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Home , Aegithalos, Assam laughingthrush, Barwing, Bay woodpecker, Beautiful sibia, Bengal bush lark

We had great views of the endearing Golden-breasted Fulvetta (Hannu Jännes).

ULTIMATE NORTHEAST

31 MARCH / 2 - 23 APRIL 2019

TOUR LEADERS: HANNU JÄNNES

This year’s Birdquest epic 24 day tour to the remote northeast corner of the was very successful and amassed nearly 500 . The pre-tour extension to the Khasi Hills of proved a good start with both Dark-rumped Swift and Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler. The grasslands and semi- deciduous of Orang National Park produced a magnificent Tiger and a pair of Brown Fish , and from the Himalayan middle lands to the snowy heights of the Dirang Region, we enjoyed Snow , Blood , Himalayan , Black-tailed Crake, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, the first Naumann’s for India, a big movement of Fire-tailed Sunbirds and many gorgeous Grandalas. The magnificent Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary never disappoints, and we saw such gems as Rufous-necked Hornbill, Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Ward’s Trogon, , Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous-

1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate www.birdquest-tours.com throated and Long-billed Wren-Babblers, Wedge-billed Babbler and Bugun . Briefly side tracking into Nagaland was rewarded with Yellow-throated Laughingthrush, a Birdquest lifer, whilst at the world famous we were rewarded with Indian Grassbird, Slender-billed Babbler, Finn’s Weaver, Swamp and Greater Adjutant. The Assam Plains close to the Dibru Saikhowa National Park and mosaic of the floodplains on route to Roing brought us Bristled Grassbird, Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers, and Black-breasted . In the remote Mishmi Hills we tracked down, amongst many other eastern Himalayan specialties, Sclater’s Monal, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler, Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler, and Gould’s and Rusty-bellied Shortwings. The tour ended with a short visit to Digboi oilfields, where we were entertained by a gorgeous Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. Mammals are also an important part of this tour and we had great encounters with Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer, Asian (or wild Water) Buffalo and Red Goral amongst many others.

Mammals are also an important part of this tour and we had great encounters with Indian Rhinoceros.

The journey began with a pre-tour extension to the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, where we based ourselves in a comfortable guest house close to Cherrapunjee. After securing our first target , the range restricted and little-known Dark-rumped Swift at a scenic waterfall, we ate a quick lunch in a local restaurant before heading out again. The next target bird was Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler, which we located easily in scrub and along a side-track, but then getting acceptable views of it for everyone was another matter altogether! Whilst chasing the wren-babbler a massive rainstorm with heavy thunder hit and forced us indoors for almost the remainder of the day. Bad news as we only had one afternoon and one morning scheduled for Meghalaya.

It was still raining when we woke early the next morning, but luckily the sky started to clear up and we were back in business. A busy morning in the Cherrapunjee area yielded a few more Tawny-breasted Wren- Babblers, Flavescent Bulbuls, Mountain Tailorbird, a couple of Black-throated Prinias (of the khasiana, a future split from the nominate subspecies, which occurs north of Brahmaputra) and Grey Sibias among other commoner species. Later we stopped at the Shillong ridge but didn’t see a great deal as it was already late in the day and the had gone quiet. According to the itinerary we were to drive back to

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Guwahati for the night and pick up the rest of the group for the main tour from the airport next morning, but, as there were no more participants joining in Guwahati, we decided to drive directly to Tezpur for the night as this would give us a chance to hit the Orang NP the next morning, instead of the afternoon visit as scheduled.

Fire-tailed Sunbird along the Phudung road near Dirang (Hannu Jännes).

We reached the gates of Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, close to the in the Assam plains, early in the morning, and saw interesting birds such as Black Baza, Plaintive and Indian Cuckoos, Common Hawk-Cuckoo and a Blue-bearded Bee-eater entering its nest hole on a bank of a shallow ditch, before being allowed to drive inside the park at 07.30. A miniature version of the better known Kaziranga, the site is dominated by open and semi-open grasslands that are managed primarily for the protection of the endangered Indian Rhinoceros. During our morning safari we explored various of the national park spending most of our time scanning the vast grasslands. The absolute highlight of the morning was a male Tiger spotted by Romney, which provided us with prolonged scope views and even showed us Tiger hunting techniques. However, on this occasion the Hog Deer it chased was way too fast for it! The best birds of the drive were Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, a pair of Brown Fish Owls, several Asian Barred Owlets, two Brown Hawk-Owls, Grey-capped Pygmy and Fulvous-breasted , Lesser Yellownape, Black-rumped and Greatear Flamebacks, two White-rumped Shamas and an Abbott’s Babbler. On the way back to Tezpur we had a roadside stop where we saw Pacific Golden Plovers, Bengal Bushlark and Richard’s and Paddyfield Pipits.

After an overnight stay at a hotel in Tezpur, we headed into . Due to the ongoing massive road construction project along the traditional route to Dirang via Bhalukpong, we chose another, much less used route via Balemu and Rupa. Despite the long drive we made time for birding along the way, and during the day we had a good selection of East Himalayan birds at various altitudes. The birding highlights were a very vocal and showy Yellow-vented Warbler, great views of two Black-tailed Crakes at a minuscule roadside marsh, a male Pygmy Flycatcher, Golden Bush Robin, the only Ashy Bulbuls, Black-chinned Yuhinas, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch and Crested Kingfisher of the trip, and a Long-billed Plover on a stony riverside.

With only two full days at our disposal in the Dirang region, it was not possible to wait for the ideal weather conditions to visit the lofty Se La pass at 4170m asl. As we began our high-altitude assault at 03.30 the next morning, the conditions, with heavy cloud cover, were less than ideal, but luckily, when we got close to the pass, the clouds became thinner and we even enjoyed long periods of sunshine during the day. We were extremely lucky with most of the target birds during the early morning and saw a magnificent pair of Blood

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Pheasants, a male (with great scope views), and a group of three very close Snow all before seven am! Later in the day we had really brilliant close-up views of Grandalas, which included many shiny blue males, Snow Pigeons, Red-billed Chough, Eurasian Wren, Alpine Thrush, Alpine Accentors, White-browed Bush Robin, Hodgson’s and White-throated Redstarts, Fire-tailed Sunbird, White- winged Grosbeak, Brandt’s Mountain Finches and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches. Unfortunately, the Solitary Snipe we managed to find was very skittish and gave only fleeting glimpses for some. In the afternoon, on our way back to Dirang, we managed to add Little Forktail, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Laughingthrush and Arunachal Macaque on our list.

