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Ladakh is part of
Indian state of Ja mmu & Kashmir. It is the western extension of vast
Tibetan land. Its not easy place for birding , due to remotness &
limited accessibility. one have spent some time do some serious
birding. Ladakh is an vast isolated land which has high altitude. It
has chain of 2 mountain ranges Karakoram in North & Zanskar in
south. Ladakh has around 300 species of birding & is exellent place
to see the migratory birds. Though resident species are altitudinal
migrants. There are alot of Breeding migrates that visit Ladakh ,
during summers in month of April and May & migrate back in August.
Here we have listed some of the prominent birding spots of the vast
land.
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Birding spots of Ladakh :
The Suru Valley
Located at altitude of 2700mts, Suru valley is One of the most
beautiful regions of Ladakh. the valley has combinations of Scrubs ,
meadows & fields.The Suru valley is heart of Kargil which extends to
a length of 75 kms till Panikar in south & Penzilla watershed in
east. The highers reaches of valley is home to some species of birds
that can be seen in Eastern Ladakh also. Some of the rare birds
found here are , Longbilled Bush Warbler, White-tailed Rubythroat ,
Firecapped Tit ,Little Forktail , several warblers,Etc. The best
birding spots of valley are Rungdum , Parakachik & Sanko.
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The Rizong Monastery
Rizong monestory is located 70 kms from Leh, This is the monestory
known for its high levels of monastic levels, It is one of the most
remotest located Monestories of Ladakh & have a stunning location,
The monk of this monestory performs a majot role in protecting the
area, there is small stream & apricot groves here which is great
birding place for lowland species like Brown Dipper , Wallcreeper
and Eurasian Sparrowhawk etc.
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Hemis National Park and the Rumbak Valley
Hemis National park is situated 40 kms southeast of Leh, Hemis is
located on the banks of River Indus. The park has got area of 600sq
kms with an average altitude of 3000mts. Hemis National park is
known for its unique flora and fauna. It provides a great option
with both mammals & birds some rare birds found here are Brown and
White-throated Dippers, Robin Accentor, Wallcreeper, Golden Eagle,
White-winged Redstart , Lammergeier, Horned Lark , Himalayan
Snowcock , Rock Bunting , Red-fronted Serin, rosefinches and
mountain finches.etc.
Its a great place to spot some rare mammals like snow leopard,
Tibetan wild or kiang,urial, blue sheep, ibex, serow and Tibetan
antelope etc.
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Shey marshes:
Its must visit place for any birder, Shey marshes are located in
outskirts of Leh at a distance of 7 kms, The birding area extents
upto Tikshey monestory, One has to cross irrigation channels to
reach river. Its wetland with some great birding to offer, birds
that can be seen in area are common coot, blue throat, common tern
,Eurasian Golden Oriole,Hume's lesser white-throat, Ibisbill, little
grebe,blue rock thrush , northern pintail, Eurasian Hobby,red-crested
pochard , booted eagle , White-winged Redstart, Citrine Wagtail,
Carrion Crow , tufted duck, common teal,Hume's short-toed lark ,garganey,
Streaked Rosefinch, plain mountain finch .
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Nubra Valley
Nubra valley was offlimits to travellers till 1994, this incredible
valley is is located in North of Leh is approched by Khardung La
Pass (5700m), the highest motorable road in the world. Nubra valley
has 70km long Siachen Glacier, which is the longest glacier in the
Karakoram range. The valley has spectacular sand-dunes, small swamps
and extensive buckthorn which is great habitat for some rare birds
like Oriental Skylark, Tibetan Snowcock, variety of shrikes &
warblers , chats and finches , ducks and raptors , winter wren ,
robin & alpine accentor ,Brandt's mountain finch , white-winged
redstart ,yellow-billed chough, brown dipper etc.
Nubra Valley is great place to spot some rare mammals like fox,
wooly hare, pika, Himalayan marmot, lynx,blue sheep , Bactrian camel
& is the only place in India to spot Cape hares
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Puga Valley
Puga valley is located in close parimeters of salt lake valley,
Welknown for it borax & sulphur deposite this valley has offers
great variety of habitat for birds, The valley has combinations
meadows, marshes, streams & high rocky slopes. Theres a good variety
of birds to seen at this place, including Ibisbill, Tibetan
Partridge ,horned lark , Tibetan Snowcock, brown-headed gull ,
Eurasian Eagle-owl,ruddy shelduck , Lammergeier, common merganser,
Upland Buzzard , White-tailed Rubythroat and Black-necked Crane
Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Wryneck, White-throated Dipper,golden
eagle etc.
There are frequent sightings of mammal life like marmot , blue sheep
, Wolf , woolly hare ,pika, fox & weasels.
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Tsomoriri Lake
Tso Moriri is situated at altitude of 4595 m . Tsomiri is the
largest of the High Altitude Lakes in India. Its a protected area
officialy known as "Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve". Located
in Changthang plains, Tso moriri is a frsh water blackish lake with
an area of 120 sq kms.
Tso moriri is one of the best birding spots of Ladakh, It the best
know as breeding ground for Bar headed Geese & is the only breeding
spot in india for Rare black Necked crane. The region is a breeding
ground for many other species like common redshank ,ruddy shelduck ,
lesser sand plover etc. Birds that can be spotted here are lesser
sand plover , brownheaded gull , greatcrested grebe , Accentors,
rosefinches and mountain-finches , Tibetan Sandgrouse, Little Owl,
Hume's Short-toed Lark, Horned Lark, Blanford's Snowfinch , Brahminy
Starling, Eurasian Jackdaw etc.
There are frequent records of mammal life like marmot , blue sheep ,
Wolf , woolly hare ,pika, fox & weasels.
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Tsokar
Tso Kar means "the white lake". It is approx 45 kms northwest of the
Tsomoriri lake. Tsokhar is salt water lake & is so salty that salt
extracted are still sold all over Ladakh. The wild ass can be seen
grazing on the pastures on the side of the lake. It has got a small
gompa and the surrounding village THUKSE. Tso Kar is breeding ground
for Bar headed geese & Rudyshel duck. Birds that can be seen here
are Black-necked Cranes , Great Crested Grebe , Tibetan Sandgrouse ,
Plain-backed Snowfinch , Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Common
Kestrel, Lesser Sand Plover , kites, harriers Little Owl etc.
Tsokar is a great spot for Mammals including wolf, fox, weasel, wild
ass ( Kiang ), blue sheep, argali, marmot, woolly hare and pika.
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