Bhutan

Amalee and I went on holiday to Bhutan from 20th-27th Oct.  This was our first visit to this amazing country, and our itinerary was by no means birding-focused (the one thing I did ask our guide to sort out was Ibisbill but much to my dismay we dipped), so I just picked up what I could along the way. Our itinerary took in Paro, Thimpu, Punakha and the Haa Valley. 

Bhutan is an amazingly beautiful country, with very limited infrastructural development (all our travel was on winding mountain roads), and hotels of varying quality (depending on what was available in each place we visited).

I'll write more and add photos when time allows over the next few days, but for now I include an annotated systematic list f birds and mammals we encountered...

Birds seen

Kalij Pheasant

A pair seen crossing the road at about 2,800m between Cheli La Pass and Paro.

Speckled Piculate

One seen with a mixed flock at Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Hoopoe

One seen at Punakha and one seen at Paro.

Common Kingfisher

One seen on the river at Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Crested Kingfisher

One seen on the river at Punakha Dzong.  Two seen on the river at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Himalayan Swiftlet

Several seen over Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten near Punakha.

Snow Pigeon

A flock of 15-20 birds seen around the Tigers Nest. An unexpected bonus after dipping them at the Cheli La pass.

Speckled Wood Pigeon

A flock of approximately ten birds seen flying over the upper Paro Valley at Drukgyel Dzong.

Oriental Turtle Dove

Common and seen at all sites we visited below 3,000 metres

 

Common Sandpiper

One seen on the river at Punakha Dzong.

River Lapwing

Three seen on the river at Punakha Dzong.

Black-eared Kite

One hunting over the riverside at Punakha Dzong.

Northern Goshawk

One seen well overhead as we trekked up to the Tigers Nest.  An apparently large accipiter seen over the Paro river next day seems likely to have been this species.

Himalayan Buzzard (ssp. refectus)

Two seen over pasture near Chimi Lhakhang (the temple of the Divine Madman) and one seen at Paro.

Rufous-bellied Eagle

One juv seen over forest at about 2,800 m, below Dochu La Pass.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Two seen at Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten near Punakha

Eurasian Hobby

One juv seen over Punakha Dzong

Eurasian Kestrel

Widespread, seen in many locations.

Peregrine (ssp. calidus)

One seen over the Tiger’s Nest

Great Cormorant

Three seen fishing on the river at Punaka

Long-tailed Shrike

One near Punakha Dzong

Grey-backed Shrike

One at Punakha and several around Paro.

Yellow-billed Blue-magpie

Widespread and regular in forest up to 3,100m

Spotted Nutcracker

Common around Thimpu (where I saw about 20 from our hotel balcony, whilst they fed on walnuts in a neighbouring garden), also seen in the Haa Valley and around Paro.

Red-billed Chough

Seen in the Haa Valley and around Paro Dzong

House Crow

Seen in Thimpu

Large-billed Crow

Seen at several sites

Common Raven

One group of four birds seen in the Paro Valley

Long-billed Minivet

One male seen on the trek up to the Tiger’s Nest

Scarlet Minivet

Seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Brown Dipper

Seen on all fast flower rivers visited during the trip – seemingly very common.

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

One seen on the trek up to the Tiger’s Nest.

Rufous-breasted Bush Robin

One female seen in the Haa Valley.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Seen in the garden of the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Hodgson’s Redstart

Commonly seen at many sites.

Blue-fronted Redstart

Several seen in the Haa Valley, including three splendid males.

White-capped Water Redstart

Seen all fast flower rivers visited during the trip – seemingly very common.

Plumbeous Water Redstart

Seen all fast flower rivers visited during the trip – seemingly very common.

Little Forktail

Seen on the river at Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Slaty-backed Forktail

Seen on the river at Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Siberian Stonechat

One seen near Chimi Lhakhang (the temple of the Divine Madman).

Common Myna

Several seen near Chimi Lhakhang (the temple of the Divine Madman).

White-tailed Nuthatch

Seen in forest below Cheri Goemba, Thimpu.

Wallcreeper

One flew thought by field of view whilst watching Snow Pigeons at the Tiger’s Nest!  It showed for a couple of minutes of pure ecstasy.

Rusty-flanked Treecreeper

One seen in a mixed flock in forest below Cheri Goemba, Thimpu

Rufous-vented Tit

One seen in a mixed flock at Dochu La Pass

Coal Tit

Several seen below the Tiger’s Nest.

Grey-crested Tit

One seen below the Tiger’s Nest.

Green-backed Tit

Seen at most sites visited.

Yellow-browed Tit

Three seen in a mixed flock in forest below Cheri Goemba, Thimpu.

Red-vented Bulbul

Seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue and other nearby sites at the same altitude.

Black Bulbul

Seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Oriental White-eye
Seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Grey-sided Bush-warbler

Two birds seen – One in the Haa Valley and one in the Paro Valley.  Thanks to James Eaton for confirming the ID via BirdForum.

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler

Seemingly common in suitable scrub in the Haa Valley and Paro Valley.  In both locations I found flocks of this species at dawn, perhaps suggesting communal roosting?

Hume’s Leaf Warbler

Seen in forest below Cheri Goemba, Thimpu.

Whistler’s Warbler

One seen below the Tiger’s Nest.

Grey-hooded Warbler

Several seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler

One seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Red-billed Leiothrix

Seen in forest below Cheri Goemba, Thimpu.

White-browed Fulvetta

Two seen in a mixed flock at Dochu La Pass.

Stripe-throated Yuhina

Several seen in a mixed flock at Dochu La Pass.

Rufous-vented Yuhina

seen in a mixed flock at Dochu La Pass

Rufous Sibia

Seen at several sites between 2,000 and 3,000 meters altitude

Brown Parrotbill

One flock encountered in the Haa Valley gave excellent view just before dusk.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Several seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Russet Sparrow

Seen well several times around Paro

Rufous-breasted Accentor

This attractive accentor seemed common in scrub between 2,000 and 3,000 meters.

White Wagtail

Seemingly common around Paro and Thimpu

White-browed Wagtail

One pair seen on the Paro River at about 2,300 meters. This is rather intriguing because Inskipp, Inskipp and Grimmett give the altitudinal range as being below 350 meters.  These birds were seen well but rather briefly, but I am certain of the ID (potentially confusable races of White Wag were considered but quickly discounted).  HBW gives the altitudinal range as up to 2,200 m in southern India, and 915m in the north.

Olive-backed Pipit

Seen and heard around Paro several times

Scaly-breasted Munia

Seen at the Kichu resort, Wangdue.

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

Seen around Paro twice.

Red Crossbill

Several seen overhead and calling, on the way to Cheli La Pass from the Haa Valley.

Brown Bullfinch

One or two seen in in a mixed flock in forest below Cheri Goemba, near Thimpu.

Red-headed Bullfinch

A stonking male seen on the way to Cheli La Pass from the Haa Valley.

Mammals seen

Otter spp. – one seen eating a fish in the river at Punakha Dzong. It appeared quite large (even at considerable distance) so I assume this was a Eurasian Otter.

Brown Goral – many seen at close range at Cheri Goemba, Thimpu.  They have become habituated to the monks, who feed them.

Grey Langur – seen at several sites