Destinations: Guwahati, Nameri, Dirang, Mandala, Sela Pass, Lama Camp, Bompu, Nameri, Kaziranga
Duration: 15 Nights and 16 Days
Best Time: Mid-November to Mid-December and Mid-February to April
Tour Code: 809-MP Eagle Nest Birding Tour
Good For: Birders & Wildlifers, photographers, Small groups, Solo
Description:
Northeast India is one of the most bird-rich regions in the world. The dense forests are not only home to various species of skulking babblers and similarly plumaged warblers, but also beautiful pheasants and other stunners such as Fire-tailed Myzornis, Himalayan Cutia, Beautiful Nuthatch, Ward’s Trogon and, of course, the recently discovered Bugun Liocichla.
We start this tour with a visit to lowland Nameri National Park on the Jia Bhoreli river. Nameri hosts a large variety of animal species including the Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Sambar, Dhole, Muntjac, Gaur and Sloth Bear. With over 300 species of birds, Nameri is a birder’s paradise. Here we can spot White-winged Duck, Great Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Black Stork, Ibisbill, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, many babbler species, plovers, and many other birds.
Our next stop is Dirang, the base for exploring the Sangti Valley, Mandala Road and, weather-permitting, the high-altitude Sela Pass. At 4,200m and accessible by road, there are birds here that are extremely difficult to find elsewhere in Arunachal and we will hope to connect with Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Solitary Snipe, Grandala, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch and Rosy Pipit.
Eaglenest wildlife sanctuary, in West Kameng, Western Arunachal Pradesh, is the highest wildlife sanctuary in elevation. The biggest advantage of Eaglenest (expected to provide the bulk of the star species) over other montane forests of Arunachal is a jeep track which cuts right through its heart from the pass at 2800m down to the flood plains of Assam at 100m. Its easy access, excellent forest and wide altitudinal range is a unique combination for Arunachal. Eaglenest gained fame when Bugun Liocichla was described, new to science, in 2006. As well as that, we will hope to see many other excellent birds, including Blyth’s and Temminck’s Tragopans, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Ward’s Trogon, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Bar-winged, Long-billed and Eye-browed Wren-babblers, White-hooded Babbler, Red-tailed Minla, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Beautiful Sibia, White-breasted and Pale-billed Parrotbills, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Broad-billed Warbler, Beautiful Nuthatch, Red-headed Bullfinch and many more.
Leaving Eaglenest we head to Kaziranga National Park, stopping at Nameri for a night to break the journey. . The elephant-grass meadows, swampy lagoons and dense forests of Kaziranga are home to a large variety of birds and mammal species, the star being the One-horned Rhinoceros. The park also hosts large populations of Asiatic Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo, Swamp Deer and of course, Bengal Tiger. Kaziranga is also home to many bird species, including the Swamp Francolin, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, and many more.
Itinerary Overview
Day 01: Arrive Delhi / Kolkatta
Day 02: Arrive in Guwahati, drive to Nameri
Day 03: Nameri
Day 04: Nameri to Dirang
Day 05: Sela Pass from Dirang
Day 06: Mandala, Sangti Valley Dirang
Day 07: Dirang to Lama Camp
Day 08: Lama Camp
Day 09: Lama Camp to Bompu
Day 10: Bompu
Day 11: Bompu
Day 12: Bompu to Nameri
Day 13: Nameri to Kaziranga
Day 14: Kaziranga
Day 15: Kaziranga
Day 16: Kaziranga to Guwahati/Tinsukia
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