West Himalayan Butterflies

Here are photos of some of the butterflies that we saw in Garhwal. Naturally butterflies were far more common in May as compared to November 2014.

Sanjay Sondhi's help with ID's is much appreciated.

Stately Nawab

Sailor, Common (or Pallas')

Forester, sp.

Himalayan Blackvein

Himalayan Sergeant

Lascar, sp.

Banded Treebrown

Hedge Blue (probably Margined)

Pea Blue

Chocolate Pansy

Tabby

Pale Hedge Blue

Copper, Common and White-bordered

Azure Sapphire (female & male)

Orange-bordered Brown Argus

Sapphire, female

Common Grass Yellow

 Pale Clouded Yellow

Lilacline Bushbrown

Other butterflies included the ubiquitous Indian Tortoiseshell, a couple of Argus species, Hill Jezebels in large numbers on the canopy of flowering trees, Common Crow, Common Wall and several Blues. 

Garhwal birdlist - May and November 2014 trips

Here is an annotated checklist of birds that we observed over two trips to Govind National Park in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India.

Trip dates: 12th to 20th May 2014 (Summer) & 15th to 23rd November 2014 (Winter).

While the birding in summer was good, winter was probably more exciting as we encountered some significant species - Upland Buzzard, Chaffinch and Long-billed Thrush, to name a few.

I shall later post a trip report and some photos of the highlights from our trip in November 2014.

Many thanks to Happy(C V Singh) and Somendra for photos and lists of some of the trickier species from which this checklist has been compiled.

Here is a link to an earlier post that shows the lay of the land where these species were observed.
http://jaipurbirding.blogspot.in/2014_05_01_archive.html

