A month spent wandering around the edges of Kathmandu Valley bordering Dhading District, and that too in my favourite birding and macro spot, became a lesson in patience and the value of repetition. There weren’t any assignments outside Kathmandu during July except for one overnight trip to Kakani in Nuwakot. As a result, I became more committed to repeatedly observing a single area to discover what more I could document and, of course, with the hope of finding new species.

MY SECRET BIRDING / MACRO SPOT
I did four mountain biking and birding trips to this place on the western edge of Kathmandu Valley. For me, every ride or walk to this location is not always about seeing a new species. Instead, it is about seeing whether the biodiversity is still intact, documenting any changes that may have occurred, and understanding which species are common and which are seasonal or migratory as the weather and temperature change throughout the year.

As the monsoon was in full swing, it was also the perfect time to document insects, as they are more abundant and diverse during this season. Packing my bag with the essential gear for documenting these species somehow also meant I couldn’t resist packing my long birding lens. With such a heavy setup, I convinced myself that carrying everything to the site would double as weight training in preparation for my mountain biking trip to the Annapurna region in October.

Hauling the load, I rode along the trail, which was littered with small rockfalls in several places due to the rainfall. Riding and observing vegetation are two very different things, so I moved slowly. During this ride, my first new sighting was the Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia), which I hadn’t noticed in previous years. I initially thought it was confined to that particular spot, but that idea was quickly dismissed when I found it blooming at several other locations within the next two kilometres along the trail.

It is a beautiful plant with pink flowers. The first one I spotted was growing further up the ridgeline, making it impossible to climb up for close-up macro photographs. Instead, I switched to my telephoto lens to capture a closer image.

With that documentation done, my focus on this first trip of the month was to experiment with macro photography without using any lighting setup (i.e., flash). I wanted to see how well riding and documenting species worked with this lightweight setup and what could be improved on future rides.

One of the amazing things about spending time in nature is that we humans tend to see only what we are trained to see. Initially, we notice the overall landscape. Later, we begin noticing birds and butterflies. But with enough practice, we become accustomed to our surroundings and eventually begin to see the small world—a remarkably diverse world that initially goes unnoticed.

Once I found an area that looked like suitable habitat, I began documenting whatever insects and other invertebrates I could find. Within a stretch of about 500 metres, I documented a Skeletonizing Leaf Beetle (Subfamily Galerucinae), a millipede, a Large Three-ring (Ypthima nareda), a beetle from the Subtribe Lagriina, a shield bug (Subfamily Pentatominae), and leafhoppers (Tribe Cicadellini). I also encountered a wood cockroach that I have not yet been able to identify to species level but believe belongs to the Superfamily Blaberoidea. It rested calmly on a leaf as fog slowly climbed from the valley below, gradually enveloping the hillside.

The weather continued to change, and the cool temperatures meant many insects remained inactive, making them easier to photograph. Carrying both my bike and bag further uphill, I noticed more leafhoppers that unfortunately escaped before I could document them. However, while following one of them into the undergrowth, I instead came across a Spotted Orb-weaver (Genus Neoscona).

For the next three rides, I switched to a macro photography setup with a flash and diffuser since the changing weather constantly altered the available light. I also explored further down the community forest road, where I found several mushrooms, including two species that were completely new to me.

As the name suggests, Common Earthballs are supposedly common, though they certainly aren’t for me. Spotting one on a roadside slope meant I had to stop and photograph it. On my way back, I was fortunate enough to discover a Bridal Veil Stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus) in full veil, growing beside the road among a clump of Mugwort, locally known as Titepati (Artemisia vulgaris). It was an especially exciting find because I had always wanted to see this remarkable mushroom fully developed.

The mushroom has a conical to bell-shaped cap with a pitted surface, from which an intricate white net-like veil unfurls and often hangs almost to the ground. It also emits a distinctive smell, which attracted several fruit flies. What surprised me most was its size. I had always imagined it to be much smaller, but this specimen stood more than 7–8 inches tall. It truly is a fascinating fungus.

