Searching for Winged Wonders in Northern India - Indian Wildlife Club

Vandana Shah - Amateur Birder & Photographer

Skill set is not ordained sometimes association and continuity helps scale the ladder. Vandana Shah and her hubby Jayesh whence I met them were keen birders, travelers and the latter was a photographer.  Both very enthusiastic and full of energy Jayesh Bhai would indulge in photography while we looked for the winged creatures. 

The spouse has joined him perhaps for a stiff competition...well more the better. Here are some bird images by Vandana Shah which I recently came across face book. Relish!

Black Rumped Flameback & Golden Oriole

Bulbul & Wkite Eye

White Throated Kingfisher

Chestnut Bellied Sandgrouse

Striated Laughing Thrush

WaterCock

Whiskered Yuhina

 

More Winged Wonders By John Matthai

Here are some more pictures by John Matthai an amateur wildlife photographer who mostly roams in Central India.

Changeabalehawkeagle

Indian Pitta

Lesser Adjutant Stork

Lesser Whistling Teal

Lesser Whistling Teal

Peacock

Pheasant Tailed Jacana

Wooly Necked Stork

Northern Taxa in Kanha

Kanha is home to very many birds but in winters birds from North and Himalayan Foothills arrive to escape winters. See the images below by John Matthai.  In addition I have seen Pallas's Fish Eagle, Black Eagle, Gray Stonechat, Tickell's Warbler, Hume's and Greenish Warbler, Suplhur Bellied Warbler, Black Redstart, Streak Throated Woodpecker, Yellow Naped Woodpecker,  Bar Winged Flycatcher Shrike, Grey Headed Fish Eagle and Wintering Ducks. The ever increasing avian wonders in Kanha hold lot of surprise. No wonder the tiger reserve is being visited by birders from all over the World.     

Brahminy Duck

Bar Headed Geese at Jabalpur Near Kanha

Northern Shovelar

Black Necked Crane

Gray Headed Canary Flycatcher

Red Headed Bunting

Ultramarine Flycatcher 

John Matthai - Winged Wonders

His zeal to capture avian wonders in his camera is fast making John popular in birding circles. Here are some of his images:

Painted Stork & Lesser Whistling Teals

Black Necked Teals

Chestnut Headed Petronia

Common Kestral

Gargeny

Gray Headed Canary Flycatcher

Gray Lag Geese

Grebe

Eagle Owl

Lesser Whistling Teal

Purple Heron

Red Headed Bunting

Sarus Crane

Spotted Owlet

Lesser Adjutant Stork

Birding Prospects in Central India

Birding Prospects in Central India

Bird Watching at Dumna

Brown Hawk Owl by Prayut Mandal

The recent discovery of Brown Hawk Owl by Prayut and Aishwarya Mandal coaxed us to visit the Dumane Nature Reserve in Jabalpur. Situated on Dumna Road to the Airport is the Khandari Reservoir home to mugger crocodiles, turtles and numerous fishes. In winters migratory birds flock from far and wide. The place is home to many spotted deer, wild boar, jackal, leopard, langur and rhesus macaque. Besides numerous nocturnal animals can be seen here in the night.    

Some of the bird species that arrive here are osprey, black redstart, wagtails, pipits, larks, greenish warbler, Hume's warbler, Sulfur Bellied warbler, Gray Lag Geese, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Pochard, Coot, Gadwall, Red Crested Pochard, Brahminy Duck, Gargany, Northern Pintail and Shovellor. The resident ducks seen here are the lesser whistling teal, comb duck, and cotton pygmy goose and sometimes the spot billed duck.

Some of the other interesting birds can be seen here. We have seen Golden oriole, black headed oriole, Jerdon's leaf bird, gold fronted leaf bird, barred button quail, jungle bush quail, Tickell's thrush, Long tailed shrike, plum headed parakeet, chestnut shouldered petronia, wire tailed swallow, gray headed and coppersmith barbett, black rumped flame back, white naped woodpecker, yellow crowned woodpecker, scaly breasted munia, large cuckoo shrike, honey buzzard and paddyfield pipit. The surroundings are habitat of Indian courser, ashy crowned finch lark, rufous tailed lark, southern gray shrike, tawny pipit, Indian bush lark, Syke's lark, blue rock thrush and many more.

The Dumna Road and Nature Reserve and nearby villages are the best plac ein Jabalpur for bird watching. Many birders visit Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench Tiger Reserve via Jabalpur. They usually stop to see the beautiful Marble Rocks, a visit to Dumna Nature Reserve will add much fun to travel in this city. The visit can be arranged by hotels in Jabalpur City which provide travel services. There are three rooms available at Dumna Nature Reserve. Plans are in process to set up three luxury tents as well for accommodation by MPTDC. 

In order to visit Dumna one has to drive or taxi down half way to the airport. The whole package can be arranged by the hotel you are staying at.