No.	Common Name	When observed(S=Summer/May; W=Winter/November)	Notes
1	Chaffinch	W	1 male each at two different locations near Sankri. In fallow cultivation with scattered bushes, trees.
2	Spot-winged Grosbeak	S	7-8 individuals feeding on conifers past Dhaula beside river Rupin in rain. Probably driven down valley by weather in S.
3	Black and Yellow Grosbeak	W	Mixed flock of B&Y and Collared Grosbeaks on conifers around Sankri
4	Collared Grosbeak	W	Mixed flock of vocal B&Y and Collared Grosbeaks on conifers around Sankri
5	Small Niltava	S	1 individual at Istragad in dense bushes near rivulet.
6	Rufous-bellied Niltava	S	1 individual in plantation near Jakhol; 1 below Taluka FRH near Tons.
7	Black-backed Forktail	S	1 individual at same location as small niltava on Istragad; 1 near Jakhol at roadside ditch.
8	Spotted Forktail	W	Several individuals in bush-choked rivulets near Sankri and Taluka. Also in larger rivulets flowing into Tons.
9	Small Forktail	S&W	One pair in S on Supin; and several individuals in small streams around Sankri and Taluka
10	Brown Dipper	S&W	Common on larger streams, Supin, Rupin and Tons. Many juveniles with parents in S. Few adults in W.
11	Wallcreeper	W	1 individual on rocky cliff in Supin valley above Jakhol; also pair in lower Jamuna valley en route.
12	Bar-tailed Treecreeper	W	1 individual in open forest near Sankri.
13	White-tailed Nuthatch	W	1 individual in mixed forest North of Sankri, later also bathing at Nursery waterhole.
14	Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch	S	1 individual in forest Taluka-Sankri road.
15	Black-chinned Babbler	S&W	Occasional small groups and individuals with other species in mixed forest.
16	Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler	W	Scattered individuals at different locations near Sankri in dense undergrowth. Skulker.Distinctive call.
17	White-browed Shrike Babbler	W	Group of 4-6 birds mixed in with forest species(thrushes,blackbirds) in broadleaf and deodar forest north of Sankri near Nursery.
18	Himalayan Bluetail	W	Occasional individuals (both M & F) in forest openings near Sankri.
19	Golden Bush Robin	W	1 male south of Sankri in dense vegetation near orchard; 1 female at Nursery waterhole.
20	Alpine Accentor	W	Small group of 4-6 birds on rocky cliff between Sankri-Taluka. Also few birds near Supin below Jakhol.
21	Rufous-breasted Accentor	W	1 individual on bushes with rosefinches and buntings in fallow fields south of Sankri.
22	Black-throated Accentor	W	1 individual on scattered bushes and trees in fallow cultivation near Sankri.
23	Black Bulbul	S&W	Few sightings of small groups 2-4 birds in S at Naitwar FRH; similar in W near Sankri.
24	Himalayan Bulbul	S&W	Common in S and W all over.
25	Kaleej Pheasant	S&W	Several individuals and pairs observed and a few flushed from heavy cover in forest and near villages.
26	White-capped Water Redstart	S&W	Common near all major streams and rivers.
27	Plumbeous Redstart	S&W	Common near all rivers.
28	Blue-fronted Redstart	W	Few individuals around Sankri. Best observed at Nursery waterhole on Sankri-Taluka road.
29	Blue-capped Redstart	W	Very few individuals near Sankri. Best observed at Nursery waterhole.
30	Yellow-bellied Fantail	W	1 individual with tits, warblers, babblers en route near Purola at lower elevation.
31	Black-lored Tit	S	Few individuals near Naitwar FRH.
32	Great Tit	S	Few individuals near Naitwar FRH.
33	Spot-winged Tit	S&W	Commonest tit in W near Sankri
34	Green-backed Tit	S&W	Common at most locations in S and W.
35	Black-throated Tit	S&W	Flock of 8+ birds in W near Sankri; also flock at Naitwar FRH in S.
36	Dark-sided Flycatcher	S	Few individuals near Naitwar FRH.
37	Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher	S	1 individual near Naitwar FRH.
38	Ultramarine Flycatcher	S	1 individual in open forest Naitwar - Taluka road.
39	Verditer Flycatcher	S	1 individual near Naitwar FRH.
40	Long-tailed Minivet	S	Pair at Taluka FRH; Pair on Naitwar - Dhaula road.
41	Grey Bushchat	S&W	Breeding pair near Naitwar FRH. Pairs occasionally seen elsewhere.
42	Pied Bushchat	S	1 individual near Naitwar FRH.
