Date: 10 February 2013

Come and join other birdwatchers and nature lovers on bird walks around town as we celebrate the immensely beautiful avifauna and related habitats of Manipal.

We will gather at Hotel Sheela Sagar between 0625 hrs and 0645 hrs, before moving on with the teams to their respective locations before 0700 hrs. We bird till 1000 hrs and return to meet at the KMC Greens/KMC Food Court where we inventorize the list of birds seen and share experiences and sightings.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Carry binoculars if possible - we’ll try our best to give everyone a chance if you do not have a pair.

2. Carry water. Snacks are optional.

3. Wear dull-coloured clothing (dull green, brown, grey) or the birds will not allow approach.

4. Wear caps if you need. We all know how harsh the sun in Manipal can get.

5. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Please don’t let footwear let you down.

Teams as per locations would be:

Team Dashrath Nagar: Visits the grasslands behind MIT 10th Block, and the forests below. Might do a round of Manipal Lake if time permits.

This route might involve moderate to strenuous walking. The birds will include a mixture of common forest species as well as some grassland/scrubland species. Highlights could be several orioles, malkohas, warblers, etc.

Dashrath Nagar is the area around Arbi Falls.

Team MIT Campus: Visits the gardens around Venugopala Temple and the Manipal Lake.

This route involves light walking. The birds will include mostly garden species, light woodland and scrub species, wintering species (migratory birds). Highlights will include several orioles, wagtails, sunbirds, shrikes, etc.

Team Ananth Nagar: Covers Manipal Lake and the grasslands around SIBM College.

This route will involve light to moderate walking. The birds will include grassland birds and garden species. Highlights could be raptors, woodswallows, larks, etc.

Ananth Nagar is behind the Manipal Lake, and around SIBM College.

Team End Point: Covers End Point.

This route will involve light to moderate walking. The birds will mostly be grassland/scrub species, and some forest species. Highlights will include wagtails, larks, pipits, bulbuls, sunbirds, etc.

Team Eshwara Nagar: Covers the fantastic woodlands and grasslands behind the MIT Campus.

This route would involve moderate to strenuous walking. The birds will mostly be forest species with some grassland birds. Highlights will be thrushes, starlings, bulbuls, babblers, etc.

This is the area behind the MIT Hostels.

Team Saralabettu: Covers the rich woodlands of Saralabettu and Herga forest edges.

This route is difficult for the amateur birder and will involve moderate to strenuous walking. Almost all birds here will be forest species and require focus and some amount of previous experience. However, it might be the most rewarding with exceptional quality of birds being seen. Highlights could be babblers, flycatchers, thrushes, hornbills, etc.

This is the area beyond HI-Point, i.e., the forests you see to the east of End Point.

A walk around urban Manipal: A walk that goes along the lovely wooded avenues around Manipal itself. 

This route will involve light walking, but a lot of it. Most birds will be the commoners and garden species. It’ll pass by End Point, so also some scrubland species.

Please do let me know the route preference by mail. Thank you.

For anymore information, I prefer texting (+91-9686915235) though mails are just fine. I will be providing on the spot checklists and route maps as well.

Register here: http://manipalbirding.tumblr.com/birdday

Feel free to call +91-9686915235 or drop an email to ramitsingal@gmail.com in case you have any questions.

- Ramit Singal

Birders: Ramit Singal, Prabhakar Sastri, Savita Sastri

Time: 0700 hrs to 0910 hrs

Birdlist:

1 Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger

2 Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

3 Little Egret Egretta garzetta

4 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia

5 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus

6 Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii

7 Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans

8 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus

9 Black Kite Milvus migrans

10 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

11 Shikra Accipiter badius

12 Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii

13 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus

14 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

15 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

16 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

17 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

18 Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia

19 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis

20 Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus

21 Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vernalis

22 Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala

23 Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius

24 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

25 Southern Coucal Centropus [sinensis] parroti

26 Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

27 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

28 Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

29 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

30 White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis

31 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala

32 Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense

33 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii

34 White Wagtail Motacilla alba

35 White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis

36 Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus

37 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

38 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

39 White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus

40 Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica

41 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

42 Gold-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons

43 Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii

44 Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina

45 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

46 Indian Black-Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus

47 Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps

48 Indian Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufa

49 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata

50 Blyth’s Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum

51 Syke’s Warbler Hippolais rama

52 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

53 Bright-Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus

54 Large-billed Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris

55 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

56 Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

57 Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

58 Black-naped Blue Monarch Hypothymis azurea

59 Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

60 Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor

61 Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica

62 Loten’s Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius

63 Grey-headed Starling Sturnia malabarica

64 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

65 Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus

66 Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo

67 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus

68 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

69 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

70 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus

71 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

72 Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

73 House Crow Corvus splendens

74 Indian Jungle Crow Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus

Images:

