Related Links
1.MITR Goa
Goa has approximately 250 + variety of birds which includes common hawk cuckoos, grey bellied cuckoos, drongo cuckoos, Indian swift let, crested tree swift, chestnut headed flame back, brown capped pygmy woodpecker, heart spotted woodpecker, Indian pitta, Dusky crag martin, wire tailed swallows, Eurasian golden and black hooded orioles, ashy and white bellied bronzed spangled and greater racket tailed drongo, bar winged flycatcher shrike, large and common wood shrikes, black headed cuckoo shrike, golden fronted leaf bird, Asian fairy bluebird etc.
It is a treat for those  who do not only wish to relax on the beaches but would like to travel around the interiors of Goa villages in search of some of the colorful species of birds exclusively found in this state. The most remarkable feature of Goa that attracts several birdwatchers is that it provides the right opportunity to observe coastal migratory bird life along with the resident birds. This allows the birdwatcher to observe large number of species of birds with a very small radius.
The best time to venture out for bird watching in Goa is early in the morning and in the evenings till sunset. The beaches are the ideal areas to observe birds like Brahminy Kites; White bellied Sea Eagle and various species of gulls, plovers and terns and numerous species of migratory ducks and geese.
Apart from these, the other species of birds that birdwatchers can observe are the Steppe Eagle, Lesser adjutant Stork, Siberian Stone Chat and all the usual terrestrial birds observed in the woodlands and forests.
It is necessary that birdwatchers have a good pair of binoculars, a field guide on birds and if possible a bird expert who can spot and identify the birds immediately. Some of the best places for bird watching in Goa include the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chapora Estuary, Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary and the Castle rock area of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.
Some local birding spots:
Baga
Baga is a beach side small village located 18 kms northwest of capital city, Panjim. Birders can sight Asia n Koel, Greater Coucal, spotted owlet, white cheeked barbet, Rufus treepie, small minivit, common iora, blue winged leaf bird, red whiskered bulbul, Asian brown flycatcher, Asian paradise fly catcher, common tailor bird, oriental magpie robin, black lorded tit, pale billed flower pecker, purple and purple rumped sunbirds, red watt led lapwing, pine tailed snipe, green clamorous reed warbler, white browned wagtail, white rumped, black headed and scaly breasted munias, red necked falcons, Indian swift let, palm swifts, Rufus woodpecker, black rumped golden back, Eurasian golden and black hooded orioles, white bellied warbler, orange headed thrush, blue fly catcher, thick bellied and plain flower pecker, lkoten's sunbird, pacific golden plover, greenshank, marsh, green and common sandpiper, pintail snipe, cinnamon bittern, riddy breasted crake, greater painted snipe and many more over here.
Bondla
Bondla is small place with the area of 8kms at the foot of Western Ghats. The habitats are largely mixed forest with undulating terrains. This small sanctuary is  accessible and harbors good number of birds at the east coast. Bondla is 52 kms east of Panaji. This small sanctuary provides the habitats for Oriental Honey Buzzards, crested Goshawk, Black eagles, Crested Serpent Eagles, Indian peafowl, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Nilgiri Wood pigeon, Emerald Dove, vernal hanging parrot, common hawk cuckoos, grey bellied cuckoos, drongo cuckoos, Indian swift let, crested tree swift, chestnut headed flame back, brown capped pygmy woodpecker, heart spotted woodpecker, Indian pitta, Dusky crag martin, wire tailed swallows, Eurasian golden and black hooded orioles, ashy and white bellied bronzed spangled and greater racket tailed drongo, bar winged flycatcher shrike, large and common wood shrikes, black headed cuckoo shrike, large and common wood shrikes, golden fronted leaf bird, Asian fairy bluebird, black crested bulbul, puff throated and dark throated babblers, brown cheeked fulvetta, white bellied and tick ell’s blue flycatcher, white rumped shama, blue capped rock thrushed, pale billed and plain flower pecker and many more ....
Mollem
Mollem is a small junction town at the edge of the city which is approx 58 kms far away from the capital city of Panjim. The Bhagwan Mahavir National Park and Wild Life sanctuary is collectively known as Mollem with the area of approx 250 sq km in the Sahyadri Hills on the western side of the Ghats.
The density of birds at Mollem is comparatively low than Bondla but the avifauna is more extensive. Birders can have sight of red spur fowl, Grey Jungle fowl, Malabar pied hornbill, dark fronted and Rufus babblers, Indian scimitar babbler, Marble whistling thrush, blue eared kingfisher, changeable hawk, Rufus bellied eagle, peregrine falcon, collard scoops owl, Eurasian eagle owl, grey nightjar, blue bearded bee eater, Malabar grey, common and great flame backs, white naped woodpecker, Asian brown, brown breasted, rusty tailed and ultramarine flycatcher, black redstart, blue rock thrush, baya weaver, white rumped munia, black headed bunting, Black naped orioles, and many more....
Carambolim Lake
This excellent place of birding is commonly known as Old Goa which is 10 kms east of Panaji. There is a great marshy lake at Carambolim which is approx 2 kms southeast of Old Goa. This place is a good mixture of scrub, wasteland along with the trees on eastern side, paddy fields to the south where as woodland at the west.
At Carambolim Birders can have a sight of Indian Cormorants, Oriental Darter, Little Heron, Black crowned Night Herons, Asian Open bill, Glossy Ibis, Les ser Whistling, Spot billed duck, Red crested pilchard, ferruginous Pilchard, Cotton Pygmy goose, comb pheasant tailed and bronze winged jacanas, small partincole, whiskered and gull billed terns, pied and stork billed kingfisher, Marsh sandpiper, Clamorous Reed Warbler, Paddy field pipit, Wag tails, Black rumped flame back, yellow crowned woodpecker, Eurasian golden and black naped Orioles, Chestnut tailed starling, Asian Paradise Fly Catcher, Blyth's Reed and Booted Warblers, Tree Pipit, purple rumped sunbirds. Chestnut shouldered Petronia, Baya weaver and white rumped munia, Paddy field warbler, citrine wag tails, common wood shrikes, small minivit, Asian brown fly catcher, Green & Greenish Warbler, Jungle babbler, Greater spotted, booted, lesser spotted, tawny and black eagles, streak throated swallows, Asian Stonechat and many more ....
Goa is one of the most beautiful states in India and has an unbelievable avian diversity, which would captivate any birdwatcher.
Related Links
1. Eurogoa Bed and Breakfast
Click here for a list of Birds in Goa |
