18 Day Bird-Watching Across Bhutan

Today we will explore the varied tropical forest of Samdrup Jongkhar and Deothang which is one of the finest birding areas in the Himalayas and so we hope to encounter the incredible Wreathed Hornbill (often seen in pairs), the scarce Blyth’s Kingfisher and the localized Golden-fronted Leafbird, Blue-eared Barbet (rare), Black-hooded Oriole, Black-backed Forktail, Thick-billed Warbler, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Little Spiderhunter, Puff-throated Babbler, the stunningly iridescent Asian Fairy Bluebird, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Great Tit and Pin-striped Tit Babbler.

Other regular species in the area include Plaintive Cuckoo, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat (adult males have jewel-like red throat-stunning!), Little Pied Flycatcher, Common Iora, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Oriental White-eye, Jungle Myna, flocks of Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush and perhaps with a bit of luck the rare vagrant Rosy Starling.

Overnight in Deothang

We will continue our travel to Trashigang, an area little visited by tourists. The road climbs quite steeply through dense sub-tropical broad-leafed forest – a wildlife paradise where we look in particular for the impressive Rufous-necked Hornbill (globally vulnerable but fairly uncommon and widely distributed in Bhutan), Lesser Cuckoo, Red-rumped Swallow (fairly common in the town of Deothang), Pied Harrier (our first Bhutan’s record in 2015 birding tour), Long-tailed Broadbill, Scaly-breasted Munia and the elusive Blue-winged Laughingthrush.

Arriving in Morong valley we will scan the warm broad-leafed forests looking for one of the top targets for Bhutan the Beautiful Nuthatch (another globally vulnerable species), Black Eagle, Mountain Tailorbird, White-browed Shrike Babbler, White-throated Bulbul, White-throated Fantail, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler often seen together with Greater Rufous-headed (White-breasted) Parrotbill, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Alpine Thrush, Small Niltava (a view of a glowing male is not to be missed), and flocks of Striated Yuhina, Silver-eared Mesia and the localized Long-tailed Sibia.

After a hot picnic breakfast set up by our catering crew we will drive through the road, known as Melong Brak which is hewn out of a solid cliff face, to the market town of Narphung. We cross-mountain passes where there are panoramic views of mountain ranges, rolling into the distant valleys before reaching the high pass at Kharung La at 2,350m, stopping along this section should produce, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Short-billed Minivet, the photogenic Bar-throated Siva, Common Tailorbird, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Golden Babbler, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch and the attractive Gold-naped Finch.

Our journey continues through more valleys and over mountain passes to Yonphu La at 2,570m and our final descent to Sherubtse College before winding its way through terraced fields to Trashigang, once the centre of important trade with Tibet.

Overnight in Trashigang

We will leave the hotel at the early hour, which will take us through Sheri Chhu valley from where the road climbs by means of 10 hairpin bends, known as the Yadi Loops, in just 10 km!

From here we continue to the little village of Yadi where the road then passes through cool broad-leafed forests to Kore La, 2,450m along which we will look for birds such as, Hill Partridge, Asian Barred Owlet, the superb Grey-sided Laughingthrush, the dazzling Scarlet Finch, White-collard Blackbird, Fire-capped Tit, Black-chinned Yuhina, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, the secretive Brown-flanked Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Dark-sided and Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers.

Crossing the pass we descend through cool broad-leafed forests, with rhododendron undergrowth to the eastern town of Mongar. Here we will stop briefly to walk around this beautiful town before driving to Yongkola stopping along Lingmethang road to look for the rare and globally vulnerable Steppe Eagle, the rare Blue-naped Pitta (rare), Rufous and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, the impressive Speckled Piculet, the only near endemic bird in for the country Bhutan Laughingthrush, Hair-crested (Spangled) Drongo, the localized Himalayan Bulbul and Crested Bunting, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Barn Swallow (in Mongar town), Black-throated Prinia, Grey-throated Babbler, Common Stonechat and the beautifully plumaged Orange-headed Thrush and Blue-capped Rock Thrush.

Overnight in Yongkola

The areas of Yongkola, Namling, Tshamang and Lingmethang are considered to be one of the finest birding locations in the world.

Therefore we have two full days to explore the pristine forests of Thrumshing La national park using a paved yet rarely used road and it is in this birding hotspot that we look for some of Bhutan’s most sought-after birds such as the globally vulnerable Chestnut-breasted Partridge, the handsome Ward’s Trogon (another top attraction for Bhutan), the strange Long-billed Thrush (rare), the amazing Yellow-throated and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, the weird looking Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler, Long-billed and Rufous-throated Wren Babblers (all three are very rare in the world), the localized Black-headed Shrike-babbler, the exquisite Himalayan Cutia (another top bird), Spotted Elachura (formally known as Spotted Wren Babbler), Broad-billed, Grey-cheeked and Black-faced Warbler, Nepal House Martin (big nests on a overhanging cliff near Namling waterfall), Scaly Laughingthrush, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Scaly (White’s) Thrush, Gould’s Sunbird, Yellow-bellied fantail, Lesser Shortwing, White-gorgeted and Pygmy Blue Flycatchers.

