Wednesday 26th January

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Well another early start pick up at 05-45 for my third trip to this sanctuary had 2 target birds for today as we arrived we saw some other birders some I had seen earlier in the week at Apora Woods not sure what it is with birders and guides out here no one seems to want to tell anyone anything so we started at the same spot as before and after a short time Rayman says Heart Spotted Woodpecker we had good views but just too far to get a picture so one of the target birds seen while at this spot other new birds for me where Spangled Drongo, Flame Throated Bulbul, other birds seen here included Asian Fairy Bluebird, Black Rumped Flameback, Indian Golden Oriole, Black Hooded Oriole, Black Napped Oriole, Long Tailed Shrike, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Changeable Hawk Eagle , Ashy Drongo, White Cheeked Barbet, we then moved on to another spot that we had not stopped at before we had just got out of the car and Ruth said theres a female Malabar Trogan which we got on we then had a male but they were very flighty and after a short time we lost sight of them second target bird seen but as always who knows what you might see so we continued birding well at this spot more new birds Vernal Hanging-parrot was the next then while Rayman went looking for the Trogan myself and Ruth had Verditer Flycatcher yes another new bird then as we started to get back in the car another new bird appeared Malabar Woodshrike so turning in to another great days birding we then continued on to the picnic area near the zoo hoping to see the Blue Eared Kingfisher but no Luck after a short break for a drink and some food we then started back on the way Rayman says we will take a look around the temple which is on the way here we had Ashy Woodswallow ,Indian Black Robin 2 more new birds so ending another great days birding now I have seen most of the birds here next time I come I know it will be some good birding I am planning on coming back to Goa early next year
My Bird List Stands at 242 so still a few more to see

More Pictures

a few more Picture
They are
Indian Golen Oriole
Changeable Hawk eagle
Black Napped Oriole
Brahminy Kite
White Breasted Kingfisher

Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th January

Sunday 23rd January

Today I had a quick look at Siolim paddy fields not a lot going on as the fields were being worked I then dropped into Apora Woods to see if I could find the Brown Fish Owl witch I did locate but it did take a long time to find not a lot else today just had a ride round watching much the same as most days

Monday 24th January
Morning Apora Woods / evening Baga Hill

Got to Apora Woods by 7-30 took a slow walk in not a lot of bird life to begin with set myself up at the quarry where there were a couple of birders already some of the birds seen included Golden Fronted Leafbird. Red Whiskered Bulbul, Purple Sunbird, Ashy Drongo, White Bellied Drongo, Greenish Warbler, Jungle Babbler, Common Woodshrike, Spotted Dove, House Crow, Scarlet Minivet, Green Bee Eater, Puff Throated Babbler, Grey Headed Babbler. A White Bellied Sea Eagle flew over, then one of the other birders got onto a warbler at first glance we thought Greenish but hold on said he it does not have a wing bar we then lost sight of it about half hour later in reappeared in the bush at the other side of the path where we had excellent views the bird was not acting like a greenish now just slowly hopping about the bush after checking in the book we came to the conclusion that the bird was a Tytler’s Leaf Warbler so another new one for me as it was now getting on for about 11-00 time for breakfast then back to base for a rest

Baga Hill

Took the scooter to the top of the hill this evening and watch from a few different spots on the way back down did not go onto the top of the hill today just stayed on the road birds seen Red Whiskered Bulbul, Green Bee Eater, Orange Headed Thrush, Greenish Warbler, Black Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Black Kite, White bellied Sea Eagle, Treepie, Jungle Babbler, Common Myra, Only a few more days left so will make the most of them

Pictures from Goa

Here are a few pictures I have taken of birds seen in Goa
They are
Whimbrel
Spotted Owellet
Small Pratincole,
Indian Pond Heron
Orange Headed Thrus
Green Bee Eater
Blue Headed Rock Thrush
Black Drongo

