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Black Throated Bushtit is also known as Black Throated Tit. It is small passerine bird of Aegithalidae family. It is found in Northern India, North Eastern Bangladesh , Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam , Myanmar and Taiwan. In India it found mainly in Himalayan range at more than 5000 ft height. I found it at Himachal Pradesh during my trek to Chandrakhani Pass. It is found in small bushes and small trees. Black Throated Tit is small bird so it is difficult to find in bushes. But its wonderful colors and body attract to capture its image.

Facts and Description of Black Throated Tit :

• Black Throated Tit is around 10.5 cm long. Weight of it is around 4-9 gm. 
• There is a variation in plumage  depending on subspecies . All have medium tail , black throat and black bandit mask around the eye.
• Dark grey back and wings, tail and belly are white.
• Black Throated Tit is travel in large flocks around 40 birds.
• They built their nest out of moss and hang from tree branches.
• Black Throated Tit feed small insects and spiders. They also feed small seeds, fruits and berries .
• It lives in open broadleaf forest and also at pine forest.
• Binomial name of Black Throated Bushtit is Aegithalos concinnus.
• Black Throated tit is  Least Concern in IUCN list.

Himalayas are one of the best place for birding. There are many places where you can find different types of birds. In manali trek to the Chandrakhani pass i found more than 35 spices of different birds. Also trek to Har Ki Dun in Uttarakhand i also found more than 25-30 spices of birds. Among them half of spices are common in both and easily available in the ways and bushes. Some spices you have to wait and watch for clicking photos. Sometimes you may lucky to get have clear and sharp photos of the birds. Because in Himalayas there is a dense forest and birds can easily hide in the bushes. 

Gear Used : Canon 6D, Canon 80D , Canon 100-400mm lens

There are lots of spices of Finch bird. Pink browed rose finch family name carpodacus rodochroa. Very small in size like a sparrow. The male is bright raspberry pink color and female is brown with streaked Buffy underparts and broad white eyebrows. This spices generally found in Himalayan range about 8000-12000 ft heights. I found both Male and female during my different trek. The male i found on my Har Ki Dun trek, Chandrakhani Pass Trek in manali and female i found at Singalila National Park. Images are taken at  with my canon 6D and 100-400 mm lens.

Pink Browed Rose finch generally found in heights above 7000ft . During my trek to Har Ki Dun and Manali (Chandrakhani pass ) i found Lost of birds among them one is Rose finch. It  is really beautiful to see this bird . Its color is very beautiful and looks like raspberry pink. It was difficult to shoot with distance and got sharp image. Well i had a good camera and lens so that i capture this sharp image.

Pink Browed Rosefinch is generally found at Himalayas. I found it at Har Ki Dun trek and also at Chandrakhani pass trek to Manali.  Bird is so beautiful in color you can not resist to capture image of it. There are also different types of finch bird available in manali and also at Uttarakhand. They generally found in pair of male and female. 

Gear Used : Canon 6D, Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens, Canon 80 D

Thrush bird found at low to mid altitude of Himalayas. Generally it found in Himachal pradesh , Uttarakhand, North East Himalayas in India. It also found in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet areas. In manali trekking there are lots of thrush bird spices you can find. Some spices found at 6000 ft and some of them found at 10000 ft. So there are more Birds of Manali in my checklist too.  I found  spices of Thrush named :

• Whistling Thrush
• Blue Cap Rock Thrush 
• Streaked Laughingthrush 
• Variegated laughingthrush 

About Variegated Laughingthrush :

• Variegated Laughingthrush is medium size bird and its size arround 16-24 cm lenght and 55-80 gm weight.
• Its overall olive color and black stripe down the center.
• Tail is large and grey subterminal band with white tip.
• Its feathers are yellow in primary and black primary coverts.
• Beak to eye area is black in color. It has white eye ring arround the eye.
• Variegated Laughingthrush is least concern in IUCN bird list.
• Variegated Laughingthrush is endamic in Northern region.
• It is a spices of family Leiothrichidae.