So engrossed was I in documenting this mushroom that I completely forgot to photograph a cluster of Bamboo Orchids (Arundina graminifolia) I had passed earlier. Hopefully, they will still be in full bloom during my next ride in August.

Surprisingly, there weren’t many wildflowers, including orchids, in bloom. However, the lush green landscape during peak monsoon was a sight to behold. It is the kind of scenery that instantly calms the mind, accompanied by the soothing songs of birds. I suspect the wild orchids will begin flowering in another couple of weeks. Epiphytes, lichens, and mosses also covered many of the trees, adding to the beauty of the forest.

Walking and riding along the trail, I documented Trashline Orb-weavers (Genus Cyclosa), a Long-tongued Dexiin Fly (Genus Prosena), and what is possibly a Chrysolina coerulans beetle. I also spotted robber flies (Family Asilidae), although I wasn’t able to document another species. Planthoppers, possibly of the Genus Reptalus, were also present, along with a beetle from the Subtribe Cetoniina, harvestmen, eumastacoid stick grasshoppers (Superfamily Eumastacoidea), and at least four Macrobrochis gigas caterpillars at different locations.

While photographing insects, I also encountered a brown leech that could possibly be Haemadipsa zeylanica. There were Asian Trampsnails, lady beetles, and a Harmonia eucharis lady beetle perched on top of a leaf. During the same session, I found an assassin bug, possibly Epidaus famulus, sitting beneath a leaf, seemingly waiting to ambush any unsuspecting prey that landed there. It was quite an interesting observation.

On one of my final rides to this location, I was also able to document the Spiny Babbler, Nepal’s only endemic bird. While riding back, and before discovering the Bridal Veil Stinkhorn, I was drawn by the alarm calls of birds nearby. I stopped slightly ahead of where the commotion was coming from and noticed two Puff-throated Babblers watching the forest floor. It took me a couple of minutes for my eyes to adjust to the dense undergrowth before I could faintly make out a female sitting motionless on a nest. After photographing one of the male Puff-throated Babblers, I quietly headed back home.

Apart from visiting my favourite birding and macro spot, I also made trips to Bungamati and Taukhel, where I encountered similar froghoppers. Spider wasps were also common in the area. It had been quite some time since I last explored the flora and fauna around Bungamati, making the visit particularly enjoyable. I plan to return again in August to document even more species. It was also encouraging to see that repairs to the landslide near the Bungamati View Point were underway, and I hope to once again observe birds from that location once everything returns to normal.

My only trip outside Kathmandu was an overnight visit to Kakani in Nuwakot District, about 25 kilometres from central Kathmandu. We were there to teach a group of students about the outdoors, risk management, flora and fauna, and conduct a few activities to keep the energy high. Our classes finished around 6:30 p.m.

The Scout Training Centre where we stayed is particularly interesting because, once the lights are switched on, hundreds of moths gather on the brick walls of the building. Having a free evening allowed me to document several moth species before dinner and continue photographing others afterwards.

After reflecting on the day’s activities as a team, we went to sleep. It was a very quiet night, but early the next morning I woke to the calls of Red-billed Blue Magpies just outside the building. I also observed Streaked Laughingthrushes, Rufous Sibias, Long-tailed Shrikes, Oriental Turtle Doves, and several species of warblers.

Although most of July was spent within Kathmandu Valley, the experience of observing the flora and fauna around the valley was every bit as rewarding as travelling farther afield. Below are some of the flora and fauna that I was able to observe and document during the month of July.

Bird:
Asian Koel, Cattle Egrets, Blue-capped Rock-Thrush, Spiny Babbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Mountain Bulbul, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Puff-throated Babbler, Grey Treepie, Kalij Pheasent, Red-billed blue Magpie, Green Magpie, Blue Whistling Thrush, Great Barbet, Spotted Dove, Black-lored Tit, Streaked Laughingthrush, Plain Flowerpecker, Verditer Flycatcher, Maroon Oriole, Blue-throated Barbet, White-crested Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Shrike,  Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Black Drongo, Black Bulbul, Scarlet Minivet, White-throated Kingfisher, Black Kite, Himalayan Bulbul, Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon, Rufous Sibia, etc.

