After birding Goa quite intensively in 2002, this was to be a non-birding GOA holiday spent with my wife at the Marinha Dourada, Arpora with birding being mainly done in a relaxed manner (admittedly with scope close to hand) from the hotel balcony, from which 72 species were recorded (including 9 species of raptor).
Baga Hill from the balcony
The fish/prawn ponds and surrounding fields which were directly across the road from the hotel were also walked regularly and were very productive, with several species of wader being present. Also the bushes (centre of picture) held a large roost including Starlings, Weavers, Munias and Mynas.
The ponds across the road
Local visits were made up Baga Hill in the late afternoon on three occasions (walking the ridge along the top just once) and to Arpora Woods twice.
Also, the Beira Mar was visited twice for the last hour of daylight in order to try and pin down Cinnamon Bittern, a species which had eluded me on a previous visit in 2002. This proved successful on the second occasion, with the added bonus of a Slaty-breasted Rail being seen as well.
A passing visit was made to Morjim for a very quick look and a few other birds were picked up elsewhere whilst travelling.
(* balcony)
Indian Peafowl: A male and two females seen from the plane alongside the runway at Dabolim Airport
Mallard: A single at Spice Plantation (feral)
Rufous Woodpecker: One at Baga Hill
Black-rumped Flameback:* Two at Marinha Dourada and one at Arpora Woods
White-cheeked Barbet:* Seen and heard at Baga Hill and Marinha Dourada
Coppersmith Barbet: Seen and heard at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Indian Roller: One from the bus en route to the Airport
Common Kingfisher:* Common
Stork-billed Kingfisher: Present on Marinha Dourada Ponds
White-throated Kingfisher:* Present around Marinha Dourada and elsewhere
Black-capped Kingfisher: One on rocks at the mouth of Baga River
Pied Kingfisher:* Two seen from Marinha Dourada
Green Bee-Eater:* Common
Blue-tailed Bee-Eater:* Seen regularly
Asian Koel:* Seen and heard regularly at Baga Hill
Greater Coucal:* Two at Marinha Dourada and one at Spice Plantation
Alexandrine Parakeet:* Up to 4 seen most days from Marinha Dourada
Rose-ringed Parakeet:* Several seen daily
Plum-headed Parakeet:* 2+ over at Marinha Dourada and a pair near Sun Village
Asian Palm Swift:* Seen daily in good numbers
Little Swift:* Seen daily and also in the cloisters at Old Goa
Crested Treeswift:* At least two over Baga Hill
Barn Owl:* One flew past at Marinha Dourada
Spotted Owlet:* One present at Marinha Dourada
Rock Pigeon:*Common
Spotted Dove:* Present at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Slaty-breasted Rail: One at Beira Mar
White-breasted Waterhen: Seen at Beira Mar, Marinha Dourada Ponds and Spice Plantation
Ruddy-breasted Crake: One at Beira Mar
Snipe sp:* Two at Beira Mar and one at Marinha Dourada
Common Redshank:* c20 at Marinha Dourada Ponds throughout
Marsh Sandpiper:* c6 at Marinha Dourada Ponds throughout
Greenshank:*c6 at Marinha Dourada Ponds throughout
Green Sandpiper: Two at Beira Mar
Wood Sandpiper: 1-2 at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Common Sandpiper:* Common by all riversides.
