After the Over-whelming response to our Ladakh trip, we are announcing this 2nd batch to this eagerly awaited Birding watching trip ..... Do not miss it now !!
Ladakh - Birding in the Cold Desert
“The
Land is so barren and the passes so high that only our fiercest enemies
or Our best friends would want to visit us” -Ladakhi Saying
India
is one of the most diverse country in terms of habitats. We have rain
forests of Western Ghats & North-East, Grasslands of Central Western
India, Seashores on Western & Eastern borders, Deserts of
Rajasthan, Rann of Gujarat, Islands of Andamans & Lakshadweep,
Himalayan foothills in North & the Cold Desert, Ladakh in extreme
North India.
Ladakh
has been explored by many tourists for sight seeing, Monastery,
landscapes etc... but not much for Bird-watching... Ladakh lies between
3000 to 6000 mtrs, which obviously will have some very interesting high
altitude birds that, otherwise are very difficult to see in rest of
India. The rigours are extreme, but the rewards are equally
lucrative..... Birding in this paradise is every birders dream and a
photographers wish. Even an ordinary camera here can give you postcard
quality images... so pure is the air and so magical is this place. No
wonder many come her repeatedly :-)
The following areas will be covered during our trip...
Shey Marshes
Just 7 kms from Leh, famous for Shey Palace, this place is also well known with bird-watchers, because of the diversity and quality of birds in the various marshes that adorn the lanscape here. Some of the birds seen here are; Black-billed Magpie, Reed Bunting, Mountain Chiffchaff, Humes Whitethroat, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Hobby, White-winged Redstart, Winter Wren, Ibisbill, Northern Lapwing, Common Rose finch, Black Redstart, Oriental Turtle Dove, Citrine & White Wagtail etc ..... and all should be in their breeding plumage.
Khardungla Pass
- One of the highest motorable road in the world, at height of approx.
5500 mtrs, this pass gives us opportunity to see some very high altitude
birds like Robin Accentor, Yellow & Red-billed choughs, Raven,
Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Little Owl, Snow Partridge, Great
Rosefinch, Lammergier etc.. also enroute to Khardungla birds like
Chukar, Plain-backed Snowfinch, Wallcreeper, Brandt's mountain Finch,
Blue-fronted Redstart etc. can be seen...
Nubra Valley: Road from Khardungla pass to Nubra Valley is one of the most picturesque jouney. This
valley seperates Ladakh & Karakoram ranges and is formed by two
rivers, Shyok & Nubra (Siachen). You can see some vegetation at the
bottom of valley, in fact the old name of this valley was Ldumra,
meaning Valley of Flowers! For a bird-watcher this valley holds a very
rare & special bird, called White-browed Tit Warbler. A very habitat
specific birds, found only in Seabuckthorn (Leh Berry) forest around
Hunder and Panamic areas. Other birds include Hume's Whitethroat, Black
Redstart etc... Mormots, Cape Hare, Nubra Pika is also commonly seen in
Seabuckthorn forests, also Red Fox is seen.
Pangong Lake - Known for sheer natural beauty, Pangong can easily be termed as one of the most picturesque places in the World! ......Best seen in evening, this place is a paradise for landscape photography Birds seen here are; Brown-headed & Pallas's Gulls, White-winged Tern, Common Merganser, Bar-headed Geese, Red-crested Pochard, Golden Eagle etc...
Tsokar
"Tsokar" means salty lake in local language. Here the waters are alkaline. This is probably the best birding place in Ladakh... Famous for Tibtan Wild Ass & endangered Black-necked Cranes, this place is also known for breeding of Bar-headed Geese & Ruddy Shelduks..... other birds here include Great-horned Lark, Tibetal Snow Finch, Plain-backed Snowfinch, Twite, Eurasian Linnet, Streated & Great Rosefinch, Raven, Eurasian Nightjar, Upland Buzzard, Little Owl, Tibetal Partridge, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Red-throated Pipit, Altai Accentor, Hill Pigeon, Pied Wheatear, Whie-browed Accentor, White-winged Redstart, Lesser & Common Kestrel, Bar-headed Geese, Brown-headed Gulls, Red-crested Pochard etc...
Photo Credits: Our heartfelt thanks to Sandeep Dhumal, Nayan Khanolkar & Abhijit Narvekar for allowing us to use some of their excellent images for this blog.... they own all the copyrights of the images. Use in any form of any of their images from this blog can only be done after obtaining their written consent.
Some good reads about birding in Ladakh ....
http://orientalbirdclub.org/ladakh/
http://www.kolkatabirds.com/ladakh/ladakhmrltrip.htm
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Nature India is
proud to organize, its first ever Birdwatching - landscape photography
trip to this cold desert from 30th July to 08th August 2014 (travel days
excluded)..... Come and soak yourself in this mystifying land of
Bliss........