43	Siberian Stonechat	S&W	Occasional individuals in fallow cultivation perching on stalks.
44	Grey Treepie	S&W	Few pairs in open forest particularly near Naitwar.
45	Great Barbet	S&W	Common and vocal in S; very few in W.
46	Red-billed Blue Magpie	S&W	Common all over. Nesting pair at Taluka in S. Small parties 3-6 birds in S & W.
47	Blue-capped Rockthrush	S	1 male between Naitwar and Dhaula.
48	Chestnut-bellied Rockthrush	S	Nesting pair in forest Taluka-Sankri track.
49	Maroon Oriole	W	1 individual on conifer near Naitwar FRH; 1 bird on lower Yamuna valley
50	Slaty-headed Parakeet	S	Few scattered individuals near Naitwar and other lower elevations.
51	Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon	S	5 individuals on leafy tree at Naitwar FRH
52	Spotted Dove	S&W	Scattered individuals near Naitwar FRH. Others near villages.
53	Rufous-turtle Dove	S&W	Few individuals on trees near Naitwar FRH. Few other individuals near cultivation.
54	Streaked Laughingthrush	S&W	Common all over both in summer and winter.
55	Striated Laughingthrush	S&W	Few small groups mainly on trees in open forest.
56	Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush	S&W	Flocks of 6+ individuals in orchard/bushes/open forest near Taluka and Sankri.
57	Variegated Laughingthrush	W	3-5 individuals in bushes and open forest near Sankri
58	White-throated Laughingthrush	W	Flock of 6+ in forest trees between Taluka and Sankri.
59	Himalayan Swiftlet	S&W	Occasionally seen over deep river valleys in large numbers.
60	Fork-tailed Swift	S	Flock observed opposite limestone cliff on Naitwar-Jakhol road.
61	Red-rumped Swallow	S	Few birds around villages.
62	Asian Barred Owlet	W	1 individual observed twice on trees during the day near Sankri.
63	Brown Hawk Owl	S	Heard calling at Taluka FRH at night. Not seen.
64	Mountain Scops Owl	S	Heard calling at Naitwar FRH. Not seen.
65	Himalayan Griffon	S&W	Several individuals observed in flight over high mountain ridges almost every sunny day.
66	Eurasian Hobby	S	1 individual in overhead flight over forested hillside.
67	Common Kestrel	S&W	1 individual in open forest around Sankri. Probably same bird seen multiple times.
68	Mountain Hawk Eagle	W	1 adult perched eye-level on bare tree on steep hillsideTaluka-Sankri road. Observed from close from vehicle in afternoon.
69	Upland Buzzard	W	1 individual seen over multiple days at same location on lookout perches south of Sankri.
70	Himalayan Buzzard	W	1 individual perched on tree with prey upstream from Taluka.
71	Lammergeir	W	Few individuals in flight over higher reaches of  Supin and Rupin river valleys.
72	Eurasian Sparrowhawk	W	1 individual perched on tree near Sankri. Possibly same bird in flight on other occasions.
73	Golden Eagle	W	Possibly 5 different indiduals (2 juvenile and 3 adult) in flight over hill upstream from Taluka.
74	Crested Serpent Eagle	S	1 in flight and at perch on Naitwar-Jakhol road.
75	Speckled Piculet	W	1 individual on fruiting trees and bushes near Taluka. In loose mixed flock of sivas, fulvettas, etc.
76	Greater Yellownape	S	1 individual at Naitwar FRH
77	Lesser Yellownape	S	1 individual at Naitwar FRH hawking insects like flycatcher in sunshine after rain.
78	Himalayan Woodpecker	S&W	Several individuals at most locations during both trips.
79	Brown-fronted Woodpecker	S&W	Many individuals at several locations; more common in winter.
80	Scaly-bellied Woodpecker	S&W	Pair in summer and individuals in winter near Sankri in forest.
81	Rufous-bellied Woodpecker	S	1 female in thick forest near Sankri. On same tree as himalayan woodpecker.
82	Grey-headed Woodpecker	W	Few individuals in open forest near Sankri.
83	Aberrant Bush Warbler	W	Dusky-olive warbler in thick bushes near Sankri.
84	Grey-hooded Warbler	S&W
85	Western Crowned Warbler	S	1 individual Taluka-Sankri forest.
86	Greenish Warbler	S	1 individual near Naitwar FRH.
87	Tickell's Leaf Warbler	S	1 individual in bushes on dry hillside upstream from Taluka.
88	Lemon-rumped Warbler	W	1 individual in forest Taluka-Sankri.
89	Ashy-throated Warbler	W	1 individual near Sankri.
90	Whistler's Warbler	W	1 individual at lower altitude in winter. Same area as yellow-bellied fantail.
