North-east India: March 3-13, 2004

North-East India: March 3-13, 2004<= o:p>

Participants: Vivek Tiwari, Sujan Chatterjee, Mohit Aggarwal

Author: Vivek Tiwari; Author contact: spiderhunters@yahoo.com

Hoolock Gibbon Female &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Orange Oakleaf Butterfly

Deban, Namdapha NP = = &nb= sp; Hornbill Camp, Namdapha NP

Streaked Spiderhunter = &nb= sp; = Black (Malayan) Giant Squirrel = &nb= sp;

MV Road, Namdapha NP = &nb= sp; Deban, Namdapha NP = &= nbsp; &nbs= p;

Itinerary:

2 March: Flight from Delhi to Dibrugarh. Dibrugarh to Miao.

3 March: Miao to Deban. Evening wa= lk by the Noa-Dihing<= /st1:PlaceName> River below the forest rest house.

4 March: Trek from Deban to Haldibari.

5 March: Trek from Haldibari to Hornbill.

6 March: Trek from Hornbill to past Bulbulia and back = to Hornbill.

7 March: Hornbill to Deban.

8 March: AM: MV Road ~3Km past Deban engineering camp

= PM: North bank of Noa-Dihing across from Deban FRH.

9 March: AM: Near Deban FRH; PM Drive to Tinsukhia via= Miao.

10 March: AM: Dibru-Saikhowa, boat-ride and birding al= ong north bank on Dibru River

= PM: Drive to Wild Grass Resort near Kaziranga NP

11 March: AM: Jeep ride East= ern Range up-to Pelican point;

&= nbsp; PM: Central Range up-to the lake

12 March: AM: Central Range (woodland track).

= PM: Tea plantation south of Wild Grass.

13 March: AM: Panbari Forest Reserve;

= PM: Drive to Guwahati for flight back to Delhi<= /st1:place>.

Logistics arr= anged by:

A= sian Adventures (contact: info@indianwildlife.com)

&= amp; HELP Tourism (contact: sujan75@vsnl.net)

Key highlight= s: Beautiful Nuthatch, Black-headed Shrike Babbler, Greater Rufous-headed

Parrotbill, Broad-billed W= arbler, Rufous-backed Sibia, Rufous-throated Fulvetta,=

Rufous-necked Hornbill, Brown Hornbill, White-bellied Hero= n, Ibisbill, Jerdon’s = Babbler,

Bengal Florican, Hodgson&#= 8217;s Redstart.

Also: Hoolock Gibbon, Slow= Loris, Hog-Badger, Namdapha Flying Squirrel.

In March 2004, Mohit Aggarwal, Sujan Chatterjee and I made a 10-day birding

trip to the Northeast (Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh and

Kaziranga Nat= ional Park, Assam with a day at Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam).

This was a long awaited and anticipated trip for us. Namdapha, in particular, was a place

that had captured my imagination the first time I heard about it many years ago.

Some brief notes and an annotated trip-list follow (wi= th links to some photos

taken on the trip).

Namdapha is now surprisingly accessible for a place th= at's literally in the extreme

eastern corner of the country. Once you get to Dibruga= rh or Tinsukhia and

have the Inner Line and Park permits (Mohit and Sujan = got these for us ahead of time),

in just 5-6 hrs one can be in Deban looking at Beautif= ul Sibias. Of course to get to some

of the real avian prizes like Beautiful Nuthatch and Snowy-throated Babbler, camping for

multiple nights in the tourist buffer zone is required (Haldibari= /Hornmbill/Bulbulia/Embeong),

at least until further explorations by more birders ca= n find these special species closer

to Deban.

On the 3rd day of the trek, I did hit a bonanza flock = past Bulbulia which

yielded 3 Beautiful Nuthatches, and other goodies like Black-headed Shrike Babbler,

Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, and two of the longest na= mes among Indian birds -

Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill and Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler. However missed

out on the ultimate Namdapha specialty - Snowy-throated Babbler and some other

bamboo specialties and it w= as only later that we found out = that further towards Embeong

and Rani Jheel would have been better for th= ese. We made the strategic mistake of not

camping there or at least s= pending a few more hours in the area east of Bulbulia.

Closer to Deban and Haldibari we found other stars lik= e 5 Ibisbills, White-bellied Heron,

Pied Falconets, Rufous-nec= ked Hornbills, a single Brown Hornbill, Broad-billed Warbler etc.

(See the notes in the trip list for details).

While we saw about a third of the 450 odd species on t= he park's list, including 25 species

of babblers, birding was challenging and in the limite= d time we had, every species had to

be earned. Typical rainforest birding with lots of skulkers and mostly a matter of finding the

right flocks. During the trek, after the initial activity in the early morning, th= ere would be

long slow stretches with only an occasional warbler or flycatcher in the under-story.

Then one would hit a canopy flock with all the little critters managing a good

job of hiding behind leaves or posing under the worst possible light. All the while

all the leeches within a ra= dius of a 3-4 feet, would hone in towards our feet with

uncanny accuracy (guided by body heat and driven by pu= re bloodthirstiness).

If it wasn't for the "joke m= ojas" (leech socks), that Sujan had brought along, we

could have come back several kgs<= /span> lighter! The ubiquitous leech was a dark brown

one that thankfully stayed on the ground and the leech= socks performed well.

Before entering the tent for the night though, one sti= ll had to be scan carefully for

any leeches that may have h= itched a ride, However past Haldibari, we started running into

this beautifully patterned green leech that apparently was up into the undergrowth and <= /p>

low branches and was better= at beating our defenses.

Some personal impressions on the state of the park: the difficult terrain of the core areas is

its greatest defense at this point. The park staff are knowledgeable

and commendably courteous to visitors, and very helpfu= l in arranging logistics and porters

(Chakma tribals who have settled in the area) for treks. However the staff do spend

essentially all their time in Deban. Their relations w= ith the Lisus living in the park

are strained (i.e. the staff’s attempts to curb hunting have led to threats against them).

Hunting and trapping are apparently rampant as evidenc= ed by the lack of

big mammals. Mohit did hear a tiger on the road before Deban but that was the only <= /p>

evidence we came across of any cats. A Swiss group came across a Gaur near

Embeong but the joke among= the locals was that the particular animal was

alive just because it was Lent.

There is significant foot traffic along the Noa-Dihing, mostly Lisus traveling between the

markets in Miao and the Lisu settlement in Gandhigram on the Myan= mar border.

