Birds seen/heard: Hill Partridge-H,Kalij Pheasant-03,Darjeeling Woodpecker-01,Crested Kingfisher-01,Large Hawk Cuckoo-H,Indian Cuckoo-H,Orintal Cuckoo-H,Oriental Turtle Dove-20,Spotted Dove-09,Long-tail Shrike-01,Eursian Jay-02,Yellow-billed Blue Magpie-04,Grey Treepie-06,Spotted Nutcracker-09,Large-billed Crow-04,Short-billed Minivet-03,Ashy Drongo-07,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-05, Blue Whistling Thrush -10,Scaly Thrush-01,White-collared Blackbird-03,Grey-winged Blackbird-02,Snowy-browed Flycatcher-01,Ultramarine Flycatcher-02,Verditer Flycatcher-02,Small Niltava-02,Rufous-bellied Niltava-01,Oriental Magpie Robin-02,Plumbeous Water Redstart-01,Chestnut-tailed Starling-02,Common Myna-20,White-tail Nuthatch-01,Green-backed Tit-05,Mountain Bulbul-02,Black Bulbul-30,Red-vented Bulbul-15,Chestnut-headed Tesia-01,Oriental white-eye-02,Brownish-flanked Bush warbler-01,Ashy-throated Warbler-02,Large-billed Leaf Warbler-10,Grey-hooded Warbler-02,Chestnut-crowned Warbler-02,White-throated Laughingthrush-16,Striated Laughingthrush-06,Scaly Laughingthrush-03,Black-faced Laughingthrush-02,Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush-05,Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler-01,Hoary-throated Barwing-03,Chestnut-tailed Minla-01,Red-tailed Minla-02,Rufous-winged Fulvetta-04,White-browed Fulvetta-03,Stripe-throated Yuhina-20,Rufous-vented Yuhina-05,Rufous Sibia-10,Mrs Goulds Sunbird-15,Green-tailed Sunbird-06,Black-throated Sunbird-02,Eursian Tree Sparrow-10,Grey-headed Bullfinch-02.

Day 03- May 18.04  Wangdi – Mo Chhu Valley – Wangdi

Drove from Wangdi to Tashitang in the Mo-chu valley.and spent the day birding upstream of the Mochu river in subtropical forest up to 1850 meters. Returned to Wangdi in the evening.

Today my  main target was the White belied heron. Local contacts were not hopeful . However scanning the river- bed at a location where I had seen the bird two years earliar, was rewarding. I was able to Video film it for more than a minute.

Birds Seen/heard: Rufous-throated Partridge-02,Kaleej Pheasant-01,Ruddy Shelduck-05,Bay Woodpecker-07,Lesser Yellownape-02,Greater Yellownape-01,Grey-headed Woodpecker-02,Great Barbet-04,Golden-throated Barbet-07,Common Hoopoe-02,Common Kingfisher-01,White-throated Kingfisher-02,Crested Kingfisher-04,Oriental Turtle Dove-20,Spotted Dove-10,River Lapwing-12,Common Sandpiper-02,Ibisbill-06,Green Sandpiper-01,Crested Serpant Eagle-01,Eurasian Sparrow Hawk-01,Common Kestrel-02,White-bellied Heron-01,Orange-bellied Leafbird-02,Long-tailed Shrike-05,Grey Treepie-04,Maroon Oriole-03,Short-billed Minivet-02,Spangled Drongo-06,Brown Dipper-01,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-09,Blue Whistling Thrush-13,Verditer Flycatcher-03,Small Niltava-03,Oriental Magpie Robin-10,Plumbeous Water Redstart-02,Slaty-backed Forktail-01,Common Myna-10,Chestnut-tailed Starling-02,Green-backed Tit-04,Red-vented Bulbul-10,Mountain Bulbul-02,Black Bulbul-20,Oriental White-eye-04,Grey-bellied Tesia-01,White-throated Laughingthrush-10,Straited Laughingthrush-06,Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler-H,Spotted Wren Babbler-01,Nepal Fulvetta-10,Blacked-chinned Yuhina-06,Rufous Sibia-02,Eurasian Tree Sparrow-20.

