Birds seen in Goa, India, 22-01-08 to 05-02-08 by Derek and Gillian Marsh Accommodation We stayed at the Marinha Dorado in Arpora. A good quality Hotel with air conditioning, our room overlooked a large lake and at the entrance to the hotel are a number of saltpans. Getting around Taxis were used and are very cheap.we also used a birder taxi driver called Mahesh a number of times when local knowledge can save time. He is also a good birder and knows the bird calls well, and is well worth a few extra rupees. Places Visited Arpora Woods A short distance from our hotel, we visited these woods on two occasions. The woods hold a good variety of species. Baga Hill Just a short walk from our hotel, but alas now starting to be developed. Birding here can be very good early morning or late afternoon. Arpora Football Pitch and fields Nice little spot for Malabar Lark, also good for Pipits and Chats. Baga Fields Good for Pipits, Snipe and many species. Morjim Beach Good beach for gulls and waders, very few terns when we visited. Lies just few a miles north of Baga and now accessible by a road bridge. Dona Paula Plateau Very good for Larks and Pipits, but is now earmarked for development and the whole area looks like it is about to be built on. 1
Choroa Island Only a brief stop was made here when taking a short-cut returning from Maem Lake. The car ferry cost only 7 Rupees for 3 passengers and the taxi. The whole area looks very good for birding. Batim Lake Excellent for Wildfowl and Jacana s Maem Lake Not much in the way of Wildfowl. We did not see a duck here, but it is a well-known stakeout for roosting Nightjars. We also saw Blue-faced Malkoha here and on the second visit saw 2 Great Hornbills, plus we heard Indian Scimitar Babbler and Blue-bearded Bee-eater. Backwoods Camp and the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary Situated in the peaceful forest surroundings in the foothills of the Western Gnats the Backwoods Camp is a wonderful place to stay, and is a must if you want to see some of the endemic species that inhabit this region of the Gnats. Accommodation is either in tents or the farmhouse and the addition of 3 new chalets. We stayed in the farmhouse. All meals are included and there is even the luxury of a bar. The prices are a very reasonable 5500 rupees each to stay in a tent or 6500 rupees to stay in the farmhouse or a chalet. These prices are for a 2-night, 3day guided tour. Beira Mar Hotel, Baga A viewing area by the swimming pool is a great place to view Baga fields and wetlands, good for Cinnamon Bittern, Snipe etc 2
Birds Seen Jungle Bush Quail Barred Buttonquail Red Spurfowl Indian Peafowl Lesser-whistling Duck Comb Duck Cotton Pygmy Goose Spot-billed Duck Common Teal Garganey Northern Shoveler 1 flushed Arpora Woods, 25/1 2 flushed Morjim Beach, 24/1, 1 seen very well there 4/2 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1 on the approach Road to Maem Lake, 31/1 1, near Maem Lake, 30/1, 2, Baga Hill, 31/1 1000+, Batim Lake, 1/2 1, Batim Lake, 1/2 4, Batim Lake, 1/2 2, Batim Lake, 1/2 Common Batim Lake, 1/2 Common, Batim Lake, 1/2 Common, Batim Lake, 1/2 3
