Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus)
A male and two females in fields at the Mangoli Valley
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Up to 30 at Ranthambore and 13 at Bharatpur
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
Six at Corbett, all foraging on roads and tracks in the early morning
Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola)
Two separate birds on steep hillsides at Nainital
Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
A small party of 4+ by the road on the descent from Nainital
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
Abundant at Ranthambore, and a few scattered birds in the plains around Delhi and Agra. Many appear to live in a feral state on intensively farmed land
Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)
10 at Ranthambore and 15 at Bharatpur
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
500+ at Bharatpur
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
200+ at Bharatpur
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Two at the Taj Mahal, 5 at the Ganges River crossing and a further 12 at Ramnagar
Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
Six at Ranthambore, and up to 2 at Bharatpur - this is a scarce species indeed
Cotton Pygmy Goose (Nettapus coromandelianus)
25+ at Ranthambore and 20 at Bharatpur
Gadwall (Anas strepera)
50 at Ranthambore and 250+ at Bharatpur
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
50 at Ranthambore and 50+ at Bharatpur
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Just one seen, at Bharatpur
Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)
About 30 at Bharatpur
Northern Shoveler (Anas clyptea)
17+ at Ranthambore, 50+ at Bharatpur and 2 at the River Ganges crossing
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
3+ at Ranthambore and 200+ at Bharatpur
Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)
Many at Ranthambore and many 100s at Bharatpur
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
15 at Ranthambore and 150 at the River Ganges crossing
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
200+ at the River Ganges crossing
Small Buttonquail (Turnix sylvatica)
Two ran across the main road into Ranthambore NP behind the jeep
Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)
One flushed but then invisible on the ground at Bharatpur
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
One seen at Bharatpur
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus)
One from a punt ride at Bharatpur
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus)
One at Corbett
Brown-fronted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos auriceps)
Two noted at Nainital
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei)
One at Corbett
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Dendrocopos mahrattensis)
Four at Bharatpur
Himalayan Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis)
A total of 6 in woodlands around Nainital
Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus)
One at Nainital and a further 3 at Corbett
Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)
Three at Nainital, one at the Mangoli Valley and another at Corbett
Himalayan Flameback (Dinopium shorii)
One at Corbett
Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense)
Two at Ranthambore, 5 at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett
Great Barbet (Megalaima virens)
One seen at extremely close range at Nainital, and another briefly in flight there
Brown-headed Barbet (Megalaima zeylanica)
Five at Bharatpur - also heard and another 4 seen at Corbett
Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata)
Two briefly at Nainital, and another 3 at Corbett
Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica)
One at Corbett
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)
Four at Ranthambore, about 11 at Bharatpur, and 1 at Corbett
Indian Grey Hornbill (Tockus birostris)
Four at Bharatpur and 1 at the Taj Mahal
Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
One of the highlights of the trip. Three flew noisily across the main road at Corbett, and later the same day we located two more in the park, one of which gave prolonged views.
Hoopoe (Upopa epops)
About 16 noted in the lowlands
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Up to 40 noted in the lowlands
European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Five around Bharatpur and a further 6 in the hills
White-throated (=breasted) Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Perhaps 100 seen in the lowlands, and another 5 or so at Corbett
Crested Kingfisher (Megaceryle lugubris)
Brief views of one in flight near Camp Forktail, and then prolonged views of it or another there the next day
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Two at Ranthambore, up to 6 at Bharatpur and 2 near Agra
Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
Only seen between Ranthambore and Bharatpur - about 30 noted
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Ten at Bharatpur and a further 7 elsewhere in the lowlands
Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)
Three at Ranthambore and 5 at Corbett
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Abundant in the lowlands and Corbett but absent at Nainital
Slaty-headed Parakeet (Psittacula himalayana)
Five in a fruiting tree at Corbett
Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala)
About a dozen at Ranthambore
White-rumped Needletail (Zoonavena sylvatica)
Up to 60 at Corbett
Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiuris batasiensis)
50+ at Ranthambore
House Swift (=Little Swift) (Apus affinis)
Several small parties in the plains, and 10 at Corbett
Crested Tree Swift (Hemiprocne longipennis)
Up to 60 at Corbett
Collared Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena)
Two pairs found roosting at Bharatpur
Dusky Eagle Owl (Bubo coromandus)
One on the nest at Bharatpur
Brown Fish Owl (Bubo zeylonensis)
One at dawn at the main gate at Ranthambore, and another which gave crippling views in broad daylight by Camp Forktail
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides)
An excellent series of records - one both morning and evening west of the hotel in Nainital, and at least one near Camp Forktail
Jungle Owlet (Glaucidium radiatum)
Brief but good views of one at Corbett
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
Two roosting at Bharatpur
Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)
A pair roosting on the ground at the Nursery at Bharatpur, separated by a few yards. Also, a probable flew over Camp Forktail at dusk
Indian Nightjar (Caprimulgus asiaticus)
One roosting in a tree at Bharatpur
Rock Pigeon / Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
Many feral birds around habitation, and some more pukka-looking birds in the hills
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
Two singles at Nainital
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
About 12 in the lowlands
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
About 12 at Ranthambore and 10+ near Ramnagar
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Present in good numbers around habitation
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera)
Fifteen at Bharatpur
Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus)
As hoped, the wintering pair was seen at Bharatpur. This species remains critically endangered, and it remains to be seen how long it will be easily accessible to birders. A superb sight.
