Birds of India: Southern India Birding Trip List

South India Trip List

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LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN Mysore, Bandipur, Ooty/Burliar and Top Slip by Sumit K. Sen 30 September ~ 7 October, 2005
Home Bandipur Top Slip Ooty Trip Report Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Only at Bandipur near Jungle Lodes & Resorts Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea At Karian Shola on the track to the watchtower. Loud rattling call is characteristic. Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii Common at Bandipur and Top Slip, though none were seen on day1 at Bandipur. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Bandipur National Park Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica Single bird sighted at Karanji Lake, Mysore. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Family of 5 at Karanji Lake and a few at a waterhole in Bandipur. Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente Big one for me! Three birds feeding high up on the canopy at Karian Shola White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus ? Briefly at Bandipur. May have been this species. Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus On the flats between Bandipur and Ooty, a single male. Streak-throated Woodpecker Picus xanthopygaeus Fairly common at Bandipur National Park Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Recorded at every site visited. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus Up to 5 at Dodabetta, Ooty; pair at Burliar and also a Karian Shola. White-cheeked Barbet Megalaima viridis Common at all sites and elevations. The most frequently heard and seen barbet. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Singles at Bandipur and U. Burliar Malabar Grey Hornbill Ocyceros griseus Only at Top Slip, where fairly common. A bird (or birds) was observed carrying away fruit at regular intervals. ( Storage or feeding?) Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Single overflying bird seen well by all at Ambuli Illam, Top Slip. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Indira Gandhi National Park (IGNP) on the way to Top Slip. Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus Three sightings on the Karian Shola tracks. May have been the same bird or different individuals. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Very scarce considering it used to be a common bird. One outside Bandipur and five roadside birds in the entire trip. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Karanji Lake, Mysore White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Bandipur National Park, U. Burliar and Top Slip. also on the road. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Small groups a Bandipur and Top Slip area Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti Pair on the road to Ooty. Common Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Call. Top Slip Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Bandipur and Top Slip Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris Single bird in the Karian Shola. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Roadside and at Bandipur and Burliar. Far less common than expected. Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis Individuals at U. Burliar and an afternoon congregation of over 100 birds on Eucalyptus at the entrance of the Karian Shola. Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala Fairly common at Bandipur. Less so thereafter. Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides This beautiful endemic was much in evidence at all sites visited. Indian Swiftlet Collocalia unicolor Top Slip and Bandipur Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Burliar area and on the road. House Swift Apus affinis Bangalore area Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia ? Call heard at Top Slip possibly of this species. Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger Single female located at roost in the Karian Shola to the left of the track near the watchtower. Usually, many more can be located in this area. Rock Pigeon Columba livia Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Roadside and outside Bandipur Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Commonest streptopelia species on the trip Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Not common. Seen on the road to Ooty. Pompadour Green Pigeon Treron pompadora A flock numbering 40 plus at Bandipur and also at U. Burliar Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera Only at Bandipur National Park Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia High on my wish-list . Single feeding bird at Top Slip White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus On the road near Bandipur Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Karnaji Lake, Mysore Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Roadside waterbodies on the way to Bandipur Common Coot Fulica atra Roadside waterbodies on the way to Bandipur Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Single bird at Bandipur National Park Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Many at Harohalli Lake on the way to Mysore Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Roadside observations Black Kite Milvus migrans Bangalore area and near towns Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Very common throughout including Top Slip Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus single roadside sighting near Kanakpura on the road to Mysore Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Bandipur National Park and Top Slip Shikra Accipiter badius Bandipur area Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus The Crested nominate form. Brilliant views on both days at Bandipur Little Grebe T achybaptus ruficollis Karanji Lake and Bandipur Darter Anhinga melanogaster At least seven at Karanji Lake, Mysore Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Karanji Lake Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Good numbers at Karanji Lake Little Egret Egretta garzetta Various places on the road including Karanji Lake, Mysore Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Karanji Lake, Mysore Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia Karanji Lake, Mysore Great Egret Casmerodius albus Karanji Lake, Mysore Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common. Various roadside sightings and also at Bandipur and Top slip Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Karanji Lake and roadside Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Large breeding colony at Karanji Lake, Mysore Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa Roadside pair near Bandipur Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis Scarce. Only a pair at Karanji Lake, Mysore. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Karanji Lake, Mysore Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella At Upper Burliar and Top Slip where seen frequently Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis On the road to Ooty and at Ambuli Illam Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Individuals at all sites Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus Bandipur National Park area Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Bandipur National Park area Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Bandipur National Park area White-bellied Treepie Dendrocitta leucogastra Only at Top Slip and Ambuli Illam. Fairly common at IGNP House Crow Corvus splendens Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Frequently met and most numerous in Bangalore city. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Upper Burliar and Bandipur Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei Only at Top Slip Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Bandipur and on the flats from Bandipur to Ooty White-bellied Minivet Pericrocotus erythropygius Flats from Bandipur to Ooty Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus Common at Top Slip and also at U. Burliar Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Both at Burliar and on the road to Ooty White-browed Fantail Flycatcher Rhipidura aureola Bandipur area and on the road to Ooty Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Common at Bandipur. also in the lower reaches of IGNP Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus With Greater racket-tailed Drongos at Karian Shola Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus Common at Top Slip Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Single sighting at Upper Burliar Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Pair near watchtower at Karian Shola, Top Slip Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis Seen everyday near Top Slip Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus At Bandipur and also on the road to Ooty from Bandipur Malabar Whistling Thrush Myophonus horsfieldii Only at Upper Burliar where an individual was seen on both days. Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina Single sighting of the cyanotus ssp. at ambuli illam, Top Slip Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula Possibly a simillimus ssp. bird at Doddabetta, Ooty Black-and-orange Flycatcher Ficedula nigrorufa Lifer on the road to Doddabetta Observatory, Ooty White-bellied Blue Flycatcher Cyornis pallipes Pair at Karian Shola. Another first time bird Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Both at Burliar and Top Slip Oriental Magpie Robin C opsychus saularis Common near Bandipur and seen elswhere on the trip White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Male seen briefly at Bandipur and also at U. Burliar Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata On the flats around Bandipur Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata On the flats around Bandipur Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnus malabaricus Bandipur National Park area only Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum On the road to Bandipur and in and around Bandipur Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus Bandipur National Park area Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica Only at Top Slip where small flocks seen Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Pair at Upper Burliar Great Tit Parus major Near the Observatory at Doddabetta, Ooty. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica En-route to Bandipur and in Bandipur Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica En-route to Mysore from Bangalore Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus The very beautiful Ruby-throated gularis ssp. was sighted both days at IGNP Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Commonest bulbul species - abundant everywhere Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus Only on the lower reaches of the road to Top Slip Yellow-browed Bulbul Iole indica This beautiful Bulbul was seen at well at Burliar and Top Slip Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Harohalli Lake on the way to Mysore Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii Small feeding flock at Upper Burliar Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Common on the road to Mysore from Bangalore, scarce thereafter. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Bandipur and Upper Burliar area Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Common Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Abundant and the only phylloscopus species identified on the trip. Bandipur and Burliar area. Wynaad Laughingthrush Garrulax delesserti Flock of about 10-12 birds to the right of the road leading to Ambuli Illam Resthouse, IGNP Nilgiri Laughingthrush Garrulax cachinnans This threatened endemic was common and tame at Doddabetta, Ooty Indian Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus horsfieldii Singles at Bandipur National Park and Burliar Tawny-bellied Babbler Dumetia hyperythra Small flocks at Bandipur and Upper Burliar Dark-fronted Babbler Rhopocichla atriceps Four feeding birds near the stream at Kurumba Resorts, U. Burliar Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Seen and photographed by Vijay at JLR, Bandipur Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi On the road to Mysore Rufous Babbler Turdoides subrufus This endemic was on view in the scrub below the dining area at Kurumba Village Resorts Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus Fairly common Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis Most often seen on the road to Mysore from Bangalore. Also near Bandipur. Indian Bushlark Mirafra erythroptera Bandipur National Park Jerdon's Bushlark Mirafra affinis Bandipur National Park Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark Eremopterix grisea Bandipur National Park area Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos Bangalore area Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica Near Bangalore and also at Bandipur and in the Burliar area Crimson-backed Sunbird Nectarinia minima Common but extremely difficult to observe well at Top Slip. Also in the Burliar area. Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica Single bird seen at at Kurumba Village Resorts, U. Burliar House Sparrow Passer domesticus Observed near all habitations Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus Single bird on the track at Karian Shola. Perhaps an early migrant? Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Common Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus On the road to Mysore White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Single bird at at Kurumba Village Resorts, U. Burliar Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti This rather scarce endemic was common in the scrub at Kurumba Village Resorts, U. Burliar Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata roadside on the way to Ooty List of mammals: 1. Asian Elephant 2. Gaur 3. Sloth Bear 4. Spotted Deer 5. Sambar 6. Indian Muntjac 7. Malayan Giant Squirrel 8. Three-striped Palm Squirrel 9. Wild Pig 10. Bonnet Macaque 11. Nilgiri Langur 12. Hanuman Langur 13. Grey Mongoose 14. Ruddy Mongoose 15. Stripe-necked Mongoose 16. Indian Hare © Sumit K. Sen October 2005 Kolkata, India

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LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN Mysore, Bandipur, Ooty/Burliar and Top Slip by Sumit K. Sen 30 September ~ 7 October, 2005

LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN
Mysore, Bandipur, Ooty/Burliar and Top Slip
by Sumit K. Sen
30 September ~ 7 October, 2005