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Birding in the untouched, primeval forests of Bhutan is a unique experience. Bhutan’s forests are pristine and diverse. As the landmass of Bhutan rises from 200 meters above sea level to more than 7500 meters within an aerial distance of 90 kilometers, the country is rich in flora and fauna. The Buddhist culture, which respects all forms of life, has resulted in an avifauna that is not only marvelously diverse but also remarkably visible and approachable. Some of the species you will encounter include the incomparably beautiful Ward’s Tragon, the endangered Rofous-necked Hornbill, all three of the little known Spelacornis babblers, Satyr Tragopan, the unknown Beautiful Nuthatch, glowing sunbirds, dapper grosbeaks, rosefinches, fabulous Ibisbill, Fire-tailed Myzornis, the famed Black necked cranes and a plethora of other gorgeous and little known Himalayan species.
The suitable time for bird watching is from mid March to April end.
1.
Birding at Paro Valley (2200m)
2. Birding at Thimphu Valley (2300m)
3. Birding at Punakha (1300 m)
4. Birding at Tashithang Valley
5. Birding at Trongsa Valley (2200 m)
6. Birding at Zhemgang-Tingtibi
7. Birding at Bumthang (2700 m)
8. Birding at Bumthang-Thrumsingla-Sengor
9. Birding at Sengor-Yongkola-Limithang
1. Birding at Paro Valley (2200m)
Paro valley is one of the most beautiful places in Bhutan. The only airport of Bhutan is located here. In the north, Mount Jhomolhari (7329 m) reigns in sacred glory. The streams from its glaciers form the Paro river that nourishes the valley. There are good hotels and tourist facilities. The Rinpung Dzong (Fortress) built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the first spiritual and temporal ruler of Bhutan , today houses the monastic body as well as the offices of the Dzongdag (District Administrator) and the Drangpon(Judge). Behind Ringpung Dzong, on the hillside, is the castle-shaped Ta Dzong, a watch tower initially built to defend the Rinpung Dzong and since 1967 houses the National Museum. Paro also has a number of Buddhist temples, the most famous being the Taktsang ( the Tiger’s Nest). It is believed that Guru Rimpoche landed at the place, riding on the back of a tigress over one thousand years ago, and meditated there. Eighteen kilometers to the north, you can visit the ruins of Drugyel Dzong (victorious fortress) from Bhutanese repelled several invading Tibetan armies in the 17th century
At paro the following birds are found in March – April: Ibisbill, Pied Wagtail, White-capped River Chat, Blue Whistling-thrush, Blue-fronted redstarts, Plumbeous Redstarts, Oriental Turtle-dove, Crested Goshawk, Eurasian Kestrel, Kalij Pheasant, Brown Dipper, White-collared Blackbird, Long-tailed and Grey-backed shrikes, Spotted Laughingthrush, Indian Blue Chats, Black neck cranes (sighted in 2003 in the month of February), etc.
A drive to Chelila Pass (4200 meters) provides an opportunity to ascend above tree line into alpine meadows and dwarf rhododendrons and possibility of several birds such as Himalayan Monal, Blood Pheasants, Collared Grosbeaks, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Kalij Pheasant, Spotted Laughingthrush, Rosy Pipit, Blue-fronted Redstart, Rofous-breasted Accentor, White-browed Rosefinches, etc. On the lower slopes you may encounter Phylloscopous leaf warblers, mixed flocks of tits, Great Parrotbill, etc
It is advisable to keep two days for cultural and birding at
Paro.
2. Birding at Thimphu Valley (2300m)
The capital of Bhutan lies about two hours drive from Paro. The Wangchu (Thimphu river) flows right through the valley. The Tashichho Dzong (the fort of the auspicious religion) which houses the throne room of the king and the monastic body lies in the center of the valley. Five miles south of Tashichho Dzong lies Simtokha Dzong (built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel)), the oldest Dzong in Bhutan. Today it houses the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies. Thimphu town which runs north south along a main street has traditionally decorated shops. Thimphu also has a number of temples, galleries, museums and places of historic interests. Among the places of interest is the Memorial Chorten dedicated to the 3rd king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. A landmark in the landscape with its golden spires, its paintings and statues provide a rare insight into Buddhist Nyingpa philosophy. On the weekend, a market is held and it is an opportunity not to be missed. At the market you will find a motley crowd of rural people selling their vegetables, fruits, crops and rural crafts.
Though, a bustling town, there are places where birds can be watched. The Thimphu valley is surrounded by temperate evergreen forests with lots of blue pines. There is also an aviary for Pheasants and a small zoo where you find the Taikin (the national animal of Bhutan). The following birds are found in Thimphu valley, which lies between Cheri in the north and Chunzom in the south: Ibisbill, Crested Pied Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied woodpeckers, Hoopoe, Nepal House Martin, Long-tailed Minivet, Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, Spotted Nutcracker, Red-billed Chough, Black-browed and Grey-crested tits, Striated and Black-faced laughingthrushes, Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, White-tailed Nuthatch, Black-capped Sibia, Common Merganzer, Crested Serpent-eagle, Black eagle, etc.