We came across Lisu families in traditional attire as = well as teenagers in metro clothes and

sneakers. One afternoon we crossed the river at Deban = to check out a new private tourist

camp that has come up on the north shore just outside = the park boundary. There is a village

there and entire area is completely deforested and quite a contrast to what's in the park.

(On a side note, Daphabum,= at 15,020 ft , the highest point in the park, was visible as a

distant, hazy snow covered peak from here, though its = not visible from the opposite shore).

The western shore of the Deban river (outside the park= ) also appeared to have signs of

significant human settlement, visible from the initial= part of the trek to Haldibari.

All this only underscores the importance of the additi= onal attention that’s needed for the

protection of the park. A strikingly large fraction of= the NE Himalayan endemic species

we saw are considered at risk (see annotations in spec= ies list below). Namdapha has to

be a key piece in&nbs= p; the remaining habitat for these, patchy and scattered as it is, across

NE India and north Indochina. The declaration of a huge protected area in

Myanmar (Hukawng Valley NP), contiguous with Namdapha an= d just over the

Patkai<= /span> Range to the south is a very positive development but additional encroachments on

both sides of the internati= onal border would need to be controlled to ensure habitat continuity.

There were other rewards besides special birds. 4 spec= ies of primates including

multiple sightings of Hoolock Gibbons, the only non-human ape species in India.

There was at least one pair of Ho= olocks that stayed around Deban and even

an amateur like me got (digiscope= d) close-ups of these, as well of those of

the Malayan Giant Squirrels (see under Mammals below).=

The recently described, nocturnal Namdapha Flying squi= rrel was also seen at night at

Hornbill and at Deban. There were of course other thin= gs to see - a Hog-Badger

that wandered onto the trail, lots of butterflies, and= at all times the luxuriant, varied vegetation

with tree ferns and bamboo and wild banana growing nex= t to each other.

A botanical highlight was a flower and bud of the endangered root parasitic pla= nt

Sapria= himalayana of the family Raffles= iaceae. (This is the family that includes

_Rafflesia arnoldii_ of Su= matra - the largest flower in the world). Sapria= himalayana is known

from only a few other sites= in Arunachal and has a very limited worldwide distribution.

(See http://www.ias.ac.= in/currsci/dec252003/1668.pdf for more details on this plant)

While trekking back to Deban we ran into Joynal (Benu) Abedin of the Dibru-Saikhowa

Wildlife Conservation Society, who also runs a tourist= camp near Dibru-Saikhowa.

He encouraged us to visit Dibru-Saikhowa assuring us o= f a good chance for

the specialties - Black-bre= asted Parrotbill, Jerdon's and = Marsh Babblers etc.

(After dinner that night at Deban, he also tipped us o= ff on a Slow Loris near the FRH

and with a little bit of effort we had a Slow Loris in= our flashlights. Quite a thrill,

with a Namdapha Flying Squirrel added in as a bonus.)<= /p>

With the change in plans, after we left Namdapha on th= e 9th we stayed the

night in Tinsukhia and got to Gui= jan Ghat on the morning of the 10th.

With a young guide Vijay Rajak and a forest guard armed with a rifle and

elephant shot (standard pra= ctice here and at Kaziranga), we pu= ttered up the Dibru river for

about an hour and landed at a site on the north shore.= There we spent a couple of hours

looking for our target species. It was an interesting<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> experience, walking through

dense 10 feet high elephant grass, stepping on elephant and ti= ger pugmarks. However,

we did get great views of a= Jerdon's Babbler but only the backs of a couple of

Black-breasted Parrotbills= as they dove into cover.

The other specialty, the Marsh Babbler was apparently = better found further

east on the main track towards Ko= lomi. I got only as far as Kundaghat Camp but it was =

getting = late and reluctantly we had to leave and headed off towards Kaziranga, reaching

the Wild Grass Lodge late at night.

Kaziranga of course was a complete change with relaxed= big game viewing –

Wild <= span class=3DGramE>Buffalo, Elephants, Rhino, Swamp Deer, Wild Boar often in the same field of view.

Elephants mating in the open, rhin= os mock-charging – all quintessential Kaziranga.

Diligent scoping in the Cent= ral Range finally provided a glimps= e of my main target

there - Bengal Florican. The grass-burning season has just started and we watched as

Black Drongos and Indian R= ollers would fly in as soon as the forest guards lit flames

(a BBC crew was there shoot= ing the same scene for the "Great Plains" episode = of a

new BBC series "Planet Earth" that will air in a couple of years).

We did lose a good part of one morning due to a bandh (strike). Not much happened

but we ended up leaving late in the morning and taking= the back-roads to stay

off the main highway. The tea gardens in the area are = worth exploring as well.

A couple of hours I spent in the gardens south of Wild= Grass (in the direction of the

Karbi hills), hinted at a = lot of potential there, given the scattered patches of

bamboo and wild vegetation along a stream there. Also encouraging are the keen, young

guides at Wild Grass. Nekib Ali, a guide I spent some time with knew his birds (trained by

Mann Barua) and was also e= ager to learn. We found a flock of

Rufous-necked Laughingthrushes with a couple of White-browed Scimitar Babblers,

but missed out on White-headed Babbler.

After 3 days in open country we were already missing t= he forest, so for our last

morning we decided to spend time in Panbari - the narr= ow band of tall forest that

provides shelter to Kaziranga's mammals during the flood season (once they negotiate the

traffic on the highway that= is!). In the 2 hours or so that we had, the early part was really

slow as our assigned forest guard stayed on trails clo= se to the road. Later things improved

on a trail that headed into the forest (near the tea g= ardens on the eastern edge of the reserve).

But just as things were looking up on this trail, we h= eard the loud snapping of branches

of an elephant close to the trail, causing us to beat a hasty retreat. However did ge= t

Abbot's Babbler here. A quick stop at Kohora, yielded a female Hodgson's Redstart

(a species currently not on the Kaziranga checklist.)<= /p>

After that it was time to drive straight back to Guwah= ati for the flight back to Delhi.

------------------

Trip List:

Species order and names follow the OBC checklist.

Key: N - Namdapha; D - Dibru-Saikhowa; K - Kaziranga

3-13 – Dates (3-13 March) sighted;

h: heard only

If noted VTi, MAg, SCh: Vivek, Mohit or Sujan only, respectively.

