Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Trip Report to Morni and surround areas

A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Morni, Kasasuli, Kalesar National Park and Panipat Oil Refinery, Suresh C. Sharma


13 April 05 Left Sonipat at 0630 hrs
Arrive Berwala Bird Safari at 0930 hrs
Birding till 1230 hrs
Lunch at Greenpark
Birding Ghaggar River valley
Reach Chandrawal Lodge, Morni Hills at 1430 hrs
Tea at Chandrawal Lodge
Birding along the main trail from the Lodge to the Mountain
Quail Road
Return to the Lodge at 1930 hrs
Dinner and rest at the lodge

14 April 05 Leave for Tikkar Tal at 0600 hrs (9 kms from Chandrawal Lodge)
Return to Chandrawal by 1000 hrs.
Birding along the main trail from Mountain Quail side to the Lodge 1030-1230 hrs
Lunch and rest at Chandrawal
Drive upto Serla Tal beyond Morni village at 1330 hrs
Return to the Chandrawal Lodge by 1830 hrs.
Dinner and Rest at Chandrawal

15 April 05 Leave Chandrawal for Berwala at 0600 hrs
Reach Berwala at 0800 hrs
Leave Berwala 1200 hrs
Reach Kasauli 1430 hrs
Check in Hotel Maidens and rest there till 1600 hrs
Birding upto Monkey Point and back till 1900 hrs
Dinner and Stay at Hotel Maidens

16 Apr 05 Birding Kasauli 0600 to 1030 hrs
Leave Kasauli at 1100 hrs
Drive while birding Kumarhatti-Nahan-Paonta Sahib
Check in Tajewala Irrigation Rest House (Kalesar) 2000 hrs
Dinner and rest at the rest house

17 Apr 05 Leave Tajewala at 0600 hrs
Birding Kalesar National Park till 1000 hrs
A quick scan of Bata river from the Barapul bridge
Leave Kalesar 1130 hrs
Drive Yamunanagar-Ladwa-Indri-Karnal
Birding Panipat Refinery Wetland 1530-1630 hrs
Reach Sonipat/Delhi by 1830 hrs.

Where to stay:

For Morni (1) Chandrawal Kunj Lodge at Morni Hills. Serves meals.
(2) Mountain Quail Tourist Complex at Morni Hills. Serves meals.

For Kasauli (1) Hotel Maidens, Kasauli
There are lot of hotels at Kasauli

For Kalesar National Park

(1) Kalesar Forest Rest House
(2) Hathini Kund Irrigation Rest House
(3) Tajewala Irrigation Rest House - Advance booking is necessary. Serve meals.
(4) Hotel Lord Shiva - serve meals.

Weather: Morni - cool
Kasauli - cooler
Kalesar - warm

Vehicle: Hired AC Tata Indica

Co-birder : Amano Samarpan.