Indian Golden Oriole

Spotted Dove

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher - 1

Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher - 2

Common Hawk-cuckoo (juvenile)

Birders: Ramit Singal

Time: 0700 hrs to 0930 hrs

Birdlist:

1 Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger

2 Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

3 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia

4 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus

5 Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii

6 Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus

7 Black Kite Milvus migrans

8 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

9 Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea

10 Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii

11 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus

12 Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator

13 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

14 Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia

15 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis

16 Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vernalis

17 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

18 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

19 Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris

20 Southern Coucal Centropus [sinensis] parroti

21 Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis

22 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

23 Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

24 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus

25 Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus

26 White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis

27 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala

28 Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense

29 Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura

30 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

31 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii

32 Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica

33 White Wagtail Motacilla alba

34 White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis

35 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

36 Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii

37 Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei

38 Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus

39 Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus

40 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer

41 White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus

42 Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica

43 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

44 Gold-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons

45 Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii

46 Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina

47 Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus

48 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

49 Indian Black-Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus

50 Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps

51 Indian Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufa

52 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata

53 Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis

54 Blyth’s Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum

55 Syke’s Warbler Hippolais rama

56 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius

57 Bright-Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus

58 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

59 Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae

60 Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

61 Black-naped Blue Monarch Hypothymis azurea

62 Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos

63 Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor

64 Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica

65 Loten’s Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius

66 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata

67 Grey-headed Starling Sturnia malabarica

68 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

69 Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus

70 Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo

71 Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus

72 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus

73 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

74 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus

75 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

76 Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda

77 House Crow Corvus splendens

78 Indian Jungle Crow Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus

79 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

80 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

Images:

Orange-headed Thrush

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Indian Golden Oriole

Indian Peafowl

Grey-headed Bulbul

Malabar Pied Hornbill

Blyth’s Pipit

Common Stonechat

Birders: Ramit Singal and Kanika Nagia

Time: 0630 hrs to 0900 hrs

List:

