Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary June 9-11, 1997.

Sanjay Sondhi 

The following is a listing of birds seen in KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
in Himachal Pradesh in 1997 during a 3 day visit.
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA
	WE VISITED KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY SANCTUARY FROM 9/6/97 TO 11/6/97.
THE SANCTUARY IS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH IN CHAMBA DISTRICT(LATITUDE 32/25
TO 32/35 N AND LONGITUDE 76/44 TO 76/53 E).THE NEAREST TOWN IS
BHARMAUR WHICH IS 13 KM FROM THE SANCTUARY. THE SANCTUARY IS A HIGH
ALTITUDE HIMALAYAN SANCTUARY (2250 M TO 6044 M) WITH AN AREA OF 378 SQ
KM. THE AREA VISITED BY US WAS ONLY THE FRINGES OF THE SANCTUARY AND
WAS ONLY UPTO A HEIGHT OF 10,300 FT.THE SANCTUARY HOUSES THE FAMOUS
MANIMAHESH TEMPLE AND IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS ANNUALLY.

HADSAR(7300 FT):HADSAR IS A SMALL VILLAGE WHERE THE MOTORABLE ROAD
ENDS AND THE TREK TO KUGTI OR MANIMAHESH PEAK BEGINS.

HADSAR TO DHANCHU: THE DISTANCE FROM HADSAR TO DHANCHU IS
APPROXIMATELY 7 KM. THE PATH IS A NARROW "PAKDANDI" WHICH WINDS ITS
WAY UP ALONG THE DHANCHU NALA,WHICH IS A FAST FLOWING HIMALAYAN
STREAM. THE TERRAIN IS ROCKY WITH ONLY LIGHT FOREST.

DHANCHU(10,300 FT):TERRAIN: ABOVE THE TREELINE, JUST BELOW THE SNOW
CLAD PEAKS. THE AREA HAS STEEP ROCKY CLIFFS AND FAST FLOWING HIMALAYAN
STREAMS. THE SNOW IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM DHANCHU. DWARF
RHODODENDRON AND OTHER SMALL BUSHES SEEN GROWING AT DHANCHU.
SANDI(7300 FT):A SMALL VILLAGE WITH JUST A FEW HOUSES 2 KM BEFORE
HADSAR. THE TERRAIN AROUND SANDI IS BASICALLY LIGHT FOREST IN THE
HIGHER REACHES WITH CULTIVATION IN THE LOWER PARTS OF THE HILL. THE
NALA BELOW IS A FAST FLOWING HIMALAYAN STREAM. THE AREA IS VERY ROCKY.
THE HILL OPPOSITE US IS A NEAR VERTICAL CLIFF WITH ROCK AND GRASS.
SANDI IS 10 KM BEYOND BHARMAUR.

DHANCHU NALA: THIS IS THE NALA FROM THAT FLOWS DOWN FROM DHANCHU TO
HADSAR.

LIST OF BIRDS SEEN

166.	GOLDEN EAGLE?		Aquila chrysaetus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
SPOTTED A LARGE EAGLE AT DHANCHU AT APPROX 9500 FT. THE EAGLE WAS A
DARK BIRD SEEN IN FLIGHT.NO MARKINGS VISIBLE UNDERNEATH.THE BIRD HAD A
BROAD TAIL AND ITS WING TIPS WERE NOT SPLAYED AS IT WAS SOARING.THE
BIRDS HAD LONG WINGS WHICH WERE HELD AT AN ANGLE TO THE BODY AS IT
SOARED.
THE TERRAIN WAS ROCKY CLIFFS AROUND A TORRENTIAL HIMALAYAN STREAM
ABOVE THE TREELINE.I CANNOT BE CERTAIN BUT THE BIRD COULD HAVE BEEN
THE GOLDEN EAGLE.
SIZE:VULTURE+/- OR VULTURE-.

181.	GRIFFON VULTURE	Gyps himalayensis
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN OCCASIONALLY SOARING OVERHEAD.


