Have you ever thought how many species of birds are there in India? If you are a true birder, then you must know the number. Walking by the roads amidst the forest is an amazing experience, especially when you hear the beautiful chirping of the birds.
Birders need utmost patience and perseverance as bird watching is not for everyone. To spot the unique and beautiful birds around the country, there is no place other than Uttarakhand. Out of known 1500 species, more than 50% of the species of birds can be found in Uttarakhand alone. Here are the top-notch places in Uttarakhand where you can indulge in birding.
Rajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park is one of the most amazing parks where you can a wide number of birds. It is located in the foothills of the Shiwalik Range; the park is spread across the Pauri Garhwal. Being located in the transition zone between western and central Himalayas and thus it hosts a wide number of uncommon avian species. The species that you can spot are greater scaup, white-naped woodpecker, great hornbill, black-bellied tern, pallas’s fish eagle, northern goshawk, black-necked stork, scaly thrush and a lot more.
Pangot
Pangot is another major attraction to spot beautiful birds. Located a few kilometers away from Nainital, Pangot is one of the small villages that attract a lot of birders every year. If you are staying in Nainital, then you can spend an early morning trailing in Pangot to observe beautiful species of birds. You can witness Himalayan griffon, blue-winged minla, spotted and Slaty-backed forktail, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied niltava, and Khaleej pheasants. All these birds are quite mesmerizing and their beauty is worth investing time.
Sattal
Sattal is a beautiful location that is 45 km away from Nainital which is tucked between the mountains of Uttarakhand. This beautiful lake is surrounded by some mesmerizing flora and fauna. A stay at Sattal ensures witnessing beautiful birds including red-billed blue magpie, kingfishers, blue-throated and brown-headed barbet, lineated barbet, golden-throated barbet, crimson-fronted barbet, coppersmith barbet Plum-headed parakeet that comes to the lake. They stay nearby the lake and if you sit there with your camera ready, then you can click some beautiful shots of the birds.
Corbett National Park
The most renowned national park of India, Corbett National Park is home to many animals and birds. Visitors who are attracted by nature visit this place quite often to witness the beauty of the wilderness. There are over 18 kinds of owls identified in the Jim Corbett National Park including the Spotted Owlet, Fish Owls, and the Scops Owls. The nightjars in the park include the Jungle Nightjar, the Franklin’s Nightjar, the Stone Curlew and the Great Stone Plover. There are many more amazing species of birds which can be spotted while on the safari. It is always best to carry your camera with powerful lenses to capture the winged-beauty.
Chopta
Chopta is a small village that is surrounded by pine, deodar and rhododendron forests. It is rich in flora and fauna and a paradise for birders. The entire region is beautiful and covered with beautiful trees. Apart from the splendid natural beauty. One can be mesmerized by different species of birds such as Himalayan Monal, Himalayan Griffon, Scarlet Finch, Mountain Hawk Eagle, GoldenEye, Hill Partridge and much more.
For a birder who loves spending time watching those mesmerizing species in their natural beauty, Uttarakhand is definitely a paradise. So without any second thought, pack your bags and spend some quality time with the beauties.
