DOCSLIB.ORG

BHUTAN: Birding in “Shangri-La”

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
BHUTAN: Birding in “Shangri-La” BHUTAN: Birding In “Shangri-La” A Tropical Birding Custom Tour March 20-31, 2016 Guide: Ken Behrens All photos by Ken Behrens TOUR SUMMARY Bhutan is a small and entirely mountainous kingdom in the Himalayas, sandwiched between mighty neighbors India and China. It was closed to outsiders for most of its history, and has only opened up to tourists in recent decades. Bhutan is best known as a treasury of relatively untouched Buddhist culture, historical sites, and artifacts. Although tourists visit year-round, the biggest cultural “draw card” is the Tshechu festivals, which feature dances by masked performers. These dances were created by Buddhist monks 100s of years ago, and were meant for moral instruction. Although these colorful festivals in picturesque settings do attract many foreign visitors, the vast majority of attendees at any Tshechu is local people, who flock in from the surrounding mountains and villages for a once-a-year chance to socialize and show off beautiful traditional costumes. This tour was timed to catch a couple days of the five-day Paro Tshechu. Bhutan’s second major attraction is its vast and unspoiled forests, which still cover nearly three quarters of the country. It boasts the best-preserved forest habitat in perhaps the whole of the Himalayas, and supports a rich assortment of eastern Himalayan specialty birds. A select subset of these birds were the second major reason for this custom tour. Although the participants Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 had already made a thorough birding trip to Bhutan nearly ten years earlier, they had missed several key species, and had also not been able to attend a Tshechu festival. We were very successful in achieving our goals, both on the cultural and avian fronts. The Paro Tshechu was colorful and fascinating, and a bit like stepping back in time, with only the modern sneakers poking out from under traditional costumes to remind us that it was the 21st century! On the cultural front, we also visited three dzongs, in Paro, Trongsa, and Punakha. For 100s of years, these massive fortresses combined the functions of defensive castle, monastery, and center of local government. They resemble medieval castles in many respects, but are still actively functioning as monasteries and government buildings, giving them a vibrancy that has long departed from Europe’s citadels. Bhutan’s dzongs are replete with fascinating details, from carved wooden gargoyles to ancient metal work to windows with expansive views of snow- capped mountains in the distance. Although the dzongs Local people flock to Bhutan’s Tshechu “masked dance” festivals, showing off traditional costumes which are sometimes made from and festivals are the focal silk and worth a fortune. point, every corner of Bhutan is full of cultural interest. Even the tiny and remote village of Zhemgang, where we spent three Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 nights in order to bird the surrounding area, features prayer wheels, beautiful hand-crafted wooden homes with lovingly painted decorations, and even a small dzong. The people of Bhutan are wonderfully kind and welcoming, though in a discreet way that never makes you feel conspicuously foreign. The king famously says that “gross national happiness” is the country’s aim rather than “gross national product,” which may sound a bit ingenuous, but the evidence of that philosophy is actually on display throughout A masked dancer whirls across the ancient paving stones at the Paro Tshechu. the country. Our birding mission was undeniably a tough one, as we were chasing the handful of tough species that had been missed on an earlier tour. But with hard work and perseverance, we enjoyed good success. The top target was the Spotted Elachura, formerly known as Spotted Wren-Babbler, and perhaps better called simply “Elachura” as it has recently been recognized as forming a monotypic family. We heard this bird easily, but it was only with hours of effort that the stars finally aligned for great views of this cryptic little beauty. Another major target was the Satyr Tragopan, a gorgeous orange-red pheasant with a galaxy of brilliant spots. This bird has become The Spotted Elachura can be incredibly elusive, and increasingly difficult as road construction was this trip’s top avian target. So great views after much effort were heartily appreciated. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 has created disturbance across the country. On top of that, we weren’t visiting the best site for this Tragopan, which was farther east than it was practical to venture on this short trip. Despite these obstacles, we eventually managed to enjoy incredible views of a male Satyr Tragopan at Pelela, on a fine, crisp morning. There are only five tragopans in the world, and they surely count among its best birds. The glorious Satyr Tragopan, undoubtedly one of Asia’s most beautiful and sought-after birds. The third major target was the Beautiful Nuthatch, which is why we spent three nights in the village of Zhemgang, in the middle elevations of south / central Bhutan. Despite a huge effort, we never managed to see this devilishly beautiful beast, though we did hear it once. The traditional stakeouts for Beautiful Nuthatch have suffered heavily at the hands of local timber cutters, and along the road, most of the large mossy trees that they prefer have been cut. My guess is that this bird will be increasingly difficult in coming years, if it doesn’t disappear from the roadside habitat altogether. Major targets aside, we enjoyed wonderful general birding throughout western and central Bhutan. A trip to the frigid heights of Chelela turned up Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Eurasian Nutcracker, Spotted Laughingthrush, a mixed flock of Red-throated and Black- Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 throated Thrushes, and Rusty-flanked Treecreeper. Around our perfectly situated and luxurious hotel above Paro were Yellow-billed Blue Magpie and Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler. We birded Dochula on a cold and misty morning, and failed to find tragopan there, but did turn up Rufous-vented and Gray-crested Tits, Stripe-throated and Rufous-vented Yuhhinas, Plain-backed Thrush, Golden-naped Finch, and a few other prizes. Although Trongsa didn’t hold the wished-for Spotted Elachura, which would come later in the trip, it did give us Pygmy Cupwing, Speckled Woodpigeon, and Russet Bush-Warbler. The massive Rufous-necked Hornbill, with its beautifully “engraved” bill is one of Bhutan’s marquee birds. It is more common in Bhutan than anywhere else on Earth due to lack of hunting. The Zhemgang area was by far the highest-diversity forest that we birded, lying at lower elevations than the other sites. Birding in this peaceful area, away from the noise and dust of the road construction that has enveloped most of the country’s main roads, was a real pleasure. A few of the highlights were Kalij Pheasant, lots of Rufous-necked Hornbills, hefty Blue-bearded Bee- eater, gorgeous Sultan Tit, skulking Slaty-bellied Tesia, Rufous-faced Warbler, Gray-headed and Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 Pale-billed Parrotbills, scarce White-naped Yuhina, Himalayan Cutia (sadly not in a flock with a Beautiful Nuthatch!), Rufous-necked and Blue-winged Laughingthrushes, Silver-eared Mesia, incredibly shy White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Pygmy Blue-Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Tickell’s Thrush (a bit of a surprise), Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, unpredictable Brown Bullfinch, Scarlet Finch, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, and Spot-winged Grosbeak. Our stop in Punakha on the way back to Paro was mainly intended to allow a visit to the dzong there, but we did squeeze in a little birding. There was a Pallas’s Fish-Eagle on the adjacent river, and a Wallcreeper creeping along the walls of a temple within the dzong complex! Before flying out of Paro, we had one final mission: to find an Ibisbill. Despite having travelled extensively, and amassed an impressive world list, the participants had only seen this handsome bird once before. Finding the “boulder with a beak” took a bit of searching, but great scope views were eventually enjoyed. The amazing Ibisbill. Many birders see them in winter plumage in northern India, but they are even more striking in breeding plumage. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 ITINERARY March 20 Arrival in Paro. Afternoon at Paro Tshechu and dzong March 21 Day trip to Chelela March 22 Paro Tshechu (festival with masked dances). Afternoon to Thimpu March 23 Thimpu to Dochula to Phobjikha Valley March 24 Phobjikha to Pelela to Trongsa. Visit Trongsa dzong March 25 Trongsa to Zhemgang March 26 Zhemgang and surrounds March 27 Zhemgang and surrounds March 28 Zhemgang to Tingtibi to Trongsa March 29 Trongsa to Punakha. Visit Punakha dzong March 30 Punakha to Paro March 31 Departure from Paro Spotted Laughingthrush, a big and boldly marked high-elevation beauty that we enjoyed at Chelela. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 PHOTO GALLERY Bhutan’s rhododendrons burst into color in spring and early summer, while its prayer flags bloom year-round. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 Brown Dipper. Everybody loves a good dipper. Yellow-browed Tit (left) is a high-elevation bird, while Yellow-vented Warbler (right) is found at low to moderate elevations. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 Blue-fronted Redstart, quite a beauty when seen in good light. Spinning prayer wheels in the Trongsa dzong. Bhutan: Birding in “Shangri-La” March 20-31, 2016 “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery is one of Bhutan’s best-known cultural treasures, and for good reason.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Species List
    Dec. 11, 2013 – Jan. 01, 2014 Thailand (Central and Northern) Species Trip List Compiled by Carlos Sanchez (HO)= Distinctive enough to be counted as heard only Summary: After having traveled through much of the tropical Americas, I really wanted to begin exploring a new region of the world. Thailand instantly came to mind as a great entry point into the vast and diverse continent of Asia, home to some of the world’s most spectacular birds from giant hornbills to ornate pheasants to garrulous laughingthrushes and dazzling pittas. I took a little over three weeks to explore the central and northern parts of this spectacular country: the tropical rainforests of Kaeng Krachen, the saltpans of Pak Thale and the montane Himalayan foothill forests near Chiang Mai. I left absolutely dazzled by what I saw. Few words can describe the joy of having your first Great Hornbill, the size of a swan, plane overhead; the thousands of shorebirds in the saltpans of Pak Thale, where I saw critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper; the tear-jerking surprise of having an Eared Pitta come to bathe at a forest pool in the late afternoon, surrounded by tail- quivering Siberian Blue Robins; or the fun of spending my birthday at Doi Lang, seeing Ultramarine Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Fire-tailed Sunbird and more among a 100 or so species. Overall, I recorded over 430 species over the course of three weeks which is conservative relative to what is possible. Thailand was more than a birding experience for me. It was the Buddhist gong that would resonate through the villages in the early morning, the fresh and delightful cuisine produced out of a simple wok, the farmers faithfully tending to their rice paddies and the amusing frost chasers at the top of Doi Inthanon at dawn.
    [Show full text]
  • • the Following Pages Have Some Identification Markers for Each of the Bush Warblers Found in India
    ©www.ogaclicks.com • The following pages have some identification markers for each of the Bush Warblers found in India • To know more on these birds you can visit www.ogaclicks.com/warbler • If you are interested in coming on any of my tours or workshops please share your email id. I will keep you updated • Mail me at [email protected] • You can also call me on (91)9840119078 , (91) 9445219078 (91) 6369815812 Abberant Bush Warbler Identification Tips - Nominate Abberant Bush Warbler : Cettia flavolivacea : Resident of Himalayas from North Central India (East of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) Crown is plain brown Pale yellowish supercilium Bill is dark horn- Dark eyestripe brown, pale pink Upperparts are yellowish base of lower Brown Ear-coverts olive-green mandible Narrow whitish eyering Throat is unspotted whitish Breast is darker olive Dull olive-yellow undertail-coverts Buffish or olive- yellow Underparts Flanks are darker olive Legs are yellow to dusky pinkish-brown ©www.ogaclicks.com Reference : www.HBW.com Brown Bush Warbler Identification Tips - Nominate Brown Bush Warbler : Bradypterus luteoventris : Resident of North East India (from Darjeeling, in West Bengal, Eastwards to Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland) Crown is plain brown Deep buff supercilium upper mandible is Brown eyestripe blackish-brown, lower mandible Brown Ear-coverts fleshy-yellow with blackish-brown tip Upperparts are plain brown Throat is unspotted whitish Breast is Brown Belly is unspotted whitish Deep buff undertail-coverts Deep buff Flanks Legs are flesh-brown
