North India Birding Tour
COMPLETE NORTHERN
INDIA- TIGERS, BIRDS AND MAMMALS
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| Sarus Crane; Tallest flying bird of the world..!! |
OVERVIEW
India, with its fabulous scenery,
incredible wildlife, fascinating culture, and wonderful monuments must truly be
on any world-birders and travelers wish list!
The tour will visit world famous
national parks, such as Ranthambhore, Keoladeo National Park and Corbett
National Park, and spend time in the breathtaking scenery of the Himalayan
foothills at Pangot and Sattal. A visit to this part of india would not be
complete without taking in the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fatepur
Sikri and the Taj Mahal, and we will
visit both of these very impressive places to soak up the sights and sounds.
India is well known for its amazing food, and we will sample a great deal of
different, interesting and tasty local dishes throughout the tour.
The tour gives the possibility of
connecting with numerous exciting birds, such as Indian Skimmer, Indian Courser, Koklass and Cheer Pheasant, Painted
Spurfowl, Bearded Vulture, Collared Falconet, Sarus Crane, Ibisbill, Painted
Sandgrouse, Tawny and Brown Fish Owl, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Greater
Hornbill, Sirkeer Malkoha, Long-billed Thrush, Spotted, Slaty-backed and Little
Forktails, Golden Bush Robin, Himalayan Bluetail, Himalayan Rubythroat, Wallcreeper,
Rufous-breasted, Altai and Black-throated Accentors and White-capped Bunting. Furthermore,
the tour offers the chance to search out one of the world most highly sought
but elusive big cats, the Bengal Tiger,
with a supporting cast that could include Indian
Leopard, Asian Elephant, Marsh
Mugger, Gharial, Ganges River Dolphin and Indian Python.
DETAILED
ITINERARY
Day
1- Arrival in New Delhi, Okhla Bird Sanctuary
After arrival in New Delhi there will
be time to rest and realx at your hotel and during the afternoon for birding at
the wonderful Okhla Bird Sanctuary on the outskirts of the city (depending on
your arrival time). This site is one of the most famous birding locations in
New Delhi and has a huge list of species (over 300) attracted to the scrub,
river, lake, and marshes. Key species with a limited-range that will be targets
for the visit will include White-tailed
Stonechat, Striated Grassbird and Striated Babbler, as well as a wide-range
of more widespread, but no less exciting species such as Red-naped Ibis, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-throated Kingfisher, Indian
Grey Hornbill and Yellow-footed
Green-pigeon. In winter this wetland is also famous for Weders, Raptors and
many waterfowls.
Overnight:
Hotel Radison Blue Plaza, New Delhi
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| Waterbirds in Okhla Bird Sanctuary |
Day
2- New Delhi to Ranthambhore, afternoon tiger safari and birding in National
Park
After breakfast you will transfer
from New Delhi to your hotel in Ranthambhore via the Indian train network.
Depending on our arrival time at the hotel there may be time for some birding
around the hotel grounds and local vicinity before lunch where we may find Indian Stone-curlew, Painted Sandgrouse,
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker and Variable Wheater.
After lunch, we will take our first
game drive in to Ranthambhore National Park where we will be searching for the
majestic Bengal Tiger, but we will also keep our eyes peeled for wide-range of
interesting birds along the way, such as Indain
Peafowl, Painted Spurfowl, Plum-headed, Alexandrine and Rose-ringed Parakeets,
River Tern, Rufous Treepie, and Citrine Wagtail.
Overnight:
Ranthambore Heritage Haveli
Day
3- Ranthambhore National Park
We will have a full day in and around
Ranthambhore National Park and will include another game drive to again look
for Bengal Tiger and other wildlife. Target birds will include those listed
above, but will also include Indian
Vulture, Yellow-legged Buttonquail, Small Minivet, White-browed Fantail,
White-bellied Drongo, White-naped Woodpecker, Crested Serpent Eagle,
Yellow-footed Green-pigeon, Bluethroat, Bay-backed, Long-tailed and Southern
Grey Shirkes, Indian Bush Lark, and Large Grey Babbler. In addition to
looking for Bengal Tiger we will also keep our eyes peeled for Marsh Mugger
Crocodiles, Rhesus Macaques, Southern Plains Grey Langurs, Sambar, Chital
(Spotted Deer), and Wild Boar.
Overnight:
Ranthambore Heritage Haveli
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
We will transfer between Ranthambhore
and Bharatpur but will make several birding stops along the way depending on
local water levels and our local knowledge of
current water bird distribution. Birds we may look for across the course
of the day include: Greater Flamingo,
Indian Skimmer, Brown Crake, Great Stone-curlew, Black-bellied Tern, Small
Pratincole, Isabelline Wheater, Greater Painted-snipe and Yellow-wattled
Lapwing.
