Birding at Sonapani..... The Asian Barred Owl & The Eurasian Hobby

During Dushera break we went to Sonapani.

This is the closest i came to the Himalayan peaks, the views were breathtaking, it was awesome, especially on a clear morning.

We went for long walks in the forests nearby, we saw many Tree creepers, Velvet Fronted Nut Hatches, Spangled Drongos, Whistling Thrush's, Streaked Whistling Thrush's, Canary Fly Catcher's, Scarlet Minivets, Black Throated Tits, Great Barbets, Flame Backs, Red billed Blue Magpies, Black Headed Jay's & a Crested Serpent Eagle.

One day early in the morning we walked up dew dropped hill. Far, far way on a single Pine Tree we spotted a raptor, my mother forgot all her breathlessness, i was imagining some bear is going to come out & attack us, i forgot that also, in a jiffy, panting, panting we scrambled up on top of the hill & really close to the tree were this bird was sitting.

Then it flew to another tree, first i thought it was a Falcon, it was a really beautiful bird, but when i checked the ID, i found it it was an Eurasian Hobby.

So here is is my first time view of an Eurasian Hobby

Then one day late in the evening we were having coffee, suddenly on a nearby tree, we saw something. I ran up to see what it was, first i thought it was a raptor, but it was not, it was an Owl. We saw it swoop down on to bush & catch something. I was not sure what Owl it was.

Next day again at the same time in the evening we went in search of it. we could not find it, then we were returning disappointed. While walking back my mother told me to stand near my father so that she could take a snap of both of us, at that particular moment..............yippee , the same Owl was again in front of us. It was particularly agile & gave us really awesome looks. After studying the ID i realised it is the Asian Barred Owl
So it was another first timer for me.

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The nights were chill. I love sitting around the fire, just looking into the burning wood apart from warming ourselves & sometimes strumming my guitar. Ashish uncle & Deepa aunty looked after us very well. The food was yum.

As usual I was very upset when it was time to leave !!