Amidst a busy schedule in the North East, I managed to take out
sometime and visit Nameri National Park for a short birding trip
(20-21 March, 2010). This was to be my first trip to a protected area
in the North East and naturally my expectations were running high. My
main target species was the elusive White-winged duck (ofcourse!!).
Not that I was very optimistic about it considering my pathetic luck
at spotting endangered species, nevertheless I was hoping to see
several other lifers.
I reached Nameri on 20th March (Saturday) afternoon and put up at Jia
Bharali Wildlife Resort. This one is a new resort located just behind
the Eco-camp. After a quick lunch, I set out for the park just after
2.00 PM along with an armed gaurd (brandishing an old pump action shot
gun!) and a local naturalist/guide who is quite knowledgable about the
local fauna. After crossing Jia Bharali river in a Forest Department
boat, we entered the park at the FD check post. We were immediately
greeted by the wonderful song of Common Iora. The forest in the Park
is mostly of mixed moist deciduous type and one is struck by the fresh
green beauty of the surroundings. We didnt go for the pool known to be
frequented by White-winged ducks straight away as chances of finding
the ducks in mid-day sun were very bleak and decided to reach the pool
around 4.30-5.00 when there is a higher chance. Previous day some
birders from Bangalore saw a pair of ducks in the pool around 6.30
in the morning. So, we knew the birds were there and kept our fingers
crossed.
The first few sightings included Lesser Yellownape, Hill Myna and a
Barred Cuckoo Dove, which was a lifer for me. Suddenly, we came across
a hunting party which consisted of Scarlet Minivets, some warblers
(could not identify) and Sultan Tits. Another lifer! Next came the
"giants"- Wreathed and Great Hornbills with their characteristic
"woof-woof" flapping of wings. Other highlights of the day included
Vernal Hanging Parrot, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Grey-capped Pygmy
Woodpecker and Golden Fronted Leafbird. We at-last reached the
"Wood-duck" pool around 4.45 PM and momentarily got super-excited to
see from far some duck-like creatures in the pool which later turned
out to be Common Moorhens! Disappointed, we decided to come back next
morning.
While returning back to the resort I was in for a pleasant surprise. I
met Soma Jha (a member of Bengalbird and an active birder) and her
team who were also staying in the same resort. Although I had
interacted with Soma di before through emails and gtalk but I had
never met her. After a exciting discussion on the days sightings, we
decided to go together in the quest for White-winged Duck next day.
Next morning we reached the FD outpost exactly at 6.00 AM. This time
our first destination was the pool. As we took the jungle path, we saw
another lifer, Black-breasted Thrush. What a beginning! With high
hopes we approached the pool, slowly and half crouching. Suddenly
there was some movements! and there they were. A wonderful pair of
White-winged Ducks moving slowly among the dense foliage which have
fallen in the pool. We were a good 60-70 mts away and the in between
ground was covered with quite thick undergrowth. It was not an ideal
condition for clicking photos and I got some record shots (find attached) which
anyways made my day (and the trip too!!). After about 2-3 mins the
ducks took off and the flash of white in the wings (which explains the
name) was another spectacle!
Highly satisfied we continued the trek for other birds which didn't
dissapoint us either with sightings of Great Hornbill, Small Niltava,
Lesser Adjutant, Lesser Coucal, Ashy and Spangled Drongos, and others.
The following is the list of birds we saw in those two days (Soma di
please add if I have missed some):
1) RED JUNGLEFOWL
2) RUDDY SHELDUCK
3) WHITE-WINGED DUCK
4) COMMON MERGANSER (one flying overhead)
5) GREY-CAPPED PYGMY WOODPECKER
6) RUFOUS WOODPECKER
7) LESSER YELLOWNAPE
8) BLACK-RUMPED FLAMEBACK
9) LINEATED BARBET
10) BLUE-THROATED BARBET
11) GREAT HORNBILL
12) WREATHED HORNBILL
13) COMMON HOOPOE
14) INDIAN ROLLER
15) DOLLARBIRD
16) COMMON KINGFISHER
17) WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER
18) GREEN BEE-EATER
19) CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER
20) ASIAN KOEL
21) LESSER COUCAL
22) VERNAL HANGING PARROT
23) ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
24) RED-BREASTED PARAKEET
25) SPOTTED DOVE
26) BARRED CUCKOO DOVE
27) EMERALD DOVE
28) POMPADOUR GREEN PIGEON
29) GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON
30) WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN
31) COMMON MOORHEN
32) COMMON GREENSHANK
33) GREEN SANDPIPER
34) COMMON SANDPIPER
35) RIVER LAPWING
36) SMALL PRATINCOLE
37) RIVER TERN
38) OSPREY
39) INDIAN POND HERON
40) ASIAN OPENBILL
41) BLACK STORK
42) LESSER ADJUTANT
43) ASIAN FAIRY BLUEBIRD
44) GOLDEN-FRONTED LEAFBIRD
45) ORANGE-BELLIED LEAFBIRD
46) GREY-BACKED SHRIKE
47) HOUSE CROW
48) LARGE-BILLED CROW
49) BLACK-HOODED ORIOLE
50) COMMON WOODSHRIKE
51) SCARLET MINIVET
52) WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL
53) BLACK DRONGO
54) ASHY DRONGO
55) SPANGLED DRONGO
56) COMMON IORA
57) BLUE ROCK THRUSH
58) BLACK-BREASTED THRUSH
59) VERDITER FLYCATCHER
60) SMALL NILTAVA
61) ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN
62) SIBERIAN STONECHAT
63) CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING
64) ASIAN PIED STARLING
65) COMMON MYNA
66) BANK MYNA
67) JUNGLE MYNA
68) HILL MYNA
69) CHESTNUT-BELLIED NUTHATCH
70) SULTAN TIT
71) BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL
72) RED-WHISKERED BULBUL
73) RED-VENTED BULBUL
74) COMMON TAILORBIRD
75) BLYTH'S LEAF WARBLER
76) SAND LARK
77) HOUSE SPARROW
78) WHITE WAGTAIL
79) RED-WATTLED LAPWING
Regards,
Param
--
Paramjyoti Chattopadhyay
Delhi.
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