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Trochalopteron affine bethelae
Fearless bird that lets you approach close. Forages on the ground. Fairly large size. Attractive colouration with stripes on the wings, a scaly look on the chest and two white patches on the chin and side of head.
Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India. It spreads over 88 km² and is one of the richest biological zones in the entire Eastern India. Interestingly on the trail...we saw NOTHING. All bird sightings were in the open area adjoining the security camp from where the trail starts. A friend who sat here saw many more bird species (and why not...the security personnel string up dead rodents to attract magpies!)...we who trekked only saw bamboo trees and some scat! This spotting is from the open area adjoining the camp too.
A Lifer for me. Second time this species is appearing on PN.
Spotted on Mar 13, 2019
Submitted on Mar 13, 2019
11 Comments
Ah, I missed the Streaked Laughingthrush. I also see there are LOTS of Laughingthrushes so you still have some to look for yet :-) Happy hunting.
Thanks, Tukup. Actually three species of Laughingthrushes in as many days. Delighted is an understatement!
Good catch Sukanya. Two Laughing Thrushes within just a few days. They are completely new birds tome. Thanks for sharing.
Reduced to speechlessness.
We had major flooding up north in Townsville and surrounds just recently, and livestock that was dying of thirst in some areas actually drowned! How's that for a clear definition of irony? India and Australia are very similar in many ways, and both can be very harsh lands.
So...so ...so sorry...to read this, Here in India...not much news of the Southern hemisphere...I cannot even begin to think how awful to see livestock (not to mention other animals) die due to drought....hope it ends soon...we have floods!!! Wish we could somehow send you all that suddenly surplus water.
I love that word "lifers".... in relation to nature, that is. This has been a hard drought. I stay on a friends farm each winter, and last year was dire. Not much relief since. It's awful watching things die before your very eyes. In the cities I notice the trees, but out west it's the livestock.
Thanks, Neil....Well, I prefer cold to Kolkata's hot and humid any day but the wet kept the moths away and this place is a MOTH paradise..and no moth meant fewer insect-eating birds like the Verditer flycatcher....still did get to catch many nectar-feeding birds (lifers). I hope the drought ends soon.
I don't know about clammy, but cold and wet sounds like heaven. I've had enough of this southern heat and humidity. Summer drags on, and so does the drought.
Thanks Neil. I saw three different species of Laughing thrush here...the weather was cold, clammy...wet but still....
Wonderful spotting, Sukanya. Congrats on a lifer :)