Bird watching in some parts in Bhutan

Bird Watching in Paro Dzongkhag(district)

If you were flying into Bhutan the  valley of Paro at an elevation of about 2300 m, will be your first place. The vegetation in the valley is mainly blue pine and immediately leaving the airport you can see the enigmatic Ibisbill, one of the most sought after himalayan shorebirds, feeding along the Pachhu(river). During the winter and spring, you can also see several other water birds such as Gadwalls, Mergansers, Shelducks and Great Cormorants. The flooded rice fields in the summer provide an ideal breeding habitat for the elusive black- tailed and ruddy-breasted crackes that can be occasionally sighted darting across the roads.

The Cheli la pass at over 3000 m with sub-alpine vegetation is perhaps the best place to see the majestic Himalayan Monal and the charismatic blood pheasants. In the winter it is also home to one of the most beautiful of the redstarts; the white- throated redstart. The White- browed Rosefinch, Collared and White-winged Grosbeaks are also quite common in this area. Other specialties include the Altai and Robin Accentors and if you are lucky, the incomparable Satyr Tragopan can also be spotted.

Thimphu Dzongkhag(district)

Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan and as the vegetation is not much different from Paro; the bird life is also quite similar. In the days before urbanization, the wetland behind the swimming pool complex supported such rarities like the Wood Snipe but with the draining for the wetland for construction and human encroachment, many species may have either migrated to safer place or disappeared. The globally threatened Yellow-rumped Honeyguide can be frequently sighted on a rock cliff near the power house in Begana.The Cheri and Tango monasteries vegatation has mainly oak and bamboo here you can see Black-throated Parrotbills, Red- headed Bulfinch, Scarlet Finch, Snow Pigeon, etc. But perhaps the highlight of thisarea is the Fire-tailed Myzornis. The sewerage pond area is also great for many water birds such as the Ibisbill, Lapwings, Little-ringed Plovers, Shelducks, Teals, etc. Please visit our webpage.