Being outdoors in October was certainly on the itinerary, but before getting into the adventures and the nature I encountered, I want to share one of the personal goals I was able to achieve this month. I started Prakritinepal.com in October 2015 after procrastinating on the idea since 2013. The inspiration came from the frustration of not finding proper visual references for insects and plant species from Nepal, especially the ones I had been documenting.
It began as a small project with a modest goal and no long-term plan, as I expected life to eventually distract me with other work. Fast forward 10 years, and I am still going strong, updating the website every month with at least two new species and writing the “What I Saw” segment for the last 110 consecutive months.
It has been a solo endeavor for a decade, and I hope future collaborations will help me document and showcase even more of Nepal’s natural world. The motivation I receive from readers, ranging from followers of the blog to people who discover the site while searching for species in Nepal, and from professors and biodiversity experts who have expressed the value of this work, has kept me focused and consistent over the years. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has knowingly or unknowingly been part of this journey: from those who took me into the forests, to those who shared their knowledge, advised on improvements, my friend who helped me get the domain and hosting space from abroad, those who offered opportunities to speak or exhibit my work, included me in their research projects, assigned species-documentation projects, or purchased photographs that helped fund some of my documentation-focused trips. The journey has been surreal, marked by every emotion, from the happiness of seeing new species to the sadness that comes with the struggles, be it monetary or due to lack of resources..
Over time, the website has evolved into a growing repository of Nepal’s flora and fauna. The scope has also broadened; for example, I have begun collecting and adding local names of species. I hope that a decade from now, I will be able to write a similar note of gratitude, along with showcasing just how diverse Nepal is in terms of biodiversity and why conserving it is vital for both people and the environment.
Coming back to the journeys I had in October, the first day of the month marked the end of a beautiful trip with my friends Suraj and Kamana, and their son Maitreya, as we headed back to Kathmandu after visiting Australian Base Camp and Dhampus. Before our flight, we had nearly half a day to spend, so we went to the powerhouse on the south side of Pokhara. As we descended the long flight of stairs, the beautiful waterfall slowly came into view, and my thoughts wandered between whether I should prepare my 150–600mm lens for the birds near the water or the 90mm macro for insects and reptiles. The 90mm won, and I was ready to see what the area had to offer.
Walking through the narrow singletrack covered in foliage, I spotted a Paris Peacock butterfly. As we reached the stream, I immediately saw a couple of damselflies and dragonflies that I hadn’t documented before. We spent almost an hour exploring the stream and the waterfall area, during which I focused on documenting the damselflies and dragonflies. We also spotted a Plumbeous Water Redstart near the waterfall as it moved up and down the stream in search of insects. Warblers were singing inside the nearby shrubs. Although I didn’t see any snakes, a group of tourists mentioned that one had crossed their path while they were sunbathing. From their description, it was likely a species of keelback.
Back in Kathmandu, Prakash dai and I went on a birding trip to Manahara. This was our first visit there after the monsoon, and I was excited to see what migratory species had arrived. We descended to the riverbank through singletracks along the farmlands and settled near a shrub that offered shade and kept us hidden from the birds. From the bank, we were thrilled to spot a Woolly-necked Stork in the distance. It was our first time seeing this species here, and we immediately began documenting it. The excitement grew as it slowly walked downstream toward our area on the other side of the riverbank, searching for food, an ideal opportunity for me to observe it up close, as previous sightings had always been from far away.
However, as we were observing its behavior, the stork grew uneasy when another birder approached its area while focused on documenting a Tibetan Sand Plover near the opposite bank. Despite our calls to him to stay low, both birds flew off, heading upstream. So much for carefully observing the area while allowing the birds their space without disturbance.
With no birds remaining nearby and the morning slowly passing away, we returned to the farmlands. On our way back, we spotted Scaly-breasted Munias, a Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, some Pied Bushchats, and Common Stonechats. We also saw a White-throated Kingfisher dive into a mud pool and emerge with what appeared to be a catfish.
This month, I also explored the west side of Kathmandu toward Bhimdhunga during training rides and birding trips. One of the beautiful things about nature is how visibly it changes with the seasons, the shift in foliage, the behavior of insects and birds, new species arriving, and others retreating for the winter until their return in spring. As the weather clears and the sky turns blue, the northern mountain ranges also become visible, revealing Annapurna, Manaslu North, and the Ganesh Himal.
I was able to document several species of flowers that still need identification, but it was fascinating to see small blooms in full color. Black Bulbuls were active during their morning routines, their calls echoing across the landscape as they moved from tree to tree in search of food. I also caught a glimpse of an Orange-bellied Leafbird and saw an Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel dash across the trail.
Having only visited Bungamati a few times this year, I went hiking there with friends and explored the vast golden rice fields ready for harvest. Walking along the narrow singletracks between the fields, I spotted Grey-backed Shrikes, Common Stonechats, Baya Weavers, Long-tailed Shrikes, and Eurasian Collared Doves. I always make sure to check the banks of the Bagmati River for shorebirds, even though the stench from the water usually forces one to leave quickly. I’m glad we checked this time; we were able to see some Common Sandpipers and wagtails. As we scanned the riverbank, one of my friends spotted a Woolly-necked Stork calmly grooming itself on the opposite side of the river. I was thrilled to see another Woolly-necked Stork just a couple of days after documenting one in Manahara. Kathmandu Valley still holds pockets of natural habitat that are becoming important refuges for migratory birds.
On my second trip to Bungamati, I saw a Great Cormorant being bullied by a couple of crows, which repeatedly tugged its tail feathers before jumping back as the cormorant reacted. This went on for a while. Later, I saw another cormorant swimming in the Bagmati River, attempting to catch prey. Given the condition of the river, it was a sad sight to witness any creature searching for food in such contaminated water. Unless sewage treatment plants are installed throughout the Kathmandu Valley, the Bagmati, Bishnumati, and other smaller rivers will continue to suffer from pollution, affecting both people and wildlife.
The final trip of the month was leading a group of sixteen clients on a mountain bike adventure in Mustang. Wildlife sightings were limited, as the weather deteriorated and much of the trip involved managing the resulting challenges. However, the ride down from Muktinath was memorable. I saw a couple of Bearded Vultures, and one made a close flyby. I couldn’t document it as I was riding, but the moment will stay with me whenever I return to that place. I also spotted a Wallcreeper during a visit to an old monastery.
I did manage to capture a few landscape photos, as the seasonal changes brought beautiful shades of yellow and orange to the trees. Fresh snowfall during the bad weather added to the drama of the scenery.
Overall, October felt like an average month compared to September, but it still had unique and memorable moments. Below are the species of flora and fauna I was able to observe and document.
Bird:
Plumbeous Water Redstart, Woolly-necked Stork, Tibetan Sand Plover, Common Sandpiper, White Wagtail, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Black Drongo, Olive-backed Pipit, Siberian stonechat, Scaly-breasted Munia, Leaf Warbler, Pied Bushchat, Common Hoopoe, Little Egret, White-throated Kingfisher, Black Kite, Grey-backed Shrike, Common Stonechat, Baya Weaver, Long-tailed Shrike, Eurasian Collared Dove, Indian Pond Heron, Great Cormorant, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, White-capped Redstart, Bearded Vulture, Wallcreeper, etc.
Insect:
Crane Fly (Hexatoma nepalensis), Cicadas, Punchinello Butterfly, Velvet Ant, etc.
Mammal:
Yellow-throated Marten.
Flora:
Himalayan Melastome, Water Hyacinth, Ivy-leaved Morning Glory (Ipomoea cairica), Pink Knotweed, etc.
Ajay Narsingh Rana
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