We had great views of Snow Partridge at Sela Pass (Hannu Jännes).

The next site in the Dirang region, was Mandala and Phudung Roads, with their wide-ranging elevations and associated habitats, where we spent one full day and one morning. The cool upper levels with mixed , and coniferous forests yielded Spotted Nutcracker, Yellow- billed Blue Magpie, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-fronted Bushtit, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Brown-throated (or Ludlow’s) Fulvetta, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Hume’s and Grey-sided Bush Warblers, Spotted Laughingthrush, and Rufous-vented and Stripe-throated Yuhinas. In addition, in a small clearing there was an amazing collection of thrushes, which included Alpine, several White-collared, a single Chestnut, five Black-throated, one Dusky and three birds showing a suite of Naumann’s Thrush features. Later I learned that two of these Naumann’s birds were considered intermediates between this species and Dusky Thrush, but one of them was deemed to be ‘pure’ Naumann’s Thrush and represented the first documented record of the species for India! In an area of flowering , we managed to locate, after much searching, a beautiful Fire- tailed Myzornis, and the same area also held a large number, we estimated at least one hundred, Fire-tailed Sunbirds. Lower elevations of the Mandala road gave us Crimson-breasted and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers, Blyth’s and Green Shrike-Babblers, Slender-billed Oriole, Eurasian Jay, Russet Bush Warbler, White-tailed Nuthatch, Tickell’s Thrush, Grey-winged Blackbird, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher,

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Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, a flock of six Spot- winged Grosbeaks, and Yellow-breasted Greenfinches.

Rufous-fronted Bushtit along the Phudung road (Hannu Jännes).

From Dirang we drove to Lamacamp in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for a two night stay, stopping on route at a cliff face, where we saw a splendid Yellow-rumped Honeyguide and a riverside with a family party of Brown Dippers. Then we began to search for our main target, the recently discovered endemic Bugun Liocichla. It was hard work this year, and things were not made any easier by the very unusual local conditions, which included a mad Mithun bull, a kind of massive cow, that forced us to leave the key area on our first morning, the elephant herd with a small baby in the same area on the second morning, and heavy rain with thunder that hammered down on us for the most part of our only full day in the Lamacamp area. In the end, however, we managed views of two Bugun moving around in a flock of Rusty-fronted Barwings. In addition, we found a good selection of other target species with an amazing Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Rufous-throated and Long-billed Wren-Babblers, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, White-breasted Parrotbill, three Fire-tailed Myzornis, Red-headed Bullfinches and Gold-naped Finches.

From Lamacamp we continued into the heart of the wildlife sanctuary in foggy, and sometimes rainy, weather. Along the way to Bompu Camp roadside stops brought us, amongst others, a pair of fine Ward’s Trogon, a confiding pair of Black-headed Shrike-Babblers, close views of Streak-throated (or Grey-breasted) Barwings (of the form daflaensis) and Broad-billed Warbler. After settling in at Bompu Camp, we had time to explore our surroundings and found a nice male Red-throated Thrush.

The next day we explored the forests all the way down to Khellong and beyond. The morning was again rather rainy and the going was pretty slow, but we still managed some good birds including , Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbills, Rufous , Grey-chinned Minivet, White-bellied Erpornis, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Sultan Tit, Yellow-bellied, Rufous-faced, Grey- cheeked and White-spectacled Warblers, Long-tailed Sibia, Striated Yuhina, Scaly Thrush, Beautiful Nuthatch giving great scope views, White-gorgeted and Pale Blue Flycatchers, Large and Small Niltavas and Black-throated Sunbird. Back in rainy Bompu Camp in the afternoon we searched nearby gullies, and soon located a Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, one of the key species of this region. To our surprise the bird behaved extremely well staying out in the open for several minutes, and even giving good scope views for all of us. In the evening we received information that the national election would effectively close all the main roads in Arunachal Pradesh starting in the afternoon of the next day and lasting at least till the evening of the following day. This forced us to re-schedule our itinerary and leave the Eaglenest area one day earlier than planned, as by staying we would have risked our already short time in Kaziranga.

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We had brilliant close-up views of Grandalas at Sela pass (Hannu Jännes).

Beautiful Sibia is a common sight in the Rhododendron scrub (Hannu Jännes).

Next morning saw us back on the slopes below Bompu, where a couple of hours early morning birding produced a very showy Bay Woodpecker, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Golden Babbler, a pair of Slender-billed Scimitar Babblers, yet another Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler and a nice male White-tailed Robin. Typically, now as it was time to leave, the weather was brilliant, and very active birds were all around us! The rest of the day was spent travelling, but we still managed to squeeze in a couple of short birding stops with two Fire-

6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Northeast India www.birdquest-tours.com tailed Myzornis, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide and a magnificent flock of nine Great Hornbills. We reached our comfortable resort on the outskirts of Kaziranga rather late in the evening after a numbing 12-hour drive.

Asian Elephant in Kaziranga NP (Hannu Jännes).

We now had two full days in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park visiting the Central and Western Ranges in our open-topped vehicle, and spending time birding around our resort. Mammals are a prominent feature of this World Heritage Site, and we had no difficulty in getting multiple sightings of the ‘big four’, namely Asian Elephant, Indian Rhinoceros, Barasingha (or Swamp Deer), and Asian Buffalo. Other interesting mammals included Hoary-bellied Squirrel, several Smooth-coated Otters, Hog Deer and a single Sambar. On the birding front there was the usual array of storks in good numbers, including at least 10 rare Black-necked Storks, and Greater and Lesser Adjutants, while raptors included Pallas’s and Grey-headed Fish Eagles, Slender-billed and Himalayan Vultures and a male Pied Harrier. A total of six Swamp foraged in an open grassy area and we also sighted Indian Stone-curlew, Green Imperial Pigeon, several Lesser Coucals and Green-billed Malkohas, a co-operative Dusky Eagle-, couple of Stork-billed Kingfishers, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Streak-throated Woodpecker, a good selection of parakeets including the only Blossom-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets of the tour, Striated Swallows, Dusky Warblers, a Thick-billed Warbler, many Striated Grassbirds and Chestnut-capped Babblers, the scarce Indian Grassbird, Striated and Slender-billed Babblers, and a group of three Finn’s Weavers, a tour write-in. There was a calling Oriental Scops-Owls in the garden of our resort, which we saw well one evening.

