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The tale for this month is about visiting a couple of places in Dhading district and the natural diversity I was able to observe during March. One was an assignment as a Wilderness First Responder with Himalayan Medics for the Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2026, where I also doubled as a photographer to capture the kayak competition.

The other location was on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley in Dhading district, a place I often visit for mountain bike training as well as birding. I would even call it my secret birding spot. Having ridden in this area for about two decades, from the days when landslides made the route difficult to the present day, when a proper jeep track now exists, I can say that a lot has changed. But at the same time, the natural diversity has remained largely intact, unlike many other areas where urbanization has moved much faster.

My first visit was in early March and was more focused on birding with Prakash dai. Winter was on its way out, and spring was slowly arriving. New buds were breaking, fresh leaves were emerging on the trees, and young shoots were pushing up from the soil. The forest was alive with bird songs. I could count more than 12 species, including Black-lored Tit, warblers, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Maroon Oriole, and many others. Somewhere down in the treeline, I could also hear the short bursts of cicada calls.

As the sun rose in the east, the giant hills slowly allowed more light to illuminate the forest. I could hear a Maroon Oriole singing far in the distance, and later a couple of them perched on a nearby tree. One of them showed its back, displaying the distinct colors that match its name.

Flowers were also blooming on a few different tree species, and the birds were drawn to them. There were several Simal trees in bloom, their large red flowers standing out as the leaves slowly began to emerge. I could see an Irrawaddy squirrel attracted to the tree, licking nectar from the flowers and moving from bloom to bloom. Bronze Drongo and Orange-bellied Leafbird were also seen around the Simal tree.

Further down in the bamboo groves, I managed to notice a flock of Long-tailed Broadbill. Prakash dai and I later sat down and observed them as they flew around the grove and beyond, foraging for food. The green-bodied, yellow-faced, black-headed birds gradually moved down toward the valley as the sunlight slowly began to filter through the grove.

The Himalayan Whitewater Challenge 2026 was my first time being part of a whitewater event, and I was excited to see how the athletes would perform. The event was held in Charaudi, Dhading, along the Prithvi Highway on the banks of the Trishuli River. Down on the beach, we set up our medic station and watched the athletes duel it out in the event. There were both kayak and raft races. It was good to see some of the rafting and kayak guides whom we had trained in wilderness first aid in December 2025 and January 2026 in Yamdi, Pokhara, competing in the race.

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I was also assigned to take photographs of the race, so carrying my gear was a priority. This also helped me document different species of flora and fauna in the area during the early morning. The event went well, with only very minor injuries to a couple of people. While documenting the action on the river, I was also able to notice a Great Cormorant flying downstream. I had been expecting River Lapwings or Red-wattled Lapwings to do the same, but I wasn’t able to spot them this time, unlike during previous visits to Riverside Springs Resort, which is 17 km downstream.

This three-day event usually started around 10 a.m., so being an early riser, I would head to the beach and try to spot birds and insects. During my stay, I was able to document a few insects, including Thin-legged Wolf Spiders (genus Pardosa), with many tiny spiderlings on the back of one adult, and a small Tiger Beetle (family Cicindelidae) on the sandbar as it flew toward a shaded area near a large rock. There were also butterflies that I managed to document, including Circe, Common Jester, and Angled Red Forester. I also spotted a few moths, but could only document an Orange-banded Milionia Moth (Milionia basalis), a day-flying moth. The orange band on its wings looked beautiful in the sunlight. It was my first time seeing this moth, and I was lucky enough to document it.

In terms of birds, I was able to document a Great Cormorant flying downriver in the late afternoon during the event, a female Plumbeous Water Redstart early in the morning exploring the rocks and pebbles along the riverbank, and a White-capped Redstart doing the same near a stream. While walking around, I also noticed vultures capturing thermals in the morning, slowly rising and soaring high into the sky. While watching them fly, I was able to document a Cinereous Vulture as well.

I feel fortunate to be able to travel for work and, at the same time, observe how nature functions in the places my work takes me.

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Back in Kathmandu, I returned to the same location on the outskirts of the Dhading district that I frequent for mountain bike training and birding. I made a couple more trips there in my usual biking-and-birding routine. The weather had changed a little, and rain had become more frequent. One of the visits was cold in the morning, with wind blowing from west to east. Things changed on my second visit, when it became a bit warmer, though the haze in Kathmandu Valley and beyond remained.

