A Birdwatcher’s paradise “Suryavinayak”

Mr. Suresh Shakya, Tourist Guide by profession, has many publications to his credit on Nature, Environment and birds. He is at present undertaking an extensive survey of birds and its conservation throughout Nepal.

The first rays of the sun touches the lusty green forest about 2km to the south of ancient city-Bhaktapur. According to a legend, an ancient king, who did not have a son, built a temple of Lard ‘Ganesh’ – also known as “Vinayaka” the elephant headed son of shiva’ – on the very spot, as advised by then astrologers. Hence the name “Surya-Vinayaka”. As a result of continues worshiping and untiring devotion to the god the king finally had a son. Even today couples having problems with having children visit there for worshipping. Lord “Ganesha” is very popular as the god of wisdom and good luck, among Hindus. Hence many devotees congregate here every Tuesday and Saturdays.

Surya-vinayak is the most beautiful jungle spot around Bhaktapur with a unique combination of flora, fauna and religious importance. 

Behind the main temple, there exists a very thick forest of Schima Wallichi and Castanopsis Indica with thick undergrowth. It is very lively to see the flowering of many wild plants in springs. Rhododendron Arboreum, the national flower of Nepal, blooms in spring season at the upper level of the forest (about 1400 metre from the sea level). The whole forest turns reddish during the season. Different types of orchids are also found hanging in the trees in this forest all the year round. This type of forest is one of the best breeding ground for different kinds of resident birds. Many resident and migratory birds sing here in different seasons. Lot of warblers can be seen during winters. Winter is the best time for bird watching in these areas since many types of birds can be seen and the forest will be free from leeches. Moreover, it is one of the best wintering ground for finches, Warblers, birds of prey and many other birds. It is the best refugee place and breeding ground for many summer visitors like Flycatchers, Cuckoos and bee-eaters. Many resident birds like Doves, Magpie, Treepie, Woodpeckers, Flower peckers, Nuthatches, Laughing-Thrushes, Minivets, Barbets and Bulbuls can be seen everywhere in the forest. But eastern and south-eastern parts of the forest, since it is more exposed to the sun rays have more bird diversity. Bird activities in that part of the forest areas are more easily seen in the early mornings. This forest area is the second place where White-Bellied Yuhina can be seen in the valley.

Following birds can be seen frequently in and around Suryavinayak forest areas :
Common Names Scientific Names Status

Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos r
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopus conicapillus r
Brown-fronted Woodpecker D. auriceps r
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker D.macei r
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus r
Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorophus r
Great Barbet Megalarima virens r
Blue-throated Barbet M. asiatica r
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis r
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus s
Eurasian Cuckoo C. canorus rm
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea rs
Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis r
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri r
Rock pigeon Columba livia rm
Oriental turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis rm
Spotted Dove S. chinensis r
Black kite Milvus migrans rm
Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus rw
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo w
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis w
Common Kestrel Falco tinmunculus rw
Little Egret Egreta garzetta r
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis r
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach r
Grey backed Shrike L. tephronotus rm
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius r
Black-headed Jay G. lanceolatus r
Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha r
Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae r
House crow Corvus splendes r
Large-billed Crow C. macrorhynchos r
Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei r
Black winged Cuckooshrike C. macrorphynchos r
Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus r
Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus r
Yellow-bellied Fantail Rhipidura hypoxantha r
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocerus r
Ashy Drongo D. leucophaeus rs
Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius r
Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus r
Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul r
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata r
Red-throated Flycatcher F. parva w
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina r
Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara r
Grey headed canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis r
Orange-flanked bush Robin Tarsiger cyanurus r
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis r
Common stonechat Saxicola torguata r
Pied Bushchat S. caprat r
Grey Bushcht S. ferrea r
Chestnut-tailed starling Sturnus malabaricus r
Common Myna Acridothers tristis r
Jungle Myna A. Fuscus r
Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea r
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch S. frontalis r
Great Tit Parus major r
Green backed Tit P. Monticolus r
Black-lored Tit P. xanthogenys r
Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus r
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica rm
Red-rumped swallow H. daurica rm
Nepal House Martin Delichon nipalensis rm
Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys r
Red-vented Bulbul P. afer r
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus r
Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus r
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius r
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita w
Dusky Leaf Warbler P. fuscatus w
Tickell’s leaf Warbleer P. affinis r
Lemon-rumped warbler P. chloronotus r
Hume’s Warbler P. hume r
Greenish Warbler P. trochilodies r
Blyth’s leaf Warbler P. reguloides r
Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii r
Grey-hooded Warbler S. xanthoschistos r
Chestnut-crowned Warbler S. Castaniceps r
Black-faced Warbler S. castaniceps r
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Garrulax erythrocephalus r
Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys r
Black-chinned Babbler Stachyris Pyrrhops r
Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea r
Black-eared shrike Babbler Pteruthius melanotis r
White-bellied Yuhina Yuhina zantholeuca r
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile rs
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker D. ignipectus r
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja r
House Sparrow asser domesticus r
Eurasian Tree sparrow P. montanus r
White Wagtail Motacilla alba wm
Key : r = resident; s = summer visitor; w= winter visitor & m = passage migrant