    [Show full text]
  • ED45E Rare and Scarce Species Hierarchy.Pdf
    104 Species 55 Mollusc 8 Mollusc 334 Species 181 Mollusc 28 Mollusc 44 Species 23 Vascular Plant 14 Flowering Plant 45 Species 23 Vascular Plant 14 Flowering Plant 269 Species 149 Vascular Plant 84 Flowering Plant 13 Species 7 Mollusc 1 Mollusc 42 Species 21 Mollusc 2 Mollusc 43 Species 22 Mollusc 3 Mollusc 59 Species 30 Mollusc 4 Mollusc 59 Species 31 Mollusc 5 Mollusc 68 Species 36 Mollusc 6 Mollusc 81 Species 43 Mollusc 7 Mollusc 105 Species 56 Mollusc 9 Mollusc 117 Species 63 Mollusc 10 Mollusc 118 Species 64 Mollusc 11 Mollusc 119 Species 65 Mollusc 12 Mollusc 124 Species 68 Mollusc 13 Mollusc 125 Species 69 Mollusc 14 Mollusc 145 Species 81 Mollusc 15 Mollusc 150 Species 84 Mollusc 16 Mollusc 151 Species 85 Mollusc 17 Mollusc 152 Species 86 Mollusc 18 Mollusc 158 Species 90 Mollusc 19 Mollusc 184 Species 105 Mollusc 20 Mollusc 185 Species 106 Mollusc 21 Mollusc 186 Species 107 Mollusc 22 Mollusc 191 Species 110 Mollusc 23 Mollusc 245 Species 136 Mollusc 24 Mollusc 267 Species 148 Mollusc 25 Mollusc 270 Species 150 Mollusc 26 Mollusc 333 Species 180 Mollusc 27 Mollusc 347 Species 189 Mollusc 29 Mollusc 349 Species 191 Mollusc 30 Mollusc 365 Species 196 Mollusc 31 Mollusc 376 Species 203 Mollusc 32 Mollusc 377 Species 204 Mollusc 33 Mollusc 378 Species 205 Mollusc 34 Mollusc 379 Species 206 Mollusc 35 Mollusc 404 Species 221 Mollusc 36 Mollusc 414 Species 228 Mollusc 37 Mollusc 415 Species 229 Mollusc 38 Mollusc 416 Species 230 Mollusc 39 Mollusc 417 Species 231 Mollusc 40 Mollusc 418 Species 232 Mollusc 41 Mollusc 419 Species 233
    [Show full text]
  • Bird Diversity in Northern Myanmar and Conservation Implications
    ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH Bird diversity in northern Myanmar and conservation implications Ming-Xia Zhang1,2, Myint Kyaw3, Guo-Gang Li1,2, Jiang-Bo Zhao4, Xiang-Le Zeng5, Kyaw Swa3, Rui-Chang Quan1,2,* 1 Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yezin Nay Pyi Taw 05282, Myanmar 2 Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla Yunnan 666303, China 3 Hponkan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary Offices, Putao Kachin 01051, Myanmar 4 Science Communication and Training Department, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla Yunnan 666303, China 5 Yingjiang Bird Watching Society, Yingjiang Yunnan 679300, China ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, several bird surveys had been carried out in the Putao area (Rappole et al, 2011). Under the leadership of We conducted four bird biodiversity surveys in the the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division (NWCD) of the Putao area of northern Myanmar from 2015 to 2017. Myanmar Forestry Ministry, two expeditions were launched in Combined with anecdotal information collected 1997–1998 (Aung & Oo, 1999) and 2001–2009 (Rappole et al., between 2012 and 2015, we recorded 319 bird 2011), providing the most detailed inventory of local avian species, including two species (Arborophila mandellii diversity thus far. 1 and Lanius sphenocercus) previously unrecorded in Between December 2015 and May 2017, the Southeast Asia Myanmar. Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae), babblers (Timaliidae), Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences pigeons and doves (Columbidae), and pheasants (CAS-SEABRI), Forest Research Institute (FRI) of Myanmar, and partridges (Phasianidae) were the most Hponkan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary (HPWS), and Hkakabo Razi abundant groups of birds recorded.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Passeriformes: Cisticolidae: Orthotomus) from the Mekong Floodplain of Cambodia