It is advisable to keep two days for cultural and birding in
Thimphu.
3. Birding at Punakha (1300 m)
Three-hour drive east of Thimphu, over the spectacular Dochula Pass (3090 m), you descend into Punakha Valley. Punakha was the capital of Bhutan till modern times. From Dochula on a clear day, the northern part of the country can be seen against the imposing background of the Great Himalayan snow ranges. The valley drained by the Pho Chu (Male River) and the Mochu (Female River) is the agricultural bowl of Bhutan. The Pho Chu and Mo Chu meets to form the Puna Tsang Chu and at the confluence, stands the majestic Punakha Dzong (built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel). To the north lies Gasa Dzong and to the south is Wangdue Dzong. Rafting can be done on the Mochu and the Puna Tsang
Chu.
The following birds can be watched en-route to Punakha and Punakha valley: Satyr Tragopan, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Mrs Gould’s, Fire-tailed and Green-tailed sunbirds, Lemon-rumped Leaf-warblers, Blue-bellied Flowerpeckers, Green Shrike-babblers, Olive-backed Pipits, Gold-billed Magpies, Plain –backed Thrush, Red Crossbills, Common Hill Partridges, etc on the higher slopes.
At lower elevations, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Northern Treecreeper, Slender-billed Scimitar-babbler, Golden Bush-robin, Fire-capped Tit, Little and Slatty-backed forktails, Gold-napped Finch, etc.
It is advisable to keep two days for cultural and birding in
Punakha.
4. Birding at Tashithang Valley
Birding along Mochu to Tashithang
To north of Punakha lies Tashithang. This valley follows the Mo Chu river. You can find a number of waterfowl. Some of the species found here are: White-bellied Heron (rare and difficult), Tawny Fish Owl, River Lapwing, Red-headed Trogon, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Striated Bulbul, Little Niltava, all three tesias, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla, Scarlet Finch, Spotted Wren-Babbler, Ibisbill, Bar-headed Geese, Great-headed Gulls, etc. In 1994 the first Baer’s Pochard was also sighted.
It is advisable to keep one day for birding.
5. Birding at Trongsa Valley (2200 m)
On the way to Trongsa valley, ascending from Wangduephodrang you travel through exquisite, mixed broad-leafed forests, evergreen forests of mixed conifers, rhododendrons and magnolias till you reach the Pelela Pass (11,400 ft), where you might find yaks grazing amidst blankets of Primulas. Descending Pelela Pass, you enter the temeperate alpine forests and medows. The avifauna you encounter include the following: Blood Pheasants, Kalij Pheasants, Satyr Tragopan, Spotted Forktail, Black-throated and Brown Parrotbills, Gold-napped finch, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dippers, White-capped Water Redstarts, Yellow –billed Blue Magpie, etc
Birding along Mangdi Chu
Lower down the valley of the Mangdi Chu towards Zhemgang, the species found are: Yllow-rumped Honeyguide, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Himalayan Swiftlet, Fork-tailed Swifts, Crimson-breasted and Darjeeling Woodpeckers, Striated Bulbul, Spotted Bush-Warbler, Red-billed Leiothrix, Long-tailed Minivets, Little Pied Flycatchers, Scaly Thrushes, Little and Spotted Forktails, Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, Purple Cochoa, Spot-winged Starling, Great Hornbills, Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, etc
Trongsa is known for its spectacular Dzong, which is located on a precipice dominating the entrance to three valleys. The Dzong is a labyrinth of temples, corridors and offices holding court over local community. Above the Dzong, a watchtower, a Ta Dzong, used to administer its defence. The Royal Family’s ancestral home is at Trongsa. The Crown Prince of Bhutan normally holds the position of Trongsa Penlop prior to ascending the throne.
It is advisable to reserve two days for cultural and birding tour for
Trongsa.
6. Birding at Zhemgang-Tingtibi
About three hours drive south of Trongsa lies the district of Zhemgang. The drive from Trongsa to Zhemgang takes you along the valley of Mangdi Chu. En-route you can see the Kuenga Rabten Palace, which used to be the ancestral royal palace. Leaving the Mangdi Chu, you ascend to Zhemgang on a hillock. The quaint small town has a Dzong and spectacular views of mountains and valleys. You can find a lot of handmade bamboo items in Zhemgang. You descend to south from Zhemgang into the Tingtibi valley where again you come across the mighty Mangdi Chu. The famed Golden Langur are found foraging by the roads on this sector. Also the rich avifauna in this region includes Chestnut-breasted Partridges, Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, nine species of cuckoos, Red-headed Trogon, Blyth’s Kingfisher (with a bit of Luck), Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Rufous-neked Hornbill, White-browed Piculet, Bay Woodpeker, Lesser Shortwing, White-tailed Robin, several scimitar-babblers, Black-faced laughingthrush and other thrushes, fulvettas and yuhinas, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Rufous-faced Warbler, Pygmy Blue Flycatcher, Sultan Tit, etc. It is also possible with a bit of luck to see the Beautiful Nuthatch, White-bellied Heron, Collared Treepie and Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill.