After birding in the upper region of Yongkola, we have time to explore the wonderfully rich, warm broad-leafed forests of Lingmethang road where we hope to find the near threatened Rufous-bellied Eagle, the colourful Asian Emerald Cuckoo, the secretive Red-faced Liocichla, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Maroon Oriole, Grey-bellied Tesia, Striated Prinia, White-bellied Erpornis, Rufous-capped Babbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Mountain Bulbul, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Common Rosefinch (on Tshamang road), Spot-winged Grosbeak and the restless flocks of Rusty-fronted Barwing.

On one evening, we will take a short night drive hoping to find Bhutan Giant Flying Squirrel (which has been regularly seen on our birding tours to Yongkola), Owls and frogmouth we will look for include very localized Hodgson’s Frogmouth, Brown Wood Owl (rare), and the common but difficult to find Mountain Scops Owl.

Overnight in Yongkola

This morning we will bird along the cool broad-leafed forests of Namling region, here we can look for the rare altitudinal migrant species Gould’s Shortwing (mega species for Bhutan), Black-eared Shrike Babbler, the much wanted Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush and Black-throated Parrotbill amongst many other regular birds.
After breakfast we will continue our birding along Sengor valley, looking for special birds from this higher mid temperate forest, such as the attractive Satyr Tragopan often seen feeding by the roadside providing us with excellent close-up views, Solitary Snipe (rare), the exquisite Fire-tailed Myzornis, Tickell’s Thrush, Fire-tailed Sunbird (no doubt it is one of the most special sunbirds in the world) and we will take our only chance to see the localized Bar-winged Wren Babbler.
From Sengor we will drive up to the high pass of Thrumshing La at 3,799m, where on clear days, we have breathtaking views of the eastern Himalayas.

From the pass we descend through forests of towering hemlocks, spruce, Silver fir and larch where we have good chance for the fantastic Blood Pheasants, often seen in flocks feeding by the roadside, the altitudinal migrant White-throated Redstart, Black-throated Thrush, the scarce Rufous-breasted Bush Robin, Hoary-throated Barwing (fairly uncommon along here but very range restricted to Eastern Himalayas), the attractive Himalayan Bluetail, Himalayan Vulture, Winter Wren, Goldcrest, Whistler’s Warbler, Black Bulbul, the noisy Spotted Nutcracker, Oriental Skylark, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Brown Bullfinch, Little Bunting and flocks of Stripe-throated Yuhina, Coal, Grey-crested and Rufous-vented Tits.
We travel through the picturesque village of Ura and gradually descend to Bumthang valley for the night. As night falls we can listen out for Himalayan Owl which is a species previously thought to be Tawny Owl.

Overnight in Bumthang

This morning we make an early start to be at Tharpaling Monastery in the early hours as we hope to witness the monks feeding the spectacular Himalayan Monals, where the birds have become accustomed to this practice.
Other species we will look in the area include the rarely seen White-bellied Redstart, Alpine Accentor, Himalayan Beautiful Rose-finch, flocks of Red-billed Chough, Black-billed Magpie (endemic to Bumthang valley in Bhutan), Black-faced Laughingthrush and Plain Mountain Finch. With luck on our side, we should also find the rare vagrant Godlewski Bunting.

After breakfast we will descend to Gattsa valley and continue to Yotong La (3450m) for some high-altitude birds such as the chunky White-winged Grosbeak, the little-known Great Parrotbill, Red-headed Bullfinch, Red Crossbill, Crimson-browed Finch, Whiskered Yuhina and the bamboo specialist Hume’s Bush Warbler.

Arriving in Trongsa we have the option to visit the historic Trongsa Dzong (fortress) built in 1637, and the Ta Dzong or Watch Tower, which is now the National Museum.

