Introduction: Himalayan Birding Tour offers you the opportunity to watch some of the rare species of birds in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is also a timely occasion to watch some of the scenic locations en-route to your tour. Starting from Delhi, Himalayan Birding Tour takes you to some exotic locations like Nanital. Binsar, Mukteshwar and Corbett National Park.
Day 01 Delhi - Nainital
From Delhi take overnight train (A/C Coach) at 2245 hrs to Kathgodam (railhead for Nainital). Or Drive down to Nainital on Day 02 (eight hours journey).
Day 02 Pangot (Nainital)
Reach Kathgodam at 0600 hrs and head to Pangot (50 km) a two-hour journey winding through the spectacular mountain roads in the Kumaon Hills en-route to the "lake city." Stop en-route to see blue whistling thrush, yellow-billed blue magpie, blue-capped rock chat, white capped redstart etc. Birding watching at Pangot rest of the day. Look forward to watch slaty headed parakeet, grey bushchat, long-tailed shrike, lesser kestrel, shikra, chestnut bellied rock thrush etc. You cannot miss streaked laughing-thrush, which is a common garden bird.
Day 03 Pangot
Walk up to Naina Peak, which is at 2610 meters and offers beautiful views of the Garhwal Himalayas including that of the Nanda Devi. This is also a very good area for bird watchers. The area is teeming with Grey headed canary flycatchers, white-throated laughing thrushes, grey-winged blackbirds and green backed tits. You can also watch hill barbet, slaty grey woodpecker, black chinned babbler, and black headed and maroon orioles.
Day 04 Pangot- Binsar
Start early to Binsar (110 km), which is about a five-hour journey. Once you reach Binsar spend the day watching fire-tailed or green tailed sunbirds, sultan tits, scaly breasted wren-babbler, black bulbul, black capped sibia, black eagle, king vulture, black breasted sunbird, and blue throated barbet etc.
Day 05 Binsar
This is the day to feast your eyes as you trek in Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. From Jhandidhar/Snow View point and back is a six-hour trek where you climb up from 5,600 feet to approximately 9,000 feet. Passing through the dense oak and rhododendron forests, you could come across blue whistling thrush, booted hawk eagle, broad billed roller, green, and gold or rose finch, Brown crested tit etc.
Day 06 Binsar - Mukteshwar
Pass through coniferous forests, farm fields and the deciduous woodland to Mukteshwar. These areas are home to different species of birds like white-crested, laughing thrushes, black winged kite, red-billed leothrix, Himalayan ruby throat, crested and rock bunting. This makes it one of the most pleasant destinations.
Day 07 Mukteshwar
Explore the scenic beauty of Mukteshwar along with bird watching and the trail to Sitla.
Day 08 Mukteshwar- Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park is a paradise for a bird watcher as about 580 species of resident and migratory birds have been found in and around the park. You can look forward to watch great pied hornbill, pallas's fishing eagle, lesser grey-headed fishing eagle and red-thighed falconet. Other birds include tawny fish owl, great hornbill, and scaly-bellied woodpecker, red-breasted Parakeet, Himalayan Swiftlet, grey-headed Fish Eagle, stork-billed kingfisher and Himalayan rubythroat. Tiger Camp is an ideal base for bird watching.
Day 09 Corbett National Park
Spend your full day at Corbett. You can take either a morning or evening elephant /jeep safari. You can look for the rare and elusive Ibisbill as well as brown dipper along the river. One of the best bird watching places is in the buffer zone along the Kosi River near Tiger Camp. You can see mergansers, crested kingfisher, green heron, egrets and cormorants etc along the Kosi river.
Day 10 Corbett National Park
Before you head to Kathgodam to take the train back to Delhi, enjoy bird watching along the river edge for brown fish owl, barred owlet, plumbeous redstart and three species of forktails.
Day 11 Delhi
Arrive in Delhi in morning.
Bird Watching depends primarily on season, timing, and patience. Above-mentioned sightings in the itinerary are only a guide.
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