30^th November, 2019 to 8^th December, 2019

Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Devabhumi" (literally "Land of the Gods") due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai. On 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India, being carved from the Himalayan districts of Uttar Pradesh. It borders Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north; the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a rail head. The High Court of the state is located in Nainital.

The land of mountains and pristine forests, UTTARAKHAND

We started our journey towards Sattal situated in district of Nainital on 30th Nov 2019 via Bangalore to Delhi-Dehradun by Air and from there in taxi to CHOPTHA-MANDAL-SATTAL

THE TEAM

S.VISWANATH

Dr.SRIKANTH HEGDE- from Shivamogga

Dr.PARAMESHWAR -from Shivamogga

N.SATEESH

Tour Itinerary- TRAVELOGUE DETAILS

30.11.2019-Saturday - DAY-01

Banglore to Delhi- DEHRADUN
(by INDIGO Air (06-30AM) (6E-2132)- Arrival by 12 PM

Pick up Dehradun airport , 8 hour drive to Chopta from Dehradun Airport.

Overnight at Snow View hotel, Kanda Road, Pothibasa, Ukhimath-246469 - 073516 37172

30th We left Bangalore towards Dehradun as there was no direct flight, the flight route was Bangalore - Delhi- Dehradun, arrived Delhi by 12 pm, from Delhi to Dehradun the departure was 12-45 delayed by 15 mts, finally took off to Dehradun hardly it was a ride of 30 mts to reach Dehradun from Delhi

At Dehradun Airport

Reached Dehradun by 1-30 pm, our guide Mr. Pushkar was waiting with the taxi, along with us another three photographers from Mumbai was also joined together - enroute we had a lunch at Pundir Veg Family Restaurant at Shivpuri, Tehri Garhwal

as district administration was repairing the roads for four lane our PM Project, little traffic jam over the journey

and after lunch we started our journey on the way at 5-30pm we had a tea break at Rudraprayag,

TEA BREAK NEAR RUDRAPRAYAG

finally after crossing devaprayag reached CHOPTHA, we stayed in Hotel Snowview Kanda Road Pothibasa, Ukhimath, Uttarakhand 246469 [Phone: 073516 37172]

as there was a snowfall the temperature at Chopta was 3 deg when we reached over there by 6-45 pm had light snacks and tea and dinner at 7-30 pm as we traveled nearly 8 hours [ and also there is no power over there, only generator will run from 7 to 10pm for charging gadgets and bathing they provide half bucket of hot water]

Next day programmed briefed by Mr. Pushpkar, the Guide, that by 6 am needs to move towards Tunganth for Monal point to see the Himalayan Beauty Pheasant MONAL, as we were all tired we had gone to the bed by 10 pm.

01-12-2019-Sunday-DAY-02

Early morning woke up at 5 am got ready had a morning tea moved towards Choptha and

drive towards Monal point is possible to see monal and koklass pheasant , as three days before there was a heavy snowfall in and around Choptha and Tunganath, due to this we are not able to see the Tunganath as it was fully covered under snow

EARLY MORNING SUNRISE AT CHOPTHA

ENROUTE TO MONAL POINT

MONAL POINT

ALL GEARS READY TO SHOOT

and finally we a got a view of MONAL

MALE MONAL

The Himalayan MONAL (Lophophorus impejanus), also known as the Impeyan monal and Impeyan pheasant, is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 2,100–4,500 m (6,900–14,800 ft). It is part of the family Phasianidae and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe.

The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, the wife of the British chief justice of Bengal, Sir Elijah Impey.

