“You’ve come way ahead on the road. You need to go back”, said the owner of Panna Stores at the Ghuggu Kham market, a 30 min walk uphill from Pangot. This was when I asked him where the Woodpecker Point was. “You need to lookout for a particular sign board and you’ll see a trail going into the trees. Follow that and you’ll come to an opening with a small pond. That is where you need to go”. Two chais later, and thanking him for his directions, I started back on the same road that I’d walked up!
I had seen the particular signage on my way up, but in my mind was expecting a direction board and hence skipped it completely. Having finally located the small trail going into the woods, I now realized how inconspicuous that was, can easily be bypassed. A little body bending, to allow me to pass under fallen trees, later I reached this opening which could pass as a picnic spot – a small pond surrounded by tall pines and some open ground where a small tent can be pitched. A few ground holes suggested that it be recently used as a camping ground. And thankfully all those who had come over, had carried away all remnants suggesting their presence.
At this time of the morning, there was thankfully no other enthusiastic birder in search for those avian residents of this grove. This allowed me to spend as much time as I wanted walking around the pond, on the forest trails, and trying to identify and click those birds, that this particular site is known for.
This place is commonly called Woodpecker Point by birders and hence by locals as well. Other than the Brown Fronted and Rufous Bellied Woodpeckers, there were several other species that provided their audience. White throated, Streaked and Chestnut crowned Laughing Thrushes, Blue Whistling Thrushes, Black Headed and Eurasian Jays, Grey Bushchats, Black throated Bushtits, Black and Himalayan Bulbuls, Red billed Blue Magpies, Lemon Rumped Warblers, Rufous Sebia and several others that I couldn’t identify or photograph.
I sat on a moss lined rock by the pond, and just meditated for a while, detoxing my lungs with the purest Himalayan air. And then spent an hour reading and soaking in the tranquillity. Such a blissful way to spend a winter morning up in the mountains.
A sincere request, if you happen to visit this place, kindly carry back anything that you bring with you, since it does not belong to such pristine environs. It’s our responsibility to value what we are able to see.
HOW TO REACH THERE
Woodpecker point is midway between Pangot and Ghugghu Kham villages. Pangot is 20 kms. from Nainital.
Best is to hike up the road to a point where you'll find a Forest Dept signboard with illustrations of various bird beak types. Just opposite to that is the trail that leads to this open area.
Please remember, this is a protected area. Donot litter and / or leave behind anything that you carry along with you. Silence is key if you want to observe birds and their behaviour.