RockyFeet decided to explore a new trail in the Garhwal Himalayas; Mandani Valley, starting from Ransi (30 kms from Ukhimath) and ending at Gaurikund via Kedarnath. It was a 9-day long expedition that involved steep hikes over narrow ridges through forests of Rhododendron, Pines and Oaks, over gentle ‘Bugyals’ (Himalayan grasslands) at altitudes of 3400-3600 metres and above 3 high altitude Cols viz. the Yeoungbuk Col, Bisali Col and Mahapanth Col.

The trail passes through the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary aka the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary named so for its primary purpose of protecting the endangered White-bellied Musk Deer.

At the end of it all were 16 tired feet and 8 satisfied souls.

The 8 satisfied souls were;

1. Arnab Ghosh – Trek/Exploration leader
2. Etosha Chatterjee
3. Kabya Bandyopadhyay
4. Anandarup Bhadra
5. Amit Bikram Jana
6. Khushpreet Kaur
7. Anon Ray
8. Titash Chakrabarti

We documented the trail thoroughly through photos and data records.The records include a multitude of flowers of different shapes and sizes that the pre-monsoon season had to offer, fascinating peaks of the Greater Himalayas that can be viewed from the trail and of course the Wildlife.

This report only features the variety of birds we could see on the trail and some good photographs we could capture.

Mandani Valley trek Bird Checklist :

1. House Sparrow
2. Russet Sparrow
3. Rosy Pipit
4. Pink-browed Rosefinch
5. Dark-breasted Rosefinch
6. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch

   

   A Rosy Pipit at an altitude of 4300m. Seen on the way to Yeoungbuk Col on Day 7.

   
   

   

   Flocks of Yellow-breasted Greenfinch were seen on Days 1 & 2 @Saniyara Campsite.

   
   
7. Rufous-breasted Accentor
8. Unidentified Accentor or Finch (on the way to Mandani Valley)
9. Unidentified Accentor or Finch (at Thouli Top)
10. Common Myna
11. Large-billed Crow
12. Red-billed Blue Magpie
13. Red-billed Chough
14. Alpine Chough
15. Spotted Nutcracker
16. Common Hawk Cuckoo
17. Eurasian Cuckoo
18. Plum-headed Parakeet
19. Great Barbet
20. Great Tit
21. Green-backed Tit
22. Black-throated Tit
23. Rufous-naped Tit
24. Himalayan Bulbul
25. Black Bulbul

    

    A Great Barbet on Day 9 while coming down from Kedarnath to Gaurikund. Great Barbets were seen at our base camp in Ransi as well on the morning of Day 1. This photo is taken by explorer Anon Ray.

    
    

    

    Himalayan Black Bulbuls were seen in numbers at our Base camp in Ransi on Day 1.

    
    
26. Red-vented Bulbul
27. Verditer Flycatcher
28. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
29. Ultramarine Flycatcher
30. Dark-sided Flycatcher
31. Grey-hooded Warbler
32. Grey-sided Bush Warbler
33. Unidentified Warbler (Mandani Valley)
34. Oriental White-eye
35. Fire-tailed Sunbird

    

    A male Verditer Flycatcher on Day 9, towards the end of our journey.

    
    

    

    These Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers provided some of the glorious birding moments on Day 1. This photo is taken at Ransi soon after we started hiking.

    
    

    

    A male Ultramarine Flycatcher on Day 1.

    
    

    

    A Grey-sided Bush Warbler, a tiny shouter calling away from its perch on a Juniper. Taken on a beautiful morning at Mandani Valley on Day 6.

    
    
36. Himalayan Woodpecker
37. Grey-headed Woodpecker
38. Yellow-crowned Woodpecker
39. White-tailed Nuthatch
40. Unidentified Treecreeper (probably Bar-tailed Treecreeper)
41. Grey Wagtail
42. Grandala
43. Himalayan Bluetail
44. White-capped water Redstart
45. Plumbeous Water Redstart
46. Blue-fronted Redstart
47. Grey Bushchat

    

    A Himalayan Woodpecker on Day 1.

    
    

    

    A White-tailed Nuthatch on Day 1.

    
    

    

    A female Blue-fronted Redstart on Day 9 near Kedarnath. Photography by Anon Ray.

    
    

    

    A Grey Bushchat couple on Day 1. The female on the right and the male on the left.

    
    
48. Siberian Stonechat
49. Rock Pigeon
50. Oriental Turtle Dove
51. Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon
52. Snow Pigeon
53. Himalayan Griffon Vulture
54. Red-headed Vulture
55. Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture

    

    The critically endangered Red-headed Vulture seen on Day 1.

    
    

    

    The Skylord!! A Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture soaring over its patch in Mandani Valley. Photo taken on Day 6.

    
    
56. Crested Serpent Eagle
57. Unidentified Eagle
58. Unidentified Harrier
59. Peregrine Falcon
60. Asian Barred Owlet
61. Unidentified Nightjar
62. White-collared Blackbird
63. Grey-winged Blackbird
64. Long-tailed Thrush? (at Yeounbuk Col Base camp)
65. Mistle Thrush? (at Saniyara Base camp)
66. Unidentified Thrush (at Saniyara Base camp)
67. Blue Whistling Thrush
68. Streaked Laughingthrush
69. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

    

    A male White-collared Blackbird at Saniyara campsite on the morning of Day 2.

    
    

    

    A Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush on the morning of Day 2 at Saniyara campsite. This is the only time we could spot one of these.

    
    
70. Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush
71. Rufous Sibia
72. Stripe-throated Yuhina
73. Whiskered Yuhina
74. Bar-throated Siva
75. Unidentified Shrike-babbler? (at Paturi)
76. Scarlet Minivet
77. Himalayan Monal

    

    A male Chestnut bellied Rock Thrush during the fruitful birding session on the morning of Day 2 at Saniyara campsite.

    
    

    

    A Stripe-throated Yuhina. They were seen and heard in frequent intervals on Days 1, 2 & 3.

    
    

    

    Aah! As they say, save the best for the last. His Royal Highness!! A male Himalayan Monal. We could feel that there were plenty of them around us. Found dead Monal feathers on the way and saw at least 10 of them flying across Mandani Valley on Day 6. This photo was taken on Day 3 by explorer Khushpreet Kaur.

    
    
78. Tibetan or Himalayan Snowcock
79. Red-rumped Swallow
80. Unidentified Swift

Thanks and cheers for patient reading and viewing!!