Leaving Kaziranga behind we drove to Nagaland arriving in our cozy homestay in Khonoma during the afternoon. A short late afternoon birding excursion along the Dzülieki road yielded , Crested Finchbill, Black-throated Parrotbill and our first Indian Blue Robins.

The following morning saw us back on the Dzülieki road, where we spent some time in the Sanctuary. The best birds of the sunny morning included Mountain Partridge, House Martin, great views of , Grey-crowned Warbler, Spot-breasted Scimitar-babbler, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Blue-winged and Assam , , Black-breasted Thrush, and our first Rufous-bellied and Snowy-browed Flycatcher. Then it was a rush back to our accommodation for an early lunch and check-out before continuing to Chezame for a single night. The estimated driving time to Chezame was seven hours, but thanks to the smart thinking of our team, we managed to get this down to five hours despite the sometimes awful road conditions, and we reached our accommodation before dusk.

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Next morning we started early on our journey further south, but unfortunately we had got the driving time completely wrong, and when we reached our destination near Mellori, it was already rather late in the morning and the birds had become quiet. However, we still managed to find our main target, the Yellow- throated Laughingthrush, a Birdquest lifer, but unfortunately the birds were very skittish and getting acceptable views of them proved very difficult. Other birds seen during our short birding session here and during the drive, included Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Crested Goshawk, , Square- tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, the only record of Yellow-eyed Babbler on the tour, and Red-billed Blue Magpie. As we still had lots of driving to do, we were forced to leave this very interesting birding area early, and the rest of the day was basically spent in the car driving back to Khonoma.

The following morning we had couple of hours for early morning birding in the Khonoma area before a very long drive to our next destination Tinsukia, situated in the lowlands of eastern Assam. During the morning birding session we saw Red-faced Liocichlas and had improved views of Black-breasted Thrush and Rusty- capped Fulvetta.

Blossom-headed Parakeet in Kaziranga NP (Hannu Jännes).

Early the next morning we were at the Maguri Grasslands in the Assam Plains, which are newly accessible by road. Here we birded for the whole day with a local guide. Things were a little slow first thing in the morning, but hard work paid off, and bit by bit we managed to dig out several of the grassland specialties including Jerdon’s Babbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, and an excellent Bristled Grassbird, always a good find here, and, according to our guide, first for the season, and above all a lifer for the leader! Unfortunately, Marsh Babbler and Black-breasted Parrotbill were not available here, but we soon came up with a plan B for these highly desired species. In the afternoon we took a boat out onto the Maguri Bheel which proved most interesting with sightings of two Ferruginous Ducks, Cinnamon Bittern, Striated Heron, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Brown-cheeked Rail, two Watercocks, many Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacanas and number of the commoner duck species, plus the usual herons, storks and egrets. It was also interesting to compare side by side the two forms of Citrine Wagtail.

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Leaving Tinsukia early the next morning, we headed off for the Mishmi Hills, crossing the mighty Brahmaputra River at the recently constructed Lohit River (or Dhola-Sadiya) Bridge. We had our first proper birding stop after entering Arunachal Pradesh, this time in the floodplain mosaic near Jia village. Here we found our main targets, the much-wanted Black-breasted Parrotbill and Marsh Babbler pretty easily, and also added Aberrant Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Bar-winged Flycatcher- shrike, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter and Rufous-necked Laughingthrush to the tour bird list. After more official paperwork and buying supplies at the town of Roing, we left civilization behind and headed for the mountains. During the afternoon we journeyed along the winding mountain road to our accommodation near the Mayodia pass making several birding stops along the way. A session at a promising looking area of bamboo produced a pair of Pale-headed Woodpeckers, a single Red-billed Scimitar Babbler and two Pale-billed , all three difficult to get bamboo specialists. We also located a pair of Cachar Wedge-billed Babblers in a dark road-side gully, and saw good numbers of White-naped Yuhinas, also a new bird for us.

We had great views of Cachar Wedge-billed Babblers in Mishmi Hills (Hannu Jännes).

For the next four nights we stayed at the basic guesthouse situated next to the remote Roing to Hunli road, a few kilometers before the Mayodia pass at almost 2500m asl. From such a convenient base, it was easy to explore the seemingly endless forests between 600 and 3000m elevation. As usual for this area, rain stopped play several times, but just held off for much of our stay, and we even enjoyed one beautiful, mostly sunny, day. We found many of the best birds of the area by exploring the higher reaches beyond Mayodia Pass. This is where we connected with two very rare shortwings, Gould’s and Rusty-bellied. The first was easy to see once we had located it, but the latter was heard singing a number of times, but getting “tickable” views of it required a lot of hard work and patience. Another amazing encounter here was a flock of three Sclater’s , a new bird for the itinerary! In addition we had a number of new and interesting species including Darjeeling Woodpecker, a very confiding Bar-winged Wren-Babbler (a great relief after five heard only birds!), Scaly and Black-faced Laughingthrush, Bar-throated Minla, the nominate form of Streak- throated (or Rufous-breasted) Barwing (quite different to Eaglenest birds, that BirdLife/HBW split as monotypic Grey breasted Barwing) and Manipur Fulvetta.

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Birding in the lower altitude forests south of the Mayodia pass offered a suite of new species, including Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, a magnificent Himalayan Owl (sighted from the roof of our rest house), Collared Owlet, Common Hill Partridge, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rusty-throated (or Mishmi) Wren-Babbler, Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler giving stunning views, Eye-browed Wren-Babbler, Himalayan , Red-faced Liocichla, Rufous-backed Sibia, three Beautiful Nuthatches with amazing close-up views, another heard only Green Cochoa, Himalayan (or White-browed) Shortwing, and several singing Blue-fronted Robins of which we managed to glimpse one. On the mammalian side was a single Red Goral and a “Black Panther”, a melanistic form of Leopard, which, unfortunately, was only seen by our driver waiting for us in his car!

Gould’s Shortwing in Mishmi Hills (Hannu Jännes).

