Kanakeshwar Camp report

OikoEssence conducted a nature camp to Kankashwar during 1st -2nd April, 2017. The forest surrounding the ancient temple is actually a sacred grove still surviving despite of “developmental” activities that are taking place in Alibaug. The forest has age old trees, we have seen giant climber of entada which has an appx diameter of 2.5 feet. This and many more trees are unique. It also supports a great variety of fauna and may be because the water is available in harsh summer as well despite of being at the top. Another noticeable thing was there are no small vendors seen on the way and even no stall. This keeps the forest undisturbed and neat. Hopefully it will remain the same in future as well.

Busy group clicked by Ms. Gauri G.

List of sightings:

Plants: Ukshi, karvanda, chamel, garambhi, kaushi, mango, kevda, ashik, harda, beheda, kumbhi, vad, peepal, mallotus, castor, nandruk, fishtail palm, gulvel, pangara, kunti, lokhandi, kuda, wild Jasmin, anjan, waghati, safed chafa, karvi, karanj, kharoti, falsa, toran, gela, moha, saag, shikekai, chich, gardenia gummifera-dikemali, surangi, charcoal tree

Kaushi (Calycopteris floribunda) clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Chamel (Bauhinia vahlii) clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Kumbhi Flowers clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Anjani flowers Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Gnetum buds Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Twisted stem of Garambi Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Gum of Gardenia Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Rare beauty - Surangi flowers Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Fauna

Insects: Fire ants, weevil Common rose, sailor, emigrant, blue tiger

Reptiles: Forest calotes, skink, Garden lizard

Mammals: Hare, Bonnet macaque, Three stripped palm squirrel

Garden Lizard Clicked by Dr. Shreya B.

Ants' nest clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Falcon clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Birds: 

Large green barbet

Paradise flycatcher

Green bee eater

Peregrine falcon

Spotted dove

Crested Lark

Crested serpent eagle

White throated Kingfisher

Purple rumped sunbird

Indian golden oriole

Coppersmith Barbet clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Black hooded oriole

Black naped oriole

Common iora

Indian robin

Oriental magpie robin

Greenish warbler

Jungle crow

House crow

Lark clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

House sparrow

Greater coucal

Red whiskered bulbul

Malabar lark

Cattle egret

Copper Smith barbet

Ultramarine flycatcher

Jerdon's leafbird

Asian brown flycatcher

Shikra

Crested serpent eagle

Black kite

Buzzard?

Paradise fltcatchersclicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Oriole clicked by Mr. Bharkar P.

Smart Selfie Clicked by Mr. Raghu R.

Our Programmes for 2017 can be checked on this link: 

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

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

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

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

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