On very popular demand here's the third part of the series.
As is wont to be, in a long journey, while the first few days remain distinct, as time flies (it does not pass my friends) days blend into each other. What one often recalls are not individual days but events by which to remember them. And so the first morning at Lama Camp shall be termed as the day of the Flycatcher - that by the way is a tribute to a fellow birder who shall remain unnamed for reasons best known to the 7 of us. Fear not your secret of catching your fly and the flycatcher simultaneously is safe with us. But more of that later or on second thoughts may be not.
So pearls of wisdom for this part:
- You shall hear the same birds again and again and agin but not see them during your stay. Biggest culprits would typically include the Hill Partridge, large leaf Warbler, Rufous Throated Wren babbler (well we saw that one), Indian and Eurasian Cuckoo, Collared Owlet (just to name a few)
- Some will drive you mad and make appearance at every possible instance - Straited Bulbul, Great Barbet, Straited babblers, Green tailed Sunbird and Beautiful Sibia spring immediately to mind, who stops being beautiful after first few hundred appearances - what was that - that was Beautiful Sibia singing, hey I heard something, sorry that was Beautiful Sibia calling - what it sings beautifully and then has a cackle for call? Hey here's something that I heard, no not Beautiful Sibia, something else, oh no the Sunbird is back, go away!
- There are important birding terms to learn, the first one is Taped out - when a playback is played so often to a bird individual that it stops responding to it. In extreme circumstances it may even change its call! Sad but true. More terminologies will follow as part of the story and some were invented by us. Like I said all in good time.
And so we were up at 4.45 AM ready to warm our frozen hands and feet over warm cups of tea and hot water and a charm of Common Rosefinches came and sat right in front of us. Out came the cameras and Binocs and were trained at them, all cold and discomfort forgotten. Well, we weren't exactly uncomfortable saving I of course, who had the stupidity of recounting last night's events. Soon the story of Butterscotch martin/marmet/yeti began and were used to torment me throughout the trip.
As a Yellow Billed Blue Magpie landed at the camp I tactfully suggested that we commence birding. As we strolled down on the road, Blythe's Leaf Warbler made multiple appearance. Himalayan Striped Squirrel did their dance on the trees and Green Shrike Babblers called out from behind budding trees. Soma gently asked Shashank if we could go look for Bugun and off we went, bundled into our cars wondering about Bugun. First stop and little playback yielded nothing (remember Taped Out?). Second location was promising as the actual bird was singing. How did Shashank managed to pick out its faint song amongst the cacophony of Barbets, Wren babblers, Sibias and God knows what else is a mystery. We had a brief glimpse of the fabled Bugun.
For those who may not be aware, Bugun Liocichila was first spotted in 1995 in Arunachal Pradesh, it was described as a new species in 2006 by Ramana Athreya. It is thought to be an endangered species, with the only known population estimated to consist of 14 individuals and commercial development threatening the habitat of this population (Source Wikipedia)
Our Bugun was accompanied by Red Billed Leiothrix and soon flew past an disappeared into the bushes into the valley below. Bugun became our bane as we waited endlessly with Shashank who was reluctant to Tape Out the bird. We renamed the bird Baigan Enchillada and the name stuck. Thereafter we simply looked for Baigan! We spotted a nest of Beautiful Sibia which kept us occupied while we waited for Bugun. Soon a call distracted us. Photos told us it was one of the quiz birds. What quiz bird you ask? did I not mention it? The Warbler workshop began and ended with a quiz. I am happy to say were able to recognise the bird, well after Guruji had helpfully pointed out all the features and well named the bird. I am not telling. Bikram we have another question for the Big Bird day Quiz!
Soon a Black Eagle made an appearance overhead. With no Bugun in sight and Sibias shouting in our ears, we headed back to the camp. A group of Laughing Thrushes called and they turned out to be Bhutan Laughing Thrushes! wow. The evening was spent making the bird list, trading stories around the bukhari so helpfully lit by Subhash and discovering hidden talents amongst fellow birders including many miserably failed attempts to scare a fellow birder by making scratching sounds on tent walls and meow calls after dark. Shashank helpfully lent me his solar lamp as my torch had died the night before and went to sleep listening to the sound of Grey Nightjar.
Fellow birders if I am mixing up the day, point it out gently to me only and do NOT use reply all mode grrrr
Good night folks. See you tomorrow, same time same place
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