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NEPAL: HIMALAYAN PARADISE

SATYR TO & MORE!

APRIL 8-21, 2021 © 2020

This new tour offers an enthralling opportunity to experience the heavenly beauty of the majestic of , home to one of the world’s cutest —the endangered Red Panda—plus a wondrous array of stunning Eastern Himalayan . Our remote and delightful base at Habre’s Nest is located in a global biological hotspot at 9,000 feet in lush Himalayan on the scenically stunning Singalila Ridge bordering two national parks on the Nepalese-Indian border. Hills and mountain slopes are blanketed in rich temperate montane rain forests as far as the eye can see, with a delightful spring climate and medicinal fresh air. Here we will focus on observing the iconic Red Panda plus a multitude of sought-after Eastern Himalayan birds. Our base for eight nights is a delightfully comfortable Nepali style homestay nestled in forested foothills, offering excellent facilities and exceptional services. Better still, we will be smack dab within the stronghold of both Red Pandas and the incomparable Satyr Tragopan, plus a plethora of exciting and colorful Himalayan birds, with over 300 already recorded from the lodge. We certainly have lots to enjoy! Furthermore, a superb on-site blind and feeding station affords close-up viewing and offers wonderful photographic opportunities.

Surely one of the world's cutest animals is the endangered Red Panda. Hopefully we will enjoy multiple encounters with this iconic beauty. © Shantanu Prasad

Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 2 Our Himalayan base for eight nights at Habre’s Nest is a rustic but comfortable, delightful and intimate Nepali style homestay nestled into a true Himalayan paradise at 9,000 feet, bordering in the rich foothill of Tinchule. The lodge offers maximum comfort and flexibility for a spectacular Himalayan birding and experience, including awe-inspiring sunsets or amazingly clear, starry nights. There is simply no better place for encountering and observing one of the cutest and rarest on our planet—the charismatic Red Panda—as they are literally on our doorstep with an estimated 34 known by researchers from within the park! Panda researchers and biologists have been working on this endearing species for over a decade The exquisite male Satyr Tragopan © David Wolf and are incredibly knowledgeable. No one knows these endangered, once mythical, creatures as well as they do!

A magnificent spring view of Habre’s Nest perched on the forested Singalila Ridge © Shantanu Prasad

Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 3 The mighty Himalayan Range—with its giant spurs, Singalila and Chola—virtually encloses this region in a titanic horseshoe offering a magnificent setting. Starting from the plains of North Bengal, tangled interlacing ridges rise range after range to the foot of the great wall of high Himalayan peaks and passes opening into , Nepal, and . Balcony views from our lodge are truly breath- taking, and we can enjoy them sipping a nice afternoon cuppa tea!

Stunning Himalayan views of our private verandas with a nice hot cuppa tea! © Shantanu Prasad Our base offers easy access through these awe-inspiring forests, dripping with hundreds of orchid species, mosses, lichens, and thick . It is simply perfect for birding, especially for exciting mixed-species flocks. Mouth-watering Himalayan specialties simply abound.

The well-constructed bird blind and feeding station further add to our joy, offering great photographic opportunities at close range of several delightful forest species as Yellow-billed Blue-; an incredible line-up of —Spotted, Scaly, Striated and Chestnut-crowned; Golden Bush-Robin; Great Barbet; Blue Whistling-; Chestnut-headed Tesia; dazzling Golden- breasted Fulvetta; Hoary-throated Barbwing; Purple ; odd-looking Streak-breasted Scimitar- Babbler and several species of attractive rosefinch, ground dwelling accentors and more.

Our trip is ideally scheduled to visit the Himalayas at the best time of the year—early spring—when we will enjoy a delightful climate, with freshly arriving summer and altitudinal migrants joining the hardier resident species, and all found in vibrant breeding plumage! The dawn chorus will fill the forested hillsides and valleys with mystical calls and exotic beautiful songs. A few of the outstanding species we hope to see include Blood ; Hill ; Spot-bellied Eagle ; several colorful minivets; barbets; a myriad of marvelous songsters with “Old World Warblers” and thrushes; stupendously colorful chats, redstarts, rock thrush and even the flycatchers; interesting babblers (including colorful siva, minla and leiothrix); bulbuls; shrike-babbler; yuhina; forktails; delightfully pinkish rosefinch; accentors and bamboo loving parrotbills. Highlights will be many, and several outstanding stunners we hope for are Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Gould’s Shortwing, and Golden Bush-Robin. The exquisite Fiery-tailed Myzornis is certainly most sought after, plus an ` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 4 unprecedented number of up to nine wonderful laughingthrush (always a group favorite) including the fabulous Spotted and Black-faced laughingthrush!

We will simply love all the boldly marked laughingthrush like these two Black-faced Laughingthrush. © Shantanu Prasad

A further enchantment is that the montane forests will be ablaze with magnificent blooming and Magnolia groves. Roadsides and clearings carpeted in flowering primulas and

Hillsides are ablaze with blooming Rhododendron flowers offering nectar for sunbirds and others like this White-browed Fulvetta. © Shantanu Prasad Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 5 geranium offer a kaleidoscope of color—a botanist’s delight! In addition, mossy banks will be dripping with a multitude of exotic blooming orchids, adding an even more emphatic splash of color plus exotic fragrances!

These eastern Himalayan forests are twice as rich in their flora and fauna than the western Himalayas, thus rewarding us with a greater density of exciting bird and animals to seek, making for a truly memorable and stupendous trip. Birding will mostly be on foot along secluded jeep trails through enchanting montane forests of the Singalila Ridge; however, this will not be a really strenuous tour, so anyone in good health will be able to cope with this trip of a lifetime to the delightful Himalayan Cordillera of Nepal.

In addition to our wondrous birding in enchanting Nepal, we will also relish a day and a half birding in at two different sites. The forested lowlands of are home to the world-famous Darjeeling tea but also its renowned Latpanchar reserve, which hosts a superb lineup of over 250 bird species. These include a completely different and exciting set of birds for us. At the top of the list is a true mega, the localized and endangered Rufous-necked Hornbill. Other species of interest should include the odd crepuscular Black Baza raptor, tiny Collared Falconet, outrageous green pigeons, Asian Emerald , multicolored Long-tailed Broadbill, stupendous Red-headed Trogon, Sultan and Black-lored , Maroon Oriole and a colorful assortment of sunbirds, flowerpeckers, leafbirds, minivets and much more.

While in Delhi, our first afternoon will be an action-packed birding trip to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, which offers a wonderful introduction to India’s rich avifauna. Despite being within the bustling city, it is one of India’s Important Bird Areas (IBA), situated at a point where the Yamuna River enters the state of Uttar Pradesh. Here we will enjoy a wonderful mix of water birds, migrants and an interesting set of resident species. A few delightful species are possible: Indian (Peacock); Alexandrine Parakeet; Rufous ; Indian Gray Hornbill; Gray ; Spotted Owlet; Asian Koel; Great Coucal; Coppersmith, Lineated or Brown-headed barbet; (Asian) Green or Blue-tailed bee-eater and our first sunbirds, , wagtails, bulbuls, babblers, chats and “Old World Warblers.”

Okhla Bird Sanctuary abounds with wildfowl like this lovely Indian Spot-billed Duck. © Machiel Valkenburg

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April 8, Day 1: International Flight to New Delhi. Most flights from the United States connect with flights bound for New Delhi that typically arrive late in the evening. If time permits, we suggest arriving a day early to allow for potential flight delays and to be well rested. VENT will be happy to assist with additional lodging arrangements and transfers should you choose to arrive prior to April 9.

NIGHT: Aboard aircraft in transit to New Delhi

April 9, Day 2: Arrive in New Delhi. Upon arriving at New Delhi’s Indira Ghandi International Airport (airport code DEL), you will be met by a representative of our ground agent and transferred to our comfortable hotel where a room will be reserved in your name.

NIGHT: Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, New Delhi

April 10, Day 3: Afternoon Birding Okhla Bird Sanctuary. Few large cities can equal New Delhi in the number, variety and tameness of its birds. During the Palearctic spring, many wintering species further south are now migrating north through the , thus supplementing New Delhi’s resident bird fauna. New Delhi’s numerous parks, ruins, and gardens function as a huge man-made oasis for birds and other wildlife in an otherwise dry, semi-arid region. Hindu reverence for life also contributes to the approachability of so many birds.

This afternoon we will visit Okhla Bird Sanctuary, which offers a wonderful introduction to India’s avifauna. Even though within the bustling city, it is one of India’s Important Bird Areas (IBA), situated at a point where the Yamuna River enters the state of Uttar Pradesh. Despite its small size (1.5 square miles), the sanctuary contains an array of including thorny scrub, , reed beds, and marshy banks—all of which contribute to a sizeable bird list. The large number of water birds present should include Ruddy Shelduck, the lovely Indian Spot-billed Duck, Gray-headed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen and Bronze-winged Jacana. We may even be lucky and find Purple Heron, Oriental Darter, Red-naped or Black-headed ibis, and Painted or Black-necked storks. A diversity of migrant shorebirds may include Red-wattled Lapwing and Pied Avocet, while hunting Western Marsh-Harrier quarter the area. Scrub and forested areas may hold Indian Gray Hornbill, (Peacock), Gray Francolin, Spotted Owlet, Asian Koel, Great Coucal, Coppersmith or Lineated Barbet, or lovely (Asian) Green or Blue-tailed Bee-eater.

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A pair of cute (Asian) Green Bee-eaters © Machiel Valkenburg

Also possible are White-throated , Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, Rufous Treepie, Alexandrine Parakeet, Indian Golden Oriole, localized Striated Babbler, Purple Sunbird, Pied Bushchat, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Roller, Black , Citrine and Western Yellow wagtail plus a nice selection of warblers, weavers, and much more! In the grassy area, we may even be lucky and spot a group of wild Nilgai or Blue Bull, the largest Asian antelope and a near endemic.

NIGHT: Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, New Delhi

April 11, Day 4: Morning Flight from New Delhi to Bagdogra; Drive to the Himalayan Foothills Through Singalila National Park; Entering into Nepal and Our Home for the Next Week at Habre’s Nest. Following breakfast, we will transfer a short distance to the airport to catch our morning flight to the gateway of northeastern India and the mighty Himalayas, the city of Bagdogra in West Bengal state, famous for its Darjeeling tea and abundance of greenery. On arrival we will be picked up by our local ground agents and begin our transfer to Habre’s Nest, our Himalayan paradise home for the next eight nights! We’ll traverse rich lowlands with abundant tea estates, producing what’s often known as the world’s best aromatic tea, crossing several river bridges before arriving in Manebhanjan, where we meet our land rovers and enter Singalila National Park. We will drive up along the dirt road through these enchanting foothill forests for about two to two-and-a-half hours, keeping our eyes open on the way for the likes of two Himalayan , the crippling Satyr Tragopan or Khalij Pheasant, or maybe even our first Red Panda, finally arriving at the Singalila Ridge that separates state from Nepal and northern West Bengal state.

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A striking male in Singalila National Park © Shantanu Prasad

Some lucky groups in the past have even seen Leopard , Clouded Leopard or Golden Cat! We will deal with the simple formalities at this remote border crossing as we enter into delightful Nepal. Just across the road is the gate of our magical Himalayan paradise, Habre’s Nest homestay. The marvelous local Nepalese staff will give us a warm welcome and show us to our rooms. The scenic splendor of the Singalila Ridge and verdant foothill forests are truly breath-taking! The mountain ridge runs north-south for about 50 km, connecting the grand Himalaya of Nepal to India and running along the India-Nepal border from Mane Bhanjang to (and continuing into Sikkim). Clear days offer mouth-watering views of the mighty Himalayan chain stretching from Nepal to Sikkim and Bhutan.

Habre’s Nest Nepali style lodgings are as delightful as the lounge and bar. © Shantanu Prasad Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 9 The wonderful facilities at the homestay, which is constructed in a charming Nepali style (typical of the region), include four rooms, each with private bathroom with hot and cold running water, comfortable bedding, and eco- friendly fireplace. Balconies offer exceptional views over forested valleys to distant mountains, affording a stunning sunset view. Common areas include a heated lounge and bar, dining area, library, souvenir shop and power back-up. We will also enjoy the cuisine, a perfect blend of local food with a western touch. It is truly a heavenly place!

NIGHT: Habre’s Nest, Kaiakata

April 12-18, Days 5-11: Exploring the Rich Himalayan Forests in Singalila-Tinchule Reserves. Our trip is perfectly scheduled for a visit during the best time of the year—early spring! We can sit back and enjoy a delightful climate while freshly arriving summer and altitudinal migrants join the hardy resident birds. Better still, they are dressed up in their very best vibrant breeding colors! The dawn chorus will be tremendous, filling the forested hillsides and valleys with mystical calls and beautiful songs. One of the first species to join these magical daily dawn symphonies is the melodic voice of the gorgeous Blue .

