Itinerary
Sunday 11th February:
Flew to Guwahati from Amritsar via Delhi. Stopped off at
Deepor Beel for Fulvous Whistling Duck - no luck. P.m. went to see
Greater Adjutants at Ulubari Bazar opposite the Rhino Club.
Monday 12th February:
A.m. visited the Forest Dept Office Guwahati for permit to
Dibru-Saikhowa which proved unnecessary (see later).
Tuesday 13th February:
A.m. flew to Dibrugarh. Bus to Dibrugarh town, then bus to
Tinsukia. Visited DFO Tinsukia. Spent 2 hours in Dibru-Saikhowa.
Wednesday 14th February -
18th February:
Dibru-Saikhowa.
Monday 19th February:
Bus to Digboi. Arranged accommodation with Mr. Koneru.
Met the Lotts who were on a bird photography trip and arranged to
share transport next day. Spent p.m. birding around the Guest House
and golf course.
Tuesday 20th February -
24th February
Digboi
Sunday 25th February
Digboi. Came back early, caught evening bus to Kaziranga.
Arrived late in evening. Phoned Wildgrass who picked me up from
Kohora.
Monday 26th February
Jeep all day in Western Range.
Tuesday 27th February
A.m. jeep in Central Range. P.m. Panbari.
Wednesday 28th February
Manju Barua, the Wildgrass owner, gave me a lift to Nagaon.
Bus to Lanka. Bus to Haflong. (15 hr trip).
Thursday 1st March
Jatinga below the village and the lower slopes without guide.
Arranged a guide with the headman's nephew for next day.
Friday 2nd March
Jatinga Ham Pu Ped peak with the headman's nephew and friend.
Saturday 3rd March
Explored above Ratzol, past the first village and almost to
the radio tower.
Sunday 4th March
Jatinga Ham Pu Ped peak.
Monday 5th March
Jatinga Ham Pu Ped peak, returning early. Caught evening bus
to Guwahati.
Tuesday 6th March
Early bus to Shillong. Explored top of Old Guwahati Rd.
Wednesday 7th March
Taxi to Cherrapunji and Mawphlang sacred grove.
Thursday 8th March
A.m. taxi to Mawphlang. P.m. walked down from the football
field on Shillong Peak and the last hour on Old Guwahati Rd.
Friday 9th March
Early morning, shared jeep, direct to Guwahati airport, flew
Calcutta-Bombay-London-Manchester.
Reports Used
I relied heavily on the excellent
report and incredibly detailed list of Jon Hornbuckle with Des
Allen, Paul Holt and Krys Kazmierczak from 17th Feb-14th March 1998
which is available from OBC. The first part (not including the list)
can be found on the web. I also needed Birdwatcher's Guide to India
by Krys Kazmierczak and Raj Singh. I had taken some notes from the
Swedish report by Per Alstrom (Regulus tour) from February 1994
which my girlfriend kindly translated. Later Per sent me his notes
by e-mail. The report by Henk Hendriks from March 7th - April 20th
1998 available on OB files has some good notes on Nameri, which is
definitely worth a visit. I also had some notes from Steve Smith
with Cygnus tours who visited Manas and Kaziranga in 1988.
I also have just
read the OBC Bulletin # 32 where in "From the Field" Craig Robson
saw the following birds. Tawny-breasted Wren Babbler (above Shillong,
near Mawphlang and near Mawjrong 12-15th April), Russet Bush Warbler
(common above Shillong and heard at Mawphlang on 15th April), 2
Purple Cochoa and 2 Green Cochoa (at Jatinga on 18th April).
Per Alstrom also saw the following at Jatinga. Slender-billed
Oriole, Red-faced Liochichla, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Beautiful
Nuthatch, Sapphire Flycatcher, Pigmy Blue Flycatcher and Long-billed
Wren Babbler.
Assam is a place it would be
difficult to visit only once!
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Krys Kazmierczak
for his help in planning the trip and with this report. Also thanks
to Manju Barua and the staff at Wildgrass, particularly for the
extended loan of a neck-brace!
Weather
I had good weather. It rained quite
heavily on the day I left Tinsukia and I lost a few hours birding
with some showers whilst at Digboi. This seemed to help the leeches
but otherwise it was fine.
Accommodation
Guwahati: Hotel
Trimurti not recommended; it is 150 rps for a single but is very
dirty. I moved to the Gitanjali nearby, for 300 rps for a single.
The rooms are nice but the promised and much needed shower in the
morning was not forthcoming. They should have their plumbing
problems sorted out by now. Also good were the Maharaja 400rps for a
single and the Vikash International 528rps for a single (all
nearby). The new snack bar near the Nandan has a new hotel being
built above, which should be ready by next year and should be
reasonable.
Tinsukia: There was no room in
Guijan available (although I later found out a tent was available).
I stayed at the Hotel Jyoti for 320 rps for a single. It had 24 hour
hot water.
Kaziranga:
The Wildgrass Lodge has
to be the most hospitable place I have ever visited in India. I was
taken care of "above and beyond the call of duty". I only wish I had
spent more time there and not the two days wasted in Guwahati. I
stayed in the Thatch Lodge for 300rps. Wildgrass Reservations in
Guwahati tel # is 0361 546827. New fax # 0361 630465. The tel # for
Wildgrass itself is 03776 62011. E-mail <wildgrss@gw1.vsnl.net.in>
See transport on how to get there.
Digboi Oilfield: Best
to write or e-mail Mr S. R. Koneru the Chief Administration Manager
before you arrive. His new e-mail address is KoneruSR@iocl.co.in Tel
# 03751 64715. Fax # 03751 64715. As a
guest of IOC, I stayed at their guest house ('Central Transit
Accommodation'). I had a great room for 450rps. It should be 650rps
but through some mix up I managed to get a concession. It would be
great if you could take any old optics or field guides for
educational use at the reserve.
Haflong: Stayed at
the Government Circuit House. It was about 100rps a night and they
cook whatever food you want. Don't leave any valuables in your room,
especially if Ganesh Chetri is still the manager.
Shillong: I stayed at
the Alpine Continental and they gave me a reduced price, as I was
nearly broke after having been robbed in Haflong. I think I paid
about 450 rps.
Transport
One way to fly
cheaply if you have time, is to get a foreign registration
certificate from the police. With this you can fly Indian prices
with most internal flights, unless they are flying on to an outside
destination. I flew to Dibrugarh and then used buses for all the
long trips. This was not for the expense; the buses are more
comfortable. The smaller vehicles swerve around all the potholes,
whereas the buses just ride straight over them. The one bus journey
which was very uncomfortable was from Digboi to Kaziranga where the
bus drives very fast and the bumps in the road gave me multiple
whiplash. Strangely the slower the bus the more easy the ride. I am
recovering from a ruptured disk so I know! The roads are very bad
except from Guwahati to about half way to Digboi.
>
From Digboi to Kaziranga, get off
at the turn off for Wildgrass if you are staying there (phone for
description). It is also very good to phone to tell them you are
coming, so they can be ready to pick you up. If you get dropped off
at Kohora you have a long walk (5½Km) back to Wildgrass. Wildgrass
Tel # 03776 62011. See accommodation for Wildgrass bookings.
>
From Dibrugarh
airport to Tinsukia you only need to get to the main road and flag
down a bus, (no need to go all the way to Dibrugarh which is in the
opposite direction).
>
Short trips for
early birding (when no buses are running) need to book. At
Dibru-Saikhowa you need to book a taxi to take you from Tinsukia to
Guijan (I paid 200rps). Returning from Guijan can be a bit of a
hassle after dark (last bus at around 5.30) but you can still
usually get a jeep for 120rps+. From Haflong to Jatinga (100rps) or
Ratzol (about 200rps) you also need to book an auto rickshaw. These
prices are higher than normal but you need to give some incentive to
get someone up early and to be on time. A few rupees could make the
difference between a disastrous waste of time and an excellent
morning birding!
At Digboi you need to hire a car but it would be possible to get
dropped off and then get picked up later. I did that on my last day
at Digboi. The car should cost 500rps per day plus petrol. It was
about 800rps per day. At Digboi I shared transport with Eric and
Chris Lott and Albert Van Stekelenburg.
>
At Kaziranga the
jeep was 1100rps for a day and 600rps for a half day.
>
Kaziranga to Haflong.
I got an early morning start with Manju Barua the owner of Wildgrass
who gave me a lift to Nagaon. From here I got on a "direct" bus to
Haflong but it actually only went to Lanka. At Lanka I had to wait 2
or 3 hours for the Haflong bus. Lanka had never seen a foreigner
before and the whole town stopped for three hours to watch me
waiting for a bus!! The hill people were luckily much less
dumbstruck and I had a great time as they all seem to speak good
English, and seemed to think it the most natural thing in the world
that I should be walking around their hills (very nice people).
There was however one old lady who I am sure thought she had met a
devil as she ran away after we passed on the track up from Ratzol.
To get back on subject, don't go via Nagaon and Lanka the whole trip
took 15 hrs with 2 breakdowns and repairs with pieces of string on
the steering? brakes? Get the evening bus to Guwahati and then get
the morning direct bus to Haflong.
