Sat Tal

A very nice morning was spent walking along the road between a couple of the lakes with some beautiful forest all around us, and we founds birds to be numerous and rather cooperative. Better views of a calling Asian Barred Owlet got the ball rolling and the first section of road produced 3 scoped Spot-winged Starlings (a major surprise again), as well as Red-breasted Flycatcher, Mountain Bulbul, Black-throated Sunbird and Fire-breasted Flowerpecker. Michael then found us a pair of Blue-winged Minlas, which we followed with another Sulphur-bellied Warbler and the main prize of the area, a pair of superb Rufous-chinned Laughingthrushes feeding in the leaf litter below us.

Then, after a short drive we followed a path down to a pond and found quite a few birds coming to bathe with Golden Bush-Robin being something of a surprise, with a few Olive-backed Pipits nearby. There was also another pair of Rufous-chinned Laughingthrushes here, two pairs of Ultramarine Flycatchers, male Rufous-bellied Niltava and a female Slaty-blue Flycatcher. Further along a pair of Red-billed Leiothrix showed well eventually and a pair of Whistler’s Warblers appeared in the same bush. A huge number of birds appeared when I played the owlet call here with many Lemon-rumped Warblers and also lots of other common species, but a Speckled Piculet was new. Returning towards the coach a pair of Slaty-headed Parakeets were inspecting a nesting hole and another mega-congregation of passerines included White-throated Fantail and Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler. 

Slaty-headed Parakeet

And finally a pair of Greater Flamebacks were feeding at the top of a dead tree quite avidly and looked fantastic through the telescope. It was very exciting to hear the alarm calls of Langurs and Sambar here, which betrayed the presence of a Leopard moving across the hillside opposite us. And also hearing Rufous-throated Partridge was another surprise for me here.

After lunch we had a siesta and returned to the same place although it was quieter than before. However, we did see an Asian Emerald Dove coming down to drink, along with some more leiothrix, Tickell’s Thrush and further views of previously seen species. A Pygmy Wren-Babbler was also skulking under a fallen tree, and we even had views of the often tricky Chestnut-headed Tesia as well.

Jungle Lore to Sat Tal

Spent the best part of the morning following a track across an open hillside with some tall trees, flowering Rhododendron trees & scrub and enjoyed some quality views of some typical Himalayan birds. Of particular note were the exceptional prolonged looks at a Great Barbet feeding in a flowering Rhododendron tree. 

Great Barbet

A pair of Striated Laughingthrushes also gave crippling views, and we enjoyed several good mixed species flocks coming in to mob the owlet call. 

Striated Laughingthrush

A few male Fire-tailed Sunbirds were new for our lists, and a group of Whiskered Yuhinas were also much appreciated, whilst numerous Buff-barred Warblers were always around, and we had a few Himalayan Bluetails and some really confiding Ultramarine Flycatchers and Rock Buntings.

Fire-tailed Sunbird

Ultramarine Flycatcher

 We also saw Steppe Eagle, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, a migrating Hen Harrier being mobbed by Large-billed Crows, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, yet more Black-throated Bushtits and plenty of other commoner species.

Black-throated Bushtit is very common here.

During the lunchtime period in the lodge gardens we finally had decent views of Striated Prinia, along with Rufous-breasted Accentor, Lesser Yellownape, brief Common Green Magpie, Red-billed Blue Magpies and Siberian Chiffchaff, whilst a male Blue-fronted Redstart posed nicely and a few Spot-winged Grosbeaks were feeding in a fruiting tree.

A few Black-headed Jays were around at lunchtime.

This male Blue-fronted Redstart showed well.

Oriental Turtle Doves at the feeding station.

Rufous-breasted Accentor

Spot-winged Grosbeak - almost too close to photograph..!

