Goa is India's smallest state- just 100 kms by 50 kms. The terrain comprises the coastal region and the Forested hills of the western Ghats rising up to 1000 m. It has rapidly established itself as one of the premier winter birding destinations for European birders. A birding holiday in Goa is really attractive, with cheap charter flights, an impressive array of habitats and consequently great birding, With hornbills and barbets, bulbuls and babblers, parakeets and lorikeets, orioles and drongos, mynahs and cuckoo-shrikes, bee-eaters and rollers, owlets and swiftlets, bluebirds and leafbirds, sunbirds and trogons, whistling thrushes and ground thrushes, flowerpeckers and woodpeckers, weavers and munias, Goa has some 320 species.
There is a great variety of habitat : estuaries, mudflats, mangroves, rivers, freshwater lakes, marshes, rice fields, scrub dry grassland, and good forest sanctuaries in the nearby Western Ghats. You can be sure of finding birds in plenty. Apart from the many widespread Indian species such as Roseringed and Plumheaded Parakeets and Coppersmith Barbets, 14 of the 24 southern Indian endemics can be seen in Goa. These are: Red Spurfowl, Grey Junglefowl, Nilgiri WoodPigeon, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Whitecheeked Barbet, Spotbreasted Fantail, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Nilgiri Flycatcher, Whitebellied BlueFlycatcher, Greyheaded Bulbul, Rufous Babbler, Malabar Lark and Crimson backed Sunbird. In addittion 9 of the 17 species, which only occur in southern India and Sri Lanka can be spotted. Birds difficult to find elsewhere inIndia such as Lesser Adjutant, Indian Pitta, Blackcapped Kingfisher and Banded Bay Cuckoo can be seen. Moreover you can also hope to spot Western Palearctic birds such as a variety of Phylloscopus warblers, raptors, gulls, waders and pipits.
There is plenty to offer the non birding spouse and friend - whitewashed churches, magnificent cathedrals, crumbling forts, and elegant houses - all reflecting Goa's past Portuguese influence. The sunny beaches, developed infrastructure, good food, easy traveling, friendly people, and good climate in winter with bright blue skies are factors making for an enjoyable holiday.
Goa has well established birding circuits. Most birding can be done by taking day trips from your hotel. For an idea of birds likely to be spotted on our tours go to bird list.In addition to the sites in Goa we are also offering the fabulous West Coast birding circuit with a potential of 550 species.
The following Birding sites around Goa are included:-
· Baga
· Fort Aguada Marsh
· Dona Paula Plateau
· Chorao Island
· Panaji salt pans
· Salogoa Zor
· Morjim Beach
· Maem Lake
· Carambolim Lake
· Bondla Wild life sanctuary
· Molem Wild Life Sanctuary
· Tamdi Surla Woods ( Backwoods camp)
Planning your birding trip
Your Birding itinerary depends upon your interests, the duration of the planned trip, and other matters such as your budget.
Coming to Goa, it is best first, to finalize your accommodation. It is not easy because of the sheer choice on offer for every budget. Write to us what you have in mind and we will formulate your trip plan with you.The best time for birding in Goa and South India is Nov to March ( Best: Dec-Jan) The duration of your tour can be as long as you like. You will find our suggestions of days required for each birding hot spot. There are exciting possibilities of combining your trip to Goa with a Tour to Karnataka and Kerala. Do look up South India
Baga
Located 18 Kms from Panjim, Baga is a beach village, well known as the base for the birding community. It offers the best in doorstep birding. Like most of the coastal areas in Goa, it is a bustling, busy, tourist resort. Lying in the lee of a small rocky wooded headland it boasts a beach as well as numerous hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. A small river, the Baga, flows into the sea at the northern end of the village. North of Baga it is comparativly quite with few areas of commercialization, fewer tourists and markedly quieter beaches. All sites around Baga can be covered from your hotel as day trips.