About Blue Capped Rock Thrush :

• Male Blue capped rock thrush has blue head.
• Upperparts are blue and black
• White patch on wing.
• Underparts are chestnut brown.
• Female color is brown with white and brown underparts.

About Blue Whistling Thrush :

• Male Whistling Thrush is blue and female is blue or brown.
• Blue Whistling Thrush found in hilly areas. 
• Blue whistling Thrush is specialize in feeding of snails.
• They build their nest near water with pices of  rock and boulder.
• They lay 3-4 eggs with grey color and maked with speckles.

About Streaked Laughingthrush :

• It generally found in Northan region of India.
• It color is brown with Streaked of white. 
• It lays 2-4 eggs in a cup type nest.

Manali Trekking : 

Manali is located in Himachal Pradesh in India. Lots of people go to manali for trekking and for leisure in summer. Best way to explore manali is via trek. Chandrakhani Pass trek starts from Dobhi is one of amazing trek in Himachal Pradesh. Trek also managed by YHAI and it managed very well. During trek there are more than 25 spices of different birds i found. So for bird lovers manali trek to Chandrakhani pass is amazing. Chandrakhani pass trek is easy to moderate trek so it is most favorite trek for begineers. Trek start from Dobhi.

Birds of Manali : 

In Himachal pradesh manali is most visited tourist place in summer. Also for trekker its most favorite place. Different treks in manali are most attraction in summer. For bird lovers manali is heaven and found lots of different birds spices like Magpie, Jay, Flycatchers, Bulbuls, White eye, Barbet, Russet Sparrow, Himalayan Vulture, Redstart , Laughingthrush, Warblers, finches,  Tits, Himalayan Monal etc. Birders can stay more days in trek then they get more birds. 

Russet Sparrow is a bird of sparrow family. It is generally found at Himalayas in India. It is very common at himalayan birding sites. House sparrow bird is now moved from city areas because of croweded area and pollutions and mobile towers. Russet sparrow i found during my trek to Manali and Har ki Dun trek also. So it is resident bird of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It is small size bird and very friendly bird even you get very close to it.

About Russet Sparrow :

• Russet Sparrow is seed eating bird.
• Russet sparrow has thick bill.
• Russet Sparrow length is about 12-15 cm.
• There are three subspices of it recognised. Rutilans, intensior, cinnamomeus.
• Rutilans and intensior breeds in eastern Asia and cinnamomeus breeds in Himalayas.
• Sparrow feed seeds of grains and hurbs.
• They lay 5-6 eggs at a time.
• It is warm rufous in color. 
• Among all subspices the Himalayan Russet sparrow is little larger then others.
• Russet sparrow call is Cheep or chilp...

Sparrow is very familiar bird. House sparrow is very common in city areas. But now a days because of mobile towers and architectures and highrise building made them migrate from city. Russet Sparrow i found during my trek to Manali and also Har ki Dun trek. When i was on trek of Chandrakhani pass i frequently found russet sparrow in villages . Same thing during my har ki dun trek i found russet sparrow in small villages as a resident bird. 

Har ki Dun and Manali both from differant state Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh. So it shows russet sparrow widely spread in Himalayas. Actually Himalays are heaven for birding. There are huge number of spices of different birds in Himalayan range. Most popular places for birding in Himalayas are Manali, Har ki Dun, Pangot, Sattal, Nainital etc. 

Location : Har ki Dun trek, Manali Trek to Chandrakhani pass

Gear : Canon 6D, Canon 1000D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

Indian Paradise Flycatcher is previously known as Asian Paradise Flycatcher short form ( APFC ). It is widly spread in India and in Asia. All Flycatcher birds are medium in size. Asian paradise flycatcher size also medium. The Indian Paradise flycatcher is in lease concern on IUCN red list. There are three sub spices of Paradise Flycatcher

• T. P. Paradisi 
• Himalayan Paradise Flycatcher
• Ceylon Paradise Flycatcher

About Indian Paradise Flycatcher Bird :

• Adult Indian Paradise flycatcher size is around 19-22 cm.
• Flycatcher head color is black with crown and crest. 
• Male paradise flycatcher is white in color and female is rufous.
• Young Male Asian paradise flycatcher is much similar like female.
• Young male paradise flycatcher color is rufous and it has short tail. 
• After 2015 Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Amur Paradise Flycatcher and  Blyth's Paradise flycatcher are known as Asian Paradise Flycatcher.
• Indian Paradise Flycatcher is the State bird of Madhya Pradesh.
• Indian Paradise Flycatcher is known as Dudhraj in Gujarati. 
• Indian Paradise Flycatcher lay one eggs per day and it lay 4-8 eggs after nesting. Incubation period is around 13-15 days .

