Tuesday, February 14, 2017

SHIMLA BIRD RUN RETURNS

Himachal Birds has planned a Bird Run on 5th March, 2017 which will commence from sunrise to sundown.
We will be happy to offer two days basic boarding and lodging facilities on twin sharing basis for the 4th & 5th March, 2017 for those birders who confirm their participation by 27th of February, 2017.
ROUTES/TRANSACTS FOR THE RUN
We have divided Shimla into 8 transacts for the Bird Run as per the following details:
1. Totu - bypass -Summer Hill, Potter's Hill and Chadwick Fall. (Moderately difficult)
2. Advanced Study - old route along Railway Line, Glen, Annandale and terminate at Kennedy Chowk.
3. Shoghi - follow the Railway track - to Taradevi - to Taradevi Top. (Lokk for Cheer pheasant in the grassland area)
4. Shoghi Bypass - Bada Gaon - Mehli - Kasumpti.
5. Tutikandi Zoo Forest - bypass highway - Dumping site (for pariah Kite) to Khalini
6. Mall Road - Jakhoo Hill - St Beed's Rd and Navbahar Forest - Forest Road, Ramachandra Chowk
7. Sanjauli Chowk - to Longwood - to Bharari area
8. Shimla Water Catchment area and Kufri (Tough) Look for Koklass and other pheasants.
Please let us know asap who will like to go on which route so that accommodation can also be planned accordingly.
If you have any queries, please do let us know.

Monday, January 30, 2017

1,27,200 winged visitors at Pong wetland this year

1,27,200 winged visitors at Pong wetland this year
Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, January 29
The annual waterfowl estimation exercise carried out in Pong Dam wetland revealed that this year 1,27,200 birds visited the biggest and internationally recognised wetland this year.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) said it had been concluded that 1,27,200 wetland birds of 93 different species had visited the Pong Dam lake this year. Dominant species like bar-headed goose (52,530), common coot (15,632), northern pintail (11,470), common teal (10,284), common pochards (8,746), little cormorants (6,434), tufted pochard (3,838), northern shoveller (2,350) and ruddy shelduck (1,900) were noticed this year.
DS Dadwal, DFO (Wildlife), Dharamsala, said other rare species recorded in the lake were common shelduck (22), greater white fronted geese (73), black bellied tern (2), sarus crane (8), osprey (7) and black necked stork (4) which are uncommon winter visitors in other Indian wetlands. Other noticeable species were great crested grebe, greylag goose, red crested pochard, ferruginous pochard, common merganser, eurasian spoonbill, richard’s pipit, blyth’s pipit and many species of larks.
The number of wetland birds and wetland bird species have increased as compared to last year when the total count was recorded at 1,05,000 of 87 species.
Most of these birds migrate from their breeding places in trans-Himalaya region in Tibet, Central Asia, Russia and Siberia. Over the last few years, the Pong Dam lake, also a Ramsar site, has become an ideal destination for winter sojourn for many species of migratory birds.
Over 425 species of birds, 18 species of snakes, 95 species of butterflies, 24 species of mammals, 27 species of fishes have so far been recorded at the Pong and that is attributed to the varied habitats, available food and extended protection by the staff of wildlife wing involving local communities.
The annual waterfowl estimation exercise was carried out today for monitoring the numerical size of visitor migratory bird population for the year 2016-17 in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary. Experts from various organisations and bird groups, including Himachal Bird Club, Asian Water Fowl Census (AWC), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and many wildlife enthusiasts, bird watchers, volunteers along with officials and officers from the Forest Department, participated in this mega exercise. The entire Pong Dam lake wildlife sanctuary was divided into 24 sections. About 105 persons participated in this exercise. Each section was thoroughly traversed on land and water by a team of 3-6 members headed by an expert.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

FIVE MOST BEAUTIFUL PHEASANTS IN THE HIMALAYAS

Pheasants occupy place of pride among the avian fauna of the Himalayas. Check out the following link to know more about the 5 most beautiful pheasants in the Himalayas:

https://thesafarist.com/blog/5-beautiful-himalayan-pheasants/

Monday, June 27, 2016

CHAKKI KA MOR - FULL OF ACTION

Watch the video to see how a Fulvous - breasted Woodpecker extracts food:

The video is shared by Col. Bhupesh Kumar Goyal, a passionate birder from Chandigarh.