Day 04-May 19.04 – Wangdi - Mo Chhu Valley-Wangdi.

For the second day  I birded along the Mo-Chu Valley in the morning. Afternoon birding had to be abandoned due to a gas cylinder fire; which burned down the Meri Perisum Resort. Managed to get my kit out just in time and shifted to Dragons Nest.

Birds Seen/heard: Grey-headed Woodpecker-02,Blue-throated Barbet-05,Great Barbet-03,Great Hornbill-04,White-throated Kingfisher-03,Green-billed Malkhoa-02,Fork-tail Swift-20,Oriental Turtle Dove-10,Spotted Dove-15,Barred Cuckoo Dove-06,Wedge-tailed Green Piegon-15,Long-tail Shrike-05,Grey Treepie-08,Slender-billed Oriole-02,Long-tail Minivet-02,Ashy Drongo-07,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-10,Oriental Magpie Robin-04,Plumbeous Water Redstart-05,Common Myna-06,Black-crested Bulbul-06,Red-vented Bulbul-15,Black Bulbul-20,Oriental White-eye-05.

Day 05-May 20.04  Wangdi-Gangtey.

Drove to Gangtey, with birding stops on the way. Overnight at Gangtey Guest House.

Birds seen/heard: Hill Partridge-H,Grey-headed Woodpecker-01,Great Barbet-04,Indian Cuckoo-H,Oriental Cuckoo-H,Himalayan Swiflet-10,Forktail Swift-06,Rock Piegon-06,Oriental turtle Dove-10,Spotted Dove-04,Barred Cuckoo Dove-04,Wedge-tailed Green Piegon-02,Grey-backed Shrike-02,Eursian Jay-02,Yellow-billed Blue Magpie-02,Grey Treepie-02,Spotted Nutcracker-15,Large-billed Crow-10,Marron Oriole-02,Black-winged Cuckooshrike-01,Long-tail Minivet-04,White-throated Fantail-03,Ashy Drongo-04,Brown Dipper-01,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-02,Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush-01,Blue Whistling Thrush-10,White-collared Blackbird-08,Grey-winged Blackbird-02,Dark-sided Flycatcher-02,Little-pied Flycatcher-02,Verditer Flycatcher-02,Rufous-bellied Niltava-H,Plumbeous Water Redstart-02,White-tailed Robin-01,Grey Bushchat-02,Common Myna-10,White-tailed Nuthatch-01,Green-backed Tit-02,Red-vented Bulbul-12,Black Bulbul-20,Chestnut-headed Tesia-01,Large-billed Leaf Warbler-03,Golden-spectacled Warbler-05,White-throated Laughingthrush-17,Straited Laughingthrush-07,Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush-02,Black-faced Laughingthrush-10,Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush-02,Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler-03,Spotted Wren Babbler-01,Red-billed Leothrix-05,Black-headed Shrike-Babbler-02,White-browed Shrike Babbler-01,Chestnut-tailed Minla-10,Whiskered Yuhina-10,Rufous-capped Babbler-02,Rufous Sibia-12,Fire-breasted Flowerpecker-04,Mrs Goulds Sunbird-08,Black-throated Sunbird-02,Russet Sparrow-10,Eursian Tree Sparrow-08,Rosy Pipit-03,Collared Grossbeak-12,Spot-winged Grossbeak-08.

Day 06-21.May.04 Gangtey-Trongsa

Drive cum trek over the Pelela pass. Overnight at Lodge.

