From Floricans to Cranes: Monsoon and the Tibetan Plateau

After the morning arrival in Delhi, the group visits Surajpur wetland on the city’s outskirts. Bristled Grassbird is the principal seasonal target and is most detectable during the short period when males perform song flights, though it remains difficult to see.

An early departure first visits Sultanpur National Park, another Bristled Grassbird site and a productive monsoon wetland. Indian Peafowl may be displaying. Pied Cuckoo and Indian Thick-knee are possible, with Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Red-naped Ibis and Asian Openbill adding wetland variety. The group then continues to Jaipur for an afternoon jeep safari at Jhalana, where the density of Leopards provides a good chance but no guarantee of a sighting.

The morning offers either another Jhalana safari or birding in Nahargarh Biological Park. Nahargarh’s thorn forest may hold breeding Indian Pitta, Bay-backed Shrike, Black-headed Cuckooshrike and White-naped Tit. The route then travels southwest towards Ajmer and the Lesser Florican area, with exploratory stops on the way.

Two full days from Ajmer cover farmland around Sonkhaliya, a stronghold for the severely declining Lesser Florican. Between July and September, males perform their characteristic jumping display, giving the group a strong seasonal chance of detection. Singing Bushlark and Indian Eagle-Owl are further objectives, along with Painted Francolin, Rock Bush-Quail and Rain Quail. Early autumn passage can add Rosy Starling, European Roller, Sykes’s Warbler or Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin.

Final morning birding near Sonkhaliya is followed by the drive back to Delhi. The overnight stop positions the group for the early flight to Leh.

A morning flight crosses the Himalaya to Leh, with possible views of major peaks including K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum and the Nun Kun massif. The rest of the day is reserved for quiet acclimatization above 3,500 metres to reduce the risk of acute mountain sickness.

A second low-exertion day in Leh continues the altitude adjustment. Relaxed afternoon birding introduces common local species, and a short walk through the main bazaar may include Tibetan cuisine.

The group covers roughly 210 kilometres in an estimated five hours, reaching Tso Kar after passing Puga and Mahe Bridge. The saline lake and nearby freshwater Startsapuk Tso provide breeding habitat for grebes, geese, shelducks, sand-plovers and gulls. Marshy ground around the lakes is also used by endangered Black-necked Cranes.

Days 9–10 explore Tso Kar’s lakes, grassland and barren slopes. Migrating waterbirds and waders use the wetlands, while Blanford’s Snowfinch is among the scarcer dry-country possibilities. Both Himalayan and Tibetan Snowcocks occur, together with Tibetan Partridge and likely Tibetan Sandgrouse flocks. Raptors may include Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard and Saker Falcon. Eurasian Eagle-Owl, desert-adapted Little Owl and Ground Tit are further targets. Kiang is the most conspicuous mammal. Himalayan Weasel, Tibetan Argali and Indian Fox also occur, with Tibetan Wolf possible.

A final morning at Tso Kar precedes the roughly 160-kilometre, four-hour return to Leh through Taglang La. Birding on the pass may focus on Tibetan Snowcock if earlier searches were unsuccessful, with Bharal another possibility.

The group takes a morning flight from Leh to Delhi and transfers for a late-evening or early-morning international departure. An extra hotel night can be arranged when the onward flight leaves the following day.