1    Little Cormorant     Phalacrocorax niger                 
2    Indian Shag     Phalacrocorax fuscicollis                 
3    Little Egret     Egretta garzetta                 
4    Intermediate Egret     Egretta intermedia                 
5    Eastern Cattle Egret     Bubulcus coromandus                 
6    Indian Pond-Heron     Ardeola grayii                 
7    Asian Openbill    Anastomus oscitans                 
8    Black Kite     Milvus migrans                 
9    Brahminy Kite     Haliastur indus                 
10    Booted Eagle     Hieraaetus pennatus                 
11    Red Spurfowl     Galloperdix spadicea                 
12    Grey Junglefowl     Gallus sonneratii                 
13    Indian Peafowl     Pavo cristatus                 
14    Green Sandpiper     Tringa ochropus                 
15    Blue Rock Pigeon     Columba livia                 
16    Spotted Dove     Streptopelia chinensis                 
17    Vernal Hanging-Parrot     Loriculus vernalis                 
18    Rose-ringed Parakeet     Psittacula krameri                 
19    Plum-headed Parakeet     Psittacula cyanocephala                 
20    Common Hawk-Cuckoo    Hierococcyx varius                 
21    Asian Koel     Eudynamys scolopacea                 
22    Southern Coucal     Centropus [sinensis] parroti                 
23    Asian Palm-Swift     Cypsiurus balasiensis                  
24    White-throated Kingfisher     Halcyon smyrnensis                 
25    Little Green Bee-eater     Merops orientalis                 
26    Blue-tailed Bee-eater     Merops philippinus                 
27    Malabar Pied Hornbill     Anthracoceros coronatus                 
28    White-cheeked Barbet     Megalaima viridis                 
29    Coppersmith Barbet     Megalaima haemacephala                  
30    Rufous Woodpecker     Micropternus  brachyurus                 
31    Black-rumped Flameback    Dinopium benghalense                 
32    Indian Pitta     Pitta brachyura                 
33    Wire-tailed Swallow     Hirundo smithii                 
34    White-browed Wagtail     Motacilla maderaspatensis                 
35    Red-whiskered Bulbul     Pycnonotus jocosus                 
36    Red-vented Bulbul     Pycnonotus cafer                 
37    White-browed Bulbul     Pycnonotus luteolus                 
38    Yellow-browed Bulbul     Iole indica                 
39    Common Iora     Aegithina tiphia                 
40    Gold-fronted Leafbird    Chloropsis aurifrons                 
41    Brown Shrike    Lanius cristatus                 
42    Malabar Whistling-Thrush     Myophonus horsfieldii                 
43    Oriental Magpie-Robin     Copsychus saularis                 
44    Puff-throated Babbler     Pellorneum ruficeps                 
45    Dark-fronted Babbler     Rhopocichla atriceps                 
46    Indian Rufous Babbler     Turdoides subrufa                 
47    Jungle Babbler     Turdoides striata                 
48    Ashy Prinia     Prinia socialis                 
49    House Crow     Corvus splendens                        
50    Indian Jungle Crow     Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus                       
51    Booted Warbler    Hippolais caligata                 
52    Blyth’s Reed-Warbler     Acrocephalus dumetorum          
53    Common Tailorbird     Orthotomus sutorius                 
54    Bright-Green Warbler    Phylloscopus nitidus                 
55    Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher     Cyornis tickelliae                 
56    Asian Paradise Flycatcher     Terpsiphone paradisi                 
57    Black-naped Blue Monarch     Hypothymis azurea                 
58    Pale-billed Flowerpecker     Dicaeum erythrorhynchos                 
59    Nilgiri Flowerpecker     Dicaeum concolor                 
60    Purple-rumped Sunbird     Leptocoma zeylonica                 
61    Purple Sunbird     Cinnyris asiaticus                 
62    Loten’s Sunbird     Cinnyris lotenius                 
63    White-rumped Munia     Lonchura striata                 
64    Scaly-breasted Munia     Lonchura punctulata                 
65    House Sparrow     Passer domesticus                 
66    Grey-headed Starling     Sturnia malabarica                 
67    Common Myna     Acridotheres tristis                 
68    Indian Golden Oriole     Oriolus kundoo                 
69    Black-hooded Oriole     Oriolus xanthornus                 
70    Black Drongo     Dicrurus macrocercus                 
71    Ashy Drongo     Dicrurus leucophaeus                 
72    Bronzed Drongo     Dicrurus aeneus                 
73    Greater Racket-tailed Drongo     Dicrurus paradiseus                 
74    Indian Treepie     Dendrocitta vagabunda                    

- Ramit

Birders: Ramit Singal

Time: 0600 hrs to 0815 hrs

Highlights: Good views of a Paddyfield Warbler, several Blyth’s Reed Warbler, a single Greenish Warbler apart from the many Bright-green Warblers, many very friendly Puff-throated Babblers, Asian Paradise Flycatchers in plenty.

It was extremely foggy and the light was really bad - and perhaps why Jerdon’s Nightjars were calling till about 0700 hrs.

1    Little Cormorant     Phalacrocorax niger                
2    Indian Shag     Phalacrocorax fuscicollis                
3    Eastern Cattle Egret     Bubulcus coromandus                
4    Black Kite     Milvus migrans                
5    Brahminy Kite     Haliastur indus                
6    Red Spurfowl     Galloperdix spadicea                
7    Grey Junglefowl     Gallus sonneratii                
8    Indian Peafowl     Pavo cristatus                
9    Blue Rock Pigeon     Columba livia                
10    Spotted Dove     Streptopelia chinensis                
11    Vernal Hanging-Parrot     Loriculus vernalis                
12    Plum-headed Parakeet     Psittacula cyanocephala                
13    Asian Koel     Eudynamys scolopacea                
14    Southern Coucal     Centropus [sinensis] parroti                
15    Jerdon’s Nightjar    Caprimulgus atripennis                
16    White-throated Kingfisher     Halcyon smyrnensis                
17    Little Green Bee-eater     Merops orientalis                
18    Blue-tailed Bee-eater     Merops philippinus                
19    Malabar Pied Hornbill     Anthracoceros coronatus                
20    White-cheeked Barbet     Megalaima viridis                
21    Black-rumped Flameback    Dinopium benghalense                
22    Indian Pitta     Pitta brachyura                
23    Wire-tailed Swallow     Hirundo smithii                
24    White-browed Wagtail     Motacilla maderaspatensis                
25    Grey-headed Bulbul     Pycnonotus priocephalus                
26    Red-whiskered Bulbul     Pycnonotus jocosus                
27    Red-vented Bulbul     Pycnonotus cafer                
28    White-browed Bulbul     Pycnonotus luteolus                
29    Yellow-browed Bulbul     Iole indica                
30    Common Iora     Aegithina tiphia                
31    Gold-fronted Leafbird    Chloropsis aurifrons                
32    Brown Shrike    Lanius cristatus                
33    Long-tailed Shrike     Lanius schach                
34    Malabar Whistling-Thrush     Myophonus horsfieldii                
35    Oriental Magpie-Robin     Copsychus saularis                
36    Indian Black-Robin     Saxicoloides fulicatus                
37    Puff-throated Babbler     Pellorneum ruficeps                
38    Dark-fronted Babbler     Rhopocichla atriceps                
39    Indian Rufous Babbler     Turdoides subrufa                
40    Jungle Babbler     Turdoides striata                
41    Yellow-billed Babbler     Turdoides affinis                
42    Ashy Prinia     Prinia socialis                
43    Paddyfield Warbler    Acrocephalus agricola                
44    Blyth’s Reed-Warbler     Acrocephalus dumetorum                
45    Booted Warbler    Hippolais caligata                
46    Syke’s Warbler    Hippolais rama                
47    Common Tailorbird     Orthotomus sutorius                
48    Greenish Warbler    Phylloscopus trochiloide                
49    Bright-Green Warbler    Phylloscopus nitidus                
50    Western Crowned Warbler     Phylloscopus occipitalis                
51    Asian Paradise Flycatcher     Terpsiphone paradisi                
52    Black-naped Blue Monarch     Hypothymis azurea                
53    Pale-billed Flowerpecker     Dicaeum erythrorhynchos                
54    Nilgiri Flowerpecker     Dicaeum concolor                
55    Purple-rumped Sunbird     Leptocoma zeylonica                
56    Purple Sunbird     Cinnyris asiaticus                
57    Loten’s Sunbird     Cinnyris lotenius                
58    Grey-headed Starling     Sturnia malabarica                
59    Common Myna     Acridotheres tristis                
60    Indian Golden Oriole     Oriolus kundoo                
61    Black-hooded Oriole     Oriolus xanthornus                
62    Black Drongo     Dicrurus macrocercus                
63    Ashy Drongo     Dicrurus leucophaeus                
64    Bronzed Drongo     Dicrurus aeneus                
65    Greater Racket-tailed Drongo     Dicrurus paradiseus                
66    Indian Treepie     Dendrocitta vagabunda                
67    House Crow     Corvus splendens                
68    Indian Jungle Crow     Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus               

—

Cheers!

Ramit

Over 25 people turned up for Manipal’s edition of the Big Bird Day - a concept borrowed from the famous and now pan-India Delhi Big Bird Day. A majority of the 25 were birding for the first time ever, so it was a nice slow walk and we observed several species - common and uncommon - at leisure.

In spite of which, we still managed to see 96 species over the course of the day as we covered the Eshwar Nagar woodlands, Manipal Lake, and End Point.

My special thanks to Kanika Nagia, Frenil Sanghavi, Mr. Prabhakar Sastri, Mrs. Savita Sastri, and everyone else who turned up for the event and made it an excellent day out, if not a benchmark for more such outings to follow.

