North East Butterfly Meet – Season IV
Day 3( 05.09.2017)
This was easily the best day of the meet as the sun came out pretty early and strong and the rain clouds went for the hiding. We could sense the excitement all around us on account of this. We decided to have the Pre-breakfast walk to the open ground and the small water falls beyond. The Pale Hedge Blue was the first to make an appearance. As we neared the falls, we could see good activities from Skippers and we recorded a Paintbrush Swift and Yellow Spot Swift, both nectaring and sun bathing. A Spangle was drying its wing too. On the return, people were excited with a Dysphania militaris moth. The jackpot was however waiting to happen. Anyone could have dismissed this dark ugly looking insect for a tree bark waste, if it had not moved and on our path. It happened to be a Dark Tinsel and soon we found out it is just the second sighting for India for this species.
The campsite was going great with sudden outburst of species and we could easily sight and photograph species like Fluffy Tit, Sullied Sailer, Common Birdwing, Golden Birdwing, Chocolate Pansy, Autumn Leaf, Blue Duke, Straight-banded Treebrown, Indian Tortoiseshell and a Common Nawab. It was time for breakfast and we had to leave to the location.
In August 2016, incessant rains triggered a massive landslide in North Sikkim district blocking a tributary of the Teesta and creating an artificial lake that could pose danger to the people living near downstream of the river. The landslide occurred at So- Bhir cliff at Dzongu and blocked Kanaka river, a small tributary of the Teesta. The artificial lake estimated to be 150 ft wide has been created. And this was the location of this day’ s walk.
The drive to the place was swift and through the village of Mantam. We have stopped to look at a few species like Yellow Flat, Restricted Demon and Golden Sapphire. As soon as we reached the spot, we were overwhelmed by the devastation and water is now being let out steadily from the lake. The vegetation will take some years to catch up. However, with plenty of rock soils and wet by the rains, there were plenty of mud-puddling and fluttering activities. We could immediately sight species like Bhutan Sergeant, Glassy Bluebottle, Common Bluebottle, Common Lineblue, Dingy Lineblue, etc. It was a narrow and difficult path to reach the other side of the road and I have to be personally helped out by couple of strong local Sikkimese. As soon as we reached the other side, a Khaki Silverline and a Long-banded Silverline welcomed us. The Khaki is a rare one. Plenty of Red Helens, Yellow Helen, Striped Tigers, Grass Yellows, Indian Cabbage white too were seen.
We then took the road which is being laid to reach the old road, and the spot where it joined was buzzing with activities too. We saw a few Himalayan Sergeants, a Redbreast, a Common Windmill, a Common Map and an Autumn Leaf which was kind enough to give us its open wing view. We returned to the zero point where we added a Rich Sailer, a Green Commodore, a Himalayan White Flat and a Pallid Nawab. A short break spent on the canteen helped us to recharge. When we returned to the vehicle, the rest of the teams were busy surrounding the mud-puddlers. We could add a Plain Puffin to the list from this.
It was time to return and an Orange Staff Sergeant sent us off to the campsite. Back to the familiar territory, and hard searching, resulted in adding 3 more lifers – a Purple Spotted Flat, an Angled Red Forester and a Dark Judy. After a quick concluding session, the day was over. The final list, after consolidation stood at 163. With three of our individual counts varying between 80 and 90 and the total of 3 us stood at 91. An Ypthima sp., Ypthima methora( Variegated Five-ring) is a rare catch. This was photographed by our Gowathaman and his friends. They were in other team.