Shivapuri & Nagarjun National park
The second highest 2730 m mountain that surrounds the Kathmandu valley is Shivapuri . The park was established as a Watershed and Wildlife Reserve in 1976 and was declared as a national park in 2002 for the protection of its flora and fauna. It is lies Northern side of Kathmandu valley.This is the main source of the the rivers Bagmati and Bishnumati. Shivapuri having mostly secondary forest.
Vegetation varieties in the park include its 129 species of mushrooms, 19 species mammals, 102 species of butterflies and a total of 318 bird species has been recorded in Shivapuri ( Shivapuri National Park & Bird Conservation Nepal 2007 )
Depending upon your time & wanted to see bird in different routes you can spend half a day or full day birding in Shivapuri.
I recommended for half day birding
1. Panimuhan gate - Nagi Gumba
2. Panimuhan gate - Chapabhanjyang
3. Panimuhan gate - Bishnudwar
I recommended for full day birding
1. Panimuhan gate - Nagigumba - Sundarijal
2. Panimuhan gate - Bagdwar - Shivapuri summit
3. Panimuhan gate - Bishnudwar - Tokha
Birds to see at Shivapuri
Hill Patridge, Kalij pheasant, Speckled Piculet, Fulvous - breasted Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Grey - headed Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Golden- throated Barbet, Large Hawk Cuckoo ( s ), Eurasian Cuckoo ( s ), Himalayan Cuckoo ( s ), Collared Owlet, Wedge - tailed Green Pigeon, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Long - tailed Broadbill, Orange - bellied Leafbird, Red - billed Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie, Maroon Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Long - tailed Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Yellow - bellied Fantail, White- throated Fantail,Black Drongo, Lesser Racket - tailed Drongo, Blue whistling Thrush, Rufous - gorgetted Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey - headed Canary Flycatcher, Rufous - bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, Himalayn Bluetail, Blue - fronted Redstart, White - capped water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Slaty - backed forkatail, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut - bellied Nuthatch, Velvet - fronted Nuthatch, Brown - throated Treecreeper, Green - backed Tit, Black - Lored Tit, Yellow - browed Tit, Black - throated Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Buff - barred Warbler, Ashy - thrated Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Grey - hooded Warbler, White - throated Laughingthrush, White - Crested Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Streak - breasted Scimitar Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Black - chinned Babbler, White - browed Shrike Babbler, Hoary - throated Barwing, Blue winged Minla, Nepal Fulvetta, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe - throated Yuhina, Rufous Sibia, Black - throated Sunbird, Green - tailed Sunbird, Brown Bullfinch
Access :-
It is lies 12 km North of Kathmandu, around 40 minutes drive from city to reach at entrance Panimuhan gate . If you go by bus, buses leave regular from central city bus park .
One should buy an entry permit at the entrance before entering the National Park.
Foreigners : - Rs 565
SAARC :- Rs 339
Nepali :- Rs 57
Good time to birding
Between October to May
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park at Budhanilkantha ( Panimuhan gate ) in Kathmandu is the world's only National Park closed to the capital and international park.
Vegetation varieties in the park include its 129 species of mushrooms, 19 species mammals, 102 species of butterflies and a total of 318 bird species has been recorded in Shivapuri ( Shivapuri National Park & Bird Conservation Nepal 2007 )
Depending upon your time & wanted to see bird in different routes you can spend half a day or full day birding in Shivapuri.
I recommended for half day birding
1. Panimuhan gate - Nagi Gumba
2. Panimuhan gate - Chapabhanjyang
3. Panimuhan gate - Bishnudwar
I recommended for full day birding
1. Panimuhan gate - Nagigumba - Sundarijal
2. Panimuhan gate - Bagdwar - Shivapuri summit
3. Panimuhan gate - Bishnudwar - Tokha
Birds to see at Shivapuri
Hill Patridge, Kalij pheasant, Speckled Piculet, Fulvous - breasted Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Grey - headed Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Golden- throated Barbet, Large Hawk Cuckoo ( s ), Eurasian Cuckoo ( s ), Himalayan Cuckoo ( s ), Collared Owlet, Wedge - tailed Green Pigeon, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Long - tailed Broadbill, Orange - bellied Leafbird, Red - billed Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie, Maroon Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Long - tailed Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Yellow - bellied Fantail, White- throated Fantail,Black Drongo, Lesser Racket - tailed Drongo, Blue whistling Thrush, Rufous - gorgetted Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey - headed Canary Flycatcher, Rufous - bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, Himalayn Bluetail, Blue - fronted Redstart, White - capped water Redstart, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Slaty - backed forkatail, Spotted Forktail, Chestnut - bellied Nuthatch, Velvet - fronted Nuthatch, Brown - throated Treecreeper, Green - backed Tit, Black - Lored Tit, Yellow - browed Tit, Black - throated Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Buff - barred Warbler, Ashy - thrated Warbler, Hume's Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Grey - hooded Warbler, White - throated Laughingthrush, White - Crested Laughingthrush, Streaked Laughingthrush, Streak - breasted Scimitar Babbler, Pygmy Wren Babbler, Black - chinned Babbler, White - browed Shrike Babbler, Hoary - throated Barwing, Blue winged Minla, Nepal Fulvetta, Whiskered Yuhina, Stripe - throated Yuhina, Rufous Sibia, Black - throated Sunbird, Green - tailed Sunbird, Brown Bullfinch
Access :-
It is lies 12 km North of Kathmandu, around 40 minutes drive from city to reach at entrance Panimuhan gate . If you go by bus, buses leave regular from central city bus park .
