From Kathgodam in Uttarakhand, your vehicle begins to negotiate a steep climb that continues all through to Nainital Hill Resort at a distance of 35 km. Further up towards Sat Tal and Pangot, the climb is steeper. Despite the steep treacherous climb, you get glimpses of the Himalayan Range that appear sparkling white against the blue backdrop of the yonder blue sky. This is when you realize that you are in a mountainous region.
During the days when it is cloudy, the range is not visible
due to the fog that acts as a sunscreen. On the fog-covered days, you can but
curse for being out of luck. Although this matters as you miss one of the most
picturesque sites on Earth your goal is present. Anyway, the
sighting of Himalayan Vultures will make up for the lack of sightings of
Himalayas.
Come high noon or a fog-filled day the birds of Sat Tal and
Pangot chirp throughout the day and you can happily spot them. Nainital is the
focal point as far as Sat Tal and Pangot are concerned. Sat Tal lies in one
direction while the road to Pangot is diametrically opposite. When you access
Nainital Sat Tal is midway. For Pangot you have to cross over from Nainital
Township.
While Sat Tal is at 1400 MSL Pangot is at 2100 MSL. Sat Tal a destination with seven lakes is populated while Pangot is an isolated
place with small hutments and few birding resorts. You need to carry essentials
to Pangot although the birding lodges are well stocked but when it snows
continuously you get trapped. Nevertheless, Pangot is ideal for high-altitude
birds and you will enjoy the trip.
The avifauna differs but not greatly. When winters are at
their peak in the Himalayas some rare birds migrate down to Pangot. Below is
the list of often targeted birds of both places combined.
Birds of Sat Tal & Pangot
Chir Pheasant
Koklass Pheasant
Kalij Pheasant
Himalayan Woodpecker
Green Tailed Sunbird
Bronze Drongo
Verditor Flycatcher
Whiskered Yuhina
Blue Throated Barbet
Pied Flycatcher
Rufus Gorgeted Flycatcher
Red Billed Leothrix
Lesser Yellownape
Greater Yellownape
Himalayan Black Lored Tit
Purple Sunbird
Little Forktail
Spotted Forktail
Slaty Backed Forktail
Black-Throated Bush Tit
Pink Browed Rosefinch
Himalayan Bluetail
Golden Bush Robin
Bonelli's Eagle
Himalayan Vulture
Eurasian Vulture
Himalayan Bearded Vulture
Black Eagle
This is a combined checklist of birds of Pangot and Sattal.
Almost all the birders visit both the destination on a bird-watching tour in
the Himalayan Foothills. The proximity and diverse avifauna is the reason for
the combined tour. Both places have a well-developed infrastructure for
accommodation, organization, and transport. Birding guides are easily available
for hire, and this should be done in advance.
Indiafootprints organizes bird-watching tours in Sat TalPangot in Uttaranchal in North India
