Places visited:
1) Nubra Valley
2) Rumbak Valley
3) Khardung La
4) Taglang La
5) Zanskar River Valley
6) Tso Kar
7) Sumdo
8) Shey
Missed out on birding at Tso Moriri where many waterfowl breed in summer, but had to let it go due to lack of time. A visit to Tso Moriri is recommended for Black-Necked Crane, Common Merganser, Red-Crested Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Hume's Groundpecker etc.
Birds Spotted:
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| Black-Billed Magpie (Eurasian Magpie) |
2. Tibetan Partridge - 1 after Taglang La
3. Bar-Headed Goose - 2 near Sumdo
4. Ruddy Shelduck - Large flock in Tso Kar
5. Common Hoopoe - 3 at Hunder
6. Indian Eagle Owl - 1 at Sumdo
7. Little Owl - 1 at Taglang La
8. Common Swift - Many near river valleys
9. White-Throated Needletail - 1 in Nubra Valley
10. Rock Pigeon - many in Leh
11. Hill Pigeon - many after Taglang La, Khardung La
12. Oriental Turtle Dove - 1 in Rumbak
13. Laughing Dove - 1 in Leh
14. Black-Necked Crane - 1 near Sumdo
15. Common Moorhen - 4 in Shey
16. Common Coot - 1 in Shey
17. Spotted Redshank - 1 near Diskit
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| Black-Necked Crane |
19. Green Sandpiper - many at Tso Kar
20. Lesser Sand Plover - many at Tso Kar
21. Greater Sand Plover - 1 near Tso Kar
22. Tibetan Sandgrouse - 1 flushed near Tso Kar
23. Brown-Headed Gull - many between Sumdo and Mahe
24. Lammergeier - many flying overhead in Rumbak and Nubra Valleys
25. Himalayan Griffon Vulture - 4 in Rumbak Valley
26. Golden Eagle - 1 at North Pullu
27. Black-Billed Magpie - Common throughout
28. Red-Billed Chough - 4 near Diskit
29. Yellow-Billed Chough - Common at Pang
30. Common Raven - 3 after Taglang La
31. White-Throated Dipper - 1 at Rumbak Valley
32. Black Redstart - Many near Hunder and Mahe
33. White-Capped Water Redstart - 2 at Hunder
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| Blunt-Winged Warbler |
35. Desert Wheatear - 1 at Stakna
36. Rosy Starling - 2 before Taglang La
37. Blunt-Winged Warbler - 1 at Shey
38. House Sparrow - Common in Leh
39. Tibetan Snowfinch - 2 up towards Khardung La
40. Blanford's Snowfinch - 3 near Khardung La
41. White Wagtail - 2 near Shey
42. Citrine Wagtail - 2 at Shey and 3 at Hunder
43. Yellow Wagtail - 1 near Runbak
44. Robin Accentor - 3 at Khardung La
45. Brown Accentor - 1 at Khardung La
46. Fire-Fronted Serin - 2 at Hunder
47. Twite - Common near Debring
48. Plain Mountain Finch - Common near outskirts of Leh
49. Brandt's Mountain Finch - 4 at Taglang La
50. Common Rosefinch - 5 in Leh and 6 near Hunder
51. Red-Fronted Rosefinch - 1 near Hunder
52. Great Rosefinch - 2 at Sumdo
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| Black Redstart (male) |
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| Black Redstart (female) |
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| Brandt's Mountain Finch |
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| Chukar Partridge |
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| Citrine Wagtail |
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| Common Raven |
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| Common Rosefinch |
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| Desert Wheatear |
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| Fire-Fronted Serin |
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| Great Rosefinch |
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| Hill Pigeon |
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| Horned Lark |
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| Lesser Sand Plover |
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| Oriental Turtle Dove |
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| Plain Mountain Finch |
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| Red-Billed Chough |
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| Twite |
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| White-Winged Redstart (Guldenstadt's Redstart) |
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| Yellow-Billed Chough (Alpine Chough) |
Best Birding points in Ladakh are at Rumbak Valley and Tso Moriri. The density and variety of birds in Ladakh, in general, is very low and a lot of time is spent travelling rather than birding.
But Ladakh has a few special birds like Little Owl, Black-Necked Crane and Tibetan Sandgrouse which are not found anywhere else in the country, and these demand a special trip!
Important : Acclimatization is necessary. At least 2 days rest at Leh is recommended for all tourists after reaching Leh. Altitude sickness and Mountain sickness are common in Ladakh and the lack of oxygen can be felt at Khardung La and Taglang La, which also happen to be the two highest motorable roads in the world!
Bike / Car Rentals : Active Adventures (Angchok 9906971009) [Bullet recommended for mountain biking]
Stay at Leh : Skitpo Guest House
Stay at Hunder : Double Humped Camp (http://www.doublehumpedcampladakh.com/)
Inner Line Permits are needed for going to Nubra Valley, Tso Moriri and Pangong Lake. This can be obtained from any travel agent at Leh.
All in all, a biking paradise rather than a birding paradise!