Locations: Eshwara Nagar, Manipal Lake, End Point

Time: 0630 hrs to 1930 hrs on 22 January 2012

Birdlist:

1. Little Grebe
2. Little Cormorant
3. Indian Cormorant
4. Little Egret
5. Western Reef-Egret
6. Great Egret
7. Eastern Cattle Egret
8. Indian Pond-Heron
9. Asian Openbill
10. Black Kite
11. Brahminy Kite
12. Shikra
13. Booted Eagle
14. Red Spurfowl
15. Grey Junglefowl
16. Indian Peafowl
17. White-breasted Waterhen
18. Little Ringed Plover
19. Yellow-wattled Lapwing
20. Red-wattled Lapwing
21. Common Redshank
22. Common Greenshank
23. Green Sandpiper
24. Wood Sandpiper
25. Common Sandpiper
26. Blue Rock Pigeon
27. Spotted Dove
28. Rose-ringed Parakeet
29. Asian Koel
30. Blue-faced Malkoha
31. Southern Coucal
32. Spotted Owlet
33. Jerdon’s Nightjar
34. Indian Little Nightjar
35. Savanna Nightjar
36. Asian Palm-Swift
37. Alpine Swift
38. Little Swift
39. White-throated Kingfisher
40. Little Green Bee-eater
41. Blue-tailed Bee-eater
42. White-cheeked Barbet
43. Coppersmith Barbet
44. Rufous Woodpecker
45. Black-rumped Flameback
46. Indian Pitta
47. Jerdon’s Bush-Lark
48. Oriental Skylark
49. Barn Swallow
50. Wire-tailed Swallow
51. Red-rumped Swallow
52. White Wagtail
53. White-browed Wagtail
54. Paddyfield Pipit
55. Tawny Pipit
56. Blyth’s Pipit
57. Small Minivet
58. Grey-headed Bulbul
59. Red-whiskered Bulbul
60. Red-vented Bulbul
61. White-browed Bulbul
62. Yellow-browed Bulbul
63. Common Iora
64. Gold-fronted Leafbird
65. Long-tailed Shrike
66. Oriental Magpie-Robin
67. Indian Black-Robin
68. Puff-throated Babbler
69. Dark-fronted Babbler
70. Indian Rufous Babbler
71. Jungle Babbler
72. Yellow-billed Babbler
73. Blyth’s Reed-Warbler
74. Booted Warbler
75. Common Tailorbird
76. Bright-Green Warbler
77. Asian Paradise Flycatcher
78. White-spotted Fantail
79. Thick-billed Flowerpecker
80. Pale-billed Flowerpecker
81. Purple-rumped Sunbird
82. Purple Sunbird
83. Loten’s Sunbird
84. Scaly-breasted Munia
85. House Sparrow
86. Grey-headed Starling
87. Rosy Starling
88. Common Myna
89. Jungle Myna
90. Indian Golden Oriole
91. Black Drongo
92. Ashy Drongo
93. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
94. Indian Treepie
95. House Crow
96. Indian Jungle Crow

Images:

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Spot the Yellow-wattled Lapwings

Rosy Starlings

Openbills

Kicking things off in the MIT campus(Photo credit: Shaunak Mahbubani)

Watching birds in Eshwara Nagar(Photo credit: Shaunak Mahbubani)

The group trying to figure out where the birds at Manipal Lake had gone off to for lunch (Photo credit: Shaunak Mahbubani)

- Ramit

Birders: Ramit Singal, Ashwini Kumar Bhat, Sahana Bhat

Time: 0700 hrs to 1000 hrs

Highlights: Richard’s and Blyth’s Pipits - the latter gave good views but unfortunately Ashwini missed seeing the birds except when in flight, Paddyfield Pipits everywhere, very nice and prolonged views of the Tawny Pipits - in fresh and 1st winter plumages, Booted Warblers clicked about, a single Brown-backed Needletail zipped through, Yellow-wattled Lapwings in good numbers, a nicely sized flock of Grey-headed Starlings.

It was nice having the company of Bangalore birders Ashwini and Sahana, the former of whom I was meeting for the 2nd time and is in my view a very accomplished and fun birder to bird with.