After truly memorable time birding the remote Mishmi Hills, it was time to head back to Tinsukia for a night stay stopping on route at the Lohit River Bridge to add Sand to our tally. On our last morning, before heading to the airport in Dibrugarh, we visited Digboi oilfields, where a three hour birding session brought us Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (our main target here), plus a very brief Collared Treepie, a showy Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Asian Fairy-bluebird and Plain Flowerpecker. Making our way to the airport after such an epic journey we had time to reflect on so many wonderful experiences as the tour came to its conclusion.

‘BIRDS OF THE TRIP’ WINNERS:

1st: Bar-winged Wren-Babbler 2nd: Gould’s Shortwing, Beautiful Nuthatch & Himalayan Owl 3rd: Sclater’s Monal, Bristled Grassbird, Chestnut-backed Laughinthrush & Snow Partridge

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Great Barbet (Hannu Jännes).

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Total of bird species recorded: 492

The species names and used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names. This list is updated several times annually and is available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org.

Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL).

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Cotton Pygmy Goose (C Teal) Nettapus coromandelianus 10 at Maguri Bheel. Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Gadwall Mareca strepera Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Northern Pintail Anas acuta Eurasian Teal Anas crecca

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Lesser Adjutant in Kaziranga NP (Hannu Jännes).

Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca Two at Maguri Bheel. Snow Partridge ◊ Lerwa lerwa Great close-up views of a group of three at Sela Pass. Swamp Francolin ◊ Francolinus gularis A group of six showedl at Kaziranga.

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Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola Good views for all at Mishmi Hills. Heard elsewhere. Rufous-throated Partridge ◊ (R-t Hill-P) Arborophila rufogularis (H) Noted at Eaglenest and Mihmi Hills. Chestnut-breasted Partridge ◊ (C-b Hill-P) Arborophila mandellii (H) A few heard at Eaglenest WLS. Mountain Bamboo Partridge Bambusicola fytchii Seen on two days in Nagaland. Blood Pheasant Ithaginis cruentus Brilliant views of a pair at Sela. Blyth's Tragopan ◊ Tragopan blythii (H) Two heard at Eaglenest WLS. Himalayan Monal ◊ Lophophorus impejanus A superb male seen and two more were heard at Sela. Sclater’s Monal ◊ Lophophorus sclateri We flushed a group of three birds on Mishmi Hills. Yabadabaduu!!! Red Gallus gallus Kalij Pheasant (Kaleej P) Lophura leucomelanos Multiple sightings at Eaglenest. Grey Peacock-Pheasant ◊ Polyplectron bicalcaratum (H) Two individuals heard at Eaglenest. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Common and widespread. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus A few scattered records in the lowlands. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Four at Orang NP and a total of 18 logged in Kaziranga NP. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Rather common in the lowlands. Greater Adjutant ◊ Leptoptilos dubius A few at Kaziranga NP. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 10 at Maguri Bheel. Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus One at Maguri Bheel. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Striated Heron Butorides striata Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Great Egret Ardea alba Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Spot-billed Pelican ◊ Pelecanus philippensis Small numbers at Kaziranga NP. Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Only a few noted. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster Black-winged Kite (B-shouldered K) Elanus caeruleus Only a few noted. Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H B) Pernis ptilorhynchus Scattered records of small numbers. Black Baza leuphotes One at Orang NP. Slender-billed Vulture ◊ Gyps tenuirostris Two in Kaziranga NP. Himalayan Vulture (H Griffon) G. himalayensis Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela A scattering of records. Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus One at Orang NP and one in Kaziranga. Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis Noted on five days in the mountains. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis Noted on five days in the mountains. Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga One in Mishmi Hills. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Nine on migration in Mishmi Hills. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus A total of four birds noted. Shikra Accipiter badius A few seen in the lowlands. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A few noted. Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus A singleton at Maguri Bheel. Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos A male at Kaziranga NP. Black Kite Milvus migrans Small numbers in the lowlands at the beginning of the tour. Black Kite Milvus [migrans] lineatus A total of 54 migrants were counted in Mishmi Hills on 21st April. Pallas's Fish Eagle ◊ Haliaeetus leucoryphus Four and six per day at Kaziranga NP. Grey-headed Fish Eagle ◊ Haliaeetus ichthyaetus Small numbers at Orang NP and Kaziranga.

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Himalayan Buzzard along the Mandala road near Dirang (Hannu Jännes).

Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus Small numbers in the Dirang area. Brown-cheeked Rail (Eastern Water Rail) Rallus indicus Good views of one at Maguri Bheel. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Black-tailed Crake ◊ Porzana bicolor Good views of two on the way to Dirang. Watercock Gallicrex cinerea Two at Maguri. Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Indian Stone-curlew ◊ Burhinus indicus One in Kaziranga NP. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva A flock of 30 near Orang NP. Long-billed Plover ◊ Charadrius placidus A single bird was scoped on route to Dirang. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Two in the fields between Orang NP and Dirang. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa One in Kaziranga NP. Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii Solitary Snipe ◊ Gallinago solitaria One at Sela Pass. Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura One at Maguri Bheel. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Three in Kaziranga. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

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Oriental Turtle Dove (Hannu Jännes).

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida A few at Maguri Bheel. (R Pigeon) livia Snow Pigeon ◊ Columba leuconota 11 around Sela Pass. Speckled Wood Pigeon ◊ Columba hodgsonii A few at Eaglenest WLS. Oriental Turtle Dove (Rufous T D) Streptopelia orientalis Red Turtle Dove (Red-collared D) Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis Barred Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia unchall Only a few birds at Eaglenest WLS. Also heard on Mishmi Hills. Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Scattered sightings. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus [phoenicopterus] Pin-tailed Green Pigeon ◊ Treron apicauda Handful of birds at Eaglenest WLS. Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea Small numbers in the lowland forests visited. Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Noted in the lowlands [sinensis]. Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis Noted in the lowlands. Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis Three were seen in Kaziranga NP. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo ◊ Clamator coromandus Great views of one at Digboi. Also a (LO) bird at Cherrapunjee. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus One at Mishmi Hills, and a heard-only bird in the Shillong area. Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii One in Nagaland. Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Scattered sightings. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo ◊ (Whistling H-c) Hierococcyx nisicolor A couple of good sightings. Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus

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Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus (Eurasian C) Cuculus canorus Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus (H) Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia Singles of this and the last species were seen at our accommodation at Kaziranga. Dusky Eagle-Owl ◊ Bubo coromandus Good views of a co-operative bird in Kaziranga NP. Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis A showy pair at Orang NP. Himalayan Owl ◊ (H Wood Owl) nivicolum Great views of one in Mishmi Hills. A few others were heard. Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei One was seen at Eaglenest WLS. Commonly heard in the mountains. Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides Spotted Owlet Athene brama (LO) Two road side sightings for the leader only. Brown Hawk-Owl (B Boobook) Ninox scutulata Two were seen well at Orang NP. Hodgson's Frogmouth ◊ Batrachostomus hodgsoni Great views of one at Eaglenest WLS. Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus jotaka Two seen at Lamacamp. Heard only several occasions. Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris Hundreds were seen in Mishmi Hills when the sun came out one day. White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus 15 or so in the Mishmi Hills when the sun came out one day. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Blyth's Swift Apus leuconyx Noted at several sites. Dark-rumped Swift ◊ Apus acuticauda Small numbers in the Cherrapunjee area. House Swift Apus nipalensis Ward's Trogon ◊ Harpactes wardi A pair seen very well at Eaglenest WLS. Indochinese Roller (Black-billed R) affinis Commonly encountered in the lowlands. See note. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Crested Kingfisher (Himalayan Pied K) Megaceryle lugubris Only noted on route to Dirang. Pied Kingfisher (Lesser Pied K) Ceryle rudis Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni One plus nest hole in Orang NP, and two, a pair, in Kaziranga. Green Bee-eater (Little Green B-e) Merops orientalis Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti Eurasian Hoopoe (Eurasian H) Upupa epops Great Hornbill (Great Pied H) Buceros bicornis A flock of nine on route to Kaziranga and one at Kaziranga. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris One at Digboi. Rufous-necked Hornbill ◊ Aceros nipalensis One seen and another one heard at Eaglenest. Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus One at Eaglenest WLS. Great Barbet Psilopogon virens Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus Golden-throated Barbet Psilopogon franklinii Blue-throated Barbet Psilopogon asiaticus Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon duvaucelii Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus Yellow-rumped Honeyguide Indicator xanthonotus Two different individuals at Eaglenest WLS. Great views! Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus (H) Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus canicapillus One at Orang and another one at Kaziranga. Crimson-breasted Woodpecker (C-b Pied W) Dryobates cathpharius A total of four birds noted. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker hyperythrus Two along the Mandala road. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (F-b Pied Woodpecker) Dendrocopos macei Three birds noted. Darjeeling Woodpecker (Darjeeling Pied W) Dendrocopos darjellensis One seen in the Mishmi Hills. Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha (H) Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus Noted on three days. Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus One in Kaziranga NP. Grey-headed Woodpecker (G-faced W) Picus canus Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Several birds noted in Orang NP. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus Two in Orang and two in Kaziranga.

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Female Short-billed Minivet in Mishmi Hills (Hannu Jännes).

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊ Gecinulus grantia A brilliant pair in Mishmi Hills. Bay Woodpecker pyrrhotis Mostly heard, but really brilliant views of one at Eaglenest WLS. Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus One at Eaglenest WLS. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Blossom-headed Parakeet (Rosy-headed P) Psittacula roseata Just one in Kaziranga NP. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Rose-ringed Parakeet (Ring-necked P) Psittacula krameri Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae (H) Heard on four days! Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Pied F-s) Hemipus picatus Noted only near Jia grasslands. Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus (LO) Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus Only noted in Kaziranga NP. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Rather common and widespread in the lowlands. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Rather common and widespread. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus Coracina macei A handful of birds in Kaziranga. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos Fairly widespread in small numbers. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Widespread. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus 1-2 birds noted on five days. White-bellied Erpornis (W-b Yuhina) Erpornis zantholeuca Two in the Khellong area at Eaglenest WLS. Black-headed Shrike-babbler ◊ Pteruthius rufiventer Amazing close-up pair at Eaglenest, also heard at Mishmi. Blyth's Shrike-babbler (White-browed S-b) Pteruthius aeralatus Rather common, noted on nine days.

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Yellow-rumped Honeyguide was easy to see at Eaglenest (Hannu Jännes).

Green Shrike-babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus One along the Mandala road. Black-eared Shrike-babbler Pteruthius melanotis One was seen very well indeed at Mishmi Hills. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Fairly common in the lowland forests. Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris One male in our usual place along the Mandala road. Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Small numbers at Eaglenest and at Mishmi Hills. Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis Black-naped Monarch (B-n Blue Monarch) Hypothymis azurea Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis One in Digboi oilfields. Eurasian Jay (Plain-crowned J) Garrulus [glandarius] bispecularis Two at Eaglenest WLS. See note. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha Two near Mellori in Nagaland. Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis (H) Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae Collared Treepie ◊ Dendrocitta frontalis One seen briefly and another one heard at Digboi Oilfields. Spotted Nutcracker (Southern N) Nucifraga [caryocatactes] hemispila Six along the Mandala road. See note. Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Ten at Sela pass. House Crow Corvus splendens Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Only recorded at higher levels in the Dirang region. Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus levaillantii Yellow-bellied Fantail (Y-b Fairy Flycatcher) Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

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Grey Treepie (Hannu Jännes).

Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea A few encountered at Eaglenest and at Mishmi Hills. Rufous-vented Tit Periparus rubidiventris Only recorded at higher levels in the Dirang region. Coal Tit (Himalayan C T) Periparus [ater] aemodius Only recorded at higher levels in the Dirang region. See note. Grey Crested Tit Lophophanes dichrous Only recorded at higher levels in the Dirang region. Cinereous Tit (Grey Tit) Parus cinereus Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus Yellow-cheeked Tit (Black-spotted Y Tit) Machlolophus spilonotus Bengal Bush Lark ◊ (B Bushlark) assamica A few sightings in the Assam plains. Oriental Skylark gulgula Sand Lark ◊ Alaudala raytal A pair at the Lohit River crossing. Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons Not uncommon in Nagaland. Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris Only noted on route to Dirang and at Digboi oilfields. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens Only seen in the Khasi Hills where great views were had. White-throated Bulbul ◊ Alophoixus flaveolus Mountain Bulbul (Northern M B) Ixos mcclellandii Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala Only noted at lower levels on the way to Dirang Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B) Hypsipetes leucocephalus Grey-throated Martin (Plain Martin, G-t Sand-martin, Brown-throated Sand M) Riparia chinensis Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus Five at Mishmi Hills. Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalense 50 in Khonoma and 20 at Mishmi Hills. Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata Scaly-breasted Cupwing (S-b Wren-babbler) albiventer Pygmy Cupwing (P Wren-babbler) Pnoepyga pusilla

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Golden Bush Robin (Hannu Jännes).