After lunch at the wonderful Jungle Lore Birding Lodge we drove down through Nainital and descended lower to a great new hotel at Sat Tal. After dropping our bags into our rooms we drove a short distance and then walked along a road bordering a nice little forest stream where a pair of Spotted Forktails were seen on several occasions. There was also Plumbeous and White-capped Water-Redstarts sitting on boulders mid-stream. 

A displaying Plumbeous Water-Redstart

In the bushes bordering the river were a few Lemon-rumped Warblers, a pair of delightful Small Niltavas found by Martin & the male was seen displaying right in front of us, and we had our first albeit brief view of Chestnut-headed Tesia. 

A very confiding Small Niltava

Further along we scanned a larger boulder-strewn river where Tricia spotted our target, a nice Brown Dipper. Several Crested Kingfishers were also present, and the nearby fields held Grey Treepie, a Tickell’s Thrush feeding in a flowering tree, and an Asian Barred Owlet being mobbed by Green-backed Tits and Black-chinned Babblers and a couple of Eurasian Hoopoes showed well.

Birding Around Pangot

Drove past Cheer Point this morning, after a short walk along an open area where some Rock Buntings were seen, and scoped a pair of Koklass Pheasants on a bare hillside. We did very well again in this forest with new birds such as Himalayan Woodpecker, Chestnut Thrush, Slaty-backed Flycatcher and Great Barbet, whilst Alpine Swift and Bonelli’s Eagle were also new. 

Not a bad place to go birding....

Good birds up here...!

Scenery around Pangot

Bonelli's Eagle

Bonelli's Eagle being mobbed by a Large-billed Crow

Another highlight this morning was scope views of a flock of Altai Accentors feeding below us on a grassy slope. We also had really nice views of Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Maroon Oriole, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, and several Ultramarine Flycatchers.

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

Lunchtime at the lodge produced a few Red-billed Blue Magpies, and then we were off again at 2.30pm driving down the road towards Nainital. 

Red-billed Blue Magpie

We followed a stream for quite a way but didn’t find anything, although views of a pair of Spotted Forktails back down on the road were very nice indeed. Whilst waiting for the forktails to appear an Oriental Cuckoo began calling and we had several flight views and one brief perched view through the scope – this is a rather early returning summer breeder and the first one to be recorded here this season. Further along the road a pair of Brown Wood-Owls posed superbly quite close below us and was something of a surprise as they had not been seen for a quite some time at this traditional site. 

Brown Wood Owl

During our walk we also saw a male Himalayan Bluetail, Black-faced Warbler and Bronzed Drongo. Not a bad day huh…?

Better pics of Spot-winged Coal Tit today

Cheers for the Pheasant...

An early morning drive produced a male Kalij Pheasant and a Himalayan Bluetail along the road before we headed up higher to search for Cheer Pheasant this morning. I’m never too confident for this species, but you should never give in to pessimism as we found a pair feeding on a grassy slope no more than 40m away and spent an enjoyable half an hour just watching them and taking photographs.

Cheer Pheasants

It was a little distracting having an Upland Pipit displaying and then landing right in front of us during this time! 

Upland Pipit

A flock of Altai Accentors kept flying overhead but never landed long enough to get a decent look, although a pair of Chukars was an exceptional sighting and very rare here. Some small trees above the road were attracting lots of birds and as well as the usual Black-throated Bushtits, we saw Green-backed and Spot-winged Coal Tit as well. 

Spot-winged Coal Tit - almost too close to photograph

We then drove further along the road and found the forest very busy with lots of birds such as Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Buff-barred Warbler, superb Black-faced Warbler, a brief Green Shrike-Babbler, a pair of Himalayan Shrike-Babblers, Yellow-browed Tit, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush, Rufous Sibia, Maroon Oriole, a nest-hole excavating White-tailed Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay, Mistle Thrush, and even a Collared Owlet flew in right over our heads and posed rather nicely.

