Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills

Naturetrek Tour Report 11 - 27 January 2019

Gharial & Indian Skimmers Ibisbill & Little Egrets

White-browed Shrike-babbler Indian Flying Fox

Report & Images by Harish Sharma

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills

Tour participants: Harish Sharma (tour leader) with three Naturetrek clients

Introduction

This January 2019, “Northern India and The Himalayan Foothills’ tour was again a great success with 338 species of birds, 20 species of mammals, four species of reptiles and some other wonderful wildlife and culture of Northern India. On this tour, we followed a superb classical itinerary that took us to a wide variety of habitats from rich wetlands to the freshwater rivers and the dry savanna woodlands to mixed countryside habitats, sal forest and the bird-filled Himalayan foothills.

This Naturetrek tour has many highlights and among them were: 55 Indian Skimmers, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, five species of Kingfishers including the Crested and Stork-billed Kingfisher, seven species of Owls including the Collared Owlet, Tawny Fish Owl and Dusky Eagle-Owl, many species of raptors including the Imperial, Booted. Indian and Greater Spotted Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagle (eating a serpent), Mountain Hawk-Eagle, five Species of Vultures including the Himalayan Griffon and critically endangered Indian Vulture, 10 species of woodpeckers including the Great Slaty and Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and many other rarities as Greater Painted Snipe, Black Bittern, Jungle (Grey) Nightjar, Slaty-backed and Spotted Forktails, Brown Dipper, Black- bellied Tern, Orange-headed, Long-billed and Chestnut Thrush, Orange-flanked Bluetail, Blue-bearded Bee- eater, Himalayan Shrike-Babbler (split from White-browed), Blue-winged Minla, Red-billed Leiothrix, Great Hornbill, Red-billed Blue Magpies, a magnificent pair of Sarus Cranes, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Greater Flamingoes and the several species of Bulbuls, Flycatchers, Warblers, Laughingthrushes, Redstarts and Sunbirds.

Among the mammals and reptiles, highlights of the tour were: Common Grey Mongoose, brilliant encounters with Gangetic Dolphin, Marsh Mugger and Gharial and the Bengal Fox (which was seen first time on this itinerary, on Chambal river boat trip), superb views of the Golden Jackals and sun-basking Indian Rock Python in Keoladeo, close encounter of Asian Wild Elephants, Nilgai, Sambar Deer, Nepal Grey Langur and several other species of deer and monkeys. However, perhaps the top highlight must be a brilliant sighting of a male Royal Bengal Tiger, resting in a dry stream in Corbett National park.

We also enjoyed the Indian food, Masala Chai almost everyday, driving through the countryside villages and its people, temples and the holy river Ganges. This tour is truly more than just birds and undoubtably, it was another a great Naturetrek tour!

Day 1 Friday 11th January

The group travelled from the UK

Day 2 Saturday 12th January

Arrived New Delhi & in the afternoon visit Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary The international flight from London arrived on time at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, where the Naturetrek guests were welcomed by the tour leader and walked to the parking area. After settling in the air- conditioned car, we drove for about eight minutes to the Hotel Novotel, Airocity. After doing early check in

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

formalities, we had enough time for a wash and change and a hot lunch before we headed to Sultanpur National Park (a bird Sanctuary) in the state of Haryana. It took about an hour to reach there. The weather was sunny and some of the highlights of Sultanpur bird Sanctuary were a Brooks’s Leaf Warbler, which is rarity of this place, Grey and Purple Heron, Painted and Black-necked Stork, Eurasian Hoopoe, White-tailed-Lapwing, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo, White-throated Kingfishers, Red Avadavat and Bluethroat. Sultanpur is the great place to start any birding tour of Northern India.

We returned in the evening for over-night stay at the Hotel Novotel., New Delhi.

Day 3 Sunday 13th January

Drive to Bharatpur and afternoon visit Keoladeo National Park We checked out the hotel after breakfast and drove for five to six hours to Bharatpur in the state of Rajasthan. We made our first stop at the outskirt of Delhi to see Crested Lark perched on the electric wires, Black Drongos, Long-tailed Shrike, Black-winged Kite and the Rose-ringed Parakeets. Later on, we had great views of Indian Sarus Crane, feeding in a small wetland area, where we also saw Long-legged Buzzard, Indian Silverbill, Green Sandpiper, White-throated kingfisher, a mixed flock of Plain Martins, Barn Swallows and Wire-tailed Swallows, White and Citrine Wagtails with some other common birds. After driving three hours, we made a stop for tea/coffee; there we saw a Shikra perched on a tree and several Bank Mynas and Asian Pied Starlings on other trees. In Bharatpur, we stayed the Hotel Birders Inn, situated five minutes walking distance from the bird sanctuary.

After a delicious hot lunch, we drove to the park gate and we hired cycle rickshaw to go bird watching in Keoladeo National Park. It was founded by the Maharajas of Bharatpur under the British Raj in late 18th century, who developed it for duck shooting. Known locally as Ghana, the bird sanctuary which was declared a National park in 1981 and was listed in the World Heritage Natural Site in 1985. The park attracts over 380 species of birds which migrate from Russia, Central Asia, Europe and Himalaya. Some of the good birds seen today were Spotted Owlet, Rufous Treepie, Black Drongo, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Indian Robin, Southern Coucal, Brown-headed Barbet, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Western Marsh Harrier, Red- crested Pochard, Indian Spot-billed Duck and Purple Sunbird. We saw new mammals such as Asiatic Golden Jackal and the Spotted Deer. After spending a few hours’ good time, we returned to our hotel.

Day 4 Monday 14th January

Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur Today we did morning and afternoon birding into the park by cycle rickshaw. It was little misty in the morning but got clear around 11am and then was very pleasant weather. In the morning, we did the nursery and the woodland area and had some great birds including the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Spotted Owlet, Egyptian Vultures perched on the dead trees, Grey Francolins, Indian Grey Hornbill, Orange-headed Thrush, Tickell’s Thrush, Coppersmith Barbet, Grey Bush Chat, Citrine Wagtail, Indian Stone-curlew (Thick-knee) and Yellow- throated Sparrow (also known as Chestnut-shouldered Petronia). While we were searching for the Stone-curlew, we had a brilliant encounter with a big Indian Rock Python, sun-basking near the burrows.

2 © Naturetrek August 19

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

After a hot lunch, we did the main road towards Sapan Mori area and enjoyed the boat ride, which was a great experience, where we saw a Jungle (Grey) Nightjar roosting on a tree and mixed flocks of waterfowl. Other great birds seen today were Black Bittern, Knob-billed (Comb) Duck, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Bay-backed Shrike, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Indian and Greater Spotted Eagles, Imperial and Booted Eagles, Indian Cormorant, and Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans. We stayed overnight at Hotel Birders Inn.

Day 5 Tuesday 15th January

Bayana. Bund Baretha and Chambal river After hot breakfast, we left with a packed lunch for a full-day excursion to Bayana, Bund Baretha and Chambal river. Today we drove through the countryside, with villages, all the fields were full of yellow flowers of mustard, dry terrain and some rocky areas. In the evening we had a boat ride in the Chambal river. Our first stop was near the railway line where we had brilliant views of Red Avadavat, Scaly-breasted Munias, Indian Silverbill, Plain and Ashy Prinias. Baya Weavers and Common Babblers were feeding on the tall reed grass. Later on, we approached the Bayana hills near the Bayana town and walked through a wonderful street to the nesting place of Indian Vultures, a critically endangered species of India. There we had some great views of Indian Vultures nesting on the cliffs and saw a dozen of them sun-basking on the top of the small hill. Some other good birds seen here including the Indian Chat, Common Kestrel, Plum-headed Parakeets, Dusky Crag Martin, Citrine and Grey Wagtail, Rufous-tailed Lark, Common Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler etc.

Later we drove towards the Bund Baretha and had the masala tea/coffee break at the irrigation department inspection bungalow. There was a large roosting colony of Indian Flying Foxes (Fruit Bats) that roosts in the Mango and Ficus trees. After saying thanks to the Chaiwala, we were on the road again and had a wonderful sighting of an Asiatic Golden Jackal feasting on a carcass. In the same place we saw Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Desert and Variable Wheatears, Indian Bush Lark, and Great Grey Shrike. (The Grey Shrikes here used to be known as Southern Grey but are now included as Great Grey). Our packed lunches were eaten at a scenic and wonderful place called Talabshahi. Duck shoots were organized here by maharajas of Dholpur before 1971. While we were having our picnic lunch, we saw an Osprey catching a fish in front of us and also saw a River Tern and Dalmatian Pelicans.

In the afternoon, we reached at the Chambal river or Gharial sanctuary there we had a boat trip which was absolutely amazing. We enjoyed 55 Indian Skimmers sun-basking near the Gharial, a Black-bellied Tern, Great Stone-curlew (Thick-knee), Kentish Plover, Blue Rock Thrush, and Spotted Owlet perched in a hole. We also saw a Bengal Fox sleeping in hole, well-found by our group member Sally. Later on, we saw another two Jackal and we followed them for long time. Finally, we were blessed to see the Gangetic River Dolphin in Chambal river. What was a great finish of the long but very fruitful day before we drove back to our hotel, Birders Inn.

