Northeast India; Day 21 - Namdapha National Park & Dihing Patkai National Park

  Today would be our final day in India, but most of the day would be spent travelling to the airport from our lodging in Namdapha National Park. Our guides, and the information we had, suggested it could take up to six hours, so in order to be safe for our 14:20 flight we left the National Park at 05:15, but this meant we had the exciting experience of driving through the extensively forested National Park before sunrise. Sadly, no interesting mammals materialised but as daylight broke, as we made a couple of stops of park formalities, we picked up a few birds including our first Coppersmith Barbet of the trip, and a small group of Ashy-headed Green Pigeons.

  Our progress on the road was very good, and so we could afford time for a short stop in an area of forest near Dihing Patkai National Park to maybe have a chance to pick out some of the targets that we had missed. In the hour that we spent there we managed to get a few interesting birds, such as a Small Niltava and Little Spiderhunter, but sadly I missed the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush that made a frustratingly brief appearance, one of the main targets for this site. Still, it was nice to be able to get some final birding done on the trip.

  In the end we arrived at the airport at 11:20, three hours early for our flight and leaving us with plenty of time to get ourselves organised. This was only the first flight of the day, flying from Dibrugarh Airport near Tinsukia to Delhi. Then we had an eight hour stop in Delhi, before our flight back to Europe at 03:00 the following day, taking us to Frankfurt. It would not be until 17:00 on the 13^th that I would finally arrive back in Manchester, after a very enjoyable trip. 

Northeast India; Day 20 - Namdapha National Park

  For our final full day in India, and our last day birding on this trip, we had a relaxed walk up and down the road in the Namdapha National Park. Although we had a few species we wanted to target, we thought that a day of bumping into mixed flocks would turn up the majority. But we were wrong, as the day was really quite slow on the birding front and we only managed a couple of our targets.

  Over the course of the day we managed to find both the Pale-headed Woodpecker and the White-tailed Flycatcher. Our planning on bumping into mixed species flocks did not transpire as we had hoped, with only a few Yellow-bellied Warblers and a few different Yuhina species encountered. Our main target was the Snowy-throated Babbler which is nearly endemic to the park. Sadly over the full day we only heard a couple of individuals distantly, with one other coming close but not showing well.

  On the mammal front we did a little better. In the early morning we had a small group of at least four Otter species playing in the rapids on the river below, but they were distant and identification was not possible. Still they were fun to watch as they were running around and sitting on the rocks. There was another new mammal species for me with Northern Treeshrew which was feeding on a fruiting tree. And then at night, as we rounded off the day, we had another showing of the Giant Red Flying Squirrel. Additionally there was a Muntjac Deer calling somewhere in the forest, but not close enough to find and we did not venture into the woodland due to the possibility of a large cat on the prowl. 

Northeast India; Day 19 - Namdapha National Park

  For our second full day in Namdapha National Park we had hired a 4x4 from the forest rangers, for the small price of 4000 rupees. This would allow us to go further into the park than we had the previous day, and as such give us access to other areas where we might be able to search for the heron, including another watchtower at the 32^nd mile that overlooked a large area of floodplain with main braids in the river, although the tower was over a kilometre from the river.

  The first port of call we made was to the same watchtower as the previous day, but a quick check here showed no sign of the heron. Rather than waiting for the bird here we continued on our way as it would take us more than an hour to reach the 32^nd Mile Watchtower. This ended up taking even longer thanks to our car getting stuck in the mud for around 10 minutes, and a few birding stops thanks to an Oriental Hobby and a flock of Long-tailed Broadbills that flew across the road. This second stop also produced a short birding walk and we also had a mixed flock of Common Hill Myna and a few female Golden-crested Myna.

  Once we finally reached the watchtower it was already 09:00 and our hopes to another blow when we spotted a group of forest rangers camping on the side of the river. Given the herons complete aversion to humans, this did not bode well and despite scanning all we could see for a good half an hour, we decided to carry on up the road in the hopes of finding other viewpoints from which to check.

  Our next port of call was just a few kilometres further, although it took time to get there thanks to the state of the road. Although the viewshed of the river was impressive, it was very distant. Sadly once again we failed to find the heron despite our best efforts. It had also begun to rain which dampened the mood further. Fortunately they were lifted a little by a lively mixed-species flock that passed through, containing one of the targets of the site with Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler which showed well but always on the move. Perhaps more entertaining was a group of Yellow-bellied Warblers, once of which had seemingly bitten the rump of another and was being dragged around as the first bird flew between the bushes in attempt to dislodge the attack.

  Because the next viewpoint was quite some drive away, and the condition of the road had taken its toll on our optimism, we decided to return to the 32^nd Mile Watchtower and scan from there for the rest of the day. The rangers had since moved on but our initial scans did not pick anything out, so we settled in for the rest of the day. Fortunately, not too much time later, I was scanning when I picked out an odd shaped tall rock sitting in the rapids. It took a second to process, but there it was. The White-bellied Heron! All hell broke loose! I quickly announced that I had the bird, much to the aggrievance of Max who had left the tower for wee, and made tracks to set the other scopes onto the bird and grab some photos. But maddeningly, before most people could get onto it, the bird took off and started flying downriver. Whilst I was able to grab some precious photos, it was lost behind the forest as it flew!

  The direction of the bird should have meant we would have picked it up coming out on the other side of the trees, but we never did. To us, this meant that it must have landed on the river within the 200 metre stretch obscured by the trees. It was a nervous wait, but after 40 minutes I again spotted it perched in another area of rapids exactly where we had expected to find it. With relief all round we could all now watch the bird in a more relaxed setting, which we did for the best part of 90 minutes. It spent a lot of time not doing much, but at times we could see it preening and walking around, although obviously always distant. Still, we were thrilled to have seen the bird, our main target for this section of the trip and one of two species that we had developed the itinerary for. We were over the moon!

  After 90 minutes we were very satisfied with our morning, so began the long journey back, knowing that there would be a few stops along the way for various birds. However, our first stop was a more unexpected and unwanted; with a car stuck in the area we had been unable to clear earlier in the morning. Although we had struggled to get out of the ditch, this vehicle was fully entrenched in the mud, holding up two vehicles already when we arrived.

  Gauging that this was going to take some time, our guide suggested we continuing walking along the road for a kilometre and a half to our actual intended destination where there was a bridge over a river with a good stakeout for Blyths Kingfisher. When we reached the river there was no sign of the bird, and walking down the river to check behind the corner produced the same result. However we waited, with Little Forktails and Slaty-backed Forktails for company, during which time our car made it through the mud and joined us. After a short break back at the car we returned to the bridge and were rewarded with excellent but brief views of the Kingfisher as it perched up on a rock in front of us for a few seconds before it did a 180 and flew back upriver.

  And with that we continued our journey back to camp, arriving after dark having completed an absolutely brilliant day having connected with our main target. 

Northeast India; Day 18 - Namdapha National Park

  The quest for the White-bellied Heron really began today! We started our day at 05:00 but at that point it was still dark so we spent a little time scanning the river from the Deban Forest Camp, before we headed down to the beach where we had searched the previous evening and checked around the corner. However, after half an hour there our guide decided that it was time for a change of location and that we would travel further into the National Park to a watchtower that overlooked another section of the river.

