birding...

Dachigam National Park

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This one-time exclusive hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Kashmir was declared a national park in 1951. Dachigam contains the last viable population of Hangul or Kashmir Stag in the world. The two sectors of the Park - Upper and Lower Dachigam are spread over an area of 141-sq-km. and altitudes vary between 1,700 and 4,300m. Two steep ridges enclose the Park with its great topographical variety - deep ravines, rocky outcrops, steep wooded slopes and rolling alpine pastures. The Dagwan stream flows from the Marsar Lake (4,300m) through Lower Dachigam. Avifauna: Over 150 species of birds have been reported including Crimson Tragopan, Monal Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Koklas Pheasant, Golden Eagle, Lammergeier etc. Status: Theatened by human encroachment.

Dal Lake

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The famous Dal Lake of Srinagar has been described as hardly what one would expect a lake to be like - it's a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly moored they could almost be islands and hotels on islands which look like they could simply float away. The famous Dal Lake has shrunk from an area of 16 sq. kms in the 1980s to about 9 sq. kms today.

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve

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Gulmarg is located at a distance of 48-km to the south-west of Srinagar. It is a major tourist destination and a world-class Ski resort.Avifauna includes pheasants and upland birds amongst other resident and migratory species. Avifauna: Griffon Vulture, Monal Pheasant, Snow Cock, Koklas Pheasant, Blue Rock Pigeon, Kashmir Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, Jungle Crow etc. I have observed the Himalayan Greenfinch and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie. Status: Theatened by increased tourism.

Kashmir Wetlands (Hygam, Hokersar, Shalibug, Mirgund)

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Migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asia use the wetlands in Kashmir as their transitory camps between September and October and again around spring. Avifauna: Greylag Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, White-Eyed Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Shoveller, Brahminy Duck, Wigeon, Snipe, Garganey, Lapwing, Kingfishers, Herons, Little Bittern. Hygam, Wular Lake [Ramsar site no. 461] A number of wetlands, such as Malgam, Hygam and Nawgam are located on the fringes of the Wular Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in India with extensive marshes of sub-water tubers and floating vegetation, like the water chestnut. These wetlands play a vital role in sustaining a large population of wintering, staging and breeding birds. The Hygam wetland located some 50kms from Srinagar has shrunk from 4.5 sq. kms to less than 1.5 sq. kms. Status: Theatened by siltation and human encroachment. Hokersar [Notified Wildlife Sanctuary, Ramsar notification under process] Hokersar, 14 km north of Srinagar is another world class wetland spread over 13. 75 sq kms including lake and marshy area. It attracts birds from Siberia, Central Asia, China, North Europe and the Indian sub-continent. A record number (over 400,000) migratory birds were estimated to have been spotted at the Hokersar Wildlife Sanctuary this winter. Status: Threatened by siltation from the Doodh Ganga river. Shalibug is Kashmir's largest bird reserve. Status: Theatened by siltation and human encroachment.

Tso Morari Lake, Ladakh

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This freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level is the world's highest Ramsar site. Avifauna: The lake is the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane Grus nigricollis, and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed Geese in India. A small northern offshore island forms the main nesting site for the Bar Headed Geese and the Brown Headed Gull. Status: Threatened by increased tourism. A Tso Morari Conservation Trust has been recently formed with the help of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) Leh office for conservation of the lake.

Number of bird species: 550+

* Field Guides & Bird Song

For a comprehensive list of recommended titles covering India as a whole - please see the main India page of Fatbirder

Birds of Northern India

by Richard Grimmett and Tim Inskipp Helm Field Guides 2003 RRP ?19.99p
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 0713651679
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Breeding Birds of Kashmir

R.S.P. Bates, E.H.N. Lowther Hardcover - 390 pages (27 June, 1991) OUP India
ISBN: 0195625625
Buy this book from NHBS.com

State Bird

Black-necked Crane

Dachigam National Park

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Colourful pheasants include the crimson tragopan, the iridescent monal pheasant with its glittering plumage, the blood pheasant and the koklass pheasant. The golden eagle and the bearded vulture or lammergeier are seen circling the brilliant blue skies.

Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary - Kashmir

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Jasrota Wildlife Sanctuary has an area of 10 sq km, it houses an appreciable variety of bird and animal life, most notably cheetal or axis deer.

Kishtwar High Altitude National Park - Jammu

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When in a sanctuary or national park it is important to dress in camouflage colors (khaki, green etc). Do not make undue noise and avoid littering the forest floors with paper, tins and food leftovers. while photographing take due caution not to disturb the birds and animals.

2004 [July] - Mathias Ritschard & Daniel Matti

Report

This birdwatching trip report to Ladakh covers Leh and the Indus Valley, the Rumbak Valley in Hemis NP, the Changtang area with the two high-altitude lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri and the Nubra Valley. More than 100 species of birds were found in 3 weeks, many of them much sought-after and difficult to see anywhere else in the Subcontinent. The report includes information on sites of nearly all the species one will wish to find in Ladakh. However, it does not include details on logistics – Ladakh is a familiar tourist destination (although still rarely visited by birdwatchers) and various guidebooks are readily available.

2010 [July] - Mohina Macker

Report

Mystic Ladakh is an area known for its Monasteries, Gompas , Manis and Chortens. It is a land of extremes with the high desert mountains, green fertile valleys and fast flowing rivers. Much of Ladakh is barren and inaccessible with only trekking routes connecting some of the lesser known regions. Roads traverse thru of some of the highest passes in the world and high altitude plains....

Anytime Tours - 14 Days Birding in Ladakh

Tour

This tour is ideal for birdwatchers who want to see special trans-Himalayan species while a lot of them are Pale- arctic. This tour is meant for birders who are in good physical health and can walk in high altitude area. The treks and walks are moderate in nature. This tour can be customized. Best time: May to September...

Ladakh Tours

Tour Operator

Ladakh-Described as "The land where snow never melts and only corn ripens" by its discoverer, Fa-hian, a chinese traveler, who traveled across its inhospitable terrain in 399 A.D. Known for centuries as the 'land of passes' (La-pass; Dacha-land), Ladakh is a mysterious land shrouded in myth and legend and much of its ancient history is known only through the mythology of its people...

Hotel Jammu Ashok

Accommodation

Hotel Jammu Ashok is a modern & comfortable hotel & is an ideal setting for the discovery of Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir. It is also a convenient base for a pilgrimage to the VaishnoDevi shrine.

Birds of Kashmir

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In July 1987, I spent 3 weeks in Kashmir on a group tour/trek organized by the Youth Hostel Association. We spent a week in Sonmarg and the rest of the time in Ladakh. Because of the nature of the trip, there was not much time to devote to proper bird-watching. Most of the sightings below had to be picked up while struggling to keep up with the group, or from the window of a bouncing bus...

Checklist

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delhibird - The Northern India Bird Network

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Site guide, recent sightings, photo gallery, checklists and more...