    FORKTAIL 29 (2013): 1–14 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F1778491-B6EE-4225-95B2-2843B32CBA08 A new species of lowland tailorbird (Passeriformes: Cisticolidae: Orthotomus) from the Mekong floodplain of Cambodia S. P. MAHOOD, A. J. I. JOHN, J. C. EAMES, C. H. OLIVEROS, R. G. MOYLE, HONG CHAMNAN, C. M. POOLE, H. NIELSEN & F. H. SHELDON Based on distinctive morphological and vocal characters we describe a new species of lowland tailorbird Orthotomus from dense humid lowland scrub in the floodplain of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers of Cambodia. Genetic data place it in the O. atrogularis–O. ruficeps–O. sepium clade. All data suggest that the new species is most closely related to O. atrogularis, from which genetic differences are apparently of a level usually associated with subspecies. However the two taxa behave as biological species, existing locally in sympatry and even exceptionally in syntopy, without apparent hybridisation. The species is known so far from a small area within which its habitat is declining in area and quality. However, although birds are found in a number of small habitat fragments (including within the city limits of Phnom Penh), most individuals probably occupy one large contiguous area of habitat in the Tonle Sap floodplain. We therefore recommend it is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. The new species is abundant in suitable habitat within its small range. Further work is required to understand more clearly the distribution and ecology of this species and in particular its evolutionary relationship with O. atrogularis. INTRODUCTION and its major tributaries (Duckworth et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Acknowledgments References Rediscovery of Red
    CORRESPONDENCE 155 Acknowledgments We thank Dr. Reshma Solanki for accompanying us in the field as well as helping us prepare the manuscript. We retrieved relevant literature from the online ‘Bibliography of South Asian Ornithology’ (Pittie 2018). References Ali, S., & Ripley, S. D., 1987. Compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. 2nd ed. Delhi: Oxford University Press. Pp. i–xlii, 1 l., 1–737, 52 ll. BirdLife International. 2017. Gyps indicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22729731A117875047. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS. T22729731A117875047.en. [Accessed on 31 March 2018.] Ganpule, P., 2016. The birds of Gujarat: Status and distribution. Flamingo 8 (3)–12 (4): 2–40. Green, R. E., Newton, I., Shultz, S., Cunningham, A. A., Gilbert, M., Pain, D. J., & Prakash, V., 2004. Diclofenac poisoning as a cause of vulture population declines across the Indian subcontinent. Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 793–800. Kamboj, R. D., Tatu, K. & Munjpara, S. B., 2016. Status of vultures in Gujarat—2016. Rahul D. Bhatt Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, Gandhinagar. 175. Nest 1 of the Indian Vulture in Pavagadh Hill (Inset photo: Adult Indian Vulture). Mukherjee, A., Galligan, T. H., Prakash, V., Paudel, K., Khan, U., Prakash, S., Ranade, S., Shastri, K., Dave, R., Donald, P., & Bowden, C., 2014. Vulture safe zones to save Gyps vultures in South Asia. Mistnet 15 (3): 4–21. Pandey, C. N., Tatu, K. S., & Vyas, V. R., 2010. Status of Gyps vultures in Gujarat—2010.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Download
    OPEN ACCESS The Journal of Threatened Taxa fs dedfcated to bufldfng evfdence for conservafon globally by publfshfng peer-revfewed arfcles onlfne every month at a reasonably rapfd rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org . All arfcles publfshed fn JoTT are regfstered under Creafve Commons Atrfbufon 4.0 Internafonal Lfcense unless otherwfse menfoned. JoTT allows unrestrfcted use of arfcles fn any medfum, reproducfon, and dfstrfbufon by provfdfng adequate credft to the authors and the source of publfcafon. Journal of Threatened Taxa Bufldfng evfdence for conservafon globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Onlfne) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Prfnt) Revfew Nepal’s Natfonal Red Lfst of Bfrds Carol Inskfpp, Hem Sagar Baral, Tfm Inskfpp, Ambfka Prasad Khafwada, Monsoon Pokharel Khafwada, Laxman Prasad Poudyal & Rajan Amfn 26 January 2017 | Vol. 9| No. 1 | Pp. 9700–9722 10.11609/jot. 2855 .9.1. 