  And from that watchtower we waited, and watched, until 12:30. In the morning sun it was pretty brutal and once again we had no joy with the heron, entertaining ourselves with the limited other species there were on offer. Hill Prinia was a good species for India, although it was common around the tower. Overhead we had a few Himalayan Griffon Vultures and a pair of Wreathed Hornbills, as well as close encounters with Orange-bellied Leafbird and Streaked Spiderhunter. However it was a disappointing and frustrating few hours as our optimism slowly faded away.

  After lunch back at the Deban Forest Camp, at around 14:30 we returned to the river beach here, but this time crossed the bamboo bridge and began exploring the other side of the river where we had not visited. Although it did not offer much in the way of new river areas to check for the heron, the variety was appreciated and we were rewarded with a few interesting species. The highlight was undoubtedly three Ibisbill feeding in the rocks in front of us. In addition we had a nice flock of around 70 Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, perched more open than yesterdays birds but also more distant, and a Blue Rock Thrush enjoying the rocky habitat. And we did not find the White-bellied Heron.

  In the evening we had more fun with the same mammal species we had seen the previous evening, with another nice showing from the Masked Palm Civet and more frustratingly quick views of the Particoloured Flying Squirrel. In the Giant Red Flying Squirrel tree we found three individuals all feeding at the same time, licking sap from different bits of the tree. They were not as low as the individual the previous evening (assuming one of them was that individual) but it was still great to see, and in addition we also got to see one of them fly, which was very impressive.

 

Northeast India; Day 17 - Namdapha National Park

  Having met our new guide the previous evening, we set off from Tinsukia at 06:00 and made our way to our next and final destination: the Namdapha National Park. This was a journey of a few hours, and with a logistical stop for supplies and the necessary paperwork to enter the Arunachal Pradesh state, we did not reach the park entrance gate until 10:30.

  Fortunately our first stop within the park was not far from the gate, as we walked a stretch of river hoping to find the Blyths Kingfisher. While we failed to find this main target, we still had some enjoyable birding with four different species of Forktail on just this short stretch of river; Little, Black-backed, Slate-crowned and finally White-crowned. Much of our time here was spent photographing the multiple species of stunning butterflies frequenting the riverbank whilst we were there. And just as we were leaving we had a small group of Assam Macaque on the other side of the river, although they did not show well. This was our most achievable mammal target for this site, so was a good to see so early into our time here.

  It was almost midday when we left the river but we continued to search for targets as we drove along the road towards our lodging deep in the camp forest. First a fruiting tree proved very productive with common species, but also plenty of Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, one of the few Green Pigeon species we needed for the trip and a tricky one to connect with. A little further along the road, at a known spot, we tried and succeeded in finding the Austen’s Brown Hornbill, although they were always distant and never showed well. And finally, just before the camp, we had a pair of Western Hoolock Gibbon.

  Our camp, the Deban Forest Camp, was very nice, situated right on the border of the river where we would search for our main target; the White-bellied Heron. Unfortunately the strategy for this bird was not very exciting, and so we spent the rest of our afternoon staking out the river just around the corner from the site. We did not find the heron, but we had allowed three full days to see it so all was not lost on this first evening failure. We did have our first Crested Kingfisher of the trip, as well as two distant flyover Wreathed Hornbills.

  At night we had a fantastic time exploring the camp. We knew that there was a good probability to see Giant Red Flying Squirrel in one of the trees near the lodging, but when the time came we were absolutely not prepared for just how well we would see the animal, as it licked sap from the tree, at times as low as eye-level, whilst being completely unfussed by the light we were shining on it. In the end we were able to spend around half an hour with it, before we left it to its own devices. Although Tiger was undoubtedly the best animal we will see on this trip, this was arguably a better mammal encounter, watching it so close feeding on its own accord and without dozens of vehicles causing chaos around us.

  That was not the end of the excitement for the evening, as we also found another Giant Red Flying Squirrel at the top of a nearby tree although nowhere near as well. In the same tree we had a hyperactive Particolored Flying Squirrel which was much more difficult to get on to and not possible to photograph well. And then later, once again in the same tree, we found a Masked Palm Civet which showed very nicely as well. A brilliant end to the day, leaving us very excited for the next few days in this National Park would hold. 

Northeast India; Day 16 - Dihing Patkai National Park

  Todays plan was to spend the full day exploring the Dihing Patkai National Park, mopping up the targets we had missed on our previous visit here, of which there were only a handful, but the park promised some nice general birding with an outside chance of an interesting mammal species on the quiet forest roads. The day certainly started well when we spotted two White-winged Ducks flying away as we drove down the road early in the morning.

  Our first port of call was a clearing just off the main road, which we had visited on our previous visit but failed to find the target; the Pale-capped Pigeon. This was never going to be the most stunning bird, but fortunately it did not make us wait too long, and whilst we were waiting I had a new species of Forktail, with a White-crowned Forktail on the small trickle of water there, along with two Black-backed Forktail.

  After this early success we headed into the main National Park but this is where the day started to slow down, with very little seen. Despite our best efforts, we failed to locate our main targets and birding generally was very slow, probably the slowest of our entire trip thus far. We had a nice male Western Hoolock Gibbon to liven things up, but otherwise very little of note occurred.

  After lunch we tried another area on the outskirts of the park where our main target, the Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush had been seen a few days prior. Again despite our best efforts we could not get even a sniff of this species and although livelier than the morning, we still laboured with birding in general. A pair of Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and our first Oriental Turtle Dove were the most noteworthy species we managed to record.

  In the evening we said goodbye to Papu, our guide for the trip thus far, due to him being pre-booked for another tour. An excellent guide and fun to have around, he made a huge contribution to our trip. We were introduced to our new guide Palap over dinner, before we tackled the last few days our the trip. 

Northeast India; Day 15 - Jia Grasslands & Tensukia

  We returned to the Jia Grasslands early in the morning and spent the first part of the day here exploring. The day was overcast, and even started raining as we were leaving. The area we explored was different to the area we had visited the previous day, and this did unfortunately mean that we missed out on some good potential bunting hunting, with a flyover male Black-faced Bunting the only one I was able to clinch with the camera, but sadly not likely to be much use when it comes to birding in the UK.

  Our targets proved tricky to get hold of, with the only main target we were able to find being Spot-throated Scimitar Babbler, with the Jerdon’s Babbler not showing at all. The Scimitar Babbler on the other hand showed very well, and we also had another species with White-browed Scimitar Babbler, which was new for me. And to complete the new babblers I picked up in the morning, there was also some very showy Striated Babblers. The Black-breasted Parrotbill that we had first seen yesterday showed much better today, although it was still a little tricky to get hold of.

  We left the site mid-morning, fairly satisfied with our work and ready to drive back to the town of Tinsukia, with a few stops on the way. The first of these was a brilliant roost of Indian Flying Foxes. Unlike last time when I saw these massive bats, these were actively flying around despite it being daylight, and we got some incredible views of them as they circled low over the bamboo they were roosting in.