Globally threatened and near-threatened species are ma= rked based on information

in Kry= s Kazmierczak’s “A Birdwatchers’ Guid= e to India&= #8221;. The threat categories

given in brackets follow Co= llar et al’s “Birds to Watch 2” (Cambridge: = BirdLife, 1994).

(D) – Data Deficient; (N) – Near-threatene= d.

Links are provided to photos taken on the trip by Suja= n and I. Sujan was using a

Canon EOS-10D digital SLR with 400mm zoom lens. A great piece of equipment

for fore= st birding. I was digiscoping with a Nikon Coolpix 995 and

Mohit's Swarovksi 85mm scope.

The high resolution originals are available on request= .

&nb= sp; OBC English Name = OBC Scientific Name

S= wamp Francolin = Francolinus gularis (V)

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> D, K= . 10 h, 11, 12h

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Multiple sightings in Kaziranga.

Rufous-throated Partridge<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Arborophila rufogularis

N h.= 6 h

Red Junglefowl = Gallus gallus

K. 1= 1, 12

Kalij Pheasant = Lophura leucomelano= s

K. 1= 1. Subspecies _lathami_

Grey Peacock Pheasant = Polyplectron bicalc= aratum

N. 5= -9

Heard daily at Namdapha. Very difficult to see. Had a bird flush on the 7th.

SCh,MAg got a glimpse on the 8th. VTi glimpsed a shape of the bird on the 9th.&n= bsp;

Greylag Goose = Anser anser

K. 1= 1

Bar-headed Goose = Anser indicus

D, K= . 10, 11, 12

Ruddy Shelduck = Tadorna ferruginea<= /span>

D. 1= 0

Gadwall = &nb= sp; Anas strepera

D, K= . 10, 11, 12

Eurasian Wigeon = Anas penelope

K. 1= 1

Spot-billed Duck = Anas poecilorhyncha=

D. 1= 0, 11, 12

Northern Shoveler = Anas clypeata

K. 1= 1

Northern Pintail = Anas acuta

K. 1= 1

Common Teal = Anas crecca<= /p>

K. 1= 1

Tufted Duck = Aythya fuligula

K. 1= 1

Common Merganser = Mergus merganser

N. 3= , 4, 8, 9

White-browed Piculet = Sasia ochracea

N. 4= , 7, 8

A gr= eat looking, daring bird that would come down to eye level and only a few feet away.

With= mixed flocks each time.

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendroc= opos canicapillus

K. 1= 1

Rufous Woodpecker = Celeus brachyurus

K. 1= 1

Lesser Yellownape = Picus chlorolophus<= /span>

N, K= . 9, 11

Greater Yellownape = Picus flavinucha

N, K= . 4, 6, 8, 9, 13

Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus

K. 1= 1

Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus<= /p>

N, K= . 9, 12, 13

Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalens= e

K, 1= 1

Greater Flameback = Chrysocolaptes luci= dus

N. 3= h, 5 (MAg, SCh)

Bay Woodpecker = Blythipicus pyrrhot= is

N. 8= (VTi)

With= the large mixed flock I ran into on MV Road at a bridge ~3-4 Kms from Deban.

Great Barbet = Megalaima virens

N. 3= -9. Daily in Namdapha

Lineated Barbet = Megalaima lineata

N, K= . 4, 11, 12, 13

B= lue-throated Barbet = Megalaima asiatica<= /span>

N, D= , K. Daily.

Blue-eared Barbet = Megalaima australis=

K h.= 13 h

We listened for it everywhere, but the only confirmed id by call was in the Panbari Forest

on the last morning. However, the darned thing just wo= uldn't show itself despite 3 pairs

of e= yes looking up into the tree.

C= oppersmith Barbet = Megalaima haemacephala

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N h,= D h, K h. 3h, 10-13h

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albir= ostris

K. 1= 1, 13.

In E= astern and Central Ranges= in Kaziranga, including a pair together (see pic).

Great Hornbill = Buceros bicornis

N, K= . 4, 6, 7, 11

A pa= ir calling in the afternoon around Haldibari. At one point there was a Great Hornbill

posi= ng on a tree on one side of camp, and a Rufous-necked Hornbill posing on the other!

The = kind of sublime birding experience that only places like Namdapha can provide.

On t= he return trek, between Hornbill and Haldibari a flock of perhaps a dozen

Great Hornbills “whooshed” directly overhead.

Brown Hornbill = Anorrhinus tickelli= (N)

N. 5= (VTi)

I fo= und a single bird below Haldibari. First heard calling and then seen through a ga= p

in t= he canopy. Namdapha perhaps prov= ides the best opportunity for seeing this

species in India.

Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis (V)

N. 4= , 5 h, 7 h, 8

A ma= le seen on the trek to Haldibari and later a pair calling around the Haldibari=

camp= , with the female providing a great photo op. A pair seen on M= V road as well.

This= is sometimes considered harder to find than the Wreathed Hornbill, which we di= dn't

see = at all on this trip.

Common Hoopoe = Upupa epops<= /p>

K. 1= 1, 12

Red-headed Trogon = Harpactes erythroce= phalus

N. 4= , 5, 7. Multiple sightings on the trek in Namdapha.

Indian Roller = Coracias benghalens= is

N, D= , K. 3, 8-13

Dollarbird = Eurystomus oriental= is

N. 5= (VTi, SCh)

5 bi= rds flying across a clearing one behind the other at Halid= bari.

Common Kingfisher = Alcedo atthis

K. 1= 1, 13

Stork-billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis

D, K= . 10, 11

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

N, D= , K. 3, 10-13

Crested Kingfisher = Megaceryle lugubris=

N. 3= , 7, 8. On the Noa-Dihing at Deban.

Pied Kingfisher = Ceryle rudis=

D, K= . 10, 11, 12

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis atherton= i

N, K= . 5, 7, 11

Green Bee-eater = Merops orientalis

K. 1= 1, 12

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti

K. 1= 1, 12

Large Hawk Cuckoo = Hierococcyx sparver= ioides

N. 5 h, 6 h, 7, 9 h

G= reen-billed Malkoha = Phaenicophaeus tristis

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N, K= . 5, 11, 12, 13

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> With mixed flocks each time.

