Birding Spots Around Porbandar, Gujarat
Jaidev Dhadhal
Plot No. 8, Vrindavan Society, College Road, Patan-384 265. e-mail: jaidevjai@gmail.com
Porbandar, the place is Janma-bhumi of Mahatma Gandhi, Karma-bhumi of many mafias but Swarg-bhumi for birdwatchers. Combination of brackish water and fresh-rain water wetlands of this place attracts verity of birds here. Avifauna varies from waders to grassland birds, forest dependent to scrub dwellers.
Bharatbhai Rughani, B. K. Parmar– RFO and myself has recorded around 214 species of birds around Porbandar. There can be many more. I am, herewith narrating about Porbandar and its hot spots as far as birds & birdwatching is concerned. A checklist of the birds we have seen is also appended.
Main birding sites of Porbandar area are as follow:
Rann of Chhaya: Situated between Chhaya village and Birla factory. The water-body contains rainwater, sewage water and wastes discharged by the factory. Best place to watch Flamingos, thousands of them and that too from very close quarter. Ducks, terns, Grebes (Little and Black-necked) etc. are other main birds of the point. The water-body is completely situated amidst of all type of human activities, still no apparent danger is noticed to birds here.
Khadi of Subhashnagar: Tidal waters and forest of mangroves of this unique wetland stretched about 4 to 5 km from Kurly bridge to the sea is favorite dwelling spot for waders, flamingos, harriers, storks (painted and black-necked), ducks, gulls and Rosy Pastors. In the evening when thousands of these starlings are setting themselves for the night roosting, we can see a huge cloud moving around fast in sky. Mangroves being cut for cattle feed disturbs birds a bit, otherwise no major threat to this spot. Of course, Government is planning to build a check dam under the jubilee bridge to check the tidal water at one side and to store rainwater on other. If this will happen, around two kms stretch of mangroves will die and dry without saline water.
Kuchhadi – Zavar: Cranes, pelicans, Crested Grebes, ducks, Indian Courser, Houbara bustards etc. are among main attraction of this spot. Rocky plains and scrubs are favorite nesting grounds for larks, lapwings, coursers, Stone Plover and Stone Curlew. Though both are different villages but they share common water stretch. The wetland is totally dependent on rains. Agricultural and residential encroachment on waste lands; illegal mining for building stones and lifting water by putting oil engines are major threat to the birds and their habitat here.
Baradasagar Dam: Sarus Crane used to nest here. After 1997-98 the bird is not seen here. Thousands of cranes (believe me it is 10 to 15 thousand!) during winter visit the water body and fields around. Pelicans, coots, Purple Moorhen, ducks, storks (White-necked, Asian Openbill and Painted), harriers, ibises (all three) etc. in good numbers can be seen here. Great Crested Grebes breeds here every year and that too in large number. As the dam is meant for irrigation water lifting for agriculture cannot be named as threat to the water-body.
Gosa: Very large area is covered with water during monsoon and early months of winter. Waters of river Bhadar and tributaries are spread in this area known as Ghed and at Gosa Bara they met the sea. It is almost impossible to scan the whole wetland for birding survey.
Amipur dam: One of the best water reservoirs of the area as far as avian aspect is concerned. It has all the qualities to be included in Ramsar site. More than ten thousand cranes visit the place. Great numbers of ducks and other water birds found at this water- body need thorough and systematic survey of the spot to identify its importance and to take necessary action to highlight it. The spot is deserved to be declared as a bird-reserve.
Vanana: The area is connected with Gosa waters. It is best for watching cranes, ducks, pelicans etc.
Bird Sanctuary: Being situated in midst of the town; Porbandar bird sanctuary is facing great threat from humanitarian pressure and is on verge of getting extinct! All kind of encroachment from all sides is shortening the water area. Over depth and absence of roosting and perching spots are factors that make the birds to fly over to other grounds. Still few flamingos and much more coots and little grebes can be seen around. Spot-bill regularly nests here. Pochards (common, tufted and Ferruginous too), shovelers, wigeons visits the sanctuary in winter. In my view forest department should constitute a permanent committee consisting forest officials and bird-watchers (ornithologists!?) for development and improvement of this unique bird sanctuary.