The gorgeous © Shantanu Prasad

We will enjoy a superb week of fantastic birding while exploring outstanding species in rich Himalayan forests right at our doorstep! Concentrating our time between Singalila National Park and Tinchuley Forest on both sides of the border, we’ll focus on observing the iconic Red Panda (with professional Panda researchers and Panda trackers) and enjoy terrific birding throughout, with multitudes of sought-after Himalayan targets to keep us all very happy.

This area is a Himalayan birding mecca, with a seemingly endless list of potential magical gems. Simply abounding with exciting Himalayan birds, the lodge list already stands at over 300 species and is still growing!

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 10 We are wonderfully situated smack dab in the avian epicenter of the Eastern Himalayas, which are amazingly twice as rich in bird and species as sites in the Western Himalayas! Of the , the stunning Fire- tailed Myzornis is perhaps the most exciting and range restricted. However, we can look forward to many other gems from the skulking Gould’s Shortwing to the retiring and shy poorly-known Purple Cochoa with its odd melancholy voice, to the mind-blowingly colorful Golden-breasted Fulvetta we hope to encounter while sorting through many exciting mixed-species flocks. Typical of these extremely rich Eastern Himalayan forests is an outrageous diversity of laughingthrushes, with an exceptional nine species occurring here! Laughingthrushes are always a trip favorite—large and colorful—occurring in small, often very vocal parties with beautiful loud songs that the flock leader initiates and the group answers in a noisy chorus. We will have great opportunities to find them all, including the knockout Spotted, Blue-winged, Gray-sided, Striated, Scaly, Black-faced and gorgeous Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush.

Stunning delicate markings of the Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush © Shantanu Prasad

Our daily routine on most days will be to slowly bird along the secluded jeep tracks through the extensive, charming montane forests of the area after a fine early breakfast. Accompanied daily by our local expert bird guide and Red Panda researcher and expert panda trackers (armed with up-to-date information), we will set out to locate and enjoy hopefully multiple panda encounters with what surely has to be one of the world’s cutest and most distinctive animals. After each morning’s excursion, we will return to the lodge for a delightful home cooked meal, followed by a relaxed mid-day break before heading out again in the mid-afternoon to bird. We’ll return at dusk for dinner and enjoy going through the exciting day’s bird list.

Exploration will be mostly on foot along a dirt jeep trail through largely untouched, old-growth montane broadleaved evergreen forest, with significant areas of bamboo, secondary growth, and scrub. Waves of beautiful birds sweep by in mixed-species flocks while almost every turn in the road brings another surprise, including multiple rarely-seen and poorly-known Himalayan specialities. We certainly will be able to enjoy many exciting project birds too, in other words, skulkers living within the dense understory. With time on our hands, we will carefully entice many such wonderful surprises out for good views. Examples include incredibly snazzy sought- Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 11 after chats such as White-tailed Rubythroat, Himalayan Bluetail and Indian Blue Robin; tiny cupwings or babblers; and noisy bush-warbler to the wonderfully endearing Chestnut-headed Tesia—a true treasure!

Scenically delightful crystal-clear bubbling mountain streams dissect the dirt roads. This area is home to charming Brown Dippers and pairs of most cherished forktails, with three of these wonderfully distinct species to delight over: Little, Spotted and at lower elevations Slaty-backed forktail. We also will never get bored with the ever present Plumbeous Water Redstart or its close cousin the gorgeous White-capped Redstart, while various handsome flycatchers chase insects in sunlit glades at the forest edge.

Delightful montane streams fringed with bamboo hold a fascinating assortment of wanted birds. © Shantanu Prasad

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 12 On some days we will have an earlier pre-dawn breakfast followed by a drive to reach more distant higher altitude sites to enjoy the dawn among a different vegetation and that holds a delightful set of higher elevation species. Open rocky slopes hold mouth-watering Blue-fronted and White-throated redstarts or Blue- capped and Chestnut-bellied rock-thrush. The maximum elevation we will reach within the park to bird will be around 11,000 feet or 3,600 meters.

We will begin our first mornings birding, concentrating our search for the endearing Red Panda, of course, while enjoying a plethora of magical new birds along the way. These super cute and highly colorful animals are a true delight. Spending most of their lives up in trees, they are very agile and even have a furry foot pad to help walk effortlessly, even on icy branches, and they sleep aloft as well. Red Pandas are the size of a house cat, though their big, bushy tails add an additional 18 inches. The tail is used as a wraparound blanket, which helps in the chilly Himalayan weather, along with their double-layered fur, which also makes them waterproof and therefore incredibly well adapted to deal with harsh winter weather. When foraging, they are mostly a bamboo specialist and an individual can eat a staggering 20,000 leaves a day! To help with this task, they possess a unique extended wrist bone that functions almost like a thumb and greatly aids their grip to eat. They are normally solitary except when mating; however, oddly they use a common latrine, which (like a visitor’s log book) contains all the information about other users. Females give birth in the spring and summer, typically to one to four young. Young pandas remain in their nests for about 90 days, during which time their mother cares for them and they remain with her for 18-20 months. Males take little or no interest in their offspring.

A cute family group of Red Panda by the lodge with mum and her big cubs © Shantanu Prasad Despite their name, Red Pandas aren’t actually closely related to giant pandas, having given taxonomists fits. Currently, research published in 2000 in the journal Molecular and Evolution determined that Red Pandas are considered members of their own unique phylogenetic family—the . Taxonomic “infraorder” places them in a group with , (seals, sea lions, and ), raccoons, and mustelids Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 13 (, , , and ). When located, we will be able to enjoy some precious time observing this magnificent creature and their endearing behavior.

Spring in these forests means the slopes are often echoing with the loud, far sounding songs of freshly arrived , as males set up to proclaim their territories. The eastern Himalayas are the cuckoo’s epicenter and what an amazing selection awaits us here. We will adore hearing their distinctive, far carrying calls and hopefully locate several species, from Large Hawk-Cuckoo to Indian, Lesser and Common cuckoos to the distinctive Chestnut- winged Cuckoo.

Distinctive male Chestnut-winged Cuckoos often perch on exposed branches and sing. © Shantanu Prasad

The Himalayan broadleaf forests here are botanically diverse and exciting to explore with a great diversity of , and particularly magnolia, and include many endemic species including plants of Indomalayan, Indochinese, Himalayan, Eastern Asiatic and even Gondwanan origin. The trees are delightfully decorated by intriguing mosses, delicate lichens and orchids. In fact, there are incredibly over 600 varieties of orchid species in Singalila, the largest concentration in any single geographical area in the world! The forest understory is dominated by lush moss and large areas of bamboo thickets harboring some super cool bamboo specialists. These include much sought-after Slender-billed and White-browed Scimitar Babblers (the former with its amazing sickle shaped bill), the mind blowing Golden-breasted Fulvetta, two piculets (tiny ) and

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 14 of course groups of highly desired parrotbills, which are very well represented here with Great, Brown, Fulvous, commoner Gray-headed and Black-throated parrotbill.

