PROJECT : EAST HIMALAYA BIRDING PROGRAMME

(Project undertaken by : Association for Conservation & Tourism)

Systematic List (93 to 122)

93. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus All the sightings were of birds seen en-route,on 21/11, 23/11 and 29/11.
94. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Birds of the black-headed subspecies tricolor were seen en-route and in the Gorumara area.
95. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius excubitoroides The most frequent shrike species encountered, with small numbers at Gorumara, Chapramari, Mahakal Trail and Phulbari Barrage, and one also in the hills at Lulagaon.
96. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris Small numbers seen at Neora Valley (eight here), Lava and on the Sandakphu trek. These were the nominate subspecies, with pale yellow underparts and a grayer mantle than the western subspecies cucullata.
97. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Fairly common in the lowlands, but replaced by Grey Treepie in the hills.
98. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae One was seen at Gorumara but otherwise all the sightings were in the hills, with birds seen at all the main sites visited.
99. Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes A bird seen and heard on the Sandakphu trek on 27/11 was also heard on the subsequent two days. It would have been of either of the eastern subspecies hemispila or macella.
100. House Crow Corvus splendens Common, records from most sites including around habitation in the hills.
101. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Just two birds seen in the lowlands, at Mahakal Trail but quite common in the hills with records from Neora Valley, Lava and the Sandakphu trek where 40 were estimated near the summit on 28/11. Those birds seen well were very raven-like with powerful bills and a slightly wedge-shaped tail, and a deep call. These were presumably tibetosinensis. The two birds at Mahakal Trail may well have been “Jungle Crows”, i.e. culminates or levaillantii.
102. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Two seen near Gorumara Jungle Camp on 21/11 and one in the Gorumara National Park the following morning.
103. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus A few seen at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail, with two also at Lulagaon.
104. Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii Excellent views of birds at Gorumara, Chapramari and especially the Mahakal Trail where at least six were seen on 23/11.
105. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei One seen at Chapramari and three at Mahakal Trail, all presumably of the Himalayan foothills subspecies nipalensis.
106. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos About four seen on both 22/11 and 23/11 in the areas of Gorumara National Park, the Mahakal Trail and Gorumara Jungle Camp.
107. Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris Small groups noted at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11.
108. Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Good views of about ten on the Mahakal Trail with large numbers of Scarlet Minivets.
109. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Some relatively large flocks seen in the areas of Gorumara (e.g. about 70 in total), Chapramari and Mahakal Trail, with smaller numbers at Lulagaon.
110. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus One at Chapramari on 22/11 was presumably of the subspecies capitalis but seen too briefly to confirm this.
111. Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha One at Chapramari was the only sighting.
112. White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis One at Chapramari and two at Lava, both of one the dark-breasted races.
113. White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Recorded at Gorumara and Phulbari Barrage.
114. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Common in the lowlands, for example several seen daily in the Gorumara, area but not recorded anywhere in the hills.
115. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Small numbers seen in the Gorumara area and also two at Bamunpokhri. These were quite obviously grey birds, easily separable from Black Drongo, and were therefore probably of the hopwoodi subspecies.
116. White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens At least four were seen at Gorumara on 22/11 but these were the only sightings.
117. Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans Two were seen well on the Mahakal Trail on 23/11, the seventh species of drongo that morning!
118. Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus A few seen at Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail, for example at least six at the former site.
119. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Very good views of as many as 12 on the Mahakal Trail.
120. Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus Seen at most lowland sites, including about six at Gorumara with others at Chapramari, the Mahakal Trail and Bamunpokhri.
121. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus Small numbers at Gorumara and the Mahakal Trail, plus two at Bamunpokhri.
122. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia One was seen by one observer at Gorumara.