Demoiselle Crane at Khichan (Hannu Jännes).

WESTERN

14 – 31 JANUARY 2015

LEADER: HANNU JÄNNES

This was yet another very successful Birdquest tour to the north western of India involving an epic journey through the states of Punjab, and with a short visit to the state of Maharasthra in Central India at the end. We scored with almost every speciality of the dry western and central of the with Laggar , Rock Bush Quail, the huge Great Indian Bustard, Indian , Painted Sandgrouse, the rare, only recently rediscovered Forest Owlet, Indian Eagle-, Sykes’s Nightjar, Rufous-tailed and Sykes’s , the lovely White-bellied , Marshall’s , White-browed (or Stoliczka’s) Bush Chat, Brook's Leaf Warbler, Rufous-fronted and Rufous-vented , the striking White- naped , White-crowned Penduline Tit and the handsome Green Avadavat. Amongst many other highlights were Grey Hypocolius, Indian Cormorant, Red-naped (or Black) Ibis, Red-headed Vulture, the amazing Demoiselle Crane spectacle at Khichan, Macqueen’s Bustard, Grey Junglefowl, two confiding Ruddy- breasted Crakes, hundreds of Yellow-eyed Doves, Sirkeer Malkoha, Pallid (or Striated) Scops Owl, Sand , Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark and Greater Hoopoe Lark, all three forms of Variable , , a scarce winter visitor to India, Striated Babbler, Sykes’s, Booted and Sulphur-bellied Warblers, and Grey-necked and Striolated Buntings. Then there were mammals, which included Jungle Cat, Wild (or Desert) Cat, a splendid Striped Hyena and many Onagers (or ).

1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Yellow-bellied at Harike (Hannu Jännes).

The morning of our first full day in India began in confusion, as due to communication problems between the drivers and me, we ended up in completely the wrong area for our morning birding session. As the habitat in this ‘new’ site still looked promising, I decided to spend our precious few morning hours here, instead of wasting time driving back to the correct site. This proved a good call as the large area of woodland gave us really good views of our main target Brook's Leaf Warbler, a winter visitor from a restricted range in the northwest . A supporting cast of commoner included Shikra, Common Hoopoe, Black- rumped Flameback, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Masked , Olive-backed Pipit, Common Woodshrike, Red- vented , Red-breasted and Red-throated (or Taiga) Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Indian Robin, Black Redstart, Jungle Babbler and Hume's Leaf Warbler. Later we flew to Amritsar in the Punjab, where we visited the famous Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. The Golden Temple itself sits like a glowing golden barge on the still waters of a large artificial lake, surrounded by a white marble-clad precinct complete with numerous subsidiary buildings and minaret towers. Pilgrims from all over the Sikh world visit the shrine, which contains the original copy of the Sikh holy book the Granth Sahib. It was moving to see the devotion of the pilgrims, and we also managed a few , including noisy Alexandrine Parakeets, in the temple precinct. Next morning we were off early to Harike, arriving at the Sikh gurdwara temple at first light with the sounds of prayer drifting across the marshes. As we wandered along the margins of the Harike Lake, Little and Great Cormorants, Oriental Darters and the uncommon and localized Indian Cormorant (or Indian Shag) were perched in the waterside vegetation or fishing on the lake, while Brown-headed and Steppe Gulls loafed near the temple hoping for scraps. Wildfowl were present in large numbers, and amongst the many commoner species were handsome Indian Spot-billed and Ferruginous Ducks. A walk along the edge of reed beds produced two excellent Ruddy-breasted Crakes (a write-in), many Purple (or Grey-headed) Swamphens, restricted-range Striated Babblers, a single White-crowned Penduline Tit, several handsome and vocal Yellow-bellied Prinias, and really great views of another of Harike's top attractions, the Rufous-vented Prinia,

2 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Rufous-vented Prinia, which apparently is not a prinia at all, but a babbler (Hannu Jännes). which apparently is not a prinia at all, but a babbler. Other good birds seen during the morning session included , Black-rumped Flameback, River Tern and Bar-tailed Treecreeper, a winter visitors from the Himalayas. Unfortunately, due to an outbreak of bird flu, large parts of the sanctuary were off-limits during our visit, including all the areas where we saw the "Sind" Jerdon's Babbler, the newly discovered avian star attraction of Harike, on our previous visit in 2013. After lunch we moved to another area, where the highlights included a flock of Bar-headed Geese, Greater Spotted Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Grey Francolin, two White-tailed Lapwings, ten Sand Larks, several Oriental Skylarks and Citrine , three White-tailed Stonechats with a handful of Siberian Stonechats, three Yellow-eyed Babblers, Water Pipits, nice group of Streaked Weavers (an Indian endemic), and a great Jungle Cat basking in the sun. The next day was a travel day, but we had time for a short stop near Harike where we managed to find Baya and Black-breasted Weavers and two Slaty-blue Flycatchers (another winter visitor from the Himalayas) before continuing our 500 kilometre long journey south to in Rajasthan. As we headed south the landscape became more and more arid, until the desert surrounded us. We made stops along the way adding Red-naped (or Indian Black) Ibis, Long-legged Buzzard, Laughing Dove, White-eared Bulbul, Variable Wheatear, Common Babbler and Indian Silverbill to our rapidly increasing bird list and we also saw Indian Gazelles and . We arrived at our special accommodation, Lallgarh Palace Hotel, at Bikaner in the evening. We spent the next morning at the "idyllic" carcass dump in the outskirts of the city, where the key bird was the Yellow-eyed Dove that winters in the warmth of Rajasthan to escape Central ’s bitter cold. During our stay we managed to obtain good views of this enigmatic species and estimated around 300 birds in the area. Other good birds included hundreds of Egyptian and ten Griffon Vultures, a Tawny, hundred Steppe and two Eastern Imperial Eagles, hunting Laggar Falcon, Indian Stone-Curlew, Southern Grey and our first Bay-backed Shrikes, a few Variable and a single Isabelline and around twenty Rosy Starlings. From Bikaner we drove across the to the little village of Khichan, of Demoiselle Crane fame. The expected afternoon feeding spectacle, which these birds usually provide, didn’t happen as the birds had

