Last year we hit 4,000 species on this day!
17th November 2008. The day began in fine style with a pair of Collared Scops Owls roosting in a tree just yards from the breakfast table! We said goodbye to Tiger Camp, a lovely place and ideal birding base for Corbett, and began the long drive up to Nainital, a Himalayan Hill Station. We birded as we drove of course and picked up great birds such as Maroon Oriole, Golden-fronted Leafbird and Crested Bunting. A loud call from a patch of woodland had us screeching to a halt, Himalayan Flameback woodpecker, not one but a pair showing off just yards away. We were about to jump back in the car when a green bird flew across the road and vanished. We waited and scanned, nothing, then it swept over again and this time landed in view. What a bird, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and a real stunner, what is more a real milestone bird – number 4000 for The Biggest Twitch! We never thought we would get to the 4000 mark so quickly after breaking the record.
As we neared Nainital we turned off onto a minor road, even more minor that is, and climbed steeply up to a viewpoint, snow view ridge, and wow! We were stunned by the awesome sight of the Himalayan massive laid out before us. The mountains were enormous and went on and on, set against the clearest blue sky in full sunshine it was a breathtaking sight. Photos done we dragged ourselves away and continued the few miles to Jungle Lore lodge our base for the next three nights. The garden immediately supplied us with new birds – Streaked Laughing-thrush and Black-headed Jay, great start. We were soon out birding and quickly found a feeding flock containing Yellow-browed, Black-throated and Green-backed Tits which do you look at first all new birds! We searched a steep hillside for Cheer Pheasants but despite much scanning no luck, we stayed at it until the light had gone and the temperature plummeted once the sun dipped below the horizon, a real reminder of just how high we were.
23 new species
Bird species total 4017Make sure you get your copy of The Biggest Twitch book, due April 2010, by emailing info@thebiggesttwitch.com to reserve your copy, huge amount of interest already!!Posted 17.11.09