Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim
On our trek to Goechala in Sikkim, we walked through the Khangchendzonga National Park
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.
Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♂)
Rosefinch,
Snowy-browed Flycatcher
Flycatcher,
Oriental Turtle Dove
Spotted this one in Yuksom town.
Dove,Spotted this one in Yuksom town.
Ferruginous Flycatcher
Flycatcher,
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.
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.
Green-tailed Sunbird (Male)
Sunbird,
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (♂)
Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.
Flycatcher,Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.
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.
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.
Red-headed Bullfinch
Bullfinch,
Yellow-bellied Fantail
Fantail,
Cotton Pygmy Goose
Goose,
Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (♂)
Rock Thrush,
Yellow-cheeked Tit
Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.
Tit,Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.
Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♀)
Rosefinch,
Spotted Laughingthrush
Laughingthrush,
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.
Rufous-breasted Accentor (♂)
Accentor,
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.
Green-tailed Sunbird (♂)
Most of bird photography is in the timing. On the way back from Dzongri camp in Khangchendzonga national park, this male flitted around in the understory of the Rhododendrons. I hesitated to take my camera out since it was drizzling a little. Just as the rain stopped and I got my camera in my hand this bird came out and sat on a dry branch long enough for me to take 2-3 shots.
Sunbird,Most of bird photography is in the timing. On the way back from Dzongri camp in Khangchendzonga national park, this male flitted around in the understory of the Rhododendrons. I hesitated to take my camera out since it was drizzling a little. Just as the rain stopped and I got my camera in my hand this bird came out and sat on a dry branch long enough for me to take 2-3 shots.
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.
Greater Yellownape (Juvenile)
Yellownape,
Streaked Laughingthrush
Laughingthrush,
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.
Ashy-throated Warbler
Warbler,
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.
Fire-tailed Sunbird (♀)
Sunbird,
Hoary-throated Barwing
Barwing,
Rufous winged Fulvetta
Fulvetta,
Greenish Warbler
Warbler,
Darjeeling Woodpecker
Woodpecker,
Green-tailed Sunbird (Female)
Sunbird,
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.
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
Laughingthrush,
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.
Whistler's Warbler
Warbler,
Common Kestrel (In flight)
Kestrel,
Blue Whistling Thrush
Thrush,
Smoky Warbler
Spotted near Dzongri campsite.
Warbler,Spotted near Dzongri campsite.
Blood Pheasant (Male)
Pheasant,
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.
Yellow-billed blue, or gold-billed Magpie (Juvenile)
Magpie,
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.
Fire-tailed Sunbird (♂)
Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.
Sunbird,Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.
Olive-backed Pipit
Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.
Pipit,Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.
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.
Barn Swallow (rustica)
Swallow,
Rufous-bellied Niltava (♂)
Niltava,
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.
Scaly Laughingthrush
Laughingthrush,
Fire-tailed Myzornis
Myzornis,
White-collared Blackbird (♀)
Blackbird,
Rufous-fronted Bushtit
Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.
Bushtit,Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.
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.
Blood Pheasant (Female)
Pheasant,
