14-Day Bhutan Birdwatching Tour with Nikhil Devasar

The programme is built around a 09:25 Paro arrival on a Drukair service from Delhi; current flight details must be confirmed. Bird around Paro for possibilities such as Black-tailed Crake and Hodgson’s Redstart, together with Ibisbill, Rufous-breasted Accentor, River Lapwing, Oriental Turtle Dove and Grey-backed Shrike. Allow time for local sightseeing, then overnight at Janka Hotel or the confirmed equivalent.

Focus the morning on Chele La Pass, where Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant and Kalij Pheasant are among the recorded possibilities. Other potential birds include Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Collared Grosbeak and several rosefinches. Continue to Thimphu with stops and sightseeing, then overnight at River View Hotel or equivalent.

Leave Thimphu for Gangtey, birding as the road climbs towards Dochula. Turn south from the central highway and walk from near Gangtey La into the Phobjikha Valley. Black-necked Cranes use the valley in winter but may have departed by the tour date. Visit Gangtey Gompa and overnight at Dawa Tshering Hotel or similar.

Travel to Pelela and bird the old road downhill, with a picnic lunch. Himalayan Griffon, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Grey-sided Bush Warbler and Fire-tailed Sunbird are among the possibilities. Continue through Trongsa and, if time allows, bird below Yotongla before visiting the textile centre in Chumey Valley. Overnight in Bumthang at River Lodge or equivalent.

Cross Shertang La, travel through the Ura Valley and climb Thrumsingla before descending to the Sengor campsite. Search for Blood Pheasant, Satyr Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Fire-tailed Sunbird and Great Parrotbill. Overnight at Sengor Camp.

Use a second day to explore forest and roadside habitat around Sengor, following the previous day’s observations and current conditions. Overnight again at Sengor Camp.

Bird downhill along Lingmethang Road from Sengor past Namling to the Yongkhola campsite. Route-supported possibilities include Ward’s Trogon, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Satyr Tragopan, Blue-fronted Robin, parrotbills, scimitar-babblers and several wren-babblers, including Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler. Overnight at Yongkhola Camp.

Make the long drive to Trashigang, stopping for birds along the route. Possibilities named for this stage include Little Bunting and Grey-sided Laughingthrush, as well as Brown-throated Treecreeper and Grey-winged Blackbird. Overnight at Druk Deothjung Hotel or similar.

Begin with sightseeing, then travel from Trashigang towards Samdrup Jongkhar. Overnight at Morong Camp according to the recorded programme.

Bird around Deothang and the road between Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang. Possibilities range from Black Eagle and hornbills to laughingthrushes, leafbirds and Beautiful Nuthatch. Depart around midday for the four- to six-hour transfer into India, arriving at the Kaziranga lodge in the early evening.

Take an open-jeep safari in one of Kaziranga’s operating zones and, where arranged, explore tea-garden habitat on foot. Wetland, grassland and woodland birds are all possible, alongside Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant, wild buffalo and other wildlife. Overnight at a lodge on the edge of the park.

Use a second full day for Kaziranga wildlife and birding, allowing the local programme to select a productive operating zone and habitat mix. All bird and mammal observations depend on conditions. Return to the lodge for the night.

After breakfast, travel to Guwahati for the flight to Delhi. Overnight at a city hotel according to the confirmed flight schedule.

Spend the day birding at Sultanpur National Park. The recorded possibilities include Indian Courser, Sind Sparrow, Brooks’s Leaf Warbler, Black-necked Stork, Sarus Crane and other waterbirds. After an early dinner, transfer to the international airport for the homeward flight.