91	Common Chiffchaff	W	1 individual near Sankri.
92	Grey-crested Warbler	W
93	Eurasian Blackbird	S&W	Solitary bird in summer at Naitwar FRH; 1 individual in forest near Sankri Nursery area in winter.
94	Grey-winged Blackbird	S	Pair in undergrowth of dense forest on Sankri-Taluka road.
95	White-collared Blackbird	W	Pair observed in forest trees mixed with thrushes and shrike-babblers near Sankri Nursery.
96	Indian Blue Robin	S	1 individual at Naitwar FRH; 1 in dense forest undergrowth on Sankri-Taluka road.
97	Long-tailed Shrike	S&W	Few individuals in scrubby areas perching on bushes near villages.
98	Whiskered Yuhina	S&W	Few birds in forested glade on Obragad in summer. 1 individual near Sankri in winter.
99	Stripe-throated Yuhina	W	Solitary individual on small trees in open area south of Sankri.
100	Plain-backed Thrush	S	1 individual near Naitwar FRH.
101	Long-billed Thrush	W	Possibly 4 different individuals at different locations in wet roadside bushy ravines near Sankri.
102	Chestnut Thrush	W	Pair in mixed flock of blackbirds and shrike-babblers in dense broadleaf forest Sankri-Taluka road.
103	Spotted Nutcracker	S&W	Small bands commonly seen feeding on conifers in forest near Sankri and Taluka.
104	Red-headed Bullfinch	S	Flock of 6+ individuals in forest Sankri-Taluka road. Probably same flock seen on different days.
105	Brown Bullfinch	S&W	Flock of 8+ individuals in open forest and orchards near Taluka and Sankri.
106	Plain Mountain Finch	W	Flocks of 100+ individuals in fallow fields around Taluka and Sankri.
107	Yellow-breasted Greenfinch	W	1 individual observed in Sankri.
108	Indian Cuckoo	S	1 individual in dense broadleaf forest Taluka-Sankri road.
109	Lesser Cuckoo	S	1 individual calling incessantly from hillside near Taluka FRH. Not seen.
110	Common Hawk-Cuckoo	S	1 individual calling in forest on Sankri-Taluka road same area as Indian cuckoo. Not seen.
111	Eurasian Jay	S&W	1 individual in forest in summer. Pair observed in winter in same area.
112	Rufous Sibia	W	Several bands of 5-8 birds on fruiting trees.
113	Winter Wren	W	1 individual on track from Taluka to Osla. Later froze on short leafy tree and stalky bush.
114	Bar-throated Siva	W	Flock of 7-8 birds just off track from Taluka to Osla. On bushes and fruiting trees.
115	White-tailed Rubythroat	S	1 individual observed near Taluka on trekking path to Har-ki-dun in open scrubby hillside.
116	Striated Prinia	S&W	1 individual each in dense grass and bushes beside river. Near Taluka(W) and Dhaula(S). Skulker.
117	White-browed Fulvetta	S&W	2 bands of 4-6 birds near Taluka and Sankri in open forest and bushy scrub.
118	Pink-browed Rosefinch	S&W	Only 1 invidual in S near Taluka; several in W at most locations around Sankri.
119	Beautiful Rosefinch	W	Few individuals around Sankri in open areas in fallow fields, on bushes.
120	Dark-breasted Rosefinch	W	Pair observed south of Sankri in mixed flock crossing track.
121	Rock Bunting	W	Common in W. Few males and several females and juveniles observed.
122	Hoopoe	S	1 individual near Taluka.
123	White Wagtail	S	1 individual in marshy area at Taluka near Tons.
124	Grey Wagtail	S&W	Parents feeding 3 young at Taluka on Tons in summer. Few scattered individuals near streams.
125	Large-billed Crow	S&W	Common all over especially near villages.
126	Russet Sparrow	S&W	Very common.
127	House Sparrow	S&W	Few individuals in villages even in winter.
128	Common Myna	S&W	Few individuals in villages.
129	Blue Whistling Thrush	S&W	Common all over in open forest near water.
130	Oriental White Eye	S&W	Small group on flowering tree at lower elevation in winter. Few birds in summer.
131	Black Francolin	S&W	1 female photographed near Sankri in W; calling often in S in cultivation.
132	White-capped Bunting	W	1 individual photographed in winter.
133	Common Wood Pigeon	W	Flock of 8+ individuals in flight over forested ridge above Sankri-Taluka road. ID from Somendra's photos.
134	Partridge?	W	1 individual in thick cover in forest Sankri-Taluka roadside. Glimpsed twice - either Hill or Rufous-throated Partridge.
135	Chough?	W	Flock of birds very high over grassy ridge. Too far to ID whether red or yellow-billed choughs.