Paradise Flycatcher Name is from Greek terpsi mean ' Delighting in ' and phonos mean ' Voice ' . So it is Delighting In Voice Bird. The Indian Paradise flycatcher or Asian Paradise flycatcher found in Central and south India, Bangladesh , Myanmar, Shri Lanka and many more regions of Asia.  Indian Paradise Flycatcher eat insects like moths, beetles, Butterflies, Ants and Spiders too. The Average lifespan of Indian Paradise Flycatcher is aroun 8-10 years. I found Indian Paradise Flycatcher during my Manali trekking and Also at Thol Lake. During my trek to manali i found both Male and female Indian paradise flycatcher but unfortunately i capture only female paradise flycatcher. At Thol Lake i found only Female Paradise flycatcher. I get Male Indian Paradise flycatcher at Corbett national Park during my saffari ride. But some poor quality result photos.

Camera Used : Canon 6 D, Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

Location : Male Indian Paradise Flycatcher found at Corbett National Park , Female Indian Paradise flycatcher found at Thol Bird Sanctuary and also at Manali trekking at Rumsu village.

Rock Bunting is sparrow size bird and it looks beautiful small size bird. It is Passerine bird. It is in the bunting family Emberizidae. In India it found in Himalayan range. I found and shoot it at Chandrakhani Pass area during my trek to manali. 

Description Of Rock Bunting :

• It is small size bird about 15-16 cm in length 
• Male rock bunting has chestnut upperpart during breeding season.
• It has a pale grey head with black stripping mark.
• Female rock bunting has paler underpart and grey brown back which is simillar to male but dull from male.
• In Africa and Turkey rock bunting has white wing bars.
• It generally found in  Afria, Europe , Asia many parts
• It is partially migratory bird.
• It breeds in dry and rocky mountain areas.
• It lays 3-5 eggs which are greyish in color.
• Call of Rock Bunting is tseee and it sing like churrr... chirrriii...itt

During my trek to manali we go to chandrakhani pass and i found more than 30 spices of birds during my trek. Different spices of birds found here so if you go for birding go by trek i recommand. Some birds i missed because of small size birds and difficult to capture with my lens and some birds images are not clear but can identify easily. Himalayan mountain range is best place for bird watching and bird photography. Some destinations like Sattal , Delhousie and Singalila National Park are heaven for birding and bird watching. Chandrakhani pass is high altitude pass where you can find rare spices of bird like Himalayan Monal but i am not luck so i could not found it. Amazing snow in june month when we went their at chandrakhani pass. Manali Trek open from May  to  July - August . 

Trek start from Dobhi and return to Dobhi takes 4-5 days. I went with YHAI - youth hostels association India who manage different treks in all over India. Cheap and well managed trek they arrange. You can book in advance from direct website of https://www.yhaindia.org/ 

Gear used : Canon 1000 D with Canon 100-400 mm lens

Location : Near to chandrakhani pass , Manali

During my trek to manali and Har ki Dun i got lots of birds spices and also good numbers of flycatcher birds. Himalayan mountain range is one of the best place for birds and thats why it called birds paradise. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand states in India are best place for birding. Places above 7000 ft height are really heaven and pollution less and noice less. 

Flycatcher is a beautiful bird . there are lots of spices of them. Little pied flycatcher is found in asia , bhutan,nepal, malaysia,myanmar,laos etc. In india it found mostly in Himalayan Mountain range. Its color is black and white. Black on top body and white in bottom from neck to tail. Also white strip on eye and wings also.I shot it in manali and also in Har ki Dun trek.