Greater Coucal = Centropus sinensis<= /span>

K. 1= 1, 12, 13h

Lesser Coucal = Centropus bengalens= is

N. 8=

The = river edge grasslands below Deban looked like an ideal spot for this species,

but = only saw this once and that too a pretty shy bird.

Alexandrine Parakeet = Psittacula eupatria=

K. 1= 1

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

D, K. 10-13

= Red-breasted Parakeet = Psittacula alexandr= i

K. 1= 1-13. Kaziranga and Panbari.

Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis

N. 8= , 9

In e= arly morning, a small flock of Needletails over the intersection of MV Road= and the

road down to Deban FRH. The upper back was whitish in distinct contrast with

the = rest of the dark upperparts. The throat was dark like the breast and belly but a= t

cert= ain angles it appeared a bit lighter on some of the birds.

Asian Palm Swift = Cypsiurus balasiens= is

N, K= . 3, 11-13

House Swift = Apus affinis=

N. 6= .

Mountain Scops Owl = Otus spilocephalus<= /span>

N h. 4 h, 5 h, 6 h, 8 h. Heard every night on the trek. Also at Deban.

Brown Wood Owl = Strix leptogrammica=

N h.= 4 h. Heard outside Deban FRH.

C= ollared Owlet = Glaucidium brodiei

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N h.= 4-7 h, 9 h

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Heard daily at Namdapha - day and night.

Asian Barred Owlet = Glaucidium cuculoides

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N, D= , K. 3, 4-7 h, 8, 9 h, 10-13

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The calls of this and Jungle Owlet can be confusing.

But = those we heard in Namdapha were judged to be all Asian Barred.

Jungle Owlet = Glaucidium radiatum=

K. 1= 1, 13

Spotted Owlet = Athene brama=

K. 11, 13

Brown Hawk Owl = Ninox scutulata

N h.= 3 h, 9 h. Heard outside Deban FRH.

Rock Pigeon = Columba livia

N, D= , K. 3, 9-13

Spotted Dove = Streptopelia chinensis

N, D= , K. 3, 4, 8-13

Red Collared Dove = Streptopelia tranquebarica

K. 1= 2

Emerald Dove = Chalcophaps indica<= /span>

N, K= . 3, 9, 12

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera<= /p>

D, K. 10-12

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon Treron apicauda

N. 5= , 7, 9. On the trek in Namdapha.

G= reen Imperial Pigeon = Ducula aenea

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N h,= D, K. 7 h, 10, 11, 13

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Heard at Namdapha. Great views of a pair at Dibru-Saikhowa. Also at Kaziranga.

Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia

N. 4= -7

Flyi= ng overhead daily on the trek in Namdapha. Mainly in the morning and late afternoon.

Bengal Florican = Houbaropsis bengale= nsis (E)

K. 1= 2

I fo= und a distant male and female after much effort in the grasslands

west of the road past the entrance gate in the Central Range on the 2nd day.

Not = the best of views but still a big thrill since this was the main target in Kaziranga.

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

D, K. 10-13

Watercock = &nb= sp; Gallicrex cinerea

K. 1= 1

Common Moorhen = Gallinula chloropus=

K. 1= 1, 12

Common Coot = Fulica atra<= /p>

K. 1= 1

Pintail Snipe = Gallinago stenura

K. 1= 1 (MAg, SCh)

Common Greenshank = Tringa nebularia

K. 1= 1

Wood Sandpiper = Tringa glareola

K. 1= 1

Common Sandpiper = Actitis hypoleucos<= /span>

N, D= . 8, 10

Bronze-winged Jacana = Metopidius indicus<= /span>

K. 1= 1-13

Ibisbill = &nb= sp; Ibidorhyncha struth= ersii

N. 3=

On the south bank of the Noa-Dihing, downstream from the FRH.= Initially Mohit

foun= d 2 distant birds in the scope on a pebble strewn island. Later after crossing = a

stre= am and getting closer, I found a total of 5 birds!

Exce= llent views including birds preening, flying, calling. A trip highlight..

Little Ringed Plover = Charadrius dubius

D. 1= 0

Northern Lapwing = Vanellus vanellus

K. 1= 1

River Lapwing = Vanellus duvaucelii=

K. 1= 2

Grey-headed Lapwing = Vanellus cinereus (N)

K. 1= 2

Red-wattled Lapwing = Vanellus indicus

N, K= . 3, 7h, 11

Pallas's Gull = Larus ichthyaetus

D. 10

River T= ern = Sterna aurantia

K. 1= 1, 12

Osprey = &nb= sp; Pandion haliaetus

K. 1= 1

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchu= s

K. 1= 2

Black-shouldered Kite = Elanus caeruleus

D, K= . 10, 11

Black Kite = Milvus migrans

D, K= . 10, 13

Pallas's Fish Eagle = Haliaeetus leucoryp= hus (V)

K. 1= 1, 12

In E= astern and Central ranges. A bird on a nest with two juveniles= in the E. range.

Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthy= aetus (N)

K. 11. Eas= tern Range, Kaziranga. At least 2 different sightings.

Slender= -billed Vulture = Gyps fulvus (E)

K. 12

Long-billed Vulture = Gyps indicus (E)

D, K= . 10, 11, 12

= Crested Serpent Eagle = Spilornis cheela

N, K. 4h, 8, 9, 11

H= en Harrier = Circus cyaneus

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N, K. 3, 11

A ha= ndsome male just outside Miao. Also the Eastern Range in Kaziranga.

Pied Harrier = Circus melanoleucos

K. 1= 2. Male, Ce= ntral Range in Kaziranga.

Shikra = &nb= sp; Accipiter badius

K. 1= 1-13

Eurasian Sparrowhawk = Accipiter nisus

D. 1= 0 (MAg, SCh)

Black Eagle = Ictinaetus malayens= is

N. 3=

Greater Spotted Eagle = Aquila clanga (V)

K. 1= 2

Steppe Eagle = Aquila nipalensis

K. 1= 1

Rufous-bellied Eagle = Hieraaetus kienerii=

N. 3=

= Changeable Hawk Eagle = Spizaetus cirrhatus=

K. 1= 1, 12

Mountain Hawk Eagle = Spizaetus nipalensi= s

N. 5, 8

Pied Falconet = Microhierax melanoleucos (N)=

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N. 5-8

One of my favorites for the trip. I was absolutely thr= illed when I found

one = in fading light atop a tall distant snag at Hornbill. But then we ended up see= ing it

ever= yday the next four days. On the 6th there was 3 birds together on the same snag.=

Late= r also seen at Deban FRH on two different days at different locations.

