Eaglenest Fixed Departure Birding Tour

You arrive in the heart of Northeast India Guwahati, Our tour guide and driver picks you up from the airport, they immediately take you on a short birding tour of outskirts of Guwahati. Guwahati is a busy metropolis, yet there are a few spots on the outskirts where one may still witness a fascinating diversity of birds. Greater Adjutant Stork is the object of our brief excursion. After our bird-watching excursion, we will hop in a car and head to Nameri National Park, a 5-hour drive away. We stop for lunch at a wayside eatery and reach our location by nightfall, leaving us with a few extra hours to go bird-watching in the area.

Accomodation: Baligora Camp or Similar - https://baligara-eco-camp.business.site/

Nameri National Park is accessed by ferrying across the river Jia-Bhoroli, which flows along the southern boundary of the park. Crossing the river, one enters a biodiversity hotspot of semi-evergreen deciduous forests, bamboo brakes, and sporadic grasslands, which are home to a variety of flora and fauna, including 375 species of birds.

Quite early in the morning, we take a boat to cross the river and enter the park. We do birding walks on a selected stretch of the park and look for the likes of White-winged Duck (state bird of Assam), Blyth's Kingfisher, Great Thick-knee, Wreathed Hornbill, Red-breasted Parakeet, White-capped River-chat, Long-billed Plover, Blue-naped Pitta, Wreathed hornbill, White-cheeked Partridge, Lineated and Blue-throated Barbets, Pin-tailed, Ashy-headed Green and Green Imperial Pigeons, Pied Flycatcher-Shrike, Yellow-browed, Greenish and Grey-hooded Warblers, Oriental Hobby, Pied Falconet, Pallas's Fish-Eagle, Black Baza, Peregrine Falcon and Ibisbill.

After a successful morning spent birding in Nameri National Park, we head back to our hotel for breakfast before making the approximately four-hour trip to Lama Camp. We halt at the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary along the route for a brief birding tour. In the evening, we will reach Lama Camp. There you have your dinner and stay for the night.

You can enter the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary through Lama Camp. There is a lot to discover as the sanctuary spans 218 square kilometres. After having a cup of coffee, we immediately started surveying the woodland area around Lama Camp. The rare and seriously endangered Bugun Liocichla, a little babbler whose discovery in 1995 and re-sighting in 2006, gained Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary much recognition as a birding destination. This will be our primary aim for the day.

We set off right after the morning coffee to scan the forest around Lama Camp. Our main target for the day is the rare and critically endangered Bugun Liocichla, a small babbler whose discovery in 1995 and re-sighting in 2006 brought much fame to Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary as a birding destination. Apart from this little beauty, our targets for morning birding at Lama Camp include Himalayan Cutia, Brown Parrotbill, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Maroon-backed Accentor, Hill Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Blyth's Tragopan, Temminck's Tragopan, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous Woodpecker, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Great Hornbill, Ward's Trogon, Hodgson's Frogmouth, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, and Mountain Imperial Pigeon.

So much birding comes out of the early morning hours at Lama Camp. After breakfast, we hit the road to Bompu Camp for a 32-km ride that goes through the Eaglenest Pass and several birding trails we stop by to explore. These excursions on the drive to Bompu Camp yield the likes of Eurasian Woodcock, Wood Snipe, Jerdon's Baza, Crested Goshawk, Besra, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Goshawk, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Blue-naped Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Long-tailed Broadbill, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Collared Treepie, Spotted Nutcracker, Slender-billed Oriole, Maroon Oriole, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Grey-chinned Minivet, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, Plain-backed Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, White-collared Blackbird, Chestnut Thrush, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Bar-winged Wren Babbler, Beautiful Sibia, White-tailed Robin, Blue-fronted Robin and species of Parrotbills.

After a busy day of birding, we overnight at Bompu Camp.

Accomodation: Bompu Camp - https://eaglenestbirding.com/bompu-camp-photogallery.html

Bompu Camp's position makes it a popular destination for birdwatchers. It is surrounded by vast fields on one side and thick woodland on the other at the height of 1950 meters. Various tented accommodations may be found along the muddy road through Bompu; they will serve as our home for the next three nights. After breakfast, we will start our tour of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary's middle woodland. We have to take a car down to Sessni Camp, where the road slopes downward and offers excellent opportunities for bird-watching.