Day 6 Wednesday 16th January

Keoladeo National Park and Kumher This morning, we were again in the cycle rickshaw and went beyond the Sapan Mori. We had some close views of the waterfowl, a mixed flock of the ducks, and a Black Bittern, hiding in a bush. It was a good day for the raptors as we saw a Crested Serpent Eagle eating a snake, Marsh Harrier, Booted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Indian

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

and Greater Spotted Eagle and a Shikra, plus many other resident and winter-migrant birds.

After a hot lunch, we drove to the countryside where we found the Desert Wheatear, a great variety of waders including the pair of Greater Painted-snipe, several Common Snipe, Marsh, Green, Common and Wood Sandpipers, Black-tailed Godwit, Pied Avocet, White-tailed Lapwing, Common and Spotted Redshank, Temmincks Stint and big flocks of the Black-winged Stilts. Then we drove to the Kumher area, where we were lucky to see hundreds of Greater Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipits and Isabelline Wheatear. In the evening, we returned to the hotel. Overnight. at hotel Birders Inn.

Day 7 Thursday 17th January

Bharatpur, Agra and Delhi After a hot breakfast, we checked out and drove to the ruined city of Fatehpur Sikri for sightseeing. Before reaching it, we made a stop to visit the Harish family on the guests’ request. They live in the countryside and there we saw a Eurasian Hoopoe, White-eared Bulbul, Long-tailed Shrike and Wire-tailed Swallow perched on the electric wires. We admired the magnificent buildings of Fathepur Sikri and drove for another hour and half to see the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site and most amazing monument. We spent a couple of hours at the great monument and saw few species of birds in the River Yamuna behind the Taj Mahal. After lunch in a local restaurant, we visited the massive Red Fort of Agra. After sightseeing at Agra, we said goodbye to our cultural guide and drove about four hours to Delhi. We stayed at the Leela, on the way to Corbett.

Day 8 Friday 18th January

Delhi to Corbett After hot breakfast, we drove about seven to eight hours to the Hotel Tiger Camp, Corbett. Just on the outskirts of Delhi, we saw a huge dump area where a few hundred thousand Black Kites were soaring and perched on the towers, buildings and trees. Later on, we made a stop at the holy river Ganga or Ganges bridge for about 30 minutes and saw the cultural/spiritual things of the Indian people. This is where, the Hindu people burn their dead bodies and they take a holy dip in the Ganges. This place has been protected and declared as a important bird area by the Indian Government and some of the birds were seen here were Brown-headed Gull, Black- headed Gull, River Lapwing. Ruddy Shelduck, and Black Kites.

After reaching the Ramnagar, which is the nearest town of the Corbett National Park, we had a little time for birding at the Kosi Barrage and saw our first White-capped Redstart and Plumbeous Water Redstart, a big flock of Ruddy Shelduck, Pied and Crested Kingfishers, River Lapwing and the Golden Mahasheer fish. It was our first introduction to the Himalayan birds. Our overnight stay was at the Hotel Tiger Camp.

Day 9 Saturday 19th January

Corbett National Park- Gargia temple & Kumaria This morning, after hot tea/coffee, we drove to the Gargia temple at the Kosi river. We reached to the parking area and walked about 150 metres to the bridge. We scanned the Kosi river both sides of the bridge and were lucky to see one our target species, Ibisbill, feeding near the bridge with several Little Egrets. On the other side

4 © Naturetrek August 19

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

we saw several Smooth-coated Otters in the same river. We walked down to the dry river beds and saw a Blue Rock Thrush, Eurasian Wryneck, female White-capped Bunting, Rock Bunting, several Himalayan Bulbuls, which are the commonest birds in Corbett, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Brown Shrike, Spotted Dove, Pied and Crested Kingfishers and a pair of Great Hornbills from the distance. After a great morning, we returned to the hotel for hot breakfast.

Again, we were out with packed lunch boxes, this time for Mohan and Kumaria. This is a great habitat for all the woodland birds and some of the great birds seen today were Grey Bush Chat, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Tawny Fish and Brown Fish Owls, Long-billed Thrush, Black-chinned Babbler, White-crested Laughingthrush, Small Niltava, Lemon-rumped and Whistler’s Warblers, Jungle Owlet, Crested Treeswift, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Indian Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-bellied Fantail. We had fantastic views of the Brown Dipper and a flock of Common Merganser feeding in the Kosi river. We returned to the lodge for the evening and overnight stay at our hotel, the Tiger Camp.

