Introduction |
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Site Details | Systematic List |
Other Wildlife
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By
Mike Prince on
31 December 2002
51. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus A single at Chapramari was the only sighting.
52. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A single at Chapramari and some also at Phulbari Barrage.
53. Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura A snipe that flew up from beside the road en-route from Bagdogra to Gorumara did not show a clear white trailing edge to the wing and was almost certainly this species.
54. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Six were seen beside the river at Gorumara and there was an intriguing record of a wader, probably a Greenshank, seen briefly at Neora Valley, probably disorientated by the fog. Also recorded from Phulbari Barrage.
55. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus One seen at Gorumara.
56. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Recorded from Phulbari Barrage.
57. Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus Seen at Phulbari Barrage.
58. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Seen en-route in the lowlands and at Gorumara even heard calling during the night there.
59. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Seen at Phulbari Barrage.
60. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Two were seen en-route between Bagdogra and Gorumara, one at Chapramari and interestingly two on the Sandakphu trek, which were likely to have been passage birds.
61. Black Kite Milvus migrans Common in the lowlands but not seen at higher elevations.
62. Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus A big surprise was of a fine adult soaring with a few vultures and Steppe Eagles a few kilometres below Mirik on the journey back to Bagdogra from Sandakphu on 29/11. Although still quite high in the hills the Teesta river was in view and it seems likely it had drifted up from somewhere along the river.
63. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus One immature seen near Mirik on 29/11.
64. White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis Singles at Gorumara and on the Mahakal Trail, and seen on the Sandakphu trek. A few also with the other raptors seen near Mirik on 29/11.
65. Slender-billed Vulture Gyps tenuirostris One seen at Lulagaon on 24/11 and one on the Sandakphu trek at GAR on 28/11 were presumed to be this species as opposed to Indian Vulture Gyps indicus.
66. Eurasian Griffon Gyps fulvus Six seen on the Mahakal Trail and other sightings from Sandakphu, including 16 on 28/11, mostly at the summit in the early morning.
67. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Singles of the nominate race recorded at Gorumara, Chapramari and Bamunpokhri.
68. Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus Seen at Phulbari Barrage.
69. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A migrating ring-tail was seen at the Sandakphu summit in the early evening of 27/11.
70. Shikra Accipiter badius Just single sightings en-route in the lowlands on two occasions.
71. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus A typically dark above melaschistos bird was seen in the valley from Rishyap.
72. Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentiles One bird, presumably the same, seen near Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11.
73. White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa One seen en-route, not far from Gorumara, on 23/11.
74. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo One at Gorumara and one at Sandakphu summit, which spent several minutes in a hovering hunting flight.
75. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Two different birds were seen at, or near, Lulagaon, one in the valley from Rishyap and one in the nearby Neora Valley National Park.
76. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis Late migrating birds seen at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11 and on the Sandakphu trek, where there were 21 on 28/11, with another six in the hills below Mirik
77. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos After hearing an unexpected report of seven at Sandakphu on 27/11 we saw four birds (two adults and two juveniles) there the following day. There are very few, at least
recent, records for West Bengal and these sightings suggest a small migration.
78. Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus One immature seen at Gorumara on 22/11.
79. Mountain Hawk Eagle Spizaetus nipalensis Singles seen at Lulagaon on both 23/11 and 24/11 and at Neora Valley on 25/11. The Neora Valley bird was seen in flight and perched briefly before 6 am.
80. Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens Good views of one at Gorumara and one at nearby Chapramari later the same day.