513.	SNOW PIGEON	Columba leuconota
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
SPOTTED A SINGLE SNOW PIGEON IN FLIGHT BELOW DHANCHU ABOVE THE
TREELINE (HT:10,200 FT) JUST ALONG SIDE STEEP ROCKY CLIFF BELOW WHICH
WAS FLOWING A FAST STREAM. MOST OF THE TERRAIN IN THE AREA WAS VERY
ROCKY WITH ROCKY CLIFFS AND STONY HILL SLOPES BEING QUITE COMMON.
THE PIGEON CIRCLED FOR A WHILE CLOSE TO THE CLIFF AND FLEW OUT OF SIGHT.

530.	RUFOUS TURTLE DOVE	Streptopilia orientalis meena
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN OCCASIONALLY IN FORESTED AREAS.THE WHITE TERMINAL BAND ON THE
BIRDS TAIL CLEARLY VISIBLE IN FLIGHT,HENCE POSSIBLY S. o. meena.

562.	HIMALAYAN SLATYHEADED PARAKEET	Psittacula himalayana
HEARD AND SEEN OCCASIONALLY IN THE SANCTUARY.

581.	SMALL CUCKOO	Cuculus poliocephalus poliocephalus
11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
HEARD AND RECORDED THE CALL OF A CUCKOO BETWEEN HADSAR AND DHANCHU.
THE CALL WAS A WITH 5 TO 6 SYLLABLES. A  MUSICAL CALL REMINISCENT OF
"THAT'S YOUR CHOKY PEPPER".

930.	HOUSE MARTIN	Delichon urbica
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
HOUSE MARTINS SEEN ALONG DHANCHU NALA AT HEIGHTS ABOVE 8500 FT ALONG
THE STEEP ROCKY CLIFF ALONG THE NALA. QUITE A FEW BIRDS SEEN FORAGING.

965.	ASHY DRONGO	Dicrurus leucophaeus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SPOTTED A FEW SOLITARY BIRDS IN THE SANCTUARY.

971.	BRONZED DRONGO?	Dicrurus aeneus
11/6/97
SANDI
POSSIBLE SIGHTING OF A BRONZED DRONGO AT SANDI. SEEN SITTING ON A
CONIFER JUST BELOW THE FRH.
SMALLER SIZE INDICATIVE, HOWEVER THE DRONGO IS NORMALLY SEEN IN MORE
FORESTED AREAS AND THE HBK., MENTIONS ITS HEIGHT LIMITS AS 2000 M. THE
SIGHTING WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 7300 FT.

1046.	REDBILLED CHOUGH	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
WHILE JUST BELOW DHANCHU,I HEARD A UNFAMILIAR CALL. LOOKING UP,I SAW A
CROW LOOKING BIRD .I IMMEDIATELY REALISED THAT THE BIRD WAS MUCH
SMALLER THAN THE JUNGLE CROW WE NORMALLY SEE.
THE BIRDS WAS A PAIR OF REDBILLED CHOUGH. THE PAIR OF BIRDS CIRCLED
ABOVE ME AND THEN FLEW TO A MEADOW IN THE DISTANCE AND SETTLED THERE.
LATER I HEARD AND SAW THE BIRDS OVERHEAD AGAIN.


1054.	HIMALAYAN JUNGLE CROW	Corvus macrorynchos intermedius
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN COMMONLY ALL OVER THE SANCTUARY.


