Birdtour Asia North-east India tour 2012

Arunachal Pradesh & Assam, north-east India

13th - 29th April 2012 Please note: two spaces available

Leader: Frank Lambert

20th April - 6th May 2012 Please note: tour is full

Leader: James Eaton

Max Group Size: 7

Spotted Laughingthrush James Eaton

Situated along the southern frontier of the mighty Himalaya, western Arunachal Pradesh was for many years cut-off from the birding circuit due to red-tape and access restrictions, and birders visited the neighbouring country of Bhutan to explore this fascinating region. With the restrictions lifted, we are finally able to reach Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the least-known yet biologically most diverse regions in the whole of Asia. The topography is truly amazing; stretching from the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam up through tangled ridges at elevations of around 1,500m before rising to 3,080m. A jeep track runs from a pass at 2800m down to the flood plains of Assam at 100m. This easy access, excellent forest and wide altitudinal range is a unique combination that makes Eaglenest one of the premier birding sites in the whole of Asia. The Bugun Liocichla, a completely new species to science, was discovered here and described as recently as 2006. It will be one of our main targets. However, the seemingly endless list of potential species also includes two species of tragopan, seven species of wren babbler, ten species of laughingthrush, three species of shortwing, six species of parrotbill and the stunning Fire-tailed Myzornis.
Prior to exploring Eaglenest we visit the World Heritage Site of Kaziranga and Dibru-Saikhowa. Kaziranga is famed for its population of Indian Rhinoceros, Swamp Deer and Bengal Tiger, but also has an impressive range of bird life. We will search diligently for Bengal Florican, Pallas’s Fish Eagle and Swamp Francolin. Dibru-Saikhowa is home to a whole host of threatened and range-restricted species including Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers and Swamp Prinia. A visit to the Digboi Oilfields allows an opportunity to see the range-restricted Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush, along with Collared Treepie and Rufous-necked Laughingthrush.

Day 1:
Afternoon arrival into Dibrugarh Airport before transferring to the nearby town of Tinsukia.
Night in Tinsukia.

Day 2:
Today will be spent along the shores of the Brahmaputra River on foot and aboard boats at Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve. This little-known site a biodiversity hotspot situated in the alluvial flood plains of the Brahmaputra. We will search the swamp and grasslands for threatened species including Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers, Swamp Prinia, Sand Lark, Jerdon’s Bushchat and Black-breasted Parrotbill.
While searching for these localised species, we will come across a large variety of other species which might include lingering winter visitors such as Chinese and Spotted Bush Warblers, Smoky Warbler and Ruddy Shelduck along with the rare Ganges River Dolphin. Night in Tinsukia.

Day 3:
We start today by heading for a small patch of lowland forest inside the Digboi Oilfields complex in search of three species unlikely to be seen elsewhere on the tour; Collared Treepie, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush and the rare Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. Other possibilities include Blue-naped Pitta, Blue-throated Flycatcher, Silver-breasted Broadbill and Blue-bearded Bee-eater. Following lunch we head west along the mighty Brahmaputra River to the World Heritage site of Kaziranga National Park, a fabulous mosaic of grasslands, forests and pools backed by misty hillsides. Night at Kaziranga NP.

Days 4-5:
We have two full days to explore the national park and its surroundings. Inside the park we search for such rarities as Bengal Florican, Spot-billed Pelican, both Greater and Lesser Adjutants, Black-necked Stork, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Swamp Francolin and Black-breasted and Finn's Weaver. Other possibilities include Slender-billed Babbler, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Blue-naped Pitta and Grey-headed Fish Eagle.
Birding inside the park will be from a jeep because of the abundant wildlife that inhabits this wonderful area. It is home to no fewer than 70% of the world’s Indian Rhinoceros, along with 70% of the world’s Swamp Deer, 75% of the Asiatic Water Buffalo and also retains significant populations of Asian Elephant and Bengal Tiger. We have an outside chance of encountering the latter species. Nights at Kaziranga NP.

Day 6:
Following one last early morning at Panbari Forest we shall cross the Brahmaputra River and drive north into Arunachal Pradesh; the gateway to the foothills of the Himalayas. We drive to the town of Dirang, situated at 1500m, for a two-night stay. Birding en route will give glimpses of this incredibly diverse region. We shall search for species such as White-hooded Babbler, Yellow-vented Warbler, White-breasted Parrotbill, Bhutan Laughingthrush, River Lapwing, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Brown Dipper and the spectacular Crested Kingfisher. Night at Dirang.

Days 7-8:
During our two full days birding from Dirang we shall visit up to three sites, including the scenically spectacular Sela Pass. At 4200m above sea-level it is one of the few areas at this elevation accessible by road. We spend the day here searching for some classic Himalayan species; Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch and the stunning Grandala. Visiting the nearby Sangti Valley could provide us with Black-tailed Crake and lingering winter visitors including Long-billed Plover, Crested Bunting and Rufous-breasted Accentor. Nights at Dirang.

Days 9-15:
The morning of day nine we reach the fabulous Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. We will spend seven nights inside this amazing national park, made famous by the discovery of the Bugun Liocichla, described as recently as 2006 and currently known only from this area.
We will spend our time along several different sections of a jeep track which cuts through this rich forest from the pass at 2800m descending to the flood plains of Assam at 100m. Our accommodation will be in serviced tented camps accompanied by sumptuous meals. Our camps will be transported when required and erected at each day’s final destination before our arrival.
Starting from high altitudes and working our way down the track to the lowlands, we pass through a wide range of avifaunal zones and the bird life will vary noticeably during our descent. The bird list for the sanctuary is huge, and includes many species which can no longer be considered Bhutan specialities.
Among the huge list of potential species are such mouth-watering possibilities as Blyth’s and Temminck’s Tragopans, Chestnut-breasted and Common Hill Partridges, Kalij Pheasant, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Collared Grosbeak, Blue-fronted Robin, Golden, White-browed and Rufous-breasted Bush Robins, Green and Purple Cochoas.
There are also a whole host of laughingthrushes with Grey-sided, Blue-winged, Chestnut-crowned, Scaly, Striated, Bhutan, Spotted all possible and, of course, the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla and its commoner cousin, the Crimson-faced Liocichla. Both Coral-billed and Sickle-billed Scimitar Babblers favour the tracts of bamboo, the mind-blowing Fire-tailed Myzornis, seven species of wren babbler, the amazing Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Beautiful Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Black-headed Shrike Babbler, six species of parrotbill and a whole host of sibias, tits, flycatchers, warblers, yuhinas, niltavas, flowerpeckers, sunbirds, accentors and finches.

Day 16:
Following a mornings birding the lowest elevations inside Eaglenest WLS we head back into Assam to spend our final night in the wonderful tented camp at Nameri Ecocamp. Any remaining time in the afternoon will be spent birding Nameri in search of the increasingly rare White-winged Duck. As we cross the river Small Pratincole, River Tern and River Lapwing are likely. Night at Nameri Ecocamp.

Day 17:
An early morning walk around our camp could produce a range of frugivores and migrants along with the rare Capped Langur. We will bid farewell mid-morning to this amazing area and drive to Guwahati to connect with our onward flights. We will stop to look for Greater Adjutant en route at one of its remaining strongholds.

Accommodation

Inside Eaglenest, we will provide comfortable fully serviced tented camps including toilet and wash tents. Each tent sleeps two people and each tent will be provided with camp beds and blankets, extra bedding can be requested but it is recommended to bring your own sleeping bag. Hotels with private facilities are used outside Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. Please note that we can not guarantee single-person tents at Eaglenest WLS.