West India

Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharastra

with optional post-tour extension for Orange Bullfinch

25th January - 11th / 14th February 2025

Leader: Shashank Dalvi

Note: can be combined with South India

This grand tour of western India takes us through four states, after searching for Sind Sparrow and Rufous-vented Grass-babbler in the Punjab wetlands we head south for Indian Spotted-creeper and wintering Yellow-eyed Stock Doves in Rajasthan before heading west to the 'The Golden City of India'; Jaisalmer. Though it is a wonderful, historic and scenic city the draw for us is the Great Indian Bustard, as it teeters on the brink of extinction. Heading south, via the spectacle of 'The cranes of Keechan' into the dry-state of Gujarat where birds are literally everywhere.
Visiting four areas we take in some of India's rarest species amid spectacular scenery with masses of game - Indian Wild Ass, cats, Blackbuck, Spotted Hyena and a chance of Leopard. Green Avadavat, Hypocolius, White-naped Tit, Sykes's Nightjar, Mottled Wood Owl, Indian Eagle Owl, Stoliczka's Bushchat, Macqueen's Bustard to name a few of the particularly noteworthy species before we fly across to Maharashtra in search of the Forest Owlet, a species that went missing for 113 years until it was rediscovered in 1997.
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This tour not only harbours some of the subcontinents rarest avian delights but is one of the most bird-filled tours possible anywhere in Asia. Coupled with wonderful scenery, mammals galore and some of India's finest food this makes for an exhilarating tour.

For those interested, we can also offer a post-tour extension to Jammu & Kashmir, where in late January to late February Orange Bullfinch is regularly found. In addition, there are also chances of Blyth's Rosefinch, Kashmir Nutcracker, Kashmir and White-cheeked Nuthatches and Rufous-naped Tits. Please let us know if it's of interest.

‍Day 1:
International arrivals into Amritsar International Airport (ATQ). Night in Amritsar.

‍Day 2:
Full day birding the extensive marshes at Harike in search of the range-restricted speciality Rufous-vented Grass-babbler as the primary goal, with Sind Sparrow and White-tailed Stonechat also likely, while there is a chance of Jerdon's Babbler if we're lucky. Wintering birds abound and can include Moustached Warbler, Brooks's Leaf Warbler and sindianus Mountain Chiffchaff. Night in Amritsar.

‍Day 3:
Early morning birding at Harike once more before driving south to Tal Chhapar, arriving in the evening. Night at Tal Chhapar.

‍Day 4:
Full day at Tal Chhapar, birding grassland and remnant thorn forest. Our main target here is Indian Spotted-creeper. The remnant grasslands and surrounding scrub we have a chance of Indian Eagle Owl, Demoiselle Crane, Pallid and Montagu’s Harrier, a variety of Aquila eagles predominately made up of Steppe Eagles with Imperial Eagle possible, and a broader, large numbers of passerines and raptors that winter in and around the reserve. Mammal-wise, Blackbuck is present in numbers. The thorn forest gives us our first chances with Rock Bush Quail, Black Francolin, Eastern Orphean Warbler and even White-bellied Minivet, as we go in search of Indian Spotted-creeper. Night at Tal Chappar.

‍Day 5:
Depart very early pre-dawn to reach Bikaner rubbish dump to search for Yellow-eyed Dove, which should be present in numbers, as 500-2000 winter in the area. Also, a fantastic site to see Steppe Eagle and other Aquila mixed in with Eurasian Griffon at the dump up close. After this, drive west to Keechan.
We have a lunch time visit to Keechan where thousands of Demoiselle Cranes winter. They gather around a small lake to drink with hundreds dotting the sky as they circle down to slake their thirst. Once we've taken in the fluting chorus of these thousands of birds, we continue south to spend the late afternoon birding at Fossil Wood Park for Striolated Bunting, Persian (Red-tailed) Wheatear, Desert Whitethroat, Indian Eagle Owl and Desert Lark. Night at Jaisalmer.

‍Days 6-7:
Two days in-and-around Desert National Park. Our priority will be securing views of India’s most famous, but unfortunately now rarest species – the Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustard. The population has suffered a recent catastrophic decline and really is facing imminent extinction. However, the area is also full of birds including another declining, rare species – Stoliczka’s Bushchat, which we hope to find whilst searching for the bustard. A whole range of semi-desert species are also possible here – Cream-coloured Courser, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Desert Whitethroat, Eastern Orphean Warbler, Asian Desert Warbler, ‘Punjab Raven’, Black-crowned Finch Lark, Desert Lark, Imperial, Tawny and Steppe Eagles, Variable Wheatear, and Lagger Falcon. Three Critically Endangered vultures are also possible – Indian, White-rumped and Red-headed, along with the more widespread Eurasian Griffin and Egyptian. Night at Jaisalmer.

‍Day 8:
If we have been successful early with the Indian Bustards, we can return to Desert National Park for morning birding or expand our birding to search for any species we’re missing, otherwise we continue our search for the bustard. After lunch we drive through the heat of the day to Siana. If time, chance for a night-drive in search of Striped Hyena, and Indian Eagle Owl. Night in Siana.

