Trip Report INDIA 2002 Simon Plat, Bernard Oosterbaan, Willem Oosterbaan Dates: 7-11-2002 till 12-12-2002 For more info, comments, questions etc please contact us.

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Corbett National Park

Location: 20 km northeast of Ramnagar (1 hour to the entrance), 280 km northeast of Delhi.

Costs: The price we paid for three days, two nights in the dorm (three persons) was 2750 rupees (entry fee Rs 1400, dorm log huts Rs 1200, vehicle entry Rs 150, no still-camera fee).

Date(s): 22,23 and 24-11-2002 (27 birding hours).

Notes: (See also Itinerary) Corbett NP definitely was one of the birding highlights of our trip. Many birds everywhere in a beautiful environment. Our decision to hire an open 4-WD was one of the best we made. By not being allowed to leave the car, good views on the area directly around you are more than essential. Birding already started at the entrance during dawn. The whole trip from the entrance to Dhikala was good for birds. The Dhikala compound was not that productive but we only spent the required hours there. The Elephant ride was not productive for birds. Our only morning at the watchtower (24-11) was kind of disappointing with only one active flock of Bulbuls around the tower.
Sadly we were not allowed to go to Kanda to try for higher elevation species and specialties like Great Slaty Woodpecker: one of the bridges was down. Alternatively we birded another potential spot for Great Slaty, somewhere around Patairpani. No Great Slaties but lots of woodpeckers.
During our drive back to Ramnagar birding again was good along the road. We stopped at Gairal, which is also a nice area to bird but due to overcast activity was low.

Highlights: Black Stork (X), Northern Goshawk (1), Cinereous Vulture (1, possibly the same bird the following day), Red-headed Vulture (up to at least 5 on 23-11), Eurasian Griffon (V), Lesser Fish-Eagle (V), Pallas’s Sea-Eagle (V), Changeable Hawk-Eagle (2, one juv flying around Dhikala seen on several occasions), Collared Falconet (2 birds seen from the Sarapduli watchtower), Grey-headed Lapwing (far away but recognizable near the reservoir; this out of range species was one of the biggest surprises in Corbett), Emerald Dove (1 showing well near the entrance), Plum-headed Parakeet (1 together with Slaty-heads around the Dhikala watchtower), Slaty-headed Parakeet (4 together with the previous), Brown Fish-owl (4 sightings of which 2 from the Dhikala compound), Great Hornbill (2 birds seen), Blue-winged Minla (1), Rufous-bellied Niltava (great male along the road to Dhikala), White-bellied Drongo (V, the only of the trip), Green Magpie (V, great views of two birds along the road).

Pics:

	The entrance to Corbett National Park at Dhangarhi. It is a good idea to spend an hour or so birding near the entrance (the last place where you are allowed to bird walking). We arrived at the entrance at dawn and birding activity was very good.
One of the lush valleys we came across during the transfer from Dhangarhi to Dhikala. It is pretty hard to make good pictures from the back of a truck.
	Juvenile Oriental Turtle Dove at a stop near Khinanauli. A beautiful Collared Falconet was also present here and showed very well from the watchtower.
Cinereous Vulture. Corbett is a great place to see vultures and other birds of prey. Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures are relatively common. The times with numerous Long-billed (Slender-billed) and White-backed Vultures are definetely over. We saw none of both in Corbett. Eurasion Griffon Vulture on the other hand is increasing.
	A Lineated Barbet showing well from the watchtower near Dhikala. Spending a few early morning hours at this watchtower can be very productive. We had good views of Barbets, both Plum-headed and Slaty-headed Parakeet and Bulbuls.
The Dhikala 'chaur' (grasslands) and reservoir seen from the watchtower. Dhikala is just behind the trees. The Ramnaga Reservoir has shrunk several hundred meters during last years of drought.
	A map of Corbett with an indication of the different habitat types. The map in the Birdwatchers'guide is more useful for orientation.
An Indian Gharial (Gavial) basking, seen from the Gharial Point.

Bird List:

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