>
Haflong to Shillong. On the map it is a short distance from
Garampani to Shillong and the bus from Haflong to Guwahati actually
goes through Garampani. I was sorely tempted to try this route but I
wouldn't want to spend a night here (after a taste of Lanka) and so
it would need a jeep or taxi and I found them too bad on my back. I
took the evening bus to Guwahati and then the early morning bus to
Shillong.
>
Haflong-Silchar. As Krys says in his book you can get from
Silchar (where there is an airport) to Haflong but it must be a
terrible road because this is a continuation of the road from
Haflong to Ratzol which is very bad. I considered this as a route to
Guwahati but after seeing the road from Haflong to Ratzol gave up
that idea.
Site Information
Dibru-Saikhowa
The most
important news here is that you can now get your permit at Tinsukia
DFO or even Guijan RFO and there is no need to apply for it in
Guwahati. I still think it is a good idea to connect with the DFO at
Tinsukia as he is very interested in meeting birders and wants to
know about the birds in the National Park/Bio-sphere Reserve. He
also seems keen to make the park a bit more birder friendly as
regards getting around, accommodation etc. and he is interested in
getting feedback.
Address:
Divisional Forest Officer; Tinsukia
Wildlife Division
Boroguri P.O.; Tinsukia;
Assam - 786125
Tel. 333082 (residence); 331472 (office)
Guijan address:
Guijan Wildlife Range
P.O. Rangagora; District. Tinsukia;
Assam - 786147
The park fees are 175 rps per day which includes an obligatory armed
Forest Guard. They are paid a good wage (by Indian standards) of
4500 rps per month, which is worth bearing in mind if you want to
tip.
The area around Kolomi is good but is quite a trip, as first you
have to wake up the boatman to get across the river. He charged
30rps for myself, guard and a porter (as I needed to take care with
my bad back). Then you have to wade across some small streams to get
off the "island" before entering the forest before Kolomi. The
second ferry of former years has gone but the river could easily
change course yet again. There is also a second way to Kolomi which
is quicker and has different habitat (no forest). I would recommend
flip-flops for wading the streams, otherwise you are putting your
boots on and off all the time (another back killer). The last ferry
back is very variable (about dusk) and no matter what, I always
seemed to spend a long time waiting for the boatman. It is a bit of
a drag when you know you are also going to miss the last bus.
Accommodation at Guijan or one of the camps would make everything a
lot easier but they are all used by the guards. Of course if the
guards are stopping the poaching this is hard to find fault with.
About 4 Km east of the northern ferry landing (i.e. on the "island")
is Raidan Camp where I saw Jerdon's Babbler and heard a possible
"Swamp" Prinia Prinia (burnesii) cinerascens. It is also supposed to
be good for Marsh Babbler. This must be near the area where Craig
Robson writes in OBC Bulletin 32 "From the Field", that he saw in
March 2000 "a pair and two single Black-breasted Parrotbills...on
the north bank of the Dibru River, c.5km east north-east of Guijan
on 30th -31st Marc" and he adds "look in the tall grass and dried up
back-waters/pools behind the north bank (opposite Dighaltrang
Village)" (pers. com.). In OBC Bulletin 32 he continues "and two
singing "Swamp" Prinias Prinia (burnesii) cinerascens (one paired)
were found on the south bank of the Dibru River c.2-3km east of
Guijan on 30th March".
There is a local guide nicknamed Benu who lives in Guijan (you can
just ask in the village), his real name is something like Janaal
Aberdeen? and he charges 1500rps per day! He also claims to be able
to arrange trips to Namdapha at short notice, but I think this is
doubtful!
In Tinsukia have a look for the Oriental Hobbies, which were
breeding in the last radio tower on the road to Guijan.
Best birds:
White-browed Piculet, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Lineated Barbet,
Oriental Pied Hornbill, Green-billed Malkoha, Grey-headed Lapwing,
Pallas's Gull, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Oriental Hobby, Lesser
Adjutant, Common Green Magpie, White-tailed Rubythroat, Jerdon’s
Bushchat, Spot-winged Starling, Hill Myna, Sultan Tit, Plain Martin,
Yellow-bellied Prinia, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned
Bush Warbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Smoky Warbler,
Rufous-fronted Babbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler,
Sand Lark, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird,
Crimson Sunbird, Rosy Pipit, Black-faced Bunting.Pale-footed Bush
Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, Dusky
Warbler, Smoky Warbler, Rufous-fronted Babbler, Chestnut-capped
Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Sand Lark, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker,
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Rosy Pipit, Black-faced
Bunting.
Digboi
Oilfield
This is an
excellent place and nice and quiet. The oil is still being extracted
but it seems to be by compressed gas so there is no moving
machinery. This is one of the few places in India where I saw no
livestock grazing.
Digboi is also very close to Dibru-Saikhowa so if you can't make it
to Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh it is perfect. On this note the
permit fees for Arunachal Pradesh have been lowered to 50$ lump sum.
I have just re-read the report by Jon Hornbuckle et al. and realised
I may have missed the best area in Digboi, as he states "The best
area is furthest from town, some 15+ km along the tarred road, just
beyond the entrance gate at the other end".
The best area I kept going back to, was the first path on the left
after the "# 6 Compression Station" which is just after the
"Production Office". On this path I saw Dark-sided Thrush and many
White-hooded Babblers. There are also some good side-paths off this
path. The last side-path on the right before it hits the other road
is good. I found Streaked Wren Babbler and Yellow-bellied Warbler
here.
Another good path where I found a pair of White-winged Duck was the
4th track on the right after the "Production Office". There is a
pool at the beginning of the track on the right and further on also
on the right another pool where I found the WWD. This path leads
quite far (if you fork left and then take the small path immediately
to the right again) and is worth exploring. I found Grey Peacock
Pheasant, Long-tailed Broadbill and the only Wreathed Hornbill here.
I was with the Lotts and Albert Van Stekelenburg when we found a
pair of Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. This path was also on the
right but much nearer town, by the hydrant # 29. The path opposite
also had some pools worth exploring.
There were some leeches in the damp areas.
Best birds:
Grey Peacock Pheasant, White-winged Duck, White-browed Piculet,
Blue-eared Barbet, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Wreathed
Hornbill, Red-headed Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Green-billed
Malkoha, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Grey-headed Lapwing, Besra,
Crested Goshawk, Pied Falconet, Long-tailed Broadbill, Common Green
Magpie, Grey Treepie, Collared Treepie, Short-billed Minivet, Lesser
Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Dark-sided
Thrush, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Small Niltava,
White-rumped Shama, Daurian Redstart, Black-backed Forktail ,
Spot-winged Starling, White-vented Myna, Hill Myna, Sultan Tit,
White-throated Bulbul, Ashy Bulbul, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Slaty-bellied
Tesia, Grey-bellied Tesia, Mountain Tailorbird, Dark-necked
Tailorbird, Smoky Warbler, [possible Eastern Crowned Warbler],
Yellow-vented Warbler, White-spectacled Warbler, Grey-cheeked
Warbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Striated
Grassbird , Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Abbott's Babbler.
Kaziranga
I only had
two days to spend here partly because Panbari was closed supposedly
because of a Rhino with calf. I wish I had had a bit longer here. I
missed Blossom-headed Parakeet and Thick-billed Pigeon which were
seen by the Wildgrass guide. I could barely look up after the
whiplash bus ride from Digboi, so I was not up to much. I also
missed Yellow-vented Flowerpecker which is easy apparently in
Panbari. I notice the Birdwatchers' Guide has the area near the
Aranya Lodge (where you get the permit for Central Range) as a good
spot for this species. On another visit I would also hire the guides
from Wildgrass who seemed good and are probably good on calls.
The fees for entering the Park are 175 rps per day. When you take a
jeep there is an additional fee of 150rps per half day for the whole
vehicle. On the Central Range you have to leave the Park at mid-day
but in the Western Range they are less strict and you can stay in
all day. The main drag is that you cannot walk around. See transport
section for jeep fees.
There were quite a lot of leeches in a quick look at Panbari.
Best birds:
Swamp Francolin, Lineated Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Great Hornbill,
Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Spotted Redshank, River Lapwing, Grey-headed
Lapwing, Pallas's Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Pied Harrier,
Spot-billed Pelican, Black-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Greater
Adjutant, Rosy Minivet, Spot-winged Starling, Dark-necked
Tailorbird, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Forest
Wagtail, Blyth's Pipit, Yellow-breasted Bunting.
Jatinga Area
On the first
day I explored the area below the village and the lower slopes. I
would recommend a guide even on the lower slopes as I found very
little good habitat on that first day and kept ending up in
orchards.
I had most of my best birds on or near Ham Pu Ped peak. I took a
guide the first day and then on the way down drew a map and then
went up twice more alone. It is definitely tricky at the top. I
marked the path well with sticks but beware of bad weather. There
are some well-marked sidetracks which go to cultivated areas. I
explored the last one on the right before the top and it looked very
promising but I was running out of time to explore further. I found
the peak so worthwhile, I even climbed up on the last day, even
though I knew I would only have a couple of hours near the top.