Sarus Crane (Grus antigone)
Four seen at Bharatpur, including one juvenile
Common Crane (Grus grus)
Three flying over agricultural land west of Bharatpur
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Common in the lowlands near water
Purple Swamp-hen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
15 at Ranthambore and 100+ at Bharatpur
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Common in lowland wetlands
Common Coot (Fulica atra)
A few at Ranthambore and common at Bharatpur
Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus)
Three just after dawn at Ranthambore
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Six at Jaipur and another 2 in flight at Bharatpur
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Five singles noted
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Fourteen noted at various sites
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Nineteen noted at various sites
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
A few at Ranthambore and roadside pools and 50+ at Bharatpur
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Eight or so at various sites
Little Stint (Calidris minuta)
Ten near Jaipur
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
One on the River Kosi at Ramnagar
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
20 at the Taj Mahal
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
About 30 at Bharatpur and 20 at the GRC
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasanius chirurgus)
10 at Ranthambore and 1 at Bharatpur
Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus)
Perhaps 30 at Bharatpur and, more surpsingly, 3 on a eutrophic pool at the roadside near Moradabad
Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
Five in dense scrub at Ranthambore, 3 at Bharatpur and heard at the Mangoli Valley
Great Thick-knee (Esacus recurvirostris)
Two at the River Kosi at Ramnagar
Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii)
A superb male located about 500m north of the circular tower on the River Kosi at Ramnagar
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Common at roadside pools and rivers, but surprisingly rare at Bharatpur, where only 3 seen
River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelli)
One at the Taj Mahal and a further 8 around Ramnagar and Corbett
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Common in the lowlands
White-tailed Plover (Vanellus leucurus)
Up to 15 at Bharatpur
River Tern (Sternus aurantia)
Three at Ranthambore and another two en route from Bharatpur to Moradabad
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Two at Ranthambore
Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
One at Ranthambore and excellent views of four at Bharatpur
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
26 noted in the lowlands
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Not noted until Agra, and thence common around habitation
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
5+ at Bharatpur, 50+ around Agra and a few others in the lowlands
White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
Just three seen, all at Ranthambore
Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)
As with the previous species, alarmingly few seen - just 13 at Ranthambore, although encouragingly including a breeding pair
Himalayan Griffon Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)
Two certain individuals over the mountains at Nainital
Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Up to 20 in the hills, mostly at Nainital
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
One over Corbett NP was a considerable surprise
Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)
Up to 3 at Bharatpur and another 2 at Corbett
Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
2 or 3 at Ranthambore, up to 4 at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett
Marsh Harrier (Circus aeroginosus)
Only sen at Bharatpur, where probably 3 present
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
An excellent male in a dry area at Bharatpur
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
One ringtail quartering hillslopes at the 'low fields' at Nainital
Shikra (Accipiter badius)
Eight noted in the lowlands
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)
Up to 20 at Bharatpur
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
One at Ranthambore and 5+ at Bharatpur
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)
One at Nainital and another at Corbett
Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)
3+ at Bharatpur including fantastic views of an adult
Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus)
One in good voice at Corbett
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
One at Bharatpur and a male on three occasions at Nainital
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Present in double figures at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and the River Ganges crossing
Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
One at Ranthambore and 25+ at Bharatpur
Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
Present in small numbers at Ranthambore and many at Bharatpur
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
50+ at Ranthambore and similar numbers at Bharatpur
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
One at Ranthambore, 20+ at Bharatpur and a few others in the lowlands
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
About 20 noted
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Two at Ranthambore and up to 20 at Bharatpur
Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)
Five noted at Bharatpur and a few other nearby wetlands
Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)
Seven at Ranthambore, 50+ at Bharatpur and a few at roadside wetlands
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Common in the lowlands, with an amazing congregation of 250+ at an abbatoir near Ramnagar
