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Bird Watching Tours in Nepal

Nepal is a paradise for birds lovers and ornithologists with over 848 species (8% of the world total) of birds. And among them almost 500 species are found in the Kathmandu valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati River , Taudaha and so on. Get your binocular and look forward to a rewarding experience. The best time for bird watching is March and December. " Tragopan in kanchanjunga area"

Koshi Tappu National Park Bird Watching

Koshi Tappu wild life reserve 400 species of birds which includes two species ofbird never before seem in Nepal- the spotted wren babbler and the olive ground warbler. Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve offers over 200 species of birds. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve offers 280 species of birds which include 20 species of ducks, 2 species of ibises, many storks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp patriadge and Bengal florican . Shivapuri situated at an altitude of 2563m north of Kathmandu is second highest hill around Kathmandu valley . Baghdwar, Shivapuri locates near source of holy river Bagmati. After breakfast at the hotel, we drive for about 20 minutes to Budhanikantha Temple , 8 kms north of Kathmandu . From Budhanilkantha we walk through Shivapuri conservation area . This is the Government protected forest where over 500 species are found. We start our hike from the southern boundary of the area where the army check post is located. Nagi Gumpa situated at an altitude of 2330 m north of Kathmandu and above Budhanilkantha Temple is only Monastery for the Nuns practice Buddhism and foreigners often come there for meditation. It is a steep uphill hike through narrow and dusty trail for about half an hour and two hours gradual uphill trial to Shivapuri. After lunch and strolling around from sometime , we take a short cut down hill trail to Kopan for about two hours and drive back to Kathmandu .

Chitwan National Park Bird Watching

By Road to Chitwan Transfer by road from Pokhara to Chitwan . A drive of approx. 4 hours. After checking in, you will have time for a late afternoon Nature Walk or Elephant Safari . The Royal Chitwan National Park covers 932 sq. km. and supports some 450 species of birds. Flocks of Common and Demoiselle Cranes occur on passage between March and May and October/November. Along the marshes and small lakes there are Cormorants, Darter, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night and Purple Herons, Asian Openbill, Woolly-necked and Lesser Adjutant Storks, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Balloons Ruddy-breasted and Brown Crakes, Purple Gallinule, Bronze-winged Jacana, Painted Snipe and Stork-billed Kingfisher, Chestnut-crowned and Spotted Bush Warblers, Yellow bellied Prinia, Clamorous Reed, dusky and Smoky Warblers, and Red-capped Babbler. Forest species regular seen are Lesser Fishing and Grey headed Eagle, Brown Fish Owl, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Emerald Dove, Orange-breasted Green and Pompadour Green Pigeon, Moustached Parakeet, Green-billed Malkoha, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Treeswift, Pied and Great Hornbills, Streak-throated Green, Rufous, Himalayan Golden-backed and Greater Golden- backed Woodpeckers, Large Woodshrike Rosy Minivet, Black- crested Bulbul, Golden fronted Leafbird, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, Black-napped Monarch, Puff-throated Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Hill Mynah, Black-hooded Oriole, White-rumped Shama, Lesser Necklaced, Greater Necklaced and Rufous-necked Laughing-thrushes, Nepal Fulvetta, Streaked Spiderhunter, yellow-bellied Warbler, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Forest Eagle, Tawny Fish Owls, Red-headed Trogon, White-browed Piculet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Long-tailed Broadbill, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird and Little Spiderhunter. Elephant Safari, travel through open grassland and dense forests on elephant back in search of rare game. Be on the look out for the great one horned rhino , four species of deer, wild boar, sloth bear, leopard, bison and the big one, The Royal Bengal Tiger . Canoeing, a traditional dugout canoe takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view birds, crocodiles and the animals of the river bank. Nature walk, our trained naturalists take you to prime spots to view deer, rhino, sloth bear and other wild life. Detailed knowledge of the wild life and jungle will enhance your trip. Birding, an early morning walk along the Rapti River is a must to view many of the 450 species of exotic birds including Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican and Paradise Flycatcher . Again, you will be accompanied by our naturalists.

Phulchowki Bird Watching

After a very early breakfast we depart for Phulchowki 18km Southeast of Kathmandu. Phulchowki at 2760m is the highest of the mountains encircling the Kathmandu valley and provides an ideal introduction to the birds of Nepal . Regularly recorded resident species include Besra, Black Eagle, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Kalij Pheasant, Common Hill Partridge, Ashy Woodpigeon, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Golden-throated Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Crimson-breasted Pied and Rufous-bellied Pied Woodpeckers, Grey-chinned Minivet, Striated Bulbul, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut-headed and grey-bellied Tesias, Chestnut-crowned and black faced Warblers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Lesser Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-throated and Spiny Babblers, White-crested, striated, Rufous-chinned and grey-sided Laughing thrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Cuttia, White-browed Green and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Hoary Barwing, Blue-winged Minla, Nepal Fulvetta, Yellow-browed Tit, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Black-throated Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Eurasian and Lancelated Jays, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Brown Bullfinch . A further 55 species have been known to visit the area as migratory or occasional visitors. Phulchowki's forests are also very rich in flora and butterflies. Mammals include Leopard, Yellow-throated Marten and Orange-bellied Squirrel . After this fine introduction to Nepali Birds, we will return to our hotel in Kathmandu.

Pokhara Bird Watching

We explore in detail the forest along the southern shore of the lake. Apart from the many birds found here, you will also be rewarded with some of the best views of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhare , Pokhara has to offer. Species regularly seen in this forest and along the shore of the lake include Besra, Red-thighed Falconet, Pallid and Pied Harriers, Eurasian Griffon, Red-headed and Eurasian Black Vultures, Kalij Pheasant, Ducks, Gulls, Terns, Waders, Bulbul, Black-backed Forktail, Puff-throated Babbler, White-crested, Lesser Necklaced and Rufous-chinned Laughing Thrushes, Red-billed Leiothrix, Minivetts, Crimson Sunbird, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Red-billed and Green Magpies, Long-tailed Mountain Thrush, Chestnut-headed and Grey-bellied Tesias, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Small and Rufous-bellied Niltavas and Snowy-brown Flycatcher, Long-tailed Broadbill, Pale Blue Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin, Spiny Babbler, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Striated Munia, Lesser Whitethroat and Thick-billed Warbler .

Bardia National Park Bird Watching

Bardia National Park offers Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia, saurus crane and other common birds of nature. Shey Phoksundo National Park is equally rich in many species of birds such as the impeyan pheasant (danphe- the national bird of Nepal ), blood pheasant, cheer pheasants, red and yellow billed cough, raven, jungle crow, snow patridge and many others. Rara National Park offers Resident Gallinaceous birds and migrant waterfowl are of interest to park visitors. The great -crested grebe, black necked grebe and red crested pochard are seem during winter. Other common birds are the snow cough, chukor patridge, impeyan pheasant, Kalij pheasant and blood pheasant.