Without doubt our prime avian target is an inconceivably beautiful pheasant, often considered to be one of the most beautiful birds in the world, the incomparable Satyr Tragopan! We stand an exceptionally high chance in these forests of seeing this mind-blowing dream bird for many! Being here during their breeding season is

An endearing pair of bamboo specialists – the Black-throated Parrotbill © Shantanu Prasad perfect timing. Male Tragopan are vocal at dawn, emitting their deep, far carrying, drawn-out call relentlessly within rhododendron thickets in an attempt to attract as many females as possible to their lek. Here the male conceals himself behind a rock or fallen log, waiting patiently for a passing female. When a potential mate wanders into view, he ambushes her. Twitching his head, he gradually exposes and inflates his retractable, fleshy, electric blue lappet, and erects and waggles his matching blue horns while beating his wings rhythmically, in synchrony with a series of vocal clicks, before rising to his full height, fanning his tail, stretching his wings downwards, and fluffing his crimson-colored feathers to their fullest. The male brandishes this wacky trio of now- you-see-them-now-you-don’t ornaments during his spectacular courtship display that is rooted heavily in the principle of ‘shock and awe.’ If the stunned female sticks around until the end of the show, the male will vault the obstacle and attempt to copulate.

You can be assured we will be paying special attention to try find this spectacular show, as there has been a known lek near the lodge some years. However, to observe such an incredible display, we will need a lot of great luck. To Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 15 see this mind-blowing bird, early mornings are our best chance for fabulous encounters with , as they often come out to forage on the quiet roads, and occasionally again in the late afternoons. Dawn and dusk are also wonderful times to be birding in the field and often are the best times for exciting mammal encounters. Species most frequently encountered during exploration of these heavenly forests are the delightful Yellow-throated Martin, small Barking Deer, Himalayan Orange-bellied Squirrel, and smaller Siberian .

The delightful Yellow-throated Martin is frequently seen. © Shantanu Prasad Dense vegetation bordering the jeep-tracks harbors such gripping birds as Golden Bush Robin, Rufous-throated Wren-Babblers, Broad-billed Warbler and several interesting skulky bush warblers too. We will always be on the lookout for the colorful eye-catching Fire- tailed Myzornis (in its own monotypic and tentatively placed in the Old World babbler), which often converge on flowering rhododendrons or tree-sap, sometimes in the company with the Fire-breasted Sunbird or flocks of blazingly colorful Mrs. Gould’s, Green -tailed or mega Fiery-tailed Sunbird.

The much sought-after, odd Fire-tailed Myzornis is a very unusual babbler. © Shantanu Prasad

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 16 Our dawn excursions to higher altitudes will be exhilarating as our land rovers exit broadleaf forests, which give way to distinct sub-alpine conifer habitat near the peak of . Here we will begin our search for several super cool higher elevation specialists, such as range-restricted Hoary-throated Barwings. Tree tops are home to Spotted Nutcrakers while the massive Himalayan Vulture glides by and vocal flocks overhead may be mobbing a Black or Mountain hawk-eagle. However, by far the most alluring inhabitant here is found within the forest understory, coming out to the edges to feed—the exquisite Blood Pheasant—often found in coveys where males outnumber the drabber females.

The alluring and exquisite Blood Pheasant © Shantanu Prasad

These forests also are home to Red Crossbills (a good split), delightful Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Hodgson’s Treecreeper and cool looking Gray-crested Tit. A fine array of thrushes forage on the forest floor and visit fruiting trees including the distinctive White-collared and Gray-winged blackbirds plus some smaller truly stunning skulky Zoothera species as rare and beautiful Orange-headed or odd Long-billed thrush. Though irregular in their occurrence, some other spectacular finches may also be found here, including sought-after Red-headed Bullfinch; colorful White-winged or Collared grosbeaks; rosefinches like Blanford’s, Dark-breasted and Dark-rumped; splendid Yellow-breasted Greenfinch; and incredible Scarlet, Crimson-browed and beautiful Gold-naped Finch. The more open areas can reveal several accentors, including Altai, Robin, Maroon-backed and Rufous-breasted accentor.

The sheer beauty of this dramatic landscape coupled with the vibrant colors of the surrounding forests is truly quite enchanting. Meanwhile, flocks of one of our fastest birds speed by the ridge—the huge White-throated Needletail. Another bonus on clear days is an outstanding Himalayan vista of four of the five highest peaks in the Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 17 world, including the mightiest of them all—Everest! These mountains, including Kanchenjunga or the Sleeping Buddha, Lhotse and Makalu, form the mighty backbone of the Himalayas, snow-capped year-round.

A stunning sunset view over the roof of the world of the magnificent Himalayas © Shantanu Prasad

At this time of the year around here, many species are only found in the large mixed-species flocks, where small birds can be surprisingly numerous and dominated by a variety of tits. Accompanying the various tits are likely to be a variety of noisy laughingthrushes, cuckoo-shrikes, minivets, shrike-babblers, sunbirds, nuthatches, yuhinas or fulvettas. However, with them we may also find Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail; various Phylloscopus warblers like Buff-barred, Ashy-throated plus striking Lemon-rumped warbler and Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler; colorful Himalayan Bluetail; and Red-tailed Minlas and Rufous-winged Fulvetta. Hopefully we can chase down the persistently calling diurnal owl—the cute looking Collared Owlet. Woodpeckers including Rufous-bellied and commoner Darjeeling hunt for beetles’ lava in tree trunks. Himalayan flycatchers abound; interestingly they are quite unlike the rather drab North American species. Here males are mostly a breathtakingly beautiful mix of two contrasting bold, bright colors and simply a joy to see. We can therefore look forward to enjoying various hues of blues, oranges, whites and turquoises with the likes of several stunners, namely Ultramarine, Sapphire, Verditer, and Blue-throated flycatcher, as well the stunning Large and Rufous-bellied niltavas (flycatchers too). We will fall in love with the colorful and perky chats as their diversity is also outstanding, and cripplers such as White- browed and Rufous-breasted bush-robins.

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This outstanding two-toned blue/orange combination is commonly found in many Himalayan birds like this magnificent male Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin. © Shantanu Prasad

We will certainly include a few exciting night excursions during our stay. Incredible starry nights along Singalila Ridge can be mind-blowing and hard not to enjoy! Hopefully we can encounter some cool , which could include the impressive and scarce Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl, Tawny Fish Owl, Brown Wood-Owl, or a Gray Nightjar or two. We’ll always be watching to encounter some eye- shine of a nocturnal mammal! We stand a fair chance of finding the smartly marked Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel, the largest of all flying squirrels. However, we will require much more luck to find the likes of a Leopard Cat, Himalayan Black , Indochinese Clouded Leopard, or Asian Golden Cat. All do occur here in small numbers and are seen infrequently by only a lucky few.

During our explorations we should enjoy encounters with some neat and maybe some amphibians too. Guaranteed will be many intriguing insects and colorful butterflies. Hopefully too, we will locate an active Giant Honey Bee nest which would give us a much better chance at the scare and poorly-known Yellow-rumped Honeyguide (famous in Africa for leading people or other mammals to bee hives), as it loves beeswax. It is most closely related to woodpeckers and oddly is a brood parasite here using barbets.

Constantly surrounded by such pristine habitat ensures many exotic and fascinating Himalayan plants and flowers for us to enjoy. This area boasts the greatest diversity of orchids on our planet (over 600 species) and spring is a prime blooming month Orchids abound, such as this spectacular show for them. We will definitely encounter many spectacular orchid from Rhynchostylis retusa © Shantanu Prasad species in flower! Commonly found here are Dendrobium, Pleione, and Coelogyne, to name a few genera. Many of these Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 19 Himalayan orchids have long been cultivated and improved for showiness and therefore are grown with many orchid specialists worldwide like this stunning Rhynchostylis photographed here in its natural habitat. It is related to the popular and fancy Vanda alliance, and its sweet lemony scent is also truly exceptional!

In addition, there is a super photographic blind on-site, affording a special chance of getting both amazing close views and unique images of some of the shier forest birds at close range. Interesting species recorded visiting the feeder and setup include Kalij Pheasant, Oriental Turtle-Dove, Great Barbet, boisterous Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Yellow-bellied Fairy Fantail, Blue Whistling-Thrush, White-collared Blackbird, White-browed Shortwing, Black Bulbul, Spotted and Scaly laughingthrushes, Rusty-cheeked and Slender-billed scimitar- babblers, White-browed and Golden-breasted fulvettas, and Common Rosefinch, amongst others. It is also a good spot to observe raptors such as Shikra, Besra or Crested Goshawk. Incredibly, sometimes even Red Panda or Tragopan have been observed here or in the lodge garden!

The fine looking Yellow-billed BlueMagpie is often seen at the feeding blind. © Shantanu Prasad

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A stunning male White-browed Shortwing © Shantanu Prasad

NIGHTS: Habre’s Nest, Kaiakata

April 19, Day 12: Leaving Habre’s Nest and Birding the Darjeeling Lowlands at Latpanchar Reserve. We’ll have an early start this morning for an exciting, action-packed day of birding. Reluctantly, we must leave our Himalayan paradise and say goodbye to our wonderful Nepalese hosts who have taken such exceptional care of us. Armed with picnic lunch, we’ll begin retracing our route, descending through the impressive forests, always keeping an eye open for any special mammals. One exciting birding stop is planned en route to try and find the extremely unique wren-size Spotted Elachura. This species hit the news when genetic studies in 2014 published evidence confirming it was in fact very distinct from any babblers (used to be called Spotted Wren Babbler). Apparently, it diverged early with no other close living relatives, leading to the creation of a new family, Elachuridae! So, for any of you collecting world bird families this is HOT! In this same area we should also look out for Himalayan Salamader.

On arrival in Mane Bhanjang, we will drive another two hours or so, keeping a look out along the way for wild Indian Elephant, which can still be encountered in this region. Also, amazingly, even Leopard still roams! The Latpanchar area is within the more extensive Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary (covers 160 km²). It contains delightful, mature foothill forest and is a birders’ paradise, offering us an exciting new set of birds.

Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 21 Birding will again be along another winding jeep track with minimal traffic through thick lush forests. Our main target here is the exceptional Rufous-necked Hornbill, endangered and extremely localized with a few pairs nesting here.

A majestic pair of Rufous-necked Hornbills at Latpanchar © Shatanu Prasad

The park is considered the most important bird watching sanctuary in Bengal, and the bird list is around 250 species, so we have many more delightful new species to look forward to. The bizarre sound (reminiscent of a chuffing steam train) will alert us to our close proximity to our target hornbills in flight, including the Great Hornbill. These forests are also home to another huge monster, this time in the form of a squirrel, the largest in the world up at to almost 2 feet—the lovely Malayan Giant Squirrel—mostly found in the canopy, and we really do hope to find it. Several interesting raptors here include the odd lethargic Black Baza and tiny Collared Falconet, both often perched around forest clearings, while Crested Serpent or Rufous-bellied Eagle are mostly encountered soaring over the forested valleys. Many special and The impressive Red-headed Trogon is another treasure here. © Shantanu Prasad dazzling sought-after birds await us

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 22 here. Colorful barbets are often well camouflaged in the greenery of the mid-story, like the Blue-throated and Blue-eared Barbet, most often heard long before seen. We will hope to encounter a group or pair of the odd looking Himalayan moving through the dead, moss covered branches above us or a boldly patterned Silver-eared Mesia. A few species that jump out of the pages at you are the bi-colored Blue-bearded Bee-eater, multi-colored Long-tailed Broadbill (which may still be in loose flocks) and the striking black-and-yellow Sultan Tit.

Flocks may also produce Gray Treepie, cuckoo-shrikes, Blue-capped Rock-Thrush, awesome Maroon Oriole, Rufous Sibia, White-bellied Erpornis or Gray-cheeked Warblers. Of course, another of the other highly sought- after species here is the impressive looking Red-headed Trogon. Due to its behavior, often silently perching motionless, hunting in the mid-story, means we will have to keep our eyes peeled for this true gem.

We’ll aim to arrive at our delightful hotel on a hill overlooking Siliguri in the early evening. The bustling town of Siliguri is located on the banks of the Mahananda River at the foothills of the Himalayas. We’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner and rest after a long exciting day of birding.

NIGHT: Sinclairs Hotel, Siliguri

April 20-21, Days 13-14: Morning Birding at Latpanchar with Afternoon Flight to New Delhi and Connections Homeward. Today we plan to arrive as early as possible back at Latpanchar for another excellent morning birding these fabulous forests, paying particular attention to any of the most-wanted species not encountered yesterday as well as new species such as the phenomenal-looking Common Green Magpie, Crested Kingfisher, and Asian Emerald Cuckoo. Green pigeons are the rock stars of the mid and upper reaches of the forest, including Pin-tailed, Thick-billed or Wedge-tailed green pigeon, while Emerald Dove are mostly terrestrial. These deep woods are home to skulkers like both Slaty-bellied and Gray-bellied tesias; even Indian or Blue-naped Pitta is rarely found here, while in the mid-story Orange- bellied Leafbird, Hairy-crested Drongo, Striated Spiderhunter, several dazzling minivets, Crimson or Purple sunbirds and spiffing woodpeckers such as both Greater and Lesser Yellownape, Lesser and Greater Goldenbacks to the magical Velvet-fronted Nuthatch are often in mixed-species flocks.

