A trip to Gujarat and lower Kutch planned in the off-season late June before the onset of the monsoon. It was a pleasant surprise with a wide range of species spotted in the span of 3 days.
Route : Ahmedabad to Kutch (Dhrangadhra, Bajana) by road. Idar and Taranga hill forest while returning.
List of birds spotted:
1. Grey Francolin - 6 (Kutch)
2. Rock Bush Quaiil - 8 (Kutch)
3. Indian Peafowl - Plentiful all over Gujarat
4. Lesser Whistling Duck - 3 (Savda Lake, Kutch)
5. Spot-Billed Duck - 5 (Malvan)
6. Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker - 2 (Taranga, Barkhol)
7. Crimson-Breasted Barbet - 1 (Barkhol)
8. Indian Grey Hornbill - 1 (Taranga)
9. Common Hoopoe - 1 (Dharoi)
10. Indian Roller - 2 (Dharoi)
11. Common Kingfisher - 1 (Dharoi)
12. White-Throated Kingfisher (Lakhtar)
13. Pied Kingfiser - 3 (Lakhtar)
14. Green Bee-Eater - 5 (Thol)
15. Pied Cuckoo - 1 (Dharoi)
16. Common Hawk Cuckoo - 1 (Dharoi)
17. Asian Koel - 1 (Viramgam)
18. Greater Coucal - 5 (Viramgam)
19. Rose-Ringed Parakeet - 6 (Vani)
20. Asian Palm Swift - 5 (Idar)
21. Alpine Swift - 2 (Idar)
22. House Swift - 15 (Idar)
23. Rock Pigeon - plenty
24. Laughing Dove - plenty
25. Spotted Dove - 10 (Lakhtar)
26. Eurasian Collared Dove - 20 (Vani)
27. White-Breasted Waterhen - 3 (Viramgam)
28. Purple Swamphen (Savda Lake)
29. Common Moorhen - 1 (Savda Lake)
30. Common Coot - 30 (Savda Lake)
31. Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse - 4 (Kutch)
32. Common Snipe - 2 (Savda Lake)
33. Common Sandpiper - 1 (Savda Lake)
34. Pheasant-Tailed Jacana - 5 (Savda Lake)
35. Black-Winged Stilt - plenty (Savda Lake)
36. Little Ringed Plover - 5 (Patdi)
37. Yellow-Wattled Lapwing - 2 (Savda Lake)
38. Red-Wattled Lapwing - 40 (Thol)
39. River Tern - 2 (Sabarmati)
40. Oriental Honey Buzzard - 2 (Dabla)
41. Black-Shouldered Kite - 5 (Dabla)
42. Black Kite - 25 (Dabla)
43. Egyptian Vulture - 2 (Dabla)
44. Shikra - 1 (viramgam)
45. White-Eyed Buzzard - 4 (Dabla)
46. Red-Headed Merlin - 1 (Savda Lake)
47. Peregrine Falcon - 1 (Idar)
48. Little Grebe - 25 (Thol)
49. Little Cormorant - plenty (Thol)
50. Indian Cormorant - 4 (Thol)
51. Little Egret - plenty (Thol)
52. Western Reef Egret - 4 (Thol)
53. Grey Heron - plenty (Savda Lake)
54. Purple Heron - 1 (Thol)
55. Great Egret - 5 (Lakhtar)
56. Intermediate Egret - 25 (Lakhtar)
57. Cattle Egret - 6 (Thol)
58. Indian Pond Heron - plenty (Lakhtar)
59. Black-Crowned Night Heron - 2 (Dharoi)
60. Greater Flamingo - 35 (Savda Lake)
61. Lesser Flaminigo - 25 (Savda Lake)
62. Glossy Ibis - 5 (Savda Lake)
63. Black-Headed Ibis - 3 (Patdi)
64. Black Ibis - 5 (Dabla)
65. Eurasian Spoonbill - 1 (Thol)
66. Painted Stork - 4 (Savda Lake)
67. Asian Openbill Stork - 4 (Thol)
68. Woolly-Necked Stork - 1 (Himmatnagar)
69. Bay-Backed Shrike - 2 (Kutch)
70. Long-Tailed Shrike - 6 (Patdi)
71. Rufous Treepie - 2 (Barkhol)
72. House Crow - plenty (Ahmedabad)
73. Thick-Billed Crow - plenty (Ahmedabad)
74. Ashy Woodswallow - 2 (Kutch)
75. Eurasian Golden Oriole - 1 (Barkhol)
76. Black Drongo - 4 (Barkhol)
77. Common Iora - 1 (Barkhol)
78. Common Woodshrike -1 (Kutch)
79. Indian Robin - plenty (Idar)
80. Oriental Magpie Robin -1 (South Gujarat)
81. Pied Bushchat - 2 (Dharoi)
82. Brahminy Starling - 2 (Thol)
83. Common Myna - plenty (Ahmedabad)
84. Bank Myna - plenty (Thol)
85. Plain Martin - 5 (Idar)
86. Crag Martin - 15 (Idar)
87. Barn Swallow - 3 (Viramgam)
