DOCSLIB.ORG

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary April-May Itinerary 2018

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary April-May Itinerary 2018 Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary_April-May_Itinerary 2018 Two back to back tours where four participants from Mahananda continued for Pangoalkha WLS as well. Summer months are considered good for pre-breeding birding season in Mahananda wls and Pangolakha wls in east Sikkim. Most of the bird species are busy making nests or in courtship in entire northern hemisphere. Birding hours starts early (5:30 AM) in the morning and continues till 5 PM in the afternoon. In the meantime, in lower ridges at Mahananda WLS, 10AM to 2 PM is roosting hour for birds. In higher altitude, birding can be conducted throughout the day. Route Taken: New Jalpaiguri, Sevok, Kalijhora, Karmath, Latpanchar, Sittong, Mana, Ahaldara, Latkothi, Birik, Rongtong, Shivakhola. P.S. All the stay arrangements were done in home stay. Driving: Around 360 kms. Hiking: 36 kms. Top five birds from this tour: 1. Rufous-necked Hornbill 2. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo 3. Red-headed Trogon 4. Dollarbird 5. Sultan Tit Daily travel log: 27th April 2018: Two participants were picked up from Orbit Hotel (near Bagdogra), one participant was picked up from New Jalpaiguri. The fourth participant came by flight and additionally arranged for separate pick up based on his arrival of flight (3 PM). First three birders had afternoon birding session; however, the fourth participant could not attend for afternoon birding on day 1. The afternoon birding session had sightings of large Niltava (female), Large Woodshrike, a flock of Nepal Fulvetta (foraging on gooseberries) and a pair of Red-headed Trogon. Trogon sighting was long, almost twenty minutes. 28th April 2018: Next day we started early morning from the homestay. Our primary target was Rufous-necked Hornbill. We started the day around 5:30 in the morning and waited in the roosting sight. After spending almost two hours, male of the species came to feed female (inside the nest) through the lacuna. The process of such care giving of male will go on till the juvenile is mature enough to leave the nest. Such exhaustive caretaking by male is no doubt a magnificent sighting! Later that day in the afternoon session, we www.goingwild.in Page 1 Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary_April-May_Itinerary 2018 covered Rufous-necked Laughingthrush from Latpanchar and Bahattar (72) area. In the afternoon, list of birds were made for previous two days and assistance given for bird identification. 29th April 2018: Today we had a long way to cover (70 kilometers), as far as birding drive is concerned. Today our target species were Dollar Bird, Common Green Magpie, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush, Racket-tailed Drongos etc; all the famous terai broadleaf forest birds. After crossing Shivakhola, we spotted two Dollarbirds very close to us. Pin-tailed Green Pigeons were there too. Beside Rongtong, train track, another pair of Dollarbirds was seen. Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush was spotted beside Norbong Tea Estate, almost few kilometers after; Five Great Hornbill was seen as well. We saw Black Baza as well, near the tea garden; however, we didn't have luck to see Common Green Magpie till the last hour in Rongtong. On the way back, a huge flock of Long-tailed Broadbill was seen. Participants got close up of the green beauties. 30th April 2018: This was the last full day we had. In the morning we planned to cover Mahananda and afternoon session in Nursery area. Just after starting the morning bird watching, call of Red-headed Trogon was heard. The male voice of the bird is loud and deep compared the mellow call of the female. We were dragged near the call, and the brilliantly colored male was sighted again. Around the latkothi boundary, Himalayan Cutia, Silver-eared Mesia, Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike etc were seen. After the morning birding, we returned back to home stay for lunch (we had packed breakfast) at 2 PM in the afternoon. Again we resumed birding from 3 PM in the afternoon. Before reaching nursery area, adjacent to a bamboo thicket, we saw a Rufous Woodpecker brilliantly positioned; it is considered a rare sighting since these woodpeckers seldom come at such height (1,000 ft). Some regular birds were seen as well in the afternoon - Sultan Tit (a huge flock), Rufous-bellied Eagle, Rusty-cheeked Scimiter Babbler, Black-chinned and Whiskered Yuhina etc. 1st May 2018: We had to depart Mahananda today and had to go Pangolakha (a long drive of 3+ hours), thus as planned we had two hours of birding in hand. Started early in the morning around 5:30 AM - we continued till 7:30-8 AM and after having breakfast we drove up for next tour. In the morning session we covered Latkothi area, birds sighted were - Mountain Imperial PIgeon, Nepal Fulvetta, Black-chinned Yuhina and rare sight of Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. We drove out of greater Mahananda landscape via Ahaldara-Birik road. www.goingwild.in Page 2 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 18 Days Himalayan Birding Tour April 2003
