Bhutan Part 4

Saturday 21^st

It almost felt like a lie-in this morning as we met at 5.30 for coffee and biscuits before a 5.45 departure. We spent the whole day birding the local forests from the road, firstly a spur then the main highway which heads to eastern Bhutan. It’s not exactly like the M1 as there is usually very little traffic and the road was closed for much of the day due to bridge repairs.

There was low cloud and the occasional spell of light rain but it didn’t hamper us too much, although at times the light was fairly poor. We heard the ‘brain-fever bird’ before we left the hotel, AKA Large Hawk-Cuckoo and passed a Kalij Pheasant as drove to our first stop.

During the day we’d randomly try different spots and walk for a bit before moving on. Several mixed flocks went through, typically led by a Drongo. It could sometimes be difficult getting on everything in the fast-moving flocks but we caught up with most birds by the end of the day. We did try for a few skulking birds but didn’t have much luck as they refused to break cover.

Golden-throated Barbet

Orange-bellied Leafbird

Greater Yellownape

It proved to be a very productive day with over thirty new birds for the trip including Rusty-fronted Barwing, White-crested Laughingthrush, Himalayan Cutia, Grey-headed and White-breasted Parrotbills, Nepal Fulvetta, Black-chinned Yuhina, Maroon-backed Accentor and Blue-bearded Bee-eater. The two best birds of the day are restricted to this part of the Himalayas: Ward’s Trogon and Rufous-necked Hornbill and we got really long looks at both.

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Ward's Trogon (female)

Grey-chinned Minivet

Yellow-cheeked Tit - like a punky Blue Tit

Crimson-naped Woodpecker

Crimson-backed Accentor

White-naped Yuhina

Rufous-necked Hornbill

Another monkey was added to the trip list - Capped Langur. We got back at 5.30 and were the only guests in the hotel for dinner. We were also joined by Chris’s missing luggage much to his relief.

Capped Langur

Sunday 22^nd

Our last full day at high elevation on this part of the trip; we had coffee and biscuits at 5.30 and left at 5.45. We drove up the road into the forest, making several stops and walking along the road. Being Sunday, the road wasn’t closed for construction but there was still very little traffic.

Most of these forested ridges are unexplored

Birding along the road

Ashes are often placed on roadside ledges

Terraced farming

The pair of Rufous-necked Hornbills were still in the same tree and Great Barbets perched up high calling continuously. 

Verditer Flycatcher

Rufous-necked Hornbills

A flock of Speckled Woodpigeons also perched up on the treetops before flying off to feed. Several bird flocks were encountered and at long last most of us managed decent looks at Golden Babbler. Black-chinned Prinia was new for the trip, as was a Rufous-bellied Eagle that soared over with a pair of Mountain Hawk-Eagles.

After lunch we drove down past the hotel to a more open area at a lower elevation. On the way we stopped at a viewpoint where we were entertained by a Green Magpie. 

Common Green Magpie

Other new birds lower down included Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Streaked Spiderhunter and a large flock of Himalayan Swiftlets. A vivid splash of colour was provided by very close views of a Crimson Sunbird.

Himalayan Swiftlets

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush

Silhouetted (Streaked) Spiderhunter

Crimson Sunbird

We finished the day with a superb pair of Tawny Fish Owls, roosting high up in gallery forest and as we walked back to the bus, an obliging male Kalij Pheasant by the side of the track. 

Tawny Fish-Owl

Kalij Pheasant

After dinner some of us went out owling. We drove up the road a short way but only heard a Mountain Scops-Owl. However, spotlighting found us two new mammals: a superb Leopard Cat that was busy scoffing down a newly caught squirrel and a Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel. 

Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel

Leopard Cat, filmed by our driver