  Next we stopped off at a small forest fragment not far from Tinsukia itself, where our guide knew to check for Rusty-bellied Shortwing. We had initially planned for this species at Namdapha National Park, our final stop, but had just learned playback was not allowed there, so had to make this quick change in our itinerary. It did not take too long to track down an individual, although it did not show especially openly, always skulking in the undergrowth. A nice bonus bird here was Slaty-bellied Tesia, which showed much better but was too quick for photos.

  After lunch we headed to Baghjan Grasslands on the shores of the mighty Brahmaputra river, bordering the forested island of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. In the middle of the sandy beach there was an area of grassland that held a last chance for a few of the birds we had missed in the morning. We failed to find any, but I had a new species regardless when we picked up a Sand Lark on the beach. The afternoon peaked during the evening however, with a spectacular roost of wagtails all heading upriver. Although it was impossible to judge the species ratio due to the numbers, the bulk where White Wagtails and Eastern Yellow Wagtails, and they numbered in the thousands! It was truly fantastic to witness! 

Northeast India; Day 14 - Mishmi Hills & Jia Grasslands

  Today would be our final attempt to see the Scalters Monal high up at Mayudiya Pass. This time the 02:30 start really was a struggle, and the entire drive up the mountain was an ordeal that improved significantly when a Mainland Leopard Cat ran across the road in front of us. Although too quick for photos, the pattern and size were clear even as it ran. That certainly helped wake us up, but sadly the day peaked at that point. Once again, despite the addition of cloud cover for the morning, there was not a sniff of the Monal, meaning that we were set to leave the trip without our main target!

  Still we persevered with birding. At the higher altitude there were few species left for us to find, but a few nice mixed-species flocks kept things interesting and one of them contained a new bird for me with Black-eared Shrike-Babbler, although it was difficult to keep track of in the mobile flock. Lower down we had more mixed species flocks, and here I had two more new birds, although common species that I had just never connected with before; Lesser Raquet-tailed Drongo and Lesser Yellownape. Other goodies at this stage included Golden Babbler, Rufous-backed Sibia and Slaty-backed Forktail.

  We had a short break for lunch early in the afternoon, before we headed out for the end-of-the-day session. This time we returned to the Jia Grasslands, which had been a frustrating experience before but this time fared better. The two main targets that we found were the Black-breasted Parrotbill which was elusive and difficult to see, and then Marsh Babbler which showed brilliantly well. In addition we were constantly surrounded by the calls of Black-faced Bunting, which was another new species for me when I finally got onto a female in the vegetation. We will return to this site in the morning to pick up our remaining targets before we head off from Mishmi Hills. 

Northeast India; Day 13 - Mishmi Hills

  For the second day in a row, we awoke at 02:30 and headed up the mountains in Mishmi Hills to try to find the Sclaters Monal. But once again luck was not on our side, despite being joined by three additional Indian birders, there was no Monal to be seen or heard. The weather was at least not as perishingly cold, or so it seemed, so that was a silver lining. But by 06:00 it was already clear the bird was not coming, so we continued with the days birding.

  We continued to bird the upland area until our breakfast time. This worked out fantastically well and helped offset the disappointment of the early start and missing the Monal again. We had some excellent activity around a rubbish tip just down the road. It started with a Eurasian Jay, obviously a different subspecies to the one I am more familiar with in the UK, followed by the highlights of the day with a smashing male White-collared Blackbird and two Chestnut Thrushes, the latter a great bonus bird for our trip and the former just a complete stunner! We rounded it off with a small feeding flock of Dark-rumped Rosefinch.

  The morning then hit a slow stretch as we birded slightly further down to try and find the Black-throated Parrotbill, but alas we could not find any despite searching for two hours. This would not have been particularly galling were the general birding not so slow, with only a few species of note and activity generally very limited. The highlights were a showy Crimson-naped Woodpecker, a few different Fulvetta species, and a nice Eurasian Wren.

  We progressed slightly further down the mountain late morning, and continued exploring this lower area until the late afternoon. From here activity improved markedly and we had a few lively mixed species flocks featuring confiding Yellow-throated Fulvetta and a large group of Silver-eared Mesia. A trio of Blue-winged Minla were new for me, and it was nice to have other smart species such as Golden Babbler and another Red-faced Liocichla. However, as the afternoon progressed the birding got slower, so we continued down the mountain to the lowest elevations to try pick up our remaining targets at that altitude.

  It was already early evening when we reached this final elevation but managed to find the majority of our targets regardless, with a mixed species flock containing two of them; Pale-billed Parrotbill and Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler. The flock was mobile and difficult to predict, but at least both of these targets I was able to get on to. Another species in the flock I managed to miss, and a couple of other targets we only heard, but it is a good omen for when we can commit more time there tomorrow. Otherwise, a Common Green Magpie that flew over was a standout species.

  The day was rounded off by a simply fantastic sunset over the Brahmaputra floodplain, with the Himalayas in the background! Tomorrow, we will go once again! 

Northeast India; Day 12 - Mishmi Hills

 Today was the start of the most important phase of our trip, since it would be the first day in which we would try to see the Sclaters Monal, the species for which the entire itinerary was designed. This rare species appears only for a few weeks each autumn in the Mishmi Hills area just below the Mayudiya Pass on the north side. It passes an open area of landslide just after first light, and that is your only chance to see it. Unfortunately, the site is a two hour drive from the nearest accommodation in the town of Roing, and so to get there well before first light, we had to leave our lodging at 03:00, meaning at 02:30 start! It was unsurprisingly, absolutely brutal!

The drive up was helped by two Masked Palm Civets feeding on the road, although only one showed well. Sadly I had left my camera in my backpack in the boot, and by the time I retrieved it the animal was already walking away. Once we reached the stakeout for the bird, it was perishingly cold, possibly the coldest temperature of the trip so far. Despite waiting the bird did not show by 06:30, by which time it was already too late for it to make an appearance. This disappointment was offset somewhere by a fantastic Yellow-throated Marten running along the road, which was a fantastic mammal addition to our trip list. We would still have an additional two mornings to try for the Monal, both of which would require the same brutal start to the day.

Once we moved on from our disappointment we started birding the road, with a few target species we wanted to track down. Although the birding was generally quite slow, we started to make progress with our targets and quickly found Crimson-browed Finch and Manipur Fulvetta. Our main target for now was the Mishmi Wren-Babbler, and while we could not track any down, we had a brilliant bonus species with a Gould’s Shortwing, a species that is extremely difficult at this time of year and not one we had planned on encountering. We continued and had a nice showing Scaly-breasted Cupwing, as well as another key target with Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler. Although the first pair we found we elusive and tricky to get onto, the second pair were very showy at times.

Putting the Wren-Babbler on hold for a short while, we descended in elevation late morning to try pick up a few other outstanding targets. Although activity was even lower now, we eventually found a brief Yellow-rumped Honeyguide and our main target for this section with a showy Long-billed Wren-Babbler. After frustrating views of this species earlier in our trip, it was good to finally get onto this one.

After lunch we returned to the slightly higher elevation as we started on the road back over the pass and to return to our lodging. We continued to try to find the Mishmi Wren-Babbler and finally got a response at this time. The bird was very Tapaculo-esque in its mannerisms, keeping low to the ground and moving quickly like a small mouse, very difficult to get onto and keep track of. Fortunately it was a little less frantic than many of my tapaculo experiences and as such we eventually all got good views of the bird. We finished off this section with a brilliant flock of showy Streak-throated Barwings.