    18 Days Himalayan Birding Tour April 2003 Great Himalayan Nation Park, Mahananda Wild Life Sancuary, Lava and Neora Nation Park, Singelila range, and Darjeeling By Neil Poul Dryer INTRODUCTION This tour was tailor- made to the requirements of the birding group, and has been evolved after exchange of 56 e-mail messages over a period of more than a year. The design of the tour was focused on Himalayan upper altitude species with special attention to pheasants. This was purely a birding tour with little sightseeing. Niels Poul Dreyer organised the trip from Denmark and Peter Lobo from Adventure Gurudongma was the operator and leader on the tour. I can only say that the serves and logistics provided by the operator and Peter Lobo was outstanding and consequently Adventure Gurudongma is highly recommended. There were no delays or hick-ups on the tour and everything especially the food was a delight. E-mail [email protected] and [email protected] Birding guests with Adventure Gurudongma have on an average recorded 200 species over 3-4 days. For detailed bird list go to www.allindiabirdingtours.com. Tour Design The tour has been designed in two parts.:- Part 1: 05 Apr to 13 Apr: Looking for Himalayan Monal and other pheasants at the Great Himalayan National Park in the Western Himalayas Part 2: 14 Apr to 24 Apr: In North Bengal in the Eastern Himalayas visit, Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary, Lava Forests, Singelila Range and Darjeeling Ole Michael Lemming, Jørgen & Bodil Nørgård went on Western Himalayan tour. Niels Poul Dreyer, Hans Meltofte, Ebbe Alfred Hansen ond John Damgård Nielsen took both Western and Eastern Himalayan tour.
    [Show full text]
  • Red List of Bangladesh 2015
    Red List of Bangladesh Volume 1: Summary Chief National Technical Expert Mohammad Ali Reza Khan Technical Coordinator Mohammad Shahad Mahabub Chowdhury IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature Bangladesh Country Office 2015 i The designation of geographical entitles in this book and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature concerning the legal status of any country, territory, administration, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The biodiversity database and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily reflect those of IUCN, Bangladesh Forest Department and The World Bank. This publication has been made possible because of the funding received from The World Bank through Bangladesh Forest Department to implement the subproject entitled ‘Updating Species Red List of Bangladesh’ under the ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection (SRCWP)’ Project. Published by: IUCN Bangladesh Country Office Copyright: © 2015 Bangladesh Forest Department and IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holders, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holders. Citation: Of this volume IUCN Bangladesh. 2015. Red List of Bangladesh Volume 1: Summary. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp. xvi+122. ISBN: 978-984-34-0733-7 Publication Assistant: Sheikh Asaduzzaman Design and Printed by: Progressive Printers Pvt.
    [Show full text]
  • Godavari Birds Godavari Birds
    Godavari Birds Godavari Birds i Godavari Birds From Godavari to Phulchowki peak, there are an estimated 270 bird species with 17 listed as endangered. Godavari proper has 100 species recorded. It is impossible to photograph all of them. A reference list is provided at the end of the booklet so that you can continue to locate birds that we have not been able to photograph. This fun booklet presents a few of the more common and eye catching birds that hopefully will catch your eye too. Bird watching provides valuable information. Consistent records give indications of habitat loss, changes in climate, migration patterns and new or missing previous records. Years of data have been collected across Nepal to give a picture of birds in place and time. The oldest Nepal record is from 1793 when it was more common to catch and skin birds for museum collections. Compiled by Karen Conniff, Ron Hess and Erling Valdemar Holmgren ii Godavari Birds Godavari Birds This basic guide is organized by family and sub-family groupings. The purpose is to make it easier to identify the birds sighted at the ICIMOD Knowledge Park and surrounding areas in Godavari. There are several bird watching tours and groups of regular bird watchers to join with and improve your knowledge of local birds. If you have comments, want to add a new identification record or found errors in this booklet please contact: Karen Conniff – [email protected] iii Godavari Birds Blue-throated Barbet (Ron Hess) iv Godavari Birds Family RHess Phasianidae or Kalij Pheasant (female) Partridges
    [Show full text]
  • IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
    The Festschrift on the 50th Anniversary of The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM Compilation of Papers and Abstracts Chief Editor Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan Editors Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shahadat Ali Prof. Dr. M. Mostafa Feeroz Prof. Dr. M. Niamul Naser Publication Committee Mohammad Shahad Mahabub Chowdhury AJM Zobaidur Rahman Soeb Sheikh Asaduzzaman Selina Sultana Sanjoy Roy Md. Selim Reza Animesh Ghose Sakib Mahmud Coordinator Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Bangladesh Country Offi ce 2014 The designation of geographical entities in this book and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are authors’ personal views and do not necessarily refl ect those of IUCN. This publication has been made possible because of the funding received from the World Bank, through Bangladesh Forest Department under the ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Wildlife Protection Project’. Published by: IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Dhaka, Bangladesh Copyright: © 2014 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: IUCN Bangladesh. (2014). The Festschrift on the 50th Anniversary of The IUCN Red List of threatened SpeciesTM, Dhaka, Bangladesh: IUCN, x+192 pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Nepal an Official Checklist 2018
