My Introduction to Himalayan Birds

I have been fortunate to explore most of the well known birding spots of southern side of India and have a good collection of Western Ghat birds. This was the first time I went to northern side exclusively for Himalayan birds. The plan was to visit three places Sattal, Nainital and Mukteshwar. It was a 9 day trip combined with Ranthambore & Bera of Rajasthan.

As planned I have visited Bera and Ranthambore (both places were fantastic, indeed) first and Myself and 2 of my friends traveled to Nainital from Delhi. April was a very good time for birding and I was little bit worried, because there was an unexpected change in the weather. It was raining in Bera and Ranthambore – I was anticipating the  same here also.

On the way to Nainital, we have visited a place called Ghatghar in evening – A beautiful place and my account opened there with 7 new species from there. Here the highlight was Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch & Crested Bunting. Also some common species; but I was clicking all as they were very new to me.

Next day morning I have visited the very famous Sattal. In my experience the second best place I found for birding after Ganeshgudi. Here I found most number of species in this trip. It remainted me about Ganeshgudi’s effortless shooting. You can just sit near the waterstream, birds will come there, you just have to shoot them. The place was wet coz of the rain on last day. But still the bird activity was pleasant. I got almost 22 new species from there. I loved the place – calm and quiet and also I could shoot the most colourful Himalayan birds from here for the first time.

Evening we have tried another place in Sattal for Crested Kingfisher. The river bed was really beautiful and Crested Kingfisher was very rare and it was a long term goal for me. I got a clean shot of the same but missed the flight. Also Khaleej Pheasant (male) and Crested Laughingthrush on the way back to Nainital.

The next day morning we have visited a place called Mukteshwar. This was the place I enjoyed the most. The jungle trial was so beautiful and was a wonderful habitat of birds. The highlight of this trip was the Himalayan Tree-creeper; a very rare bird for which we spent almost an hour to get a good shot. Also other beauties like Pygmy Woodpecker, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Eurasian Jay and more.

I was very happy after Mukteshwar, I didn’t expect more than 20 species but I knew it was already exceeded. The real fun was we were chasing the birds here. It wasn’t like Sattal, where we sit at one place; wait and shoot. After my Thattekkad trip this was the next I wandered lot for birds. Really it was an amazing experience 🙂

Evening we went to Sattal studio again and got two more new species Ultramarine flycatcher, Red Billed Leiothrix and Blue-winged Minla. There avians were really beutiful because of their vibrant colour.

After this trip my album became really rich with 46 new bird species and it was the second best trip after Masai Mara. Still it couldn’t break the record of Ganeshgudi of 63 species within 2 days… 🙂

Here the new species I got;

Himalayan Tree Creeper
Striated Laughingthrush
Streaked laughing Thrush
Black-headed Jay
Eurasian Jay
Crested Laughingthrush
White-throated Laughingthrush
White-capped Water-redstart
Plumbeous Water Redstart
Red Billed Leiothrix
Ashy Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Rofous Sibia
Himalayan Bulbul
Pygmy Woodpecker
White-throated fantail
Crested Kingfisher
Red Junglefowl
Ultramarine flycatcher
Kalij Pheasant Male
Kalij Pheasant Female
Blue Whistling Thrush
Grey winged blackbird male
Grey winged blackbird Female
Grey headed woodpecker
Grey-hooded Warbler
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush male
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Female
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
Blue-winged Minla
Slaty-headed Parakeet
Russet sparrow Male
Russet sparrow Female
Black winged stilt
Shikra
Grey Treepie
Rufous Treepie
Blue throated barbets
Oriental Turtle Dove
River Lapwing
Black-throated Tit
Plain Prinia
Crested Bunting
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Little Ringed Plover

My friends were helping me to identify the birds as I was new to Himalayan birds. In fact there were few species which I got like Himalayan Tree Creeper were very rare. I wasn’t aware about it while shooting 🙂

Anyways, my introduction to this sect was wonderful. I really love birding trip in fact – If you are getting a rare species – well & good and if not, at least will get better shots of birds which you already have. And it is always fun and at the same time challenging too.

My next target is Chopta which is also very famous for the upper Himalayan birds. Planning to visit there soon…

Please find the snaps from this trip; Sattal, Ghatghar, Mukteshwar