Little Rann of Kutch January 2022 Report

India is blessed with tremendous diversity let it be a diversity in languages, traditions and landscapes. OikoEssence organised a nature tour to one of such beautiful locations in India called as Little Rann of Kutch (LRK). The key species of this national park is An Asiatic Wild Ass.

We got a chance to interact with a family belonging to local community that produce salt (Agariyas). Our guide gave a valuable information about the process of salt making and its trading. However, the number of salt pans is increasing day by day inside the sanctuary and it is in alarming number.

 

Thol is another lovely place for birding situated near Ahmedabad. We visit spent some time there as well observing Two separate lists for both the places are as follows 

LRK - List prepared by our participant Dr. Ashish Nanabhai 

Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)

Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)

Indian Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus (stentoreus) brunnescens)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)

Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata)

Shikra (Accipiter badius)

Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)

Large-billed Crow (Corvus (macrorynchos) japonensis)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis coromandus)

Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)

Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Western Reef-heron (Egretta gularis)

Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)

Graceful Prinia (Prinia gracilis)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor)

Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Isabelline Shrike (Lanius isabellinus)

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark (Eremopterix griseus)

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

Spotted Owl (Athene brama)

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Black Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)

Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

Red-vented Bulbul (Pynconotus cafer)

Yellow-throated Sparrow (Petronia xanthocollis)

Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

River Tern (Sterna aurantia)

Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Indian Jungle Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus)

Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)

Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)

Intermediate Egret (Egretta intermedia)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)

Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus ?)

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

Common Teal (Anas crecca)

Common Bushchat (Saxicola torquatus)

Indian Pond-heron (Ardeola grayii)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

White-eared Bulbul (Pynconotus leucotis)

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Asian Desert Warbler (Sylvia nana)

Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)

Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)

Common Crane (Grus grus)

Thol: 

Green bee-eater

Citrine wagtail

Darter

Indian Cormorant

Indian moorhen

Brahminy myna

Rudy shelduck

Northen pintail

Dalmatian Pelican

River tern

Median egret

Pond heron

Common coot

Northen shoveler

Ashy prinia

Erasian spoonbill

Blue rock pigeon

Little tern

Barn swallow

Bar-headed goose

Common crane

Purple swamphen

Little egrate

Knob duck

Greater flamingo

Small blue kingfisher

Greater coucal

Black winged stilt

Spot billed duck

Red wattled lapwing

Rose ringed parakeet

Common pochard

Eurasian coller dove

Common teal

Little grebe

Jungle babbler

Grey heron

Flycatcher?

Glossy ibis

Indian robbin

White-cheecked bulbul

Laughing dove

Painted strock

Marsh harrier

Purple sunbird

House crow

Crested serpent eagle

Black shoulder kite

Red vented bulbul

Grey francolin

Great white pelican

Yellow footed green pigeon

Hoopoe

Common myna

Greater spotted eagle

Fan tail

Long tailed shrike

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 -

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

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