1085.	LONGTAILED MINIVET	Pericrocotus ethologus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN ALL OVER THE SANCTUARY AND ON THE OUTSKIRTS AT SANDI.ALL THE
BIRDS I HAVE SEEN IN KUGTI AND EVEN IN DALHOUSIE AREA HAVE LACKED ANY
SPOTS ON THE PRIMARY. ALL THE BIRDS WITHOUT EXCEPTION HAVE ONLY HAD A
INVERTED AND COMPETE TUNING FORK ON THE WINGS. UNLIKE SHOWN IN THE
PG,THE TUNING FORK IN ALMOST A COMPLETE "U".HENCE I BELIEVE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN SEEING THE LONGTAILED MINIVET(P. ethologus) AND NOT THE
SCARLET MINIVET(P.flammeus)  DURING OUR VISIT. I TRIED TO RECORD
CALLS.THE CALL NOTE THAT SEEMED THE MOST COMMON WAS A 2 SYLLABLE
:"TWEE TWEE".
ALSO A 2 NOTED "WEEE TEEEYU?".
FROM THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CALL IN THE HBK.,I AM NOT CERTAIN WHETHER
THE CALL OF THE THE 2 SPECIES MENTIONED ABOVE CAN BE DIFFERENTIATED.
THE FACTOR IN FAVOUR OF THE LONG TAILED MINIVET IS THAT I SAW BIRDS
FROM 6500 FT UPTO 9000 FT(WHICH IS APPROX 2000 M TO 2700 M).THE HBK
MENTIONS THE OPTIMUM BREEDING RANGE  FOR P. flammeus IS FROM 900 M TO
AT LEAST 1800 M(EVEN THOUGH THE BIRDS ARE FOUND TO BREED HIGHER IN
NEPAL).THE BREEDING RANGE FOR P. Ethologus IS 1200 TO 3000 M(OPTIMUM
RANGE 1800 TO 2400 M).
FOR ALL THE REASONS MENTIONED ABOVE, THE BIRDS SEEN BY US ARE PROBABLY
THE LONGTAILED MINIVETS.

1148.	BLACK BULBUL	Hypsipetes madagascarensis
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
PAIRS OF BIRDS COMMONLY SEEN ALL OVER THE SANCTUARY.
1289.	VARIEGATED LAUGHING THRUSH	Garrulax variegatus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
A PAIR OF BIRDS SEEN AT THE UPPERMOST LIMIT OF THE TREE-LINE ON
CONIFER TREES. ONLY A SINGLE SIGHTING OF THE BIRDS  IN THE SANCTUARY.
1312.	STREAKED LAUGHING THRUSH	Garrulax lineatus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN OCCASIONALLY IN PAIRS IN THE SANCTUARY.

1405.	SOOTY FLYCATCHER	Muscicapa sibrica
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
EN-ROUTE TO DHANCHU, ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY UP FROM HADSAR, WE SAW A
GROUP OF BROWN COLORED FLYCATCHERS.
FIELD CHARACTERS: THE FLYCATCHERS WERE BROWN BIRDS WITH A PALE COLORED
WHITISH EYE-RING. THE THROAT OF THE BIRD WAS WHITISH AND ITS BELLY
SEEMED PARTED DOWN THE MIDDLE BY A WHITISH PATCH. TAIL 15 MM SHORT OF
THE TAIL.
BEHAVIOUR: THERE WERE AT LEAST 4 BIRDS(MAYBE A FEW MORE) IN THE PATCH
OF FOREST WHERE WE OBSERVED THEM. THE FLYCATCHERS WOULD SIT ON A DEAD
BRANCH AND MAKE ARIAL SALLIES FROM THE BRANCH. THE ARIAL SALLIES WOULD
SOMETIMES BE QUITE A DISTANCE FROM THE PERCH. OFTEN, THE FLYCATCHER
WOULD RETURN TO THE SAME PERCH. MOSTLY THE BIRDS WOULD SIT ON A DEAD
TREE BRANCH, BUT OCCASIONALLY, I OBSERVED THEM SITTING AT THE TOP OF A
TREE. THE BIRDS HUNTED IN THE SAME AREA FOR OVER HALF AN HOUR AFTER
WHICH WE LEFT. I NEVER SAW THE BIRDS DESCENDING TO THE GROUND.
I THOUGHT THAT THE BIRDS WERE HUNTING IN PAIRS. OFTEN TWO BIRDS WOULD
SIT
HABITAT: LIGHT CONIFER FOREST WITH BUSHES AND DENSE UNDERGROWTH.

