[BirdPhotoIndia] A Field Report of Sunday trip to Indian Botanic Garden, Kolkata, West Bengal - 12th September 2010

Hi All,

SAFAR(FIELD TRIP) ORGANIZED BY PRAKRITI SAMSAD

Date of Trip: 12th September 2010. (Sunday)
Duration of Trip: 6:10 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Indian Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Howrah near Kolkata.
Temperature: (As in Alipur) Max 31.9°C and Min 25.2°C.
Humidity: (As in Alipur) Max 99% and Min 71%.
Weather: Cloudy Morning. After 8:15am gradually clear
sky. Slightly humid and sultry.
Habitat: Area approximately 800 bighas. As name
suggests, the garden has many exotic tropical plants apart from many
indigenous species. It also accommodates 27 large and medium ponds.
River Ganga flows on one side of the Garden. A few ponds are connected
with the water of the river Ganga. Ponds contains many kinds of fishes
such as (only Bengali names given) Rui, Katla, Mrigel, Bata, Kalbose,
Desi Puti, Tith Puti, Mourola, Dankona, Gol Chanda, Kath Chanda,
Chela, Nylotica, Telapiya, Shol, Lata, Sal, Buri Kholse, Pata Kholse,
Bele, Chakali, Techoka, Dhopachi, Koi etc.

BRIEF REPORT:-
-------------------------
This week our SAFAR(Field Trip) was organized by Prakriti Samsad to
Kolkata's famous Indian Botanic Garden. Every month Prakriti Samsad, a
well known and well established NGO in Kolkata, arranges for a field
trip in biodiversity hot spots in and around Kolkata and we, members
of this NGO participate in this SAFAR. This week the venue was Indian
Botanic Garden. Botanic Garden covering an area of more than 800
bighas (273 acres) is situated in Sibpur, Howrah near Kolkata by the
side of river Ganga.
It's Rainy Season now. The garden has become spectacular glossy green
with touch of life everywhere. We reached there early morning and
started our trip from the main gate through the middle lane inside the
garden. It was mostly cloudy from the morning with cloud gradually
disappearing as the day progressed. Divided in 2 separate groups
(mainly due to walking speed) we started walking down the lanes when
suddenly Soumik Chatterjee pointing out a tree flitter butterfly, a
rare finding in this spot. Also we were able to spot a Great Cormorant
which is an uncommon find in B Garden. As usual Soumyajit Chowdhury
was helping us a lot in identifying wild flowers and recognizing
Hesperiids, which were in real lots, while Rahi Soren took the charge
of identifying spiders and helping us in getting aware of the species
type and species name. Sights of Moorhen and Waterhen with its chicks
here and there were just beautiful. Bronze-winged Jacanas with their
juvenile ones were almost everywhere and gave some beautiful snaps to
the photographers. Soumik Chatterjee, Prasenjit Dawn and I was busy
checking out the odonates and was really surprised to see so many
Rodothemis Rufa or Rufous Marsh Dart all over a particular pond,
moving here and there, mating and female laying eggs. Copera Ciliata
or Black-kneed Bush Dart as we call it, are also found in numbers in
this place in a particular patch. The butterfly Common Grass Dart,
which was in plenty there, moved us all as it is regionally a rare
species. Due to festive season, many people gathered all round the
garden and all were in festive mood. By noon the garden was almost
filled with crowds. Our day ended with the sight of a Green Sandpiper
by the side of River Ganga. Although with less number of bird
sighting, the trip was very successful and all the members of the team
were happy that they got to learn something new from the trip.
As locally grown fruit bearing trees, which attracts lots and lots of
birds, are less here, an obviously decrease in the concentration of
birds have been noticed. Also less number and variety of fishes in the
pond can be a reason behind less number of water birds in the garden.

TEAM MEMBERS:
1. Subhankar Patra.
2. Jayanta Manna.
3. Rahi Soren.
4. Soumyajit Chowdhury.
5. Avisek Chatterjee.
6. Prasenjit Dawn.
7. Ushnish Das.
8. Soumik Chatterjee.
9. Animesh Manna.
10. Saroj Kumar Tula.
11. Ishandeb Tula (11 yr old son of Mr. Tula).
12. Srikanta Dhali.
13. Susantha Bag.
14. Subhendu Das.
15. Aritra Mishra.
16. Pradipto Bagchi.
17. Supratim Chatterjee.
18. Abira Pal.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN APPOXIMATE NUMBER OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES OBSERVED
IS INDICATED IN BRACKETS () BY THE SIDE OF THE NAME OF THE SPECIES.

BIRDS OBSERVED DURING THE TRIP:
1. Lesser-whistling Duck(4).
2. Rufous Woodpecker(1).
3. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker(3).
4. Streak-throated Woodpecker(1).
5. Black-rumped Flameback(5).
6. Blue-throated Barbet(15).
7. Coppersmith Barbet(12).
8. Lineated Barbet(10).
9. Common Kingfisher(6).
10. White-throated Kingfisher(6).
11. Stork-billed Kingfisher(10).
12. Common-Hawk Cuckoo(5).
13. Plaintive Cuckoo(2).
14. Asian Koel(12).
15. Greater Coucal(9).
16. Alexanderine Parakeet(4).
17. Red-breasted Parakeet(25).
18. Rose-ringed Parakeet(50).
19. House Swift(7).
20. Asian Palm Swift(35).
21. Spotted Owlet(12).
22. Rock Pigeon(30).
23. Spotted Dove(20).
24. Eurasian Collared Dove(7)
25. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon(35).
26. White-breasted Waterhen(25).
27. Common Moorhen(6).
28. Green Sandpiper(1).
29. Bronze-winged Jacana(30).
30. Black Kite(10).
31. Shikra(3).
32. Little Cormorant(12).
33. Great Cormorant(1).
34. Cattle Egret(20).
35. Intermediate Egret(1).
36. Indian Pond Heron(12).
37. Black-crowned Night Heron(5).
38. Asian Openbill(5).
39. Rufous Treepie(15).
40. House Crow(30).
41. Large-billed Crow(15).
42. Black-hooded Oriole(10).
43. Eurasian Golden Oriole(2).
44. Black Drongo(15).
45. Bronzed Drongo(2).
46. Common Iora(1).
47. Orange-headed Thrush(2).
48. Oriental Magpie Robin(5).
49. Chestnut-tailed Starling(25).
50. Brahminy Starling(2).
51. Asian Pied Starling(30).
52. Jungle Myna(35).
53. Common Myna(30).
54. Great Tit(2).
55. Barn Swallow(8).
56. Red-whiskered Bulbul(5).
57. Red-vented Bulbul(20).
58. Common Tailorbird(20).
59. Jungle Babbler(30).
60. Pale-billed Flowerpecker(15).
61. Purple Sunbird(50).
62. Purple-rumped Sunbird(6).
63. House Sparrow(12).

BUTTERFLIES OBSERVED IN THE FIELD TRIP:
1. Common Jay(8).
2. Tailed Jay(6).
3. Common Mime(8).
4. Common Mormon(15).
5. Lime(15).
6. Common Wanderer(2).
7. Common Jezebel(4)
8. Psyche(3).
9. Striped Albatross(6).
10. Common Emigrant(15).
11. Mottled Emigrant(10).
12. Common Grass Yellow(9).
13. Three-spot Grass Yellow(3).
14. Common Castor(1).
15. Great Eggfly(5).
16. Danaid Eggfly(3).
17. Common Leopard(7).
18. Commander(5).
19. Grey Pansy(8).
20. Peacock Pansy(10).
21. Common Baron(1).
22. Sailor (Unidentified) (1).
23. Common Bushbrown(15).
24. Darkbrand Bushbrown(15).
25. Common Three Ring(2).
26. Common Four Ring(20).
27. Common Five Ring(2).
28. Common Palmfly(6).
29. Blue Tiger(18).
30. Plain Tiger(5).
31. Striped Tiger(3).
32. Common Crow(15).
33. Brown King Crow(4).
34. Common Pierrot(8).
35. Quaker(9).
36. Gram Blue(4).
37. Lime Blue(8).
38. Dark Grass Blue(5).
39. Pale Grass Blue(6).
40. Tiny Grass Blue(3).
41. Common Cerulean(4).
42. Ciliate Blue(4).
43. Common Silverline(3).
44. Yamfly (2).
45. Common Branded Awl (1).
46. Bush Hopper (7).
47. Indian Skipper (5).
48. Common Grass Dart(12).
49. Chestnut Bob(16).
50. Grass Demon(2).
51. Common Redeye(1).
52. Tree Flitter(1).
53. Rice Swift(6).
54. Bevan's Swift(1).
55. Straight Swift(8).
56. Large-branded Swift(1).
57. Small-branded Swift(5).
58. Indian Palm Bob(1).

DRAGONFLIES OBSERVED DURING THE TRIP:
1. Common Clubtail(3).
2. Anax Indicus(1) [We locally call it Yellow Blue-tailed Yellow Darner].
3. Trumpet Tail(4).
4. Scarlet Marsh Hawk(5).
5. Rufous-backed Marsh Hawk(5).
6. Little Blue Marsh Hawk(1).
7. Ditch Jewel(50).
8. Ruddy Marsh Skimmer(50).
9. Ground Skimmer(10).
10. Pied Paddy Skimmer(3).
11. Green Marsh Hawk(25).
12. Blue-tailed Forest Hawk(10).
13. Wandering Glider(15).
14. Rufous Marsh Glider(50).
15. Common Picture Wing(15).
16. Black Marsh Trotter(4).
17. Crimson Marsh Glider(20).
18. Greater Crimson Glider(30).
19. Long-legged Marsh Glider(3).