We’ll arrive back at our hotel by late morning with time to shower before lunch. Midafternoon we will transfer the short distance to Bagdogra airport to catch our Exotic colored Common Green Magpie © Shantanu Prasad afternoon flight returning to New Delhi. On arrival we will be met by Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 23 a representative of our ground agent and transferred to the Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport. Transfers will be provided for flights late tonight or on April 21.

NIGHT (April 20): Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, New Delhi

TOUR SIZE: This tour will be limited to 8 participants.

TOUR LEADERS: Andrew Whittaker and a local guide

Andrew Whittaker, a senior member of the VENT staff, has led VENT tours since 1993 throughout South and Central America, Antarctica, Europe, Israel, and, more recently, . His birding passion began at the early age of seven (thanks to his father), but he is also a true all-around naturalist. Andy immensely enjoys sharing his bird knowledge and fascination for all other aspects of the natural world in a really fun way. Andy was born in England; however, he considers himself Brazilian, having lived more than 30 years in this mega biodiverse country, first working for the Smithsonian Institution, studying Amazonian rainforest birds in Manaus. Andy is a qualified ringer/bander trained by the late Dr. Clive Minton (famously known as the father of shorebird/wader studies). A lifelong fascination with has seen Andy working around the globe at several top bird observatories: Eilat, Israel; Long Point, Canada; and in the UK at Sandwich Bay and on Fair Isle, Scotland. Andy is well recognized for his passionate and intimate knowledge of bird vocalizations and , which has enabled him to discover several new species (such as the Cryptic Forest-Falcon in 2002) and rediscover others thought to be extinct. He is an excellent communicator and tour organizer and loves nothing better than finding and sharing a rare skulker, or telling one of his many fascinating bird stories. Andy had the honor of working with Sir David Attenborough as a consultant for the prestigious BBC Life of Birds series. He is widely considered an authority on Amazonian birds, having authored numerous technical publications on the region’s avifauna. At present, Andy is working with Kevin Zimmer on a comprehensive field guide to the birds of Brazil to be published by Princeton University Press. Andy is an associate researcher at the Museum Goeldi, Belem and an active conservationist. He loves photography (with many of his images being used in books) and is an avid football fan of Birmingham City FC and an orchid lover. Andy lives with his partner in life, Jaqueline, and their , Mozart, in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil.

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the tour is $5,795 per person in double occupancy from Delhi. This includes all meals from lunch on Day 3 to dinner on Day 13, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, ground transportation during the tour, internal airfare, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Delhi and return, airport departure taxes, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small-party supplement may have to be charged.

The single supplement for this tour is $2,100. You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodations, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you. NOTE: Single rooms cannot be guaranteed at Habre’s Nest. If a single room is not available, this portion of the single supplement will be refunded to you following the tour.

REGISTRATION & DEPOSIT: To register for this tour, please contact the VENT office. The deposit for this tour is $1,000 per person. If you prefer to pay your deposit using a credit card, the deposit must be made with MasterCard, Visa, or American Express at the time of registration. If you would like to pay your deposit by check, money order, or bank transfer, your tour space will be held for 10 days to allow time for the VENT office to receive your deposit and completed registration form. The VENT registration form (available from the VENT office or by download at www.ventbird.com) should be completed, signed, and returned to the VENT office.

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 24 PAYMENTS: All tour payments may be made by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express), check, money order, or bank transfer (contact the VENT office for bank transfer information). These include initial deposits, second deposits, interim payments, final balances, special arrangements, etc. Full payment of the tour fee is due 150 days prior to the tour departure date (November 9, 2020).

MEDICAL EVACUATION INSURANCE REQUIREMENT: This tour visits remote locations where immediate access to primary medical care may NOT be available. For this reason, travel insurance which covers you for emergency evacuation is required for participation on this tour. This coverage is included in the Ripcord Rescue Travel InsuranceTM program. Through Ripcord, “emergency evacuation” can be purchased as a stand-alone benefit or as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you choose not to purchase insurance through Ripcord, you are required to obtain it through another provider.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS: Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 180 days or more before the tour departure date, a cancellation fee of $500 per person will be charged unless the deposit is transferred to a new registration for another VENT tour that will operate within the next 12 months, in which case the cancellation fee will be $100 per person. If cancellation is made between 179 and 151 days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 150 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre- and post-tour extensions. For your protection, we strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance that covers trip cancellation/interruption.

If you cancel: Your refund will be: 180 days or more before departure date Your deposit minus $500* 179 to 151 days before departure date No refund of the deposit, but any payments on the balance will be refunded 150 days or less before departure date No refund available

*Unless the deposit is transferred to a new registration for another VENT tour that will operate within the next 12 months, in which case the cancellation fee will be $100 per person. To qualify, cancellation must occur 180 days or more before departure date; deposit transfers must be made at the time of cancellation; and one transfer per deposit.

Upon cancellation of the transportation or travel services, where you, the customer, are not at fault and have not cancelled in violation of the terms and conditions of any of the contract for transportation or travel services, all sums paid to VENT for services not received by you will be promptly refunded by VENT to you unless you otherwise advise VENT in writing. This policy does not apply to air tickets purchased through VENT or to any special arrangements, such as additional hotel nights, that fall outside the services described in the tour itinerary.

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond issued by Travelers in the amount of $50,000. CST #2014998-50.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: To safeguard against losses due to illness, accident, or other unforeseen circumstances, we strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as soon as possible after making a deposit. VENT has partnered with Redpoint Resolutions as our preferred travel insurance provider. Through Redpoint, we recommend Ripcord Rescue Travel InsuranceTM. Designed for all types of travelers, Ripcord is among the most highly regarded travel insurance programs available.

Critical benefits of Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance include a completely integrated program with a single contact for emergency services, travel assistance, and insurance claims; medical evacuation and rescue services from your point of injury or illness to your hospital of choice; comprehensive travel insurance for trip cancellation/interruption, primary medical expense coverage, and much more. Waiver for pre-existing conditions is available but must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit. Optional expanded insurance coverage is available and includes items such as security evacuation coverage in case of a natural disaster or other Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 25 security events, and a “Cancel for Any Reason” clause (must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit). Ripcord is available to U.S. and non-U.S. residents.

