BHUTAN TOUR REPORT 2026

18 April - 6 May 2026

Dave Farrow

An epic tour to Bhutan once again, with a grand total of 403 species recorded. The highlights  included Satyr Tragopans, Himalayan Monals, White-bellied Herons, a male Ward’s Trogon, Beautiful Nuthatch, Ibisbills, a kaleidescope of Laughingthrushes and that all-important little Spotted Elachura. We also had superb encounters with Hill Partridge, Blood Pheasants, Tawny and Brown Fish Owls, Black-tailed Crake, lingering Black-necked Cranes, Yellow-rumped Honeyguide, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Long-billed Wren Babbler, and firsts for Bhutan in the demure form of a West Himalayan Bush Warbler, singing from the verge next to our camp, and the first Mongolian Short-toed Lark for the country. Memorable mammals were the superb Red Pandas, a trifecta of Langurs and a herd of Asian Elephants. And all this in the face of almost daily rain, thunderstorms and hail!

Our group gathered together at Paro, and we began our birding with a short walk from airport arrivals over to the adjacent river bank where a mother Ibisbill sat on a shingle bar, together with four fluffy chicks who were happily feeding for themselves while she kept watch. Also here we saw Himalayan Wagtails and Blue Whistling Thrush nest-building, Plumbeous Redstarts in display flights and a White-capped Redstart. All this before we set foot on our bus, the magic of Bhutan was already beginning to flow. We drove a few kilometres down the road to where a pair of Tawny Fish Owls sat roosting among the Blue Pines in the river valley, before moving on and up to our first mountain pass, the Dochu La at 3100m. Unfortunately shrouded in low cloud, we skulked around the back of the cafe and saw Black-faced, White-throated and Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, White-browed Fulvettas and salmon-coloured Eurasian Jays. Some roadside stops produced Green Shrike Babbler and Green tailed Sunbird, but the cloud gave way to heavy rain so we headed further to the Puna Sang Chhu river at Wangdi. The sandbanks in the river  were busy with wildfowl and shorebirds, grounded on their northward migration. We saw Ruddy and Common Shelducks, Bar-headed Geese, Red-crested Pochard, Falcated Duck, Garganey, Tibetan Sandplover, Kentish and Little Ringed Plovers, and Little and Temminck’s Stint. In the surrounding fields and trees we saw Paddyfield Pipit, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler and Eurasian Hoopoe. A fine haul, we travelled onwards to our hotel set on a hillside outside Punakha.

An early morning drive up to the forests above the Punakha valley met with a total of 24 melanota Kalij Pheasants scurrying from the roadsides. Walking on a quiet track at elevations of 2400 to 2600m in evergreen forest, we found Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Maroon Oriole, Striated Bulbuls, Himalayan and Large Hawk Cuckoo, Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike, Grey-sided Laughingthrush, and Brown-flanked Bush Warbler. We met our camp crew who had breakfast laid out for us under the trees, before continuing along the track. We heard a distant Ward’s Trogon, saw Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Ashy-throated and Blyth’s Leaf Warblers, Rufous-capped Babblers, Red-tailed, Blue-winged and Bar-throated Minlas, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Pygmy and Ultramarine Flycatchers, Blue-fronted Redstart, White-browed and Green Shrike Babblers, Black and Mountain Hawk Eagles, White-tailed Nuthatch, Sikkim Treecreepers and Rufous-bellied Woodpeckers. In the afternoon we made our way back down the hill, picking up Slender billed Orioles in the pines along the way, plus Lesser Cuckoo and Himalayan Prinia, then sped along to Punakha Dzong for a cultural visit, our guide Kinley doing a fine job of guiding us around this beautiful and impressive building. Along the nearby river we saw two Ibisbills, many River Lapwings, Hodgson’s Redstarts, Asian Koel and a smart pair of Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers.

Moving on the next morning, along the valley between Wangdi and Nobding we had multiple birding stops at various elevations, we saw Scarlet, Grey-chinned and Short-billed Minivets, Blue-capped Rock Thrushes, Great, Blue-fronted and Golden-throated Barbets, Black-chinned Yuhina, Indian White-eye, Black-throated Sunbird, and visited a collection of Giant Rock Bee nests where a Yellow-rumped Honeyguide was in attendance. We also found Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Fire-capped Tit, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Grey-bellied Tesia, Striated Laughingthrush, Blyth’s Swifts and Himalayan Griffon Vultures. Driving higher, we found a lively flock with Hoary-throated Barwing, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Rufous-vented Tits, Rufous-fronted Bushtit and Grey-sided Bush Warbler. We crossed the Lawa La at 3300m and bumped our way down into the Phobjikha valley where hordes of Red-billed Chough swirled around. We had heard that two Black-necked Cranes had remained after the main wintering population had departed in March, and scanning across the valley it wasn’t long before sharp eyes had located them out on the marsh. Hurrah! A write-in for this tour. Also we saw a distant Hen Harrier, and enjoyed close views of Oriental Skylarks before reaching our lodgings for the night. After dark we made a short foray to try and see a calling Himalayan Owl, but he wouldn’t oblige us with a view.

We made a pre-dawn effort to find Wood Snipe, and despite being able to hear a couple calling in the misty darkness, they disappear as soon as its light enough to see! We saw a Black-crowned Night Heron, and the Black-necked Cranes were visible as the light came up. Leaving the valley we drove up to the Lawa La but made a rapid stop when we spotted a male Himalayan Monal feeding on a roadside slope. Stunning! Next we headed for the Pele La where our breakfast awaited, and we added Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, and a Scaly-breasted Cupwing singing away from a thicket. Also here were Himalayan Buzzard, Whistler’s Warbler, Rufous-gorgetted and Dark-sided Flycatcher, and we had some good fortune when a flock of Fire-tailed Myzornis crossed our path. Moving onwards and eastwards we stopped by a roadside stream where we saw a fine Solitary Snipe, and dropping in altitude we found a party of Brown Parrotbill in a bamboo patch. A loud buzzing song heard from the bus stopped us once more, resulting in some superb views of a Russet Bush Warbler. Nepal House Martins had a colony of mud nests over the road, and by our picnic lunch under a grove of Oriental Alder, a Spotted Elachura sang but stayed hidden. Onwards via Tongsa and up over the Yutong La, we hit an epic hailstorm on the way into Jakar, before reaching our last hotel for a while.

