Tuesday 28 February 2017

OikoEssence Thol, Jessore, Balaram, Ambaji Report

OikoEssence conducted nature camp to three Sanctuaries of Gujarat. Namely – Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Balaram-Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary and Thol Bird Sanctuary. Despite of being in
Muchkund Fruits Clicked by Shreya B
the same state and located not very far from each other, all three Sanctuaries have their own characteristics and landscapes. However the exotic and invasive species Prosopis juliflora was seen in abundance in Jessore along with few indigenous plants species such as ber, acacias etc. The reptile list includes monitor lizard and skink. Jessore has a huge lake which attracts water birds. Whereas balaram ambaji shows growth of big trees such as palash, mahua, beleric myrobalan etc. but, prosopis juliflora still occurs. We also saw a forest calotes during a trail at ambaji forest. Both the sanctuaries are still supporting the great range of biodiversity. Thol is an amaizing wetland and some of us were lucky to see the courtship dance of Sarus Cranes. To see video click here - https://youtu.be/xsU74A2inxo

Moniter Lizard clicked by Shripad
The mammals sighted during our visit to Jessore were – Neelgai, Wild boar, Hanuman langur and three stripped palm squirrel. During our visit to balaram & ambaji wildlife sanctuary Hanuman langurs with two rhesus macaques were seen. These two were rescued and released in this sanctuary long time back.

Hanuman langur feasting on Palash flowers clicked by Shreya















The bird list is as follows
Ahmedabad (outskirts), Balaram ambaji & Jessore:
1.       Little ringed plover
Common myna at Sabarmati Ashram Clicked by Gauri G.
2.       Black winged stilt
3.       Eurasian Spoonbill
4.       Black kite
5.       White bellied drongo
6.       Black drongo
7.       Black headed ibis
8.       Black ibis
9.       Glossy ibis
10.   Asian openbill
11.   Purple moorhen
12.   Common sandpiper
Babbler clicked by Gauri G. 
13.   Plover?
14.   Indian robin
15.   Common coot
16.   Northern shovelor
17.   Little cormorant
18.   Bronze winged jacana
19.   White breasted waterhen
20.   Red wattle lapwing
21.   Little grebe
22.   Little egret
23.   Indian pond heron
Grey lag geese & Shovellers Pic by Gauri G.
24.   Brahminy myna
25.   Common myna
26.   Green bee-eater
27.   Rose ringed parakeet
28.   Greater coucal
29.   Red vented bulbul
30.   Indian peafowl
31.   White throated kingfisher
32.   Indian roller
33.   Black shouldered kite
34.   Purple sunbird
35.   House sparrow
Ringed dove Pic by Gauri G.
36.   House crow
37.   Blue rock pigeon
38.   Oriental magpie robin
39.   Collared dove
40.   Rufous treepie
41.   Spotted dove
42.   Caspian tern
43.   Jungle babbler
44.   Plum headed parakeet
Thol
1.       Common crane (wetland near kalol)
2.       Hoopoe
Spotted Owlet pic by Gauri G
3.       Large egret
4.       Painted stork
5.       Greater flamingo
6.       Wiretail swallow
7.       Comb duck
8.       Pond heron
9.       Eurasian vision
10.   Northern pintail
11.   Northern shoveler
12.   Grey lagged geese
13.   Bar-headed geese
Common teal clicked by Rupali G.
14.   Cotton teal
15.   Little grebe
16.   Pied kingfisher
17.   Small blue kingfisher
18.   Blue rock pigeon
19.   Green bee-eater
20.   Greater pelican
21.   Red wattled lapwing
22.   Jungle babbler
23.   Black winged stilt
24.   Little cormorant
25.   Darter
Egret Clicked by Rupali G.
26.   Greater coucal
27.   Purple sunbird
28.   Flowerpecker?
29.   Marsh harrier
30.   Spotted owlet
31.   Mallard
32.   Common sandpiper
33.   Black tailed godwit
34.   Rose ringed parakeet
35.   Common coot
36.   Grey wagtail
Rose ringed parakeet clicked by Shripad
37.   White wagtail
38.   Sarus crane
39.   Brahmini duck
40.   Pied kingfisher
41.   Eurasian wryneck (Indroda nature park, Kalol)
42.   Golden backed woodpecker (Indroda nature park, Kalol)
43.   Yellow capped woodpecker (Indroda nature park, Kalol)
44.   Tailor bird (Indroda nature park, Kalol)
45.   White browed fantail (Indroda nature park, Kalol)
46.   Common iora (Indroda nature park, Kalol)

For future camps and trails please click link -
Sarus Cranes pic by Gauri G.
Black winged stilt clicked by Shreya




Spoonbill clicked by Shripad B.

Group at Balaram forest clicked by Gauri G.
Group at Jessore clicked by Gauri G..







Group at Thol clicked by Gauri G.





Trail in Balaram ramnge pic by Rupali G

interaction with RFO Balaram Pic by Rupali G 

interaction with RFO Ambaji Pic by Rupali G 






























Saturday 25 February 2017

Navegaon Nagzira Camp by OikoEssence

clicked by Gauri G.

It was great to be in the forest of Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve and to see some of the major characters of Epic story - The Jungle Book in reality. The forest has excellent species diversity.

Few of the sightings are listed below.

Plants
Dillenia indica
Mallotus philipensis
Flemingia spp
Eranthemum spp
Woodfordia fruticosa
Tectona grandis
Lannea coromondelica
Sterculia urens
Butea monosperma
Bombax ceiba
Schleicheria oleosa
Mytragyna parviflora
Helicterus isora
Terminalia belerica
Terminalia arjuna
Terminalia tomentosa
Termite hill clicked by Gauri G.

Ficus racemosa
Ficus religiosa
Shikra clicked by Gauri G.

Ficus benghalensis
Dolichandron falcata

Butterflies
Baronet
Common pierrot
Grass jewels
Cerulian
Common mormon
Grey Pansy

Arachnids
Giantwood spider
Box spider

Crested Serpent Eagle clicked by Gauri G.

Birds  
Crested Serpent Eagle
Orange-headed thrush
Indian pea-fowl
Green bee-eater
Spotted Dove
Collared dove
Indian Roller
White throated Kingfisher
Indian robin
Magpie robin
Rose ringed parakeet
Plum headed parakeet
Collared Scops Owl
Grey Wagtail
Jungle Babbler
Indian roller clicked by Gauri G.
Indian Thick knee
Shikra
Paddy-field pipit
Jungle owlet
Common myna
Nut hatch
Lesser goldenback
Racket tailed drongo
Purple sunbird
Red vented bulbul
Red whiskered bulbul
White browed fantail
Greater coucal
House Sparrow
Rufous treepie
Oriole
Ashy prinia
Wild boar clicked by Gauri G.
Purple swamphen
Bronze winged jacana
Garganey
Coot
Ruddy Shelduck
Blackwinged stilt
Cattle Egret
Eurasian Openbill

Mammals
Sambar deer
India gaur
Hanuman Langur
Spotted deer
Wild boars
Gliding squirrel clicked by Gauri G.
Wild Dogs
Gliding squirrel
Royal Bengal tiger
Leopard
Indian Mongoose
Bengal Tiger (T7, navegaon bandh) clicked by Gauri G.
Sloth bear
Nilgai
Rhesus macaque






Hanuman Langur clicked by Mr. E. Thiruvengadam
For future camps and trails please click link -
http://oikoessence.blogspot.in/2016/11/programme-schedule-2017-for-nature.html