1409.	RUFOUS-TAILED FLYCATCHER	Muscicapa ruficauda
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SAW A FLYCATCHER WITH A RUFOUS TAIL AT ABOUT 8000 FT A THIRD OF THE
WAY UP FROM HADSAR TO DHANCHU.THE BIRD WAS SEEN IN LIGHT FOREST.IT
SPENT MOST OF ITS TIME ON A LOW BUSH.I AM NOT TOO CERTAIN OF MY
IDENTIFICATION BUT THINK THAT THE BIRD WAS THE RUFOUSTAILED FLYCATCHER.
FIELD CHARACTERS: A BROWN COLORED BIRD WITH A RUFOUS TAIL AND A PALE
EYE RING IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE BIRD. NOTE: THE EYE RING IS
HARDLY NOTICABLE, IT NEEDS A GOOD LOOK AT THE FLYCATCHER TO BE ABLE TO
SEE THE EYE-RING.
NO PROMINENT WHITE PATCH ON THE THROAT.
SIZE: SPARROW+/-
BEHAVIOUR NOT VERY TYPICAL FLYCATCHER. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE
BIRD DID MAKE A FEW TYPICAL FLYCATCHER LIKE SALLIES(?) TO CATCH
PREY[ON CHECKING WITH ANCHAL SHE MENTIONS THAT SHE DID NOT SEE THE
BIRD MAKE ANY SALLIES.].HOWEVER THE BIRD ALSO MOVED ABOUT IN THE
BUSHES FORAGING. THE BIRD DOES NOT RETURN TO THE SAME PERCH OFTEN. NOR
DOES THE BIRD REMAIN IN THE SAME AREA FOR A LONG WHILE. IN FACT , THE
BIRD WAS QUITE RESTLESS AND MOVED FROM ONE BUSH TO ANOTHER VERY QUICKLY.
ON READING THE HANDBOOK, I FEEL QUITE CERTAIN THAT THE BIRD WAS THE
RUFOUS TAILED FLYCATCHER.

1421.	WHITEBROWED BLUE FLYCATCHER	Muscicapa superciliaris
10/6/97
KUGTI
SEEN OCCASIONALLY ON THE ROUTE BETWEEN HADSAR AND DHANCHU IN FORESTED
AREAS. MOSTLY A PAIR OF BIRDS-A MALE AND A FEMALE.
1448.	GREY-HEADED FLYCATCHER	Culicicapa ceylonensis
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SPOTTED A PAIR OF BIRDS IN THE SANCTUARY. APPROX HEIGHT OF 8500 FT.

1478.	STRONG-FOOTED BUSH WARBLER	Cettia montana
9,10,11/6/97
SANDI
WE HEARD THE CALLS OF A BIRD ON THE FIRST DAY ITSELF. WE LOOKED FOR
THE BIRD BUT COULDN'T SEE IT. THE BIRD HAD A VERY DISTINCTIVE CALL,
BUT OFTEN WAS ONLY A FEW FEET AWAY IN THE BUSHES AND STILL COULD NOT
BE SEEN.
EVENTUALLY WE HAD A GOOD LOOK AT THE BIRD. SUPERFICIALLY ,THE BIRD IS
QUITE LIKE A LEAF WARBLER.
FIELD CHARACTERS :A BROWN BIRD WITH A NARROW BUFF SUPERCILIUM AND A
BLACK STREAK THROUGH THE EYE. BELOW: BUFF COLORED THROUGH OUT. THE
TAIL WAS QUITE THIN AND ALSO BROWN COLORED. ON ONE OCCASION WHEN I SAW
THE BIRD THE TAIL SEEMED QUITE LOOSELY HELD, AKIN TO THE WREN
WARBLERS. ABSENCE OF ANY WING FLICKS AND ITS SURREPTITIOUS BEHAVIOUR
MADE ME LOOK TO THE BUSH WARBLERS.
SIZE: SPARROW-
THE BUSH WARBLER WAS FOUND ON THE BUSH COVERED HILLSIDE NEAR SANDI,
QUITE CLOSE TO HABITATION. THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE BIRD WAS
ITS CALL.
CALLS: IN 2 DISTINCT PARTS THE FIRST A LONG WHISTLE WHICH INCREASES IN
PITCH,THE SECOND ALSO A WHISTLE,WHICH IS A WARBLE.BEST DESCRIBED AS
UNDER
"SEEEEEE,SEE SEE SEE SEE"
    3     1   1   1   2

THE SECOND PART LOUDER THAN THE FIRST. IN THE SECOND PART THE FIRST 2
TWO NOTES ARE ON A ASCENDING SCALE AND THE NEXT 2 ARE DESCENDING.
CALL RECORDED.

