Birding Itinerary Of

South, West Sikkim & Latpancher, Senchal WLS (Darjeeling Hills)

8 Nights / 9 Days

Day 1

Bagdogra – Kewzing (1700 meters)

On arrival at the airport, pick up and transfer to Kewzing (04-06 hours)

Day 2

Surrounding forest of Kewzing (1700 – 2000 meters).

Early morning pre and post breakfast birding around farmhouse with the common species like Red-tailed Minla, Blue-Winged Siva, Large Niltava, Tickell’s Thrush (Summer Visitor), Grey winged Black Bird, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Sikkim Treecreeper, Wiskered Yuhina, Green Megpie, Grey Treepie, Russet Sparrow, Greater Yellownape Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker and many more. Afternoon session along the higher forest of Kewzing with some of the bird species like Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous capped Babbler, Himalayan Cutia, Nepal Fulvetta, Himalayan Wood Owl and many more.

Habitat around Kewzing (1700 meters) is rural open sub-temperate forest along with cultivation land thus birds of forest ad well as farm inhabit these habitats. Overnight stay in Bonfarmhouse.

Day 3

Kewzing – Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary (1700 – 2200 – 3500 meters)

Early morning head to Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary for birding, Maenam WLS is one the hotspot for Himalayan forest birds covering a habitat from 2100 meters to 3500 meters is home to more than 200 species of birds. Some of the bird species seen around are Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Black-throated Parrotbill, Golden breasted Fulvetta, Fire-tailed Myzornis, Golden Babbler, Yellow-throated Fulvatta, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Rufous-throated Wren Babbler, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly breasted Cupwing, Spotted Elecura, Scarlet Finch, Green tailed Sunbird, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, and many more. Satyr Tragopan along with the state animal of Sikkim inhabits the bamboo forest near the top of the hill which is a 4 hours trek uphill and 2 hours downhill.
Habitat of Meanem WLS is cloud mossy temperate forest with undergrowth and thick vegetation of oak, chestnut and Abies densa trees. Overnight stay in Bonfarmhouse.

Day 4

Tendong Reserve Forest (750 – 2100 meters)

Early morning head to Tendong RF (30minutes) drive and birding along the road in Tendong RF which is a continuation of Meanam WLS and the species are similar to Meanam with more open areas for spotting birds and density of the species is also high. Afternoon session of birding in lower altitude of Rangeet River with the species like Sultan Tit, White-browed Piculet, Speckled Piculet, Black-chinned Yuhina, Black Throated Sunbird, Yellow- bellied Warbler, Yellow-vented Warbler, Rufous Woodpecker, Streak breasted Scimitar Babbler, Red-tailed Minla, Sikkim Treecreeper and many more. Overnight stay in Bonfarmhouse.

Day 5

Kewzing – Okhrey (1700 – 2000 meters)

After the morning session of birding around Kewzing head to Okhrey – West Sikkim via Jorethang Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary-05 Hours’ drive
We will be birding at an altitude of 2500 meters in sub-alpine habitat of bamboo and rhododendron shrubs to look out for bird species like Great Parrotbill, Black Throated Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Spotted Laughingthrush, Black Faced Laughingthrush, Fulvous Parrotbill and many other bamboo birds. Overnight stay in Okhrey, Khel-khor Homestay.

Day 6

Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary (2000 – 3000 meters)

Whole day birding in Barsey and surrounding areas of Okhrey Some of the key species of the is Satyr Tragopan , Coal Tit, Rufous-vented Tit, Gray Crested Tit, Rufous-fronted Tit, Hodgonson’s Treecreeper, Himalayan Owl. Red Panda is also sighted on this Sanctuary. Overnight stay in Khel-khor Homestay.

Day 7

Okhrey – Latpuncture (3900 – 1000 meters)

After morning session of birding transfer to Latpuncture Village (Latpuncture is small village on the outskirts of Mahananda WLS) Latpuncture is an altitude of 1200 meters and is home to some of the key foothill Himalayan species like Rufous-necked Hornbill, Hodgonson’s Frogmouth, Red-headed Trogon and many others. Overnight stay in Latpuncture Kharka Homestay.

Day 8

Latpuncture – Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary

Morning birding around Latpuncture and afternoon birding in Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary or Tiger hill for some of the species like Hill Partridge, Gray-sided Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Brown Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Black-throated Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill and many more. Overnight stay in Latpuncture.

Day 9

Latpuncture – Airport drop

Last day of birding on the way from Latpuncture to Rongtong with bird species like Black Baza, Jorden’s Baza, GreatHornbill and many more.