Birdlist:

1    Little Cormorant     Phalacrocorax niger
2    Indian Shag     Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
3    Eastern Cattle Egret     Bubulcus coromandus
4    Indian Pond-Heron     Ardeola grayii
5    Asian Openbill    Anastomus oscitans
6    Black Kite     Milvus migrans
7    Brahminy Kite     Haliastur indus
8    Shikra     Accipiter badius
9    Grey Junglefowl     Gallus sonneratii
10    Indian Peafowl     Pavo cristatus
11    Yellow-wattled Lapwing     Vanellus malabaricus
12    Red-wattled Lapwing     Vanellus indicus
13    Spotted Dove     Streptopelia chinensis
14    Vernal Hanging-Parrot     Loriculus vernalis
15    Common Hawk-Cuckoo    Hierococcyx varius
16    Indian Cuckoo     Cuculus micropterus
17    Asian Koel     Eudynamys scolopacea
18    Blue-faced Malkoha     Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
19    Southern Coucal     Centropus [sinensis] parroti
20    Brown-backed Needletail    Hirundapus giganteus
21    White-throated Kingfisher     Halcyon smyrnensis
22    Little Green Bee-eater     Merops orientalis
23    Blue-tailed Bee-eater     Merops philippinus
24    White-cheeked Barbet     Megalaima viridis
25    Black-rumped Flameback    Dinopium benghalense
26    Jerdon’s Bush-Lark     Mirafra affinis
27    Malabar Lark     Galerida malabarica
28    Oriental Skylark     Alauda gulgula
29    Barn Swallow     Hirundo rustica
30    Wire-tailed Swallow     Hirundo smithii
31    House Crow     Corvus splendens
32    Indian Jungle Crow     Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus
33    White Wagtail     Motacilla alba
34    White-browed Wagtail     Motacilla maderaspatensis
35    Western Yellow Wagtail     Motacilla flava
36    Richard’s Pipit     Anthus richardi
37    Paddyfield Pipit     Anthus rufulus
38    Tawny Pipit    Anthus campestris
39    Blyth’s Pipit     Anthus godlewskii
40    Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike     Coracina melanoptera
41    Grey-headed Bulbul     Pycnonotus priocephalus
42    Red-whiskered Bulbul     Pycnonotus jocosus
43    Red-vented Bulbul     Pycnonotus cafer
44    White-browed Bulbul     Pycnonotus luteolus
45    Yellow-browed Bulbul     Iole indica
46    Common Iora     Aegithina tiphia
47    Brown Shrike    Lanius cristatus
48    Long-tailed Shrike     Lanius schach
49    Oriental Magpie-Robin     Copsychus saularis
50    Indian Black-Robin     Saxicoloides fulicatus
51    Pied Bushchat     Saxicola caprata
52    Indian Rufous Babbler     Turdoides subrufa
53    Jungle Babbler     Turdoides striata
54    Yellow-billed Babbler     Turdoides affinis
55    Booted Warbler    Hippolais caligata
56    Common Tailorbird     Orthotomus sutorius
57    Bright-Green Warbler    Phylloscopus nitidus
58    Black-naped Blue Monarch     Hypothymis azurea
59    Pale-billed Flowerpecker     Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
60    Purple-rumped Sunbird     Leptocoma zeylonica
61    Purple Sunbird     Cinnyris asiaticus
62    Scaly-breasted Munia     Lonchura punctulata
63    Grey-headed Starling     Sturnia malabarica
64    Common Myna     Acridotheres tristis
65    Indian Golden Oriole     Oriolus kundoo
66    Black-hooded Oriole     Oriolus xanthornus
67    Black Drongo     Dicrurus macrocercus
68    Ashy Drongo     Dicrurus leucophaeus
69    Ashy Woodswallow     Artamus fuscus
70    Indian Treepie     Dendrocitta vagabunda

I will add pics later when Ashwini’s clicks are sent to me :-) I have no choice but to go back to the roots with the notepad and binocs form of birding (My cam fell into the sea at St. Mary’s Island and is beyond repair for now). It was nice to get acquainted with the style that I used for years on end before a camera came in my hand.