Checklist of the birds sighted at Porbandar
001 GREY FRANCOLIN-Francolinus pondicerianus
002 COMMON QUAIL-Coturnix coturnix
003 JUNGLE BUSH QUAIL-Perdicula asiatica
004 INDIAN PEAFOWL-Pavo cristatus
005 BAR-HEADED GOOSE-Anser indicus
006 LESSER WHISTLING-DUCK-Dendrocygna javanica
007 RUDY SHELDUCK-Tadorna ferruginea
008 COMB DUCK-
009 COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE
010 GADWALL
011 EURASIAN WIGEON
012 MALLARD
013 SPOT-BILLED DUCK
014 COMMON TEAL
015 GARGANEY
016 NORTHERN PINTAIL
017 NORTHERN SHOVELLER
018 COMMON POCHARD
019 FERRUGINOUS (WHITE-EYE) POCHARD
020 TUFTED POCHARD
021 EURASIAN WRYNECK
022 YELLOW-CROWNED WOODPECKER
023 COPPERSMITH BARBET
024 COMMON HOOPOE
025 EUROPEAN ROLLER
026 INDIAN ROLLER
027 COMMON KINGFISHER
028 WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER
029 PIED KINGFISHER
030 GREEN BEE-EATER
031 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER
032 PIED CUCKOO
033 COMMON HAWK CUCKOO
034 ASIAN KOEL
035 SIRKEER MALKOHA (CUCKOO)
036 GREATER COUCAL (CROW PHEASENT)
037 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
038 HOUSE SWIFT
039 EURASIAN EAGLE OWL
040 SPOTTED OWLET
041 INDIAN NIGHTJAR
042 ROCK PIGEON
043 LAUGHING DOVE
044 RED COLLARED DOVE
045 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
046 MACQUEEN’S BUSTARD (HOUBARA)
047 SARUS CRANE
048 COMMON CRANE
049 DEMOISELLE CRANE
050 LITTLE CRAKE
051 BAILLON’S CRAKE
052 PURPLE SWAMPHEN (MOORHEN)
053 COMMON MOORHEN
054 COMMON COOT
055 CHESTNUT-BELLIED (COMMON) SANDGROUSE
056 PAINTED SANDGROUSE
057 PINTAIL SNIPE
058 COMMON SNIPE
059 JACK SNIPE
060 GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE
061 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
062 BAR-TAILED GODWIT
063 WHIMBREL
064 EURASIAN CURLEW
065 SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW??
066 SPOTTED REDSHANK
067 COMMON REDSHANK
068 MARSH SANDPIPER
069 COMMON GREENSHANK
070 GREEN SANDPIPER
071 WOOD SANDPIPER
072 TEREK SANDPIPER
073 COMMON SANDPIPER
074 RUDDY TURNSTONE
075 SANDERLING
076 LITTLE STINT
077 TEMMINCK’S STINT
078 DUNLIN
079 CURLEW SANDPIPER
080 SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER??
081 RUFF
082 INDIAN COURSER
083 EURASIAN THICK-KNEE
084 GREAT THICK-KNEE
085 EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER
086 PIED AVOCET
087 PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA
088 SMALL PRATINCOLE
089 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER
090 GREY PLOVER
091 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
092 KENTISH PLOVER
093 LESSER SAND PLOVER
094 YELLOW-WATTLED LAPWING
095 RED-WATTLED LAPWING
096 WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
097 HEUGLIN’S GULL
098 BROWN-HEADED GULL
099 BLACK-HEADED GULL
100 GULL-BILLED TERN
101 CASPIAN TERN
102 RIVER TERN
103 COMMON TERN
104 LITTLE TERN
105 OSPREY
106 BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
107 BLACK (PARIAH) KITE
108 BRAHMINY KITE
109 WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE
110 EURASIAN MARSH HARRIER
111 PALLID HARRIER
112 MONTAGU’S HARRIER
113 SHIKRA
114 ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD
115 TAWNY EAGLE
116 STEPPE EAGLE
117 BONELLI’S EAGLE
118 BOOTED EAGLE
119 COMMON KESTREL
120 EURASIAN HOBBY
121 LITTLE GREBE
122 GREAT CRESTED GREBE
123 DARTER
124 LITTLE CORMORANT
125 INDIAN CORMORANT (SHAG)
126 GREAT CORMORANT
127 LITTLE EGRET
128 WESTERN REEF EGRET (HERON)
129 GREAT EGRET
130 INTERMEDIATE EGRET
131 CATTLE EGRET
132 INDIAN POND HERON
133 GREY HERON
134 PURPLE HERON
135 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
136 GREATER FLAMINGO
137 LESSER FLAMINGO
138 GLOSSY IBIS
139 BLACK-HEADED IBIS
140 BLACK IBIS
141 EURASIAN SPOONBILL
142 GREAT WHITE (ROSY) PELICAN
143 DALMATIAN PELICAN
144 PAINTED STORK
145 ASIAN OPENBILL (STORK)
146 WOOLY-NECKED (WHITE-NECK) STORK
147 BLACK-NECKED STORK
148 BAY-BACKED SHRIKE
149 LONG-TAILED (R.B) SHRIKE
150 GREAT GREY SHRIKE
151 RUFOUS TREEPIE
152 HOUSE CROW
153 LARGE-BILLED CROW
154 EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE
155 ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER
156 COMMON WOODSHRIKE
157 BLUE ROCK THRUSH
158 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER
159 RED THROATED FLYCATCHER
160 TICKELL’S-BLUE FLYCATCHER
161 GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHER
162 ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN
163 INDIAN ROBIN
164 BLACK REDSTART
165 COMMON STONECHAT (COLLARD)
166 PIED BUSHCHAT
167 DESERT WHEATEAR
168 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR
169 BRAHMINY STARLING (MYNA)
170 ROSY STARLING
171 COMMON STARLING
172 ASIAN PIED STARLING (MYNA)
173 COMMON MYNA
174 BANK MYNA
175 GREAT (GREY) TIT
176 BARN (COMMON) SWALLOW
177 WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW
178 RED-VENTED BULBUL
179 WHITE-EARED (CHEEKED) BULBUL
180 JUNGLE PRINIA
181 PLAIN PRINIA
182 ASHY PRINIA
183 ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE
184 CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER
185 COMMON TAILORBIRD
186 COMMON BABBLER
187 LARGE GREY BABBLER
188 JUNGLE BABBLER
189 SINGING BUSHLARK
190 INDIAN BUSHLARK
191 ASHY-CROWNED SPARROW LARK
192 RUFOUS-TAILED LARK
193 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK
194 CRESTED LARK
195 SYKES’S LARK
196 ORIENTAL SKYLARK
197 PURPLE SUNBIRD
198 HOUSE SPARROW
199 CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED PETRONIA (Y.T.SPARROW)
200 FOREST WAGTAIL
201 WHITE WAGTAIL
202 CITRINE (Y.H.) WAGTAIL
203 YELLOW WAGTAIL
204 GREY WAGTAIL
205 PADDYFIELD PIPIT
206 BLACK-BREASTED WEAWER
207 BAYA WEAWER
208 INDIAN SILVERBILL (W.T.MUNIA)
209 BLACK-HEADED BUNTING
210 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN
211 CHESTNUT-TAILED (GREY-HEADED) STARLING
212 PAINTED FRANCOLIN-Francolinus pictus
213 BARN OWL-Tyto alba
214 GREY (JUNGLE) NIGHTJAR-Caprimulgus indicus
Jaidev Dhadhal
Plot No. 8, Vrindavan Society, College Road, Patan-384 265. e-mail: jaidevjai@gmail.com
Porbandar, the place is Janma-bhumi of Mahatma Gandhi, Karma-bhumi of many mafias but Swarg-bhumi for birdwatchers. Combination of brackish water and fresh-rain water wetlands of this place attracts verity of birds here. Avifauna varies from waders to grassland birds, forest dependent to scrub dwellers.
