Introduction
After having visited India the previous year on a work trip (based in Delhi) I was keen to further explore the country and a trip to Goa seemed the perfect opportunity. With this in mind John Pegden and I booked a trip for £429 through Lastminute.com for a week based at the Beira Mar Hotel in Baga. Due to John’s line of profession (as a Primary School teacher) we only had the week during his half term in which we could travel, when a two week trip would have been more ideal.
Our aim was to fit in as many sites as possible in the week we had, and in this sense we were very successful, managing to visit all of the well known (and some less well known) sites over the six and a half days that we stayed in Goa. In the time that we had we managed to record a total of 256 species.
As has previously been reported, the Beira Mar Hotel proved to be an excellent base for birding, although the standard of the rooms in the hotel was fairly poor (the nearby Marina Dourada looked much more appealing). Two nights and three days were spent at Backwoods camp.
On my previous visit I had spent most of my time within the confines of Delhi, although I had been able to do some birding at both Bharatpur and Corbett National Parks, whilst John had also visited the North during the previous year on a non-birding tour covering as far north as Ladakh. This meant we both had some familiarity with the birds of the Indian Subcontinent although not with many of the more tropical species.
We ate out every night in Baga (apart from the days spent at Backwoods were excellent food is provided) and suffered no problems of any sort, in fact we only heard of one couple that suffered any sort of stomach upsets.
Guides
Again, as many other trip reports for Goa have previously stated, getting a good guide/taxi driver is an excellent way to see as wide a variety of species as possible, particularly with finding the owls at their roost sites.
There are several names that keep cropping up, with well-known guides including Santosh, Lloyd Fernandez and Abhi. As several trip reports had mentioned Abhi’s name with high regard we first tried emailing him from the UK to enquire as to his availability, but were informed that he was not free during our visit. We have since heard from other birders that they have quite often booked Abhi only for him to fail to turn up, leaving them high and dry without a driver!
Whilst in Goa we spoke with several other birders who had used Lloyd Fernandez and were very impressed with his knowledge, particularly of Bondla. However on recommendation from friends who had visited Goa just two weeks before our trip, we were advised to try another guide by the name of Chand. They had used several guides over the course of two weeks including Lloyd, Santosh and Chand, but after using the services of Chand had not used anyone else! With this in mind we contacted him before arriving in Goa and organised a pick up from the airport. We then used Chand for every trip (with the exception of Backwoods).
As it turned out Chand proved to be an excellent guide, who was both extremely friendly, cheap (he charged less than any of the other guides) and a very good birder who had sites for some species that other drivers didn’t seem to know (such as Rain Quail). I would recommend using Chand for birding trips wherever possible! He can be contacted in advance on chan25@rediffmail.com
Chand also organised a boat trip on the River Zuari for us - this was something we had thought about but had originally ruled out as we did not believe we would have time – however as it was just the two of us present we were able to tailor the trip to leave at the most suitable time of day and to enable us to spend the amount of time we wanted on the river, rather than say, a whole afternoon. This was also pretty cheap (800 rupees each) considering that there were only two of us.
Itinerary
The following is a brief outline of each day:
Sunday 13th: Arrived Dabolim Airport c13:00, birding at Morjim Beach mid afternoon and Arpora Forest in the evening.
Monday 14th: Birded Carambolim Lake dawn to mid-morning, moving on to Pilar Lake, Batim Lake and then Panjim Saltpans late morning. Afternoon spent birding on Divar Island and evening spent birding around Beira Mar Hotel.
Tuesday 15th: Left for Backwoods camp pre-dawn, day spent birding various sites around the camp. Night at Backwoods.
Wednesday 16th: Most birding around the Tamdi Surla temple. Night at Backwoods.
Thursday 17th: Morning spent birding around Backwoods, quick visit to Carambolim Lake on return journey to Baga. Birded Baga fields and Baga Hill during the afternoon and evening.
Friday 18th: Maem lake dawn to mid-morning, Pilerne Lake late morning then Beira Mar early afternoon and evening with a visit to Saligao sandwiched during late afternoon.
Saturday 19th: Dawn to mid-morning at Bondla Sanctuary, late morning to early afternoon on River Zuari boat trip, stops mid-afternoon at Mecem Lake, Panjim Saltpans and Mudelem Marsh, with evening spent at Arpora Forest.
Sunday 20th: Dawn spent birding around Beira Mar Hotel, brief visit to Carambolim Lake early morning en-route to Dabolim Airport.
Sunday 13th Feb
After arriving at Dabolim airport early afternoon, we were picked up by Chand, and after checking in at the hotel headed straight for Morjim Beach. This wasn’t the best decision however, as being a Sunday the area was popular with locals picnicking and walking on the beach. This meant a high level of disturbance that resulted in absolutely no waders being present at all, although the regular high tide flock of gulls and terns were present. Highlights were the 70+ Great Black-headed Gulls, although 2 Slender-billed Gulls were also present. Approximately 5 Great Crested Terns were present amongst the slightly more numerous Lesser Crested and Gull-billed Terns.
Barred Buttonquail can also be located at this site by scouring the vegetation between the road and the beach. However, the amount of disturbance at the time of our visit meant that we had no success in this area, although extensive searching on the opposite side of the road finally produced flight views of one when it was flushed from underneath a bush.
Other species seen at this site included 1 Black-rumped Flameback, 2 Tawny and 2 Paddyfield Pipits, 5 Night Herons (roosting in the tree next to the hut on the opposite side of the road), 1 Osprey and Asian Palm Swift (several noted).
We spent the evening at Arpora Forest, located near the Cubana Club on the northeast side of Baga. The undoubted highlight was a Blue-bearded Bee-eater, although excellent views of an Indian Pitta were a close second. The Bee-eater was observed in what appeared to be a pre-roost site, found by following the main path from the car, keeping left at the fork in the path until you pass the quarry (again on the left). About 50 metres further down on the right the foliage becomes less dense with two obvious dead trees present. The Bee-eater was observed at around 6pm as it perched on the dead trees for about 5 minutes before moving on (presumably to roost). After providing this info to other birders that evening, they also succeeded at this site the following day. The Indian Pitta was observed at the traditional site, found by following the main path from the car for about 20 metres before heading through an opening in the undergrowth on the right. The Pitta is best at dawn or dusk and prefers the shady areas underneath the bushes, the favoured site is located by an obvious upturned 1.5 litre water bottle on a stick. Other notable species seen at Arpora included 2 Booted Eagles, 10+ Small Minivets, 1 Spot-breasted Fantail, 1 White-browed Bulbul (the only one of the trip), 1 Plain Prinia, 1 Pale-billed Flowerpecker and 1 Western Crimson Sunbird.
Monday 14th Feb
We arrived at Carambolim Lake just after dawn to find that the usual roost site for the Brown Hawk Owl had been disturbed. Apparently there had been a fracas between the locals when a new family had moved in and taken exception to the fact that others were getting money for showing birders the owls, to counteract this the local children had thrown stones at the birds and flushed them from their usual location! Chand tried a couple of other past roost sites that he knew but to no avail.
Species observed in the surrounding woodland included 2 Loten’s Sunbirds, 3 Golden Orioles, 1 Indian Robin, 1 Shikra and 3+ Streak-throated Swallows. Just beyond the woodland was a large expanse of marsh that was very good for waders and herons, with at least 1 Temminck’s Stint present amongst the 50 Little Stints as well as 5 Marsh Sandpipers. Over 100 Small Pratincoles were also observed distantly at the back of the marsh, 3 Black-headed Ibis were noted amongst the commoner egrets and an Osprey was also seen.
Carambolim Lake itself was very disappointing as far as waterfowl were concerned. Apparently the lake had been drained in the past year and this had badly affected the suitability for ducks, with only 3 Cotton Pygmy-Geese present. Birds that were present on or around the lake included 1 Watercock, 100+ Purple Swamphens and Bronze-winged Jacanas, 3 Pied Kingfishers, 1 Stork-billed Kingfisher, 2 White-browed Wagtails, 3 Oriental Darters, 1 Indian Cormorant and 1 Great Cormorant whilst 8 Asian Openbills were observed above the lake in thermals.
The nearby picturesque Pilar Lake had a few more ducks than Carambolim, although birds present still only amounted to 20+ Lesser Whistling-Ducks and 20+ Cotton Pygmy-geese. A Common Snipe was also picked up in flight and proved to be the only one identified on the trip.
Batim Lake, another smallish lake not far from Carambolim, seemed to have the lions share of the waterfowl. 400+ Lesser Whistling-Ducks, 20+ Cotton Pygmy-geese, 200+ Common Teal, 200+ Garganey and 8+ Pheasant-tailed Jacanas were observed on the lake, whilst another Asian Openbill was noted. The best of the rest included a Crested Serpent Eagle, a Black-rumped Flameback, an Asian Paradise-Flycatcher and a Spotted Owlet (roosting in the trees opposite the lake).
