Birding In North-East India (Eaglenest WLS and Nameri Tiger Reserve) Date: 07th Apr to 14th Apr, 2012

Eaglenest……bass naam hi kaafi hai…. Yes, Nature India has meticulously planned and organized bird watching trip to Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh and Nameri Tiger Reserve, Assam, in April 2012. Only limited seats (12) are available, hence please register very fast. (See details at the end).....

A remote place like Eaglenest has been mainly visited by foreigners, and is organized by only few tour operators, basically due to the excessive cost and extreme planning involved ...... however, Nature India has now made Eaglenest WLS visit possible for many with a Great Budget trip without compromising the quality :-)

Please go through this trip report by one of our participants last year.
http://natureindia.ning.com/profiles/blogs/eaglenest-a-wonder-04th-april
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Birding in Nameri Tiger Reserve, Eastern Assam

Covering an area of apprx. 200 Sq. Kms., situated in Eastern Himalayan foothills and on the banks of Nameri river, Nameri Tiger Reserve, is one of the most scenic wildlife parks in India. It is in the eastern border of Assam in the valley and mountains of Arunachal Pradesh.

Nameri is probably only known place in India for endangered, White-winged Wood Duck, essentially a resident of the dense tropical evergreen forest. It prefers to live in inaccessible swampy areas formed by rivers, streams, creeks, etc. It has very distinctive and ghostly voice, which gives him 'Deo Huns', name in Assamese, meaning Spirit Duck. Not easy to spot, as these are extremely rare and elusive.

Nameri is home to many other bird species like Sultan Tit, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Common Merganser, Ibis Bill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Oriental Hobby, Crow-billed Drongo, Maroon Oriole and many more wonderful birds.. Nameri is also famous for high density of Elephants. If lucky, one can see large congregations of Whreath & Great Pied Hornbills.

The only way to go inside the park is by boat as you need to cross the river to enter the park and you know what….you can walk inside the jungle (A forest guard with gun accompanies you due to wild elephants around), a good opportunity to explore other fauna including orchid laden trees and butterflies …Moreover, the Nameri-Eco Camp that we are going to stay is renowned as an excellent place to see Oriental Hobby, Brown-Hawk Owl, Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, Forest Eagle Owl and even Capped-Langurs !!

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Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh

The name "Eaglenest" was derived from Indian Army's 'Red Eagle Division' which was posted in this area in 1950. The Indian 4th Infantry Division also known as 'Red Eagle Division' was an infantry division of British Indian Army. It was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian Army division to go overseas during second world war.

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, the place where Sun rises as early as 4.00am!! The Sanctuary covering an area 218 sq. kms. is neighbored by Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the North-East and Pakke Tiger Reserve to the East. The altitude ranges extremely from 500mtrs to 3200mtrs. The forest types here varies from Temperate forests to high-altitude Bamboo plains to Tropical Rain forest. Although, all the birds seen here are special, there are few super specialties of Eaglenest, most prominent of them is recently discovered Bugun Liochichla.

One can see this bird around Lama camp accompanying Rusty-fronted Barwings and Bhutan Laughingthrushes….. yes, now start getting used to such bird names as we often read & see them only in books!! Other specialties are Ward’s Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, Cutia, Wren-babblers, Fulvettas, Rufous-necked Hornbill and Scimitar Babblers to name few. Eaglenest is famous for mix-hunting parties, in which 25-30 species of the birds can easily seen together. The bird checklist of this area is around 500 species.

We will be visiting 2 base camps at Eaglenest situated at different altitudes to get the most our of the trip.

Lama Camp(2400mtrs)
First camp site developed in Eaglenest WLS. Situated at picturesque location, this is the site around which Bugun Liochichla was discovered. The bird can be seen even on the backside of camp. Other birds seen in the area are;Beautiful Sibia, Bhutan, Chestnut-crowned, Spotted Laughingthrushes, Blue-fronted Redstart, Olive-backed Pipit, Green-tailed Sunbird, Yellow-browed and Black-spotted Yellow Tit, Rufous-winged Fulvetta etc...

Sunderview Camp(2460mtrs)
“Sunderview”, as the name suggests is one of the most scenic place in Eaglenest WLS. This is the place where the first ever camp in Eaglenest was set up. Since it is close from Eaglenest pass (place always full of high altitude birds), we all will surely enjoy our stay here.

Birds seen here are: Ward's Trogon, Red-tailed Minla, Yellow-throated and Brown-throated Fulvetta, Stripe-throated and Rufous-vented Yuhina, Stripe-breasted Barwing, Golden-breasted Fulvettas and many more.....



We will be also visiting Bompu & Sessni area for low elevation birds.. being at lower altitude large variety of birds are seen here. Rufous-necked and Wreathed Hornbill, Red-faced Liochichla, Rufous-backed Sibia, Beautiful Nuthatch, Scarlet and Gold-naped Finch, Slender & Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, Greater Rufous-headed Parrotbill, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Lemon-rumped, Yellow-vented and Whistler's Warbler, Mountain Bulbul, Gray-chinned, Long-tailed and Short-billed Minivet, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler and many more....

Along with birds, one may also see (though rarely) Arunachal Macaque, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Mithun (Gaur) and if very lucky, the Red Panda :-)

To know more check these links...
http://www.clsp.jhu.edu/people/zak/ramana/wapImagesBird.htm

http://north-eastfeast.blogspot.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eaglenest_Wildlife_Sanctuary

Eaglenest WLS certainly is on top of the list for any birdwatcher. Here is a chance for you to see the birds in wild, which you have so far seen only in books. An ultimate place a bird watcher can visit. Normally we count number of birds seen in a trip, here in Eaglenest, if its your 1st visit, then you count number of Lifers seen as more than 80% of the birds seen here will be Lifers for you!! Bag lifers in hundreds in single trip! Register fast.....

