Birds of Himalayas - Dhanolti

We started birding in the afternoon but soon was hit by dense fog.  The Eco park at Dhanolti looked like a nice place that would host a lot of birds.

We were not disappointed as we saw the Rock buntings and Mistle thrushes that evening.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

The next day we too a trek up Surkunda Devi. At a height of 9500 feet it provided a stunning view of the entire west Himalayan range.On our steep trek of 1.5 km we saw some really diverse bird life including a fleeting glance of the Himalayan Monal.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

The Blue fronted redstart (female), the Himalayan Woodpecker, Warblers ( Lemon rumped and Leaf), Tits, etc.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

Once we reached the top it was a Raptor paradise. We saw the Mountain hawk eagle, one being chased by a common Kestrel, an arm's length view of the Eurasian Griffon and the Himalayan Griffon.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

Next day we went to Magra and Swakholi. On our way we saw laughing thrush, Rock buntings and finches

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

At Magra we saw Brown fronted Woodpeckers, Black Bulbuls, Minivets, Nuthatches (Chestnut bellied) and Mistle Thrushes.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

The last evening in a forest area near Dhanolti we saw Bar tailed tree creepers, Blue capped Redstarts, grey hooded warblers.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

The final day quick birding nearby we could see the Khalij Pheasant, Common Kestrel and wood pigeons and red rumped swallows

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

A very nice trip finaly came to an end but the magnificient Himalayas will stay in my mind.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

Birds of Himalayas- Saat Taal

If Pangot was a birder's paradise, Saat Taal was no less.

This was my 3rd visit to Saat Taal and every time I have been surprised with the diversity I get to see. The evening we reached we saw the beautiful Leothrix ( not a good shot)

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

On our way we saw the White capped and Plumbous Redstart near a stream.

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

 On our way to one of the seven lakes ( Hanuman Taal if I remember right) we saw Buzzards and the amazingly big Fish owl

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

Next day morning we took a route through the forest. A Grey headed Woodpecker greeted us

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

The morning walk was really eventful a we saw countless Parakeets, Barbets, Minivets, Bar winged flycatcher, Greater Yellow Nape, Ashy bulbul

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

While on our way to Chanphi we saw a grey backed shrike

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

Chanphi was an amazing stream in the midst of hills and paddy fields. This is where we saw the wall creepers ( unfortunately could not capture) . In addition we saw wagtails, stonechats,

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

From 2011 Nov Pangot, Sattal, Dhanolti

We then embarked on a rather long road journey to Dehradun on our way to Dhanaulti in the Gharwal region.