Map of Varsey and Hilley

The total descend is nearly 1500 m. Birding was good and varied. We were the first foreign birders to visit this site on recommendation by Peter Lobo. This site should, together with Hilley, be a natural part of a birding trip to Sikkim for future birders. According to Peter this is a very god site for Fire-tailed Myzornis although we didn´t find it, but that was probably due to the bad wheather.

Pemyangtse

We birded around the monastry and along the road back to Pelling where we stayed. Our main target here was Red-faced Leocichla which we searched for in vain.

Khecheoperi lake

This small sacred lake about an hour north of Pelling offered very good birding and the surprice of the trip - a Black-necked Crane which is a major rarity in India. Apart from that we had gripping views of a Black-tailed Crake, or some of us had, that is those that could stand the huge numbers of leeches here. The wimps in the group ran their asses off back to the pavement. It is important to be here early as the place is soon crowded with tourists.

Map of lake Khecheoperi and the Black-tailed Crake site

Map of lake Khecheoperi