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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.
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Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocusus Small numbers seen at
Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail.
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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.
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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.
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Hill Prinia Prinia atrogularis One bird was seen briefly in a tea
plantation in the hills below Mirik on 29/11.
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Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosa A flock of about 20 seen
on the Mahakal Trail was the only sighting of the trip.
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Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler Cettia robustipes Very good views
had of one at close range at Neora Valley on 25/11.
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Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Recorded from Gorumara and
the Mahakal Trail, then two birds in a tea plantation in the hills below
Mirik.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus One bird was seen
and heard well at Gorumara Jungle Camp on both 22/11 and 23/11.
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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.
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Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus One bird was seen
well at Lulagaon on 24/11.
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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.
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[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.
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Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii After two at Gorumara
on 22/11, five were seen at Chapramari and small numbers at Lulagaon.
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Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschista Only seen at Lulagaon
where there were several on 24/11.
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Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaneiceps Two singles at
Neora Valley on 25/11.
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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.
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Striated Laughingthrush Garrulax striatus Flocks of up to 30 seen
at Lulagaon, Neora Valley and Lava.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus The most
widespread of the laughingthrushes, with sightings from Lulagaon, Neora
Valley, Lava and Sandakphu.
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Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis
Excellent close views were had of three birds at Neora Valley. One seen
later at Sandakphu.
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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.
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Rufous-throated Wren Babbler Spelaeornis caudatus One seen by a
single observer at Lulagaon on 24/11.
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Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris ruficeps Small numbers seen,
especially in flocks with Rufous-winged Fulvettas, at Lulagaon, Lava and
Sandakphu.
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Golden Babbler Stachyris chrysaea These stunning birds were seen
at Neora Valley (about eight) and Lava.
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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.