Ladakh.
Ladakh has so much more to offer that I had to go back there again! This time included new destinations like Wadila, Changla, Pangong, Nurbula etc. Found the 3 Tibetans there: Tibetan Patridge, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Tibetan Snowcock! Himalayan Snowcock with family was another great bonus. Got some other rare photos of Red-fronted Rosefinch on ground and the White-throated Dipper feeding its chick! Most special one was the Black-necked crane with its chick walking together! The colourful White-browed Tit Warbler and Fire-fronted Serin were other good finds this time. Other birds in great frames included the Bluethroat, Ruddy Shelduck, the Horned Lark and the Eurasian Eagle Owl with the Desert Wheatear (which reminded me of a Western cowboy movie showdown!). The Hill Pigeon, Upland Buzzard and Ground Tit were the other good finds.
In animals, got some great shots for the Pallas Cat, the Himalayan Marmot, Wooly Hare and the rare Tibetan Gazelle! Also a long shot of the shy Tibetan Sand Fox, and some incredible new shots of the Tibetan Wild Ass!
Last but not the least were some totally mesmerising nature and landscape photos! And the grand finale was clearly the Milky Way shot from Hanle!
Ladakh.
The high Himalayan regions in Ladakh and Kashmir hold not just superlative natural beauty but also immense wildlife beauty. Around Leh itself there are some large marshland areas in Shey. Other parts of Ladakh that I went to were Tsokar and Hanle, both at very high altitudes and bitingly cold, but heavenly raw beauty. Very basic tents and homestays at these places and only the real passionate ones will endure it with a smile! I did not find a few important birds here but am sure there will be a next time soon!
The ones I did find good photographs of were the Black-winged Snowfinch, Black-headed Mountain Finch, Great Rosefinch, Horned Lark, Brahminy Duck, Black-necked Crane, Little Owl, Eurasian Magpie, the Red-billed and Yellow-billed Choughs, Saker Falcon, Chukar Partridge. Some of the animals I found here included the Tibetan Ass, Red Fox, Ladakh Pika, Tibetan Hare, Yaks, Marmot, and Bharal.