Saturday 22nd January

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

My second visit to this reserve again with Rayman and the birder and his wife that I did the last trip with early start 5-50 we arrived at the first stop at 5 past 7 this was the same spot we stopped at the last time some of the same birds Asian Fairy Bluebird, Hooded Golden Oriole, Golden Oriole, Malabar Grey Hornbill, and some good views of Black napped Flameback, Long Tailed Shrike, Bronzed Drongo, Plum Headed Parakeet, Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker, White Headed Starling, Golden Fronted Leafbird, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Green Bee Eater, and two new ones Crimson Backed Sunbird, Scarlet Minivet, we then started to drive to the second spot on the way we heard a Grey Jungle Fowl calling so we stopped to see if we could locate it we just took our bins with us as we approached where the call was coming from a bird of prey flew across in front of us and landed in a tree some way off but you could tell it was a Changeable Hawk Eagle and the Jungle Fowl had stopped calling as we headed back to the car Rayman caught sight of a Dark Fronted Babbler another new one we also had good views of Greater Flameback we where now some distance from the car where our cameras and scopes where and then all of a sudden birds started appearing Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Bar Winged Flycatcher Shrike, White Rumped Shame, White Tailed Flycatcher all new birds as I said no camera still there is always another time, as we were about to get back in the car Rayman spotted a Flycatcher with red on the breast the flycatcher you get here is the Red Throated but there was some doubt that it might be Red Breasted Flycatcher as you do get both but the Red Breasted is scares he but the bird just kept moving away from us until we lost it so Flycatcher sp, Our next stop was the second spot we did last time more of the same that we had last time but a good spot for getting pictures of Blue Headed Rock Thrush other birds seen here included Forest Wagtail, Western Crowned Warbler, Bright Green Warbler, Brown Fronted Flycatcher, Black Napped Monarch, still no sign of Trogan which is the bird we had stopped for, Then it was on to the car park by the zoo entrance Rayman and Ruth went to have a look at the zoo I had a wander down by the stream with the other birder more Dark Fronted Babblers not a lot else then we had a break and while we sat at the picnic benches a Orange Headed Thrush gave very close views and we managed to get some good pictures watching the video last night it was not that good as the bird was to near and slightly out of focus another one to try and get again did get a couple of pictures through the scope now the heat of the day was upon us so it was time to return to Calagute we did have a look by the small reservoir for Trogan no luck on route back we had a Greater Spotted Eagle sitting in a tree near Calagute so will have to see if I can locate again so ending another goods days birding as I am still missing a few of the birds you can see here I have arranged to go back next Wednesday with the same birders as I know there is something that he is after and this is a good spot to find it with a bit of luck

Bird list is Currently 225

Last 4 Birding Outings (Goa)

Monday 17th January

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Well I have decided to use taxis for the trips to the Western Ghats so I might as well use some of the bird guides as I said before I have been out with Rayman and he is very good. So a early start pick up at 5-50 it took 1 hour 10 minutes to get there on arrival we stopped at a spot that Rayman always stops at (the list of lifers was a total of 35 so I will list them separately) as you can imagine birds where coming fast being with the guide helped a lot as if I had been on my own I would not have worked it the way he did we spent some time here as Rayman called Blue Bearded Bee Eater that flew over but we could not relocate it, we then stopped at another spot on the way to the main entrance to the sanctuary we were looking for Trogan here with no luck, we then stopped and paid our entrance fee and stopped once on the way to the picnic area by the river we were looking for the Blue Eared Kingfisher wich Rayman had seen the last time here which was last Friday but with no luck new birds seen were Brown capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Greater flamback, Brown Headed Barbet, White Checked Barbet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Nilgirl Wood Pigeon, Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Hawk Eagle, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Blue Winged Leavebird, Black napped Oriole, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Bronzed Drongo, Greater Rachet Tailed Drongo, Blue Capped Rock Thrush, Red Throated Flycatcher, Tichell’s Blue Flycatcher, Chestnut Headed Staling, Velvet Fronted Nuthatch, Grey Headed Bulbul, Black Crested Bulbul, Yellow Browed Bulbul, Ashy Prinia, Western Crowned Warbler, Bright Green Warbler (race of the Greenish Warbler), Brown Cheeked Fulveter, Plain Flowerpecker, Purple Rumped Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird, Little Spidereater, Forest Wagtail, Black Headed Munia. As we were leaving we had the 2 raptors mention above as we approached Calagute we had a Indian Roller on the wires, The other birder on this trip said do you fancy doing this again so it was decided to go this Saturday and I am looking forward to it
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Wednesday 19th January

