Introduction |
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By
Mike Prince on
31 December 2002
201. Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii After two at Gorumara on 22/11, five were seen at Chapramari and small numbers at Lulagaon.
202. Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschista Only seen at Lulagaon where there were several on 24/11.
203. Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaneiceps Two singles at Neora Valley on 25/11.
204. Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps At least 10 of these attractive small birds were in a fast-moving flock at Neora Valley on 25/11 with a few also at Lava the following day.
205. Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus Flocks of up to 30 seen at Lulagaon, Neora Valley and Lava.
206. Blue-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax squamatus One seen briefly by one observer in a small flock of Black-faced Laughingthushes on the Sandakphu trek on 28/11.
207. Scaly Laughingthrush Garrulax subunicolor A small flock was seen very well at Rishyap on 24/11 with more seen at Neora Valley the following day.
208. Black-faced Laughingthrush Garrulax affinis Relatively common, with about 50 in total seen at Neora Valley and several small flocks encountered at various points along the Sandakphu trek.
209. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus The most widespread of the laughingthrushes, with sightings from Lulagaon, Neora Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
210. Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Excellent close views were had of three birds at Neora Valley. One seen later at Sandakphu.
211. Pygmy Wren Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla One was seen by one observer at Lulagaon and another fed unconcerned at extremely close range (binoculars would not focus!) at Neora Valley.
212. Rufous-throated Wren Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus One seen by a single observer at Lulagaon on 24/11.
213. Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps Small numbers seen, especially in flocks with Rufous-winged Fulvettas, at Lulagaon, Lava and Sandakphu.
214. Golden Babbler Stachyris chrysaea These stunning birds were seen at Neora Valley (about eight) and Lava.
215. Slender-billed Babbler Turdoides longirostris One was seen from the river watchpoint at Gorumara National Park. It showed a few times in the tall grassy undergrowth, moving quite slowly and generally staying hidden inside. A little known species, with no known recent records outside Assam, it will be very interesting to know whether Gorumara is a regular site.
216. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus Only recorded from the Gorumara area.
217. Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea Flocks, of several birds each time, were seen at Lulagaon, Rishyap and on the Sandakphu trek. The central and eastern Himalaya birds are of the subspecies calipyga.
218. Black-headed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius rufiventer Superb views were had of two males and a female at Neora Valley. Very quiet and unobtrusive, they showed the benefit of stopping to wait in a promising looking area.
219. White-browed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis One briefly at Neora Valley and another, equally briefly, at Gairibans on the Sandakphu trek.
220. Black-eared Shrike Babbler Pteruthius melanotis The only sighting was of one, seen by a single observer, on the Sandakphu trek.
221. Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni At least three were present in an impressive flock together with many Hoary-throated Barwings at Neora Valley on 25/11.
222. Hoary-throated Barwing Actinodura nipalensis A feeding flock containing about 20, together with three Rusty-fronted Barwings, was an impressive sight at Neora Valley on 25/11. Other than this, a few were recorded
from the Sandakphu trek on 28/11.
223. Chestnut-tailed Minla Minla strigula Small flocks were recorded from Lulagaon on consecutive days and from Neora Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
224. Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta The only sighting was of about five at Neora Valley which moved quickly through the forest and were only seen well by one or two observers.
225. Golden-breasted Fulvetta Alcippe chrysotis One of the most stunningly beautiful birds seen; we recorded them from Neora Valley and from Gairibans on the Sandakphu trek.
226. Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps Common, and in quite large numbers, in the middle hills. Sightings were from Lulagaon, Rishyap, Neora Valley and Lava.
227. White-browed Fulvetta Alcippe vinipectus Quite common, but often difficult to get good views of, at Neora Valley and Sandakphu. The lightly streaked throat of these birds is indicative of the chumbiensis subspecies, and different from the two western subspecies.
228. Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata One of the most common birds in places in the middle hills, where it was seen at Lulagaon, Rishyap and Neora Valley. A few also seen on 28/11 at Sandakphu. These birds would have been of one of the central and eastern Himalayan subspecies, either nigriceps or bayleyi, although the mantle colour was not noted sufficiently to distinguish between these.
229. Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis Very common in the hills. Seen at Lulagaon on both days there and at Rishyap, Neora Valley, Lava and daily at Sandakphu. The hindcollar of the birds seen had a rufous tinge which suggests flavicollis, although there did appear to be some variation.
230. Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis First recorded from Neora Valley and thereafter seen at Lava and Sandakphu, although in smaller numbers than the other two common yuhinas.