Day 10 Sunday 20th January

Corbett National Park Today we did our first official, morning and afternoon game drives in open jeeps to Bijrani and Jhirna Zones of the Corbett National Park. The morning was quite cold, so we picked some extra blankets from the lodge for the safari. After driving few kilometres inside the National Park, we saw some Tiger pug marks and heard warning calls from Barking Deer, but did not see the Tiger. We had great views of the Spotted Deer, Barking Deer and the Tarai Grey Langur monkeys. After lunch, in the afternoon we visited the Jhirana Zone of the Park. We heard the warning calls but did not see any big cat. Some of the great birds seen today were: Great Slaty Woodpeckers, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Himalayan Buzzard, Emerald Dove, Jungle Owlet, a wonderful view of 10 Oriental Pied Hornbills flying over the head to roost, followed by two pairs of Great Hornbills. We also saw Griffon Vultures, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Crested Kingfisher, Black-hooded Oriole, Crimson Sunbird, Streak- throated Woodpecker, and Yellow-bellied Fantail. We stayed again at the Tiger Camp hotel.

Day 11 Monday 21st January

Corbett National Park After having tea/coffee and with packed breakfast, we drove about 40 minutes to Dhela Zone of the Corbett NP. After few minutes of driving inside the park, we heard the warning calls of the Spotted Deer and followed the very fresh pug mark of a female Tiger, but it was quiet again. However, we had some great birds this morning, including Indian Silverbill, a Black Francolin calling for long time, Long-billed Pipit, Hen Harrier, Ashy and White-bellied Drongos, Green Magpie, a big flock of Hair-crested (Spangled) Drongo, and Black Bulbul.

Our packed breakfasts were eaten just outside the gate at a small tea corner shop and we had a wonderful chai. While we were eating, a Plumbeous Water Redstart came very close to us and in the next tree there were many Oriental White-eye, Buff-barred Warbler, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher and Grey-hooded Warbler feeding. We returned to the lodge for hot lunch and in the afternoon, we did our last game drive in Bijrani Zone. We had some good views of Plum-headed Parakeets, Lineated Barbet and Himalayan Bulbuls. After half an hour, we took a different road and drove few kilometers in search of the big cats and mammals; it was an absolutely

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

wonderful place where there were hardly any jeeps. As we were driving, we noticed very fresh pug mark of a male Tiger and we got very excited. We followed the fresh pug mark almost one kilometre on the road and suddenly the pug mark disappeared from the road and we stopped to check if there were any warning calls. Yes, there were some loud warning calls from Sambar Deer, and we searched towards the dry stream patch through the trees. Our local guide suddenly spotted a male Tiger relaxing at the bank of a dry stream - what a sighting it was! We watched him for more than 20 minutes. Also, after that, we had an encounter with a herd of Asian Wild Elephants. It then started raining and we drove back to the lodge after a great and memorable safari, for our last night at the Tiger Camp.

Day 12 Tuesday 22nd January

Corbett – Gargia temple and drive to Nainital It rained whole night but, after breakfast, it was scattered showers. When the rain stopped, we decided to go birding in the Gargia temple area again. As we reached in the parking area, we saw the Red-billed Blue Magpie and several Bulbuls. We walked to the bridge on the Kosi river and scanned the river again, but there was no Ibisbill today as we were lucky the first day. We walked along the river and saw White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstarts, Pied and Crested Kingfishers, River Lapwing, hundreds of House Sparrows and White-browed Wagtail. Just before leaving the bridge, we were lucky enough to see a wonderful Wallcreeper under the bridge, and everybody had great views of it A pair of Grey-winged Blackbird was seen feeding in the parking area.

After a great morning, we returned to the hotel for a hot lunch and checked out. The rain stopped and we said goodbye to the hotel staff and drove towards the Nanital. Our first stop was again the Kosi barrage where we saw Stork-billed Kingfisher and then another three kingfisher species in a row: White-throated, Pied and Crested Kingfishers. Lots of Ruddy Shelduck, Green Sandpiper, Little and Great Cormorants and several little Egrets were feeding. The next stop was the Jim Corbett museum where we spent some time visiting the museum and saw Alexandrine Parakeets in the garden. After here we started climbing the hills of Nainital, situated at an elevation of 2000 metres. As we drove to the high altitude, we enjoyed the wonderful scenery and noted the changes in bird species. We saw our first Streaked Laughingthrush and Black-headed Jay on a bird walk at the Mangoli Valley. We reached Nanital in the evening where we stayed in wonderful hotel Vikram Vintage Inn for the next four nights.

