Kolkata city has a checklist of about 360 birds, and some of them
have been added, as recently as, in the last 5 years. These additions reflect
the effort of members of the 'Bengalbird' and 'Bird Photography India' Google group. A dedicated
team of bird lovers who cover the area whenever possible
and share the sightings through the forums.
April 2009 is a stellar month for those of us who bird the area.
Three species of birds were recorded by members. Two of these are a 1st for the
city environs, and another is a 'lost bird' for the country.
These species are:
1. Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus
obscurus - a passage migrant and a 1st for Gangetic West Bengal.
2. Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus
bistrigiceps - a species whose range in India has been questioned by
experts.
3. Western Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus
occipitalis - a passage migrant and a 1st record for the Kolkata area.
Sighting Record
1. Eyebrowed Thrush
Turdus obscurus
Image: Bhaskar Das; Place: CKBS, Kolkata
Date: 18th April 2009
Place: Chintamani Kar Bird Sanctuary (CKBS), Rajpur; Kolkata. 22°
25.692'N / 88° 24.138'E
View Larger Map
First observed by: Srikumar Bose
Posted on:
Bird Photography India
Sighting details:
Bird was observed by Srikumar and others early on 18/4/09 at the sanctuary. It
was seen everyday from that date till 26/4, and not thereafter.
Distribution:
Species is known to winter in the Eastern Himalaya foothills and NE India as
well as Andamans and south-east India. There are no previous records from
Gangetic West Bengal.
This bird is presumed to be on passage from southern India/Sri-Lanka - a well
established migration path.
2. Black-browed Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
Image: Sajal Bar; Place: Joka, Kolkata
Date: 27th April 2009
Place: Joka marshes; Kolkata. 22° 26.784'N / 88° 18.498'E
View Larger Map
First observed by: Sajal Bar
Posted on:
Bird Photography India
Sighting details:
Sajal has been observing this species for a few months in the reed beds at Joka
but had been unable to obtain an image. He finally got some shots of the bird
plus a video sequence showing it in song on 27/4.
Bird was observed by other members, including myself, on 1/5/09 at the same
spot.
Distribution:
Species is said to winter in the Bengal and NE India as well as Bangladesh.
However, observations have been few and far between. So much so that Pamela
Rasmussen describes it as a possible winter vagrant with no skins directly
traced from India or Bangladesh.
3. Western Crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus occipitalis
Image: Avik Chatterjee; Place: Uttarpara, Kolkata
Date: 26th April 2009
Place: Near Hind Motors, Uttarpara, Kolkata. 22° 25.692'N /
88° 20.346'E
View Larger Map
First observed by: Avik Chatterjee
Posted on:
Bird Photography India
Sighting details:
Bird was observed by 26/4/09. The location is close to the Hoogly River, a
channel of the Ganges.
Distribution:
Species winters in the peninsula and southern India. Moves widely across the
country on passage. Spring migration route is along the Ganges river system.
This bird is presumed to be on passage from southern India.
Sumit K Sen
Kolkata, India
4/5/09