Leaving our hotel in darkness we continued eastwards, and we climbed towards the Sheltang La as the light dawned. First Pheasant was a male Himalayan Monal coming off the roadside, followed by a pair, then upon hearing a Satyr Tragopan calling we eventually had views of a male sat on a stump in a misty wood. Further along the road we met another male Satyr Tragopan calmly feeding on the roadside in front of our bus, eventually it ran towards us unbidden before diverting into the forest. Yup, that’s the magic of Bhutan for you! We saw another two males and a female during the course of the day, plus our first Grey Crested Tits, Himalayan Bluetails, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch and Black-rumped Magpies around the high pastures. We headed on to the Thrumsing La, the highest pass so far at 3720m. Here a stunning Fire-tailed Sunbird showed well, plus a White-browed Bush Robin, and as we dropped into forest with a thick bamboo understorey we had the great fortune to find a lovely Red Panda, lurking in a thicket. Heavy rain started so we headed for our camp at Sengor, perfectly positioned with a view of the high ridges. Once the rain stopped and the skies cleared we could see fresh snow covering the Thrumsing La! After dark a Grey Nightjar called around the camp, plus a Spot-bellied Eagle Owl was heard in the small hours.

Early birding close to camp produced great views of Himalayan Shortwings, and a surprise of two male Crimson-browed Finch and a male Golden-naped Finch feeding together on a wet rock. Later we headed back up towards the Thrumsing La, we saw Hume’s Bush Warbler, Chestnut-headed Tesia, White-throated Needletails, and found yet another Red Panda! This time we had stunning views as it dozed and stretched on a branch in full view below the road. So gorgeous! A Himalayan Thrush sang loudly and flew back and forth, a tricky ID confirmed with sound recordings and several quick views. We also found three Blood Pheasant that posed on a bank before scooting across the road. In the afternoon we drove further down the Lingmethang Road to another nice bamboo patch where we saw Scaly and Bhutan Laughingthrushes, Scarlet Finch, a lovely flock of Black-throated Parrotbills and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, a cute Little Forktail and a Blue-fronted Robin that sang beautifully from a hidden perch.

Pre-breakfast birding near our camp found Spot-winged and Collared Grosbeaks, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush and the amazing Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler. Moving lower we saw Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, and a confiding Lark feeding on the roadside allowed extensive study, later confirmed to be the first confirmed record of Mongolian Short-toed Lark for the country! In the middle altitudes we saw Broad-billed Warblers, White-spectacled Warbler, and lower down nearer to Yongkola we finally saw Spotted Elachura, a happy moment for the family collectors. Also we met White-breasted Parrotbill, Rusty fronted Barwing and Golden Babblers, before reaching our next camp.

Yongkola camp is an excellent base for our explorations in the surrounding forests, however with another round of road-widening this year we had only just enough room for our tents on the remaining flat ground! Our indefatigable camp crew made a big effort to keep us comfortable, and keep us dry despite the continuing rain.

We began searching the lush gullies along the roadsides, finding a fine Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Lesser Yellownape, a Rufous-necked Hornbill, Black-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Yellow-throated Fulvetta and White-gorgetted Flycatcher. As the weather brightened up we were very fortunate to find Beautiful Nuthatches high in big epiphyte-cloaked trees, smart White-naped Yuhinas, Sultan and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Little Pied Flycatcher, and a Spotted Elachura that showed well. A thunderstorm rolled in with hail and biblical rainfall, so we headed for our camp which amazingly was still intact.

As the rain abated we saw Rufous-necked Laughingthrush at camp, Streaked Spiderhunter and some endearing Russet Sparrows. Down a nearby track we found a bird flock with Maroon Oriole, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Yellow-vented Warbler, Blue-winged Minla and White-bellied Erpornis, plus a Plaintive Cuckoo. Returning to the main road we found a Long-billed Wren Babbler in a dense thicket, and a Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo flew overhead. The rain returned in the evening, with a loud thunderstorm right over our camp.

Attempting to reach the best area for Ward’s Trogon, last night’s heavy rain had caused some big landslides that blocked the road and our access. The upside of this was that we enjoyed an almost traffic-free morning as we worked our way through the roadside forests, finding Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Himalayan Cutia, Pygmy Cupwing, a friendly male Small Niltava, Black-throated Sunbirds, Rufous-necked Hornbills, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, and we heard a Purple Cochoa but he didn’t want to stay and meet us. The continuing rain wiped out the afternoon, and after dinner we  tried to see a vocal Hodgson’s Frogmouth near our camp, without success.

A final effort near our Yongkola camp provided some Common Green Magpies and White-crested Laughingthrushes, plus a pair of super Red-faced Liocichlas coming to grain spread by a local house. We hurried away, to get through tiresome roadworks and impending road closures at the very bottom of the Lingmethang Road, crossing the Kurichu bridge only just in time. We headed south through spectacular gorges and dry hillsides, finding Himalayan Bulbuls and Blue Rock Thrush, emerging lower down in lusher habitats where we saw Great Hornbills, Great Myna, Crested Serpent Eagle, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and White-throated Bulbuls. We paused at our lowest elevation of the day of 220m, and had lunch accompanied by a delightful quartet of Bronzed Drongo chicks being fed by their parents. Climbing up onto the southernmost ridge of hills  overlooking Assam, in rich forest a random stop produced a Rufous-backed Sibia, Grey-headed Parrotbills, Sultan Tit, and a Speckled Piculet almost sitting on our heads. We bumped our way along to Panbang, scattering a few Red Junglefowl off the road, reaching our lodgings for the next two nights as dusk fell.

We returned to the Panbang-Nganglam Road in the morning, birding in the richest forest at 500m. We found Indian and Chestnut-winged Cuckoos, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Pin-tailed Green Pigeons, Pin-striped Tit Babbler, Long-tailed Sibias, Black-chinned and White-naped Yuhinas, Long-tailed Broadbills, Rufous-faced Warbler, while Ruddy Kingfisher and Grey Peacock Pheasants called from a distant slope. In the afternoon we took a track that runs through Royal Manas NP, and saw Wreathed Hornbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Black-crested and White-throated Bulbul, and White-rumped Shama.

We returned to the richest forests in the early morning, in a short window before the rain returned we saw Red-headed Trogon, Silver-eared Mesia, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Black-backed Forktails. Our camp crew came and served us breakfast, but rain persisted throughout the whole morning, and walking in the rain which didn’t produce much. We continued with our journey towards Tingtibi, and as the rain stopped we saw Crested Serpent Eagle, Kalij Pheasants, Crested Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Warblers, Mountain Bulbuls, Rufous-necked Laughingthrush, Sultan Tits, some fine Golden Langurs and many superb butterflies. We reached our camp near Tingtibi and settled in to this well-appointed location overlooking the river lined with bamboo thickets.

The rain returned the next morning, but luckily it wasn’t heavy enough to stop the birds. Just across from our camp, a casual scan across the river revealed a large Heron flying down towards us, landing on a shingle beach. White-bellied Heron! OMG! We enjoyed a good long look as it slowly worked its way along the shallow edge, catching fish as it went. That set the day up nicely, and we went on to find Pale headed Woodpeckers, White-hooded Babblers, Crimson Sunbird, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Slaty-backed Forktail and White-breasted Parrotbill. After a dry spell the rain returned, and we dodged showers through the afternoon, adding Blue-bearded Bee-eaters.