It is advisable to reserve two days for this area.
7. Birding at Bumthang (2700 m)
Bumthang consists of four valleys – Chume, Choekhor, Tang and Ura- separated from each other by mountains. It is a land graced by many temples and monasteries built along the centuries by famous religious saints such as Longchen Rabjampa, Dorji Lingpa, Pema Lingpa and Guru Rinpoche. It has fields and meadows surrounded by thick dark forests and mysterious water flows, hiding parts of the history of Bhutan and strange legends. It is often locally called as the Switzerland of Bhutan. The Jakar Dzong (the white Bird fortress) looks over the Choekhor valley. The Kurje Lhakhang is an important religious temple in Choekhor. There are a number of temples in Chume and Choekhor valley. You can also buy Yatha (locally woven woolen clothes) here. The village of Ura looks like a dream like postcard from the road.
On the higher slopes descending from Yotula pass, you can see Khalij Pheasant, Wallcreeper, Great Parrotbill and Broad-billed Parrotbill, Fire-tailed sunbird, Mrs Gould’s sunbird and Green-tailed sunbirds, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Whited-throated Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, etc. Besides in Bumthang Valley you can also see the Ibisbill.
It is advisable to keep two days for Bumthang.
8. Birding at Bumthang-Thrumsingla-Sengor
On the way from Bumthang to Thrumsingla Pass at 12,465 ft (about 3800 meters), you pass the villages of Tangsbi and Ura. The drive is gradual ascent and takes you through spectacular scenes of rolling mountains and virgin forests and meadows. You can view the end of tree-line and start of grasslands on the barren Wangkala. Moss draped trees stand still as you pass by. You can camp at Gijamchu , on the shoulders of the mighty Thrumsingla and explore its flora, fauna and avifauna. From Thrumsingla Pass you descend to Sengor and may camp there for a deserving night halt.
Some of the birds you may encounter are : Blood Pheasant, Mrs. Gould’s and Green-tailed sunbirds, Orange-barred, Grey-throated, Lemon-rumped, Grey-hooded and Blyth’s leaf-warblers, White-browed and Rufous-winged Fulvettas, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Green Shrike-babbler, Satyr Tragopan, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Mountain Hawk-eagle, Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush, Plain-backed and Long-billed (rare and elusive) thrushes, Orange-flanked , White-browed Bush-Robins, Blue-fronted Redstart, Orange-gorgeted and Slaty-Blue Flycatchers, Eurasian, Rusty-flanked and Brown-throated treecreepers, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Bar-winged Wren-babblers, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Black-faced and chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, Red Crossbill, Red-headed Bullfinch, White-winged and Collared Grosbeaks, Gold-naped Finch, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Slender-billed Scimitar-Babbler, etc
9. Birding at Sengor-Yongkola-Limithang
The drive from Sengor to Limithang may most probably be the most spectacular drive in Bhutan. Sheer drops of thousands of meters, huge cascading waterfalls, endless turns and frequent fog from a rise of temperature make for unnerving but exhilarating travel. From the heights of Thrumsingla you descend about 2000 meters and on the way you can watch the change of flora and fauna. From dwarf rhododendrons and firs in the higher altitudes to citrus groves and chir pine forests at Limithang – the change is dramatic.
Some of the avifauna you can see include: Satyr-Tragopan, Rufous-throated Hill-partridges, Rufous-bellied and Chestnut Serpent-Eagles, Rufous-necked Hornbill, Speckled Wood-Pigeon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Ward’sTrogon, Red-headed Trogon, Crimsom-breasted, Bay and Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpeckers, Golden-throated and Blue-throated barbets, Collared Owlet, Himalayan Treepie, Oriental hawk-cuckoos, Short-billed and Long-tailed minivets, Yellow and White-bellied fantails, Brown Dipper, White-browed Shortwing, Verditer Flycatcher, Lrge Niltava, Hodgson’s Redstart, Plumbeous Redstart, White-caped Redstart, Slaty-backed Forktail, Brown-flanked Treecreeper, Red-heade, Rufous-fronted, Yellow-browed and Yellow-cheeked tits, Mountain and Ashy Bulbuls, Chestnut-headed, Slaty-bellied and Grey-bellied tesias, Grey-sided and Brown Bush-warblers, a variety of leaf-warblers, Black-browed, Grey-headed, White-speckled, Chestnut-crowned, Broad-billed, Rufous-faced and Black-faced Flycatcher Warblers, Blue-winged laughingthrush, Slender-billed scimitar-babblers, Rufous-throated wren-babblers, Rufous-capped and Golden babblers, Red-billed Leiothrix, Cutia, Rufous-bellied, White-browed and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Chestnut-tailed and Red-tailed Minlas, White-naped Whiskered, and Black-chinned Yuhinas, Golden-breasted and Yellow-throated fulvettas, Greater and Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson-browed Finch, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Scarlet Finch, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, etc
It is advisable to keep 2 days for this sector.
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