List of Birds

  1. Grey Francolins - Berwala
  2. Black Francolin -
  3. Red Junglefowl - Berwala, Morni, Kalesar
  4. Kalij Pheasant - one female flushed out at Kasauli on the Grewal Path
  5. Indian Peafowl - Berwala, Panipat and Kalesar
  6. Ruddy Shelduck - Kalesar (Hathini Kund Barrage)
  7. Spot-billed Duck - Kalesar (Hathini Kund Barrage)
  8. Speckled Piculet - Kasauli
  9. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker - Morni
  10. Brown-fronted Woodpecker - Kasauli
  11. Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker - Kasauli
  12. Himalayan Flameback - Morni
  13. Greater Flameback - Kalesar
  14. Great Barbet - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli
  15. Brown-headed Barbet - Berwala, Morni and Kalesar
  16. Blue-throated Barbet - Morni
  17. Coppersmith Barbet - Berwala, Morni and Kalesar
  18. Indian Grey Hornbill - Kalesar
  19. Great Hornbill - Kalesar
  20. Common Hoopoe - Berwala, Morni
  21. Indian Roller - Kalesar
  22. Quail - unidentified quail at Morni for a fleeting moment, possibly Jungle Bush-quail
  23. Common Kingfisher - Kalesar, Panipat
  24. White-throated Kingfisher - Berwala, Morni, Kalesar and Panipat
  25. Pied Kingfisher - Kalesar, Panipat
  26. Blue-bearded Bee-eater - Berwala
  27. Green Bee-eater - Berwala
  28. Blue-tailed Bee-eater - Berwala
  29. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater - Kalesar
  30. Common Hawk-Cuckoo - Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  31. Eurasian Cuckoo - Kalesar
  32. Asian Koel - all
  33. Alexandrine Parakeet - all
  34. Rose-ringed Parakeet - all
  35. Plum-headed Parakeet - all
  36. House Swift - Berwala, Morni, Panipat, Kalesar
  37. Asian Barred Owlet - Kasauli and Nahan
  38. Spotted Owlet - Kalesar
  39. Rock Pigeon - all
  40. Oriental Turtle Dove - Morni and Kasauli
  41. Laughing Dove - all
  42. Spotted Dove - Berwala, Kasauli, Morni and Kalesar
  43. Red Collared Dove - Panipat
  44. Eurasian Collared Dove - all
  45. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon - Berwala
  46. Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon - Heard at Kalesar (doubtful)
  47. White-breasted Waterhen - Berwala, Panipat
  48. Purple Swamphen - Panipat
  49. Common Moorhen - Panipat
  50. Common Coot - Panipat
  51. Common Snipe - Panipat
  52. Black-tailed Godwit - Panipat
  53. Spotted Redshank - Panipat
  54. Marsh Sandpiper - Panipat, Kalesar
  55. Common Greenshank - Kalesar
  56. Green Sandpiper - Panipat, Kalesar
  57. Little Stint - Panipat
  58. Temminck's Stint - Panipat
  59. Curlew Sandpiper - Panipat
  60. Ruff - Panipat
  61. Black-winged Stilt - Panipat, Kalesar and Morni (Tikkar Tal)
  62. Little Ringed Plover - Panipat
  63. Red-wattled Lapwing - All
  64. River Tern - Panipat
  65. Black-shouldered Kite - Panipat, Kalesar
  66. Black Kite - all
  67. Brahminy Kite - Panipat
  68. Egyptian Vulture - all
  69. White-rumped Vultures - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  70. Indian Vultures - Berwala, Morni
  71. Himalayan Griffon - Kasauli
  72. Cinereous Vulture - Morni
  73. Short-toed Snake Eagle - Berwala
  74. Crested Serpent Eagle - Kalesar
  75. Shikra - Berwala, Kalesar, Panipat
  76. Oriental Honey-Buzzard - Berwala and Kalesar
  77. Common Kestrel - Berwala
  78. Little Grebe - Morni (Tikkar Tal) and Panipat
  79. Darter - Panipat
  80. Little Cormorant - Kalesar, Morni (Tikkar Tal) and Panipat
  81. Great Cormorant - Panipat
  82. Little Egret - Morni (Tikkar Tal), Kalesar and Panipat
  83. Grey Heron - Panipat, Kalesar
  84. Purple Heron - Panipat
  85. Great Egret - Panipat
  86. Intermediate Eaglet - Panipat, Kalesar
  87. Cattle Egret - Panipat
  88. Indian Pond Heron - Kalesar, Panipat
  89. Little Heron - Kalesar (Bata river bridge)
  90. Painted Stork -Kalesar (Hathini Kund Barrage)
  91. Asian Openbill - Kalesar
  92. Golden-fronted Leafbird - Kalesar
  93. Bay-backed Shrike - Panipat
  94. Long-tailed Shrike - Panipat, Kasauli, Morni, Kalesar
  95. Red-billed Blue Magpie - Morni and Kasauli
  96. Rufous Treepie - all
  97. Grey Treepie – Morni and Kasauli
  98. House Crow - all
  99. Large-billed Crow - all Eurasian Golden Oriole - all
  100. Large Cuckooshrike - Morni, Berwala, Kalesar
  101. Small Minivet - Berwala, Morni, Kalesar
  102. Long-tailed Minivet - Morni and Kasauli
  103. Scarlet Minivet - Morni and Kasauli
  104. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike - Morni
  105. White-throated Fantail - Morni and Kasauli
  106. White-browed Fantail - Berwala, Kalesar
  107. Black Drongo - all
  108. Ashy Drongo - Morni and Kasauli
  109. Asian Paradise Flycatcher - Berwala
  110. Common Iora - Berwala, Kalesar
  111. Common Woodshrike - all
  112. Blue-capped Rock Thrush - Morni and Kasauli
  113. Blue Whistling Thrush - Berwala, Morni and Kasauli
