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Sattal in Focus: 106 Bird species in 5 Days : Part - I


Location: Sattal & Surroundings, Uttarakhand, India in January
Trip Type: Guided Bird Photography Tour
Total bird species spotted: 106

Nestled in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, Sattal is a birder’s paradise—a serene confluence of seven lakes, dense forests, and an astonishing variety of Himalayan birdlife. This 5-day guided bird photography trip in early January was not just a break from the urban chaos but a masterclass in patience, keen observation, and the quiet thrill of capturing life in motion.

Day 1: The Journey Begins – Delhi to Sattal

I began the day in the early hours of a cold Delhi morning. After a swift hop on the Airport Express Line from IGI Airport to New Delhi Railway Station, boarded the 06:20 AM Shatabdi Express to Kathgodam, reaching at 11:55 AM.

From Kathgodam, a scenic taxi ride brought us to our hotel in Sattal, which was our base for the trip. The transition from the city’s buzz to the calm of the lower Himalayas was almost immediate.

Post-lunch, we headed for our first session at a Bird Hide on a short ride from Sattal. Light filtered softly through oak trees, and soon we were greeted by our first subjects—Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Gray Bushchat,  Red-billed Leiothrix, Russet Sparrow, Long-tailed Shrike, Common Rosefinch, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, White-throated Laughingthrush, & Blue-capped Redstart.

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Red-billed Leiothrix

Himalayan Pika

Gray Bushchat

Blue-capped Redstart

Slaty-blue Flycatcher

Common Rosefinch

Russet Sparrow

Long-tailed Shrike

📸 Highlight of the day: Golden Bush-Robin posing just before sunset.

Golden Bush-Robin


Day 2: Hides & Trails – Up Close With Nature

Session 2 was another early morning hide session at a private bird hide amidst the hills in Sattal. The morning hush was broken by flutters and chirps—Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler, Grey-hooded Warbler, Blue Whistling-Thrush, Gray Treepie, Red-billed Blue-Magpie & a pair of Black Francolin all showed up with grace.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler

Gray Treepie
Blue Whistling-Thrush

Red-billed Blue-Magpie

Black Francolin-male

By midday, we shifted gears and headed to Chafi for Session 3, combining photography with a short trail walk. The crystal-clear stream, mossy stones, and wild fig trees made for a dramatic backdrop. We caught glimpses of Crested Kingfisher, Plumbeous Redstarts, Himalayan Black-lored Tit, and the ever-elusive Brown Dipper. 

Brown Dipper

Crested Kingfisher


Himalayan Black-lored Tit

📸 Highlight of the day: Himalayan Rubythroat showed up in golden light.

Himalayan Rubythroat

Day 3: Studio Mornings and Chafi Returns

Session 4 took us to the famous Sattal Studio and the beautiful trails around Sattal, a bird photographer’s haven. The forest hide is strategically placed near a natural water stream, attracting species like the Gray-hooded Warbler, Speckled Piculet, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Black-headed Jay, Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Slaty-headed Parakeet, & Green-tailed Sunbird. The trails around the forest got us Mountain Bulbul & Scarlet Minivet

Gray-hooded Warbler

Scarlet Minivet

Mountain Bulbul

Speckled Piculet

Green-tailed Sunbird

Lemon-rumped Warbler

Slaty-headed Parakeet

Brown-fronted Woodpecker

Red-billed Blue-Magpie

Yellow-bellied Fairy-Fantail

Black-headed Jay

Bar-tailed Treecreeper

After a hearty lunch, we revisited Chafi for Session 5. This time, we followed a new trail, hoping to spot woodpeckers—and we weren’t disappointed. We saw Brown Wood-Owl, Spotted Forktail, Slaty-backed Forktail, on our way to Chanfi. At the Chanfi river we spotted some regular suspects Common Chiffchaff, White-capped Redstart, Plumbeous Redstart, and even a surprise visit from a Pink-browed Rosefinch.

Brown Wood-Owl

Spotted Forktail

White-capped Redstart

Common Chiffchaff

Plumbeous Redstart-female

Plumbeous Redstart-male

Pink-browed Rosefinch

📸 Highlight of the day: The not so common forktail - Slaty-backed Forktail playing hide and seek in the water stream.

Slaty-backed Forktail

Continued in next post....Day 4 and Day 5

Location: Sattal Lake, Uttarakhand

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