Our descent was uneventful, although the scenery overlooking the Bharmaputra floodplain was pretty spectacular. We tried to find night birds after dark but failed to get a response and eventually returned to our lodging at 18:00 ready for dinner and to do it all again tomorrow… 

Northeast India; Day 11 - Dihing Patkai National Park & Jia Grasslands

 We had an early start once again today, as it was an hours drive from our lodging in Tensukia to the Dihing Patkai National Park to the south. Fortunately this blow was cushioned somewhat when Papu showed us an Eastern Barn Owl perched on the roof of the hotel in the dark, apparently they are breeding there. After that we were on our way arriving at the forest national park just after first light.

We had only a morning at Dihing Patkai National Park, although we would return in a few days, and so had to make the most of the few hours we would spend there. Upon arrival we were told we were waiting for some Indian birders as well, as there had recently been a Grey Peacock-Pheasant showing well and a group wanted to see it. This would be a big bonus bird for our trip, but after a substantial wait we only managed brief views of the bird walking along the stream. However, the park rangers fanned out to track the bird down, and soon brought us to its location, where it sat calling at incredibly close range. The bird performed well for a good 10 minutes before it decided to walk away, in the end we were less than 2 metres away from the bird without it caring.

Buzzing from that high, we continued exploring inside the national park forest to see what we could find. On the mammal front we had frustratingly brief views of an otter species that we could not clinch, but had fantastic views of three Western Hoolock Gibbons; two males and female, showing directly above us, as well as a Giant Black Squirrel, which was flushed by the Gibbons at one point. For the birds we had Grey-lored Broadbill showing nicely in the canopy, a small group of Ashy-headed Green Pigeons and a delightful Rufous-throated Fulvetta.

The morning was progressing nicely, but time was short so we moved out of the main forest area and onto the entrance road where the park ranger accompanying us helped us track down the parks key bird target; the White-winged Duck! Unspectacular in appearance, this endangered and elusive species was what brought us to the park in the first place. At our first stop we drew a blank, but we continued and at our next stop we had a pair feeding on the water. Sadly we did not get close or clear views before the pair flushed, but in flight we had clear views of the white wings themselves!

We left the park at 10:30, a job well done. We had a three hour drive to the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, where our paperwork was checked but we got through quickly and smoothly. Since we had a bit of time at the end of the afternoon we made a stop at the Jia Grasslands. We quickly found Striated Grassbird in the fields along the entrance road, but from then on the birding was frustrating with many species not showing or only giving untickable brief views. A male Crimson Sunbird was nice, and a Chinese Rubythroat was probably the highlight, but otherwise it was just fleeting glimpses of key targets. We will have another morning at this site, so hopefully it will go a bit better. 

Northeast India; Day 10 - Kaziranga Tea Plantations & Mapuri Wetland

 Having had two days of very successful drives in the Kaziranga National Park, we had one more morning in the area before we moved on. Although we had another drive booked, in the end we spent the morning exploring the adjacent tea plantations trying to find the Blue-naped Pitta here. Although we heard a couple of different individuals in the bamboo remanents between the tea, we failed to get any of them to show before we left at 10:00.

That is not to say that we did not have a pleasant morning birding, as we were able to get a few interesting species. The highlight was certainly a nice White-browed Piculet, which showed well for short periods. Otherwise we had great views of two flyover Great Hornbill, a group of three perched up Blossom-headed Parakeets, a very tidy Black-backed Forktail on the small stream there and a nice White-throated Shama. All pleasant enough birding but sadly missing the key species we had hoped to find.

Much of the rest of the day was consumed by a six hour drive to the town of Tensukia where we spend the night. However, at dusk we made a slight detour to the Maguri Wetland just north of the town, as we had a long-shot hope of finding Eastern Grass Owl here. That did not transpire, despite our best efforts, going out on the marsh in a wooden canoe after dark, which was certainly an experience to remember even if we only saw a Black-crowned Night Heron, an unidentified snake and a lot of shrimp! Before dark we saw many common wetland species, but this was supplemented by a cracking male Pied Harrier, as well as an Eastern Marsh Harrier. A pleasant but late end to an otherwise very uneventful day. 

Northeast India; Day 9 - Kaziranga National Park

  Today would already be our last day entering the Kaziranga National Park, with two more drives scheduled; one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Having seen Tiger the previous evening, we would be able to enjoy a much more relaxed pair of game drives, with few birds left that we wanted to target. 

  We did our morning game drive in the Western Sector of the park. It being Saturday, it was significantly busier than the drive the previous morning in the Eastern Sector. Still, we managed to make it work for us, and we had a few good bird species. The highlights on the bird front were in a small patch of woodland where we had a smart male White-tailed Robin, a nice Orange-headed Thrush and a male Kaliji Pheasant, the latter of which would not come out of the undergrowth for us. We additionally had our first Greater Adjutant stork, which was distant on the other side of one of the larger lakes we stopped out.

  On the mammal front we had our closest India Rhino encounters, with a few individuals standing right next to the road feeding away in the aquatic vegetation. Otherwise we had the same selection as we had the previous days, minus Indian Elephant and Tiger, but also gaining Asian Smooth-coated Otter of which we saw a group of four individuals at our first stop, before a single sunbathing on one of the lake islands!

  In the afternoon we returned to the Central Sector of the park where we had encountered the previous days Tiger, but there was to be no repeat this time, although we heard the alarm calls of deers. We enjoyed some brilliant Indian Elephant feeding in the tall grass, as well as more Indian Rhinos and a few nice Water Buffalo. This was our only drive where we encountered the Sambar deer, with two feeding in the woodlands at the far end of our drive. In one of the rivers we also added Assam Roofed Turtle to our trip list, a localised species we had hoped to find.

  On the bird front it continued to be excellent, although much the same species as our other visits to the park. We added Blossom-headed Parakeet to our trip list, which was one of our few target species for this site. Another target was Slender-billed Vulture, and after some putative flyovers, this time we drove under two active nests with adults sat in their respective trees, giving excellent views. Other goodies included our first Ferruginous Duck and Temminck’s Stints of the trip, giving a little flavour of home

Northeast India; Day 8 - Kaziranga National Park

  Today was our first full day, and only non-weekend day, visiting the Kaziranga National Park. One of Indias most famous national parks, with a large population of Indian Rhinos and also good numbers of Elephants and Tigers. Although we had some birds to target here, mammals were a key part of our reason for visiting, and we were excited to see what we might be able to find.

  Our first drive in the reserve was in the eastern section of the park, which has less tourists but also less chance of seeing Tiger. For us, this was an important destination as it hosted more of the parks waterbird species, and we wanted to try to find a few targets. The main water body here was full of wildfowl, mostly common species from Europe but also two drake Falcated Ducks that were a bonus for us. Along the waters edge we found a few common species of wader and heron, with Lesser Adjutant being another key target for us.