Birds Seen/heard:Hill Partridge-H,KalijPheasant-02,Darjeeling Woodpecker-02,Large Hawk Cuckoo-02,Indian Cuckoo-01,Eursian Cuckoo-02,Oriental Cuckoo-03,Lesser Cuckoo-01,Himalayan Swiflet-20,Forktail Swift-10,Rock Piegon-20,Oriental Turtle Dove-10,Himalayan Griffon-02,Lammergeier-01,Orange-bellied Leafbird-01,Grey-backed Shrike-02,Yellow-billed Blue Magpie-06,Spotted Nutcracker-10,Yellow-billed Chough-02,Large-billed Crow-20,Long-tail Minivet-04,Scarlet Minivet-04,Yellow-bellied Fantail-05,Ashy Drongo-02,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-04,Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush-02,Blue Whistling Thrush-10,Long-tailed Thrush-01,White-collared Blackbird-03,Grey-winged Blackbird-05,Lesser Shortwing-04,White-browed Shortwing-01,Darksided Flycatcher-06,Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher-05,Ultramarine Flycatcher-04,Verditer Flycatcher-07,Rufous-bellied Niltava-03,Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher-04,White-capped Water Redstart-05,Plumbeous Water Redstart-02,Grey Bushchat-06,Common Myna-14,White-tail Nuthatch-02,Coal Tit-05,Green-backed Tit-10,Asian House Martin-20,Black Bulbul-15,Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler-02,Grey-sided Bush Warbler-01,Buff-barred Warbler-02,Humes Warbler-03,Large-billed Leaf Warbler-04,Golden-spectacled Warbler-06,Broad-billed Warbler-04,Scaly Laughingthrush-05,Black-faced Laughingthrush-06,Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush-04,Hoary-throated Barwing-03,Chestnut-tailed Minla-10,Red-tailed Minla-06,Rufous-winged Fulvetta-06,White-browed Fulvetta-03,Whiskered Yuhina-20,Rufous-vented Yuhina-12,Rufous Sibia-12,Great Parrotbill-02,Mrs Goulds Sunbird-09,Russet Sparrow-10,Eursian Tree Sparrow-20,Rosy Pipit-05,White-winged Grossbeak-12.

Day 07-May 22.04  Trongsa-Shembang-Tingtinbi.

Full day drive with stops for birding walks at various hot spots on the way. Overnight in camp South of Tingtinbi.

Birds Seen/heard:Hill Partridge-H,Speckled Piculet-10,Great Barbet-06,Golden-throated Barbet-02,Blue-throated Barbet-07,Great Hornbill-02,Rufous-necked Hornbill-12,Common Hoopoe-02,Oriental Cuckoo-02,Drongo Cuckoo-02,Greater Coucal-01,Forktail Swift-20,Mountain Scops Owl-H,Rock Piegon-20,Oriental Turtle Dove-10,Spotted Dove-06,Barred Cuckoo Dove-06,Wedge-tailed Green Piegon-10,Black Eagle-02,Orange-bellied Leafbird-02,Long-tailed Shrike-05,Grey-backed Shrike-02,Grey Treepie-03,Black-winged Cuckooshrike-06,Scarlet Minivet-04,Ashy Drongo-12,Bronzed Drongo-04,Spangled Drongo-07,Blue-capped Rock Thrush-15,Blue Whistling Thrush-10,White-collared Blackbird-03,Grey-winged Blackbird-06,Snowy-browed Flycatcher-02,Ultramarine Flycatcher-02,Verditer Flycatcher-10,Plumbeous Water Redstart-02,Spotted Forktail-02,Grey Bushchat-04,Beautiful Nuthatch-01,Common Myna-20,Green-back Tit-07,Red-vented Bulbul-06,White-throated Bulbul-04,Black Bulbul-20,Hill Prinia-10,Striated Prinia-04,Oriental White-eye-08,Grey-hooded Warbler-02,White-throated Laughingthrush-10,White-crested Laughingthrush-12,Rufous-necked Laughingthrush-05,Spotted Laughingthrush-H,Straited Laughingthrush-04,Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler-03,Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler-02,Spotted Wren Babbler-01,Straited Yuhina-10,Rufous Sibia-07,Crimson Sunbird-02,Eursian Tree Sparrow-10,Common Rosefinch-20,Crested Bunting-18.