Photo Golden Oriole

Golden Oriole By Neeraj Vegad

Spotted Owlet Photo

Raju Itkelwar Spotted Owlet

Birding at Jabalpur - 22/1/2012

I took the road that leads to Narmada River. I went along the way that reaches the banks of the river. I did not go to the banks but restircted myself to the road. Below is the cehceklist of bird I saw:

Barn Swallows
Green Sand Piper
Common Chiff Chaff
Lesser Whitethroat
Grey Wagtail
Black Winged Stilts
Temminck's Stint
Yellow Wattled Lapwing
Red Wattled Lapwing
Nakta or CompDuck
Lesser Whistling Teal
Cotton Pygmy Goose
Coot
Great Egret
Median Egret
Little Cormorant
Ringed Rose Parakeet
Pied Starling
Cattle Egret
Greater Coucal
Greenish Warbler
Black Redstart
Common Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Wire Tailed Swallow
Pied Kingfisher
White Throated Kingfisher
Barhminy Starling
House Sparrow
Black Winged Kite
Pariah Kite
Purple Swamphen
Baya Weaver
Bronze Winged Jacana
Pond Heron
Little Grebe

As usual this was a short birding trip and wanted to score the banks but fell short of time die to a pressing engagement with a client.  Well more to come.


 

Red Throated Flycatcher Photo

Red Throated Flycatcher by Neeraj Vegad

Malabar Pied Hornbill

Malabar pied hornbill by Teerath Singh

Bandhavgarh is the right place to see and photograph hornbills - Common Gray and  Malabar Pied Horbill. 

Blue Rock Pigeon by Neeraj Vegad

This beautiful photographed here by Neeraj in flight is oft neglected by many but is a commensal of man. Its more exotic cousins are found elsewhere in India - speckled pigeon and hill pigeon etc. 

Sunday Birding Jabalpur - 8-12-2012

We went to Barha Reserve Forest for early morning birding. In the company were a group of amateur nature photographers. It is encouraging to see people indulge in nature photography which is a healthy sport. They were young and excited to accompany a birder for a birding session and photography.   

In this foggy and cold morning and We could see:
 

Streak Throated Swallows
Red Wattled Lapwing
Oriental Turtle Dove
Tailor Bird (Call)
Black Headed Oriole
Verditor Flycatcher
Black Nape Monarch
Grey Headed Canary Flycatcher
Striated Heron
Barn Swallows
Plain Martin
Rufus Treepie
Racket Tailed Drongo
Black Drongo
Greenish Warbler
Hume's Warbler (Calls)
Common Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
White Throated Kingfisher
Black Rumped Flameback
Grey Hornbill
Crested Serpent Eagle
Common Kestrel

Shikra
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Black Ibis
Pond Heron

Little Cormorant
Jungle Babbler
Black Lored Tit (Calls)
Great Tit
Grey Wagtail
Brown Cheeked Fulvetta (Calls)
Rose Ringed Parakeet
Plum Headed Parakeet
Green Pigeon (Calls)
Spotted Dove (Calls)
Laughing Dove
Long Tailed Shrike
Red Kite
Magpie Robin
Indian Robin

Brown Headed Barbet (Calls)
Crimson Breasted Barbett (Coppersmith) (Calls)

This was a short two hour trip but we are planning to go for a long trip another Sunday. The long trip should result in much greater checklist with some exciting species.

Brown Rock Chat

Brown Rock Chat by Neeraj Vegad

Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat by Neeraj Vegad

Great Shot!
A winter migrant this bird can be seen hidden in the bushes. A shy bird and the photographs are rare get.

Lesser Known Birding Destination MP

Birding in India is popular among inbound tourists to popular birding spots. There is a goldmine of birding destinations in India yet to be explored. Very little work has been done in these destinations that promise exciting discoveries or better understanding of avian distribution in India. 

Birding in India is a commercial venture organized by many tour companies. Birding as hobby has yet to increase to a higher level of involvement. The reasons could be popularity of wildlife and bird photography, cost of optics and perhaps lack of encouragement etc.

Nevertheless people are becoming aware of the avian friends in the neighborhood all over the country.

I have visited many places in Central India that offer good birding potential but have yet to be explored.   

Pachmarhi  = High altitude variation, diverse flora, cold climate.
Satpura Tiger Reserve = Large Reservoir, Dense Forest Canopy Altitude Variation.
Amarkantak =   High altitude variation, diverse flora, cold climate.

Nauradehi WLS =  Dry Deciduous Forest, Grasslands, Scrub and  Fields.
Kanha National Park - Tiger Reserve
Bandhavgarh National Park - Tiger Reserve
Pench National Park - Tiger Reserve

Geographical position of Central India makes in ideal to score for taxa from different regions of India and migrants. Organized and guided bird watching in Madhya Pradesh is the best option. Though not in regular birding path the expedition would be rewarding.

Bird Photos By Neeraj Vegad Jabalpur

Verditor Flycatcher

Little Green Bee Eater

Golden Oriole

Bee Eater

Indian Roller

White Throated Kingfisher