  In the woodlands around there were less birds, but there were a few species we wanted to try and find. We had some luck with Grey-bellied Tesia, although it was a nightmare to get out of the bushes when we could only look into the vegetation from the car. A few perched up raptors were also nice, especially a close Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and overhead we had a group of Spot-billed Pelicans and a mixed flock of Vultures, featuring Slender-billed and Himalayan Griffon.

  On the mammal front we easily saw most of the parks herbivores, with the iconic Indian Rhino being present in large numbers around the lake. For the most part they were distant but there was a single individual that was nice and close to the road. In addition, we had Water Buffalo, Hog Deer, Wild Boar and a few distant Barasingha. Only on our way out did we spot a distant Indian Elephant on the far side of the lake, badly obscured by the haze.

  After lunch, and a confrontation with some Rhesus Macaques that had entered the grounds of our lodging, we headed back to the park, this time to the busy central zone. There were many cars getting into the National Park, and the roads were busy. We did not make it far along the track since we wanted to target birds and these were difficult to see with cars passing by frequently. Still, we managed to find Swamp Francolin, our main target for the area, easily, and Chinese Rubythroat was a stunning bird that eventually came out of the reeds. Additionally, Red-breasted Parakeets flew by in a small flock, and in an open area we had a nice Rosy Pipit.

  Our progress was slow due to trying to find various birds, and as such we had not ventured far into the park. We had left the Rubythroat spot and were searching for Chestnut-crowned Babblers further up the road, which we did indeed find, when we glanced back to see the shape of a Tiger crossing the road, a distant orange shape that quickly vanished. Only three of our group of six saw it, and although I was one of them, it was still a very frustrating encounter. Our guide had a suspicion that it might cross a water body further up the road, but we waited there for more than an hour as the sun gradually set, and we never saw it.

  On our way out we stayed as late as possible, and were rewarded with a very nice Dusky Eagle Owl. However, as we were leaving, I spotted a orangy-brown animal moving through the grass ahead of us. I could not work out the colour scheme with any of the other animals in the park, until it finally clicked! TIGER! I called out and our driver quickly stopped so we could look properly, and confirm it was indeed a Tiger. It was walking towards the road, so Papu suggested we move forward and get ready to watch it crossing. Already jeeps were starting to assemble even in the short time frame, but we had the front-row seat to watch an absolutely massive male Tiger cross the road in the front of us! It then wandered into the trees, where we were able to watch it sniff at a tree and then scent mark! An absolutely incredible encounter, especially for a park where finding Tigers can be very tricky! 

Northeast India; Day 7 - Bompu Camp

 Today would be our final day in the Eaglenest Area of the Himalayas, as we would descend to lower altitudes in the afternoon ready for some warmer lowland days exploring the Kaziranga National Park. It was another glorious sunrise over the forested mountains and after some tea we headed out walking up the road in exploration for our remaining targets in this area.

Sadly, for the most part, none of our targets complied. We heard all of them at various points but none came in and showed well. We did manage a few new birds including the excellent Scarlet-cheeked Liocichla and a nice Broad-billed Warbler, but otherwise it was more of the same. Some other goodies included a female Golden Bush Robin, and a flock a 15+ Little Buntings around the camp.

At 10:00 we began our drive away from the main birding area, with a couple of scheduled stops along the way. The first of these was once again to try for the Fire-tailed Myzornis, which we saw once again easily, and then for one final attempt at Bar-winged Wren-Babbler, a species we had tried for every day but never managed to find. At the Eagles Nest Pass we finally had a bird come in to tape, but it was so fast I was never able to get on it, despite everyone else present picking up on it. Our guide persevered, even after it looked like the bird had long gone, and it eventually came back and I was able to get good views, albeit briefly.

The rest of the day was spent driving, with only a few hours spent in daylight and the rest after dark. In total we spent six hours driving, with only a single short stop where we managed to find two more Scarlet-cheeked Liocichla. 

Northeast India; Day 6 - Bompu Camp

  Today did not start well at all, as I awoke at 01:30 with stomach cramps and then had to endure my first bout of the infamous Delhi Belly! Despite this, I managed to get a little more sleep and so was able to make the most of the day, fuelled by energy drinks! We would spend the day birding the road down the mountain from the Bompu Lodge, with a number of targets to find in the stunning forest scenery, starting at 06:00.

  Just around the corner from the camp we picked up our first target species of the day, with a brilliant Rufous-throated Wren Babbler. It was very reminiscent of the South American Tapaculos, scuttling around the undergrowth and running along the floor like a mouse, but occasionally stopping and showing well. At the same location I had another new species, although significantly more common, with Yellow-throated Fulvetta. The morning continue apace with some excellent mixed-species flocks with a host of interesting birds and new species for me; Black-headed Shrike-Babbler, White-naped Yuhina and Black-crowned Scimitar-Babbler, as well as other good species such as White-breasted Parrotbill and Silver-eared Mesia. Away from the flocks I also added Crimson-naped Woodpecker. But the undoubted highlight of these flocks were two quite confiding and low down Himalayan Cutia! It was brilliant to watch this striking bird feeding along the branches, much closer than when I had seen it in Thailand.

  Around 10:00 the late morning lull started to take place, although this was offset somewhat by the first butterflies of the trip making an appearance. After an hour or so of very little activity there was a short rain shower, and things began to perk up again after this. This started with a spectacular show from a flock of in excess of 20 Rufous-naped Hornbillls, including males and females. Initially we were only able to see them flying, but afterwards we could pick them up in the trees in the distance, before they then came closer, even perching in the trees above us. It was absolutely fantastic to witness!

  The Hornbills brought me up to 3999 species for the world, and I was apprehensive as to what my 4000^th species would be. Fortunately I did not have to wait long, and of the options available to us it was undoubtedly the best on offer; the Beautiful Nuthatch! As its name suggests it was stunning indeed, but initially it looked like they would be sticking to the canopy, but fortunately our guide knew how to bring them down and we soon had a brilliant show! The timing was fortunate, as not even a minute after the first appearance of the Beautiful Nuthatch, a flock of Long-tailed Sibia passed through, bringing me to 4001.

  Over lunch we found a few more Rufous-naped Hornbills and even had some flyover Wreathed Hornbills. In the bushes near our picnic spot we tried hard for a few species, but the only one that cooperated at all was the Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, which came charging out of the vegetation in response to our playback.

  With only a few hours of daylight left we drove back up the mountain to try a few final birds around the camp. On the way we had a couple of Kaliji Pheasant on the road, but they quickly scuttled into the undergrowth. There was hope that we might land our final key target species for the Bompu Camp area back at the campground, but they managed to elude us, except for untickable views of a Long-billed Wren-Babbler flying across the road. We did manage to finally get views of Scaly-breasted Cupwing, another Tapaculo lookalike that showed nicely after frustrating us for a few days prior. A Chestnut-headed Tesia was also nice, but brief and difficult to see well. 

Northeast India; Day 5 - Lama Camp

  We had the morning to bird the area around the Lama Camp, before we would drive over the mountain and to the Bompu Camp. This meant that we would only have the morning to find one of the most important birds on our whole itinerary; the Bugun Liocichla. This rare laughingthrush is only found in a small elevational window at this altitude, with a population estimated to be less than 100 individuals.

