Featured Guide

India, Raptor Wonderland

India has a great diversity of bird life, with some species being of Palearctic origin, others African, and still others originating in southeastern Asia. There is even a greater diversity of diurnal raptors—an impressive 69 species, of which we should see 50 or more, as well as many species of other animals.

While most of India is now under cultivation, some areas remain essentially natural; these areas are where we are going to find our raptors.

Indians have had a great reverence for animal life; as a result, few animals are persecuted or hunted. Thus many individuals are relatively tame. We will get to watch many Indian raptors up close, and with a little luck, a Tiger!

Tour visits Elephanta Island, Little Rann of Kutch, and Velavedar, Kaziranga, Keoladeo, and Corbett National Parks, among other places, to maximize species coverage. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore India for three weeks in search for raptors along with Bill Clark and Sergio Seipke!

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Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1

24 November

Arrive in Mumbai at Mumbai, India (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, IATA code: BOM). Transfer to our hotel.

Day 2

25 November

All-day trip to Elephanta Island. We will travel by boat approx. an hour through Bombay harbor to this undisturbed island. Here we will climb to a peak and watch the all day procession of flying raptors (chairs are available to be carried to the top for a small fee). There is a pond on the nearby ridge where many come to drink and loaf. We will see many Brahminy and Black Kites, as well as Common Buzzard, Shikra, Black-shouldered Kite, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, and others. Here is our best chance to see the White-bellied Sea Eagle. There is a nice restaurant on the island for lunch.

Day 3

26 November

Fly early morning to Rajkot in Gujarat. We go to the Little Rann of Kutch, where we may see Eastern Imperial Eagles & Peregrines, and on the way, Red-headed Falcons. We should also see Tawny Eagle & Long-legged Buzzard. Kavery Hotel, Rajkot.

Day 4

27 November

Travel by road to Velavedar National Park, arriving at this wonderful grassland in the afternoon in time to observe hundreds of harriers coming to roost. We will see Montagu’s, Pallid, & Marsh Harriers perched and flying by close.

Dinner and overnight in Bhavnagar.

Day 5

28 November

Morning drive through Velavedar, then drive to Desert Coursers. After lunch we will drive into the Little Rann of Kutch to see wildlife, especially Wild Asses, but also many raptors. Desert Coursers.

Day 6

29 November

Morning drive through the Little Rann, then on to Ahmadabad, where we catch our flight to New Delhi. Dinner and overnight in New Delhi.

Day 7

30 November

Early morning flight to Guhawati, then drive to Kaziranga National Park. We should see some raptors en route.

Day 8

1 December

In Kaziranga we will see species more representative of southeastern Asia, such as Jerdon’s and Black Bazas, Crested Goshawks, and Pied, and Striped Harriers. We will also see Grey-headed Fish Eagles, and maybe a Tiger.

Day 9

2 December

Return to Guhawati to catch flight back to New Delhi. Dinner and overnight in New Delhi.

Day 10

3 December

Morning drive to Bharatpur, site of the famous Keoladeo Park. Here we shall stay for a few exciting days. Bharatpur Forest Lodge.

Days 11–12

4–5 December

Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur). We will continue to explore all corners of this fascinating raptor concentration area. We should see many individuals of many species, including Short-toed Snake, Palla’s Fish, Greater & Lesser Spotted, Bonelli’s, and Booted Eagles. Peregrine Falcon is almost always resident in winter. After morning outings, we will return to the lodge to sip tea or soda and watch the soaring raptors. Often as many as 12 species can be observed in several hours. After lunch and a short rest, we continue with afternoon excursions into the park. We should be able to see Spotted Owlet, Collared Scops Owl, and Dusky Eagle-Owl. Perhaps we might see a Brown Hawk-Owl. Bharatpur Forest Lodge.

Day 13

6 December

Morning drive to Agra for a visit to the famous Taj Mahal. After lunch we start for Corbett National Park, stopping for the night at Gajuraula.