After returning to the Beira Mar Hotel for some lunch we headed back out mid-afternoon to Divar Island, a site Chand said was very reliable for Larks and Rain Quail. A Lesser Adjutant flew across the river as we were waiting for the car ferry, and another was noted sat very distantly in trees on the east side of the road as we arrived on the island (as well as two roosting Fruit Bats). About 2 miles along the road from the ferry terminal the surrounding habitat changed to become a large area of fields on each side of the road, this is the best place for the Larks. We parked up here and walked out onto the fields and quickly located 2 Rufous-tailed Larks, 1 Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark and 19+ Oriental Skylarks, whilst 2 Woolly-necked Storks and 2 Zitting Cisticolas were also observed. Further along the road, not far from the obvious large single tree, we observed 3 Rain Quails by walking across the arable fields adjacent to the road. A White-bellied Sea Eagle was seen on the return ferry journey.
We birded around the Beira Mar Hotel in the evening, picking up 5 Greater Painted-Snipes, (including 2 females), 2 Malabar Larks and 200+ Baya Weavers.
Tuesday 15th Feb
We left early Tuesday morning for the two and a half day visit to Backwoods. We found the birding here to be the best we had on the trip, with a range of excellent species seen. Our guide was Loven who turned out to be an excellent birder, his knowledge of the birds and in particular their calls was superb and he went to every effort to get as many species as possible, including taking John and myself to Carambolim on the way home on Thursday to have another look for the Brown Hawk Owl.
We spent the first day doing a forest walk early morning, then had an impromptu raptor watch along the entrance track to the camp mid-morning, with another afternoon/evening forest walk and finishing off with a nightjar watch. Many excellent species were seen on the two walks, with the pick being 1 Malabar Trogon, 3 White-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Heart-spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Greater Flameback, 2 Sri Lanka Frogmouths, 4 Malabar Whistling-Thrushes, 2 Grey-headed Bulbuls, 1 Yellow-browed Bulbul, 1 Little Spiderhunter, 4 Black-throated Munias and 1 Forest Wagtail (which according to Loven had been very scarce this year). Unfortunately we dipped the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl at it’s usual roost site. The raptor watch we held mid-morning from the track about 200 metres past the entrance to the camp was also superb, with a first for Backwoods in the form of an immature Steppe Eagle! Also observed were 1 Rufous-bellied Eagle, 2 Mountain Hawk-Eagles, 3+ Black Eagles, 1 Crested Goshawk, 1 Greater Spotted Eagle, 1 Booted Eagle, 5+ Crested Serpent Eagles and 5+ Oriental Honey-Buzzards.
The day was rounded off with a night-time nightjar hunt, with a powerful spotlight Loven was able to locate 3 Savannah Nightjars and 1 Grey Nightjar, whilst Jerdon’s Nightjar was also heard calling.
Wednesday 16th Feb
We spent the early morning and afternoon birding around the Tamdi Surla Temple, with a visit to the raptor watchpoint mid-morning. Birding at Tamdi Surla in the morning was concentrated around an open area of paddyfields and trees with a backdrop of wooded hillsides. Amongst the best birds here were 2 Hill Mynas, 2 Black-naped Orioles, 1 Black Bulbul, 9 Mountain Imperial Pigeons, 5+ Indian Swiftlets and 2+ White-rumped Needletails, whilst both Great Hornbill and Indian Scimitar-babbler were heard calling from the distant hillsides.
The visit to the raptor watchpoint afterwards was also productive, as was the drive to the site where a Spangled Drongo was seen along with the only White-eyed Buzzard of the trip, observed perched in a distant tree. The highlight at the watchpoint was a Long-billed Vulture that showed briefly, with a supporting cast including 1 Rufous-bellied Eagle, 1 Booted Eagle, 2 Black Eagles, 3 Crested Serpent Eagles and 5+ Crested Goshawks. 3 Grey-breasted Prinias were seen singing in the surrounding farmland.
We then popped back to Tamdi Surla to concentrate at a stakeout on the river, this produced excellent species in the form of an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher and a Blue-eared Kingfisher within 10 metres of each other.