Collared Owlet

Himalayan Shrike-Babbler

Driving back towards the lodge, we decided to walk a different section of forest and whilst admiring views of the snow-capped Himalayas in the distance I noticed a rare Scaly-bellied Woodpecker feeding on the slope below us. Having missed this species on my last visit, it was rather satisfying to not only see one but see it so well. 

Scaly-bellied Woodpecker

Amazingly, as we walked around the next bend a Mountain Scops-Owl was heard and it called repeatedly from very close up the slope above us. With a bit of persuasion we managed to locate the bird and obtain a few quick photos before it flew away. This is one of the toughest owls in Asia to actually see and to get it in daytime was rather surreal! 

Mountain Scops-Owl - Holy Cow!!

A pair of Striated Laughingthrushes was also very nice at the same spot as well. And that was our lot as we returned to the lodge, just in time to view 3 male and a female Spot-winged Grosbeak feeding in a fruiting tree next to the dining room.

Spot-winged Grosbeak (female)

Spot-winged Grosbeak (male)

After a rest over lunchtime, during which Yellow-bellied Fantail, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, and best of all a Black Francolin were seen, we drove down the valley. 

Nice views of White-throated Laughingthrush at lunchtime today

We walked along an area of scrub where a nice male Common Rosefinch was perched up in a bare tree, and shortly after a superb Yellow-breasted (Himalayan) Greenfinch also posed nicely at the top of a tree. I was surprised to see a Sulphur-bellied Warbler feeding on the hillside and we also had another bird later in the afternoon as well – this species is just beginning its return migration to areas further north.

Himalayan Greenfinch

A Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler was spotted by David T after it had been bathing in a stream, and other birds in the area included Grey-backed Shrike found by Michael, Jungle Myna, Siberian Rubythroat, Aberrant Bush-Warbler, Grey-sided Bush-Warbler and a few other previously seen species. As we followed the stream down towards the coach an extremely obliging Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler put in the first of multiple appearances whilst waiting for a Spotted Forktail to show – which it did albeit only very briefly. The drive back to the lodge was punctuated by a……. puncture that meant we arrived back at 8pm and went to dinner straight away, but the beers were very much appreciated this evening!

Jungle Lore Birding Lodge

There's not that many lodges in Asia that offer a feeding station in the gardens - in fact i'm struggling to think of any..! There has been around 250 species recorded in and around the lodge and extensive gardens and you can sit on the veranda sipping coffee watching some truly great birds feeding within arms length. During our stay we spent quite a while enjoying the garden birds and were rewarded with some excellent sightings.....

This is the view from the top of the gardens

Jungle Lore is surrounded by mountains

There are some well placed cottages in the garden

Upon reaching the excellent Jungle Lore Birding Lodge we barely had time to get our kit into the cottages before new birds appeared from everywhere and a fine lunch really got in the way! But at the feeding station below the veranda a flock of White-throated Laughingthrushes were joined by several Streaked Laughingthrushes, as well as groups of Russet Sparrows, along with a pair of Oriental Turtle-Doves, a superb Black-headed Jay, and a cracking Grey-winged Blackbird. 

Black-headed Jay

Oriental Turtle Dove

Russet Sparrow

Streaked Laughingthrush

Streaked Laughingthrush

White-throated Laughingthrush

Grey-winged Blackbird

All of these birds were extremely close and confiding and it was a very unique experience to be able to study these birds at such close quarters.

Pink-browed Rosefinch

Walking around the gardens we had amazing views of a male Pink-browed Rosefinch, along with Rufous-breasted Accentor, Blue-fronted Redstart, Rufous Sibia, a flyover Mountain Hawk-Eagle, exceptionally close views of Black Eagle, Himalayan Griffon, and Common Rosefinch, but only a couple of us managed to see a huge Spot-winged Grosbeak feeding in a fruiting tree. Hope it will be back tomorrow.....

Spot-winged Grosbeak

A short walk into the forest in the late afternoon was rather quiet, although a male Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush was nice, as was a Green-backed Tit.