CORBETT NATIONAL PARK, RAMNAGAR, KOSI RIVER & LIST
INDIA
UTTARANCHAL (Nainital district) (N)
Lat:29o32´N/78o56´E 120,000ha 400-1210msl hilly and riparian areas, temporary marshy depressions, plateaus and ravines, grasslands and bamboo
Protected/registered status
From November 15 to June 15 (14.02.1994). Corbett remains closed between June 16 and November 14, during the monsoons. Winter temperature can go down to 4 degrees centigrade at night and in the dry summer months as high as 44 degrees centigrade. Rainfall: 1400mm-2800mm.
(14.02.94 to 19.02.94)
Birding Site Guide
Road, Dhikala is about 300km from Delhi, 145 km from Lucknow and 51 km from Ramnagar. Ramnagar is served by frequent buses to and from Nainital and Ranikhet, 112 km north. Buses arrive every half hour or so after the eight hour trip from Delhi; Delhi Transport corporation also runs semi deluxe.
Air, Phoolbagh, Pantnagar at a distance of 50 km is the nearest airport. Delhi at a distance of 300 km is the nearest international airport.
Rail, Ramnagar is on the broad gauge track from where the road transport options have to be availed to reach the park. For faster trains and connections to other parts of India change at Moradabad.
Accommodation is available at Ramnagar as well as at the Park. There are a variety of hotels, lodges and rest houses to choose from. The Forest Dept. has accommodation at 24 rest houses in the reserve that are located at Khinna, Bijrani, Dhikala, Ghairal and Khinnanaul, Lohachaur, Halduparao and Sarapduli. There are also log huts, tourist huts and tented lodges at Dhikala.
Accommodation in Corbett National Park includes the following lodges: Claridges Corbett Hideaway, Corbett Riverside Resort, Quality Inn Corbett Jungle Resort, Tiger Tops Corbett Lodge, Sarapduli Forest Rest House, Hornbill's Nest, Corbett, The Wild Safari Lodge, Corbett, Infinity Resorts, Corbett, Corbett Ramganga Resort.
A place to stay outside but close to the main park gate is the Quality Inn, which at that time was £20 a night each (so not cheap). We decided to try elsewhere despite the people there saying there was nowhere else close outside the park, and found the idyllic Corbett Riverside Resort (£23 per night each but can negotiate as we did getting it for £13 a night) on the lower side banks of the Kosi River. The place is a couple of nicely built challis. The opposite side were high forested sand cliffs, in which several pairs of Wallcreeper distracted us as we were unpacking. Seeing 6 of these stunningly beautiful and difficult birds at once was a sight never to forget as we sat drinking cold drinks in front of the hotel. Birding along the crystal clear boulder strewn Kosi River we saw Lineated Barbet, Large Wood-Shrike, Black-crested Yellow Bulbul, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy, Indian Little Ringed Pover, Red-whiskered Bulbul and Rufous-fronted Prinia. The road outside produced Crested Honey Buzzard, Golden-fronted Chloropsis and Black-headed Oriole.
Daytime visitors are only permitted to travel in the Bijrani sector and day permits are issued at the Ramnagar office. Overnight visitors to Corbett require an entry permit as well as reserved accommodation in one of the guesthouses. Advance reservations are available at the Field Director's office in Ramnagar.
Inside the park we took an elephant ride to look for the tigress that had been seen by a group that morning (first refusal for rides is to people staying in the park lodges, we were not so had to take what we could get, sometimes it is worth paying extra as we realised today!). New birds were Kalij Pheasant on the road, Hodgsons Hawk-Eagle, Rufous and Fulvous-Breasted Woodpeckers and Red-Billed Leothryx. Mammals included Leopard Cat, Wild Boar and Himalayan Yellow-throated Martin before the ride. Birds were everywhere. After the elephant ride, on which we saw tiger spoor but no tiger we birded a bit and found Peking Robin and Stork-billed Kingfisher. On the jeep ride out we were shown 2 huge rare Gharial crocodiles as well as the common Mugger.