A last look in the bamboo adjacent to our camp provided Pale-billed Parrotbills, while White-hooded Babblers showed well along with their rufous-headed juveniles. We packed up and headed out, up the hill towards the Tama La. Arriving on the top to find Grey-winged Blackbirds, after a short while we heard a calling Ward’s Trogon and excitedly set about trying to lure it. Before long, sharp eyes found a male perched silently nearby, which then proceeded to come ever closer and give the best possible views. Wow! So lucky. From here we continued downhill, found a Yellow-rumped Honeyguide perched near a large concentration of bee hives, then at a bridge we saw a Spotted Forktail hopping on the rocks. We saw Large Niltava and some delightful Yellow-throated Fulvettas, and a demure Tickell’s Thrush. After some lunch in a traditionally decorated gazebo we headed down across yet another roadblock, then made several stops in rich forests. We found a very lively Beautiful Nuthatch that showed very well, before dropping all the way down to Gelephu. We sped along to the sewage ponds for some final birding, however our visit was cut short due to a thunderstorm and heavy rain. Despite this we added Red-wattled Lapwings, Eurasian Hobby, Little Egrets and Indian Pond Heron, Citrine Wagtail, Pin-tailed Snipe and White-breasted Waterhen. We retreated to our first hotel in ten days and enjoyed its creature comforts for a night.

Dawn over the lowlands of Gelephu was calm and dry, and the birds started coming early. We saw Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker and Jungle Babbler next to our hotel, and as soon as we left the outskirts of town the birds began to flow. We saw Indian Peafowl, Wreathed and Oriental Pied Hornbill, Indochinese Roller, Cinerious Tit, a couple of Collared Falconet buzzed over, and we came upon a wonderful matriarchal group of 15 Asian Elephants, including a couple of babies although they were hard to see among the tight herd. A great sight, and the first ever on this tour. Continuing westwards along the border with India, we paused for breakfast where we found our camp crew. A surprise Common Woodshrike appeared, and a Brown Fish Owl was found roosting above the road. Blue-naped Pittas were heard calling in several places yet despite getting frustratingly close to one, the vegetation was just too thick to see it. We also saw Thick-billed Warbler, Violet Cuckoo, Crested Kingfisher, Asian Barred Owlet, Black-backed Forktail, migrating flocks of Crested Honey Buzzard, Eurasian Hobby and a Black Stork, Red-breasted Parakeet, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Black-hooded Oriole, and Oriental Cuckooshrike. We drove up the road from Sarpang in rain and fog, and once another roadblock opened to let us through, we headed to some rich hill forest close to tonight’s camp at Darachu. The fog cleared and some late afternoon birding was productive with Red-faced Liocichla, Silver-eared Mesia, Grey-winged Blackbird, Black-faced Warbler, Ferruginous Flycatcher and Mountain Imperial Pigeons. Our bijou campsite was somewhat unique as it was set among the chortens and prayer flags on the pass itself, an auspicious location for our last night ‘under canvas’.

At dawn a Brown Wood Owl was heard among the cacophony of several species of Cuckoo, and close to camp we saw Chestnut-crowned and Bhutan Laughingthrushes, and Rusty fronted Barwings. An insect-like sound caught my attention, and investigating further we found ourselves looking at a Locustella warbler. After initial thoughts of Spotted Bush Warbler, it became clear it was a West Himalayan Bush Warbler – first record for Bhutan! Hurrah! Once again the Birdquest tour adds a species to the national list. It sat and sang in view for quite a long time, allowing for photos and videos to document the encounter. We explored the lush forest further, seeing Red-billed Leiothrix, Silver-eared Mesia, Rosy and Olive-backed Pipits, a Slaty-bellied Tesla that showed finally, Red-faced Liocichlas, and a furtive Blue-winged Laughingthrush. We left this hill and headed down past Tsirang. It was hot in the lower elevations, a welcome change for this tour! We met the Sunkosh river, and followed it upstream, first stopping to watch some super Great Hornbills in a roadside tree, then to look at a wardened nest of White-bellied Heron far below in the valley. Both adults were present plus a single chick in the nest, clearly visible from our position above them. Pressing onwards, we reached Wangdi and our pleasant riverside hotel.

The next morning we found Grey-bellied Cuckoo and Himalayan Prinia a little way along the road, and a return visit to the river at Bajo turned up Common and Red-crested Pochard, Wood Sandpiper and Crested Kingfishers. Heading uphill, we paused for Long-tailed Shrike and Slender-billed Oriole, and found a Barred Buttonquail that flew out of the roadside artemesia. Breakfast was waiting in a patch of lush forest where a Spotted Elachura sang lustily but never showed. We saw Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and Ultramarine Flycatcher, and climbing up higher we found Fire-capped Tit and some friendly Yellow-billed Blue Magpies. At the top of the Dochu La we embedded ourselves in a quiet corner of forest where we found Chestnut-crowned and Black-faced Laughingthrushes, our first Spotted Laughingthrush, confiding Scaly-breasted Cupwings, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Whistler’s Warbler, White-tailed Robin, and had stunning views of a gorgeous Hill Partridge that gave up trying to hide and started feeding in plain sight in front of us! In the afternoon we headed back to the Paro valley, revisiting the roosting Tawny Fish Owl, and fiding Ibisbills, Brown Dipper and River Lapwings along the Paro river itself. At a small swamp we had good looks at Black-tailed Crake, plus a surprise view of a Ruddy-breasted Crake that strutted across the road and nearly got run over! Quite a busy day!

One last early start, to ascend the forest road up to the Chele La, the highest pass of the tour at 3780m. En route to the top we saw Kalij Pheasants, a male Satyr Tragopan, numerous Blood Pheasants and some lovely Red-headed Bullfinches. Arriving on the pass we were greeted by a male Himalayan Monal, Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch, Alpine Accentors and Himalayan Bluetail. We met our final field breakfast a little below the pass where we saw a female Himalayan Monal, many White-winged Grosbeaks, Collared Grosbeak and Blue-fronted Redstarts. During the course of the morning we saw a Long-tailed Thrush singing away from the top of a conifer, and four more male Monals in flight over the slopes. We found a Scaly Thrush that played hide and seek in a damp thicket, and bizarrely another was seen as it flew across in front of the bus. We saw a flock of Snow Pigeons on a cliff, a Goldcrest and a Hodgson’s Treecreeper, before having a final lunch with our esteemed camp crew. Their efforts had been excellent throughout the tour, and we were blessed with having an excellent chef who provided tasty food. We enjoyed a warm afternoon walking downhill, were teased by furtive Indian Blue Robins and finished up with a fine display by a pair of Spotted Laughingthrush. A lovely end to a great day and a great tour.

