144 Species in Two Days: Carol Inskipp's Complete Birding Account of Lumbini and Jagdishpur Reservoir
March 2020. Three of Nepal's most respected ornithologists, two days, one base camp. The result: 144 species — by far the highest single-day total of their lowland trip.
The Team and the Base
The birding party consisted of:
- Carol Inskipp — co-author of Birds of Nepal and A Checklist of Birds of Nepal, one of the world's foremost authorities on South Asian birds
- Dr. Hem Sagar Baral — Nepal's leading ornithologist; co-author of Birds of Nepal; founder of Himalayan Nature
- Tika Ram Giri — experienced Nepal ornithologist
All three stayed at Lumbini Buddha Garden for the two-day visit.
"We stayed at Lumbini Buddha Garden, which is an ideal location for birding the area and offers a range of comfortable accommodation to suit any pocket, as well as delicious meals and helpful, friendly staff." — Carol Inskipp
Day 1 Afternoon: The Sacred Garden Ponds and LBG Garden
The Sacred Garden Ponds (30 min from LBG)
Tika and Carol arrived by road from Sauraha, joining Hem for an afternoon walk around the Sacred Ponds at the Lumbini Shrine.
Day 1 Sacred Garden highlights:
- 15 Ferruginous Duck — a Near-threatened species, uncommon in Nepal
- 1 Lesser Coucal — a localised and often elusive species
- 3 Smoky Warbler — a sought-after wintering warbler, scarce across Nepal
Back at LBG: The Evening Raptor Watch
Relaxing in LBG's semi-natural garden after the Sacred Garden visit, the team recorded an extraordinary overhead raptor event:
- 8 White-rumped Vultures — Critically Endangered; soaring directly overhead
- 2 Himalayan Vultures — large, impressive soaring birds
- 1 Eurasian Griffon — an impressive addition
After dark, the garden provided:
- Indian Thick-knee calling from the scrub
- Indian Scops-owl calling from the garden trees
Day 1 Morning (LBG Garden Walk)
The following morning, before departure for Jagdishpur, a walk around the LBG grounds produced:
- Thick-billed Flowerpecker
- Hume's Warbler
- Greenish Warbler
Note: Most garden plantings at LBG were specifically chosen to attract birds — a deliberate management decision that pays observable dividends for visiting ornithologists.
Day 2 Morning: En Route to Jagdishpur — 12 Raptors on the Road
The journey from LBG to Jagdishpur Reservoir takes approximately 90 minutes.
On this single road journey, the team recorded 12 birds of prey — far more than on any comparable road journey during their two-week Nepal trip (which ranged from Sauraha to Shuklaphanta National Park).
Road Journey Raptors
| Species | Notes |
|---|---|
| Eastern Imperial Eagle | Not seen anywhere else on the full two-week trip |
| Long-legged Buzzard | Not seen elsewhere on the trip |
| Steppe Eagle | Multiple individuals |
| Egyptian Vulture | Endangered; a notable farmland raptor |
Additionally, 15 Sarus Cranes were seen en route — the globally Vulnerable species for which the Lumbini farmland is Nepal's primary site.
Storks recorded on the journey:
- 40 Asian Openbills
- 30 Lesser Adjutants
- 1 Asian Woollyneck
Jagdishpur Reservoir: One of Nepal's Best Wetlands
Jagdishpur Reservoir is a Ramsar-designated wetland and one of the most productive bird sites in Nepal. Carol Inskipp's account from March 2020 represents an exceptional day's birding.
