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