126 Indian Birds Vol. 8 No. 5 (Publ. 5 September 2013)

Birding in Lohit Valley, Arunachal Pradesh Neeta Gode

Gode, N., 2013. Birding in Lohit Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Indian BIRDS 8 (5): 126-127. Neeta Gode, J-15 Salunke Vihar, Pune 411022, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected] 129. Godlewski’s Bunting. Photo: N. Gode

n November 2011, I had the good fortune of spending around because the locals had eaten them all, were soon alert fifteen days in Lohit Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, on a tourof to bird activity! On various trips between Walong and Kibithu Iduty. Though I had visited the area previously, I had been too (27°48’N, 95°28’E.) one would come across young Meyor tribal preoccupied with work, then, to truly appreciate the beauty of boys hunting and shooting down birds for food. the place. On one excursion, the driver pointed out a bird on a rock We travelled in by road from Tinsukia district, Assam, to face, which kept showing a flash of red; it was a Wallcreeper Walong (28°08’N, 97°01’E), in Arunachal’s Anjaw district. Tichodroma muraria. I had never seen the bird on my previous Journeying from the flood plains of the Brahmaputra up three visits! The eastern Himalayas are relatively nascent the gentle slopes of the Eastern Himalayas, the landscape mountains with large swathes of sandstone. If one travels into changes from the cultivated plains of Assam to a subtropical the area during the monsoons, one is most likely to be stranded broadleaved forest interspersed with patches of grasslands where as heavy downpours simply wash away parts of the mountain indiscriminate felling of trees has reduced tree cover drastically. roads. Metalled roads go up mountainsides to Helmet Top and Crossing the town of Chongkham (27°48’N, 96°02’E), Once a Tilam Top. We saw Rusty-fronted Barwings Actinodura egertoni major producer of plywood, today hardly any trees remain in the and a pair of Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius as we drove up area, I spotted and photographed a flock of 16 White-rumped the steep slopes. Below one waterfall, I came across a Chestnut- Vultures Gyps bengalensis. Around Wakhro (28°08’N, 96°49’E) headed Tesia Cettia castaneocoronata. On 8 November I saw a and Parshuramkund (27°52’N, 96º22’E), we ran across a variety flock of 10–12 birds that I could not easily identify, perched on of flycatchers, and several warblers whose identity evaded us. a wire near Meshai Bridge. I trained my binoculars on them for a The area is replete with tiny bridges over ‘nullahs’ and many long while and upon consulting my trusty field guide, identified causeways. One feels a childish delight driving through the water. them as a flock of Black-headed Greenfinches Chloris ambigua. Past Parshuramkund, the road runs along the river running in Most birds had a black head, black and white colouration on a very narrow valley. The altitudes of the surrounding peaks the primaries, but were otherwise uniformly yellowish green. compared to those in Kashmir, are not very high, and do not My excitement knew no bounds, but I had to wait to share exceed 2800 m. Except for intermittent human habitations, news of the sighting with my birding friends, as the area had much of the area is covered with broadleaved forest where no phone-network coverage. The failing evening light, and my birds abound. Further on from Hayuliang (28°04’N, 96°33’E), autofocus point and shoot camera, with its limitations, rendered on all the three axes along the rivers Dau, Delai, and northwards even a record shot impossible. When I returned from the field, along the Lohit, birdlife is plentiful. We spotted Golden-throated a literature search revealed that there had been prior sightings Barbets Megalaima franklinii, Maroon Orioles Oriolus traillii, from Walong (Singh 1995), but is considered ‘hypothetical’ in three species of niltavas—Niltava sundara, N. macgrigoriae, and recent publications (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005, Grimmett et. N. grandis, several yuhinas—Yuhina castaniceps, Y. occipitalis, al. 2012). An image of the finches captured by Arun P. Singh Y. gularis, and Y. flavicollis, Laughingthrushes, and babblers. In on a trip undertaken after mine made me turn green with envy! the tall grass of the riverbank, I spied a Spot-breasted Parrotbill I presume these recent, repeated sightings from Walong could Paradoxornis guttaticollis, Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla, and a serve for inclusion of the species into the South Asian checklist. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis. On 10 November, amidst the many lifers, a significant sighting On morning strolls, while we were camped in Walong, I was made. I repeatedly came across a bunting on the roadside, spotted a Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata by the between Walong and Kibithu, which always occurred singly. I road, males and females of the Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus managed to get a few pictures but was unsure if it was indeed auroreus, Striated Prinias Prinia crinigera, and Lemon-rumped the Godlewski’s Bunting Emberiza godlewskii [129]. Photographs Warblers Phylloscopus chloronotus in the shrubs flanking were later shown to Shashank Dalvi, who confirmed the bird the road. I also photographed a solitary Plain-backed Thrush as that. Photographs were later sent to Praveen J., and Rajah Zoothera mollissima in the same area. By the banks of the Lohit Jayapal. Both confirmed my identification. Jayapal additionally and its many tributaries, I came across several White-capped wrote back that of the two subspecies possible in this region, the Water-Redstarts Chaimarrornis leucocephalus, Plumbeous paler form khamensis could be a resident here, while the darker Water-Redstarts Rhyacornis fuliginosa, and a flock of Hodgson’s yunnanensis, a potential winter visitor. And since the birds seem Redstarts P. hodgsoni perched on electric lines. We saw Scarlet to be heavily streaked on the mantle, these could be khamensis Minivets Pericrocotus speciosus flying in a formation above (Jayapal, pers. comm., March 2013). However, my photographs our campsite every day. Our car drivers and aides, who initially are not of excellent quality to make a conclusive statement dismissed our obsession jocularly, saying there were no birds on the race. The bunting is another species that is considered Gode: Lohit Valley 127