A special thanks to our excellent young guide Kinley with whom it was a pleasure to bird alongside, and our tireless driver Namgay, who despite long hours never flagged. This was my 22^nd visit to the country, my 17^th Bhutan Birdquest tour, my highest ever species total at 403, we found two national firsts, had 19 write-ins and a whole load of thrills.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows AviList v2025 (AviList Core Team. 2025. AviList:The Global Avian Checklist, v2025).

Lesser Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna javanica  Always good to get ‘Sheet 1 number 1’, we saw many at Gelephu sewage works.

Bar-headed Goose ◊  Anser indicus  A couple of wintering birds lingering at Bajo.

Common Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna  Four with the following species at Bajo

Ruddy Shelduck  Tadorna ferruginea  Still a good number of these winterers hanging on for us at Bajo, ca.70 counted.

Red-crested Pochard  Netta rufina  Up to nine seen at Bajo on our first visit.

Common Pochard  Aythya ferina  A single male at Bajo.

Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula  A couple seen at Bajo.

Garganey  Spatula querquedula   Eight seen at Bajo.

Northern Shoveler  Spatula clypeata  A single at Bajo.

Falcated Duck  Mareca falcata  A drake and two duck at Bajo.

Gadwall  Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon  Mareca penelope

Northern Pintail  Anas acuta  A single female at Bajo.

Hill Partridge ◊  Arborophila torqueola  Stunning views of one feeding on the Dochu La, this came second in ‘Bird-of-the-trip’.

Rufous-throated Partridge ◊  Arborophila rufogularis  Heard-only.

Blood Pheasant ◊  Ithaginis cruentus  Superb looks at some of the thibetanus subspecies at Thrumsing La, and many of the nominate subspecies seen at Chele La.

Satyr Tragopan ◊  Tragopan satyra  Our ‘Bird-of-the-trip’, and rightly so! Seven seen on the tour, at times very close and not timid when feeding on the roadsides.

Himalayan Monal ◊  Lophophorus impejanus  Stunning views of our first on the Lawa La, another three seen en route to the Sheltang La, and six seen on the Chele La. The most ever seen on the tour!

Kalij Pheasant ◊  Lophura leucomelanos  Many sightings, starting with 24 near Punakha of the melanota subspecies, and further east we met the white-backed lathami subspecies.

Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus  Available in the border-lands.

Grey Peacock-Pheasant ◊  Polyplectron bicalcaratum  Heard-only, cackling away from a hillside at Panbang.

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus  Quite numerous along the Nganglam-Panbang road.

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus

Lesser Coucal  Centropus bengalensis   Seen in the lowlands near Gelephu, also heard around Wangdi.

Greater Coucal   Centropus sinensis  A write-in, near Gelephu.

Green-billed Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus tristis  A couple in the Panbang area.

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo  Clamator coromandus  A singing bird seen at Panbang.

Asian Koel  Eudynamys scolopaceus  Seen at Bajo and Gelephu.

Asian Emerald Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx maculatus  Several sightings, a perched male at Yongkola and a female near the Tama La.

Violet Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus  A single fly-over near Gelephu.

Banded Bay Cuckoo  Cacomantis sonneratii   Heard-only.

Plaintive Cuckoo  Cacomantis merulinus  Seen well at Yongkola, also seen at Bajo.

Grey-bellied Cuckoo ◊  Cacomantis passerinus  One seen well at Wangdi.

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo  Surniculus lugubris  Widespread, common and noisy at Tingtibi.

Large Hawk-Cuckoo  Hierococcyx sparverioides  True to form, common and widespread by call, but just a single seen near Punakha.

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo ◊  Hierococcyx nisicolor  A vocal bird flew overhead near Yongkola.

Lesser Cuckoo  Cuculus poliocephalus

Indian Cuckoo  Cuculus micropterus  Several heard, seen well at Panbang.

Himalayan Cuckoo  Cuculus saturatus

Common Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus

Barred Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia unchall  A single fly-by near Nobding.

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis

Red Collared Dove  Streptopelia tranquebarica  A few seen near Gelephu, a write-in surprisingly.

Oriental Turtle Dove  Streptopelia orientalis

Snow Pigeon ◊  Columba leuconota  A flock of 12 seen on a cliff near the Chele La.

Rock Dove (introduced) (Feral Pigeon)  Columba [livia] var_domestica

Common Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps indica  Several encounters at lower elevations, some atypically confiding.

Thick-billed Green Pigeon  Treron curvirostra  Two near Gelephu.

Pin-tailed Green Pigeon ◊  Treron apicauda  Quite a few at Panbang, also seen at Tingtibi.

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon  Treron sphenurus  A few encountered in mid-elevation forests.

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  Ducula badia  Seen at lower elevation forests at Panbang and Tingtibi.

Black-necked Crane  Grus nigricollis  For the first time ever on this tour, an adult and immature bird remained on the marsh at Phobjika after the main flock had departed.

Eurasian Coot  Fulica atra  Two seen, both arrested on their northward migration.

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus

Ruddy-breasted Crake  Zapornia fusca  At Paro, one seen running across a busy road showed once more in a rushy swamp.

Black-tailed Crake ◊  Zapornia bicolor  At least two seen on a wetland near Paro.

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus  Eight at Bajo was unexpected.

Ibisbill ◊  Ibidorhyncha struthersii  A superb introduction to the country, with a pair plus chicks adjacent to the airport. Also found at Punakha, and again on our return to Paro.

Little Ringed Plover  Thinornis dubius  A single at Bajo.

River Lapwing  Vanellus duvaucelii

Red-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus

Tibetan Sand Plover  Anarhynchus atrifrons  A small flock at Bajo was noteworthy.

Kentish Plover  Anarhynchus alexandrinus  A half-dozen with the above.

Wood Snipe ◊  Gallinago nemoricola  Heard-only. Despite our valiant pre-dawn effort, a couple of calling birds at Phobjika vanished as soon as it was light enough to see.

Solitary Snipe ◊  Gallinago solitaria  A single bird seen well near the Pele La.

Pin-tailed Snipe  Gallinago stenura  Three flushed at Gelephu sewage ponds.

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola  A single at Bajo.

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii  A single at Bajo.

Little Stint  Calidris minuta

Barred Buttonquail  Turnix suscitator  A surprise find near Wangdi.

Black Stork  Ciconia nigra  A migrating bird seen near Gelephu.

Little Cormorant  Microcarbo niger

Little Egret  Egretta garzetta

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax  A vocal bird flew by in near-darkness at Phobjika.

Indian Pond Heron  Ardeola grayii

Great Egret  Ardea alba   A write-in –  a single at Bajo.

Eastern Cattle Egret  Ardea coromanda

White-bellied Heron ◊  Ardea insignis   One of the wonders of Bhutan, with just an estimated 27 birds in the country, of a world population of 200. We had great looks down onto a nest with a chick plus the attendant parents, along the Sunkosh river, however the big thrill came when we spotted one flying towards us at our Tingtibi camp, which then proceeded to fish along the shallow river’s edge.

Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea

Grey Nightjar  Caprimulgus jotaka  Heard-only. Vocal but invisible around our Sengor camp.

Hodgson’s Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus hodgsoni  Heard-only. A vocal two birds near our Yongkola camp stayed hidden.

White-throated Needletail  Hirundapus caudacutus  Nice views of several groups of these along our route.

Asian Palm Swift  Cypsiurus balasiensis  Three at Panbang around Betel nut palms.

Fork-tailed Swift ◊ (Blyth’s S)  Apus [pacificus] leuconyx 

House Swift  Apus nipalensis

Himalayan Swiftlet  Aerodramus brevirostris

Collared Owlet  Taenioptynx brodiei  Heard-only.

Spotted Owlet  Athene brama  Two birds flushed by a bridge near Gelephu.

Asian Barred Owlet  Glaucidium cuculoides 

Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus  Heard-only.

Brown Fish Owl  Ketupa zeylonensis  A splendid roosting bird near Gelephu.

Tawny Fish Owl  Ketupa flavipes  A pair seen at roost on our first morning near Paro.

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl ◊  Ketupa nipalensis  Heard-only, at Sengor from my tent.

Brown Wood Owl  Strix leptogrammica  Heard-only, by Darachu camp.

Himalayan Owl ◊  Strix nivicolum  Heard-only. Alas, not seen despite searching at Phobjika and Sengor.

Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H B)  Pernis ptilorhynchus

Himalayan Vulture ◊ (H Griffon V)  Gyps himalayensis  Only seen at high elevation sites in the west such as Pele La and Phobjika.

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela

Mountain Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus nipalensis  Regular sightings and good views.

Black Eagle  Ictinaetus malaiensis

Booted Eagle  Hieraaetus pennatus  A single migrant seen near Paro on the first day.

Crested Goshawk  Lophospiza trivirgata  A brief sighting at Tama La.

Shikra  Tachyspiza badia  A single sighting en route to Nganglam.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus

Hen Harrier  Circus cyaneus  A distant ringtail at Phobjika.

Black Kite  Milvus [migrans] govinda  One at Gelephu appeared to be of the resident Indian subspecies.

Himalayan Buzzard ◊  Buteo refectus  Just two seen, around the higher passes.

Red-headed Trogon  Harpactes erythrocephalus  A pair seen at Panbang just before the rain…

Ward’s Trogon ◊  Harpactes wardi  Hurrah! After failing to find it in traditional areas, we found a very confiding male on the Tama La.

Common Hoopoe  Upupa epops

Great Hornbill  Buceros bicornis  Some lovely encounters at lower elevations, with a memorable pair in a fruiting tree by the Sunkosh river.

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris  Two seen near Gelephu.

Rufous-necked Hornbill ◊  Aceros nipalensis  Frequent sightings of this splendid bird from Yongkola, Panbang and up to Tingtibi.

Wreathed Hornbill  Rhyticeros undulatus  Three seen in Royal Manas, three seen near Gelephu.

Indochinese Roller  Coracias affinis

Blue-bearded Bee-eater  Nyctyornis athertoni  A pair seen in bamboo by our Tingtibi camp.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater  Merops leschenaulti

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis

Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher  Ceyx erithaca  Two seen in flight in the Panbang and Manas area.

Crested Kingfisher  Megaceryle lugubris  Several seen well on big rivers.

Ruddy Kingfisher  Halcyon coromanda  Heard-only. A couple heard at Panbang remained unseen,

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis

Blue-eared Barbet  Psilopogon cyanotis  One seen briefly in Panbang.

Great Barbet  Psilopogon virens

Lineated Barbet  Psilopogon lineatus  Heard at Panbang, several sightings around Gelephu.

Golden-throated Barbet  Psilopogon franklinii

Blue-throated Barbet  Psilopogon asiaticus

Yellow-rumped Honeyguide ◊  Indicator xanthonotus  Two seen, attending bees nests near Nobding, and also near the Tama La.

Speckled Piculet  Picumnus innominatus  One seen too close to focus! Near Nganglam.

Pale-headed Woodpecker ◊  Gecinulus grantia  A sneaky pair in the bamboo at Tingtibi.

Lesser Yellownape  Picus chlorolophus

Grey-headed Woodpecker  Picus canus

Greater Yellownape  Chrysophlegma flavinucha  A couple seen at Yongkola.

Bay Woodpecker  Blythipicus pyrrhotis

Greater Flameback  Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus   Two furtive birds glimpsed near Gelephu.

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker  Yungipicus canicapillus

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker  Dendrocopos hyperythrus  Quite a few of these lovely birds seen.

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker  Dendrocopos macei  A confiding example in the garden of our Gelephu hotel.

Darjeeling Woodpecker ◊  Dendrocopos darjellensis

Crimson-naped Woodpecker ◊  Dryobates cathpharius

Collared Falconet  Microhierax caerulescens  Two in flight near Gelephu – another write-in.

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

Eurasian Hobby  Falco subbuteo  One at Gelephu sewage ponds, then many more migrating over the foothills near Gelephu.

Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus  One over Yongkola camp, another along the Kuri Chhu.

Red-breasted Parakeet  Psittacula alexandri  A handful seen in lowlands near Gelephu.

Long-tailed Broadbill  Psarisomus dalhousiae  Seen well at Panbang.

Blue-naped Pitta ◊  Hydrornis nipalensis  Heard-only. At least five heard, lurking in thickets near Gelephu.

Grey-chinned Minivet  Pericrocotus solaris

Short-billed Minivet  Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet  Pericrocotus ethologus  Seen at higher elevations than the others, such as in the grounds of the Olathang Hotel..

Scarlet Minivet  Pericrocotus flammeus  Not uncommon. Nest-building observed at Tingtibi.

Oriental Cuckooshrike  Coracina javensis  The bird seen near Gelephu appears to belong to this taxon and not Indian Cuckooshrike C. macei.

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  Lalage melaschistos  Frequent in the hill forests.

Ashy Woodswallow  Artamus fuscus

Common Iora  Aegithina tiphia

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike  Hemipus picatus

Common Woodshrike  Tephrodornis pondicerianus  A surprise write-in, one at our breakfast stop near Gelephu.

Large Woodshrike  Tephrodornis virgatus  A couple seen in the Panbang area.

White-browed Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius aeralatus

Green Shrike-babbler ◊  Pteruthius xanthochlorus  A couple of high elevation sightings early in the trip.

Black-eared Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius melanotis  A smart addition to bird flocks in hill forest.

White-bellied Erpornis  Erpornis zantholeuca

Maroon Oriole  Oriolus traillii

Black-hooded Oriole  Oriolus xanthornus  A couple seen in flight near Gelephu.

Slender-billed Oriole ◊  Oriolus tenuirostris  Great views of this pine specialist near Punakha and Wangdi.

White-throated Fantail  Rhipidura albicollis

Bronzed Drongo  Dicrurus aeneus  Commonly encountered at lower elevations, with a fledged brood of four being noteworthy.

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus remifer

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus paradiseus  A single at Panbang.

Hair-crested Drongo  Dicrurus hottentottus  A small number seen at lower elevations.

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus

Black Drongo   Dicrurus macrocercus  A single, near Gelephu.

Black-naped Monarch  Hypothymis azurea

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach  Three or four in the Wangdi area, all of the black-headed tricolor subspecies.

Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus  A single close to our Panbang camp.

Grey-backed Shrike  Lanius tephronotus

Red-billed Chough  Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae

Common Green Magpie  Cissa chinensis  Good views of a couple at Yongkola, another seen in the street at Nganglam!

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie ◊  Urocissa flavirostris

Eurasian Jay  Garrulus glandarius  A few of the distinctive salmon-coloured interstinctus subspecies.

Black-rumped Magpie  Pica bottanensis  Only found at Ura and Sengor.

Southern Nutcracker  Nucifraga hemispila  Frequent sightings in higher elevation forests.

House Crow  Corvus splendens

Large-billed Crow  Corvus macrorhynchos

Large-billed Crow (Eastern J C)  Corvus [macrorhynchos] levaillantii  Some obvious Jungle Crows at Gyelposhing near Mongar, clearly different from the previous taxon in bill size, jizz and call.

Yellow-bellied Fantail  Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher (G-h Flycatcher)  Culicicapa ceylonensis

Fire-capped Tit ◊  Cephalopyrus flammiceps  One briefly near Nobding, a couple near the Dochu La on our return leg.

Yellow-browed Tit ◊  Sylviparus modestus

Sultan Tit  Melanochlora sultanea  A very striking bird, seen often in lower elevation forests.

Green-backed Tit  Parus monticolus

Cinereous Tit  Parus cinereus  A single near Gelephu.

Yellow-cheeked Tit  Machlolophus spilonotus  Only a couple of these handsome birds seen, in warm broadleaved forests.

Coal Tit  Periparus ater

Rufous-vented Tit ◊  Periparus rubidiventris

Grey-crested Tit ◊  Lophophanes dichrous  A small number encountered in high elevation forests, on Thrumsing La and Chele La.

Oriental Skylark  Alauda gulgula

Mongolian Short-toed Lark  Calandrella dukhenensis  A confiding bird we found at the roadside near Sengor  is identified as this species, showing a typical buffy-rufous wash to the breast. It is probably the first confirmed record for the country. It was split from Greater in 2016.

Common Tailorbird  Orthotomus sutorius

Himalayan Prinia  Prinia crinigera  Seen in dry grassy habitats in the main river valleys.

Black-throated Prinia  Prinia atrogularis  Found along the roadsides at Yongkola.

Thick-billed Warbler  Arundinax aedon  A single seen at our breakfast stop near Gelephu.

West Himalayan Bush Warbler   Locustella kashmirensis  A thrilling plain-brown little bird! Our attention was first drawn to an insect-like sound, which developed into stunning close views of a showy and vocal vagrant example of one of these, the first record for the country! Breeding high in the Himalayas between the Annapurna range and Kashmir, it has a small wintering population in the Assam valley. It appears I saw this in Chitwan, Nepal, 25 years ago, when it was still lumped with Spotted Bush Warbler, however I discovered I had made some voice notes together with recordings, helpfully describing the unspotted plumage and yellow bill base!

Russet Bush Warbler ◊  Locustella mandelli  Another loud insect-like song, one by the roadside near Tongsa that was curious and came close, giving us great views.

Scaly-breasted Cupwing  Pnoepyga albiventer  Great close looks at one on the Pele La, two confiding birds on the Dochu La.

Pygmy Cupwing  Pnoepyga pusilla  A couple seen at Yongkola

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Nepal House Martin ◊  Delichon nipalense  Several honeycomb-like mud-nest colonies seen along the road cliffs.

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

Black-throated Bushtit (B-t Tit)  Aegithalos concinnus

Black-browed Bushtit ◊  Aegithalos iouschistos  Formerly known as Rufous-fronted Tit, before re-lumping. A small number encountered at higher elevations.

Grey-bellied Tesia ◊  Tesia cyaniventer  One seen early on near Nobding, heard widely after that.

Slaty-bellied Tesia ◊  Tesia olivea  Many unco-operative birds along our route, finally getting views at Darachu.

Grey-sided Bush Warbler ◊  Cettia brunnifrons

Chestnut-headed Tesia ◊  Cettia castaneocoronata  One seen well on the Thrumsing La, others heard at higher elevations.

Yellow-bellied Warbler  Abroscopus superciliaris  A couple in their favoured bamboo en route to Tingtibi.

Rufous-faced Warbler ◊  Abroscopus albogularis  Singles seen at Panbang and Tingtibi.

Black-faced Warbler ◊  Abroscopus schisticeps  A very cute bird, we saw several in mid-elevation forests.

Broad-billed Warbler ◊  Tickellia hodgsoni  A lively pair found near Namling.

Brown-flanked Bush Warbler (Strong-footed B W)  Horornis fortipes

Hume’s Bush Warbler ◊  Horornis brunnescens  Seen in bamboo on the Thrumsing La.

Buff-barred Warbler (Orange-b Leaf-w)  Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler (Grey-faced Leaf-w)  Phylloscopus maculipennis

Lemon-rumped Warbler (L-r Leaf-w)  Phylloscopus chloronotus

Tickell’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus affinis  A few of these mustard-coloured altitudinal migrants enountered along our route.

Green-crowned Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus burkii  A couple of birds seen early in the trip in mid-elevation forests

Grey-cheeked Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus poliogenys 

White-spectacled Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus intermedius  A single vocal bird seen well near Namling.

Whistler’s Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus whistleri

Greenish Warbler  Phylloscopus trochiloides  Odd migrants seen along the way, also on territory on the Chele La.

Large-billed Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus magnirostris 

Chestnut-crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus castaniceps

Yellow-vented Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus cantator  Seen near Yongkola, heard often subsequently, at lower elevations.

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus reguloides

Grey-hooded Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus xanthoschistos

Black-crested Bulbul  Rubigula flaviventris  Seen at the lowest elevation forest in Royal Manas NP.

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus

Red-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus cafer

Himalayan Bulbul ◊  Pycnonotus leucogenys  Found in drier habitat along the Kuri Chhu.

White-throated Bulbul ◊  Alophoixus flaveolus  ‘Lemon meringue Bulbul’, seen in low elevation forests.

Striated Bulbul  Alcurus striatus

Ashy Bulbul  Hemixos flavala

Mountain Bulbul  Ixos mcclellandii

Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B)  Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Fire-tailed Myzornis ◊  Myzornis pyrrhoura  It was a thrill to find a small flock of these in the rhododendrons on the Pele La.

Golden-breasted Fulvetta ◊  Lioparus chrysotis  A trio of these gems in the bamboo near Namling.

White-browed Fulvetta ◊  Fulvetta vinipectus

Brown Parrotbill ◊  Paradoxornis unicolor  Seen in bamboo at a roadside stop en route to Tongsa.

Grey-headed Parrotbill  Paradoxornis gularis  A trio in a mixed flock near Nganglam.

White-breasted Parrotbill ◊ (Greater Rufous-headed P)  Paradoxornis ruficeps  Many sightings, at Yongkola, Tingtibi and the Tama La.

Fulvous Parrotbill ◊  Suthora fulvifrons  A glimpse of one at the Thrumsing La.

Black-throated Parrotbill ◊  Suthora [nipalensis] humii A lovely little flock in the bamboo near Namling.

Pale-billed Parrotbill ◊ (Lesser Rufous-headed P)  Suthora atrosuperciliaris  It took a while, but we found two or three in the bamboo by our Tingtibi camp.

Striated Yuhina  Staphida castaniceps

Black-chinned Yuhina  Yuhina nigrimenta  Seen at lower elevations, at Panbang and Tingtibi.

Whiskered Yuhina  Yuhina flavicollis

White-naped Yuhina ◊  Yuhina bakeri  Small flocks seen at Yongkola and Panbang.

Stripe-throated Yuhina  Yuhina gularis 

Rufous-vented Yuhina  Yuhina occipitalis  Like the above, restricted to the higher elevation forests.

Indian White-eye  Zosterops palpebrosus

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler  Mixornis gularis  A couple at Panbang.

Golden Babbler  Cyanoderma chrysaeum

Rufous-capped Babbler  Cyanoderma ruficeps

Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler ◊  Spelaeornis caudatus  Great views of a vocal sprite near Yongkola.

Black-crowned Scimitar Babbler ◊  Pomatorhinus ferruginosus  Seen on one morning in the forest near Yongkola.

Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler ◊  Pomatorhinus superciliaris  Some good looks at this special fellow near our Sengor camp, plus another on the Dochu La on our return leg.

Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus ruficollis

White-browed Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus schisticeps  Good views of a preening pair in the bamboo at Tingtibi.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler ◊  Erythrogenys erythrogenys

Grey-throated Babbler  Stachyris nigriceps

White-hooded Babbler ◊  Gampsorhynchus rufulus  Great looks at a party of these in the bamboo at Tingtibi.

Yellow-throated Fulvetta ◊  Schoeniparus cinereus  Delightful and co-operative little gems, seen in several places.

Rufous-winged Fulvetta  Schoeniparus castaneceps

Puff-throated Babbler  Pellorneum ruficeps  Heard-only.

Long-billed Wren-Babbler ◊  Napothera malacoptila  Just one seen, at the roadside near Yongkola. Lovely if brief.

Nepal Fulvetta ◊  Alcippe nipalensis

Striated Laughingthrush  Grammatoptila striata

Himalayan Cutia ◊  Cutia nipalensis  Only seen on two days in the Yongkola forests.

Scaly Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron subunicolor  A lovely-looking bird, we saw a pair (twice) near Namling.

Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron squamatum  Elusive to the end, some glimpses at Darachu.

Bhutan Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron imbricatum  Like a giant Dunnock…

Black-faced Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron affine

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush  Trochalopteron erythrocephalum

Long-tailed Sibia ◊  Heterophasia picaoides  Some nice examples at Panbang.

Rufous Sibia ◊  Heterophasia capistrata

Hoary-throated Barwing ◊  Actinodura nipalensis  Several sightings in higher elevation forests.

Blue-winged Minla  Actinodura cyanouroptera

Bar-throated Minla (Chestnut-tailed M)  Actinodura strigula

Rusty-fronted Barwing ◊  Actinodura egertoni

Red-billed Leiothrix  Leiothrix lutea  Finally gave themselves up at Darachu.

Silver-eared Mesia  Leiothrix argentauris  Best show at Darachu, also seen at Panbang.

Red-tailed Minla  Minla ignotincta  An attractive bird, we only saw them near Punakha and at Yongkola.

Rufous-backed Sibia  Leioptila annectens  A single singing bird near Nganglam showed well.

Red-faced Liocichla ◊  Liocichla phoenicea  Great views of a pair in the early morning at Yongkola, also good looks at Darachu.

Jungle Babbler  Argya striata 

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush  Garrulax monileger

White-crested Laughingthrush  Garrulax leucolophus

Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla rufogularis  One seen at Yongkola and another sat up nicely next to our Tingtibi camp.

Spotted Laughingthrush ◊  Ianthocincla ocellata  A bit scarce this year; we saw it on the Dochu La, and on the Chele La road on our last afternoon.

Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus ruficollis  Great views in many places, especially around some of our camps.

White-throated Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus albogularis

Grey-sided Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus caerulatus  Seen well in the hill forest near Punakha.

Goldcrest  Regulus regulus  A single seen near the Chele La, sikkimensis subspecies.

Beautiful Nuthatch ◊  Sitta formosa  A personal favourite, we saw three near Yongkola, and a very co-operative in the hills above Gelephu.

White-tailed Nuthatch ◊  Sitta himalayensis

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch  Sitta cinnamoventris

Hodgson’s Treecreeper ◊  Certhia hodgsoni  A single seen well on the Chele La. Formerly lumped in Eurasian Treecreeper.

Rusty-flanked Treecreeper ◊  Certhia nipalensis  A good view of one on the Pele La. Often missed.

Sikkim Treecreeper ◊  Certhia discolor  Regular encounters with this long-tailed fellow in mid-elevation forests.

Spotted Elachura ◊  Elachura formosa  A lot of intent focussed on this little fellow now he is in his own family. As is typical, we had to try a few until we saw one well, at Yongkola. Heard in many places this year.

Common Hill Myna  Gracula religiosa  Several seen in fruiting trees near Gelephu.

Chestnut-tailed Starling  Sturnia malabarica

Common Myna  Acridotheres tristis

Great Myna (White-vented M)  Acridotheres grandis  Small groups seen en-route to Nganglam, also near Gelephu.

Brown Dipper  Cinclus pallasii

Long-tailed Thrush ◊  Zoothera dixoni  One singing from the top of a conifer on the Chele La.

Himalayan Thrush   Zoothera salimalii  A bold songster on the Thrumsing La gave us some short views and a real earful!

Long-billed Thrush ◊  Zoothera monticola  Heard-only, from our Sengor camp.

Scaly Thrush  Zoothera dauma  Rarely seen, we had partial views on the Chele La of a bird hiding down a slope, then remarkably another flew across the front of the bus a short while after!

Purple Cochoa  Cochoa purpurea  Heard-only, at Yongkola.

White-collared Blackbird ◊  Turdus albocinctus

Grey-winged Blackbird ◊  Turdus boulboul  Found locally, around the Tama La and Darachu.

Tickell’s Thrush ◊  Turdus unicolor  A single at the roadside on the way down from the Tama La.

Oriental Magpie-Robin  Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama  Copsychus malabaricus

Ferruginous Flycatcher  Muscicapa ferruginea  A couple seen in mid-elevation forests.

Dark-sided Flycatcher  Muscicapa sibirica

Large Niltava  Niltava grandis  A good view of a male near the Tama La.

Small Niltava  Niltava macgrigoriae  Excellent looks at a bold male at Yongkola.

Rufous-bellied Niltava  Niltava sundara

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus

White-gorgeted Flycatcher ◊  Anthipes monileger  One at Yongkola showed briefly.

Pale Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis unicolor

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis rubeculoides

White-tailed Robin  Myiomela leucura  A male seen briefly on the Dochu La.

Little Forktail ◊  Enicurus scouleri  Nice views of one on a roadside waterfall at Namling.

Spotted Forktail  Enicurus maculatus  Hard to find this year, after a couple of glimpses of shy birds we saw one on a river bed near the Tama La.

Black-backed Forktail ◊  Enicurus immaculatus  Only at the lowest elevations, we saw them at Panbang and near Gelephu.

Slaty-backed Forktail  Enicurus schistaceus  Of several seen, best views were at Tingtibi.

Blue-fronted Robin ◊  Cinclidium frontale  Heard-only, as is typical. A beautiful song coming from the thicket near Namling, also heard at Darachu.

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus  The daily bird!

Indian Blue Robin  Larvivora brunnea  A late arrival, we had some brief views on the Chele La road.

Lesser Shortwing  Brachypteryx leucophris  Heard-only.

Himalayan Shortwing ◊  Brachypteryx cruralis  Surprisingly co-operative along the roadsides at Sengor.

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  Ficedula tricolor

Pygmy Flycatcher (P Blue F)  Ficedula hodgsoni  One showed well in hill forest near Punakha.

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher  Ficedula strophiata

Sapphire Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula sapphira  A male showed well along the Lingmethang Road.

Ultramarine Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula superciliaris  Several seen in the early part of the tour.

Little Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula westermanni

Himalayan Bluetail  Tarsiger rufilatus

White-browed Bush Robin ◊  Tarsiger indicus  A singing male on the top of the Thrumsing La.

Blue-fronted Redstart  Phoenicurus frontalis  Found at high elevation such as Chele La, plus some females at lower levels.

White-capped Redstart (River Chat)  Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Plumbeous Water Redstart  Phoenicurus fuliginosus

Hodgson’s Redstart ◊  Phoenicurus hodgsoni  Several females seen along the riverside by Punakha Dzong.

Black Redstart  Phoenicurus ochruros

Blue-capped Rock Thrush ◊  Monticola cinclorhyncha  A handsome summer visitor, common along certain roadsides.

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush  Monticola rufiventris

Blue Rock Thrush  Monticola solitarius  A couple seen on the road from Kurichu.

Grey Bush Chat  Saxicola ferreus

Siberian Stonechat  Saxicola maurus

Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker ◊  Pachyglossa melanozantha  A female seen well near Sengor.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  Dicaeum ignipectus

Streaked Spiderhunter  Arachnothera magna

Fire-tailed Sunbird ◊  Aethopyga ignicauda  Splendid males seen on the Thrumsing La.

Black-throated Sunbird  Aethopyga saturata

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird  Aethopyga gouldiae

Green-tailed Sunbird  Aethopyga nipalensis

Crimson Sunbird  Aethopyga siparaja  Two seen at Tingtibi.

Golden-fronted Leafbird  Chloropsis aurifrons  A few encountered in low elevation forests.

Orange-bellied Leafbird  Chloropsis hardwickii

Asian Fairy-bluebird  Irena puella

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata  A couple seen on grassy roadsides at Tingtibi.

Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris  Two shuffling about on the Chele La.

Rufous-breasted Accentor ◊  Prunella strophiata  Only a couple seen, at high elevations.

Russet Sparrow  Passer cinnamomeus  A pleasing feature around hill villages and some of our camps.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola  Nominate forms seen at Bajo and Gelephu, and a black-backed calcarata at Bajo.

White-browed Wagtail  Motacilla maderaspatensis  Seen at Bajo with accompanying juvenile, also

White Wagtail (Masked W)  Motacilla [alba] personata  Two at Bajo was a write-in

White Wagtail (Baikal W)  Motacilla [alba] baicalensis  A single at bajo.

White Wagtail (Himalayan W)  Motacilla [alba] alboides

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni

Rosy Pipit  Anthus roseatus

Collared Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas affinis  Two near Sengor alongside the following species, also seen on the Chele La.

Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas melanozanthos  Two near Sengor was our only sighting.

White-winged Grosbeak  Mycerobas carnipes  Good numbers around the Chele La.

Scarlet Finch ◊  Carpodacus sipahi  Stunning males seen in several locations.

Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus pulcherrimus  Only seen at Ura, both sexes.

Dark-rumped Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus edwardsii  A good view of a female near the Thrumsing La.

Crimson-browed Finch ◊  Carpodacus subhimachalus  Two males seen at Sengor.

Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch ◊  Carpodacus thura  Good views of males at Pele La and Chele La.

Red-headed Bullfinch ◊  Pyrrhula erythrocephala  Two pairs seen on the Chele La.

Golden-naped Finch ◊  Pyrrhoplectes epauletta  A male seen at Sengor.

Plain Mountain Finch  Leucosticte nemoricola

Yellow-breasted Greenfinch  Chloris spinoides

MAMMALS

Asian Elephant  Elaphus maximus  A splendid matriarchal group of 15 including some small juveniles near Gelephu.

Red Fox  Vulpes vulpes  Non-leader, at Phobjika.

Western Red Panda  Ailurus fulgens  Glorious views of this big prize, and we even saw it on two consecutive days on the Thrumsing La.

Yellow-throated Marten  Martes flavigula  Four individuals seen at scattered locations.

Northern Red Muntjac  Muntiacus vaginalis

Brown Goral  Naemorhedus goral  A very relaxed looking fellow at Namling.

Assamese Macaque  Macaca assamensis

Nepal Sacred Langur  Semnopithecus schistaceus  A nice troop of adults with young seen near the Pele La.

Golden Langur (Gee’s G L)  Trachypithecus geei  Small groups in several places from Panbang up to Tingtibi. Endemic to Bhutan.

Capped Langur  Trachypithecus pileatus  Good views of this chap as well, at Yongkola and Panbang.

Moupin Pika  Ochotona thibetana

Irrawaddy Squirrel (Hoary-bellied Himalayan S)  Callosciurus pygerythrus

Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel  Dremomys lokriah

Black Giant Squirrel (Malayan G S)  Ratufa bicolor  A couple of nice examples seen around Tingtibi.

Himalayan Striped Squirrel  Tamiops mcclellandii