Buldhana Birding

At Dyanganga WLS

Our Nature outing to Buldhana - the land with lots of lakes came to us with some lovely surprises. We got to see around eighty four species of birds including Demoisele cranes.

A visit to Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary was amazing as well.

We visited one ASI site at Satgaon Bhusari Temple Complex. It is a small place with lots of good sculptures still remaining.  We also visited Balapur Fort and Baladevi Temple situated at confluence of two rivers Bhains and Mann. Did some birding there as well. The murmuration of Rosy Pastures at Shegaon Temple was another lovely site to watch. Overall it was a pleasant experience.

Satgaon Bhusari temple complex 

List of fauna observed is given belllow. Also sharing some of the photographs clicked by our camp participant  and experienced photographer Dr. Ashish N, and Mr, Charuhas K. 

Birds :

Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis

Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

Asian Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus

Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus

Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

Common Pochard Aythya ferina

Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

Common/Spotted Redshank Tringa totanus/erythropus

Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus

Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo

Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Eurasian Coot Fulica atra

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia

Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

Gray Francolin Ortygornis pondicerianus

Gray Heron Ardea cinerea

Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

Gray-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca

House Crow Corvus splendens

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Indian Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris

Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus

Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii

Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis

Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica

Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha

Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus

Jungle Babbler Argya striata

Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Medium Egret Ardea intermedia

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus

Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa

redstart sp.Phoenicurus sp.

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

River Tern Sterna aurantia

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicura

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus

Sirkeer Malkoha Taccocua leschenaultii

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Spotted Owlet Athene brama

Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca

Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris

Western Reef-Heron Egretta gularis

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis

White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 

Mammmles :

Spotted deer 

Indian Grey Langur 

Nilgay

Grey mongoose 

Wild boar 

Sambar deer

Reptiles : 

Skink 

Chameleon

Photographs clicked by Mr. Charuhas K.

Photographs clicked by Dr. Ashish N.

Small Surprise. Documented by Dr. Shreya

For future camps contact OikoEssence Team 

Shreya - 9869611810

Gauri -  9969440476

Visit to Tilari Forest Reserve Nature Tour Report

Tilari Forest Reserve is an important wildlife corridor used by a variety of wild animals including Tigers and Elephants. The flora and fauna of this ecosystem is truly mesmerizing. There are very few fresh water wetland ecosystem known as Myristica Swamps that are thriving in the nature. ne can observe a small section of that in Tilari.

Group in-front of Dattarai - Private Grove , maintained by Vanoshi Homestay and NGO

Efforts of NGO and locals to preserve original wild species of trees from Western Ghats of Maharashtra is really commendable.

The bird diversity observed during nature outing is listed below

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

Blue-throated/Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides/tickelliae

Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus nanus

Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela

Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima

Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda

Flame-throated Bulbul Rubigula gularis

Gray-fronted Green-Pigeon Treron affinis

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

House Crow Corvus splendens

Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus

Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo

Indian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

Jerdon's Nightjar (call) Caprimulgus atripennis

Malabar Gray Hornbill Ocyceros griseus

Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii

Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina

Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala

Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus

Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica

Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

swift sp. Apodidae sp.

Thick-billed Flowerpecker Pachyglossa agilis

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Photos Clicked by Mr. Roy

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