Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 Khangchendzonga NP and BR | Jan 2017 DIBYENDU ASH·SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017 Date: 5th to 10th January 2017 Habitat: Montane Forest. Temperate Coniferous. Broadleaf. Riverine. Alluvial. Alpine steppe. Sub Alpine Forest. Cultivation Land. Human Habitat. Temperature Range: -4°C ~ 20°C Altitude Range: 4,000' to 10,050' (from MSL) in Darap, Yuksom, Dubdee, Sachen, Bakhim, Tsoka, Ghumsa in West Sikkim district, Sikkim, India. Bird Checklist (As per Birds of Indian Subcontinent field guide by Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp): 1. Satyr Tragopan 2. Himalayan Monal www.goingwild.in Page 1 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 3. Great Cormorant 4. Common Kestrel 5. Himalayan Vulture 6. Eurasia Woodcock 7. Common Pigeon 8. Snow Pigeon 9. Speckled Wood Pigeon 10. Oriental Turtle Dove 11. Spotted Dove 12. Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon 13. Asian Barred Owlet 14. Himalayan Swiftlet 15. Crested Kingfisher 16. Great Barbet 17. Golden-throated Barbet 18. Blue-throated Barbet 19. Yellow-rumped Honeyguide 20. Speckled Piculet 21. Bay Woodpecker 22. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker 23. Darjeeling Woodpecker www.goingwild.in Page 2 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 24. Crimson-breasted Woodpecker 25. Grey-headed Woodpecker 26. Greater Yellownape 27. Short-billed Minivet 28. Grey-backed Shrike 29. Long-tailed Shrike 30. Spangled Drongo 31. Ashy Drongo 32. Maroon Oriole 33. Yellow-bellied Fantail 34. White-throated Fantail 35. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie 36. Common Green Magpie 37. Grey Treepie 38. Northern Raven 39. Large-billed Crow 40. House Crow 41. Spotted Nutcracker 42. Green-backed Tit 43. Rufous-vented Tit 44. Coal Tit www.goingwild.in Page 3 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 45. Grey-crested Tit 46. Yellow-browed Tit 47. Black-throated Tit 48. Rufous-fronted Tit 49. Nepal House Martin 50. Striated Bulbul 51. Himalayan Bulbul 52. Red-vented Bulbul 53. Black Bulbul 54. Common Tailorbird 55. Grey-sided Bush Warbler 56. Chestnut-headed Tesia 57. Grey-bellied Tesia 58. Buff-barred Warbler 59. Lemon-rumped Warbler 60. Ashy-throated Warbler 61. Mandellie's Leaf Warbler 62. Whiskered Warbler 63. Grey-cheeked Warbler 64. Grey-hooded Warbler 65. Chestnut-crowned Warbler www.goingwild.in Page 4 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 66. Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler 67. Pygmy Wren Babbler 68. Rufous-capped Babbler 69. Grey-throated Babbler 70. Golden Babbler 71. Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler 72. Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler 73. Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler 74. White-throated Laughingthrush 75. Striated Laughingthrush 76. Spotted Laughingthrush 77. Blue-winged Laughingthrush 78. Scaly Laughingthrush 79. Black-faced Laughingthrush 80. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 81. Rusty-fronted Barwing 82. Hoary-throated Barwing 83. Red-billed Leiothrix 84. Blue-winged Siva 85. Bar-throated Siva 86. Red-tailed Minla www.goingwild.in Page 5 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 87. White-browed Shrike-babbler 88. Green Shrike-babbler 89. Black-eared Shrike-babbler 90. Yellow-throated Fulvetta 91. Rufous-winged Fulvetta 92. White-browed Fulvetta 93. Nepal Fulvetta 94. Rufous Sibia 95. Whiskered Yuhina 96. Stripe-throated Yuhina 97. Rufous-vented Yuhina 98. Brown Parrotbill 99. Fulvous Parrotbill 100. Fire-tailed Myzornis 101. Oriental White-eye 102. Goldcrest 103. Winter Wren 104. Brown Dipper 105. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch 106. White-tailed Nuthatch 107. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch www.goingwild.in Page 6 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 108. Brown-throated Treecreeper 109. Hodgson's Treecreeper 110. Rusty-flanked Treecreeper 111. Common Myna 112. Blue Whistling Thrush 113. Alpine Thrush 114. Scaly Thrush 115. White-collared Blackbird 116. Grey-winged Blackbird 117. Chestnut Thrush 118. Black-throated Thrush 119. White-browed Bush Robin 120. Himalayan Bluetail 121. Golden Bush Robin 122. Oriental Magpie Robin 123. Plumbeous Water Redstart 124. White-capped Redstart 125. Hodgson's Redstart 126. White-throated Redstart 127. Blue-fronted Redstart 128. Slaty-backed Forktail www.goingwild.in Page 7 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 129. Spotted Forktail 130. Grey Bushchat 131. Blue Rock Thrush 132. Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush 133. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher 134. Little Pied Flycatcher 135. Slaty-blue Flycatcher 136. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher 137. Rufous-bellied Niltava 138. Small Niltava 139. Large Niltava 140. Orange-bellied Leafbird 141. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 142. Green-tailed Sunbird 143. Eurasian Treesparrow 144. Alpine Accentor 145. Grey Wagtail 146. Olive-backed Pipit 147. Tibetan Siskin 148. Dark-breasted Rosefinch 149. Pink-browed Rosefinch www.goingwild.in Page 8 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 150. Dark-rumped Rosefinch 151. Scarlet Finch 152. Spot-winged Grosbeak Mammal checklist (as per the Indian Mammals | A Field Guide by Vivek Menon): 1. Hoary-bellied Squirrel 2. Himalayan Striped Squirrel 3. Himalayan Serow 4. Yellow- throated Marten 5. Himalayan Langur Participants: 1. Dibyendu Ash (L) 2. Sujal Limboo (Singaman Pegha Pegha) 3. Tenhang Limboo (Buddha Singh Limboo) 4. Abinash Subba (Phip Hang Limboo) 5. Roshan Limboo (Aita Hang Limboo) 6. Ds Limboo -:Kids for Birds and Birds For Kids:- The enigma of mankind was to explore the world. The kids of the future generation are an asset for us; and we as a senior member of the world should focus on the upliftment for them. The motto of this event is to promote wildlife awareness amongst the mass and that too amongst the kids. -:Venue and Timeline:- The undergoing process of grooming of kids for awareness about wildlife and nature has begun once GoingWild has stepped foot in Sikkim. Since the begining we are doing to conduct awareness drives and trying to eradicate poaching. The livelihood of the people www.goingwild.in Page 9 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 of Sikkim can be benefited if the entire tribe group work hand in hand. For this event we have chosen 5th to 10th January of 2017 as a week long programme for the kids only; who can not only be the protector but also to administrate the entire state as a wildlife heaven. Khangchendzonga National Park; has recently been declared as a world heritage sight in 2016 and based on that; from GoingWild LLP and Limboo Homestay (of Yuksom) we are sponsoring the entire expedition for six days. For the first of its kind, the birding the kids of Yuksom would anyways benefit the tourism and at the same time it will be beneficial for the locals. It will help to eradicate poaching of birds and other wildlife as well. This was done for the underprivileged children, for developing the new generation to come forward for the betterment of nature and wildlife. • 5th January 2017: Inauguration with Chyabrung Drum Dance (2 PM); Meeting with GPU of Yuksom, Birding at Darap, West Sikkim. • 6th January 2017: Today we did our morning birding at Yuksom (altitude 5,839 ft) village and at Dubdee monastery (6,200 ft); presentation of Limbu culture by an octogenarian guy from the tribe group; preparation for trekking for next four days. 7th January 2017: Initiation of bird watching on the infamous birding trail from Yuksom. We were greeted by Yuksom GPU head Budha Singh Subba by Khada (a traditional attire for greetings). We started our trekking at 9:30 AM from Yuksom (altitude 5,840 ft); during the trekking on the way we saw various colorful birds of Sikkim – Tibetan Serin, Chestnut Thrush, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide etc. These birds were some of the highlights for the day. We had trekked 8 kilometers. For the entire trekking route we were accompanied by Phupu Tsering and his brother; along with two yaks. By 2 PM we have reached to Sachen. After having the lunch, we did some birding at the camp site at Sachen (altitude 7,200 ft). In the afternoon we took our dinner at 6:30 PM and took rest in the log hut at Sachen. www.goingwild.in Page 10 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 8th January 2017: Today we started around 7:30 AM in the morning after having breakfast. As we started we saw the magnificent Himalayan Serow beside the camp. On the way we saw many beautiful birds and photographed them as well. By noon at 12:30 PM we reached at Bakhim (altitude 9,010 ft); though we had plan to stay there overnight, we decided to move further up at Tsoka (altitude 10,050 ft). Just before reaching the trekker’s hut at Tsoka we saw huge mixed flock of birds comprising of – tits, warblers and other passerines. We checked in tho the trekker’s hut at 2:30 PM. After having lunch we explored a birding trail beside the monastery. That day we took our dinner at 7 AM and rested for the night at the log hut of Tsoka. 9th January 2017: Today we have covered birding to Ghunsa (a village just beside Tsoka). At a distance of 2 kilometers from Tsoka; where we saw Red panda scat as well as some of the beautiful birds from the high altitude – Spotted Nutcracker, Satyr Tragopan, Himalayan Monal etc. In the afternoon we have covered some of the birding trails near Tsoka. Overnight we stayed at the trekker’s hut at Tsoka. Since electricity was not there thus we had to equip with alternate sources. 10th January 2017: Return from Tsoka to Yuksom (14 KM trekking). Freshening up; the event for greeting to the participants were arranged by Limboo Home stay and GoingWild. As chief guest of honor - Nosang Muringla Limboo was present. He has gifted bird images to the kids. A presentation showcasing the birds of West Sikkim was shown to the audience www.goingwild.in Page 11 Khangchendzonga National Park 2017 Chyabrung Drum dance was performed by the local kids With high tea and dinner the event ended at 9 PM. -:Supports:- This initiative has been entirely supported by Yuksom Gram Panchayet Unit (Yuksom GPU), Yuma Mang Meditation Centre Committee (YMMCC), SOS (Sikkim Ornithological Society) and HPO (Heavenly Path Organization).