It is almost three months since i spent my best birding days at Neora valley.....So i thought before my memories get weak to produce a write-up - I should pen down now.
On 10th november we reached New Jalpaiguri station in early morning; hired a direct cab to Pedong [www.pedong.org]@1800/-. It was almost afternoon and we were tired too - so we planned to spend the second half in leisure only and except some sunbird activity near the resort - nothing we got there....The very next morning - we woke up in early morning and made a short trek to Ramitey view point. On the way - we got Grey winged blackbird, lemon rumped warbler, rufous sibia and whiskered yuhina...After lunch we checked out from there and left for Lava; we had planned for Neora valley national park trip for next day so sooner we reached Lava - I went out for forest entry permit paper work and cab booking. The evening we spent at Lava Bus stand and had sumptuous snacks with Momo and Coffee at Orchid Hotel.
We woke up at 5'o clock. It was just chilling outside - but sunlight was there with less fog.By around 6'o we checked out and left for Neora valley; With a bumpy ride on three to four feet wide road (in fact no road) - we reached choudaphera around 7:30. On the way we got a glimpse of white browed bush robin, rufous breasted accentor - had call of maroon backed accentor, barred cuckoo dove. Within just 1km towards zero point from choudapheri - we were stopped at many places and got sighting of some my lifers like - Golden breasted fulvetta, White browed fulvetta, Rufous-capped babbler etc. Except these lifers we got to see - Fire tailed sunbird, Green tailed sunbird, Streaked laughingthrush, Chestnut crowned laughingthrush and many more. The last stretch to Zero point was full rewarding - fire tailed myzornis, black faced laughing thrush, himalayan griffon and yellow billed blue magpie.
The third and fourth night was spent at Kolakham [www.neoravalleyecohuts.com] and Rishyap[www.rishyap.com] and had plenty of birding there.....
Some important information
- Hotel >> Pedong [ www.thesilkrouteretreat.com ] Lava [ www.hotelorchidlava.com ]
- Distance >> NJP to Kalimpong [80Km], Kalimpong to Pedong [20Km], Kalimpong to Lava [30Km], Lava to Choudapheri [14km], Choudapheri to Zero point [3Km]
- Best Time to Visit >> October to May.
- Cost >> NJP to Pedong - 1800/- Pedong to Lava - 1000/- Lava to Neora valley NP (fulll day) - 1200/- (for 3 hours ... 100/- per extra hours ... ) + 100/- per head entry + 80/- vehicle parking
Note
I will write sometime more on Kolakham and Rishyap birding........watch out this space for more...
Photo gallery
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| Black faced laughingthrush |
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| Ashy-throated Warbler |
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| Barred owlet |
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| Black throated tit |
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| Black faced laughingthrush in habitat |
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| Blue fronted redstart |
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| Blue winged minla |
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| Chestnut tailed minla |
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| Fire brested flowerpecker |
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| Fire tailed sunbird |
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| Dark breasted rosefinch |
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| Eclipse male fire tailed sunbird |
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| Golden bush robin |
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| Green backed tit |
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| Green tailed sunbird |
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| Himalayan Griffon |
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| Mountain Hawk eagle |
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| Grey winged blackbird |
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| Olive pipit |
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| Rufous bellied eagle |
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| Rufous breasted accentor |
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| Oriental turtle dove |
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| Rufous winged fulvetta |
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| Russet sparrow |
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| Golden breasted fulvetta |
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| Barwing |
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| Sibia |
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| Whiskered yuhina |
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| Yellow billed blue magpie |
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| White browed bushrobin |
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| Yellow browed tit |
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