Bharatbhai Rughani, B. K. Parmar– RFO and myself has recorded around 214 species of birds around Porbandar. There can be many more. I am, herewith narrating about Porbandar and its hot spots as far as birds & birdwatching is concerned. A checklist of the birds we have seen is also appended.
Main birding sites of Porbandar area are as follow:
Rann of Chhaya: Situated between Chhaya village and Birla factory. The water-body contains rainwater, sewage water and wastes discharged by the factory. Best place to watch Flamingos, thousands of them and that too from very close quarter. Ducks, terns, Grebes (Little and Black-necked) etc. are other main birds of the point. The water-body is completely situated amidst of all type of human activities, still no apparent danger is noticed to birds here.
Khadi of Subhashnagar: Tidal waters and forest of mangroves of this unique wetland stretched about 4 to 5 km from Kurly bridge to the sea is favorite dwelling spot for waders, flamingos, harriers, storks (painted and black-necked), ducks, gulls and Rosy Pastors. In the evening when thousands of these starlings are setting themselves for the night roosting, we can see a huge cloud moving around fast in sky. Mangroves being cut for cattle feed disturbs birds a bit, otherwise no major threat to this spot. Of course, Government is planning to build a check dam under the jubilee bridge to check the tidal water at one side and to store rainwater on other. If this will happen, around two kms stretch of mangroves will die and dry without saline water.
Kuchhadi – Zavar: Cranes, pelicans, Crested Grebes, ducks, Indian Courser, Houbara bustards etc. are among main attraction of this spot. Rocky plains and scrubs are favorite nesting grounds for larks, lapwings, coursers, Stone Plover and Stone Curlew. Though both are different villages but they share common water stretch. The wetland is totally dependent on rains. Agricultural and residential encroachment on waste lands; illegal mining for building stones and lifting water by putting oil engines are major threat to the birds and their habitat here.
Baradasagar Dam: Sarus Crane used to nest here. After 1997-98 the bird is not seen here. Thousands of cranes (believe me it is 10 to 15 thousand!) during winter visit the water body and fields around. Pelicans, coots, Purple Moorhen, ducks, storks (White-necked, Asian Openbill and Painted), harriers, ibises (all three) etc. in good numbers can be seen here. Great Crested Grebes breeds here every year and that too in large number. As the dam is meant for irrigation water lifting for agriculture cannot be named as threat to the water-body.
Gosa: Very large area is covered with water during monsoon and early months of winter. Waters of river Bhadar and tributaries are spread in this area known as Ghed and at Gosa Bara they met the sea. It is almost impossible to scan the whole wetland for birding survey.
Amipur dam: One of the best water reservoirs of the area as far as avian aspect is concerned. It has all the qualities to be included in Ramsar site. More than ten thousand cranes visit the place. Great numbers of ducks and other water birds found at this water- body need thorough and systematic survey of the spot to identify its importance and to take necessary action to highlight it. The spot is deserved to be declared as a bird-reserve.
Vanana: The area is connected with Gosa waters. It is best for watching cranes, ducks, pelicans etc.
Bird Sanctuary: Being situated in midst of the town; Porbandar bird sanctuary is facing great threat from humanitarian pressure and is on verge of getting extinct! All kind of encroachment from all sides is shortening the water area. Over depth and absence of roosting and perching spots are factors that make the birds to fly over to other grounds. Still few flamingos and much more coots and little grebes can be seen around. Spot-bill regularly nests here. Pochards (common, tufted and Ferruginous too), shovelers, wigeons visits the sanctuary in winter. In my view forest department should constitute a permanent committee consisting forest officials and bird-watchers (ornithologists!?) for development and improvement of this unique bird sanctuary.
