Wildlife · Bomdila, Arunachal
A birding day in Eaglenest
Drive into the mossy oak and rhododendron forests of Eaglenest at dawn with a local birding guide. Expect laughingthrushes, sunbirds, babblers and pheasants, and perhaps the rare Bugun liocichla.
Photo: Mike Prince from Bangalore, India · CC BY 2.0 · CommonsEaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary lies south-west of Bomdila, reached through the Tenga valley. A rough forest road runs through it, climbing through subtropical forest into temperate oak, rhododendron and bamboo at higher elevations. This range of habitats in a small area is why birders consider it one of the richest sites in Asia. The Bugun community runs Lama Camp, the base used by many birding groups.
Start at dawn, when activity peaks. A good local guide knows calls, flocks and the places where rare species feed. Mixed flocks of tits, yuhinas, warblers and sibias move through the canopy; pheasants and tragopans may cross the road in spring. The Bugun liocichla, first seen here in 1995 and named after the Bugun people, is known from only a handful of pairs, and seeing it is never guaranteed.
For a single day, leave Bomdila before 5 am, carry a packed breakfast and lunch, and return by dusk. Serious birders camp for two or three nights at Lama Camp, where tented and basic hut accommodation is arranged by the community. Wear muted clothes, keep voices low, do not use call playback for threatened species, and carry rain gear in every season.
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Trips through Bomdila
Do this on a trip
Each of these trips stops in Bomdila. Tell us and we keep a slot for this day.
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Comfort
Tawang and Dirang by private car
Private SUV with driver
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Saver
Tawang circuit by shared Sumo
Shared Sumos, with one shared taxi day in Tawang
Questions
Before you book
How do I visit Eaglenest from Bomdila?
Hire a vehicle and a local birding guide in Bomdila or Tenga, and arrange forest permission in advance. The drive to the sanctuary takes about 2 hours via Tenga. Most birders stay at Lama Camp inside the forest for two or three nights.
Will I see the Bugun liocichla?
Possibly, but it is rare. Only a few breeding pairs are known, and sightings depend on season, weather and luck. Hire a guide who knows the territories, avoid using call playback, and treat a sighting as a bonus rather than a promise.
When is the best season for Eaglenest birding?
Late March to May is the peak, when birds are in breeding plumage and calling. October and November are also good, with clear weather. The monsoon from June to September brings heavy rain, leeches and difficult roads.