Climbing up can be a bit dead in places as the sun only hits parts
of the hill for short periods.
I didn't see much above Ratzol but I think the Regulus tour with Per
Alstrom saw some good birds here. I walked almost to the radio tower
at the top, where there is some good habitat but unless you have a
jeep it is probably better to stay low and explore the damp ravines.
The area below the village is becoming heavily degraded as the
cultivation spreads.
I didn't register at Haflong but there was an official looking man
on the bus, and a man from "intelligence" came searching for me
quite quickly and I had some forms to fill in.
Jatinga is a potential problem area. How dangerous it really is, I
don't know. With bad luck you could become the first kidnap victim
but as far as I know no foreigner has had problems yet.
There are some pretty lethal barbed palms which have some nasty
"claws" which almost grab you if you walk too close to them. My arm
still itches but so does my ankle from tick bites in Chitwan 14
months ago.
Best birds:
[Possible Mountain Bamboo Partridge], White-cheeked Partridge,
White-browed Piculet, Golden-throated Barbet, Oriental Pied
Hornbill, Red-headed Trogon, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Pied Falconet,
Grey Treepie, Maroon Oriole, Short-billed Minivet, Lesser
Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Chestnut-bellied
Rock Thrush, Eyebrowed Thrush, White-gorgeted Flycatcher,
Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Small Niltava, White-tailed
Flycatcher, Black-backed Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, Spotted
Forktail, Grey Bushchat, Striated Swallow, Striated Bulbul,
White-throated Bulbul, Ashy Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Rufescent
Prinia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Grey-bellied Tesia, Mountain
Tailorbird, Dark-necked Tailorbird, [possible Eastern Crowned
Warbler], Western Crowned Warbler, Yellow-vented Warbler,
White-spectacled Warbler, Grey-cheeked Warbler, Rufous-faced
Warbler, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush,
Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler,
Streaked Wren Babbler, Golden Babbler.
Shillong Area
At Mawphlang
I would recommend checking out the valley beyond the sacred grove.
Cut across the grove on one of the good tracks (they both meet) near
the village end of the wood. At the far side of the wood on the left
there is a good path down into the valley. This is where Jon
Hornbuckle saw Rusty-capped Fulvetta. I didn't find any but I did
find Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler (which has not been documented
recently), Black-throated Parrotbill, Grey-sided Laughingthrush and
Rufous-backed Sibia.
There is also a good track cutting through the wood at the bottom
end furthest from the village.
I had no idea this area is covered in mini stone circles.
At Shillong Peak I walked down from the football field. The path is
quite overgrown in places so take rough clothes. The best habitat is
near the top. It is a fair way down, with all the side valleys but
they are all good. Don't take the path all the way to the very end.
I ended up in a rubbish dump!
Best birds:
White-browed Piculet, Dark-rumped Swift, Crested Goshawk, Northern
Goshawk, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Maroon Oriole, Grey-chinned Minivet,
Short-billed Minivet, Large Niltava, Golden Bush Robin, Blue-fronted
Redstart, Grey Bushchat, Green-backed Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit,
Crested Finchbill, Mountain Bulbul, Hill Prinia, Grey-sided
Laughingthrush, Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Streak-breasted
Scimitar-Babbler, Golden Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-billed
Leiothrix, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Rusty-fronted Barwing,
Rufous-backed Sibia, Grey Sibia, Black-throated Parrotbill,
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Russet Sparrow,
Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Scarlet Finch, Little Bunting, Chestnut
Bunting.
LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN ASSAM & MEGHALAYA
[Taxonomy,
nomenclature and sequence follow those of An Annotated Checklist of
the Birds of the Oriental Region by T Inskipp et al (1996). Numbers
in brackets refer to number of birds seen on that particular day. No
number refers to single birds or only one bird identified in a
flock. "At least" refers to common species which were probably
under-recorded.]
[Mountain
Bamboo Partridge
Bambusicola fytchii]
Poor views of a few of what I assume was this species. Jatinga 1/3
below the village.
Swamp Francolin
Francolinus gularis (Swamp Partridge)
Kaziranga 27/2 (Central Range).
White-cheeked Partridge
Arborophila atrogularis (White-cheeked Hill Partridge)
A covey seen at about 1000m on path to Ham Pu Ped peak Jatinga 4/3.
Red Junglefowl
Gallus gallus
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2 (heard); Digboi 21/2 (common); Kaziranga common,
(Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range) 27/2; Jatinga 5/3.
Kalij Pheasant
Lophura leucomelanos (Kalij, Kaleej Pheasant)
Digboi 25/2.
Grey Peacock Pheasant
Polyplectron bicalcaratum
Digboi 23/2 (heard).
Lesser Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna javanica (Lesser Tree-duck, Lesser Whistling-teal)
About 50 at Deepor Beel, Guwhati 11/2.
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central
Range).
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicus
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central
Range).
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Dibru-Sikhowa 13/2, (common) 15/2); Kaziranga (3) 26/2 (Western
Range), (2) 27/2 (Central Range).
White-winged Duck
Cairina scutulata
Digboi (a pair) 25/2.
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range).
Eurasian Wigeon
Anas penelope (Wigeon)
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central
Range).
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Kaziranga (3) 26/2 (Western Range).
Spot-billed Duck
Anas poecilorhyncha (Spotbill)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 13/2, (6) 15/2; Digboi 20/2; Kaziranga (a few)
26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central Range).
Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata (Shoveler)
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range).
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta (Common Pintail, Pintail)
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central
Range); Jatinga (flock flying) 1/3.
Common Teal
Anas crecca (Green-winged Teal, Teal)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 15/2; Digboi 20/2; Kaziranga (a few) 27/2
(Central Range).
Ferruginous Pochard
Aythya nyroca (White-eyed Pochard, Ferruginous Duck)
Kaziranga (4) 27/2 (Western Range).
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Kaziranga (a few) 26/2 (Western Range), (a few) 27/2 (Central
Range).
Speckled Piculet
Picumnus innominatus (Spotted Piculet)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Digboi 21/2, 22/2, 23/2, 24/2; Mawphlang 8/3.
White-browed Piculet
Sasia ochracea (Rufous Piculet)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2 and heard a few; Digboi 23/2, 24/2; Jatinga (2)
4/3 .
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Dendrocopos canicapillus (Grey-capped Woodpecker, Grey-crowned Pygmy
Woodpecker, Picoides canicapillus)
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd.) (pair breeding and nesting) 6/3. This is
a slight "known" range extension.
Rufous Woodpecker
Celeus brachyurus (Brown Woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus)
Digboi 23/2.
Lesser Yellownape
Picus chlorolophus (Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker, Small Yellow-naped
Woodpecker)
Dibru-Saikhowa 18/2; Digboi 20/2.
Greater Yellownape
Picus flavinucha (Large Yellow-naped Woodpecker, Greater Yellow-naped
Woodpecker)
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2; Digboi (1-2) 23/2.
Streak-throated Woodpecker
Picus xanthopygaeus (Small Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Picus
myrmecophoneus)
Dibru-Saikhowa (4-5) 14/2.
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Picus canus (Grey-faced Woodpecker, Black-naped Green Woodpecker)
Digboi 20/2, (3) 23/2, 24/2, 25/2.
Greater Flameback
Chrysocolaptes lucidus (Greater Goldenback, Greater Golden-backed
Woodpecker)
Digboi 22/2, (3) 24/2.
Bay Woodpecker
Blythipicus pyrrhotis (Red-eared Bay Woodpecker, Rufous-eared
Woodpecker)
Digboi 20/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Great Barbet
Megalaima virens (Great Hill Barbet, Great Himalayan Barbet)
Jatinga (common) on 1/3 at least; Shillong 6/3 (Old Guwhati Rd.).
Lineated Barbet
Megalaima lineata
Dibru-Saikhowa (fairly common) 13/2, 14/2 at least; Kaziranga 26/2
(Western Range), 27/2 (Central Range).
Golden-throated Barbet
Megalaima franklinii
Jatinga (Ratzol) possible 3/3, Jatinga 4/3.
Blue-throated Barbet
Megalaima asiatica
Guijan 13/2 (common); Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, Digboi 22/2 at least;
Jatinga 1/3; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) (3) 6/3.
Blue-eared Barbet
Megalaima australis
Digboi 21/2, 23/2; Kaziranga (Panbari) 27/2.
Coppersmith Barbet
Megalaima haemacephala (Crimson-breasted Barbet)
Guijan 13/2; Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 16/2.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris
(Indian Pied Hornbill, Anthracoceros malabaricus, Anthracoceros
coronatus)
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 13/2, 15/2, (about 20) on 16/2; Digboi 22/2;
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Great Hornbill
Buceros bicornis (Giant Hornbill, Great Pied Hornbill)
Digboi 21/2, and 3 or 4 flying over sounded like this sp.on 24/2;
Kaziranga (Western Range) (2) 26/2.
Wreathed Hornbill
Aceros undulatus
Contrary to expectations only one seen at Digboi on 23/2.
Common Hoopoe
Upupa epops (Eurasian Hoopoe, Hoopoe)
Dibru-Saikhowa 18/2; Kaziranga 27/2 (Central Range); Mawphlang 7/3.