Day 14

7 December

Continue to Corbett National Park by vehicle, with stops to see interesting raptors. Quality Inn.

Days 15–16

8–9 December

Excursions outside the park and up to the mountains to the north. We can expect to see many of the species already observed and in addition Osprey, several species of vultures, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rufous-bellied, Changeable, and Mountain Hawk-Eagles, and Black Eagles. Lunch at hotel or picnic lunch. Quality Inn.

Days 17–18

10–11 December

Inside Corbett Park to Dhikala. Here we should see Osprey, Lesser Fish Eagle, and Red-thighed Falconet, as well as many mentioned above, and maybe also a Tiger. We may see a Brown Fish Owl or other owl, if we are lucky. Forest Rest House, Dhikala.

Day 19

12 December

Drive back to New Delhi. Claridge’s Hotel.

Day 20

13 December

Catch flights back home.

Target Species

Common Names

1. Osprey
2. Black-shouldered Kite
3. Brahminy Kite
4. Black Kite
5. Black Baza
6. Jerdon’s Baza
7. Crested Honey Buzzard
8. Crested Serpent Eagle
9. Short-toed Snake Eagle
10. Western Marsh Harrier
11. Eastern Marsh Harrier
12. Montagu’s Harrier
13. Pallid Harrier
14. Pied Harrier
15. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
16. Shikra
17. Crested Goshawk
18. White-bellied Sea Eagle
19. Pallas’s Fish Eagle
20. Lesser Fish Eagle
21. Gray-headed Fish Eagle
22. Long-legged Buzzard
23. Common Buzzard
24. Booted Eagle
25. Tawny Eagle
26. Steppe Eagle
27. Eastern Imperial Eagle
28. Bonelli’s Eagle
29. Lesser Spotted Eagle
30. Greater Spotted Eagle
31. Indian Black Eagle
32. Changeable Hawk-Eagle
33. Mountain Hawk-Eagle
34. Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle
35. Collared Falconet
36. Common Kestrel
37. Eurasian Hobby
38. Red-necked Falcon
39. Peregrine Falcon

Mammals

1. Tiger
2. Greater One-horned Rhino
3. Indian Elephant
4. Swamp Deer

latin names

1. Pandion haliaetus
2. Elanus caerulescens
3. Haliastur indus
4. Milvus migrans
5. Aviceda leuphotes
6. Aviceda jerdoni
7. Pernis ptilorhynchus
8. Spilornis cheela
9. Circaetus gallicus
10. Circus aeruginosus
11. Circus spilonotus
12. Circus pygargus
13. Circus macrourus
14. Circus melanoleucus
15. Accipter nisus
16. Accipiter badius
17. Accipiter trivirgatus
18. Haliaeetus leucogaster
19. Haliaeetus leucoryphus
20. Haliaeetus humilis
21. Haliaeetus ichthyaetus
22. Buteo rufinus
23. Buteo buteo
24. Hieraeetus pennatus
25. Aquila rapax
26. Aquila nipalensis
27. Aquila heliaca
28. Aquila fasciata
29. Clanga pomarina
30. Clanga clanga
31. Ictinaetus malaiensis
32. Nisaetus cirrhatus
33. Nisaetus nipalenis
34. Loohotriorchis kienerii
35. Microhierax caerulescens
36. Falco tinnunculus
37. Falco subbuteo
38. Falco chicquera
39. Falco peregrinus

mammals

1. Panthera tigris
2. Rhinoceros unicornis
3. Elephas maximus
4. Rucervus duvaucelii

Suggested Field Guides

Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley. 1983. A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford U. Press, Bombay.

Grimmet, R., C. Inskipp, and T. Inskipp. 2012. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Helm Field Guides.

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Tour Co-Leader

Tour Showcase

Terms

Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.

Raptours, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.

No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.

All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Mumbai.

No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.

Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)