Monday 28th June

Early start for work today left at 06-45 on the edge of Anjuna I had a family of Wild Boar cross the road just ahead of me watch them for a short time when they disapeared out of sight

Update

Not a lot happening at the moment Monsoon has started so not doing much birding hope to get some sea watching done over the coming weeks will post a report then

Pictures From Goa

Here are a few pictures of some of the birds seen in Goa

Pictures of the Weekend In Maharashtre District of India

Weekend In Maharashtre District of India

Spent the weekend up in the jungle area north west of Kolhapur Maharashtre I was travelling with one of the English chaps who are working out here at the same factory as myself we started of late Friday.We started of collecting some of the things to take with us once done we headed for Kolhapur where we where staying the night

Saturday morning our first stop was for provisions as the place we will be staying is in a remote area on route we picked up more of the people who would be joining us this included a party who had drove from Bombay not long after we arrived it started to rain and every one was hopping it would not last long but it lasted three and a half hours witch put a bit of a damper on the afternoon as there was no where to shelter ended up in the car for part of it when it did stop I managed to do hour and half of birding birds seen included Streaked Throated Woodpecker, Common Myna, Laughing Dove, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Spotted Dove, Red Collared Dove, Long Billed Crow, Greater Coucal, Black Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Common Wood shrike, Bluethroat, and a Indian Pita a bird I have been looking for in Goa . (any new birds seen on this trip will be added to my Indian list

Sunday we drove to the dam that is near by some of the party went for a swim in the reservoir I went for a walk along the edge and up into the jungle area birds seen included same as I had yesterday plus Steppe Eagle, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Short Toed Eagle, White Eyed Buzzard, House Swift, I also saw a Wild Boar, We returned to the shelter of the canopy that had been put up and just spent the heart of the day relaxing where I had Shirka, Steppe Eagle, Red Vented Bulbul, then a Vulture put in a appearance witch turned out to be a long Billed Vulture after the heat of the day had died down I went for a walk around the village there are only a hundred people live here which makes it nice and quite and peaceful, after lunch every one else gone for a swim I had a wander down the lane opposite the gate more of the same birds seen

Monday took a walk along another of the tracks that lead to another of the small farms same birds seen as the last couple of days plus a Blue Bearded Bee Eater after we just chilled out till 12-00 when we left Our drive back took us through some very scenic countywide and we arrived back in Anjuna at 17-30 so ending a very enjoyable weekend, Now it’s back to Goa Birding

21st April 2010

Wednesday 21st April

Well day off today so decided I would book a taxi and go back to Santa Cruz with the intention of finding the area that the reports call Santa Cruz creek the information that I have is a bit vague so I have plotted on the web map what I think is where I want to be so we set off at 07-00 hours on arriving at Santa Cruz the driver asked where we go first so I said we try and find the creek so with a sketch map I took from the net we set off got it slightly wrong (nothing new there then) but after talking to some young men we did find where I had pin pointed on the map and yes I am sure this is where we should be so on with the report
After getting out of the car I did a quick scan of the area and thought I will be spending some time here a few Intermediate Egrets, Little Egrets, Great White Egrets and Indian Pond Heron to start with I then walked along the road for about 150 yards ( sorry not going to do it in metres) and found some shade under some trees it is now only a quarter to eight and the heat is getting up I could hear waders calling now this is what I had come here for first wader I saw was Ruff then it took over half a hour to find some more the vegetation is high so to see the birds it is best to concentrate on one area this I did I then had 2 Pintail Snipe which I watched for about 10 minutes then another bird appeared from the right this turned out to be a Jack Snipe then I continued to walk down the road where I had both the Kites these are the most common raptors that I see on a daily basis and have to say the numbers are good (If I can not identify a Black Kite after being out here for 3 months then I should give up birding that’s meant to be a joke) so what next well the only way to see anything is just scan a area on doing so I found a White Breasted Water hen ( will tell you all about my first one later) right lets continue birding the time now is only half past eight I then walked back down the road and found some shade under a tree just off the road quite a busy road so to be able to get away from the traffic was nice (I’m now getting to see the same people and getting the same greeting every time Good Morning Papa ) at least the dogs are used to me I then spent over a hour scanning and picking up a few waders Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper then a small flock arrived I got on 4 off them and they are one of the smartest waders to watch Marsh Sandpiper while I spent some time watching them some more waders joined them 2 went out of sight but the other 2 came a bit closer and turned out to be Terek Sandpiper so my Goa list is increasing I have now added 2 to the list could it get better well the answer was yes a stork flew over and put up a good flight show this turned out to be a Lesser Adjutant yes another one to the list which at this point stands at 143 I also had a common Kingfisher perch on a rock briefly so after watching the waders for a while I decided it was time to visit the paddy fields on arriving about nine 50 I noticed that there where not that many Egrets or Indian Pond Herons as on previous visits so was a bit concerned of what I might see but I continued down the path still plenty to see and hear White Breasted Kingfisher where calling Common Myna then sitting on the wires a Stork Billed Kingfisher plenty of kites but no other raptors today I walked along the path as normal just the same birds not a wader in sight until I was on my return to the car only wader I had was a Little Stint so ending a very enjoyably mornings birding and the list now stands at 144

update from Goa

Hi

List is now up to 141 will be putting some pictures up soon

15th April Sea Watch & Local Birds

This morning I spent just over a hour sea watching of the Anguna coast not a lot happening at first then after about 20 minutes I had 5 Lesser Crested Terns go by followed by a Gull Billed Tern there was a movement of Yellow Legged Gulls then close in a Slender Billed Gull past by, I then decided to have a ride to the next beach along the coast but not much else the House Crows and Long Billed Crows where noisy as ever over head the 2 Kites put up a good show (Black Kite & Brahminy Kite) I then rode around and had some of the birds that I see most days Black Drongo,House Sparrow, Intermediate Egret, Greater Coucal, Common Myna, White Breasted Kingfisher, Green Bee Eater, Indian Pond Heron I then had a look at the pond on the edge of Anduna (need to give it a name) as I arrived there where Red Wattled Plovers, and plenty of House Swifts then a bird flew across that caught my eye immature Black Crowned Night Heron it flew into a tree where I could see 4 more 2 Adults and 2 more immature nice to see them going to roost will try again to see if I can get any pictures as I was ridding back for breakfast I had Malabar Lark on the wires
this is the best time of day to see the birds nice and cool part of the day

Goa Update

Couple more to add to the list today so far my bird list stands at 130 bear in mind that i have not been to the western ghats or any of the big reserves yet so I do not feel thats a bad number I only have a few hours at a time for birding I am out here to work which takes up a lot of my time having to work six days a week hope to go some where new this weekend will keep you all informed

Snakes in Goa

Have managed to identify 2 snakes Common Blind Snake & Golden Tree Snake