Saturday, January 23, 2010

Birding at Corbett National Park

Corbett is more popular for tigers than for any other species. But Corbett is the best place to see many animals and birds. One can see Indian elephants, goral, hog deer, leopard and the sloth bear in the National Park.  Birding is popular inside the park as well as in the buffer zone.

Corbett is a rich bird habitat and around five hundred species of bird thrive in the park. The figure includes winter migrants. The best season for bird watching in Corbett tiger reserve is winter from October onwards whence the migrants start arriving. The bird species found are typical to the terai region of Himalayan foothills. 

On a bird watching tour one can see a large number of birds. It is easy to spot maroon oriole, spangled drongo, Giant horn bill, Siberian ruby throat, warblers, green billed malkoha, red breasted parakeets, Asian paradise flycatchers, Small and Rosy minivet. Corbett is the best place to see Pallas fishing eagles which inhabit the confines of Ramganga River. Another interesting species to be seen is the Ibis bill at Koshi River outside the park.   Pied falconet, Crested Serpent eagle and Hawk eagle are also seen easily. Brown Hawk Owl and Tawny Eagle Owl can be often seen. Hodgson’s Bushchat along with lesser coucal can be seen near the dam in the grasslands.

Most of winter migrants to North are found in Corbett. The resident bird is in great numbers some of them are:

Black chinned babbler, White crested laughing thrush, Black chinned Yuhina, Yellow footed green pigeon, Chestnut headed bee eater,  Black Hooded Oriole, White Bellied Drongo, Dusky fish owl,  Kaleej Pheasant,  Grey Crowned Pigmy Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Lesser fishing Eagle, White Rumped vulture, Chestnut headed tesia, White rumped shama, Pin Tailed Green Pigeons, Black Francolin, Oriental pied hornbill, Himalayan Bulbul, Red whiskered bulbul, Black Headed Stork, Black bulbul,  Ashy Bulbul, Lineated Barbet, Crimson Throated Barbet, Grey Bush Chat, Himalayan Flame back, Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch, Crested Kingfisher, Ruddy Shelducks, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Thick Billed Flowerpecker, Crimson Sun Bird,  Rufous Woodpecker, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker and Great Tit.

At Corbett a stay on bird watching trip results interesting sightings. In order to spot many birds the tour should be of long duration.  It is important that the birder is accompanied by and experienced guide from the park or one on hire.

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