Khangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim

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

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher (♂)

Spotted this on our morning walk from Phedang campsite.

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

Barn Swallow (rustica)

Swallow,

Green-tailed Sunbird (Male)

Sunbird,

Darjeeling Woodpecker

Woodpecker,

Rufous-breasted Accentor (♂)

Accentor,

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.

Olive-backed Pipit

Paid a brief visit at Dzongri on our morning hike.

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

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

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.

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

Sunbird,Sunbirds making merry on the rhododendron bounty.

Green-tailed Sunbird (Female)

Sunbird,

Scaly Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Blood Pheasant (Female)

Pheasant,

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Goose,

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.

Oriental Turtle Dove

Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

Dove,Spotted this one in Yuksom town.

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♀)

Rosefinch,

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.

Rufous winged Fulvetta

Fulvetta,

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (♂)

Rock Thrush,

Green-backed Tit

Tit,

Lesser Cuckoo

Cuckoo,

Rufous-fronted Bushtit

Shot near the woods behind our campsite at Tshoka.

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

Red-headed Bullfinch

Bullfinch,

White-collared Blackbird (♀)

Blackbird,

Streaked Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

Tit,Spotted this behind our campsite in Tshoka.

Blue Whistling Thrush

Thrush,

Fire-tailed Sunbird (♀)

Sunbird,

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.

Large-billed Crow

Crow,

Yellow-bellied Fantail

Fantail,

Spotted Laughingthrush

Laughingthrush,

Hoary-throated Barwing

Barwing,

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.

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.

Blood Pheasant (Male)

Pheasant,

Greater Yellownape (Juvenile)

Yellownape,

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch (♂)

Rosefinch,

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.

Ashy-throated Warbler

Warbler,

Smoky Warbler

Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

Warbler,Spotted near Dzongri campsite.

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.

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.

Greenish Warbler

Warbler,

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.

Fire-tailed Myzornis

Myzornis,

Green-tailed Sunbird (♂)

Sunbird,

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.

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Flycatcher,

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.

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.

Whistler's 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.

Blue-winged Minla

Minla,

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.

Common Kestrel (In flight)

Kestrel,

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.

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

Magpie,

Rufous-bellied Niltava (♂)

Niltava,