Nashik birdwatching trip

Duration: 3 Days

Location: Nashik

Visit Time : April

Nashik, an unusual destination for birdwatchers is an ancient city in the northwest region of Maharastra. It is situated beside the Godavari river. Nashik is one of the popular Hindu pilgrimage sites, that of Kumbh Mela which is held every 12 years. After Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, it is the fourth largest city of Maharastra.

Watching birds in Nashik

Nashik is not a very popular birding destination. It is an unusual place for birding. First of all, let me tell you a very important thing about Nashik, that is the ambiance of the city itself. IT is very green overall. On 11th January morning, I went to Gangapur Dam backwater which is near Sula vineyard. I have seen many vineyards in the entire Nashik. Farmers wrapped up the grapes to protect from morning dew and strong sunlight.

I have heard that it is mandatory to maintain the good health of the fruits. I stayed in Nashik for four nights and three days. Except for Gangapur dam backwaters aka Sula vineyard birding spot, all other spots were covered under BNHS supervision. I will discuss here the four main birding destinations of Nashik.

• Sula backwaters
• Gangapur dam nursery and near the dam area
• Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Khoripada, Harsul Road (On the way of Vulture Restaurant)

1. Sula Backwaters

Sula backwaters or Gangapur dam backwaters is situated just after Sula vineyard.

• Weather : Sunny
• Total time : 1 h 30 min

Type of Habitat

The landscape is very eye soothing. I got plenty of birds near the water. It is mainly an open-land and the water level was near the bank. After this I went to Someshwar Waterfalls, but the activity was not such good that time because the morning session was already over and the sun became hotter.

List of Birds

1. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 6
2. Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) 4
3. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) 2
4. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) 1
5. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 3
6. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) 2
7. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 2
8. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) 1
9. River Tern (Sterna aurantia) 1
10. Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) 3
11. Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) 3
12. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) 1
13. Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) 1
14. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 2
15. Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 1
16. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) 1
17. Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) 1
18. Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 1
19. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) 1
20. Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) 2
21. Tawny Lark (Galerida deva) 1
22. Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva) 1
23. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) 1
24. White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) 1
25. Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) 1
26. Malabar Lark (Galerida malabarica) 2

2. Gangapur dam nursery and near the dam area

Our camp officially started at 2.30 pm. We gathered near the central bus stop of Nashik. We headed towards Gangapur dam. Before reaching the dam area we stopped near a nursery. After a small introduction with each other team-mates, we were divided into two groups and took a stroll inside the nursery and the adjoining road. After that, we went to Gangapur Dam. We did birdwatching before reaching the dam on the road and then near the dam area. We stayed there till sunset. The third stop is a museum where we come to know about local birds, Himalayan birds, water birds, uncommon shorebirds etc. and also some other ornithological information with the original high-resolution picture.

• Weather : Sunny
• Total time : 2 h 30 min

Type of Habitat

Gangapur dam nursery has a rich habitat of big deciduous trees where we found mostly flycatchers. Inside the nursery, we got little flowery saplings also. There were two little water-bodies where we found common kingfisher, red-wattled lapwing etc. The next destination was Gangapur dam. It is an earthfill dam on Godavari river. The area is surrounded by small hills.

List of Birds

1. Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) 14
2. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 8
3. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) 6
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 3
5. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) 1
6. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) 4
7. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) 4
8. River Tern (Sterna aurantia) 1
9. Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) 5
10. Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) 36
11. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) 1
12. Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) 2
13. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) 1
14. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 1
15. Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) 2
16. Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) 1
17. Black Kite (Black) (Milvus migrans [migrans Group]) 1
18. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 1
19. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) 1
20. Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 1
21. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) 6
22. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) 1
23. House Crow (Corvus splendens) 7
24. Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle) (Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus) 2
25. Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) 2
26. Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) 8
27. Tawny Lark (Galerida deva) 8
28. lark sp. (Alaudidae sp.) 200
29. Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) 1
30. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 24
31. Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) 2
32. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) 3
33. Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) 1
34. Siberian Stonechat (Siberian) (Saxicola maurus [maurus Group]) 1
35. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) 1
36. Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) 3
37. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) 28
38. Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) 150
39. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) 1
40. Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) 4
41. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) 2
42. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) 27
43. Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) 7

I have observed a common kingfisher catching fish near the pond. I got a red-wattled lapwing is also sitting and calling near the water body. I got many flycatchers including Tickell’s blue flycatcher, Asian paradise flycatcher, Asian brown flycatcher, Grey-headed canary flycatcher, Taiga flycatcher etc.

In dam area, we observed a lesser whitethroat was hopping near a vineyard. A black shouldered kite was flying over our head. We watched hundreds of crested, tawny lark together in the ground. They were foraging. We went there in the afternoon, so bird activity was good enough. Bar-headed geese were there in a long distance from the dam. We watched an immature Asian openbill stork also that was with a closed bill.

3. Nandur Madhyameshwar Bird Sanctuary

We spent a whole day in Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary. It has a mixed habitat. We took a stroll in grassland and watched birds mostly warblers and stonechats. Then went to the watchtowers and took part in the Asian Waterbird Census. At day end we submitted our species count report and watched the sanctuary birds through a high tech close circuit camera. It is a great initiative for watching birds from a long distance.

After lunch we went to the back side of the dam. The place is extremely hot in the scorching heat of the afternoon. The landscape is very interesting. There were middle height cactus trees all over the area.

