The tale of being in Kathmandu and heading into the mountains for an adventure repeats itself once again, much like it did last year. The initial part of the month was divided between continuing my mountain bike training in the hills, revisiting some of my favourite birding spots, and wrapping up a secret (some of you may already know) project that I had been working on for the past four years.

Bhimdhunga remains one of my go-to destinations for mountain bike training. I have a couple of circuit routes planned there that help me train effectively. At the same time, it’s also a place where I make a point of going birding, often spotting a variety of birds and insects.

Overall, the rides this month were good, and the sightings were even better. Temperatures varied in the mornings, especially after rain, which brought them down by a couple of degrees, while the afternoons tended to be hot. The symphony of bird calls was also changing, with the addition of the Blue-capped Rock Thrush to the chorus. From deeper within the forest, the song of the Maroon Oriole could often be heard, though I wasn’t able to see it up close as I had the previous month.

Black Bulbuls were active as always, while Black Drongos seemed busier than usual, constantly foraging. The Black-lored Tit could also be seen actively searching for food, sometimes even along the trail, catching moths. Himalayan raspberries had begun to fruit, and I often found myself stopping by bushes to pick a few ripe ones, carefully navigating the thorny branches.

While riding the trails, I could hear Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers foraging along the slopes. Occasionally, I would see them venture into the open before quickly flying off into nearby shrub-covered thickets. This month, I was also able to observe several species of raptors during my rides. Steppe Eagles and Himalayan Griffon Vultures soared overhead as the morning sun warmed the terrain and thermals began to rise. On one ride, I spotted a Eurasian Hobby circling above and a Shikra perched on a tree overlooking the valley below. Reflecting on it, this area seems to host a remarkable diversity of raptors, judging by the number of sightings I’ve had over the years.

During a few visits to my secret birding spot, I observed a pair of Spiny Babblers, one singing from a distance while its mate remained in a nearby tree. As Nepal’s only endemic bird, it’s always a special sighting. In the distance, I could hear a Himalayan Prinia singing from the top of a pine tree. A Long-tailed Broadbill was busy foraging before flying further uphill, while Great Barbets called out their familiar pi-oooo… pi-oooo… pi-oooo, accompanied by the rhythmic kut-ru-uk …. kut-ru-uk …. kut-ru-uk calls of Blue-tailed Barbets from afar.

• 

• 

I also went on a couple of rides in Shivapuri National Park, from Budhanilkantha to Sundarijal via Nagi Gumba. The trails were smoother than the last time I rode there, though I expect them to become rockier again after the monsoon. Even while focusing on the ride, the habit of scanning the surroundings never leaves me. During these rides, I spotted an owlet being mobbed by smaller birds, a Harlequin Tiger Moth fluttering across a forest clearing, a Yellow-throated Marten crossing the trail, and Rhododendron arboreum in bloom. I also saw a male Plumbeous Water Redstart darting between rocks along a stream, moss-covered trees draped with Shoestring ferns, a couple of Barking Deer, and Maroon Orioles calling from the tops of Utis trees. Moments like these, along with the filtered sunlight streaming through dense green foliage, made the experience all the more immersive. The thought of returning next month, this time solely to document flora and fauna, is already a priority.

The month concluded with a journey along the Annapurna Circuit, where I led a group of six mountain bikers from Canada, New Zealand, and North America. We rode through Manang, crossed the Thorong La Pass, and descended into Mustang. The 11-day journey was filled with laughter, diverse wildlife sightings, meaningful conversations, and favourable weather throughout.

• 

• 

The changing habitats along the Annapurna Circuit, which encircles the Annapurna Massif, are particularly fascinating. Within the 189 km we travelled, we experienced a transition from lush subtropical forests near Besisahar to arid high-altitude alpine desert ecosystems around Manang, followed by the trans-Himalayan landscapes of Mustang, and eventually back to subtropical forests as we descended towards Tatopani. This dramatic ecological gradient is truly a sight to behold.

Throughout the journey, we encountered a wide range of flora and fauna: giant cliffside hives of the Himalayan giant bee (Apis laboriosa) in Lamjung; Himalayan strawberries flowering along trails above Dharapani; Red-billed and Alpine Choughs between Manang and Ledar; Himalayan Griffon Vultures in Manang, Yak Kharka, and Jhong; Bearded Vultures in Manang; Blue Sheep in Tanki Manang, Thorong Phedi, and High Camp; Tibetan and Himalayan Snowcocks in High Camp; Red-fronted Rosefinches; Snow Pigeons in Manang and Yak Kharka; Black-headed Mountain Finches near Thorong La; Large-billed Crows in Manang and Muktinath; Himalayan Birch in Dhukurpokhari, Manang, and Muktinath; Grey-backed Shrikes, Blue Whistling Thrushes, and Southern Nutcrackers in Kalopani, among many others.

• 

• 

After more than a decade of completing the Annapurna Circuit with different groups, I feel it may finally be time to undertake the journey alone, focusing entirely on documenting species and observing the region’s biodiversity in its fullest sense.

Below are some of the flora and fauna species I observed or documented during the month of April.                           

Bird:
Blue-capped Rock Thrush ♂ ♀, Steppe Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, Oriental Turtle Dove, Shikra, Spiny Babbler, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Black Kite, Great Barbet, Long-tailed Broadbill, Himalayan Prinia, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Plumbeous Water Redstart ♂ ♀, Maroon Oriole, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Tibetan Snowcock, Himalayan Snowcock, Black-headed Mountain-Finch (Leucosticte brandti), Black-throated Tit, Grey-backed Shrike, Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Blue Whistling Thrush, Pied Bush Chat, Grey Treepie, Common Kingfisher, Blue-whisteling Thrush, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental White-eye, Grey-hooded Warbler, Black Drongo, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Spotted Dove, Scarlet Minivet, Verditer Flycatcher, Red-vented Bulbul, Black-lored Tit, etc.

Mammal:
Barking Deer, Yellow-throated Marten,  Blue Sheep.

Insect:
Harlequin Tiger Moth, Mixed Punch Butterfly (Dodona ouida), etc.

Plant:
Laligurans (Rhododendron arboreum), Begonia Spp., Shoestring fern, Simal (Bombax ceiba), Himalayan Raspberry (Rubus ellipticus), Utis (Alnus nepalensis), Himalayan Strawberry (Fragaria nubicola), Caragana gerardiana, Juniper, Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis), Himalayan Cherry Prinsepia (Prinsepia utilis), Sal Tree (Shorea robusta), Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa), etc.

Ajay Narsingh Rana