Today I spent some time just riding around a few of the areas that I have been doing over the past month just trying to get some pictures mainly of birds sitting on the wires will be putting some on blog if I have Enough credit on my Dongle as it cost to up/down load items
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Thursday 20th January

Lake Mayem

6-30 start today again a trip with Rayman the main birds were nightjars and a kingfisher with Rayman’s knowledge of this site it did not take that long to find the 2 nightjars Grey & Indian but no luck with the Orientale Pygmy Kingfisher Rayman did see it fly but we could not relocate it other birds seen included Orange Breasted Pigeon, White Browed Wagtail, White Bellied Drongo, Ashy Drongo, Golden Oriole, Eurasian Blackbird, Puff Throated Babbler, Blue Tailed Bee Eater, Changeable Hawk Eagle, as we were leaving and heading for another site we had 2 Pied Kingfisher’s on the wires we then went to a site south east of the lake We drove round the site looking for Lesser Adjutant with no luck but did have a Greater Spotted Eagle we then went to the other side near the river were we had Gull Billed Tern, Whimbrel, Redshank, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great White Egret, Grey Plover, and then flying around a Lesser Adjutant, and the Greater Spotted Eagle again as we were heading back to the car we had a Striated Heron in the ditch and good views (got some video of it)we then took the ferry across to the road leading to Panjim where we stopped at some paddy’s as the tide was high here we had Lesser Sand plover, Temminck’s Stint, Little Stint, Redshank, Greenshank, and Rayman found a Greater Sand Plover then it was back to Calagute so ending another good days birding.
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Friday 21st January

Quite morning did a bit of ridding round the Philern area did find Indian roller on the wires then spent about ¾ of a hour trying to get some video of it no luck it just kept moving found this a lot lately think some of the birds are just arriving aftwr the bad monsoon spent the afternoon updating my reports then spent a couple of hours this evening in Apora Wood this was to see if I could finally see Indian Pita got to the spot to find a Finnish bird group there and where they noisy amazed they saw anything but after about 20 minutes they left and I was on my own could hear a Pita Calling then after about a hour and a half I was watching a Puff Throated Babbler and it just popped up in front a Indian Pita sat there for about 30 seconds and was gone so at last I have seen one

WOW What A Day

14th January I spent part of the morning at Apora Paddies most of the time was spent videoing Small Pratincole and I did manage to get some footage I also took some photos through my scope Then in the afternoon I paid a visit to Apora woods where I met some birders who had only just arrived in Goa they said that they had spoken to some other birders and had been told that there was Blue Bearded Bee Eater about we stayed till dark but no sign of it will return first thing in the morning