Red-headed Trogon
Harpactes erythrocephalus
Digboi 16/2, (a few) 22/2, 23/2, (a few) 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga 5/3.
Indian Roller
Coracias benghalensis
Dibru-Saikhowa (common); (a few) Digboi Golfcourse 19/2.
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
(Eurasian Kingfisher, Kingfisher, River Kingfisher, Small Blue
Kingfisher)
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range)
27/2.
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Halcyon capensis (Brown-headed Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis
capensis)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range)
27/2.
White-throated Kingfisher
Halcyon smyrnensis (White-breasted Kingfisher, Smyrna Kingfisher)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Kaziranga 27/2 (Central range).
Pied Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis (Lesser Pied Kingfisher, Small Pied Kingfisher, Indian
Pied Kingfisher)
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 13/2 at least; (a few) Kaziranga 27/2
(Central Range).
Blue-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis athertoni
Digboi (fairly common), 21/2 and 24/2 at least; (2) at Kaziranga
27/2 (Central Range).
Large Hawk Cuckoo
Hierococcyx sparverioides (Cuculus sparverioides)
Jatinga 1/3.
Green-billed Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus tristis (Large Green-billed Malkoha, Rhopodytes
tristis)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 18/2; Digboi (2) 20/2, 25/2; Kaziranga 26/2
(Western Range); Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Greater Coucal
Centropus sinensis (Large Coucal, Common Crow-Pheasant)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Kaziranga 27/2 (Central
Range); Jatinga 1/3.
Alexandrine Parakeet
Psittacula eupatria Psittacula eupatria (Large Parakeet)
Kaziranga (common) (Western Range) 26/2, (common) (Central Range)
27/2.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Psittacula krameri (Ring-necked Parakeet)
Digboi Golfcourse (common) 19/2; Kaziranga (common) (Western Range)
26/2, (common) (Central Range) 27/2.
Red-breasted Parakeet
Psittacula alexandri (Rose-breasted Parakeet, Moustached Parakeet)
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 13/2 at least, Digboi Golfcourse (flock)
19/2, Digboi (flock) 24/2; Kaziranga (flock) 26/2 at least.
Himalayan Swiftlet
Collocalia brevirostris (Aerodramus brevirostris)
Noted Dibru-Siakhowa.
Asian Palm Swift
Cypsiurus balasiensis (Palm Swift, Cypsiurus parvus)
Digboi 20/2 at least.
Dark-rumped Swift
Apus acuticauda (Khasi Hills Swift, Dark-backed Swift)
About 50 at the first cliffs before Cherrapunji town on 7/3.
House Swift
Apus affinis (Little Swift, Apus nipalensis)
Kaziranga 26/2 at least.
Jungle/Asian Barred Owlet
Glaucidium radiatum/cuculoides (Barred Jungle Owlet/Barred Owlet)
Barred Owlet Dibru-Saikhowa on 15/2, (2) 16/2; Digboi Golfcourse
19/2; Kaziranga 27/2 (Central Range).
Jungle Owlet
Dibru-Saikhowa on 16/2; and a possible at Kaziranga 27/2 (Central
Range).
Owlets calling at Digboi were identified as both species by Eric
Lott.
Spotted Owlet
Athene brama (Spotted Little Owl, Tibet Owlet)
Digboi Golfcourse (3) 19/2; (twice) at Kaziranga 27/2 (Central
Range).
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia (Rock Dove, Blue Rock Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Feral Rock
Dove)
Noted Guwahati 13/2 at least.
[Pale-capped Pigeon
Columba punicea]
Dipped at Dibru-Saikhowa by 2 minutes at Kolomi camp on 17/2. Albert
Van Stekelenburg saw them fly off and then return whilst I was
beating the bush for them. Lesson to be learnt, birds fly in
circles.
Oriental Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis (Rufous Turtle Dove)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; (about 30) Jatinga 1/3; (about 10) at Mawphlang
7/3.
Spotted Dove
Streptopelia chinensis
Common. (Several) Dibru-Saikhowa 16/2 at least; Digboi Golfcourse
(several) 19/2; Kaziranga (common) on 26/2 at least; (several)
Mawphlang and many on the road in morning 7/3.
Red Collared Dove
Streptopelia tranquebarica (Red Turtle Dove)
Dibru-Saikhowa 18/2.
Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica (Emerald Ground Dove,
Bronze-winged Dove, Green-winged Pigeon, Common Emerald Dove)
Seen most days at Digboi often in pairs, 24/2 and 25/2 at least;
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Treron phoenicoptera (Yellow-legged Green
Pigeon, Bengal Green Pigeon, Green Pigeon, Yellow-footed Pigeon)
Guijan 13/2, Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Pin-tailed Green Pigeon
Treron apicauda
Digboi (2 and 1) 25/2; 3 at Jatinga 1/3.
Green Imperial Pigeon
Ducula aenea
Common at Dibru-Saikhowa with a few seen every day, (on 15/2 one
giving same head bobbing display I had previously seen at Topslip in
the Anamalais); Digboi 20/2, 25/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Unid. Pigeon
probably the above species
Digboi 24/2, calling Wu Wu---Wooo.
White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2 at least.
Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio (Purple Gallinule, Purple Moorhen, Porphyrio
poliocephalus)
Kaziranga 26/2 (Western Range).
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus (Moorhen, Common Gallinule, Indian Gallinule)
Kaziranga 26/2 (a few) (Western Range).
Pintail Snipe
Gallinago stenura
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2.
Common Snipe/Pintail Snipe
Gallinago gallinago/Gallinago stenura
(Snipe, Fantail Snipe)
Dibru-Saikhowa (5) 15/2; Kaziranga 26/2 (Western Range).
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropus
Kaziranga (35) (Western Range) 26/2, (3) (Central Range) 27/2.
Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia (Greenshank)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 15/2.
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropus
Dibru- Saikhowa 13/2; Digboi 20/2.
Wood Sandpiper
Tringa glareola
Dibru- Saikhowa 15/2, 17/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos (Tringa hypoleucos)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 13/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2 .
Temminck's Stint
Calidris temminckii
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 15/2.
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Kaziranga (2) (Western Range) 26/2.
Bronze-winged Jacana
Metopidius indicus
Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, (a few) 17/2.
River Lapwing
Vanellus duvaucelii
Kaziranga (2) (Western Range) 26/2.
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus (Lapwing, Eurasian Lapwing, Common Lapwing)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 15/2, (4) 17/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Grey-headed Lapwing
Vanellus cinereus (Grey-headed Lapwing, Hoplopterus cinereus)
Dibru-Saikhowa (5) 15/2; Digboi Golfcourse (3) 19/2; Kaziranga
(Western Range) 26/2, (3) (Central Range) 27/2.
Red-wattled Lapwing
Vanellus indicus (Red-wattled Plover, Hoplopterus indicus)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Pallas's Gull
Larus ichthyaetus
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 17/2.
River Tern
Sterna aurantia (Indian River Tern)
Kaziranga (Central Range) (5) 27/2.
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Kaziranga (Western Range) (2) 26/2.
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhynchus (Crested Honey Buzzard, Honey Kite, Honey
Buzzard, P. apivorus)
Kaziranga (Western Range) (2) 26/2.
Black Kite
Milvus migrans (Dark Kite, Pariah Kite, Black-eared Kite, M.
lineatus)
Common Guwahati and Shillong (by the dump on Old Guwhati Rd).
Pallas's Fish Eagle
Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas's Sea Eagle, Pallas's Fishing Eagle,
Ring-tailed Fishing Eagle)
2 young on 2 nests Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2 and 3 or 4 adults.
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, (twice) 17/2; Kaziranga (3+) (Western Range)
26/2, (up to 6) on (Central Range) 27/2.
White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis (Indian White-backed Vulture, Oriental White-backed
Vulture, White-backed Vulture)
Tinsukia (2) 13/2; Digboi (1) 21/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) (2)
27/2.
Long-billed Vulture
Gyps tenuirostris (Gyps indicus)
Identified as this "race" by location only.
Guwahati (4) 11/2; Dibru-Saikhowa (1) 19/2; Digboi (4) 21/2;
Kaziranga (Wildgrass) (1) 27/2.
Eurasian Griffon
Gyps fulvus (Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Griffon Vulture)
Dibru-Saikhowa (4) 14/2, (2) 16/2, (4) 17/2; Kaziranga (Western
Range) (4) 26/2, (Wildgrass) (3) 27/2.
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
Dibru-Saikhowa (daily); Digboi (daily); Kaziranga (Western Range)
(2+) 26/2 at least; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Pied Harrier
Circus melanoleucos
Kaziranga (Western Range) (2+) 26/2.
Crested Goshawk
Accipter trivirgatus
Digboi 22/2; Mawphlang 7/3 .
Shikra
Accipiter badius (Indian Sparrowhawk)
Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Besra
Accipter virgatus
Digboi 21/2.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus (Northern Sparrowhawk, Sparrowhawk)
Mawphlang 7/3.
Northern Goshawk
Accipter gentilis
An immature Mawphlang 7/3. Probably a first for Meghalaya.
Unid. small accipter sp.