FEMALE MONAL

and at 8 am we had a breakfast at Bhulkhan choptha Road, Aloo Paratha, Egg Omlette and Tea, afterwards we were on track to find some speices of Birds in and around Choptha

Views from Bhulkan-Choptha

After Breakfast over there we came back to room to have a bath and opp to our hotel snow view lot of Eurasian jay, and other species arrived

EURASIAN JAY

In the afternoon session we visisted Duggal Shahari village get more speices of birds over there, one can see lots of birds like 8 types of tits wood peckers, laughing thrush and thrushes, Accenture, vulture, lammargier golden eagle, after launch drive to mukku farm good to see flower pecker, owlet, rose finches , redstart, mistle thrush.

and in the evening had Tea and had dinner at 8 pm and gone to bed

HIMALAYAN MONAL

Griffon Vulture

Wren

COMMON MYNA

Russet Sparrow

Blue Rented RedStart

Civet Cat

HIMALAYAN MONAL

Yellow Throated Martin

HIMALAYAN LANGOORS

HIMALAYAN THAR

SLATTY BACKED FORKTAIL

HIMALAYAN MONAL

HIMALAYAN MONAL FEMALE

HIMALAYAN MONAL MALE-- CROSSING

HIMALAYAN MONAL

02-12-2019- MONDAY - DAY 03

Start early hike to Tungnath temple for snow partridge on way one can see monal winter wren, Accenture, tits, warblers. Afternoon we will look for rapture and some forest birds like tit bulbuls warblers wood peckers laughing thrushes etc.

Overnight stay in Mandal.

03.12.2019-Tuesday-DAY-04 drive to rose finch point one can see scarlet finch, spot winged & pink browed rose finches, bunting, laughing thrush, warblers, niltava , shrike babbler, wren babbler, tesia after noon visit to river good for brown deeper forktail flycatchers and redstarts.

Overnight stay in Mandal

RED VENTED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines

White throated fantail flycatcher

Blue throated barbet

RED VENTED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines

Next day morning woke up early in the morning at 4 am, left the place by 5 am towards MONDAL enroute Chopta for final glimpses of Himalayan Monal and Kocklass Pheasant, finally we had a darshan of Kocklass Pheasant, and reached MONDAL in the afteroon

MANDAL VILLAGE VIEW

HIMALAYAN BULBULThe Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in central Asia.

HIMALAYAN BULBUL
The Himalayan bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), or white-cheeked bulbul, is a species of songbird in the bulbul family found in central Asia.

Blue Throated Barbet

Scarlet Finch Male

Scarlet Finch male and female

Scarlet Finch Male

Crested Kingfisher

Steppe Eagle

STEPP EAGLE

Siberian Stonechat

Next Day early morning left MONDAL to reach Sattal - day long journey from Mondal to Sataal, enroute we had breakfast and Lunch and reached the birders Den by 7-30 pm

BIRDER DEN SATTAL

Birders Den is an eco-resort, nestled in the lap of nature close to the Naldamayanti tal. A short 10 minutes drive from Sattal, it is your perfect base for a bird watching holiday in the Western Himalayas. With sumptuous home cooked food and cozy rooms with a pretty view of the region, the Birders Den is the perfect relaxing spot for birders and also serves as a hot spot for some stunning birds of the region.Birders Den Eco Resort provides you pleasant Hospitality and friendly loving environment, It's placed in middle of forest Sattal, Nainital District and away from city noise and Highway traffic, It's gives you cozy and calm environment, It's just 18 km from Nainital City and 2 km from Sattal lake which is famous tourism destination, the resort provides to everyone homely atmosphere and also serve you Hygienic local kumauni meals, All around surrounded by Nature and verities of Birds , A good Natural environment and Birds Chirping makes you more comfortable and joyful, It's All People of Birders Den Eco Resort Who treats you like family and also makes your Experience truly exceptional.

Birders Den Eco resort have restaurant where all guest have their meals together and also share their Day to Day life experience, We serve Simple and Spice less meal which makes you healthy and fit, we have high speed internet access in reception and restaurant where from you can easily run your business through electronic gadgets.