After breakfast, we set out to explore the middle-forest range of Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. We drive down to a place called Sessni Camp. The road goes downhill and presents great birding opportunities. On our birding excursions here, we look out for Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Rufous-throated Hornbill, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, Beautiful Nuthatch, Blue-naped Pitta, Long-tailed Broadbill, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Lesser Shortwing, White-browed Shortwing, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Ferruginous Flycatcher, Purple Cochoa, Green Cochoa, Fire-capped Tit, Rufous-vented Tit, Coal Tit, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Striated Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Hill Prinia, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Grey-bellied Tesia and several others.

After a fruitful day of birding around Sessni, we return to Bompu camp in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accomodation: Bompu Camp - https://eaglenestbirding.com/bompu-camp-photogallery.html

We will cover the bird-watching routes at various elevations because Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is dispersed over several heights, ranging from 500 to 3250 meters. We move on lower to the sanctuary's low-range woodland today after searching the mid-altitude Sessni camp the day before. After breakfast, we go to the Arunachal Pradesh hamlet of Khellong in the West Kameng district. Khellong is a tiny community with a few hundred residents maxima. This characteristic and the village's isolation have made Khellong and the surrounding surroundings good locations for birding in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary's lower altitude.

On our full day birding expedition to Khellong, we aim to see the likes of Silver-bellied Broadbill, Blyth's Kingfisher, Eyebrowed Wren Babbler, White-hooded Babbler, several species of Shortwings, Rufous-vented Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla, Abbott's Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Spot-throated Babbler, Large and Hill Blue Flycatcher, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Slender-billed Scimitar, Red-headed Trogon, Rufous-backed Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia and a lot more. On the way back to Bompu Camp in the evening, we seek out Hodgson's Frogmouth. Dinner and overnight at Bompu Camp.

Accomodation: Bompu Camp - https://eaglenestbirding.com/bompu-camp-photogallery.html

Birdwatchers sometimes ask us for extended periods of birding in these lower locations since the birding paths there are so rich in avian specialities compared to those at Bompu Camp. Due to this, we have permanently added a second birding trip to Sessni and Khellong to our schedule for the Eaglenest birding expedition in Arunachal Pradesh.

As we descend to Khellong's much lower height, we observe a shift in the bird species. The chances of spotting Speckled Piculet, Red-faced Liocichla, and Red-headed Trogon are higher here. As dusk falls, we begin to make our way back to Bompu Camp's elevation, but we don't stop birding along the way. Lastly, Bompu Camp hosts delicious dinners; you are free for the night.

Accomodation:Bompu Camp - https://eaglenestbirding.com/bompu-camp-photogallery.html

Our following birding goals are elevations higher than Bompu Camp now that we are finished with the lower-level woodlands. Recognizing various bird species that live at multiple elevations is undoubtedly an advantage of birding at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary.

After breakfast, we drive to the birding trails located upwards of Bompu Camp. Birdwatching here reveals the likes of Blyth's Tragopan, Temminck's Tragopan, Ward's Trogon, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Grey-bellied Tesia, Eurasian Woodcock, Wood Snipe, Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, Bhutan Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Scaly Laughingthrush, White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-fronted Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Golden Babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Striped Tit Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-billed Leiothrix, Cutia, Black-headed Shrike Babbler, White-browed Shrike Babbler, Green Shrike Babbler, and Black-eared Shrike Babbler.

High-altitude birding is quite active today at Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. In the evening, we drive back to Bompu Camp for dinner and overnight.

Accomodation: Bompu Camp - https://eaglenestbirding.com/bompu-camp-photogallery.html

After breakfast, we get ready and head for Lama Camp, crossing the 2800-meter Eaglenest Pass again on the route. We stop travelling at the pass to search the surrounding regions for the birds on our list that still need to be ticked off.

Our targets for birding at Eaglenest Pass include Brown Parrotbill, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Tibetan Siskin, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Streak-throated Barwing, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Yellow-throated Fulvetta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Brown-throated Fulvetta, Nepal Fulvetta, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Scarlet Finch, Brown Bullfinch, Red-headed Bullfinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch and many more avian wonders.

We continue heading towards Lama Camp as dusk falls. If there is time, we could pause along the route to visit other birding paths. There is a Tragopanda Trail not far from Lama Camp, and there is a fair possibility we will encounter Temminck's Tragopan and Red Panda there. After dinner, stay the night at Lama Camp.

Accomodation: Lama Camp - Meals: All Meals

An early breakfast is followed by a birding excursion near Lama Camp to start the day. We search the area for the birds on our checklist that are missing. After our little birding tour, we packed up and went west to the Arunachal Pradesh town of Dirang.

The trip takes between four and five hours and goes through Bomdilla, a popular tourist destination because of the Bomdila Pass, which offers spectacular views of the Gorichen and Kangto peaks. We stop for lunch at Bomdila before continuing on to Dirang.