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo (Buzzard, Eurasian Buzzard, Desert Buzzard)
Kaziranga (Central Range) (27/2); Mawphlang 7/3.
Black Eagle
Ictinaetus malayensis
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Greater Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga (Spotted Eagle)
Kaziranga (Western Range ) 26/2.
Greater/Lesser Spotted Eagle
Aquila clanga/pomarina
Kaziranga (Western Range ) 26/2.
Changeable Hawk Eagle
Spizaetus cirrhatus (Crested Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus limnaeetus)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, (2) 16/2, 17/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Changeable/Mountain Hawk Eagle
Spizaetus cirrhatus/S. nipalensis (Crested
Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus limnaeetus/Hodgson's Hawk-eagle)
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Pied Falconet
Microhierax melanoleucos
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Jatinga (on road near start of track to Ham
Pu Ped peak) 1/3.
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus (Eurasian Kestrel, Kestrel)
Dibru-Saikhowa (1 or 2 daily).
Oriental Hobby
Falco severus
Tinsukia. A pair mating and entering nest site in one of the large
"drums" with a torn cover, on the last radio tower on the way from
Tinsukia to Guijan. Could scope from the roof of Hotel Jyoti. Single
seen on 13/2, the pair on 14/2 and 18/2 mating. The pair could
easily have been present throughout. This adds to Birds of the
Indian Subcontinent by Grimmett/Inskipp/Inskipp which states
"Breeding: Little information. Probably late May-August.....Normally
uses an old crow nest in a tree growing from the side of a cliff...
Status in India: Now rare, breeds 1800-2400m"
Darter
Anhinga melanogaster (Oriental Darter, Anhinga rufa)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 13/2; Kaziranga (a few) (Western Range) 26/2,
(a few) (Central Range) 27/2.
Little Cormorant
Phalacrocorax niger
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 15/2 at least; Digboi 20/2; Kaziranga (a
few) (Western Range) 26/2.
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo (Large Cormorant, Cormorant)
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 15/2 at least; Kaziranga (a few) (Western
Range) 26/2, (a few) (Central Range) 27/2 .
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 15/2 at least; Digboi 20/2; Kaziranga (a
few) (Western Range) 26/2.
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea (Heron)
Digboi 23/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Great Egret
Casmerodius albus (Great White Egret, Large Egret, Egretta alba,
Ardea alba)
Dibru-Saikhowa (common) 15/2 at least; Kaziranga (Western Range)
26/2.
Intermediate Egret
Mesophoyx intermedia (Plumed Egret,
Smaller Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Egretta intermedia, Ardea
intermedia)
Kaziranga (a few) (Central Range) 27/2 .
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis (Ardeola ibis, Egretta ibis, Ardea ibis)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a few) 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse (20) 19/2.
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii (Pond Heron, Paddybird)
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2, at least.
Little Heron
Butorides striatus (Little Green Heron, Green-backed Heron, Ardeola
striatus)
Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax (Night Heron)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Spot-billed Pelican
Pelecanus philippensis (Grey Pelican, Pelecanus crispus)
Kaziranga (Western Range) (7) 26/2, (Central Range) (7) 27/2.
Asian Openbill
Anastomus oscitans (Asian Openbill Stork)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 14/2, (16) 15/2, (6) 16/2; Kaziranga (Western
Range) (30) 26/2, (Central Range) (20) 27/2.
Black Stork
Ciconia nigra
Dibru-Saikhowa (4) 15/2, (single) 16/2, (5) 17/2; Kaziranga (Western
Range) (3) 26/2; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) (4) 6/3.
Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia episcopus (White-necked Stork)
Kaziranga (Central Range) (1) 27/2.
Black-necked Stork
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus (Xenorhynchus asiaticus)
Kaziranga (Central Range) (2) 27/2.
Lesser Adjutant
Leptoptilos javanicus (Lesser Adjutant Stork)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 15/2, 16/2, 17/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) (3)
26/2, (Central Range) (1) 27/2.
Greater Adjutant
Leptoptilos dubius (Adjutant Stork)
Guwahati (about 9) 11/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) (3) 26/2.
Long-tailed Broadbill
Psarisomus dalhousiae
Digboi 23/2.
Asian Fairy Bluebird
Irena puella (Fairy Bluebird)
Small parties at Digboi 20/2, 23/2, 24/2; Kaziranga (Panbari) (small
party) 27/2.
Blue-winged Leafbird
Chloropsis cochinchinensis (Gold-mantled
Leafbird, Gold-mantled Chloropsis)
Seen most days Digboi usually in small parties; Kaziranga (Panbari)
27/2.
Golden-fronted Leafbird
Chloropsis aurifrons (Gold-fronted Chloropsis)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; seen most days at Digboi usually in small
parties.
Many unidentified Blue-winged/Golden-fronted
Leafbird Chloropsis
cochinchinensis/aurifrons
Digboi 21/2, 22/2, 24/2.
Orange-bellied Leafbird
Chloropsis hardwickii (Orange-bellied Chloropsis)
Digboi 22/2; Jatinga 2/3, (several singles) 3/3, (several singles)
5/3.
Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus
Guwahati ( Deepor Beel) 11/2; Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse
19/2, Digboi 22/2.
Long-tailed Shrike
Lanius schach (Rufous-backed Shrike, Black-headed Shrike)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Kaziranga (Central
Range) 27/2.
Grey-backed Shrike
Lanius tephronotus (Tibetan Shrike)
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) (a few) 27/2;
Mawphlang 7/3, 8/3.
Common Green Magpie
Cissa chinensis
Dibru-Saikhowa 16/2; Digboi 20/2, 22/2, 23/2, 25/2. Usually seen in
pairs in mixed flocks.
Rufous Treepie
Dendrocitta vagabunda (Indian Treepie)
Guijan (a few) 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse (a few) 19/2. In small
parties.
Grey Treepie
Dendrocitta formosae (Himalayan Treepie)
A few seen most days at Digboi 21/2, 22/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga
1/3. In small parties.
Collared Treepie
Dendrocitta frontalis (Black-browed Treepie)
Digboi 20/2, 23/2, 24/2, 25/2 at least. Usually in pairs, less
common than previous species.
House Crow
Corvus splendens (Indian House Crow)
Recorded at Gujan 13/2 at least.
Large-billed Crow
Corvus macrorhynchos (Jungle Crow, Corvus levaillantii)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, 15/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2; Shillong (Old
Guwahati Rd) (common) 6/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Ashy Woodswallow
Artamus fuscus (Ashy Woodshrike, Ashy Swallow-shrike)
Digboi town (flock) 21/2.
Black-hooded Oriole
Oriolus xanthornus (Black-headed Oriole)
Common. Noted at Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 17/2 at least; Digboi
Golfcourse 19/2, Digboi 24/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Maroon Oriole
Oriolus traillii
Jatinga 1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd.) 6/3.
Large Cuckooshrike
Coracina macei (Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina novaehollandiae)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2.
Black-winged Cuckooshrike
Coracina melaschistos
Digboi 20/2, 21/2, 22/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3, Mawphlang 8/3.
Rosy Minivet
Pericrocotus roseus
Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2. Initially identified as a
Grey-chinned Minivet.
Grey-chinned Minivet
Pericrocotus solaris
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Long-tailed Minivet
Pericrocotus ethologus
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) (small party) l6/3.
Short-billed Minivet
Pericrocotus brevirostris
Digboi 21/2, (several) 24/2; Jatinga 1/3, Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3,
Jatinga 5/3; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Mawphlang 7/3, Shillong
Peak 8/3.
Long-tailed Minivet/Short-billed Minivet
Pericrocotus ethologus/brevirostris
Many parties not specifically identified e.g. Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2 at
least.
Scarlet Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 16/2; Digboi 20/2, (several) 21/2; Kaziranga
(Western Range) 26/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3, Jatinga 5/3; Shillong
(Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3. Always in small parties.
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Hemipus picatus (Pied Flycatcher-shrike, Pied Wood-shrike)
Digboi 21/2, 22/2, 24/2; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Shillong
Peak 8/3. Often in family parties.
White-throated Fantail
Rhipidura albicollis (White-throated
Fantail Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Fantail)
Jatinga 1/3, Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Black Drongo
Dicrurus macrocercus (Dicrurus adsimilis)
Common in open areas.
Ashy Drongo
Dicrurus leucophaeus (Grey Drongo)
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2, Digboi 20/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Bronzed Drongo
Dicrurus aeneus (Little Bronzed Drongo)
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, Digboi 21/2, 22/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer (Small Racquet-tailed
Drongo)
Digboi 23/2; Jatinga 4/3, (a pair) 5/3.
Spangled Drongo
Dicrurus hottentottus (Hair-crested Drongo)
Guijan 13/2, Dibru-Saikhowa 23/2.
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus paradiseus (Large Racquet-tailed Drongo)
Digboi 20/2, 24/2; Jatinga 1/3, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3.
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia (Iora)
Common Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2 at least; common Digboi 21/2 at least;
Kaziranga (Western Range) (small party) 26/2.
Large Woodshrike
Tephrodornis gularis (Tephrodornis virgatus)
Digboi Golfcourse (a pair) 19/2, Digboi 22/2 and a flock of about 20
on 23/2 .
