Northeast India Highlights: Eaglenest & Kaziranga Birds & Mammals
Northeast India is one of the most bird-rich regions in the world. The dense forests are home to various species of skulking babblers and similarly plumaged warblers, but also beautiful pheasants and other stunners including the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla.
We start this tour with a visit to lowland Nameri National Park on the Jia Bhoreli river, which has a wide variety of species including Pied Falconet, Oriental Hobby and White-winged Duck. Dirang is our next stop, the base for exploring the Sangti Valley, Mandala Road and, weather-permitting, the high-altitude Sela Pass. At 4,200m, there are birds here that are extremely difficult to find elsewhere in Arunachal and we will hope to connect with Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Solitary Snipe and Grandala.
Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary needs little introduction to birdwatchers. Unusually for Arunachal Pradesh, this montane forest has the advantage of easy access to a wide altitudinal range thanks to a jeep track which cuts through its heart from Eaglenest Pass at 2800 m down to the flood plains of Assam at 100 m. Eaglenest gained fame when Bugun Liocichla was described, new to science, in 2006. As well as that, we will hope to see many other excellent birds, including Blyth’s and Temminck’s Tragopans, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Blackish-breasted Babbler (Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler), Long-billed Wren-babbler, Beautiful Nuthatch, and many more.
Kaziranga National Park is our final stop, with its Indian Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffalo, Asian Elephant, and a chance of Tiger. Several localised and endangered birds such as Bengal Florican and Greater Adjutant will be amongst our many targets.
Target Species
- Spot-throated Babbler
- White-throated Redstart
- Gould’s Shortwing
- Bar-winged Wren-Babbler
- Purple Cochoa
- White-hooded Babbler
- Silver-backed Needletail
- Rosy Pipit
- Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler
- White-breasted Parrotbill
- Red-headed Bullfinch
- Blyth’s Kingfisher
- Rufous-fronted Bushtit
- Himalayan Shortwing
- River Lapwing
- Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
- Grey-headed Fish Eagle
- Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch
- Buff-throated Warbler
- Collared Treepie …