1601.	LARGEBILLED LEAF WARBLER		Phylloscopus magnirostris
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
HADSAR TO DHANCHU
WE HEARD A PECULIAR CALL AT THE DHANCHU NALA NEAR HADSAR. AT THIS
POINT THE NALA IS LINED WITH LIGHT CONIFER FOREST. SUBSEQUENTLY I
HEARD THE CALL AT DHANCHU ALSO.
FIELD CHARACTERS: HEAD BROWN ABOVE. BACK AND WINGS OLIVE BROWN WITH
SOME BLACK IN THE WINGS. A SINGLE WING BAR VISIBLE. A NARROW CREAM
COLOURED SUPERCILIUM WITH BLACK STREAK THROUGH THE EYE. LORES LIGHTER.
A YELLOWISH SHOULDER VISIBLE.
BELOW, BUFF THROUGHOUT BUT THROAT LIGHTER AND VENT, EVEN LIGHTER.
CALL: A SQUEAKY AND DISTINCTIVE:
"SEE SEE SEE SEEE SEEE "
  2   1   1   2    2
WITH A VARYING BUT CONSISTENT PITCH TO THE CALL.
SIZE: LARGISH LEAF WARBLER, SIZE: SPARROW-
CALL RECORDED.

1606.	LARGE CROWNED LEAF WARBLER	Phylloscopus occipitalis
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
FREQUENTLY SEEN AND EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY HEARD IN THE KUGTI SANCTUARY
AND AT SANDI, BELOW THE TREE-LINE.

1616.	GREY-HEADED FLYCATCHER WARBLER	Peicercus xanthoschistos
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
 FREQUENTLY SEEN AND EVEN MORE FREQUENTLY HEARD AT SANDI AND IN THE
KUGTI SANCTUARY BELOW THE TREE LINE.


1650.	INDIAN BLUE CHAT	Erithacus brunneus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
EN-ROUTE TO DHANCHU, I SPOTTED A BIRD IN A RAVINE. THE BIRD WAS BLUE
ABOVE AND RUFOUS UNDERNEATH AND HAD A WHITE BROW. THE TAIL OF THE BIRD
WAS ALSO BLUE. AS I WAS WATCHING THE BIRD ON THE GROUND CLOSE TO A
SMALL STREAM IN A RAVINE IN DENSE UNDER-GROWTH, I DID NOT GET TO SEE
THE BIRD VERY WELL. THE BIRD WAS A GREAT SKULKER AND NEVER SHOWED
ITSELF. I HEARD THE CALL OF THE BIRD REPEATEDLY AND EVEN RECORDED IT
BUT HAD VERY FEW SIGHTINGS OF THE BIRD.
AT THIS RAVINE THE BIRD WAS FORAGING ON THE GROUND IN AN AREA WITH
DENSE UNDERGROWTH. OCCASIONALLY THE BIRD WOULD FLY FROM THE GROUND TO
A BUSH OR THE LOWER BRANCHES OF A TREE. THE BIRDS BEHAVIOUR WAS VERY
STEALTHY.
THE BIRD WAS SEEN ALL THE WAY UPTO THE TREE LINE AND WAS EVEN HEARD
AMIDST THE DWARF RHODODENDRON BUSHES ABOVE THE TREELINE. THE BIRDS
CALL(RECORDED) BEGINS WITH A SERIES OF SOFT NOTES FOLLOWED BY A LOUD
TRILLING SONG. THE CALL IS BEST DESCRIBED AS:
SEE SEE  SEE  CHIW CHIW CHIW CHIW
1/2 1/2  1/2   1    1    1     1

THE FIRST 2 SYLLABLES UTTERED AT A HIGH PITCH. THE FOLLOWING SYLLABLES
RAPIDLY UTTERED.

