Bhutan - Bumthang to Tingtibi

Birding the monastery

This will be an abbreviated post as we've been traveling and birding late, and without internet for a few days. We were up early the next morning for a special visit to the Tharpaling Monastery, high on a mountain above the Bumtang Valley. This is the place to see Himalayan Monal and other high altitude species. The monastery sits at 11,400 feet elevation and our arrival at dawn saw a brisk temperature of about 30F. Brrr...

eBird list

Our driver Phuntsho prepares breakfast outside the monastery gate

One of the 47 species of wild rhododendron in Bhutan growing along the roadside

Alpine Accentor

Coal Tit

Green-backed Tit

Himalayan Monal

Hoary-throated Barwing

Large-eared Pika

Mrs. Hume's Sunbird

Rufous-breasted Accentor

Rufous-fronted Bushtit

Spotted Nutcracker

Stripe-throated Yuhina

White-browed Fulvetta

White-winged Grosbeak

Yellow-billed Blue Magpie (my 4000th world bird)

We were very fortunate to also be there on a day when the monastery was holding the Melam Chenmo religious ceremony, a once a year event. For just a short time they unveiled the Thongdrol scroll, and we were there to see the beautiful artwork.

We continued on to Trongsa and the next day on to the low elevation village of Tingtibi, birding our way through central Bhutan each day, and then spending a day in the Tingtibi area. Of special note here was our viewing of one of the 50 rarest birds in the world - White-bellied Heron. There are perhaps as few as 300 birds left in the world. From the road high above the river we got to look down on an occupied nest, with three eggs. Wow.

eBird list
eBird list

Birding the roadside

This roadblock cost us about an hour as the equipment above chucked dirt and
huge boulders down onto the road, before being pushed away by the grader

Another half an hour lost to a roadside coronavirus screening. We all passed.

Birding at dawn near Tingtibi

Tim and Chubzang photograph the Tawny Fish-Owl

Black-eared Shrike-Babbler

Blue-throated Barbet

Eurasian Hoopoe

Golden Langur

Himalayan Black Bulbul

Rufous-necked Hornbill

Tawny Fish-Owl

White-bellied Heron

As for our current event note: Our second India tour has now been canceled as India has suspended tourist visas until at least April 15. We will be coming home early, and are working on the details now.