The trip is based around visiting the Ajmer area in NW India during the monsoon to see Critically Endangered Lesser Floricans displaying, looking for the very rare Long-billed Grasshopper Warbler where it was recently re-found in northern Pakistan and targeting the West Himalayan and Indian monsoon specialities.
Rough itinerary and some key species to look for:
0.5 day Harike: Rufous-vented Grass-babbler, Jerdon’s Babbler.
2.5 days Naltar Valley: Long-billed Grasshopper Warbler (if the tiny area of remaining habitat where James Eaton found it last year hasn’t been overgrazed), Blyth’s Rosefinch, Kashmir Nutcracker, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Rufous-naped Tit, maybe Kashmir Nuthatch (these last 4 also at Kagan).
3.5 days Kagan Valley: Orange Bullfinch, Spectacled Finch, White-throated Bushtit, Black-and-Yellow Grosbreak, Golden Bush Robin, Pink-browed Rosefinch.
1.0 day Margalla Hills: White-cheeked Bushtit, Black-headed Jay, Himalayan Parakeet.
2.0 days Himachal Pradesh: c.1.5 days spent driving to spend a morning looking for West Himalayan Grasshopper Warbler.
0.5 day Delhi area: displaying Bristled Grassbird.
1.5 days Haldwani: c.1 day spent driving to spend a morning visiting a breeding colony of Finn’s Weaver (rumoured to be uplisted to Critically Endangered soon).
2.5 days Ajmer area: Lesser Florican displaying, Rain Quail, Rock Bush Quail, Red-necked Falcon. Might have time to look for White-naped Tit, White-bellied Minivet, Indian Spotted Creeper, Indian Pitta.
0.5 day Pune: displaying Broad-tailed Grassbird, Painted Francolin.
3.5 days Travel time between locations (plus some overnight buses and late night flights).
Cheers,
0434582005