3 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Demoiselle Cranes at Khichan (Hannu Jännes). decided to skip their evening meal, but we had really great views of a noisy, and very photogenic, flock of about 5000 birds at some nearby ponds. In addition we saw a large flying flock of about 5000 birds in the distance. Later we headed to for a three nights stay. The new day saw us heading to the Desert National Park, although this year the access to the area was much more difficult than we had anticipated. A few kilometres before the DNP headquarters we became stuck in the drift sand that wind had blown onto the road, and it took some time before all our vehicles were safely past the sandy section of road. At DNP our local guide took us to the enclosed Sudaseri area where we spent good part of the morning searching for the enigmatic Great Indian Bustard, which had been seen recently. The bustard proved to be a difficult bird to find and despite all our efforts, we only managed flight views of a distant bird. Luckily there were many other interesting birds around including a magnificent mixed flock of Egyptian, White-rumped, Indian, Griffon, Himalayan, Cinereous and Red-headed Vultures at a carcass, a few Cream-coloured , great views of many Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Desert and Variable Wheatears, Rufous-fronted Prinia, Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark and Greater Short-toed and Bimaculated Larks, Trumpeter Finches and Desert Whitethroats. Later we visited another part of the area, where we had very good scope views of two more bustards. On the way back to Jaisalmer we climbed a rocky hill where excellent scope views of a Red-tailed Wheatear were obtained.

4 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Hannu Jännes).

Next morning we headed back to DNP stopping en route for and Asian Desert Warbler, both new birds for us. Our guide took us to an area where we quickly located a group of five Great Indian Bustards. Unfortunately these rather skittish birds soon took off and flew several kilometres away. Later we moved on to Sudaseri area to look for White-browed (or Stoliczka’s) Bush Chat, and accidentally bumped into the same flock of bustards, which took off again and disappeared behind the hills. At noon we moved on to the Fossil Park for picnic lunch and birding, before it was time to do the sightseeing thing in Jaisalmer. Leaving Jaisalmer behind, we headed south to the remote village of Siana. As there were very few reasons to stop on the way, we made good progress, and arrived at our lovely lodge, run by an aristocratic Rajput family of hereditary landowners, just in time for late lunch. Then we had two days to explore this lovely, relatively remote, and sparsely inhabited area of dry hills and plains, which in recent years has become a regular stopping place for travelling birders. Our action packed time here with the local guides produced, among other birds, gorgeous male White-bellied Minivet, a rather scarce Indian endemic, six Painted Sandgrouse visiting a drinking pool at dusk, a covey of Rock Bush Quails, a pair of Barred Buttonquails, the only Eurasian Wryneck of the trip, our first Indian Bush Larks, Sulphur-bellied and Eastern Orphean Warblers, showy White-browed (or Stoliczka’s) Bush Chat, a couple of Striolated Buntings and a handful of Grey-necked Buntings, several Indian Vultures, Bonelli’s Eagle and a flock of 30 Great White Pelicans soaring high in the sky. In addition we discovered a real surprise in the garden of our lodge, a vocal female Ashy Minivet, a very scarce winter visitor to India! Our two night drives were not successful in locating the Leopard, which has been difficult to find of late, but we did see other mammals including two really great Striped Hyenas, Common Palm Civet and Small Indian Civet, which was a write in. The avian delights of our night drives included two Western Barn and two Indian Eagle-Owls, one being a fledged juvenile bird. After Siana the next stop was Mount Abu, a mountain rising 1722 meters above sea level, where our main target was the rare and range restricted Green Avadavat. Soon after our arrival at the well-known stake-out for the munia, we located a confiding group of these lovely birds, which left us all rather elated. Other birds noted in the area included Woolly-necked Stork, Common Hawk-Cuckoo, White-spotted Fantail, Blue Rock- thrush, several gorgeous Crested Buntings and a very co-operative Sulphur-bellied Warbler.

5 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Green Avadavat on Mt Abu (Hannu Jännes).