Hotel Beira Mar -The Mecca of birders in Goa is where many birders stay. A visit to this hotel in the late afternoon enables viewing of Greater Painted Snipe and Cinnamon Bittern at dusk along with a many other species. Birders report spotting Crested Honey-Buzzard, Shikra, Laggar Falcon, Small Pratincole, Wood and Green Sandpiper, Indian Pitta, Black lored Tit, Black capped, Stork-billed, White-throated, Pied & Common Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark amongst many others
Baga Paddies: In the paddy fields around Baga, some of the birds that can be seen are: Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Black crowned Night Heron, Cinnamon Bittern, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Brahmany Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Booted Eagle, Eurasian Kestrel, Laggar Falcon, Spotted Dove, White breasted Waterhen, Greater Painted Snipe, Pintail Snipe, Common Snipe, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Small Pratincole, Little Ringed Plover, Red wattled Lapwing, Plum headed Parakeet, Rose ringed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Indian Swiftlet, Asian Palm Swift, Little Swift, Common Kingfisher, Stork billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black capped Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Blue tailed Bee eater, Indian Roller, Eurasian Hoopoe, White cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Eurasian Wryneck, Indian Pitta, Fork tailed Drongo, House Crow, Large billed Crow, Ashy Woodswallow, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Long tailed Shrike, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Brahminy Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Common Stonechat, Red rumped Swallow, Wire tailed Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Ashy Prinia, Paddyfield Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Black lored Tit, Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark, Malabar Lark, White rumped Munia, Nutmerg Mannikin, White browed Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Oriental Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Blyth’s Pipit, Tree Pipit, Olive backed Pipit, Purple rumped Sunbird,Yellow Bittern, Pallid Harrier, Amur Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Yellow wattled Lapwing, Red Turtle Dove, Alexandrine Parakeet, Spotted Owlet, Eurasian Roller, Black rumped Flameback, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Bay backed Shrike, Brown Shrike, Short toed Lark, Black headed Munia, Red headed Bunting, Black headed Bunting, Grey necked Bunting.
Baga Forest: This is a very good site north of Baga on a forested hill side. Birders have reported spotting nest sites of Brown Fish Owl and White bellied Sea Eagle. Birds you can hope to see: Oriental Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, White bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Spotted Dove, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Plum headed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Brown Fish Owl, Spotted Owlet, Indian Swiftlet, Little Swift, White-cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Yellow crowned Woodpecker, Black rumped Flameback, Indian Pitta, Spot breasted Fantail, Black naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White bellied Drongo, Rufous Treepie, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Blue winged Leafbird, Golden fronted Leafbird, Long tailed Shrike, Common Woodshrike, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Verditer Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Red rumped Swallow, Wire tailed Swallow, Grey headed Bulbul, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Grey breasted Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Greenish Warbler, Puff throated Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, Black lored Tit, Chestnut shouldered Petronia, White rumped Munia, Tree Pipit, Thick billed Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Pale billed Flowerpecker, Purple rumped Sunbird, Crimson backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird.Red Spurfowl, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Blue faced Malkoha. Banded Bay Cuckoo, Rufous Woodpecker, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Red throated Flycatcher and Crimson Sunbird.
Baga Hill: Across the Baga River this walk up the hill along the rocky headlands can reveal Oriental Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, White bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Spotted Dove, Indian Swiftlet, Little Swift, White-cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, Green & Blue tailed Bee-eater, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Rufous Woodpecker, Spot breasted Fantail, Black naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White bellied & Ashy Drongo, Rufous Treepie, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Blue winged Leafbird, Golden fronted Leafbird, Long tailed Shrike, Common Woodshrike, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Red rumped Swallow, Wire tailed Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Grey breasted Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Greenish Warbler, Puff throated Babbler, Tawny bellied Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, Black lored Tit, Chestnut shouldered Petronia, White rumped Munia, Tree Pipit, Pale billed Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Pale billed Flowerpecker, Purple rumped Sunbird, Crimson backed Sunbird, Longbilled Sunbird, Crimson Sunbird. Red Spurfowl, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Blue faced Malkoha. Banded Bay Cuckoo, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, and Red breasted Flycatcher.