Overnight:
Hotel Kadam Kunj, Bharatpur
Day
5- Keoladeo National Park (formerly
known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary)
We will spend the full day birding
around the incredible Keoladeo National Park, one of the best-known birding
sites in the country, and with good reason, this is a great place and always popular with good
views of a range of species possible. We will spend the day moving around this
vast area on cycle-rickshaws which is an excellent way to see the place. Time
will be spent birding in a range of habitats such as scrub, woodland, lakes,
and marshes to try and maximize species seen. Due to the timing of this tour,
there is the added possibility of some interesting passage migrant species so
we will be keeping on our toes just in case something unexpected has dropped in
on its way south.
Some of the species possible during
the day from the wooded/scrubby areas could include Grey Francolin, Indian Peafowl, Indian Scops-owl, Dusky Eagle-owl,
Spotted Owlet, Eurasian Hoopoe, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, White-eared
Bulbul, Brahminy Starling, Tickell's Thrush, and Indian Robin, while the
wetlands may produce Bar-headed Goose,
Ruddy Shelduck, Black-necked Stork, Black Bittern, Oriental Darter, Sarus
Crane, White-tailed Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, and Pied Kingfisher. Hunting
over the wetlands we may also find Western
Marsh Harrier, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Spotted and Eastern Imperial Eagels.
Overnight:
Hotel Kadam Kunj, Bharatpur
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| Northern Shoveler |
Day
6- Bharatpur to National Chambal
Sanctuary via Fatehpur Sikri
An early start today to look for Indian Courser, a difficult and local
species. We'll also keep our eyes peeled for other species such as Black Francolin, Sarus Crane, Indian
Roller, Isabelline Shrike and a range of Larks, Pipits and Wagtails. After
the morning birding session we will commence our journey to the delightful
hotel at Chambal, calling in to visit the very impressive Fatehpur Sikri World
Heritage Site, one of the best preserved collections of Mughal architecture in
India (the fort was actually abandoned in 1585, only 14 years after the huge
building project was complete I). We will arrive at our hotel late-afternoon
and we'll look out for Brown Hawk Owl and
Indian Scops Owl in the hotel
grounds.
Overnight:
Chambal Safari Lodge, Chambal
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| Indian Scops Owl |
Day
7- National Chambal Sanctuary to New Delhi via Agra and the Taj Mahal
We will take an early-morning boat
ride along the Chambal River where we will look out for Indian Skimmer as well River
Lapwing, Great Stone-curlew, River and Black-bellied Terns and the huge Pallas's Gull. It's not just birds here
however as we will keep our eyes firmly peeled for the incredibly rare and
endangered Ganges River Dolphin, as
well as the critically endangered Gharial.
We will check out scrub around the river we may find the secretive and skulking
Sirkeer Malkoha, Oriental Honey Buzzard,
Plum-headed Parakeet, Yellow-eyed Babbler, and White-capped Bunting.
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| Oriental Honey-buzzard |
After lunch we will start the journey
back to New Delhi, however along the way we will stop for a tour of the
majestic Taj Mahal, World Heritage Site. The Taj Mahal was completed in 1648
and is said to be the world's finest example of Mughal architecture. This
architectural masterpiece was described by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as 'the
tear of the face of eternity'. We will spend a good deal of the afternoon
enjoying the various pavilions, forts and other attractions of the Taj Mahal,
but keep your binoculars with you as there's often interesting birds flying
around the grounds and along the river out back! We will arrive back in New
Delhi early-evening in time for our evening meal and well-deserved rest.
Overnight:
Hotel Savoy Suites Noida, New Delhi
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| The Taj Mahal |
Day
8- Noida to Sattal
There are so many awesome birds in
the Sattal and Nainital areas that we will have plenty to keep us occupied
during our stay in the area. After being in the heat of the plains we will
likely appreciate the cooler environs of the mountains as well as the totally
new avifauna.
Possible highlights during the
afternoon and the following days may include Jungle Owlet, Great and Blue-throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Greater
and Lesser Yellownapes, Grey-headed (Black-naped)
Woodpecker, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Black-headed Jay, Red-billed Blue-magpie,
Grey Treepie, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Rusty-cheecked
Scimitar Babbler, Red-billed Leiothrix, Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroats,
Golden Bush Robin, Himalayan Bluetail, Spotted Forktail, Rufous-bellied
Niltava, Blue-whistling Thrush, Slaty Blue-flycatcher, Crimson Sunbird, Russet
Sparrow, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Olive-backed Pipit, Common and Pink-browed
Rosefinches, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, and White-capped Bunting. And there will likely be a number of
Laughingthrushes to keep us entertained: Rufous-chinned,
White-throated, Streaked and Striated Laughingthrushes (this one is often
voted one of the birds of the trip as they are rather nice-looking)
Overnight:
Lavanya Hotel, Sattal
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| Kalij Pheasant Pair |
Day
9- Full Day Sattal
We will spend the full day in the
rich area, birding at a few different localities during the day. One can see a
variety of Himalayan species such as Red-breasted
Accentor, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Blue-throated Barbet, Rufous-chinned
Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Black Bulbul and many Thrush species.