For a price quote, or to purchase travel insurance, please visit: ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com/ventbird; or click the Ripcord Rescue Travel InsuranceTM logo on our website (click Help and Trip Insurance); or call 1- 415-481-0600. Pricing is based on age, trip cost, trip length, and level of coverage.

EXCHANGE RATE SURCHARGES: In the erratic global financial markets of today, it is difficult to predict foreign currency exchange rates over the long term or at the time of operation of a tour or cruise departure. Tour prices are based upon the rate of exchange at the time of itinerary publication. If exchange rates change drastically, it may be necessary to implement a surcharge. If a surcharge is necessary, every effort will be made to minimize the amount. In many cases, these additional foreign exchange rate surcharges are passed to VENT by its vendors and suppliers.

FUEL AND FUEL SURCHARGES: In the uncertain, often volatile oil market of late, it is difficult – if not impossible – to predict fuel costs over the long term, and more specifically, at the time of operation of this departure. Our prices are based upon the prevailing fuel rates at the time of itinerary publication. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if the fuel rates increase significantly, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.

AIR INFORMATION: Victor Emanuel Travel is a full-service travel agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). Victor Emanuel Travel will be happy to make any domestic or international air travel arrangements from your home and return. Please feel free to call the VENT office to confirm your air arrangements. Please be sure to check with the VENT office prior to purchasing your air ticket to confirm that the tour is sufficiently subscribed to operate. VENT cannot be responsible for any air ticket penalties.

BAGGAGE: The airlines now strictly enforce baggage regulations. Excess baggage charges, which can be substantial, are the personal responsibility of each participant. Please consult your airline to find out specific weight restrictions. Due to ever-changing circumstances in the government’s attempts to improve airport security we recommend that you check the website of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the most updated information: http://www.tsa.gov/.

CLOTHING: Casual is the order of the day. Hard wearing, easy to wash-and-dry field clothes are ideal. Participants are advised to bring as many clothes with them as they need to stay warm in cold early morning and night temperatures. Participants should bring layers rather than one or two large items. Sturdy, rainproof jackets and pants are strongly recommended, in addition to a warm sweater and warm jacket or vest (down or synthetic).

Other items that are recommended include a warm head-covering such as a fleece or knit hat, or balaclava, in addition to a regular birding hat, gloves and scarf or neck gaiter. Many of our participants have found silk, wool or synthetic thermal long underwear very handy for the cool nights and early mornings. You may not need all of this cold-weather gear, but it is far better to be prepared in case you should.

Sunglasses are very useful (occasionally essential) at higher elevations. Thick socks that absorb perspiration and cushion one’s feet from hard surfaces are important. It is also useful if the socks are long enough so that the bottom of your pants can be tucked inside your socks.

Special Note: Please, absolutely no bright colors for your field gear. Although the birds and other wildlife are relatively approachable, we will be trying to see a number of very elusive species. Muted colors are essential to enhance our chances. Please do not wear brightly colored clothes, hats, gloves, bags, or other paraphernalia. Furthermore, if you can avoid crackling nylon/plastic jackets and pants, this will greatly enhance everyone’s enjoyment of the trip and enable the leader to hear those critical, but so easily overlooked, subtle call notes of the birds you want to see.

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 26 FOOTWEAR: Sturdy hiking boots are essential; sneakers or sports type shoes are not appropriate, as the ground will be wet at times. Wellington (rubber) boots are not really necessary if your hiking boots are rated “water-resistant,” and add a lot of extra weight to your baggage, but you may choose to bring them. A good walking shoe (such as an athletic shoe), may be preferred when not in the field and for our afternoon birding the park in Delhi.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This very special Himalayan tour will provide the best foothill forest birding from an extremely comfortable onsite lodge. However, it will be undoubtedly intensive in the sense that every day we will be in the field, often walking at a leisurely pace or driving. Daybreak is around 5:00 a.m. at this time of year, and we will therefore have very early starts (often at 5:00 or 5:30) in order to catch the best of the early morning birding. This is often THE time to see such spectacular pheasants as Satyr Tragopan and Blood Pheasants showing well. Lunch will be a leisurely time, mostly at the lodge; however, on a few days we may have a picnic lunch in the field. These are very enjoyable affairs with often a view to die for and always birds to see. We will of course certainly concentrate on the specialties, but so few are the opportunities to see many Himalayan birds elsewhere that most species will be “specialties” for most participants, and we will enjoy them all. At some moments we will hear many species but it will take quite some patience and time to finally get an open view of those difficult to see species. On the other hand, the birding can be overwhelming as well with flocks containing up to 30 species of birds in one singular flock! Our birding in Delhi is very relaxed and easy along flat trails in the park.

ALTITUDE: Most days we will be birding ascending gradually from our lodge at 9,000 feet. However, we will drive up to a couple of the higher passes and enjoy exciting higher altitudinal species at a maximum of 11,000 feet, and we will plan our activities with the thin air in mind (e.g., mostly birding gentle slopes or down the road). There may be a few optional, short, energetic activities, but those who don’t undertake these will still be in the midst of birds. Most ascents will be by vehicle, and we will then work a given area by walking downhill; however, there will be rare times when we may opt to walk uphill in search of something that is calling. We will almost always be along a road on easy grades.

LAUNDRY SERVICE: There is no laundry service at Habre’s Nest (and ecologically it is not at all good to use detergents at this remote site). In India however, it will be available for an extra charge. Please be aware that while laundry service is good, it can be expensive if required for same day return.

EQUIPMENT: One of the most important aspects of having an enjoyable travel experience is being prepared with proper equipment. The following items will come in handy during your trip:  A small backpack/daypack – good for carrying extra clothing, field guides, supplies, and optical equipment during all excursions.  Flashlight or head lamp  Notebooks and pens  Travel alarm clock  Polarized sunglasses with good UV protection  Sunscreen, lip balm, skin lotions  Personal toiletries  Cameras, lenses, memory cards, and extra batteries  Umbrella: The collapsible type is easy to carry and useful both against any rain and sun  Collapsible walking stick – a highly recommended item for those who have trouble walking  Folding stool – a recommended item for those who have trouble standing for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time. The typical folding stool is small, lightweight and portable, consisting of three aluminum legs connected by a central bolt, with a sturdy but pliable material seat.  Tissue packs  Extra pairs of glasses or contact lenses

Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 27 BINOCULARS & SPOTTING SCOPES:

Binoculars – We strongly recommend good binoculars of at least 7x35, 8x42, 10x40, or 10x42 magnification. We recommend that you do NOT bring mini-binoculars of any kind. Some people like “minis” because they are small and lightweight, but they have an extremely small field of view and very poor light-gathering power. Trying to find a bird in your binoculars using minis is like trying to read a book through a keyhole. You will be very frustrated, and even if you do manage to get the bird in your binoculars before it flies, you will have a poor view. You will find that 7x35 or 8x42 binoculars are compact and light enough.