Mammal:
Small Asian Mongoose.

Invertebrates:
Skeletonizing Leaf Beetle (Subfamily Galerucinae), Millipede, Large Three-Ring (Ypthima nareda), Beetle (Subtribe Lagriina), Giant and Wood Cockroaches (Superfamily Blaberoidea), Shield Bug (Subfamily Pentatominae), Leafhoppers (Tribe Cicadellini), Spotted Orbweavers (Genus Neoscona), Banded Treebrown butterfly (Lethe confusa), Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha), Russet Percher (Neurothemis fulvia), Flesh fly (Genus Sarcophaga), Black-kneed Meadow Katydid (Conocephalus melaenus), Froghopper (Genus Leptataspis), Grass Demon Butterfly (Udaspes folus), Froghoppers (Genus Cosmoscarta), Land slug, Eumastacoid Stick Grasshoppers (Superfamily Eumastacoidea), Tribe Melolonthini Beetle, Tribe Luperini Beetle, Limoniini Crane flies (Tribe Limoniini), Spider wasp (family Pompilidae), Paper Wasp (Possibly a Polistes quadricingulatus), Weevil sp., Jumping Spider, Sugarcane Spittlebug (Possibly a Callitettix versicolor), a possible Yellow Bush Dart Dameselfly (Copera marginipes), Lesser Cream Wave Moth (Scopula immutata), Shining Leaf Chafer Beetle of Genus Mimela, Spiny Sugar Ants (Genus Polyrhachis), Trashline Orbweavers (Genus Cyclosa), Long-tongue Dexiin Fly (Genus Prosena), Posssibly a Chrysolina coerulans Beetle, Robber Fly (Family Asilidae), Planthopper of possible Genus Reptalus, Possible Asian Trampsnail (Bradybaena similaris), Possible Brown Leech (Haemadipsa zeylanica), Beetle (Subtribe Cetoniina), Harvestmen Spider, Eumastacoid Stick Grasshoppers (Superfamily Eumastacoidea), Macrobrochis gigas caterpillar, Lady Beetles (Family Coccinellidae), Possible Epidaus famulus Assassin bug, Harmonia eucharis Beetle, etc.

Moth: Scopula sp., Emerald Moths (Subfamily Geometrinae), Nacoleia commixta, Leafroller (family Tortricidae), subfamily Arctiinae, Crambid Snout (Family Crambidae), Gaurena florens, Tribe Margaroniini, Orthocabera sericea, Harutalcis vialis, Geometer Moths (Family Geometridae), Genus Dysaethria, Genus Corymica, Nacna malachites, Genus Agnibesa, Timandra correspondens, Subfamily Striglininae, Flame-shouldered Dart (Ochropleura sp.), Genus Ecliptopera, Bradina diagonalis, Palpita (Genus Palpita), Marbled White Tiger Moth (Nyctemera adversata), etc.

Plant:
Mugwort – Titepati (Artemisia vulgaris), Puna (Ehretia acuminata), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Yellow Swan Flower (Genus Globba), Ground Nut-Rush (Genus Scleria), Redflower Ragleaf (Crassocephalum crepidioides), Nepal Geranium (Geranium nepalense), Possible Wandering Dew-Grass (Cyanotis vaga), Himalayan Knotweed (Koenigia polystachya), Wild Mussaenda (Mussaenda frondosa), , Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia), Cobra Lily spp., Common Morning-Glory (Ipomoea purpurea), Orange Ginger Lily (Hedychium coccineum), Utis (Alnus nepalensis), Foxtail Orchid, etc.

Fungi & Lichen:
Common Earthballs, Bridal Veil Stinkhorn (Phallus indusiatus), Waxcaps (Genus Hygrocybe), assessing whether biodiversity remains intact, documenting any changes that may have occurred, and understanding which species are common and which are seasonal or migratory as etc.

Ajay Narsingh Rana