- Ramit

Time: 0615 hrs to 1000 hrs

Highlights: Grey-headed Bulbul, Richard’s Pipit, obliging Brown Shrike, Black-footed Malabar Langurs

Bird list:

1    Little Grebe     Tachybaptus ruficollis
2    Little Cormorant     Phalacrocorax niger
3    Indian Shag     Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
4    Eastern Cattle Egret     Bubulcus coromandus
5    Indian Pond-Heron     Ardeola grayii
6    Black Kite     Milvus migrans
7    Brahminy Kite     Haliastur indus
8    Red Spurfowl     Galloperdix spadicea
9    Grey Junglefowl     Gallus sonneratii
10    Indian Peafowl     Pavo cristatus
11    Barred Buttonquail     Turnix suscitator
12    Red-wattled Lapwing     Vanellus indicus
13    Common Redshank     Tringa totanus
14    Common Sandpiper     Actitis hypoleucos
15    Blue Rock Pigeon     Columba livia
16    Spotted Dove     Streptopelia chinensis
17    Vernal Hanging-Parrot     Loriculus vernalis
18    Rose-ringed Parakeet     Psittacula krameri
19    Asian Koel     Eudynamys scolopacea
20    Blue-faced Malkoha     Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
21    Southern Coucal     Centropus [sinensis] parroti
22    Asian Palm-Swift     Cypsiurus balasiensis
23    White-throated Kingfisher     Halcyon smyrnensis
24    Little Green Bee-eater     Merops orientalis
25    Blue-tailed Bee-eater     Merops philippinus
26    White-cheeked Barbet     Megalaima viridis
27    Coppersmith Barbet     Megalaima haemacephala
28    Rufous Woodpecker     Micropternus  brachyurus
29    Jerdon’s Bush-Lark     Mirafra affinis
30    Malabar Lark     Galerida malabarica
31    Oriental Skylark     Alauda gulgula
32    Wire-tailed Swallow     Hirundo smithii
33    White-browed Wagtail     Motacilla maderaspatensis
34    Western Yellow Wagtail     Motacilla flava
35    Richard’s Pipit     Anthus richardi
36    Paddyfield Pipit     Anthus rufulus
37    Tawny Pipit    Anthus campestris
38    Grey-headed Bulbul     Pycnonotus priocephalus
39    Red-whiskered Bulbul     Pycnonotus jocosus
40    Red-vented Bulbul     Pycnonotus cafer
41    White-browed Bulbul     Pycnonotus luteolus
42    Yellow-browed Bulbul     Iole indica
43    Common Iora     Aegithina tiphia
44    Jerdon’s Leafbird    Chloropsis jerdoni
45    Gold-fronted Leafbird    Chloropsis aurifrons
46    Brown Shrike    Lanius cristatus
47    Long-tailed Shrike     Lanius schach
48    Oriental Magpie-Robin     Copsychus saularis
49    Indian Black-Robin     Saxicoloides fulicatus
50    Pied Bushchat     Saxicola caprata
51    Puff-throated Babbler     Pellorneum ruficeps
52    Indian Rufous Babbler     Turdoides subrufa
53    Jungle Babbler     Turdoides striata
54    Yellow-billed Babbler     Turdoides affinis
55    Ashy Prinia     Prinia socialis
56    Bright-Green Warbler    Phylloscopus nitidus
57    Black-naped Blue Monarch     Hypothymis azurea
58    Thick-billed Flowerpecker     Dicaeum agile
59    Pale-billed Flowerpecker     Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
60    Purple-rumped Sunbird     Leptocoma zeylonica
61    Purple Sunbird     Cinnyris asiaticus
62    Loten’s Sunbird     Cinnyris lotenius
63    Scaly-breasted Munia     Lonchura punctulata
64    Common Myna     Acridotheres tristis
65    Jungle Myna     Acridotheres fuscus
66    Indian Golden Oriole     Oriolus kundoo
67    Black-hooded Oriole     Oriolus xanthornus
68    Black Drongo     Dicrurus macrocercus
69    Ashy Drongo     Dicrurus leucophaeus
70    Greater Racket-tailed Drongo     Dicrurus paradiseus
71    Ashy Woodswallow     Artamus fuscus
72    Indian Treepie     Dendrocitta vagabunda
73    House Crow     Corvus splendens
74    Indian Jungle Crow     Corvus [macrorhynchos] culminatus

Images:

Common Iora - male in non br plumage

Brown Shrike

Richard’s Pipit in flight

Dark-legged Malabar Langurs

–

- Ramit