NORTHERN INDIA: Bharatpur, Tigers and the Taj Mahal

1 - 21 DECEMBER 2007

BIRD LIST

Taxonomic order and nomenclature follow Clements, 6th edition updated 2007.

Birds that are marked with (GO) were seen by the guide only.

Birds that are marked with (H) were only heard.

GREBES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Seen on wetlands around Bharatpur, Sultanpur Jheel and Bandhavgarh.

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Just a few seen on Bund Baretha and wetlands beyond there.

PELICANS Pelecanidae

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

A group of 13 birds were seen feeding actively on a large wetland area well beyond Bund Baretha.

CORMORANTS: Phalacrocoracidae

Indian Cormorant

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Only recorded on a couple of days - including a few on the Yamuna River, out the back of the Taj Mahal.

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Commonly encountered on water bodies throughout the tour.

Little Cormorant

Phalacrocorax niger

A common and regularly encountered cormorant on the tour.

ANHINGAS: Anhingidae

Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

Seen in small numbers on wetlands near Bharatpur, at Sultanpur Jheel, and near Bandhavgarh.

HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS: Ardeidae

Gray Heron

Ardea cinerea

Present in small numbers on most wetland sites visited.

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

Singles were recorded around Delhi, at Bund Baretha and on a large wetland in Bandhavgarh.

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Commonly recorded throughout the tour.

Intermediate Egret

Egretta intermedia

A little less commonly seen than the previous species, although still regularly recorded in a number of different sites.

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

Present at almost all wetland areas visited on the tour.

Indian Pond-Heron

Ardeola grayii

Commonly recorded throughout the tour.

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

A very common roadside bird throughout northern India.

TAXONOMIC NOTE: Some authors (e.g. Rasmussen & Anderton 2005) split this form as a separate species, Eastern Cattle Egret B. coromandus.

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Just a single bird was seen at Bund Baretha.

STORKS: Ciconiidae

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala

One of the spectacles of the tour was the large colony of these impressive storks nesting at Sultanpur Jheel; with others seen in Bharatpur, and large numbers were seen on several of the large wetlands beyond Bund Baretha.

Asian Openbill

Anastomus oscitans

Three sightings involved a couple on Bund Baretha, a few more on one of the large wetlands beyond there, and a single on a lake in Bandhavgarh.

Black Stork

Ciconia nigra

A group of 14 birds was found on a massive wetland beyond Bund Baretha, and was the only sighting on the tour.

Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Two singles were seen on the journey from Delhi to Bharatpur; a group of 7 and another group of 5 were seen on different large wetlands beyond Bund Baretha; and another single was seen at Sultanpur Jheel.

Black-necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

India's finest stork. A pair were seen in Keoladeo Ghana, and another single was seen at Sultanpur Jheel.

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

An ugly, but now very localized species, singles were seen in Bandhavgarh on several occasions; and also on the large lake outside of Bandhavgarh's core area.

IBIS AND SPOONBILLS: Threskiornithidae

Black-headed Ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Mainly recorded around Delhi, at Okhla and Sultanpur Jheel.

Red-naped Ibis

Pseudibis papillosa

AN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ENDEMIC. We did well for this increasingly scarce Ibis, picking them up first on our drive between Bharatpur and Agra; and later on the banks of the Chambal itself. We also saw a few around Bandhavgarh, and on the journey between Delhi and the Ganges river crossing.

NB. This is also sometimes referred to as INDIAN BLACK IBIS.

Glossy Ibis

Plegadis falcinellus

A single was seen feeding on one of the small islands at Bund Baretha, and a group of 14 birds was seen on a large wetland beyond there.

Eurasian Spoonbill

Platalea leucorodia

Noted on a number of the wetlands.

DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS: Anatidae

Lesser Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

Fairly commonly recorded at a number of different wetland sites visited.

Greylag Goose

Anser anser

Huge flocks were especially noted at Bund Baretha, although others were seen near Bandhavgarh and around Delhi.

Bar-headed Goose

Anser indicus

Arguably the most handsome goose in the world. We saw some huge flocks on some of the larger wetlands beyond Baretha, and also recorded them along the banks of the Chambal River (with over 200 birds there alone), with a few others also at Sultanpur Jheel.

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

A very attractive and common duck in northern India. Large concentrations were seen on the Kosi River by Ramnagar. Others were also picked up at Bund Baretha (and a number of wetlands in that area), and along the Chambal.

Comb Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Never in huge numbers, a maximum of 9 birds were seen on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha. Others were seen on Baretha itself, and also along the Chambal River, and at Sultanpur.

