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Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus (H): One heard calling near our Samdrup Jongkhar.
APODIDAE
Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris: Seen on a few occasions over lower and mid altitude
forests.
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus: A small flock was seen along the Mo Chu, a
few more in the Mongar area, and in good number around Samdrup Jongkhar.
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis: Seen fairly commonly in the Samdrup Jongkhar area. Also
seen en-route to Guwahati.
Blyth’s Swift Apus leuconyx: Regularly seen, from Punakha through to the South-east, with birds
seen going into nest crevices near Sengor. This is split from Pacific Swift, which now
becomes four species.
House Swift Apus nipalensis: A small flock seen near Samdrup Jongkhar.
TROGONIDAE
Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus (H): A single bird heard near Samdrup Jongkhar.
Ward’s Trogon Harpactes wardi: Perhaps one of the most wanted of all birds on this trip, it gets
harder to find each year and I really thought we might miss it. One of my regular roadside
sites had succumbed to development and habitat ‘disturbance’, so we were very fortunate
to find a silent pair on the Lingmethang Road, quietly feeding close to the road in some
typically lush mossy forest.
ALCEDINIDAE
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis: One seen near Samdrup Jongkhar.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis: Seen fairly commonly on the Assam plains, and in
Bhutan at lower altitudes such as along the Po Chu, near Mongar, Tashigang, and in the
Samdrup Jongkhar area where we saw a male present his mate with a rather gruesome
gift – the head of an Oriental White-eye!
Himalayan Pied Kingfisher (Crested K) Ceryle lugubris: Two birds along the Po Chu river, plus
another near Wangdi were the only sightings.
Lesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis (I): A couple were seen in Assam.
MEROPIDAE
Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni: Several good looks at these, with three or more seen
near Yongkola, and another near Samdrup Jongkhar.
Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis (I): Two birds on wires near Guwahati.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus (I): A few of these were zipping about as we approached
Guwahati airport.
CORACIIDAE
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis: As suspected at the time, a bird near Paro airport was a
‘Bhutan lifer’ for the leader, and clearly something of a vagrant at this altitude.
Interestingly it was of the nominate form and not the ‘Black-billed’ Roller C. benghalensis
affinis that occurs in nearby Assam.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis: Some great looks at birds perched up near Samdrup Jongkhar.
UPUPIDAE
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops: A handful were seen at regular intervals in open country, with a
nest cavity located near Paro.
12 Birdquest: Bhutan 2012