DAMSELFLIES OBSERVED DURING THE TRIP:
1. Coromandel Marsh Dart(50).
2. Orange-tailed Marsh Dart(7).
3. Pigmy Dartlet(15).
4. Senegal Golden Dartlet(1).
5. Black Marsh Dart(3).
6. Blue Grass Dartlet(1).
7. Copera Ciliata(9) [We locally call it Black-kneed Marsh Dart].

WILD FLOWERS/PLANTS (HERBS AND SHRUBS) OBSERVED DURING THE TRIP:
Acanthaceae
1. Ruellia tuberosa
2. Ruellia prostata

Amaranthaceae
3. Amaranthus spinosus
4. Amaranthus viridis
5. Alternanthera sessilis
6. Alternanthera ficoidea
7. Gomphrena serrata
8. Justicia procumbens
9. Achyranthes aspera

Amaryllidaceae
10. Zephyranthes citrina

Araceae
11. Colocasia esculenta
12. Typhonium trilobatum

Caesalpiniaceae
13. Cassia allata
14. Cassia tora
15. Cassia sophera

Cannaceae
16. Canna indica

Cleomaceae
17. Cleome rutidosperma
18. Cleome viscosa

Commelinaceae
19. Commelina benghalensis
20. Commelina diffusa

Compositae (Asteraceae)
21. Eclipta prostata
22. Synedrella nodiflora
23. Wedelia chinensis
24. Tridax procumbens
25. Vernonia cinerea

Convulvulaceae
26. Ipomoea aquatica
27. Ipomoea sp.
28. Evolvulus nummularius

Cucurbitaceae
29. Coccinea grandis
30. Cucumis melo

Cyperaceae
31. Cyperus kyllinga

Euphorbiaceae
32. Euphorbia hirta

Hypoxidaceae
33. Curculigo orchoides

Malvaceae
34. Sida rhombofolia
35. Urena lobata

Nyctaginaceae
36. Boerhavia diffusa

Nymphaeaceae
37. Nymphaea nouchali
38. Nymphaea alba

Passifloraceae
39. Passiflora sp.

Rutaceae
40. Ravenia spectabilis

Solanaceae
41. Solanum torvum

Tiliaceae
42. Corchorus tricularis

Verbenaceae
43. Lantana camara
44. Lipia javanica

Zinziberaceae
45. Costus speciosus
46. Globba bulbifera

Vitaceae
47. Cayratia trifolia

WE ALSO ENCOUNTERED:
We casually watched a few other species which we encountered in the
field. Reporting of these species is done to give an idea of the area
which we surveyed and this is not a comprehensive report of mammals,
reptiles, amphibians or insects in that area. Any serious watcher in
these areas must watch much more than what we have encountered.

MAMMALS: - 3 SPECIES
1. Five-stripped Palm Squirrel(10).
2. Small Mongoose(4).
3. Grey Mongoose(2).

AMPHIBIANS: - 3 SPECIES
1. Flapshell Turtle(1).
2. Indian Bull Frog(2).
3. Common Toad(15).

REPTILES: - 2 SPECIES
1. Garden Lizard(10).
2. Bronze Grass Skink(1).

SPIDERS: - 11 SPECIES
1. Phintella vitatta (Banded Phintella)
2. Oxyopes birmanicus (Green Lynx Spider)
3. Oxyopes javanus (Brown Lynx Spider)
4. Argyrodes sp.
5. Pardosa sp. (Common Wolf Spider)
6. Argiope pulchella (Signature Spider)
7. Plexippus sp.
8. Telamonia sp.
9. Crossopriza lyonii (Daddy Long Leg Spider)
10. Thomisus bulani (White Crab Spider)
11. Peusetia sp.

ANTS: - 10 SPECIES
1. Bengali Name: Kalo Sursuri Pipre.
2. Bengali Name: Badami Sursuri Pipre.
3. Oecophylla [Bengali Name: Nalsa Pipre ].
4. Crematogaster.
5. Small Tetraponera [Bengali Name: Choto Kath Pipre].
6. Large Tetraponera [Bengali Name: Baro Kath Pipre].
7. Large Red Ant [Bengali Name: Baro Lal Pipre].
8. Diacama [Bengali Name: Deo Pipre].
9. Another 2 unidentified species.

OTHER INSECTS:
1. At least 12 species of Grasshoppers.
2. At least 7 species of Beetles.
3. At least 5 species of Bugs.
4. Wood Roach (2).
5. Many other insects.

OTHER INVERTIBRATES OBSERVED:
1. Black Millipede.
2. Reddish Brown Centipede [Bengali Name: Tetul Biche] (15).
3. Harvestman (2).

Thanks to Subhankar Patra for giving me ideas, helping me and guiding
me in writing this report. His encouragement is helping us to produce
this weekly report on our field trips. Also thanks to all team members
for their contribution in bringing out this report. Thanks to Sujit
Das for formatting the report in such a good way. Thanks to Soumyajit
Chowdhury for reviewing the report and contributing the full list of
wild flowers (herbs and shrubs). Thanks to Rahi Soren for compiling
the list of spiders observed.

Cheers,
Avisek Chatterjee on behalf of the team members.

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