Saturday, April 25, 2015

Walong in Arunachal Pradesh is a must visit for birding

Koklass Pheasant-female
Walong in the Anjaw District of Arunachal Pradesh is home to a variety of birds. Walong is special because there are a few birds that can only be seen here and no where else in India. 

Since Walong lies in the extreme east of Arunachal Pradesh, Dong village which is situated 40 km east of Walong receives the first rays of sun in India.

Historically Walong is also known because of The "Battle of Walong" in the 1962 war with China.



Some bird facts:
In March 2013 birdwatchers sighted and photographed the Black-browed Tit. This was the first time that this bird was seen in India. A year later the Yunnan Nuthatch was discovered by a birder in Walong which until then was only seen in China. Some more birds that can only be seen in this region are the Derbyan Parakeet and the Black-Headed Greenfinch. In March 2015, the female of a Koklass Pheasant was photographed by Soma Jha, a bird that till now was understood to have been found only in the western Himalayas.

I am sharing the pictures of birds taken by Soma Jha who was there in March 2015. Walong is not one of the most popular tourist destinations but it is worth a visit not just for the scenic beauty but for the variety of birds that you can see there.

The best way to reach Walong is to fly to Dibrugarh and then hire a car . It is a long drive and you may need to stay the night somewhere and then continue your journey.You can also take a train to Tinsukia in Assam and then do the road journey.

Black-browed tit Walong
Black-headed Greenfinch 


Derbyan Parakeet
Yunnan Nuthatch


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