BIRDWALK IN CATCHMENT SANCTUARY

Bhupesh and Savita at the entry of the Sanctuary


Himachal Birds organised its first birdwalk of the season on 26.6.2016. What could be a better venue than the Catchment Sanctuary spread over 10 sq km. Six of us, Dr Savita, Dr Bhupesh from Chandigarh, Sanjeeva Pandey, Satish Gupta, Santosh Thakur and yours truly completed the team. Early morning rain did not dampen our spirits and after exchange of a few telephone calls, we decided to take on the rain gods and assembled at the gate of the sanctuary at 6 am sharp. The Sanctuary has a beautiful gate depicting some of the fauna found in it.

Seeing our resolve, the rain gods also relented and we were greeted by a rain washed pristine forest that catchment area offers. With cameras and binos out to capture any and every feathered entity, the birders trudged along the 7 km track.



Sauntering along!
Hardly had we covered a few hundred yards that the call of a Spotted Nutcracker made us stop. We had a glimpse of the bird - a 'lifer' for Bhupesh and Savita. It obviously thrilled them. The walk had begun on a positive note.

The Cobra Plant
We had hardly gone another few hundred meters that Santosh and Bhupesh motioned us to go quiet and approach the spot they had occupied very cautiously. We all followed the instructions in anticipation of a star show. Lo and behold, in front of us was a pair of Koklass Pheasant. The female did not like the intrusion, yelled at us and flew away to the safety of thicker vegetation. The male nonchalantly moved upwards the slope hiding behind the bushes. Two prized birds in less than one kilometer of journey was extremely motivating.

The walk was made all the more interesting by Sanjeeva Pandey, Satish Gupta and Santosh Thakur who kept sharing information about the flora of the forest. Sanjeeva Pandey introduced us to the Cobra Plant or "saanp-booti" which grows only in the rainy season. One leaf of this wild plant spreads like the hood of cobra and also has a tongue. Srinivas Vashisht in The Tribune of 27.6.2016 has the following to say about the plant: "I did not know the name of ‘saanpbooti’ but thanks to my Facebook friend Subhash Gupta, a botanist, who told me that it was Arisaema Tortuosum. Its appearance is cobra-like and has a whip-like tongue that sometimes rises to 12 inches. It is native to open rhododendron or deodar forests, scrub and alpine meadows in the Himalaya from India to Western China. Its tongue called spadix in botany is generally purple but sometimes it is green too. I have not seen it growing in home-gardens here but the plant-lovers say that it occupies a place in the gardens of Scotland. It is also called Sapkanda or Bagh Jandhra in Hindustani and Jack-in-the-Pulpit or Whipcord Cobra Lily in English."
It turned out to be the Female and not the Mistle Thrush

The walk was interspersed with animated discussion about taxa and identification of various birds. One interesting debate and quite a long one was over Mistle Thrush and Chestnut - bellied Rock Thrush (F). Ultimately we all cast our votes in favour of the Female. Had it been Mistle Thrush it would have been a lifer for a few of us.


Eurasian Jay
The track is very well maintained without any littering. Benches have been placed at regular intervals for those who might like to sit and relax or reflect or both. Lovely signages and picture boards of flora, fauna and butterflies of the sanctuary are also displayed at a number of places. Good thing about all this is that these pictures have been taken by the forest staff and due credit has also been given to them. The walk leads to the Forest Rest House which almost a century old. The last km tests your stamina as it is steeper than the gentle gradient of the walk. 

Satish Gupta is the DFO in charge of the Catchment and he played a perfect host offering us sumptuous breakfast. After breakfast, Sanjeeva Pandey, Satish Gupta and Dr Savita decided to go back as they all had prior engagements. 


First time visitor - Common Greenshank
We, I, Bhupesh and Santosh decided to carry on for another 7-8 km to try our luck and see if we could see something new. we looked for the Brown Wood Owl but it decided to give us a miss. We were, however, compensated by sighting of two 'firsts' for the Sanctuary. The empty reservoir played host to a lone Common Greenshank who was foraging in the shallow pool of rain water. Common Greenshank, perhaps a vagrant, has never been reported from the Sanctuary. Santosh Thakur was overjoyed and I am sure so would be Satish and Sanjeeva Pandey. After taking a number of pictures of this prized guest, we continued further. 