Day 13 Wednesday 23rd January

Nanital - Bajun and around Nani lake This morning weather was very bad, foggy, raining and snowing a little, but after we finished breakfast, the rain stopped for some time, so we drove towards downhill to the Bajun. En route, we saw several Kalij Pheasants feeding along the roadside and hit a mixed flock of birds including the good number of Black-faced Warbler, Grey-hooded and Buff-barred Warblers, cute-looking Black-throated Bushtits, Yellow-bellied Fantail and Black- chinned Babbler. Later on, we reached the Bajun and walked on a narrow country road which was full of birds, despite the weather. We hit another few more flocks of mixed species of birds including the Ashy-throated Warbler amongst the Lemon-rumped and Buff-barred Warblers, Rufous Sibia, Green-backed Tit, Great Tit, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush. We walked down to the bridge and there was a little water in the stream which is habitat for Forktails. After spending some time, we found our

6 © Naturetrek August 19

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

targets: Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails feeding side by side in the stream. Just after that, it started rain again and we drove back to the hotel for a hot lunch.

As the weather was not so good for a long drive, we decided after lunch to go to Nanital city and bird around this beautiful Nanital lake. We had superb views of Rufous Sibia, Blue-fronted Redstart, Grey-winged Blackbird, Blue-capped Redstart and a great find was a pair of Chestnut Thrush. After a great birding, we returned to the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel Vikram Vintage Inn

Day 14 Thursday 24th January

Nanital - Himalyan viewpoint, Pangot and beyond Vinayak We started again after a hot breakfast and with the packed lunch boxes for the full day birding to the Vinayak forest range. Today we were lucky with the weather as it was slightly clear. We made our first stop to see the mighty Himalayas peaks. We saw the highest peak Nanda Devi (7,816 metres) and Trishul (7,120 metres). Our next stop was in the village of Pangot. There we had some great views of Black-headed Jay, Eurasian Jay, Russet Sparrow, Green-backed Tit, Yellow-browed Tit, and Striated Laughingthrush. Birding along the road was quite different to the lower elevations, with many species appearing for the first time, making for yet another exciting day. Blue-capped Redstart, Himalayan Vulture, Brown-fronted and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers, a mixed flock of warblers, a Collared Owlet, and great views of Altai Accentor were some other good birds at the Vinayak range. On a comfortable birding track looking down to the valley, we saw some Red-billed Blue Magpies flying just at eye level, a dozen Rock Buntings feeding on the ground and a saw a Asian Barred Owlet perched for a long time. After a fantastic birding day and the wonderful scenery of the Himalayan foothills, we returned to the hotel in the evening. We stayed overnight again at the Vikram Vintage Inn.

Day 15 Friday 25th January

Sat Tal It was again raining in the morning, but it stopped for half an hour and we drove for Sat Tal for a full day’s birding. On our first stop we hit a mixed flock of birds including the good number of Rufous Sibia, Grey- hooded, and Buff-barred Warblers, Yellow-bellied and White-throated Fantail, and had great views of Rusty- cheeked Scimitar Babbler calling for long time on the cactus. Later on, we added more new species to the list, including Black-throated Sunbird, Tree Pipit, Common Rosefinch, Small Niltava, Blue-throated Barbet, Rufous- bellied Niltava, and Blue-winged Minla.

Our packed lunches were eaten near the stream, where we had White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstart, several Bronzed Drongo, and a pair of Crested Kingfisher, and Lesser Yellownape woodpecker were feeding nearby. After lunch, we drove towards Sat Tal and had a masala chai before going on a birding track. We had some great birds here, including the Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Indian and Velvet Fronted Nuthatch and great views of White-tailed Nuthatch feeding hardly three metres away, on a dead log, for long time. A little further on, we saw a Spotted Forktail and Common Kingfisher, and brilliantly seen Red-billed Leiothrix. On the way back on this track, we had cracking views of Mountain Hawk-Eagle. It was another great day and we returned to the hotel in the evening. We stayed overnight at hotel Vikram Vintage Inn.

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

Day 16 Saturday 26th January

Drive Nanital to New Delhi This morning, after a great birding in Nanital, we checked out and drove back to Delhi. Today was mostly a travelling day but we made few stops for birding. On the first stop, we saw some Himalayan Vultures perched near the roadside and we had mixed flock of the birds including Long-tailed and Orange (split from Scarlet) Minivets, White-browed Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied Fantail and Buff-barred Warblers. In the next stop, we had great birding in Kaladungi forest where we walked inside the forest and saw some great birds including Ashy Drongo, Small Niltava, Indian and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Black-hooded and Maroon Orioles and a big flock of Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike. It was another a wonderful drive back to Delhi.

