Sundrarbans Nature Outing Report

The Sundarbans National Park is a situated in West Bengal, India. It is a core part of Sundarban tiger reserve and biosphere reserve as well. It is located on the Ganges Delta. The delta is densely covered by mangrove forests, and is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. It is also home to a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile.

OikoEssence conducted a nature outing to Sundrbans in December, 2024. Three day’s intense boat safari opens up a very unique mangrove ecosystem for every participant. A trained Guide Mr. Ayan Mondal who has deep knowledge about the flora and fauna explained it very well. He was in shock but at the same time felt happy when we asked him not to play any calls to attract birds. The list of sightings mentioned bellow is done with ethics and not just to increase the number. 

Sundarbans Sightings

Birds

1.       Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

2.       Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

3.       Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

4.       Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

5.       Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata

6.       Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

7.       Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

8.       Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

9.       Brown-winged Kingfisher Pelargopsis amauroptera

10.   Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

11.   Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia

12.   Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius

13.   Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

14.   Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

15.   Common Redshank Tringa totanus

16.   Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

17.   Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata

18.   House Crow Corvus splendens

19.   Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii

20.   Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

21.   Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger

22.   Little Egret Egretta garzetta

23.   Medium Egret Ardea intermedia

24.   Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

25.   Osprey Pandion haliaetus

26.   Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

27.   Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

28.   Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

29.   Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

30.   Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

31.   Shikra Tachyspiza badia

32.   Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

33.   Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

34.   Striated Heron Butorides striata

35.   Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

36.   White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

37.   White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

 

Mammals

1.       Spotted deer

2.       Red faced macaque 

3.       Wild boar

4.       Three-striped squirrel 

 

Reptiles

1.       Salt water croc

2.       Ornate flying snake

3.       Water monitor lizard

 

Other sightings

1.       Horseshoe crab 

2.       Fiddler crab

3.       Mud skipper

  

Sharing some pics that were taken by participants during this outing

Photographs clicked by Nirmala D

Photograph clicked by Rasika G

Photograph clicked by Pradnya D

Photos clicked by Charuhas K

Photographs clicked by Rucha B

 

Bhadra and Chikamagaluru Nature Outing Report

The Coffee district of Chikkamagaluru (A village of small girl) and Home of Tigers, Elephants and many more wildlife - Bhadra Tiger Reserve, have plenty of things to offer its visitors. 

We being Nature observers (Naturewallas), were really enjoing every moment while we were roaming roaming in these to destinations. We took two safaris in Bhadra (first by Jeep and second one by boat) and sighted lot of biodiversity. Birding in and around the coffee plantation of Chikkamagaluru was an enjoyable experience. 

Various species were sighted. Given below is a list of sightings... 

Reptiles: 

Skink 

Garden Lizard 

Monitor Lizard 

Birds: (Thanks to Mr. Shripad for making the list and all the participants for their active contribution during making the list) 

Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 

Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo 

Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus 

Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 

Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 

Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 

Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 

Medium Egret Ardea intermedia 

Osprey Pandion haliaetus 

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 

Malabar Pied-Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus 

Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti 

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 

Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus 

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 

Gray-fronted Green-PigeonTreron affinis 

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 

Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela 

Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris 

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 

Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus 

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 

Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 

Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger 

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 

Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa 

Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii 

Shikra Tachyspiza badia 

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 

Malabar Gray Hornbill Ocyceros griseus 

Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis 

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 

Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus 

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus 

House Crow Corvus splendens 

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 

Asian Tit Parus cinereus 

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis 

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 

Jungle Babbler Argya striata 

Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus 

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 

Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica 

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus 

White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis 

Mammals: 

Asian Elephant 

Barking Deer 

Spotted Deer 

Hanuman Langur 

Bonnet Macaque 

Indian Gaur 

Sambar Deer 

Nilgai 

Wild Boar 

Stripe-necked Mongoose 

Grey Mongoose 

Malabar Giant Squirrel 

Photographs by one of our participants - Param K

Pics by Shripad B

Pics by Bhaskar P

Pics by Rupali G