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

Tungareshwar Trail 18th June , 2017 Photographs

Discussions click by Gauri G

Searching .. Click by Gauri G

Chlorophytum tuberosum clicked by Akshay T.

Wild yam clicked by Akshay T.

Orchid clicked by Akshay T.

clicked by Akshay T.

Chameleon clicked by Akshay T.

For 2017 entire year's schedule click
http://oikoessence.blogspot.in/2016/11/programme-schedule-2017-for-nature.html

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 -

http://oikoessence.blogspot.in/2016/11/programme-schedule-2017-for-nature.html

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