Northern India Asia Birding Ecotours

14-day Complete Northern India

Birds, Tigers and Himalayas

Guide: Duan Biggs and local guide

The tour starts by exploring the ancient and fascinating city of Delhi and start gaining familiarity with Indian Birds around the Ochla Sanctuary. Exciting species include Ruddy Shelduck, Bar-headed Goose, White-tailed Lapwing and impressive Great White Pelican. The habitat around the wetlands is home to the range-restricted White-tailed Stonechat, the colourful Red Adavat and the scarce Striated Babbler. Our next stop is the Chambal sanctuary, a good 7 hours drive from Delhi. In and around this national park famous for Gangetic Dolphin we will search for Yellow-wattled Lapwing and Brown-headed Barbet. We will climb aboard a boat on the Chambal river where we will search for Indian Skimmer, Lesser Whistling Duck, Black-bellied Tern, the exquisite River Lapwing, River Tern, the skulking Brown Crake and the impressive Great Thick-knee. The Gangetic Dolphin is hard to find whereas the unique fish-eating Gharial can be seen up close. A tour of Northern India is not complete without the magnificent Taj Mahal.


Photo: Duan Biggs

The waterfowl haven of Bund Beretha is where we will search for birds like Common Rosefinch, Red-headed Bunting and the colourful Plum-headed Parakeet. Bare patches of open ground nearby may produce Greater Short-toed Lark and Ashy-crowned Sparrowlark and Tawny Pipit. The wetland vegetation at Bund Beretha is home to Yellow-eyed Babbler and in winter, the migratory Bluethroat. Two star attractions at this site are the Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Asian Openbill, Red-crested and Ferruginous Pochard, Black-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Great, Indian and Little Cormorant and Whiskered Tern. The tall woodland at the far end of the reservoir holds the petite Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Olive-backed Pipit whilst we will search the cliffs above for Dusky Crag Martin. The sacred and beautiful Hanuman Langur can be seen here together with its more primate relative, the Rhesus Macaque. After Bund Beretha, more waterfowl birding as we move to Keoladeo National Park. India’s most famous birding reserve. It has been dubbed ‘one of the finest birding reserves in the world’. It hosts a wide variety of wetland species including Oriental Darter, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork, Cotton Pygmy Goose, the impressive Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacana, Bar-headed Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck and the sizeable Sarus Crane. We will enjoy a range of these species as we search for the less common types such as Ferruginous and Red-crested Pochards. The acacia savannas and thickets hold Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Black-rumped Flameback, Indian Hornbill, Coppersmith Barbet, and White-ailed Eagle. Mammalian attractions include the enigmatic Blue Bull or Nilgai, Sambar, Black Buck, Wild Pig and Indian Grey Mongoose. Nocturnal species like Collared Scops Owl and Dusky Horned Owl also occur. On the 6 th day of the tour we spend a at the wondrous Moghul fort of Fathepur Sikri. The fort was built by the empire Akhbar and abondaned in 1585, only 14 years after being built. The thornveld habitat around the hilltop fort will provide us with some birding between the ‘forting’. After Fathepur Sikri, we return to Delhi.