John and I decided to skip lunch and concentrate our time searching along the river bed at the camp for more birds, this proved fruitful with John eventually locating a male White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. We arrived back at the camp to find Loven had shown the others the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl, evidently now returned to it’s regular roost. However, our luck had obviously temporarily deserted us as within half an hour the owl had vanished again!
We returned to the Tamdi Surla temple again in the afternoon concentrating along the river. A female Indian Blue Robin was seen well as it foraged along the river edge, although there was another owl dip in the form of a Brown Fish Owl at what was apparently a regular site. We also made several roadside stops that evening looking for Brown Fish Owl but to no avail, even though we did flush what could have been a Jerdon’s Nightjar from the road. However on returning to Backwoods camp we were very fortunate to see the Spot-bellied Eagle Owl perched above the road, even though our views were only of a silhouette.
Thursday 17th Feb
We spent the morning walking the forest around Backwoods, before being taken back to the Beira Mar Hotel early afternoon (via a quick stop at Carambolim). We then spent the rest of the day birding Baga fields and hill.
A Blue-faced Malkoha was observed at a specialised site near the Backwoods, whilst only our second Malabar Trogon was seen just past the entrance to the camp. A Large-billed Leaf Warbler identified in the forest was a real surprise, although Loven informed us they do have occasional records from Backwoods. Other highlights included another superb male White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, our only White-rumped Shama at Backwoods (another species apparently scarce here this year), 3+ Large Woodshrikes and a Brown-headed Barbet. Another visit to the Eagle Owl roost site unbelievably still failed to yield any results with the bird having temporarily moved again!
As Loven was amazed at our misfortune with owls he offered to take us to the Brown Hawk Owl roost at Carambolim en-route back to the hotel. We still managed to dip it again however even with Loven’s expertise. Evidently it had moved trees completely due to the disturbance by the locals.
We spent the rest of the day birding around the Beira Mar Hotel, Baga fields and Baga Hill. I had a brief sighting of the Ruddy-breasted Crake that had been present all winter on the marsh, though views were unsatisfactory and John was unable to catch a glimpse. The Baillon’s Crake present was much more showy, and a Pin-tailed Snipe was identified as it flew onto the pools. Neither the fields nor the hill produced many new species, although we saw our first Black-capped Kingfisher along the River Baga.
Friday 18th Feb
We left before dawn in an effort to reach Maem Lake as early as possible. We found this to be a good site, with several species not noted elsewhere. Highlights included a charismatic Changeable Hawk-Eagle, 2 Jungle Owlets, 15+ Orange-breasted Green Pigeons, 1 Indian Cormorant, 1 Grey Nightjar (at the usual roost site) and 2 Crested Serpent Eagles. The Jungle Owlets were found by Chand on the right of the track just past the resort, in a large tree about 10 metres after the woods start and 5 metres to the right of the path. Chand has seen them there before and even though they tend not to have a fixed roost site, careful searching of the trees in this area should produce results. A Speckled Piculet was reported at Maem Lake by another birder during our visit.
We moved from Maem mid-morning and stopped off at Pilerne Lake on the way back to the hotel. This was another small lake that Chand knew of and was a very good site for Yellow-wattled Lapwing, with at least 8 individuals observed at close range. A Besra was noted briefly as it hunted low over the surrounding trees and 4 Pin-tailed Snipe were present on the fringes of the lake. A big surprise came in the form of a Painted Stork that flew in from high and came down onto the lake to feed.
We visited Saligao late afternoon, gaining good views of the Brown Wood Owl at it’s usual roost site. For such a small site the density of birds was very good, particularly around the spring. A flock of 11 Tawny-bellied Babblers were noted, whilst the only Green Warbler of the trip was identified here, 2 Spot-breasted Fantails also proved showy and 2 Greater Spotted Eagles were seen high in thermals.
Despite spending the evening checking the marsh by the Beira Mar Hotel we were unable to get any more views of the Ruddy-breasted Crake, although further views were had of the Baillon’s Crake and 3 Greater Painted-Snipes.
Saturday 19th Feb
In our original planning we had thought that we wouldn’t have time to fit in either Bondla or the River Zuari boat trip, however we had obviously over estimated some timings which in turn meant we were in fact able to fit both of these trips in. This was in part due to the fact that Chand was able to organise a boat trip on our behalf, meaning that just John and myself were able to go out onto the river and therefore maximise our time.