    Birds of Nepal An Official Checklist Department of National Parks Bird Conservation Nepal and Wildlife Conservation 2018 Species Research and Contribution Anish Timsina, Badri Chaudhary, Barry McCarthy, Benzamin Smelt, Cagan Sakercioglu, Carol Inskipp, Deborah Allen, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary, Dheeraj Chaudhary, Geraldine Werhahn, Hathan Chaudhary, Hem Sagar Baral, Hem Subedi, Jack H. Cox, Karan Bahadur Shah, Mich Coker, Naresh Kusi, Phil Round, Ram Shahi, Robert DeCandido, Sanjiv Acharya, Som GC, Suchit Basnet, Tika Giri, Tim Inskipp, Tulsi Ram Subedi and Yub Raj Basnet. Review Committee Laxman Prasad Poudyal, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp, Ishana Thapa and Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri Cover page drawing: Spiny Babbler by Craig Robson Citation: Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Bird Conservation Nepal (2018). Birds of Nepal: An Official Checklist, Kathmandu, Nepal. Great Thick-knee by Jan Wilczur 1 Update and taxonomy note This official checklist is based on “Birds of Nepal: An official checklist” updated and published by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and Bird Conservation Nepal in year 2016. New additions in this checklist are as below, New recorded species Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus Rufous-tailed Rock- thrush Monticola saxatilis Himalayan Grasshopper-warbler Locustella kashmirensis New species after split (HBW and BirdLife International 2017) Indian Scops-owl Otus bakkamoena, split from Collared Scops-owl Otus lettia Eastern Marsh-harrier Circus spilonotus, split from western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosu Indochinese Roller Coracias affinis, split from Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Indian Nuthatch Sitta castanea, split from Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta cinnamoventris Chinese Rubythroat Calliope tschebaiewi, split from Himalayan Rubythroat Calliope pectoralis This checklist follows the BirdLife International’s taxonomy; HBW and BirdLife International (2017) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • BIRDS in NEPAL MARCH 1993 IAN PUCKRIN the Attached List
    BIRDS IN NEPAL MARCH 1993 IAN PUCKRIN The attached list summarises birds seen by myself, Chris Gladwin and Alan McBride on a visit to Nepal from 28 February to 26 March 1993. Areas covered were: Kath ma nd u/Ph u Icowki 28 Feb - 1 March, 21 - 25 March Pokhara 2 March, 19 - 20 March Jomosom - Muktinath 3 - 6 March Muktinath - Pokhara 6 - 18 March A few notes may assist others in preparing for their visit: Immigration procedures were more relaxed than we had been advised. No one in looked at our trekking permits or asked for proof of currency exchange when we left Kathmandu. The trekking permits were, however, rigorously checked on the trek, even between Biretanthe and Pokhara which we travelled by "bus". We arranged for our hotel to get our trekking permits (for a fee) and gained a~ day's birding in the process. We had no difficulty getting flights to Jomosom, though flights had been cancelled for the few days prior to our visit due to low cloud. Several flights seemed to get through on most days we were on the trek. The flight is highly recommended as a means of saving time and is an awesome experience in its own right. Cost $US50. Accommodation is readily available on the trek, and was generally as expected - basic but clean. Best lodges we stayed at were Jomosom Guest House (Jomosom), Sulin Lodge (Tukche) and Superview Lodge (Ghorepani) (don't miss the chips or banana porridge !). In Kathmandu we stayed at the Hotel Ganesh Himal which was pretty good.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhutan: Birding and Culture with Wilderness Birding Adventures
    Bhutan: Birding and Culture with Wilderness Birding Adventures November 7-26, 2016 Trip report by Aaron Lang Birding Bhutan is an adventure filled with incredible birds and mammals, wild forests, beautiful people and fascinating culture. It stands alone in the Himalayan region as a unique destination with intact forests, wildlife, culture, and economy. This small country is a place where rare and declining species, struggling to survive elsewhere, still thrive in the densely forested hills and mountains. This was our tenth trip to Bhutan since 2005. Our diverse group of 10 participants was especially keen and skilled at finding birds without the assistance of myself or of Sonam Dorji, our Bhutanese leader. This made an already enjoyable tour even more fun and exciting and in the end, the result was a longer list of birds, mammals, butterflies, and—this year—fish that were enjoyed by all. Our itinerary was roughly a loop that began and ended in Paro, stretching as far east as Yongkola and Gyelpozhing in the Mongar district and incorporating a piece of the Indian Plain along the Bhutan/India border from Sarpang to Gelephu. This southern border region is an area birded by very few other tours and the low elevation Indian Plain always holds surprises for us. The entire feel of the lowland border region—architecture, dress, cuisine, etc.—is quite different from the rest of Bhutan, where the mountains dominate daily life. I find this border country very exciting and it's always one of my favorite parts of the tour. Highlights of this tour were many, both birding and otherwise, and it's difficult to list them all here.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area Cggk"0F{ ;+/If0f If]Qsf R/Fx?
    Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Nature Conservation Birds of AnnapurnaArea Conservation Project Area 80 2018 Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Nature Conservation Area Project 2018 Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area cGgk"0f{ ;+/If0f If]qsf r/fx? Published by: National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Review Committee Carol Inskipp, Dr. Hem Sagar Baral and Dr. Naresh Subedi Compilation Rishi Baral (Conservation Officer – NTNC-ACAP) Suggested Citation: Baral R., (2018). Birds of Annapurna Conservation Area. National Trust for Nature conservation, Annapurna Conservation Area Project, Pokhara, Nepal pp. 74 All rights reserved © National Trust for Nature Conservation First Edition 700 Copies ISBN: 978-9937-8522-5-8 Front Cover Art: Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichii) by Roshan Bhandari Title Page Photo: Nest with Eggs by Rishi Baral Back Cover Photo: Spiny Babbler (Turdoides nipalensis) by Manshanta Ghimire Design and Layout by: Sigma General Offset Press, Kathmandu National Trust for Annapurna Conservation Printed : Sigma General Offset Press, Sanepa, Lalitpur, 5554029 Nature Conservation Area Project 2018 Table of Contents Forewords Acknowledgements Abbreviations Nepal’s Birds Status Birds of Annapurna National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) 1-2 Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) 3-5 Hotspot of Birds in Annapurna Conservation
    [Show full text]
  • Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary April 2017
    Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary_April 2017 Date: 11th April 2017 – 15th April 2017 Habitat: Montane Forest. Broad-leaf. Riverine. Alluvial. Cultivation Land. Human Habitat. Temperature Range: 17°C ~ 32°C Altitude Range: 1,500' to 7,200' (from MSL) in Latpanchar, Ahaldara, Mana, Mahananda Buffer, Senchal and adjacent area in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India Bird Checklist (As per Birds of Indian Subcontinent field guide by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp): 1. Hill Partridge [H] 2. Himalayan Vulture 3. Eurasian Sparrowhawk 4. Mountain Hawk Eagle 5. Crested Serpent Eagle 6. Spotted Dove 7. Common Pigeon 8. Barred Cuckoo Dove 9. Mountain Imperial Pigeon 10. Large Hawk Cuckoo 11. Oriental Cuckoo (Himalayan) 12. Emrald Cuckoo 13. Banded Bay Cuckoo 14. Greater Coucal 15. Mountain Scops Owl 16. Asian Barred Owlet 17. House Swift 18. Rufous-necked Hornbill 19. Great Barbet 20. Blue-throated Barbet 21. Greater Yellownape 22. Lesser Yellownape 23. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker 24. Bay Woodpecker 25. Grey-headed Woodpecker 26. Long-tailed Broadbill 27. Large Woodshrike 28. Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike 29. Grey-chinned Minivet 30. Scarlet Minivet 31. Short-billed Minivet 1 Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary_April 2017 32. Bronze Drongo 33. Black Drongo 34. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo 35. Maroon Oriole 36. White-throated Fantail 37. Common Green Magpie 38. Grey Treepie 39. Large-billed Crow 40. Green-backed Tit 41. Black-lored Tit 42. Sultan Tit 43. Barn Swallow 44. Striated Bulbul 45. Himalayan Bulbul 46. Black-crested Bulbul 47. Black Bulbul 48. Red-vented Bulbul 49. Black-throated Prinia 50. Common Tailorbird 51. Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler 52.
