Wilderness Tales from Odisha

Avifauna of Odisha / Greater racket tailed Drongos of Sundergarh

2018-11-24T02:31:00.001+05:30

Out of the forests of Odisha, arguably the best population of Greater racket tailed Drongos exist in the forests of Sundergarh.

Here are some of the captures from the field.

Flora of Khariar/ Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary

2018-10-27T17:53:00.002+05:30

Dicliptera chinensis

Erythrina indica

Gardenia gummifera

Grewia asiatica

Wrightia tinctoria

Birds of Khariar/ Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary (Part1)

2018-10-20T09:27:00.004+05:30

Alexandrine Parakeet at Jamgaon

Asian brown Flycatcher at Komana

Banded bay Cuckoo at Cherchuan

Black naped Monarch at Cherchuan

Common Woodshrike at Beniadhus

Crested Serpent Eagle at Cherchuan

Indian Paradise Flycatcher at Cherchuan

Indian Pitta at Cherchuan

Indian Paradise Flycatcher at Cherchuan

Tickell's blue flycatcher at Cherchuan

For more on Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, read

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/conservation/field-reports/10834-sunabeda-once-a-bastion-for-wildlife-now-on-the-brink-.html

Khariar/ Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuaryr: The most important tigerland of Odisha

2018-10-20T09:18:00.000+05:30

Save the most important tigerscape of Odisha.
Here is my writeup on forests of Sunabeda and Khariar published in Oct 2018 issue of Sanctuary Asia.
http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/conservation/field-reports/10834-sunabeda-once-a-bastion-for-wildlife-now-on-the-brink-.html

A beautiful watering hole near Cherchuan

Beniadhus waterfalls

Near Jamgaon

Kapatdhar

River Jonk

Near Beniadhus

On a splendid winter morning at Jamgaon valley

The Corridor Foundation

2018-09-15T14:26:00.002+05:30

With a lot of happiness, I would like to share that a long cherished dream of setting up a volunteering organization in wildlife conservation arena finally got materialized today.
I take this opportunity to thank all the well wishers from wildlife conservation community who have time and again pushed me towards this initiative. I have been pondering over the right time and finally this is the moment of that leap of faith. This one is for all of you. More importantly this is for all those neglected and unheard forests of Odisha & its wildlife.
I am sure many more would join hands and take this initiative forward from here. Especially I would expect non wildlife community to come forward and volunteer with us. We all will learn and grow together.
This is just the beginning…

Now on Sale: Wilderness Tales from Similipal

2017-01-21T16:53:00.002+05:30

Happy to share that my penned book, " Wilderness Tales from Similipal" is now available on following websites. Do grab your copy.

https://www.facebook.com/WildernessTalesfromSimilipal/

https://www.flipkart.com/wilderness-tales-similipal/p/itmepqg2cmmykrnb?pid=9789383175772

http://www.amazon.in/Wilderness-Tales-Similipal-Satyesh-Naik/dp/938317577X/

https://www.infibeam.com/Books/wilderness-tales-similipal-satyesh-naik/9789383175772.html

http://www.dogearsetc.com/books/Wilderness-Tales-From-Similipal/40612

Hill Mynas of Satkosia

2016-06-21T12:28:00.001+05:30

Satkosia is arguably the best place in forests of Odisha to sight the Hill Mynas. Especially the Pampasar and Raigoda ranges on the Angul side of the Tiger Reserve is a heaven for this species. Flocks comprising up to 30 individuals have been noticed. Also seen very commonly near the Labangi Forest Guest House.

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Author would like to specially thank maverick forest officer, Shri Suvendu Behera (ACF, STR) for helping in the documentation of this specie.

Some observations on Malabar pied Hornbills of Satkosia

2016-06-21T01:35:00.001+05:30

Here are some observations on the occurrence of Malabar pied Hornbills from Satkosia.

Very frequently seen along the Mahanadi gorge, especially at Tikarpada and Kuturi
Maximum size observed by me is a group comprising of 3 birds. Though others have observed groups comprising of as big as 8-10 numbers.
Also commonly seen near the human habitations and rarely are perturbed.