About Little Pied Flycatcher Bird :

• It is Resident bird of Himalayas, NE India and Bangladesh.
• It is small and compact in size.
• It has Bull headed with small dark bill.
• Male is striking with mainly black upperparts and white underparts.
• It has long and broad white supercilium, white patch on wing, and white sides to base of tail.
• Female has brownish grey upperparts and whitish underparts with brownish grey wash to breast and flanks.
• Juvenile has buff spotting on upperparts and tips to coverts and whitish underparts with dark scaling on breast.
• Sound of Little Pied Flycatcher is series of thin, high pitched notes.
• It breeds in broadleaved deciduous and evergreen forest.

Manali Trekking : Manali is heaven for birders. Lots of spices of different birds found here. Just go for trek to manali and you will have lots of birds spices in your memories and also Amazing Himalays. Himalayan mountains are best place to see in India. If you go by trek to himalaya you will see beautiful scenery of Himalaya with full of snow mountains in summer also. At 11000 ft height you will definitely found snow in your trek. When you wake up in the morning you will have beautiful sounds of different birds. 

Camera Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

A bird with long tail Yellow Billed Blue Magpie bird found in NE India and mostly in Himalayas. During my trek to manali chandrakhani pass our base camp dobhi is beautiful place and i found lots of birds around my base camp. Yellow Billed Blue Magpie Bird is easily identify because of its long tail. A beautiful bird with long tail looks blue in color and strips on tail. It founds mostly in himalayan range. It is resident bird of Himalayas. It belongs to crow and jay family.

Description of Yellow Billed Blue Magpie :

• It has Yello bill and small white crescent on nape.
• Duller blue Grey Mantle and wings.
• Juvenile similar to adult but has duller head and upperparts also more extensive white on nape and dull olive yellow bill.
• In western himalayas has white underparts and bluer mantle and wings than Eastern Himalayas which has greyer mantle and wings and primrose yellow wash to underparts.
• Call of Yellow billed blue magpie is A wheezy bu - zeep - peck - peck , pop - upclea , pu- pu -weer and a high clear - clear.
• Usually its in pairs or flock of up to ten.
• They build nest on fork of tree and made by roots and grass.
• The clutch consists 3 or 4 eggs.
• They eat small mammals, fruits, insects etc.
• Breeding zone in between 5000 ft to 9700 ft approx.
• Its length about 66 cm and tail length 45 cm approx.

Himalayan Mountain range is best place for birding and landscape photography. Different areas of NE himalayas and E Himalayas have different landscape views of Himalayas. Some good places to go by trek are Manali chandrakhani pass, Har ki Dun trek, Valley of Gods, Sattal, Valley of Flowers, Kaza, Spitti Valley , Singalila National Park etc... 

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D , Canon 100-400 mm lens

Plumbeous water Redstart is pesserine bird and also old in Flycatcher Family. Generally it founds in Asia and China. This spices also have two subspices Phoenicurus fuliginosus fuliginosus and Phoenicurus fuliginosus affinis. In India it found in verious places in Himalayan range. Generally it found near to river in search of food. It found on stones which are in river water. I found it during my trek to manali chandrakhani pass. Also during Har ki dun trek i found it.

Description and Habitat Plumbeous Water Redstart  :

• Male Plumbeous Water Redstart are slate blue in color and females are grey.
• Total length of Plumbeous water redstart is  14-15 cm approx.
• Weight of Plumbeous water redstart is around 20-23 gms
• Male Plumbeous Water Redstart color in slate blue and tail is rusty red. 
• Female Plumbeous Water Redstart are grey and white rump.
• Plumbeous water redstart found in India, China, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan etc. It covers all Asian country almost.
• Plumbeous Water Redstart feed small insects like mayflies.
• Plumbeous Water Redstart lives in between 2000 meter to 4000 meter height.
• Plumbeous Water Redstart is very protective in its habitat.
• Plumbeous Water Redstart flies above 20ft from river to catch flies.
• Plumbeous Water Redstart population remains stable within last 10 years.