15th January
Well a early start up and out by 6-40 at Apora woods by 7-00 took a slow walk into the woods reached the qaury area before I could put my scope up I disturbed a bird on the dead tree (this tree is good for getting some good sightings of some of the birds) as it flew across in front of me I knew it was what I had come for the Blue Bearded Bee Eater well chuffed I know some people have been trying for over eight years to get this bird so a twitch in Goa what a result did not see any one until I was leaving a birder with a guide who turned out to be one of the Indian birders who leads trips I said I would like to visit he western ghats and the birder said we are going there next week spoke to the guide and he asked the birder if he minded if I joined them no problem he said will keep the cost down so that was set then I then asked if they had any more trips planned (found out that his wife had not come out this morning) he said we have a afternoon trip to Diva Island this afternoon and you are welcome to come if you want well has I have not been there and it is not on most of the trip reports that I have read I said what are you looking for Raptors was the reply well if you know me RAPTORS are what I like so I said yes that sounds good what time are you leaving so we arranged a time and pick up point (which was 2-30 at the Calungate roundabout) I was there in plenty of time once on route we stopped at the shore at old Goa where we had Lesser Sandplover, Little Stint, Dunlin, the guide Raymond thensaid we stop here this a good spot for Terek Sandpiper and there it was on the edge of a pool have been told this guy is good he knows what you want and he trys to make sure you see it we then moved on a little further along the coast and found Whimbrel then it was on to the ferry on to Diva Island as we where wating we found a Osprey sitting on a post (now I was not aware of what would happen over the next couple of hours all I can say is I will be coming back to Diva Island again) let me continuer we drove to a area Raymond new and spent the rest of the afternoon there I suppose I have to let you know what birds were seen as we approached the are where we stopped the first raptor we had was a Black Shoulder Kite sitting on the wires by the road as not to disturbed we drove on then stop in the shade of a nice big tree we we parked there was a football pitch on this we had Richard’s Pipit, Rosy Starling, Oriental Skylark, Great Short Toed Lark then we started scanning the area I then released this was going to be a raptor afternoon we then all got on a harrier as it was quite a way off no one would call it then it dropped down out of sight so Harrier sp but then things just got better the next harrier that came into sight was a Female Pallid after which
We had a imm Montague’s Harrier then we turned around and found a second Black Shouldered Kite on the wires the other way also on the wires we had Black Drongo, Green Bee Eater, Malabar Lark, Thick Billed Crow , House crow, Stonechat, and Rosy Starlings, of course we had the two Kites now I must say that some of the black kites are a bit different so we had a discussion on this matter and come to the conclusion that some are the Black Eared Kite when you get the two together there is a difference so back to the harriers we had 5 Palled, 2 Monty’s, & 2 Marsh Harriers we were just about to pack up when some said what is that just landed in the tree we all got on it but where it came from no could say we thought it had been sitting in the field all the time we where there after a short debate we had it as a Lesser Spotted Eagle then as I was trying to get some video of the Black Shouldered Kite the call went up a harrier coming along the road nd yes there just 6 feet in front of me was a male Palled Harrier what a sight so intent on watching it totally forgot about the video still the sight will always remain with me we then had a Spotted Owlet in the tree we were standing next to now it was time to leave as Raymond said we will make the 6-15 ferry so we drove back to the ferry and on route we had a Shrika so ending a very enjoyable after noon’s birding in Goa

The trip on Tuesday has been changed to Monday so looking forward to another good days birding with Raymond

Goa Update

In the past week I have been to Siolim paddy fields and area 3 times all at different times of the day there is a road that goes through the centre of the paddies where most people watch from because I have had more time I have found 3 other places it is worth watching from where if you take care you can get a bit closer to the birds. Birds seen include Asian Openbill, Wooly Necked Stork, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Great White, Little, Intermediate, Cattle, Egrets, Western Reef Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Stork Billed, White Breasted and Common Kingfishers, Black Winged Stilt, Pintail Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, both Kites, barn Swallows, Wire Tailed Swallow,

I have also been looking at the paddies and fields around Pilern these areas are god for Pipits & Larks most people watch from the road that runs through the middle of most of these paddies as I am on the scooter I take some of the small tracks across as long as I do not get off the scooter I can get close to some of the birds just cut the engine and sit birds seen include Marsh Harrier, both Kites Little Bee Eater, Paddyfield Pipit, Richards Pipit, Malabar lark, Greater Short Toed Lark, Black Drongo, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Long Tailed Shrike, Brown Shrike,

I have also Been Looking for the Indian Pita but still no luck