Birds seen in Goa, India, 26/01/07 to 8/2/07 by Derek and Gillian Marsh

Birds seen in Goa, India, 26/01/07 to 8/2/07 by Derek and Gillian Marsh Accommodation We stayed at the Lagoa Hotel in Arpora Getting around Taxis were used and are very cheap Places Visited Arpora Woods A short distance from our hotel, we visited to these woods on a number of occasions. The woods hold a good variety of species and were the only place we saw Blue-faced Malkoha Morjim Beach Good beach for gulls and waders, very few terns when we visited, lies just few miles north of Baga now accessible by a road bridge. Zuari River A boat trip along the Zuari River is apparently the only place guaranteed to see Collared Kingfisher. We saw five there plus five other species of kingfisher and our only Lesser Adjutant in Goa. Saligoa The well known stake out for Brown Wood Owl. I went there with Millin, a young taxi driver we often used. Backwoods Camp and the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Santuary Situated in the peaceful forest surroundings in the foothills of the Western Gnats the Backwoods Camp is a wonderful palce to stay, and is a must if you want to see some of the endemic species that inhabit this region of the Gnats. Accomodation is either in tents or the farmhouse and we were lucky to be the very first guests to stay in the farmhouse. All meals are included and there is even the luxury of a bar. The price was a very reasonably Rs5000.00 for a 2 night 3day guided tour. Baga Hill Still a good birding spot despite building encroachment. Baga Fields An excellent spot for sorting out the pipits. 1

Backwoods Western Reef Heron 2

Arpora Woods Black Kite, Baga Birds Seen Grey Junglefowl 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Indian Peafowl 2, Arpora Woods, 01/02 Lesser-whistling Duck 100+, Carambolin Lake, 28/01.100+, Batim Lake, 31/01 Cotton Pygmy Goose 4, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Spot-billed Duck 3, Batim Lake, 31/01 Common Teal A few birds seen Batim Lake, 31/01 Garganey 1, Batim Lake, 31/01 Northern Pintail Fairly common Batim Lake, 31/01 Northern Shoveler 1, noted Batim Lake, 31/01 White-bellied Woodpecker 1, Backwoods, 05/02,and 1 on 06/02 Heart-spotted Woodpecker 1, Backwoods, 05/02,and 1 on 06/02 Brown-capped 1, Backwoods, 04/02 PygmyWoodpecker Black-rumped Flameback 1, Arpora, 27/01, also seen Arpora woods and Backwoods Greater Flameback 1, Backwoods, 05/02 White-cheeked Barbet 1, first noted Arpora woods, 30/01 and then seen most days. A fairly common Barbet Crimson-fronted Barbet 1, Backwoods, 04/02, and 4 on 06/07 Malibar Grey Hornbill 5, Backwoods, 04/02, and 3 on 05/07 Malbar Pied Hornbill 2, Backwoods, 04/02 Great Hornbill 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Hoopoe First seen at Morjim, 29/01. 1, Baga fields, 08/02 Malabar Trogon 1, Backwoods, 04/02, and 4 on 05/02 Indian Roller Common Kingfisher 3, Carambolin, Fields, 28/01, also noted on wires when travelling. 3

