Arnala Beach walk by OikoEssence

We saw a variety of species Birds, Crustaceans and plants. We walked from Mamachi wadi Beach to Arnala Jetty Birds Sighted Grey Plover Little ringed plover Common sandpiper Black headed Ibis Reef Egret Eurasian Curlew Median Egret Little Egret Brown headed Gull Whiskered Tern Pond Heron Grey Heron Terrestrial and Fresh water birds Common Kingfisher White throated kingfisher Common myna Rosy starling Scaly breasted munia Silver bills Pipit? Black drongo White cheeked bulbul Red vented bulbul Green bee-eater Greater caucal Paradise flycatcher House crow Jungle cow House sparrow Tailor bird Magpie robin Red wattled lapwing Baya weaver

Banni Nature Tour Report

Banni, an unique Landscape and flourishing grassland! OikoEssence organized a Nature tour to Banni, Greater Rann of Kutch. The area has a diversity habitats and dynamic pattern changes with changing  climatic conditions provide rich habitats for variety of animal, especially birds. 

A list of birds and Mammals that were sighted during our visit is given below.

1. House sparrow

2. Petronea

3. House crow

4. Jungle crow

5. Collered dove

6. Laughing dove

7. Blue rock pigeon

8. White cheek bulbul

9. Red vented bulbul 

10. Green bee eater

11. White throated kingfisher

12. Common kingfisher

13. Black drongo

14. Rudy shelduck

15. Indian spot billed

16. Common teal

17. Little greeb

18. Northen pintail

19. Northen shoveler

20. Painted strock

21. Greater flamingo

22. Glossy ibis

23. Eurasian spoonbill

24. Pond heron

25. Purple heron 

26. Grey heron

27. Greater egret

28. Little egret

29. Great white pelican

30. Dalmetian pelican

31. Little cormorant 

32. Greater cormorant

33. Common crestal

34. Black winged kite

35. Creasted serpant eagle

36. Eurasian marsh harrier

37. Shikra

38. Long legged buzard

39. White breasted waterhen

40. Purple swamphen

41. Common moorhen

42. Demoiselle crane

43. Black winged stilt

44. Red wattled lapwing

45. Little ringed plover

46. Common snipe

47. Black winged godwit

48. Bar tailed godwit

49. Euracian curlew

50. Common greenshank

51. Common sandpiper

52. Tern

53. Greater coucil

54. Indian eagle owl

55. Nightjar

56. Swift

57. Common hoopoe

58. Indian roller

59. Blue cheeked bee eater

60. Long tailed shrike

61. Bay backed shrike

62. Wire tailed swallow

63. Barn swallow

64. Greated short toed lark

65. Ashy crown sparrow lark

66. Creasted lark

67. Common tailor bird

68. Common babbler

69. Jungle babbler

70. Common myna

71. Rosy starling

72. Purple sunbird

73. Indian robbin

74. Magpie robin

75. Common stonechat

76. Pied bushchat

77. Variable wheater

78. Desert wheater

79. Baya weaver

80. Silver billed 

81. Yellow wagtail

82. Booted Eagle

Mandvi beach:

83. Eurasian thick knee

84. Flamingo

85. Kentish plover

86. Sand plover

87. Crab plover?

88. Gulls

89. Terns

90. Western reef egrets

Mammals:

1. Hanuman Langur

2. Asiatic Wildcat

3. Jackal

4. Indian mongoose

5. Indian desert Jird

Crested Lark

Crest

Pied Bushchat Male

Laughing dove

Dholavira - an archeological site 

Northen Pintail

Booted eagle

Flamingo juvenile

Indian desert Jird

Ashy crowned sparrow lark

Indian eagle owl

Pied Bushchat female

Citrine Wagtail

Kiraksal Nature Tour Report

 Kiraksal is small village with nature friendly, enthusiastic villagers.

PC@Dr.Praveen Chavan

 It is the villagers initiative to document and conserve their grasslands. Young naturalist and researcher Mr. Chinmay Sawant took the initiative. The support of  villagers and government officials played a crucial role as well.

PC@Atharv P Chavan

We conducted a nature tour to Yaralwadi, Kiraksal. Special thanks to Mr. Chinmay and team including - Mr. Santosh Galande (FD), Mr. Vishal Katkar, Dr. Praveen Chavan for helping us out during the visit and giving us valuable information about this unique ecosystem.  

PC@Dr.Praveen Chavan

An unique grassland ecosystem  

Fan throated Lizard

Sharing the bird list

Eurasian Spoonbill

Laughing dove

Painted stork

Little greebe

Ruddy Shelduck

Red-naped ibis

Spotbill duck

River tern

Little ringed plover

Northern Shoveler

Barn swallows

Little cormorant 

Pied bushchat

Grey heron

Indian Pond heron

Little Egret

White browed Wagtail

Painted sandgroves

Lark?

