After an amazing trip and some great sightings in February, I took a short break to sort through my documented photos and work on organizing the files. During this time, I also went on a short hike to Bhimdhunga. It was a clear day, though the Himalayan range remained mostly hidden behind clouds, except for glimpses of Ganesh Himal.

While walking along the trail in Bhimdhunga, the songs of various birds filled the air—Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, and Blue Whistling Thrush among them. I watched two Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers playfully chasing each other from tree to tree. In the branches above, Great Barbets were busy foraging for fruit. Deeper into the trail, I spotted Steppe Eagles, Griffon Vultures, and Black Kites soaring in the valley near a pig farm.

As we strolled further, I caught sight of a couple of Common Green Magpies blending seamlessly into the spring foliage, making it nearly impossible to document them. Still, it was an exciting find, and I hope to capture better photos next time. Warblers were also active, their calls echoing through the valley as the first rays of sunlight spilled over the hills.

Bhimdhunga is a fascinating area for me. Its species diversity shifts with the seasons, offering new bird sightings each time I visit. Another personal highlight is documenting insects here during the monsoon months.

Chitwan National Park

I was recently assigned to guide two clients on a trip to Chitwan and Poonhill. It turned out to be an incredible experience, as both clients were deeply interested in nature, and showcasing the region’s biodiversity was a real privilege. Spring had just begun, and temperatures were rising across the plains of Nepal.

Though I usually stay in the Jagatpur area, this trip had us based in Sauraha. The day after we arrived was packed: we began with an early morning canoe ride, followed by a jeep safari in Chitwan National Park. The morning was misty, and the sun rose slowly as we gently floated along the Budi Rapti River. Along the way, we spotted Ruddy Shelduck, Pied Kingfisher, River Lapwing, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-browed Wagtail, White-throated Kingfisher, and Little Egret, among others.

Mugger Crocodiles were basking by the riverbanks, with some resting near their cave-like burrows. Juvenile Rhesus Macaques played in the trees near the banks, and an Indian Peafowl called from the top of a tall Simal tree. At the end of the canoe ride, we walked to the elephant breeding center, where we saw both calves and adults. Nearby, I also spotted a Lychee Stink Bug and its eggs on a tree leaf.

It had been nearly a decade since I’d last done a safari from the Sauraha side of Chitwan National Park, so I was excited to explore it again. The half-day jeep safari was rewarding: we spotted Bengal Monitor Lizards, Terai Grey Langurs, six sightings of One-horned Rhinoceros, herds of Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, a Sloth Bear, more Mugger Crocodiles in park wetlands, and birds such as Lesser Whistling Ducks, Little and Great Cormorants, Common Moorhens, and Oriental Darters.

Overall, the safari experience was decent, though sightings of Gaur Bison, Wild Elephants, and other larger mammals will have to wait for another time.

Early morning birding around the hotel was also fruitful—we saw Coppersmith Barbets, Woolly-necked Storks, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Long-tailed Shrikes, Spotted Owlets, Lesser Goldenbacks, White-throated Kingfishers, Lineated Barbets, and White Wagtails. Although it was a short stay, the sheer abundance of species in and around Chitwan National Park and its buffer zone remains deeply inspiring.

Ghorepani–Poonhill Trek

The second half of the trip focused on the Ghorepani–Poonhill trek, starting from Ghandruk. The walk to Tadapani and then Ghorepani was both scenic and full of wildlife activity. Along the trail, I heard the constant song of the Rufous Sibia as blooming Rhododendrons—mostly red, with occasional pinks—began to light up the landscape. A few weeks later, the hills would likely be ablaze with full blooms.

As we moved along the forested paths, bird activity picked up. In the warm morning light, I observed Tree Creepers, Fulvettas, Warblers, Laughing Thrushes, Yuhinas, and more. As we neared Ghorepani, we even saw a kettle of vultures flying toward Shikha.

This year’s trek offered some new insights. I noticed several new roads linking these regions. Whether that’s good or bad is for the local communities and ACAP to decide. However, what troubled me was the careless use of excavators during construction, with little regard for the surrounding vegetation. Instead of using the “cut and fill” method, much of the loose soil and rocks had simply been dumped down the slopes, burying the native vegetation. Regrowth in such areas could take years—if it happens at all—depending on the terrain, soil type, and local flora.

Despite those concerns, it was a productive and insightful month of field visits. Below is a list of flora and fauna I observed and documented during these explorations.

Bird:
Steppe Eagle, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Great Barbet, Black Kite, Warblers, Common Green Magpie, Indian Pond Heron, Ruddy Shelduck, Pied Kingfisher, River Lapwing, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-browed Wagtail, White-throated Kingfisher, Little Egret, Black Drongo, Red-wattled Lapwing, Indian Peafowl, Asian Green Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Red Junglefowl, Asian Pied Myna, House Crow, Lesser Adjutant, Purple Sunbird, Lesser Whistling-duck, Little Cormorant, Common Moorhen, Great Cormorant, Oriental Darter, Coppersmith Barbet, Woolly-necked Stork, Golden-headed Cisticola, Long-tailed Shrike, Spotted Owlet, Lesser Goldenback, White-throated Kingfisher, Lineated Barbet, White Wagtail, Crimson Sunbird, Griffon Vulture, Oriental Magpie Robin, Himalayan Bulbul, Rufous Sibia, etc.

Mammal:
One-horned Rhinoceros, Terai Grey Langur, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Rhesus Macaque, Sloth Bear. 

Reptile:
Mugger Crocodile, Gharial Crocodile, Bengal Monitor Lizard.

Insect:
Mixed Punch Butterfly, Lychee Stink Bug (Tessaratoma papillosa), etc.

Plant:
Sal Tree (Shorea robusta), Lali gurans (Rhododendron arboretum), Stone Apple (Aegle marmelos), Lokta (Daphne bholua), Dwarf Primrose (Primula edgeworthii), The low –Growing Pleione (Pleione humilis) Hatti /Batti Taauke, Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa), Simal (Bombax ceiba), Utis (Alnus nepalensis), Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), etc.

Ajay Narsingh Rana