Kathgodam Birding Tour: 2 Nights/3 Days
No. of days
3
Trip Type
Birding
Activity Level
Easy
Experiences
Best time
November to June
Region
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Overview
This short birding getaway is designed for birders and photographers who want to pack a genuine cross-section of Kumaon’s birdlife into a quick 3-day trip. Starting from Kathgodam, the gateway to the Kumaon Himalaya, this tour moves through a wonderful mix of habitats — the scrub and forest edge of Kathgodam’s outskirts, the exclusive Sakshi Bird Hide and stream habitat of Sattal, the riverine forest of Chaffi, and the open country around Haida Khan and Fatehpur.
In just three days, this compact circuit brings together hide photography, forest birding, and open-country birding, making it ideal for weekend travelers, beginner birders, and photographers who are short on time but don’t want to compromise on species diversity.
Best Time to Visit
The region is birdable through most of the year, but winter (November to February) is the best season, when the resident Himalayan foothill species are joined by a good number of winter migrants — warblers, flycatchers, buntings, and rosefinches among them. October and March–April are also productive, with pleasant weather and good activity as birds begin to move and breed. Overall, October to April is the ideal window for this tour.
Trip Highlights
- A private session at the exclusive Sakshi Bird Hide in Sattal, one of Quantum Explorer’s flagship photography hides.
- Birding the scrub and forest-edge habitats on the outskirts of Kathgodam.
- Riverine and stream birding at Chaffi, good for forktails, kingfishers, and owls.
- Open-country birding around Haida Khan and Fatehpur, productive for larks, pipits, prinias, and raptors.
- A relaxed, easily accessible short tour — ideal for a quick Himalayan foothills birding break.
Image Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Birding in Kathgodam Outskirts
Arrive in Kathgodam in the afternoon and check in to our stay. After lunch and some time to relax, we head out for our first birding session on the outskirts of Kathgodam.
Birds to be expected: White throated Fantail, Yellow bellied Fantail, Crimson Sunbird, Green Magpie, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Black crested Bulbul, Sirkeer Malkoha, Green billed Malkoha, Himalayan Rubythroat, Small Niltava.
Day 2: Sakshi Bird Hide, Chaffi & Haida Khan
Morning: We start early and head to Sattal for a session at the Sakshi Bird Hide.
Birds to be expected: Great Barbet, Blue throated Barbet, Green Magpie, Kalij Pheasant, Red-billed Leiothrix, Rufous throated Partridge, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Yellownape, White crested LaughingThrush, Brown fronted Woodpecker, Grey Winged Blackbird, Green tailed Sunbird, Chestnut bellied Nuthatch.
After breakfast at the hide, we head to Chaffi for our late morning session, a productive spot along the stream and forest edge.
Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, Tawny Fish Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Plumbeous redstart, White capped Redstart, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Wallcreeper, Bar tailed Treecreeper, Banded-bay Cuckoo.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, we shift to the outskirts of Haida Khan for our birding session.
Birds to be expected: Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Long tailed Minivet, Crested Serpent Eagle, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Blue winged Minla, White throated Laughing Thrush, Himalayan Treepie.
Day 3: Fatehpur Birding & Departure
Morning: Our final morning session takes us to the Fatehpur area, a good stretch of open country for birding.
Birds to be expected: Great Slaty Woodpecker, Snowy Browed Flycatcher, Grey capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown Hawk Owl, Greater racket tailed Drongo, Taiga Flycatcher.
After the morning session, we head back for checkout and departure.