30 years ago: 11 March 1982, Jomson Trek day 8, Kalopani

Thursday 11th March 1982: Kalopani and surrounding area (6 miles)

Latish start after good oat porridge breakfast.  Many fewer thrushes in the wood today but loads of choughs in the fields. After checking the wood I crossed the small river, the Lete Khola, to SW. I tried a short cut down the cliff but crumbling rocks made it a quicker/scarier journey than I had anticipaed.   There were few birds on the other side, especially in the clearings which are often productive, until I came across some White-winged Grosbeaks which were really good (a new bird) and some impressive flocks of Grandalas in flight (250, 75, 100-125 and 3).   Back into the wood in the afternoon, climbing higher into the pines where Himalyayan Treeecreeper was another new bird.   Returned to lodge at 18:00. The doctor from PNG was there, on his way back from Muktinath.  We were barely half way there!

Birds seen: Lammergeyer 1, Himalayan Griffon Vulture 4, Hen Harrier 1, Goshawk 1, Common Buzzard 1, Snow Pigeon 20, Darjeeling Pied Woodpecker 2, Rosy Pipit 5, Grey Wagtail 2, Long-tailed Minivet 3, Wren 1, Rufous-breasted Accentor 1, Himalayan Accentor 30, Red-flanked Bluetail 2, Blue-headed Redstart 20, Blue-fronted Redstart 2, White-throated Redstart 10, Grandala c450, Dusky Thrush 1 (same), Red-throated Thrush 100, Black-throated Thrush 1, Mistle Thrush 3, Ashy-throated Leaf Warbler 2, Streaked Laughingthrush 8, Variegated Laughingthrush 10, Chestnut-tailed Minla 5, Whiskered Yuhina 4, Red-headed Tit 10, Grey-crested Tit 10, Black-crested Tit 10, Spot-winged Black Tit 30, Coal Tit 10, Green-backed Tit 12, White-tailed Nuthatch 3, *Himalayan Treecreeper 1, Common Treecreeper 2, Nutcracker 10, Chough 200, Large-billed Crow 5, Tree Sparrow 10, Russet Sparrow 2, Beautiful Rosefinch 40, Spot-winged Rosefinch 1, Red-headed Bullfinch 1 female, *White-winged Grosbeak 5.

Kalopani

male Beautiful Rosefinch at Kalopani

Nilgiri (summit almost lost) from Kalopani

lower slopes of Nilgiri