Rufous Woodpecker 1, Backwoods, 29/1 White-bellied Woodpecker 1, Backwoods, 28/1 Heart-spotted Woodpecker Seen at Backwoods on all three days Yellow-crowned Woodpecker 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1 Black-rumped Flameback First seen Morjim Beach, 24/1, noted most days rather common at Backwoods White-cheeked Barbet First seen Morjim Beach, 24/1 Crimson-fronted Barbet 2, Backwoods, 27/1 Coppersmith Barbet Morjim Beach, 24/1, 1, Maem Lake, 30/1 Malabar Grey Hornbill Malabar Pied Hornbill 5, Backwoods, 27/1 Great Hornbill 2, Maem Lake, 4/2 Hoopoe First noted Dona Paula, 1/2 Malabar Trogon 1, Backwoods, 29/1 Rather common at Backwoods on all three days Indian Roller Common seen most days Common Kingfisher Common seen daily Blue-eared Kingfisher 2, Backwoods, 28/1 Stork-billed Kingfisher Common seen daily White-throated Kingfisher Another common Kingfisher seen daily. Black-capped Kingfisher 1, Backwoods, 29/1 Pied Kingfisher 1, Siolim, 24/1, 2, Batim Lake, 1/2, 1, Marinha Dorado Arpora, 4/2 Green Bee-eater Very common seen daily Blue-tailed Bee-eater Odd birds encountered on most days Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 4, Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Maem Lake, 31/1 Asian Koel Odd birds encountered daily Blue-faced Malkoha 1, Maem Lake, 31/1 Greater Coucal Odd birds encountered most days, a rather shy bird Alexandrine Parakeet 2, Baga, 1/2, 2, Baga Hill, 5/2 Rose-ringed Parakeet The odd bird seen most days in the Arpora area Plum-headed Parakeet Common in the Arpora area seen daily, also seen Morjim Beach 24/1, Maem Lake, and Backwoods Malabar Parakeet 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Indian Swiftlet 5, noted Backwoods, 29/2 White-rumped Needletail A few birds noted Backwoods, 27/1 Asian Palm Swift House Swift Fairly common in the Arpora area seen daily, also seen at Backwoods A few in the Arpora area seen daily, also seen when stopping for fuel at Mapusa, 4/2 Alpine Swift 3, Maem Lake, 31/1 Crested Tree Swift 1, Arpora 23/1, 3, Maem Lake, 31/1, 2 Bondla, 2/2, 2, Maem Lake, 4/2 Barn Owl A pair nesting at Marinha Dorado Arpora, and often seen after dusk. Oriental Scops Owl As Mahesh pulled into car park at dawn at Bondla, 2/2, a calling bird flew around the car a number of times. Spotted Owlet 2, near Morjim Beach, 24/1, a pair often seen around Marinha Dorado Arpora, a pair also noted Beira Mar Hotel Baga Sri Lanka Frogmouth 2, Backwoods, 28,1 Grey Nightjar 1, Maem Lake, 31/1, 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Jerdon s Nightjar 1, Backwoods, 28,1 Indian Nightjar 1, Maem Lake, 31/1 4
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Common in the Arpora area seen daily. Mountain Imperial Pigeon 7, Backwoods, 27/1, 2 Backwoods, 28/1 Spotted Dove Common in the Arpora area seen daily. Emerald Dove 1, Maem Lake, 31/1 Orange-breasted Green Pigeon 1, Maem Lake, 31/1 Pompadour Green Pigeon 2, Backwoods, 27/1, 20, Maem Lake, 31/1 White-breasted Waterhen 1 or 2 around Arpora most days, also noted Maem Lake and Beira Mar Moorhen 1, Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 3/2 Purple Swamphen Common Batim Lake, 1/2 Common Coot Common Batim Lake, 1/2 Pintail Snipe 5, Flushed Baga Fields 24/1, 1, Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1 Common Snipe 3, Flushed Baga Fields 24/1, 1, Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1 Greater Painted Snipe 1, Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 3/2 Eurasian Curlew 1, Morjim Beach, 24/1 Redshank Fairly common at most wetland sites visited Marsh Sandpiper Usually a couple of birds on the saltpans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora during our stay. Common Greenshank Common on saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Green Sandpiper Common on saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Wood Sandpiper Common on saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Common Sandpiper Common on the saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Little Stint A couple of birds on saltpans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora during our stay. Temminck s Stint A couple of birds on saltpans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora during our stay. Dunlin 2, Morjim Beach, 24/1 Bronzed-winged Jacana Common Batim Lake, 1/2 Black-winged Stilt Common on saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Little-ringed Plover Common on saltpans by the Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora, during our stay. Lesser Sandplover Common Morjim Beach, 24/1 Greater Sandplover Common Morjim Beach, 24/1 Caspian Plover 1 at the salt pans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora 1/2 Red-wattled Lapwing Odd birds encountered most days, a very noisy Lapwing Small Pratincole Up to 4 birds usually present at the salt pans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora Heuglin s Gull A few birds noted among the masses of gulls at Morjim Beach, 24/1 Caspian Gull Rather common Morjim Beach, 24/1 Pallas s Gull Common Morjim Beach, 24/1 Brown-headed Gull Common Morjim Beach, 24/1 Black-headed Gull A few birds noted Morjim Beach, 24/1 Gull- billed Tern 1, Morjim Beach, 24/1, 1, on the return leg from Bondla 2/2 Sandwich Tern 2, Morjim Beach, 24/1 Osprey 1, around Marinha Dourada Hotel lake or saltpans Arpora most Days. Black-shouldered Kite First seen from the taxi window going to our hotel, 22/1, and noted in many places rather common Black-eared Kite Fairly common on the coast, easily identified when flying with Black Kites by slightly larger size Black Kite Extremely common along the coastal strip 5
Brahminy Kite Common seen daily White-bellied Sea Eagle 1, Morjim Beach, 24/1, 1, Arpora Woods, 26/1 Crested Serpent Eagle 1, Backwoods, 29/1, 1, Maem Lake, 31/1, 1 Maem Lake, 4/2 Black Eagle 4, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Marsh Harrier 2 present on all visits to the Beira Mar Hotel Baga Pallid Harrier A smart male Mapusa, 4/2 Crested Goshawk 1, Backwoods, 28/1, Shrika Odd bird noted most days Besra 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Backwoods, 28/1 Oriental Honey Buzzard First seen Baga Hill, 23/1, common at Backwoods, also seen at Arpora and Maem Lake White-eyed Buzzard 1, Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Chorao Island, 31/1 Indian Spotted Eagle 1, Siolim, 24/1 Tawny Eagle 1, Arpora Woods, 25/1 Booted Eagle 1, Arpora Woods, 25/1, 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Changeable Hawk Eagle 1, Maem Lake, 31/1, 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Mountain Hawk Eagle 1, Bondla, 2/2 Little Cormorant Seen daily in all coastal areas very common. Little Egret Common seen daily Great Egret Common on the coast seen daily Intermediate Egret Common on the coast seen daily Cattle Egret Common seen everywhere daily Indian Pond Heron Common seen everywhere daily Purple Heron 2, Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 24/1, 1, Batim Lake, 1/2, 1, Beira Mar Hotel 3/2 Little Heron 1, seen daily Marinha Dourada Hotel Lake during our stay. Black-crowned Night Heron Seen at dusk on all three visits to Beira Mar Hotel Cinnamon Bittern 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1, seen again, 3/2 Asian Openbill 20, at Siolim, 24/1 Wooly-necked Stork 1, Marinha Dourada saltpans, 30/1, 2, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1, 1, Chorao Island, 31/1 Indian Pitta 1, showed very well at dawn at Backwoods, 28/1, giving prolonged views, a stunning little bird. Asian Fairy Bluebird 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 2, Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Backwoods, 29/1, 1, Bondla, 2/2 Golden-fronted Leafbird 