Bird Walk Report - Kaithlighat to Kandaghat, Shimla

The train journey from Shimla to Kaithlighat in spring season is breath-taking as the route is strewn with the Rhododendron petals, a red carpet laid out by nature.

The trek began at Kaithlighat with a patch of deodar forest and lots of Green backed tits; a little ahead shrieking Slaty headed Paraqueets occupied space above the railway line. As we trudge ahead, we heard very distinct calls of Red Jungle Fowl, and on two occasions high-pitched calls of Pea Cock. Listening to two pheasants out of seven that are found in Himachal Pradesh was simply exhilarating. In a distant a Scaly bellied Green Woodpecker has been making very clear high-pitched calls of three notes. Good to be at the Kanog Railway Station which was devoid on any passenger but full of House Sparrows and White cheeked Bulbuls seeking crumbs from our lunch. A couple of Himalayan Tree Pie could be heard from the thick forest across the viaducts with multi-arched galleries with their harsh and noisy conversation. And ubiquitous Hill Barbet fills up the atmosphere with its incessant calls.

The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge railway in North-West India travelling along a mostly mountainous route from Kalka to Shimla. It is known for breathtaking views of the hills and surrounding villages. Along this trek, we came across many bridges but two of them Bridge no 541 and 493 have a special mention as World Heritage Site. They are viaducts with multi-arched galleries like the ancient Roman aqueducts. Bridge No 541 is 52.90 m long and 23 m high constructed in 1898. It consists of 34 arches in four stages. Bridge No. 493, historically known as the "Arch Gallery", situated between Kandaghat and Kanoh stations, is an arch bridge in three stages, constructed with stone masonry. May see them in the pics.

Have a good day.

Regards.

Sanjeeva Pandey

Bird Walk in Swan Area

Dear Firends,

Work took me last evening to Una district. Stayed at Nagal, Satluj Sadan..a great place to stay.

It was nice of Prabhat Bhatti to take me and my wife for a bird walk in the Swan area towards Tahliwal. We had a good walk and sightings. Saw the following:

1. Honey Buzzard

2. Kestrel

3. Sand Larks

4. Grey Francolins

5. Black Ibis

6. Common Moorhens

7. Parakeets

8. Green Bee eaters

9. Pied Bushchats (they were busy nesting and had chosen mates)

10. Pied Kingfishers

11. White throated Kingfishers

12. Gargeny

13. Sarus Cranes

14. Munias

15. Laughing Doves

16. Collared Doves

17. Mynas

18. Pied Mynas

19. Grey herons

20. Purple heron

21. Cattle egret

22. Sunbird

23. Paddyfield Pipits

24. Drongos

25. Red Wattled

26.Long tailed shrike

27. Pied Wagtails

28. Bar headed geese in flight

29. Crested Lark

30. House Sparrow

31. Black Kite in flight

32. Oriental Skylarks

I think thats what I can remember. Hope Prabhat will jog my memory. Will post some pics tomoro.

Thanks Prabhat for the trouble.

World Sparrow Day Photo Exhibition, Gaiety Theatre, Shimla

Hi Friends!

The exhibition started with a lot of fanfare and the turn out of people and Eco Clubs of local schools of Shimla was overwhelming.

Hon'ble Chief Minister of HP, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal inaugurated the event and appreciated the efforts of Himac

hal Blogs in putting it together.

He also volunteered to be a member of the Himachal Birds!

We had more than 1000 footfalls on day one. We have been able to install 15 nest boxes in Shimla and the rest (25) will be installed in the next couple of days.

Enjoy the pics of the event:

Bird Walk Report - TaraDevi to Kaithlighat, Shimla

Dear Friends,

The landscape of charming hills, tunnels and bridges and valleys between Tara Devi and Kaithliighat (close to Shimla) provides a thrilling experience along with sightings of birds and sometimes animals. The 15 km trek leaves a lasting impression of ecstasy and joy.

On Sunday, 6th March, a party of four set out on the meandering trek through pine forests which at times breaks into a pure oak forest.

During this time of the year the Rhododendrons have started flowering. They produce a lot of pollen which attract good number of birds. We could see Himalayan Blue Whistling Thrush, White cheeked bulbuls, Variegated Laughing Thrushes, Green Backed Tits, White Eyes, Dark Grey Bush Chats and Grey headed Flycatcher Warbler. The raptors that we encountered were Black shouldered Kite, kestral, Himalayan Griffons, and Pariah Kites. The amazing fact that we came across near to the railway trek is that the Barbets make their nest in a tree hole very close to the railway line. We could see a few more nests along the trek.

May also see the trek of famous World Heritage Site Shimla Kalka Railways.

A very nice experience, indeed. I have a simple camera, so no bird pics.

Cheers,

Sanjeeva