Blue-eared Kingfisher 1, Backwoods, 04/02, and 4 on 05/02 Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Stork-billed Kingfisher White-throated Kingfisher Another common Kingfisher seen daily. Black-capped Kingfisher 1, Baga headland, 30/01. 3, on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Collared Kingfisher 5, on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Pied Kingfisher 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 5, on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Green Bee-eater Very common seen daily Blue-tailed Bee-eater Odd birds encountered on most days Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Drongo Cuckoo 1, Siolim, 07/02 Asian Koel Odd birds encountered daily Blue-faced Malkoha 2, seen on the fourth try near the quarry at Arpora Woods 03/02 Greater Coucal 1, on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Vernal Hanging Parrat Rather common at Backwoods, seen there on all 3 days of our stay Alexandrine Parakeet 1, near Morjim Beach 29/01. Odd bird also seen flying over the hotel gardens Arpora. Rose-ringed Parakeet Common in the Arpora area seen there daily. Plum-headed Parakeet 1, Baga Hill, 02/02. 2 at Arpora 07/02 Malabar Parakeet 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 6 on 05/02, 1 on 06/02 Indian Swiftlet A few birds noted Backwoods, 04/02 White-rumped Needletail A few birds noted Backwoods, 04/02 Asian Palm Swift Common in the Arpora area seen there daily. House Swift Common in the Arpora area seen there daily. Barn Owl 1, Baga fields 08/02 Spot-bellied Eagle Owl 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Brown Fish Owl 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Brown Wood Owl 2, Saligao, 08/02 Jungle Owlet 2, in a small wood near Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Spotted Owlet 1 at nest hole near Baga Bridge, 03/01 Brown Hawk Owl 1, in a small wood near Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Sri Lanka Frogmouth 1, Backwoods,06/01 Grey Nightjar 2, Backwoods, 05/02, Savanna Nightjar 1, Backwoods, 05/02, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Common in the Arpora area seen there daily. Mountain Imperial Pigeon 4, Backwoods, 04/02, 2 on 05/02 Spotted Dove Common in the Arpora area seen there daily. Pompadour Green Pigeon 2, Backwoods, 04/02, 12 on 05/02 Slaty-breasted Rail 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01 White-breasted Waterhen 1 to 2 birds present next to Lagoa Azul Hotel Arpora throughout our stay, also seen behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01, 31/01, and at Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Ruddy breasted Crake 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 31/01 Moorhen 4, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Purple Swamphen Very common and confiding at Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Coot 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Common Snipe Odd bird Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01, 31/01 Curlew 1, on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 4

Redshank Marsh Sandpiper Fairly common at most wetland sites visited 1, near the Marinha Dourada Arpora, 28/01. Also noted at other suitable habits 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01.Also seen at any suitable habits Greenshank Green Sandpiper 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01 Wood Sandpiper 1, Siolim, 07/02 Terek Sandpiper A small roost of birds seen on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Common Sandpiper Fairly common at most wetland sites visited Greater Painted Snipe 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01, 31/01 Black-winged Stilt 10+, Carambolin Lake, 28/01, also seen at Siolim, 01,02, 07/02 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Common Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Bronzed-winged Jacana Common Carambolin Lake, 28/01, also seen at Batim Lake, 31/01 Small Pratincole Kentish Plover Lesser Sandplover 2, Morjim Beach, 29/01 Greater Sandplover 2, Morjim Beach, 29/01 Grey-headed Lapwing 1, at Siolim, 01,02 50+, Carambolin fields, 28/01, also seen regularly at the salt pans in Arpora. Large numbers seen at Mandrem, 29/01 3, Baga fields, 27/01, also noted at other sites in the area Red-wattled Lapwing Yellow-legged Gull A few birds noted Morjim Beach, 29/01 Caspain Gull Fairly common Morjim Beach, 29/01 Pallas s Gull 50+, Morjim Beach, 29/01 Brown-headed Gull Fairly common Morjim Beach, 29/01 Black-headed Gull A few birds noted Morjim Beach, 29/01 Gull- billed Tern A few birds present Carambolin Lake, 28/01, also seen at Morjim Beach, 29/01, and River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Whiskered Tern 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Osprey 2, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Black-shouldered Kite 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 1, returning from River Zuari boat trip, 31/01. 1, Arpora, 07/02 Black-eared Kite Fairly common on the coast easily identified when flying with Black Kites Black Kite Very common in coastal areas. Scarce inland at Backwoods Brahminy Kite White-bellied Sea Eagle 1, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01. 2, Baga Hill, 08/02 Crested Serpent Eagle 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 4 on 05/02 Black Eagle 2, Backwoods, 04/02, 2 on 05/02 Marsh Harrier 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 2 at Siolim, 01/02, and 2 on 07/02 Crested Goshawk 2, Backwoods, 05/02 Shrika Odd bird noted most days Oriental Honey Buzzard 1, Arpora Woods 03/02. 2, Backwoods, 05/02. 1, Baga Hill, 08/02 White-eyed Buzzard 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Indian-spotted Eagle 2, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01. 2, at Siolim, 01/02 Tawny Eagle 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Steppe Eagle 1, at Siolim, 01/02 Booted Eagle 3, Arpora Woods, 28/01. 2 at Backwoods, 05/02 Rufous-bellied Eagle 3, Backwoods, 04/02 Mountain Hawk Eagle 2, Backwoods, 05/02 5

