TRIP REPORT BHOJNAGAR (NEAR PARWANU) BY NARBIR KAHLON

In the first gaze of the early morning sun the sky blushed pink as dawn broke over the lower Himalayas, with water laden clouds flitting past lush green mountains and a cool damp wind caressing my face I enjoyed the early morning chorus at Chaki Ka Mor on 3rd August 2011, It promised to be a good birding day. Those of you, who have visited Bhojnagar in Solan district near Parwanoo, will agree that this is definitely one of the best birding spots in the region. The narrow winding road from Chaki Ka Mor to Bhojnagar has a number of varied habitats meshed together the edges of each such merger are rich in fauna and flora. The forests are natural and the people are gentle comprising mainly of pundits who by virtue of their religious beliefs do not indulge in hunting. Development seems to have by-passed this region, a number of small communities (Villages) dot the landscape, houses are dispersed rather than in large clusters and most families have members who are living and working in other parts of the state. Crops of this region include Tomatoes, Ginger, Arbi, Maize&Wheat. There are orchards of Peaches and Plums and the use of pesticides and insecticides are not that widespread but these chemicals have started to make an appearance. During the Monsoons the period of birding gets extended (The sun for most of the day is playing hide and seek with the clouds), However the dense vegetation offers greater cover for the birds, which in turn offers a greater challenge while birding. The poor light conditions test the photographic skills of those of us who are looking to take pictures and only add to a birders woes. Inspite of tough conditions I was able to record 53 species with one lifer (an addition to the area list of the Chandigarh Capital region), I am sure I missed a few species which were busy high up in the canopy they could be heard but my ears are not that well trained. The birding as envisaged was good and the 4 hours spent in this idyllic setting were extremely enjoyable. While birding I came across a flock of about 20 House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) next to a grocery store eight Km short of Bhojnagar. I decided to stop for tea and got into a conversation with the owner of the shop who told me that he has been feeding the sparrows grain each morning for more than twenty years. According to him earlier the flock used to be almost a hundred strong but now only about twenty- thirty birds come each morning. The only heartening fact was that there were 4 juvenile birds seen pestering their parents for food. A study conducted by Dr. Kohli at the Punjab University attributes the decline in numbers due to microwave towers, but I am not sure that that is the main reason for the decline of this species. There is a need to conduct a proper study on all possible factors affecting this species globally. Studies in UK suggest its decline has something to do with the messing up of it’s food chain specially in the breeding season because of change in urban habitat and the use of insecticides, the study corelates reduced clutch size and failed breeding to lack of sufficient proteins in the diet of hatchlings. There is a section which belives modern architecture is responsible since the sparrows no longer have good breeding sites, still others feel the accipiters who feed on them are decimating the population. Whatever the reasons there is no doubt about the steep decline in population, it should therefore be considered a Threatened species. We need to wakeup to the threats faced by this companion of the human race and take all steps necessary to ensure its survival. It is always nice to see Juveniles of any species and because of a rich habitat there were quite a few on offer. A pair of juvenile Eurasian golden Orioles could be seen learning the fine art of flying from two attentive parents. Juvenile White-crested laughing thrushes their crees clearly visible were out with the Gangs of boisterous adults trying to draw attention to themselves, opening their gapes in an attempt to draw juicy morsels from the watchful adults as they foraged in the forest. A juvenile pied bush chat was seen sitting on a blade of grass indicating a successful breeding season. Apart from the juveniles I enjoyed watching the often heard but seldom seen Puff throated babbler. It was nice seeing it call from a perch puffing its white throat in the process. A Chestnut bellied nuthatch also had me engrossed for a while as it scampered up and down the trunk of a large Pine tree, successfully picking out a large worm from under the bark, which it proceeded to slam on a branch stopping only when it was satisfied that its prey had no more fight left in him the nuthatch then proceeded to gulp down it’s richly deserved breakfast. The highlight of the day however was a falcon. When I first saw it perched in the distance I thought it was a Shikra as its back was grey but the moment I put the binoculars to my eyes my heart skipped a beat (Birding is not for the faint hearted). The head pattern was clearly visible distinctly like that of a Eurasian Hopbby / Peregnine Falcon. Size being smaller the beak weaker along with heavy streaking on the breast shifted the scale towards the Eurasian Hobby. The bird was not in complete view but as it raised its foot to scratch its beak rufus thigh feathers were visible the vent was also rufus. The falcon called a few times, It had a feeble tee-tee-tee call which more or less confirmed the identity. The light was poor and so I took pictures trying various combinations of exposure and film speed, but was only able to get ID shots for all my troubles. It was quite patient but finally tiring from all the attention it was getting it flew higher up into the canopy , its thin pointed wings in flight were clearly visible . When the subject of my attention flew it’s partner whom I had not noticed till then (sitting on another tree) flew into the dense canopy of another tree. Much as I tried I could not get good pictures of either thereafter, but what I got was good enough to add the 363rd bird to the area List of the Chandigarh Capital Region (CCR). Sightings such as the above only reinforce the fact that there are still plenty of species waiting to be added to the CCR list , The quest for which continues egging the smitten few to go out there in all seasons and explore the rich environs around Chandigarh. Birds Seen: 1. Black Francolin Francolinus francolinus 2. Kalij Pheasant lophura leucomelanos hamiltonii 3. Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus (heard) 4. Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 5. Grey capped Pgmy Woodprcker Dendrocopos canicapillus 6. Brown fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps 7. Great Barbet Megalaima virens 8. Blue Throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica 9. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri 10. Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala 11. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 12. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 13. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 14. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera 15. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach 16. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda 17. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae 18. Red Billed Blue magpie urocissa erythrorhyncha 19. Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 20. Golden Oriole Oriolous oriolus 21. White throated Fantail Flycatcher Rhipidura albicollis 22. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 23. Dark Sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica 24. Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis 25. Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata 26. Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata 27. Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea 28. Streaked Laughing Thrush Garrulax lineatus 29. White Crested Laughing Thrush Garrulax lecolophus 30. Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus 31. Brahminy Myna Sturnus pagodarum 32. Great Tit Parus major 33. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica 34. Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus 35. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer 36. Himalayan Bulbul Pycnonotus lleucogenys 37. Striated Prinia Prinia criniger 38. Grey Breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii 39. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus 40. Grey Hooded Warbler Seicercus xanthoschistos 41. Black-chinned Babbler Stachyris pyrrhops 42. Puff Throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps 43. Rusty Cheeked Scmittar Babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys 44. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus 45. Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja 46. House Sparrow Passer domesticus 47. Russet Sparrow Passer rutilans 48. Chestnut Bellied nuthatch Sitta castanea 49. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura puntulata 50. Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradist 51. Black throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus 52. Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile 53. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica

NARBIR KAHLON

Register on your website www.himachalbirds.org

Dear All!

You will be glad to learn that we have soft launched our website www.himachalbirds.org

Please register on the site by clicking on "Become A Member"on the top right of the home page.

Henceforth all news and events about Himachal Birds will be posted on the website and Blog inside the site.

Cheers

Himachal Birds Annual Photo Competition 2011

Hi All!

Himachal Birds announces a photo competition on the theme of Birds of Himachal Pradesh. Last date for entry is 15.09.2011. The competition is open to all.

Rules and Regulations

ENTERING THE COMPLETION

· The competition is open to citizens of India (including Non Resident Indians) only.

· There is no entry fee.

· Entrants are allowed to send a maximum of four.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR PRINTS

• Entries in the form of prints should be unmounted and without borders. Prints should not be smaller than 8 X 10 inches or bigger than 9 X 12 Inches.
• Participant details should be clearly written or pasted behind the print.
• Place where the picture is taken should also be mentioned.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR DIGITAL IMAGE FILES

· Entries should be in the format of JPEG files.

· The digital files should have a minimum resolution of 2000 pixels on the shorter side. The file size should not exceed 5MB.

· These entries can be sent by email to: contact@himachalbirds.org

CLOSING DATE

All entries must be submitted latest by 15.09.2011.

LEGAL RESTRICTIONS

• The entrant must be the sole creator of his/her photographs and must also own the copyrights and rights to reproduction of all picture entered into the contest. It is the legal responsibility of the entrant, and not of Himachal Birds, to ensure that usage of the photographs by Himachal Birds raises no legal claims.
• Himachal Birds will appoint a judging panel to determine the winning images based on a final shortlist.
• The decision of the judges will be final. Himachal Birds will not enter into any correspondence regarding the judging or organization of the competition.

RIGHTS OF USAGE

• Every entrant will retain copyrights of his/her image.
• By entering your images into the competition, entrants agree to allow Himachal Birds to publish and display their photographs in print or electronic form, in future for editorial and promotional purposes, without payment, for a period of ten years from the date of declaration of results.
• The images will be reproduced with due credit to the photographers.

JUDGING AND RESULTS

• Entries will be judged on the basis of interpreting and expressing the theme, along with the technical and aesthetic quality of the photograph.
• Award nominees will be announced by 30 September, 2011. Final winners’ works will be showcased in Gaiety Theatre, Shimla in October 2011.
• Entrants may be contacted for a high-resolution JPEG or RAW file of their image and other details such as proof of age, for potential shortlisting purposes during the competition. Failure to produce such details or high-resolution file within seven days will eliminate an entrant from the shortlisting process.
• Timelines are subject to change.

