Up the hill

‘It is some kind of a Babbler, I think!’ shot Jagdish
‘Yes could be a Puff Throated babbler!’ replied Paresh.
Five of us Jagdish, Paresh, Hazrat, Donald and Me stood searching for the source of the song from the near by bush. There were 4 to 5 restless brownish birds in the bush, after much deliberation and without any conclusive identification of the bird our party moved on.

Paresh, Donald, Hazrat and Jagdish

We had walked up a trail, leading to a Plateau on top of the hill near Ponda (Goa). The green hill was greener now. The skies were relatively clear, though it had showered when we started to Hike. The red rocks on the wet path were covered with moss.

How the rains transform nature was evident from new tender shoots, the life force of sprouts and mushrooms split the earth, insects frantically hopped around in the search of mates, tender grass reeds painted the earth surface brilliant green.

Orange Pierrot

Beetles Mating

On the top cool breeze blew across the plateau. The plateau too was abuzz with new life, there were colonies of tiny mushrooms here a bright red crab there, tadpoles swam happily in the puddles and hundreds of airborne dragon flies circled around a bush and grasshopper mating pairs hopped on the ground.

Happy Tadpoles in the puddle

Grasshopper Mating

Crab

Paresh, Jagdish and Hazrat

The sun was setting and clouds gathered in the sky above. Nearby, the top of green canopy came alive as the flock of Pompadour green pigeons settled to take rest on their way home. A Malabar Grey Hornbill called from the valley below. We silently settled on the rocks soaking in the serenity, as it got darker reluctantly we started our downhill walk back to the highway where we had parked our bikes.

On the Trail Of Collared Kingfisher

I made a trip to KARNZALE-Marcaim 'Khazan' (marsh land created by tidal backwaters from estuaries) land On the afternoon of 16th June 2008. Accompanying me was all exited Jagdish. Jagdish had promised to show me a COLLARED KINGFISHER and LITTLE GREEN HERON; both uncommon, he had spotted 8 of these beautiful kingfishers at the same spot, day before.

As we started walking along the Bandh (manmade embankment to control the tidal waters) we spotted Large egrets, Lesser Whistling Teals and Cormorants. Brahminy Kites rode the thermals. Further along the bandh Jagdish pointed at a smallish bird on the rocks, it resembled the pond heron but on closer scrutiny it turned out to be LITTLE GREEN HERON . Jagdish was pleased to have fulfilled 50% of his promise.

The Bandh

Little Green Heron

Little Green Heron

The bandh is almost a kilometer in length and is lined with thick Mangrove plantation. As we walked to the other end of the bandh we spotted Honey Buzzard being chased by CROW, White Breasted Kingfisher, Small Blue Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher and Stork billed Kingfisher but no sign of COLLARED KINGFISHER.

We lingered at the spot where Jagdish had seen the kingfisher, however today some locals were repairing the bandh at the very spot. So we walked along.

The Repair Work

Towards the end point the bandh runs parallel to ZUARI estuary. On this stretch we heard the call of the Kingfisher we were so eagerly looking for. We waited in vain for a while and started our return walk. Half way through the walk Jagdish halted abruptly pointing in the mangrove thicket, right there in front was a pair of COLLARED KINGFISHER. The sky was cloudy and the pair perched in the thicket, not good enough light for photo, however I managed to click a decent snap.

With 100% promise fulfilled Jagdish was all smiles.

Collared Kingfisher

Brahminy Kite

Flies on Fish Carcass

Flies

Dragon Fly

Mongoose