Little Grebe 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Little Cormorant Seen daily in coastal areas. Very common. Indian Cormorant 2, Mandrem, 29/01 Little Egret Western Reef Heron 1, Baga Headland, 30/01.1 on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Great Egret Common on the coast seen there daily Intermediate Egret Common on the coast seen there daily Cattle Egret Common seen everywhere daily Indian Pond Heron Common seen everywhere daily Grey Heron 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. Also noted at other wetland sites. Purple Heron 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 1 at Siolim, 07/02 Little Heron First seen on the river by Hotel Lagoa Azul, 26/01, and seen most days on the coast. Several seen on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Black-crowned Night Heron 1, in the woods opposite Morjim Beach, 29/01. 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01. 1, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Cinnamon Bittern 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 31/01 Glossy Ibis 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 1, Mandrem, 29/01 Black-headed Ibis 8, Mandrem, 29/01. 50+, River Zuari boat trip. 31/01, 1, at Siolim, 01/02 Asian Openbill 24, at Siolim, 01/02 Wooly-necked Stork 1, over Hotel Lagoa Azul, 26/01, and 8 birds present in the Arpora area and last seen there on 29/01. 2 on Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Lesser Adjutant 1, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Indian Pitta 1, Backwoods, 06/02 Asian Fairy Bluebird 2, Backwoods, 05/02 Golden-fronted Leafbird 5, Arpora Woods, 27/01 and a rather common bird there. Birds seen on all four visits. 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Blue Leafbird 2, Baga Hill, 08/02 Brown Shrike 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 31/01 Long-tailed Shrike 1, Carambolim fields 28/1, and then seen daily Rufous Treepie 2, Arpora Woods 03/02.1, Backwoods, 04/02 House Crow Common seen Daily Large-billed Crow Not so common as House Crow but seen most days Ashy Woodswallow 2, outside the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora 28/01 and often seen there. 3, Backwoods, 04/02 Eurasian Golden Oriole Surprisingly common and seen daily. Black- headed Oriole 2, Arpora Woods 27/01, and 2 on 03/02. 1, Backwoods, 07/02 Black-headed Cuckooshrike 2, Arpora Woods 27/01. 3 at Backwoods, 04/02 Small Minivet 2, Arpora Woods, 01/02. 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 6 on 05/02 Scarlet Minivet 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 1 on 05/02 Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike 1, Arpora Woods, 03/02. 1, Backwoods on 06/02 White-throated Fantail 3, Arpora Woods, 27/01 and a rather common bird there birds seen on all four visits. 3, Baga Hill, 08/02 Black Drongo 3, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. Fairly common on Baga fields, 08/02 Ashy Drongo Bronzed Drongo Common Arpora woods, and seen at most places visited 1, Hotel Lagoa Azul Arpora, 30/01, also noted at Arpora woods and Backwoods Spangled Drongo 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Greater-Racket-tailed Drongo 2, Backwoods, 04/02 and 1 on 06/02 6