Travel Details:(To & Fro Leh, to be arranged by participants)
We suggest you to book tickets for following flights:
Delhi / Srinagar to Leh
Reach Delhi / Srinagar Airport early morning on 29-Jul-14, to catch flight to Leh
- Air India Flight No. AI-447, Delhi (6.25) to Leh (7.50)
OR
- Air India Flight No. AI450, Srinagar (9.35) to Leh (10.35)
- Air India Flight No. AI-449, Leh (08.15) to Jammu (09.05) &
Spicejet No. SG-858, Jammu (16.00) to Delhi (17.20) & SG-458, Delhi (18:55) to Mumbai (21:00)
OR - Air India Flight No. AI-449, Leh (08.15) to Jammu (09.05) &
Air India Flight No. AI-821, Jammu (13.00) to Srinagar (13.45) - Indigo Flight No.6E-559, Srinagar (15:30) to Mumbai (18:15)
- OR
- There are other combinations available from Leh to Mumbai / Delhi
Several other flights also available, but the above suggestion is best in terms of time & charges.... Please check the arrival & departure timing at Leh for to & fro flights. Book fast to get concessional rates.
Travel Itinerary: (To & Fro Leh, to be arranged by participants)
Day 3 (01-Aug-14):
Morning Tea/coffee - Breakfast - Visit to South Pullu - Return for
Lunch at Hotel Bijoo - Afternoon birding around Spituk area - Dinner
& Stay at Hotel Bijoo
Day 4 (02-Aug-14): Morning Tea/coffee & Early breakfast (6.00am) at Hotel Bijoo - Depart for Nubra Valley via Khardungla pass - Dinner & Stay at Nubra
Day 5 (03-Aug-14): Nubra to Leh - Birding on the way - Dinner & Stay at Hotel Bijoo
Day 6 (04-Aug-14):
Morning Tea/coffee & Early breakfast (6.00am) at Hotel Bijoo -
Depart for Pangong with Packed Lunch - Dinner & stay at tent in
Pangong
Day 7 (05-Aug-14):
Morning Tea/coffee & Early breakfast (6.00am) at Pangong - Start
for Tsokar - Lunch on the way - Dinner & Stay at Tsokar Village
Resort
Day 8 (06-Aug-14): Full day birding around Tsokar... Breakfast - lunch - Dinner in Tsokar
Day 9 (07-Aug-14):
Morning Tea/coffee & Early breakfast (6.00am) at Tsokar - Start for
Leh with Packed Lunch - Dinner & Stay at Hotel Bijoo
Day 10 (08-Aug-14): Morning Tea/coffee - Departure from Leh by 7.00AM to Airport .... or participants can continue with their other plans.
Trip Charges (Leh to Leh): Rs.39500/- only (Includes AC rooms on Twin Sharing Basis in Leh & Nubra Valley, Twin sharing in tents in Pangong & Tsokar), Veg. meals, Breakfast, Ladakh Permit, travel in comfortable Innova/Tavera, entry fees, Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks and mineral water)…….
This does not include Travel charges from any destination to Leh & back and any charges other than the above.
Important Note:
This tour
involves roughing out in (sometimes) extreme weather conditions with
long walks & drive in high altitude and remote locations. Hence
there is an age restriction (15 to
65 years) to participate in this trip. Also, the participant would be
required
to submit a medical fitness certificated from any qualified medical
practitioner and a "trip consent" form,
before embarking on the tour. Kindly note
and co-operate.
Registration: You can register by sending a confirmation mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com with contact details and by paying a non refundable Advance of Rs.15,000/- after our confirmation mail…..The remaining amount will be collected on the day of travel in cash only.
Kindly register soon to avoid the rush for train bookings……….
Group Size: Max 10 Pax only
Stay Arrangements: - Hotel Bijoo, Leh
- Hotel in Nubra Valley
- Tents in Pangong & Tsokar
Note: Since
these are remote locations, facilities are basic, specially in Pangong
& Tsokar, with accommodation in attached tents on twin sharing
basis.... and mostly basic packed lunch.
Resource Persons: Mr.Adesh Shivkar, Mr.Mandar Khadilkar
Mode of Payment: You can either
1) Transfer the advance money directly to our HDFC A/c (Please send a mail for details).. please mention your name, date and other details…. OR
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.15000/- as advance amount to the following address
Name: Mr. Mandar Khadilkar
Address: Flat No.2, Blossom Apartments, Below Shantighan Apartments, Kandarpada, Dahisar (West), Mumbai-400068.
Please Note:
1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 15000/- is strictly non-refundable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on Nature India tours
3) Nesting photography is prohibited.
4) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with Nature India's rules and policies
http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html
Please revert on natureindiatours@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.
Jullay in July,
Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India
Appreciate, Respect & Conserve
