Bird Watching in Sat Tal and Pangot in Uttarakhand

 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