Cotton Pygmy-goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

A contender for the world's smallest goose, this diminutive goose was only recorded on Bund Baretha, with around 20 seen there.

Eurasian Wigeon

Anas penelope

Large numbers were seen at a number of different wetland sites.

Gadwall

Anas strepera

Fairly commonly recorded at a variety of wetlands.

Eurasian Teal

Anas crecca

Large concentrations were recorded at Okhla, Sultanpur and Bund Baretha.

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Not a common bird at all in northern India, with just a pair seen at Bund Baretha and a single male by Ramnagar Dam.

Spot-billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

A very striking and attractive Indian duck. First seen at Okhla, and later recorded around Bund Baretha, and Sultanpur.

NB. Sometimes called INDIAN SPOT-BILLED DUCK.

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

Commonly recorded, at a number of different sites.

Garganey

Anas querquedula

A single bird was picked out from the thousands of waterfowl at Bund Baretha.

Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata

One of the commonest duck species in northern India.

Red-crested Pochard

Netta rufina

A couple of big groups were seen around Bund Baretha, and a couple of lone females were seen during our Chambal River Cruise.

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina

Just a few were seen at Okhla, Sultanpur, and around Bund Baretha.

Ferruginous Pochard

Aythya nyroca

3 were seen roosting on an island on Bund Baretha.

NB. Sometimes called FERRUGINOUS DUCK.

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

Only recorded on the very first day in Delhi, when a small raft were seen at Okhla Barrage.

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Just a single female bird was seen resting on the banks of the Chambal River.

NB. Sometimes called GOOSANDER.

OSPREY: Pandionidae

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Two singles were seen beyond Bund Baretha.

HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES: Accipitridae

Oriental Honey-buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

This extremely variable raptor was seen a number of times around Bharatpur, and also Bandhavgarh.

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Small numbers were recorded at a number of different sites.

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Delhi must be the best place in the world for this scavenging raptor, where literally thousands were seen swarming over a rubbish dump, and lining the pylons all around. An impressive sight.

Pallas' Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

A pair of these much sought-after birds of prey, were nesting by the Kosi River near our final hotel, the Quality Inn. Excellent views were had of a pair devouring a recently caught fish.

Lammergeier

Gypaetus barbatus

This is undoubtedly the top vulture in Asia, and quite possibly the world. Always heavily requested and never common, we were relieved to pick one up before we had even reached Naini Tal. Stopping for a kettle of raptors 10km before the town we picked up one of these superb scavengers cruising low over our heads.

NB. Sometimes also called BEARDED VULTURE or BONEBREAKER.

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

A commonly encountered raptor on the Gangetic Plain.

White-rumped Vulture

Gyps bengalensis

This striking and distinctive now critically-endangered vulture was first seen at Bandhavgarh, and later also seen near the Mongoli Valley around Naini Tal.

Indian Vulture

Gyps indicus

AN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ENDEMIC. Unfortunately another of India's critically endangered vulture species, due to the formerly widespread use of the veterinary drug Diclofenac. We were happy to see some largish (around 8 birds!) groups nesting at Bayena (near Bharatpur), and also on the cliffs beside Bandhavgarh Fort.

Himalayan Griffon

Gyps himalayensis

Several of this huge pale griffons were seen in the Naini Tal area, especially around Vinayak our highest site of the tour (around 2,300m).

Eurasian Griffon

Gyps fulvus

First picked up near our resort in Bandhavgarh, and later seen in the foothills also.

Red-headed Vulture

Sarcogyps calvus

Just three sightings of another of India's troubled vultures, with two singles seen in Bandhavgarh; and a pair were found lurking expectantly near a blood-drenched carcass in the Bund Baretha area (that had also attracted a few Golden Jackals, a lone Striped Hyena and an Egyptian Vulture).

Short-toed Eagle

Circaetus gallicus

A single very tatty looking individual was seen circling over a large bird-packed wetland in the Bund Baretha area.

Crested Serpent-Eagle

Spilornis cheela

Just three sightings, in the Bandhavgarh area, and also a single in Keoladeo Ghana.

Western Marsh-Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

Only recorded on the first day in Delhi, where 4 were seen in Okhla.

Shikra

Accipiter badius

One of India's commoner raptor species, singles were run into in Bharatpur, Bund Baretha and around Bandhavgarh also.

Besra

Accipiter virgatus

A single soaring bird was seen close to Pangot in the Himalayan foothills.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

One was seen in Bandhavgarh, with another at Sultanpur Jheel close to Delhi.

