Deepak Rajanna

Common Magpie (Pica pica)

Chukar (Alectoris Chukar)

Chukar, by the side of the road, near Nubra valley.

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

White Wagtail on the sand dunes in Hunder in Nubra Valley.

White-winged Redstart (Phoenicurus erythrogastrus)

Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis)

On our way out of Pangong we saw the state bird of Ladakh, Black-necked Crane, along the bank of a small pond.

Tibetan Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus)

It snowed unexpectedly in Pangong, and the change in weather seemed to have really uplifted the spirits of this flock of Tibetan Sandgrouses.

Robin Accentor (Prunella rubeculoides)

This was the first snowfall of the season, and all birds, including this Robin Accentor, appeared upbeat about the weather.

Brown Accentor (Prunella fulvescens)

We had stopped for a stretch break on our way to Tsomoriri, and this little fella was flitting from one bush to the other. It took us nearly a kilometre of walking to get close enough to get this record shot. That's what you get when you go birding in Ladakh; large open spaces and shy birds that perfectly blend into their surroundings!That's why every new bird spotted in Ladakh feels so special.

Brown Dipper (Cinclus pallasii)

White-throated Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria)

Blanford's or Plain-backed Snowfinch (Pyrgilauda blanfordi)

This Blanford's finch took the effort to wear a matching broach before it came to the field to forage on a cold Ladakhi morning.

Himalayan Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

Four Griffon vultures sat on the ridge of a small hill by the side of the road on the way to Hanle village.

Great Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla)

Brandt's or Black-headed Mountain Finch (Leucosticte brandti)

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Shot this on the way from Halle back to Leh city.

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Red-tailed Wheatear (Oenanthe chrysopygia)

Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius)