(Advertisement?) Pakistan and Monsoon NW India trip - Jul/Aug 2023

[Michael Kearns via Birding-Aus <>]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for people to join me on a trip I am planning to Pakistan and NW India from the 22nd of July to the 10th of August.

The trip is based around visiting the Ajmer area in NW India during the monsoon to see Critically Endangered Lesser Floricans displaying, looking for the very rare Long-billed Grasshopper Warbler where it was recently re-found in northern Pakistan and targeting the West Himalayan and Indian monsoon specialities.

Rough itinerary and some key species to look for:

0.5 day Harike:                         Rufous-vented Grass-babbler, Jerdon's Babbler.
2.5 days Naltar Valley:             Long-billed Grasshopper Warbler (if the tiny area of remaining habitat where James Eaton found it last year hasn't been overgrazed), Blyth's Rosefinch, Kashmir Nutcracker, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Rufous-naped Tit, maybe Kashmir Nuthatch (these last 4 also at Kagan).
3.5 days Kagan Valley:            Orange Bullfinch, Spectacled Finch, White-throated Bushtit, Black-and-Yellow Grosbreak, Golden Bush Robin, Pink-browed Rosefinch.
1.0 day Margalla Hills:             White-cheeked Bushtit, Black-headed Jay, Himalayan Parakeet.
2.0 days Himachal Pradesh:   c.1.5 days spent driving to spend a morning looking for West Himalayan Grasshopper Warbler.
0.5 day Delhi area:                  displaying Bristled Grassbird.
1.5 days Haldwani:                 c.1 day spent driving to spend a morning visiting a breeding colony of Finn's Weaver (rumoured to be uplisted to Critically Endangered soon).
2.5 days Ajmer area:               Lesser Florican displaying, Rain Quail, Rock Bush Quail, Red-necked Falcon. Might have time to look for White-naped Tit, White-bellied Minivet, Indian Spotted Creeper, Indian Pitta.
0.5 day Pune:                         displaying Broad-tailed Grassbird, Painted Francolin.
3.5 days                                  Travel time between locations (plus some overnight buses and late night flights).

I haven't worked out a cost estimate yet, but internal flights aren't too expensive in India and car+driver (or just car if people prefer) should be relatively cheap if split among several people. Food and accommodation should be cheap.

I will probably will get tour company Asian Adventures to organize a guide (or at least a driver who knows the sites) for the Ajmer area, which will cost a bit more.

Cheers,

Michael

0434582005

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