We reached Delhi in the evening and had a warm shower and farewell dinner before our early morning flight back home to London.

Day 17 Sunday 27th January

Return travel to the UK

Receive our e-newsletter

Join the Naturetrek e-mailing list and be the first to hear about new tours, additional departures and new dates, tour reports and special offers. Visit www.naturetrek.co.uk to sign up.

Social Media

We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and be the first to hear about the launch of new tours, offers and exciting sightings and photos from our recently returned holidays.

Indian Darter Jungle (Grey) Nightjar

Tour Report Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills

Species Lists

Birds (✓=recorded but not counted; H = heard only) January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1 Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus ✓ 2 Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus ✓ ✓ 4 Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica ✓ 7 Greylag Goose Anser anser ✓ ✓ 8 Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Knob-billed (Comb) Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 11 Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus ✓ 12 Garganey Spatula querquedula ✓ ✓ 13 Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 14 Gadwall Mareca strepera ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15 Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope ✓ ✓ 16 Common Teal Anas crecca ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 17 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 18 Northern Pintail Anas acuta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 19 Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina ✓ ✓ ✓ 20 Common Pochard Aythya ferina ✓ ✓ 21 Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 Common Merganser Mergus merganser ✓ 23 Jungle (Grey) Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus ✓ 24 Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata ✓ ✓ 25 Southern Coucal Centropus parroti ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 26 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea ✓ 27 Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius ✓ ✓ 28 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus ✓ 29 Rock Dove Columba livia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 30 Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis ✓ 31 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 32 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis ✓ ✓ ✓ 33 Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 34 Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica ✓ 35 Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 36 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 37 Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 38 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 39 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 40 Sarus Crane Antigone antigone ✓ ✓ 41 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 42 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 43 Indian Stone-curlew (Thick-knee) Burhinus Indicus ✓ 44 Great Stone-curlew (Thick-knee) Burhinus recurvirostris ✓ 45 Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii ✓ 46 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 47 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta ✓ 48 River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 49 Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus ✓ ✓ 50 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 51 White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 52 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubis ✓ 53 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus ✓ ✓ 54 Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis ✓ 55 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus ✓ ✓ 56 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 57 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata ✓ 58 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa ✓ 59 Ruff Philomachus pugnax ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 60 Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 61 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 62 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 63 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 64 Common Redshank Tringa totanus ✓ ✓ ✓ 65 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis ✓ 66 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 67 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus ✓ ✓ ✓ 68 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 69 Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis ✓ 70 Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus 71 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus ✓ ✓ 72 Pallas's Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus ✓ ✓ ✓ 73 River Tern Sterna aurantia ✓ 74 Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda ✓ 75 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 76 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans ✓ 77 Black Stork Ciconia nigra ✓ 78 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 79 Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 80 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 81 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis ✓ ✓ 82 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 83 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 84 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 85 Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa ✓ ✓ ✓ 86 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 87 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 88 Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis ✓ ✓ 89 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ✓ ✓ 90 Striated Heron Butorides striata ✓ ✓ 91 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 92 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 93 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 94 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 95 Great Egret Ardea alba ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 96 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 97 Little Egret Egretta garzetta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 98 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 99 Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 100 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus ✓ 101 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 102 Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 103 Crested (Oriental) Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus ✓ ✓ 104 Indian Vulture Gyps indicus ✓ 105 Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis ✓ ✓ ✓ 106 Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 107 Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus ✓ 108 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 109 Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus ✓ 110 Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus ✓ ✓ ✓ 111 Mountain Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis ✓ ✓ 112 Indian Spotted Eagle Clanga hastata ✓ ✓ 113 Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga ✓ ✓ 114 Booted Eagle Hieraaetua pennatus ✓ ✓ 115 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 116 Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca ✓ ✓ 117 Shikra Accipiter badius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 118 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus ✓ ✓ ✓ 119 Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus ✓ ✓ ✓ 120 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus ✓ 121 Black Kite Milvus migrans ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 122 Lesser Fish Eagle Haliaeetus humilis ✓ 123 Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus ✓ ✓ ✓ 124 Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus ✓ 125 Dusky Eagle-Owl Bubo coromandus ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 126 Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis ✓ 127 Tawny Fish Owl Ketupa flavipes ✓ 128 Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei ✓ 129 Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides ✓ ✓ 130 Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum ✓ ✓ 131 Spotted Owlet Athene brama ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 132 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 133 Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis ✓ ✓ ✓ 134 Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris ✓ ✓ 135 Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 136 Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 137 Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 138 Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis ✓ 139 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 140 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 141 Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 142 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 143 Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni ✓ ✓ 144 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis ✓ ✓ 145 Great Barbet Psilopogon virens ✓ ✓ 146 Brown-headed Barbet Psilopogon zeylanicus ✓ ✓ 147 Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 148 Blue-throated Barbet Psilopogon asiaticus ✓ 149 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ 150 Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 151 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yumgipicus canicapillus ✓ 152 Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes auriceps ✓ ✓ ✓ 153 Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Leiopicus mahrattensis ✓ 154 Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus ✓ 155 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 156 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus ✓ 157 Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 158 Scaly-bellied Woodpecker Picus squamatus ✓ 159 Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus ✓ ✓ ✓ 160 Himalayan Flameback (Goldenback) Dinopium shorii ✓ ✓ 161 Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense ✓ ✓ ✓ 162 Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus ✓ 163 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus ✓ ✓ 164 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus ✓ ✓ ✓ 165 Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 166 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala ✓ ✓ ✓ 167 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria ✓ ✓ ✓ 168 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 169 Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri ✓ 170 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 171 Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus ✓ ✓ 172 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia ✓ 173 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus ✓ ✓ 174 Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus ✓ ✓ 175 Orange (Scarlet) Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus ✓ ✓ 176 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus ✓ ✓ 177 Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus ✓ ✓ 178 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 179 Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor ✓ 180 Himalayan Shrike-babbler Pteruthius ripleyi ✓ 181 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus ✓ 182 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus ✓ ✓ 183 Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii ✓ 184 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 185 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus ✓ ✓ ✓ 186 White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens ✓ ✓ 187 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus ✓ ✓ 188 Hair-crested (Spangled) Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus ✓ ✓ 189 White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 190 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius ✓ 191 Black-headed Jay Garrulus lanceolatus ✓ ✓ ✓ 192 Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha ✓ ✓ ✓ 193 Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis ✓ 194 Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 195 Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae ✓ 196 House Crow Corvus splendens ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 197 Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos ✓ 198 Indian Jungle Crow Corvus culminatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 199 Yellow-bellied Fantail Chelidorhynx hypoxantha ✓ ✓ 200 Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 201 Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus ✓ 202 Coal Tit Periparus ater ✓ 203 Great Tit Parus major ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 204 Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 205 Himalayan Black-lored Tit Machlolophus xanthogenys ✓ 206 Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicura ✓ ✓ 207 Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea ✓ ✓ 208 Indian Bush Lark Mirafra erythroptera ✓ 209 Crested Lark Galerida cristata ✓ 210 Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla ✓ 211 Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus ✓ ✓ ✓ 212 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus ✓ ✓ ✓ 213 Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 214 White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 215 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 216 Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii ✓ 217 Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 218 Grey-throated (Plain) Martin Riparia chinensis (paludicola) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 219 Sand Martin Riparia riparia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 220 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 221 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 222 Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris ✓ 223 Dusky Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor ✓ 224 Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 225 Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps ✓ ✓ ✓ 226 Black-throated Bushtit Aegithalos concinnus ✓ ✓ ✓ 227 Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 228 Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis ✓ ✓ 229 Hume's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei ✓ 230 Brooks"s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus subviridis ✓ 231 Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus chloronotus ✓ ✓ ✓ 232 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 233 Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides ✓ ✓ ✓ 234 Whistler's Warbler Phylloscopus whistleri ✓ ✓ 235 Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 236 Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus ✓ 237 Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola ✓ ✓ 238 Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum ✓ ✓ 239 Booted Warbler Iduna caligata ✓ 240 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis ✓ 241 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii ✓ ✓ 242 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 243 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 244 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 245 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys ✓ 246 Black-chinned Babbler Stachyridopsis pyrrhops ✓ ✓ 247 Striated Laughingthrush Grammatoptila striatus ✓ ✓ 248 Streaked Laughingthrush Trochalopteron lineatum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 249 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron erythrocephalum ✓ ✓ 250 Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera ✓ 251 Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea ✓ 252 Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 253 Large Grey Babbler Argya malcolmi ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 254 Common Babbler Argya caudata ✓ ✓ ✓ 255 Jungle Babbler Argya striata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 256 White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus ✓ 257 Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush Ianthocincla rufogularis ✓ 258 White-throated Laughingthrush Pterorhinus albogularis ✓ 259 Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 260 White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus ✓ 261 Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense ✓ 262 Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 263 Indian Nuthatch Citta castanea ✓ ✓ 264 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta cinnamoventris ✓ ✓ ✓ 265 White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis ✓ 266 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis ✓ ✓ 267 Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria ✓ 268 Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 269 Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 270 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 271 Pied Myna (Asian Pied Starling) Gracupica contra ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 272 Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 273 Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina ✓ 274 Alpine (Plain-backed) Thrush Zoothera mollissima ✓ 275 Long-billed Thrush Zoothera monticola ✓ 276 Tickell's Thrush Turdus unicolor ✓ 277 Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 278 Chestnut Thrush Turdus rubrocanus ✓ 279 Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis ✓ ✓ ✓ 280 Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 281 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 282 Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara ✓ ✓ 283 Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae ✓ ✓ 284 Bluethroat Luscinia svecica ✓ ✓ ✓ 285 Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 286 Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus ✓ 287 Spotted forktail Enicurus maculatus ✓ ✓ 288 Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 289 Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata ✓ ✓ 290 Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 291 Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla ✓ 292 Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor ✓ ✓ 293 Blue-capped Redstart Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 294 Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 295 Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis ✓ ✓ 296 Plumbeous Water Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 297 White-capped Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 298 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius ✓ ✓ ✓ 299 Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Monticola rufiventris ✓ ✓ 300 Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura ✓ 301 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 302 Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 303 Grey Bush Chat Saxicola ferrea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 304 Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina ✓ 305 Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti ✓ ✓ 306 Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 307 Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata ✓ 308 Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii ✓ 309 Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 310 Mrs Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae ✓ 311 Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata ✓ 312 Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja ✓ ✓ ✓ 313 House Sparrow Passer domesticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 314 Russet Sparrow Passer cinnamomeus ✓ ✓ 315 Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis ✓ 316 Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus ✓ 317 Red Avadavat Amandava amandava ✓ ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 318 Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 319 Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata ✓ 320 Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana ✓ 321 Yellow Wagtail [Beema] Motaclla flava beema ✓ ✓ 322 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola ✓ 323 Citrine Wagtail [Calcarata] Motaclla citreola calcarata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 324 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 325 White Wagtail [ Alboides] Motacilla alba alboides ✓ ✓ ✓ 326 White Wagtail [Personata] Motacilla alba personata ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 327 White Wagtail [Leucopsis] Motacilla alba leucopsis ✓ ✓ 328 White Wagtail [Ocularis] Motacilla alba ocularis ✓ 329 White wagtail [Baicalensis] Motacilla alba baicalensis ✓ 330 White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 331 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus ✓ 332 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 333 Long-billed Pipit Anthus similus ✓ 334 Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis ✓ 335 Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus ✓ 336 Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Chloris spinoides ✓ 337 Rock Bunting Emberiza cia ✓ ✓ 338 White-capped Bunting Emberiza stewarti ✓

