Species List, India and Ladakh |
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Written by Jos | |
Winter is the season for Snow Leopards in the Himalaya, the feline virtually impossible to find at other times. Winter is not however the best season for producing large lists of other species, most birds having long migrated to lower altitudes and mammals such as marmots hibernating. That said, the hardy residents that remain include quite a number of spectacular specialities, such as Ibisbill, Guldenstadt's Redstart and assorted rosefinches, accentors and snowfinches. In total, only 55 species of bird and six of mammal were noted in Ledakh, but adding my excursions to Bharatpur and Ranthambhore, these totals rose to 197 species of birds and 20 species of mammal. The annotated lists below include all birds and mammals seen in the period of the trip, 13 October - 4 November 2012.
Birds
Little Grebe Up to ten seen daily at Bharatpur. Additionally, a single noted at Ranthambhore.
Indian Darter Common at Bharatpur. Not seen elsewhere.
Little Cormorant Abundant at Bharatpur, large numbers in the breeding colonies. Occasional singles also seen at Ranthambhore.
Indian Cormorant Common at Bharatpur, especially in the breeding colonies.
Great Cormorant Remarkable records, flocks of about 45 and 12 were seen migrating over the high Himalaya on subsequent days at Hemis. These birds were at an estimated altitude of 5000 metres. Additionally, about 20 were noted at Bharatpur.
Bar-headed Goose A flock of about 20 seen migrating southward over Ranthambhore. None had as yet arrived at Bharatpur.
Lesser Whistling Duck At Bharatpur, a flock of about ten were noted in one part of the wetland, with a female and chicks in another.
Knob-billed Duck Six seen at Bharatpur, four at Ranthambhore.
Ruddy Shelduck Two at Ranthambhore.
Cotton Pygmy Goose Only noted at Bharatpur, a single female on one day, five the next.
Indian Spot-billed Duck Two at Bharatpur and two at Ranthambhore were the only records.
Pintail The first of the winter birds, about 220 were noted at Bharatpur.
Garganey Two birds at Bharatpur.
Common Teal A common bird later in winter, but the only three birds seen were at Bharatpur.
Ferruginous Duck Fairly common in submerged grasses at Bharatour, at least 40 noted.
Himalayan Snowcock Two seen on the slopes in the Husing Valley, Hemis. Additionally, droppings widely seen both in Husing and neighbouring valleys.
Chukar Abundant in Ledakh, a minimum of 30 daily in Hemis.
Grey Francolin Common in the lowlands, with daily counts of up to 15 at Bharatpur, four at Agra and 20 at Ranthambhore.
Indian Peafowl At least 25 a day at Bharatpur, with about ten also seen at Agra and three or four daily at Ranthambhore.
Painted Stork Abundant at Bharatpur, the breeding colonies full of activity.
Asian Openbill Fairly common at Bharatpur, small numbers seen throughout the wetland.
Woolly-necked Stork In total, seven birds were noted at Bharatpur, one at Agra and two at Ranthambhore.
Black-headed Ibis At least 80 seen daily at Bharatpur and about 20 at Agra.
Eurasian Spoonbill Striated Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Indian Pond Heron Grey Heron Purple Heron Cattle Egret Great White Egret Intermediate Egret Little Egret Lammergeier Eqyptian Vulture Long-billed Vulture Himalayan Griffon Vulture Oriental Honey Buzzard Osprey Black-winged Kite Black Kite Black-eared Kite Crested Serpent Eagle Eurasian Marsh Harrier Shikra Eurasian Sparrowhawk White-eyed Buzzard Upland Buzzard Golden Eagle Steppe Eagle Bonelli's Eagle Booted Eagle Common Kestrel Eurasian Hobby Laggar Falcon Saker Falcon White-breasted Waterhen Small Buttonquail Purple Swamphen Common Moorhen Eurasian Coot Sarus Crane Great Thick-knee Pheasant-tailed Jacana Bronze-winged Jacana Ibisbill Black-winged Stilt River Lapwing Red-wattled Lapwing Little Ringed Plover Ruff Solitary Snipe Eurasian Curlew Common Redshank Marsh Sandpiper Common Greenshank Green Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Little Stint Temminck's Stint Pallas's Gull River Tern Whiskered Tern Rock Dove Hill Pigeon Snow Pigeon Collared Dove Spotted Dove Laughing Dove Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Ring-necked Parakeet Plum-headed Parakeet Asian Koel Greater Coucal Spotted Owlet Little Swift
Hoopoe Recorded at all three locations in the lowlands - a single at Bharatpur, two at Agra and two at Ranthambhore.
Indian Roller With daily counts of up to 30, abundant at Bharatpur. Also single at Agra and Ranthambhore on two occasions.
White-breasted Kingfisher Fairly common - up to 20 per day at Bharatpur, singles on a couple of occasions at both Agra and Ranthambhore, as well as one near the Indus River at Leh.
Common Kingfisher Two on a small stream at Ranthambhore.
Pied Kingfisher One bird on large lake at Ranthambhore.
Green Bee-eater Four birds noted at Bharatpur.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Flocks of eight and 15 seen on susequent days at Bharatpur.
Indian Grey Hornbill A total of six seen at Bharatpur and a single at Agra.
Brown-headed Barbet One bird in a small park near the Taj Mahel in Agra.
Coppersmith Barbet A single bird along the access road at Ranthambhore.
Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker One bird along the access road at Ranthambhore.
Lesser Goldenback Singles were noted at Bharatpur on two occasions, as well as two at Ranthambhore.
Common Woodshrike A pair were seen at Bharatpur.
Large Cuckooshrike An adult found feeding a recently fledged youngster at Ranthambhore.
Common Iora Four birds seen at Ranthambhore, all along the access road.
