Dhaka & Chittagong Hazarikhil WLS Birding Trip with Swedish Diplomats
A Pair of Swedish Diplomats booked this Trip with BirdingBD Tours along their work trip in Dhaka Bangladesh. They had few specific targets and very limited time so we arranged a Day Trip for them in Dhaka and a 02 Day Hazarikhil Wildlife Sanctuary Trip in Chittagong. Mr. Johan B. travels the world for work and has seen over 3900 species worldwide.
January 17th – Mr. Johan B. landed at Dhaka in the Morning and after picking him up we went to Purbachal Grasslands promptly. We quickly grabbed few of his Lifers there namely the Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Bengal Bushlark, Richard’s Pipit, Blyth’s Pipit etc. We walked a bit more around the location getting few more of his Lifers like the Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Pale-billed Flowerpecker and a Brown Fish Owl at a nearby forest. We then Had Breakfast and went to National Botanical Gardens for few more targets.
We got the Green-crowned Warbler there and the Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker right before going out. Not lifer but other notable birds we got there were Little Pied Flycatcher, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Orange-headed Thrush, a pair of Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Few Spotted Owlets etc. we had scrumptios Lunch nearby and dropped him off for the Day at his Hotel.
January 22nd – I picked Mr. Johan & His Colleague Mr. Magnus from the Embassy and started towards Chittagong at Noon. We had Excellent Lunch on the Way and arrived at the Sanctuary just after Sunset. We’d stay at the Basic but Very conveniently Located Homestay right beside the Park Gate. It offers Eco-friendly Non AC Rooms with modern Toilet and Home Cooked Meals. We stayed well there for two nights, the Young Owner also accompanied us as Local Tracker.
We went out promptly for some Owling and picked up Collared Scops Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Boobooks easily. Atleast 03 Mountain Scops Owls were calling but neither came close and we could not go near them either. We had excellent Dinner and slept for the night.
January 23rd: We started the Next Day very early and went in the Park looking for several lifers. We checked the Dark Trail and the Hilly trail that day. Picked up several of Mr. Johan’s Lifers including the Ashy Bulbul, Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Red Junglefowl, Pale-chinned Flycatcher, White-browed Piculet, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Blue-bearded Bee-eater etc. We also saw Crested Serpent Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird there. In the Morning we came very close two a Pair of Grey Peacock Pheasants but for the love of god, we could not see either. Calling continuously from very thick and unpenetrable thorny bushes.
After having Lunch, we entered the Stream Trail again, but this time we waited for a bit near a point where The Cachar Bulbul & Others come to drink and bathe regularly. There was excellent activity, we picked up the Cachar Bulbuls fast, at least 03 birds came that day along with Ashy Bulbul & Brown-cheeked Fulvetta. All three were his Lifers. We also got Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Crimson Sunbirds etc. Looking for Grey-lored Broadbill went in vain. We saw 03 Crab-eating Mongoose crossing the Stream very fast. We were looking in awe at them and was not ready, neither of us could capture a photo.
Just after sunset we got atleast a dozen Large-tailed Nightjars flying above an open space of Tea Garden. Owls were vocal again like yesterday, nothing new so we called it off for the day and went to sleep early.
January 24th – Last morning we entered the Tea Garden Trail early looking for Junglefowls, Pheasants & Laughingthrushes. We flushed several Red Junglefowls in the Tea Garden, at least 05 Kalij Pheasants and finally found a flock of Laughingthrushes. We quickly picked up the Lifers, Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush and after a bit of trying looking through bushes, the Large Scimitar Babbler. Both Lifers for Mr. Johan & his friend. The Scimitar Babbler was Zaber’s Lifer aswell. We saw few Oriental Pied Hornbills aswell. After breakfast we decided to visit the Stream Trail again, picked up few more Lifers like the Black-backed Forktail, Grey-throated Babbler etc. Another elusive bird the Rufous-fronted Babbler only responded to calls but did not come in sight. We found one sub-adult Peregrine Falcon and Dark-necked Tailorbird aswell. Mr. Johan got a total 29 Lifers in about 03 Days of Birding in Dhaka & Chittagong.
Missed species were the Grey-lored Broadbill, White-cheeked Partridge, Blue-naped Pitta. Heard only were the Grey Peacock Pheasant, Rufous-fronted Babbler & Red-headed Trogon.
Please read Species & trip report on eBird at https://ebird.org/tripreport/464817