Mammals 1 Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Tarai Gray Langur Semnopithecus hector ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Nepal Gray Langur Semnopitgecus schistaces ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Asiatic Golden Jackal Canis lupus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Bengal Fox Vulpes bengalensis ✓ 7 Smooth-coated Otter Aonyx cinerea ✓ 8 Indian Grey Mongoose Herpestes edwardsi ✓ 9 Royal Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris ✓

Northern India & the Himalayan Foothills Tour Report

January Common name Scientific name 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 10 Ganges River Dolphin Platanista gangetica ✓ 11 Asian Elephant Elephas maximus ✓ ✓ 12 Wild Boar Sus scrofa ✓ ✓ ✓ 13 Barking Deer (Muntjac) Muntiacus muntjak ✓ ✓ ✓ 14 Chital (Spotted Deer) Cervus axis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15 Hog Deer Cervus porcinus 16 Sambar Cervus unicolor ✓ ✓ ✓ 17 Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus ✓ ✓ ✓ 18 Himalayan Goral Naemorhedus goral ✓ 19 Five-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennanti ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 20 Tomb Bat Taphozous nnudiventris ✓

Reptiles 1 Indian Rock Python Python morulous ✓ 2 Marsh Mugger Crocodylus palustris ✓ 3 Gharial Gavialis gangeticus ✓ 4 Indian Tent Turtle Pangshura tentoria ✓

Butterflies/ Dragonflies 1 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene ✓ 3 Psyche Leptosia nina ✓ 4 Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha ✓ 5 Stripped Tiger Danaus genutia ✓ 6 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace ✓ 7 Pea Blue Lampides boeticus ✓ 8 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe ✓ 9 Common Crow Euploea core ✓ ✓ 10 Greynight Hawk Bradinnopyga geminata ✓