Small Minivet Two birds seen at Bharatpur, four at Ranthambhore.
Bay-backed Shrike Over subsequent days, a total of five birds noted at Ranthambhore.
Long-tailed Shrike Three bird seen - two at Bharatpur and one at Ranthambhore.
Black Drongo Common at Bharatpur, with a few individuals also seen in arid areas at Ranthambhore.
White-bellied Drongo Record in the open woodlands at Ranthambhore, a total of five noted.
Indian Golden Oriole One bird at Ranthambhore.
White-browed Fantail One or two seen daily in the open woodlands at Ranthambhore.
Rufous Treepie Common and widespread at both Bharatpur and Ranthambhore, particularly numerous at the latter.
Eurasian Magpie Present only in the Himalaya. A minimum of about ten a day around Leh and up to six daily in the Hemis area.
Carrion Crow Two seen near Leh on one occasion.
Large-billed Crow Small numbers in the Leh area.
Indian Jungle Crow Abundant in the scrub areas at Bharatpur, small numbers at Ranthambhore.
House Crow Abundant in all urban area throughout the lowlands, especially numerous in Delhi and Agra. A roost across the river from the Taj Mahel contained many thousands of birds. Not seen in Ledakh.
Northern Raven Two birds noted near Leh.
Red-billed Chough Small numbers seen on several occasions in Ledakh, records including three near the Indus River and pairs in Rumbak village on two occasions.
Alpine Chough More numerous than Red-billed Chough, birds were seen daily in Ledakh, typically in flocks of up to ten in the Leh area and over 40 in Hemis National Park.
Great Tit Most frequent in Ledakh - counts included up to 15 daily in Leh and about six daily in Hemis National Park. Up to four also seen daily at Ranthambhore.
Plain Martin A flock of six noted at Bharatpur.
Eurasian Crag Martin Two birds seen around Leh airport.
Dusky Crag Martin Flocks of five and ten seen at Ranthambhore.
Wire-tailed Swallow A pair seen daily around the main roundabout in Bharatpur town, near the entrance to the wetland sanctuary. One also seen at Agra.
Red-rumped Swallow Two birds seen at Bharatpur and 15 at Ranthambhore.
Indian Bushlark Three birds and four birds seen on subsequent days at Ranthambhore.
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Two singles at Ranthambhore.
Oriental Skylark At least five birds seen on sand islands on the river behind the Taj Mahel in Agra.
White-eared Bulbul Common at Bharatpur, minimums of 10-20 seen daily.
Red-vented Bulbul Fairly common at Bharatpur and abundant at Ranthambhore, with absolute minimum daily totals of ten and 40 respectively.
Grey-breasted Prinia Fairly common at both Bharatpur and Ranthambhore, daily totals up to 15 or more.
Graceful Prinia Small numbers seen at Bharatpur and Ranthambhore, typical totals up to four.
Zitting Cisticola One bird noted at Bharatpur.
Common Tailorbird Three to four birds daily at Ranthambhore, most along the access track to the national park.
Clamorous Reed Warbler Three birds noted at Bharatpur.
Blyth's Reed Warbler Up to 15 daily at Bharatpur.
Common Chiffchaff A single at Bharatpur, one in Leh town and at least two in Hemis National Park, all these latter birds in Ledakh being of the tristis race.
Mountain Chiffchaff Fairly common in Ledakh, counts in excess of 15 daily in Leh and up to five daily in Hemis National Park.
Hume's Leaf Warbler First winter influx already occurring in the lowland locations - up to 15 daily at Bharatpur, as well as a single at Ranthambhore.
Lesser Whitethroat Three birds noted at Bharatpur, one at Agra.
White-browed Tit-Warbler Up to four birds daily in Hemis National Park.
Common Babbler Common at Ranthambhore, daily totals numbering at least 30 birds each day. Additionally a single flock of six birds was seen daily along the access track to the wetlands at Bharatpur.
Large Grey Babbler Flocks commonly encountered at both Bharatpur and Ranthambhore, though far less numerous than Jungle Babbler.
Jungle Babbler Common and widespread at Bharatpur, Agra and Ranthambhore, large numbers seen every day.
Yellow-eyed Babbler At least 15 bird noted in the arid scrub adjacent to Ranthambhore National Park.
Oriental White-eye A total of eight birds seen at Ranthambhore, all along the access track to the national park.
Eurasian Wren All of the distinctive neglectus race, two in Leh and two singles in Hemis National Park.
White-throated Dipper Brown Dipper Wallcreeper Bank Mynah Common Mynah Asian Pied Starling Brahminy Starling Rose-coloured Starling Blue Whistling Thrush Tickell's Thrush Black-throated Thrush Oriental Magpie Robin Indian Robin Black Redstart Guldenstadt's Redstart Common Stonechat Pied Bushchat Brown Rock Chat Red-breasted Flycatcher Verditer Flycatcher Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Purple Sunbird House Sparrow Chestnut-shouldered Petronia Tibetan Snowfinch Blandford's Snowfinch Indian Snowfinch Robin Accentor Brown Accentor Yellow Wagtail White WagtailWhite-browed WagtailGrey Wagtail Twite Plain Mountain Finch Streaked Rosefinch Red-fronted Serin Rock Bunting
Mammals
Rhesus Macaque black-faced Langur Sambar Spotted Deer Nilgai Indian Gazelle Ladakh Urial Bharal (Blue Sheep) Wild Boar Indian Jackal Red Fox Tiger Common Leopard Snow Leopard Grey Mongoose Small Indian Mongoose Royle's Pika Nubra Pika Five-striped Palm Squirrel Short-tailed Bandicoot-Rat
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Last Updated ( Monday, 10 December 2012 ) |
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