Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

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

52 unique species photographed here

Blood Pheasant (Male)

Pheasant,

Spotted Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Darjeeling Woodpecker

Woodpecker,

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Goose,

Ashy-throated Warbler

Warbler,

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

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-bellied Niltava (♂)

Niltava,

Olive-backed Pipit

Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.

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

Rufous-breasted Accentor (♂)

Accentor,

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.

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.

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.

Rufous-fronted Bushtit

Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.

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

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.

Smoky Warbler

Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

Warbler,Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (♂)

Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.

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

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.

Blue Whistling Thrush

Thrush,

Greater Yellownape (Juvenile)

Yellownape,

Red-headed Bullfinch

Bullfinch,

Green-backed Tit

Tit,

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.

Rufous winged Fulvetta

Fulvetta,

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

Sunbird,Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

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.

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♀)

Sunbird,

Hoary-throated Barwing

Barwing,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♂)

Rosefinch,

Whistler's Warbler

Warbler,

Blue-winged Minla

Minla,

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.

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

Tit,Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

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.

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

Magpie,

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.

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.

Lesser Cuckoo

Cuckoo,

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-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.

Greenish Warbler

Warbler,

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 (Male)

Sunbird,

Blood Pheasant (Female)

Pheasant,

White-collared Blackbird (♀)

Blackbird,

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.

Green-tailed Sunbird (Female)

Sunbird,

Barn Swallow (rustica)

Swallow,

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (♂)

Rock Thrush,

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

Common Kestrel (In flight)

Kestrel,

Fire-tailed Myzornis

Myzornis,

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♀)

Rosefinch,

Yellow-bellied Fantail

Fantail,

Scaly Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Large-billed Crow

Crow,

Oriental Turtle Dove

Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

Dove,Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

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.

Streaked Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,