Once again Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and our own Koshi Camp have starred with a new bird, not just for Nepal... but for the Indian Subcontinent!
On 9th May, on the Naturetrek 'Special Offer' tour to Nepal, focusing on the wonderful wetland and forest habitats at Koshi, a Vinous-breasted Starling (Sturnus burmannicus) was seen and photographed by our group and tour leaders, Tika Ram Giri and Badri Chaudhary, just a couple of hundred metres from Koshi Camp.
Amazingly, the icing on the cake (if it needed any icing!) was the discovery nearby of a Purple-backed Starling (Sturnus sturnina), the second record for Nepal, on 8th and 9th May (the first record of the species in Nepal was also at Koshi Camp, on 10th May 2002). Some groups have all the luck!
May is a very hot month in Nepal, but it is an exceptionally good time for rarities, and this lucky group fared particularly well with such species as Nepal Rufous-vented Prinia, Hooded and Indian Pittas, Crow-billed Drongo, Indian Courser, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, both Yellow-wattled and Grey-headed Lapwings, Grey-bellied Cuckoo and three species of Bittern - Black, Yellow and Cinnamon! They also saw three wild Indian Elephants not far from Koshi Camp.
To join next May's tour Nepal - A Very Special Offer, or any of our other expertly led birding and wildlife tours to Nepal, click here