GOING BY THE OVERALL BEHAVIOUR OF THE BIRD AND ITS CALL, I IDENTIFIED
THE BIRD TO BE THE BLUE CHAT. THE ONLY OTHER BIRD WHOSE DESCRIPTION
AND BEHAVIOUR COULD MATCH THE ABOVE IS THE WHITE-BROWED BUSH ROBIN,
BUT THE BUSH ROBIN'S CALL IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I HEARD AND
RECORDED.
HENCE I  FEEL THIS A POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BLUE CHAT.

1670.	BLUEHEADED REDSTART	Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
SPOTTED A FEMALE REDSTART FORAGING JUST ABOVE THE TREELINE .OBSERVED
THE BIRD FOR QUITE A WHILE.THE REDSTART WAS A BROWN COLORED BIRD WITH
A RUFOUS TAIL.THE CENTRE ON THE TAIL WAS ENTIRELY BLACK OR BROWN(?)
WITH NO TERMINAL BAND, WITH RUFOUS OUTER RETRICES. THE RUMP OF THE
BIRD WAS ALSO RUFOUS.
THE UNDERSIDE WAS BUFF. THERE WERE NO WING BARS. THE REDSTART HAD A
PALE EYE-RING AND WAGGED ITS TAIL(?).NO TAIL SHIVER.

1675.	BLUE FRONTED REDSTART?	Phoenicurus frontalis
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
BETWEEN HADSAR AND DHANCHU.ALSO AT DHANCHU.
I SAW A MALE REDSTART  ABOVE THE TREELINE WHOSE DESCRIPTION MATCHES
THE BLUE FRONTED REDSTART.HOWEVER THE SIGHTING WAS QUITE BRIEF AND
HENCE THIS IS A DOUBTFUL IDENTIFICATION.

1679.	PLUMBEOUS REDSTART	Rhyacornis fulginosus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
OCCASIONALLY SEEN ALONG THE LOWER STRETCHES OF THE DHANCHU NALA.
ALSO A VERY FREQUENTLY SEEN BIRD ALONG THE RAVI RIVER ON THE DRIVE
BETWEEN CHAMBA AND BHARMOUR

1684.	LITTLE FORKTAIL	Enicurus scouleri
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SAW A SOLITARY LITTLE FORKTAIL ON THE DHANCHU NALA.AT FIRST MISTOOK
THE BIRD FOR A PLUMBEOUS REDSTART,BUT ON LOOKING  AT THE BIRD THROUGH
THE BINOCULARS,I AT ONCE IDENTIFIED THE BIRD TO BE A FORKTAIL.THE
BIRDS SIZE AND FIELD CHARACTERS MADE IT EASY ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY THE
BIRD AS THE LITTLE FORKTAIL.
THE FORKTAIL SEEN AT A HEIGHT OF APPROX 8500 FT ON THE ROCKY FAST
FLOWING DHANCHU NALA.

1705.	DARK GREY BUSH CHAT	Saxicola ferrea
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
COMMONLY SEEN FROM HADSAR TO ABOVE THE TREELINE. MOSTLY PAIRS OF BIRD
IE A MALE AND A FEMALE.
AT SANDI, A LARGE NUMBER OF JUVENILE BIRDS SEEN. THE JUVENILES
APPARENTLY STICK WITH THE PARENTS FOR QUITE A WHILE. ON ONE OCCASION
WE SAW THE PARENTS AND FOUR JUVENILES ALL SITTING ON THE SAME BRANCH
OF THE BUSH, WITH THE BRANCH ALMOST BENT DOUBLE  WITH THE WEIGHT!
THE JUVENILES WERE ABLE TO FLY BUT WERE STILL BEING FED BY THE PARENTS.
THE JUVENILES HAD A VERY DISTINCTIVE AND HARSH  "CHURRRR" AS A CALL
NOTE.

