So in an endeavor to present you a series of New destinations this season, Nature India announces yet another absolutely new destination….. A birding trip in Jim Corbett’s Backyard forests with some special species to see and photograph in the forests of Manila, Kaladhungi and Baur Reservoir in Uttarakhand……. Come and explore the forests where Jim Corbett spent his life observing the wildlife..…..from 24th to 28th Oct’22 (travel dates excluded)
Dates: 24th Oct, 2022 to 28th Oct, 2022 (Ex. Ramnagar station……travel days excluded)….. The bookings for Manila / Kaladhungi / Baur Reservoir birding trip is on…..book your seats NOW to get the desired train bookings (see all the details at the end)…..
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Birding in Kumaon Hills – Manila (The land of Cheer Pheasants)
How often have you came across a birding place that so obviously was as rich and magnificent, yet was always projected on the world map as a general tourist destination ?
Well, it is time to explore and find out. One such place that offers a unique & abundant birdlife are the areas around Nainital, that is now coming to be known as a must see destination for birders and photographers across India to look out for the Western Himalayan species. The birdlife here was ignored for a long time, as this famous hill station of the north, overshadowed the magnificence of the wildlife. The tiny hamlet of Manila located about 80 km from Ramnagar near Corbett National Park in Almora is the native place of Manila Devi, the family goddess of Katyuri clan from where the region got its name. This lesser know place is perched at an elevation of 1,820 metres, snuggled in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
The surrounding forests around this Manila is a birdwatchers and photographers dream destination, especially for the Cheer, Kokklas and Khalij Phesants that can be viewed and photographed at ease.
Located in Almora district of Kumaon, Uttarakhand and surrounded by dense forest range along with a wide view of mighty Himalayas, this offbeat place remains un-crowded most of the year is unknown to many. Nestled between the mighty Himalaya’s to the north and the Shivalik mountain ranges to the south, this area boosts of a truly amazing bird variety of the likes of Sibia’s, Yuhina’s, Minla’s, Mesia’s, Laughing thrushes etc. This is also where the elusive Mountain Scops Owl has been frequently sighted in the recent years, along with Tawny Fish Owl, Collard Owlet, Brown Wood Owl etc
The Other species that can be encountered here include Mountain Hawk Eagle, Small Niltava, White-tailed Nuthatch, Spot-winged (Coal) Tit, Eurasian Woodcock, Wallcreeper, Nepal Wren Babbler, Upland Pipit, Grey Treepie, White-throated & White crested Laughingthrush, Long-billed Thrush, Dark-sided Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Himalayan Bluetail, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Grey Nightjar, Blue-fronted Redstart. Chestnut-bellied Rockthrush, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Golden Bush Robin, Goldcrest and several mid altitude species.Apart from peace and tranquillity, Manila village offers breath-taking panoramic views of mighty Himalayas right from Trishul to Panchchulli, including Nanda Devi peaks. The experience of seeing golden glows at sunrise and sunset over this range of Himalayas is just enough to fall in love with this beautiful yet small village in the Himalayas named Manila.
KALADHUNGI – Jim Corbett’s Village
Kaladhungi is a beautiful town seated at the foothills of the Himalayas at an elevation of 500 m in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand not very far from the famous Jim Corbett National Park. Surrounded by Bhabar forests at the lower elevations of Shivalik Hills and River Baur flowing alongside it, Kaladhungi comprises a beautiful landscape with tall Sal trees and typical Bhabar forests, where Jim Corbett spent his time watching birds and wildlife.The name of the town Kaladhungi orginates from a place where black dunga (stone) is found. Black refers to the iron content in the stone found in Kaladhungi. The town was a center of a thriving iron foundry industry based on local ore and forest charcoal. The foundry can still be seen here. Jim Corbett, the famous man-eater hunter and a great environmentalist lived at Choti Haldwani, 2 km west of Kaladhungi on Ramnagar road for most years of his life. His house has now been converted into a museum in his memory by the government, known as ‘Jim Corbett Museum’.
