In keeping with my theme of field reports from public parks and gardens in town and city, this account focuses on two visits undertaken at Lloyd's Botanical Garden in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, on 26th and 27th December 2015.
This site is situated on the steep western slopes on the edge of town and comprises of some 40 acres of mature trees, shrubbery and lawns, intersected by a series of lateral paths.
The weather conditions on both days were unseasonably clement for the region, being mild and sunny with little cloud cover. Another bonus was the presence of a large fruiting tree there, which attracted at least 15 Great Barbet, affording outstanding views of this most impressive representative of the Megalaimidae.
I considered the following species list of particular interest to any birders visiting Darjeeling, as it appears there are few postings mentioning this locality here on Surfbirds.
Apologies for the exceptionally delayed submission.
Great Barbet 15+
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush 2
Blue-winged Minla
Red-tailed Minla
Whiskered Yuhina
White-tailed Nuthatch
Grey-winged Blackbird 3
Blue-fronted Redstart
Blue Whistling Thrush
Chestnut-bellied Thrush 1