Fort Aquada Marsh
Fort Aguada, is szituated 08 km south of Baga, on the Northern bank of the Mandori River. This site can be easily covered in a morning trip.
The beaches on the North lying on the property of the five-star Fort Aguada Beach Resort and Taj Holiday Village hotels. are not open to birders nor resident at these hotels. However inland from these complexes and sandwiched between the road and a large tributary of the Mandovi river there is a small but productive area of marsh and mangrove swamp This area is good for herons, egrets and shorebirds. Specialities include Black capped Kingfisher and Spot breasted Fantail in the mangroves. There is also a stake-out for the India Pitta. Birds you are likely to observe here are: Little Cormorant, Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Striated Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Shikra, White eyed Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, White breasted Waterhen, Pintail Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Red wattled Lapwing, Spotted Dove, Plum headed Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Common Kingfisher, White throated Kingfisher, Green Bee eater, White cheeked Barbet, Indian Pitta, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Fork tailed Drongo, House Crow, Rufous Treepie, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Long tailed Shrike, Orange headed Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Common Mynah, Jungle Mynah, Red breasted Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Pied Bushchat, Wire tailed Swallow, Streak throated Swallow, Red vented Bulbul, White browed Bulbul, Greenish Warbler, Tawny bellied Babbler, White-rumped Munia, Baya Black crowned Night Heron, Watercock, Small Pratincole, Temminck’s & Little Stint, Marsh Sandpiper, Broad billed Sandpiper, Black Capped Kingfisher, Grey breasted ( White breasted) Laughingthrush, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler,Weaver, and Purplerumped Sunbird.
Dona Paula Plateau
Located on the hammer-shaped headland between the Mandovi and Zuari river estuaries, Dona Paula is about 9km south-west of Panjim. The village is dominated by the five-star Cicade de Goa hotel and the University and has little character of its own. Several productive areas of dry grassland survive here harbouring species such as Yellow wattled Lapwing, Malabar Lark and Tawny Pipit that can be difficult to see elsewhere.
Birds you are likely to see:Yellow wattled Lapwing, Spotted Dove, Spotted Owlet, Blue tailed Bee eater, Blue Rock Thrush, Indian Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Pied Bushchat, Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark, Malabar Lark, Oriental Skylark, White browed Wagtail, Oriental Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Tree Pipit, Chestnut shouldered Petronia.
Chorao Island - Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
This is a large Island in the middle of the Mandovi River about 05 km east of Panjim. This site can be covered in a day trip. Some of the birds you are likely to see: Little Cormorant, Northern Pintail, Little Egret, Western Reef Egret, Intermediate Egret, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Striated Heron, Lesser Adjutant, Woolly necked Stork, Brahminy Kite, Tawny Eagle, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Brown headed Gull, Gull billed Tern, Greater Coucal, Blue tailed Bee eater, Dusky Crag Martin, Wire tailed Swallow, Ashy Prinia, White browed Wagtail, Richard’s Pipit.
Panaji ( Panjim) Salt pans
Located to the east of the two road bridges which cross the river Mandovi at Panaji and about 2km west of the Chorao Island ferry crossing at Ribander, the small marshy areas of mangrove and the pools here are worth a visit. Birds you are likely to see: Little Cormorant, Great & Intermediate Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Striated Heron, Greater Spotted Eagle, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad billed Sandpiper, Black winged Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Black bellied Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Mongolian Plover, Greater Sandplover, Red wattled Lapwing, Pied Kingfisher, Slaty legged Crake, Short eared Owl, Blue eared Kingfisher, Ashy crowned Sparrow Lark, Clamorous Reed Warbler.
