This report covers a short exploratory visit to Karmi Farm, a new destination in North Bengal combined with a couple of days spent in the Gorumara duars. Karmi Farm is located near the Singalila National Park to the north west of Darjeeling. At a height of 4500 feet, the location is suitable for middle hills species. You can read more about the area at:
The objective of the trip was reconnaissance mixed with photography. Species counts (143) increased due to an unplanned diversion on my journey back to Bagdogra Airport which took me past the bird-rich Gajoldoba Barrage on the River Teesta. Good birds seen on the trip included Asian Fairy Bluebird at Chapramari, White-bellied Yuhina at Karmi and a resident pair of Little Pied Flycatchers, also at Karmi. Most of the birding was armchair at Karmi and species variety would undoubtedly have been
better if more aggressive birding was pursued.
Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra airport (p.m.) and travel by Karmi Farm via Ghoom and Bijonbari (6 hr). Stay at Karmi Farm Eco-resort.
Day 2: Birding at Karmi Farm.
Day 3: Birding around Karmi Farm and p.m. drive to Gorumara Jungle Camp via Mungpo (6 hrs). Stay at Gorumara Jungle Camp.
Day 4: a.m. birding at Gorumara National Park. Afternoon birding at Chapramari WLS.
Day 5: a.m. birding around Chapramari WLS. Depart for Bagdogra via Gajoldoba Barrage.
Day 1: Arrive Bagdogra and drive to Karmi Farm. The drive up Hill Cart Road was rewarding with a splendid male Crested Bunting and a Yellow-cheeked Tit recorded on the road.
Day 2: Birded around the Karmi farm resort, mainly from the open deck overlooking the valley. Two male and a female Small Niltava and many Mountain Bulbuls were observed around the road leading to Karmi. A fruiting ficus tree was the centre of attraction for three barbet species and hundreds of Black Bulbuls. The deck was a great place to see the smallies which included a spanking pair of Little Pied Flycatchers. A circling pair of Black Eagles was also of interest.
Day 3: Morning walk outside the farm area threw up a foraging female Hill Partridge and a mixed flock consisting of Golden-spectacled Warblers and Nepal Fulvettas. The deck area was visited by a Greater Yellownape and many mixed flocks which included Blue-winged Minlas and two White-bellied Yuhinas. Spot-winged Grosbeaks were recorded at the same place a week later by Sujan Chatterjee. The afternoon drive to Gorumara had many Spangled
Drongos feeding at flowering roadside trees.
Day 4: Gorumara National park was unusually crowded and development work had restricted access to some parts. However, the usual species were encountered and a family of Greater Flamebacks were of interest as were large numbers of Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters. The highlight of the afternoon visit to Chapramari was surely the large tusker at the water hole. But good birds included vocal Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Collared Falconet and a roosting flock of Black Ibis.
Day 5: Morning birding around Chapramari in inclement weather threw up a Streaked Spiderhunter and a Rufous Woodpecker. The drive to the airport via Gajoldoba (birds observed from the car) added 40-50 Common Shelducks
BIRDS OBSERVED IN
At Karmi. Possibly pecking out a nest hole.
17. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus
Four at dawn near Gorumara National Park gate.
18. Great Barbet Megalaima virens
Noisy at Karmi, where seen at a fruiting tree through the day.
19. Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata
Small numbers at Gorumara.
Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii
Seen regularly in small numbers at Karmi
21. Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica
Found throughout the area.
Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
Common at Gorumara.
23. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
Single bird at Gorumara Jungle Camp
24. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis affinis
A few seen on the road. Also at Gorumara.
25. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Only kingfisher species of the trip. Seen both at Karmi and the plains.
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
Pairs at Gorumara NP
27. Common Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius
Heard regularly at Gorumara
28. Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus
Heard at Karmi
29. Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
Call of this species recorded at Gorumara Jungle Camp.
30. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
Common in the Gorumara area where already very vocal.
31. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria
Common in the Gorumara area
32. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri
33. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
34. Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides
Single bird at Gorumara.
35. Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
One bird at the Gorumara Jungle Camp.
36. Rock Pigeon Columba livia
37. Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
Rhino Point Watchtower, Gorumara.
38. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
Common at all sites.
39. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
40. Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
At Gorumara NP.
41. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
On the road to Gorumara from Karmi.
42. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera
Many at Rhino Point, Gorumara.
43. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
One on the road near Gorumara
44. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
45. Black Kite Milvus migrans
Siliguri and Gorumara area.
46. White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Two birds seen overhead at Gorumara.
47. Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis
Single bird flying over Karmi Farm.
48. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
49. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
Pair at Karmi. Apparently common at the location.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
One circling over Gorumara Jungle Camp.
51. Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis
One seen on the drive to Karmi.
52. Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens
Single bird at Chapramari.
53. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Observed at Gajoldoba Barrage.
54. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Gorumara National Park
55. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
On the Teesta and at Gajoldoba Barrage
56. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
57. Great Egret Casmerodius albus
58. Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
Gorumara National Park
59. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
60. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
61. Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
A flock of eight birds coming in to roost by the roadside on NH 31. Chapramari.
Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
Pair at the Chapramari entrance. Very vocal.
63. Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
Gorumara National Park, where seen on all trips.
64. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Many on the road from Siliguri to river Teesta. Also at Gorumara.
65. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach tricolor
At Gorumara. ssp. erythronotus.
66. Grey-backed Shrike Lanius tephronotus
67. Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis
Common in the Karmi Farm area.
68. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
69. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae
70. House Crow Corvus splendens
71. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
Seen on all days of the trip
72. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
Gorumara National park
73. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
74. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
75. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
Karmi and Gorumara area.
76. White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
77. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Common in the lowlands.
78. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
Seen on all days.
79. Spangled Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
On the road around Karmi Farms where actively feeding on the Flame of the Forest.
80. Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
Pair at Gorumara.
81. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
82. Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul
At Karmi and surprisingly in the plains at Gorumara Jungle camp.
85. Red-throated (Taiga) Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
Gorumara Jungle Camp.
Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
Pair seen on all days at Karmi Farm.
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
Common at Karmi.
88. Small Niltava Niltava macgrigoriae
Three birds at Karmi Farms.
Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara
Pair at Gorumara NP.
90. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
91. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
92. White-rumped Shama
Male at Gorumara National Park
93.. White-capped Water Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus
94. Plumbeous Water Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus
On the Little Rangit, Karmi area.
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Several spotted on fallow land around Gorumara Jungle Camp.
96. Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea
97. Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus
98. Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra
99. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
100. Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
101. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
Common at Karmi where up to 5 seen.
103. Great Tit Parus major
Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
Resident pair at Karmi Farm.
105. Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus
On the road to Karmi at about 4000 feet.
Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
Daily at Karmi Farm.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
108. Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalensis
109. Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus
110. Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus
Both at Karmi and in the Gorumara area.
111. Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
112. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
113. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandii
Impressive presence at Karmi, where possibly breeding.
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
Hundreds at Karmi Farm.
116. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
117. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
118. Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis
119. Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Several at Karmi
Grey-hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos
Karmi Farm area.
122. Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii
123. White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus
Heard at Karmi.
124. Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
125. Striped Tit Babbler Macronous gularis
126. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus
Gorumara Jungle Camp.
Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera
Daily with mixed hunting flock of smallies.
128. Nepal Fulvetta Alcippe nipalensis
Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis
Most common species at Karmi where large numbers seen.
130. White-bellied Yuhina Yuhina zantholeuca
Two seen with a mixed hunting flock of warblers.
Rufous Sibia Heterophasia capistrata
132. Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorynchos
133. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum
Male at Gorumara National Park did not fail to disappoint.
Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda
Single moulting male at Karmi
135. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
136. Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
137. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
138. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
139. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
On the road.
140. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
In dry scrub outside Gorumara Jungle Camp.
141. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni
On the road from Karmi.
Crested Bunting Melophus lathami
On the road towards Ghoom.
143. Raptor sp.