10, Arpora Woods, 25/1, 2, Arpora Woods, 26/1, also noted Baga Hill, and Backwoods Brown Shrike 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Backwoods, 28/1 Long-tailed Shrike Very common seen daily Bay-backed Shrike 1, Morjim Beach, 4/2 Rufous Treepie 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1, 1 Baga Hill, 25/1 1, Backwoods, 28/1 House Crow Common seen Daily Large-billed Crow Not so common as House Crow but seen most days Ashy Woodswallow 2, Backwoods, 28/1, Eurasian Golden Oriole Surprisingly common and seen daily. Black- headed Oriole 2, Arpora Woods, 26/1, 3, Backwoods, 28/1 Black-headed Cuckooshrike 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1. Small Minivet 8, Baga Hill, 23/1, 1 Maem Lake, 31/1, 1 Bondla, 2/2 Scarlet Minivet 2, Backwoods, 27/1, 5, Backwoods, 28/1, 3, Backwoods, 29/1 Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike 1, Bondla, 2/2 6
Black Drongo Easily seen at the football ground Arpora first noted there, 30/1 Ashy Drongo Common seen daily White-bellied Drongo 1, Arpora Woods, 25/1 Bronzed Drongo 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Spangled Drongo 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 3, Backwoods, 27/1, 2 Backwoods, 29/1, 1, Bondla, 2/2 Black-napped Monarch 2 Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Bondla, 2/2 Asian Paradise Flycatcher Fairly common and seen most days, rufous males seen much more often than white males Common Iora 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1, also seen at Backwoods and Bondla Large Woodshrike 2 Backwoods, 29/1, 1, Bondla, 2/2 Common Woodshrike 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1, 1, Arpora Woods, 26/1 Blue-capped Rock Thrush 3, Stunning males Bondla, 2/2 Malabar Whistling Thrush 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Maem Lake, 31/1, 1 Bondla, 2/2 Orange headed Thrush 1, Arpora Woods, 26/1, 2, Backwoods, 27/1, 2, Backwoods, 28/1, 5 Backwoods, 29/1, 2, Bondla, 2/2, 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Nilgiri Blackbird 2, Arpora Woods, 25/1, a common bird here 2007 Asian Brown Flycatcher 1, Bondla, 2/2 Brown-breasted Flycatcher 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Backwoods, 28/1, 1, Backwoods, 29/1 Verditer Flycatcher 2, Backwoods, 27/1 White-bellied Blue Flycatcher 1, Backwoods, 28/1 Tickell s Blue Flycatcher 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Bondla, 2/2 Oriental Magpie Robin Common seen everywhere daily White-rumped Sharma 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 2, Bondla, 2/2 Indian Robin 5, Top of Baga Hill, 23/1, 1, Arpora Woods, 26/1, 2, Dona Paula, 1/2 Common Stonechat 1, Chorao Island, 31/1 Siberian Stonechat 1, Baga fields, 24/1, 1, Dona Paula, 1/2 Pied Bushchat 1, First noted Arpora, 23/1, fairly common in the Arpora area and noted there daily Chestnut-tailed Starling Common in the Arpora and Baga fields noted daily Malabar White-headed 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 4, Backwoods, 29/1, Starling Brahminy Starling 7, Morjim Beach, 4/2 Rosy Starling Common in the Arpora and Baga area with flocks of 150+ noted daily Common Myna Usually a couple of birds around the saltpans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora during our stay first noted 23/1 Jungle Myna Very common seen daily Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 2, Backwoods, 28/1, Black-lored Tit 2, Maem Lake, 31/1 Eurasian Crag Martin A few birds flying around a small rocky hill near Morjim Beach, 24/1 Barn Swallow Very common seen daily Wire-tailed Swallow Common seen daily Red-rumped Swallow Common seen daily Streak-throated Swallow Common at Backwoods seen on all three days Northern House Martin 1, Arpora Woods, 26/1 Black-crested Bulbul Now called Flame-throated Bulbul, 3, Backwoods, 27/1 and 2, 29/1 Red -whiskered Bulbul The most common Bulbul and seen daily. Red-vented Bulbul Common in Arpora Woods and Baga Hill, seen on all visits 7