Saligao Zor
Saligao is a small village close to Baga/ Candolim. It has a small area of mature woodland, well known as a stake- out for Brown Wood Owl. Suitable for a morning trip from your hotel. Birds you are likely to see: Shikra, Indian Peafowl, Spotted Dove, Plum headed Parakeet, Koel, Greater Coucal, Brown Wood Ow l, Stork billed Kingfisher, Blue tailed Bee-eater, White cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Spot breasted Fantail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White bellied Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Lesser Whitethroat, Long tailed Shrike, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Brown breasted Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Common Stonechat, Pied Bushchat, Wire tailed Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Grey breasted Prinia, Greenish Warbler, Jungle Babbler, Baya Weaver, Crimson backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird.Malabar Whistling Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, White bellied Blue Flycatcher, Puff throated Babbler, Black Redstart, Oriental Skylark, and White browed Bulbul.
Morjim Beach
This site is at the mouth of the Chapora Estuary, 5 km north of Baga. and supports waders and gulls. The best bird watching is often had on low tide when several extensive sand banks become exposed in mid-channel. The best area is on the northern beach of the river mouth at Morjim Beach where there is a large high tide roost. Birders have reported: Small Pratincole, Snowy Plover, Mongolian Plover, Greater Sandplover, Herring Gull, Yellow legged Gull, Gull billed Tern, Indian Swiftlet and Eurasian Hoopoe.Western Reef Egret, Osprey, White bellied Sea Eagle, Black bellied Plover, Crab Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Great Black headed Gull, Slender billed Gull, Black headed Gull, Brown headed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Caspian Tern, White cheeked Tern, Lesser & Greater Crested Tern.
Maem Lake
This lake is 35km north-east of Panjim. Popular amongst birders as a stake-out for Brown Fish Owl The lake is often crowded by tourist and picnickers. hence many water birds are not in evidence However the surrounding low tree covered hills can be productive. A day trip is recomended. Birds likely to be seen are: Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Red Spurfowl, Spotted Dove, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Plum headed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Blue faced Malkoha, Brown Fish Owl, Crested Treeswift, Common Kingfisher, White throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, White cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, White naped Woodpecker, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Fork‑tailed Drongo, Bronzed Drongo, White bellied Drongo, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Bar winged Flycatcher Shrike, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Blue winged Leafbird, Long tailed Shrike, Blue capped Rock Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird (Nilgiri Blackbird), Jungle Myna, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Grey breasted Prinia, Greenish Warbler, Large billed Leaf Warbler, Booted Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Puff throated Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, White rumped Munia, Baya Weaver, Crimson backed, Purple rumped Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird.Indian Peafowl, Malabar Pied Hornbill, and Little Spiderhunter
Carombilam Lake
This marshy lake is located 02 kms South East of Old Goa. The lake is surrounded by good habitat - scrub wasteland, paddy fields and woodland. It hold an enormous amount of waterfowl, many egrets and herons in the centre, Purple Swamphen, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana and thousands of Garganey, Northern Pintail, Green winged Teal, Northern Shoveler and exotics such as Comb Duck and Cotton Pygmy-goose. Raptors such as Marsh Harrier and White-bellied Sea-Eagle flush these frequently so the birds are never too static. In the surrounding area birders have spotted Greater Coucal, Jungle Babbler, Rock Bush Quail, Indian Robin, the unusual 'saxicola' species that is regularly sought and currently thought o be White browed (Stoliczka's) Bush-Chat (a Red-Data listed species). The area south of the main village.The area south of the main village is good for raptors. This site can be easily combined with a visit to Chorao Island and the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
Birds you are likely to see: Little Grebe, Little Cormorant, Lesser Whistling Duck, Comb Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Green winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Northern Shoveler, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Grey Heron, Great Egret, Purple Heron, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Striated Heron, Asian Openbill, Woolly necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Osprey, Black shouldered Kite, Brahminy Kite, White bellied Sea Eagle, Western Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Rock Bush Quail, White breasted Waterhen, Purple Swamphen, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Pheasant tailed Jacana, Bronze winged Jacana, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Red wattled Lapwing, Brown headed Gull, Gull billed Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Rose ringed & Plum headed Parakeet, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Common Kingfisher, White throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Green Bee eater, Eurasian Hoopoe, White cheeked Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Fork‑tailed Drongo, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Long tailed Shrike, Rufous Treepie, Chestnut tailed Starling, Jungle Myna, Oriental Magpie Robin, Indian Robin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Ashy & Plain Prinia, Greenish Warbler, Clamorous Reed Warbler, White rumped Munia, Citrine & Yellow Wagtail, Baya Weaver, and Purple rumped Sunbird, Indian Cormorant, Spot billed Duck, Red crested Pochard, Oriental Darter, Black crowned Night Heron, Watercock, Marsh Sandpiper, Small Pratincole, Whiskered Tern, Stork billed Kingfisher, Bluetailed & Chestnut headed Kingfisher, White browed Bulbul, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Booted Warbler, Tree Pipit, Chestnut shouldered Petronia.
Bondla Wild Life Sanctuary
Bondla is an excellent small sanctuary - 8 sq kms, situated at the foot of the Western Ghats. It lies about 52 kms east of Panaji and about 1½ hours drive from Baga / Candolim. The habitat is largely mixed forest in gently undulating terrain. It houses the Zoo, botanical park, and deer safari park. Early morning birding away from the tourist zone and on the approach road can be really productive. It is a feasible day trip from any of the hotels in the Baga area. A visit here can be combined with Molem - but it will involve an overnight stay at the tourist complex at Molem. Birds regularly seen are: Oriental Honey Buzzard, White bellied Sea Eagle, Shikra, Besra, Black Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Grey Junglefowl, Spotted Dove, Emerald Dove, Pompadour Green-Pigeon, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Greater Coucal, Crested Treeswift, Indian Swiftlet, White-rumped Needletail, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Chestnut headed Bee eater, Malabar Grey Hornbill, White cheeked Barbet, Speckled Piculet, Brown capped Woodpecker, Black rumped Flameback, Greater Flameback, Spot breasted Fantail, Black naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Ashy Drongo, White bellied Drongo, Bronzed Drongo, Greater Racket tailed Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Bar winged Flycatcher Shrike, Blue winged Leafbird, Golden fronted Leafbird, Long tailed Shrike, Large Woodshrike, Blue capped Rock Thrush, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Brown breasted Flycatcher, White bellied Blue Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, White rumped Shama, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Wire tailed Swallow, Red rumped Swallow, Black crested Bulbul, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Yellow browed Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Inornate Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Western Crowned Warbler, Puff throated Babbler, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Dark fronted Babbler, Rufous Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, Chestnut shouldered Petronia, White rumped Munia, Forest Wagtail, White browed Wagtail, Baya Weaver, Thick billed Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Crimson backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird.Crested Goshawk, Red Spurfowl, Common Peafowl, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Grey bellied Cuckoo, Drongo Cuckoo, Black backed Kingfisher, Malabar Trogon, Brown headed Barbet, Heart spotted Woodpecker, Hair crested Drongo, Common Rosefinch.
Molem - Bhagwan Mahabir national Park & wildlife Sanctuary
The park covers 250 sq kms of the Sahyadri Hills Densities here are lower but the avifauna is more extensive. It is located 20 kms from Bondla along the forest department track. It is feasable to make a day trip or to stay overnight at the rathar basic tourist complex for deeper birding looking for rarer birds such as the Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Sri Lanka frogmouth, blue bearded bee-eater, and white-belied Woodpecker. A particularly productive track begins immediately to the north of the tourist complex; and leads to Devil’s Canyon after about 7km and on to Dudh Sagar Waterfalls after a further 10km. You don’t have to go far however to see good birds – the forest immediately behind the tourist complex is among the best in the reserve and a walk along the dirt road for only 3 – 4km and back can produce an impressive array of bird species. There are many other trails for birding.