Obvi= ously not an uncommon species at Namdapha.

Common Kestrel = Falco tinnunculus

N, D= , K. 8, 10-12

Peregrine Falcon = Falco peregrinus

N. 3=

Little Grebe = Tachybaptus ruficol= lis

K. 11

D= arter = &nb= sp; Anhinga melanogaster &nb= sp; (V)

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> D, K. 10-12

Little Cormorant = Phalacrocorax niger

D, K. 10-13

Indian Cormorant = Phalacrocorax fusci= collis

D. 1= 0

Great Cormorant = Phalacrocorax carbo=

N, D= , K. 3, 4, 7-12

Seve= ral in breeding plumage on the Noa-Dihing.

Little = Egret = Egretta garzetta

D, K. 10-12

Grey Heron = Ardea cinerea

K. 1= 1, 12

White-bellied Heron = Ardea insignis (E)

N. 3=

On t= he first afternoon at Namdapha. The staff told us that a W-B Heron flew over t= he

river past the FRH around 3PM daily. After walking along the bank for a hour and a

half we had given up hope when Sujan spotted this huge= bird slowly flying away in

the distant. This was good since we did not see it again. An Italian group that= was in

Namd= apha at the same time missed this species.

Purple Heron = Ardea purpurea

K. 1= 1, 12

Great Egret = Casmerodius albus

K. 1= 1-13

Intermediate Egret = Mesophoyx intermedi= a

K. 1= 1

Cattle Egret = Bubulcus ibis

D, K. 10-12

Indian Pond Heron = Ardeola grayii

N, D= , K. 3, 9-12

Little Heron = Butorides striatus<= /span>

D. 1= 0

Spot-billed Pelican = Pelecanus philippen= sis (V)

K. 2= , 11.

A fl= y-over flock near Dibrugarh airport on the 2nd and on 11th the

large Pelican colony in the Eastern range.

Asian Openbill = Anastomus oscitans<= /span> (V)

D, K= . 10, 11, 13

Black Stork = Ciconia nigra

N, K= . 4, 10, 12

Woolly-necked Stork = Ciconia episcopus

K. 1= 1, 12

Black-necked Stork = Ephippiorhynchus as= iaticus

K. 11-12

L= esser Adjutant = Leptoptilos javanicus (V)

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> K. 11-13. Including an adult feeding a juv. on a n= est.

G= reater Adjutant = Leptoptilos dubius (E)

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> K. 11-13

Blue-winged Leafbird Chlo= ropsis cochinchinensis<= /span>

K. 1= 2.

Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons

N, K= . 5, 13

Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii

N. 3= -10. Daily in Namdapha

Brown Shrike = Lanius cristatus

K. 11-13

Long-tailed Shrike = Lanius schach

N, K= . 3, 9-12. ssp. _tricolor_

Gre= y-backed Shrike = Lanius tephronotus<= /span>

N, K= . 3, 8, 9, 11-13

Common Green Magpie = Cissa chinensis

N. 5= , 6, 8

Mult= iple sightings, with a mixed flock near Hornbill and singly at Deban and Panbari= .

Rufous = Treepie = Dendrocitta vagabunda

D, K. 10-13

Grey Tr= eepie = Dendrocitta formosae

N. 8, 9. Unfortunately, just couldn't turn up a Collared = Treepie anywhere.

House Crow = Corvus splendens

D, K= . 10, 13

Large-billed Crow = Corvus macrorhyncho= s

N, D= , K. 3, 5, 7 h, 8-13

Black-hooded Oriole = Oriolus xanthornus<= /span>

N, K= . 3, 11, 12

Maroon Oriole = Oriolus traillii

N. 3= , 4, 6, 7

Comm= on on Coral and Semal trees in Namdapha.

Large Cuckooshrike = Coracina macei

K. 1= 1-13. With mixed flocks.

Black-winged Cuckooshrike<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Coracina melaschistos

N. 5= , 6. Haldibari.

Long-tailed Minivet = Pericrocotus etholo= gus

K. 1= 1, 12

Short-billed Minivet = Pericrocotus brevir= ostris

K. 1= 2

Scarlet Minivet = Pericrocotus flamme= us

N, K= . 3-6, 8, 9, 11

Colo= rful flocks of Minivets flying overhead and then lan= ding and promptly

vani= shing into the canopy was a common sight. Whenever we managed an identifiable

look= , they were mostly Scarlet. Only in Kaziranga, did I have a bird that I was

comfortable identifying as a Short-billed.

Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxanth= a

N. 4= -8

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicolli= s

N. 5= , 7-9

Black Drongo = Dicrurus macrocercu= s

D, K= . 10-13

Ashy Drongo = Dicrurus leucophaeu= s

N. 3= -9

Bronzed Drongo = Dicrurus aeneus

N. 3= -5, 8

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo D= icrurus remifer

N. 5= -9

Spangled Drongo = Dicrurus hottentott= us

N, K= . 3, 4, 8, 11, 12

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicruru= s paradiseus

N, K= . 4, 8, 9, 11, 13

Black-naped Monarch = Hypothymis azurea

K. 1= 3. Panbari.

Large Woodshrike = Tephrodornis gulari= s

N, K= . 4-6, 8, 12, 13

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Common with mixed flocks in Namdapha

Brown Dipper = Cinclus pallasii

N. 3= , 8

Noa-= Dihing below the Deban FRH

Blue Rock Thrush = Monticola solitariu= s

N. 8= (MAg, SCh) at eco-camp opp= osite Deban, 9 on a dry creek bed on MV road.

Blue Whistling Thrush = Myophonus caeruleus=

N. 3= , 8, 9

Scaly Thrush = Zoothera dauma

N. 7=

The = only _Zoothera_ seen. Flushed from the path between Haldiba= ri and Deban.

White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus

N. 4= (MAg, SCh)

Dark-throated Thrush = Turdus ruficollis (pic 1) (pic 2)

N. 5= , 6

A si= ngle bird foraging on open ground a few yards away at Hornbill

camp provided this great photo op.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra

N. 5= . Multiple sightings between Haldibari and Hornbill.

Verditer Flycatcher = Eumyias thalassina<= /span>

K. 1= 2

Large Niltava = Niltava grandis

N. O= n 4th a female, a male on the 6th (MAg, SCh)

S= mall Niltava = Niltava macgrigoriae

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N, K= . 9, 11

R= ufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N. 8= , 9

P= ygmy Blue Flycatcher = Muscicapella hodgsoni

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N. 3-6

The = most common blue flycatcher in Namdapha. Often the only bird seen during

long slow stretches in late morning/early afternoon.