  114. Red-throated Flycatcher - Berwala, Morni
  115. Verditer Flycatcher - Kasauli
  116. Small Niltava - Kalesar
  117. Blue-throated Flycatcher - Berwala
  118. Tickell's Blue Flycatcher - Berwala
  119. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher - Kasauli
  120. Oriental Magpie Robin - all
  121. Indian Robin - all
  122. Black Redstart - Morni and Berwala
  123. White-capped Water Redstart - Morni (Gaggar bridge)
  124. Siberian Stonechat - Panipat
  125. Pied Bushchat - all
  126. Grey Bushchat - Morni and Kasauli
  127. Brown Rock-chat - all
  128. Brahminy Starling - Panipat
  129. Rosy Starling - Panipat
  130. Asian Pied Starling - Kalesar and Panipat
  131. Common Myna - all
  132. Bank Myna - Panipat
  133. Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch - Morni and Kasauli
  134. Bar-tailed Treecreeper - Kasauli
  135. Great Tit - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  136. Black-throated Tit - Kasauli
  137. Plain Martin - Berwala, Kalesar and Panipat
  138. Dusky Crag Martin - Kalesar
  139. Barn Swallow - Morni
  140. Wire-tailed Swallow - Kalesar
  141. Red-rumped Swallow - all
  142. Streaked-throated Swallow - Kalesar and Panipat
  143. Himalayan Bulbul - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  144. Red-vented Bulbul - all
  145. Black Bulbul - Morni
  146. Striated Prinia - Morni and Kasauli
  147. Grey-breasted Prinia - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  148. Yellow-bellied Prinia - Panipat
  149. Ashy Prinia - Berwala, Kalesar and Panipat
  150. Plain Prinia - Kalesar
  151. Graceful Prinia -Panipat
  152. Oriental White-eye - all
  153. Common Tailorbird - all
  154. Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler - did not see but heard a song 'wheeeeee eeyoo' being responded by another bird across the valley in Berwala on both days - doubtful
  155. Lesser Whitethroat (minula) - Kalesar
  156. Lesser Whitethroat (althea) - Morni
  157. Paddyfield Warbler - Panipat
  158. Blyth's Reed Warbler - Berwala
  159. Clamorous Warbler - Panipat
  160. Common Chiffchaff - Berwala, Morni and Kalesar
  161. Mountain Chiffchaff - Morni and Kasauli (doubtful)
  162. Sulphur-bellied Warbler - Berwala, Morni and Kasauli
  163. Lemun-rumped Warbler - Kasauli
  164. Hume's Warbler - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  165. Greenish Warbler - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  166. Tytler's Leaf Warbler - Morni and Kasauli (cannot be 100% sure)
  167. Western-crowned Warbler - Kasauli
  168. Grey-hooded Warbler - Morni, Kasauli
  169. Streaked-throated Laughingthrush - Kasauli
  170. Puff-throated Babbler - Berwala, Morni and Kalesar
  171. Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler - Berwala, Morni, Kasauli and Kalesar
  172. White-browed Scimitar Babbler - Berwala and Morni
  173. Yellow-eyed Babbler - Morni (Gaggar bridge and Tikkar tal)
  174. Common Babbler - Kalesar
  175. Large Grey Babbler - Berwala, Kalesar and Panipat
  176. Jungle Babbler - all
  177. Red-billed Leiothrix -Kasauli
  178. Thick-billed Flowerpecker - Kalesar
  179. Purple Sunbird - all
  180. Crimson Sunbird - Berwala and Morni
  181. House Sparrow - all
  182. Russet Sparrow - Morni and Kasauli
  183. Chestnut-shouldered Petronia - all
  184. White Wagtail - Kalesar, Panipat
  185. White-browed Wagtail - Morni (Tikkar Tal), Panipat and Kalesar
  186. Citrine Wagtail - Morni (Tikkar Tal), Kalesar and Panipat
  187. Yellow Wagtail - Panipat
  188. Grey Wagtail - Berwala
  189. Paddyfield Pipit -Panipat
  190. Tree Pipit - Berwala, Morni and Kalesar
  191. Olive-backed Pipit - Morni and Kasauli
  192. Red Avadavat - Panipat
  193. Scaly-breasted Munia - Berwala
  194. Common Rosefinch - Berwala, Morni and Kasauli
  195. Crested Bunting - Berwala and Morni
  196. White-capped Bunting - Morni

2 comments:

  1. That is a lot of area covered and quite a large record of Species in such a short time with some intresting records for the area, a great trip I am sure.
    Today Morni Has more to offer there are a few sections of Morni area which need to be covered by any future group visiting the area. These areas were not accesible in 2005 because of non-avaliabilty of motorable tracks.

    Bari Sher saron section.
    Dharla Samlotha section.

    Both offer a varied Habitat and a lots of bird species. Bari Sher Saron section is also the only section where there is abundant water flowing in streams and rivulets.
    Regards
    Narbir

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Narbir,

    Thank you so much for the new information. Hope to do some birding in Bari Sher Saron and Dharla Samlotha section. Can you please upload your buzzard images from Samlotha section?
    Suresh C Sharma

    ReplyDelete