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush
Monticola rufiventris
Jatinga (Ratzol) (a pair) 3/3.
Blue Whistling Thrush
Myophonus caeruleus (Whistling Thrush,
Myiophonus caeruleus, Myiophoneus caeruleus)
Digboi 23/2; Kaziranga (Panbari) 27/2; Jatinga (2) 1/3, 5/3.
Scaly Thrush
Zoothera dauma (White's Thrush, Speckled
Mountain Thrush, Golden Mountain Thrush)
Jatinga 1/3.
Unidentified Zoothera species
Mawphlang 8/3, (in flight with typical zoothera underwing pattern,
probably the previous species).
Eyebrowed Thrush
Turdus obscurus (Dark Thrush)
Jatinga Peak 4/3.
Dark-sided Thrush
Zoothera marginata
Digboi 22/2. Seen briefly but the scaly not spotted belly which I
saw is diagnostic for this species. The variety of bill shapes in
the literature for this and Long-billed Thrush is quite amazing.
Looking at the plates in four new books for the region only two
books agree on bill shape for both species. Grimmett/Inskipp/Inskipp
and the new book on Thrushes by Peter Clements both show only
Long-billed with a bulbous bill. The bird I saw did not have the
bulbous bill shown for both species in Craig Robson's Birds of South
East Asia. Krys Kazmierczak's Field Guide has neither species with a
bulbous bill. I presume this is a variable feature for there to be
such discrepancies.
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher
Ficedula strophiata (Orange-gorgeted
Flycatcher, Muscicapa strophiata)
Jatinga (4) 4/3, 5/3.
Red-throated Flycatcher
Ficedula parva (Red-breasted Flycatcher,
Muscicapa parva, Ficedula albicilla)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range)
27/2.
White-gorgeted Flycatcher
Ficedula monileger
Jatinga (½ way to Ham Pu Ped peak) 5/3.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher
Ficedula hyperythra (Rufous-breasted Blue
Flycatcher, Muscicapa hyperythra)
Digboi 21/2, 22/2, 25/2; Jatinga 1/3, 2/3, 5/3.
Little Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula westermanni (Muscicapa westermanni)
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd.) 6/3, Shillong Peak (2) 8/3.
Unidentified Flycatcher
Digboi 24/2. Non-descript appearance. Olivey brown above with a
greyish cast to the crown. Fanning and lowering it's tail. Any
suggestions as to what this could have been are welcome.
Verditer Flycatcher
Eumyias thalassina (Muscicapa
thalassina)
Dibru-Saikhowa seen each day, 14/2, 15/2, 16/2 at least; Kaziranga
(Western Range) 26/2; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Mawphlang 7/3.
Large Niltava
Niltava grandis (Muscicapa grandis)
Digboi 22/2; Jatinga (a pair) 4/3, (2) 5/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Small Niltava
Niltava macgrigoriae (Muscicapa macgrigoriae)
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2; Digboi (2) 20/2, 21/2; Kaziranga (Central
Range) 27/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Rufous-bellied Niltava
Niltava sundara (Beautiful Niltava, Muscicapa sundara)
Jatinga 1/3.
White-tailed Flycatcher
Cyornis concretus
Jatinga 1/3. Within a kilometre of the road, on the path up to Ham
Pu Ped peak.
Pale-chinned Flycatcher
Cyornis poliogenys (Brook's Flycatcher,
Pale-chinned Blue Flycatcher, Muscicapa poliogenys, Niltava
poliogenys)
Dibru-Saikhowa 16/2.
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis (Grey-headed Flycatcher)
Fairly common at given sites. Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 16/2, 17/2,
Digboi 20/2, 23/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range)
27/2, Panbari 27/2.
White-tailed Rubythroat
Luscinia pectoralis (Himalayan Rubythroat, Erithacus pectoralis)
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2.
Orange-flanked Bush Robin
Tarsiger cyanurus (Red-flanked Bluetail, Erithacus cyanurus)
Jatinga (Ratzol) 4/3; Mawphlang (a few) 7/3, (a few) 8/3, Shillong
Peak 8/3.
Golden Bush Robin
Tarsiger chrysaeus (Erithacus chrysaeus)
Mawphlang 7/3.
Oriental Magpie Robin
Copsychus saularis (Asian Magpie Robin, Magpie Robin, Robin Dayal)
Guijan 16/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, Digboi (common, seen each day);
Jatinga 1/3.
White-rumped Shama
Copsychus malabaricus (Shama)
Digboi 23/2, 25/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Daurian Redstart
Phoenicurus auroreus
Digboi one female by # 6 Compression Station 23/2, 24/2.
Blue-fronted Redstart
Phoenicurus frontalis
Common at Mawphlang 7/3.
White-capped Water Redstart
Chaimarrornis leucocephalus (White-capped
River Chat, River Redstart, River Chat, Thamnolaea leucocephala)
Jatinga 1/3, (2) 4/3, 5/3.
Black-backed Forktail
Enicurus immaculatus
Digboi (2) 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga (2) 1/3.
Slaty-backed Forktail
Enicurus schistaceus
Jatinga (2) 2/3, (3) 4/3, 5/3.
Unidentified Forktail
Digboi 20/2
Spotted Forktail
Enicurus maculatus
Jatinga (4) 5/3.
Common Stonechat
Saxicola torquata (Stonechat, Collared Bushchat, Siberian Stonechat)
Common Dibru-Saikhowa; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2.
Jerdon’s Bushchat
Saxicola jerdoni
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 17/2, (2 males) 18/2. All near Kolomi Camp.
Grey Bushchat
Saxicola ferrea (Dark-grey Bushchat)
Jatinga 1/3; Mawphlang (a few) 7/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Spot-winged Starling
Saroglossa spiloptera
Dibru-Saikhowa (3) 16/2, 17/2, (3) 18/2; Kaziranga, (common)
(Western Range) 26/2, (common) (Central Range) 27/2.
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Sturnus malabaricus (Grey-headed Myna)
Dibru-Saikhowa common; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, Digboi common;
Kaziranga common; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3.
Asian Pied Starling
Sturnus contra (Asian Pied Myna, Pied Myna)
Dibru-Saikhowa common; Digboi Golfcourse (a few) 19/2.
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis (Indian Myna)
Guijan (a few) 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse (a few) 19/2.
Jungle Myna
Acridotheres fuscus
Guijan (flock) 13/2, and common Dibru-Saikhowa; Digboi Golfcourse
(several) 19/2, Digboi common.
White-vented Myna
Acridotheres grandis (Pale-bellied Myna,
Orange-billed Jungle Myna, A. javanicus, Sturnus javanicus)
Digboi Golfcourse (a pair) 19/2.
Hill Myna
Gracula religiosa (Talking Myna)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a pair) 15/2, (a pair) 17/2; Digboi (2) 21/2.
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch
Sitta castanea
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3.
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Sitta frontalis
Digboi common 20/2, (several) 23/2, 24/2 at least.
Great Tit
Parus major (Grey Tit, Cinereous Tit)
Dibru-Saikhowa common 13/2, 15/2 at least; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2.
Green-backed Tit
Parus monticolus
Mawphlang 7/3, 8/3.
Yellow-cheeked Tit
Parus spilonotus (Black-spotted Yellow Tit)
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Mawphlang 7/3, 8/3, Shillong Peak
8/3.
Sultan Tit
Melanochlora sultanea
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 16/2 at least; Digboi 20/2, 22/2, 23/2, 24/2.
Plain Martin
Riparia paludicola (Brown-throated Sand
Martin, Plain Sand Martin, Grey-throated Sand Martin, African Sand
Martin)
Dibru-Saikhowa common, 15/2 at least.
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica (Swallow, Eurasian Swallow)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2,15/2; Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Striated Swallow
Hirundo striolata
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Crested Finchbill
Spizixos canifrons (Crested Finch-billed Bulbul)
Shillong Peak (a few) 8/3. On track down from football field, (one
of the last small side valleys).
Striated Bulbul
Pycnonotus striatus
Jatinga common at higher altitude, 4/3 at least.
Black-crested Bulbul
Pycnonotus melanicterus (Black-headed Yellow Bulbul)
Digboi fairly common, 20/2, 22/2, 23/2 at least; Kaziranga (Panbari)
27/2; Jatinga 1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3.
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Pycnonotus jocosus
Common at Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2, 15/2 at least; Kaziranga (Panbari)
27/2.
Red-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus cafer
Fairly common, noted at Guijan 13/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2;
Kaziranga (Panbari) 27/2; Jatinga 1/3 at least; Shillong (Old
Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
White-throated Bulbul
Alophoixus flaveolus (Criniger pallidus)
Digboi common, 20/2, 21/2, 22/2, 23/2, 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga fairly
common, 1/3, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3, 5/3.
Ashy Bulbul
Hemixos flavala (Brown-eared Bulbul, Hypsipetes flavala)
Digboi even more common than the previous species, 20/2, 21/2, 22/2,
23/2, 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga fairly common 1/3, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3,
5/3.
Mountain Bulbul
Hypsipetes mcclellandii (Rufous-bellied Bulbul, Hypsipetes virescens)
Jatinga common at mid and upper altitudes, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3,
5/3, Mawphlang (a few) 7/3, 8/3, Shillong Peak (a few) 8/3.
Black Bulbul
Hypsipetes leucocephalus (Grey Bulbul, Hypsipetes madagascariensis)
Jatinga common at lower altitude 1/3, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3, 5/3;
Shillong common, (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Cherrapunji 7/3, Shillong
Peak 8/3.
Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis (Fan-tailed Warbler,
Fan-tailed Cisticola, Streaked Fantail Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Hill Prinia
Prinia atrogularis
Shillong (Mawphlang) 7/3, 8/3.
[Rufous-vented (Swamp) Prinia
Prinia burnesii cinerascens] (Long-tailed
Grass Warbler, Long-tailed Prinia, P. cinerascens)
Dibru-Saikhowa one possibly heard 14/2 (near Raidan Camp).
Rufescent Prinia
Prinia rufescens
Jatinga common 1/3 at least; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3.
Grey-breasted Prinia
Prinia hodgsonii (Hodgson's Prinia, Ashy
Wren-Warbler, Franklin's Wren-Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2; Digboi Golfcourse 19/2.
Yellow-bellied Prinia
Prinia flaviventris (Yellow-bellied Wren-Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common seen every day.
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata (Plain Wren-Warbler, Prinia subflava)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2, 14/2, 15/2.
Oriental White-eye
Zosterops palpebrosus (Indian White-eye, White-eye)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Digboi on most days; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Present in small parties.
Chestnut-headed Tesia
Tesia castaneocoronata (Chestnut-headed Ground Warbler)
Digboi 24/2 doing an amazing dancing display right in front of me.
Probably a first for Assam.
Slaty-bellied Tesia
Tesia olivea (Slaty-bellied Ground Warbler)
Digboi 20/2, 23/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Grey-bellied Tesia
Tesia cyaniventer (Dull Slaty-bellied
Ground Warbler, Slaty-bellied Ground Warbler)
Digboi 24/2; Jatinga 1/3, 5/3.
Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler
Cettia fortipes (Strong-footed Bush
Warbler, Mountain Bush Warbler, Cettia montana)
Digboi heard 22/2; Mawphlang heard and seen 7/3, 8/3.
Pale-footed Bush Warbler
Cettia pallidipes
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2, 16/2.
Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler
Cettia major
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2, 16/2, 17/2, 18/2.
Grey-sided Bush Warbler
Cettia brunnifrons (Rufous-capped Bush Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 18/2.
Spotted Bush Warbler
Bradypterus thoracicus
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2.
Paddyfield Warbler
Acrocephalus agricola
Dibru-Saikhowa (3) 16/2.
Unidentified small grey acrocephalus sp.
Dibru-Saikhowa 17/2 (in the tall grass).
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus stentoreus
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, 16/2, 17/2.
Mountain Tailorbird
Orthotomus cuculatus (Golden-headed Tailorbird)
Digboi 20/2, 23/2, 24/2; Jatinga 2/3.
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius (Long-tailed Tailorbird)
Dibru-Saikhowa fairly common 13/2 at least. Digboi fairly common,
Digboi Golfcourse 19/2, 20/2, 21/2, 23/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga (Ratzol)
3/3.
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Orthotomus atrogularis
Digboi 23/2; Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2; Jatinga 1/3.
Dusky Warbler
Phylloscopus fuscatus (Dusky Leaf Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 16/2.
Smoky Warbler
Phylloscopus fuligiventer (Smoky Willow Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, (6) 15/2, (2) 16/2, (a few) 17/2; Digboi
Golfcourse 19/2 and several days at Digboi.
Tickell's Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus affinis (Tickell's Willow Warbler, Tickell's Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2) 13/2, 15/2, 16/2; Digboi Golfcourse (7) 19/2;
Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2; Mawphlang (a few) 7/3.
[Possible Eastern Crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus coronatus]
Digboi 23/2; and even better 24/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Western Crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus occipitalis
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3, calling titu---tu-tu-tu-tu which sounds
perfect for this species.
Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher (Orange-barred Leaf
Warbler)
Mawphlang 7/3.
Ashy-throated Warbler
Phylloscopus maculipennis (Grey-faced Leaf Warbler)
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Lemon-rumped Warbler
Phylloscopus chloronotus (Yellow-rumped
Leaf Warbler, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Phylloscopus
proregulus)
Mawphlang 7/3, 8/3.
Possible Hume's Warbler
Phylloscopus humei] (Yellow-browed
Warbler, Inornate Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus)
Mawphlang 7/3. Similar to Yellow-browed Warbler but very dark legs
and a buff wing bar.
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus (Inornate Leaf Warbler)
Jatinga 5/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Blyth's Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus reguloides (Blyth's Crowned
Leaf Warbler, Crowned Leaf Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, 15/2; Digboi common; Jatinga common 1/3 at
least; Shillong (Mawphlang) 7/3, Cherrapunji 7/3.
Yellow-vented Warbler
Phylloscopus cantator (Yellow-throated
Leaf Warbler, Yellow-faced Leaf Warbler, Black-browed Leaf Warbler)
Digboi 20/2, 23/2, 24/2; Jatinga 4/3.
Golden-spectacled Warbler
Seicercus burkii (Black-browed
Flycatcher-Warbler, Yellow-eyed Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Digboi 20/2, 21/2, 24/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Grey-hooded Warbler
Seicercus xanthoschistos (Grey-headed
Flycatcher-Warbler, Grey-headed Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common (twice) 15/2, (twice) 16/2, (at least twice)
17/2; Digboi 23/2; Jatinga 2/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
White-spectacled Warbler
Seicercus affinis (Allied Flycatcher-Warbler)
Digboi fairly common, seen 20/2, 21/2, 23/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga
4/3.
Grey-cheeked Warbler
Seicercus poliogenys (Grey-cheeked Flycatcher-Warbler)
Digboi a little less common than the previous species, 20/2, 22/2,
23/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga 1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3.
Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Seicercus castaniceps (Chestnut-crowned Flycatcher-Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common 15/2, 16/2, 17/2 at least; Digboi common 20/2,
21/2, 22/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga 4/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Rufous-faced Warbler
Abroscopus albogularis (White-throated
Warbler, White-throated Flycatcher Warbler, Seicercus albogularis)
Digboi common, 20/2, 21/2, 23/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga (Ratzol)
3/3.
Yellow-bellied Warbler
Abroscopus superciliaris (Yellow-bellied
Flycatcher-Warbler, Seicercus superciliaris)
Digboi (small party) 25/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Striated Grassbird
Megalurus palustris (Striated Marsh Warbler, Striated Warbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common, 14/2, 15/2, 17/2 at least; Digboi Golfcourse
19/2; Kaziranga fairly common, (Western Range) 26/2, (Central Range)
27/2.
White-crested Laughingthrush
Garrulax leucolophus
Digboi 22/2, (2 parties) 24/2; Jatinga 1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 5/3.
Present in small parties.
Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush
Garrulax monileger (Necklaced Laughing-thrush)
Digboi 20/2, 23/2, 24/2. Present in small parties.
Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush
Garrulax pectoralis (Large Necklaced
Laughing-thrush, Black-gorgeted Laughing-thrush)
Dibru-Saikhowa (2 parties) 16/2; Digboi 22/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Present in small parties.
[Necklaced] Laughingthrush sp. Garrulax monileger/
G. pectoralis
Several unidentified flocks at Digboi probably Greater, 24/2 at
least.
Rufous-necked Laughingthrush
Garrulax ruficollis
Digboi Golfcourse (1 flock) 19/2.
Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush
Garrulax nuchalis
Digboi (a pair) 22/2. See site notes. The song was a varied
beautiful song with repetition. Eric Lott has a tape.
Grey-sided Laughingthrush
Garrulax caerulatus
Mawphlang 8/3.
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
Garrulax erythrocephalus (Red-headed Laughing-thrush)
Jatinga Ham Pu Ped peak 4/3, 5/3.
Abbott's Babbler
Malacocincla abbotti
Digboi 22/2 and probably this species on 23/2 and 24/2.
[Probable Buff-breasted Babbler
Pellorneum tickelli] (Tickell's Babbler,
Tickell's Jungle Babbler, Buff-breasted Jungle Babbler, Trichastoma
tickelli, Malacocincla tickelli)
Jatinga (Ratzol) at about 1300m 3/3.
[Possible Spot-throated Babbler
Pellorneum albiventer (Brown Babbler, Plain Brown Babbler)]
Digboi 24/2.
Puff-throated Babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps (Spotted Babbler)
Digboi 23/2, (a pair) 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) (a pair) 3/3;
Mawphlang 8/3.
Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis
Mawphlang 8/3.
White-browed Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus schisticeps (Slaty-headed Scimitar-Babbler)
Digboi 25/2.
Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus ruficollis (Rufous-necked Scimitar-Babbler)
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3; Mawphlang 7/3.
Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler
Pomatorhinus ferruginosus
Jatinga (small party) 2/3, (small party) 5/3. Both quite high up
towards Ham Pu Ped peak.