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

N. 4= -8

With flocks and alone in the understory<= /span>.

White-tailed Rubythroat Luscinia pectoralis

D. 1= 0. At Dibru-Saikhowa on the north bank.

Oriental Magpie Robin = Copsychus saularis<= /span>

N, K= . 3, 11-13

White-rumped Shama = Copsychus malabaric= us

K. 1= 1, 12

A very confiding individual in the Wild Grass Lodge garden at= dawn on the 12th.

Hodgson's Redstart = Phoenicurus hodgson= i

K f.= 13 f (VTi)

Essentially the last bird of the trip. I found (and digiscoped) a female

at <= span class=3DSpellE>Kohora on our last failed attempt to find the Black-b= acked Forktail that had been seen

at t= he stream below the Soil Conservation Dept's rest house on the road that leads= up into

the = Karbi Hills. The species is not on the Kaziranga chec= klist.

Daurian Redstart = Phoenicurus auroreu= s

K f.= 11 f, 12f

In t= he gardens around Wild Grass lodge. Both times a female.

White-capped Water Redstart C= haimarrornis leucocephalus

N, K= . 3, 8, 11, 13

Plumbeous Water Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosus

N. 3= , 4, 7, 8

White-tailed Robin = Myiomela leucura

N, K= . 5 h, 6, 13

A bi= rd just past Hornbill seen on two days. Also at Panbari.

Little Forktail = Enicurus scouleri

N. 3=

A si= ngle bird near the Ibisbills.

Slaty-backed Forktail = Enicurus schistaceu= s

N. 3= , 6, 8, 9

The = common forktail of the small forest nullahs (rivulets) in Namdapha.

White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaul= ti

N. 6

In t= he sulfur-spring fed stream in the clearing below Bulbulia.

Common Stonechat = Saxicola torquata

N, D= , K. 3, 8, 10-12

Grey Bushchat = Saxicola ferrea

N. 4=

Spot-winged Starling = Saroglossa spilopte= ra (N)

K. 1= 2, 13

2 la= rge flying flocks, once in the Central Range, once near Panbari.

Perh= aps getting ready for their westward migration.

Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus

N, D= , K. 3, 9-13

Asian Pied Starling = Sturnus contra

D, K. 10-13

Common Myna = Acridotheres tristi= s

N, D= , K. 3, 8-13

Jungle Myna = Acridotheres fuscus=

N, D= , K. 3, 8-13

White-vented (Great) Myna Acridotheres cinereus

N, D= , K. 3, 10, 11

At M= iao on a Semal tree near the tourist bungalow. At Dibr= ugarh in hotel trees

and = on the top of pigs in Dibru-Saikhowa.

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea

N. 3= , 5-7

Beautiful Nuthatch = S= itta for= mosa (V)

N. <= span class=3DGramE>6 (VTi, MAg)

Yes!= ! It was about an hour and half after we had reached the extensive bamboo

stand 2-3Kms past Bulbulia. About 11AM and past the time we had decided we

woul= d turn back for spending some time in Bulbulia camp prior to heading back to

Horn= bill for the night. The only birds we had seen so far in the bamboo was a flock = of

Yellow-bellied Warblers. Sujan had already turned back, but I kept g= oing further,

repe= atedly telling Mohit that I will turn back after the "next" corner. Fina= lly heard some

chip= s and chirps of a flock and suddenly the mixed-long-named-species flock

was = right there, crossing the trail ahead. The first bird was a Slender-billed Scimit= ar babbler,

foll= owed by a Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill. Then a Red-billed Scimitar Babbler

probing along a low branch with its curved bill and a striking looki= ng

Black-headed Shrike Babbler creeping along the moss-covered branches= of a tree.

And = then there it was, a Beautiful Nuthatch! In the meantime Mohit who was behind a =

corn= er was looking at 2 more of the Nuthatches. Later as we watched together,

the 3 birds came into the same field of view, and we really feasted our eyes on t= his

beau= tiful and special species.

Great Tit = &nb= sp; Parus major

K. 12

Sultan Tit = Melanochlora sultanea

N. 3-7

Com= mon in Namdapha with mixed flocks.

Plain M= artin = Riparia paludicola

N, D. 3, 1= 0

Barn Swallow = Hirundo rustica

D, K. 10-1= 3

Nepal House Martin = Delichon nipalensis=

N. 3

Striated Bulbul = Pycn= onotus striatus<= o:p>

N. 9 (SCh). MV road near Deban.<= /span>

Black-crested Bulbul = Pycnonotus melanict= erus

N, K. 4, 9= , 13

Red-whiskered Bulbul = Pycnonotus jocosus<= /span>

N, D, K. 3= -5, 8-13

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

N, D, K. 3= , 7-13

The darker eastern races. The ones in Namdapha could have been _s= tanfordi_

White-throated Bulbul = Alophoixus flaveolu= s

N, K. 4-9,= 13 h

One of the= most conspicuous bird in Namdapha.

Ashy Bulbul = Hemixos flavala

N. 4-8

Black Bulbul = Hypsipetes leucocep= halus

N. 8, 9

Zitting Cisticola = Cisticola juncidis

D, K. 10, = 11

Plain P= rinia = Prinia inornata

D. 10=

Yellow-bellied Prinia = Prinia flaviventris=

N, D. 3, 8= , 10

Oriental White-Eye = Zosterops palpebros= us

N, K. 4, 12

Chestnu= t-headed Tesia = Tesia castaneocoronata

N. = 7 (VTi)

A single b= ird that I saw right outside Deban FRH was the only sighting.

Slaty-bellied Tesia = Tesia olivea=

N. 3, 7, 8= , 9

Perhaps ra= ther common. Often heard from trailside undergrowth. I had

eye-popping views of a bird belting out its song in the bamboo below Haldibari.

Another pl= ayed hide and seek with our cameras between Hornbill and Haldibari.

Often heard alon= g MV road and the path down to Deban FRH.