Safaris used either jeep, elephant or horses. Jeeps Safari can be arranged at the Tourist Centre. Although jeeps penetrate deeper into the forest than elephants, they cannot get nearly as close to the wild animals. The jeeps can be rented for the park trips from Ramnagar, from the KMVN Tourist Lodge and other travel agencies.
Ramnagar
This is a good place to look for Ibisbill in winter. It is situated in the rich farm belt of Terai, on the southeastern fringes of the great forests, Ramnagar is the main administrative centre for Corbett National Park. Walk the boulder strew river (used as open toilet by locals) either way for a few kilometres to quieter areas. These grey birds can be extremely difficult to spot but are quite confiding and close approach may be possible.Also seen were Indian Roller, Little Green Bee-eater, Osprey, Temminck's Stint, Tawny Pipits and Spotted Doves.
Species seen
Birding along the crystal clear boulder strewn Kosi River, the highlights were thestunning Ibisbill, Lineated Barbet, Large Wood-Shrike, Black-crested Yellow Bulbul, Blue Rock Thrush, Ashy and Rufous-fronted Prinia. The road outside produced Crested Honey Buzzard, Golden-fronted Chloropsis and Black-headed Oriole.
- Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
- Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
- Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Little Egret Egretta garzetta
- Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Striated Heron Butorides striata
- Black Stork Ciconia nigra R
- Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus K, R, C
- Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus several places
- Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
- Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea K, R
- Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
- Northern Pintail Anas acuta
- Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
- Common Merganser Mergus merganser C
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus several places
- Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus KR
- Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus several places
- Black Kite Milvus migrans everywhere
- Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Near-threatened KR, C
- Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus many places
- White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Critically endangered thousands
- Indian Vulture Gyps indicus Critically endangered common
- Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus many places
- Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus Near-threatened C
- Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela many places
- Shikra Accipiter badius K, KR
- Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis MV, C
- Rufous-bellied Eagle Aquila kienerii C
- Mountain Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis C
- Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
- Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus KR, C
- Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos C
- Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus several places
- Small Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus
- White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus several places
- Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
- Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
- Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii R
- Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
- Great Thick-knee Burhinus recurvirostris BB, KR
- River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii KR
- Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
- Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius KR
- Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
- Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
- Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
- Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii K, R
- Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida several places
- Rock Pigeon Columba livia
- Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
- Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
- Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
- Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
- Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana ST, KR
- Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata KR, BB
- Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum KR
- Spotted Owlet Athene brama K, KR
- White-rumped Needletail Zoonavena sylvatica C
- Little Swift Apus affinis several places
- Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata KR
- Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
- Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis C
- White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
- Crested Kingfisher Megaceryle lugubris KR
- Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
- Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
- Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
- Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
- Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris K, KR
- Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata KR
- White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis Endemic C
- Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica N, KR
- Gray-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus MV, KR
- Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei KR, C
- Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus C
- Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus ST, MV, C
- Gray-faced Woodpecker Picus canus MV, C
- Himalayan Flameback Dinopium shorii C
- Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense K, KR
- Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
- Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
- Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
- Oriental Pipit Anthus rufulus
- Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis C
- Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris K, R
- White Wagtail Motacilla alba
- White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis
- Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola several places
- Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea KR
- Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus KR, C
- Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus ST, MV, KR
- Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus KR
- Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus KR
- White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
- Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
- Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala MV, C
- Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons KR
- Common Iora Aegithina tiphia KR
- Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii KR, C
- Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius KR
- Blue Whistling-Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
- Dark-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis N, C, KR
- Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani KR
- Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis KR
- Lemon-rumped Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus N,ST, C
- Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
- Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa ruficauda N, KR
- Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata ST, KR
- Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor KR
- Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara ST, KR
- Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis KR, K, BB
- White-capped Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
- Plumbeous Redstart Rhyacornis fuliginosa
- Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus
- Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha ST, MV, KR
- White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis N, KR, C
- White-throated Laughingthrush Garrulax albogularis N, KR
- White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus ST, KR
- Black-chinned Babbler Stachyris pyrrhops N, KR
- Large Gray Babbler Turdoides malcolmi several places
- Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea C
- Great Tit Parus major N, KR, C
- Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus N, KR
- Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus N, MV, KR
- Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea ST, MV, C
- Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis ST, MV, C
- Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria KR
- Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis KR
- Eastern Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja KR
- Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus N, KR
- Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus KR, C
- Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
- Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor
- Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis KR
- Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus KR, K
- Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
- Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer C
- Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus N to R
- Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda K, BB, KR
- Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos many sites
- Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus D, R
- Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
- European Starling Sturnus vulgaris R
KEY
- areas not given for commoner species
- KEOLADEO K
- RAMNAGAR R
- CORBETT NP C
- BUND BARETHA BB
- KOSI RIVER KR
- MANGOLI VALLEY MV
- NAINITAL N
- SAT TAL and/or BIMTAL ST
- DELHI or near D
- AGRA A
Mammals seen
- Black-naped Hare Lepus nigricollis C
- Common Langur Presbytis entellus
- Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta
- Himalayan Yellowthroated Marten Martes flavigula C
- Small Indian Mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus C
- Leopard Cat Felis bengalensis C
- Wild Boar Sus scrofa C
- Spotted Deer Axis axis K, KR, C
- Reeve's Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi ST, N, C
- Sambar Cervus unicolor K, C
Herptiles seen
- Mugger Crocodylus palustris C
- Gharial Gavialis gangeticus C
- Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis C
Butterflies seen (all sites)
- Indian Tortoiseshell Aglais cashmiriensis
- Pioneer Anaphaeis aurota
- Indian Cabbage White Artogeia canidia
- Malabar Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ambareesa
- Common Crow Euploea core
- Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe
- Grass Jewel Freyeria trochylus
- Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina
- White Orange Tip Ixias marianne
- Peacock Pansy Junonia almana
- Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta
- Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias
- Blue Pansy Junonia orthya
- Common Sailor Neptis hylas
- Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus
- Common Mormon Papilio polytes
- Glassy Tiger Paratica aglea
- Spot Swordtail Pathysa nomius
- Pale Grass Blue Zizeeria maha
The park boasts 582 species of bird in total and other fauna is impressive with 50 mammals species, Tiger is the most famous. Corbett is a haven for Tigers as well as its prey, which include four kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and some lesser-known animals. Apart from Tigers, Elephants, Leopards / Panthers, Jungle cats, Fishing Cats, Leopard cats, Himalayan black bears, Sloth bears, Jackals, Martens, Dholes, Civets, Mongooses, Otters, Hares, Porcupines, Chital (spotted deer), Sambar deer, Hog deer, Barking deer, Ghorals, Wild Boars, Pangolins, Macaques, Langurs and Blue Bulls (Nilgais) are some of the species which are found here.
The 26 reptile species include Gharials, Mugger Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, turtles, Cobras, Pythons and the Sal forest Tortoise.
Amphibian species number 7.
Fish in the Corbett National Park include Goonch, Mahaseer, Trout and many other smaller species.
Flora
There are 110 tree species, but the majority of the vegetation in the lower regions of Corbett consists mainly of Sal trees (Shorea robusta). The higher regions are more varied. Here there are Chir (Pinus roxburghii), anauri (Legestroemia paruiflora) and Bakli (Anogeissus latifolia). There are many different varieties of bamboo.
There is a huge amount of information on the internet on this fabulous national park. Try the links below.
References
Indian Wildlife Portal www.indianwildlifeportal.com/national-parks/corbett-national-park.html Corbett Park www.corbettpark.com/ India Travel Logue www.indiatravelogue.com/dest/up/up1.html
Author: BSG
www.birdingsiteguide.com