Mountain biking has been a way of life for me. Since taking it up as a sport back in 1999, I never imagined it would also become a medium to explore the various natural escapes of Kathmandu and document the wildlife. Riding or training through the natural landscapes of an unurbanized city outside the ring road back then hooked me into this sport.

Carrying a camera with a long lens, riding out to the trails, and waiting for birds and insects to appear was how I spent my July, staying back in Kathmandu for personal projects. The monsoons have their unique rhythm. When it rains, it pours, but the afternoons are as hot as they were in May. I can’t complain, as this weather brings out the strong green hues in the landscape, which are pleasing to the eyes.

The flora and fauna are also thriving. Birds are raising their offspring, butterfly and moth larvae are munching on nourishing leaves before they pupate, and bumblebees are busy collecting nectar from flowers, creating their signature buzz and shaking pollen from the flowers that stick to their bodies.

Observing the flurry of activities in nature is always a pleasure. July is also the month for rice planting, so it was delightful to see the fields turning green as the rice saplings were planted in perfect symmetry.

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My first ride was up the road to Setogumba and down to Ichangu, a trail I’ve been riding since the beginning of my biking career. Despite the massive changes to the landscape, there are still small pockets where I can pause and listen to the birds and the rustling leaves in the breeze. Occasionally, I document the species I encounter.

This time, I saw some Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers foraging through the shrubs. One of them perched on a young tree branch and started grooming itself. I also spotted Himalayan Bulbuls, Grey Treepie, a Spotted Dove, and some Black Drongos. I gazed toward Nagarjun National Park’s boundaries, hoping to see Barking deer grazing but wasn’t that lucky. It was still a good morning for exercise and enjoying nature.

I rode to Bhimdhunga more than a couple of times this month. The repetition helps with training and allows me to observe nature more closely and see new species that I might have missed on previous visits. As a bonus, on one of my visits, the clouds cleared up, revealing the breathtaking mountains.

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The usual sightings included Black-throated Tit, Verditer Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Grey Treepie, Long-tailed Shrike, Common Tailorbird, Black Kite, and Black-lored Tits. However, I also saw a Speckled Piculet, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Blue-throated Barbet, an Irrawaddy squirrel, and many new insects including a Slug and a Snail. I look forward to returning in August to photograph the Black-chinned Babblers I missed last month.

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I hadn’t visited Bungamati for a month, so I took a local bus and did an evening walk around the area. Rain clouds were gathering, and the sky was darkening even though the sun had an hour left to shine on the valley. Without a bike, I could plan my walk freely, following the sounds of the birds. The cacophony was interesting as I tried to identify each bird by its call.

Despite not documenting any birds on the walk, I had an interesting evening. A friendly stray dog accompanied me on the trail. Eventually, I walked back to the viewpoint and observed the branches of some trees. My patience paid off as I saw a Blue-throated Barbet and an Ashy Drongo perched on the branches. Despite the poor lighting, I managed to take some decent photos. The mantra of always anticipating nature’s moves paid off that day.

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Back home, I witnessed brood parasitism for the second time. A Cuckoo had laid its egg in an Oriental Magpie Robin’s nest. Fully grown, the Cuckoo chick had flown for the first time and was in nearby shrubs as the Magpie Robin searched for food. It brought caterpillars, moths, and fruits to feed the insatiable Cuckoo chick. The dense shrubs and foliage hindered my documentation, but I could observe the behavior without disturbing them. The feeding continued, and last I checked, the chick had flown further and taken refuge in a tree canopy. The Magpie Robin is still feeding it, but the Cuckoo has grown more than double the size of the Magpie.

I now eagerly await April when the adult Cuckoo will return, singing behind my house and repeating the cycle once again.

Being in nature is always interesting, and July couldn’t have been better. Below are some of the species of flora and fauna I was able to see in July.

Bird:
Himalayan Bulbul, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Spotted Dove, Black-throated Tit, Verditer Flycatcher, Black Bulbul, Grey Treepie, Speckled Piculet, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Long-tailed Shrike, Blue-capped Rock Thrush, Blue-throated Barbet, Black-lored Tits, Common Tailorbird, Black Kite, Ashy Drongo, Parakeet, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Cuckoo, White-throated Kingfisher, etc.

Mammal:
Irrawaddy squirrel.

Insect:
The Punchinello butterfly, Slug, Beetle (Subfamily Hemiopinae), Caterpillar, Snail, Chocolate Pansy Butterfly, Indian Cabbage Butterfly, etc.

Plant:
Banyan (Ficus benghalensis), Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa), Simal (Bombax ceiba), Utis (Alnus nepalensis), Pine (Pinus roxburghii), Lantana (Lantana camara), etc.

Ajay Narsingh Rana