Next morning we searched promising looking forest habitat further down the mountain, where we picked up showy Indian Scimitar Babblers, which were surprisingly common on the mountain, a brief Grey Junglefowl, a few more Green Avadavats, two Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Grey- headed Canary-flycatcher, a small flock of Tawny-bellied Babblers, attractive Indian Black-lored (or Indian Yellow) Tits and an Ashy . Then we left Rajasthan behind dropping down into the low-lying state of Gujarat, bordering the Arabian Sea. After arriving at our remote lodge at Zainabad on the edge of the Little , again run by local aristocratic traditional landowners, we had tea and a quick look at one of the four-five cute Pallid Scops Owls, which were wintering in the camp grounds, before heading for a combined late afternoon and evening excursion. Our drive around the dry Khari area produced a roosting Short-eared Owl, and, after it became dark, two little known Syke's Nightjars and one Indian (or Indian Little) Nightjar, which gave us excellent views down to few meters, plus a close encounter with a Western . As the sun rose next morning we headed out into the saline wastelands of the Little Rann of Kutch. The main target bird in this habitat was Macqueen’s Bustard. This winter visitor from has become rare owing to both persecution and habitat change, and despite a very extensive search we only managed a few seconds flight view for most. Other observations during our desperate search for the bustards included good numbers of handsome Onagers (Indian Wild Ass), couple of Steppe Eagles and Long-legged Buzzards, a nice Merlin of the pale pallidus, thousands of Greater Short-toed Larks, our first Crested Larks, and a single Long-billed Pipit. In the afternoon we visited an area good for Indian Courser and soon located a flock of five birds. The late afternoon was spent at a large wetland teeming with birds including our only Great Crested Grebe, Great White and Dalmatian Pelicans, good numbers of Eurasian Spoonbills, Lesser Flamingos and especially Greater Flamingos, and Demoiselle and Common Cranes. The last morning at Zainabad we made another try for the Macqueen’s Bustard and in the end obtained decent views of a single individual. Our bustard search was interrupted by a phone call from a couple of Indian birders we had met earlier at the camp informing us of a pair of Greater Hoopoe Larks they had located nearby. It didn’t take us long to get there and secure scope views the birds. A write-in and a very welcome break from our rather tedious bustard chase. Now it was time to head for the Bhuj of western Gujarat, where yet another set of goodies awaited us. We reached Nakhatrana, our base for the next three nights, rather late in the evening, and, after a meeting with our host Jugal, and good dinner, we were all more than ready for our beds.

6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Male Grey Hypocolius near Nakhatrana (Hannu Jännes).

Our host had everything planned for us, and early the next morning we found ourselves in front of a berry- bearing bush ready for a Grey Hypocolius to appear, which it did after a bit of a wait, and gave us all really great views. All and all we saw six individuals during the morning. Later we drove to "Conical Rock" for a late breakfast, seeing Rufous-tailed Larks on route. After breakfast we searched an area of dry woodland where our target bird, White-naped Tit, was soon located, and, after a bit of a chase, showed well for everyone. There followed fruitless search of Marshall’s Iora before we stopped at an area where thirty or so Yellow- wattled Lapwings and Syke’s, Black-headed and Grey-headed Wagtails were found resting. In the afternoon, on the way to a rocky wasteland, which is the traditional site for Syke's Lark, we searched in dry roadside scrub, and at last found a pair of Marshall’s Iora. When we reached the wasteland Syke’s Larks proved easy and provided us with great views, and we also saw Syke’s Warbler and Barred Buttonquail. Later a patch of dry woodland produced another pair of White-naped Tits, and Sirkeer Malkoha, one of our main targets in the area, appeared in a road side bush just when we were about to start searching for it! Next morning we visited the shore of the Gulf of Kuch near Mandvi, where we spent a very pleasant few hours walking along the sandy beach, which provided a good selection of shorebirds, many of which were new for our trip list. These included many Western Reef Herons, Grey, Lesser Sand, Greater Sand and Kentish , Terek Sandpiper, Sanderling, Dunlin, 15 Great Stone-curlews, Steppe, Pallas's (or Greater Black-headed), Slender-billed, Heuglin’s, Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls, Gull-billed, Caspian and Lesser Crested Terns, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlews, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed and Ruddy . It was great to have a really good look at a pair of the local, prominently streaked krishnakumarsinhji subspecies of Sand Lark. Watching them made me wonder how much streaking you need to add to a Sand Lark before it becomes Lesser Short-toed Lark?! Unfortunately the Crab-plovers, often occupying this stretch of the beach, had been rather erratic in their occurrence this year, and we failed to find them, a major disappointment for Brian. After a good lunch at Mandvi, we spent the whole afternoon checking other potential areas along the shore line for the Crab-, unfortunately with no result. Next morning, after an early breakfast, our visit to Gujarat ended and we headed for Nagpur in the state of in west-central India for a short visit to Melghat. After two internal flights we reached the city of Nagpur in the late afternoon and checked into our rather grand hotel near the airport. From Nagpur we headed westwards to the huge Melghat Tiger Reserve, stopping off on route at a large wetland, where we enjoyed an excellent selection of showy LBJs (little brown jobs) including Booted, Syke's, Paddyfield, Clamorous (or Indian) Reed, Blyth's Reed, Hume's and Greenish Warblers and Siberian

7 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Forest Owlet at Melghat and Pallid Scops Owl at Zainabad (Hannu Jännes).

