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Join us for a 3 nights and 4 days Bird Photography Tour in Uttarakhand, exploring some of North India’s most unspoiled and biodiversity-rich birding hotspots — including Sattal, Shyamkhet, Ramgarh, and Ranikhet.
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Embark on a 4 nights and 5 days bird photography masterclass expedition with DCP Expeditions and OM System to the Himalayan birding paradise of Sattal, Shyamkhet, Ramgarh, and Ranikhet. This immersive experience is curated to explore the lush forests, high-altitude meadows, and serene water bodies of Uttarakhand, which attract a rich diversity of avian life, including both Himalayan endemics and migratory species.
Spread across multiple birding hotspots, this tour offers unparalleled opportunities to photograph vibrant species like the Himalayan Rubythroat, Red-billed Leothrix, Blue-throated Barbet, Great Barbet, Rufous Sibia, White-crested Laughingthrush, Verditer Flycatcher, and many more. Our journey takes you from the dense oak and pine forests of Sattal and Ramgarh to the picturesque heights of Ranikhet, allowing varied backdrops and light conditions to elevate your images.
Whether you’re aiming to refine your skills in forest bird photography or chase fleeting frames in natural low light, this masterclass is guided by experienced DCP mentors who will offer both hands-on learning in the field and focused reviews to level up your photographic game.
Target Species: Black Francolin, Common Green Magpie, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Russet Sparrow, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, Common Rosefinch, Asian Barred Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, Tawny Fish Owl, Crested Kingfisher, Slaty-backed Forktail, Little Forktail, Spotted Forktail, European Goldfinch, Maroon Oriole, Grey-winged Bluebird, Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, Green-tailed Sunbird, Scaly Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Long-billed Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Black-chinned Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Collared Owlet, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Himalayan Woodpecker, Mountain Bulbul, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Black-throated Tit, Striated Laughingthrush, Buff-barred Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Cheer Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Western Crowned Warbler, Himalayan Rubythroat, Siberian Rubythroat, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Brown Dipper, Whistler’s Warbler, Grey-winged Blackbird, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Red Junglefowl, Rufous-bellied Niltava, White-throated Laughingthrush, Speckled Piculet, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, and Himalayan Parakeet.
This bird photography expedition in Uttarakhand is designed to offer an immersive learning experience amidst breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity — the perfect blend of field-based birding, advanced photography techniques, and the thrill of capturing some of India’s most spectacular Himalayan birds.
Kathgodam - Sattal - Kathgodam
Kathgodam
3 nights 4 days
Kathgodam
Ashish Chalapuram is an Information Technology professional based in Mumbai with a passion for photography. He is a Brand Ambassador for OM System in India. He has won accolades in various international photography competitions and his work has also been published on various photography platforms. He likes to experiment with various genres of photography and is of the firm belief that mastering the art of photography is always in a state of ‘beta’ and there is always something more to learn to excel and reach the next level. In addition to photography, he is an avid traveler and loves to explore new places and cultures. He is associated with DCP as a Masterclass Mentor and Strategy Consultant.
Read morePantnagar's airport is the closest airport to Sattal. You can take a taxi from the airport to reach Sattal. However, we highly recommend flying into Delhi and then take a train / Winter cancellations for Pantnagar flights are common.
Reach Kathgodam railway station. We will pick you up from Kathgodam.
You can take a bus to Nainital. From the bus stand, you can hire a cab to reach Sattal from there.
Things to carry:
Morning: Upon your early morning arrival in Sattal, we'll head straight for an exciting hide session. This allows for excellent photographic opportunities and close-up views of species such as the Black Francolin, Common Green Magpie, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush, Great Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Russet Sparrow, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch, and Common Rosefinch.
Evening: We'll explore the Chanfi region (Sattal Vicinity), known for its nocturnal and waterside birds. Here, we'll search for the Asian Barred Owlet, Brown Fish Owl, and Tawny Fish Owl, along with waterbirds like the Crested Kingfisher, Slaty-backed Forktail, Little Forktail, and Spotted Forktail. Smaller birds like various tits and warblers are also commonly seen.
Morning: We’ll venture to the Shyamkhet region, a prime location for a variety of unique species. Our targets include the European Goldfinch, Maroon Oriole, Grey-winged Bluebird, Yellow-Breasted Greenfinch, Green-tailed Sunbird, Scaly Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Long-billed Thrush, Chestnut Thrush, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, and Scaly-bellied Woodpecker.
Evening: Our focus shifts to Ramgarh, a fantastic spot for a variety of high altitude forest birds. Expect to encounter species such as the Black-chinned Babbler, Black-faced Warbler, Collared Owlet, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Himalayan Woodpecker, Mountain Bulbul, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Black-throated Tit, Striated Laughingthrush, Buff-barred Warbler, and Ashy-throated Warbler, among many other small passerines.
Morning: We’ll visit Ranikhet, a key location for some of the region's most sought-after species. Our primary targets will be the critically endangered Cheer Pheasant and the elusive Koklass Pheasant. We'll also keep an eye out for other high-altitude species like the Himalayan Prinia and Upland Pipit.
Evening: We will explore the diverse habitats of Chanfi and Padampuri for our last evening session. This area offers excellent opportunities for species like the Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Western Crowned Warbler, Himalayan and Siberian Rubythroat, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Brown Dipper, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, various Thrushes and Warblers, and Whistler's Warbler.
Morning: We'll explore the renowned Sattal Bend area trail, a productive habitat for a diverse range of birds. This trail offers chances to spot the Grey-winged Blackbird, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Red Junglefowl, Rufous-bellied Niltava, White-throated Laughingthrush, Speckled Piculet, and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike. There's also a possibility of sighting raptors like the Mountain Hawk-Eagle, as well as the Orange-bellied Leafbird, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, and Himalayan Parakeet.
After a rewarding morning of birding, we will facilitate your departure from Sattal.
On field learning from the experts is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skillsets. Our expert will hand hold you at every possible step for a better understanding of perspectives, camera controls and how to make use of the best opportunities to get better images. The training will focus on the following
Indian nationals:
Twin sharing: INR 28,000 per person inclusive of all taxes
Single occupancy: INR 35,500 per person inclusive of all taxes
Foreign nationals:
Twin sharing: US$ 430 per person inclusive of all taxes
Single occupancy: US$ 545 per person inclusive of all taxes
Gold members - Upto 5% off
Silver members - Upto 3% off
WhatsApp to ask for a payment link.
Cost includes
Cost does not include:
Birder's Den, Sattal, Uttarkhand
29.783894018812987 79.49948175771743Cancellation policy
Yes. Please write to info@dcpexpeditions.com as it is subject to availability.
Yes! We can organise transportation from various locations, including major airports like Delhi, Bareilly, or Pantnagar, to suit your travel needs.
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