White-browed Bulbul 1, Baga Hill, 25/1 Yellow-browed Bulbul 2, Backwoods, 28/1 Black Bulbul 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Grey-breasted Prinia 1, Arpora Woods, 25/1 Jungle Prinia 1, Baga Hill, 5/2 Ashy Prinia 1, Morjim Beach, 24/1 Plain Prinia 3, Baga Fields, 24/1, 4, Arpora Woods, 26/1, 2 Dona Paula, 1/2 Paddyfield Warbler 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1 Blyth s Reed Warbler A common bird in coastal areas seen daily also noted at Backwoods Clamorous Reed Warbler 1, Baga hill, 25/1, 1, behind the Beira Mar Hotel Baga, 30/1 Common Tailorbird 1, Baga Hill, 23/1, and the odd bird noted most days Greenish Warbler Common on the coast and also seen at Backwoods. Western-crowned Warbler 3, Backwoods, 29/1 Puff-throated Babbler 3, Arpora Woods, 25/1, 2, Backwoods, 28/1, 2, Bondla, 2/2 Tawny-bellied Babbler 20+, of the white throated form Baga Hill, 25/1 Dark-fronted Babbler 1, Backwoods, 28/1, 6, Backwoods, 29/1, 2, Bondla, 2/2 Jungle Babbler 20+, Backwoods, 28/1 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta 2, Backwoods, 27/1, 3, Bondla, 2/2 Malabar Lark 8, Arpora football pitch and surrounding fields, 30/1, 6, Dona Paula, 1/2 Oriental Skylark 3, Dona Paula, 1/2 Thick-billed Flowerpecker 1, Backwoods, 27/1, 1, Baga Hill, 5/2 Plain Flowerpecker Now Nigril Flowerpecker 1, Backwoods, 29/1, 1, Baga Hill, 5/2 Purple-rumped Sunbird Common in the Arpora area seen daily Crimson-backed Sunbird Fairly common at Backwoods seen daily there, 1 Bondla, 2/2 Purple Sunbird Common in Arpora Woods and Baga Hill seen on all visits Crimson Sunbird 1, Baga Hill, 23/1 White-browed Wagtail A pair around the Marinha Dourada Hotel Gardens Arpora seen during our stay Grey Wagtail 1, Backwoods, 29/1 Richards Pipit 2 Baga Fields, 24/1, also noted Arpora football pitch and Dona Paula Paddyfield Pipit Usually a couple of birds on the saltpans by Marinha Dourada Hotel Arpora during our stay. Tawny Pipit 1, Dona Paula, 1/2 Blyth s Pipit 1, Morjim Beach, 24/1, 1, Dona Paula, 31/1 Tree Pipit 2, Arpora Arpora football pitch and surrounding fields, 30/1, 2,, Chorao Island, 31/1 House Sparrow First noted Arpora, 23/1, common behind beach shacks Baga Beach Chestnut-shouldered Petronia 8, Backwoods, 27/1, Baya Weaver 8+, Maem Lake, 4/2 White-rumped Munia Common in the Arpora area and Baga Hill seen daily Birds heard calling only Indian Scimitar Babbler 1, Maem Lake, 31/1, 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Blue-bearded Bee-eater 1, Maem Lake, 4/2 Number of species seen 220 Species heard but not seen 8
Mammals Black-faced Langur Seen at Arpora Woods, Backwoods, and Bondla Sambar 2, Bondla, 2/2 Spotted Deer 2, Bondla, 2/2 Malabar Giant Squirrel 2, Backwoods, 2, Bondla, 2/2 Three-striped Palm Squirrel Very common and noisy seen all over Indian Flying Fox A roost seen near Mapusa, 31/1 Fulvous Fruit Bat A number seen at Nightjar Fields Backwoods, 28/1 Indian Pipistrelle A number seen at Nightjar Fields Backwoods, 28/1 Reptiles Western Gnats Flying Lizard 1, Backwoods, 28/1 Keeled Skink 1, Backwoods, 27/1 Asian House Gecko 1, Backwoods, 28/1 9
10+ unidentified species Everywhere Lemon Pansy Arpora Woods Chocolate Pansy Baga Hill Common Grass Yellow Baga Hill Common Sailor Baga Hill Crimson Rose Arpora Woods Butterflies 10