    [Show full text]
  • An Ornithological Survey in North-East India
    FORKTAIL 20 (2004): 15–24 An ornithological survey in north-east India AYSEGUL BIRAND and SAMRAAT PAWAR We conducted surveys between October 2000 and June 2001 at nine sites in north-east India with low- to mid-elevation tropical evergreen forest, with a particular focus on forest species. We recorded 261 bird species, including five globally threatened species (White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata, Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis,Pallas’s Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Beautiful Nuthatch Sitta formosa), four Near Threatened species (White-cheeked Partridge Arborophila atrogularis,Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli and Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo hercules), three restricted-range species, several poorly known species, and a number of new altitudinal records. In general, north-east India remains deficient in avifaunal data. Further surveys, especially in the poorly known interior montane tracts, are needed to assist the identification of conservation priorities in the region. INTRODUCTION annual rainfall is 2,506 mm, and the vegetation is a mosaic of tropical semi-evergreen and evergreen forest, Owing to its unique position at the confluence of the with subtropical broadleaved forest at higher altitudes Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese and Indian biogeo- (Datta 2001). The forests are rich in epiphytes, lianas, graphic regions, and to its varied physiography, and creepers, with cane-brakes and small patches of north-east India harbours a range of habitats, with a clump-forming bamboo (Dendrocalamus sp.) occurring highly diverse and endemic biota (Mani 1974). The along streams. The lower fringes of Pakhui TR and region’s lowland and submontane moist to wet tropical many parts of Nameri National Park (NP) were logged evergreen forests are considered by some to be the up until the early 1980s, when they were declared as northernmost limit of true tropical rainforests in the protected areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Nepal: Easy Himalayan Birding Adventure
    NEPAL: EASY HIMALAYAN BIRDING ADVENTURE 16 – 28 MARCH 2020 16 – 28 MARCH 2021 Wallcreeper is one of our spectacular targets on this trip. www.birdingecotours.com [email protected] 2 | ITINERARY Nepal: Easy Himalayan Birding Adventure The former kingdom of Nepal, now officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a land-locked country in Asia and one of the most mountainous on the planet. It is located in the central Himalayas, and of the world’s ten highest mountains eight are in Nepal! This land was cut off from the outside world for many decades after the Second World War. But now it has opened up its boundaries to travelers, and it offers birders the opportunity to experience the immensity of birding the world’s highest mountain range without the high costs and visa restrictions associated with visiting Bhutan. Nepal boasts a spectacular diversity of habitats, from the lush lowlands of the Terai (“moist land”), conserved in the famous Chitwan National Park, to the top of Mount Everest! This remarkable heterogeneity of different habitats in such a small country means that Nepal boasts a bird list of over 850 species in a country less than half the size of Germany (i.e. a similar size to Arkansas). Our itinerary is designed to maximize your exposure to the different habitats and birds Nepal has to offer, without trekking on foot for days into the higher Himalayas. Some of the many exiting avian possibilities include Ibisbill, Bengal and Lesser Floricans, Swamp Francolin, Lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane, Black-bellied Tern, White-tailed Stonechat, Himalayan Rubythroat, Wallcreeper, Indian, and Bristled Grassbirds, Nepal Fulvetta, Himalayan Cutia, and Tibetan Serin, along with a potentially huge list of raptors, forktails, woodpeckers, thrushes, chats, and laughingthrushes.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India
    FORKTAIL 19 (2003): 1-13 Birds of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India ANWARUDDIN CHOUDHURY Bird surveys were carried out in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and adjacent parts of Doimara reserve forest in West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh, India, during 1997– 2002. The habitat ranged from tropical wet evergreen to subtropical and temperate forest, at 200 m to 3,200 m. The survey recorded three threatened species (Blyth’s Tragopan Tragopan blythii, Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis and Rusty-bellied Shortwing Brachypteryx hyperythra), five Near Threatened species (Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardi, Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis atrosuperciliaris and Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps). Other notable records included Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii (first for Arunachal Pradesh) and Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane (fourth for India). A total of 353 species are known from these two reserves, including two additional threatened species recorded by other observers. INTRODUCTION northern slopes to >3,000 mm on the southern slopes. Heavy snowfall is experienced in winter on Piri-la, while Eaglenest (or Eagle’s Nest) Wildlife Sanctuary (hereafter it is medium to low in other areas (especially above 2,000 ENS; 27º02´–09´N 92º18´–35´E; 200–3,200 m) and Sessa m, occasionally down to 1,800 m). Orchid Sanctuary (hereafter SOS; 27º06´–10´N 92º27´– There are diverse habitat types because of the great 35´E; 250–3,000 m) are located in West Kameng district, altitudinal range. Tropical wet evergreen and semi- Arunachal Pradesh, in north-east India (Fig 1).
    [Show full text]