Himalayan Griffon

This report covers a short break in the Eastern Himalayas, the prime aim being to photograph some of the birds in the area. I covered Lava (8000 ft) Loylegaon (6500 ft) and Suntalekhola (2500 ft) in North Bengal over 4 days. The attached list of 120 birds were observed during the trip. Many species could not be identified due to the focus on photography plus the fact that there were no additional observers present.  
The weather overall was cloudy, but luckily it only rained at night. This delayed starts and affected the count. Even then, I did get to see some good birds, none better than a male Rusty-bellied Shortwing at Loylegaon.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra (p.m.) and travel by road to Lava ( 3 hrs). Stay at West Bengal Forest Dev. Dept.'s Nature Resort Cottage.
Day 2: Lava  covering Algarah Road (4th - 6th mile) and approach to Neora. Afternoon to Loylegaon (21 kms) and stay at WBFDD's Rest House.
Day 3: Morning Loylegaon, Jhandidara Peak area. Noon depart for Suntalekhola via Lava and Damdim. Stay at  WBFDD's Cottage.
Day 4: Morning Suntalekhola.  Depart for Bagdogra and Kolkata.

Highlights:
Day 1: A short detour to the Siliguri garbage dump area was very rewarding with 200+ Himalayan Griffons and a Cinereous Vulture.
Day 2: Morning start with the 1st bird being a pair of Rufous-capped Babblers at the 4th Mile on Algarah Road. Other good birds included fly through Speckled Wood Pigeons, Red-tailed Minla, Maroon-backed Accentor, Golden Spectacled Warbler and pair of Small Niltavas. Drive to the village yielded Grey-winged and White-collared Blackbirds plus a few Dark-sided Flycatchers. A 10am visit to the lower part of the approach to Neora Valley National Park was very disappointing.  A 4 km walk through heavily degraded forests yielded 3 birds. A similar walk from the upper reaches in November 03 was as disappointing.
Left for Loylegaon in the afternoon and stopped at the secluded viewpoint. This was very rewarding with all three Minla species, both Barwings, Kalij Pheasant, Short-billed Minivet and Whiskered Yuhina plus Warblers and Green-tailed Sunbirds.
Day 3: AM visit to Jhandidara viewpoint had Olive-backed Pipit, Blue-winged Minla, Red-faced Liocichla, Grey-chinned Minivet, Hume's and Grey-hooded Warbler and the star of the trip, a male Rusty-bellied Shortwing in a gully on the cattle path leading off the viewpoint. The Rest House had a Tickell's Leaf Warbler and the only Black-throated Tit of the trip.
The return visit to the viewpoint on the road to Lava yielded Grey-cheeked Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Yellow-browed Tit, White-browed Fulvetta and many other small birds.
5th mile on Algarah Road had Striated Bulbul and a striking  Gold-naped Finch pair.
Day 4: Four birding hours yielded both species of Necklaced Laughing Thrushes, Himalyan Swiftlet, Common Green Magpie, White-crested and White-throated Laughing Thrush, Greater Yellownape, Spangled and Ashy Drongo, Hill Myna, Red Jungle Fowl, Maroon Oriole, Crested Serpent Eagle, Scarlet Minivet and the 1st Grey Treepie and Black Bulbul of the trip. The Treepie and Black Bulbul was the most common bird at all altitudes during our November visit. 
A single soaring White-rumped Vulture on the way back from Suntalekhola was the only sighting of this endangered species.