 |
| Karnala fort - The pinnacle is a welcoming sign to birders. |
After the usual introductions, the birders were split in two groups to be led by Saurabh Sawant, Amey Ketkar, Rujuta Phadke and Shashank Dalvi. The two trails, Mortakka and Hariyal, are popular amongst birders. The Mortakka trail is the shortest and easiest and has a winding circular path. Both groups were to bird on this trail but in opposite directions to avoid crowding.
In my past visits to Karnala I have observed the most number of birds just as one enters the sanctuary. And today was no different as we had a succession of sightings only a few meters from the main gate.
We started the walk with the sighting of a pair of Puff-throated Babblers skulking in the undergrowth. Usually these nondescript birds are difficult to spot as they remain hidden in the shadows and are more often heard than seen. Their call is easy to remember, it’s a very sweet rendition of “I will beat you”. The Puff-throated Babblers were quickly forgotten for views of a Brown-cheeked Fulvetta. This is yet another skulker but the lure of the early worm seemed to have brought it out in the open.
The air was full of bird song as the sunlight hit the trees. The yellow of the Black-hooded Oriole that we saw next was as bright as the golden sunlight. The mix deciduous forest of Karnala was sporting some yellowing Haldu trees as well. All along the trail we had excellent views of Ashy Drongos and Bronzed Drongos, quite a few of them flit amongst the trees drawing our attention with their antics.
 |
| Bronzed Drongo - Their smaller size compared to other drongos and glossy wings are an identifying feature. |
 |
| White-naped Woodpecker female - One of the highlights of the trail. |
However the day was dedicated to woodpeckers as we saw a Yellow-fronted, Brown-capped Pygmy and later along the trail a White-naped Woodpecker. The woodpeckers were observed gleaning for insects along the main trunk of the tree.
The leaf warblers, Green and Greenish, were also gleaning for insects. Unlike the woodpeckers they were seen searching for food in the leaves and smaller branches. Niche feeding like this reduces direct competition amongst birds which feed on the same tree.
 |
| Grey-fronted Green Pigeon - Though I prefer it's old name, "Pompadour Green Pigeon" |
Soon we left the open trail and entered the forest, and saw a lone female Grey-fronted Green Pigeon. She sat atop a bare tree with her face towards the rising sun and sang sighingly. Endemic to the Western Ghats, the Grey-fronted Green Pigeon is usually seen in small flocks as they feed on fruits in the tree canopy. Another endemic bird which gave us excellent views were a pair of Thick-billed Flowerpeckers. The pair was quite gregarious, indicating that they were probably nesting nearby. So we quickly moved away to enjoy the sight of a Red-throated Flycatcher.
The heat had increased by now and we hoped to see some raptors taking advantage of the thermals. But apart from a Crested-serpent Eagle, the raptors were the dip of the day.
Our most notable sightings for Karnala were the migratory Verditer and Ultramarine Flycatcher. Both species travel from Himalayas down south for the winter.
Karnala offers something to everyone, be it nature, history or adventure. However, this tiny sanctuary is threatened by unruly picnickers blind to it’s rich history. Earlier the forest department had initiated a deposit system against any plastic that one carried inside. But the large number of people visiting the sanctuary seems to have deterred the continuation of this practise. The recent news of widening the Goa-Mumbai highway passing through the sanctuary is also disheartening. Hopefully continued visits by MBC and other nature organisations will help put a light on the rich heritage of Karnala, that future generations may hear birdsong with as much joy as we did.
 |
| The old must fall for the new to rise. |
No comments:
Post a Comment