Checklist of the birds sighted at Porbandar
001 GREY FRANCOLIN-Francolinus pondicerianus
002 COMMON QUAIL-Coturnix coturnix
003 JUNGLE BUSH QUAIL-Perdicula asiatica
004 INDIAN PEAFOWL-Pavo cristatus
005 BAR-HEADED GOOSE-Anser indicus
006 LESSER WHISTLING-DUCK-Dendrocygna javanica
007 RUDY SHELDUCK-Tadorna ferruginea
008 COMB DUCK-
009 COTTON PYGMY-GOOSE
010 GADWALL
011 EURASIAN WIGEON
012 MALLARD
013 SPOT-BILLED DUCK
014 COMMON TEAL
015 GARGANEY
016 NORTHERN PINTAIL
017 NORTHERN SHOVELLER
018 COMMON POCHARD
019 FERRUGINOUS (WHITE-EYE) POCHARD
020 TUFTED POCHARD
021 EURASIAN WRYNECK
022 YELLOW-CROWNED WOODPECKER
023 COPPERSMITH BARBET
024 COMMON HOOPOE
025 EUROPEAN ROLLER
026 INDIAN ROLLER
027 COMMON KINGFISHER
028 WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER
029 PIED KINGFISHER
030 GREEN BEE-EATER
031 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER
032 PIED CUCKOO
033 COMMON HAWK CUCKOO
034 ASIAN KOEL
035 SIRKEER MALKOHA (CUCKOO)
036 GREATER COUCAL (CROW PHEASENT)
037 ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET
038 HOUSE SWIFT
039 EURASIAN EAGLE OWL
040 SPOTTED OWLET
041 INDIAN NIGHTJAR
042 ROCK PIGEON
043 LAUGHING DOVE
044 RED COLLARED DOVE
045 EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
046 MACQUEEN’S BUSTARD (HOUBARA)
047 SARUS CRANE
048 COMMON CRANE
049 DEMOISELLE CRANE
050 LITTLE CRAKE
051 BAILLON’S CRAKE
052 PURPLE SWAMPHEN (MOORHEN)
053 COMMON MOORHEN
054 COMMON COOT
055 CHESTNUT-BELLIED (COMMON) SANDGROUSE
056 PAINTED SANDGROUSE
057 PINTAIL SNIPE
058 COMMON SNIPE
059 JACK SNIPE
060 GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE
061 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
062 BAR-TAILED GODWIT
063 WHIMBREL
064 EURASIAN CURLEW
065 SLENDER-BILLED CURLEW??
066 SPOTTED REDSHANK
067 COMMON REDSHANK
068 MARSH SANDPIPER
069 COMMON GREENSHANK
070 GREEN SANDPIPER
071 WOOD SANDPIPER
072 TEREK SANDPIPER
073 COMMON SANDPIPER
074 RUDDY TURNSTONE
075 SANDERLING
076 LITTLE STINT
077 TEMMINCK’S STINT
078 DUNLIN
079 CURLEW SANDPIPER
080 SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER??
081 RUFF
082 INDIAN COURSER
083 EURASIAN THICK-KNEE
084 GREAT THICK-KNEE
085 EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER
086 PIED AVOCET
087 PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA
088 SMALL PRATINCOLE
089 PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER
090 GREY PLOVER
091 LITTLE RINGED PLOVER
092 KENTISH PLOVER
093 LESSER SAND PLOVER
094 YELLOW-WATTLED LAPWING
095 RED-WATTLED LAPWING
096 WHITE-TAILED LAPWING
097 HEUGLIN’S GULL
098 BROWN-HEADED GULL
099 BLACK-HEADED GULL
100 GULL-BILLED TERN
101 CASPIAN TERN
102 RIVER TERN
103 COMMON TERN
104 LITTLE TERN
105 OSPREY
106 BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE
107 BLACK (PARIAH) KITE
108 BRAHMINY KITE