BIRDERS DEN NEST

Grey Treepie

Kalij Pheasant

Kalij Pheasant Female

Oriental Turtle Dove

Kalij Pheasant Female

Red Billed Liothrix

Kalij Pheasant Female

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Grey headed Woodpecker Female

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Red Billed Liothrix

Cinereous Tit

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch female

Kalij Pheasant

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch

Blue Whistling Thrush

Green Backed Tit

Black Lored Tit

Brown Headed Woodpecker

Blue Whistling Thrush

White Throated Laughing Thrush

White Throated Laughing Thrush-Swimming

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Grey Treepie

Brown Headed Woodpecker

Grey Treepie

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch Female

Himalayan Bulbul

Brown Headed Woodpecker Female

Grey headed Bunting

Red Vented Bulbul

Scaly Breasted Woodpecker

Scaly Breasted Woodpecker-Flight

Scaly Breasted Woodpecker

Common Babbler

Red vented bulbul

Red billed Blue Magpie

Greater yellow nape woodpecker

White Crested Laughing Thrush

Red billed Blue Magpie

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Brown headed woodpecker

White Throated Laughing Thrush

Red billed Blue Magpie

Red Billed Liothrix

Rufous Chinned Laughingthrush

Rufous Bellied Nuthatch female

-Red Billed Liothrix

Bathing --Red Billed Liothrix

Striated Laughing Thrush

Rusty Tailed Flycatcher

Striated Laughing Thrush

Rufous Chinned Laughing Tthrush

Red Billed Liothrix

Rusty Cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Blue Laughing Thrush

Red Billed Liothrix

Blue Winged Siva

Rusty Cheeked Scimitar Babbler

Himalayan Bulbul

Blue Winged Siva

Yellow billed Bue Magpie

Redbilled Blue Magpie

Rufous Sibia

Grey headed Woodpecker Female

Kalij Pheasant Male

Kalij Pheasant Female

Lesser yellow nape woodpecker

Brown headed woodpecker (LT) and Lesser yellow nape WP

Lesser Yellow Nape Woodpecker

RUSSET SPARROW

Lesser Yellow Nape Woodpecker

Return

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MOBILE PICS

My Sincere thanks to one and all who made this extravaganza memories of the Bird Photography

Regards
Sateesh
9886301584

Comments from Whatsapp Social Media

1) Wonderful tour and darshan of lovely birds of Western Himalayas.Thanks so much Sateesh.The pics are awesome-- Dr.Ravidran, Prl Secy Khajane 2

2) Seems to be a very keen bird watcher, he has done fantastic job-- Kulkarni, Retd Secy KC

3) It speaks volumes of Sateesh's interest in nature and spirit of adventure. Late Narasimhaiah and Sateesh's mother have a great son who where ever they may be make this matter of pride. Savue,soft spoken and intelligent Sateesh has given us a treasure and may his skills multiply and flourish
----AV Ramamoorthy,

4)Hi Satish,--- Most wonderful pictures and a so well written travelogue. Related to it so well and with pics it was as if I was a part of your team. Envy you. Shared with my inner circle. Pl publish it, It took ever so long to publish on the blog-----Smt Umadevi, Addnl Director,Dept of Treasury

5) I visited the blog. wow...... Wonderful and very meaningful journey sir, I saw all the photos of hill stations and birds, these are still attracting me, you have captured very beautifully. Thank you very much for sharing all these with me--- Govind Raju, Acc Supd, High Court Bangalore

6) Sir very nicely written and superb photos. Really amazing and rare birds beautifully captured-- Manjula, Accounts Section, KGS

7) Really amazing photos sir thank you- Rekha Bai, Accounts Section, KGS

8) Very Good writing, i had also visited this place last year-- Premkumar, Saligrama

9) Wonderful sir-- Bharathi, Dept of Treasury

10) Super pics of birds--- Lavanya, Accounts, KGS

11) Beautiful, Wonderfull Photos-- Sadanand Pavaskar, KGS

12) Photography is amazing - Chandrashekar, RTO Officer Yeshwanthpur

13) Superrrr Sir......- Pramod, Bangalore

14) Went through your blog Satheesh. Photos are simply amazing and eye catching. You undoubtedly proved that you are a talented Photographer and that it is a gift bestowed by the almighty. - TP Narasinga Rao, Mysore