Bhutan Day 4

A small digression before I continue the diary. In addition to the bus with our local guide and driver we are also accompanied by a truck carrying camping gear, tables, chairs and cooking gear. This is manned by 6 men who precede us to a camp site and set up tents and prepare our meals. They also set up a tables and chairs at pre-arranged lunch spots. The food is OK but rice and spicy food 3 times a day is not quite to my taste! As we go on you will see some of the scenic locations chosen for lunch.

We start the day in woodland but I am distracted from the birds by a beautiful butterfly (I’ll update this when I have an ID)

and some interesting wild plants !!!

The terracing cut into the hillside is quite amazing - here is a typical scene.

Next comes on of the non-birding highlights of the trip - a visit to the Punakha Dzong. This is one of the oldest and most impressive of these buildings and we are allowed into the Dzong and even into the Buddhist temple at its centre - - no photographs allowed. The temple itself is amazing with colourful flags and statues and the huge gold Buddha and other figures. Here are some views.

The slightly dodgy bridge you need to cross to get to the Dzong.

Part of the external structure - with bees!

A last view across the river

We did see birds as well on the river near the Dzong although attempts to locate White-bellied Heron fail.

Crested Kingfisher

Red-wattled Lapwing

We overnight in a hotel near Punakha with an early start to try again for White-bellied Heron.

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