Manali is very good place to visit during winter and also during summer. Both season weather is different. In winter you enjoy snowfall and in summer you can play with snow. I visited manali in good hotels during winter and also by trek in summer. Both time i enjoy lot. During manali trekking i found more than 30 spices of birds and also amazing himalayan landscapes. At that time i had not good enough camera but still i got good images of birds and landscapes. 

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400mm lens

I found two types of Bulbul Bird in trek of Manali. During my trek of manali i found more than 30 spices of different birds and among them i found two types of bulbul Black Bulbul And Himalayan Bulbul. Both bulbul are different from bulbul found near to my home red wented bulbul. Manali is heaven for birding and also for landscapes. Himalayas is my fevorite destination. 

Himalayan Bulbul :

• Himalayan bulbul is resident in north pakistan hills and Himalays.
• It has white cheeks, brownish grey upperparts, and yellow went.
• It has brown crest, brown nape, smaller white cheek patch with black crescent at rear.
• Call of Himalayan bulbul is we - did - de - dear - up , who - lik - lik - leer . 
• It feed small insects and invertebrates.
• Its size about 18 cm length and wing span around 25-30 cm. weight around 30 gm.
• It built nest in bushes and low branches.
• Female lays generally 3 eggs and they incubates in 12 days.
• Cheeks leave nest when they are 9-12 days old.

Black Bulbul :

• It is known as Himalayan Black Bulbul or Asian Black Bulbul.
• Slate grey to blackish bulbul with slight crest.
• It  has bright red bill, legs and feet, pale fringes to undertail coverts and shallow fork to tail.
• Juvenile lacks crest, has whitish throat, grey breast band, brownish cast to upperparts, bill and legs.
• Call of Black bulbul is repeated series of three or four rising and falling notes.
• Length of black bulbul is 25 cm .
• They have black streak behind the eye.
• Black bulbul is also known as Malagasy Bulbul.
• It found in Himalays and Southeast Asia.

Himachal Pradesh Birds :

Himalayas is the heaven for bird watching and birding. During trek you can found lots of spices of beautiful birds. Himachal Pradesh is very good for trekking too. Manali is best for trekking in Himachal Pradesh. Chandrakhani Pass is the last destination for manali trekking. During the trek you can found lots of spices of birds very closely. It is also good to see their behaviour and understanding their life. Visit in april to july so you can find lots of birds. Best season is April to July for trekking to Himalayas.

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

The Indian White Eye bird actually name changed from Orientle White Eye. It is small passarine bird from white eye family. This bird can easily identify because of its white ring on eye. A small bird with white ring on eye looks beautiful. Its a resident breeder in India. I found it at Himachal Pradesh when i was on trek to Manali. Small bird found in small trees and woodland. 

Description About Indian White Eye :

• Size of bird is very small about 8-9 cm.
• Color is yellow on upper parts and yellow throat and vent and white ring on eye.
• Belly is white grey also yellow in some subspices.
• It feed nectar and small insects.
• Total 11 subspices recorded.
• Breeding season is February to september and April is peak.
• They build nest in very short time and lay pale blue eggs.

Birding At Manali : 

Manali is one of the best place for birding. Bird watchers oftenly came here and do lots of bird photography. There are lots of birds spices are found here. Better you go by trek so you can explore more birding area of manali. Chandrakhani Pass is very good place at height of 9000 ft above where you can found Himalayan Monal. Also lots of snow at this place so you can enjoy the nature beauty of the place. Amazing Landscapes you can take from here of Himalayan Mountain Range. 

Indian White eye is Least concern bird in the IUCN bird list. It found in many areas.

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm Lens

Photo Taken at Dobhi Base camp outskirts of YHAI.

Verditer Flycatcher is summer visitor to Himalayas and North East India. I found it at Manali when i was on trek to chandrakhani pass. Flycatchers are really beautiful birds to see and to catch. The color of Verditer flycatcher is really amazing blue. Its attract to your eyes. Himalayan range is full of birds. Specially birds are migrated and also winter visitors.