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Abundant throughout the lowlands
Striated Heron (Butorides striatus)
One flushed from bankside vegetation at Bharatpur
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
About 20 seen at Bharatpur
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
30 at Bharatpur
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Seven at Ranthambore and about 15 at Bharatpur
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
50+ at Bharatpur
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
13 in flight over Bharatpur
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)
10 at Ranthambore, 200+ at Bharatpur and one one a pool near Agra
Asian Openbill Stork (Anastomus oscitans)
Two at Bharatpur
Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)
Two at Ranthambore and 10 at Bharatpur
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
One at Ranthambore and three at Corbett
Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhyncus asiaticus)
Up to five magnificent birds at Bharatpur
Rufous-tailed Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)
An adult (apparently of the form phoenicuroides = 'Turkestan Shrike') at Bharatpur
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)
About 10 in the lowlands
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
Some 25 seen in the lowlands, mostly at Ranthambore and Bharatpur
Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis)
About six between Ranthambore and Bharatpur
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
One beautiful bird of the plain-headed bispecularis form at Nainital
Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus)
40+, most in one loose flock, at Nainital
Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha)
Sightings were quite hard to come by in Nainital, with just four seen briefly, but seven showed much better in the Mangoli Valley
Common Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)
Frustratingly brief views of two singles in the hills below Nainital and at Corbett
Rufous Tree Pie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)
Common at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and a few present at Corbett
Grey Tree Pie (Dendrocitta formosae)
Four in the Mangoli Valley and about 3 at Corbett
Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax)
One at Nainital
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Common in the lowlands
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchus)
Common in the hills, and also present at Ranthambore and Bharatpur. The birds at Nainital appeared to be of the rather Raven-like form intermedius, sometimes split as a species
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Three at Nainital
Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornis)
Two at Corbett
Large Cuckooshrike (Coracina macei)
Three at Corbett
Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)
25+ at Ranthambore and 2 at Corbett, apparently of the forms pallidus and peregrinus respectively
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)
A female at Bharatpur and a pair at Corbett
Yellow-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura hypoxantha)
Four at Corbett
White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)
Up to 8 at Corbett and Ramnagar
White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola)
10+ at Ranthambore
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
Common in the lowlands
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
Only identified with certainty at Bharatpur, where 5 were seen
White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus caerulescens)
Up to four at Ranthambore
Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aenus)
Three at Nainital
Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
One by the hotel at Ranthambore
Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
About 10 at Ranthambore and 5 at Bharatpur
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (Monticola rufiventris)
A superb male on a thickly wooded slope on the southern side of Nainital. Surprisingly, it spent all its time perched in trees
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)
A female around a village compound at Corbett
Blue Whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)
A common bird of the hills, with up to 25+ per day around Nainital and Corbett
Orange-headed Ground Thrush (Zoothera citrina)
An excellent adult feeding in leaf litter at Corbett
Plain-backed Thrush (Zoothera mollissima)
One briefly on the deck and in flight along the high mountain ridge at Nainital
Rusty-tailed Flycatcher (Muscicapa ruficauda)
One at Corbett was a most unexpected bonus, given that almost the entire population winters in the Western Ghats of southern India
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (Ficedula strophiata)
Two excellent males in the Mangoli Valley, and a female at Corbett
Red-throated Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Two at Ranthambore and about 23 at Bharatpur were either of the form parva or indeterminate
Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
Brief views of a male in a bird wave at Corbett
Slaty Blue Flycatcher (Ficedula tricolor)
Two birds at separate locations at Corbett
Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)
A stunning male at Camp Forktail, Corbett
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher (Culcicapa ceylonensis)
Two at Ranthambore, one at Bharatpur, one at the Mangoli Valley and 1 at Camp Forktail, Corbett
White-tailed Rubythroat (Luscinia pectoralis)
Two excellent males at Corbett. As an aside, we could not locate the wintering male Siberian Rubythroat by the barrier at Bharatpur
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Quite common at Bharatpur, with about 12 noted
Orange-flanked Bush Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus)
A male and two female types in and around Nainitalnital. Less common than expected.
Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis)
A very few at Ranthambore and Corbett, but common at Bharatpur, with 50 a day estimated
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
A pleasing surprise was a female in a bird wave at Corbett
Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata)
A common species, though absent from the Nainital area
Blue-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus coeruleocephalus)
Seven in the Nainital area, all but two of them males
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
About 30 noted, mostly females/immatures, but at least three superb males of the red-bellied form phoenicuroides
Blue-fronted Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis)
Six in the hills around Nainital
White-capped Water Redstart (Chaimarrornis leucocephalus)
Quite common around streams in the hills - five around Nainital, 3 in the Mangoli Valley and about 11 sightings at Corbett and Ramnagar
Plumbeous Water Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosus)
Similarly frequent - 15 noted at similar sites to the previous species
Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus)
One of the big target birds of the trip, we found three in the Mangoli Valley, and saw another along the river by Camp Forktail, Corbett
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata)
About 20 at Bharatpur, 4 in the Mangoli Valley, and 4 at Ramnagar. Most of the former seemed to be of the local resident form indica, but birds in the hills more closely resembled one of the migrant 'Siberian' forms
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)
About 15 at Bharatpur and 1 at Corbett
Grey Bushchat (Saxicola jerdoni)
A single male in Nainital, and then a further 14 at Corbett and Ramnagar
Variable Wheatear (Oenanthe picata)
A single male at a village compound at Corbett, apparently the only regular site in the park for the species
Brown Rock Chat (Cercomela fusca)
Five at Amber Fort near Jaipur, and two at Corbett
Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum)
A very few near Ranthambore, and about 30 at Bharatpur
Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus)
An excellent roadside flock of about 20 between Ranthambore and Bharatpur
Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra)
Four near Ranthambore, and up to 50 daily at Bharatpur, Agra and nearby lowland sites
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
A common bird throughout, especially in the hills
Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus)
Commoner further west than Common Myna, and a familiar roadside bird, but absent from the high hills
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta castanea)
Two at Bharatpur and a further 2 at Corbett
White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis)
Up to 20 sightings in the hills around Nainital
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)
Six in two groups at Corbett
Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)
Good, if slightly distant views of two individuals, at the River Kosi, Ramnagar, and along a dry river bed at Corbett
Bar-tailed Treecreeper (Certhia himalayana)
About 8 noted at Nainital
Rufous-naped Tit (Parus rufonuchalis)
At least one at Nainital, but possibly overlooked
Spot-winged Tit (Parus melanolophus)
12+ at Nainital
Great Tit (Parus major)
11+ at Ranthambore and 2 at Corbett, of the 'Grey' cinereus form
Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus)
Common at Nainital and the Mangoli Valley, with 30+ a day not unusual
Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys)
One at Nainital, and a further 3 in the Mangoli Valley
Black-throated Tit (Aegithalos concinnus)
20+ per day in the hills at Nainital
Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola)
20 per day at Bharatpur, and 15 at Ramnagar
Eurasian Crag Martin (Hirundo rupestris)
7+ at Nainital
Dusky Crag Martin (Hirundo concolor)
40+ at Ranthambore and 10 at Ramnagar
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
3+ at Bharatpur and 75+ around the River Ganges crossing
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)
1+ on wires near Ranthambore
Streak-throated Swallow (Hirundo fluvicola)
1+ at Camp Forktail, Corbett
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica)
4+ at Ranthambore, 4 at Bharatpur and about 25 in and around Corbett
Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
Two at Corbett
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis)
Only seen at Bharatpur, where 15+ per day
Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
Up to 20 per day at Nainital, and c.9 at Corbett
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Five at Nainital
Mountain Bulbul (Hypsipetes mcclellandii)
Common in the lowlands, and about 15 in the hills, but absent at Nainital
Striated Prinia (Prinia criniger)
One at the Mangoli Valley and another at Corbett
Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii)
About 14 at Corbett
Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)
1+ at Corbett
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata)
3 at Ranthambore and 25+ at Bharatpur
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
One near Jaipur, 6 at Bharatpur and 1 at Corbett
Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosa)
One at Ranthambore, and common in the hills, with up to 30 per day at Nainital and 5 per day around Corbett
Chestnut-headed Tesia (Tesia castaneocoronata)
Two superb adults within 200m of each other close to Camp Forktail, Corbett - our guide had only ever seen one before!