Overnight in Trongsa

Today we drive along the quiet, forest road towards Tingtibi. Blue Whistling Thrushes fly off the road at regular intervals, and we keep a sharp lookout for Spotted Forktail at the beautiful mossy waterfalls that are a feature of the journey.
The whole section of today’s journey is spectacular as we look for an amazing variety of rare and special birds in the mixed broad-leafed forests that stretch from 2000m down to 700m. This is also home to the Endangered Golden Langur, which can be seen in small groups along the roadside forests.
In the early part of the morning we will look for top attractions like, Lesser Yellow nape, the incredible Bay Woodpecker, the scarce Eurasian Woodcock, dazzling Scarlet Minivet, the localized Spot-winged Starling, Sapphire and Ferruginous Flycatchers, Large Niltava, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Barred Cuckoo Dove, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Large Hawk Cuckoo, the noisy Great Barbet, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Blyth’s Leaf Warbler, White-tailed Nuthatch, Rusty-flanked Treecreeper, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Blue Rock Thrush, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Tibetan Siskin and several flocks of White-throated Laughingthrush. The forest also holds raptors like Mountain Hawk Eagle and Crested Goshawk.

Arriving in the warmer sub-tropical areas of Tingtibi, we will look for Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Common Cuckoo, Crested Kingfisher, the rare vagrant Daurian Redstart, the colorful Emerald Dove, Streaked Spiderhunter, Ashy Bulbul and Rufous-necked Laughingthrush.

Overnight in Tingtibi

After a quick tea/coffee at our hotel, we will drive along the Tingtibi – Panbang road, exploring the rich bamboo forests, looking for the area’s top birds such as the little known White-browed Piculet, White-hooded Babbler (the only known site in Bhutan), Rufous-faced Warbler (rare), the secretive Pale-headed Woodpecker, White-browed Scimitar Babbler often seen together with Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher (previously thought to be Asian Paradise Flycatcher which has been split into three separate species), Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, White-rumped Munia, the rare Smoky Warbler, and along the Mangde chhu (river) we will look for perhaps the rarest bird seen in Bhutan the critically endangered White-bellied Heron, the population of this birds is estimated at only 60 individuals left in the wild.

Overnight in Panbang

After tea/coffee in our hotel, we will bird along the tropical forest between Panbang and Nganglam looking for some of Bhutan’s rare and sought-after species such as Grey Peacock Pheasant (very rare in the world), Buff-breasted Babbler (recorded for the first time in Bhutan in 2019 on our birding tour), Eye-browed Wren babbler (Panbang is the only known site for this species in Bhutan), Rufous-vented Laughingthrush (another species that is found only in this region), Collared Treepie (another rare species), Silver-breasted Broadbill, Green Cochoa, Rufous-backed Sibia, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and Hooded Pitta seeing any of the above brings an excitement to the experience.

Other regularly birds include Crested Serpent Eagle, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Lineated Barbet, Eurasian Wryneck, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Greater (Flameback) Goldenback, Red-breasted Parakeet, Plaintive and Grey-bellied Cuckoos, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Great Myna, Red-headed Trogon (surely one of the prettiest trogons in the world), Black-naped Monarch, Grey Bushchat, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Asian House Martin, Yellow Wagtail and White-throated Bulbul.

Overnight in Panbang

This morning we will explore the forest road towards Manas National Park office in Panbang looking for the areas top attractions such as Large Woodshrike, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Jerdon’s Baza (rare), Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Indian Cuckoo, Greater Coucal, Savanna Nightjar, Dollarbird, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush and the rare Citrine Wagtail.
Other relatively common birds include Grey-hooded Warbler, Bank Myna, Eurasian Collared Dove, Blue-winged (Siva) Minla, Cattle Egret, Striated Yuhina, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Plain Flowerpecker and House Sparrow.
The forests along here also hold mammals such as Asian Elephant, Wild Water Buffalo, Clouded Leopard, Wild Boar, Jungle Cat, Sambar, Golden Langur and Indian Palm Civet encounters of any of which can be a big highlight of the trip.

After breakfast we will retrace our journey back to Tingtibi, stopping along the areas we missed on our way in.

Overnight in Tingtibi

Our first wonderful birding area is at Tama La (pass), 1,660m, where we hope to see new birds such as, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Fork-tailed Swift, Greater Yellownape, Long-tailed Minivet, Red-billed Leiothrix, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Pale Blue Flycatcher, and White-tailed Robin. Raptors may well include Oriental Honey Buzzard and Shikra.

Overnight in Gelephu

Today we will visit the Gelephu sewage pond for our morning birding, here we can look for the very localized species such as Cinnamon Bittern, Great Thick-knee (rare), Pin-tailed Snipe (rare), Sand Lark, Black Baza (rare), Black Stork (rare), Lesser Whistling Duck and Red-naped Ibis (rare), including regular species such as Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, White-breasted Waterhen, Yellow-wattled and River Lapwings, Common and Green Sandpipers.