We arrived at Bondla at dawn (flushing several Nightjar sp from the approach road en-route) and quickly located a pair of Grey Junglefowl (about 100 metres before the lake on the left hand side of the road). Chand also knew of a Brown Fish Owl roost site here but although we were able to hear one calling it again proved too elusive for us. I picked out an Emerald Dove in flight over the lake but unfortunately John didn’t get on it before it flew over a ridge and out of sight. We then had good views of another 3 Grey Junglefowl by the tollgate. In general we both found Bondla to be excellent with higher bird densities then at Backwoods, although obviously lacking some of the more specialised species at the latter site. Other species that we saw only at Bondla or found much easier than at Backwoods included a pair of Blue-capped Rock Thrushes, 1 Banded Bay Cuckoo, 4+ Blue-winged Leafbirds, 5 White-rumped Shamas and a Besra.
En-route to the River Zuari we stopped at Mecem Lake, yet another small lake that Chand was aware of. This wasn’t as productive as some of the other lakes we visited although 5 Northern Shovelers were new for the trip. We also made a quick stop at Panjim Saltpans where 25 Pacific Golden Plovers were roosting, and then got quite lucky as we observed 2 Spot-billed Ducks on the marshy area just south of Mudelem.
We met the boatman at around midday and in retrospect we were very glad we did the trip as it turned out to be much than just a ‘Collared Kingfisher tick trip’. We spent about 2 hours on the River, with the boat taking the normal route up the Cumbajua Canal. The trip was with ‘Crocodile Station,’ who are contactable directly at crocstation@vsnl.net and more than happy to take small groups out on the river. The highlights were six species of Kingfisher including 7 Collared’s, 6 Black-capped and 2 Stork-billed. Additionally, we observed 10 Terek Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Ospreys, 3 Greater Spotted Eagles, 1 Peregrine, 10+ Western Reef Herons, 2 Woolly-necked Storks and 1 Lesser Adjutant.
We finished off the day at Arpora Forest in an attempt to pick up some of the commoner species still missing. A Yellow-crowned Woodpecker and a Hume’s Whitethroat proved to be the only new species for the trip, although we had further good views of an Indian Pitta.
A Barn Owl was observed at dusk around the hotel.
Sunday 20th Feb
As we only had a couple of hours before we had to leave for the airport we decided to spend our time birding around the Beira Mar Hotel. We were both finally able to get good views of the Ruddy-breasted Crake and a Rufous Woodpecker was also seen briefly. We cut short our birding around the hotel as Chand had heard the roost site at Carambolim was now re-occupied. Arriving back at Carambolim we finally scored with a pair of Brown Hawk Owls, they were actually roosting in a different tree that had been favoured in the past. We also picked up only our second Pale-billed Flowerpecker of the trip.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
5+ Carambolim Lake, 3 Pilar Lake and 2 Batim Lake all 14/2/05
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Common – noted at all wetland sites visited
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
3 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Striated Heron Butorides striatus
6 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Common at all wetland and marshy areas
Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis
2 River Mandovi 14/12/05, 3 Mandovi River 17/2/05, 10+ River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Reasonably common at all wetland areas
Great Egret Ardea alba
Reasonably common at all wetland areas
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii
Abundant at most locations
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Abundant at most locations
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
2 Carambolim Lake, 1 Divar Island, 1 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 1 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05, 5+ River Zuari boat trip, 1 Mecem Lake both 19/2/05
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
4 Carambolim Lake, 1 Batim Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 1 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
5 Morjim beach 13/2/05, 3 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, 3 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 3 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
8 Carambolim Lake, 1 Batim Lake both 14/2/05
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
2 Divar Island 14/2/05, 2 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
1 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos melanocephalus
2 Divar Island 14/2/05, 1 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
3 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 4 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica
20+ Pilar Lake, 400+ Batim Lake both 14/2/05, 1 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05, 300+ Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus
3 Carambolim Lake, 20+ Pilar Lake, 20+ Batim Lake all 14/2/05, 33 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
2 Mudelem Marsh 19/2/05
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
200+ Batim Lake 14/2/05
Garganey Anas querquedula
200+ Batim Lake 14/2/05, 300+ Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
5 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Long-billed (Indian) Vulture Gyps indicus
1 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
1 Divar Island 14/2/05, 1 Baga Hill 17/2/05, 1 River Zuari boat trip, 1 Arpora Woods both 19/2/05
Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus
2 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Divar Island 14/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel and 1 Saligao, both 18/2/05
Rufous-bellied Eagle Hieraaetus kienerii
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
1 Batim Lake 14/2/05, 5+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05, 2 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
3+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Saligao 18/2/05, 3 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
1 Backwoods 15/2/05
Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus
2 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis
2 Backwoods 15/2/05
Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus
5+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 5+ Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa
1 Backwoods 16/2/05
Crested Goshawk Accipter trivirgatus
1+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 5+ Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Shikra Accipiter badius
1 Carambolim Lake, 1 Divar Island, 1 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel, 1 Soligao both 18/2/05, 1 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Besra Accipter virgatus
1 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Abundant at coastal locations
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
Abundant at coastal locations
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
1 Calangute fields 19/2/05
Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
1 Batim Lake, 3 Divar Island and 1 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 1 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
1 Morjim beach 13/2/05, 1 Divar Island 14/2/05, 3 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
