Lava-Neora Valley is located in North Bengal near Kalimpong district, Neora Valley National Park covers an area of 88 km2 (34 sq mi) with an elevation of 183–3,200 m (600–10,499 ft). Lava-Neora valley is a combination of subtropical mixed broadleaved, lower temperate evergreen, upper temperate mixed broadleaved and rhododendron forest. The place is home to the many bird species like Rufous-bellied Eagle, Black Eagle, Asian Emerald, and violet cuckoos, Rufous-necked hornbill, Black-throated Prinia, Yellow-bellied flowerpecker, golden-throated barbet and spices like babbler, warblers, laughing thrushes and many more.
I visited Lava with my workshop participants for some particular spices like Yellow-bellied flowerpecker, Scarlet finch, Himalayan wood owl, etc. On 25th October 2019, I was busy photographing other birds in Lava ladam road in a narrow creek with Souvik Debnath and Rishov Pal I saw some movement on the ground it was not at all shy and I took a record shot it had yellow-colored eyes, rufous rump, and tail at that time I wasn't sure about the spices suddenly the birds landed in front of us and I just focused it and fired, its just one sec moment of magic and I got the close-up shot then later we figured out with the help of Sandeep Chakroborty, Kanad Baidya, Biswapriya Rahut confirming we have got our new spices in West Bengal the beautiful Asian Desert Warbler[Sylvia nana], while other states have few records and now adding to West Bengal it was an amazing day of wildlife and feel blessed. It also published in indian birds website.