Asian Paradise Flycatcher 1, River Zuari boat trip, 31/01, also noted at Backwoods. 1, Baga Hill, 08/02 Common Iora 3, Arpora Woods, 27/01 and a rather common bird there birds seen on all four visits. 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Common Woodshrike Not so common. 1, Backwoods, 06/02 Malabar Whistling Thrush 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 1 on 05/02, 1 on 06/02 Orange-headed Thrush 1, Arpora Woods, 27/01 Nilgiri Blackbird 2, Arpora Woods, 27/01 and a fairly common bird there birds seen on all four visits. 5, seen together there at dawn, 03/02 Tickell s Blue Flycatcher 1, Arpora Woods, 27/01. 1 at Backwoods, 06/02 Indian Blue Robin 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Oriental Magpie Robin Common seen everywhere daily White-rumped Sharma 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Common Stonechat 1, Baga fields, 31/01, and noted in cultivated areas Siberian Stonechat 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01, also noted at Baga fields Pied Bushchat Common in the Arpora/Baga area and seen there daily Chesnut-tailed Starling Common in the Arpora area with counts of 50+, seen from the hotel balcony most days Malibar White-headed Starling 2, Backwoods, 04/02, 1 on 06/02 Rosy Starling Common in the Arpora area with counts of 30+, seen from the hotel balcony most days. 20 on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 Common Myna 2, Arpora, 02/02 Jungle Myna Very common seen daily Hill Myna 1, Backwoods, 05/02 Black-lored Tit 2, Arpora, 30/01. 4, Baga Hill, 08/02 Dusky Craig Martin 1, Arpora, 28/01 Barn Swallow Wire-tailed Swallow 2, Near Morjim Beach, 29/01. 1, Backwoods, 04/02, and 1 on 06/02 Red-rumped Swallow Common in the Arpora area seen there daily and seen most places visited Streak-throated Swallow 50+, at Carambolin Lake and fields, 28/01, also noted at Arpora and Backwoods Black-crested Bulbul 3, Backwoods, 04/02, Red -whiskered Bulbul The most common Bulbul and seen daily. Red-vented Bulbul Common in Arpora woods and seen there on all visits a fairly common bird and seen most days. White-browed Bulbul 4, Arpora Woods, 27/01 Black Bulbul 1, Arpora Woods, 01/02 Ashy Prinia 1, Carambolin Lake, 28/01. 2 at Mandrem, 29/01 Grey-breasted Prinia Fairly Common in the area of the Lagoa Azul Hotel Arpora seen most days. 1, Mandrem, 29/01. 2, Arpora Woods, 07/02 Zitting Cisticola 4, Baga Fields, 08/02 Blyth s Reed Warbler A common bird in coastal area s seen or heard most days also noted at Backwoods Common Tailorbird 1, first seen near Lagoa Azul Hotel Arpora, 30/01, and often seen here and Arpora woods Clamorous Reed Warbler 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 29/01 Greenish Warbler Fairly common on the coast and also seen at Backwoods Western-crowned Warbler 1, Backwoods, 04/02 7

Puff-throated Babbler 3, Arpora Woods, 27/01, also noted at Backwoods, 05/02 Jungle Babbler 3, near Lagoa Azul Hotel Arpora, 27/01. 10, Arpora Woods, 03/02 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta 3, Arpora Woods, 30/01. 1, Backwoods, 04/02. 1, Baga Hill, 08/02 Malabar Lark 1, near Arpora, 31/01. 5, Baga Fields, 08/02 Thick-billed Flowerpecker 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Plain Flowerpecker 1, Backwoods, 04/02 Purple-rumped Sunbird Common in the Arpora area seen there daily Crimson-backed Sunbird Fairly common at Backwoods seen daily there. Purple Sunbird Common in Arpora Woods first seen there 27/01 Loten s Sunbird 2, Arpora Woods, 30/01, 1 on 06/02 Crimson Sunbird 1, Baga Hill, 08/02 Little Spiderhunter 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 1 on 06/02 House Sparrow Common in Arpora village Chestnut-shouldered Petronia 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 2 on 06/02 White Wagtail 1, Backwoods, 04/02, 1 on 06/02 White-browed Wagtail 1, Mandrem, 29/01. 1, Marinha Dourada Hotel Gardens Arpora, 1/02. 1, Arpora, 1/02 Yellow Wagtail 2, Carambolin Lake, 28/01 Grey Wagtail Common in the Arpora area seen there daily Richards Pipit 2, Carambolin Lake, 3, Baga fields, 31/01, 2 on 08/02 Paddyfield Pipit 1, Baga fields, 31/01, 1 on 08/02 Tawny Pipit 1, Morjim Beach, 29/01. 1, Baga fields, 08/02 Blyth s Pipit 2, Baga fields, 08/02 Baya Weaver 18, Near the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, 03/02, also a few mixed in with a flock of Scaly-breasted Munias on Baga fields, 08/02 White-rumped Munia Common in the Arpora area seen there daily Black-throated Munia 2, Backwoods, 04/02 Scaly-breasted Munia 20+ Baga Fields, 08/02 Barn Owl, Baga Brown Wood Owl, Soliga 8

Blue-eared Kingfisher, Backwoods Malabar Grey Hornbill, Backwoods Wire-tailed Swallow, Morjim White-browed Wagtail, Mandrim Mammals Black-faced Langur Seen at Arpora Woods, Baga Hill, and Backwoods Grey Mongoose 1, Arpora, 29/01 Malabar Giant Squirrel 3, Backwoods, 04/02 Three-striped Palm Squirrel Very common and noisy seen all over Indian Flying Fox Large roost seen on River Zuari boat trip, 31/01 9