Grey-winged Blackbird
We had repeat sightings and nothing new came our way till the very end of our journey. A small bird atop a tree was calling incessantly seeking our attention. As Dr Bhupesh trained his bino on him, he exclaimed : Fire Breasted Flower Pecker! Before Bhupesh and Santosh could take their cameras out, the little bird flew away. Santosh tells us that this bird is a 'first' for the sanctuary.

All in all we had great birding in the company of seasoned birders and were rewarded with the sightings of lifers and the prince of the sanctuary, the Koklass Pheasant. what else could we ask for! Thanks to Satish Gupta for the walk and all logistic support. Happy birding!

Bird List Catchment June 26, 2016

1.              Spotted Nutcracker
2.              Green-backed Tit
3.              Koklass Pheasant
4.              White-throated Laughing Thrush
5.              Straited Laughing Thrush
6.              Streaked Laughing Thrush
7.              Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush
8.              Himalayan Woodpecker
9.              Grey-headed Woodpecker
10.          Scaly-bellied Woodpecker
11.          Ultramarine Flycatcher
12.          Verditer Flycatcher
13.          Black-throated Tit
14.          Eurasian Jay
15.          Rusty-cheeked Schimitar Babbler(H)
16.          Hill Partridge (H)
17.          Black Francolin (H)
18.          Fire-breasted Flower Pecker
19.          Common Greenshank
20.          Rufous Sibia
21.          Bar-tailed Tree Creeper
22.          Chestnut –bellied Nuthatch
23.          Great Barbet
24.          Grey-winged Blackbird
25.          Himalayan Blue Tail
26.          Blue Whistling Thrush
27.          Large-billed Crow

28.          Slaty-headed Parakeet

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

VISIT TO PONG WETLAND


On my way back from Dharamshala, I stopped at Pong for a few hours' birding at the wetland. Bar-headed geese have arrived in good numbers. So have the ducks. Company of Devinder Dhadwal is always very educating.
Good plantation to provide habitat to different avi fauna has been done to attract large number of migrants and also to provide good breeding grounds.
We could see in all 55 species as per the following list:
1 Bar-headed Geese
2 Ruddy Shelduck
3 Eurasian Wigeon
4 Common Teal
5 Pintail
6 Northern Shoveller
7 Common Redshank
8 Dunlin
9 Little Ring Plove
10 Kentish plover
11 White Wagtail
12 Citrine Wagtail
13 Temnick’s Stint
14 Northern Lapwing
15 Red-wattled Lapwing
16 Crested Lark
17 Oriental Skylark
18 Eurasian Skylark
19 Paddyfield Pipit
20 Water Pipit
21 Blyth’s Pipit?
22 Woolly-necked Stork
23 Black-eared Kite
24 White Rumped Vulture
25 Egyptian Vulture
26 Large-billed Crow
27 Cinerest Tit
28 Himalayan Bulbul
29 Red-vented Bulbul
30 Grey-breasted Prinia
31 Oriental Magpie Robin
32 Indian Robin
33 Jungle Babbler
34 Jungle Prinia
35 Sicticola
36 Cattle Egret
37 Little Egret
38 Large Egret
39 Grey Heron
40 Common Chifchaff
41 Scaly breasted Munia
42 Tailorbird
43 Common Stone Chat
44 Common or Eurasian Coot
45 Small Praincole
46 Common Myna
47 Bank Myna
48 Indian Coucal
49 Alexandrine Parakeet
50 Common Green Shank
51 Tufted Duck
52 Grey Bush Chat
53 Black Redstart
54 House Sparrow
55 White-throated Kingfisher

Chandigarh Bird Race 2016 Chakki ka Mor

CHANDIGARH BIRD RACE
Chandigarh Bird Group carried out yet another Bird Race on the World Sparrow Day. They recorded 211 species covering Chakki ka Mor also. May like to see the checklist is the attached file.



HSBC BIRDRACE
20TH MARCH 2016
1
AVADAVAT,red
Amandava formosa
2
BABBLER,black-chinned
Stachyris pyrrhops
3
BABBLER,common
Turdoides caudatus
4
BABBLER,jungle
Turdoides striatus
5
BABBLER, large grey
Turdoides malcomii
6
BABBLER,puff-throated
Pellorneum ruficeps
7
BABBLER,striated
Turdoides earlei
8
BABBLER,yellow-eyed
Chrysomma sinense
9
BABBLER,rusty-cheeked scimitar
Pomatorhinus
10
BARBET,brown-headed
Megalaima zeylanica
11
BARBET, coppersmith
Megalaima haemacephala
12
BARBET,great
Megalaima virens
13
BEE EATER, green
Merops orientalis
14
BLUETHROAT
Luscinia svecica
15
BULBUL,black
Hypsipetes leucocephalus
16
BULBUL,himalayan
Pycnonotus leucogenys
17
BULBUL,red-vented
Pycnonotus cafer
18
BUNTING,chestnut-eared
Emberiza fucata
19
BUNTING,white-capped
Emberiza stuartii
20
BUSHCHAT,grey
Saxicola ferrea
21
BUSHCHAT,pied
Saxicola caprata
22
BUSHLARK,indian
Mirafra erythroptera
23
BUZZARD,white-eyed
Butasur teesa
24
BUZZARD,Oriental honey

