I spent a wonderful 6 nights at Gaida Lodge in the town of Sauraha which is situated right next to the Chitwan National Park. I hired a wonderful birding guide, Bishnu, to take me on walking trips each day. Guides are compulsory in and around the park but in retrospect, I would have wanted to hire him anyway. Not only was there a beautiful connection between us based on a mutual love of birds but he was also able to see countless birds I probably would have missed. He holds the record for the most Nepalese bird species seen in a single day.
My itinerary during my time here:
Day 1: Arrive, settle into the lodge, meet Bishnu, do an afternoon bird walk in the community forrest. Highlight: Jungle owlett.
Day 2: Canoe trip down the Rapti River, disembark into the Chitwan National Park, do a day walk through the park back to the lodge.
Day 3: Morning bird walk in the community forrest. Jeep safari in the park.
Day 4: Morning bird walk in the community forrest. Highlight: Photos of Common kingfisher.
Day 5: Morning birdwatching in the farmlands by bike. Highlight: Painted snipe.
Day 6: Morning birdwatching in the farmlands by bike.
Day 7: Catch an early bus back to Kathmandu.
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| The hotel where I stayed |
Birdwatching walks
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| My wonderful birding guide, Bishnu |
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| An abandoned lodge consumed by the jungle |
Chitwan National Park canoo and walk
Farmland birding by bike
Sunset on the river
Deer in the national park
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| Sambar Deer (Male) |
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| Spotted Deer |
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| Spotted Deer |
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| Indian Hog Deer (?) |
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| Spotted Deer |
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| Spotted Deer |
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| Spotted Deer |
Monkeys
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| Rhesus Monkey |
Elephant
Sandpipers, Plovers, Snipes
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Green and Wood Sandpiper
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| Wood Sandpiper |
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| Great Painted Snipe |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Grey-headed Lapwing |
Storks
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| Asian Openbill |
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| Asian Openbill |
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| Lesser Adjutant |
Bee eaters
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| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater |
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| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater |
Kingfishers
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| Common Kingfisher |
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| Common Kingfisher |
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| White-throated Kingfisher |
Woodpeckers
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| Common Flameback |
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| Greater Flameback |
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| Greater Flameback |
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| Lesser Yellownape |
Hornbill
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| Oriental Pied Hornbill |
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| Oriental Pied Hornbill |
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| Oriental Pied Hornbill, Cormorant |
Seedeaters
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| Scaly-breasted Munia |
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| Scaly-breasted Munia |
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| Baya Weaver |
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| Tricoloured Munia |
Egrets and herons
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| Intermediate and Little Egrets |
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| Little Egret |
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| Intermediate Egret |
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| Pond heron |
Pigeon
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| Green Pigeon |
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| Green pigeon |
Coucal
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| Greater Coucal |
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| Greater Coucal |
Owls
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| Jungle Owlett |
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| Jungle Owlett |
Eagles
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| Crested Serpent Eagle |
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| Changeable Hawk Eagle |
Other birds
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| White-rumped Shama |
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| White-rumped Shama |
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| Chestnut-tailed Starling |
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| Red-whiskered bulbul |
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| Eurasion Hoopoe |
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| Black-naped Oriole |
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| Rufus Tree Pie |
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| Forktailed Drongo |
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| Long-tailed Shrike |
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| Spotted Dove |
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| Crow |
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| Left to Right: Wood Snipe, Lineated Barbet, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Red-naped Ibis |
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| White-browed wagtail |
Plants and butterflies
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| Common Mormon (female) |