1 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
1 Divar Island 14/2/05
Rain Quail Coturnix coromandelica
3 Divar Island 14/2/05
Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii
5 Bondla sanctuary 19/2/05
Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator
1 Morjim Beach 13/2/05
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Common at Beira Mar Hotel. 1 Backwoods 16/2/05
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
1 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05, 18/2/05 and 20/2/05
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
1 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05 and 20/2/05
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05 and 20/2/05
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
100+ Carambolim Lake, c10 Pilar Lake, 20+ Batim Lake all 14/2/05
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
2 Carambolim Lake, 1 Batim Lake both 14/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
2 Carambolim Lake, c10 Batim Lake both 14/2/05
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
8+ Batim Lake 14/2/05
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus
100+ Carambolim Lake, common Pilar Lake, 50+ Batim Lake all 14/2/05, 9 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
5 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05 and 18/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
4 Panjim Saltpans 14/2/05
Small Pratincole Glareola lactea
100+ Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus
8 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
Common at most sites visited
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
25 Panjim Saltpans, 2 River Zuari boat trip both 19/2/05
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius
2 Pilar Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, several Pilerne Lake 18/2/05
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
3 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura
1 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05 and 18/2/05, 4 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
1 Pilar Lake 14/2/05
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
2 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
1 River Mandovi 14/2/05, c4 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
1 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Common Redshank Tringa tetanus
3 Carambolim Lake, 1 Panjim Saltpans both 14/2/05, 8 Mecem Lake, common River Zuari boat trip both 19/2/05
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
5 Carambolim Lake, 4 Panjim Saltpans both 14/2/05, 2 Pilerne Lake 18/2/05, 10+ River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 3 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
1 River Mandovi 14/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05, several Pilerne Lake and Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 2 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
3 Carambolim Lake, 1 Panjim Saltpans, 5 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05, several Pilerne Lake and Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, common River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus
10 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos
4+ Carambolim Lake, 2 Panjim Saltpans, 1 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 2 Pilerne Lake, several Beira Mar Hotel both 18/2/05, common River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Little Stint Calidris minuta
50+ Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Heuglin’s Gull Larus heuglini
30+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans
100+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Great Black-headed Gull Larus ichthyaetus
70+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus
100+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 1 River Mandovi 14/2/05
Slender-billed Gull Larus genei
2 Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
Common at Morjim beach 13/2/05
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
18 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 3 Carambolim Lake, 4 River Mandovi both 14/2/05, 10+ River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis
10+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Great Crested Tern Sterna bergii
5+ Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Feral birds common at most sites visited
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
3 Morjim Beach, common Arpora Forest both 13/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Backwoods 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, common Baga Fields 17/2/05, 1 Maem Lake, 2 Beira Mar Hotel both 18/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05, several Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
1+ Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicinta
15+ Maem Lake 18/2/05
Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora
20+ Backwoods 15/2/05, common Backwoods 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05
Mountain Imperial-Pigeon Ducula zoeae
9 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala
2 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 12+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
4 Beira Mar Hotel 13/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides
2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vernalis
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii
1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
1 Beira Mar Hotel 13/2/05, 5+ Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 16/2/05, several Maem Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 18/2/05
Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
1 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Barn Owl Tyto alba
1 Beira Mar Hotel 19/2/05
Spot-bellied Eagle Owl Bubo nipalensis
1 Backwoods 16/2/05
Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
2 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Spotted Owlet Athene brama
1 Batim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
2 Carambolim Lake 20/2/05
Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica
1 Saligao 18/2/05
Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger
2 Backwoods 15/2/05
Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Savannah Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis
3 Backwoods 15/2/05
Indian Swiftlet Aerodramus unicolor
5+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
White-rumped Needletail Zoonavena sylvatica
2+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05
Brown-backed Needletail Hirunda giganteus
4+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 6+ Backwoods 17/2/05
Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
Common Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 3+ Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, several Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Little Swift Apus affinis
5+ Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2+ Baga Fields 17/2/05, several Maem Lake and Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 30+ Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 4 Maem Lake 18/2/05
Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
1 Tamdi Surla, 1 Backwoods both 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Maem Lake, 1 Pilerne Lake both 18/2/05, 8+ River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus
1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Maem Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 18/2/05, 2 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
Very common – observed at almost all sites visited
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata
1 Baga fields 17/2/05, 6 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris
7 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
3 Carambolim Lake, 1 Batim Lake both 14/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 8 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05
Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
Common – observed at most sites visited
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
3 Carambolim Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 7 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05, 4 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
13 Backwoods 15/2/05, 14 Backwoods 16/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
1 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 2 Carambolim Lake, 5+ Divar Island, 2 Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, common Baga fields 17/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
1 Pilar Lake 14/2/05, 3 Baga fields, 2 Baga Hill both 17/2/05
Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Malabar Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus
2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 11 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica
1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Crimson-fronted Barbet Megalaima rubricapilla
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, common Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, common Backwoods 17/2/05
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
Common Maem Lake 18/2/05, 2 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus
2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis
1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus
1 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
3 Backwoods 15/2/05
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
1 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 1 Batim Lake 14/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary, 1 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05
Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente
2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05 and 19/2/05, 1 Backwoods 16/2/05
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix grisea
1 Divar Island 14/2/05
Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicurus
2 Divar Island 14/2/05
Malabar Lark Galerida malabarica
2 Carambolim Lake, 2 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 2 Baga fields 17/2/05
Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
c19 Divar Island 14/2/05
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
2 Carambolim Lake, common Divar Island, 3+ Beira Mar Hotel all 14/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 4 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
2 Carambolim Lake, common Divar Island both 14/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica
Common at most coastal locations
Streak-throated Swallow Hirundo fluvicola
3+ Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis
2 Carambolim Lake, 1 Pilar Lake both 14/2/05, 2 River Zuari boat trip 19/2/05
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (thunbergi)
c3 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, 3 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
2 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 1 Carambolim Lake, 1 Divar Island both 14/2/05, 2 Baga fields 17/2/05
Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi
2 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, common Baga fields 17/2/05, several Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Blyth’s Pipit Anthus godlewskii
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Baga fields 17/2/05
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris
2 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 5+ Divar Island 14/2/05
Black-headed Cuckoo-shrike Coracina melanoptera
3+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 2 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05, 2 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
10+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary, 6 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 6 Backwoods 17/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Grey-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus priocephalus
2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 5 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus
Common Backwoods 15/2/05, 5+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
Common at all woodland sites
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
5+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, common Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, several Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05
Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica
2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus
1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis
4+ Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
2 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 4 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2+ Backwoods 17/2/05, 3 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
4+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/02/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Blue-capped Rock Thrush Monticola cinclorhynchus
2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii
4 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina
1 Beira Mar Hotel, c3 Arpora Forest both 13/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
(Nilgiri) Blackbird Turdus merula
2 Backwoods 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
2 Divar Island 14/2/05
Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
3 Backwoods raptor watchpoint 16/2/05
Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Carambolim Lake, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 2 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 3 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Divar Island, 1 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2+ Maem Lake, 2+ Beira Mar Hotel, 1 Soligao all 18/2/05
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola
1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Sykes’s Warbler Hippolais rama
1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel, 1 Baga Hill both 17/2/05, 1 Maem Lake, 1 Saligao both 18/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Green Warbler Phylloscopus nitidus
1 Saligao 18/2/05
Large-billed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus magnirostris
1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus occipitalis
5+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Backwoods 17/2/05
Hume’s (Lesser) Whitethroat Sylvia althea
1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Backwoods 16/2/05
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
3 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Saligao 18/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes
1 Backwoods 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Backwoods 16/2/05, 1 Soligao 18/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
1 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Indian Blue Robin Luscinia brunnea
