Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

On our trek to Goechala in Sikkim, we walked through the Khangchendzonga National Park

Spotted Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Plumbeous Water Redstart (♂)

Both the male and the female were taking turns to feed this demanding chick. She appeared bigger than either of her parents, but she'll probably shed most of her weight once she started flying.

Redstart,Both the male and the female were taking turns to feed this demanding chick. She appeared bigger than either of her parents, but she'll probably shed most of her weight once she started flying.

Snow Pigeon

We spotted Snow Pigeons at almost every high altitude camp. A flock would land, forage around our tents, and fly off in some neat formations.

Pigeon,We spotted Snow Pigeons at almost every high altitude camp. A flock would land, forage around our tents, and fly off in some neat formations.

Green-tailed Sunbird (Female)

Sunbird,

Blood Pheasant (Female)

Pheasant,

Rufous winged Fulvetta

Fulvetta,

Common Kestrel (In flight)

Kestrel,

Fire-tailed Myzornis

Myzornis,

Blood Pheasant (Male)

Pheasant,

Red-headed Bullfinch

Bullfinch,

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♂)

Rosefinch,

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Fire-tailed sunbirds abound in the Rhododendron forests of the Khanchendzonga National Park in the spring months.

Sunbird,Fire-tailed sunbirds abound in the Rhododendron forests of the Khanchendzonga National Park in the spring months.

Rufous-fronted Bushtit

Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.

Bushtit,Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.

Ashy-throated Warbler

Warbler,

Rufous-breasted Accentor (Pair)

The male Accentor was performing an elaborate dance in courting the female and seemed oblivious to my presence fairly close to them. The norms of birding dictated that I leave them alone, so I just watched them mate from a distance.

Accentor,The male Accentor was performing an elaborate dance in courting the female and seemed oblivious to my presence fairly close to them. The norms of birding dictated that I leave them alone, so I just watched them mate from a distance.

Smoky Warbler

Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

Warbler,Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

Rusty-flanked or Nepal Treecreeper

Treecreepers are so hard to photograph - they are well-camouflaged and keep flitting about from one place to the other on the barks of trees. Even though I was pretty close to this individual, this is the best shot I managed.

Treecreeper,Treecreepers are so hard to photograph - they are well-camouflaged and keep flitting about from one place to the other on the barks of trees. Even though I was pretty close to this individual, this is the best shot I managed.

Whiskered Yuhina

This pair was spotted near Tshoka campsite diligently clearing all the caterpillars from the leaves.

Yuhina,This pair was spotted near Tshoka campsite diligently clearing all the caterpillars from the leaves.

Green-backed Tit

Tit,

Rufous-bellied Niltava (♂)

Niltava,

Blue Whistling Thrush

Thrush,

Whistler's Warbler

Warbler,

Scaly Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Plumbeous Water Redstart (♀)

Photographed this female with a chick larger than her (behind) at a waterfall near Yuksom.

Redstart,Photographed this female with a chick larger than her (behind) at a waterfall near Yuksom.

Bar-tailed or Himalayan Treecreeper

The tail is not visible in this picture, but I'm reasonably sure about the ID from my notes.

Treecreeper,The tail is not visible in this picture, but I'm reasonably sure about the ID from my notes.

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

Sunbird,Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

Hodgson's Redstart

Doubtful about the ID, but I'm basing this one on having spotted the male in around the same place.

Redstart,Doubtful about the ID, but I'm basing this one on having spotted the male in around the same place.

Blue-winged Minla

Minla,

Greater Yellownape (Juvenile)

Yellownape,

Green-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Sunbird,

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Large-billed Crow

Crow,

Long-tailed Minivet (♂)

Photographed from our campsite in Tshoka on the way back from Dzongri.

Minivet,Photographed from our campsite in Tshoka on the way back from Dzongri.

Yellow-billed blue, or gold-billed Magpie (Juvenile)

Magpie,

Green-tailed Sunbird (Male)

Sunbird,

Plumbeous Water Redstart (♂)

This male was taking a bath in one of the streams near the Bakhim campsite.

Redstart,This male was taking a bath in one of the streams near the Bakhim campsite.

Coal Tit

Seemed even more numerous than the Grey-crested Tit. Also, seemed to favour scavenging.

Tit,Seemed even more numerous than the Grey-crested Tit. Also, seemed to favour scavenging.

Tickell's leaf Warbler

Once again, I'm a little doubtful about the ID of this warbler.

Warbler,Once again, I'm a little doubtful about the ID of this warbler.

Streaked Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Greenish Warbler

Warbler,

Hoary-throated Barwing

Barwing,

White-winged Grosbeak (♂)

This Grosbeak was calling out from the top of a juniper bush near our campsite at Dzongri. It stayed just long enough there for me to get this record shot.

Grosbeak,This Grosbeak was calling out from the top of a juniper bush near our campsite at Dzongri. It stayed just long enough there for me to get this record shot.

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (♂)

Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.

Flycatcher,Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.

Lesser Cuckoo

Cuckoo,

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♀)

Sunbird,

Darjeeling Woodpecker

Woodpecker,

Yellow-bellied Fantail

Fantail,

Barn Swallow (rustica)

Swallow,

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

Tit,Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

Red-billed Leiothrix (♂)

This was a lifer for me when I spotted it for the first time after the trek to Dzongri. Once the jinx was broken, I kept spotting more individuals wherever we went for a walk around Yuksom.

Leiothrix,This was a lifer for me when I spotted it for the first time after the trek to Dzongri. Once the jinx was broken, I kept spotting more individuals wherever we went for a walk around Yuksom.

Rufous-breasted Accentor (♂)

Accentor,

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (♂)

Rock Thrush,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♀)

Rosefinch,

Oriental Turtle Dove

Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

Dove,Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

Winter Wren

Spotted one of these at nearly 5000m. Seemed completely unafraid of human beings.

Wren,Spotted one of these at nearly 5000m. Seemed completely unafraid of human beings.

White-collared Blackbird (♀)

Blackbird,

Olive-backed Pipit

Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.

Pipit,Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.

Grey-crested Tit

This was on our trek to Goecha La in Sikkim. The Grey-crested Tit was present at all the camps, and didn't seem to mind the presence of humans at all. Wasn't beyond scavenging from the waste we had left behind.

Tit,This was on our trek to Goecha La in Sikkim. The Grey-crested Tit was present at all the camps, and didn't seem to mind the presence of humans at all. Wasn't beyond scavenging from the waste we had left behind.

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Goose,