Saturday Birdwatching Activities of FOB in April, 2007

SANKHU, April 21, 2007

This Birdwatching program was organized by BCN as of its regular schedule. It was 3.5 hours birding trip around the Sali Nadi temple area, along the Sali nadi river side and the foothill of Bajra Yogini mandir towards the Sankhu Village settlement area. About 59 species of birds were sighted on this trip that includes a very important bird Iowa. Sighting of this bird in Kathmandu Valley was the first time for all participants. They enjoyed the nesting activities of Iowa on the way to the Bajrayogini. Sarbendra Pachhai, one of the participants succeeded to take the photograph of this bird. Birders also had very good opportunity to see activities of beautiful birds Paradise Flycatchers and Golden Oriole along the river side and on the foothill of Bajra Yogini.

Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus macei), Grey-headed oodpecker (Picus canus) call only, Great Barbet (Megalaima virens), Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica), White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Indian Cukcoo (Cuculus micropterus), Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cocomantis merulinus), Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Himalayan Swiftlet (Collocalia brevirostris), Spotted Owlet (Athene brama), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach), Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha), Grey Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae), House Crow (Corvus splendens),Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Large Cuckooshrike (Coracina macei), Long-tailed Minivet (Pericrocotus ethologus), Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus), Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus), Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus), Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradise), Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia), Blue-whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus), Verditor Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassina), Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), Spotted Forktail (Enicurus maculates), Plumbeous Water Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosus), Common Stonechat (Saxocola torquata), Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata), Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnus malabaricus), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus), Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys), Plain Martin (Riparia paludicola), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica), Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys), Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus), Grey-hooded Warbler (Phylloscopus xanthoschistos), Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus erythrogenys), Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga sipraja), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus cervinus), Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus), Crested Bunting (Melophus latham).

Flowers seen in birwatching trail

Participants of the day were - Ramesh Shrestha, Sangeeta Shrestha, Anil Prajapati, Phurkel, Sherpa, Gopi Shrestha, Bhushan Shrestha, Surbendra Pachhai, Deepak Shrestha, Delaveau Brigitte (France) and Vimal Thapa.

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Birders in Action

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Beautiful Landscapes of Sankhu

Pictures by : Bhushan & Sarbendra

SURYABINAYAK-KATUNJE-GUNDU-MANTHALI , April 28, 2007

Friday' on 27th April 2007 following members - Gopi Shrestha, Krishna Gurung, Rajendra Gurung, Deepak Shrestha, Susan Prajapati, Surbendra Pachhai, Vimal Thapa of FoB met at Bhaktapur Guest House, located some 14 km in the eastern part of the capital. This place owned by another member Mr. Sushil Prajapati allowed birders to spent overnight there. In the evening a meeting was conducted regarding the publication of “Garden Bird” and shared the experience of birdwatching in Kathmandu valley and other places. Susan Prajapati also gave an orientation of Photoshop and Bhushan Shrestha shared his collection of photos of nature and birds taken during the birding trips in Kathmandu. It was good socialization overnight out of Kathmandu city.

The following morning on Saturday of 28th of April, it was wonderful to wake up in The middle of pleasant chirping call and songs of birds around the hotel, surrounded by the garden and farms, making it an ideal place to enjoy the birds within the comfort. The place was very lively with birds like Eurasian and Indian Cuckoo and Asian Koel along with other urban species.

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Beautiful Landscapes of Birding Area

To continue FoB's regular Saturday birding, the birding walk began at 6.30 am that lasted till 11.30 am with a little break in between. The birding trail went along the road, circling the community forest in its north and in the west of Suryabinayak temple. Further the areas of Gundu and Manthali was traveled to come out to Suryabinayak temple and eventually back to the guesthouse to end. The area particularly between the Gundu and Manthali along the creek near the farms and Alder forest was very productive, where most of the wonderful birds were recorded. These areas cover some lush greeneries and cultivation. The highlights were, the three Fulvous Woodpecker – one male and two female were seen courting flying from one tree to another restlessly. One female E. Golden Oriole was seen busy in the making of her nest on an Alder tree. Also here the Orange-headed Thrush and Grey bellied Cuckoo showed up their presence, seemingly for the birders.

Parakeet

Within about five hours of birding fifty-nine species of birds were recorded on this day. The number is taken as very positive sighting and following are the lists of the birds sighted - Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus macei) -3+, Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), Great Barbet (Megalaima viren), Blue-throated Barbet (Megalaima asiatica), Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala), Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) – 1, White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) – 6+, Large Hawk Cuckoo ierococcyx sparverioded), Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus, Eurasian Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Grey-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus), Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaca), Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria), Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Himalayan Swiflet (Collocalia brevirostris), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis), Red-collared Dove(S. tranquebarica), Eurasian Collared Dove (S. decaoto), Black Kite (Milvus igrans), Shikra (Accipiter badius), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii),Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach), Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha), Grey Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae), Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), House Crow (Corvus splendens), Eurasian Golden Oriole (Oriolus oriolus), Long-tailed Minivet (Pericrocotus ethologus), Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus), Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus), Blue-whistling Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus) , Orange-headed Thrush (Zoothera citrina), Red-throated Flycatcher (male) (Ficedulaparva), Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias halassina), Blue-thraoted Flycatcher (Cyornis rubeculoides), Oriental Magpie Robin (Copshycus saularis), Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata), Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnus malabaricus), Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristris),? Great Tit (Parus major), Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica), Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Zitting Cisticiola (Cisticola juncidis), Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus), Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius), Common Chifchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), Grey-hooded Warbler (Seicercus xanthoschistos), White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax albogularis), Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga sipraja), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus), Red-wattled Lapwing.

Besides birds other parts of nature were a butterfly, a giant green caterpillar and red insects near Suryabinayak seen.

Insects seen

Pictures by :
Bhushan & Sarbendra