Keoladeo Ghana National Park
Feb 6-7, 1999
by
Clive Harris
Saturday Feb. 6: AM: drive down from Delhi. PM trip on rickshaws
into the park with family and friends. Sunday Feb. 7: AM: walk
from Sapan Mari to Python Gate, then Python Point and round
Mansarovar and back to the temple area. Monday Feb. 8: rickshaw
ride into park. Heavy rain restricted birding. PM: drive back to
Delhi. Saturday afternoon we all headed into the park and jumped
onto rickshaws. I was pleased to find quite a few Ferruginous
Duck (Aythya nyroca) - in fact quite common on the jheels with
more grass and emergent vegetation. We got off to walk to a short
distance along the Sapan Mari trail and I picked up my first
life bird - Red-crested Pochard (Rhodonessa rufina). A fairly
distant flock. It was great being back in Bharatpur, with close
up views of Greater Spotted Eagles (Aquila clanga), and with a
good assortment of ducks, herons, egrets and storks. The best
find was a female/immature Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobryochus
cinnamomeus) found low in a bush; I spooked it and it flew off
but settled again in a low branch of an acacia about 50 yards
out. On Sunday I went on a five hour walk by myself, starting
from the entrance barrier and heading east along Sapan Mari and
then looping south to Python Point and round Mansarovar and back.
At the turn-off from the main road I spent a few minutes looking
again at the flock of around 50 Red-crested Pochards before
heading off on my route. Picked up a striking male Orphean
Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) after a couple of hundred yards,
and then an immature White Stork in an area of tall wet grass.
I also found the only Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) of the trip
- a pair - in a small pool at the far end of the Sapan Mari
trail. Further down the trail I picked up a pair of life
birds - three Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicurus)
feeding on the path, and, near Python Gate, a single Tickell's
Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus affinis).
In Mansarovar, I came across a majestic adult Imperial Eagle
perched on a tree. Further along the path at a good vantage
point, I found one of the Siberian Cranes (Grus leucogeranus),
feeding in the company of a Black-necked Stork
(Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus). A single Dalmatian Pelican
(Pelecanus crispus) flew in to feed on the open water. I
picked up my fourth life bird of the morning, a Brown-capped
Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus), accompanied by its larger
relative the Yellow-crowned Woodpecker (Dendrocopos
mahrattensis), with the second Orphean Warbler of the day nearby.
Approaching the temple area, I spotted a group of half a dozen
Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) feeding in unison.
The jheel on the right handside of the road, heading back up
from the temple, had a lot of Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea
leucorodia) and Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala).
In the afternoon we went with the kids on a boat trip. Great
views of Bronze-winged Jacanas (Metopidius indicus) and a
Greater Spotted Eagle, and I saw my second Brown-capped Pygmy
Woodpecker.
Monday was more or less a washout. The rain started as we got
on the rickshaws and never let up. Whilst sheltering in the
temple area, I found a Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
and a Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) in an acacia
overhanging the water, and going back along the Sapan Mari
trail I refound the Cinammon Bittern. Still, a rainy morning's
birding is better than a sunny morning at work any time!
List of Birds Seen
A * indicates a life bird.
Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica
Greylag Goose Anser anser
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
A few dotted around, but not common.
Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
Several small groups (including one group seen from boat trip).
Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelicus
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Pair at end of Sapan Mari trail.
Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail A. acuta
Green-winged Teal A. crecca
Garganey A. querquedula
Red-crested Pochard* Rhodonessa rufina
Flock of about fifty on Chakwa Chakwi, small numbers elsewhere.
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
Common, especially in less open, more weed-choked waters.
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
Single bird near temple.
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker* Dendrocopos nanus
Two birds: one near Python Point, the other seen from boat ride!
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis
Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense
Common Hoopoe Upupa epops
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrensis
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala Roadside bird.
House Swift Apus affinis
In Bharatpur town.
Collared Scops-owl Otus bakkomoena
Usual roost near Sapan Mari.
Rock Dove Columba livia
Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica
Roadside bird.
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
Spotted Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera
Siberian Crane Grus leucogeranus
Single bird in Mansarovar (distant view through scope).
Sarus Crane Grus antigone
Common Crane Grus grus
Roadside bird
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Common Coot Fulica atra
Common Moorhen Gallinus chloropus
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Common Redshank Tringa totanus
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus
River Tern Sterna aurantia
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Roadside bird.
Black Kite Milvus migrans
Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus
Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
Single bird soaring near entrance barrier.
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga
Quite common.
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
Two birds seen overhead at different times.
Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca
Single adult perched, south side of Mansarovar.
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Great Egret Casmerodius alba
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia
Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii
Little Heron Butorides striatus
Single bird roosting alongside canal.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Immature in acacia near temple, in same tree as Wryneck.
Cinammon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Immature/female along Sapan Mari trail.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus
Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
Roadside bird.
Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Group of eight feeding in jheel on east side of main road, near temple
area.
Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus
Single bird in Mansarovar.
Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
Saw around twenty birds in total.
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
Roadside bird.
White Stork* Ciconia ciconia
Immature bird in marshes south of Sapan Mari (near end of trail).
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
A total of four birds seen.
Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis
Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
House Crow Corvus splendens
Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
Common Woodshrike Tephrpodornis pondicerianus
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata
Brown Rock-chat Cercomela fusca
In Bharatpur town.
Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum
Pied Starling Sturnus contra
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus
In Bharatpur town.
Plain Martin Riparia paludicola
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis
Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum
Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus
Common Tailorbird Orthomotus sutoris
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Tickell's Leaf Warbler* Phylloscopus affinis
Single bird in bushes approx. 200 yards north of Python Gate.
Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides
One bird at junction of Sapan Mari and main road.
Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
Roadside bird
Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus
Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi
Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis
Two birds: one along Sapan Mari, second near Python Point.
Rufous-tailed Lark* Ammomanes phoenicurus
Three birds feeding on path in Lala Pyare Ka Kund area.
Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi
Single bird along Sapan Mari trail.
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
Total: 147 species.
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