Subhajit Chaudhuri
04-06-2016, 09:04 PM
Manas National Park Trip Report
A day off from office resulted a long weekend on March last – due to combination of Holi & Good Friday. Like most others I took a break making most of the opportunity. Manas National Park has been in my wish list for long. Boarded 12345 Saraighat Express from Howrah. It was running smoothly & we got down at New Bongaigaon at 6.30am. Our Bansbari lodge sent one sumo to pick us up. Took a brief halt at Barpeta Road forest office to collect our permits to stay at Mathangudi Lodge which was pre-booked via phone. Just opposite to that office we saw a roadside eatery and quickly had our breakfast . Checked into Birna Tourist Lodge at Bansbari. After a brief birding session at opposite tea-garden we set set-off for the safari via gypsy. Next day morning some of my partners went for Elephant Safari and rest two of us went for brief walk trough trails of Bansbari. The walk turned out more fruitful in terms of sighting. We found one collared Rhino at a very short distance behind fence. After coming back for breakfast we took the gypsy to proceed towards Mathanguri. Overall we stayed one night at Bansbari and two nights on Mathanguri. Though I could get only the dormitory, later I found Lower Bunglow is much more appealing contrary to popular choice of Upper Bunglow available in several online forums/ reviews. We did two full day safari and two half day safaris on gypsy. Manas made my lifer list enriched with brilliant sighting of Bengal Florican male display , Rufous Necked & Wreathed Hornbill , Silver breasted broadbill, Slender billed Babbler, Swamp Francolin , Black Breasted Parrotbill etc. We could spot/hear and photograph the following bird species – [arranged alphabetically for common English names].
Sl No Species
1 Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
2 Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella)
3 Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra)
4 Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
5 Bengal Bushlark (Mirafra assamica)
6 Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
7 Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
8 Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
9 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
10 Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
11 Black-backed Forktail (Enicurus immaculatus)
12 Black-breasted Parrotbill (Paradoxornis flavirostris)
13 Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus flaviventris)
14 Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
15 Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
16 Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
17 Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)
18 Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
19 Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus limnaeetus)
20 Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla nuchalis)
21 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta cinnamoventris)
22 Chestnut-capped Babbler (Timalia pileata)
23 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
24 Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica)
25 Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)
26 Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
27 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
28 Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
29 Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
30 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
31 Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
32 Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus)
33 Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
34 Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
35 Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus)
36 Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
37 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38 Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus)
39 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei)
40 Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
41 Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
42 Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
43 Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
44 Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis)
45 Grey-capped Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus)
46 Grey-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris)
47 Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
48 Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
49 Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
50 Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
51 Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)
52 Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
53 Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)
54 Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)
55 Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)
56 Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
57 Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus)
58 Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
59 Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)
60 Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
61 Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
62 Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
63 Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
64 Oriental Pied-Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
65 Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
66 Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
67 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
68 Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos)
69 Pin-tailed Pigeon (Treron apicauda)
70 Plain Flowerpecker (Dicaeum minullum)
71 Plumbeous Redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
72 Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
73 Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
74 Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)
75 Red-headed Trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus)
76 Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
77 Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
78 Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
79 River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii)
80 Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
81 Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)
82 Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis)
83 Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ( Ianthocincla ruficollis)
84 Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus)
85 Shikra (Accipiter badius)
86 Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
87 Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus)
88 Slender-billed Babbler (Turdoides longirostris)
89 Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)
90 Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
91 Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
92 Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
93 Streak-throated Woodpecker (Picus xanthopygaeus)
94 Sultan Tit (Melanochlora sultanea)
95 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)
96 Wedge-tailed Pigeon (Treron sphenurus)
97 White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
98 White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
99 White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
100 White-tailed Rubythroat (Calliope pectoralis)
101 White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)
102 White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
103 Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)
104 Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)
105 Yellow-footed Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus)
We could spot the following mammals during our stay:
1. Capped Langur
2. Assamese Macaque
3. Sambar Deer
4. Eastern Hog Deer
5. Indian Muntjac
6. Gaur
7. Wild Buffalo
8. Asian Elephant
9. Wild Boar
10. Large Indian Civet
11. Black Giant Squirrel and
12. One Horned Rhino
We were not lucky to encounter any wild cats but during our stay people had reportedly seen one big male Tiger, one Leopard and Black Panther.
I was accompanied by Bird guide Rustom Basumatary of Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society. His knowledge and experience is highly appreciated.
On return to New Bongaigaon, we took a brief turn towards Kakoijan and were lucky to find a small family of Golden Langur. If permission is granted I can post few images from the trip in subsequent posts.
If you need more logistics information I shall put that in separate post.
Cheers !