One should buy an entry permit at the entrance before entering the National Park.
Foreigners : - Rs 565
SAARC :- Rs 339
Nepali :- Rs 57
Good time to birding
Between October to May
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park at Budhanilkantha ( Panimuhan gate ) in Kathmandu is the world's only National Park closed to the capital and international park.
Nagarjun forest
Nagarjun forest is a part of the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park the Northwest of Kathmandu valley. Most of the area is covered by secondary forest. After entering the National Park from Phulbari gate there are two routes to do birding. One is with steep climb up to Jamacho Gumba, which is one of the sacred places of Tibetan Buddhists that live in Kathmandu, 5 kilometer distance from gate. Another route is easier with dusty street lead to Raniban .
Birds to see at Nagarjun Forest
Kalij Pheasant, Speckled Piculet, Fulvous – breasted Woodpecker, Grey – headed Woodpecker, Lesser Yellonape, Greater Yellownape, Great Barbet, Blue – throated Barbet, Indian Cuckoo, Eurasian Cuckoo, Green – billed Malkoha, Asian Koel, Asian Barred Owlet, Shikra, Orange – bellied Leafbird, Red – billed Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie, Maroon Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Scarlet Minivet, Black Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Blue – capped Rock Thrush, Chestnut – bellied Rock Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey – headed Canary flycatcher, Large Niltava, Small Niltava, Blue – throated Flycatcher, White – caped Water Redstart, White – tailed robin, Chestnut – bellied Nuthatch, Velvet – fronted Nuthatch, Great Tit, Black – lored Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Hume’s Warbler, Grey – hooded Warbler, Buff - barred Warbler, Lemon- rumped Warbler, White - Crested Laughingthrush, Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Black - chinned Babbler, Nepal Fulvetta, Fire - breasted Flowerpecker and raptors.
Access:-
It is only 15 minutes drive from Kathmandu.If you go by public bus, buses leaves from old bus park to Balaju Bypass then change another bus to Osho - Tapoban and get of at Phulbari gate.
Good time to birding
October to May
Birds to see at Nagarjun Forest
Kalij Pheasant, Speckled Piculet, Fulvous – breasted Woodpecker, Grey – headed Woodpecker, Lesser Yellonape, Greater Yellownape, Great Barbet, Blue – throated Barbet, Indian Cuckoo, Eurasian Cuckoo, Green – billed Malkoha, Asian Koel, Asian Barred Owlet, Shikra, Orange – bellied Leafbird, Red – billed Blue Magpie, Grey Treepie, Maroon Oriole, Large Cuckooshrike, Scarlet Minivet, Black Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Blue – capped Rock Thrush, Chestnut – bellied Rock Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, Grey – headed Canary flycatcher, Large Niltava, Small Niltava, Blue – throated Flycatcher, White – caped Water Redstart, White – tailed robin, Chestnut – bellied Nuthatch, Velvet – fronted Nuthatch, Great Tit, Black – lored Tit, Mountain Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Hume’s Warbler, Grey – hooded Warbler, Buff - barred Warbler, Lemon- rumped Warbler, White - Crested Laughingthrush, Rusty cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Black - chinned Babbler, Nepal Fulvetta, Fire - breasted Flowerpecker and raptors.
Access:-
It is only 15 minutes drive from Kathmandu.If you go by public bus, buses leaves from old bus park to Balaju Bypass then change another bus to Osho - Tapoban and get of at Phulbari gate.
Good time to birding
October to May