Birding in North Sikkim , Gurudongmar Plateau and Beyond

Tour Report of Birding in North Sikkim & Beyond 

Date: 17th April 2021 to 24th April 2021 

                                                                                            Little Owl 

       Sikkim is India’s 22nd state lies in the Northeast region of India, Sikkim is one of the important areas of birds due to its wide variety of habitat and altitudinal range upto 8000 meters. North Sikkim is one of the remote and least explored places for birds. The valley of Lachen, Thangu, Gaigaon which continuous to the Tibetan plateau is one of the hotspots for passage migrant and breeding for many bird species thus this tour in the month of April was specifically organized to record the bird species in its breeding and passage migrants to Central Asia.

Itinerary of the tour from 17th April 2021 to 24 April 2021. 

Day 1: 17th April 2021: Rangpo to Lachung (2700 meters) 

Day 2: 18th April 2021: Lachung to Yumgthang Valley (3700 meters) and afternoon to Lachen 

Day 3: 19th April 2021: Lachen (2600 meters) – Thangu (3900 meters) 

Day 4: 20th April 2021: Thangu to Gurudongmar Plateau (5154 meters) and back to Thangu 

Day 5: 21st April 2021: Thangu to Gurudongmar Plateau and to Lachen 

Day 6: 22nd April 2021: Lachen - Chungthang (1790 meters)- Mangan – Gangtok – Pakyoung 

Day 7: 23rd April 2021: Pakyoung (1120 meters) – Rolep 

Day 8: 24th April 2021: Rolep (1200 meters) – Rangpo 

 Tour Participants 

 1. Satish Thayapurath ,Guest Birder from Goa 

 2. Peter Lobo, Kalimpong Advisor SOS 

 3. Nosang Limboo, Sikkim President SOS 

 4. Tamding Chewang, Sikkim SOS Coordinator, North Sikkim 

 5. Chewang R Bonpo, Sikkim Secretary SOS.

Interesting records of the Tour 

1. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus  breeding at 5000 meters recorded after 1962

2. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta  first record at 5000 meters probably the first record at this altitude

3. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna first record at 5000 meters probably the first record at this altitude 

Photos by Peter , Nosang & Tamding 

                                                                       Pied Avocet recorded at Yumcho near Gurudongmar 5145 meters. 

Common Shelduck at Yumcho near Gurudongmar 5145 meters 

Great Rosefinch 

Lesser Sandplover 

White-tailed Blue Robin 

Grey Wagtail in Breeding Plumage 

Rosy Pipit 

Tibetan Sand Fox 

Himalayan Marmot 

Tibetan Gazelle Or Goa

List of Bird Species seen during the trip 

Thanks & Happy Birding 

Chewang R Bonpo 

bonfarmhouse@gmail.com

Ph 9735900165(M)