Ducks: 14 Species in One Visit
| Duck Species | Count | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Falcated Duck | 1 drake | Near-threatened; rare in Nepal |
| Red-crested Pochard | 350 | Notable flock |
| Indian Spot-billed Duck | 2 | Local breeding species |
| + 11 additional species | Various | Multiple common dabbling and diving ducks |
Raptors at Jagdishpur
- Pied Harrier — a female; a quality find
- Besra — a small, elusive accipiter
- 3 Booted Eagles — the small eagle in both colour morphs
Waders and Waterbirds
- 2 White-tailed Lapwing — scarce in Nepal
- 1 Grey-headed Lapwing
- 6 Pheasant-tailed Jacana
- 46 Red-naped Ibis
- 3 Purple Heron
- Four egret species
- 30 Purple Swamphen
- 1 Brown Crake
Passerines (Songbirds)
- 8 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters — "a lovely surprise"
- Red-breasted Flycatcher — Carol's first in Nepal
- Ultramarine Flycatcher
- Striated Grassbird
- Thick-billed Warbler
- Blyth's Reed Warbler
- 10 Smoky Warblers
- Citrine Wagtail
Day 2 Return: The Vulture Spectacle
Returning to LBG in the afternoon and relaxing over tea, the team witnessed what Carol describes as even more impressive than the previous evening's raptor watch:
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Long-billed Vulture | 1 — extremely rare in Nepal |
| White-rumped Vulture | 4 |
| Himalayan Vulture | 40 |
| Eurasian Griffon | 1 |
| Indian Spotted Eagle | 3 |
| Greater Spotted Eagle | 1 |
| Steppe Eagle | 4 |
Forty Himalayan Vultures soaring in a thermal directly above the resort garden. This is what makes Lumbini Buddha Garden's location genuinely exceptional — not just as comfortable accommodation, but as an active wildlife site.
Day 2 Late Afternoon: The Telar River Bank
A late afternoon walk along the Telar River — directly opposite LBG — added a final set of species for the day:
- Grey Francolin
- 2 Western Himalayan Bush Warblers
- 5 Common Babblers (now rare in Nepal)
- 4 Brahminy Starlings
- Black-throated Thrush
- 60 Red Avadavats — a striking red finch in a large flock
Final tally for the two-day visit: 144 species — by far the highest single-day count of the entire two-week Nepal trip.
Complete Species Highlights Table
| Category | Notable Species | IUCN Status |
|---|---|---|
| Critically Endangered vultures | White-rumped Vulture, Long-billed Vulture | CE / CR |
| Endangered | Egyptian Vulture | EN |
| Vulnerable | Sarus Crane, Eastern Imperial Eagle | VU |
| Near-threatened | Himalayan Vulture, Falcated Duck, Ferruginous Duck | NT |
| Rare/Scarce in Nepal | Common Babbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Harrier | — |
| High counts | 40 Himalayan Vultures, 350 Red-crested Pochard, 60 Red Avadavats | — |
Why LBG Is the Definitive Base for Lumbini Birding
Carol Inskipp's account, written by one of the world's foremost authorities on South Asian birds, provides the most authoritative endorsement any wildlife lodge in Nepal could receive.
The case for LBG as a birding base is clear:
- The garden itself is a productive birding site, particularly for raptors using the thermals above
- Location is optimal for day trips to the Sacred Garden ponds and Jagdishpur Reservoir
- Staff knowledge — management is connected to Nepal's ornithological community
- Comfort and food — quality accommodation and organic kitchen support multi-day birding trips
- The Telar River — immediately adjacent to the property; valuable riparian birding
👉 Book the Natural History Tour from LBG | View Deluxe Room accommodation
FAQs: Planning a Birding Trip to Lumbini and Jagdishpur
Is a local guide recommended for Jagdishpur Reservoir? Highly recommended. A knowledgeable local guide significantly increases species detection at Jagdishpur. LBG management can connect guests with experienced local birding guides.
What optical equipment should I bring? Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42 recommended) are essential. A spotting scope and tripod significantly enhance duck and raptor identification at Jagdishpur. The resort has space to store and set up equipment.
Is Jagdishpur accessible year-round? The reservoir is accessible year-round but at its productive best from October to March, when migratory ducks, raptors, and waders are present in the highest numbers.
Can Carol Inskipp's bird list from this visit be accessed? The full species list for this trip appears in the original blog post on the LBG website. Carol Inskipp's published work, including Birds of Nepal, is the authoritative reference for the species she mentions.
How many species can a serious birdwatcher expect to see in a 2-day LBG-based trip? Based on Carol Inskipp's account: 100–144 species over two days is achievable for experienced observers with early starts, combining LBG grounds, the Sacred Garden ponds, and Jagdishpur Reservoir.
Written by Carol Inskipp (including all original photographs) · March 2020 · Expanded with SEO context 2025