Cricket lover ne Tendulkar nahi dekha to kya dekha?
Bird watcher ne Eaglenest nahi dekha to kya dekha??

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TRIP DETAILS:

Date: 07th April 2012 (Saturday) to 14th April 2012 (Saturday) (travel days included)

Mode of Travel :
Mumbai - Guwahati - Mumbai (by Air/Rail on personal expenses)

Local travel in jeep from Guwahati – Nameri – Eaglenest – Nameri – Guwahati (By Nature India)

Travel Details:

From Mumbai to Guwahati & Back (To be taken care by participants themselves)

By Air: We suggest you to book tickets for following flight;

Mumbai - Guwahati, Indigo Flight No. 6E-321, on 07/04/2012 at 09.25Hours reaching Guwahati at 14.20Hours.

Guwahati - Mumbai, Indigo Flight No. 6E-322, on 14/04/2012 at 15.15 Hours reaching Mumbai at 20.05Hours.

There are other flights also available.... Please check the arrival & departure timing at Guwahati for to & fro flights. Book fast to get concessional rates.

By Rail:
One can reach Guwahati by 5647 Guwahati express, but it runs only on Fridays and takes about 53 hours :-(

*Nature India will not assist in booking for air/train tickets*

Tour Itinerary:

1. Saturday, 07th April, 2012: Pick-up at Guwahati Airport at 14.30 Hrs…..Departure in jeep for Nameri. On the way stop over to see first lifer of the trip @Guwahati dumping ground..... Stay overnight at Nameri Eco Camp.
   
   
2. Sunday, 08th April, 2012: Morning bird watching at Nameri Tiger Reserve with packed Breakfast.....Post lunch leave for Eaglenest....Stay at Lama Camp.
   
   
3. Monday, 09th April 2012: Full day bird watching around Lama Camp. Stay at Lama Camp
   
   
4. Tuesday, 10th April, 2012: Start early morning from Lama Camp…..bird watching on the way through-out the day….reach Sunderview camp by evening…..Stay at Sunderview
   
   
5. Wednesday, 11th April, 2012: Sunderview- Bompu - Sessni - Sunderview.....Bird-watching all the way....Stay at Sunderview
   
   
6. Thursday, 12th April, 2012: Sunderview- Bompu - Sessni - Sunderview.....Bird-watching all the way....Stay at Sunderview
   
   
7. Friday, 13th April 2012: Start early morning birding along the way... reach Nameri by evening …bird watching on the way….stay at Nameri Eco camp
   
   
8. Saturday, 14th April, 2012: Morning bird watching at Nameri Tiger Reserve….Leave for Guwahati after breakfast…. Reach Guwahati Airport by 14:00 Hrs

More details on the itinerary will be given to those who register.....
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Trip charges : (Guwahati to Guwahati only)….

Rs. 36,000/- Only
Includes Stay in tents on twin sharing basis at Nameri Eco camps and Eaglenest (beds with sleeping bags), Local transport by Jeeps, Park entry charges, Local Expert charges, vegetarian food, Entry permits for Arunachal Pradesh, Articles on Nameri & Eaglenest and bird checklist, on board mineral water and snacks, Camera Charges if any………

Individuals will have to pay additional entry charges IF there is any increase in charges by forest dept. as per the rules.

Please note: Since this is a remote location, the facilities are basic at Eaglenest WLS with tent accommodation and common toilets. However the stay is very clean and food is very good.

Stay Arrangements

Nameri Eco-camp, Nameri

Lama Camp, Eaglenest WLS

PS: Unfortunately, if the flight from Guwahati to Mumbai is cancelled due to bad weather or for any other reasons, Nature India will not to be responsible for making stay arrangements. Although, Nature India will assist for hotel bookings.

Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.12000/- after getting a registration mail from us..... (The seats will only be confirmed after receiving the advance amount) …..the remaining amount will be collected later in 3 phases as mentioned below.......Please Register at the earliest as only 12 seats are available.

Payment terms:
Phase 1 - Rs. 12000/- as non-refundable Advance to be paid immediately, to confirm the participation. We need to forward this as an advance for logistics & to block our seats.

Phase 2 - Rs. 12000/- by 01st Feb' 2012

Phase 3 - Balance amount to be paid before 01st March 2012.

Resource Persons:Mr.Adesh Shivkar & Mr.Mandar Khadilkar & Local Expert

Mode of Payment: You can either

1. Transfer non-refundable advance amount of Rs. 12000/- directly to the HDFC A/c : (please call Mandar @ 9930318665 for A/c no.) .... please mention your name, date and other details….
2. Courier a cheque of Rs.12000/- to the following address and forward the details.
   

Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar
Address: B/702, Neha Apartments, Ashish Complex, Dahisar-East, Mumbai-400068.

Please Note:

1. Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 12000/- (Phase 1) is strictly non-refunadable
2. Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India Tours
3. This is primarily a Bird-watching trip
4. Weather conditions: Weather in North-East is unpredictable and

   Nature India

   will not be responsible for any days lost due to bad weather.

   
   

Please revert on naturindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification.

For any other queries we are available on 9869071091 / 9820455713(Adesh) or 9930318665 / 9967518665 (Mandar)

Hope to see you for this wonderful trip

Thanks for your patience.

Warm Regards,

Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve