Region: Assam & Arunachal Pradesh in North East India
Areas covered: Kaziranga, Nameri, Eaglenest & Dirang
Duration: 21 Days / 20 Nights by road and air
Season: Mid November - April
Price: On request
Category: Lodges and Tented Camps

Highlights: Birding in prime habitats of Eastern Himalayas, over 750 species on offer, elephant back rides at Kaziranga, services of local bird guides and the added charm of tented forest camps

Introduction: In an area covering less than 200 km, this tour takes you to diverse habitats through the marshlands of Kaziranga (alt. 50 m), the lowland evergreen forests of Nameri-Pakke (alt. 100-300 m) and the tropical and temperate broad-leaved evergreen forests of Eaglenest (alt. 100- 3300 m). Heading north of Eaglenest takes you to the drier inner valleys, conifer forests and alpine meadows of Dirang (alt. 1500-4500 m). This amazing range of altitude is matched by a stunning diversity of vegetation and fauna, with more than 750 bird species reported in this small area.

Kaziranga's rich avifauna is overshadowed by the One-horned rhinoceros for which the park is known. The marshes support many species of waterfowl and an elephant ride reveals grassland species such as Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin and Chestnut-capped Babbler. The woodland forests are home to Blue-naped Pitta, Slender-billed Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Fairy Bluebird, Puff-throated Babblers, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Grey Peacock Pheasant and flocks of the much sought after Spot-winged Starling in winters. Tea plantations and adjoining scrub and cultivation can be explored for the Siberian Rubythroat, Rufous-necked Laughing Thrush and Thick-billed Warbler.

Nameri tiger reserve has 370 species of birds and is home to the most secure population of the White-winged Duck. In winters, the uncommon Ibisbill can be seen along the banks of the Jia Bhoroli river, which runs through the park. Some of the other species here include White-cheeked Partridge, Jerdon’s Baza, Great and Wreathed Hornbills, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Wedge-tailed Pigeon, Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, Green Imperial-Pigeon, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Silver-backed Needletail, Dollarbird, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Collared Broadbill, Large Wood-shrike, Siberian Rubythroat, Thick-billed Warbler, Blunt-winged Warbler, Blythe’s Reed-Warbler, Grey-bellied Tesia, and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. The list of sought after species that you may see in this tour is vast and also includes Coral-billed scimitar-babbler, Slender-billed scimitar-babbler, Black-headed shrike-babbler, Spotted Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Rufous-breasted bush-robin, Yellow-throated fulvetta, Pied harrier, Scarlet finch, Greyheaded bullfinch, White-naped yuhina, 8 species of Wrenbabblers, Greater orange-headed parrotbill, Streak-throated barwing, Tesias, and Shortwings.

An easy road access through the pristine and diverse montane forests of Eaglenest provides ample opportunities for some spectacular birding. The nights in Eaglenest will be spent in campsites at Sessni (1250 m), Bompu (1940 m) and Lama Camp (2350 m). The use of jeeps provides us with a great deal of flexibility in choosing the altitudinal range to bird on any given day, depending on the weather conditions and our priorities. Eaglenest includes much sought after species such as Ward’s Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Bugun Liocichla, Bluefronted Robin, Chestnut-breasted Hill-Partridge, Blyth’s Tragopan, Temminck’s Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Wedge-billed Wren- Babbler, Long-billed Wren-Babbler, Cutia, Pied Falconet and Purple Cochoa.

At the drier inner valleys of Driang till Sela pass at 4200 m you may encounter species like Grandala, Black-necked Crane, Ibisbill, Long-billed Plover, Monal Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Snowcock and Wallcreeper.


Outline itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Delhi
Day 2 : Fly Delhi - Guwahati to Kaziranga
Day 3 & 4 : Kaziranga National Park
Day 5 : Kaziranga - Nameri
Day 6 & 7 : Nameri
Day 8 : Nameri - Eaglenest
Day 9 to 15 : Eaglenest
Day 16 : Eaglenest to Dirang
Day 17 & 18 : Dirang
Day 19 : Dirang - Nameri
Day 20 : Nameri - Guwahati and Fly to Delhi


Birding Tours:
Birding in Corbett and Nainital, Birding in Rajasthan,
Birding in South India, Birding in Namdapha and Kaziranga