Trip Report INDIA 2002

Simon Plat, Bernard Oosterbaan, Willem Oosterbaan
Dates: 7-11-2002 till 12-12-2002
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Keoladeo National Park

Location: About 200 km south of Delhi (5 hours drive), 40 km west of Agra (2 hours).

Costs: entrance fee: Rs 200 pp, no still-camera fee

Date(s): 18 and 19-11-2002 (15 birding hours).

Notes: It took a while before we realized that we were birding on the bottom of the swamps. Only when we approached the temple we started to get suspicious about the lack of water. Indeed, the only remnants of water were around the temple (two ponds) and a small area south of Sapan Mari. Consequently the huge numbers of water birds were absent, as a matter of fact most water related birds were hard to find and present in very small numbers (if present at all). Especially after seeing the series “Land of the Tiger”, the part that is about Keoladeo NP, it was pretty hard to realize this complete lack of water and the related lack of birds.
Though quantity was low, the quality of birding was still pretty good. Most areas were pretty good for warblers. The area around the nursery was a great spot, while the forests between the nursery and Jatoli canal were very quiet. We got some free help from the local guides with a nice rufous form of Oriental Scops-Owl and an Orange-headed Thrush as highlights. The second day we hired a guide for three hours hoping to find more nightjars, owls and specialties. This only resulted in a beautiful pair of Large-tailed Nightjar.

Highlights: Black-headed Ibis (V), Imperial Eagle (1 ad, 1 juv), Red-headed Vulture (2, both days), Sarus Crane (2), Eurasian Thick-knee (1 ‘in’ Sapan Mari), Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (25 flying over), Collared Scops-Owl (2 in a palm tree next to the temple), Oriental Scops-Owl (1), Grey Nightjar (1 sitting in a branch above the road east of the temple, 1 found by ourselves 2 km south of the temple), Large-tailed Nightjar (male and female, we were kindly asked by the guide that showed us these birds not to reveal the exact spot), Southern Grey Shrike (1), Bay-backed Shrike (1), Orange-headed Thrush (1), Brooks’s Leaf-Warbler (1 near Lala Pyare).

Pics:

This picture is taken at the location where we first started to realise that this area really should have been a swamp, teeming with wildlife! This area is called Sapan Mari in the birdwatchers guide. The bird in the tree is an Imperial Eagle.
Dispite the drought Black-necked Storks were present in some numbers. They were easy to find around the temple. Black-necked Stork
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Yellow-footed Green Pigeons are pretty common in Keoladeo NP. Here a small flock in the morning.
This Spotted Owlet was hanging around the Temple. Spotted Owlets are relatively easily found since they tend to be active during daylight. Spotted Owlet
Here's another prove of the drought in 2002. This is the area usually most favoured by the Siberian Cranes: the southern part of Mansarovar, near Python Gate.
Grey Nightjar can usually be found in the trees near the temple. Most local guides are willing to show you one. We found this bird at another spot, closer to Python Pond. Grey Nightjar
Due to the drought there was a lot of activity in the, normally inaccessible park. Grass cutters and cattle were all over the area.
A hiding Oriental Scops Owl just beside the road, but pretty hard to find if you don't know where to look. This one was shown to us by a local guide. Oriental Scops Owl

Bird list:

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo, Aalscholver) 1
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea, Blauwe Reiger) 1
Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii, Indische Ralreiger) 1
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta modesta, Kleine Zilverreiger) 1
Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus asiaticus, Zwarthalsooievaar) 3
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala, Indische Nimmerzat) 1
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia, Lepelaar) 1
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus, Zwarte Ibis) 8
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus, Indische Witte Ibis) V
Common Teal (Anas crecca, Wintertaling) V
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, Wilde Eend) V
Greylag Goose (Anser anser rubrirostris, Grauwe Gans) XX
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus, Indische Gans) 4
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea, Casarca) 8
Shikra (Accipiter badius, Shikra) 1
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga, Bastaardarend) V
Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca, Keizerarend) 2
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax, Savannearend) V
Short-toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus, Slangearend) 1
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus, Grijze Wouw) V
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus, Aasgier) V
Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus, Indische Oorgier) 2
Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela, Indische Slangenarend) 1
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, Torenvalk) 1
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus, Grijze Frankolijn) X
Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus, Blauwe Pauw) V
Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone, Saruskraanvogel) 2
Common Crane (Grus grus, Kraanvogel) X
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus, Witborstwaterhoen) X
Common Coot (Fulica atra, Meerkoet) V
Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus, Waterhoen) 1
Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio, Purperkoet) 1
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus himatopus, Steltkluut) V
Eurasian Thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus indicus, Griel) 1
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius jerdoni, Kleine Plevier) 1
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus indicus, Indische Kievit) XX
White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus, Witstaartkievit) 3
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii, Temmincks Strandloper) X
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax, Kemphaan) X
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus, Zwarte Ruiter) V
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola, Bosruiter) 1
Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos, Oeverloper) V
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia, Groenpootruiter) 1
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus, Witgatje) 1
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis, Poelruiter) 1
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus hindustan, Roodbuikzandhoen) 25
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto, Turkse Tortel) XX
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis cambayensis, Palmtortel) XX
Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon (Treron phoenicoptera, Geelpootpapegaaiduif) XX
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri, Halsbandparkiet) CC
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis, Chinese Spoorkoekoek) V
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama, Brahmaanse Steenuil) 3
Collared Scops-Owl (Otus lempiji, Gekraagde Dwergooruil) 2
Oriental Scops-Owl (Otus sunia, Oosterse Dwergooruil) 1
Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus, Jungle-nachtzwaluw) 2
Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus, Horsfields Nachtzwaluw) 2
Little Swift (Apus affinis, Huisgierzwaluw) XX
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis, Smyrnaijsvogel) V
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis benghalensis, Indische Scharrelaar) V
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops, Hop) V
Indian Grey-Hornbill (Ocyceros birostris, Wigstaarttok) 1
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Dendrocopos mahrattensis, Indische Bonte Specht) 2
Brown-capped Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus, Bruinkopspecht) 1
Black-rumped Flameback (Dinopium benghalense, Kleine Goudrugspecht) 1
Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula, Kleine Veldleeuwerik) V
Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica, Roodstuitzwaluw) X
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii, Roodkruinzwaluw) V
Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola, Vale Oeverzwaluw) V
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni, Siberische Boompieper) V
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis, Boompieper) 1
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba, Witte Kwikstaart) several ssp. V
Blue-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava taivana, Gewone Gele Kwikstaart) 1
Small Minivet (Pericrocotus cinnamomeus, Kleine Menievogel) XX
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer, Roodbuikbuulbuul) XX
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis, Witoorbuulbuul) V
Southern Grey Shrike (Lanius meridionalis, Zuidelijke Klapekster) 1
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach caniceps, Langstaartklauwier) V
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus, Bruinrugklauwier) 1
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis, Dayallijster) 2
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica, Blauwborst) 1
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros, Zwarte Roodstaart) V
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata, Zwarte Roodborsttapuit) V
Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata, Roodborsttapuit) V
Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata, Indisch Paapje) 1
Orange-headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina, Dama-lijster) 1
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense, Goudoogtimalia) 1
Common Babbler (Turdoides caudatus, Gewone Babbelaar) V
Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus, Jungle-babbelaar) XX
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita tristis, Tjiftjaf) 1
Hume's Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus humei, Humes Bladkoning) V
Brooks's Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus subviridis, Brooks' Bladkoning) 1
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata, Wittengelprinia) V
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis, Grijze Prinia) V
Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica, Jungle-prinia) 1
Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca, Braamsluiper) X
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher (Culicicapa ceylonensis, Grijskopvliegenvanger) X
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva parva, Kleine Vliegenvanger) V
White-browed Fantail (Rhipidura aureola, Indische Waaierstaart) 1
Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica, Purperhoningzuiger) 1
Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus, Indische Brilvogel) V
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava, Tijgervink) 2
Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica, Loodbekje) V
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus, Huismus) V
Chestnut-shouldered Petronia (Petronia xanthocollis, Indische Rotsmus) X
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis, Treurmaina) X
Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra, Eksterspreeuw) V
Brahminy Starling (Sturnus pagodarum, Pagode-spreeuw) X
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus, Grijze Drongo) V
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus, Koningsdrongo) X
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus, Dikbekkraai) X
Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda, Rosse Boomekster) V

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