Streaked Wren Babbler
Napothera brevicaudata
Digboi 24/2, 25/2; Jatinga (3) 4/3, (3) 5/3.
[Probable Pygmy Wren Babbler
Pnoepyga pusilla] (Lesser Scaly-breasted
Wren-Babbler, Brown Wren-Babbler, Microura pusilla)
Jating 4/3 (call chip).
Unidentified Wren Babbler
Digboi 24/2; Jatinga 1/3.
Rufous-fronted Babbler
Stachyris rufifrons (Red-fronted Babbler,
Buff-chested Babbler, Stachyris ambigua)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2, 15/2. Present in small parties.
Golden Babbler
Stachyris chrysaea
Jatinga (2) 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, (2) 5/3; Mawphlang 8/3.
Grey-throated Babbler
Stachyris nigriceps (Black-throated Babbler)
Digboi common (twice) 20/2, (2) 23/2, 24/2, 25/2 at least; Jatinga
2/3, (Ratzol) (twice) 3/3, 5/3.
Striped Tit Babbler
Macronous gularis (Yellow-breasted Tit-Babbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common 15/2 at least; Digboi common 20/2, 21/2, 22/2
at least; Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Chestnut-capped Babbler
Timalia pileata (Red-capped Babbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common, 14/2, 15/2, 16/2, 17/2 at least. Signs of
breeding on 17/2.
Jerdon's Babbler
Chrysomma altirostre (Jerdon's Moupinia, Moupinia altirostris)
Dibru-Saikhowa 14/2 (near Raidan), (near Kolomi, by river) (2) 17/2.
Striated Babbler
Turdoides earlei
Dibru-Saikhowa (small party) 14/2.
Silver-eared Mesia
Leiothrix argentaurus
Jatinga 2/3, (Ratzol) (twice) 3/3, 4/3; Shillong Peak 8/3. Present
in small parties.
Red-billed Leiothrix
Leiothrix lutea (Pekin Robin)
Mawphlang (small party) 8/3.
Black-headed Shrike Babbler
Pteruthius rufiventer
Jatinga (a pair) 4/3, 5/3.
White-browed Shrike Babbler
Pteruthius flaviscapis (Red-winged Shrike-Babbler)
Jatinga (a pair) 5/3; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3.
White-hooded Babbler
Gampsorhynchus rufulus (White-headed Shrike-Babbler)
Digboi 21/2, 22/2, (twice) 24/2, 25/2. Present in small parties.
Rusty-fronted Barwing
Actinodura egertoni (Spectacled Barwing)
Jatinga (Ham Pu Ped peak) 5/3; Mawphlang 7/3. Present in small
parties.
Blue-winged Minla
Minla cyanouroptera (Blue-winged Siva, Siva cyanouroptera)
Jatinga common 2/3, (Ratzol) (2) 3/3, (3) 4/3, 5/3; Shillong (Old
Guwahati Rd) 6/3, Mawphlang 7/3, Mawphlang 8/3.
Rufous-winged Fulvetta
Alcippe castaneceps (Chestnut-headed Tit Babbler)
Jatinga 4/3; Mawphlang 7/3. Present in small parties.
Rufous-throated Fulvetta
Alcippe rufogularis (Red-throated Tit Babbler)
Digboi 24/2, 25/2. Present in small parties.
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta
Alcippe poioicephala (Quaker Babbler)
Jatinga 2/3.
Nepal Fulvetta
Alcippe nipalensis (Nepal Babbler, Nepal Quaker Babbler)
Dibru-Saikhowa common, (twice) 15/2, 16/2, 17/2 at least; Digboi
common, 20/2 at least; Jatinga common, 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3, 5/3.
Rufous-backed Sibia
Heterophasia annectans
Jatinga 5/3; Mawphlang (a pair) 8/3.
Grey Sibia
Heterophasia gracilis
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) (common) 6/3, Mawphlang (common) 7/3,
8/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Grey-headed Parrotbill
Paradoxornis gularis
Jatinga (twice) 2/3. In mixed flocks.
Black-throated Parrotbill
Paradoxornis nipalensis
Mawphlang (small party) 8/3
Striated Yuhina
Yuhina castaniceps (White-browed Yuhina,
Collared Siva, Siva castaniceps)
Jatinga 1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3. Present in small parties.
Whiskered Yuhina
Yuhina flavicollis (Yellow-naped Yuhina)
Jatinga 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3; Shillong Peak 8/3. Present in small
parties.
Black-chinned Yuhina
Yuhina nigrimenta
Jatinga (Ratzol) (small party) 3/3.
White-bellied Yuhina
Yuhina zantholeuca (Yuhina xantholeuca)
Dibru-Saikhowa 16/2; Digboi common, 23/2, 24/2 at least; Jatinga
1/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 4/3.
Sand Lark
Calandrella raytal (Indian Short-toed Lark, Indian Sandlark)
Dibru-Saikhowa common on sand by the river 13/2.
Oriental Skylark
Alauda gulgula (Small Skylark, Eastern Skylark, Little Skylark)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Thick-billed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum agile
Jatinga 2/3; Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) (2) 6/3.
Plain Flowerpecker
Dicaeum concolor (Plain-coloured Flowerpecker)
Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd) 6/3, (Mawphlang) 7/3.
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
Dicaeum ignipectus (Buff-bellied Flowerpecker)
Jatinga 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3; Mawphlang 8/3, Shillong (Old Guwahati Rd)
8/3.
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Dicaeum cruentatum
Dibru-Saikhowa fairly common seen each day; Digboi 20/2 at least
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Anthreptes singalensis (Rubycheek)
Dibru-Saikhowa fairly common, (2) 15/2, at least; Digboi fairly
common, 22/2, 25/2 at least; Kaziranga (Panbari) 27/2, Jatinga 2/3.
Mrs Gould's Sunbird
Aethopyga gouldiae (Gould's Sunbird)
Jatinga 2/3.
Green-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga nipalensis (Nepal Yellow-backed Sunbird, Nepal Sunbird)
Jatinga 5/3.
Black-throated Sunbird
Aethopyga saturata (Black-breasted Sunbird)
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3.
Crimson Sunbird
Aethopyga siparaja (Scarlet-breasted Sunbird, Yellow-backed Sunbird)
Dibru-Saikhowa a male 15/2; Digboi 20/2, 21/2.
Fire-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga ignicauda
Shillong Peak (a few) 8/3.
Little Spiderhunter
Arachnothera longirostra
Digboi 24/4, (2) 25/2; Jatinga 1/3, 4/3.
Streaked Spiderhunter
Arachnothera magna
Digboi seen most days 21/2, (2) 24/2 at least; Kaziranga (Panbari)
27/2; Jatinga 2/3, (Ratzol) 3/3, 5/3.
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus (Indian Sparrow, Passer indicus)
Common in towns.
Russet Sparrow
Passer rutilans
Shillong Peak 8/3.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Passer montanus (Tree Sparrow)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a flock) 16/2, Digboi suburbs 23/2.
Forest Wagtail
Dendronanthus indicus
Kaziranga (Central Range) (a pair) 27/2.
White Wagtail
Motacilla alba (Pied Wagtail, Masked Wagtail)
ssp. leucopsis
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2,15/2.
Kaziranga (Western Range) 26/2.
Citrine Wagtail
Motacilla citreola (Yellow-hooded Wagtail, Yellow-headed Wagtail)
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Dibru-Saikhowa 13/2.
Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii
Kaziranga (Central Range) (3) 26/2
Olive-backed Pipit
Anthus hodgsoni (Olive Tree Pipit, Hodgson's Tree Pipit, Indian Tree
Pipit)
Dibru-Saikhowa 15/2; Jatinga 1/3; Mawphlang 8/3, Shillong Peak 8/3.
Rosy Pipit
Anthus roseatus (Rosy-breasted Pipit, Vinaceous-breasted Pipit,
Anthus pelopus)
Dibru-Saikhowa common by ponds by river 13/2, 17/2.
Baya Weaver
Ploceus philippinus
Kaziranga (a small flock) (Central range) 27/2
White-rumped Munia
Lonchura striata (White-backed Munia, Striated Munia, Sharp-tailed
Munia)
Digboi (a flock) 24/2; Jatinga (Ratzol) (a flock) 3/3.
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata (Spotted Munia, Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Mannikin)
Digboi Golfcourse (flock of 10) 19/2.
Dark-breasted Rosefinch
Carpodacus nipalensis
Shillong Peak 8/3
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus (Scarlet Rosefinch, Scarlet Grosbeak)
Jatinga 1/3.
Scarlet Finch
Haematosiza sipahi
Jatinga (Ratzol) 3/3, (Mawphlang) (3) 7/3.
Little Bunting
Emberiza pusilla
Jatinga (Mawphlang) (3) 7/3.
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Emberiza aureola
Kaziranga (Central Range) 27/2.
Chestnut Bunting
Emberiza rustila
Shillong Peak 8/3.
Black-faced Bunting
Emberiza spodocephala (Masked Bunting)
Dibru-Saikhowa (a pair) Kolomi 15/2.
©
Anand Prasad
e-mail: swanandprasad_at_hotmail.com