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris Common in the bamboo above Khellong, also noted at Mishmi. Rufous-faced Warbler ◊ Abroscopus albogularis Common in the bamboo above Khellong. Also heard in Nagaland. Black-faced Warbler ◊ Abroscopus schisticeps Fairly widespread in the mountains. Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cuculatus Broad-billed Warbler ◊ Tickellia hodgsoni Good sightings at Eaglenest and at Mishmi Hills. Brown-flanked Bush Warbler (Strong-footed B-w, Brownish-flanked B-w) fortipes Hume's Bush Warbler Horornis brunnescens A singleton along Phudung Road near Dirang. Aberrant Bush Warbler flavolivacea One at Jia Grasslands on route to Mishmi Hills. Grey-bellied Tesia (Yellow-browed T) Tesia cyaniventer (H) Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea (H) Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler ◊ Cettia major One at Jia Grasslands on route to Mishmi Hills. Grey-sided Bush Warbler Cettia brunnifrons Great views of one along the Phudung Road near Dirang. Chestnut-headed Tesia Cettia castaneocoronata Black-throated Bushtit Aegithalos concinnus Rufous-fronted Bushtit ◊ Aegithalos iouschistos Five along the Mandala Road. Buff-barred Warbler (Orange-b Warbler) Phylloscopus pulcher Ashy-throated Warbler (A-t Leaf-Warbler, Grey-faced L-w) Phylloscopus maculipennis Hume's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus humei (H) A few were heard. Yellow-browed Warbler (Y-b Leaf-warbler, Inornate W) Phylloscopus inornatus Lemon-rumped Warbler (L-r Leaf-w) Phylloscopus chloronotus Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus [collybita] tristis (H) White-spectacled Warbler ◊ Seicercus affinis Seen and heard near Bompu, Eaglenest WS.

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Red-billed Blue Magpie (Hannu Jännes).

Grey-cheeked Warbler ◊ Seicercus poliogenys Rather numerous at Eaglenest and in Mishmi. Grey-crowned Warbler Seicercus tephrocephalus Small numbers at Khonoma Dzüku. Whistler's Warbler Seicercus whistleri Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Large-billed Leaf Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus magnirostris (H) Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps Yellow-vented Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus cantator Brilliant views of one on route to Dirang. Also heard several times. Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistos Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola One at Jia Grasslands on route to Mishmi Hills. Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum One at the gate of Orang NP. Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon One at Kaziranga and a couple at Maguri Bheel. Brown Bush Warbler ◊ Locustella luteoventris (H) One was heard at Khonoma Dzüku. Spotted Bush Warbler Locustella thoracica Showed well at Maguri and Jia Grasslands. Russet Bush Warbler ◊ Locustella mandelli Seen in the Dirang area, and also noted around Lamacamp. Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris Bristled Grassbird ◊ Chaetornis striata Excellent views at Maguri Grasslands. A difficult bird to get! Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera Several in Khasi Hills. Black-throated Prinia ◊ Prinia [atrogularis] khasiana Great views of two in Khasi Hills. Black-throated Prinia ◊ Prinia atrogularis atrogularis Noted in Dirang, at Eaglenest WLS and Mishmi Hills. Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

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Dark-necked Tailorbird (Black-n T) Orthotomus atrogularis (H) Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus mcclellandi Encountered in three different localities. White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps (H) Heard in the Khellong area at Eaglenest WLS. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Red-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps One seen well at Mishmi Hills. Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus ferruginosus Two at Mishmi Hills. Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus superciliaris Seen well at three different localities. Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler ◊ Spelaeornis caudatus Showed well at Eaglenest WLS. Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler ◊ (Mishmi W-b) Spelaeornis badeigularis One seen at Mishmi. Bar-winged Wren-Babbler ◊ Spelaeornis troglodytoides Great views of one at Mishmi [souliei]. Tawny-breasted Wren-Babbler ◊ Spelaeornis longicaudatus Good views the Khasi Hills. Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Blackish-breasted B) Sphenocichla humei One performed well near Bompu. Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler ◊ (Chevron-breasted B) Sphenocichla roberti Brilliant views at Mishmi. Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps Buff-chested Babbler Stachyridopsis ambigua Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyridopsis ruficeps Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Striped Tit-babbler) Macronus gularis Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata Small numbers seen in all grasslands visited. Yellow-throated Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe cinerea This handsome bird was seen several times at Eaglenest and at Mishmi. Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe dubia Great views in the Khonoma area. Nepal Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe nipalensis Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler Napothera epilepidota A few at Mishmi Hills. White-hooded Babbler ◊ (Indian W-h B) Gampsorhynchus rufulus (H) Heard only in Mishmi Hills. Long-billed Wren-Babbler Rimator malacoptilus Excellent views of one below Lamacamp at Eaglenest WLS. Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti Good views of one at Orang NP. Also heard in Kaziranga. Indian Grassbird ◊ (I G Babbler) bengalensis One skulking bird in Kaziranga. Always a great find! Marsh Babbler ◊ palustre One was seen and another one was heard at Jia Grassland. Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps (H) ◊ earlei Multiple observations in the plains grasslands. Slender-billed Babbler ◊ Turdoides longirostris Two were seen in Kaziranga NP. Turdoides striata 15 at Orang NP (nominate). White-crested Laughingthrush leucolophus (H) Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax rufogularis Brilliant views on the lower part of the Mandala Rd. Spotted Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax ocellatus (H)Heard only along the Mandala-Phudung road. Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax nuchalis Good views of one at Digboi oilfields. Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax ruficollis A flock of ten at Jia Grassland Mosaic. Yellow-throated Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax galbanus A skittish group of three near Mellori in Nagaland. Grey-sided Laughingthrush ◊ Garrulax caerulatus Seen at Eaglenest and at Mishmi Hills. Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus Seen at Eaglenest and at Mishmi Hills. Bhutan Laughingthrush ◊ imbricatum Not uncommon in Dirang region. Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron squamatum Mainly heard, but three seen at Khonoma. Scaly Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron subunicolor One was seen very well at Mishmi Hills. Black-faced Laughingthrush Trochalopteron affine Four along the Mandala-Phukdung road. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron erythrocephalum Assam Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron chrysopterum Heard Meghalaya (chrysopterum), 10 Khonoma (godwini). Himalayan Cutia Cutia nipalensis Multiple encounters at Mishmi. Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera Scattered records of small numbers. Bar-throated Minla Minla strigula Only noted in the higher reaches of Mishmi Hills. Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta Seen along the Mandala road and at Eaglenest WLS: Red-faced Liocichla ◊ (Crimson-f L) Liocichla phoenicea Eaglenest and Mishmi (nominate), Khonoma (bakeri). Bugun Liocichla ◊ Liocichla bugunorum (LO) Two fast moving birds below Lamacamp.

