Little Rann of Kutch January 2022 Report

India is blessed with tremendous diversity let it be a diversity in languages, traditions and landscapes. OikoEssence organised a nature tour to one of such beautiful locations in India called as Little Rann of Kutch (LRK). The key species of this national park is An Asiatic Wild Ass.

We got a chance to interact with a family belonging to local community that produce salt (Agariyas). Our guide gave a valuable information about the process of salt making and its trading. However, the number of salt pans is increasing day by day inside the sanctuary and it is in alarming number.

 

Thol is another lovely place for birding situated near Ahmedabad. We visit spent some time there as well observing Two separate lists for both the places are as follows 

LRK - List prepared by our participant Dr. Ashish Nanabhai 

Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

Indian Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus (stentoreus) brunnescens)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)

Shikra (Accipiter badius)

Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus (macrorynchos) japonensis)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis coromandus)

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Western Reef-heron (Egretta gularis)

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)

Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Spotted Owl (Athene brama)

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pynconotus cafer)

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)

Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

River Tern (Sterna aurantia)

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Indian Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus)

Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)

Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus ?)

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Common Teal (Anas crecca)

Common Bushchat (Saxicola torquatus)

Indian Pond-heron (Ardeola grayii)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

White-eared Bulbul (Pynconotus leucotis)

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Asian Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana)

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)

Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Common Crane (Grus grus)

Thol: 

Green bee-eater

Citrine wagtail

Darter

Indian Cormorant

Indian moorhen

Brahminy myna

Rudy shelduck

Northen pintail

Dalmatian Pelican

River tern

Median egret

Pond heron

Common coot

Northen shoveler

Ashy prinia

Erasian spoonbill

Blue rock pigeon

Little tern

Barn swallow

Bar-headed goose

Common crane

Purple swamphen

Little egrate

Knob duck

Greater flamingo

Small blue kingfisher

Greater coucal

Black winged stilt

Spot billed duck

Red wattled lapwing

Rose ringed parakeet

Common pochard

Eurasian coller dove

Common teal

Little grebe

Jungle babbler

Grey heron

Flycatcher?

Glossy ibis

Indian robbin

White-cheecked bulbul

Laughing dove

Painted strock

Marsh harrier

Purple sunbird

House crow

Crested serpent eagle

Black shoulder kite

Red vented bulbul

Grey francolin

Great white pelican

Yellow footed green pigeon

Hoopoe

Common myna

Greater spotted eagle

Fan tail

Long tailed shrike

Bhigwan Tour January 2022

Bhigwan has been attracting many birds and bird watchers for the past many years. It is a home for many residential as well as migratory birds. Winter, being a good time to observe them, OikoEssence arranged a birding tour here in the month of January. Following is the list of bird species observed during our two day visit.

Pic by Shreya B

We got a chance to observe Tundra Bean Goose. As per the scientists, this species is recorded for the first time in Maharashtra this year.

Tundra bean Goose by Shripad B

Following is the list of bird species observed during our two day visit.

Painted Stork

Grey Heron

Common Kingfisher

White Throated Kingfisher

Eurasian Spoonbill

Common coot

Ruddy shell duck

Osprey

Greater flamingo

Black headed ibis

Brown headed gull

Yellow wagtail

Red wattled Lapwing

Little cormorant

House crow

Green bee-eater

Purple heron

Common Moorhen 

Black winged stilt

Wood sandpiper

House sparrow

Pond heron

Little egret

Median egret

Small pratincole

Black tailed Godwit

Little grebe 

Tricoloured munia 

Purple Sunbird

Silver bill

Red vented bulbul 

Marsh harrier

Oriental magpie robin

Brahmini mynah

Rosy starling

Black drongo 

Northern shoveler 

Indian roller

Black kite

Whiskered tern

Blue rock Pigeon

Pied kingfisher

Glossy ibis

Bean goose

Bar headed geese

Brahminy kite 

Spot billed duck

Yellow wagtail

Gargany

Pied Bush chat

Golden Oriole

Purple moorhen

Common Sandpiper

Indian Robin

Indian nightjar

Pacific golden plover

Jungle crow 

Eurasian open bill

Red avadavat 

Little ringed plover

Brahminy mynah

Ashy Prinia 

Barn swallow

Cattle Egret

Marsh Harrier

Black winged kite

Osprey by Shripad B

Pratincole by Shripad B

Painted Stork by Mr. Kiran S.

Bar headed Geese by Sripad B

Grey Heron By Gauri G

Enjoy Birding!!

List prepared by Vaibhavi Shitut

Punjab - Lohri Celebrations and Dasuya Forest

India has a unique feature of 'Unity in Diversity'. She homes many religions that brings variety of festivals and it adds to her beauty. We at OikoEssence, decided to start our New year 2020 camping with celebration of 'Lohri' festival in Punjab. We got a nice homestay in Amritsar called 4N Homestay. We are thankful to this family who allowed us to be a part of their family's traditional Lohri celebration.

Next day after the celebrations we moved to Dasuya forest for Birding. There is Talwara Dam nearby  which is on the boundary of two states - Punjab & Himachal Pradesh. We are grateful to Dasuya Forest Department for helping us in conducting this camp.

Sharing the list of sightings (All the waders are from Talwara region of Dasuya forest)

Amritsar 

 1. Rose-ringed parakeet

2. Black drongo

3. Common myna

4. Black kite

5. Bank myna

6. Rock pigeon

7. White throated kingfisher

8. Large billed crow

9. House crow

 Dasuya

1. Great cormorant

2. Indian cormorant

3. Little cormorant

4. Grey heron

5. Little egrate

6. Intermediate egrete

7. White throated kingfisher

8. Black kite

9. Eurasian wigeon 

10. Common coot

11. Common shelduck

12. Ruddy shelduck

13. Spot-billed duck

14. Red wattled lapwing

15. Common moorhen

16. Purple swamphen

17. White-browed wagtail

18. Common sandpiper

19. Plumbeus water redstart

20. Indian robin

21. Little grebe

22. White wagtail

23. Common pochard

24. Brown headed gull

25. Crow phesant

26. Rose ringed parakeet

27. Jungle babbler

28. Eurasian marsh harrier

29. Little ringed plover

30. Palm swift

Dassua day 2

1. Red vented bulbul

2.Red whiskered bulbul

3. White eared bulbul

4. Plum-headed parakeet

5. Rufous treepie

6. Black rumped flameback

7. Long tailed shirke

8. Laughing dove

9. Spotted dove

10. Purple heron

11. Cattle egret

12. Barbary falcon

13. Red avadavat

14. Scaly breasted munia

15. Ashy prinia

16. Plain prinia

17. Great tit

18. Black redstart

19. Ferruginous duck

20. Red crested pochard

21. Northern pintail

22. Northern shoveler

23. Griffon vulture

24. Common teal

25. River tern

26. Red jungle fowl

27. Small button quail

28. Oriental white eye

29. Blue whistling thrush

30. Common myna

31. Indian grey hornbill

32. Asian pied starling

33. Red napped ibis

34. Gull billed tern

35. House sparrow

36. Black shouldered kite

37. Eurasian collared dove

38. Grey breasted prinia

39. Yellow crowned woodpecker

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G

Pic by Rupali G