American Birding Association India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari 8 th to 18 th February 2016 (11 days) Bengal Tiger in Ranthambhore National Park by Adam Riley The American Birding Association, in partnership with Rockjumper Birding Tours, welcomes you to their India – Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari. Home to over a billion people in arguably the world’s richest cultural landscape, India is a country with no equal. This great nation boasts a staggering geographical diversity ranging from deserts and forests to tropical, palm-lined shores and snow-capped peaks. India is of course also famous for its rich avifauna and iconic mammalian megafauna, foremost of which is the regal Bengal Tiger. Starting and ending in the capital New Delhi, our safari explores two of the most famous birding and wildlife national parks in the northern parts of this amazing country; the royal wildfowl sanctuary of Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur and the fabled Ranthambhore National Park, the tiger reserve widely considered to be one of the best places to see this most magnificent of the world’s big cats. We will also ensure that we have time to marvel at the incredible Taj Mahal and other breathtaking historic buildings in and around Agra. We invite you to join us in this unforgettable celebration of India’s incredible birds, iconic mammals, dramatic scenery, rich history and kaleidoscope of cultures!
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American Birding Association India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
8th
to 18th
February 2016 (11 days)
Bengal Tiger in Ranthambhore National Park by Adam Riley
The American Birding Association, in partnership with Rockjumper Birding Tours, welcomes you to their
India – Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari. Home to over a billion people in arguably the world’s richest cultural
landscape, India is a country with no equal. This great nation boasts a staggering geographical diversity
ranging from deserts and forests to tropical, palm-lined shores and snow-capped peaks. India is of course
also famous for its rich avifauna and iconic mammalian megafauna, foremost of which is the regal Bengal
Tiger. Starting and ending in the capital New Delhi, our safari explores two of the most famous birding and
wildlife national parks in the northern parts of this amazing country; the royal wildfowl sanctuary of
Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur and the fabled Ranthambhore National Park, the tiger reserve
widely considered to be one of the best places to see this most magnificent of the world’s big cats. We will
also ensure that we have time to marvel at the incredible Taj Mahal and other breathtaking historic
buildings in and around Agra. We invite you to join us in this unforgettable celebration of India’s incredible
birds, iconic mammals, dramatic scenery, rich history and kaleidoscope of cultures!
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
The magnificent Taj Mahal by Adam Riley
YOUR SAFARI AT A GLANCE…
DETAILS
Safari Dates 8th
to 18th
February 2016 (11 days)
Safari Price US$ 3,850 per person sharing (see below)
Safari Size This safari is limited to 72 participants with 5 Rockjumper leaders & 3 ABA staff.
For our birding excursions, we will break into smaller groups of 15 or fewer.
THE ITINERARY
8th
February Arrival in New Delhi and overnight at the Radisson Blu Plaza
9th
February Bus from New Delhi to Bharatpur and afternoon excursion to Keoladeo
National Park
10th
– 12th
February Full day excursions to Keoladeo National Park, Bund Baretha and Agra
(Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri)
13th
February Bus from Bharatpur to Ranthambhore and afternoon excursion in
Ranthambhore National Park
14th
– 17th
February 3 days of morning and afternoon excursions into Ranthambhore National
Park and 1 day birding Banas River and Lake Soorwal
18th
February Bus to New Delhi and final departure
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
THIS SAFARI CAN BE LINKED WITH
Sultanpur National Park morning or afternoon excursion February 6 & 7 US$ TBA
Tughluqabad morning or afternoon excursion February 6 & 7 US$ TBA
Sultanpur National Park and Tughluqabad full day
excursion February 6 & 7 US$ TBA
Old and New Delhi sightseeing and historical excursion –
half or full day February 6, 7 & 19 US$ TBA
Himalayan foothills – Jim Corbett National Park and
Nainital February 18 to 27 US$ TBA
Assam – Kaziranga and Nameri National Parks February 18 to 24 US$ TBA
Highlights of Indian Subcontinent – Sri Lanka, Bhutan
and Assam
February 18 to
March 6 US$ TBA
Southern India – Birding & Wildlife of the Western Ghats February 18 to
March 1 US$ TBA
Sri Lanka – Endemic Birds & Big Game February 18 to 29 US$ TBA
Plum-headed Parakeets in Ranthambhore National Park by Adam Riley
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
THE SAFARI IN DETAIL…
Day 1, 8th
February: Arrival in New Delhi. On arrival in India’s bustling capital city of New
Delhi, you will be transferred to the luxurious Radisson Blue Plaza within a few minutes’ drive of
the new and efficient Indira Gandhi International Airport. This hotel has been selected for its
convenience to the airport, excellent service and high quality meals and rooms. Please note however
that it does not offer much in the way of birding opportunities on the grounds due to its location in a
built-up area. For those wishing to enjoy birding in and around New Delhi we highly recommend
Sultanpur National Park and Tughluqabad, which are offered as optional pre- and post-safari
excursions.