1716.	RIVER CHAT	Chaimarrornis leucocephalaous
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
THE RIVER CHAT SEEN ALONG THE DHANCHU NALA QUITE FREQUENTLY. IN FACT
ALONG THE DHANCHU NALA, WE SAW VERY FEW PLUMBEOUS REDSTARTS, THESE
BEING REPLACED BY THE RIVER CHATS, SPECIALLY IN THE HIGHER STRETCHES.
THE RIVER CHATS SEEN AT 10,200 FT ALSO.

1723.	BLUEHEADED ROCK THRUSH	Monticola cinclorynchus
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SANDI
SPOTTED A THE BLUE HEADED ROCK THRUSH ON A BARE TREE. COULD NOT GET A
GOOD LOOK AT THE BIRD INITIALLY. LATER ON SPOTTED THE BIRD HIGHER UP
ON THE SAME HILL IN THE AREA WHICH WAS MORE HEAVILY FORESTED. THE BIRD
IS QUITE SECRETIVE AND DIFFICULT TO SEE. IT WAGS ITS TAIL SLOWLY.
ON THE SECOND OCCASION THE BIRD WAS SEATED SILENTLY ON THE LOWER
BRANCH OF A TREE. EVEN AS WE WATCHED THE BIRD IN THE FADING DUSK LIGHT
THE BIRD WATCHED US WITHOUT MOVING.
AFTER A GOOD LOOK AT THE BIRD FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE THRUSH MOVED ONTO
ANOTHER TREE.
I DID NOT EVER SEE THE BIRD RETURNING TO THE SAME PERCH. IN THE THREE
DAYS THAT WE SPENT AT SANDI, THE BIRD WAS SPOTTED ONLY 2 OR 3 TIMES.
THE CALL OF THE BIRD RECORDED.

1775.	BROWN DIPPER	Cinclus pallasi
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SPOTTED A BROWN DIPPER AT DHANCHU NALA ON THE WAY DOWN FROM
DHANCHU.THE BIRD WAS HUNTING FOR FOOD IN ITS USUAL HABITAT IE THE FAST
FLOWING DHANCHU NALA.

1799.	GREEN BACKED TIT	Parus monticolus
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SEEN FREQUENTLY IN THE SANCTUARY.

1802.	CRESTED BLACK TIT	Parus melanocephalus
SEEN COMMON IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS IN THE SANCTUARY.

1804.	SIMLA BLACK TIT	Parus rubidiventris rufonuchalis
10/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
JUST AT THE TREE-LINE I SAW A SMALL BIRD WHOSE FIELD CHARACTERS ARE
UNDER:
BLACK HEAD,WITH ITS CREST ONLY OCCASIONALLY STANDING. MOST OF THE TIME
THE CREST NOT ERECT. WHITE CHEEK PATCH, BELOW THE EYE. BROWNISH (OR
GREYISH?) BACK AND TAIL.
POSSIBLY WHITE NUCHAL PATCH SEEN WHEN THE CREST IS ERECT. THROAT BLACK
AND UPPER BREAST BLACK(THE BLACK ON THE UPPER BREAST LIGHTER).BELLY
BROWN.
NO WING BARS VISIBLE.
SIZE: SPARROW +/-
A PAIR OF BIRDS.
THE DESCRIPTION MENTIONED DOES NOT MATCH ANY OTHER BIRD OTHER THAN THE
SIMLA COAL TIT. THE BIRD MAY HAVE BEEN A JUVENILE WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN
THE LACK OF RUFOUS ON THE UPPER BACK AND VENT(THE HANDBOOK MENTIONS A
COLOR PATTERN FOR THE JUVENILE WHICH MIGHT MATCH WHAT I SAW.)
THE BIRD SAT STILL IN ITS POSITION FOR ALMOST 5 MINUTES EVEN THOUGH I
WAS ONLY 10 FT AWAY. THE BIRD WAS SITTING ON THE LOWER BRANCHES OF A
CONIFER. IT WAS JOINED BY ANOTHER BIRD LATER.
THE FIELD CHARACTERS AND THE TERRAIN LEAD ME TO CONCLUDE THAT THE BIRD
IS THE SIMLA COAL TIT.