‍Day 9:
A full day around the rugged landscape of Siana. Though we have a chance of seeing Leopard, and Striped Hyena we also search for the nomadic White-bellied Minivet, Critically Endangered Indian Vulture and other species that could include Rock Bush Quail and Painted Sandgrouse. Night in Siana.

‍Day 10:
After a pre-dawn drive, we spend the morning around the open scrub and fields on the top of Mount Abu will hopefully bring us into contact with another rare Indian subcontinent endemic – Green Avadavat. Mount Abu is one of the few known localities for the species and we have an excellent chance of finding a small flock feeding quietly at the base of nearby bushes. Indian Yellow Tit, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, White-spotted Fantail, Plum-headed Parakeet, White-capped and Crested Buntings are all possible here. Following lunch, we drive back down the mountain and across the plains to the Little Rann of Kutch, possibly in time for some late afternoon birding. Night at Little Rann of Kutch.

‍Day 11:
We take morning and afternoon jeep rides into the heart of the Little Rann of Kutch today, returning for lunch. The Little Rann is most famous for its still healthy population of Indian Wild Ass, and we should see several as we go in search of the area’s avian specialities. Our main targets include roosting Sykes’s Nightjar at dusk, Greater Hoopoe Lark, Lesser Flamingo, Indian Courser, White-tailed Plover, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers, Imperial, Tawny and Greater Spotted Eagles while Sociable Lapwings still hold on in ever-decreasing wintering numbers, Macqueen’s Bustard is a scarce migrant and getting difficult to rely on, though we will still spend a morning searching for this rare winter visitor. The camps fertile grounds have been a regular roosting spot for Pallid Scops Owl in recent years, and Sykes’s Warbler is often wintering here too. Night at Little Rann of Kutch.

‍Day 12:
Early start as we head to Nal Sarovar for early morning birding, where Sociable Lapwing is a possibility. Then on to Jamnagar, arriving for dinner. Night at Bhuj.

‍Days 13-14:
Bhuj is situated in the Greater Rann of Kutch and, like the rest of Gujarat, teeming with birds, however it is home to a few rare, range-restricted species we are unlikely to see elsewhere. During our two full days birding in and around Bhuj we have to travel in several different directions for out targets, which include Hypocolius, Marshall’s Iora, White-naped Tit, Painted Sandgrouse, Indian and Cream-coloured Coursers, Dalmatian Pelican, Grey-necked Bunting, Indian Eagle Owl, Persian (Red-tailed) Wheatear and occasionally Pale Rockfinch, to name a few.
Birding the coast one morning will also give us a good chance of Crab-Plover, along with loads of gulls, shorebirds and terns for us to enjoy.
Nights in Bhuj.

‍Day 15:
Depart early to Bhuj Airport, flying to Mumbai. From here we drive northeast out of the sprawling metropolis into the rural lands of Maharashtra, to Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, possibly in time for some late afternoon birding. Night Atgaon.

‍Day 16:
We spend a full day at a reserve outside of Mumbai where the Endangered Forest Owlet was found at the end of 2014. This central Indian endemic remained undiscovered for 113 years until its discovery just over 25 years ago and is still very little-known. We will have a full day and following morning in search of this once-mythical species and other species possible while we search for the owl include Vigors’s Sunbird – a range-restricted endemic, Mottled Wood Owl, Indian Scops Owl, Jungle Nightjar, Jungle Owlet, Western Crowned Warbler, White-eyed Buzzard, Indian Golden and Black-hooded Orioles, Jungle Bush Quail, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta and plenty more widespread central Indian species. Night Atgaon.

‍Day 17:
After final mornings birding in Tansa, we head back to Mumbai in the afternoon for a final dinner. Night in Mumbai.

‍Day 18:
International departures from Mumbai International Airport (BOM).

Post-tour Extension
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‍Day 18:
Early morning direct flight to Srinagar Airport (SXR), the state capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Transfer to hotel, after an early lunch, full afternoon birding. Night in Srinagar.

‍Days 19-20:
Depending on the weather conditions will depend on where we go birding exactly. We’re likely to visit 2-3 different areas. Our primary focus will be on Orange Bullfinch, Kashmir and White-cheeked Nuthatches, Rufous-naped Tit and Kashmir Nutcracker. A supporting cast could include Scaly-bellied, Brown-fronted and Himalayan Woodpeckers, Black-and-yellow Grosbeak, Streaked and Variegated Laughingthrushes with outside chances of Spectacled Finch and White-throated Bushtit, while in recent winters Blyth’s Rosefinch has also been found nearby. A few migrant species winter in the area too. Black-throated Thrush is the most noticeable in most years, while we also have chances of Chestnut Thrush, Black-throated Accentor, Blue-capped Redstart, and even Eversmann’s Redstart ssome years. Nights in Srinagar.

‍Day 21:
Departures from Srinagar International Airport (SXR).