Thick-billed Warbler = Acrocephalus aedon<= /span>

D. 10

Common Tailorbird = Orthotomus sutorius=

K. 11-13

Dusky Warbler = Phylloscopus fuscat= us

D, K. 10, = 12 (M, S)

Smoky Warbler = Phylloscopus fuligi= venter (pic 1) (pic 2)

D. 10

Two in the elephant grass near a puddle at Dibru-Saikhowa.

Managed to get these couple of shabby photographs.

Appears to= be the subspecies _fuligiventer_

Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affini= s

K. 11

Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides

N. 5, 7. <= /p>

With mixed flocks in Namdapha

Yellow-vented Warbler = Phylloscopus cantat= or (N)

N. 4, 8.

Singly a c= ouple of times and with mixed flocks in Namdapha.

Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii

N, K. 9, 1= 1.

Grey-hooded Warbler = Seicercus xanthosch= istos

N. 7

Grey-cheeked Warbler = Seicercus poliogeny= s

N. 7, 8

Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps

N. 7

In a mixed= flock between Hornbill and Haldibari.

Broad-billed Warbler = Tickellia hodgsoni<= /span> (N)

N. 5 (VTi), 7 (MAg, SCh)

I had a gr= eat close looks at a bird that was in the same field of view as

a Grey-bel= lied Tesia in the bamboo below Haldibari. A brightly pluma= ged,

striking b= ird that the plates in guides don't do justice to. Mohit and Sujan

had a bird= in the same area on the way back.

Rufous-faced Warbler = Abroscopus albogula= ris

N. 4-8.

This beaut= iful little guy was gratifyingly common in Namdapha. Singly and

with mixed flocks.

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus supercil= iaris

N. 6, 8.

A bamboo specialist. In same-species flocks in bamboo past Bulbulia and

past Deban= on MV road.

Striated Grassbird = &nb= sp; Megalurus palustris=

N, D, K. 3= , 8-12

White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus

N, K h. 6 = (SCh), 12 h

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush = Garrulax monileger

N. 9 (VTi)

A flock on= MV road was the only sighting.

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis

N, K. 4-6,= 8, 9, 11

The most commonly seen Laughingthrush in Namdapha. In the morning they would

even come = to feed on top of a Coral tree outside Deban FRH where the photo above

was taken. Also at Kohora outside Kaziranga.

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush Garrulax ruficollis

N, K. 9, 1= 2

A flock dr= inking from a puddle on the Deban-Miao road.

Also a flo= ck in a bamboo covered ravine in the tea garden south of Wild Grass.

Red-faced Liocichla = Liocichla phoenicea=

N. 7.

A single bird with Mesias in the = bamboo below Deban (MAg, SCh).

Later 3 ne= ar a rivulet on the trek back to Deban.

Abbott's Babbler = Malacocincla abbotti

K. 12=

A c= ouple of sigthings in Panbari near the edge of the tea garden.

Puff-throated Babbler = Pellorneum ruficeps=

K. 12

White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus<= /span> schisticeps

K. 12 (VTi)

3 in a mix= ed flock with Rufous-necked L= aughingthrush in a bamboo covered ravine

in the tea garden south of Wild Grass.

Red-billed Scimitar Babbler P= omatorhinus ochraceiceps

N. 6 (VTi, MAg)

In the bamboo past Bulbulia (cf. Beautiful Nuthatch).<= /p>

Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler X= iphirhynchus superciliaris (N)

N. 6 (VTi)

In the bam= boo past Bulbulia (cf. Beautiful Nuthatch)

Pygmy Wren Babbler = Pnoepyga pusilla

N. 5 (VTi), 8h, 9

I had exce= llent naked-eye views (too close to focus with my bins!) at a

rufous morph that boldly hopped out in view in the ba= mboo below Haldibari.

What a fun= bird when viewed upclose! Later we had skulkers at other places.

Golden Babbler = Stachyris chrysaea<= /span>

N. 8.

First patc= h of bamboo along MV road, east of Deban.

Grey-throated Babbler = Stachyris nigriceps=

N. 7, 8.

In a mixed= -flock just below Haldibari. Also MV road.

Striped Tit Babbler = Macronous gularis

N, K. 9, 1= 1 h, 12, 13 h

Heard ofte= n in Namdapha and Kaziranga. Best views were at the tea-gardens.

Jerdon's Babbler = Chrysomma altirostr= e (V)

D. 10.

A trip highlight. A singing calling bird seen up close at the Black-breasted Parrotbill

spot on the north bank of the Dibru river.

Striated Babbler = Turdoides earlei

K. 11.

Silver-eared Mesia = Leiothrix argentaur= is

N. 4-9

One of the most beautiful & common birds in Namdapha. Groups of half a dozen or

more with = mixed and same species flocks.

Black-headed Shrike Babbler P= teruthius rufiventer (N)

N. 6 (VTi, MAg)

A trip highlight. In the bamboo past Bulbulia (cf. Beautiful Nuthatch).

White-browed Shrike Babbler P= teruthius flaviscapis

N. 6

Blue-winged Minla = Minla cyanouroptera=

N. 4,5,7

A common component of mixed-species canopy flocks.

Red-tailed Minla = Minla ignotincta

N. 4, 5, 7=

A common component of mixed-species canopy flocks.

Rufous-throated Fulvetta = Alcippe rufogularis= (N)

N. 7

A pair for= aging close to the ground near Haldibari.

Nepal Fulvetta = Alcippe nipalensis

N. 5, 6, 7=

Mos= tly in same-species flocks.

Rufous-backed Sibia = Heterophasia annect= ens

N. 8 (VTi)

Creeping on a moss-covered branch. With a large mixed = flock

at a bridg= e on MV road, approx. 3-4 kms past Deban. This was t= he farthest

east I got= to on MV road. This was a great spot with a creek surrounded by

beautiful = mixed vegetation (bamboo, tree ferns, wild banana, moss-covered trees etc.)

Beautiful Sibia = Heterophasia pulche= lla

N. 3-9

One of the= most common and visible birds in Namdapha.

Long-tailed Sibia = Heterophasia picaoi= des

N. 4-9.

Common in Namdapha. Always in groups of half-a-dozen or more. These birds flying

follow-the-leader style from one tree to the other will be one of th= e

lasting im= ages from the trip.