88. Wire-Tailed Swallow - 5 (Viramgam)
89. Red-Rumped Swallow - 1 (Viramgam)
90. Streak-Throated Swallow - 1 (Idar)
91. White-Eared Bulbul - 3 (Vani)
92. Red-Vented Bulbul - 25 (Idar)
93. Zitting Cisticola - 3 (Vani)
94. Graceful Prinia - 2 (Thol)
95. Jungle Prinia - 1 (Taranga)
96. Ashy Prinia - 2 (Vani)
97. Plain Prinia - 1 (Savda Lake)
98. Clamorous Reed Warbler - 5 (Vani)
99. Common Tailorbird - 2 (Idar)
100. Common Babbler - 5 (Taranga)
101. Large Grey Babbler - 5 (Viramgam)
102. Jungle Babbler - 8 (Taranga)
103. Indian Bushlark - 3 (Kutch)
104. Ashy-Crowned Sparrow Lark - plenty (Kutch)
105. Crested Lark - 1 (Savda Lake)
106. Oriental Skylark - 1 (Kutch)
107. Purple Sunbird - 1 (Barkhol)
108. House Sparrow - 6 (Bajana)
109. Chestnut-Shouldered Petronia -1 (Barkhol)
110. Paddyfield Pipit -1 (Vani)
111. Baya Weaver - 1 (Barkhol) (also spotted many nests)
112. Crested Bunting - 2 (Idar)
113. Common Crane - 45 (Migrating over Kutch)
Very useful birding trip, with a lot of new species spotted. Crested Bunting was special since it was spotted outside its known distribution. The vultures of Dabla were not seen and villagers claimed they reduced from 250 odd to nil in the last two years.
Also surprising, was the flamingo colony in Savda Lake near Kutch out of season along with the Common Snipe. A group of Common Cranes were seen flying back from India due to the late monsoon.
Overall, a great birding trip and I can just imagine what a hotspot it will be in winter.
Route : Ahmedabad to Kutch (Dhrangadhra, Bajana) by road. Idar and Taranga hill forest while returning.
List of birds spotted:
 |
| Ashy-Crowned Sparrow-Lark female |
2. Rock Bush Quaiil - 8 (Kutch)
3. Indian Peafowl - Plentiful all over Gujarat
4. Lesser Whistling Duck - 3 (Savda Lake, Kutch)
5. Spot-Billed Duck - 5 (Malvan)
6. Yellow-Crowned Woodpecker - 2 (Taranga, Barkhol)
7. Crimson-Breasted Barbet - 1 (Barkhol)
8. Indian Grey Hornbill - 1 (Taranga)
9. Common Hoopoe - 1 (Dharoi)
10. Indian Roller - 2 (Dharoi)
11. Common Kingfisher - 1 (Dharoi)
12. White-Throated Kingfisher (Lakhtar)
13. Pied Kingfiser - 3 (Lakhtar)
 |
| Ashy-Crowned Sparrow-Lark male |
15. Pied Cuckoo - 1 (Dharoi)
16. Common Hawk Cuckoo - 1 (Dharoi)
17. Asian Koel - 1 (Viramgam)
18. Greater Coucal - 5 (Viramgam)
19. Rose-Ringed Parakeet - 6 (Vani)
20. Asian Palm Swift - 5 (Idar)
21. Alpine Swift - 2 (Idar)
22. House Swift - 15 (Idar)
23. Rock Pigeon - plenty
24. Laughing Dove - plenty
25. Spotted Dove - 10 (Lakhtar)
26. Eurasian Collared Dove - 20 (Vani)
27. White-Breasted Waterhen - 3 (Viramgam)
28. Purple Swamphen (Savda Lake)
 |
| Bank Myna |
30. Common Coot - 30 (Savda Lake)
31. Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse - 4 (Kutch)
32. Common Snipe - 2 (Savda Lake)
33. Common Sandpiper - 1 (Savda Lake)
34. Pheasant-Tailed Jacana - 5 (Savda Lake)
35. Black-Winged Stilt - plenty (Savda Lake)
36. Little Ringed Plover - 5 (Patdi)
37. Yellow-Wattled Lapwing - 2 (Savda Lake)
38. Red-Wattled Lapwing - 40 (Thol)
39. River Tern - 2 (Sabarmati)
40. Oriental Honey Buzzard - 2 (Dabla)
41. Black-Shouldered Kite - 5 (Dabla)
42. Black Kite - 25 (Dabla)
43. Egyptian Vulture - 2 (Dabla)
 |
| Black-Eared (Black) Kite |
45. White-Eyed Buzzard - 4 (Dabla)
46. Red-Headed Merlin - 1 (Savda Lake)
47. Peregrine Falcon - 1 (Idar)
48. Little Grebe - 25 (Thol)
49. Little Cormorant - plenty (Thol)
50. Indian Cormorant - 4 (Thol)
51. Little Egret - plenty (Thol)