After another night in Delhi we head to Gajraula, close to the Ganges River. Here we will search for Great Black-headed Gull, River Tern and White-tailed Stonechat. From Gajraula we head onto to the Jungle Lore Birding Lodge near the mountain town of Nainital, situated next to a dramatic crater lake. Nainital is within striking range of the Himalayas, with peaks visible from vantages near the town. In the Himalayan foothills, we will search for species such as the enigmatic Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Great Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Gray Treepie and Rusty-cheeked Scimitarbill. We will climb to higher altitudes to where will enjoy spectacular vistas of the western Himalayas on the borders of China and Nepal. A host exciting species await us here: Altai Accentor, Koklass Pheasant, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Black-tailed Jay, Black-throated Tit and the spectacular Spotted Forktail. This area is Laughing-thrush paradise with numerous species represented including Chestnut-crowned, Streaked and White-throated. From Nainital, we travel some impressive mountain roads to Corbett National Park where we overnight at the Tiger camp. On route we will search for the remarkable Ibisbill as well as the widespread but difficult to locate Wallcreeper and other species we can locate along the fast-flowing Kosi River. We will spend the night at the aptly-named Tiger Camp. This National Park, is also known as Corbett Tiger Reserve, and the tour includes one Elephant ride in search of this beast of beasts. The altitude in this reserve varies from 400m to 1100m above sea level and contains a variety of habitats from mature jungle to open grasslands and broad river valleys. An extensive range of species can be found in the different habitats including the spectacular Great Hornbill, the peculiar Chestnut-headed Tesia, Himalayan Flameback, Brown Dipper, Little Forktail, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail. Other potential species include Jungle Owlet, White-tailed Rubythroat and the striking Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. Our final stop is the Kumeria area where we search for birds of prey in the form of both Tawny and Brown Fish Owl, Mountain Hawk Eagle and Pallas’s Fish Eagle. Other species may include the Yellow-bellied Fantail, Crested Treeswift as well as another chance at the Forktails and Brown Dipper. From here, we will return to where the adventure began back in Delhi.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Delhi:

After arrival, we will explore the ancient and fascinating city of Delhi and start gaining familiarity with Indian Birds around the Ochla Sanctuary. Exciting species include Ruddy Shelduck, Bar-headed Goose, White-tailed Lapwing and impressive Great White Pelican. The habitat around the wetlands is home to the range-restricted White-tailed Stonechat, the colourful Red Adavat and the scarce Striated Babbler. In the afternoon we will visit the historic Red Fort.

Day 2: Delhi to Chambal Sanctuary

We will leave early for the Chambal Sanctuary a good 7 hours drive from Delhi. In and around this national park famous for Gangetic Dolphin we will search for Yellow-wattled Lapwing and Brown-headed Barbet. We will climb aboard a boat on the Chambal river where we will search for Indian Skimmer, Lesser Whistling Duck, Black-bellied Tern, the exquisite River Lapwing, River Tern, the skulking Brown Crake and the impressive Great Thick-knee. The Gangetic Dolphin is hard to find whereas the unique fish-eating Gharial can be seen up close. Overnight at the Chambal Lodge.

Day 3: Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal was completed in 1648 and is said to be the world’s finest example of Moghul architecture. This architectural masterpiece was described by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as ‘the tear on the face of eternity’. We will spend most of the day enjoying the various pavilions, forts and other attractions of the Taj Mahal, with your guide keeping a constant lookout for any by-passing birds of interest. In the late afternoon we will take a birding drive to Bharaptur

Day 4: Bund Baretha

An early rise will see us make our way towards the waterfowl haven of Bund Beretha. On route we hope to find Common Rosefinch, Red-headed Bunting and the colourful Plum-headed Parakeet. Bare patches of open ground may produce Greater Short-toed Lark and Ashy-crowned Sparrowlark and Tawny Pipit. The wetland vegetation at Bund Beretha is home to Yellow-eyed Babbler and in winter, the migratory Bluethroat. We will spend a good few hours at the reservoir where species include: Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Asian Openbill, Red-crested and Ferruginous Pochard, Black-tailed Godwit, EurasianWigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Great, Indian and Little Cormorant and Whiskered Tern. The tall woodland at the far end of the reservoir holds the petite Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Olive-backed Pipit whilst we will search the cliffs above for Dusky Crag Martin. The sacred and beautiful Hanuman Langur can be seen here together with its more primate relative, the Rhesus Macaque. Dry country birding in the later afternoon hours may produce Painted Sandgrouse and White-capped Bunting.