Chiffchaff. Other interesting observations here included our first Asian Openbills, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Cotton Pygmy Geese, Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, White-browed Wagtails and a pair of White-browed , which is apparently a very scarce bird this far north. The main reason for a visit to the remote Melghat Tiger Reserve in north eastern Maharashtra is to see the rare Forest Owlet. Rediscovered by Ben King, Pamela Rasmussen and others in northwest Maharashtra as recently as 1997, there had been a gap of over 100 years since a few specimens were taken in the late 19th century from various points along the . So, needless to say, we went in search of this rarity as soon as we reached Melghat. This time our search in the usual area didn’t produce anything, but thanks to our guide’s effort a single individual was located nearby just before dusk, and we all managed decent scope views of this MEGA! As it was quite late when we finished with the Forest Owlet, we decided to stay a little bit longer in the general area, and after a while we played in an excellent Mottled Wood Owl, another special owl of the area, so it was rather late in the evening when we finally reached our hotel at Chikhaldara, but we still managed a short outing after the dinner, which unfortunately didn’t produce the hoped for Jungle Nightjar. The next day, due to awkward last minute changes in our flight schedules, we unfortunately had only limited time for birding along the quiet forest roads of this lovely area. Best birds of the day, many of which were new for the list, included two White-eyed Buzzards, a pair of Bonelli's Eagle, a Jungle Owlet, Crested Treeswifts, Brown-capped Pygmy, Yellow-crowned and White-naped Woodpeckers, Black-rumped Flameback, Eurasian Crag Martins, Common House Martins, Large , Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Ultramarine and Verditer Flycatchers, Brown-cheeked Fulvettas, a nice vocal Yellow- browed Warbler together with Hume’s Leaf and Greenish Warblers, Indian and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Thick-billed and Pale-billed Flowerpeckers, Black-hooded Oriole of the vocally distinct Peninsular Indian form maderaspatanus, Greater Racket-tailed and a Golden-fronted . On the way back to Nagpur we saw Grey Hornbills flying over a busy road in the middle of a town and followed these up to a fruiting tree, where we had great views of several individuals alongside many noisy Asian Koels. Rather surprisingly this was our first decent look at these birds, which are usually easy to find on this tour. Then it was time to head back to Nagpur for the farewell dinner, thank everyone for their great company, which, together with all the excellent birds and exciting places, made this such a memorable tour.

8 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Syke's Nightjar at Zainabad (Hannu Jännes).

Indian Nightjar at Zainabad (Hannu Jännes).

'BIRDS OF THE TRIP’ WINNERS: 1st: Great Indian Bustard 2nd: Grey Hypocolius 3rd: Forest Owlet 4th: Demoiselle Crane show at Khichan 5th: Macqueen's Bustard

9 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Indian Black-lored (or Indian Yellow) Tit on Mt Abu (Hannu Jännes).

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

The species names and used in the report follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names. This list is updated several times annually and is available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org. Names of the subspecies follow Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton J.C. (2012): Birds of , The Ripley Guide and Ali, S. & Ripley, S.D. (1987): Compact Handbook of the Birds of India and .

Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL).

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica 30 at a reservoir near Nagpur. Greylag Goose Anser anser [rubrirostris]. Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus A noisy flock of 100 at Harike. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A few at Harike and 20 near Zainabad. Cotton Pygmy Goose (Cotton Teal) Nettapus coromandelianus 10 at a reservoir near Nagpur. Gadwall Anas strepera Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Two at Harike. Indian Spot-billed Duck (Burmese S-b D) Anas poecilorhyncha Noted at Harike, Zainabad and Nagpur. Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta

10 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Western Reef Heron at Mandvi (Hannu Jännes).

Garganey Anas querquedula 50 near Zainabad. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina 50 at Harike and 200 near Nagpur. Common Pochard Aythya ferina A few widely distributed. Ferruginous Duck (F Pochard) Aythya nyroca Six at Harike. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 20 near Zainabad and a few elsewhere. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Common and widespread [interpositus]. Jungle Bush Quail ◊ Perdicula asiatica 15 at Melghat. Rock Bush Quail ◊ Perdicula argoondah Group of four at Siana [meinertzhageni]. Grey Junglefowl* ◊ Gallus sonneratii One was seen briefly and another two were heard on Mt Abu. Indian Peafowl (Common P) Pavo cristatus Common and widespread. The national bird of India. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Widespread [albescens]. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus One near Zainabad. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 1000 near Zainabad and smaller numbers elsewhere in Gujarat. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor 200 near Zainabad. Painted Stork ◊ Mycteria leucocephala Scattered records of small numbers. Asian Openbill* ◊ Anastomus oscitans Seven at a reservoir near Nagpur. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus One on Mt Abu. Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus 100 in the coastal areas in Bhuj. A handful of birds elsewhere. Red-naped Ibis ◊ (Indian Black Ibis) Pseudibis papillosa Widespread. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Numerous at Harike, and a singleton Bhuj. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia [nominate]. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Ten or so were noted. Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Widespread. Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Widespread, often in good numbers. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Widespread in small numbers. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea A few widely scattered records. Great Egret Ardea alba Locally common [modesta]. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Small numbers were noted [nominate].

11 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Steppe Eagles at Bikaner (Hannu Jännes).

