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A 16 day tour encompassing a range of altitudes up to 3250m, incorporating visits to Nameri and Kaziranga National Parks in the Brahmaputra basin (Assam), and Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas (Arunachal Pradesh).
Species highlights: Greater Adjutant, Bengal Florican, Ibisbill, White-winged Duck, Wreathed and Rufous-necked Hornbills, Sultan Tit, Red-headed and Ward’s Trogons, Bugun Liocichla, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Cutia, Beautiful Nuthatch, plus Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, Hoolock Gibbon.
Best season to visit: November to early May
2009-10 scheduled tour dates: Thursday 18th March - Friday 2nd April 2010
Tour price: on request - please contact us for availability & prices
India’s northeastern corner, represented by a stretch of extremely rugged mountain terrain, is considered as being the richest birding area in the country. The enormous range of altitudes, corresponding climates and resultant vegetation, from moist steamy tropical forests in lowland valleys to temperate conifer forests on steep upland slopes, within relative proximity of one another has enabled the development of one of the finest wildlife assemblages Asia has to offer. This, coupled with the fact that Arunachal Pradesh lies at the confluence of the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan bio-geographic realms, endows this region with a biodiversity of both flora and fauna that is perhaps unequalled in the world. The region holds two of BirdLife International’s most significant Endemic Bird Areas in the whole of Asia - the floodplain of the Brahmaputra in Assam, and the montane rainforest of the eastern Himalayas. Our itinerary encompasses both of these areas, taking us through the grasslands and swamp forests of the Assamese plains to the wet temperate forests of the foothills of the eastern Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh, at the border with neighbouring Bhutan, covering almost 3000m of altitude.
Day 1: Delhi
Arrive in Delhi. Local birding at Delhi Ridge.
Days 2-4: Delhi – Guwahati, Nameri
Depart Delhi on an early morning flight to Guwahati (2.5hrs), the capital of Assam. Drive on to Nameri National Park (5hrs), birding en-route where species such as Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Blue-throated Barbet, White-vented Myna, and Greater and Lesser Adjutants can be found in suitable roadside habitats. We have the remainder of the afternoon, along with the following two full days to explore Nameri, an undisturbed patch of undulating forest terrain that lies at the border of Assam with neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, extending along both banks of the snow-fed Jia Bhorelli River. Nameri is part of a huge expanse of wilderness that has facilitated the preservation of a continuous stretch of sub-Himalayan forest, much of which has been decimated elsewhere. Birdlife in this delightfully undeveloped area is exceptional, and the chance of exploring on foot allows for excellent birding in the lush lowland forest interspersed with marshy grasslands and secluded swamps. One of our target birds at Nameri is Ibisbill, which overwinters here along the boulder-strewn banks of the Jia Bhorelli, and we will spend one morning floating down the river in rubber dinghies in search of this species, alongside River Lapwing, Great Thick-knee, and Pallas’s Fish-eagle, with Striated Grassbird in the adjacent grasslands. Other key species include Wreathed and Great Pied Hornbills, Pied Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Daurian Redstart, Siberian Rubythroat, Small and Rufous-bellied Niltavas, Sultan Tit, and Streaked Spiderhunter. The globally endangered and largely nocturnal White-winged Duck can be found at roost in shallow forest wetlands, with the forest understorey hosting more skulking specialities, most notably Abbott’s Babbler, Striped Tit-babbler, and Yellow-browed Tesia. Nameri is also home to a host of mammals, including Tiger, rarely seen in boundary areas. More common inhabitants include Asian Elephant, and Asiatic Wild Buffalo, however the density of the forest makes sightings difficult.