I noticed the usual activity from Maroon Oriole, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Himalayan Bulbul, Black Bulbul, and Long-tailed Shrike. A flock of Red-billed Blue Magpies could be seen gliding from one tree to another. White-crested Laughingthrushes could also be heard and briefly seen as they moved through the trees. Himalayan Prinia and a Wallcreeper were also documented.

During my final ride of the month, along with the usual birds, I was lucky enough to document a juvenile Oriental Honey-buzzard grooming itself on a tree branch beside the trail. This was the first time I had noticed this bird in the area, though within a one-kilometer radius, there have been sightings of different raptor species over the years, from Common Kestrel to Himalayan Vulture, and from Black Kite to Steppe Eagle.

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Along with the Oriental Honey-buzzard, I also saw Kalij Pheasant, Crimson Sunbird, Scarlet Minivet, both male and female, and Blue-capped Rock Thrush, again both male and female. Over the next couple of months, the Blue-capped Rock Thrush will likely nest in this area, and there should be more sightings. I was also able to document a couple of Spiny Babblers on the final ride.

The spot I frequent has, over the years, become popular with birders and photographers from the birding community, which is a positive sign that awareness of natural diversity is spreading well. On one of my rides, I encountered a Nepali birder and photographer who had brought foreign guests, and they were clearly enjoying the diversity this place offers. It is always encouraging to know that visitors can take home a meaningful memory of Nepal’s natural richness. What made me sad, however, was that the guests were using their phone speaker to play bird calls and attract birds. As I stopped nearby after noticing this, I slowly called the Nepali guide separately and told him that it was not a good idea for the clients to play bird calls in order to attract birds, and asked him to request that they stop. He understood my perspective and agreed, though reluctant to say that to his clients, in order not to embarrass his clients or upset them. Seeing his position, I left without disturbing the group, who were about 15 to 20 meters away watching a nuthatch on an Utis tree.

Having worked in the tourism industry, I also understand his position. Some guides do not want to correct their clients about the legal or moral side of wildlife watching during a trek or other activity, fearing bad reviews, anger, or embarrassment. For me, the most important thing has always been the briefing before the trip, where the dos and don’ts are clearly explained so that people understand how to experience Nepal responsibly, without creating legal or ethical problems. In wildlife observation, especially birding, we need to remember that most foreign clients come once and may never return to the same place for the same experience. But the birds, the guides, birders, and other visitors will continue to use that habitat repeatedly. If every birding trip relies on calls or baiting to impress clients or to take better photos, the birds will be stressed, and over time, their habitat use may be affected.

Birding culture is a good thing, but it should not come at the expense of other living beings just to get better photos or impress clients. Ethical birding can still lead to excellent photographs and memorable experiences; it simply requires more patience, a better understanding of habitat, or some repeated visits. Shortcuts may help in the moment, but they also cause harm.

Below are some of the species of flora and fauna I was able to observe or document during the month of March 2026.     

Bird:
Orange-bellied Leafbird ♂ ♀, Maroon Oriole, Lesser Yellownape ♀, Himalayan Black-lored Tit, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Long-tailed Broadbill, Scarlet Minivet ♂ ♀, Black Bulbul, Verditer Flycatcher, Great Cormorant, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Cinereous Vulture, White-capped Redstart, White-crested Laughingthrush, Himalayan Prinia, Wallcreeper, Ashy Drongo, Long-tailed Shrike, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Crimson Sunbird, Spiny Babbler, Blue-capped Rock Thrush ♂ ♀, Kalij Pheasant ♀, Oriental Magpie Robin, Himalayan Bulbul, Indian White-eye, Great Barbet, Black Kite, Blue-throated Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, White Wagtail, etc.

Mammal:
Irrawaddy Squirrel, Barking Deer.

Insect:
Black-spotted Lady Beetles (Tribe Coccinellini), Thin-legged Wolf Spiders (Genus Pardosa), Circe (Hestinalis nama), Tiger Beetles (Family Cicindelidae), Common Jester Butterfly, Orange-banded Milionia Moth (Milionia basalis), Angled Red Forester Butterfly (Lethe chandica), etc.

Plant:
Indian Squirrel Tail (Colebrookea oppositifolia), Utis (Alnus nepalensis), Bamboo, Peepal Tree (Ficus religiosa), Simal (Bombax ceiba), Possible: Grape-leaf Wood Rose (Distimake vitifolius), Possible: St. John’s Worts Genus Hypericum, Lali gurans (Rhododendron arboretum), etc.

Ajay Narsingh Rana