Kaziranga and Bhutan Birds, Rhinos, Elephants and Waterbuffalos

A birdwatching tour to Bhutan is an unforgettable and stunning experience. In Autumn and Winter we see not only the normal special birds of Bhutan, but also wintering guests from the highest Himalayen mountains are to be seen, such as wall creeper, Fire-tailes Myzornis, different species of Alpine accentors and the most stunning and wished bird: the black-necked crane. During this time of the year we see many bird species, such as the forktails, more than once. The fulvettas and laughing thrushes like many other species as well. The chance to see the most rare species in Winter is better, we mention the white bellied heron. This stunning and beautiful combination of Kaziranga and Bhutan tour gives you the best chance to see stork-billed kingfisher, whitebackes vulture, greater and lesser adjutant, but also Indian rhino, waterbuffalo, Indian Elephant and deer. There is a good chance to spot a tiger or a sloth bear. For the birds of Kaziranga we mention great hornbill, dark-rumped swift, Alexandrine parakeet, bar-headed goose, etc.

Kaziranga

Kaziranga is a riverplain with wooded area, wetlands with reed, lakes and ponds. This is the habitat of many mammals and birds. Wild Indian elephants are quite common here, just like the waterbuffalos and Indian rhino. After years of threat the rhino is getting more and more numerous.

In the open areas and lakes otters and deer prevail regularly, especially moorsh deer, which are in other areas more or less disappeared. We see here many waders because of the water, egrets, whitebreasted kingfisher, kingfishers, pied kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher. Wintering Indian geese and greyleg geese. Open-bill stork, lesser and greater adjutant prevail generally in this area. In the woods and open area we will see ring-necked parakeet and Alexandrine parakeet as well. Sometimes we see great-pied hornbill. Above the plains we will see vultures, rare in India nowadays, and marsh harrier and black eagle.

Bhutan

In Bhutan nature and culture has always been protected by the isolated situation and the Buddhism religion in the country. Because of the very high mountains, deep valleys and the jungle which is very difficult to encounter, the original nature is very well preserved. Bhutan is situated in the easternmost part of the Himalayas and the country is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on earth. Nowadays 70% of the country is covered with woods, and an important part of these forests are pristine. And a quarter part of the country is protected in national parks and reservations, which are connected with corridors. Bhutan has such a variaty in ecosystems and habitats and consequently an enormous richness in species of birds, mammals and plants. In 1970 when Bhutan opened the borders for foreigners the government took measurements to control and deminish the stream of tourists in order to protect nature.

Birds of Bhutan

Everywhere we see birds and many birds and we see many very special species of birds. We mention the species of the high Himalayas, pheasants, the Himalayan monal and the bloodpheasant. We have a good chance to see otters, hunting and playing in the rivers and very rare birds, the white bellied herron, Pallas’ Fisheagle and the crested kingfisher.

We have a chance to encounter wards trogon, sultan tit, rufousnecked hornbill, satyr tragopan, white-browed bush robin, russet sperrow, beautiful nuthatch, beautiful rosefinch, red-tailed minia, speooted wren babbler, grey-sided laughinghthrus, great parrotbill, brown parrotbill, black-thraoted parrotbill, collared grosbeak, crimson-browed finch.

The number of spotted birds in Bhutan was in latest tours 286 in Spring and 272 (December 2014) during the Winterperiod.

Praktische informatie
General:	Hotels are very comfortable with private bathroom and shower. Several nights we are in comfortable tents at camping sites in the heart of the best birding areas.
Tour price:	€ 6990,-   international flights included
Dates:	2 December until 23 December 2016
Tour code:	016 KAZ
Single supplement:	€ 550,-
Full description:	will be sent four weeks before departure .
Transport	(mini)van with driver.
Efforts:	participants need a normal physical condition .
Number of participants:	at least 6 persons, max 12 persons
Accommodation	10 nights in very good hotels and 5 nights in luxury tents on a full board basis .
Guidance:	Dutch tourleader and local guide.
Climate:	high in the mountains cold  and subtropical in the lower parts of the country. At daytime mostly sunny.

Tour from day to day
day 1:	departure and arrival in Delhi;
day 2:	flight Delhi  Dibrugarh and transfer to Lodge in Kaziranga;
day 3:	Morning and afternoon excursions in park Kaziranga;
day 4:	Morning and afternoon excursions in park Kaziranga;
day 5:	Hoolock Gibbon sanctuary
day 6:	transfer to Guwahati and flight to Paro;
day 7:	Hike to Taktsang (Tigers Nest) and birding on the way. The first ibisbill’s en brown dippers will be seen soon. Bird watching in the area of Pa Chhu;
day 8:	Paro Chele La (at 4000 m.) for Himalayan Monal Snow pigeon and Blood Pheasant and transfer to Thimphu;
day 9:	Thimphu to Punakha; White-bellied Heron and Pallas’ Sea Eagle;
day 10:	Punakha Tashithang Punakha;
day 11:	Punakha to Phobjikha,  Black-necked Crane;;
day 12:	Phobjikha naar Trongsa
day 13:	Trongsa to Bumthang;Yuhina’s en Fulvetta’s, Cutia’s, Minla’s
day 14:	Bumthang to Sengor;
day 15:	Sengor to Yonkola;
day 16:	Yonkola;
day 17:	Yonkola to Mongar;
day 18:	Mongar to Trashigang;
day 19:	Trashigang to Narphung;
day 20:	Narphung to Morong;
day 21:	Morong to Samdrup Jongkhar;
day 22:	Samdrup Jongkhar to Guwahati and transfer to Delhi;
day 23:	Delhi – back home;