Introduction |
Itinerary|
Site Details | Systematic List |
Other Wildlife
References |
Contacts
By
Mike Prince on
31 December 2002
171. Fire-capped Tit Cephalopyrus flammiceps Brief views of one at Lulagaon on 23/11 and two at Neora Valley on 25/11.
172. Rufous-vented Tit Parus rubidiventris One on the Sandakphu trek on 28/11 showed a greyish belly typical of the East Himalayan subspecies beavani.
173. Coal Tit Parus ater Two or three were seen in conifers at the summit of Sandakphu on 27/11, with two
also in deciduous trees nearby at Gairibans the following day.
174. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus Small numbers seen regularly in the hills, with records from Lulagaon, Rishyap, Lava and Sandakphu.
175. Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus Two (of the nominate race) at Rishyap were the only ones seen.
176. Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus After four at Neora Valley and a few at Lava, a group of about 15 were seen at Sandakphu. All were of the nominate subspecies.
177. Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea Probably the surprise sighting of the whole trip, a feeding flock of at least 12 were seen at Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary on 22/11. They were conspicuous as they fed for several minutes in the middle storey, before we were warned back by forest guards since there had been a lone elephant seen in the area a little earlier! None of the trip reports we had seen mentioned Sultan Tit, although it’s such a striking bird that it certainly could not be overlooked!
178. Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus Fast-moving flocks, typically of 30 birds or more, were seen at Neora Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
179. Plain Martin Riparia paludicola Seen near the river at Gorumara only.
180. [ Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ] Three old nests were seen inside a shop doorway in Lava village.
181. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica The only sightings were of birds seen en-route: at Kalimpong on 26/11 and in the hills below Mirik on 29/11. No attempt was made to assign a subspecies.
182. Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus Seen at Kalimpong on 26/11.
183. Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalensis Four seen with Red-rumped Swallows in the hills below Mirik on 29/11.
184. Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus Small flocks of 10 to 20 birds seen in the treetops at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11, plus at Neora Valley on 25/11.
185. Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus The flaviventris subspecies was fairly common in the Gorumara area (with a maximum of 40 in the National Park) and also seen on both days at Lulagaon.
186. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocusus Small numbers seen at Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail.
187. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer One of the darker subspecies, probably bengalensis, was fairly common in the lowlands, the maximum recorded being 15 at Gorumara Jungle Camp.
188. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus Pale grey birds of the subspecies psaroides were relatively common in the hills with sightings from Lulagaon, Neora Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
189. Hill Prinia Prinia atrogularis One bird was seen briefly in a tea plantation in the hills below Mirik on 29/11.
190. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosa A flock of about 20 seen on the Mahakal Trail was the only sighting of the trip.
191. Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler Cettia robustipes Very good views had of one at close range at Neora Valley on 25/11.
192. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Recorded from Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail, then two birds in a tea plantation in the hills below Mirik.
193. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybitus Only one was seen: on the lower parts of the Sandakphu trek on 27/11; a bird clearly of the tristis subspecies.
194. Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher One seen at Gorumara National Park, then further records from Lulagaon, Rishyap and Neora Valley, although small numbers at each site.
195. Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis One seen at Gorumara National Park, then seen also at Lulagaon, Neora Valley and Sandakphu. The commonest warbler seen on the trip.
196. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus One bird was seen and heard well at Gorumara Jungle Camp on both 22/11 and 23/11.
197. Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei A few seen and heard at Gorumara, on the Mahakal Trail and on a couple of occasions en-route in the lowlands.
198. Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus One bird was seen well at Lulagaon on 24/11.
199. Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides Two were seen at Rishyap on 24/11 with other sightings (about three) from Neora Valley the following day.
200. [Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator] Two birds seen at Neora Valley showed bold head markings and a bright yellow supercilium and throat. Initially thought at the time to have maybe been Black-faced Warblers we immediately realised our mistake shortly afterwards when we found a flock of undoubted Black-faced Warblers. With hindsight it seems likely that these two birds were Yellow-vented Warblers, but they were not seen again.