Mt. Kabru from Pelling, Sikkim

I spent nine days in North Bengal and Sikkim on a photographic trip with friends from Bangalore. We visited Pelling, Sikkim (7000ft), Biksthang, Western Sikkim (4000 ft), Rishyap, Lava (8000 ft) and Gorumara (plains). I also spent an extra day at Sukna in the Mahananda WLS, West Bengal (foothills). The attached list of 190 birds were observed during the trip. 

The objective of the trip being primarily photographic, bird counts would be lower than expected as time was devoted to procure images. The best bird on the trip was a pair of Silver-eared Mesia's at Chapramari, a significant record for the area. A Spot-winged Rosefinch at Rishyap and a Crimson-browed Finch at Pelling were also important sightings from the area. 

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra airport (p.m.) and travel by road to Sukna ( 1/2 hr). Stay at Sukna Forest Bungalow.
Day 2: a.m. birding at Sukna and Phulbari Barrage, Siliguri. Drive to Pemayangtse, Sikkim. Stay at Mount Pandim Hotel, Pemayangtse, Sikkim. 
Day 3: Birding near Sanga Chelling monastery area and Rabadantse. Night at Pemayangtse.
Day 4: a.m. birding near hotel. Drive to Biksthang, western Sikkim (2 hrs). Stay at Bliss Resort, Biksthang.
Day 5: a.m. birding at Biksthang. Afternoon drive to Kalimpong. Stay at Silver Oaks, Kalimpong.
Day 6: a.m. birding Algarah Road area, Lava. Aftrenoon at Rishyap (8200ft). Overnight at Rishyap Tourist Center.
Day 7: Full day birding Rishyap. Depart for Gorumara. Overnight at Gorumara Jungle Camp.
Day 8: Full day birding at Gorumara National Park and Chapramari area.
Day 9: Depart for Bagdogra after morning birding on the Mahakal trail.

Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra and transit to Sukna Forest Rest House. No birding possible.
Day 2: Birded the bird rich Sukna area of the Mahananda WLS, West Bengal. Of note were feeding flocks of Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, Lineated Barbets, an Asian Barred Owlet, both Greater Flameback and Yellownapes. This riverside habitat on the way to Darjeeling is a must visit for birders. 40 species in a couple of hours work.
Day 3: We birded the route to Sanga Chelling monastery which was extremely disturbed due to ongoing construction activity. We dipped on both the Myzornis and Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler (our main targets) but managed a male Golden Bush Robin. The afternoon threw up a Crimson-browed Finch, a Maroon Oriole and a Yellow-cheeked Tit near the hotel.
Day 4:  A Dark-rumped Rosefinch, the usual Fulvettas and Sibias and flocks of Yellow-breasted Greenfinch were noted before we left Pelling. On the way to Biksthang a riverside stop produced a Crested Kingfisher, a Little Forktail and a Blue Rock Thrush showing intermediate plumage ( a mix of pandoo and philippensis). 
Day 5: Biksthang had a Common Buzzard and over-flying Steppe Eagles. Another Asian Barred Owlet here made it 3 in a row (one was seen at Pelling too). A stop on the way to Kalimpong produced a large flock of feeding Hill Mynas and a hunting party had all three Minlas and a Yellow-bellied Fantail. The last stop produced a Slaty-backed Forktail.
Day 6: Lava produced good birds as usual. The day started with the amazing site of 400-500 Black Bulbuls wheeling overhead in tight circles. Black Bulbuls were very common throughout the trip. Key birds noted include: Plain-backed Thrush, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Striated and Mountain Bulbul, Hoary and Rusty-fronted Barwings, Maroon-backed Accentor and Blue-winged Laughingthrush. 
Day 7: Rishyap is usually a great place to bird but the numbers were down on this visit. Of note here were a female Spot-winged Rosefinch, a Dark-breasted Rosefinch, numerous Rufous-breasted Accentors, a pair of Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers and a Dark-throated Thrush. It was also interesting to observe Red-vented Bulbuls and Long-tailed Shrikes (l.s. tricolor) at this height (8200ft)in December. This would be a record for the Red-vented which is known to go up to 7000ft. 
Day 8: Gorumara National Park and the Range Office produced Streak-throated Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Collared Falconet, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Short-billed Minivet, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Green-billed Malkoha, Lesser Adjutant and an immature Black Stork. The Chapramari area had some good species including the very rarely seen (in the area) Silver-eared Mesia. Collared Falconets and a Rufous Woodpecker were also of interest. The Gorumara Jungle Camp had a visiting Brown Hawk Owl to cap the day.
Day 9: Morning birding on the Mahakal trail yielded a Blue-naped Monarch and many Crimson Sunbirds. The river Teesta held a pair of Ruddy Shelducks and a female Common Merganser.