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India - The Kutch - Gujarat Raptor Watch

Published by Arpit Deomurari (deomurari AT gmail.com)

26/11/200: I went to Khavada and the nearby area in great rann of kutch for some official work. And also birding. I was impressed by the raptor fauna I saw. As many of you might be aware about diversity of raptors found in kutch.

From the checklist you can see that there are actually two different birding areas worth visiting.

One Devisar Pond and Rudrani Dam is a wetland near Bhuj. And another Khavada was in the Great Rann of Kutch.

 

Species Lists

1. Tawny Eagle (Aquilarapax)

*Total of 8 tawny eagles were seen. Out of them 5 were perching on the high tension power line, between loriya and bhirindiyari. 2 were seen near a small water pool. and one on large prosopis tree.

*Some of them were close enough to get sure identification. One on the prosopis tree was just 20ft. away from me.

2. Steppe Eagle (Aquilanipalensis)

*1 bird seen, identified from tawny eagle by yellow gape near eye, as mentioned in Kazmierzack's field guide.

* It gave very close view, it was perching on one big dried prosopis tree about 30 ft. away from me.

3. Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquilaheliaca)

* 1 adult bird seen. Sitting on large prosopis tree around 50 ft. away.

* Identified by paler color of head and neck.

4. Black shouldered Kite (Elanuscaeruleus)

* Seen 2 hovering on grass patch near KHARI village

5. Eurasian Marsh Harrier ( Circcusaeruginosus)

* Seen 2 adults near DEVISAR pond.

6. Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)

* Seen 3- adults and 1-juv. near dhrobana village sitting on large prosopis tree.

7. Shikra(Accipiter badius)

* Seen magnificant flight on low altitude in a dry farm near KHARI village. Catching a lizard.

8. Southern Grey Shrike (Laniusmeridionalis)

*Seen 2 birds. nearbhirindiyari. 1 bird was catching a saw-scaled viper and eat it after wards. Very clear view as it was just 20 ft. away from me. I had complete view from catching the snake, killing it, and eating it.

9. Pied Avocet
10. Desert Wheater
11.Variable Wheater
12.Common coot
13.Purple swamphen
14. Black winged stilt
15. Red-watlled lapwing
16.Ruff
17.Spotted Redshank
18.Common Greenshank
19.Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse
20.Indian Nightjar
21.Greater coucal
22.Pied Kingfisher
23.White-breasted Kingfisher
24.Indian roller
25.Ashy-crowned sparrow lark
26. Greater Short-toed lark
27. Rufous-tailed lark
28. Crested Lark
29.Black drongo
30.Rosy pastor
31.Red-vented Bulbul
32.White-eared bulbul
33.Common babbler
34.Booted warbler
35.Indian Robin
36. Grey wagtail
37. Citrine wagtail
38.Purple sunbird
39.Indian Sliverbill
40.Intermediate Egret
41.Cattle Egret
42. Grey Heron
43. Purple Heron
45.Pond heron
46.Painted Stork
47.Black-headed Ibis
48.Black Ibis
49. Spot billed duck
50. Shoveler
51. Common Pochard