Time Duration: 5 nights /6 Days – 13th December 2021 to 18th December 2021
Destination Covered: Kewzing,Okhrey ,Rongtong, Gajoldoba Barrage.
Guest: Deepak Mittu & Kanak Sharma, Delhi
Tour Guide: Chewang Rinchen
Bonpo (9735900165), chewangrinchen@gmail.com, bonfarmhouse@gmail.com.
A private
winter birding tour was conducted for Deepak and Kanak by myself covering birds from the warm foothill
forest of Bengal to a cool-temperate forest of Sikkim, we covered altitudes from
112 meters to 2500 meters and the temperature range from twenty degrees to minus
five in the tour. We managed to cover around 160 species of birds with some good
photographs and sightings.
Day 1: 13th December 2021: Siliguri – Rongtong and
Kewzing
Morning session of birding around Rongtong (foothill forest) with a
local guide Ankit Beck around his restaurant for 2 hours we managed to record
some species like Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides), Blue-throated
Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus), Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus), Common
Green-Magpie (Cissa chinensis),Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa
ceylonensis), Lemon-rumped Warbler (Phylloscopus chloronotus),Yellow-bellied
Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris), Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata),
Blue-throated Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides), Blue Whistling-Thrush
(Myophonus caeruleus),Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Ficedula strophiata), Taiga
Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla), Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja),Streaked
Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna).
The drive from Rongtong to Kewzing via Melli
in Sikkim covering forest of foothill to temperate forest of Damthang and
Ravangla birding on the way we recorded species like White-throated Fantail
(Rhipidura albicollis),Gray Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae),Chestnut-headed Tesia
(Cettia castaneocoronata),Black-faced Warbler (Abroscopus
schisticeps),Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) a pair ,Whiskered Yuhina
(Yuhina flavicollis),Nepal Fulvetta (Alcippe nipalensis),Chestnut-crowned
Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron erythrocephalum),Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia
capistrata),Hoary-throated Barwing (Actinodura nipalensis),Red-billed Leiothrix
(Leiothrix lutea),White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus),Sikkim
Treecreeper (Certhia discolor),Himalayan Bluetail (Tarsiger
rufilatus),Blue-fronted Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis),Green-tailed Sunbird
(Aethopyga nipalensis). Overnight stay in Bonfarmhouse, Kewzing.
Day 2: 14th December 2021: Kewzing -Meanam Wildlife Sanctuary & Tendong RF
Early morning
birding around Bonfarmhouse (mid- altitude forest) got some of the local winter
residents species and later part of the day was spending in Meanam Wildlife
Sanctuary and Tendong Reserve Forest (cool temperate broadleaved forest) b ird
species for the day Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens),Greater Yellownape
(Chrysophlegma flavinucha),White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura
albicollis),Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail (Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus),Gray-headed
Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis),Green-backed Tit (Parus
monticolus),Scaly-breasted Cupwing (Pnoepyga albiventer),Pygmy Cupwing (Pnoepyga
pusilla),Whistler's Warbler (Phylloscopus whistleri),Chestnut-headed Tesia
(Cettia castaneocoronata),Whiskered Yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis),Rufous Sibia
(Heterophasia capistrata),Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea),Red-tailed
Minla (Minla ignotincta),White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax
leucolophus),White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis),Gray Bushchat (Saxicola
ferreus),Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata),House Sparrow (Passer
domesticus),Russet Sparrow (Passer cinnamomeus) Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus
nipalensis),Besra (Accipiter virgatus),Golden-throated Barbet (Psilopogon
franklinii),Bay Woodpecker (Blythipicus pyrrhotis),Peregrine Falcon (Falco
peregrinus),Mountain Bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii),Broad-billed Warbler (Tickellia
hodgsoni),Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura),Golden-breasted Fulvetta
(Lioparus chrysotis),Rufous-vented Yuhina (Yuhina occipitalis),Rufous-throated
Wren-Babbler(around 3 individuals) (Spelaeornis caudatus),Rufous-winged Fulvetta
(Schoeniparus castaneceps),Nepal Fulvetta (Alcippe nipalensis),Striated
Laughingthrush (Grammatoptila striata),Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
(Trochalopteron erythrocephalum),Blue-winged Minla (Actinodura
cyanouroptera),Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea),Red-tailed Minla (Minla
ignotincta),White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis),Rusty-flanked Treecreeper
(Certhia nipalensis),Himalayan Bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus),Blue-fronted
Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis),Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum
ignipectus),Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis),Red-headed Bullfinch
(Pyrrhula erythrocephala), Alpine/Himalayan Thrush (Zoothera
mollissima/salimalii)( 2 individuals one in Meanam WLS and one in Tendong RF).
Overnight stay in Bonfarmhosue, Kewzing.
