Birds of Mishmi Hills & Namdapha

Travelers joining this itinerary arrive in Kolkata and stay overnight at a hotel. The amount of local birding possible depends on the arrival time. Anyone entering India through another airport, such as Delhi, may need to reach Kolkata one day earlier; accommodation and airport transfers can be arranged when required.

The standard route flies from Kolkata to Dibrugarh and continues by road to Tinsukia. On the November itinerary, this is where participants from the preceding Amur Falcon trip in Nagaland join the group. Travelers arriving after the Eaglenest and Kaziranga tour may already be in Tinsukia, allowing a full day in the field. Otherwise, the afternoon is used around Maguri Beel and the grassland edge of Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Marsh and Jerdon’s Babblers and wintering Baikal and Spotted Bush Warblers are key searches. Swamp Grass-Babbler is possible, though the later Dibru-Saikhowa visit may offer a better chance; Bristled Grassbird has also been recorded here in recent spring seasons.

The first full birding day explores Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining Jeypore Reserve Forest, a substantial remnant of lowland tropical rainforest. Priority possibilities include the endangered White-winged Duck, Brown Hornbill and Pale-capped Pigeon. The wider forest community may produce Sultan Tit, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Common Green Magpie, Blue-winged Leafbird, Red-headed Trogon, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo and White-browed Piculet. Several babblers occur, including White-hooded, Abbott’s, Grey-throated and the scarce Large Scimitar Babbler. An evening attempt may be made for Oriental Bay Owl before the overnight stay in Digboi.

Morning birding takes place in a small lowland-forest area within the Digboi Oilfields complex. Collared Treepie and Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush are principal targets; this is the itinerary’s only opportunity for the latter. Rufous-necked Laughingthrush is regular, while White-cheeked Partridge is more often heard than seen. Additional possibilities range from Black-winged Cuckooshrike and Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo to Thick-billed Green Pigeon and the Blue-throated or Pale-chinned Blue Flycatchers. The drive then crosses the Brahmaputra by the Dhola–Sadiya Bridge and reaches Roing at the foot of the Mishmi Hills. Birding in swampy Dibang River grasslands, probably near Jia or Nijamgarh, focuses on the secretive Bengal Florican. Lesser Coucal, Yellow-bellied Prinia, several babblers and Black-breasted Parrotbill may also occur.

The road climbs from Roing through Tiwari Gaon toward Mayodia, with birding at several elevations to follow the changing bird community. Possibilities include Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, White-browed Piculet, Blyth’s Shrike-Babbler, Mountain Tailorbird, Grey-bellied Tesia and Chestnut-crowned Warbler. The search also covers Long-billed Wren-Babbler, Cachar Wedge-billed and Coral-billed Scimitar Babblers, Red-faced Liocichla, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Green and Purple Cochoas, Silver-eared Mesia, Beautiful Nuthatch, several flycatchers and Slaty-backed Forktail. Mayodia Coffee House is the base for the next three nights.

Days 6–7 are based around Mayodia Pass, the road’s highest point in this part of eastern Arunachal Pradesh at 2,666 metres. An early, demanding trek may be attempted for Sclater’s Monal; sightings are rare, effort and luck are required, and November visits have tended to produce more records from the road than spring visits. Blyth’s Tragopan is also heard more often than seen, though the chance of a view is considered better than for the monal. Ward’s Trogon, Himalayan Owl and Fire-tailed Myzornis are among the other possibilities, together with Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, the Grey-sided and Spotted Laughingthrushes, and Gould’s or Rusty-bellied Shortwing. The main target is Rusty-throated, or Mishmi, Wren-Babbler, known from a single 1940s specimen until its rediscovery in 2004. It appears locally common, but clear views can still require luck.

The final Mishmi Hills session remains flexible according to earlier sightings, allowing more time at Mayodia Pass or another attempt in grasslands near Roing. The route then enters Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, where dense tropical rainforest, bamboo and numerous waterways extend through a broad altitudinal range reaching about 4,500 metres. More than half of the country’s terrestrial mammal species occur in the park, which is also associated with four big cats, although sightings are not expected. Birding priorities include White-bellied Heron, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Ibisbill, Ward’s and Red-headed Trogons, Great, Brown, Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbills, Blue-naped Pitta, Blyth’s Kingfisher, Pied Falconet, several babblers, Beautiful Nuthatch, cochoas and White-crowned Forktail. The day finishes at Deban.

After birding near Deban, the group crosses the Noa-Dihang River by boat. The trek then follows the north bank for approximately 6 kilometres to the camp at Haldibari.

The birding trek continues for approximately 5 kilometres from Haldibari to Hornbill camp.

A shorter trekking stage covers approximately 3 kilometres between Hornbill and Bulbulia camp, with birding along the route.

The route advances roughly 3 kilometres from Bulbulia to Firm Base camp while continuing to bird the surrounding forest.

From Firm Base, the day’s out-and-back birding trek reaches Embeong and returns to camp, a total distance of approximately 6 kilometres.

The return trek from Firm Base to Hornbill passes through Rani Jheel and Bulbulia and covers approximately 7 kilometres.

The final long trekking stage retraces the route from Hornbill through Haldibari to Deban, covering approximately 11 kilometres.

The plan between Deban and Tinsukia stays flexible. It may begin with a last morning near Deban, allow exploratory birding during the drive, revisit Maguri Beel for species missed earlier, or return to Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

The final full day will probably explore the Brahmaputra floodplain within Dibru-Saikhowa National Park. Wetland, grassland and small forest patches are visited by boat and on foot, with most attention likely directed toward grassland. The declining Jerdon’s Bushchat is a major target. Swamp Grass-Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill and Indian Grassbird are further possibilities, while Baer’s Pochard occurs only occasionally on the wetlands. If earlier priorities remain unresolved, the alternative is another visit to Dehing Patkai or the Digboi Oilfields.

The tour concludes with the transfer to Dibrugarh for flights to Kolkata and onward connections.