Tracking the Falcons

Being a fairly conscientious reader of a couple of daily Indian newspapers, I was somewhat surprised to have missed a report in the Times of India last week (week # 45, 2014). Surprised and elated when it was later forwarded to me by a birding friend.

Here is a link to the article
http://www.toi.in/X6D7Ta

If you would rather not be bothered reading it, here is the essence of the story: two amur falcons that were fitted with satellite transmitters to track their annual migration had just returned to their staging point in Nagaland (eastern India) on 29th October 2014, almost a year later.

As I write this blog today, the two survivors (and perhaps the third falcon too, if the transmitter simply fell off and the bird survived) are now gathering their reserves and are poised to launch afresh into the most inspiring leg of their migratory routes.

Please click on any of the links below to see their actual migration tracking from November 2013...

NAGA: http://www.satellitetracking.eu/inds/showmap?check143=143

PANGTI: http://www.satellitetracking.eu/inds/showmap?check145=145

WOKHA: http://www.satellitetracking.eu/inds/showmap?check144=144

Again, if you haven't actually clicked to play any of the routes I'm not going to let you go that easily!

For a moment think of these little falcons, spared only recently an annual slaughter in Nagaland by conservation efforts. They launch into an almost non-stop day-night flight, crossing the Bay of Bengal before turning westwards and hurdling the Indian peninsula; and then the most gruelling leg from the western coast of India near Goa, across the Arabian Sea to make landfall on the Horn of Africa on the Somalian coast.

And if you have seen the tracking of the migration, then you would know that this is just a part of the full cycle.

Actually for a Indian birder like me the more interesting information revealed by the tracking is their return migration in Spring.

Amur Falcons, like several other bird species (European Rollers and Spotted Flycatchers to name just two others) are mainly observed on passage over India in Autumn. These migrants fly in from northern climes, track through India in autumn, and fly across the Indian Ocean to winter in Africa.

The puzzling thing is that many of these species are rarely seen over India in Spring when they are winging their separate ways back north. Or, if occasionally observed, their return routes appear to be quite different from their paths in autumn / winter.

This seems to be corroborated by the return migration data for Naga and Pangti, our itinerant falcons.

Similar data for a particular species of migrating dragonfly, the Wandering Glider (Pantala flavesense) appears to bear a striking similarity. 

But let us leave these matters for experts and scientists to shed light on for us.
Instead I'm going to open the sat-tracking link to see whether Naga and Pangti have departed on their next adventure ...


sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in

Rao Jodha Desert Park

'Write!' exhorts the Muse

while I seek an excuse

or wait for the right cues

from fitful trips and birding news.

So to Rao Jodha desert park

floating above Jodhpur's raucous bark.

Puzzled by the ID of a confusing lark

yet snaffling a spotted flycatcher ere dark.

Searching for the elusive crimson tip butterfly

its unceasing flight rather than being shy

thwarts attempts at photographs I try

rewarded finally when patiently still I lie.

A lizard emerges from a rocky chink

snake-eyed lacerta or common skink?

As criss-crossing rivulet-riven pathways link

perches the crimson dropwing a dragonfly pink.

Crimson-tip 

Spotted Flycatcher

Lacerta or Skink?

Crimson Dropwing

sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in

Garhwal 4 - birding towards Har-ki-dun

Day 6: trek from Taluka towards Seema and return;

Day 7: exploring the left bank of Tons upstream of Taluka

Today would be a slightly longer hike.
We plan to walk at least half-way from Taluka towards Seema on the Har-ki-dun / Ruinsara tal trek route and return.
SS has described the early section of the track as passing through scrub, and HSS mentions that these 'transition areas' could throw up different bird species. Over the past few days we have enjoyed good birding, but all of us have commented that the bird density has been quite low, especially in dense forest. We have not found any large mixed hunting parties which are such an exciting part of himalayan birding.