Day 3:15th December 2021: Lower altitude forest of Kewzing and High Temperate Forest
The day we headed towards
Rangeet valley (Sub-tropical spare forest with big bamboo) in the morning and
afternoon in upper reaches of Kewzing village and the species recorded are as
following Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus),Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium
cuculoides),Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens),Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon
asiaticus),Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus),Gray-headed
Woodpecker (Picus canus),Greater Yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha),Blyth's
Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius aeralatus),Black-eared Shrike-Babbler (Pteruthius
melanotis),Maroon Oriole (Oriolus traillii),Black Drongo (Dicrurus
macrocercus),Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus),Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus
bracteatus),Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach),Gray-backed Shrike (Lanius
tephronotus),Common Green-Magpie (Cissa chinensis),Gray Treepie (Dendrocitta
formosae),Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis),Sultan Tit
(Melanochlora sultanea),Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus),Common Tailorbird
(Orthotomus sutorius),Pygmy Cupwing (Pnoepyga pusilla),Nepal House-Martin
(Delichon nipalense),Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys),Black Bulbul
(Hypsipetes leucocephalus), Ashy Bulbul (Hemixos flavala), Ashy-throated Warbler
(Phylloscopus maculipennis),Buff-barred Warbler (Phylloscopus
pulcher),Lemon-rumped Warbler (Phylloscopus chloronotus),Chestnut-headed Tesia
(Cettia castaneocoronata),Yellow-bellied Warbler (Abroscopus
superciliaris),Black-throated Parrotbill (Suthora nipalensis),Black-chinned
Yuhina (Yuhina nigrimenta),Whiskered Yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis),Streak-breasted
Scimitar-Babbler (Pomatorhinus ruficollis),Rufous-winged Fulvetta (Schoeniparus
castaneceps),Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron
erythrocephalum),Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata),Chestnut-tailed Minla
(Actinodura strigula),Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea),Chestnut-bellied
Nuthatch (Sitta cinnamoventris),White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta
himalayensis),Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis),Common Hill Myna
(Gracula religiosa),Large Niltava (Niltava grandis),Blue Whistling-Thrush
(Myophonus caeruleus),Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus),Snowy-browed
Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra),Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Ficedula
strophiata),Blue-fronted Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis),Plumbeous Redstart
(Phoenicurus fuliginosus),White-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus leucocephalus),Gray
Bushchat (Saxicola ferreus),Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum
ignipectus),Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata),Green-tailed Sunbird
(Aethopyga nipalensis),Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna),Gray Wagtail
(Motacilla cinerea),Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni).
Overnight stay in
Bonfarmhouse.
Day 4: 16th December 2021: Kewzing – Okhrey
After the morning
session in Kewzing with species like Rufous-winged Fulvetta (Schoeniparus
castaneceps), Scaly Breasted Cupwing (Pnoepyga albiventer), We headed towards
Okhrey Birding on the way and reached Okhrey at noon and evening session between
Okhrey and Hilley with species like Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus),
Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie (Urocissa flavirostris). Overnight stay in Okhrey
Khe-Khor Homestay
Day 5: 17th December 2021: Okhrey – Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary
The day we birded in Hilley and Barsey Rhodo Dendron Sanctuary with
the bird species recorded as following Darjeeling Woodpecker (Dendrocopos
darjellensis), Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie (Urocissa flavirostris),Eurasian
Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes),Yellow-browed Tit (Sylviparus
modestus),Gray-crested Tit (Lophophanes dichrous),Striated Bulbul (Pycnonotus
striatus),Ashy-throated Warbler (Phylloscopus maculipennis),Black-browed Tit
(Rufous-fronted) (Aegithalos iouschistos iouschistos),White-browed Fulvetta
(Fulvetta vinipectus),Brown Parrotbill (Cholornis unicolor),Slender-billed
Scimitar-Babbler (Pomatorhinus superciliaris),Striated Laughingthrush
(Grammatoptila striata),Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron
erythrocephalum),Hoary-throated Barwing (Actinodura nipalensis),Spotted
Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla ocellata),Spotted Forktail (Enicurus
maculatus),Himalayan Bluetail (Tarsiger rufilatus),Rufous-breasted Bush-Robin
(Tarsiger hyperythrus),White-browed Bush-Robin (Tarsiger
indicus),Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Ficedula strophiata),Dark-breasted
Rosefinch (Procarduelis nipalensis),Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte
nemoricola).
Afternoon we head to Siliguri which was around six hours drive to
cover Gajoldhoba wetland nest morning as an evening the bird activity was dead in
Okhrey , Hilley and Barsey. Overnight Stay in Siliguri.
Day 6: 18th December 2021: Siliguri – Gajoldhoba
Last day we spend in Gajoldhoba though we could not
do the regular birding on boat as Forest Department only allowed boats only
after 9 AM due to some departmental work and thus we spend time birding on the
peripheral of the lake and Teesta river with some of the species recorded Ruddy
Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea),Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata),Gadwall
(Mareca strepera),Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope),Northern Pintail (Anas
acuta),Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca),Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina),Common
Pochard (Aythya ferina),Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula), Great Crested Grebe (
cristatus),Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus),Eurasian Coot (Fulica
atra),Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus),Temminck's Stint (Calidris
temminckii),Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus),Striated Grassbird (Megalurus
palustris),Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus),Brown Shrike (Lanius
cristatus),Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach).
Birding in winters around Sikkim
is one of the most challenging as most of the birds are in mixed flocks and on a
move to find food and shelter.
List of Birds Seen in the tour
Thank you
Chewang Bonpo