52. Western Reef Egret - 4 (Thol)
53. Grey Heron - plenty (Savda Lake)
54. Purple Heron - 1 (Thol)
55. Great Egret - 5 (Lakhtar)
56. Intermediate Egret - 25 (Lakhtar)
57. Cattle Egret - 6 (Thol)
58. Indian Pond Heron - plenty (Lakhtar)
 |
| Black-Shouldered Kite |
60. Greater Flamingo - 35 (Savda Lake)
61. Lesser Flaminigo - 25 (Savda Lake)
62. Glossy Ibis - 5 (Savda Lake)
63. Black-Headed Ibis - 3 (Patdi)
64. Black Ibis - 5 (Dabla)
65. Eurasian Spoonbill - 1 (Thol)
66. Painted Stork - 4 (Savda Lake)
67. Asian Openbill Stork - 4 (Thol)
68. Woolly-Necked Stork - 1 (Himmatnagar)
69. Bay-Backed Shrike - 2 (Kutch)
70. Long-Tailed Shrike - 6 (Patdi)
71. Rufous Treepie - 2 (Barkhol)
72. House Crow - plenty (Ahmedabad)
73. Thick-Billed Crow - plenty (Ahmedabad)
 |
| Brahminy Starling (Myna) |
75. Eurasian Golden Oriole - 1 (Barkhol)
76. Black Drongo - 4 (Barkhol)
77. Common Iora - 1 (Barkhol)
78. Common Woodshrike -1 (Kutch)
79. Indian Robin - plenty (Idar)
80. Oriental Magpie Robin -1 (South Gujarat)
81. Pied Bushchat - 2 (Dharoi)
82. Brahminy Starling - 2 (Thol)
83. Common Myna - plenty (Ahmedabad)
84. Bank Myna - plenty (Thol)
85. Plain Martin - 5 (Idar)
86. Crag Martin - 15 (Idar)
87. Barn Swallow - 3 (Viramgam)
88. Wire-Tailed Swallow - 5 (Viramgam)
89. Red-Rumped Swallow - 1 (Viramgam)
 |
| Black-Headed Ibis |
91. White-Eared Bulbul - 3 (Vani)
92. Red-Vented Bulbul - 25 (Idar)
93. Zitting Cisticola - 3 (Vani)
94. Graceful Prinia - 2 (Thol)
95. Jungle Prinia - 1 (Taranga)
96. Ashy Prinia - 2 (Vani)
97. Plain Prinia - 1 (Savda Lake)
98. Clamorous Reed Warbler - 5 (Vani)
99. Common Tailorbird - 2 (Idar)
100. Common Babbler - 5 (Taranga)
101. Large Grey Babbler - 5 (Viramgam)
102. Jungle Babbler - 8 (Taranga)
103. Indian Bushlark - 3 (Kutch)
104. Ashy-Crowned Sparrow Lark - plenty (Kutch)
105. Crested Lark - 1 (Savda Lake)
 |
| Cattle Egret - breeding plumage |
107. Purple Sunbird - 1 (Barkhol)
108. House Sparrow - 6 (Bajana)
109. Chestnut-Shouldered Petronia -1 (Barkhol)
110. Paddyfield Pipit -1 (Vani)
111. Baya Weaver - 1 (Barkhol) (also spotted many nests)
112. Crested Bunting - 2 (Idar)
113. Common Crane - 45 (Migrating over Kutch)
 |
| Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse |
 |
| Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse |
 |
| Egyptian Vulture |
 |
| Eurasian Collared Dove |
 | |||
| Greater Coucal (Crow Pheasant) |
 |
| Greater Flamingo |
 | ||
| Grey Francolin (Grey Partridge) |
 |
| Grey Heron |
 |
| Indian (Red-Winged) Bushlark |
 |
| Lesser Flamingo |
 |
| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
 |
| Pied Kingfisher |
 |
| Indian Pond Heron |
 |
| Red-Rumped Swallow |
 |
| Rose-Ringed Parakeet |
 |
| Shikra |
 |
| White-Cheeked (White-Eared) Bulbul |
 |
| Wire-Tailed Swallow |
 |
| Woolly-Necked Stork |
 |
| Grey Mongoose |
 |
| Indian Wild Ass |
 |
| Nilgai (Blue Bull) |
 |
| Indian Palm Squirrel |
Very useful birding trip, with a lot of new species spotted. Crested Bunting was special since it was spotted outside its known distribution. The vultures of Dabla were not seen and villagers claimed they reduced from 250 odd to nil in the last two years.
Also surprising, was the flamingo colony in Savda Lake near Kutch out of season along with the Common Snipe. A group of Common Cranes were seen flying back from India due to the late monsoon.
Overall, a great birding trip and I can just imagine what a hotspot it will be in winter.