Very attractive prizes will be presented.

Participation Form

PERSONAL DETAILS:

Name: ______________________ Date of birth: ___________ Occupation:_________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

City : _________________________ State: _______________________ Pin:___________________

Tel. STD Code: ________ Residence Number: __________________Mobile:___________________

Email:__________________________________.

IMAGE DETAILS

Caption:_____________________________________________________________________________

Location where shot was taken: _________________Camera:_____________ Lens:___________

Aperture:______________ Shutterspeed:_________ ISO:_______ Film:________________________

Signature

Cheers

How Bar Headed Geese Negotiate the Himalayas

Hi All!

Please click on the link below to see how our winter visitors, the Bar Headed Geese, cross the Himalayas. Very Interesting and informative:

http://bit.ly/kgK71a

Would wait for you feedback.

Cheers

Birding in Bilaspur

Hi Folks!

Last night was at Bilaspur. In the morning today went for a morning walk from Dholra Rest House to district courts. On the way was a Veterinary Hospital on the bank of a dry nullah. The dry stream and the forest on either side of the stream offered amazing birding opportunity. The species sighted included:

1. Jungle Crow

2. Brown Headed barbet

3. Blue throated Barbet

4. Asian Paradise Flycatcher (M and F nesting..took a pic of the female on the nest)

5. Purple Sunbird

6. Jungle Babblers

7. Jungle Mynah

8. Plum Headed Parakeet

9. Slaty Headed Parakeet

10. Rose Ringed Parakeet

11. White Throated Fantail

12. Ashy Bellied Drongo

13. Oriental White Eye

14. Streaked Laughing Thrush

15. Eurasian Golden Oriole

16. Minivet

17. Great Tit

18. Grey Hooded Warbler

19. Little Pied Flycatcher

20. Jungle Prinia

Cheers

Shimla Bird Species List as on 24.4.2011

Dear Friends!

A survey of bird species of Shimla city and surrounding areas was carried out on 24.4.2011. The birders were able to identify 126 species of birds which are listed below:

