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By
Mike Prince on
31 December 2002
231. Rufous-vented Yuhina Yuhina occipitalis A common bird in the hills, with sightings from Lulagaon, Rishyap, Neora Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
232. Black-chinned Yuhina Yuhina nigrimenta Singles at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11, were only seen well by one observer on each occasion.
233. Brown Parrotbill Paradoxornis unicolor One was seen briefly at Gairibans, Sandakphu, in a stand of bamboo, on 28/11.
234. Fulvous Parrotbill Paradoxornis fulvifrons A flock of about 40 fed in bamboo at Tunling, Sandakphu on the morning of the 29/11.
235. Black-throated Parrotbill Paradoxornis nipalensis Two large flocks, totalling 80 birds altogether, were seen feeding actively in bamboo at Neora Valley, on 25/11. There is considerable variation between subspecies; these birds showed the brown crown and cheeks of humii.
236. Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum One bird was seen by one observer on 23/11 at Lulagaon. A scarce bird in the area, although the streaked underparts make identification relatively easy compared with the other flowerpeckers.
237. Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum melanoxanthum A single bird was seen at Lava on 26/11.
238. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus Three males were seen at Lulagaon on 23/11 with sightings there also the following day. The only other record came from Rishyap.
239. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum Two males were seen at Gorumara on 22/11 and another from the nearby Mahakal Trail the following day.
240. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Anthreptes singalensis A pair at Gorumara on 22/11 was the only sighting.
241. Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica One bird at Gorumara on 23/11 was the only one of the trip.
242. Mrs Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae A singing male and a female were seen at Lava on the morning of the 26/11.
243. Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis Recorded on consecutive days at Lulagaon, about eight were seen at Neora Valley, about six at Lava and three at Darjeeling Zoo.
244. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja We had fantastic views of a male at close range at the Mahakal Trail on 23/11. Distinguishing features of the two Himalayan subspecies, seheriae and labecula, are apparently quite subtle.
245. Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda Just the one brief sighting at Lulagaon on 23/11.
246. Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra One was seen briefly at Lulagaon on 23/11.
247. Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna Singles were seen at Gorumara, Chapramari and Mahakal Trail, pleasingly with very good views each time.
248. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Recorded in habitation en-route and near Gorumara.
249. Tree Sparrow Passer montanus Replaced the House Sparrow at higher elevations, but similarly seen around human habitation. Records from Lulagaon, Lava and villages on the Sandakphu trek.
250. White Wagtail Motacilla alba One bird at Gorumara Jungle Camp and two at Chapramari, with further records from Phulbari Barrage. None of these were racially assigned.
251. White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis One was seen by the river at Gorumara.
252. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Only recorded from Phulbari Barrage.
253. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea One seen near Lava on 26/11 was the only sighting away from Phulbari Barrage.
254. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Recorded on both dates at Lulagaon (up to 25 birds), from Rishyap and at Sandakphu on 27/11. The relatively unstreaked upperparts of those birds seen well at Sandakphu meant that these birds were clearly of the yunnanensis subspecies.
255. Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata Four were seen on the Sandakphu trek on 27/11 and as many as ten there the following day, mostly relatively close to the summit.
256. Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens One bird was seen with Rufous-breasted Accentors on 28/11 near the Sandakphu summit.
257. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Carduelis spinoides A single bird in flight near Lulagaon on 24/11 was the only sighting of the trip.
258. Plain Mountain Finch Leucosticte nemoricola Two or three large flocks, totalling at least 200 birds altogether, were seen at the Sandakphu summit on 28/11.
259. Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus nipalensis Seen at Neora Valley and Sandakphu, usually feeding quite deep into the vegetation.
260. Beautiful Rosefinch Carpodacus pulcherrimus One male and two females nearby were seen at the Sandakphu summit on 28/11.
261. Dark-rumped Rosefinch Carpodacus edwardsii Seen on three occasions, at Neora Valley and Sandakphu twice, with at least 12 birds at Sandakphu. Only females or immatures were seen.
262. White-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus thura About 12 were seen at the Sandakphu summit on 28/11, including singing males.
263. White-winged Grosbeak Coccothraustes carnipes The only sighting was of three females at Neora Valley.
264. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla On both 27/11 and 29/11 small numbers (about eight each time) were seen in the lower reaches of the Sandakphu trek.
A total of 259 confirmed species were seen.