Eurasian Buzzard

Buteo buteo

A single soaring bird was seen at Sultanpur Jheel.

Long-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus

One was seen on the Chambal River Cruise.

Indian Spotted Eagle

Aquila hastata

NEAR-ENDEMIC. This scarce near-endemic was recorded only once as we came close to Bharatpur during our journey from Delhi to there.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Aquila clanga

A bird was seen flying over the temple at Keoladeo Ghana, and then another adult bird was seen very well perched up at Sultanpur Jheel.

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis

One of the most regularly recorded raptors in the foothills of the Himalaya.

Imperial Eagle

Aquila heliaca

A bird was seen perched on a large island on a huge wetland beyond Bund Baretha; and later a young bird was seen really well perched on a small island in the jheel at Sultanpur.

Bonelli's Eagle

Aquila fasciata

A nesting pair were seen close to our boat along the Chambal River; and later a pair were seen diving dramatically at some unidentified prey in the Bajun Valley, near Naini Tal.

Booted Eagle

Aquila pennata

One flew over the nursery in Keoladeoa Ghana park.

Changeable Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus cirrhatus

Several sightings of long-crested cirrhatus 'race' were had in Bandhavgarh. This included a pair that were seen mating on an open snag in the grey light of dawn on one particular game drive.

NB. TAXONOMIC NOTE: This race is sometimes split by some authors as CRESTED HAWK-EAGLE.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle

Spizaetus nipalensis

A low-flying adult was first seen by a small mountain lodge at Pangot, with a couple of further sightings in the Kumeria area on the edge of Corbett.

FALCONS: Falconidae

Collared Falconet

Microhierax caerulescens

This tiny raptor was seen from our table in the garden of the Quality Inn as we enjoyed a great curry feed for lunch, soon after our arrival there.

Eurasian Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

5 sightings at a number of different sites.

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

This often hard to find falcon put on a great show for us this year. First our local guide picked up a distant bird that unfortunately did not linger leaving us gagging for more. Luckily only 30 minutes or so later Sam found a pair perched on a close roadside pylon that remained there for some time allowing photos and great scope views in the process. Definitely one of the best raptors of the trip.

NB. TAXONOMIC NOTE: This Asian race, chicquera, is sometimes split from the African race by some authors, and then re-named as RED-HEADED FALCON.

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Just two sightings - firstly close to Bund Baretha and then another single close to the Mongoli Valley near Naini Tal.

PHEASANTS AND PARTRIDGES: Phasianidae

Black Francolin

Francolinus francolinus (GO)

A female bird unfortunately only showed to the guide, before it slinked back into some dense scrub at Pangot.

Gray Francolin

Francolinus pondicerianus

NEAR-ENDEMIC. Seen almost daily around Bharatpur, and also recorded at Sultanpur Jheel.

Hill Partridge

Arborophila torqueola

A brilliant male bird sat in full view on an open road in front of our bus for several minutes, near Vinayak.

Painted Spurfowl

Galloperdix lunulata

AN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ENDEMIC. One of Bandhavgarh's undoubted star birds, this one took a little time in coming, before appearing two mornings in a row. The first involved a rufous female bird that remained in the open in the half light of dawn and therefore required the aid of a spotlight to get an eyeful; and the group the following day involved 3 birds, at least one of which was a brilliant white speckled male.

Koklass Pheasant

Pucrasia macrolopha

Unfortunately this proved a little tricky this year, with a close calling bird running behind us out of a view from everyone but our local guide.

Red Junglefowl

Gallus gallus (H)

The original chicken. These were reasonably common during our time in Bandhavgarh.

Kalij Pheasant

Lophura leucomelanos

This flashy pheasant was seen four times on the tour - three times around Naini Tal (including a noisy group in the Bajun Valley); and an extremely confiding pair were seen feeding on rice thrown out for them outside a small Hindu temple on the edge of Corbett National Park.

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

INDIA'S NATIONAL BIRD. AN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ENDEMIC. This superb pheasant is abundant in the Bharatpur area, large numbers of which were seen feeding out in the open fields in the early morning (a short time after they had left their roosting sites in the local villages).

BUTTONQUAILS: Turnicidae

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

A couple were flushed near our resort on the edge of Bandhavgarh.

CRANES: Gruidae

Sarus Crane

Grus antigone

These superb, stately cranes were first seen on the drive between Delhi and Bharatpur; and later seen again on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha. A small group were also seen by the roadside near the Ganges River crossing.

RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS: Rallidae

Brown Crake

Amaurornis akool

An unusually bold pair were seen feeding right out in the open by a busy road for over 5 minutes, en-route to Bharatpur; with another equally confident pair by Bund Baretha.

White-breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Almost daily around Bharatpur.

Purple Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

Okhla Barrage had some very impressive concentrations of this large gallinule, with well over a hundred birds seen there. A few were also seen in the Bharatpur area.

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

A few were seen at a number of wetlands throughout.

Eurasian Coot

Fulica atra

A few were seen at a number of wetlands throughout.

JACANAS: Jacanidae

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

Just the one bird seen, at Bund Baretha.

Bronze-winged Jacana

Metopidius indicus

A few were seen around Bund Baretha; and a few more were seen at a large wetland outside the core area of Bandhavgarh.

PAINTED-SNIPES: Rostratulidae

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

This superb and distinctive shorebird had arrived in good numbers at Bharatpur this year, with around ten birds seen feeding in a dirty ditch in the town there.

IBISBILL: Ibidorhynchidae

Ibisbill

Ibidorhyncha struthersii

BIRD OF THE TRIP. An easy choice for the top trip bird. It was hard to look past this enigmatic shorebird among the highlights, as it is not only a scarce and therefore a much wanted bird by listers, but is also an undeniably attractive and striking wader. We saw a pair of awesome Ibisbills along the Kosi River en-route to our final hotel.

AVOCETS AND STILTS: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

One of the commonest shorebirds recorded in northern India, seemingly being found on any small patch of roadside water.

Pied Avocet

Recurvirostra avosetta

A couple were seen on our very first day in Delhi at Okhla; with another also seen on the shores of the Chambal River.

THICK-KNEES: Burhinidae

Great Thick-knee

Burhinus recurvirostris

This huge shorebird should ordinarily be 'a given' at the Chambal River, although proved strangely elusive there, with just a single bird found hiding in amongst the boulders just as we were leaving. All the more sweeter for that!

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS: Charadriidae

River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii

This 'Asian Spur-winged Plover' was first seen in Bharatpur, and also seen on the banks of the Yamuna River, out the back of the Taj Mahal; and finally a good number of them were feeding among the boulders of the Kosi River, on the edge of Corbett.

Yellow-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus malabaricus

AN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT ENDEMIC, (except for a few stragglers outside the region). Having seen them there only a few weeks previously, we focused on this area of dry open fields between Bharatpur and Bund Baretha, and found this confiding pair still in the same area.

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

A very common bird in the lowlands of northern India, and therefore recorded regularly throughout the plains.

White-tailed Lapwing

Vanellus leucurus

Thin on the ground this year, with just three single birds seen, at Okhla, Sultanpur Jheel, and Kosi wetland en-route to Bharatpur.

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius

A few were seen on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha.

Snowy Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus

A few were seen on the banks of the Chambal River, and at least 20 birds were found on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha.

SANDPIPERS: Scolopacidae

Pintail Snipe

Gallinago stenura

A walk through some damp rice paddies close to Bandhavgarh produced a number of Common Snipe, along with two Pintails that provided good side-by-side comparison.

Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Small numbers were recorded around Bharatpur, and a good number were also found close to Bandhavgarh.

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

A single bird was seen by the roadside en-route to Bharatpur from Delhi; and large numbers were recorded on a large wetland site beyond Bund Baretha.

NB. TAXONOMIC NOTE: The birds recorded on the tour were of the limosa 'form', that is sometimes considered a separate species from the eastern melanuroides populations, and subsequently re-named WESTERN BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Around 6 birds were seen beyond Bund Baretha.

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Commonly recorded at a number of wetlands around Bharatpur.

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Fairly common in the Bharatpur area, and also seen out the back of the Taj Mahal.

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Recorded at a few sites in the Bund Baretha area.

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Recorded at a number of wetland sites in Rajasthan.

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Small numbers were recorded in the Bund Baretha area.

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola

Recorded at a number of wetland sites in Rajasthan.

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

Recorded at a number of wetland sites in Rajasthan.

Little Stint

Calidris minuta

Small numbers were seen on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha.

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Small numbers were seen at a number of sites in Rajasthan, and also on the Kosi River in Uttaranchal.

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

Small numbers were seen on a large wetland beyond Bund Baretha.

Small numbers were

Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Small numbers were seen on a few wetlands in Rajasthan.

GULLS: Laridae

Great Black-headed Gull

Larus ichthyaetus

A few were seen on both the Chambal and Ganges Rivers.