BIRDS WE SAW AT NAGZIRA

There are a number of small water tanks called ‘paanvataa’ which are built in the forest specially for the birds and animals. One can observe them near these tanks and get beautiful pictures.

We got to see more than 50 different species of birds in the Nagzira forest.

The Indian Peafowl which includes the peacock and the peahen can be seen in plenty in the forest. The peacock is truly the most beautiful bird I have ever seen. It deserves to be the national bird of India. I have no words to express its beauty. It looks majestic when it walks carrying its long, beautiful tail feathers. We also enjoyed the extraordinary sight of a peacock in flight.

Peacock

Next, is the Indian Pitta which I loved a lot!

          

Indian Pitta

Look at its eyes. It appears as if a Bharatnatyam dancer has applied kohl so that on stage we can see the movement of eyes clearly. It is a colourful bird with the common name 'navrang'. Its loud call sounds like 'line clear'.

       

Common Hawk Cuckoo                                                Eurasian Cuckoo

The Common Hawk Cuckoo was one bird which could be heard all day and all over the forest. It would call even at 2:30 am in the night. It has a unique song and Kika can imitate the bird perfectly. Once he demonstrated this. He whistled the song and the bird repeated it in exactly the same way. The notes go higher and higher and finally it repeats a sound which goes  somewhat like 'brain fever, brain fever'. Kika would call and each time the bird would reply back and we would all listen in amazement.

The Eurasian Cuckoo's call sounds somewhat like -  " kaka kaku, kaka kaku"

Almost at every water tank we got see a large number of birds like the Rufous Treepie, Brahminy Starling, Common Myna, Chestnut-tailed Starling (Grey-headed Myna), Oriental Magpie Robin, Jungle Babbler, Golden Oriole, Black-hooded Oriole, Red-vented Bulbul and Black Drongo. See some of the pictures we got.

          

JATRA OF BIRDS NEAR WATER TANK

       

Black-hooded Oriole                                                 Rufous Treepie

       

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo                            White-bellied Drongo          

      
Gold-fronted Leaf Bird                                       Black-naped Monarch

       

      Common Kingfisher                                White-throated Kingfisher

       

                      Yellow-footed Green Pigeon                                        Spotted Dove                                

                            (Hariyal - State Bird of Maharashtra)

       

White-rumped Munia                                     Jungle Babbler (Satbhai)

       
Indian Roller                                                   Grey Junglefowl      

       

Grey Hornbill                                       Indian Scops Owl

       

Crested Hawk Eagle                             Crested Serpent Eagle

       
  Grey-headed Fish Eagle                                        Oriental Honey Buzzard

The eagles were seen in plenty. The Crested Serpent Eagle and Crested Hawk Eagle were seen on almost every safari. The Grey-headed fish eagle was seen near the Nagzira lake. We could get a very clear view through Kika's spotting scope.

Many other birds were seen by us but we could not get pictures of  all. They include Oriental White-eye, Plum-headed Parakeet, Brown-headed Barbet (rare sight), Great Tit, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Asian Paradise Flycatcher (male), White-rumped Shama (male and female), Jungle Owlet, Shikra,  Little Cormorant, Pond Heron.

          
Red-wattled Lapwing                          Cattle Egret                       Family of Red-naped Ibis

Animals we saw