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Streak-throated (or Grey-breasted) Barwing at Eaglenest WLS (Hannu Jännes).

Rusty-fronted Barwing ◊ Actinodura egertoni Widespread; nominate in main range, khasiana in Khonoma. Streak-throated Barwing ◊ (Rufous-breasted B) Actinodura waldeni 10 noted in the Mishmi Hills. See note. Streak-throated Barwing ◊ (Grey-breasted B) Actinodura [waldeni] daflaensis Four noted at Eaglenest WLS. Silver-eared Mesia argentauris Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea Rufous-backed Sibia annectans We struggled with this bird, but finally found it on Mihsmi. Grey Sibia ◊ Heterophasia gracilis Four in the Khasi Hills, and good numbers at Khonoma Dzüku. ◊ Heterophasia pulchella Common in the Dirang-Eaglenest area and again in Mishmi Hills. Long-tailed Sibia ◊ Heterophasia picaoides Fire-tailed Myzornis ◊ Myzornis pyrrhoura One at Mandala and a group of three at Eaglenest. Great views. Golden-breasted Fulvetta ◊ (Himalayan G-b F) Lioparus chrysotis Great views along the Mandala road. Brown-throated Fulvetta ◊ (Ludlow’s F) Fulvetta ludlowi Rather common in the Dirang area. Manipur Fulvetta ◊ (Streak-throated F) Fulvetta manipurensis Several encounters high up at the Mishmi Hills. Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Two near Mellori in Nagaland. Jerdon's Babbler ◊ Chrysomma altirostre One seen well at Maguri Grasslands. Black-throated Parrotbill ◊ (Grey-breasted P) Suthora [nipalensis] poliotis One sighting at Khonoma. Pale-billed Parrotbill ◊ Chleuasicus atrosuperciliaris Two in the lower slopes of Mishmi Hills. White-breasted Parrotbill ◊ Psittiparus ruficeps Small numbers seen well at Eaglenest WLS. Black-breasted Parrotbill ◊ Paradoxornis flavirostris This superb endemic performed well at Jia Grassland Mosaic. Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps White-naped Yuhina ◊ Yuhina bakeri Common at Mishmi Hills. Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis Black-chinned Yuhina ◊ Yuhina nigrimenta A flock of five on route to Dirang. Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus See note.

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Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella Five at Digboi Oilfields. Spotted Elachura ◊ (Spotted W-b) Elachura formosa Heard on five days, but only sighted at Khonoma. Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Four at the Sela pass. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta cinnamoventris Only noted on route to Dirang. White-tailed Nuthatch Sitta himalayensis Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis (LO) One in Kaziranga NP. Beautiful Nuthatch ◊ Sitta formosa Good views of one at Eaglenest WLS, and brilliant views of three at Mishmi. Common Hill (Hill Myna) religiosa Great Myna (White-vented M) grandis Acridotheres fuscus Acridotheres tristis Pied Myna (Asian Pied ) Gracupica contra Chestnut-tailed Starling (Grey-headed S) Sturnia malabarica Alpine Thrush ◊ Zoothera mollissima Three in the Dirang-Mandala area and one close to Lamacamp. Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma Small numbers at Eaglenest WLS. Grandala ◊ Grandala coelicolor A total of 50, with stunning views, at Sela Pass. Tickell's Thrush ◊ Turdus unicolor A total of six in the lower reaches of the Mandala road. Black-breasted Thrush ◊ Turdus dissimilis A few at Khonoma Dzüku. White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul Chestnut Thrush Turdus rubrocanus One male along the Phudung road. Black-throated Thrush Turdus atrogularis One en route to Dirang and five along the Phudung road. Red-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis One in Bompu camp and another one at Mishmi Hills. Dusky Thrush Turdus eunomus One with a mixed flock of thrushes along the Phudung road. Naumann’s Thrush Turdus naumanni One pure (and two showing intermediate characters) along the Phudung road. Green Cochoa ◊ Cochoa viridis (H) One heard at Eaglenest WLS; and another one heard at Mishmi Hills. Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus White-gorgeted Flycatcher Anthipes monileger Several birds at Eaglenest, and one at Mishmi Hills. Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊ unicolor Several birds at Eaglenest WLS and Mishmi Hills. Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei One singing bird at Mishmi Hills. See note. Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher (B-t Flycatcher) Cyornis rubeculoides One was seen well along Mandala road. Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara Large Niltava Niltava grandis Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae Eumyias thalassinus Gould's Shortwing ◊ Heteroxenicus stellatus One of the highlights of the tour - a single confiding bird at Mayodia. Rusty-bellied Shortwing ◊ hyperythra Common in a relatively small area at Mishmi; 2 seen. Brachypteryx leucophris ◊ Brachypteryx cruralis Commonly heard at Mishmi. One male seen. See note. ◊ brunnea Common in Khonoma. Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope One at Maguri Bheel and another one at Jia Grassland. White-tailed Robin (W-t Blue Robin) Myiomela leucura White-browed Bush Robin ◊ indicus One was seen and two more were heard near Sela Pass. Himalayan Bluetail (Orange-flanked Bush-robin) Tarsiger rufilatus Golden Bush Robin Tarsiger chrysaeus One on route to Dirang. Little Forktail Enicurus scouleri One in the Dirang area. White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti One at Eaglenest WLS. Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus Blue-fronted Robin ◊ Cinclidium frontale One was glimpsed and many were heard at Mishmi. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Orange-g F) strophiata Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F) Ficedula albicilla

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Whiskered Yuhina (Hannu Jännes).

