A BirdWalk along Tulsi Road - SGNP

Hi
The chance to watch birds today in the best two mile stretch of SGNP- Tulsi
Lake - was, I think, as eagerly sought by the birding community of the city
as the tickets to Shakira's concert the same evening! Inspite of a
restriction on numbers nearly 50 birders participated in this morning's MBC
BirdWalk. As already intimated earlier, the desires of many had to be
sadly turned down. However MBC will surely make amends and strive to do this
walk on a more regular basis to enable many others to experience the magic
of birding here.

A detailed report on the birds seen which has been already posted by our
seasoned birder, Sunjoy Monga, is again shown below. Its quite evident that
it was a day of many birding highlights. Everyone went back home today with
a storehouse of very wonderful birding moments experienced.


Best wishes
KB


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sunjoy Monga
Date: Mar 25, 2007 7:51 PM
Subject: [birdsofbombay] A BirdWalk along Tulsi Road - SGNP

Hi there,

Close to 50 people participated in the Tulsi Road BirdWalk today, in sgnp.
Close to 50 was the bird-tally.

An excellent summer day, with bird-song and the appearance of the Spots
Swordtail butterfly, the Forest Calotes male just about acquiring his
show-off hues, the varied moods of the forest, from fresh foliage to
leafless canopy, a carpet of leaf-litter and the vivid blooms of Bonfire
tree (Firmiana) and the millions of flowers of Calycopteris covering the
jungle canopy.

An *amazing number of raptors* included several Crested Serpent Eagle and
Oriental Honey Buzzard, Shikra, a falcon (seen by some), White-eyed Buzzard,
evidently a Common Buzzard (seen by some), Black Kite, Booted Eagle (dark
morph) and an Aquila species.

*Lots of bird-activity*.
Magpie-robin, White-throated Kingfisher, Puff-throated Babbler and Purple
Sunbird were in song.

Others highly vocal included Common Iora, Jungle Owlet, Gold-fronted
Leafbird, Racket-tailed drongo, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Brown-cheeked
Fulvetta, Jungle Babbler, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Brown-headed Barbet, Rufous
Woodpecker, Greater Coucal, Rufous Tree-pie, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia.

A very vocal *early-summer Banded Bay Cuckoo*.

Also heard: Grey Junglefowl

*Seen on nest:* Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Neil Soares located the nest) and
Grey Hornbill.

An army of Racket-tailed drongos, screaming their lungs out, including
several hitherto not heard call-notes that did not sound like imitations of
any known calls.
*Other drongos:* White-bellied, Spangled (seen by some) and a few Ashy
Drongo.

Black-hooded and a wary Golden Oriole.

Heart-spotted Woodpecker.

Sunbirds: Crimson, Purple, Purple-rumped.

Flycatchers seen/heard incl: Paradise, Black-naped Monarch, Tickell's Blue

Warblers: Greenish, Tickell's Leaf, Blyth's Reed, Common Tailorbird

On way back a band of Tawny-bellied Babblers chattering away.

Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (seen by some), Emerald Dove (calling)

Numerous small bands of Common Rosefinches, including a few richly plumaged
males. Feasting for the imminent long flight north to the Himalaya.

Some of us trudged up the rocky overhang off Culvert 52 and were rewarded
with very *distinct calling of a Leopard*, a grating cry that I have heard
on earlier occasions whilst observing this incredible wild-cat. A mob of
Large-billed and House crows was in continual attendance along the overgrown
nullah from where the calls had come.

It was lovely seeing so many enthusiastic people.

Cheers -- Sunjoy Monga

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




--
Coordinator,
Mumbai Bird Club