Little Egret Egretta garzetta [nominate]. Western Reef Heron (W R-Egret) Egretta gularis Good numbers on route to Bhuj and at Mandvi [schistacea]. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Small numbers at Siana, Mandvi and Zainabad. Dalmatian Pelican ◊ Pelecanus crispus 10 at Zainabad and two on route to Bhuj. Little Cormorant Microcarbo Fairly numerous at suitable wetlands. Indian Cormorant ◊ (I Shag) Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Numerous at Harike, and one near Nagpur. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Numerous at Harike, and 40 near Nagpur [sinensis]. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 20 at Harike and one near Zainabad. Black-winged Kite (B-shouldered K) Elanus caeruleus Widespread [vociferus]. Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus 300 at Bikaner [nominate] and 45 at Jaisalmer [ginginianus]. See note. Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H B) Pernis ptilorhyncus Widespread in small numbers [ruficollis]. White-rumped Vulture (Indian White-b V) Gyps bengalensis Nine at Jaisalmer and one at Nakhatarana. See note. Indian Vulture Gyps indicus One at Jaisalmer and a total of seven at Siana. See note. Himalayan Vulture Gyps himayalensis Seven at a carcass in Desert National Park. Griffon Vulture (Eurasian G V) Gyps fulvus Ten at Bikaner and about 50 around Jaisalmer. Red-headed Vulture ◊ Sargogyps calvus Two at a carcass at Desert National Park in Jaisalmer. See note. Cinereous Vulture (Eurasian Black V) Aegypius monachus Two at a carcass at Desert National Park in Jaisalmer. Spilornis cheela A few were noted. Short-toed Snake Eagle (S-t Eagle) Circaetus gallicus A total of five were observed. Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga One at Harike. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus One on route between Zainabad and Bhuj. Aquila rapax One at Bikaner, one on route to Jaisalmer and one near Nakhatrana [vindhiana]. Aquila nipalensis 100 at Bikaner, also noted at Jaisalmer, Siana and Zainabad [nominate]. Eastern Imperial Eagle (Imperial E) Aquila heliaca Two at Bikaner. Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata One at Siana and two, a pair, at Melghat [nominate]. Shikra badius Small numbers were noted almost daily [dussumieri]. Accipiter nisus One at Harike [nisosimilis]. Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus [nominate]. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus Two near Zainabad. Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Two at Zainabad and one near Nakhatrana. Black Kite Milvus [migrans] govinda Rather widespread in good numbers. Black-eared Kite Milvus [migrans] lineatus Numerous at the dump near Bikaner.

12 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Macgueen's Bustard at the Little Rann of Kutch (Hannu Jännes).

White-eyed Buzzard ◊ Butastur teesa Scattered few were noted. Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus Widespread in small numbers in the arid west. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Common at Harike and one near Nagpur [nominate]. Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca Two confiding birds at Harike. A write-in! Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Noted at Harike, Zainabad and Nagpur [poliocephalus]. See note. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Common at suitable wetlands [indica]. Eurasian Coot (Common C) Fulica atra Numerous at suitable wetlands [nominate]. Great Indian Bustard ◊ (Indian B) Ardeotis nigriceps A total of nine at Desert National Park. Macqueen’s Bustard*◊ Chlamydotis macqueenii Two at Little Rann of Kutch. Demoiselle Crane ◊ Grus virgo We estimated 10,000 at Kichan. In addition 35 near Zainabad and 200 at Mandvi. Common Crane Grus grus A few hundred at Zainabad and in the Bhuj region Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator Two at Siana and two near Nakhatrana [taigoor]. Indian Stone-curlew (I Thick-knee) Burhinus indicus One at Bikaner and two at Siana. In addition two were heard. Great Stone-curlew ◊ (G Thick-knee) Esacus recurvirostris 15 at Mandvi. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 10 at Mandvi. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Widespread [nominate]. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 30 near Zainabad, and a singleton at Mandvi. Yellow-wattled Lapwing ◊ (Y-w Plover) Vanellus malabaricus Good numbers in the Nakhatrana-Bhuj region. Red-wattled Lapwing (R-w Plover) Vanellus indicus [nominate]. White-tailed Lapwing ◊ (W-t Plover) Vanellus leucurus Two at Harike and three near Zainabad. Grey Plover (Black-bellied P) Pluvialis squatarola Five at Mandvi. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius One in the Nakhatrana area and two near Nagpur [jerdoni]. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Common on the coast at Mandvi [nominate]. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 20 on the coast at Mandvi. Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultia Five on the coast at Mandvi. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Four at the reservoir near Nagpur. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago A few were noted. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Ten at Harike and 100 near Zainabad [limosa]. Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Five on the coast near Mandvi. Whimbrel (Eurasian W) Numenius phaeopus Two on the coast near Mandvi. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata Small numbers were noted. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Common Redshank Tringa totanus Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Four near Zainabad and one on the coast. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia

13 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Indian Courser and Cream-colored Courser (Hannu Jännes).

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus Fairly widespread in small numbers. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola A total of three were noted. Terek Sandpiper ◊ Xenus cinereus 20 on the coast near Mandvi. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Ten on the coast near Mandvi [nominate]. Sanderling Calidris alba 30 on the coast near Mandvi. Little Stint Calidris minuta Five on the coast near Mandvi. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Eight near Zainabad and one near Mandvi. Dunlin Calidris alpina Five on the coast near Mandvi. Ruff Philomachus pugnax Cream-colored Courser ◊ cursor A total of nine at the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer. Indian Courser ◊ Cursorius coromandelicus A flock of five near Zainabad. Slender-billed Gull Larus genei Ten on the coast near Mandvi. Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus Noted at Harike, near Zainabad and on the coast. Black-headed Gull (Common B-h G) Chroicocephalus ridibundus Pallas’s Gull (Great Black-headed G) Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus Eight on the coast including some nice adults. Heuglin’s Gull ◊ (Siberian G) Larus [fuscus] heuglini Fairly common on the coast. Steppe Gull ◊ Larus [fuscus] barabensis Six at Harike and one on the coast. Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica Noted at Zainabad and on the coast. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Four on the coast. Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis Four on the coast. River Tern Sterna aurantia A few at Harike, and one near Nagpur. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrid 20 at Harike and two near Zainabad [nominate]. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus Numerous, up to 150 per day, in suitable dry habitat [hindustani]. Painted Sandgrouse ◊ Pterocles indicus Six coming to drink at Siana. Rock Dove (R Pigeon) Columba livia [intermedia]. Yellow-eyed Pigeon ◊ (Y-e Dove) Columba eversmanni 300 at Bikaner. Oriental Turtle Dove (Rufous T-D) Streptopelia orientalis A few at Melghat [meena]. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Very common and widespread. Red Turtle Dove (R Collared Dove) Streptopelia tranquebarica Small numbers were noted. Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis Fairly common at Melghat [suratensis]. Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis Common and widespred [cambayensis]. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon ◊ Treron phoenicopterus Small numbers in and Punjab [chlorigaster]. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Widespread in small numbers [parroti]. See note. Sirkeer Malkoha ◊ Taccocua leschenaultia Good views of one near Nakhatrana [sirkee]. Asian Koel (Common K) Eudynamys scolopacea Noted on six days [nominate]. Common Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx varius One on Mt Abu and one at Melghat. Western Barn Owl alba A total of four were sighted including some excellent views [stertens]. See note.

14 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Yellow-eyed Pigeons near Bikaner (Hannu Jännes).

Pallid Scops Owl ◊ (Striated S-O) Otus brucei Great views of one roosting bird at Zainabad. Indian Eagle-Owl ◊ (Rock E-O) Bubo bengalensis Good views of two at Siana, and a fresh corpse on the coast. Mottled Wood Owl ◊ Strix ocellata Great views at Melghat [nominate].. Jungle Owlet ◊ Glaucidium radiatum Good views at Melghat [radiatum]. Spotted Owlet brama Widespread [indica]. Forest Owlet ◊ Heteroglaux blewitti We found this MEGA at Melghat after a search. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus One near Zainabad. Sykes’s Nightjar ◊ Caprimulgus mahrattensis Two with some excellent views at Zainabad. Indian Nightjar ◊ (Indian Little N) Caprimulgus asiaticus One with excellent views at Zainabad. Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata Ten at Melghat [legerli]. Little Swift Apus affinis Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis [benghalensis]. White-throated Kingfisher (W-breasted K) Halcyon smyrnensis [fusca]. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis [bengalensis]. Pied Kingfisher (Lesser Pied K) Ceryle rudis [leucomelanurus] Green Bee-eater (Little Green B-e) Merops orientalis Common and widespread [orientalis and beludschicus]. Eurasian Hoopoe (Common H) Upupa epops Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris Great views of three birds on route to Nagpur on our last evening. Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica Only few were noted, but great views of one on Mt Abu [caniceps]. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Only few were noted [indica]. Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla One at Siana. Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker ◊ Dendrocopos nanus Two on Mt Abu and two at Melghat [hardwickii]. Yellow- crowned Woodpecker ◊ (Y- fronted Pied W) Dendrocopos mahrattensis Four were noted [nominate]. Black-rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense [nominate]. White-naped Woodpecker ◊ (W-n Flameback) ◊ Chrysocolaptes festivus Five birds, all at Melghat. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Merlin Falco columbarius Two sightings near Zainabad. Laggar Falcon ◊ Falco jugger One at Bikaner and six in the Jaisalmer area. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus One at Harike, and two at Siana. Birds at Siana belonged to [pelegrinoides]. Alexandrine Parakeet ◊ Psittacula eupatria Noted at Punjab and Maharasthra [nominate]. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Ring-necked P) Psittacula krameri Everywhere [manillensis]. Plum-headed Parakeet ◊ Psittacula cyanocephala Fairly common at Melghat, and a singleton at Siana. Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus [nominate]. Aegithina tiphia Only a few were noted [humei].

15 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Marshall's Iora (Hannu Jännes).

Marshall’s Iora ◊ Aegithina nigrolutea A total of six in the Nakhatrana area. Large Coracina macei Two at Melghat [nominate]. Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus One female at Siana. This was one of the big surprises of the trip. Pericrocotus cinnamomeus White-bellied Minivet ◊ Pericrocotus erythropygius A lovely male at Siana. Isabelline Shrike ◊ Lanius isabellinus 14 in total [arenarius]. Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus [nominate]. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach [erythronotus]. Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis [lahtora]. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Two at Melghat [maderaspatanus]. Dicrurus macrocercus [albirictus & macrocercus]. Dicrurus leucophaeus One on Mt Abu [longicaudatus]. White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Noted on Mt Abu, Zainabad and Melghat [nominate]. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus A few at Melghat [rangoonensis]. White-spotted Fantail ◊ (Spot-breasted F) Rhipidura albogularis Two on Mt Abu. White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola [nominate].

White-spotted Fantail and White-bellied Minivet (Hannu Jännes).

16 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark, male and female (Hannu Jännes).

