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By
Mike Prince on
31 December 2002
81. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Single birds were seen en-route in the lowlands on two occasions, with one also seen on the Sandakphu trek.
82. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Records en-route from Bagdogra, at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail and at Phulbari Barrage.
83. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Two seen at Gorumara on 22/11.
84. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Small numbers seen in the Gorumara area and en-route in the lowlands.
85. Great Egret Casmerodius albus Seen at Phulbari Barrage.
86. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia One in the Gorumara National Park on 22/11 was the only sighting.
87. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common in the lowlands but not recorded at higher levels.
88. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Common in the lowlands but not recorded at higher levels.
89. Black Stork Ciconia nigra Four were seen in the Gorumara National Park on 22/11.
90. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Two birds seen in flight at Gorumara and one at Chapramari.
91. Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae Very good views of these spectacular birds in Gorumara on 22/11 and at least 12 on the Mahakal Trail on 23/11. They are presumably relatively common here.
92. Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Birds, of the nominate subspecies, seen at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail, with one singing bird also in the hills below Mirik.
93. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus All the sightings were of birds seen en-route, on 21/11, 23/11 and 29/11.
94. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Birds of the black-headed subspecies tricolor were seen en-route and in the Gorumara area.
95. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius excubitoroides The most frequent shrike species encountered, with small numbers at Gorumara, Chapramari, Mahakal Trail and Phulbari Barrage, and one also in the hills at Lulagaon.
96. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris Small numbers seen at Neora Valley (eight here), Lava and on the Sandakphu trek. These were the nominate subspecies, with pale yellow underparts and a grayer mantle than the western subspecies cucullata.
97. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Fairly common in the lowlands, but replaced by Grey Treepie in the hills.
98. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae One was seen at Gorumara but otherwise all the sightings were in the hills, with birds seen at all the main sites visited.
99. Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes A bird seen and heard on the Sandakphu trek on 27/11 was also heard on the subsequent two days. It would have been of either of the eastern subspecies hemispila or macella.
100. House Crow Corvus splendens Common, records from most sites including around habitation in the hills.
101. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Just two birds seen in the lowlands, at Mahakal Trail but quite common in the hills with records from Neora Valley, Lava and the Sandakphu trek where 40 were estimated near the summit on 28/11. Those birds seen well were very raven-like with powerful bills and a slightly wedge-shaped tail, and a deep call. These were presumably tibetosinensis. The two birds at Mahakal Trail may well have been “Jungle Crows”, i.e. culminates or levaillantii.
102. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Two seen near Gorumara Jungle Camp on 21/11 and one in the Gorumara National Park the following morning.
103. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus A few seen at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail, with two also at Lulagaon.
104. Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii Excellent views of birds at Gorumara, Chapramari and especially the Mahakal Trail where at least six were seen on 23/11.
105. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei One seen at Chapramari and three at Mahakal Trail, all presumably of the Himalayan foothills subspecies nipalensis.
106. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos About four seen on both 22/11 and 23/11 in the areas of Gorumara National Park, the Mahakal Trail and Gorumara Jungle Camp.
107. Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Small groups noted at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11.
108. Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Good views of about ten on the Mahakal Trail with large numbers of Scarlet Minivets.
109. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Some relatively large flocks seen in the areas of Gorumara (e.g. about 70 in total), Chapramari and Mahakal Trail, with smaller numbers at Lulagaon.
110. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus One at Chapramari on 22/11 was presumably of the subspecies capitalis but seen too briefly to confirm this.