hypothetical in recent literature, but was previously recorded on Acknowledgements a trek in Redding-Taksing, and Kibitho by Singh (1995). This is I would like to thank Shashank Dalvi for helping me identify the Godlewski’s Bunting. I perhaps the first photographic documentation of the species am extremely thankful to Praveen J., for encouraging me to submit my photograph of from South Asia, and the recurring sighting from the same area the species for publication. I would also like to thank Rajah Jayapal of SACON for his could bolster the provenance of prior sightings. help with the racial status of this species in north-eastern India. The far reaches of north-eastern India have much to offer in terms of rarities. Several species, which were considered References hypothetical, are likely to turn up, as the Lord Derby’s Parakeet Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 2011. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd ed. Psittacula derbiana did at Lekhapani ([130]; 27°19’N, 95°54’E), London: Oxford University Press & Christopher Helm. Pp. 1–528. north-eastern Assam—yet another species which was reported Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2012. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide. 2nd ed. by Singh (1995), but treated as hypothetical by Rasmussen & Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. 2 vols. Anderton (2012). Unfortunately I have not seen this area of Pp. 1–378; 1–683. Arunachal Pradesh on the birding map, in spite of adequate and Singh, P., 1995. Recent bird records from Arunachal Pradesh, India. Forktail 10: 65–104 reasonable accommodation available in Hayuliang, Walong, and (1994). Kibithu.

List of birds seen at Lohit Valley

Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Black Kite Milvus migrans White-throated Bulbul Alophoixus flaveolus Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus Ferruginous Flycatcher Muscicapa ferruginea Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalense Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cuculatus Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Chestnut-headed Tesia Cettia castaneocoronata Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara Pin-tailed Green Pigeon Treron apicauda Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis Large Niltava Niltava grandis Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyridopsis ruficeps Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Rufous-necked Laughingthrush Garrulax ruficollis Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Great Barbet Megalaima virens Streaked Laughingthrush Trochalopteron lineatum Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata Bar-throated Minla Minla strigula White Wagtail Motacilla alba Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica Silver-eared Leiothrix Leiothrix argentauris Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Beautiful Sibia Heterophasia pulchella Black-headed Greenfinch Chloris ambigua Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha Spot-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis guttaticollis Godlewski’s Bunting Emberiza godlewskii Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps Chestnut-eared Bunting Emberiza fucata Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta cinnamoventris Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Hodgson’s (?) Treecreeper Certhia hodgsoni (?) Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Collared Treepie Dendrocitta frontalis Hodgson’s Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni Yellow-bellied Fantail Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus White-capped Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus

130. Lord Derby’s Parakeet at Lekhapani. Photo: N. Gode