1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 3 Maem Lake, 1 Soligao both 18/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary, 1 River Zuari boat trip both 19/2/05
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 5 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura
1 Carambolim Lake, common Divar Island both 14/2/05, 2 Baga fields 17/2/05
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 2+ Baga fields 17/2/05
Spot-breasted Fantail Rhipidura albogularis
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Saligaro 18/2/05, 1 River Zuari boat trip, 4 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
3+ Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Backwoods 17/2/05, 2 Saligao 18/2/05, 4 Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
1 Batim Lake 14/2/05, 4 Backwoods 15/2/05, 5 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 3 Backwoods 17/2/05, 2 Saligao 18/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary, 3 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Saligao 18/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra
11 Saligao 18/2/05, 2 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 7 Backwoods 16/2/05, 2+ Backwoods 17/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus
8+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 3+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 3+ Backwoods 17/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary and Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala
15+ Backwoods 15/2/05, several Backwoods, 4 Baga Hill both 17/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
2 Backwoods 15/2/05
Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica
2 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Carambolim Lake, 4 Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel, 2 Baga Hill both 17/2/05, common Maem Lake and Saligao both 18/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary, common Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima
Common Backwoods 15/2/05, common Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, common Backwoods 17/2/05
Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiatica
1+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 6 Backwoods 15/2/05, 4 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05
Loten’s Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius
2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Western Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga vigorsii
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 20/2/05
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
1 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Backwoods 17/2/05
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, 2 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 1 Carambolim Lake 20/2/05
Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, common Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Beira Mar Hotel, 1 Baga Hill both 17/2/05, 1 Saligao 18/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary, 1 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 3 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 10+ Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary, 1 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05, 3 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary, 1 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella
2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
2 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 5 Carambolim Lake, common Divar Island both 14/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 1 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis
3+ Backwoods 17/2/05
Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus
1 Backwoods 15/2/05
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Common at most sites visited
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
1 Beira Mar Hotel, 3+ Arpora Forest both 13/2/05, 3 Backwoods 15/2/05, common Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary, 1 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
3 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 2 Maem Lake 18/2/05, 5 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
1 Arpora Forest 13/2/05, common Backwoods 15/2/05, common Maem Lake 18/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary and Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
Spangled (Hair-crested) Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
1 Backwoods 16/2/05, 2 Backwoods 17/2/05
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
Common Backwoods 15/2/05, common Backwoods 17/2/05, 6 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
8 Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
1 Beira Mar Hotel 13/2/05, 3 Bondla Sanctuary, 2 Arpora Forest both 19/2/05
House Crow Corvus splendens
Common – particularly in coastal areas
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
1 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, Common Backwoods 15/2/05, common Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica
2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus
1 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 5 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, common Baga fields 17/2/05, common Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, common Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
12 Morjim Beach 13/2/05, 2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, common Baga fields 17/2/05, several Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica
3 Backwoods 15/2/05, 3 Backwoods 17/2/05, 1 Arpora Forest 19/2/05
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus
2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, common Baga fields 17/2/05, 3 Mecem Lake 19/2/05
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
4 Morjim Beach 13/2/05
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Petronia xanthocollis
2 Carambolim Lake 14/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05, 2 Bondla Sanctuary 19/2/05
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
200+ Beira Mar Hotel 14/2/05, 150+ Baga Fields 17/2/05, 150+ Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
6+ Arpora Forest 13/2/05, 6 Divar Island, 20+ Beira Mar Hotel both 14/2/05, 20+ Backwoods 16/2/05, 4 Beira Mar Hotel 17/2/05, c15 Beira Mar Hotel 18/2/05, several Bondla Sanctuary, 3 River Zuari boat trip both 19/2/05
Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti
4 Backwoods 15/2/05, 2 Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Total: 256 species (Clement’s Taxonomy)
Heard only
Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea
Arpora Forest 13/2/05, Backwoods 17/2/05
Oriental Scop’s Owl Otus sunia
Backwoods 15/2/05 and 16/2/05
Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
Bondla 19/2/05
Jerdon’s Nightjar Caprimulgus atripennis
Backwoods 15/2/05, 1 possible flushed by van Backwoods 16/2/05
Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis
Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii
Tamdi Surla 16/2/05
Other Wildlife:
Black-faced Langur: Common
Indian Grey Mongoose: Biera Mar Hotel
Stripe-necked Mongoose: Backwoods
Ganges Dolphin: River Mandovi
Chital: Backwoods
Malabar Giant Squirrel: Backwoods, Bondla Sanctuary
Indian Palm Squirrel: Common
Fruit Bat sp: Divar Island
Marsh Crocodile: River Zuari boat trip
Rat Snake: Beira Mar Hotel
Draco (Flying Lizard): Backwoods
Mudskipper: River Zuari boat trip