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor Pygmy Flycatcher ◊ Muscicapella hodgsoni One was seen well on route to Dirang. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Hodgson’s Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni Two in the Dirang area. White-throated Redstart Phoenicurus schisticeps One in the Dirang area. Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis Plumbeous Water Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus White-capped Redstart (River ) Phoenicurus leucocephalus Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush Monticola rufiventris Blue-capped Rock Thrush ◊ (B-headed R-t) Monticola cinclorhyncha Stejneger's Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri Not uncommon wintering in plains habitats. Grey Bush Chat Saxicola ferreus Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasi A family party of four near Tenga. Also heard in the Dirang area. Golden-fronted Leafbird (Gold-f L) Chloropsis aurifrons One in Kaziranga and another one at Jia Grassland. Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii Widespread in small numbers. Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum minullum Two at Digboi oilfields. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus Widespread. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum Widespread in the lowlands. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis Two at the Jia Grassland area. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Two at the gate of Orang NP. Mrs. Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae Nominate in W Arunachal Pradesh, isolata at Khonoma. Green-tailed Sunbird ◊ Aethopyga nipalensis Seen in Khasi Hills, Dirang area and Mishmi Hills.

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Black-throated Sunbird (B-breasted S) Aethopyga saturata Noted at Eaglenest WLS and at Mishmi Hills. Crimson Sunbird (Greater C S) Aethopyga siparaja A scattering of records. Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda A least 100 in one area along the Phudung road. Also one at Mishmi. Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra Two near Jia Grassland. Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna House Sparrow Passer domesticus Russet Sparrow (Cinnamon S) Passer rutilans Passer montanus Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus Noted only at Orang NP and en route to Mishmi Hills. Finn’s Weaver ◊ Ploceus megarhynchus A group of the in Kaziranga NP. A tour write-in! Scaly-breasted Munia punctulata Only noted in Kaziranga. Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla A flock of four at Maguri Bheel. Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris Three at Sela Pass. Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata Couple of sightings in the Dirang region. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola 150 at Maguri Bheel, smaller numbers elsewhere [calcarata & nominate]. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea White Wagtail Motacilla [alba] leucopsis White Wagtail Motacilla [alba] alboides Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi One near Orang NP and five at Maguri Bheel. Anthus rufulus Only few were noted. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Widespread in good numbers [hodgsoni & yunnanensis] Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus Widespread. Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊ Mycerobas melanozanthos A flock of six along the Mandala road. White-winged Grosbeak ◊ Mycerobas carnipes Ten below Sela Pass. Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis One at Eaglenest WLS. Red-headed Bullfinch ◊ Pyrrhula erythrocephala Four below Lamacamp. Grey-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythaca Golden-naped Finch ◊ Pyrrhoplectes epauletta Fairly common at Mishmi Hills and a few at Eaglenest WLS. Dark-breasted Rosefinch Procarduelis nipalensis A few at Mishmi Hills. Brandt’s Mountain Finch ◊ Leucosticte brandti A sizeable flock at Sela Pass. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Good showing in Mishmi Hills. Scarlet Finch ◊ Carpodacus sipahi A total of 11 at Eaglenest WLS. Dark-rumped Rosefinch ◊ Carpodacus edwardsii One Mishmi Hills. Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch ◊ Carpodacus thura Rather common in the zone below Sela Pass. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (Himalayan G) Chloris spinoides Seen only along the Mandala road. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla Scattered few were noted. Black-faced Bunting Emberiza spodocephala One at Maguri Grasslands.

MAMMALS Asian Elephant Elephas maximus One at Orang NP and 30 at Kaziranga NP. Rhesus Monkey Macaca mulatta Arunachal Macaque Macaca munzala Few were seen in the Dirang area and at Eaglenest WLS: Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Heard on three days Mishmi Hills. Large-eared Pika Ochotona macrotis One near Sela Pass. Pallas’s Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus Hoary-bellied Squirrel (Irrawaddy S) Callosciurus pygerythrus Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Dremomys lokriah Himalayan Striped Squirrel Tamiops macclellandii Tiger Panthera tigris One male at Orang NP. Good prolonged views! Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata Sighted at Kaziranga, 10 on best day. Indian Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis Three at Orang NP, and an estimated 25 at Kaziranga.

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Wild Boar (Wild Pig, Indian W P) Sus scrofa Hog Deer Axis porcinus 50 at Orang NP, and over 100 at Kaziranga. Barasingha (Swamp Deer) Rucervus duvaucelii 10 at Kaziranga. Sambar Rusa unicolor One at Kaziranga. Asian Buffalo (Wild Water B) Bubalus arnee Around 30 at Kaziranga and 10 at Maguri Grasslands! Red Goral Naemorhedus baileyi Four near Mayodia Pass. Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus

NOTES TO THE SYSTEMATIC LIST

Indochinese Roller (Black-billed R) Coracias affinis This form is now split from the Coracia benghalensis by IOC.

Eurasian Jay (Plain-crowned J) Garrulus [glandarius] bispecularis Plain-crowned Jay G. bispecularis is split from Eurasian Jay G. glandarius by BirdLife/HBW. The subspecies we encountered is interstinctus.

Spotted Nutcracker (Southern N) Nucifraga [caryocatactes] hemispila Southern Nutcracker N. hemispila is split from Spotted (or Northern) Nutcracker N. caryocatactes by BirdLife/HBW. The subspecies we encountered is macella.

Coal Tit (Himalayan C T) Periparus [ater] aemodius Himalayan Coal Tit P. aemodius is a potential split from Eurasian Coal Tit P. ater. See BirdLife/HBW.

Streak-throated Barwing (Rufous-breasted B) Actinodura waldeni Streak-throated Barwing (Grey-breasted B) Actinodura [waldeni] daflaensis A potential split according to BirdLife/HBW; the division of Streak-throated Barwing A. waldeni into Rufous-breasted Barwing A. waldeni, and the monotypic Grey-breasted Barwing A. daflaensis.

Indian White-eye Zosterops palbebrosus Following the major revision of the white-eyes in the Oriental region, this form is now called Indian White-eye.

Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei A single male encountered in the lower slopes of Mishmi Hills belonged to this species. Following taxonomic rearrangement of this species, the form we encountered is now called C. whitei, but the English name remains the same.

Himalayan Shortwing Brachypteryx cruralis The three Asian forms of White-browed Shortwing B. montana are now split Philippine and Indonesian taxa and from each other. The form we encountered on this tour is Himalayan Shortwing.

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