Choti Haldwani where Jim Corbett lived and owned, gets its name from the forest of Haldu trees that was once in its place. Haldu trees are still seen in this area, especially in Jim Corbett National Park in great numbers. The forests around Kadadhungi is rich and some of the notable bird species that we shall target include the Great Slaty Woodpecker, India’s largest Woodpecker species…..also the Collard Falconet, Black-chinned Babbler, Long-tailed Broadbill, Grey-crowned Prinia, Himalayan Flameback, Common Green Magpie, Spotted Forktail, Lineated & Blue-throated Barbet, Streaked Laughingthrush, Rosy Minivet, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Asian Barred Owlet, Grey Bushchat, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Himalayan & Black-crested Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Large-tailed Nightjar etc.
BAUR RESERVOIR
Haripura-Baur Reservoir (HBR) are earthen embankment dams located approximately 15km from Bazpur in Udham Singh Nagar District of Uttarakhand. HBR is a man-made wetland constructed in 1974 primarily for the purpose of storing water for irrigation purposes. Haripura having a maximum height of approximately 17m and length of 10km is built on Baur and Kakrala rivers, whereas, Baur with a maximum height of about 11m and length of 8km is built on Bhakhara River. 
Both reservoirs are adjacent to each other and spread over an area of 294.4 km2. Considering the limited height and primary role of providing water for irrigation these dams are rarely filled with water to the maximum capacity leaving shallow water areas towards the margins.
This shallow water areas are where the reedbeds thrive and are rich in birds, including the extremely rare Finn’s or Asian Golden Weaver birds, whose nos. have drastically declined. A short session near Baur reservoir can yield a good no. of species including Red-crested Pochards, Striated Grassbird, Chestnut-capped Babblers, Moustached & Dusky Warbler, Small Pratincole, Northern & White-tailed Lapwings, Pheasant-tailed & Bronze-winged Jacana, Gargeney and Northern Pintail Ducks etc.
The adjoining tall Reeds and Marshy grasslands are home to Bitterns, Brown Shrike, Bengal Bushlark, White-tailed Stonechat, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Brown Crake, Sirkeer Malkoha, Herons and Storks…….
Check out a wonderful blog by Mohit …..about birding around Manila and Kaladhungi
https://mohitsclicks13.blogspot.com/2021/12/munsyari-manila-kaladhungi-trip.html
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Tour Itinerary & Other Details:
(Ramnagar to Ramnagar) participants need to make their own travel arrangements from Delhi to Ramnagar & Back…. However Nature India can assist in Train Travel bookings if required.
Suggested Train Travel: (From Delhi to Ramnagar & Ramnagar to Delhi)
Date: 23rd Oct’22: Board the 22:05 Ranikhet Express (15013) Delhi to Ramnagar – Reach Ramnagar Station at 4:50 Hrs on 24th Oct’22
Date: 28th Oct’22: Board the 22:00 Ranikhet Express (25014) Ramnagar to Delhi – Reach Delhi Station at 4:00 Hrs on 29th Oct’22
Planned Tour Itinerary: (Ramnagar to Ramnagar)
Day 1 (24th Oct’22-Monday): Pick up from Ramnagar Station and departure for Manila. It takes about 3 hrs to reach Manila from here. Birding on way at Corbett Tiger Reserve outskirts. Breakfast on way. Arrival at Manila by noon, check in and lunch at hotel Manila Birding Lodge. Evening session birding on Syalde Road. Will try for Owls and Nightjars in the night. Night stay in Hotel Manila Birding Lodge on twin sharing basis.
Day 2 (25th Oct’22-Tuesday): Whole day birding around Manila area. Will carry packed breakfast and have lunch at hotel. Birding along Syalde & Jainal Road. Will try for Owls and Nightjars in the night. Night stay in Hotel Manila Birding Lodge on twin sharing basis.
Day 3 (26th Oct’22-Wednesday): Morning birding session for missing species. Check out after breakfast and departure for Kaladhungi. Lunch on way. Arrival at Kaladhungi and check in at Milieu Villa Homestay. Afternoon birding session on Nainital road. Dinner and night stay at Milieu Villa Homestay on twin sharing basis.
Day 4 (27th Oct’22-Thursday): Early morning departure for birding at Ranikota trail with packed breakfast. Back to hotel for lunch. Afternoon birding session at Chhoti Haldwani area. Dinner and night stay at Milieu Villa Homestay on twin sharing basis.
Day 5 (28th Oct’22-Friday): Departure for morning birding session at Baur Reservoir with packed breakfast. Back to hotel and lunch. Check out and keep your luggage in common room of the hotel. Afternoon birding for missing species in Kaladhungi area. Back to hotel and early dinner. Pick the luggage and departure for Ramnagar Railway station. It takes about 1 hrs to reach Ramnagar RS from here. Drop off at Ramnagar station to board the 25014 Corbett Link Express @22:15 pm.