Spotting Scopes – Your tour leaders will have scopes available for group use throughout the trip, but if you have one and wish to bring it, please feel free to do so.

Camera: You should bring all of the camera equipment, batteries, and digital storage media that you will need, as these would be almost impossible to obtain once we depart New Delhi. Nearly everyone brings too few batteries and too little digital storage media, and this causes some distress. Note batteries can be recharged at Habre’s Nest at night when the generator is on. PLEASE bring loads (we cannot emphasize this enough). UV and polarizing filters are recommended, especially at higher elevations where glare can be a problem. Plastic bags are very useful to protect equipment from rain and dust. A really good flashlight or headlamp is essential, so please ensure that yours is in good working order and that you have spare bulbs and batteries. A spare flashlight or headlamp may come in handy. Couples should bring one flashlight or headlamp each.

CLIMATE & WEATHER: This trip will take place during the early spring, when the weather should be delightful; however, weather conditions will vary markedly from Nepal and our few days in India. Therefore, you should be prepared to encounter a marked diversity of weather. Around Delhi, early April is considered to be the most pleasant time to visit as the temperatures are not too hot yet and rarely rains. However, we may likely experience warm, to hot afternoon birding with sunny conditions around the mid-80s, dropping to a pleasant to low 70s at night, while our last days birding around Siliguri should be cool and pleasant early, warming up to the low 70s and dropping at night to the low 60s. We do not expect rain here with mostly sunny days.

In Nepal at our lovely Himalayan foothills base of Habre’s Nest at the time of our visit in April, spring in general should be delightful climate. However, we will encounter a wide range of temperatures from day to night! Also— in these foothills—weather can change quickly. Temperatures range from daytime highs in the mid-60’s, falling down to the low 40’s at night. Our rooms have good insulation and individual heating, and hot water bottles are provided for nighttime comfort as well. So, for weather, be prepared for sunny days but cold and damp early morning (maybe with some mist) and evening. There is a slight possibility of even some late snow falls, and almost certainly some rain. There may also be occasional hot conditions with very bright sunshine, which typically in the mountains (because of the increased radiation) causes sunburn more readily than one often realizes.

EXTRAS AT HABRE’S NEST: Credit cards are not accepted, so please bring cash for any alcoholic drinks or souvenirs in either Nepalese Rupee or Indian Rupee.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Electricity − Both Nepal and India use 220 volts, 50 cycles, AC. Electricity will be available for charging your batteries at all lodgings (although at Habre’s Nest it is only provided at night by generator).

Internet – Wi-Fi connections are not available in Nepal; however, in case of an emergency Habre’s Nest can offer limited Wi-Fi and telephone services down the road in a small hamlet. In both of the hotels in India Wi-Fi is available and generally works well. Cell phone connections are also generally reliable, sometimes even in surprising places in the countryside.

Language ̶ In Nepal, the official language is Nepali. In India, Hindi, English and 14 other languages are spoken.

` Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 28 Currency ̶ In Nepal it’s the Nepalese Rupee, while in India the Indian Rupee. Please take note to change cash in Delhi as after we depart Delhi, we have no opportunity.

Time – Nepal & India are 10 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Snacks ̶ It is advisable to bring some protein or granola-type bars, dried fruit and nuts or other snacks, as snacks are not always available. Most of our meals will be traditional Nepali style (adapted to our western likings) and you may find yourself wanting “a little extra variety” at times.

Bug juice – Everyone will need insect repellent to deal with the odd occasion that we encounter biting black flies or mosquitos (actually, the latter are almost completely lacking). Leeches are very unlikely as most of our birding is from the roads, but tight socks and tucked-in trousers are the best defense against them.

DOCUMENTS: A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date, with at least three blank pages, is required for United States citizens to enter Nepal and India. Visas are required for both countries. At the time of publication, the Nepal 15-day tourist visa cost is $30, and application is available online: http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa

The India visa must be obtained prior to departure, and can be obtained online: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

For further information, you may wish to contact the India consulate nearest you or Travel Document Systems (www.pinnacletds.com/vent on the web or 888-838- 4867 by phone), a company which handles visa procurement. Non-United States citizens should check with their consulate/embassy for instructions.

SUGGESTED READING: A number of traditional booksellers and online stores list excellent inventories of field guides and other natural history resources that will help prepare you for this tour. We recommend www.amazon.com which has a wide selection; www.buteobooks.com and www.nhbs.com which specialize in ornithology and natural history books; and www.abebooks.com for out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.

Birds: Grimmet, Richard and Carol and Tim Inskipp, Birds of India: , Nepal, , Bhutan, , and the Maldives. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, Second Edition, 2012. It covers all of the birds we are likely to see.

Beebe, W. Pheasant Jungles. Reading: World Pheasant Association, 1994. An interesting general read as we will be targeting some of the greatest species: blood, Kaliji and incomparable Satyr Tragopan!

Mammals: Gurung, K.K. and Raj Singh. Field Guide to the Mammals of the Indian Subcontinent. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press, 1998.

Menon, Vivek. Field Guide to Indian Mammals. Helm Field Guides. Helm Publishing, 2009. An excellent and complete resource on the mammals of India by one of the country’s top wildlife biologists. Highly recommended.

Prater, S.H. The Book of Indian Animals (Mammals). Bombay: Bombay Natural History, 1971. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of most, if not all, the animals inhabiting the Indian Subcontinent. A fairly easy book to obtain in India, if it’s not available near your home.

Reptiles: Daniel, J.C. The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Nepal: Himalayan Paradise, Page 29 Whittaker, R. and Captain, A. Snakes of India The Field Guide. Tamil Nadu: Draco Books, 2004.

TIPPING: Tipping (restaurant staff, porters, drivers, local guides) is included on VENT tours. However, if you feel one or both of your VENT leaders or any local guides have given you exceptional service, it is entirely appropriate to tip these can be in US$. We emphasize that tips are not expected and are entirely optional. Tips should be given directly to your tour leader; they should not be sent to the VENT office.

RESPONSIBILITY: Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. (VENT) and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. VENT and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. Where this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The prices of the tours are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect on May 13, 2020, and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner's risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The services of any I.A.T.A.N. carrier may be used for these tours, and transportation within the United States may be provided by any member carrier of the Airline Reporting Corporation.

NEP:20210409 05/15/20-AW 05/15/20-MA/RS

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