Ruddy Turnstone: One on rocks near Baga River mouth
Little Stint:*Up to 10+ present at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Temminck's Stint: 4+ at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Small Pratincole: Up to six regularly at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Pacific Golden Plover:* 20+ present throughout at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Little Ringed Plover:* Present throughout at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Kentish Plover: 10+ at Morjim and Asvem
Lesser Sand Plover: 40+ roosting at Baga River mouth and also others at Morjim and Asvem
Red-wattled Lapwing: Present at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Caspian Gull: Present at Morjim and offshore from Baga and Asvem
Great Black-headed Gull: A few at Morjim and two by Baga
Brown-headed Gull: Plentiful being present at Morjim and offshore
Gull-billed Tern: A few seen along the Mandovi River
Lesser Crested Tern: Odd ones seen offshore
Osprey: One off the Baga River mouth
Black-winged Kite: One seen en route to the airport
Black Kite:* Numerous, with both govinda and lineatus noted
Brahminy Kite:*Common
White-bellied Sea Eagle:* A pair seen regularly over Baga Hill
Marsh Harrier: One near Spice Plantation
Shikra:* Seen on and over Baga Hill
Oriental Honey-Buzzard:* 3+ seen over Baga Hill
Indian Spotted Eagle:* 3 seen over Baga Hill
Tawny Eagle:* A pair seen over Baga Hill
Booted Eagle:* c4 seen over Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Changeable Hawk Eagle:* A pair seen well at Baga Hill
Little Cormorant:* Several daily over Marinha Dourada
Little Egret:* Plentiful
Western Reef Egret: Singles on rocks off Baga Hill and by Zuari River
Great Egret:*Regular over Marinha Dourada and at pools
Intermediate Egret:* Regular over Marinha Dourada and at Beira Mar
Cattle Egret:*Common throughout
Indian Pond Heron:* Common throughout
Grey Heron:* Small roost by Marinha Dourada
Purple Heron:*A single flew by the Marinha Dourada regularly
Striated Heron:* A regular at the Marinha Dourada waterfall and odd ones nearby
Black-crowned Night Heron: Two at Beira Mar
Cinnamon Bittern: A male seen at Beira Mar
Black-headed Ibis:* One seen flying over Baga Hill
Woolly-necked Stork:* Up to 6 daily over Marinha Dourada and nearby
Blue-winged Leafbird: Two at Arpora Woods
Long-tailed Shrike: Seen at Marinha Dourada Ponds and elsewhere
Rufous Treepie: One at Baga Hill
House Crow:* Common
Large-billed Crow:* Regular around Marinha Dourada area
Ashy Woodswallow:*6+ at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Golden Oriole:* Seen regularly at Baga Hill and over Marinha Dourada
Black-hooded Oriole: One at Arpora Woods
Small Minivet: Six at Baga Hill and four at Arpora Woods
White-throated Fantail: Two albogularis at Arpora Woods
Black Drongo:* Seen regularly around Marinha Dourada
Ashy Drongo: Present at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
White-bellied Drongo: One at Arpora Woods
Common Iora:*Seen at Marinha Dourada, Baga Hill and Aw
Common Woodshrike: Singles at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Blue Rock Thrush: One on coastal rocks off Baga Hill
Oriental Magpie Robin:* Seen at Marinha Dourada and Beira Mar
Indian Robin: Two on Baga Hill
Pied Bushchat:* Present at Marinha Dourada Ponds and elsewhere
Chestnut-tailed Starling:* Many present in roost at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Rose-coloured Starling:* c200 in roost at Marinha Dourada Ponds and present locally
Common Myna: Odd birds seen at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Jungle Myna:* Common
Barn Swallow:*Several present at Marinha Dourada
Wire-tailed Swallow:* Several present at Marinha Dourada
Red-rumped Swallow:* Common and the most numerous of the swallows.
Streak-throated Swallow: 2-3 over Marinha Dourada Ponds
Red-whiskered Bulbul:*Common
Red-vented Bulbul: 2-3 seen on Baga Hill
White-browed Bulbul: 1-2 at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Grey-breasted Prinia: Two at Arpora Woods
Ashy Prinia:* A pair in Marinha Dourada grounds
Zitting Cisticola: One at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Blyth’s Reed Warbler:* Seen regularly throughout
Clamorous Reed Warbler: Singles at Marinha Dourada Ponds and Beira Mar
Greenish Warbler: A single viridanus at Arpora Woods
Common Tailorbird:* Seen at Marinha Dourada and Arpora Woods
Tawny-bellied Babbler: A small party seen on Baga Hill
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta: Singles at Arpora Woods and Baga Hill
Malabar Lark: One over at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Thick-billed Flowerpecker:* Singles seen at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Purple-rumped Sunbird:* Seen throughout and the most common sunbird
Crimson-backed Sunbird: A male seen well at Arpora Woods
Purple Sunbird: Several at Baga Hill and Arpora Woods
Loten’s Sunbird: A male on Baga Hill
Crimson Sunbird: An eclipse male at Arpora Woods
House Sparrow:* Common
White-browed Wagtail:* A pair present at Marinha Dourada and seen elsewhere
Yellow Wagtail:*A single flyby at Marinha Dourada
Paddyfield Pipit: 3+ at Marinha Dourada Ponds
Baya Weaver:* 400+ in roost at Marinha Dourada Ponds
White-rumped Munia:* Present at Marinha Dourada and locally
Scaly-breasted Munia: 20+ in roost at Marinha Dourada Ponds