9700-9722 For Focus, Scope, Afms, Polfcfes and Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/About_JoTT.asp For Arfcle Submfssfon Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/Submfssfon_Gufdelfnes.asp For Polfcfes agafnst Scfenffc Mfsconduct vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/JoTT_Polfcy_agafnst_Scfenffc_Mfsconduct.asp For reprfnts contact <[email protected]> Publfsher/Host Partner Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 January 2017 | 9(1): 9700–9722 Revfew Nepal’s Natfonal Red Lfst of Bfrds Carol Inskfpp 1 , Hem Sagar Baral 2 , Tfm Inskfpp 3 , Ambfka Prasad Khafwada 4 , 5 6 7 ISSN 0974-7907 (Onlfne) Monsoon Pokharel Khafwada , Laxman Prasad
    [Show full text]
  • SICHUAN (Including Northern Yunnan)
    Temminck’s Tragopan (all photos by Dave Farrow unless indicated otherwise) SICHUAN (Including Northern Yunnan) 16/19 MAY – 7 JUNE 2018 LEADER: DAVE FARROW The Birdquest tour to Sichuan this year was a great success, with a slightly altered itinerary to usual due to the closure of Jiuzhaigou, and we enjoyed a very smooth and enjoyable trip around the spectacular and endemic-rich mountain and plateau landscapes of this striking province. Gamebirds featured strongly with 14 species seen, the highlights of them including a male Temminck’s Tragopan grazing in the gloom, Chinese Monal trotting across high pastures, White Eared and Blue Eared Pheasants, Lady Amherst’s and Golden Pheasants, Chinese Grouse and Tibetan Partridge. Next were the Parrotbills, with Three-toed, Great and Golden, Grey-hooded and Fulvous charming us, Laughingthrushes included Red-winged, Buffy, Barred, Snowy-cheeked and Plain, we saw more Leaf Warblers than we knew what to do with, and marvelled at the gorgeous colours of Sharpe’s, Pink-rumped, Vinaceous, Three-banded and Red-fronted Rosefinches, the exciting Przevalski’s Finch, the red pulse of Firethroats plus the unreal blue of Grandala. Our bird of the trip? Well, there was that Red Panda that we watched for ages! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Sichuan Including Northern Yunnan 2018 www.birdquest-tours.com Our tour began with a short extension in Yunnan, based in Lijiang city, with the purpose of finding some of the local specialities including the rare White-speckled Laughingthrush, which survives here in small numbers. Once our small group had arrived in the bustling city of Lijiang we began our birding in an area of hills that had clearly been totally cleared of forest in the fairly recent past, with a few trees standing above the hillsides of scrub.
    [Show full text]
  • Recollections on Illustrating the Ripley Guide 167
    ANDERTON: Recollections on illustrating The Ripley Guide 167 Recollections on illustrating The Ripley Guide John C. Anderton Anderton, J. C., 2020. Recollections on illustrating The Ripley Guide. Indian BIRDS 16 (6): 167–175. John C. Anderton, 4927 Americana Drive, #105, Annandale, VA 22003, USA. E-mail: [email protected]. Manuscript received on 08 November 2020. ne Friday morning in 1989, while I was reconnecting record of what a bird looks like in any given location, and provides with the staff of the Division of Birds in the Smithsonian’s the illustrator with true colour, detail, and scale that cannot be ONational Museum of Natural History, an ornithologist conveyed in photographs. Such an operation, inevitably, has whom I had not met before asked me if I would be interested in spinoffs—purging the literature of erroneous records (Pied Triller working on a new guide to the birds of India. That ornithologist in the Andamans); finding new species that had lain unnoticed was S. Dillon Ripley’s Scientific Assistant, Bruce M. Beehler. in museum drawers (Nicobar Scops Owl); and even revealing I was 27 years old; I had not travelled in Asia. I had heard systematic scientific fraud, leading to the rediscovery of a species of bulbuls only because there were introduced North American believed extinct (Robert Meinertzhagen and the Forest Owlet). All populations of the Red-Whiskered. I had no idea what a drongo of these issues, and more, are addressed in senior author Pamela was, let alone a prinia or a baza. Rasmussen’s article in Indian Birds (2005). The world has changed radically since Birds of South Asia: The main challenge for the illustrator is to show all of the The Ripley Guide was first proposed.