About Verditer Flycatcher :

• It is blue in color and dark patch between the eyes and above the bill base.
• Male is Entirely greenish blue, brighter forehead and throat and black lores.
• It is not confusable with any other flycatcher.
• Female is similar but duller and greyer and dusky lores.
• Pale blue flycatcher is confusable with female verditer flycatcher.
• Voice song comprises series of rapid, undulating, strident notes ascending the scale.
• It found in open forest, tall trees in open areas, groves and gardens.

Himachal Pradesh Birds / Manali Birds :

Manali is very good to bird watchers. Go by trek from Dobhi to Chandrakhani Pass. Trek organized by many but i suggest go with Youth Hostel YHAI. From Dobhi you can get good birds and by moving to chandrakhani pass about 10000 ft height you can get lots of birds. I found more than 35 spices of different birds during my trek. Trekking is good experience to get in touch with nature closely. You can get amazing landscapes here of Himalayas and Himalayan Range with beautiful sunrise and sunset.

Gear Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

Great barbet or asian barbet generally found in himalayas. It is the largest barbet in barbet family. It lives in forests above 3000 m height. I found it during my Manali trekking at 8000 ft height. There are about 80 spices of barbet. More than 10 spices found in India. It generally found at tall tree branches so difficult to see and take a photos. But sometimes you are lucky that you get better pictures too. 

Description About Great Barbet :

• Size of Great barbet  is 12-13 inch and weight aprox 190-290 gm.
• They eat fruits and insects.
• The adult has brown back ,blue head ,large yellow bill and red went.
• Nesting season is April to July.
• The color of this barbet is really a great combinations by god.
• They also found in Nepal , Bhutan and bangladesh.
• They generally found in lower to middle altitudes of himalays.
• Great Barbet male territorial call is kay-oh very loud.
• Also Great Barbet call is repetitive piou-piou-piou .

Birds of Manali :

Manali is one of the best place for birding. While you go with leisure tour you cannot get much birds but when you go in trekking then you get most of birds in unexlpored areas. Also trekking is good for your fitness too. Himalayas are really amazing for trekking and birding. 

Camera Used : Canon 1000 D, Canon 100-400 mm lens

Flycatchers are really beautiful birds. All species have their different specification and different from other birds. Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher bird is one of them.In India it found in north side at Himalayan Mountain range.I got shot at manali when i was on trek of chandrakhanipass. Beautiful Bokeh with Flycatcher bird is really cool.

Binominal name : Ficedula Strophiata 

Family :Muscicapidae 

About Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher Bird: 

• Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher is resident bird of Himalayas.
• Male Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher has dark olive brown upper parts, blackish face and throat.
• Male  flycatcher has prominent white forehead and eyebrow.
• Small rufous patch in center of grey breast and large white patches at sides of tail in male Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher. 
• Female Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher has less distinct eyebrow, duller and less distinct rufous.
• Also female has paler grey face and throat.
• Juvenile Rufous gorgeted flycatcher has tail pattern as adult, underparts spotted with orange buff and orange buff throat and breast.
• Rufous Gorgeted Flycatcher bird call is a thin zreet-creet-creet-chirt-chirt ......

Manali is beautiful place to visit during winter and also in summer. If you go in winter you can see live snowfall and that is amazing experience. While if you are nature lover then go by trekking and enjoy untouchable nature. You can find lots of birds around you while you are on a trek to manali. It was my first long trek experience when i go. But i must say it is the only way to feel nature closely you go by trekking. And if it is Himalayan trek then no word to say, it is marvelous. 

Photos taken at chandrakhani pass manali. Chandrakhani pass is the last point of our trek at about 10000 ft height. Its  a heaven for bird watching and bird photographer. We really want Himalayan Monal at this point but we are not lucky enough to get it. But we are not disappointed because we found more than 30-35 spices of birds during our trek. We found good number of flycatchers at manali himachal pradesh. Rufous gorgeted flycatcher is beautiful bird and its color is grey so it mix up with tree so difficult to find. 

Camera used : Canon 1000 D with 100-400 mm lens.