Location: Tikarpada in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary

Location: Kuturi in Mahanadi Wildlife Division

Reporting of Rufescent Prinia from Satkosia

2016-06-21T01:05:00.001+05:30

Hereby we report the presence of Rufescent Prinia ( Prinia rufescens) at Satkosia.

Recorded at Chamundia Range of Mananadi Wildlife Division
Time: 9 am, October 2015
Seen in a flock of 10-12 birds
Were seen foraging between Bamboo brakes near Sukhila nala area
Very vociferous group
Can be very easily confused with the Grey breasted Prinia including the below photographed individual. Habitat along with the call of the flock was an indicator for us to zero in on Rufescent Prinia rather than the Grey breasted Prinia ( which is normally seen on forest edges and rarely inside the deep pockets of forests).

Reporting of Rufous-bellied hawk Eagle from Satkosia

2016-06-20T22:51:00.000+05:30

Hereby, we report the presence of Rufous-bellied hawk Eagle from Satkosia.

A Juvenile Rufous-bellied hawk Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii) was seen soaring at a considerable height near Badasilinga beat of Mahanadi Wilidlife Division at Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
Number of individuals recorded:1
Type of forest: Sporadic Sal vegetation with scrublands and cleared forest
Time: Around 8:30 am in the morning in the month of January 2016

Sighting Records for Rare Ashy Minivet at Satkosia Tiger Reserve

2016-01-20T19:20:00.000+05:30

Here we ( Dr Anup Nayak;RCCF Angul, Anshu Pragyan Das; DFO Mahanadi Wildlife Div & Satyesh Naik) report the presence of Ashy Minivet at Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

Some observations:

It was observed in Chamundia Range
There was a flock of 10-12 individuals seen in the Teak Plantation.

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Author would like to thank Manoj V Nair(IFS) for inputs.

Butterflies of Similipal ( Set 2)

2015-07-22T21:46:00.000+05:30

Common banded Peacock

Common Fourring

Common Nawab

Danaid Eggfly

Five bar Swordtail

Great Eggfly

Orange oakleaf

Blue Tiger

Small Branded Swift

Common Nawab and Tawny Rajah

Common Crow

Drury's Jewel

Plum Judy

Mud puddling near Khadkai

Observations on nesting of Black-naped Monarch at Similipal

2015-07-20T16:00:00.003+05:30

Following Observations were made at nest of a Black naped Monarch at Similipal

Place of Observation: Nigirdha , Range Nawana (N)
Duration: 2 days in the month of May 2015
The nest was observed over the fork of a tree along the Nigirdha nala
At any given point of time, either of the parents guarded the nest
There were 3 hatchlings in the nest
The same birds were perhaps part of a mixed hunting group that used to scan the forests surrounding Nigirdha section office. There was a group of Brown cheeked Fulvettas who would constantly feed as a group in the shrubberies. During 2 days of observation, they would always give the particular tree( where nesting was located) a miss. It might be a completely coincidence. But it is arguably one of the indicators that birds of different species which are regular to a particular mixed hunting party, may be socially bonded to each other.

Female at the nest

Male at the nest

The pics above were shot around 7-8 meters from the nest without disturbing the birds.

Presence of Lineated Barbet in Similipal

2015-04-12T09:48:00.000+05:30

Following are the Photographic records for the presence of Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata) in Similipal Biosphere Reserve. Observation highlights are:

Usually seen in Winters
Usually have been observed as sole individuals and not in groups
Seen flocking in higher canopy and rarely comes towards eye level
Very restless and usually seen disturbed on our presence.
All the observations that we made have been in and around Tarinivila and Jamuna danda in UBK Range

Addition of Cinereous Vulture to Checklist of Birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve

2015-03-16T21:31:00.001+05:30

In the earlier checklist of Similipal published in 2014, we had not included Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Neither any past record nor any of the Avi-fauna Guides show Odisha as a migratory range for this specie except for a rescued individual from Bonai.

