich mid altitude range from 800-2800m, where we can search for a wide range of species like Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon, Hodgson’s and Large Hawk-Cuckoos, Large Niltava, Black-faced Warbler, Streak-throated Barwing, Rufous-throatedand Spotted Wren-Babblers, Black-headed and Green Shrike-Babbler, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Black-chinned and White-naped Yuhina, Beautiful Sibia, Fulvous Parrotbill, and this is one of the sites where the recently discovered (2006) and rarely observed Bugun Liocichla has been seen. Night birding can be rewarding with Grey Nightjar, Himalayan Wood-Owl and Mountain Scops-Owl frequenting the surrounding forests.

Days 11 - 16
We will begin our birding trek after a hot breakfast this morning, starting from Lama Camp and finally ending up at Sessni in a few days time, where we will spend the last three days of the trek. Each night will be spent at fully serviced camps where we have the use of a Dining Tent, Wash Tent and Toilet Tents and we will be treated to some excellent food prepared by our superb ground crew. All we have to carry will be a day pack, field guide, binoculars and possibly telescope, with all our luggage transported by jeeps to the next camp. This really is an unbelievably exciting area, following the jeep track is easy and we will pass through pristine temperate cloud forest, unbroken broadleaved woodland, patches of evergreen and dense stands of bamboo. Just think, from 1994 to 2003 less than a dozen birders had ever visited Eaglenest and although only small private groups have subsequently visited just imagine what discoveries lie in wait? Some of the other specialty birds we could encounter during our time here include Rufous-bellied Eagle, Common, Rufous-throated and Chestnut-breasted Hill Partridges, Blyth’s and Temminck’s Tragopans, Collared Owlet, Speckled and Ashy Woodpigeons, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Asian Emerald, Chestnut-winged, and Indian Cuckoos, Crimson-breasted, Bay and Pale-headed Woodpeckers, White-browed Piculet, Nepal House Martin, Grey-chinned Minivet, Eye-browed and Grey-sided Thrushes, Gould’s and White-browed Shortwings, Blue-fronted Robin, Golden and Rufous-breasted Bush-Robins, Purple Cochoa, Spotted, Grey-sided, Blue-winged, Scaly and Black-faced Laughingthrushes, Red-faced Liocichla, Coral-billed, Streak-breasted and Slender-billed Scimitar-Babblers, Sikkim Wedge-billed, Eye-browed, Bar-winged, Long-billed and Spotted Wren-Babblers, Rufous-capped, Golden and Indian White-hooded Babblers, Cutia, Black-headed, Black-eared and Green Shrike-Babblers, Red-tailed, Bar-throated and Blue-winged Minlas, Golden-breasted, Brown-throated, Streak-throated and Yellow-throated Fulvettas, Beautiful and Rufous-backed Sibias, Rufous-vented and White-naped Yuhinas, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Red-billed Leiothrix, White-browed, Golden and Himalayan Red-flanked Bush-Robins, White-tailed Robin, Greater and Lesser Rufous-headed, Brown, Grey-headed, Black-throated and Fulvous Parrotbills, Hoary-throated, Streak-throated and Rusty-fronted Barwings, Mountain Tailorbird, Chestnut-headed, Slaty-bellied and Yellow-browed (formerly called Grey-bellied) Tesias, Black-throated (formerly called Hill) and Rufescent Prinias, Broad-billed, White-spectacled, Grey-cheeked, Rufous-faced and Black-faced Warblers, Vivid and Large Niltavas, Ultramarine, Sapphire, Slaty-blue, Dark-sided and White-gorgeted Flycatchers, Green-tailed, Mrs. Gould’s and Fire-tailed Sunbirds, Yellow-browed, Rufous-vented, Fire-capped and Rufous-fronted Tits, White-tailed and Beautiful Nuthatches, Rusty-flanked and Brown-throated Treecreepers, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Collared and White-winged Grosbeaks, Scarlet and Gold-naped Finches, Grey-headed and Brown Bullfinches and Rufous-breasted and Maroon-backed Accentors, Spotted Nutcracker, Collared Treepie and Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie. There should also be many large mixed-species flocks to keep us entertained as we walk at an easy to moderate pace covering between 6 -12 kilometres each day, although there is always the option to hitch a ride on one of our jeeps! One of the advantages of visiting at this time of year is that the tragopans will be claiming their territories and using regular ‘song’ posts, which means there is a higher possibility of tracking these superb birds. Indeed, we will make a special effort to find them and if we are successful then we could well find all 3 possible species!

Day 17
Unfortunately we will have to tear ourselves away from here and begin the long drive to Guwhati, where we will spend the night. Our route will take us along the edge of Nameri Tiger Reserve where several more species could well be added to our list.

Day 18
We should have a little time this morning to check out an area for the range-restricted Greater Adjutant before taking the internal flight back to Kolkata where we have use of day rooms prior to our international flight back to the UK, where the tour concludes on Day 19.

Leaders: Nick Bray and Peter Lobo