When we get to Dirang, you settle into the hotel reserved in advance so that we may leave on a short birding tour in the nearby Sangti Valley. Sangti Valley is a charming valley encircled by breathtaking Himalayan mountains. It has been a favourite hangout for many birders in recent years due to the enormous diversity of species that call it home. The Ibisbill, Long-billed Plover, wintering Wallcreepers, Black-necked Cranes, and Black-tailed Crakes are just a few of the beautiful birds we look for here

We return to our hotel in Dirang in the evening for supper and to stay the night. We go to bed on time so that we can wake up early the next day.

Accomodation: Hotel Pemaling or Similar

We leave at around 3 am and head north to Sela Pass, which is aptly known as the entrance to the town of Tawang due to its elevation of 4160 meters. We carry our breakfast, which we consume on the route. The purpose of leaving so early is to arrive at Sela Pass around sunrise. About 9 kilometres before the pass itself, birding at Sela Pass begins. We start our birding trek in the early morning to search for Arunachal Pradesh's high-altitude birds.

About 9 kilometres before the pass itself, birding at Sela Pass begins. We start our birding trek in the early morning to search for Arunachal Pradesh's high-altitude birds of Arunachal Pradesh such as Snow Partridge, Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasant, Grandala, Rare Gould's Shortwing, Solitary Snipe, Upland Buzzard, White-browed Rosefinch, Plain Mountain Finches, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Red-billed Chough, Snow Pigeon, Alpine Accentors, Little Owl, Red-fronted Rosefinch, White-browed Tit-warbler, Himalayan Buzzard, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful, Dark-rumped Rosefinch and several others. Sela Pass also offers stunning views of the eastern Himalayan peaks.

We go back to Dirang in the evening and then head farther south to Mandala. We will book a room at a birding lodge in Mandala. Lastly, you will have your dinner and rest at the inn.

Accomodation: Mandala Birding Lodge - https://www.arunachalbirdingtours.com/mandala-birding-lodge.html

About 30 kilometres separate Dirang from Mandala Top. Since the 108 little Buddhist temples that have just lately been built together, it is becoming a popular tourist destination. Additionally, Mandala Top's elevation of 3000 meters provides a vantage point from which you can watch the impressive Himalayan mountain range.

Mandala Top is a fantastic location to look for high-altitude species from a birding viewpoint. At Mandala Top, we go bird-watching twice on consecutive days. You can view fascinating species at Mandala Top are Blanford's Rose Finch, Brown bush Warbler, Temminck's Tragopan, Gould's Shortwing, Naumann's Thrush, Golden-breasted Fulvettas, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Rufous-chinned and Grey-sided Laughingthrushes, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Grey-sided Bush-warbler, Fulvous and Black-throated Parrotbills, Black-throated, White-collared and Grey-winged Blackbirds, Himalayan Bluetails, Eurasian Nutcracker, Speckled Wood-pigeon, Wood Snipe, Red Crossbill, Gould's Shortwing, Scarlet Finch, Brown Bullfinch, Red-throated Thrush, Black-throated/Plain-backed Thrush, White-bellied Redstart, Beautiful Sibias, Fire-capped Tit, Blue-fronted Robin, Spotted Nutcracker, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Ward's Trogon, Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Spotted Laughingthrush, Crimson-browed Finch, Large-billed Leaf-Warbler, Ludlow's Fulvetta, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Fire-tailed Myzornis, White-throated & Grey-sided Laughingthrushes, Red-tailed Minla, Yellow-browed, Black-browed and Rufous-vented Tits, Green-tailed Sunbird, Chestnut-tailed Minla, Black-faced Warbler, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Red-headed Bullfinch, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Collared Grosbeak, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Gold-naped Finch, and Little Bunting.

At Mandala Top one may also see interesting wildlife such as Red Panda, Himalayan Serow, Arunachal Macaque and Flying Squirrels. We overnight at Mandala birding lodge on both days.

Accomodation: Mandala Birding Lodge - https://www.arunachalbirdingtours.com/mandala-birding-lodge.html

Here we come to the end of our Eaglenest bird-watching adventure.

After breakfast, we leave for the lengthy drive from Mandala Top to Guwahati, Assam. The nine-hour journey passes through the Phudung and Shergaon woods. We stop for a short while along the trip to conduct some birding. We concentrate on the bamboo patches and lower portions of the forest.

Then we will transfer you off to the airport for your next flight after arriving in Guwahati late afternoon.