Tonight we will convene at 6pm for a private dinner and introduction to your ABA hosts and
Rockjumper tour leaders, with details on the upcoming activities and opportunity for questions.
Day 2, 9th
February: Bus from New Delhi to Bharatpur and afternoon excursion to Keoladeo
National Park. Today we will experience our first real taste of traditional India as we bus out of
New Delhi to the quieter but nevertheless humanity-filled rural zone of eastern Rajasthan. We will
pass through small towns and villages and farming homesteads where people still live lives little
changed by the modern world. Domestic livestock abound including camels, donkeys, goats, sheep,
holy cows and, at times, even elephants clogging the roadways. People are continually busy going
about their daily chores, be it selling roasted peanuts and vegetables from carts, collecting cow
patties for cooking fuel, or working the fields. This first glimpse of India will be fascinating but no
doubt also a culture shock!
White-throated Kingfisher by Adam Riley
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
At the same time we will also see our first common open country birds from the bus and we’ll keep
an eye out for Black and Black-winged kites, Egyptian Vulture, ubiquitous Red-wattled Lapwings,
flocks of screaming Rose-ringed Parakeets, Black Drongo, Bank and Common mynas, Eastern
Jungle and House crows, and House Sparrow. Splashes of color might turn out to be White-throated
Kingfishers or Indian Rollers perched prominently on posts in fields. We can expect better views of
all these species during the course of our safari.
As we enter the State of Rajasthan we will have a rest stop and plan to reach our elegant historical
lodge in Bharatpur in time for lunch. The Bagh is termed a “heritage hotel” due to the fact that it’s
tastefully designed within a 12-acre garden that was once the Maharaja of Bharatpur’s orchard.
These extensive grounds offer superb birding and whilst we are being served lunch we may even
see our first wild Indian Peafowl; surely the most spectacular bird in the world! Other regular
species that can be found on the more than 2 miles of terraced walkways around this comfortable
lodge include Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Spotted Owlet, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Indian
Gray Hornbill, the remarkable Eurasian Hoopoe, Coppersmith and Brown-headed barbets, Black-
rumped Flameback, Red-vented Bulbul, the shy Orange-headed Thrush, Oriental Magpie Robin and
gangs of noisy Jungle Babblers.
Black-necked Stork flying over Keoladeo National Park by Adam Riley
After lunch and checking in for 4 nights, we will take our first excursion to Keoladeo National Park.
Usually known simply as ‘Bharatpur’, the extensive series of shallow ponds were artificially
created as a duck-shooting preserve by a former Maharaja of Bharatpur, but is now a wetland
sanctuary attracting thousands of wintering waterfowl, waders, cranes, and raptors. This afternoon,
we will explore the reserve by means of bicycle rickshaw, following the network of raised dykes
that criss-cross the labyrinth of ponds. Scanning through the waterbirds is usually our first priority
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
and we will likely be overwhelmed by the staggering numbers of species. Possibilities include Bar-
headed and Graylag geese, Ferruginous, Lesser Whistling and Indian Spot-billed ducks amongst a
variety of other migrant waterfowl, Pied and White-throated kingfishers, Great, Little and Indian
cormorants, Oriental Darter, Gray and Purple herons, Eastern Great, Yellow-billed and Little egrets,
Black-crowned Night and Indian Pond herons, Painted, Woolly-necked and the impressive Black-
Baya and Black-throated weavers, and Crested Bunting. Raptors we will look out for include
White-eyed and Long-legged buzzards, Pallid, Montagu’s and Western Marsh harriers, Steppe and
Greater Spotted eagles, Western Osprey, and Merlin, while outside the sanctuary it is sometimes
possible to find Indian Courser. Mammals that we should see are the large Nilgai (or Blue Bull),
Indian Mongoose, Golden Jackal, and Indian Fox, with additional possibilities for Blackbuck, Four-
horned Antelope, Striped Hyena, and even Jungle Cat.
Tughluqabad
This extremely impressive edifice, stretching over 3½ miles, was constructed in the 14th
century by
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, founder and first ruler of the Muslim Tughluq dynasty, but was abandoned
shortly after completion following a curse by the Sufi mystic and saint, Nizam-ud-din. This was
apparently because Nizam-ud-din’s workers were pulled off his own property, where he was busy
constructing a water well, in order to assist building Tughluqabad, much to his disapproval! As a
result, this old city now comprises only disintegrating walls and a few remaining structures,
including an impressive mausoleum harboring the graves of the unfortunate ruler, and (or so it is
believed) his wife and son, with scrubby areas and Acacia woodland having reclaimed much of the
remaining property. This regrowth in turn provides habitat for some noteworthy birds, and key
targets on our excursion to this interesting site include Indian Grey Hornbill, Jungle Bush Quail,
Sirkeer Malkoha, and Rufous-fronted Prinia. We will walk along a network of small paths and
tracks in our attempt to locate these specials and a host of other species on offer, which could
include Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Plum-headed Parakeet, Bay-backed Shrike, Spotted Owlet,
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
the beautiful Green Bee-eater, Indian Roller, the colorful Coppersmith Barbet, Indian Bush Lark,
Red-whiskered and White-eared bulbuls, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy and Plain prinias, Common
Tailorbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bluethroat, Brown Rock Chat, Long-tailed Shrike, Common
Woodshrike, Rufous Treepie, Asian Pied Starling, Long-billed Pipit, Indian Silverbill, and the
stunning little Red Avadavat.