109 WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE
110 EURASIAN MARSH HARRIER
111 PALLID HARRIER
112 MONTAGU’S HARRIER
113 SHIKRA
114 ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD
115 TAWNY EAGLE
116 STEPPE EAGLE
117 BONELLI’S EAGLE
118 BOOTED EAGLE
119 COMMON KESTREL
120 EURASIAN HOBBY
121 LITTLE GREBE
122 GREAT CRESTED GREBE
123 DARTER
124 LITTLE CORMORANT
125 INDIAN CORMORANT (SHAG)
126 GREAT CORMORANT
127 LITTLE EGRET
128 WESTERN REEF EGRET (HERON)
129 GREAT EGRET
130 INTERMEDIATE EGRET
131 CATTLE EGRET
132 INDIAN POND HERON
133 GREY HERON
134 PURPLE HERON
135 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
136 GREATER FLAMINGO
137 LESSER FLAMINGO
138 GLOSSY IBIS
139 BLACK-HEADED IBIS
140 BLACK IBIS
141 EURASIAN SPOONBILL
142 GREAT WHITE (ROSY) PELICAN
143 DALMATIAN PELICAN
144 PAINTED STORK
145 ASIAN OPENBILL (STORK)
146 WOOLY-NECKED (WHITE-NECK) STORK
147 BLACK-NECKED STORK
148 BAY-BACKED SHRIKE
149 LONG-TAILED (R.B) SHRIKE
150 GREAT GREY SHRIKE
151 RUFOUS TREEPIE
152 HOUSE CROW
153 LARGE-BILLED CROW
154 EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE
155 ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER
156 COMMON WOODSHRIKE
157 BLUE ROCK THRUSH
158 ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER
159 RED THROATED FLYCATCHER
160 TICKELL’S-BLUE FLYCATCHER
161 GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATCHER
162 ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBIN
163 INDIAN ROBIN
164 BLACK REDSTART
165 COMMON STONECHAT (COLLARD)
166 PIED BUSHCHAT
167 DESERT WHEATEAR
168 ISABELLINE WHEATEAR
169 BRAHMINY STARLING (MYNA)
170 ROSY STARLING
171 COMMON STARLING
172 ASIAN PIED STARLING (MYNA)
173 COMMON MYNA
174 BANK MYNA
175 GREAT (GREY) TIT
176 BARN (COMMON) SWALLOW
177 WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW
178 RED-VENTED BULBUL
179 WHITE-EARED (CHEEKED) BULBUL
180 JUNGLE PRINIA
181 PLAIN PRINIA
182 ASHY PRINIA
183 ORIENTAL WHITE-EYE
184 CLAMOROUS REED WARBLER
185 COMMON TAILORBIRD
186 COMMON BABBLER
187 LARGE GREY BABBLER
188 JUNGLE BABBLER
189 SINGING BUSHLARK
190 INDIAN BUSHLARK
191 ASHY-CROWNED SPARROW LARK
192 RUFOUS-TAILED LARK
193 GREATER SHORT-TOED LARK
194 CRESTED LARK
195 SYKES’S LARK
196 ORIENTAL SKYLARK
197 PURPLE SUNBIRD
198 HOUSE SPARROW
199 CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED PETRONIA (Y.T.SPARROW)
200 FOREST WAGTAIL
201 WHITE WAGTAIL
202 CITRINE (Y.H.) WAGTAIL
203 YELLOW WAGTAIL
204 GREY WAGTAIL
205 PADDYFIELD PIPIT
206 BLACK-BREASTED WEAWER
207 BAYA WEAWER
208 INDIAN SILVERBILL (W.T.MUNIA)
209 BLACK-HEADED BUNTING
210 WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN
211 CHESTNUT-TAILED (GREY-HEADED) STARLING
212 PAINTED FRANCOLIN-Francolinus pictus
213 BARN OWL-Tyto alba
214 GREY (JUNGLE) NIGHTJAR-Caprimulgus indicus
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