    [Show full text]
  • Singalila National Park
    Singalila National Park Singalila National Park SIKKIM Neora Valley National park J~ N~— -.ri-A! Senchel Wildlife Sanchuary BHUTAN rkhey Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary amanden barkhum ollay ammam BANGLADESH €irikhola ÿRimbic The Singalila National Park, located in Darjeeling district of West andakphu Bengal covers an area of 78 km2 and has an altitudinal range of eekhay Bhanjyang 2,400-3,650 metres. The National Park shares a natural boundary ÿKalipokhri with Nepal on the west and with Sikkim on the north. The international border between India and Nepal is identified by a 52 Kaiyakatta km road running from Phalut (3,650 m) down to Manebhanjyang ÿairibas ÿDhotrey (1,920 m). The National Park is an Important Bird Area and an IUCN Tonglu Category II Protected Area. E irrfing fyleghma P _amey Dhura Singalila National Park is under the administrative control of the A Wildlife Division-I, Department of Forest, Government of West litray îiniybhanjyang Bengal. RATA Ashoka Trust for Research in FOUNDATION Ecology and the Environment History The Singalila area in Darjeeling was purchased by the British Government from Sibbim Durbar in 1882, and notified a Reserve Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1878. It was notified as a National Parb in 1992 and was also officially opened up for tourism. However even before this, Singalila has a history of receiving visitors. Some of the I prominent visitors include Sir Joseph Dalton Hoober - one of the greatest British **" y '* botanists and explorers in 1883; Heinrich Harrer author of "Seven Vears in Tibet" visited Singalila several times. Singalila range used to be a regular route for expeditions to Kanchenjunga.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhutan II Th Th 16 April to 5 May 2015 (20 Days)
    Trip Report Bhutan II th th 16 April to 5 May 2015 (20 days) Ibisbill by Wayne Jones Trip report compiled by tour leader Wayne Jones Trip Report - RBT Bhutan II 2015 2 Our Bhutan tour kicked off at 350m above sea level in Samdrup Jongkhar, the border town close to Assam. The town's quiet gentility was quite a contrast to the hubbub of the Indian province in which we had just spent the last five days. Our arrival was in the late afternoon, so after settling into our hotel and meeting for dinner there wasn't much scope for birding. After supper, attempts to draw in a calling Collared Scops Owl were not entertained by the bird in question and a thunderstorm gently encouraged us to head to our rooms. This was to be the first of many encounters with rain in Bhutan! Crimson Sunbird by Wayne Jones The next morning we began our birding day with a walk along the main road on the outskirts of town while our bus went ahead to collect us later, the general modus operandi of birding in Bhutan. We glimpsed Red Junglefowl, Striated and Indian Pond Herons, Crested Honey Buzzard – one of which perched in a tree for good views, a Black Eagle cruising low over the treetops, Crested Goshawk, Green-billed Malkoha, House Swift, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Dollarbird, Lesser Yellownape, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Scarlet Minivet, Long-tailed Shrike, Ashy and Bronzed Drongos, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler, Rufescent Prinia, a gorgeous Asian Fairy-bluebird, a fleeting White-rumped Shama, common but beautiful Verditer Flycatcher, Black-backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, White- capped Redstart, Crimson Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter and Chestnut-tailed Starling.
    [Show full text]