Nepal Raptor Tour Endangered Asian Vultures close during the fall migration. This recently discovered hawk-watch is located at the Once among the most abundant edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area raptors in Asia, world populations of and offers stunning views of the Himalayas. White-rumped Vulture, Red-headed Vulture, and Slender-billed The raptor flight at Thulo Kharka during our Vulture have crashed drastically since the stay will be dominated by Steppe Eagles 1990s. These three species are virtually on (EN) of all ages and plumages. We should the brink of extinction and thus considered expect between 10 and 300 eagles each day. to be critically endangered (CR). This tour We should see them overhead, at eye level, offers the possibility of seeing well all three. and from above, and at incredible close The endangered (EN) Egyptian Vulture, and ranges. The second-most common migrant near threatened (NT) Bearded Vulture, will be Himalayan Vulture (NT), of which we Himalayan Vulture, and Cinereous Vulture should see dozens every day, mainly Hundreds of migratory can also be seen. immatures, but also a few adults. Himalayan Vultures fly past Raptors of the Central Terai Thulo Kharka every year. Most are The Best Himalayan Raptor juveniles, but some adults—such as Migration At the base of the Himalayas, the Terai-Duar this one—can be seen too. savanna and grasslands ecoregion spans © S. Seipke Tucked away in the foothills of the Nepali from Uttar Pradesh in India to the south- Himalayas, the small mountain village of western extreme of Bhutan. This narrow strip Thulo Kharka is one of the best places in Asia (av. 25 km) contains the highest density of to watch and photograph large raptors up tigers, rhinos and ungulates in Asia. Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 1 Annapurna Range as seen from our hotel in Thulo Kharka. © Sergio Seipke Our first stop in the Terai is Lumbini—the With over 540 species of birds recorded revered place of birth of Siddharta Gautama, Chitwan National Park is the quintessential better known as Buddha. It is also superb central Terai birding destination. Raptors raptor-watching country. Here we will target we’ll target here include Osprey, Black- Black-winged Kite, Indian Spotted Eagle winged Kite, Crested Honey Buzzard, (VU), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Western Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk- Marsh Harrier, Pied Harrier, Shikra, and Eagle, Hen Harrier, Shikra, Gray-headed White-eyed Buzzard. Also Griffon Vulture, Fish-Eagle (NT), Collared Falconet, and and several species of vultures we’d see at Peregrine Falcon. One-horned Rhino (VU), Thulo Kharka, but here at a local vulture several species of deer, Gharial (CR), and restaurant. Sarus Cranes and Lesser Adjutant Mugger Crocodiles can be seen here as well. can be seen too. Lucky visitors may spot a Tiger (EN), however this is unlikely. Day-by-Day Itinerary Day 1 | 5 NOVEMBER Days 3–8 | 7–12 NOVEMBER Arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan Our daily routine will be quite simple. International Airport (IATA code: KTM). 7.00–8.00 am, optional general birding on Transfer to Hotel Shanker in Thamel. Visit a trails. 8.15 am, meet for breakfast. 9.00 am, large colony of Indian Flying Fox, and Black we’ll meet at the hawk-watch, pick our Kite roost at sunset. Dinner and overnight in favorite spot, set up our chairs and enjoy the Kathmandu. migration! Around noon we’ll eat lunch at the hawk-watch. Meals are brought to us Day 2 | 6 NOVEMBER from one of the little restaurants nearby. We’ll continue watching raptors through Local Bearded Vultures are seen several times a week at Thulo Breakfast and checkout. Shuttle to airport. 3.00–4.00 pm depending on bird activity. Kharka. Fly to Pokhara (25 min). Drive to Phokedanda 5.00–6.00 pm, optional general birding on © S. Seipke (1,250 m a.s.l.). From there we will hike uphill trails. 7.00 pm, dinner. 8.15–8.30 pm, (1.5 h) to Thulo Kharka (2,000 m a.s.l.). We will optional raptor evening talks. Overnight in rely on hired help to carry our luggage and our small hotel. equipment. Check-in upon arrival, and relax after at the hawk-watch while eating lunch Day 9 | 13 NOVEMBER and watching the migration. The lookout is a short 5-min (level) walk from the hotel. Last day at the mountain. Morning as usual, Dinner and overnight in Thulo Kharka. but be all packed before lunch. After lunch Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 2 we’ll hike back to the main road. Day 13 | 17 NOVEMBER 2.00–3.30 pm, drive to Pokhara. Check-in at the Temple Tree Resort. 