Mongoli Valley

Notes: On both visits Mongoli Valley was great birding with lots of birds, especially in the first 100 meters. In the Valley we only took the south road, through the forest.
On our first visit we accidentally stopped at a wrong place, about 1 km before ‘the real’ Mongoli valley entrance. A path left of a small building (shrine?) led to a gully with small terraces. We birded there at dawn for a few hours before we realized that this could never be Mongoli Valley. Actually birding was surprisingly good with a major advantage that the sun warms this area hours before it starts penetrating Mongoli Valley. We don’t know the name of this valley so for this trip report we call it the ‘Sub Valley’. If you have an early morning start we would advise you to start here and head to Mongoli at around 9:00 o’clock. To find Sub Valley you do exactly the same when visiting Mongoli except that you stop when the road sharply curves right (seen from Nainital) for almost 180º passing a ridge, about 1 km before the Mongoli Vallei entrance. There is a sign ‘Bajun’ (causing our confusion) and a small building on the outside of the curve. Just left of this building a paved path leads down. Follow this path until you see the gully and the grassy terraces on the left side of this road.

Highlights: Lammergeier (1 adult), Himalayan Griffon (2), Mountain Hawk Eagle (1 on our second visit to Mongoli Valley chasing partridges), Asian Barred Owlet (2 about 1 km down the road in Mongoli Valley), Himalayan Woodpecker (1), Rufous-breasted Accentor (V in Sub Valley), Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush (female), Striated Laughingthrush (V), Buff-barred Warbler (V), Chestnut-eared Bunting (1 in Sub Valley, here also Rock and White-capped Bunting), Grey Treepie (2), Black-headed Jay (V), Red-billed Blue Magpie (a group of about 5 birds seen on both visits).

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis, Steppearend)	V
Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus, Lammergier)	1
Eurasian Griffon (Gyps fulvus, Vale Gier)	8
Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis, Himalaya-gier)	2
Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus nipalensis, Aziatische Kuifarend)	1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Torenvalk)	1
Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides, Koekoeksdwerguil)	2
Great Barbet (Megalaima virens, Grote Baardvogel)	1
Brown-fronted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos auriceps, Bruinvoorhoofdspecht)	1
Grey-capped Woodpecker (Dendrocopos canicapillus, Grijskapspecht)	1
Himalayan Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis, Himalajaspecht)	1
Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus, Kleine Geelkuifspecht)	1
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni, Siberische Boompieper)	2
Long-tailed Minivet (Pericrocotus ethologus, Langstaartmenievogel)	2
Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus, Zwarte buulbuul)	V
Mountain Bulbul (Hypsipetes mcclellandii, Groenvleugelbuulbuul)	2
Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys, Witwangbuulbuul)	V
Rufous-breasted Accentor (Prunella strophiata, Gestreepte Heggemus)	2
Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculatus, Gevlekte Vorkstaart)	1
Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush (Monticola rufiventris, Roodbuikrotslijster)	2
Blue Whistling-Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus, Chinese Fluitlijster)	1
Blue-capped Redstart (Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus, Blauwkoproodstaart)	1
Blue-fronted Redstart (Phoenicurus frontalis, Himalaja-roodstaart)	2
Grey Bushchat (Saxicola ferrea, Grijs Paapje)	2
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata, Roodborsttapuit)	V
Orange-flanked Bush-Robin (Tarsiger cyanurus, Blauwstaart)	3
White-throated Laughingthrush (Garrulax albogularis, Witkeellijstergaai)	X
White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus, Witkuiflijstergaai)	V
Streaked Laughingthrush (Garrulax lineatus, Borstellijstergaai)	2
Striated Laughingthrush (Garrulax striatus, Gestreepte Lijstergaai)	5
Blue-winged Minla (Minla cyanouroptera, Blauwvleugelminla)	V
Pale-rumped Warbler (Phylloscopus chloronotus, Groene Boszanger)	XX
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis, Tjiftjaf)	1
Buff-barred Warbler (Phylloscopus pulcher, Goudbandboszanger)	V
Golden-spectacled Warbler (Seicercus burkii, Goudoogboszanger)	V
Grey-hooded Warbler (Seicercus xanthoschistos, Grijskopboszanger)	V
Yellow-bellied Fantail (Rhipidura hypoxantha, Geelbuikwaaierstaart)	1
Black-throated Tit (Aegithalos concinnus, Roodkruinstaartmees)	V
Great Tit (Parus major, Koolmees)	V
Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus, Bergkoolmees)	X
Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys, Kroonmees)	V
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta castanea, Bruine Boomklever)	X
White-tailed Nuthatch (Sitta himalayensis, Witstaartboomklever)	V
Bar-tailed Tree-Creeper (Certhia himalayana, Himalaja-boomkruiper)	1
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectum, Indische Honingvogel)	2
Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus, Indische Brilvogel)	V
Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia, Grijze Gors)	V
Chestnut-eared Bunting (Emberiza fucata, Grijskopgors)	1
White-capped Bunting (Emberiza stewarti, Stewarts Gors)	1
Yellow-breasted Greenfinch (Carduelis spinoides, Himalaja-groenling)	3
Russet Sparrow (Passer rutilans, Roodkopmus)	XX
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis, Treurmaina)	X
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus, Grijze Drongo)	2
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos intermedius, Dikbekkraai)	X
Grey Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae, Grijsborstboomekster)	2
Black-headed Jay (Garrulus lanceolatus, Strepengaai)	V
Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha, Roodsnavelkitta)	8

	Mongoli Valley. Lots of birds, especially in the first 100 m. from the road.
Once spotted by local kids it is pretty hard to keep concentrated on birds and birding. We did attrack some attention during our birding hours in Mongoli Valley but this was never annoying. Most locals were positively interrested in our business.