Black-naped Monarch (B-n Blue Monarch) Hypothymis azurea One at Melghat [styani]. Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi One at Melghat [nominate]. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda [vagabunda & pallida] House Crow Corvus splendens [nominate]. Indian Jungle Crow ++ Corvus culminatus Northern Raven (Common Raven) Corvus corax Rather common in the Jaisalmer area [subcorax]. Grey Hypocolius ◊ Hypocolius ampelinus A total of six with some great views near Nakhatrana. Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher (G-h Flycatcher) Culicicapa ceylonensis Noted on Mt Abu and Melghat. Cinereous Tit (Grey Tit) cinereus [stupae]. White-naped Tit ◊ Parus nuchalis Four with great views near Nakhatrana. Indian Black-lored Tit ◊ (I Yellow Tit Parus aplonotus Fairly common on Mt Abu [nominate]. White-crowned Penduline Tit ◊ Remiz coronatus One at Harike. Greater Hoopoe-Lark Alaemon alaudipes Two near Zainabad [doriae]. A write-in! Desert Lark Ammomanes deserti A few at Jaisalmer [phoenicuroides]. Rufous-tailed Lark ◊ Ammomanes phoenicura Five in the Nakhatrana area [nominate]. Black-crowned Sparrow-Lark ◊ (B-c Finch-L) Eremopterix nigriceps Good views at Jaisalmer. Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark ◊ (A-c Finch-L) Eremopterix griseus Common around Zainabad and in Nakhatrana. Indian Bush Lark Mirafra erythroptera A handful of birds were noted [nominate]. Oriental Skylark gulgula Sykes’s Lark ◊ Galerida deva Ten or so near Nakhatrana. Galerida cristata [chendoola]. Greater Short-toed Lark brachydactyla Abundant, sometimes in big flocks. Bimaculated Lark ◊ Melanocorypha bimaculata Sand Lark ◊ raytal Ten at Harike [adamsi] and two at Mandvi [krishnakumarsinhji]. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Noted on Mt Abu and at Melghat. White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis [humayuni]. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus caffer White-browed Bulbul ◊ Pycnonotus luteolus Two near Nagpur. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Eurasian Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris Ten at Melghat. Dusky Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne concolor Common House Martin (Northern H-M) Delichon urbicum Red-rumped Swallow Cecropsis daurica [rufula]. Streak-throated Swallow ◊ (Indian Cliff S) Petrochelidon fluvicola 100 at a colony near Zainabad. Cetti’s Warbler (C’s Bush-Warbler) Cettia cetti (H) One at Harike. Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita Common at Harike, few elsewhere. See note. Sulphur-bellied Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus griseolus One at Siana, and two on Mt Abu.

17 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Common Babbler and Striated Babbler (Hannu Jännes).

Brooks’s Leaf Warbler ◊ Phylloscopus subviridis Great views of one in Delhi. Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus One at Melghat. Hume’s Leaf Warbler (H’s Warbler, Buff-browed W) Phylloscopus humei Widespread [humei]. Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides Not uncommon in Maharashtra [viridanus]. Clamorous Reed Warbler ◊ Acrocephalus stentoreus Five with excellent views near Nagpur. See note. Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola Great views at a reservoir near Nagpur. Blyth’s Reed Warbler ◊ Acrocephalus dumetorum Only a few were noted. Booted Warbler ◊ Iduna caligata Great views of four at a reservoir near Nagpur. Sykes’s Warbler ◊ Iduna rama A total of six were noted. Rufous-fronted Prinia ◊ Prinia buchanani Fairly common from Jaisalmer to Siana. Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii [nominate]. Prinia gracilis Handful of birds were noted [lepida]. Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris Rather common at Harike [sindiana]. Prinia socialis [socialis]. Prinia inornata [inornata & terricolor]. Orthotomus sutorius Indian Scimitar Babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus horsfieldii Excellent views on Mt Abu. Tawny-bellied Babbler ◊ Dumetia hyperythra Six on Mt Abu [nominate]. Rufous-vented Prinia ◊ burnesii Two with excellent views at Harike. See note. Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala Four at Melghat [brucei]. Common Babbler ◊ Turdoides caudatus [caudata]. Striated Babbler ◊ Turdoides earlei Common at Harike. Large Grey Babbler ◊ Turdoides malcolmi Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata [orientalis & summervillei]. Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Desert Whitethroat ◊ (D Lesser W) Sylvia minula Small numbers at Jaisalmer, Zainabad and Nakhatrana. Eastern Orphean Warbler Sylvia crassirostris Three were noted. Asian Desert Warbler ◊ Sylvia nana Two at Jaisalmer. Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense [hypoleucum]. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus [amabilis]. Indian Nuthatch ◊ Sitta castanea Two at Melghat [nominate]. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis One at Melghat. Bar-tailed Treecreeper ◊ Certhia himalayana One at Harike. Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus

18 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com We obtained great views of White-browed (or Stoliczka's) Bush Chat at Siana (Hannu Jännes).

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis [nominate]. Pied Myna (Asian P Starling) Gracupica contra [nominate]. Brahminy Starling ◊ Sturnia pagodarum Rosy Starling ◊ (Rose-coloured S) Pastor roseus Common Starling (European S) Sturnus vulgaris Indian Robin ◊ (Indian Black R) Copsychus fulicatus [cambaiensis]. Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis [nominate]. Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Two at Melghat [nominate]. Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus One at Melghat [nominate]. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica One at Harike and another one near Nagpur. Red-breasted Flycatcher parva Red-throated Flycatcher (Taiga F) Ficedula albicilla Ultramarine Flycatcher ◊ Ficedula superciliaris Two at Melghat. Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor Two at Harike. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius One on Mt Abu. White-browed Bush Chat ◊ (Stoliczka’s B) Saxicola macrorhynchus One at Siana. Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus [indicus]. White-tailed Stonechat ◊ Saxicola leucurus Three at Harike. Pied Bush Chat Saxicola caprata Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti [nominate]. Brown Rock-Chat ◊ Oenanthe fusca [nominate]. Variable Wheatear ◊ (Eastern Pied W) Oenanthe picata [picata, capistrata and opistholeuca]. Red-tailed Wheatear ◊ Oenanthe chrysopygia Golden-fronted Leafbird (Gold-f L) Chloropsis aurifrons One at Melghat [nominate]. A write-in! Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile One in Melghat [nominate].. Scarce this year! Pale-billed Flowerpecker ◊ Dicaeum erythrorhynchos One in Melghat [nominate]. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiatica [sola]. House Sparrow Passer domesticus [indicus]. Yellow-throated Sparrow ◊ (Chestnut-shouldered Petronia) Gymnoris xanthocollis Black-breasted Weaver ◊ benghalensis One at Harike [nominate]. Streaked Weaver ◊ Ploceus manyar Flock of eight at Harike. Ploceus philippinus Small numbers at Harike, Nakhatrana and near Nagpur [philippinus].