Days 5-7: Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Lama Camp 2350m
After an early breakfast at Nameri we will drive via Bhalukpong check post into Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary (5hrs) in the Dafla Hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Almost as soon as we cross the state border we will be in relatively unexplored territory, and with the road passing through the eastern border of Eaglenest we will spend time birding en-route as we cut across elevations and through the transition from degraded scrub to pristine forest. Our first montane specialities may include Black-breasted and Green-tailed Sunbirds, Scarlet Finch, Long-tailed and Beautiful Sibias, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Golden Bush-robin, Plain-backed Thrush, Black-faced and Bhutan Laughingthrushes, and Coral-billed and Slender-billed Scimitar-babblers, and Red-headed Trogon. The primary advantage of Eaglenest over other areas in Arunachal Pradesh is the presence of a barely used jeep track that winds its way through the sanctuary from its highest point, Eaglenest Pass, at 2780m down to the floodplains of Assam, allowing easy access to pristine forest across the entire altitudinal range. To enable us to thoroughly explore the range of elevations present within the reserve, and the distinct set of species associated with each, we will divide our nights between two campsites at different elevations – Lama Camp at 2350m and Bompu Camp at 1940m – moving up or down daily as the weather permits or birding dictates, using our vehicles to cover distance. We will arrive at our first camp, Lama, in time for lunch, spending the remainder of the day plus the following two full days birding in this northern part of the sanctuary, in coniferous temperate forests of the higher altitudes and broadleaved temperate forests down to 1800m. Birding in this isolated region is truly exhilarating, with large and highly active mixed flocks containing species such as Golden Babbler, Red-tailed Minla, Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated Fulvettas, and Cutia. Other key species here include the scarce and elusive Temminck’s and Blyth’s Tragopans, three species of hill-partridge, Ward’s Trogon, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Beautiful Nuthatch, Gold-naped Finch, Plain Mountain-finch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Dark-breasted and Dark-rumped Rosefinches, Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Red-headed and Grey-headed Bullfinches, Spotted Nutcracker, and Red-faced Liocichla. The recently discover Bugun Liocichla is known from the area around Lama Camp and we will make every attempt to find this secretive bird.
Days 8-10: Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Bompu Camp 1940m
Depart Lama Camp on day 8, crossing Eaglenest Pass and beginning our descent to the Brahmaputra plains, stopping at Bompu Camp where we will spend the following three nights. Our stay here will allow us to explore tropical and semi-tropical forests at lower elevations, to Sessni at 1250m and down into the plains. During our stay we can expect to encounter a host of species such as Bay and Pale-headed Woodpeckers, Red-billed Leiothrix, Golden Babbler, Mrs. Gould’s and Fire-tailed Sunbirds, Yellow-browed and Fire-capped Tits, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Sapphire and Slaty-blue Flycatchers, Large Niltava, Black-eared and Green Shrike-babblers, Broad-billed and Chestnut-crowned Warblers, Eyebrowed, Long-tailed and commoner Plain-backed Thrushes, White-collared and Grey-winged Blackbirds, Blue Whistling-thrush, and numerous wren-babblers and tesias. This area is also home to some exciting mammals, including Red Panda, Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel, and Arunachal Macaque, with wild Asian Elephants present throughout the year at lower elevations.
Day 11-14: Kaziranga
Depart Eaglenest in the morning of day 11, descending through the foothills via Doimara check post driving back into Assam, and to Kaziranga National Park (8hrs). The drive will take most of the day, however we have a further three full days to explore Kaziranga’s three ranges, from open jeep and elephant back, and nearby Panbari Reserve Forest, on foot. Kaziranga is located within the fertile alluvial plains of the narrow Brahmaputra valley, its terrain dominated by landlocked water bodies known as beels enclosed by extensive flats, occasionally giving way to small patches of mature woodland. Avifaunal diversity is incredible, with birds such as Greater and Lesser Adjutants, Black-necked Stork, Pied and Pallid Harriers, rare Falcated Duck, Striated and Rufous-rumped Grassbirds, Bengal Florican, Kaleej Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Swamp Francolin, Spot-winged Starling, Common Green Magpie, Green-billed and Blue-faced Malkohas, Great Barbet, Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Scarlet-backed and Fire-breasted Flowerpeckers, and Ruby-cheeked Sunbird comprising a birdlist of over 480 species. Mammal densities are equally spectacular, most importantly the grasslands support over 70% of the world population of Indian One-horned Rhinoceros and Barasingha, or Swamp Deer, 1000+ Asian Elephants, Asiatic Wild Buffalo, and Tiger, with Hoolock Gibbon possible at Panbari.
Day 15: Kaziranga – Guwahati - Delhi
Depart Kaziranga for Guwahati (4hrs), from where we will take an evening flight back to Delhi.
Day 16: Depart
Depart Delhi on your onward journey.
ACCOMMODATION
We will use comfortable, permanent tented accommodation with private en-suite facilities at Nameri, basic but comfortable temporary tented camps with shared facilities at two campsites at Eaglenest, and a comfortable wildlife lodge at Kaziranga.
TRANSPORT
Domestic flights (2.5hr) will take us from Delhi to Guwahati and back. In Assam and Arunachal Pradesh we will use jeeps to travel, and 4x4 jeeps for game drives at Kaziranga. At Nameri and Eaglenest most of our birding will be on foot.
CLIMATE
Both Nameri and Kaziranga are expected to be warm and moderately humid by day, with cooler nights and early mornings. Eaglenest will be cool to very cold, depending upon altitude and prevailing weather conditions. Rain should be anticipated at any location, with hail or even snow possible in the hills.
For more detailed information regarding this tour please contact us.
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