Day 5 Bharaptur and Fatephur Sikri

Keoladeo National Park is India’s most famous birding reserve, and has been dubbed ‘one of the finest birding reserves in the world’. It hosts a wide variety of wetland species including Oriental Darter, Asian Openbill, Painted Stork, Cotton Pygmy Goose, the impressive Pheasant-tailed and Bronze-winged Jacana, Bar-headed Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck and the sizeable Sarus Crane. We will enjoy a range of these species as we search for the less common types such as Ferruginous and Red-crested Pochards. The acacia savannas and thickets hold Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Black-rumped Flameback, Indian Hornbill, Coppersmith Barbet, and White-ailed Eagle. Mammalian attractions include the enigmatic Blue Bull or Nilgai, Sambar, Black Buck, Wild Pig and Indian Grey Mongoose.
We will also search for the nocturnal Collared Scops Owl and Dusky Horned Owl. We will spend the afternoon at the wondrous Moghul fort of Fathepur Sikri. The fort was built by the empire Akhbar and abondaned in 1585, only 14 years after being built. The thornveld habitat around the hilltop fort will provide us with some birding between the ‘forting’

Day 6: Bharaptur to the Kuchesar Mud Fort

We enjoy a last morning’s birding session in Keoladeo National Park in search of species like Greater and Lesser Spotted Eagle, Smoky Warbler and Black-necked Stock that we may have missed the day before. After lunch we travel through to the Kuchesar Mud Fort en route to the Himalayan foothills.

Day 7: Delhi to Nainital via Gajraula

From the Kuchesar Mud Fort we make our way to the mountain-top Jungle Lore Birding Lodge near the town of Nainital, situated next to a dramatic crater lake. Nainital is within striking range of the Himalayas, with peaks visible from vantages near the town. A plethora of exciting new species awaits us here, and we start searching for Great Barbet, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Speckled Piculet, Gray Treepie the gaudy Red-billed Leothrix and Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush upon arrival.

Days 8 – 10: Nainatal and the Himalayas

We will climb to higher altitudes to where we enjoy spectacular vistas of the western Himalayas on the borders of China and Nepal whilst Himalayan Griffons soar above. A host exciting species await us here: Altai Accentor, Koklass and Cheer Pheasant, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Black-tailed Jay, Black-throated Tit and the spectacular Spotted Forktail. This area is Laughing-thrush paradise with numerous species represented including Chestnut-crowned, Streaked and White-throated.

Day 11: Nainital to Corbett National Park

Today we will travel on some impressive mountain roads to Corbett National Park. On route we will search for the remarkable Ibisbill as well as the widespread but difficult to locate Wallcreeper and other species we can locate along the fast-flowing Kosi River. We will spend the night at the aptly-named Tiger Camp.

Days 12 and 13: Corbett National Park

This reserve is also known as the Corbett Tiger Reserve, and the tour includes one Elephant ride in search of this beast of beasts. The altitude in this reserve varies from 400m to 1100m above sea level and contains a variety of habitats from mature jungle to open grasslands and broad river valleys. An extensive range of species can be found in the different habitats including the spectacular Great Hornbill, the peculiar Chestnut-headed Tesia, Himalayan Flameback, Brown Dipper, Little Forktail, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail. Other potential species include Jungle Owlet, White-tailed Rubythroat and the striking Velvet-fronted Nuthatch.

Day 14: Kumeria and return to Delhi

An early start will see us birding the Kumeria area in search of birds of prey in the form of both Tawny and Brown Fish Owl, Mountain Hawk Eagle and Pallas’s Fish Eagle. Other species may include the Yellow-bellied Fantail, Crested Treeswift as well as another chance at the Forktails and Brown Dipper. After relishing our last birding session we will return to where the adventure began back in Delhi.

Please note: Itinerary is subject to change based on local accommodation availability and conditions

Extension

4 day cultural extension in Rajasthan

5 day Nepal – Kathmandu Valley extension to India tour

Trip reports

29 December 2007 to 12 Janaury 2008

21 February - 10 March 2009