On 17th Dec 2014, a Juvenile individual ( photographed below) was rescued from Kaliasole beat in Deuli Range of Baripada Forest Division in North East Odisha. It looked very exhausted as per the Range officer of Deuli, Shri P K Mallick. It did not accept the dressed chicken that was given as food. Veterinary officer of Suliapada rendered the preliminary treatment. Subsequently, the next day, it was transferred to Nandankanan Zoological park where it will be rehabilitated along with 2 other individuals. One of them was rescued sometime in 2011 from Bonai Forest Division1.

This species breed in North West Pakistan and Afganistan. Stray records of breeding in J &K and Himachal Pradesh has been recorded from past. Their winter migratory range somewhere is a straight line from North of Maharashtra to West Bengal. But these 2 instances of the rescue of Cinereous Vulture from places located in nothern half of Odisha tentatively indicates that their wintering range might be Odisha also. Based on this particular individual's rescue from Deuli, we are including Cinereous Vulture in the checklist of birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve.

Rescue sites of the individual Vultures
Map Credit: Google Earth

References:

Naoroji Rishad; Birds of Prey of the Indian Subcontinent ; Om Publications (2006)

www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintMagazine/2011/May/15.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinereous_vulture

Nuthatches of Similipal

2015-03-16T21:31:00.000+05:30

Presence of Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Sitta frontalis) and Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch (Sitta cinnamoventris) is common across all the Ranges.
Mostly seen in the Sal dominated forests compared to the Miscellaneous type of forests.
Both the species are invariably seen as part of mixed hunting parties.
Average flock size of Velvet fronted type is around 6-8 compared to 2-3 of the Chestnut bellied type.
Velvet fronted is more common compared to the Chestnut bellied type.

Location: Nigirdha ; Range: Nawana (North)
Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch

Location: Jamuna chaka ; Range:National Park
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

On the Occurence of Grey Treepie in Similipal Tiger Reserve

2015-03-11T19:52:00.000+05:30

In Similipal, on multiple occasions, we have come across Grey Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae), the closest cousin of our backyard chap, Rufous Treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda).

Mostly we have seen them foraging in the forested areas which is basically a Miscellaneous type and not dominated by the Sal (Shorea robusta) species.
Only exceptions are the stunted Sal vegetation of Patbil, Devasthali, Dhudram (especially around Dhudram nala) and Tinadiha where individuals are normally seen flocking from one tree to other.
The other areas where they are commonly observed are Nekdanacha & Tarinivila area of Upper Barhakamuda.
We have also photographed ( the individual below) them on the ascent of Jamunadanda ridge.
Out of 6 occasions, on 4 occasions we had seen them in groups of 3-4 individuals
Very restless and flush out rapidly on closer approach.
Commonly known as Himalayan Treepie, the specie has a small population residing in the Eastern Ghats ( mostly in the forested tracts of Odisha) apart from the larger population that is resident of the lower Himalayan forests.

Black dots indicate ( a tentative estimation of the locations and is not based on GPS reading) the locations where the species have been photo-documented.

Source Map: http://similipal.org

Reference:
Ali, Salim & Ripley, S Dillon ; Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan; OUP 1972/1987

Checklist of Birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve

2015-03-06T11:22:00.000+05:30

Here is the Checklist of Birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve . One of the recent additions post publication of the Checklist is the Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus). Will be writing on that addition in a few days from now.

Butterflies of Similipal

2015-01-01T19:32:00.002+05:30

Wishing a great New Year 2015 ahead.
Trying hands on Butterflies. Do let me know if wrong IDs have been mentioned.