• Weather : Sunny
• Total time : 10 h 30 min

Type of Habitat

Nandur Madhmeshwar wetland, located on the confluence of Godavari and Kadava Rivers in Nasik district of Maharashtra. The geographical location and huge siltation have transferred this manmade reservoir into a good wetland habitat.

The renowned ornithologist, Late Dr. Salim Ali visited the Nandur Madhmeshwar wetland on March 6, 1983 and expressed his opinion about its potential to become ‘Bharatpur of Maharashtra’.

The grassland is covered with typha grass which is a good habitat for grey-headed swamphen.

List of Birds

1. Gray Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) 6
2. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 4
3. Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) 1
4. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 2
5. Greater Coucal (Southern) (Centropus sinensis parroti) 1
6. Little Swift (Apus affinis) 3
7. Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) 2
8. Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) 12
9. Ruddy-breasted Crake (Zapornia fusca) 1
10. Common Crane (Grus grus) 600
11. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) 22
12. Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) 2
13. Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii) 1
14. Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) 2
15. Eurasian Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) 2
16. Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) 1
17. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) 6
18. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) 2
19. House Crow (Corvus splendens) 2
20. Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle) (Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus) 6
21. Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) 1
22. Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) 2
23. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 250
24. Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) 150
25. Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) 1
26. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) 2
27. Common Chiffchaff (Siberian) (Phylloscopus collybita tristis) 4
28. Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata) 4
29. Sykes’s Warbler (Iduna rama) 5
30. Booted/Sykes’s Warbler (Iduna caligata/rama) 1
31. Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) 1
32. Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) 4
33. Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica) 1
34. Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) 18
35. Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) 1
36. Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) 1
37. Siberian Stonechat (Siberian) (Saxicola maurus [maurus Group]) 2
38. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) 2
39. Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) 28
40. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) 20
41. Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) 2
42. Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) 3
43. Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) 1
44. Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) 1
45. Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) 20
46. Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) 3
47. Isabelline shrike (Lanius isabellinus) 1
48. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) 1

The whole area had a very rich population of swallows. It was an amazing sight to observe thousands of swallows flying everywhere in mixed flocks. In Nandur Madmaheswar we spotted two rare birds of Maharashtra that were spotted crake and white-tailed lapwing along with all total 130 species. In grassland, we spotted Eurasian wryneck, common chiffchaff, booted warbler, Siberian stonechat male, and female etc. small sized birds. In waterbody, we found a purple heron was sitting on a branch. We spotted thousands of mixed flocks together along with Northern shoveler, Northern pintail, common crane, and flamingos.

In the afternoon we went to the dam area for observing Streak-throated swallow nest. It was made of wet mud using their saliva. Another important nest we observed that was baya weaver’s nest, which was used by silverbills when abandoned by baya.

After returning we found Isabelline shrike and bluethroat near the dam area. This area is very dry habitat along with some cactus trees here and there.

4. Khoripada, Harsul Road (On the way of Vulture Restaurant)

We went to Khodipada village to watch vulture restaurant and then visited the forest owlet ideal habitat. Vulture restaurant was situated amidst the village. It was a place where villagers put their carcasses of domestic animals. This was an initiative of Shankar Sindhe Baba, a veteran naturalist who understood the importance of vulture in our food chain. Vultures come to this place and feed themselves by the carcasses. Villagers receive Rs. 500/- for each animal dead body from forest department. Highest 250 Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) and Slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) were recorded at a time in this area. It is a great example of conservation that engages local people very appropriately.

Forest owlet habitat is mainly teak forest. We have observed the habitat but couldn’t spot the owlet.

Type of Habitat

The vulture restaurant is mainly a conservation programme. The place where it situated near a hilly forest terrain. Before going to the area we stopped near Kashyapi dam. Here is the bird list found near the dam.

List of Birds

1. Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) 2
2. Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) 6
3. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 6
4. Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) 8
5. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) 1
6. River Tern (Sterna aurantia) 1
7. Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) 2
8. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 1

In vulture restaurant, we didn’t saw any vultures. We got two distant shots of vultures on our way back from the place. We got Taiga flycatcher, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, great tit etc. on our way.

List of Birds in Khoripada, Harsul Road, Chinchwad, Maharashtra

1. Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) 2
2. Greater Coucal (Southern) (Centropus sinensis parroti) 1
3. Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) 2
4. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) 1
5. Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii) 1
6. White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) 3
7. Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela) 1
8. Shikra (Accipiter badius) 1
9. Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 2
10. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) 1
11. Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) 1
12. Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis) 1
13. Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) 3
14. Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) 1
15. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) 2
16. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) 5
17. Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus) 1
18. House Crow (Corvus splendens) 3
19. Large-billed Crow (Indian Jungle) (Corvus macrorhynchos culminatus) 2
20. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 1
21. Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus) 1
22. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) 2
23. Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) 1
24. Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) 2
25. Oriental White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) 2
26. Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus) 2
27. Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla) 1
28. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) 2
29. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) 2
30. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) 2
31. Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum agile) 1
32. Chestnut-shouldered Petronia (Gymnornis xanthocollis) 2

How to reach :

Nearest airport of Nashik is Mumbai or Pune with a distance of 175 km. The railway station of Nashik is one of the major stations of the Central Railway. There are pretty good number of trains that connect Nashik to other cities and towns.

Food :

We enjoyed authenticated Maharashtrian and delicious home made food in local lunch homes near Central bus stand. Nashik is not a popular destination for street food lovers. A very few restaurants are there near the bus stand.