25
CHAT,brown rock
Cercomela fuscus
26
CHIFFCHAFF,common
Phylloscopus collybita
27
CORMORANT,indian
Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
28
CORMORANT,little
Phalacrocorax niger
29
COUCAL,greater
Centropus sinensis
30
CROW,house
Corvus splendens
31
CROW,large-billed
Corvus macrorhynchos
32
CUCKOO,common hawk
Hierococcyx varius
33
CUCKOO,indian
Cuculus micropterus
34
DOVE,Eurasian collard
Streptopelia decaocta
35
DOVE, Laughing
Streptopelia senegalensis
36
DOVE,Red-collard
Streptopelia tranquebarica
37
DOVE,Spotted
Streptopelia chinensis
38
DRONGO,Ashy
Dicrurus leucophaeus
39
DRONGO,Black
Dicrurus macrocercus
40
DRONGO,Spangled
Dicrurus bottentottus
41
DUCK,Comb
Sarkidiornis melanotos
42
DUCK,ferruginous
Aythya nyroca
43
DUCK,Indian spot-billed
Anas poecilorhynchas
44
DUCK,Lesser,whistling
Dendrocygna javanica
45
DUCK ,tufted
Aythya fuligula
46
EAGLE,Steppe
Aquila nipalensis
47
EGRET,Cattle
Bubulcus ibis
48
EGRET,Intermediate
Mesiphoyx intermedia
49
EGRET,Little
Egretta garzetta
50
FANTAIL,White-throated
Rhipidura albicollis
51
FLAMINGO,Greater
Phoenicopterus rubus
52
FLYCATCHER, Asian Paradise
Terpsiphone paradisi
53
FLYCATCHER,asian brown
Muscicapa dauurica
54
FLYCATCHER,red-throated
Ficedula parva
55
FLYCATCHER,ultramarine
Ficedula superciliaris
56
FLYCATCHER,verditers
Eumyias thalassina
57
FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE,bar-winged
Hemipus picatus
58
FORKTAIL,spotted
Enicurus maculatus
59
FRANCOLIN,black
Francolinus francolinus
60
FRANCOLIN,grey
Francolinus pondicerianus
61
GADWALL
Anas strepera
62
GOOSE,bar-headed
Anser indicus
63
GOOSE,greylag
Anser anser
64
GREBE,little
Tachybaptus ruficollis
65
GREENFINCH,yellow-breasted
Carduelis spinoides
66
GREENSHANK,common
Tringa nebularia
67
GRIFFON,eurasian
Gyps fulvus
68
GRIFFON,himalayan
Gyps himalayensis
69
HARRIER,eurasian marsh
Circus aeruginosus
70
HERON,black-crowned night
Nycticorax nycticorax
71
HERON,grey
Ardea cinerea
72
HERON,indian pond
Ardeola grayii
73
HERON,little
Butorides striatus
74
HERON,purple
Ardea purpurea
75
HORNBILL,indian grey
Ocyceros burostris
76
IBIS,black-headed
Threskiornis melanocephalus
77
JUNGLEFOWL,red
Gallus gallus
78
KESTREL,common
Falco tinnunculus
79
KINGFISHER,crested
Megaceyrle lugubris
80
KINGFISHER,pied
Ceyrle rudis
81
KINGFISHER,white-throated
Halcyon smyrnensis
82
KITE,black
Milvus migrans
83
KITE,black-eared
Milvus migrans lineatus
84
KITE,black-winged
Elanus caeruleus
85
KOEL,Asian
Eudynamys scolpacea
86
LAPWING,redwattled
Vanellus indicus
87
LAPWING,river
Vanellus duvaucelli
88
LAPWING,yellow-wattled
Vanellus malarbaricus
89
LARK,ashy-crowned sparrow
Eremopterix grisea
90
LARK,crested
Galerida cristata
91
LAUGHINGTHRUSH,rufous-chinned
Garrulax rufogularis
92
LAUGHINGTHRUSH,streaked
Garrulax lineatus
93
LAUGHINGTHRUSH, white-crested
Garrulax leucolophus
94
LEIOTHRIX,Red-billed
Leiothrix lutea
95
MAGPIE,Red-billed blue
Urocissa erythrorhyncha
96
MALKOHA,Sirkeer
Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii
97
MARTIN, Dusky craig
Hirundo concolor
98
MARTINP,pale
Riparia paludicola
99
MARTIN, plain
Riparia diluta
100
MARTIN, sand
Riparia riparia
101
MINIVET,Long-tailed
Pericrocotus ethologus
102
MOORHEN,Common
Gallinula chloropus
103
MUNIA,Indian silverbill
Lonchura malabarica
104
MYNA,Bank
Acridotheres gingianus
105
MYNA,Common
Acridotheres tristis
106
MYNA,Jungle
Acridotheres fuscus
107
MYNA/STARLING Asian pied
Sturnus contra
108
NIGHTJAR,Large-tailed
Caprimulgus micrurus
109
NILTAVA,Small
Niltava macgrigoriae
110
NUTHATCH,Chestnut-bellied
Sitta castanea
111
OWLET,Asian barred
Glaucidium cuculoides
112
OWLET,Jungle
Glaucidium radiatum
113
OWLET,Spotted
Athene brama
114
PARAKEET,Alexandrine
Psittacula eupatria
115
PARAKEET,Plum-headed
Psittacula Cyanocephala
116
PARAKEET,Rose-ringed
Psittacula kramerii
117
PARAKEET,Slaty-headed
Psittacula himalayana
