-
Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus
leucoryphus A big surprise was of a fine adult soaring with a few
vultures and Steppe Eagles a few kilometres below Mirik on the journey
back to Bagdogra from Sandakphu on 29/11. Although still quite high in
the hills the Teesta river was in view and it seems likely it had
drifted up from somewhere along the river.
-
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
One immature seen near Mirik on 29/11.
-
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Singles at Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail, and seen on the Sandakphu
trek. A few also with the other raptors
seen near Mirik on 29/11.
-
Slender-billed Vulture Gyps
tenuirostris One seen at Lulagaon on 24/11 and one on the Sandakphu
trek at GAR on 28/11 were presumed to be this species as opposed to
Indian Vulture Gyps indicus.
-
Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Six
seen on the Mahakal Trail and other sightings from Sandakphu, including
16 on 28/11, mostly at the summit in the early morning.
-
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Singles of the nominate race recorded at Gorumara, Chapramari and
Bamunpokhri.
-
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus
aeruginosus Seen at Phulbari Barrage.
-
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A
migrating ring-tail was seen at the Sandakphu summit in the early
evening of 27/11.
-
Shikra Accipiter badius Just single
sightings en-route in the lowlands on two occasions.
-
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
A typically dark above melaschistosbird was seen in the valley from
Rishyap.
-
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentiles
One bird, presumably the same, seen near Lulagaon on both 23/11 and
24/11.
-
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
One seen en-route, not far from Gorumara, on 23/11.
-
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo One at
Gorumara and one at Sandakphu summit, which spent several minutes in a
hovering hunting flight.
-
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Two different birds were seen at, or near, Lulagaon, one in the valley
from Rishyap and one in the nearby Neora Valley National Park.
-
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Late
migrating birds seen at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11 and on the
Sandakphu trek, where there were 21 on 28/11, with another six in the
hills below Mirik
-
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
After hearing an unexpected report of seven at Sandakphu on 27/11 we saw
four birds (two adults and two juveniles) there the following day. There
are very few, at least recent, records for West Bengal and these
sightings suggest a small migration.
-
Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus
One immature seen at Gorumara on 22/11.
-
Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus
nipalensis Singles seen at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11 and at
Neora Valley on 25/11. The Neora Valley bird was seen in flight and
perched briefly before 6 am.
-
Collared Falconet Microhierax
caerulescens Good views of one at Gorumara and one at nearby
Chapramari later the same day.
-
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Single birds were seen en-route in the lowlands on two occasions, with
one also seen on the Sandakphu trek.
-
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Records en-route from Bagdogra, at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail and at
Phulbari Barrage.
-
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Two seen at Gorumara on 22/11.
-
Little Egret Egretta garzetta Small
numbers seen in the Gorumara area and en-route in the lowlands.
-
Great Egret Casmerodius albus Seen
at Phulbari Barrage.
-
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
One in the Gorumara National Park on 22/11 was the only sighting.
-
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common
in the lowlands but not recorded at higher levels.
-
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Common in the lowlands but not recorded at higher levels.
-
Black Stork Ciconia nigra Four were
seen in the Gorumara National Park on 22/11.
-
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
Two birds seen in flight at Gorumara and one at Chapramari.
-
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.
-
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.