1884.	GREY WAGTAIL	Motacilla caspica
KURT WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
10/6/97
ALONG DHANCHU NALA FROM HADSAR TO DHANCHU
GREY WAGTAILS SEEN OCCASIONALLY ALONG THE STREAM,ABOVE HEIGHT OF 8500
FT APPROX.FEWER BIRDS SEEN AT THE LOWER LEVELS.
ALSO SEEN ABOVE THE TREELINE.

1946.	CINNAMON TREE SPARROW	Passer rutilans
10/6/97
SANDI
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
SEEN AT THE ABOVE PLACES CLOSE TO HABITATION.

1990.	HIMALAYAN GREENFINCH	Carduelis carduelis
9,10,11/6/97
SANDI
BHARMOUR
COMMONLY SEEN NEAR CULTIVATION AND CLOSE TO HABITATION. FLOCKS OF
BIRDS SPECIALLY COMMON AT SANDI. NO GREENFINCHES SEEN WITHIN THE
SANCTUARY, OTHER THAN AT HADSAR.

2017.	PINKBROWED ROSEFINCH	Carpodacus rhodochrus
10/6/97
SANDI
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
DHANCHU
SPOTTED A PAIR OF PINK-BROWED ROSEFINCHES JUST BELOW DHANHCU. THE
TERRAIN WAS JUST ABOVE THE TREELINE AT A HEIGHT OF 10,200 FT AMONGST
DWARF RHODODENDRON AND OTHER SMALL BUSHES.
THE FINCHES WERE FEEDING ON SEEDS OF SMALL BUSHES.
FIELD CHARACTERS: I IDENTIFIED THE BIRD WITH THE PICTORIAL GUIDE , IN
WHICH PLATE IS QUITE GOOD. POINTS TO NOTE: THE PINK BROW, THE ABSENCE
OF STREAKS ON THE HEAD, THE ABSENCE OF SPOTS ON THE RUMP.

I ALSO SAW A ROSEFINCH WITH A PINK BROW AT SANDI OUTSIDE THE
SANCTUARY, BUT DID NOT GET A LONG ENOUGH LOOK TO IDENTIFY THE BIRD.
THE ROSEFINCH WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO HABITATION.
CALL NOTES: A SOFT CHIRP.

2039.	REDHEADED BULLFINCH	Pyrrhula erythrocephala
9,10,11/6/97
KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
SANDI
OUTSKIRTS OF KUGTI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AT A PLACE CALLED SANDI.
SPOTTED A NUMBER OF BULLFINCHES ON THE HILL ABOVE THE FOREST REST
HOUSE WE WERE STAYING AT. THE FRH WAS AT A HEIGHT OF 7300 FT. WE FIRST
SAW A GROUP OF 3 FEMALE REDHEADED BULLFINCHES. FIELD CHARACTERS :THE
FIELD CHARACTERS ARE  AS SHOWN IN THE PG WITH THE FOLLOWING
DIFFERENCES-THE GREENISH TINGE ON THE FEMALES HEAD WAS MORE PROMINENT
THAN SHOWN IN THE PICTORIAL GUIDE. THE GREY FRONT TO THE HEAD WAS
HARDLY VISIBLE. WE SAW THE BIRDS FEEDING ON SEEDS ON LOW BUSHES. THE
SEED PODS WERE STILL GREEN. THE FIRST SIGHTING OF THE FINCHES WAS
HIGHER UP AT ABOUT 7800 FT.
THE NEXT SIGHTING OF THE BULL FINCHES WAS AT THE FRH ITSELF.
ON THE LAST DAY, I AGAIN SAW A SMALL FLOCK OF BULLFINCHES INCLUDING
THE MALE BIRDS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MALE BIRDS IS AS SHOWN IN THE PG.
I ALSO THOUGHT THAT I SAW A SMALL BLACK PATCH ON THE SHOULDER OF BOTH
BIRDS, BUT I CANNOT BE CERTAIN.
SEEN IN LIGHT CONIFER FOREST. ALSO SEEN IN  FIELDS ON THE SAME HILL.
NO SIGHTING IN THE SANCTUARY PROPER.

PREPARED BY SANJAY AND ANCHAL SONDHI
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