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

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