PROJECT : EAST HIMALAYA BIRDING PROGRAMME

(Project undertaken by : Association for Conservation & Tourism)

Systematic List (1 to 30)

The taxonomy, sequence and nomenclature in this report follow Grimmett, Inskipp & Inskipp. Note that where estimates of numbers of birds seen are given, these are largely based on personal observations. Hence the actual numbers seen on the trip by the group is likely to be greater in many instances. In addition, where a species was only seen by one member of the group (which, typically for forest birding, happened on a number of times) this is usually indicated in the text below. Species included in brackets were not confirmed, but have been included in the list as probables, or (in the case of Barn Swallow) on the basis of an interesting observation.

1. Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola Calling birds heard at both Lulagaon and on the Sandakphu trek.
2. Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus One male seen from the Gorumara viewpoint.
3. Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelana Seen on two occasions at Lulagaon and once on the Sandakphu trek. Unfortunately not seen well enough to determine the subspecies but likely to have been lathami based on range.
4. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Only recorded in the Gorumara area where small numbers (up to about 20) were common.
5. Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica One seen on a small pond en-route from Bagdogra airport to Gorumara and also recorded at Phulbari Barrage.
6. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Three seen in flight at Gorumara, also recorded at Phulbari Barrage.
7. Gadwall Anas strepera Phulbari Barrage.
8. Northern Pintail Anas acuta Phulbari Barrage.
9. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus Two recorded in the Gorumara National Park and also seen on the nearby Mahakal trail, plus at Lulagaon. A male seen at Gorumara showed considerable red at the sides of the crown and was presumably of the subspecies semicoronatus.
10. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei Two or three seen at Gorumaraand on the Mahakal trail.
11. [Darjeeling Woodpecker Dendrocopus darjellensis ] A woodpecker seen briefly in flight over the village of Manebhanjang showed large white oval wing patches and can only really have been this species.
12. Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus About four seen at Gorumara and also seen on the Mahakal trail nearby. Subspecies not determinable between the nominate and simlae.
13. Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha Singles in the lowlands at Gorumara, the Mahakal trail and Bamunpokhri.
14. Himalayan Flameback Dinopium shorii Seen at Gorumara with two on the Mahakal trail and two at Bamunpokhri. Difficult to distinguish from Common Flameback D. javanense (which is not likely to occur in the area) other than the fact that they appeared fairly large-billed and to approach Greater Flameback in size.
15. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus Four seen at Gorumara and also recorded on the Mahakal Trail.
16. Great Barbet Megalaima virens Common in the hill areas: recorded at Lulagaon (where about 100 seen), Rishyap, Neora Valley NP, Lava, Darjeeling (about 50 at Darjeeling Zoo) and Sandakphu.
17. Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineate Only seen at Gorumara and Chapramari, with four at the latter site.
18. Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii At least five seen very well at Lulagaon on 23/11 with a few also seen there the following day.
19. Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica Singles at Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail.
20. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris A few (about six) noted at both Gorumara, where they often sat in the open enjoying the early morning sun, and Chapramari.
21. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Apart from a few seen en-route in the agricultural lowlands, one was seen at Gorumara.
22. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Singles near Gorumara Jungle Camp, at Gorumara and at Chapramari.
23. Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis One seen by the river at Gorumara.
24. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Only recorded near Gorumara where relatively common.
25. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Seen en-route in the lowlands and at Gorumara.
26. Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis Three seen at Gorumara and one at Chapramari. Good views were eventually had: although the birds were generally very close they usually kept obscured deep in the foliage.
27. Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis Small numbers seen and heard flying over at Gorumara: unfortunately only the typical views of this species!
28. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Small numbers recorded daily in the Gorumara area.
29. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Only seen in the lowlands, where common in the Gorumara and Chapramari areas.
30. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri Common around Gorumara where at least 100 seen near Gorumara Jungle Camp at dusk on 21/11 and similar numbers in a large, mixed species, feeding flock of parakeets nearby on 23/11. Also seen at Chapramari.