Day 6 (29th Oct’22-Saturday): Reach Delhi Station @ 4:15 am
Target Birds at Manila and Corbett Tiger Reserve Outskirts
Cheer Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Kalij Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Chukar Partridge, Mountain Scops Owl, Collared Owlet, Tawny Fish Owl, Asian Barred Owlet, Eurasian Woodcock, Collared Falconet, Himalayan Buzzard, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Vulture, Goldcrest, Upland Pipit, Long-billed Thrush, Dark-sided Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Collared Grosbreak, Himalayan Shrike-babbler, Himalayan Bluetail, Pink-browed Rosefinch, Grey Nightjar, Golden Bush Robin, Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler, Nepal Wren-babbler, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Lesser Yellownape, Speckled Piculet, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Brown Wood Owl etc.
Target Birds at Kaladhungi and Baur Reservoir
Great Slaty Woodpecker, Himalayan Goldenback, White-naped Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Grey-crowned Prinia, Common Green Magpie, Long-tailed Broadbill, Rosy Minivet, Black-chinned Yuhina, Wallcreeper, Indian Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Finn’s Weaver, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Striated Babbler, Striated Grassbird, Black-breasted & Streaked Weaver, Black-headed Munia, Red-necked Falcon, Crested Kingfisher, Crimson Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Black-chinned Babbler, Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, Tawny-bellied Babbler, Northern & White-tailed Lapwing, Dusky Warbler, Small Pratincole, Moustached Warbler, Sirkeer Malkoha, Brown Crake, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Bengal Bushlark, White-tailed Stonechat, Brown Shrike, Red-crested & Tufted Pochard etc.
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Trip charges : Rs.33500/-
(Includes Non- A/C room stay on twin Sharing Basis in Manila Birding Lodge, Manila and in Kaladhungi (Camp Milieu resort), Local travel in Tavera / Xylo in Manila & Kaladhungi, All meals starting from breakfast on day 1 till evening tea on day 5, Permits, Entry charges, Guide charges, Information articles & on board snacks)…….
This does not include Tips, Travel charges to & from Ramnagar and Back or any charges other than the above. Participants will have to make their own travel arrangements till Ramnagar & Back as suggested above.
Note: Nature India can assist you for your train travel bookings from Delhi to Ramnagar & Back if required (train travel charges extra).
Registration: You can register by sending a confirmatory mail to natureindiatours@gmail.com and by paying a non-refundable advance of Rs.16000/- after getting registration mail by us (The seats will only be confirmed after receiving the advance amount) …..the remaining amount will be collected during the trip……. Kindly register soon to avoid the rush for train bookings……….
Group Size: Max 7 Pax only
Stay Arrangement: A comfortable and birdful campus Manila Birding Lodge (Manila) and Camp Milieu (Kaladhungi) on twin sharing basis …. https://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g13148962-d23964781-Reviews-Manila_Birding_Lodge-Bhikia_Sain_Almora_District_Uttarakhand.html
Resource Persons: Mr. Adesh Shivkar & Vivek Rawat (Local Bird Expert)
Mode of Payment: You can either
1) Transfer the advance money directly to HDFC A/c (Will be provided in registration mail).. please mention your name, date and other details….OR
2) Courier a cheque of Rs.16000/- as advance amount to the following address
Address: Will be provided along with registration mail.
Please Note:
1) Once registered, the advance amount of Rs. 16000/- is strictly non-refundable
2) Alcohol & Smoking is strictly prohibited on all Nature India Tours
3) Nest photography or any collection of specimens is prohibited
4) Kindly register on this trip only if you agree with Nature India’s rules and policies and Covid related Rules / Guidelines respectively.
http://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.in/2012/08/nature-india-policies.html
https://natureindiapolicies.blogspot.com/2020/11/covid-related-precautionsrules-during_16.html
Please revert on natureindiatours@gmail.com ID, in case you need any clarification ….
For any other queries we are available on 9820455713 / 8779599356 (Adesh) and 9930318665 (Mandar)
Thanks for your patience.
Looking forward for a very rewarding trip with you all !!
Warm Regards,
Adesh Shivkar & Mandar Khadilkar
Nature India 