19 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Syke's Lark near Nakhatrana (Hannu Jännes).

Red Avadava (R Munia) Amandava amandava Ten at Harike and 40 near Nagpur [nominate]. Green Avadavat ◊ (G Munia) Amandava formosa Around 20 at the usual site on Mt Abu. Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica [nominate]. Sykes’s Wagtail Motacilla [flava] beema Black-headed Wagtail Motacilla [flava] feldegg Grey-headed Wagtail Motacilla [flava] thunbergi Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola [nominate]. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea White Wagtail Motacilla [alba] alba Masked Wagtail ◊ Motacilla [alba] personata White-browed Wagtail Motacilla madaraspatensis Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris [griseus]. Long-billed Pipit ◊ Anthus similis One near Zainabad and another one at Nakhatrana [jerdoni]. Tree Pipit (Brown Tree P) Anthus trivialis [haringtoni]. Olive-backed Pipit (Olive Tree P) Anthus hodgsoni [yunnanensis]. Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta A handful of birds at Harike [blakistoni]. Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus 50 at Jaisalmer. Common Rosefinch (Scarlet R) Carpodacus erythrinus [roseatus]. Crested Bunting ◊ Emberiza lathami 10 on Mt Abu. Grey-necked Bunting ◊ Emberiza buchanani Handful of birds at Siana and Nakhatrana. Striolated Bunting ◊ Emberiza striolata Three around Siana [nominate].

20 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com Onager (or Indian Wild Ass) at Zainabad (Hannu Jännes).

MAMMALS Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis Indian Palm Squirrel (Southern P S) Funambulus palmarum A few at Melghat. Northern Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennantii Common and widespread. (I D Gerbil) Meriones hurrianae Two at Siana. House Rat (Black R) Rattus rattus Jungle Cat Felis chaus Two were seen. Wild Cat (Desert Cat) Felis sylvestris One at Zainabad. Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Seen on a night drive at Siana. Small Indian Civet Vivericula indica Seen on a night drive at Siana. Indian Grey Mongoose (Common M) Herpestes edwardsii Four were noted. Striped Hyena Hyaena hyaena Two at Siana. Bengal Fox (Indian F) Vulpes bengalensis Fairly common at Jaisalmer. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes A total of four at Jaisalmer. Also called Desert Fox. Golden Jackal (Common J) Canis aureus Two in the Bhuj region. Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus Northern Plains Grey Langur (Hanuman L, Common L) Presbytes entellus Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta Eurasian Wild Boar (Indian W B) Sus scrofa Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) Gazella bennettii Nilgai (Blue Bull) Boselaphus tragocamelus Onager (Indian Wild Ass) Equus onager Rather common at Little Rann of Kutch.

21 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com NOTES TO THE SYSTEMATIC LIST

Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Like several other Indian vultures this species has suffered an extremely rapid population reduction in the recent past which is likely to continue into the near future. Birds at Jaisalmer showed characters of the resident subspecies ginginianus. According to preliminary results of an on-going research this form is a potential split from the more northern nominate subspecies occurring in lowland India during the winter months. Stay tuned!

White-rumped Vulture (Indian White-backed Vulture) Gyps bengalensis As recently as 1985 the species was described as “possibly the most abundant large in the world”. Since the mid-1990s, it has suffered a catastrophic decline (over 99%) across the Indian Subcontinent. Now the population is estimated to be less than 10 000 individuals and the species is classified as Critically Endangered by Birdlife International. The population crash has been caused by the massive misuse of veterinary drugs in India in recent years. Hopefully the recent ban of the drug will help this and the following species to recover.

Indian Vulture Gyps indicus An Indian Subcontinent endemic following the splitting of the threatened tenuirostris (Slender-billed Vulture, occurring from the Himalayas to SE Asia). It is listed as globally Critically endangered by Birdlife International for the same reasons as the previous species.

Red-headed Vulture Aegypius calvus Like several other Indian vultures this species has suffered an extremely rapid population reduction in the recent past which is likely to continue into the near future.

Purple Swamphen (P Gallinule) Porphyrio porphyrio The form poliocephalus encountered on this tour is sometimes split off as a separate species Grey-headed Swamphen.

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis The form parroti encountered on this tour is sometimes split off as a separate species Southern Coucal.

Western Barn Owl Tyto alba IOC now splits the Barn Owl into two species: Western Barn Owl (S & N America, , Orient, ) and Tyto delicatula (Australasia).

Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita The form tristis encountered on this tour is sometimes split off as a separate species Siberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus tristis.

Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus The form brunnescens encountered on this tour is sometimes split off as a separate species Indian Reed Warbler.

Rufous-vented Prinia Laticilla burnesii Recently transferred from Prinia () to Laticilla, which belongs to (Fulvettas & ground babblers).

22 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western India www.birdquest-tours.com