Red wattled Lapwing

Wire tailed swallow

Barn swallow

Black drongo

Greater Coucal

Quails?

Rosy Starling

Common Mynah

Red Vented Bulbul

Purple rumped Sunbird

Purple sunbird

Butterfly 

Three ringed Butterfly 

Cabbage

Yaralwadi -

Common Sandpiper

Peafowl

Egret 

Coucal

Red shank

Pond heron

Pied kingfisher 

Grey heron

Black drongo

Black tailed godwit

Brahminy kite

Black ibis 

Black headed ibis

Montague harrier

Common coot

Wagtail

Mynah

Bulbul

Purple heron

Starlings 

Pratincole 

Plover

Grey heron

Cormorant 

Spoonbill

Painted stork

Spoonbill 

Wooly necked

Pond heron

Grey heron 

Prinia 

Spotbill

Lapwing

Green Bee eater

Starlings(murmeration)

Bee eater

Lark

OikoEssence One Day Trails 2023

 

 CONTACT US for further details/ Enquiries: CALL & WHATSAPP: 9969440476, 9869611810

CALL: 7700911180, 8433769487   EMAIL: oikoessence@gmail.com

26^th February, 2023

Bhandup Pumping Station

Charges: Rs. 100/- per head

Includes: Individual Entry tickets and Expertise.

Details: A long but an interesting walk where one can observe a variety of flora and fauna. Participants are requested to meet us at Nahur Station at 7am. Share autos are available from the station.

 

5^th March, 2023

Wader watch at Arnala Beach

Charges: Rs. 50/- per head (Mumbai – Mumbai)

Includes: Expertise only.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at Virar Station at 7am. Autos are available from the station.

 

9^th April, 2023

Native Biodiversity Garden, Alibaug

Charges: Rs. 2000/- per head (Mumbai – Mumbai)

Includes: M2M Ferry tickets to Mandwa and Back, Pickup-drop by local transport to Native Biodiversity Garden, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea and Expertise.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) at 7 am. We will be back by 6pm.

 

14^th May, 2023

Pramod Mahajan Kala Park, Dadar West.

Charges: Rs. 50/- per head

Includes: Expertise only.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at the Garden entrance at 7.30am.

 

18^th June, 2023

Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Vasai

Charges: Rs. 100/- per head

Includes: Entry fee and Expertise only.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at the Vasai Station, East (Western Railway) at 7.30am. Please note we won’t be trekking till the top. But, we will focus on the biodiversity of the base.

 

2^nd July, 2023

Karnala forest Trail.

Charges: Rs. 1250/- per head

Includes: Transport by Private vehicle, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening tea, Entry fees and Expertise.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us near the Mewadi Chai corner, Hindu colony Lane no. 1, Dadar west at 6.30am. Please note we won’t be trekking till the top. But, we will focus on the biodiversity of the base.

 

6^th August, 2023

Ambernath Temple and Lonad caves

Charges: Rs. 1250/- per head

Includes: Transport by Private vehicle, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening tea and Expertise.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us near the Mewadi Chai corner, Hindu colony Lane no. 1, Dadar west at 6.30am.

 

10^th September, 2023

Mobile Detox – A half day filled with Nature Trail, Volunteering, plantation drive at Prakashbhai Mohadikar Knowledge Park, Bhoirwadi, Karjat

Charges: Rs. 750/- per head (Mumbai – Mumbai)

Includes: Food, pickup-drop from Karjat Station, entries and expertise.

Details: Participants are requested to meet Karjat Station at 8.30am.

 

29^th October, 2023

Mahuli

Charges: Rs. 750/- per head

Includes: Pickup-drop from Asangaon station, Breakfast, Lunch, evening tea, Entry fee and Expertise.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at the Asangaon Station, East (Central Railway) at 8.30am. Please note we won’t be trekking till the top. But, we will focus on biodiversity.

 

5^th November. 2023

Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP)

Charges: Rs. 75/- per head

Includes: Entry fee and Expertise only.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at the Main Entrance of MNP at 8am.

 

24^th December, 2023

Sea wood – Birding T S Chanakya

Charges: Rs. 50/- per head

Includes: Expertise only.

Details: Participants are requested to meet us at the Sea wood Darave Station (Harbour line) 8.30am.

 

Payment Details: Payments are accepted by GPAay, Cash/Cheque/NEFT (should in Favor of – ‘Oikoessence Edutours LLP’). Before transferring any amount, participants must inform us either by Email/phone.

Our bank details are as follows:

 

GPay: 9969440476 (Gauri Gurav)

 

Cheque: ‘Oikoessence Edutours LLP’

 

NEFT-

State Bank of India
A/c name: Oikoessence Edutours LLP
A/c No.: 37485993230, Current Account
IFSC: SBIN0003428
Address: N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower parel, Mumbai: 400013

OR

HDFC Bank
A/c name: Oikoessence Edutours LLP
A/c No.: 50200029911271, Current Account
IFSC: HDFC0009040
Address: N. M. Joshi Marg, Mumbai: 400011

 

 

Nagaland Nature Tour Report

When we visit any region of India, it is a a beauty of that land, people, local culture that leaves us mesmerized for rest of the life. Nagaland did the same with us. It had been on a wish list of many of campers. So we decided to cover at least two different areas of the state. Planning and execution was not easy this time. As the distance between two areas was vast and we had very few days in hand. But, thanks to the many local people who supported us. 

We are thankful to bird expert Angulie Meyasee for being our guide in khonoma and carrying out   sustainable birding sessions (without background call or disturbing the surrounding). 

Thank you Preety Sharma for connecting us to Among Pastor. His knowledge helps us a lot to know more about Nagland culture and current situations. 

During our visit to small village Mr. Namdigum was with us through out the day. He is an enthusiastic primary teacher and is well knowledgeable in identifying forest flora as well. These villagers are working together for betterment of biodiversity in the forest surrounding there village. This village has won the Award - India Biodiversity Award - 2014. Setting such examples and smaller step for conservation will surely have a big impact....

Discussion in & about the Forest with Mr. Namdigum

Little Inn

We are thankful to the Hosts of our homestays at both villages had been nice - Khonoma - Sabina & Visolhouno Savino

& Jalukie - Ms Kim (Little Inn)

List of Some of the sightings (fauna)

1. Ashy drongo

2. Bamboo partridge

3. Black bulbul

4. Black crested bulbul

5. Black drongo

6. blue throated barbet

7. Blue whistling thrush

8. Blue winged minla

9. Common stonechat

10. Crested finchbill

11. Eurasian sparrowhawk

12. Eurasian tree sparrow

13. Fire breasted flowerpecker

14. Georgated flycatcher

15. Great barbet

16. Green back tit

17. Green tailed sunbird

18. Grey cheek wabler

19. Grey wagtail

20. Himalayan blue tail (female)

21. Little bunting

22. Long tailed shrike 

23. Nepal house martin

24. Northen lapwing

25. Orange bellied leafbird

26. Oriental white eye

27. Palm swift

28. Red whiskered bulbul

29. Rufuous crown prinia

30. Rusty capped fullveta

31. Scally thrush.

32. Shikra

33. Silver eared mesia

34. Slaty back forktail

35. Striped laughing thrush

36. Streak breasted Scimater babller

37. Velvet fronted nuthatch

38. Verditer flycatcher

39. White capped red start

40. Yellow bellied fantail

41.   Lemon rumped warbler

42.   Jerdons Goshhawk

43.   Streaked laughing thrush

Butterfly

Naga sapphire

Purple sapphire

Blue pansy

Red based Jazebel

Cruizer

Himalayan Spotted Jester

Tabby

Powdery Green Sapphire

Common Five Ring

Common Pierrot

Moths (Identification & List prepared by Priti Choghale)

Bombacidae spp

Cramidae spp

Hook Tip Moth

Emerald

Lyssa zampa

Emperor Moth

Owlet Moth

Some Photographs:

Photographers - Mr. Shripad B, Ms. Rupali G., Ms. Priti C.

Bluma spp

Cherry Blossom

Cicada

Fly

Wasp

Bombacidae pp

Emerald Moth

Crambidae spp

Dephranidae Hook Tip Moth

Owlet Moth

Emperor Moth

Lyssa zampa

 

Common Pierrot

Tiny Butterfly

Purple Sapphire female

Red-Base Jezebel

Cruiser

Himalayan Spotted Jester

Tabby

Powdery Green Sapphire

Purple Sapphire

Blue Pansy

Sapphire

Common Five Ring

Spider

Velvet fronted Nuthatch

Himalayan Bluetail

Crested finchbill

Northern Lapwing 

Blue winged Minla

Silver eared Mesia

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Blue throated Barbet

Himalayan Bulbul

Striped Laughing Thrush

Yellowbellied Fantail

Bird of Prey

Mithun

Our Nature Tours 2023: http://oikoessence.blogspot.com/2023/01/oikoessence-nature-tour-schedule-2023.html

SOME MOMENTS FROM NAGALAND

Village Stroll

INTERACTION WITH VILLAGERS

Market Stroll