Overnight:
Lavanya Hotel, Sattal
Day
10- Sattal to Pangot
The day will be spent birding around
Sattal and Nainital, finally arriving at our wonderful lodge high in the mountain
in Pangot. We will have a second chance at some of the species listed above, as
well as many others including Kalij
Pheasant, Green-backed Tit, Himalayan Black-lored Tit, Himalayan and Black Bulbuls, Black-throated Tit, Rufous
Sibia, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Rufous and Small
Niltavas, Long-billed Thrush and so
may more!
The grounds of our accommodation
offer some great birding and either today or tomorrow we will be sure to pay
them due attention and we could find Great
Barbet, Plalin-crowned and Black-headed Jay, Collared Owlet, White-throated,
Striated, Steaked and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, Rock Bunting, Russet
Sparrow, Buff-barred, Lemon-rumped, Ashy-throated and Grey-hooded Warblers and
Red-billed Blue Magpie.
Overnight:
Jungle Lore Birding Lodge, Pangot
 |
| Cheer Pheasant |
Day
11- Pangot
There will be and early start this
morning to gain some further elevation to allow us to focus on some
high-elevation key targets which include both Cheer and Koklass Pheasants,
also with commoner and more widespread Kalij
Pheasant and Hill Partridge, and
Bearded Vulture, Griffon Vulture,
Himalayan Vulture, Altai Accentor, Himalayan and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers,
Himalayan Bluetail, White-tailed Lapwing and Green-tailed Sunbird. We will also be hoping to get some great
landscape views of the even higher elevation snow-capped Himalayan mountain
ranges which really are spectacular. We will have the full day to explore this
area and it could be one of the best days of the trip with some very special birds.
Overnight:
Jungle Lore Birding Lodge
 |
| Mountain Scops-owl |
Day
12- Pangot to Corbett National Park
After some final birding in the
Pangot area where we will took for anything that we may want to concentrate our
final efforts on before heading down to the Corbett area after lunch. Time
permitting we will likely explore the kosi River area to look for several
beautiful and highly sought species such as White-capped Redstart, River Lapwing, Ibisbill and Wallcreeper. We could also find out Brown Dipper, Little Forktail, Pallas's
Fish Eagle, Asian Woollyneck, Asian Openbill, Brown Fish Owl, Himalayan Swiflet,
Nepal House Martin, Blue Rock-thrush. The grounds of our hotel also offer
some good birding and we will look for Indian
Scops Owl (Marathee supspecies) and
Crimson Sunbird amongst many others
over the next few days.
Overnight:
Tiger Camp, Corbett NP
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| River Lapwing |
Day
13- Corbett National Park- Dhikala In
We will start off with an early
breakfast and then the plan will be to travel to Dhikala entering at Dhangarhi
gate. There are numerous great birds to look for here and we will also for some
of the parks most spectacular wildlife, maybe getting further sightings of
majestic Bengal Tiger, with the added possibility of Indian Leopard, Asian
Elephant and an assortment of other creatures such as Indian crested porcupine,
and Yellow-throated Martin.
Some of the birds we will look for in
Corbett area (Dhikala and other Corbett NP Zones) will include Red-headed and Cinereous Vultures, Jungle
and Asian Barred Owlets, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Tawny Fish Owl, Great Hornbill,
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Collared Falconet, White-rumped Spinetail,
Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Himalayan
Flameback, White-crested Laughingthrush, Rosy Pipit, Maroon Oriole, Common
Green Magpie, Grey-bellied Tesia and Crested
Bunting.
Overnight:
Dhikala Forest Lodge (please note that the facilities at Dhikala are basic)
 |
| Indian Grey Hornbill |
Day
14- Corbett National Park- Dhikala Out
We will have a morning jeep safari
for Tiger tracking and birding and thereafter returns for breakfast. There is a
watchtower overlooking a water hole nearby where we can spend time until lunch.
Some of the best birding areas of Dhikala are Smabhar Road and Khinanauli.
Species that are possible here are; Great Slaty Woodpecker, Great Hornbill,
Puff-throated Babbler, White-rumped Shama and Pallas's Fish Eagle. Afternoon
drive back to Tiger Camp. ( The drive to the exit gate of the park will be a
safari in itself and we can expect to see wildlife en route).
Overnight:
Tiger Camp, Corbett NP
Day
15- Corbett to New Delhi and tour concludes
After some time birding around our
hotel in the morning we will commence our journey by road back to New Delhi
after lunch. Depending on exact timings we may grab another opportunity to take
a look along the river for Ibisbill ,
Wallcreeper, and Indian Cormorant and
will keep a look out for any other new and interesting species along the way.
The tour will conclude with a final meal in New Delhi. It is advised to book
flight out of New Delhi for the next morning, or continue on a post-tour
extension the following day.
Overnight:
Hotel Radison Blu Plaza, New Delhi
ibisbill
Day
16- Delhi to home
Duration:
15 days/14 nights
Date:
Start:
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
End:
Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi
For Further Inquiry Please mail to sanzeev.acharya@gmail.com
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