The bird life is similar to that at Bondla but the forests are more extensive and somewhat drier. Birders on day trips have reported regular sightings of: Oriental Honey buzzard, Crested Goshawk, Shikra, Pompadour Green-Pigeon, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Plum headed Parakeet, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Trogon, White-throated Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Lesser Yellownape, Black rumped Flameback, Brown capped Woodpecker, Black naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White bellied Drongo, Bronzed Drongo, Greater Racket tailed Drongo, Rufous Treepie, Large-billed Crow, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Asian Fairy‑Bluebird, Blue‑winged Leafbird, Golden‑fronted Leafbird, Long‑tailed Shrike, Large Woodshrike, Common Woodshrike, Blue capped Rock Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown breasted Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, White Rumped Shama, Chestnut bellied Nuthatch, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Red rumped Swallow, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Yellow browed Bulbul, Greenish Warbler, Western Crowned Warbler, Puff throated Babbler, Dark fronted Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, Chestnut shouldered Petronia, White rumped Munia, Grey Wagtail, Baya Weaver, Thick billed Flowerpecker, Pale Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Crimson backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird. Birds you are likely to see on a longer trip: Grey Junglefowl, Red Spurfowl, Indian Peafowl, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Emerald Dove, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Blue eared Kingfisher, Black backed Kingfisher, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, Grey bellied Cuckoo, Common and Greater Flameback, Drongo Cuckoo, Crested Treeswift, Brown headed Barbet, Heart spotted Woodpecker, Hair crested Drongo, Rusty tailed & Ultramarine Flycatcher, Grey headed Bulbul, Little Spiderhunter, Common Rosefinch, Black headed Bunting.
Tambdi Surla Woods
Back Woods Camp is located near the Tambi Surla Temple on the fringe of Molem Wild life Sanctuary . The camp offers a birding package for 02 nights and 03 days. The package included guided birding in the forest. They have a number of species staked out amongst them a pair of Ceylon Frogmouths. Some of the birds seen at Surla Woods: Crested Serpent-Eagle, Shikra, Besra, Black Eagle, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Grey Junglefowl, Pompadour Green-Pigeon, Mountain Imperial-Pigeon, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, Malabar Parakeet, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Greater Coucal, Oriental Scops-Owl, Jungle Owlet, Brown Wood Owl, Ceylon Frogmouth, Jungle Nightjar, Jerdon’s Nightjar, Crested Treeswift, Indian Swiftlet, White-rumped Needletail, Malabar Trogon, White throated Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Brown headed Barbet, White cheeked Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Black rumped Flameback, Heart spotted Woodpecker, Indian Pitta, Spot breasted Fantail, Black naped Monarch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, White bellied Drongo, Bronzed Drongo, Greater Racket tailed Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Ashy Woodswallow, Common Iora, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black hooded Oriole, Black headed Cuckoo Shrike, Small Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Golden fronted Leafbird, Brown Shrike, Long tailed Shrike, Common Woodshrike, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Orange headed Thrush, Chestnut tailed Starling, Rosy Starling, Jungle Myna, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Brown breasted Flycatcher, Red breasted Flycatcher, White bellied Blue Flycatcher, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, White rumped Shama, Common Stonechat, Velvet fronted Nuthatch, Red rumped Swallow, Grey headed Bulbul, Black crested Bulbul, Red whiskered Bulbul, Red vented Bulbul, Yellow browed Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Greenish Warbler, Western Crowned Warbler, Dark fronted Babbler, Brown cheeked Fulvetta, Malabar Lark, Chestnut shouldered Petronia, White rumped Munia, Forest Wagtail, White browed Wagtail, Oriental Pipit, Tawny Pipit, Baya Weaver, Thick billed Flowerpecker, Plain Flowerpecker, Crimson backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Long billed Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, Red Spurfowl, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Spot bellied Eagle Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Black backed Kingfisher, Blue bearded Bee eater, Chestnut headed Bee eater, Speckled Piculet, Brown capped Woodpecker, Yellow crowned Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, White bellied Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, Spangle tailed Drongo, Large Cuckoo Shrike, Ashy Minivet, Large Woodshrike, Blue capped Rock Thrush, Indian Grey (Tickell’s) Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, Large billed Leaf Warbler.