Looking back towards Taluka FRH; 'transition areas' with mixed habitat on left-bank of Tons

The transition areas are where forest, bushy scrub, fruit trees and cultivation intersect.

We are only a short distance into our trek when a rosefinch, just off the track, ensconses itself in a dry stalky bush. As we come abreast, it freezes only a few feet from us. We get partially obscured views through the grassy stalks. It is a Pink-browed Rosefinch.

Soon we are in a glade with scattered fruit trees and terraced fields. A flock of bullfinches flits through the trees. Another wonderful, not commonly seen species - Brown Bullfinches.   

Brown Bullfinch

We decide to spend some time exploring this area and are rewarded with Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes skulking through the bushes. From a distance they appear quite plain, but once focused in the bins, the dark spotting on the breast and the yellow wings appear striking. A pair of Striated Laughingthrushes are primarily arboreal, their spiky crests and streaked plumage standing out in the foliage.

En-route Taluka - Seema

Brown Dipper (juvenile)

Brown Dippers are aplenty in the rivers and streams of this region. Many are juveniles - some already hunting for their food like their parents.

But not the one pictured above and its sibling. 

It is their parents that are doing all the work. 

Dippers are unusual in their feeding habits. Most of the prey is caught underwater in these glacial waters. 

The parent neatly dives to be fully submerged, then comes up yards downstream, floats down further, makes several more dives...and when something is finally caught, the juvenile streaks down to the appropriate rock and begs to be fed.

Yellow-throated Marten

We were able to observe martens on two occasions. Once, as pictured here, scrambling along on the opposite hill from us, across the river. Later, on being spied by shepherd dogs and given chase, it effortlessly foiled them by climbing a steep cliff.

Another time I ducked under a culvert to photograph dragonflies, and surprised a marten only yards from me. Presumably it was bathing since the coat was fully wet.

Interesting pattern on river boulder

Light drizzle most afternoons caused water to seep down onto the track

Past the village of Datmir and closer to Seema, the snows loom higher

Now we have to step aside to allow mules laden with rucksacks, tents and sleeping mats to pass. Then the first group of schoolchildren trekkers appear. On being asked how far they had gone, a chubby girl announces that she was one of the few who was able to make it up to Har-ki-dun. Another says that 'it was s-o-o-o cold'. The school party straggles past. One mule has a girl astride. I notice that many of the mules have far too large a load tied onto their backs. Some mule drivers are only carrying back empty plastic containers, chivvying their charges along. 

Grey Bushchat (male)

Grey Bushchat (female)

In this riverside scrub, dotted with thorny bushes sprouting yellow flowers, we come across several species in a matter of minutes, all within a few yards of each other. The highlight is a white-tailed rubythroat.

White-tailed Rubythroat

A pair of smallish babblers confuses me - but we later ID them as the White-browed Fulvetta. A solitary Striated Prinia stacks up as the only prinia we saw.

Long-tailed Minivet (male)

We find minivets usually in pairs. Females sport yellow in place of the male's red. 

Red-billed Blue Magpie

We were able to observe a magpie nest with three chicks. The magpie parents were able providers, and were their usual exuberant selves, unlike some other bird parents which appear to be rather harassed at their job.

Inverted ice-cone in the middle at back, partially obscured by clouds- Swargrohini (?)

Russet Sparrow

Himalayan Woodpecker

Streaked Laughingthrush

The locals

On the trekking route we do come across a few children importuning visitors for a 'toffee'. But this toddler, seen here with his grandmother, only smiled shyly at us. When he was given a (tiny) fistful of dry fruits his little cheeks got redder and his smile would have made the whole trip worthwhile even if we hadn't seen many birds.

To be fair, some of the menfolk of Taluka do actually work. This gent was often busy with something or the other in his hut just behind the FRH.

Well, that concludes the birding blogposts from our trip to Garhwal, but I'm going to add another report on the dragonflies and butterflies from here...

sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in