Subhajit Chaudhuri
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17785&stc=1
Golden Langur
A day off from office resulted a long weekend on March last – due to combination of Holi & Good Friday. Like most others I took a break making most of the opportunity. Manas National Park has been in my wish list for long. Boarded 12345 Saraighat Express from Howrah. It was running smoothly & we got down at New Bongaigaon at 6.30am. Our Bansbari lodge sent one sumo to pick us up. Took a brief halt at Barpeta Road forest office to collect our permits to stay at Mathangudi Lodge which was pre-booked via phone. Just opposite to that office we saw a roadside eatery and quickly had our breakfast . Checked into Birna Tourist Lodge at Bansbari. After a brief birding session at opposite tea-garden we set set-off for the safari via gypsy. Next day morning some of my partners went for Elephant Safari and rest two of us went for brief walk trough trails of Bansbari. The walk turned out more fruitful in terms of sighting. We found one collared Rhino at a very short distance behind fence. After coming back for breakfast we took the gypsy to proceed towards Mathanguri. Overall we stayed one night at Bansbari and two nights on Mathanguri. Though I could get only the dormitory, later I found Lower Bunglow is much more appealing contrary to popular choice of Upper Bunglow available in several online forums/ reviews. We did two full day safari and two half day safaris on gypsy. Manas made my lifer list enriched with brilliant sighting of Bengal Florican male display , Rufous Necked & Wreathed Hornbill , Silver breasted broadbill, Slender billed Babbler, Swamp Francolin , Black Breasted Parrotbill etc. We could spot/hear and photograph the following bird species – [arranged alphabetically for common English names].
Sl No Species
1 Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
2 Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella)
3 Asian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra)
4 Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
5 Bengal Bushlark (Mirafra assamica)
6 Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
7 Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
8 Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
9 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
10 Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
11 Black-backed Forktail (Enicurus immaculatus)
12 Black-breasted Parrotbill (Paradoxornis flavirostris)
13 Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus flaviventris)
14 Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
15 Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
16 Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
17 Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)
18 Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
19 Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus limnaeetus)
20 Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla nuchalis)
21 Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta cinnamoventris)
22 Chestnut-capped Babbler (Timalia pileata)
23 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
24 Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica)
25 Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)
26 Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
27 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
28 Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
29 Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
30 Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
31 Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus)
32 Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus)
33 Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
34 Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
35 Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus)
36 Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
37 Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38 Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus)
39 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos macei)
40 Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
41 Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
42 Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
43 Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
44 Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis)
45 Grey-capped Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus)
46 Grey-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris)
47 Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
48 Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
49 Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
50 Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
51 Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)
52 Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
53 Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus)
54 Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)
55 Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)
56 Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
57 Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus)
58 Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
59 Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)
60 Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
61 Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
62 Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
63 Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
64 Oriental Pied-Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
65 Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
66 Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
67 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
68 Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos)
69 Pin-tailed Pigeon (Treron apicauda)
70 Plain Flowerpecker (Dicaeum minullum)
71 Plumbeous Redstart (Phoenicurus fuliginosus)
72 Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
73 Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
74 Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)
75 Red-headed Trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus)
76 Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
77 Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
78 Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
79 River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii)
80 Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
81 Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)
82 Rufous-necked Hornbill (Aceros nipalensis)
83 Rufous-necked Laughingthrush ( Ianthocincla ruficollis)
84 Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus)
85 Shikra (Accipiter badius)
86 Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
87 Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus)
88 Slender-billed Babbler (Turdoides longirostris)
89 Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus)
90 Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
91 Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
92 Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
93 Streak-throated Woodpecker (Picus xanthopygaeus)
94 Sultan Tit (Melanochlora sultanea)
95 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)
96 Wedge-tailed Pigeon (Treron sphenurus)
97 White/Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
98 White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
99 White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
100 White-tailed Rubythroat (Calliope pectoralis)
101 White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)
102 White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
103 Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)
104 Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)
105 Yellow-footed Pigeon (Treron phoenicopterus)
We could spot the following mammals during our stay:
1. Capped Langur
2. Assamese Macaque
3. Sambar Deer
4. Eastern Hog Deer
5. Indian Muntjac
6. Gaur
7. Wild Buffalo
8. Asian Elephant
9. Wild Boar
10. Large Indian Civet
11. Black Giant Squirrel and
12. One Horned Rhino
We were not lucky to encounter any wild cats but during our stay people had reportedly seen one big male Tiger, one Leopard and Black Panther.
I was accompanied by Bird guide Rustom Basumatary of Manas Maozigendri Ecotourism Society. His knowledge and experience is highly appreciated.
On return to New Bongaigaon, we took a brief turn towards Kakoijan and were lucky to find a small family of Golden Langur. If permission is granted I can post few images from the trip in subsequent posts.
If you need more logistics information I shall put that in separate post.
Cheers !
Subhajit Chaudhuri
http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=17785&stc=1
Golden Langur