118
PEAFOWL,Indian
Pavo cristatus
119
PETRONIA,Chestnut-shouldered
Petronoa xanthocollis
120
PHEASANT,Kalij
Lophura leucomelanos hamiltonii
121
PICULET,Speckled
Picumnus innominatus
122
PIGEON,Common/ rock
Columba livia
123
PIGEON,Yellow-footed green
Treron phoenicopterus
124
PIPIT,Long-billed
Anthus similis
125
PIPIT,Olive-backed
Anthus hodgsonii
126
PIPIT,Paddyfield
Anthus rufulus
127
PIPIT,Long-billed
Anthus similis
128
PIPIT,Olive-backed
Anthus hodgsonii
129
PIPIT,Paddyfield
Anthus rufulus
130
PIPIT,Tree
Anthus trivialis
131
POCHARD,Common
Aythya ferina
132
PRINIA,Ashy
Prinia socialis
133
PRINIA,Grey-breasted
Prinia hodgsonii
134
PRINIA,Jungle
Prinia sylvatica
135
PRINIA,Plain
Prinia inornata
136
PRINIA,Rufous-fronted
Prinia buchanani
137
PRINIA,Striated
Prinia criniger
138
PRINIA,Yellow-bellied
Prinia flaviventris
139
RED SHANK,Common
Tringa totanus
140
RED SHANK,Spotted
Tringa erythropus
141
REDSTART,Black
Phoenicurus ochruros
142
REDSTART,Plumbeous water
Rhyacornis fuliginosus
143
REDSTART,White-capped water
Chaimarrornis
leucocephalus
144
ROBIN,Oriental magpie
Copsychus saularis
145
ROBIN,Indian
Saxicoloides fulicatus
146
ROLLER,Indian
Coracias benghalensis
147
ROSEFINCH,Common
Carpodacus erythrinus
148
RUFF
Philomachus pagnax
149
SANDPIPER,Common
Actitis hypoleucos
150
SANDPIPER,Green
Tringa ochropus
151
SANDPIPER,Marsh
Tringa satagnatilis
152
SANDPIPER,Wood
Tringa glareola
153
SHELDUCK,Ruddy
Tadorna feruginea
154
SHIKRA
Accipiter badius
155
SHOVELLER,Northern
Anas clypeata
156
SHRIKE,Bay-backed
Lanius vitatus
157
SHRIKE,Isabelline/Rufous-tailed
Lanius isabellinus
158
SHRIKE,Long-tailed
Lanius schach
159
SIBIA, Rufous
Hetrophasia gracilis
160
SKYLARK,Oriental
Alauda gulgula
161
SNIPE,Greater painted
Rostratula benghalensis
162
SNIPE ,Common
Gallinago gallinago
163
SNIPE,Pin-tailed
Gallinago stenura
164
SPARROW,House
Passer domesticus
165
SPARROW,Russet
Passer rutilans
166
STARLING, asian pied
Gracupica contra
167
STARLING/MYNA,Brahminy
Sturnus pagodarum
168
STARLING,Chestnut-tailed
Sturnus malabaricus
169
STARLING,Common
Sturnus vulgaris
170
STILT,Black-winged
Monticola solitarius pandoo
171
STONECHAT,common
Saxicola torquata
172
STORK,Painted
Mycteria leucocephala
173
STORK,Wolly-necked
Ciconia episcopus
174
SUNBIRD,Crimson
Aethopyga siparaja
175
SUNBIRD,Purple
Nectarinia asiatica
176
SWALLOW.Barn
Hirundo rustica
177
SWALLOW,Red-rumped
Hirundo daurica
178
SWALLOW,Wire-tailed
Hirundo smithii
179
SWAMPHEN,Purple
Porphyrio porphyrio
180
TAILORBIRD,Common
Orthotomus sutorius
181
THICK-KNEE,Eurasian
Burhinus oedicnemus
182
THRUSH,Blue rock
Monticola solitarius pandoo
183
THRUSH,Blue whistling
Myophonus caeruleus
184
THRUSH,Chestnut-bellied rock
Monticola rufiventris
185
TIT,Black-throated
Aegithalos concinnus
186
TIT,cinerous
Parus major
187
TREEPIE,Grey
Dendrocitta formosae
188
TREEPIE,Rufous
Dendrocitta vagabunda
189
VULTURE,Egyptian
Neophron percnopterus
190
VULTURE, griffon (eurasian)
Gyps fulvus
191
VULTURE,White-rumped
Gyps benghalensis
192
WAGTAIL,Grey
Motacilla cinerea
193
WAGTAIL,White-browed
Motacilla maderaspatensis
194
WAGTAIL,White
Motacilla alba
195
WAGTAIL,Yellow
Motacilla flava
196
WALLCREEPER
Tichodroma muraria
197
WARBLER,Asian desert
Sylvia nana
198
WARBLER, Grey-hooded
Seicercus /Phylloscopus xanthoschistos
199
WARBLER,Hume’s leaf
Phylloscopus humei
200
WARBLER,Lemon-rumped
Phylloscopus chloronotos
201
WARBLER,Sulpher-bellied
Phylloscopus griseolus
202
WATERHEN,White-breasted
Amaurornis phoenicurus
203
WHITEEYE, oriental
Zostherops palpebrosa
204
WHITETHROAT,Lesser
Sylvia curruca
205
WOODPECKER,Black-rumped flameback
Dinopium benghalense
206
WOODPECKER,Brown-capped pygmy
Dendrocopus nanus
207
WOODPECKER,Fulvous-breasted
Dendrocopus macei
208
WOODPECKER,Grey-headed
Picus canus
209
WOODPECKER,Streak-throated
Picus xanthopygaeus
210
YUHINA,Whiskered
Yuhina flavicollis