  Our guide had a plan, and that was to try and locate flocks of Rusty-fronted Barwing which the Liocichla would be associating with at this time of year. Fortunately it did not take us long to find this species, which was also a lifer, and with this flock were two Bugun Liocichla! They did not show for long, always in deep cover and difficult to track so we did not get prolonged views, but to see this species so early in the morning (06:17) was a huge relief.

  With the pressure now off, we explored the track in a more relaxed fashion. There were some excellent mixed-species flocks on offer with mostly common species but a few new birds for me as well, with White-bellied Parrotbill, Red-tailed Minla and a female Scarlet Finch. Away from the flocks we also added Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, which were feeding discreetly in the canopy of fruiting trees. Additional good species included Himalayan Bluetail and a Himalayan Shortwing.

  At around 10:00 we packed up and headed up the mountain from Lama Camp, with a few stops planned along the way. Initially we struggled to find the birds we were targeting but eventually we started to make some progress, despite the generally slow birding. The first new bird that we picked up was a Collared Owlet, which responded to the mobbing tape we were using and eventually showed nicely. Continuing up the mountain we then finally found another of our key targets after trying all morning, with a Yellow-rumped Honeyguide staking out an abandoned comb on a cliff face. This was a stunning bird, and it perched in a very exposed way that allowed for fantastic views. We even briefly saw it visit the comb itself for feeding, but it did not stick around for too long.

  Continuing down the mountain, with the Honeyguide now under our belts, we switched targets to the Wards Trogon. It took many stops but we were able to find a stunning male during mid-afternoon, who performed fantastically well, sitting right out in the open at times! Our last stop was to try again for the Fire-tailed Myzornis, since only I had seen it on our first day, and we were rewarded for our efforts with two individuals which were mobile and erratic and difficult to follow. This was our final birding stop, but we struck lucky on our remaining drive, with a Chestnut-breasted Partridge scuttling across the road in front of us.

  We arrived at Bompu Camp just before dark, and settled in for the next two nights. Once again we were able to do a short night walk, although not too much due to the risk of Elephants. Probably because of this, we did not see anything of note on our short walk and we were soon back at the camp. 

Northeast India; Day 4 - Manadala Road & Rupa

  From our hotel in the village of Dirang, today we would travel back along the Mandala Road to hopefully connect with some of the species that we had missed, before continuing on our way and to our next destination; the Lama Camp in the Eaglenest protected area.

  The day started well, with Black-tailed Crake at a site not far from our hotel. The birds took a little effort, but soon we had three birds out in the open, with two showing fantastically well feeding away without any concerns in the world. And so, satisfied with that sighting, we continued up the road stopping for targets along the way. Next we called off for Black-throated Prinia, which we got at our second stop, and there we also had our first pair of Hodgsons Redstart.

  Slightly further up we tried the same area we had the previous day for the Fire-tailed Myzornis, but this time we had no sign at all. That’s not to say that we did not enjoy some excellent birding, with White-browed Bush Robin being particularly good, as well as Gray-sided Laughingthrush which was more difficult and elusive! There were a few mixed species flocks as well, with one being very lively with our first Yellow-cheeked Tit and White-tailed Nuthatch of the trip. A pair of Besra that flew overhead were another nice addition to our trip list.

  After breakfast we passed over Mandala Top but the birding ground to a stop after this, with very little species activity. A flyover Mountain Hawk-Eagle was probably the highlight on the bird front, but more Araunchal Macaque was probably the best of it. Otherwise it became more frustrating, but as we began descending we picked up a few more birds like our first Bhutan Laughingthrush and a flyover group of Common Crossbill. Along the bottom of the valley, on the way to our lunch desintation, we passed low through the valley and had a good stop with Capped Lutang monkey. Sadly they did not show well, but I managed a few shots before they vanished into the forest. Fortunately this stop also yielded a good flock, which contained two lifers for me with Nepal Fulvetta and Sikkim Treecreeper.

  For lunch we stopped in the village of Rupa which borders one of the rivers descending the mountain. Our guide informed us this was the place to search for Long-billed Plover and Ibisbill. The former we found quite easily, with a group of 11 roosting together with a Common Sandpiper in the middle of the river, but the Ibisbill proved far more difficult and after half an hour of scanning we decided to cut our losses and go to the restaurant.

  Although viewing was limited, the restaurant did still overlook the river from a distance, and whilst waiting for our lunch I had a quick scan and couldn’t believe it when I was able to pick out an Ibisbill walking in the middle of the river. We headed down with our guide, and were stunned to find a group of 10 Ibisbill all dotted along the edge of the river, providing excellent views and undoubtedly the highlight of the day. Here we also had Long-tailed Shrike and Brown Dipper, rounding off a good day, despite the quite late morning period. After lunch, we continued our drive to Lama Camp, arriving after dark.

  This was the first location where it was possible to do a night walk, so we headed down the hill from the camp to see what we could find. It turned out to be a very productive walk, with another tick with a roosting Barred Cuckoo-Dove. On the mammal front we found a Himalayan White-bellied Rat, before a brilliant Particoloured Flying Squirrel and then finally a very distant Bhutan Flying Squirrel. It was a fantastic night out! 

Northeast India; Day 3 - Sela Pass

  Today we would head up to the Sela Pass, a high montane area about two hours drive from our lodging in Dirang. Today was forecast to be cold, and so it transpired with fresh snowfall upon our arrival. These perishing conditions were combined with fog for much of the day, although once we passed into the north side of the pass the sky was clear blue and much of the snowfall had already cleared.

  The first part of the morning was spent exploring the conifer woodlands on the south side of the pass, where there was a nice covering of snow and infrequent patches of fog moving through. There were three game birds we wanted to see here, and we started well hearing Blood Pheasant in the woodlands but ultimately failed to locate them. While we were stalking these pheasants, a male Himalayan Monal flew over us calling, allowing time for a few quick record shots but nothing more. Dissapointingly this was our only Monal of the day! Finally there were the Snow Partridges. These too were heard only for a good hour, as they refused to approach us, but eventually we were able to track down a group of four individuals right by the side of the road, and they performed extremely well.

  In addition to the gamebirds we also had a few other goodies here. Our mornig started with a Large-eared Pika on the side of the road, which was a mammal species we had hoped to find and were extremely relieved to do so this early in the day. As we moved up the mountains we picked up a few more birds along the way, including Himalayan Buzzard, Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch and finally, for me, Alpine Accentor! One of the European birds I had still never connected with until this morning. Despite the difficulty with finding the galliform targets, other species were slowing being found and that meant it was time to pass over the mountain and down the other side.

  It was already late morning when we went through the pass, and we had a few species we wanted to find here. First was Solitary Snipe, for which we headed to a small boggy area not far from the pass. Fortunately it did not take us long to pick out the snipe and we had some brilliant views, although we found out that the bird was not at all approachable. Despite this early success, we found this area generally quite birdless and hard going, with a flock of around 40 Snow Pigeons and two Red-billed Chough, as well as a few Eurasian Wrens being all we could find.