White-naped Yuhina = Yuhina bakeri

N. 5 (VTi). A flock at Haldibari was the only sighting.

Whiskered Yuhina = Yuhina flavicollis<= /span>

N. 8. MV r= oad.

Black-chinned Yuhina = Yuhina nigrimenta

N. 3, 6. D= eban and Hornbill.

White-bellied Yuhina = Yuhina zantholeuca<= /span>

N. 4-7. Common component of mixed flocks.

Black-breasted Parrotbill<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Paradoxornis flavirostris= (V)

D. 10

North bank= of Dibru river. Would have been a major trip highlight

had we got= good looks. Only had the backs of 3 birds that dove into cover.

Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps (N)

D. 6 (VTi, MAg)

In the bamboo past Bulbulia (cf. Beautiful Nuthatch).<= /p>

Rufous-winged Bushlark Mirafra assamica

K. 11, 12 = (Bengal Bushlark).

Oriental Skylark = Alauda gulgula

D. 10

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker D= icaeum cruentatum

K. 11. Wild Grass gardens.

Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata<= /span>

N. 5 (f), = 6, 8

Crimson Sunbird = Aethopyga siparaja<= /span>

N, K. 5-6(= f), 12, 13

= Streaked Spiderhunter = Arachnothera magna

N. 3-9

Gratifying= ly common in Namdapha especially along MV road - singles

flying overhead, giving their metallic "tchirk" call.

House Sparrow = Passer domesticus

N. K. 9, 1= 1-13.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow = Passer montanus

N, D, K. 3= , 10, 12

White Wagtail = Motacilla alba

N, D, K. 3= , 8-13

including ssp. _leucopsis_ and _dukhunensis_

White-browed Wagtail = Motacilla maderaspa= tensis

N, K. 3, 4= , 7, 11

Citrine Wagtail = Motacilla citreola

D. 10 _calcarata_ ssp. at Dibrua-saikh= owa.

Grey Wagtail = Motacilla cinerea

K. 13

Paddyfield Pipit = Anthus rufulus

D. 10

Oli= ve-backed Pipit = Anthus hodgsoni

N, K. 9, 1= 2

Butterflie= s:

Many, but unfortunately none of us knew much about butterflies.

Would appreciate hearing about the correct species identification.

Folded = underwing, _Kallima inachus_ Orange Oakleaf Hornbill Camp, Namdapha NP

An amazing= mimic of a dead oak leaf.

Open = upperwing, _Kallima inachus_ Orange Oakleaf

Popinjay = Stibochiona nicea MV Road

Species 3 Deban

Punchinello= = Zemeros flegyas MV = Road

Red Lacewing &nbs= p; Cethosia biblis MV = Road

Mammals:

<= o:p>

T= iger = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Panthera tigris

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N h, 3 h. =

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Moh= it heard this first near the temple on MV road just before Deban. It sounded <= /p>

pretty clo= se. Later the park staff told us that a Tiger is known to frequent that area.

Yellow-throated Marten = Martes flavigula

N. 5

Mongoose species (most likely Indian Grey Mongoose, Herpestes edwardsii)

&nb= sp; N. 5, 9

Fruit-bat species

N. 10. (Fulvous Flying-Fox Rousett= es leschenaultia ?)

Hoary-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Callosciurus pygerythrus

N, K. 5, 1= 1

Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Dremonys lokriah

N, K. 5, 6= , 8, 9, 13

Himalayan Striped Squirrel = Tamiops mcclellandii

N. 5=

Black (Malayan) Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor (pic 1) (pic 2)

N, K= . 4, 7, 9, 13. Multiple sightings. The best photo-op was at Deban on the first

morn= ing, where these photos were taken.

Namdapha Flying Squirrel = Bisw= amoyopterus biswasi

N. 5= , 7, 8.

(A n= ew genus and species described by S. S. Saha in 19= 81 from a specimen collected

at D= eban.)

Just= after dark at Hornbill Camp, we heard something move in the tree above the

rema= ining hut at the campsite (the other hut was burnt down a few months ago).

Mana= ged to get the squirrel in our torches and it was cooperative enough to let us

good= looks and check out the id marks which we later compared to the description in

Vive= k Menon’s new mammal field guide.

Late= r also seen on two nights on the path that goes from Deban FRH to MV road.

Hog-Badger = &nb= sp; = Arctonyx collaris

N. 6= (SCh)

Betw= een Hornbill and Bulbulia. Sujan saw it cross the trail while Mohit and I

were trying to photograph a flowering bromeliad.

Slow Loris

One = seen on two nights on the path that goes from Deban FRH to MV road.

Same tree both nights. Great views (the animal doesn’t move in a hurry as = its

name implies), but not enough light to get any photos.

Hoolock Gibbon = &nb= sp; Hylobates hoolock (M= ale) (Female= )

N, D h. 4, 5, 7 h, 8 h, 9, 10 h

The only non-human ape in India. Hearing its loud, resounding, haunting calls

emanating from within the rainforest and then seeing t= heir acrobatic displays is

a thrill that can’t adequately be described in words. A pair that appea= rs to hang

around Deban FRH provided this great photo-op.

Also a troop seen near Haldibari. Also heard at Dibru-Saikhowa.

Capped Langur = &nb= sp; Semnopithecus pilea= tus

N, K. 4, 5 h, 8, 13

Seen at Deban. Also Panbari forest. Grey phase both times.

A= ssamese Macaque = Macaca assamensis

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> N. 10. MV road, near the park entrance.

Rhesus Macaque = &nb= sp; Macac= a mulatta=

K. 11.

Indian Elephant = &nb= sp; Elephas maximus

K. 11, 12

The only sign in Namdapha was of the domestic elephants.

Multiple sightings in Kaziranga. Females with young. Lone tuskers.

A pair mating out in the open, providing all kinds of photo-ops.

Also heard one in Panbari.

Indian Rhinoceros = &nb= sp; Rhinoceris unicorni= s

= K. 11, 12 <= /span>

Wild Boar = &nb= sp; = Sus scrofa

= K. 11, 12

I= ndian Muntjac = &nb= sp; Muntiacus muntjac

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> = N h. 7-9 h

H= og Deer = &nb= sp; = Axis porcinus

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> = 11, 12. K

S= wamp Deer = &nb= sp; = Cervus duvaucelli

<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> = 11, 12. K

Water Buffalo = &nb= sp; Bubalus arnce

= K. 11, 12

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