birding never sleeps: 30 years ago: 20 May 1982, Langtang Trek day 4, Syabrubesi to Lama Lodge

Thursday, 20 May 1982

30 years ago: 20 May 1982, Langtang Trek day 4, Syabrubesi to Lama Lodge

Thursday 20th May 1982: Syabrubesi to Lama Lodge (9 miles)

I had to get up before dawn with my stomach definitely feeling bad. I had a few biscuits for breakfast before the steep climb to Sherpagaon (8500 ft). The first hour of the walk was OK, despite the climb, but then it became very hot. The last two hours were contouring high above the Langtang Khola along large upland downs. We had lunch in the lodge in Sherpagaon and then continued. The trail slowly dropped down to the river, with a few uphill sections along the way, and we reached Lama Lodge (7500 ft) in two hours - the last hour in good forest. Lama Lodge was excellent, if somewhat basic, with a very limited ‘Jomson Trek’ type of menu and the porridge was very good despite my stomach. It was noticeably colder at night but I slept well.

Birds recorded: Impeyan Pheasant 1 male and 1 female, Black Francolin h, Speckled Wood Dove 20, Spotted Dove 2, Rufous Turtle Dove 6, Large Hawk Cuckoo h, Cuckoo 1, Oriental Cuckoo h, Little Cuckoo 1, Little Swift 10, Brown-fronted Woodpecker 1, Olive-backed Pipit 4, Orange-bellied Leafbird 1, Black Bulbul 10, Blue-fronted Redstart 1, Plumbeous Redstart 2, River Chat 1, Blue Whistling Thrush 10, Tickell’s Thrush 1, Striated Prinia 5, Grey-hooded Warbler 5, Large-billed Leaf Warbler 1, Verditer Flycatcher 1, Ultramarine Flycatcher 2, Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher 6, Grey-headed Flycatcher 1, Streaked Laughingthrush 3, Black-capped Sibia 4, Stripe-throated Yuhina 1, Red-headed Tit 10, Black-crested Tit 2, Green-backed Tit 1, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker 4, Oriental White-eye 2, Grey-backed Shrike 1, Black Drongo 4, Gold-billed Blue Magpie 3, Nutcracker 2, Large-billed Crow 10, Goldfinch 1, Red-headed Bullfinch 4.