SCHEDULED TOURS POST ABA SAFARI
ABA HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS: CORBETT NATIONAL PARK & NAINITAL Our Himalayan adventure concentrates on the very best birding sites in the far northern parts of this
amazing country, and includes a visit to the world-famous Corbett National Park and the hill station
of Nainital. Targets are both plentiful and beautiful, including such sought-after species as Cheer
Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Collared Falconet, Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, the
stunning Red-billed Blue Magpie – one of Asia’s most beautiful birds!, Slaty-headed Parakeet,
Greater Flameback, Long-tailed Broadbill, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Green Shrike-Babbler,
Chestnut-headed Tesia, the impressive yet scarce Long-billed Thrush, White-throated Bush Chat,
Red-billed Leiothrix, Golden Bush Robin, White-capped Redstart…and many more! Birds aside,
other wildlife possibilities include the endangered Gharial, Asian Elephant, Wild Boar, Hog Deer,
Sambar, and Northern Red Muntjac, while the surrounding Himalayan scenery is simply stunning!
ABA Himalayan Foothills: Corbett National Park & Nainital: February 18 – 27 (10 days)
US$ TBA per person sharing, single room supplement if required US$TBA
Maximum group size: 12 participants with 1 Rockjumper leader & 1 local leader
ABA ASSAM EXTENSION KAZIRANGA & NAMERI NATIONAL PARKS Kaziranga National Park is quite simply one of the most spectacular wildernesses in all of Asia, and
has rightfully been compared to the great wildlife reserves of Africa. Aside from harboring
impressive numbers of a great variety of Asian mega-fauna, the reserve also protects no less than 15
threatened mammal species, as well as being the last stronghold for the Indian One-horned
Rhinoceros. To maximize our chances of success for locating the greatest number of possible
species during our time here, we will utilize both jeep and elephant back to search not only for the
rhino (which we can expect many encounters with, sometimes at extremely close range!), but also
for Indian Elephant, Swamp, Hog and Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Bengal Florican, Swamp
Francolin, Pied Falconet, and numerous other exciting birds and mammals, including additional
chances for Bengal Tiger. To boot, we will also spend time exploring the riches of Nameri National
Park. Boasting luscious deciduous and evergreen forests along the Jia Bhoroli River, this park is a
haven for many rare creatures, including one of Asia’s rarest birds, the critically endangered White-
winged Duck, which we will endeavor to find. Additional targets include Ibisbill, Great Stone-
curlew, Oriental Hobby, Pale-capped Pigeon, the spectacular Sultan Tit, Blue-bearded Bee-eater,
Vernal Hanging Parrot, Black-breasted Thrush, and the huge and magnificent Great hornbill!
ABA Assam Extension Kaziranga & Nameri National Parks: February 18 – 24 (7 days)
US$ TBA per person sharing, single room supplement if required US$TBA
Maximum group size: 12 participants with 1 Rockjumper leader & 1 local leader
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT This incredible offering covers the highlights of three amazing countries on the Indian
Subcontinent; namely Sri Lanka, India and brilliant Bhutan! It begins in Sri Lanka, a friendly island
nation boasting verdant scenery characterized by terraced tea plantations and forest patches, and
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ABA: India - Taj, Tigers & Birding Safari
blessed with many surprisingly large national parks brimming with game and beautiful birds. Yala
National Park and Sinharaja Rainforest will be the sites we visit here, and during our explorations
we will search for a host of endemic species including Sri Lanka Junglefowl, stunning Sri Lanka
Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Legge’s Flowerpecker, Spot-winged Thrush, and the localized
Serendib Scops Owl. Mammals will also form part of our focus and we can expect encounters with
Asian Elephant, Water Buffalo, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Bonnet Macaque, and possibly even
Leopard!
Heading north, we continue our adventure in the formerly independent Assam, nestled in
north-eastern India. Our time here will be spent in Kaziranga National Park, one of the most
spectacular wildernesses in all of Asia, and one of very few places where the prehistoric Indian
One-horned Rhinoceros still occurs. In fact, game abounds in the watery meadows that make
Kaziranga so aesthetically pleasing – no other site in Asia can match the vast herds of big mammals
that occur here! From both jeep and elephant back, we will search for Bengal Florican, Swamp
Francolin, Pied Falconet, and a plethora of other exciting birds and mammals that occur abundantly
in this biologically diverse part of the natural world.
The last leg of our sojourn is through one of the least spoilt countries in the mighty