Paris Peacock

Location: National Park / Ranasa

Chocolate Pansy

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Clear Sailer

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Common Castor

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Common Leopard

Location: National Park /Ranasa

Common Lime

Location: Upper Barhakamuda /Devasthali

Common Mormon

Location: Jenabil /Gurandia

Common Vagrant

Location: National Park /Ranasa

Eastern Fivering

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Grey Count

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Grey Pansy

Location: Pithabata /Kachudahan

Spot Swordtail

Location: Jenabil /Gurandia

Observations on nesting of Thick billed Green Pigeon in Similipal

2014-12-01T21:26:00.000+05:30

Nesting was observed in the month of April 2013
On a Sal Tree beside the road from Bhanjabasa to Gunduria in south Similipal
Approximate height of the nest about 35 feet from ground
Nest made of twigs made on a semi dried clump of Orchid Dendrobium regium
Both male and female were involved in building the nest
Seen collecting twigs from a nearby bush
Both birds never approached the nest directly. Would perch on nearby tree and then approach the exact nest location after scanning the surroundings.
Were seen actively feeding on the ripe Jadi figs ( Ficus amplissima)
At the Jadi tree, a group comprising of almost 20-25 individuals were seen only to be disturbed by a raiding Serpent Eagle. Other birds present were a Grey headed Barbet, a Starling Myna couple, a lone male Plum headed Parakeet and a Juvenile Black naped Oriole.
Overall sighting are very common in Summer compared to Winters.

A Male Bird with full display of it's colours

Location: Gunduria

Range: Upper Barhakamuda

A female bird feeding on Jadi figs

Location: Gunduria

Range: Upper Barhakamuda

Male bird with nesting material

Male bird at the nest

Nest on the Sal tree

Location: Bhanjabasa

Range: Upper Barhakamuda

Trogon Land of Similipal

2014-11-30T21:20:00.000+05:30

My first sighting of Malabar Trogon was in Similipal and there on , Similipal Tiger Reserve for me has been rechristened to Similipal Trogon Reserve. Invariably sightings are very common along most of the forest roads and across all ranges. Nestings are observed in the peak summer or with the onset of monsoons and both the parents are observed incubating the eggs. Nest is usually a crevice of a tree found 2-3 meters from the ground. The clutch size is often 3 pale white eggs.

Location: Jamuna Nuagaon Road

Range: National Park

Location: Jamuna Nuagaon Road

Range: National Park

Location: Jamuna Village

Range: National Park

Nest of the Malabar Trogon: A crevice in the tree

Similipal Tiger Reserve in Saevus Magazine

2014-11-03T22:36:00.002+05:30

Our Article on Avifauna Diversity of Similipal Tiger Reserve covered in the November issue of Saevus Magazine.

Digital Version available on
www.readwhere.com

Pride of Similipal Tiger Reserve- Pale capped Pigeons

2014-11-01T00:27:00.000+05:30

If Melanistic Tigers have been making Similipal famous, now its turn of the Pale capped Pigeons.
Very commonly seen in and around the saltlicks of Chahala, Jenabil and Upper Barhakamuda, they have now been observed in and around the forest clearings adjoining Kabatghai village.

Today, "arguably" Similipal is the best place in the Subcontinent to observe these beauties.

Seen throughout the year, but very active near the saltlicks in the summers.

For more on Birds of Similipal visit:
http://similipal.org/birds.php

http://similipal.org/annual-report.php

Orchids from Similipal Hills

2014-08-16T20:31:00.000+05:30

Similipal houses more than 90 types of Orchids...in Odia known as Malanga.

The below pictures were taken in the month of June.

Dendrobium formosum

Location: Jenabil

Dendrobium moschatum

Location: Barhakamuda

Dendrobium regium

Location: Jenabil

Dendrobium transparens

Location: Sarabasa

Rhynchostylis retusa

Location: Devasthali

One of the best books to learn about Orchids is Dr Sarat Mishra's " Orchids of Orissa" published in 2004. A Civil Engineer by background, Dr Mishra is a legendary Orchilogist.

Book Released: Birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve

2014-06-13T23:00:00.002+05:30

To order a copy please visit http://similipal.org/annual-report.php#

Book on Birds of Similipal Biosphere Reserve has been released.

Incudes Coloured Plates for 260 species along with other details like identifying features, presence in Similipal, nesting, observation tips, local names etc. Also includes the complete checklist of 361 species along with details on birding areas inside Similipal.

Pages 280 Hardbound

Price 650 INR including postage charges.

ISBN 9788192236414