After breakfast we will drive along Tsirang road, where we can track-down Indian Peafowl, the superb Oriental Pied Hornbill, Red-collared Dove, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, another near-threatened Rose-ringed Parakeet, Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Coucal, the brightly coloured Indian Roller, Coppersmith Barbet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Ashy Woodswallow, Brown Shrike, Rufous Treepie, the very shy and secretive Large Scimitar Babbler, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, the attractive Common Hill Myna, Taiga Flycatcher, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Grey Wagtail and the colourful Crimson Sunbird. Abundant species in the area include House Crow, Jungle Babbler, Asian Pied Starling and Oriental Magpie Robin.

Overnight in Gelephu.

Today we will visit the Gelephu sewage pond for our morning birding, here we hope to find all our target species such as Black Baza (rare), Black Stork (rare), Lesser Whistling Duck, Red-naped Ibis (rare), Cinnamon Bittern (rare elsewhere in Bhutan), Indian Pond Heron, Little Egret, White-breasted Waterhen, the strange looking Great Thick-knee, Yellow-wattled Lapwing (rare), Pin-tailed Snipe (rare), Common Sandpiper and Sand Lark.

After our morning birding we will return to our hotel for breakfast and continue to Punakha via Tsirang, with several stops en-route for birds, butterflies and mountain scenery.

On this journey we will look for birds such as, Indian Peafowl, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Red-collared Dove, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo, Bonelli’s Eagle, Lesser Coucal, the amazingly beautiful Indian Roller, Coppersmith Barbet, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Ashy Woodswallow, Brown Shrike, Rufous Treepie (rare), House Crow, the rarely seen Large Scimitar Babbler, Jungle Babbler (common), Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush (seen usually in small flocks), Common Hill Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Oriental Magpie Robin (abundant), Grey Wagtail, Taiga Flycatcher, and the very obliging and colourful Crimson Sunbird.

Overnight in Punakha

Today we will visit the Tashithang Valley – section of the Jigme Dorji National Park. Once we reach the broad-leaved forest, at 1,600m, we hope to see Black Mountain Hawk and Crested Serpent Eagles, Red-headed Trogon (rare), flocks of Nepal Fulvetta, Spotted Elachura , Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Bay and Rufous Woodpeckers, Golden-throated, Blue-throated and Great Barbets, Grey-bellied, Slaty-bellied and Chestnut-headed Tesias, Hair-crested Drongo, Slaty-backed, Spotted and Little Forktails, Striated and Bhutan Laughingthrushes and flocks of Scarlet Minivets.

When the heat of the day increases, birding lessens so we will drop down to Punakha to visit the majestic 17th century Punakha Dzong which is spectacularly situated on a promontory at the confluence of the Mo (mother) and Pho (father) Chhu (river) becoming the Puna Tsang Chhu which eventually joins the Brahmaputra.

In the late afternoon we will drive along the Pho Chhu valley, looking for the critically endangered and probably the rarest bird in Bhutan, the White-bellied Heron, as well as Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (globally endangered).

Overnight in Punakha.

Today we must leave very early to Lampelri we will explore the Royal Botanical Park where we may find, Hill Partridge, Ward’s Trogon (globally vulnerable and very range restricted to Eastern Himalayas), Eurasian Jay, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Red-billed Leiothrix, Fire-capped Tit, Blue-fronted Redstart, Verditer Flycatcher, Blue-fronted Robin (very shy and rare), Scarlet Finch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch and Maroon-backed Accentor. 

Overnight in Paro

Today we will have a fabulous day in Bhutan with a great mix of birding and some of the Paro Valley’s cultural treasures. The cultural highlight will be the walk up to the famous Taksang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery.  The monastery is perched some 600m up on a cliff overlooking the valley and was said to be where the legendary Guru Padma Sambhava, flew from East Bhutan on the back of a tiger to defeat demons who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan.

It is a steep uphill walk-through woods, of about 1 1⁄2-2hrs, to reach a cafeteria (an ascent of 340m). Apart from offering welcome refreshment, at the cafeteria, this is one of the principle viewpoints of the monastery, and those who prefer not to climb any further can relax here whilst others continue their trek.

Birds we may encounter on this route may well include Himalayan Buzzard, Eurasian Jay, the attractive Darjeeling Woodpecker, White Wagtail, Green-tailed Sunbird and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

From the cafeteria it is a further half hour’s ascent, which brings you to another viewpoint directly across from the monastery. The final section of the walk takes you from this viewpoint steeply down 100m into the gorge that separates you from the monastery and then climbs back up again to reach the monastery.

The rocky ledges near the monastery hold gems like Snow Pigeon and Altai Accentor, both of which are found in small flocks, while the waterfall next to the monastery should produce Little Forktail and White-capped Water Redstart.

After visiting the monastery we will then descend to the valley floor by your outward route back to where our vehicle will be waiting. The full walk to the monastery and back involves approximately 740m of ascent.

Overnight in Paro

In the morning drive to Airport for your onward destination.