Northeastern India: Nov 20—Dec 14, 2009

For much of the twentieth century, Arunachal Pradesh and the eastern portion of Assam remained closed. The few early collectors who did manage to explore there marveled at the richness and diversity of its birds.

Great One-horned Rhinoceros— Photo: Brian Gibbons

The first part of our tour will focus on the gigantic Namdapha Tiger Reserve. It harbors all four Asian large cats—snow leopard, common leopard, clouded leopard, and tiger—as well as Hoolock gibbon and Asian elephant. Little-known birds here include Gray Peacock-Pheasant; White-cheeked Partridge; the diminutive Pied Falconet; Pin-tailed Green-Pigeon; Oriental Bay-Owl; Rufous-necked Hornbill; Pale-headed and Great Slaty woodpeckers; Silver-breasted and Long-tailed broadbills; Blue-naped Pitta; Black-breasted Thrush; Sapphire Flycatcher; Collared Treepie; Green Cochoa; Red-billed and Slender-billed scimitar-babblers; Spotted Wren-Babbler; Rufous-necked, Chestnut-backed, and Rufous-vented laughingthrushes; Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill; the extremely localized Snowy-throated Babbler and Rufous-throated Fulvetta; and the aptly named Beautiful Nuthatch.

Elsewhere, such as at Dibru-Saikowa, we will explore flooded forests, pools, and large tracts of elephant grass for such rarities as White-winged Wood Duck, Rufous-vented Prinia, and Marsh and Jerdon's babblers.

This stunning tour concludes with a visit to Kaziranga National Park, one of the most wonderful and exciting reserves in all of Asia. Located on the south bank of the mighty Brahmaputra, its mosaic of marshes, vast reed-beds, riverine woodlands, and lowland subtropical forests literally teems with birds and mammals. On previous tours we have recorded more than 230 species of birds and a large number of spectacular mammals including multiple close studies of great one-horned rhinoceros; Asian elephant; the evocative-sounding Hoolock gibbon; tiger; fishing cat; Black-necked, Lesser, and Greater Adjutant storks; Spot-billed Pelican; Bengal Florican; Swamp Francolin; Pallas's Fish-Eagle; and the rarely seen Black-breasted Parrotbill. The photographic opportunities on this tour are outstanding. Furthermore, we stay at the delightful Wild Grass Lodge where the level of comfort and service adds immeasurably to the overall enjoyment and success of our time in Kaziranga.