4.00 pm, meet at the 7.00 am, breakfast and checkout. Drive to lobby. Visit the garbage dump where we Chitwan National Park. Check-in at the expect to see roosting Egyptian Vultures Tigerland Safari Resort (TSR). Lunch around (EN), and other birds. 7.00 pm, drinks and noon. Bird the lagoon behind the hotel. dinner by the pool. Overnight at the Temple 4.00 pm, walk in the park and float on the Tree Resort. Rapti river looking for Gray-headed Fish Eagle (NT) and other birds. This is our best Day 10 | 14 NOVEMBER chance to see a Gharial (EN). Dinner and overnight in TSR. The second part of the tour begins today: lowlands of the Terai. 7.00 am, breakfast. Day 14 | 18 NOVEMBER 8.00 am, check-out and start our way to Lumbini. We’ll make stops at selected places 7.00 am, breakfast. 7.45 am, leave on AWD Watch hundreds of Steppe Eagles fly by the hawkwatch at Thulo to target raptors and other birds, and to eat vehicles to spend all day in Chitwan NP Kharka, many of them at eye level lunch. Around 4.00 pm, arrival at our hotel, targeting raptors, birds, and mammals. We or below, and at unbelievable close the Lumbini Buddha Garden (LBG), and should see many species of raptors and range. check-in. 5.00–6.00 pm, bird around the other birds. Mammals likely to be seen © S. Seipke hotel. Raptors here include Black-winged include Dusky Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Hog Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, and Common Deer, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, and Kestrel. 7.00 pm, dinner. Overnight at the One-horned Rhino. Sloth Bear and Tiger, if LBG. we are lucky! Picnic lunch in the park. Dinner and overnight at the TSR. Day 11 | 15 NOVEMBER Day 15 | 19 NOVEMBER 7.30 am, breakfast. 8.15 am, leave to visit a local vulture restaurant. We will target 7.00 am, breakfast. 7.45–10.00 am, walk in Black-winged Kite, Egyptian Vulture (EN), the community forest. 10.45 am, check-out. White-backed Vulture (CR), Himalayan 11.00 am, start heading back to Kathmandu. Vulture (NT), Griffon Vulture, Western 1.00 pm, lunch stop. 6.00 pm, arrive in our Marsh Harrier, and White-eyed Buzzard. hotel. Check-in. 7.00 pm, dinner and tour Lunch at the hotel. Visit the birth place of wrap-up. Buddha in the afternoon, and bird the lagoon and reed beds nearby. 7.00 pm, Day 16 | 20 NOVEMBER dinner. Optional evening raptor talk. Overnight at LBG. Catch flights back home, or continue on the Western Terai Extension. Day 12 | 16 NOVEMBER Get close and personal with Asian raptor specialties such as this 7.30 am, breakfast. 8.15 am, leave to look for Indian Black Eagle. raptors around Lumbini. We will target © S. Seipke Indian Spotted Eagle (VU) and Pied Harrier. We may visit another vulture restaurant depending on yesterday’s results. Lunch, dinner, and overnight at the LBG. Copyright © Raptours, L.L.C. 2014–2016. All Rights Reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced without Raptours, LLC’s express consent. 3 Western Terai Extension The Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is Vulture (CR), Cinereous Vulture (NT), tucked against the Indian border in Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable the far western Terai subtropical lowlands. Hawk-Eagle, Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Some 420 species of birds have been Steppe Eagle (EN), Bonelli’s Eagle, Hen recorded in the reserve, including 43 species Harrier, Shikra, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, of diurnal birds of prey. Slender-billed Gray-headed Fish Eagle (NT), and Black Vulture (CR) breeds in the reserve. In 2015 Kite. we watched up to 11 individuals soaring together! Also seen here: Osprey, The reserve boasts one of the largest Black-winged Kite, Crested Honey populations of Swamp Deer (VU), which in Buzzard, White-rumped Vulture (CR), turn supports a healthy population of royal Himalayan Vulture (NT), Red-headed Bengal Tiger (EN). Swamp Deer in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. © Sergio Seipke Day-by-Day Itinerary Day 1 | 20 NOVEMBER Leopards in the hopes of seeing one. Swamp Deer, Sambur, Spotted Deer, and Jackal can Fly to Dhangadhi. Drive to Mahendranagar. be seen too. Box lunch in the reserve. Then a Check-in at African style Suklaphanta short nap and back to the game. 6.00 pm, Wildlife Camp (SWC). Relax or bird the arrive at SWC. 7.00 pm, dinner. Overnight in surrounding village and camp garden. SWC. 7.00 pm, dinner. Overnight at the SWC. Day 7 | 26 NOVEMBER Days 2–6 | 21–25 NOVEMBER Breakfast and checkout. Drive back to 6.00 am, breakfast.