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler (Cettia fortipes)
One at the 'low fields' in Nainital
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Only noted at Bharatpur, where four seen
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
Four at Bharatpur and 2 at Corbett
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
About 25 at Bharatpur and a further 7 at Ramnagar. All were apparently of the form tristis, but only 2 were heard to call
Tickell's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus affinis)
Two at Corbett
Buff-barred Warbler (Phylloscopus pulcher)
One of the more distinctive Phylloscs, a total of 10 was noted in the hills around Nainital
Ashy-throated Warbler (Phylloscopus maculipennis)
Two in the Mangoli Valley
Lemon-rumped Warbler (Phylloscopus chloronotus)
At least 13 in the hills of Nainital and Corbett
Hume's Warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
Two seen at Ranthambore, and at least 15 seen and heard at Bharatpur - others suspected too
Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
The commonest Phyllosc in the plains, with many at Ranthambore and at least 24 at Bharatpur
Blyth's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus reguloides)
Three identified at Nainital
Golden-spectacled Warbler (Seicercus burkii)
One at the Mangoli Valley, one from the car on the descent to Ramnagar, and another at Corbett
Grey-hooded Warbler (Seicercus xanthoschistos)
The commonest warbler in the hills, with 18 around Nainital and 2 at Corbett
White-throated Laughing-thrush (Garrulax albogularis)
After a day with none in Nainital, we found a flock of over 120 birds on the south-west side of town - there were another 20 or so at the Mangoli Valley
White-crested Laughing-thrush (Garrulax leucolophus)
An absolutely stunning adult with other Laughing-thrushes at the Mangoli Valley
Striated Laughing-thrush (Garrulax striatus)
Two in the high forests of China Peak, Nainital, and another 4 at the Mangoli Valley
Streaked Laughing-thrush (Garrulax lineatus)
The commonest laughingthrush - up to 100 per day at Nainital
Chestnut-crowned Laughing-thrush (Garrulax erythrocephalus)
10 at Nainital and 2 at the Mangoli Valley
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus erythrogenys)
Groups of 3 and 2 at Nainital
Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler (Pnoepyga albiventer)
We were very fortunate to find two separate birds at Nainital - both in damp gullies in thick woodland
Black-chinned Babbler (Stachyris pyrrhops)
Thirteen at Nainital, 2 at the Mangoli Valley and 2 at Corbett
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)
About 12 at Bharatpur
Common Babbler (Turdoides caudatus)
Just two seen, both at Bharatpur
Large Grey Babbler (Turdoides malcolmi)
20 at Ranthambore, 2 at Bharatpur and 2+ near Agra
Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus)
Abundant at Ranthambore, Bharatpur and Corbett
White-browed Shrike Babbler (Pteruthius flaviscapis)
A really crippling party of 2 males and a female, the sexes quite dissimlar, in the high forests of China Peak, Nainital
Rufous Sibia (Heterophasia capistrata)
Delightfully common at Nainital, with upwards of 25 seen. Very noisy and not shy
Whiskered Yuhina (Yuhina flavicollis)
Brief views of one at the 'low fields' at Nainital
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)
A few at Ranthambore, abundant at Bharatpur, and 1 at Corbett. All those eamined closely resembled the forms blythi and althaea - certainly none raised suspicions of minula
Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica)
Five at Ranthambore and 5 at Bharatpur
Green-tailed Sunbird (Aethopyga nipalensis)
A stunning male at the Mangoli Valley
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
An eclipse male at Corbettbett
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Abundant around settlements
Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans)
Two on the way from Nainital to the Mangoli Valley, and another from the car on the descent to Ramnagar
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia (Petronia xanthocollis)
One (very briefly) at Bharatpur
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Three in Rajasthan, but oddly none at Bharatpur, and a further 20 or so in the hills and plains around Ramnagar and Corbett. A mixture of forms present, including personata and dukhunensis
White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)
Three near Bharatpuraratpur, 6 near Agra and 6 at Corbettbett
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
The commonest wagtail by far, but only seen at Bharatpur, where probably 50+ seen
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
One 'dark-headed' bird near Bharatpur (possibly melanogrisea), and 2 paler-headed birds at Bharatpur itself
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
A total of 15 at a variety of sites
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
Three at Bharatpur, and about 3 other large pipits that were thought to be of this species elsewhere
Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
Two at Bharatpur
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
The commonest pipit - c. 20 at Bharatpur, and a further 5 or so in the hills
Long-billed Pipit (Anthus similis)
Two very rufous birds of the form jerdoni at Corbett
Rufous-breasted Accentor (Prunella strophiata)
Two on the southern side of Nainital
Black-throated Accentor (Prunella atrogularis)
Two at the Mangoli Valley
Altai Accentor (Prunella himalayana)
An excellent flock of at least 30 birds by the roadside between Nainital and the Mangoli Valley
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
Three flew over with Indian Silverbills at Bharatpur
Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica)
About 30 noted in the plains
Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (Carduelis spinoides)
One very briefly at Nainital, and another female at the Mangoli Valley
Dark-breasted Rosefinch (Carpodacus nipalensis)
Two excellent pink birds at Nainital
Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)
Two in the 'low fields' at Nainital
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
About 10 on the run west from Delhi.
end of report