  Around midday we headed up a U-shaped valley leading off from the main road to track down some of our remaining targets. Although it looked like the lack of birds would continue, we had a burst of form and managed to find all the remaining passerines we wanted. First a female White-throated Redstart, followed by three very showy White-browed Tit-Warblers and finishing off nicely with some Plain Mountain Finches. Before descending back down the mountain we also had a quick look at the garbage dump in the village of Sela Pass itself, where we found around 15 quite confiding Alpine Accentors, and another Large-eared Pika.

  Our descent back down the mountain was hampered badly by thick fog, and the stops we made felt more like gratuitous effort by our guide, who was doing his best to find us the Blood Pheasant, despite the conditions. Still we persevered and we were ultimately rewarded at almost the same location on the mountain that we had started our mornings birding. Here a pair of Blood Pheasant responded to our tape and then came up to check us out, giving brilliant views. After all our effort, we managed to leave the mountain with all of our targets.

  Sadly the altitude and the sun had taken its toll on a couple of our party and after a late lunch at 14:30, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon recovering. We returned to our hotel at 16:00 ready to sort ourselves out for the continuation of our trip!

Northeast India; Day 2 - Mandala Road

 For our first full day birding in India we headed to the Mandala Road, a stretch of road leading into the Himalayan Forest. It starts at the small village of Dirang before ascending the mountains. By the time we reached its summit we were already over 300 metres, and we could tell by the temperature, with a thin ground frost early in the morning and a light snowfall around lunchtime. The scenery was stunning throughout however, and we made several stops during the day for birding.

We arrived on the road before first light so we were in position as soon as the birds woke up. Our first stop was about halfway up the roads altitude, and despite the cold there was decent activity from the start. The bushes along the road had a few Brown-flanked Bush Warblers and a stunning male Golden Bush Robin, one of my all-time favourite birds after the individual I saw during my last visit to India. This individual was not as showy, but just as glamorous. As the morning wore on we picked up a few mixed species flocks, mostly containing species I had seen on my last visit to the Himalayas, but also a few additional species including finally seeing my first Red-billed Leotherix, or Pekin Robin!

We finished this stretch of the morning with two more bush warblers; Humes Bush Warbler and Grey-flanked Bush Warbler, as well as a lively group of Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers and a flyover group of Speckled Woodpigeons. We made another short stop about halfway up where we had a Southern Nutcracker, our first Black-faced Laughingthrush and a nice group of Brown-throated Fulvetta. Then we headed for the top, where we would spend the remaining two hours of the morning and then some of the afternoon as well.

The Mandala Top had more pine trees than the lower birding locations, and as such the species composition was much changed. Here we had our first Grey-crested Tits, the local race of Coal Tit and even a Goldcrest. There were once again a few Black-faced Laughingthrushes and these were joined by two very impressive Spotted Laughingthrushes, which showed nicely. A pair of elusive Dark-breasted Rosefinch, a female Red-headed Bullfinch and a small group of Grey-headed Bullfinch and a mobile flock of Yellow-billed Blue Magpie rounded out the new birds for me. But the undoubted highlight of this stretch of the birding was a brilliant Eurasian Wren that our guide found after I had asked about them. This local race is much darker, and is an altitudinal migrant, but this particular individual had a liking for sitting on the tyres of a parked car and calling angrily!

The afternoon was more challenging as the snow and cloud began to move in. Activity dropped markedly, as we continued to bird Mandala Top with only one more mixed species flock found. Although it had another new bird with Green Shrike-Babbler, most individual birds in the flock were too mobile to get enough to identify them. There was a group of Arunchal Macaque Monkeys feeding on the road before a passing car moved them on, which was an excellent bonus for the day.

At the end of the afternoon we returned to birding the lower altitudes, looking for the Fire-tailed Myzornis. We did manage to find a single individual but it was very elusive and only showed up briefly for a couple of us present. I was one of the fortunate ones, but it would have been nice to had better views. A small group of Golden-breasted Fulvetta rounded out our first day, seeing us back at the hotel in the dark at around 17:30, after and exhausting but productive first day! 

Northeast India; Day 1 - travelling

  Well my next adventure begins. Once again I found myself traveling with my friend Max from Germany, as well as his dad and schoolfriend. Our destination was northeast India, a classic birders destination, but usually in the spring and not so often in the autumn like we were doing. It gives us a chance to hopefully pick up on a few oddball species that others don’t get.

  That was all to look forward to however, as our first day (days really) only involved traveling. I awoke at 03:00 in Manchester at my friend Phil's house, before arriving at the airport at 03:30. My first flight went to Munich, where I then had a three-hour wait which should have been very peaceful, except that I did not know if the others, travelling to Munich from Frankfurt would a.) make their connection and b.) even be allowed on the plane since it was apparently overbooked. Fortunately neither of these worst case scenarios transpired, and our plane left Munich at 12:30.

  After six and a half hours in the air, we arrived in Delhi just after midnight local time. It was dark and smoggy, and we had to then wait four hours again to pick up an internal flight to the city of Guwahati in the Indian northeast. This flight was another two hours! Once we arrived we were met by our guides and drivers, and then we commenced a 10-hour drive to finally reach our first birding destination. All in all we finally got to our lodging Hotel Pemaling at 18:00 local time, absolutely shattered.

  Very little birding was done, and few birds were seen between naps. A short stop near a river picked out Little Forktail and Spotted Forktail which were both obviously fantastic to see, even if a little distant. And outside a restaurant that we ate at we had a group of 10 Black-chinned Yuhina, which were my first lifer of the trip. We also had our first mammals as well, with a group of Long-tailed Macaque on the side of the road.

  But with everything now in place, we have three weeks of hopefully excellent birding to get stuck into. 

Shelf twitching Scarlet Tanager

   Sunday night saw quite the development in the Halifax birding year, when a Scarlet Tanager was found in Shelf. At first the news broke as being at an undisclosed location somewhere in West Yorkshire, which was interesting enough on its own, but when it was confirmed as being in Halifax it suddenly gained new importance.

  I arrived on site just after 07:00 but spent the first hour looking in the wrong place, I had clearly missed out some of the information at some point. However, I only missed two brief showings of the Tanager. Once I had found myself in the right place, I joined the crowd that was in place, which was already around 70 people, including many familiar faces from across Yorkshire.

  At around 09:15 the bird finally came out of the garden it had been frequenting and perched in the top of a birch tree in full view. It sat here for a few minutes before flying into another garden where it remained in view. Once again it sat here for a few minutes, including trying to catch a November insect that flew too close. However, it then flew away and landed back out of sight. In the next three hours that I waited it did not show again.

  The bird was a 1^st winter male, meaning it did not have the striking red plumage on individuals that I had seen in Canada, but certainly does its credentials the world of good, as a wild bird as opposed to a fence-jumper. It was a shame that it did not show more consistently but it was nice to catch up with so many birders, some of who I have not seen for years, whilst we were waiting.

  Other birds in a Shelf suburb were obviously limited, but there were two skeins of Pink-footed Geese and two Whooper Swans flew southeast, as well as good numbers of common finches blogging around.