Sr. No.	NAME OF BIRD	SCIENTIFIC NAME	REMARKS
1.	Red Jungle Fowl	Gallus gallus
2.	KoklasS Pheasant	Pucrasia macrolopha
3.	Kalij Pheasant	Lophura leucomelanos
4.	Oriental White Eye	Zosterops palpebrosus
5.	Himalayan Bulbul	Pycnonotus leucogenys
6.	White Cheeked Bulbul	Pycnonotus leucogenys
7.	Black Bulbul	Hypsipetes leucocephalus
8.	Red Vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer
9.	Great Barbet	Megalaima virens
10.	Blue Throated Barbet	Megalaima asiatica
11.	Chestnut Tailed Minla	Chrysominla strigula
12.	Bar Tailed Tree Creeper	Certhia himalayana
13.	Eurasian Tree Creeper	Certhia familiaris
14.	Jungle Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos
15.	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
16.	Red-Rumped Swallow	Cecropis daurica
17.	Asian Koel	Eudynamys scolopaceus
18.	Rufous Sibia	Heterophasia capistrata
19.	Black Headed Sibia	Heterophasia desgodinsi
20.	Grey-Winged Black Bird	Turdus boulboul
21.	Russett Sparrow	Passer rutilans
22.	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
23.	Spanish Sparrow	Passer hispaniolensis
24.	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Passer montanus
25.	Oriental Turtle Dove	Streptopelia orientalis
26.	Spotted Dove	Spilopelia chinensis
27.	White Throated Fantail	Rhipidura albicollis
28.	Wedge Tailed Green Pigeon	Treron sphenurus
29.	Blue Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
30.	Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus
31.	Jungle Mynah	Acridotheres fuscus
32.	Common Mynah	Acridotheres tristis
33.	Chest Nut Shouldered Petronia	Petronia xanthocollis
34.	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea
35.	Yellow wagtail	Motacilla flava
36.	Long Tailed Minivet	Pericrocotus ethologus
37.	Scarlet Minivet	Pericrocotus flammeus
38.	Jungle Prinia	Prinia sylvatica
39.	Striated Prinia	Prinia crinigera
40.	Common Iora	Aegithina tiphia
41.	Crimson Sun Bird	Aethopyga siparaja
42	Hoopoe	Upupa epops
43	Eurasian Jay	Garrulus glandarius
44	Black Headed Jay	Garrulus lanceolatus
45	Red Billed Blue Magpie	Urocissa erythrorhyncha
46	Grey Tree pie	Dendrocitta formosae
47	Common Kingfisher	Alcedo atthis
48	Common Chifchaf	Phylloscopus collybita
49	Grey Winged Blackbird	Turdus boulboul
50	Crested Bunting	Melophus lathami
51	Rock Bunting	Emberiza cia
52	Rufous Winged fulvetta	Pseudominla castaneceps
53	Jungle Owlet	Glaucidium radiatum
54	Asian Barred Owlet	Glaucidium cuculoides
55	Black and Yellow Grosbeak	Mycerobas icterioides
56	Large Billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos
57	Spotted Nutcracker	Nucifraga caryocatactes
58	Ashy Drongo	Dicrurus leucophaeus
59	Black Drongo	Dicrurus macrocercus
60	House Swift	Apus affinis
61	Spotted Forktail	Enicurus maculatus
62	Spot Winged Tit	Parus melanolophus
63	Great Tit	Parus major
64	Black Throated Tit	Aegithalos concinnus
65	Green Backed Tit	Parus monticolus
66	Black Lored Tit	Parus xanthogenys
67	Himalayan Great Tit	Parus major subsp
68	Yellow Browed Tit	Sylviparus modestus
69	Red-headed Tit	Egithalos erythrocephalus erythrocephalus, Vig.
70	Crested Black Tit	Parus niger
71	Scaly Bellied Woodpecker	Picus squamatus
72	Fulvous Breasted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos macei
73	Brown Fronted Woodpecker	Dendrocopos auriceps
74	Grey Headed Woodpecker	Picus canus
75	Himalayan Wood Pecker	Dendrocopos himalayensis
76	Yellow nape
77	Rufous Bellied Wood Pecker	Dendrocopos hyperythrus
78	Yellow Crowned Wood Pecker	Dendrocopos mahrattensis
79	Flame Back Wood Pecker (Heard)	Dinopium shorii
80	Speckled Pipulet	Picumnus innominatus
81	Indian Bush Chat	Pratincola torquata indica, Blyth
82	Pied Bush Chat	Saxicola caprata
83	Grey Bush Chat	Saxicola ferreus
84	Large Billed Warbler	Tickellia hodgsoni
85	Hume’s Warbler	Phylloscopus humei
86	Large Crowned Leaf Warbler
87	Western Crowned Warbler	Phylloscopus occipitalis
88	Grey Hooded Warbler	Phylloscopus xanthoschistos
89	Lemon Rumped Warbler	Phylloscopus proregulus
90	Grey cheeked Leaf Warbler	Seicercus poliogenys
91	Brownish flanked bush warbler	Cettia fortipes
92	Tickell’s Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus affinis
93	Blyth’s Leaf Warbler	Phylloscopus reguloides
94	White Browed Blue Fly Catcher	Ficedula superciliaris
95	Rufous Gorgeted Fly Catcher	Ficedula strophiata
96	Verditer Fly catcher	Eumyias thalassina
97	Grey Headed Canary Fly Catcher	Culicicapa ceylonensis
98	Dark sided Flycatcher	Muscicapa sibirica
99	Ultra-Marine Fly Catcher	Ficedula superciliaris
100	Pied Flycatcher	Ficedula hypoleuca
101	Slaty headed Parakeet	Psittacula himalayana
102	Alexandrine Parakeet	Psittacula eupatria
103	Plum-Headed Parakeet	Psittacula cyanocephala
104	Rose ringed parakeet	Psittacula krameri
105	White Capped Water redstart	Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
106	Plumbeous Water Redstart	Rhyacornis fuliginosa
107	White-Throated Laughing Thrush	Garrulax albogularis
108	Variegated Laughing Thrush	Garrulax variegatus
109	Streaked Laughing Thrsuh	Garrulax lineatus
110	Dark Throated Thrush	Turdus ruficollis
111	Blue Capped Rock Thrush	Monticola cinclorhynchus
112	Blue Whistling Thrush	Myophonus caeruleus
113	Jungle Babbler	Turdoides striata
114	Rusty Cheeked Scimitar Babbler	Pomatorhinus erythrogenys
115	White Browed Scimitar Babbler	Pomatorhinus schisticeps
116	Black/Pariah Kite	Milvus migrans
117	Shikra	Accipiter badius
118	Himalayan Griffon	Gyps himalayensis
119	Honey Buzzard	Pernis apivorus
120	Common kestrel	Falco tinnunculus
121	Eurasian Griffon	Gyps fulvus
122	Besra	Accipiter vargatus
123	Black Francolin	Francolinus francolinus
124	Lesser White Throat	Sylvia curruca
125	Rufous Bellied Niltava	Niltava sundara
126	Wall Creeper	Tichodroma muraria

Hope you find it useful. Your Suggestions are also welcome.

Himachal Birds thanks all the birders who participated in this event.