Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Shivdi Mudflat - Wader watch by OikoEssence

Shivdi Bird Watching 12-03-17

Lesser flamingos clicked by Rupali G

OikoEssence group birding at shivdi jetty


Temminck's Stint
Marsh Sandpiper
Eurasian Curlew
Pond Heron
Grey Hornbill
Long Billed plover
Common Kingfisher
Sanderling
Black Headed Ibis
Western reef egret clicked by Gauri G.
Little Ringed Plover
Common Red Shank
Grey Heron
Brown Headed Gull
Red Whiskered Bulbul
Rose Ringed Parakeet
Painted Stork
Westerm Reef Egret
Intermediate egret
Lesser Flamingo
Marsh harrier
Sandpiper clicked by Rupali G
Black kite
House crow
Large billed crow
Jungle prinia
House sparrow
Blue rock pigeon
Some nature lovers trying to get closer to birds and disturbing them
 - clicked by Gauri G.

Clicked by Rupali G.
















Details of future camp can be checked on this link

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Visit to few Ramsar sites in Punjab by OikoEseence – Report

OikoEssence conducted a nature camp to Punjab in the month of March, 2017. We covered two of the three Ramsar sites in Punjab – Harike & Kanjli; Keshopur wetland.   We sighted a good number of migratory birds. We also visited ‘must see’ locations when one is in Punjab – Golden temple, Jalianwalah baug & Atari Border (Wagah) where we saw ringed doves
We could hardly see butterflies there; maybe it is because of over use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
@ Atari Border clicked by Gauri G.


Eurasian collared dove clicked by Shreya B.












Plain tiger Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.



Cabbage? clicked by Shreya B.











Kanjli wetland clicked by Gauri G.


Caster flowering clicked by Shreya B.

Grasses at Kanjli wetland clicked by Shreya B.

Cormorant clicked by Rupali G.
Kanjili wetland – This wetland is facing lot of problems such as ever increasing agriculture, garbage dump etc. Water hyacinth is grown almost everywhere on the water body. A continuous stretch of agricultural fields runs along one side of this wetland. Few poplar, castor & nilgiri trees along with broom grass were seen.
List bird sightings –
1.       Little cormorant
2.       Blackwinged stilt
3.       Common moorhen
4.       Grey hornbill
5.       Rose ringed parakeets
clicked by Gauri G.

6.       Greater coucal
7.       Common myna
8.       House crow
9.       Jungle crow
10.   Grey wagtail
11.   White throated kingfisher
12.   Collared dove
13.   Cattle egret
14.   Red wattled lapwing
15.   Shikra
16.   Peacock (call)
17.   Spotted dove
Mammal – Fruit eating Bats

Agriculture next to Kanjli clicked by Gauri G.


Discussing with FD, Harike clicked by Rupali G.
Harike clicked by Gauri G. 





Pistia growig in Harike clicked by Gauri G.

Crabs eye creeper clicked by Gauri G.

Mogre ki sabji clicked by Rupali G.
Sarson clicked by Rupali G.

Harike wetland
This is well protected water body and attracts lots of migratory birds. One can see confluence of satluj & beas rivers which is near to this bird sanctuary. 
Mammals – Giant squirrel, three striped squirrel, Jackal, Mongoose
List of birds
Spotted owlet Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

1.       Yellow footed green pigeon
2.       Rose ringed parakeet
3.       Common myna
4.       White throated kingfisher
5.       Little cormorant
6.       Common coot
7.       Northern shoveler
8.       Tufted duck
9.       Grey wagtail
10.   Common tailor bird
11.   Rufous tree pie
Bee-eater clicked by Shreya B.

12.   White browed wagtail
13.   Yellow wagtail
14.   Green bee-eater
15.   Grey hornbill
16.   Spotted owlet
17.   Eurasian wigeon
18.   Mallard
19.   Pygmy blue flycatcher
20.   Northern pintail
21.   Bar headed geese
22.   Black winged stilt
Northern shovelor Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

23.   Jungle crow
24.   House crow
25.   House sparrow
26.   Asian pied starling
27.   Jungle babbler
28.   Common moorhen
29.   White breasted waterhen
30.   Red wattled lapwing
Pipit Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

31.   Pied cuckoo (Call)
32.   Grey lag geese
33.   Paddyfield pipit
34.   Pond heron
35.   Darter
36.   Glossy Ibis
37.   Grey headed canary flycatcher
38.   Marsh harrier
39.   Common Hoopoe
40.   Brahminy myna
41.   Black rumped flameback
42.   Pied bushchat
43.   Yellow bellied prinia
Pintails Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

44.   Purple sunbird
45.   Purple heron
46.   Blue rock pigeon
47.   Buzzard
48.   Small blue kingfisher
49.   Shrike
50.   Fulvous breasted Woodpecker
51.   Long legged buzzard
52.   River tern
Bushchat female Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

53.   Brown headed gull
54.   Common teal
55.   Gadwall
56.   Warbler?
57.   Spotted dove


Tufted duck Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.




Yellow bellied prinia Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

Woodpecker clicked by Rupali G.



Rose ringed parakeets clicked by Rupali G.


Another side of Harike WLS clicked by Gauri G.


Keshopur wetland clicked by Gauri G.

Keshopur wetland
It is the first-ever notified community reserve of India under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended 2002).
Purple moorhen clicked by Shreya B.
1.       Rock sparrow
2.       Yellow bellied prinia
3.       Common moorhen
4.       Eurasian wigeon
5.       Black kite
6.       Brahminy Kite
7.       Brahminy duck
8.       Purple heron
White throated Kingfisher clicked by Gauri G.

9.       Cattle egret
10.   Grey lag geese
11.   Grey heron
12.   Northern pintail
13.   Purple moorhen
14.   Northern shoveler
15.   Common coot
16.   Common teal
17.   Bronze winged jacana
18.   Spot-billed duck
19.   White throated kingfisher
20.   Red wattled lapwing
Grey lagged geese Clicked by Mr. Bhaskar P.

21.   Citrine wagtail
22.   Rose ringed parakeet

23.   Ashy prinia






Bee-eater clicked by Rupali G.
Red wattled lapwing clicked by Rupali G.




Shovelors clicked by Rupali G.



Details of future camp can be checked on this link

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