-Scarlet Tanager

Species List:
Shelf: Pink-footed Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Northern Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Chaffinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, European Greenfinch, Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Scarlet Tanager,

Lee Dam, Ringstone Edge & Cromwell Bottom

   Today turned into an excellent day out birding across Halifax with Matt Broadbent. The day started off well with a pleasant morning of thrush migration over Soil Hill, but it only turned into a day out when news broke that the Salvonian Grebe which had been seen on the canal at Todmorden a couple of days previously, but had then gone AWOL, had been relocated on Lee Dam just above the town.

  I headed down there and upon arrival we had the grebe absolutely no problem at all. The reservoir is not large at all, and the Grebe was quite happy to come in close in shore in order to chase fish, sometimes feeding almost directly under us. In the hour we spent there we saw it catch at least two Perch, although it also spent a considerable amount of time asleep in the middle of the albeit small water body. Having seemingly missed out on this bird when it couldn’t be relocated on the Canal, it was a very pleasant surprise to bump into it again here.

  With the weather pleasant, and with no work on the horizon, we then headed off to check some of the other sites around Halifax. A check of Whiteholme for Water Pipit failed to yield any birds, at all, but Ringstone Edge was a little more exciting with a drake Gadwall feeding with the mallards under the trees on the south bank. Presumably this is the same bird that was originally found by PD two days earlier.

  It was already mid-afternoon, so we decided to head to Cromwell Bottom last thing to see if the Scaup found by DJS the previous evening were still on the Ski Lake. From the Italian restaurant we could not see anything except Tufted Ducks and a few Goldeneye, and a bonus pair of Shoveler right at the far end, but we decided to persevere with the Scaup and see what viewing we could get from the canal towpath.

  Once on the canal, and once we had found an opening through the vegetation, we had a another scan of the lake and this time easily picked out the two Scaup. They were now swimming with the group of Tufted Ducks that we had seen before, so where they had been lurking who knows. Viewing remained difficult from the towpath so we returned to the restaurant and from here we had excellent views of both birds showing nicely below us.

  A brilliant day out birding in Halifax, demonstrating the best that this area has to offer! 

-Slavonian Grebe

-Greater Scaup

Species List:

Lee Dam:  Mallard, Common Moorhen, Slavonian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Chaffinch, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin,

Ringstone Edge: Gadwall, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Common Buzzard, Rook, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Wren, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Fieldfare, European Robin, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit,

Cromwell Bottom: Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Goosander, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Common Kingfisher, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Wren, European Robin, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, 

Ringstone Edge

  At 15:50 PD messaged out that there was an excellent assemblage of Wildfowl on Ringstone, including Gadwall which would be a Calderdale tick for me, and Pochard which would have been a yeartick. Given that the light was already fading, I decided to race up there and arrived with just enough time to scan the reservoir. 

  The bulk of the ducks were easy to pick out, with the water calm their shapes stood out conspicuously. The drake Gadwall and Shoveler were very easy, nestled into a flock of 8 Wigeon. There was also an Athya sp. in the flock, but it wasn't a drake (like PDs Pochards) and with the bird remaining asleep almost the entire time, and struggling with the light, I could not confidently ID it. From what I could make out it was probably just a Tufted Duck. I was unable to pick out the Pochard, but they could easily still be there somewhere in the gloom. 

  A brilliant selection from PD, and Gadwall is my 130th species in Calderdale in 2024.

-Shoveler & Gadwall

-Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler & Athya sp.

Species List:
Ringstone Edge: Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Eurasian Wren, Common Blackbird, European Robin, Dunnock, 

Ogden

   After an enjoyable but also frustrating morning on Soil Hill, with fog badly restricting my ability to count the rafts of thrushes coming through, I found myself at home for lunch when a WhatsApp message came through that BS had found a drake Shoveler at Ogden. Since it would be a yeartick, and I only have a week to consolidate my list, I jumped in the car and headed over. At the start of the road to Ogden I picked up JJL so we could search for the bird together.

  We parked up and headed down to the reservoir, where a quick scan picked up the Shoveler on the east side of the reservoir, so we headed down to get a closer view. On the way I was sifting through the various gulls present and picked out a bird in the middle of the reservoir which had the impression of a Black-headed Gull with no black in the wings. I remarked to JJL that I thought I might have a Mediterranean Gull, and then took a few record shots. Zooming in on these quickly confirmed that the bird was indeed a Med Gull. The bird was washing itself and occasionally receiving grief from other gull species, but generally drifting closer all the time, so JJL and I followed it and were able to get some nice views.

  After a short while it took off and flew to the west bank where the majority of the other gulls were roosting, so we walked round. Initially we couldn’t pick it out, only to then spot it right in front of us nestled among the Black-headed Gulls there. From here we got some excellent views and both got some nice photos. After about twenty minutes or so it took off and flew off south towards Mixenden Reservoir and did not return while I was there.

  After it left I decided to head back home, and JJL continued on his way. Hope you got something good John! 

-Mediterranean Gull

-Shoveler

Species List:
Ogden: Northern Shoveler, Mallard, Goosander, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Magpie, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Wren, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, Eurasian Chaffinch, 

Soil Hill

   Something a bit different to post about. The morning on Soil Hill was good, with 1116 Woodpigeon flying south between first light and 10:30, along with 14 Swallows and 2 House Martins, my latest here. Otherwise, there was a single skein of Pink-footed Geese. A very enjoyable but cold morning!

  After dark, thanks to a tip-off from my brother, I returned to Soil Hill to get a better view of the apparent Aurora event that was taking place. Although for the most part, you could not see anything with the naked eye, it improved significantly through the camera with the sky appearing in shades of green and pink. It died down a little around 08:30 so I headed down but apparently, I should have persevered as it peaked again just after midnight and was more spectacular then. 

-Northern Lights

Species List:
Soil Hill: Greylag Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, European Goldfinch, Common Reed Bunting, 

Rounday Park twitching Red-necked Grebe

   I was away from home for a week, and on the first day of my absence a Red-necked Grebe was found on Waterloo Lake in Roundhay Park, Leeds. This is a bird I have only seen in the UK on a seawatch, and so even though my twitching days are pretty much behind me, I knew that this bird would have tempted me had I been in the UK when it was found. Alas, I was not and so I forgot about it. But as my return date drew nearer, and the bird remained in situ, it began to garner more of my attention until I finally got back.

  Once I got home early afternoon I immediately grabbed my optics and headed over to see the bird. The bird had already been reported in the morning and I was certain it would still be present during the afternoon. It did not take long to locate, and spent the next hour showing very nicely close to the footpath around the lake. The light conditions were challenging with quite a lot of glare on the surface for photos, and at times even making it a challenge to pick out the bird when it emerged from diving.

  Given how poor my last views of this species were in the UK, this was at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. A fantastic bird to see!

  On my drive back, since I already had the car out, I decided to call in at Jay House Lane to pick up Tree Sparrow for my Halifax year list. Having already dipped them twice this year, I wanted to get them seen. So I was extremely relieved when I rocked up to see a bird on the feeders there. It only had one eye which was a bit off, but otherwise it was good to get them seen. 

-Red-necked Grebe

-Tree Pipit

Species List:
Roundhay Park: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mandarin Duck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Feral Pigeon, Common Wood Pigeon, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Great Tit, European Robin,
Jay House Lane: Common Wood Pigeon, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Common Blackbird, European Robin, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow,