o:?. A i^i O

CEMBER 1993

FORKTA

Durnal of the Oriental Bird Club

OBC Council

Richard Bosanquet (Treasurer)

Steve Broyd (Sales Officer)

Mike Crosby (Membership Secretary)

Will Duckworth

Jonathan Eames (Bulletin Art Editor)

Dick Filby (Meetings Officer)

Daryl Gardner

Nick Gardner (Promotions Officer)

Graeme Green (Sales support)

Richard Grimmett

Rob Innes

Carol Inskipp (Conservation Officer)

Tim Inskipp

Frank Lambert

Nigel Lindsey (Publicity Officer)

Adrian Long (Bulletin Editor)

Nigel Redman (Chairman)

Simon Stirrup (Secretary)

Graham Spinks

Dave Weaver

Editorial Committee

Richard Grimmett, Tim Inskipp ( Forktail Editor), Nigel Redman

OBC Representatives

Paul Andrew (Australia); Prof. K. Z. Husain (Bangladesh); Prof. Yao-kuang Tan

(China); Dr Jiri Mlikovsky (Czechoslovakia); Jesper Madsen and Anders Prieme

(Denmark); Hannu Jannes (Finland); Roland Eve (France); Dr W. Thiede (Germany);

Mike Chalmers and David Melville (Hong Kong); Prakash Gole (India); Derek

Holmes and Bas van Balen (Indonesia); Chris Murphy (Ireland); Dr Carlo Violani

(Italy); Akira Hibi (Japan); Dennis Yong and Mike Chong (Malaysia); Rajendra

Suwal (Nepal); Frank Rozendaal (Netherlands); Terje Axelsen (Norway); Ashiq

Ahmad Khan (Pakistan); Prof. Joey Barrill (Philippines); Lim Kim Seng (Singapore);

Dr Sarath Kotagama and Upali Ekanayake (Sri Lanka); Per Alstrom (Sweden); Dr W.

Suter (Switzerland); Philip Round and Uthai Treesucon (Thailand); Dr Robert

Kennedy (U.S.A.).

The Oriental Bird Club has been established for ornithologists throughout

the world, both amateur and professional, who share a common interest

in the region’s birds and wish to assist in their conservation.

The Club aims to:

• Encourage an interest in the birds of the Oriental Region and their conservation

• Liaise with, and promote the work of, existing regional societies

• Collate and publish material on Oriental birds

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For further information please write to:

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c/o The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K.

Cover photograph: Slaty-backed Forktail Iznicurus schistacctis> Nepal (see Tyler and Ormerod within). Photo:

'V t ...

1994

1

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia . 3

P. M. THOMPSON, W. G. HARVEY, D. L. JOHNSON, D. J. MILLIN,

S. M. A. RASHID, D. A. SCOTT, C. STANFORD and J. D. WOOLNER.

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh . 13

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and S. PANDEY.

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, India . 45

S. J. TYLER and S. J. ORMEROD.

The ecology of river birds in Nepal . 59

P. D. ROUND.

Winter records of the Manchurian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus ( agricola ) tangorum

from Thailand . 83

C. R. ROBSON, J. C. EAMES, NGUYEN CU and TRUONG VAN LA.

Birds recorded during the third BirdLife/Forest Birds Working Group expedition in

Viet Nam . 89

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP.

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993 . 121

Short communications

A. VITTERY.

The birds of Pakistan: supplementary observations from the northern Punjab and hills . 143

D. G. VRETTOS.

Observations on the breeding of the Palawan Blue-Flycatcher Cyomis lemprieri . 148

P. ALSTROM and U. OLSSON.

Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides found breeding in Thailand . 150

R. I. DE SILVA, E. PERERA, L. PERERA and K. SAMARASINGHE.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger. a new species for Sri Lanka . 153

R. I. DE SILVA and L. PERERA.

Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus : a new species for Sri Lanka . 154

A. LEWIS.

Asian Stubtail Urosphena squameiceps: a new species for Nepal and the Indian subcontinent .. 155

A. LEWIS.

Black-and-yellow Grosbeak Mycerobas icterioides : a new species for Nepal . 156

V. PRAKASH, N. V. PRAKASH and W. S. CLARK.

Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pemis ptilorhyncus: a new species for the Andaman Islands, India. .. 157

R. GREGORY-SMITH.

Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii: a new species for Peninsular Malaysia . 158

Guidelines for contributors

159

Forktai] 9

CORRECTIONS TO Forktail 8

The Editorial Committee apologise for a number of errors in Zacharias and

Gaston Birds of Wynaad.

Species incorrectly listed as new for Kerala:

LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO Cuculus sparverioides

RUFF Philomachus pugnax

WHITE STORK Ciconia ciconia

BLACK REDSTART Phoenicians ochruros

TYTLER’S LEAF-WARBLER PhyUoscopus tytleri

See Baker and Inglis (1930).

See Gaston (1979) J. Kerala Nat. Hist. Soc.

See Narayanakurup (1989) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 86:

239.

See Namassivayan and Sivaprasad (1981) Newsletter for

Birdwatchers 2 1

See Harrap and Redman (1990) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.

86: 460-461.

Species incorrectly listed as new breeding records for Kerala:

BROWN-CAPPED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos nanus

BANDED BAY CUCKOO Cacomantis sonneratii

COMMON MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus

BLACK- WINGED KITE Elanus caeruleus

LITTLE CORMORANT Phalacrocorax tiiger

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta

GREAT EGRET Casmerodius albus

INTERMEDIATE EGRET Mesophoyx intermedia

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis

BLACK-CROWNED

NIGHT-HERON Nycticorax nycticorax

ASIAN BROWN-FLYCATCHER Muscicapa dauurica

See Betts (1934) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 37: 197-203.

SeeNeelakantan (\969) Newsletter for Birdwatchers 9(\2): 3.

See Neelakantan (1976) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 72: 537.

See Jackson (1971) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 68: 107.

See Uthaman (1990) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 139.

See Neelankantan (1986) Keralathile Pakshikal.

See Uthaman (1990) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 139.

See Uthaman (1990) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 139.

See Neelankantan (1986) Keralathile Pakshikal.

See Uthaman (1990) J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 1 39.

See Jackson (1971)^7. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 68: 112-113.

ISSN 0950-1746

© Oriental Bird Club 1993

Published for the Oriental Bird Club bv

Rubythroat Publications

6 Corinthian Close, Basingstoke

Hampshire RG22 4TN U.K.

Printed on recycled paper by Soloprint, Eaton Socon, U.K.

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 3-11

3

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia

J. S. ASH

An account of visible, mostly high-flying, raptor migration in the autumn of 1990 adds to earlier

information collected in 1982. In 1990 over 1 1,000 raptors on 32 days passed eastwards, comprising

principally Oriental Honey-buzzards Pemis ptilorhyncus and two Asiatic Accipiier species, Chinese

Goshawk A. soloensis and Japanese Sparrowhawk A. gularis. It is presumed that this large passage has

passed through Peninsular Malaysia and the Greater Sundas, and there is evidence to support this from

Malaysia, but virtually none from Indonesia. Their final destination is unknown. These migrants are

accompanied by smaller numbers of other raptors, huge numbers of Fork-tailed Swifts Apus pacificus,

some hirundines and other species.

Following the discovery of an impressive diurnal autumn migration of

raptors through Bali, Indonesia, in late October 1982 (Ash 1984), a return

visit was made in 1990 to obtain more information on the species involved,

their direction of flight, numbers, and possible clues to their ultimate

destination. The same area of observation in north-west Bali was visited in

October and November 1 990, and further observations were made elsewhere

in Bali on subsequent days.

In 1982 raptors, together with large numbers of some other species,

starting each day 2-3 h after sunrise, arrived in north-west Bali from the

direction of Java. They continued on over Bali on an E/ESE course. The main

raptors involved were Oriental Honey-buzzards Pemis ptilorhyncus, Japanese

Sparrowhawks Accipiter gularis and Chinese Goshawks A. soloensis.

Non-raptors in greatest numbers were Fork-tailed Swifts Apus pacificus

and Blue-tailed Bee-eaters Merops philippinus. The species involved consisted

of birds originating in eastern Asia, and most must have passed over Java, and

possibly much of Sumatra, before reaching Bali. Few remain on Bali and

their ultimate destination is unknown.

Evidence from Peninsular Malaysia (Wells 1990a and b) shows there is a

large northerly return passage in the spring across the Malacca Straits.

Presumably included here are birds which travel south through Peninsular

Malaysia in autumn, and perhaps others which have moved south into

Indonesia on other routes. The main species involved in Peninsular Malaysia

are also Oriental Honey-buzzards and sparrowhawks. There seem to be no

other observations on raptor migration throughout the whole of Indonesia,

so that the information from Bali is of considerable interest in demonstrating

the existence of a large, previously unrecognised passage into the eastern

sector (Wallacea) of the archipelago. There are in fact extremely few previous

records at all of these raptors from Bali, and there is no evidence that they

spend their non-breeding season there in any numbers.

4

J. S. ASH

Forktail 9

Counts of over 1 1 ,000 raptors on 32 days in 1990 confirmed that the same

three species which occurred in 1 982 were again the principal ones involved;

that the passage was in good progress, but had not reached its peak by 9

October; that most migration was at a very great height; and that passage was

eastwards to areas for which there was no, or very little, previous knowledge

on the species.

LOCALITY AND METHODS

The observation site used from 9 October - 9 November 1990 was in the

western corner of the beach, close to the fringing mangroves, at T eluk T erima

(8°09’N 114°32’E), in Bali Barat National Park. It provided excellent,

unrestricted views from SW-NW towards Java, on which its prominent

eastern volcanos were clearly visible over the intervening forested hills of

Prapat Agung on Bali. To the north and north-east there were open views

over the bay, and from south-west through south and east the forested

mountainous spine of Bali was conspicuous.

Scattered early morning arrivals of migrants mostly flew low. As thermal

activity increased during the day, so did the height of migration, and many

raptors could be found only by constantly scanning the sky, preferably using

clouds when present for a pale background against which they might be

discerned more easily. Sunrise was within a few minutes of 06h00 local time

throughout. There was only little passage during the first three hours after

sunrise, so that the observers’ time of arrival at the observation site was

planned for c. 08h30. The period between dawn and this time was spent

along the flight route so that any early movement could be seen. Binoculars

of 9x and 10x40 were used constantly by my wife and myself, joined by Victor

Mason during the period 3-9 November, a 30x telescope occasionally, a

compass at times for following flight directions, and large scale compass

direction lines marked out on the beach - along which the flight routes of birds

flying nearby could be sighted.

Identification

With good views there was no great difficulty in identifying the three main

species involved, Oriental Honey-buzzard and the two sparrowhawks. The

latter were often very difficult to separate when flying high, and particularly

when in flocks which were sometimes mixed. Often the only clue that

Chinese Goshawks were present was when the white underwing coverts of a

turning bird caught the sun. For this reason an unknown proportion of the

birds recorded as Japanese Sparrowhawks may have been Chinese Goshawks,

but the figure is probably low, because the ratio of the figures for definite

Japanese Sparrowhawks compared with definite Chinese Goshawks are

1994

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia

5

similar to those for the total Japanese Sparrowhawk figures compared with

Chinese Goshawks. It is possible that other similar species, such as Besra

Accipiter virgatus, if they occurred, could have been overlooked. Other

species, including some of uncertain identification, are also discussed in the

species accounts below.

METEOROLOGY

No special facilities were available for recording weather conditions. Normally

the meteorological situation remained fairly constant during the day once a

pattern had become established. The changes which took place, usually due

to increases in thermal activity and unimportant changes in wind strength,

were between 09h00 and lOhOO, more or less coinciding with the onset of

migratory activity. During the 32 days of observation the wind was between

S and W (180 -270 ) on 30 days, of which on 1 8 days it was from 181-225 and

on 12 from 226 -270 . On one day it blew from 175, and on another from 280.

Averaging these figures provides a mean wind vector of approximately 221

(=SW’S). Wind speed assessed on the Beaufort scale varied from force 1-6

with a mean of 3. 1 .

Cloud cover was more difficult to assess, and a subjective mean daily figure

was estimated on a scale of 1-10; values were mainly low and produced a

mean of 2.5, which correctly indicated that generally there was little cloud.

Usually there was more cloud inland over the mountains and less over the sea.

RESULTS

Raptor occurrences

Of over 11,000 raptors counted on 32 days the three species, Oriental Honey-

buzzard, Japanese Sparrowhawk and Chinese Goshawk accounted for

10,945 (99.4%) (Table 1). These, together with the other species noted, are

discussed here:

ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD Pemis ptilorhyncus

A total of 2,186 birds passed on 31 days, 10 October - 9 November. The

largest number was 391 (18% of the total for this species) on 27 October (77/

h). Earliest morning arrivals were at 08h30 and the latest at 14h00, so that

passage was during 2.5 - 8.0 h after sunrise. Peak movement occurred in the

quarter hour period 10hl5-10h30 (4.25-4.50 h after sunrise), when of the

total birds seen 1 2% passed over, and 82.5% of birds were seen 09h 15-1 2h 1 5

(3.25 - 6.25 h after sunrise). 75% of all Oriental Honey-buzzard passage

occurred from 19 October - 3 November.

6

J. S. ASH

Forktail 9

Table 1. Summary of movements of three species, Oriental Honey-buzzard Peniis plilorhyncus, Japanese

Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis and Chinese Goshawk A soloensis , at Bali Barat, 9 October- 9 November

1990

* There was a second 'A hour period at 10h30-10h45 with similar numbers

[EASTERN MARSH-HARRIER Circus spilonotus

A large brown harrier, brown above and below, with a large white rump, flew

east at 09h50 on 12 October. Possible species were immature Pied Harrier

C. melanoleucos, adult Swamp Harrier C. approximans, or Eastern Marsh-

Harrier. Identification was not determined, but following my experience

with the latter in the breeding season of 1 99 1 this species seems most likely.]

CHINESE GOSHAWK Accipiter soloensis

A total of 924 birds occurred on 31 days, 10 October - 9 November, the

largest number being 189 (20% of the total for this species) on 20 October

(60/h). First arrivals in the morning were at 08hl5 and the latest at 12h30

(2.25-6.50 h after sunrise). Peak movements were in the quarter hours of

09h30-09h45 and 10h30-10h45, when 16% and 17% of the birds seen passed

over, and 83% of birds occurred 08h45-10h30 (2.75-4.50 h after sunset).

79% of Chinese Goshawks occurred from 13-25 October.

JAPANESE SPARROWHAWK Accipiter gularis

This species was greatly in excess of the Chinese Goshawk, in the proportion

1994

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia

7

of 8.4: 1 .0, but the latter was more concentrated during the middle part of the

observation period (see below under that species) . As noted already, separation

of these two species was often difficult so that comparisons should be

regarded with caution. A total of 7,835 birds identified as this species made

it the commonest raptor seen, on all 32 days 9 October - 9 November. The

largest number was 1,278 (16% of the total for this species) on 19 October

(3 1 3/h). Earliest morning arrival was at 07h30 and the latest at 1 3h45 (1.50-

7.75 h after sunrise). Peak movement occurred in the quarter hour period

10h00-10hl5 (4.00-4.25 h after sunrise), when 17% of the birds seen flew

over, and 92% of birds passed from 09h30-llh45 (3.30-5.75 h after

sunrise). 73% of all Japanese Sparrowhawks passed from 10-20 October.

GREY-FACED BUZZARD Butastur indicus

Single birds flew east at 10h35 on 27 October, at 10h20 on 31 October, and

at llh35 on 6 November. All showed patterned underparts, unlike the

uniformly pale underparts of the Rufous-winged Buzzard B. liventer, which

is the only other likely species. There is no previous record for Bali, and this

northern breeder is regarded by MacKinnon (1990) as a rare straggler to

Java.

BONELLES EAGLE Hieraaetus fasciatus

A bird flying east at 09hl0 on 14 October agreed with the description of this

species and the many I have seen in Europe and North Africa, including

having long white ‘headlights’ on the leading edges of the wings, and the pale

eyes; however, the underwing coverts were whitish without any indication of

a dark bar.]

RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE Hieraaetus kienerii

An immature, moulting into adult plumage, flew east with other migrant

raptors at 08h40 on 26 October. There are two previous records from Bali

(Ash 1 984) . Possibly these are wanderers from Java, where it is apparently a

rare resident (MacKinnon 1990). All sightings at Singapore have been

during raptor passage seasons (Wells 1990b), and there are one or two

records of apparent migrants, or birds accompanying migrants of other

species, in the Malay Peninsula (Dr D. R. Wells in litt. 8 December 1991).

CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE Spizaetus cirrhatus

The following 10 birds were considered at the time to be, with some

misgivings, this species, as they passed through with other eastward flying

migrants: one on 10, 11 and 19 October, two on 18 October and 2

November, and three on 22 October, and other more or less similar birds

were seen. Plumage often resembled that of some Oriental Honey-buzzards,

but flight, wing-shape, and wing position in flight differed, which helped to

distinguish them from this otherwise rather similar species. However, some

individuals with fawn or cinnamon underwings were certainly not Oriental

Honey-buzzards, nor apparently this species either.

8

J. S. ASH

Forktail 9

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus

One flew east high at 09h30 on 28 October.

In addition, a few other species were seen: single Ospreys Pandion haliaetus

on 8 days, 1 1 October - 7 November, could have been one or more

individuals based in the area; seven Brahminy Kites Haliastur indus sightings

on six days, 9 October - 8 November, could have been local birds; one or two

White-bellied Fish-Eagles Haliaeetus leucogaster on eight days, 10 October -

6 November, were on a direct flight, presumably from Java; single Black

Eagles Ictinaetus malayensis on four days, 12 October - 9 November, were

presumed to be local birds.

MIGRATORY BEHAVIOUR

The first migrant raptor arrivals in the morning were usually flying low, often

in flapping flight, and had possibly been roosting locally on Bali. Such early

morning activity is unusual, for elsewhere migrant raptors delay take-off until

the onset of thermal activity. Apparently birds crossing the Bali Straits, only

a short distance away to the west and only 2.5 km wide at its narrowest,

awaited thermal activity for assistance. The commencement of thermals was

usually indicated by the sight of birds responding to them, followed a little

later by the appearance of small puffs of white cloud in the sky. On many days

thermal activity soon became intense, enabling birds to ascend very rapidly.

On arrival at or near the top of the thermal they were dashed about in a

spectacular manner among the whirling shreds of cloud, to such an extent as

to provoke some thought about the physical and physiological stresses

involved. Birds often shot out of the top of these thermals like darts, to

continue on their migration in long very fast glides with partly closed wings

towards the next thermal. The whole phenomenon was one of frantic activity,

unlike the generally more leisurely ascent and onward progress of migrant

raptors seen in the Middle East and Africa.

Height of migration

It was difficult to assess the height of flight. Most birds were obviously very

high, and through 1 0x40 binoculars often became invisible against a blue sky.

On Bali, a bird the size of a sparrowhawk could just be seen through 10x40

binoculars at a measured horizontal distance of 4,800 m, and this same bird

is likely to be no less visible overhead against a white cloud. Possibly the

highest detectable birds at Bali Barat were as high as this. Based, largely

subjectively, on watching birds among mountains of known altitudes in

Ethiopia, I estimated at an early stage that the higher birds on Bali may have

been at over 3,000 m. A visiting glider pilot, accustomed to looking at flying

performances in thermals and assessing altitudes, judged that the lower birds

1994

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia

9

we saw, before they reached the small white clouds, were at above 1,800 m.

He could only say that the higher birds were obviously considerably higher

than this . V ery often birds were within clouds and were seen either descending

from below them, or appearing in view as the clouds rose above them. At

times flocks of sparrowhawks or long lines of Oriental Honey-buzzards were

seen flying out of clouds. On cloudier days it was never known how many

birds might be passing unseen within clouds and, at other times, how many

might be invisible at extreme vertical range against a blue sky.

Direction of flight

No systematic observations were made, but haphazard observations as time

permitted of individual birds or flocks of birds watched until out of sight

confirmed that they were passing on two divergent routes, broadly eastwards

and south-eastwards (Table 2). Not included in the tabular figures are birds

seen flying off about south-east and then turning eastwards on reaching the

mountains: possibly all the birds on this south-easterly course eventually

turned at the mountains; or otherwise they may have continued along the far

side of the mountains, and some may even have reached the south coast of

Bali. From observations on 10 November, by which time passage was much

reduced at Teluk Terima, at Pulaki (8°09’S 1 14°41’E), where 21 Japanese

Sparrowhawks and two Oriental Honey-buzzards flew east 09h00-10h00,

and at Lovina (8°10’S 1 1 5°02’E) where seven of eight Japanese Sparrowhawks

seen 1 3h20- 1 3h5 5 also flew east, it was clear that at least part of the eastward

stream continued in that direction. A few observations in the south-east of

Bali, including one of four Japanese Sparrowhawks at Ubud (8°31’S 1 1 5°15’E)

on 11-12 November in a direct south-easterly flight, and of six more, two of

which flew north, and one Chinese Goshawk which flew north-east at

Suwung(8°42’S 1 15°14’E) on the south-east coast 14-21 November, suggested

that the south-eastward stream from Teluk Terima may reach south-east

Bali.

Table 2. Flight directions of raptors over Teluk Terima, Bali

10

J. S. ASH

Forkiail 9

DISCUSSION

In 1982 there were observations on seven days, 17-26 October, with a total

of 6 1 5 raptors (Ash 1984). In 1982 and 1990 observations were in the same

area but at different sites. In these years Japanese Sparrowhawks were the

most numerous species with 56% and 71% respectively of the raptor total.

Interestingly, Oriental Honey-buzzards were in similar proportions in the

two years at 19% and 20%, but Chinese Goshawks at 25% in 1982 were

much lower in 1990 at only 8%. In the period 17-26 October in 1990 the

Chinese Goshawk proportion was higher at 14% (645 in a total of 4,614

birds), but still well below the 1982 figure. Whether this indicates a real

reduction in numbers remains to be seen.

The Chinese Goshawk is regarded as an occasional winter visitor to Java,

and is also recorded for Bali, and Japanese Sparrowhawks are regular passage

migrants to Java and Bali, according to MacKinnon ( 1 990) . In fact, there are

no records of Chinese Goshawks as winter visitors to Bali, but there are for

Japanese Sparrowhawks (although perhaps the possible confusion with Besra

has not always been borne in mind) . MacKinnon (1990) also refers to a short-

crested race of Oriental Honey-buzzard occurring as an occasional winter

visitor to Java, but from Bali there are no such records. East of Bali this group

of three migrant species is virtually unknown. All are essentially non-forest

species, so that the rapid deforestation of Java is unlikely to have resulted in

forcing them to proceed further east than they would previously have done.

An eastward flight would take the species concerned into increasingly

savanna-like habitat, not inimitable to any of them. If they proceed as far as

New Guinea, presumably they will be obliged to face much longer and more

frequent sea-crossings than any they would have had to undertake previously

on their journey. It is significant that the only two records of Oriental Honey-

buzzard P. p. orientalis in the Lesser Sundas east of Bali are dated almost a

century ago, from the island of Salayan (6°05’S 120°30’E), south of Sulawesi

in November (Hartert 1896), where it may have been overwintering, and

from the small island of Kisan (8°05’S 127°10’E), north-east of Timor, in

December 1897 (Finsch 1900), where it was presumably over-wintering

(White and Bruce 1986).

It is not known what proportion of the migrating raptors entering Bali

arrive at Bali Barat: possibly others arrive on other routes. The numbers

returning northwards in spring from Sumatra through Peninsular Malaysia,

as measured by observations of Oriental Honey-buzzards at Cape Rachado

(Wells 1990a), are greatly in excess of those found so far in Bali. For example,

Wells found 800+/h Oriental Honey-buzzards returning via the Cape and

counted 2,548 on 6 days in spring between 15 February and 2 April,

compared with the 2,186 in the Bali study in 31 days, 10 October - 9

November (Table 1). The autumn passage must be more protracted than the

1994

Raptor migration on Bali, Indonesia

11

period of observation in Bali suggests. Wells (1990a) reported most intense

passage of Oriental Honey-buzzards in the autumn in Peninsular Malaysia

was throughout October-November, a total of at least 60 days (compared

with the 32 days of observation in Bali).

It is likely that much Japanese Sparrowhawk migration was missed in Bali.

The large number of 700 on 10 October at the start of observations suggests

this was the case, and Wells found that the intense passage of this species

included the last quarter of September extending throughout October.

Further observations are needed from Bali to elucidate the situation.

The main requirements in the future are:

a) continued observations, similar to those at Teluk Terima, should extend

over a longer period from mid-September - mid-November.

b) surveys of the Bali Strait area to investigate the breadth of the raptor flight¬

line.

c) survey of the east coast of Bali, especially at Gunung Seraya (8°23’S

1 15°40’E), to investigate the departure of raptors eastwards.

d) surveys for visible migration in Java, and on islands east of Bali.

e) radar surveys would provide much more information, and should be

investigated by civil air authorities in Indonesia.

A well-organised cooperative group study would be the ideal method for

tackling this highly interesting phenomenon.

My wife accompanied me throughout the survey and helped greatly in spotting passing birds. Victor

Mason also helped in a similar way 3-9 November. Dr David Wells provided much valuable data for

comparison from Peninsular Malaysia, and the following read an early draft of this paper and made

valuable comments for its improvement, for which I thank them: Mrs J. W. Ash, Bas van Balen, Tim

Inskipp, Dr Peter Jones, Victor Mason and Dr D. R. Wells.

REFERENCES

Ash, J. S. (1984) Bird observations on Bali. Bull. Brit. 0m. Club 104: 24-35.

Brown, L. and Amadon, D. (1968) Eagles, hawks and falcons of the world. Feltham: Country Life Books.

Finsch, O. (1900) Systematische uebersicht der Vogel der Siidwest-Inseln. Notes Leyden Mus. 22: 225-

309.

Hartert, E. (1896) An account of the collections of birds made by Mr Alfred Everett in Celebes and on

the islands south of it. Novit. Zool. 3: 148-183.

MacKinnon, J. (1990). Field guide to the birds of Java and Bali. Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada University

Press.

Mason, V. and Jarvis, F. (1989) Birds of Bali. Berkeley: Periplus Editions.

Wells, D. R. (1990a) Malayan bird report 1982-83. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 1 16-147.

Wells, D. R. (1990b) Malayan bird report 1986-87. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 172-210.

White, C. M. N. (1973) Migrant Pernis apivorus in the Indonesian archipelago. Bull. Brit. Om. Club93:

116.

White, C. M. N. and Bruce, M. D. (1986) The birds of Wallacea. BOU Check-listNo. 7. London: British

Ornithologists’ Union.

J. S. Ash, Godshill Wood, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2LR, U.K.

12

J. S. ASH

Forktail 9

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 12 -44

13

Recent notable bird records from

Bangladesh

PAUL M. THOMPSON, W. G. HARVEY, DAVID L. JOHNSON,

D. J. MILLIN, S. M. A. RASHID, D. A. SCOTT, CRAIG

STANFORD, and JOHN D. WOOLNER

Details are given of 22 species new for Bangladesh which have been recorded since or were consciously

omitted from the most recent checklist (Harvey, 1 990), and one old record of a new species is also given;

further details are given of 37 species new for Bangladesh listed in Harvey (1990); and new information

is given for 88 species which have few records since 1978, or for which there have either been major

changes in known status, or for which there is uncertainty over status. Bangladesh is very densely

populated and natural resources are under severe human pressure. However, recent fieldwork has

shown that the coastal mudflats and wetlands of the eastern delta, the beels and haors (large shallow lakes

and depressions) of the north-east, and the remaining fragments of forest are all important for a number

of bird species, several of which are globally threatened. Many of the species discussed are winter visitors

or altitudinal migrants. Much still remains to be discovered about the status of birds in Bangladesh.

Although there have been a number of publications dealing with the birds of

Bangladesh, many are difficult to obtain, and many of the older species lists

included speculative records or did not detail observations of claimed new

species, which has led to confusion. Compared with many other countries

in the Oriental Region, Bangladesh has attracted few visiting birdwatchers.

However, Bangladesh is of considerable ornithological interest because of its

extensive but heavily used wetlands; its small areas of evergreen forest akin

to those of the nearby Indian hillstates, which in recent years have been closed

to visitors; its diversity of habitats; and its location on the boundary between

South and South-East Asia.

Harvey (1990) summarised the current status of birds in Bangladesh and

included in his list a number of species new for Bangladesh. The purpose of

this paper is to update Harvey’s list with new records since 1990 and to

provide additional information on some of the records he included but which

have not previously been fully documented. Species discussed in this paper

fall into three main categories: species new for Bangladesh in the period

January 1978 to June 1993 (marked with a * if they were listed in Harvey

(1990) and with a ** if they are previously unpublished), species previously

assumed to occur or which had not been recorded for many years before

1978, and species for which major changes in status have been discovered

within this period. In addition, one old record of a species not listed by

Harvey (1990) is given. Details of all records are given for species with up

to five records since 1978, and for those which have been found to be more

frequent general details of status and peak counts are given. It should be

noted that the phrase ‘new species for Bangladesh’ is a broad definition

14

P. M. THOMPSON et al

Forktail 9

AlinagarTea Estate ( Srwiangal , north-east)

25 Arabiakona Beel (Tangua Haor, north-east)

1 Aricha (Brahmaputra, central)

2 Ashuganj (Meghna, north-east)

3 Bahadurabad railhead (Brahmaputra, central)

Balai Haor (near Jokiganj, north-east of Sylhet ; north¬

east)

4 Banderban (Chittagong, south-east)

Bara Haor (25 km north of Sylhet , north-east)

* Barisal (south-centre)

Baroorah Tea Estate ( Srimangal , north-east)

2 Bhairab Bazar (Meghna, north-east)

24 Bhatigaon (Sunamganj, north-east)

* Brahmaputra River (central)

5 Bhavval National Park (central)

Bogi (eastern Sundarbans, south-west)

Char Khiderpur ( Rajshahi , north-west)

1 1 Chatla Beel (Hakaluki Haor, north-east)

* Chittagong (south-east)

* Chittagong Hilltracts (south-east)

* Comilla (east-centre)

* Cox’s Bazar (south-east)

24 Dekhar Haor (Sunamganj, north-east)

* Dhaka (central)

6 Dhal Char (south-west of Monpara, west of Hatiya;

east-centre)

7 Dhaleswari River (central)

Dhangmari ( Sundarbans , south-west)

Dubla island ( Sundarbans , south-west)

8 Durgapur (Mymensingh, central)

Egg Island (south-east of Kochikhali, Sundarbans ;

south-west)

Erali Beel ( Sylhet , north-east)

9 Faridpur (south-centre)

* Ganges (north-west)

10 Habiganj (north-east)

Hail Haor ( Srimangal , north-east)

1 1 Hakaluki Haor (Moulvi Bazar, north-east)

1 1 Haorkhal (Hakaluki Haor, north-east)

26 Harikhola valley (Whvkeong, Teknaf, south-east)

12 Hatiya (east-centre)

Himchari (Cox's Bazar , south-east)

Joydepur (Dhaka, central)

Kaliakoir (Dhaka, central)

13 Kamalgonj Tea Estate (Kamalgonj, north-east)

13 Kamarchera (Rajkandi, Kamalgonj, north-east)

20 Kamlar Char (Nijumdip, east-centre)

14 Kaptai (south-east)

Katka ( Sundarbans , south-west)

Katka Khal (Kochikhali Tiger Reserve, Sundarbans,

south-west)

1 5 Kawadighi Haor (Moulvi Bazar, north-east)

Khagra ( Sylhet , north-east)

Khakra Kuri Beel (Balai Haor, Sylhet , north-east)

* Khulna (south-west)

Madhabpore Lake ( Srimangal , north-east)

16 Madhapkhundo waterfall (New Samanbagh Tea

Estate, Dhakshinbagh, north-east)

26 Madhya Nhila (Teknaf, south-east)

15 Maijeil Haor (north-east of Kawadighi Haor; north¬

east)

15 Majherbanda Beel (Kawadighi Haor, Moulvi Bazar,

north-east)

Malumghat (Chittagong, south-east)

25 Matian Haor (near Tangua Haor, north-east)

17 Mawa (Padma, central)

18 Meda Beel (Kalamakando, Netrakona, central)

* Meghna River (north-east/east-centre)

19 Modhupur Forest (central)

9 Moulvi Bazar (north-east)

12 Moulvi Char (Hatiya, east-centre)

26 Muchoni (Teknaf, south-east)

* Mymensingh (central)

16 New Samanbagh Tea Estate (Dhakshinbagh, north¬

east)

20 Nijumdip (east-centre)

Nilkamal (Sundarbans, south-west)

21 Noakhali Coast (east-centre)

Nurjahan Tea Estate (Srimangal, north-east)

* Pabna (north-west)

* Padma River (central)

Palangkhali (45 km south-east of Cox's Bazar, south¬

east)

25 Pana Beel (south of Tangua Haor, north-east)

Panerchara (Cox 's Bazar, south-east)

25 Pasua Beel (Gurmar Haor, north-east)

Patenga (Chittagong, south-east)

1 1 Pingla Beel (Hakaluki Haor, north-east)

13 Rajkandi Forest (Kamalgonj, north-east)

15 Rajnagar Tea Estate (Moulvi Bazar, north-east)

* Rajshahi (north-west)

5 Rathura (Bhavval National Park, central)

25 Rauar Beel (Tangua Haor, north-east)

25 Sanir Haor (east of Pasua Beel, north-east)

27 Satcheri Reserve Forest (Telepara, north-east)

27 Sathgao Reservoir (near Satcheri, north-east)

1 3 Shamshernagar Tea Estate (Kamalgonj, north-east)

26 Shilkhali (Teknaf, south-east)

14 Sitapchar Reserve Forest (Kaptai, south-east)

8 Someswari River (near Durgapur, Mymensingh,

central)

22 Sonargaon Town (central)

1 2 Sonar Char (near Monapara and Hatiya , east-centre)

South Halishahar (Chittagong, south-east)

* Srimangal (north-east)

23 St Martin’s Island (south-east)

24 Sunamganj (north-east)

* Sundarbans (south-west)

* Sylhet (north-east)

25 Tangua Haor (north-east)

26 Teknaf (south-east)

27 Telepara (north-east)

28 Thakurgaon (north-west)

Tiger Point (Sundarbans, south-west)

29 Urir Char (east-centre)

West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srwiangal, north¬

east)

26 Whvkeong (Teknaf, south-east)

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

15

Figure 1 . Bangladesh showing locations mentioned in text.

Locations shown by name are indicated with a *; locations given a number are indicated by that number; remaining

locations are near or within the italicised named location.

16

P. M. THOMPSON el al.

Forktail 9

because in many cases previous lists, for example Rashid (1967), included

species which were assumed to occur but for which specimens or documented

observations were not available. Hence even some species not noted here as

new for Bangladesh may be the first fully documented records.

The information reported is derived largely from an updating of Harvey’s

list by J.D.W. in 1992, and from subsequent observations. It reflects the

dedication of a small but growing band of birdwatchers active in Bangladesh.

The records reported here are all sight records, but are by reliable observers,

and where possible field notes have been collated and are stored with

W.G.H., D.L.J. and P.M.T. The appendix provides a key to observer’s

initials. Records are related to regions of Bangladesh in the following list; this

is a revised version of the regions in Harvey (1990) and the boundaries are

shown in Figure 1 , along with the locations of the 1 07 sites mentioned in the

text. Place names follow current usage in official documents and maps in

Bangladesh, but it should be noted that there are often alternative

transliterations in common usage.

NEW SPECIES AND NOTABLE RECORDS

RAIN QUAIL Cotumix coromandelica A rare or local resident. Although first

recorded from Faridpur by Cripps (1878) and subsequently included in a

number of lists, there is only one recent record - a pair in scrub close to forest

at Malumghat between Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar in the south-east on 26

November 1989 (D.L.J. ).

BLUE-BREASTED QUAIL Cotumix chinensis Presumably a rare resident,

first recorded near Dhaka in the 1 9th century (Simson 1882). There are only

two recent records: a pair were flushed several times in a field of legumes by

the Padma near Mawa, south of Dhaka, on 28 February 1986 (D.A.S.); and

a pair were flushed from marshy grassland at Chatla Beel, Hakaluki Haor in

the north-east on 30 April 1992 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.).

RUFOUS-THROATED PARTRIDGE Arborophila rufogularis Presumably

a rare resident. Weston (1914) gave the first records from the Sylhet (north¬

east) region. The only recent record is of two birds (photographed) which

had been trapped by hunters in Rajkandi Forest (north-east) in January 1 99 1

(S.M.A.R.).

INDIAN PEAFOWL Pavo cristatus Presumed now extinct. Although first

recorded from north of Mymensingh (central) in the 1 9th century (Godwin-

Austen 1870), the last and only recent record is of one heard calling on the

night of 18-19 March 1986 at Rathura, west of Bhawal National Park

(central) (S.M.A.R.).

**GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE Anser albifmns Vagrant. One

on a char in the Brahmaputra south of Aricha in December 1982 (A.M.K.)

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

17

is the only record for Bangladesh of a species which is a rare winter visitor to

India, but has been recorded in Assam (Ali and Ripley 1987).

FALCATED DUCK A nasfalcata Scarce winter visitor. Since the first - one

shot in greater Sylhet District (Savage 1970) - it appeared that this species

was very rare in Bangladesh. One was shot on the Padma River (central) in

1980 and one was at Sathgao Reservoir in the north-east in 1987 (A.M.K.);

a male was at Pana Beef) Tangua Haor in Sunamganj district in the north¬

east on 2 March 1992 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.); and a male was in a mixed flock

of about 70 wintering ducks on a char in the Brahmaputra just off the

Bahadurabad railhead (central) on 7 March 1992 (D.L.J., R.H.). However,

following three at Tangua Haor on 3 December 1992 and six there on 3

January 1 993 (S.M.A.R.), an unprecedented 39 were found at the same site

on 27 January 1993 (P.M.T., R.A.); three were also seen at Chatla Beel

(north-east) on 1 February 1993 (S.M.A.R.). This species is listed as a rare

winter visitor in Assam, but is regular in small numbers further west in India

(Ali and Ripley 1 987) and appears to also be a regular visitor in Bangladesh.

RED-CRESTED POCHARD Netta rufina Local winter visitor. Although

Harvey (1990) only admitted a record by R.K. (Khan 1982), there are a

number of historic records, of which the first is by Cripps (1878). However,

recent observations have shown it to be much more numerous than was

previously thought. After one was shot on the Meghna river (east-centre) on

30 November 1986 (A.M.K.), this species has been reported by several

observers in recent winter wildfowl counts. In the north-east the first records

were from four sites in the Tangua Haor complex on 2 March 1992, with a

total of 87 birds (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.). Other sites in the region that winter

were: Someswari River (one male on 22 April 1992) and Pasua Beel (two

pairs on 24 April 1992) (D.A.S.). However, in winter 1992-1993

unprecedented totals were recorded at four sites, only peak counts are given:

300 at Pana Beel on 3 December 1992 (S.M.A.R.), 4002 at Pasua Beel on

3 December 1 992 (S.M.A.R., A.K.), 300 at Haorkhal on 2 1 December 1 992

(S.M.A.R.), and 875 at Tangua Haor on 27 January 1993 (P.M.T., R.A.).

In the central region the only record is of four males and 10 females 6 km

north of Bahadurabad on the Brahmaputra on 7 March 1992 (D.L.J., R.H.).

BAER’S POCHARD Aythya baeri Winter visitor. First listed for Bangladesh

by Rashid (1967), and subsequently recorded in small numbers by several

observers during mid-winter wildfowl counts (for example, a male on Dhaka

Zoo lake in early 1988, W.G.H.). However, it was only during the winters

of 1991-92 and 1992-93 that internationally important numbers of this

threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988) were discovered wintering in

the north-east of Bangladesh. In February-March 1992 a total of 697 was

recorded, the majority (660) being on Pana Beel, Tangua Haor; but with 27

others at four sites within the Tangua-Pasua complex and 10 at two sites in

Hakaluki Haor (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.). In January-February 1993 a total of

18

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

1712 was recorded, all from sites where they had been recorded in the

previous winter: 700 at Chatla and Pingla Beels (Hakaluki Haor), 600 at

Pasua Beel, 300 at Haorkhal (Hakaluki Haor), and 112 at Tangua Haor

(S.M.A.R., P.M.T., A.K.).

GREATER SCAUP Aythya marila Rare winter visitor. The only recent

records are of three males and two females with a flock of Tufted Ducks

Aythyafuligiila at Pana Beel, Tangua Haor in the north-east on 2 March 1 992

(D.A.S., S.M.A.R.), one male at the same site on 27 January 1993 (P.M.T.),

and one male at Pasua Beel also on 27 January 1993 (S.M.A.R.). This scarce

winter visitor to the Indian sub-continent may have been overlooked in the

past; Ripley (1982) noted it as occurring in Bangladesh.

COMMON GOLDENEYE Bucephala clangula Vagrant. Weston (1914)

shot one in the winter of 1 9 1 3- 1 9 1 4, a record that was overlooked by Harvey

(1990).

COMMON MERGANSER (GOOSANDER) Mergus merganser Rare

winter visitor. Harvey ( 1 990) noted that this species had not been recorded

since a 19th century record from Sylhet District (Hume, 1888). However,

a pair were observed at Bahadurabad railhead on the Brahmaputra (central)

on 7 March 1992 (D.L.J., R.H.). There are virtually no large fast flowing

rivers in Bangladesh which this species might favour.

**MANDARIN DUCK Aix galericulata Vagrant. The first record for

Bangladesh was of a male seen among a flock of about 200,000 duck at Pasua

Beel (north-east) on 27 January 1993 (S.M.A.R., A.K.). Previous records of

this species from the Indian Sub-continent are specimens from Assam and

Manipur (Ali and Ripley 1987); and one on the lower Arun in Nepal

(Gardiner, 1991).

YELLOW-LEGGED BUTTONQUAIL Tumix tanki Possibly a rare

resident or vagrant. Although listed for Chittagong by Blanford (1898) and

Ali and Ripley (1987), there is only one recent record. One was closely

observed when it flew onto the lawn of a bungalow at Baroorah Tea Estate,

Srimangal (north-east), on 12 April 1987 (D.J.M.).

GREY-CAPPED WOODPECKER Dendrocopos canicapillus and BROWN-

CAPPED WOODPECKER D. nanus The status of these two species,

particularly D. nanus, in Bangladesh requires clarification and further critical

study. Harvey (1990) lists D. canicapillus as the common small woodpecker

in Bangladesh, including in mangroves, and notes D. moluccensis (nanus) as

a rare? resident or visitor, with only one confirmed record - in the remnants

of Tarap Hill Reserve Forest (north-east) on 18 January 1985 (D.J.M.).

However, D. nanus is widespread in the lowlands and plains of the Indian

sub-continent (Ali and Ripley 1987), whereas D. canicapillus is primarily

found in hill forests such as the Himalayan foothills; this status was implied

in Ali and Ripley (1987) for Bangladesh. These two small woodpeckers do

not appear to be common in Bangladesh. Recent observations suggest that

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

19

D. nanus may be present in the Sundarbans: two pairs thought to be of this

species were noted in mangroves at Katka and a pair at Nilkamal all in

February 1987 (D.A.S.), but detailed notes were not taken. However, a male

D. canicapillus was closely observed near Katka on 16 December 1988

(W.G.H., D.J.M.). A number of detailed observations in Modhupur forest

(central), including nesting in February 1989, indicate that D. canicapillus is

relatively common there in mixed sal and evergreen forest (W.G.H., D.L.J.,

P.M.T.), and this species has also been recorded several times from West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest and nearby tea estates in the north-east (W.G.H.,

D.L.J., P.M.T.).

PALE-HEADED WOODPECKER Gecinulus grantia Rare resident. First

listed by Rashid (1967), and recorded from the Chittagong Hilltracts

(Husain 1968; Husain and Haque 1976). The only recent record is of one

in primary evergreen forest, which has since been cleared, at Kamarchera,

Rajkandi (north-east) on 22 February 1985 (D.L.J.).

HEART-SPOTTED WOODPECKER Hemicircus canente Vagrant?

Although listed for Bangladesh in Rashid (1967), and Ali and Ripley (1987),

there is only one recent record: one on shade trees near the Tea Research

Institute, Srimangal (north-east) in May 1984 (S.M.A.R.).

GREAT HORNBILL Buceros bicomis Vagrant. Although included in

several lists for Bangladesh since Rashid (1967), the only recent record is of

one flying over West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) in

February 1990 (F.S., P.D.A.).

BLYTH’S KINGFISHER Alcedo Hercules Vagrant. Although noted for

Sylhet by Ripley (1982) and Ali and Ripley (1987), there is only one recent

record of this threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988). One was

observed at Hail Haor (north-east) on 22 February 1 985 (D.J.M.), and there

was also a probable record from a nearby tea estate at that time (P.L.W.). It

seems likely that this bird had wandered from the nearby hill states.

RUDDY KINGFISHER Halcyon coromanda Status uncertain: rare resident

or winter visitor. Although listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967), Ripley

(1982) and Ali and Ripley (1987), the only recent record is of one well seen

perched along a narrow creek in freshwater mangrove forest near Dhangmari

in the Sundarbans (south-west) on 16 December 1990 (D.A.S.).

* LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO Cuculus sparverioides A rare winter visitor

(and possibly passage migrant), not noted for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley

(1987) or Ripley (1982). The only records are from West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest (Srimangal) in the north-east where singles were seen on: 13

March 1985 (D.L.J., D.J.M., M.S., P.L.W.), 14 February 1986 (D.J.M.,

P.M.T.), 1 6 January 1 987, 1 5 January 1 988 and 4 March 1 988 (all D.J.M.);

and from the nearby Kamalgonj Tea Estate on 26 December 1992 (D.L.J.,

J.O’M., P.M.T.). A common summer visitor to the Himalayas, this species

may be overlooked in forests at lower altitudes in winter.

20

P. M. THOMPSON el al.

Forktail 9

HODGSON’S HAWK-CUCKOO Cuculus fugax Vagrant? Although

reported as occurring in Bangladesh by Rashid ( 1 967), Ali and Ripley ( 1 987)

and Ripley (1982), the only documented record is of one in a suburban

Dhaka garden on 15-18 October 1987 (W.G.H.).

^ORIENTAL CUCKOO Cuculus saturatus A rare migrant which may occur

more often but identification has only been attempted when birds were

calling. Although included in Rashid (1967), the only record for Bangladesh

is of one watched calling repeatedly in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest

(Srimangal, north-east) on 26 March 1981 (D.L.J.).

*LESSER CUCKOO Cuculus poliocephalus A rare migrant which may occur

more often. Although included in Rashid (1967), the only confirmed records

are: one calling in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east)

on 23 March 1984 (D.L .J.), one watched closely near Hail Haor, Srimangal

on 22 October 1988 (W.G.H.), and one calling at south Patenga (Chittagong,

south-east) on 21 April 1990 (D.L.J.).

VIOLET CUCKOO Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Rare resident or migrant?

Although listed by Rashid (1967), the only confirmed records appear to be:

a sub-adult male in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east)

on 27 March 1 986 (D.L.J., N.B., R.H.); a male at the same site on 9 January

1987 (D.J.M.), a pair and a single male at the same site in May 1989

(W.G.H.); and a male in Satcheri Reserve Forest (north-east) on 4 May 1992

(D.A.S.).

^HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET Collocalia brevirostris A rare winter visitor

from higher altitudes. First recorded in October 1985 at Baroorah Tea

Estate, Srimangal, north-east (DJM), where it was observed with Asian

Palm-Swifts Cypsiurus balasiensis\ subsequently there was one in January

1986 and two on 7 November 1988 at the same site (D.J.M.). Other records

are of ‘several’ over the River Meghna at Ashuganj (north-east) on 4

November 1988 (D.J.M.), one hawking for insects at Nilkamal in the

Sundarbans (south-west) on 23 March 1 99 1 (D.A.S.), and two over stubble

fields near Khagra, east of Sylhet (north-east) on 25 January 1993 (P.M.T.).

*FORK-TAILED SWIFT Apus pacificus An irregular winter visitor or

passage migrant. The first record is of one hawking insects with Asian Palm-

Swifts Cypsiurus balasiensis near the beach at Cox’s Bazar, south-east, on 12

August 1981 (D.L.J.). Subsequent records are: a large flock over Rangamati

(south-east) in December 1986 (V.Z.); about 3,000 on 27 April 1988 over

Cox’s Bazar (P.M.T.); a heavy movement to the north and east over

Srimangal (north-east) on 19 November 1988 (D.J.M.); one over the

Botanical Gardens, Dhaka after a cyclone on 1 December 1988 (W.G.H.);

100+ over forest at Malumghat (near Chittagong) moving north on 27

November 1 989 (D.L.J.); and 1 00+ over Patenga, Chittagong, on 7 December

1991 (D.L.J., P.M.T.). Several of the observations appear to be associated

with storms or cyclones.

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

21

CRESTED TREESWIFT Hemiprocne coronata Vagrant. Although listed

for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and Khan (1982), there are only two recent

records of this species, which is widely distributed in India. A flock of at least

30 were watched at Bhawal National Park on 1 April 1 979 (D.L.J.), and one

was observed at Madhya Nhila near T eknaf (south-east) in November 1983

(S.M.A.R.).

[ROCK EAGLE-OWL Bubo bengcilensis Status uncertain, listed by Rashid

(1967) but no confirmed record. The record given in Harvey (1990) of one

heard in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal) on 30 March 1987 is

now regarded as probable only.]

DUSKY EAGLE-OWL Bubo coromandus A rare resident. Since the 19th

and early 20th centuries (Tytler 1 854, Bates 1 935) there appear to have been

only five records of this species in Bangladesh, although it is widespread in

wooded areas of the Indian sub-continent. Apart from one in West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal) on 1 8 November 1 989 (D.L.J.), it is

only known from Modhupur Forest (central) . At the latter site one was found

on 27 April 1990, a pair were closely observed and tape-recorded on 15

December 1990 (D.L.J., N.B.), a pair were observed copulating on 6

November 1992 (D.L.J., R.H., N.B., A.W.), and a pair were observed at the

same location on 22 January 1993 (D.L.J., P.M.T.).

TAWNY FISH-OWL Ketupa flavipes Rare resident? Although listed by

Rashid (1967) and Ripley (1982) for the hills of Bangladesh, the only recent

records are of one in woodland near New Samanbagh Tea Estate (north¬

east) on 17 January 1990 (D.L.J.), and one closely observed for about 30

minutes while it bathed in a small pool and then dried out in Modhupur

Forest (central) on 8 December 1992 (J. & S.O’M.).

*BROWN WOOD-OWL Strix leptogrammica A rare resident. Only

recorded in Modhupur Forest (sal forest). Following unconfirmed reports

from 1976 (per R.K.), one was found to be resident near Joloi resthouse

during 1 987 and 1 988 (C.S.), and subsequently the only records are of: two

found roosting in the crown of a sal tree on 6 January 1990 (D.L.J., N.B.,

R.H.); one watched eating a rat and calling (tape-recorded) on 22 January

1993 (D.L.J., P.M.T.); and one calling on 9 April 1993 (D.L.J.).

GREAT EARED-NIGHTJAR Eurostopodus macrotis A rare or localised

resident. Although listed by Rashid ( 1 967) and Ripley ( 1 982) for Bangladesh,

the only confirmed records are from Modhupur Forest (central) where they

were in display flight/song in February 1989 (W.G.H.), and from New

Samanbagh T ea Estate (north-east) on 1 1 and 1 2 November 1990 when up

to 20 were observed leaving forest and hawking for insects over tea plantations

and paddyfields (D.L.J.).

PALE-CAPPED PIGEON Columba punicea Rare, status uncertain. First

listed for what is now Bangladesh by Blanford (1898). However, the only

recent records are of 2-3 perched high in trees in the evening on three dates:

22

P. M. THOMPSON ei al

Forktail 9

14 May 1988, 22 October 1988, and 20 February 1989; all in West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest, Srimangal in the north-east (W.G.H.). It seems

likely that this threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988) had wandered

from the nearby hill states where it is known from Assam and Manipur (Ali

and Ripley 1987).

**PIN-TAILED GREEN-PIGEON Treron apicauda Rare, possibly a

nomad from neighbouring hills. Although not listed by Harvey (1990), this

species was listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967), Husain (1979), Khan

(1982), and Ali and Ripley (1987). However, the only documented record

is of a party of six watched closely feeding in the canopy in West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on 2 1 February 1 992 (D.A.S., A.K.).

It seems unlikely that this species might be resident, since this is the best

watched forest in Bangladesh; but it is partly nomadic depending on food

supplies and is known from the nearby hill ranges of Assam (Khasi, Cachar),

Nagaland and Manipur (Ali and Ripley 1987).

**WEDGE-T AILED GREEN-PIGEON Treron sphenura Rare, possibly a

nomad from neighbouring hills. Although not listed by Harvey (1990), this

species was listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967), Khan (1982), and Ali

and Ripley (1987). The only documented record is of a party of six feeding

in the canopy of a tall fruiting tree in Satcheri Reserve Forest, Telepara

(north-east) on 10 March 1992 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.). It seems' likely that

these had wandered from higher altitudes because, like T. apicauda, this

species occurs through the Himalayan foothills and is known from Nagaland

and the hills of Assam (Ali and Ripley 1987).

SARUS CRANE Grus antigone Former resident?. Although first recorded

from the Dhaka area in the 19th century (Simson 1882), the only recent

records are: reports of a pair in Thakurgaon (north-west) up to 1 989 (per

S.M.A.R.); one shot at an unknown location in the north-east in 1990

(specimen in Bangladesh National Museum); and a captive bird of the

eastern subspecies G. a. sharpii at Teknaf (south-east) on 1 1 February 1991

(S.M.A.R.). The last bird may well have come from Myanmar.

DEMOISELLE CRANE Grus virgo Rare winter visitor or vagrant.

Although included in Husain (1979) and a number of other lists, the only

confirmed record appears to be one associating with egrets Egretta in fields

near Bhatigaon, south-west of Sunamganj (north-east) in January 1986

(S.M.A.R.).

MASKED FINFOOT Heliopais personata Rare visitor or resident? Although

listed by Rashid (1967) and subsequent authors for the Sundarbans, there

have been only four recent records. One was seen in a small channel near

Tiger Point in the Sundarbans (south-west) on 29 January 1 984 (D.L.J.); the

remaining three records are all from Katka Khal in Kochikhali Tiger Reserve

in the Sundarbans: two in March 1984 (S.M.A.R.), four in May 1986

(S.M.A.R.), and one on 8 February 1987 (S.M.A.R., D.A.S.).

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

23

**LITTLE CRAKE Porzana parua Vagrant. There are only two previous

records of this species from the Indian subcontinent (Ali and Ripley 1987).

On 25 December 1991 a male and female were closely watched swimming

and walking among emergent vegetation in the middle of Hail Haor in the

north-east (P.M.T., D.L.J.).

WOOD SNIPE Gallinago nemoricola Rare winter visitor. Although listed for

Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and Ali and Ripley (1987), there is only one

recent record of this threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1 988). One was

flushed at close range from a stream in dense forest in West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest, Srimangal (north-east), on 22 December 1992 (D.L.J.).

This species is an altitudinal migrant from the Himalayas, but there is limited

suitable forest habitat in Bangladesh.

**SWINHOE’S SNIPE Gallinago megala Scarce winter visitor? The only

record is of two found with both Common and Pintail Snipe (G. gallinago and

G. stenura ) at Hail Haor (north-east) on 23 February 1992 (D.A.S.). They

were identified from G. stenura on the basis of larger size, heavier flight,

longer bills, more conspicuous white in the outer tail, and call. Rashid ( 1 967)

assumed that this species would occur in Bangladesh, and it has been

recorded from neighbouring Assam, Manipur and West Bengal (Ali and

Ripley 1 987) . The difficulties of field identification mean that it has probably

been overlooked.

JACK SNIPE Lymnocryptes minimus Scarce winter visitor. First recorded

from Faridpur (south-central) by Cripps (1878) and from Sylhet by Eden

(1881). The only recent records of this species are of one shot at Hail Haor

(Srimangal, north-east) in March 1990, and subsequently one wintering

along a stream in a tea estate at Srimangal and a few others wintering at Hail

Haor. It would appear to be a regular but scarce and local winter visitor to

the north-east, where it has been recorded from 27 September in all months

through to March during 1990-91 (all records J.D.W.).

*BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica A scarce winter visitor,

previously overlooked but regular in small numbers in coastal areas. The first

record was a total of 19 from the area around Hatiya (east-centre) during

mid-winter wildfowl counts in January 1989 (Bakewell and Howes 1989,

Scott and Rose 1 989) . Subsequently recorded in each January wildfowl and

wader count in the east-centre (14 in 1990, 31 in 1991, 1 in 1992, and 6 in

1 993; M.A.B., A.K., S.M.A.R., P.M.T.). At Patenga (south-east) it has

been recorded in August, September, December, January and March,

usually as single birds, but with a maximum of 1 4 on 1 1 January 1 990 (D.L.J.,

W.G.H.) . There is only one record away from the coastal zone: two near Hail

Haor (north-east) on 2 February 1993 (S.M.A.R.).

*FAR EASTERN CURLEW Numenius madagascariensis The only record,

and first for the Indian subcontinent is of one on 27 November 1 988 at Cox’s

Bazar, south-east (H. & C.L.). The closest previous records of this long-

24

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

distance migrant from east Asia are from Malaysia and Thailand where it is

a rare passage migrant (King et al. 1975, Boonsong and Round 1991).

**SPOTTED REDSHANK Tringa erythropus Although Rashid (1967)

anticipated that it was a winter visitor to much of Bangladesh, this species was

not listed by Harvey (1990). First recorded by Mountfort and Poore (1968),

who recorded 13 in the Sundarbans on 24 and 26 November 1967.

Subsequently few claims (Husain et al. 1 983, van der Ven 1 988) until one in

the north-east in January 1990 (P.D.A. and F.S.). Records during 1991-2

indicate that there may have been an influx that winter and that it is a not

uncommon winter visitor. Most have been recorded from the north-east: one

at Hail Haor on 25 December 1 99 1 (P.M.T., D.L.J.); 1 5 on flooded fields

near Hakaluki Haor on 27 December 1 99 1 (P.M.T., D.L.J.); a total of 1 35

during surveys in February-March 1 992 (D.A.S.) - these were concentrated

at Pasua Beel (55), Haorkhal (30), and Majherbanda Beel (30); and 18

during a repeat survey in April-May 1992 with 13 at Pingla Beel (D.A.S.,

S.M.A.R.). Away from the haors of the north-east, 22 were on Sonar Char

near Hatiya (east-centre) on 1 8 January 1 992 (P.M.T., A.K., A.W.A.), and

about 30 were along the Brahmaputra north of Aricha also on 18 January

1992 (D.L.J.).

NORDMANN’S GREENSHANK Tringa guttifer Scarce winter visitor.

Although noted as a rare winter visitor by Husain (1979) and Ali and Ripley

(1987), there are few confirmed records of this threatened species (Collar

and Andrew 1988). Apart from an exceptional 300 at Nijumdip, Hatiya

(east-centre) in January 1988 (S.M.A.R.), in subsequent mid-January wildfowl

and wader counts there are totals of only three, one and two respectively in

1989, 1990 and 1991 from the eastern delta (A.W.A., D.B., J.H., S.M.A.R.).

This species has also been recorded in small numbers from Patenga

(Chittagong, south-east): a total of eight sightings - probably fewer birds -

during two weeks in January 1 988 (V.Z.); and two in January 1 990, one on

8 March 1990, and two on 3 January 1991 (allD.L.J.). Away from the coast

a flock of 25 was reported from Chatla Beel (Hakaluki Haor, north-east)

during a cold spell on 2 December 1992 (S.M.A.R.).

*GREY-TAILED TATTLER Tringa brevipes Vagrant. The first record for

the Indian Sub-continent, and Bangladesh, was of two at Patenga near

Chittagong (south-east) on 18 May 1989 (D.L.J.). They were closely

observed both on the mudflats and in flight, with the following characters

noted: sandplover sized with long straight dark bills and yellowish legs, plain

grey uppersides with white eye-stripe, white belly and barred or scaly neck,

breast and flanks. In flight uppersides all grey with rump and tail paler grey,

double-noted call with each note inflected upward at the end. The closest

previous records are from Thailand where it is a rare passage migrant

(Boonsong and Round 1991).

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

25

*GREAT KNOT Calidris tenuirostris A scarce or irregular passage migrant

and winter visitor. Although listed by Rashid (1967), the first confirmed

record was of up to 1 00 at Patenga (Chittagong, south-east) in October 1 987

(V.Z.), this has since proved to be the main site so far discovered for the

species in Bangladesh. Subsequently recorded at Patenga on 1 5 occasions

between peak counts of 50+ on 27 October 1 988 (W.G.H.) and over 1 20 on

29 August 1992 (D.L.J., P.M.T.). However, none was recorded there during

visits between September 1990 and May 1992 (D.L.J.). Away from this site

it has only been rarely recorded: one at South Halishahar beach (Chittagong)

on 26 May 1988 (DJM); singles in 1989 and 1992 during January wildfowl

counts on islands in the eastern delta; 15 at Egg Island on the edge of the

Sundarbans on 5 February 1 990 (D.L.J.); and five at Urir Char (east-centre)

on 13 January 1993 (P.M.T., S.M.A.R., A.K.).

*RED KNOT Calidris canutus A rare winter visitor only recorded in 1989.

The ‘first record’ from Hatiya Island (east-centre) in January 1 989 (Bakewell

and Howes 1 989; Scott and Rose 1 989), has since been found to be an error

(D. Bakewell pers. comm, to D.A.S.). The only records, therefore, are all

from Patenga (Chittagong, south-east) and all in 1 989; it seems likely that the

same group of birds were involved: 20 on 10 April (W.G.H.), 5 on 20 April

(D.L.J.), four in breeding plumage on 18 May (W.G.H.), and 13 on 1

December (D.L.J.).

SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER Eurynorhynchus pygmeus Despite being

first recorded from Chittagong, south-east, (three specimens) in the mid

1 9th century (Blyth 1 857), it was only in 1 989 that it was discovered that this

threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988) is a regular winter visitor and

that Bangladesh is probably the main wintering ground for this species.

Totals during January counts carried out as part of the coordinated Asian

Mid-winter Wildfowl counts have been: three in 1988, 257 in 1989, 45 in

1991, about 100 in 1992, and two in 1993 (A.W.A., D.B., M.A.B., J.H.,

A.K., S.M.A.R., P.M.T.). The main sites for this species are in the eastern

side of the delta (east-centre) particularly Hatiya Island, Urir Char and the

Noakhali Coast, and Dhal Char on the outer edge of the delta. In addition

it has been regularly recorded in small numbers at Patenga (south-east): no

more than three have been recorded at one time, but a total of 1 8 ‘bird-days’

have been recorded on 12 occasions between October 1987 and September

1992 covering seven months: August through to November, January, April

and May (W.G.H., D.L.J., P.M.T., V.Z.) . There is also one record from Egg

Island on the edge of the Sundarbans: 4 on 24 February 1992 (D.L.J.). The

coastal chars are a dynamic system and so the sites suitable for this species

(which prefers a substrata of mixed sand and mud) can change within the

space of a year. There may well be other suitable sites and the pattern of

migration is unknown.

26

P. M. THOMPSON el al.

Forktail 9

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus Vagrant? Although

Stanford (1937, 1954) reported a breeding occurrence of this species in the

Sundarbans (south-west), there are only two recent records: one at Nilbaria

north-east of Dubla island on the edge of the Sundarbans in March 1984

(S.M.A.R.), and two at the same site on 9 February 1987 (S.M.A.R.,

D.A.S.).

LONG-BILLED PLOVER Charadrius placidus Vagrant. Although first

listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) there are only two traceable records.

Two were found at a coastal site on Nijumdip (east-centre) on 19 January

1991 (M.A.B.); and one was watched on ploughed fields near Hail Haor,

Srimangal, on 1 January 1991 (J.D.W.). The record given in Harvey (1990)

from May 1978 is now regarded as probable only.

*CRAB PLOVER Dromas ardeola Vagrant. The only record is of six at

Kamlar Char, Nijumdip in the east-central coastal area on 18 January 1988

(S.M.A.R.). The closest locations where it has been regularly recorded are

in Peninsular Thailand (Boonsong and Round 1991) and western India and

Sri Lanka (Ali and Ripley 1987).

* PARASITIC JAEGER (ARCTIC SKUA) Stercorarius parasiticus Vagrant.

The only record is of one on 20 January 1981 in the Swatch of No Ground

off the Sundarbans in Bangladesh Territorial Waters - R.K. (Harvey, 1990).

The nearest previous records are in the Arabian Sea (Ali and Ripley 1987)

and coastal Thailand (Boonsong and Round 1991).

*BLACK-NAPED TERN Sterna sumatrana Vagrant. The only record is of

one in November 1986 towards Moheshkhali island, north of Cox’s Bazar,

south-east (V.Z.). The nearest part of its regular range is the Andaman

Islands (Ali and Ripley 1987).

*EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus Vagrant. Although

included in Husain (1979), the only confirmed record is of one over Char

Khiderpur near Rajshahi (north-west) on 10 April 1984 (S.M.A.R.).

**EURASIAN GRIFFON Gyps fulvus Vagrant. Two immatures feeding

on a carcass with White-rumped and Long-billed Vultures ( Gyps bengalensis

and G. indicus ) east of Bhairab Bazar in the north-east on 18 February 1992

appear to be the first confirmed record. They were readily distinguished on

size and plumage from the accompanying species. Despite a number of

references to this species in papers on the birds of Bangladesh, for example

Rashid (1967), Mountfort and Poore (1968) and Husain (1979), there is no

specific reference to its occurrence in Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987)

and the species was not listed by Harvey (1990). This species is, however,

an occasional non-breeding visitor to the plains of northern India east to

Assam and south to 20"N (Ali and Ripley 1987), hence its occurrence in

Bangladesh is not unexpected.

*CINEREOUS VULTURE Aegypius monachus Vagrant. Although listed

in Khan (1982), the only documented record is of one in Comilla zoo (east-

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

27

centre) in 1987 which had reportedly been captured locally (Harvey 1990).

SHORT-TOED SNAKE-EAGLE Circaetus gallicus Rare winter visitor.

Although first listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) there are only three

recent records: one over Modhupur Forest (Joloi resthouse) in November

1986 (C.S.), two over Himchari, Cox’s Bazar (south-east) on 23 November

1988 (H. & C.L.); and two over Dhaka golf course on 12 December 1992

(D.L.J.).

NORTHERN HARRIER Circus cyaneus Rare winter visitor. Although

Bates ( 1 935) recorded this species from the Chittagong area, it was not listed

in Ripley (1982). There have been several recent records: a male at Baroorah

Tea Estate (near Srimangal) on 16 February 1987 (D.J.M.); a male near

Srimangal in February 1988 (V.Z.); a male on Egg Island in the south-eastern

Sundarbans on 4 February 1 990 (D.L .J.); single males recorded at Hail Haor

in the north-east on 18 January and 30 November 1991 (J.D.W.); a male on

Moulvi Char, Hatiya Island, (east-centre) on 15 January 1992 (P.M.T.); a

male at Hail Haor in December 1992 (D.L.J., J. & S.O’M.); and a male at

Erali Beel (north-east) on 29 January 1993 (S.M.A.R.).

MONTAGU’S HARRIER Circus py gar gus Vagrant. This species was listed

for Faridpur District by Cripps (1878), which may be the source for inclusion

in subsequent lists. There is only one recent record: a male was seen flying

over cultivated fields in Harikhola valley at Whykeong (near Teknaf, south¬

east) in December 1983 (S.M.A.R.).

^NORTHERN GOSHAWK Accipiter gentilis Vagrant. Although listed by

Khan ( 1 982) there are only two documented records: one was watched flying

over a hilltop close to Teknaf (south-east) on 9 December 1983 (S.M.A.R.);

and one was watched for about 10 minutes flying over Dhaka zoo on 23

October 1987 (P.M.T.).

*LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD Buteo rufinus A scarce winter visitor.

Although listed by Khan (1982), the first documented record is of one near

Pabna (north-west) on 30 January 1982 (D.L.J., N.B., R.H., G.F.).

Subsequent records are of: one at Cox’s Bazar (south-east) in November

1987 (H. & C.L.), one flying over the Dhaleswari river near Dhaka on 31

January 1992 (D.L.J., A.M.K., P.M.T., J.D.W.), and one near Bahadurabad

railhead on the Brahmaputra (central) on 5 December 1992 (D.L.J., R.N.,

A.W., N.B.). This species appears to favour sandbanks in the main rivers.

IMPERIAL EAGLE Aquila heliaca Rare winter visitor. Although listed in

Ali and Ripley (1987), the only recent records are: a second year at Uttara,

Dhaka on 4 March 1978, one at Dhaka airport on 16 December 1979, one

at Pabna on 30 January 1 982 (all D.L.J.), two immatures an Teknaf (south¬

east) on 3 December 1 988 (H. & C.L.), and one 6 km north of Bahadurabad

railhead perched on a char in the Brahmaputra (central) on 5 December 1 992

(D.L.J., R.N., A.W., N.B.).

28

P. M. THOMPSON ei al.

Forktail 9

**BONELLI’S EAGLE Hieraaetus fasciatus Vagrant. Although listed for

Bangladesh by Khan ( 1 982) possibly on the basis of a claim by Husain et al.

(1974), the only confirmed record appears to be of one over Satcheri Reserve

Forest, Telepara (north-east) in March 1990 (F.S., P.D.A.). This was

presumably a vagrant from the Himalayas.

*BOOTED EAGLE Hieraaetus pennatus A scarce winter visitor or passage

migrant, Rashid ( 1 967) and Ali and Ripley (1987) presumed that it occurred

but gave no specific records. The first record was a light phase bird over

Kaliakoir (50 km north of Dhaka) on 22 October 1978 (D.L.J.). Subsequent

records are: one 50 km north of Joydepur (central) on 28 April 1 979 (D.L.J.);

a light phase at Modhupur Forest (central) on 15 April 1987 (W.G.H.); a

light phase roosting at Dhaka Zoo on 7 November 1987 (W.G.H.); three at

Dhaka Zoo (two dark phase and one light phase) on 1 2 May 1 988 (W.G.H.,

D.J.M., J.D.W.); a light phase near Mymensingh (central) and another near

Sylhet (north-east) in February 1989 (W.G.H.); one over a grass fire south

of Srimangal in February 1990 (J.D.W.); and one at Patenga (Chittagong)

on 5 April 1990 (D.L.J.).

**SAKER FALCON Falco cherntg Presumably a vagrant, the closest area

where it is regularly recorded, as a scarce winter visitor, is in central Nepal

(Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). The only record is of one well watched resting

and flying in a grassy area near Modhupur Forest (central) on 1 8 April 1 992

(D.L.J., J. & S.O’M.).

GREAT CO RMO RANT Phalacrocorax carbo Local winter visitor. Harvey

(1990) reported no recent records, although this species has appeared in

many past bird lists for Bangladesh (Rashid, 1967) and the oldest record is

that of Lister (1951). However, surveys in 1992/93 revealed that it is still a

winter visitor in moderate numbers to the deeper beels of the Haor Basin in

the north-east, and to the northern reaches of the Brahmaputra River. In the

north-east 54 were recorded from 1 1 sites in February-March 1 992, but only

one was recorded in a survey of the same areas in April-May 1 992 (S.M.A.R.,

D.A.S.). In winter 1992-1993 higher numbers were recorded in the same

region, peaks for the most important sites were: 45 at Pana Beel 27 January

1993 (A.K., S.M.A.R., P.M.T.), 130 at Pasua Beel in November 1992

(S.M.A.R.), and 95 at Sanir Haor on 4 November 1992 (S.M.A.R.); the

majority of records are from the T angua, Matian and Gurmar Haor complexes.

In addition three pairs were found along 6 km of the Brahmaputra river north

of Bahadurabad railhead on 7 March 1992 (D.L.J., R.H.), and a total of 32

in two flocks at the same site on 5 December 1992 (D.L.J., R.N., A.W.,

N.B.).

*PACIFIC REEF-EGRET Egretta sacra Vagrant. There appear to be three

records for Bangladesh, but the species has not been recorded elsewhere on

the mainland Indian subcontinent (Ali and Ripley 1987). Khan (1985)

reported it from St Martin’s Island in the extreme south-east but full details

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

29

were not included. Rashid and Khan (1987) likewise reported it from

Teknaf: apparently a number of dark phase birds were seen on mudflats near

Teknaf (south-east) in December 1983 (S.M.A.R., A.K.). Most recently, a

white phase bird was seen on several occasions at Patenga, Chittagong in

January and February 1989 (W.G.H., D.L.J., Harvey 1990). This species

occurs on the Andaman Islands (Ali and Ripley 1 987), and along the Arakan

coast of Myanmar which is adjacent to the Teknaf-St Martin’s region

(Smythies 1986).

GOLIATH HERON Ardea goliath Vagrant. This primarily Afrotropical

species was first recorded in Bangladesh in Khulna District in the south-west

(Prater 1 926); the specimen is held by the Bombay Natural History Society

(Abdulali 1968). There are only two recent records: one flying north at

Himchari Beach, Cox’s Bazar (south-east) on 23 November 1988 (H. &

C.L.), and one well seen while flying over Dhaka Zoo on 20 December 1992

(J. & S.O’M.). It is unknown whether these are recent longdistance vagrants

or have been surviving within the region for some time.

WHITE-BELLIED HERON Ardea insignis Vagrant? This globally

threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988) was reported to occur in

Bangladesh by Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley ( 1 982), but there is only one

well documented or recent observation. A pair were flushed twice from the

forest-lined shore of Madhabpore lake, near Srimangal, on 25 March 1 988,

good views were obtained of both birds in flight (D.J.M.). This species may

have wandered from one of the Indian hillstates.

GREAT BITTERN Botaurus stellaris Rare winter visitor. Although listed

for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and Ripley (1982), there are only three

recent records. One was watched flying over Baroorah Tea Estate, Srimangal

(north-east) in September 1 984 (D.J.M.); one flying over marshes at Khakra

Kuri Beel, Balai Haor in the north-east on 6 March 1992 (D.A.S.), and one

flushed from paddy fields at Haorkhal (north-east) on 30 January 1993

(S.M.A.R.).

**BLACK STORK Ciconia nigra Rare winter visitor. The first three records

for Bangladesh are given, although the species was listed as potentially

occurring by Rashid ( 1 967) . One was at Palangkhali on the Naf river south¬

east of Cox’s Bazar (south-east), in December 1983 (S.M.A.R.). Two were

closely observed for eight hours on a low muddy char (sandbank) in the

Brahmaputra River about 3 km north of Aricha (central region) on 18

January 1992, mostly feeding alone but also associating with a flock of 40

Grey Herons Ardea cinerea (D.L.J., R.H., A.W.). One on a char in the

Brahmaputra 6 km north of Bahadurabad railhead on 5 December 1992

(D.L.J., R.N., A.W., N.B.). This species winters sparsely in the Indian

subcontinent so its occurrence is not surprising, although Ripley (1982)

noted it to be absent south of Assam.

30

P. M. THOMPSON el al.

Forktail 9

BLUE PITTA Pitta cyanea A rare summer visitor. Although listed for

Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and others, the only recent record is from West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest, Srimangal (north-east), in May-June 1988,

where breeding was suspected (Harvey 1990).

NORTHERN SHRIKE Lanius excubitor Rare winter visitor. Although first

recorded from Lalmai, Comilla in the east-centre (Collins 1948), the only

recent record is of one at Ranikong, Durgapur, north of Mymensingh

(central) on 14 February 1984 (S.M.A.R.).

RED-BILLED MAGPIE Urocissa erythrorhyncha Rare winter visitor.

Although included in Rashid (1967), the only recent records are: two at

Muchoni near Teknaf (south-east) in October 1983 (S.M.A.R.) and one in

flight in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) in November

1985 (D.J.M., E.F.G.).

SCALY THRUSH Zoothera dauma Vagrant. Although listed for Bangladesh

in Rashid (1967) and Ripley (1982), there is only one recent record. One was

seen in Modhupur Forest (central) on 15 December 1990 (D.L.J.).

DARK-SIDED THRUSH Zoothera marginata Vagrant. Although listed in

Rashid (1967) and Ali and Ripley (1987), there is only one recent record of

one watched down to 1.5 m around a walkway and clump of bamboos on the

Bangladesh Agricultural University campus, Mymensingh (central) on 10

November 1988 (W.G.H.).

TICKELL’S THRUSH Turdus unicolor Vagrant. Although noted from

Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and Mountfort and Poore (1968), there are

only three recent records. A male was by a homestead wood and pond in a

village between Gopalganj and Barisal (south-centre) on 25 February 1979

(D.L.J.); one was in Bhawal National Park (central) on 27 February 1986

(D.A.S.); and two were seen separately feeding in Modhupur Forest (central)

on 10 February 1989 (W.G.H.).

*WHITE-COLLARED BLACKBIRD Turdus albocinctus Vagrant. A male

in song in Modhupur Forest (central) on 10 February 1989 (W.G.H.) during

a cold spell is the only record, much below its normal altitudinal range.

However, Ali and Ripley ( 1 987) give nearby Meghalaya and Cachar (Assam)

as part of the wintering range.

**GREY-WINGED BLACKBIRD Turdus boulboul Vagrant. There are

only two, previously unpublished, records. A male was seen in thick scrub

in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 25 March 1978, and a

female was seen at the same site on 13 March 1985 (both records D.L.J.).

The closest part of the wintering range given by Ali and Ripley (1987) is

Cachar in Assam.

**EURASIAN BLACKBIRD Turdus merula Vagrant. The only record is

of a male in Modhupur Forest (central) during a cold spell in January 1982

(S.M.A.R.). Although Ali and Ripley (1987) note it as a winter visitor to the

plains of India, there appears to have been no previous record in Bangladesh.

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

31

EYEBROWED THRUSH Turdus obscurus A rare passage migrant. Although

listed by Rashid (1967) and Ali and Ripley (1987), there are only two recent

records: one in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 14 March

1986 (D.J.M.), and one in coastal woodland at Patenga (south-east) on 7

April 1990 (D.L.J.).

*DUSKY THRUSH Turdus naumanni Vagrant. Although listed by Rashid

(1967), the only confirmed record is of a male closely observed in a belt of

Casuarina trees along the coast at Cox’s Bazar (south-east) on 25 March

1989 (D.L.J.). Ali and Ripley (1987) give this species as a passage migrant

in the north-eastern hillstates.

*LESSER SHORTWING Brachypteryx leucophrys A rare winter visitor.

The first record for Bangladesh was a female caught in a mist-net in West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 20 February 1986 (D.L.J.). The

only other records are from the same site: at least two which were closely

observed on 20 November 1987 (D.J.M.), and one on 20 February 1989

(W.G.H.). These were presumably altitudinal migrants from the north-east

Indian hillstates, Ali and Ripley (1987) give a lowest altitude of 1500 m.

DARK-SIDED FLYCATCHER Muscicapa sibirica Rare passage migrant.

Although listed in Rashid (1967), the only recent records of this hill species

are of: one in Modhupur Forest (north-centre) on 5 November 1986

(S.M.A.R.), two adults and an immature closely observed in Modhupur

Forest on 9 November 1 99 1 (D.L.J., N.B.), and one in homestead trees near

Erali Beel east of Sylhet (north-east) on 27 April 1992 (D.A.S.).

RUFOUS-GORGETED FLYCATCHER Ficedula strophiata Rare winter

visitor. Although listed as a winter visitor in the Chittagong region (Ali and

Ripley 1987), the only recent record is of one in Modhupur Forest (central)

in December 1988 (C.S.).

*SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER Ficedula hyperythra Rare winter

visitor. The only confirmed records of this species are of a female feeding in

dense cover near the ground in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal,

north-east) on 23 February 1985 (D.L.J.), and a pair in undergrowth at the

same site on 20 and 21 February 1987 (D.J.M.). Ali and Ripley (1987) give

a lowest altitude of 300 m and list it for the nearby hillstates.

ULTRAMARINE FLYCATCHER Ficedula superciliaris Rare winter

visitor. Although listed by Rashid ( 1967), the only recent record is of one on

the edge of forest in Sitapchar forest near Kaptai (south-east) during winter

1987-88 (V.Z.).

^SAPPHIRE FLYCATCHER Ficedula sapphira Vagrant?. The only record

is of a sub-adult male in the understorey of West Bhanugach Reserve Forest

(Srimangal, north-east) on 21 February 1986 (D.L.J., D.J.M.). At about 35

m above sea level this is much lower than the range given by Ali and Ripley

(1987) who state that it occurs in the nearby hillstates seasonally down to

800 m.

32

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

*SMALL NILTAVA Ni/tava macgrigoriae Vagrant. The only confirmed

record of this species is of a female closely observed while feeding in the

understorey of West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on

23 February 1 985 (D.L.J., N.B.). This species might be expected to be more

frequent since Ali and Ripley (1987) note that it breeds in the Garo and Khasi

hills of Meghalaya and winters in the foothills and plains of the Brahmaputra

valley.

RUFOUS-BELLIED NILTAVA Niltava sundara Rare winter visitor. Ali

and Ripley (1987) list it for the Chittagong Hilltracts, but the only recent

records of this skulking species are of one in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest

(north-east) in October 1 987 (C.S.) and a male at Madhapkhundo waterfall,

New Samanbagh Tea Estate (north-east) on 17 January 1990 (D.L.J.).

**FIRETHROAT Luscinia pectardens Vagrant. A male in full breeding

plumage was found in dense woodland at Pasua Beel, Gurmar Haor (north¬

east) on 24 April 1992 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.), the bird was inquisitive, giving

excellent views, and on several occasions it uttered short bursts of sub-song.

This constitutes the first record for Bangladesh and only the second for the

Indian subcontinent; the first being in January 1950 from the Garo Hills of

Meghalaya, adjacent to Bangladesh (Koelz 1954, Ali and Ripley 1987).

Soon after the Bangladesh record, on 21 June 1992, a pair was seen in the

Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh (Katti 1992). This species

is apparently mainly resident in China, breeding from south-east Tibet north

through Sichuan to south-west Kansu and Shensi (Meyer de Schauensee

1984).

INDIAN BLUE ROBIN Luscinia brunnea A rare winter visitor. Although

listed for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987), the only recent record is of a

female in undergrowth in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 28

February 1991 (P.M.T.). This species is a regular altitudinal migrant with

part of the population migrating to southern India in the winter.

* RUFOUS-BREASTED BUSH-ROBIN Tarsiger hyperythrus Vagrant.

First record: a female watched down to 1 m feeding on leaf mould in dense

forest in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 21 October 1988

(W.G.H.). A scarce Himalayan species which makes seasonal altitudinal

movements, and is noted from the Indian hill states in winter (Ali and Ripley

1987).

BLUE-FRONTED REDSTART Phoenicurus frontalis Vagrant from the

Himalayas. Although listed for Bangladesh in Rashid (1967) and Ali and

Ripley (1987), there is only one recent record of one at Sonargaon town

(central) on 29 December 1984 (S.M.A.R.).

*WHITE-CAPPED WATER-REDSTART (RIVER CHAT) Chaimarromis

leucocephalus A rare winter visitor normally found at higher altitudes. Apart

from an undated record in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (C.S.), this

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

33

species has only been recorded from Madhapkhundo waterfall in New

Samanbagh Tea Estate (north-east) where it was first recorded on 31 January

1986 (D.J.M.); subsequently it has been recorded there in most years from

November to February (D.L.J., J.D.W., P.M.T., J. & S.O’M.). It

would appear to be a regular winter visitor to this location at about 100 m

above sea level.

*WHITE-TAILED ROBIN Cinclidium leucurum A rare breeding resident.

Not listed for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987) or Ripley (1982). First

recorded on 25 March 1978 (D.L.J.). All records are from West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest (north-east) where it is regularly recorded (many observers)

during winter (November to March) . However, on 1 7 June 1988 a recently

fledged juvenile (dark brown with heavy pinkish spotting and the same tail

pattern as an adult) was found (D.J.M., J.D.W.). At 35 m above sea level this

record is much lower than its normal breeding range of above 1200 m (Ali

and Ripley, 1987).

SLATY-BACKED FORKTAIL Enicurus schistaceus Rare visitor? Although

noted for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and Ali and Ripley (1987), there are

only two recent records: one in Alinagar Tea Estate (north-east) on 3 May

1985 (D.J.M., P.L.W.), and a pair at Madhapkhundo Waterfall (New

Samanbagh Tea Estate, north-east) on 24 December 1992 (D.L.J., J. &

S.O’M.).

WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL Enicurus leschenaulti Rare visitor?

Although noted for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987) the only recent

record is of two along a stream in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north¬

east) on 8 December 1989 (J.D.W.).

**PURPLE COCHOA Cochoa purpurea Vagrant. Although included in

Rashid ( 1 967), the only confirmed record is of an adult male closely watched

at Dhaka Golf Course, at low altitude (under 5 m) and out of its normal forest

habitat, on 2 November 1990 (D.L.J., J.D.W.). This most unlikely of

records was presumably a vagrant from Meghalaya or another of the nearby

hill states, where its altitudinal range is given as 1 000-3000 m (Ali and Ripley

1987). The chances of it being an escape seem very low, and in any case most

cage birds in Bangladesh are caught locally.

WHITE-TAILED STONECHAT Saxicolaleucura Vagrant? Although first

recorded in the 1 9th century from the Garo hills (central-north-east) in what

is now Bangladesh (Godwin-Austen 1870), there is only one recent record

of a male in paddyfields by the road to Banderban (south-east) on 20 April

1990 (D.L.J.).

JERDON’S BUSHCHAT Saxicola jerdoni Rare winter visitor. Although

first recorded in the 19th century from the Garo hills (central-north-east) in

what is now Bangladesh (Godwin-Austen 1870), there are only three recent

records. A male was present at Baroorah Tea Estate (Srimangal, north-east)

34

P. M. THOMPSON et at.

Forktail 9

during February 1985 (D.J.M., E.F.G.), a female was present at exactly the

same place during February 1986 (D.J.M., P.M.T.); and a male was in

extensive grassland at Bara Haor (north-east) on 4 December 1992 (S.M.A.R.,

A.K.).

*DESERT WHEATEAR Oenanthe deserti Vagrant or rare winter visitor.

There are only two records, both from Patenga, Chittagong (south-east) : one

in December 1987 (V.Z.), and a male on the seawall on 7 December 1991

(P.M.T., D.L.J.). The closest area where the species is regularly recorded is

in north-central Nepal (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991).

ROSY STARLING Stumus roseus Rare winter visitor. Although listed by

Rashid (1967), there are only two recent records: one at Patenga, Chittagong

(south-east) in January 1988 (V.Z.), and three (including an adult in good

plumage) in homestead trees east of Kawadighi Haor, near Moulvi Bazar

(north-east) on 22 February 1992 (D.A.S.).

COMMON STARLING Stumus vulgaris Rare winter visitor. Although

listed by Rashid (1967), there are only three recent records, all from Patenga,

Chittagong (south-east): three in December 1987 (V.Z.), 12 on 11 January

1990 (D.L.J.), and at least 20 in recently harvested fields on 7 December

1991 (D.L.J., P.M.T.).

[BEAUTIFUL NUTHATCH Sitta formosa Possible vagrant, listed by

Rashid (1967) but no other records. The record given in Harvey (1990) is

now regarded as probable only.]

WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW Hirundo smithii Vagrant. Although listed for

Bangladesh by Rashid (1967) and others, the only recent record is of two over

the Agricultural University campus at Mymensingh (central) in October

1988 (Harvey 1990).

STRIATED SWALLOW Hirundo striolata Resident? Although listed by

Husain (1979), the only confirmed records appear to be from near Srimangal

(north-east) in November 1988 and March 1989 (W.G.H.). This species has

probably been overlooked in the past among Red-rumped Swallows Hirundo

daurica.

** STREAK-THROATED SWALLOW Hirundo fluvicola Vagrant. The

only record for Bangladesh is of one, watched closely with Barn Swallows

Hirundo rustica for comparison, over a small pond in the East Wildlife

Sanctuary near Katka in the Sundarbans (south-west) on 1 7 December 1 990

(D.A.S.). According to Ali and Ripley (1987) this species has not previously

been recorded from Bangladesh, Bengal, or Assam; however, northern

populations are migratory so a vagrant in Bangladesh is not unexpected.

**ASIAN HOUSE-MARTIN Delichondasypus Rare winter visitor? Although

listed by Rashid (1967), the only confirmed record for Bangladesh is of a

flock of about 50-100 hawking for insects, with Barn Swallows and Red-

rumped Swallows (. Hirundo rustica and H. daurica ), over marshland, stubble

1004

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

35

fields and fires near Khagra, east of Sylhet (north-east) on 25 January 1993

(P.M.T.). Close views were obtained of several and identification was based

on the pale greyish underparts, dark underwing coverts, and scarcely forked

tail. The closest breeding areas for this species are in Nepal but it has also

been recorded from lowlands in north-east India (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991).

FLAVESCENT BULBUL Pycnonotus flavescens Vagrant or former local

resident. There is only one recent record: one seen in primary evergreen

forest at Kamarchera, Rajkandi (north-east) on 22 February 1985 (D.L.J.).

This forest has since been felled. As with a number of species from the hill

areas its status in the Chittagong Hilltracts is unknown because access is

restricted.

YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA Prinia flaviventris Rare resident. Although

first recorded from the north-east by Godwin-Austen (1870), there have

been only five recent records. In the Sundarbans (south-west) one was

singing at Hiron Point on 29 January 1 984 (D.L.J.); about ten were in a small

marsh at Nilkamal on 10 February 1987 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.); and six were

at the same site in March 1991 (D.A.S.). Elsewhere three were on a grassy

hillside in Nurjahan Tea Estate (Srimangal, north-east) on 25 June 1988

(D.J.M., P.M.T.); and two were singing between Chittagong and Rangamati

(south-east) on 22 April 1989 (D.L.J.).

CHESTNUT-HEADED TESIA Tesiacastaneocoronata Vagrant. Although

listed for the Chittagong Hilltracts in Ali and Ripley (1987), the only recent

record is of one in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (north-east) on 24 March

1978 (D.L.J.).

**SLATY-BELLIED TESIA Tesia olivea Vagrant. The only record is of

one watched for 1 5 minutes at Madhapkhundo Waterfall (New Samanbagh

Tea Estate, north-east) on 24 December 1992 (D.L.J., J. & S.O’M.). Grey-

bellied Tesia Tesia cyaniventer is a relatively common winter visitor in the

area, but this bird was distinguished by the whole of the cap being bright

yellowish, and by a call which was similar but less harsh or sharp than that

of T. cyaniventer. T. olivea is listed for the nearby hillstates by Ali and Ripley

(1987), and may be a scarce altitudinal migrant to Bangladesh.

BROWNISH-FLANKED BUSH-WARBLER Cettia fortipes Rare winter

visitor? Although listed by Rashid (1967), and noted as breeding in the hills

of Meghalaya and wintering in the plains of north Bengal (Ali and Ripley

1987), there appears to be only one record. One was seen in Modhupur

Forest (central) in November 1986 (S.M.A.R.).

SPOTTED BUSH-WARBLER Bradypterus thoracicus Rare winter visitor?

First recorded from Sylhet (north-east) in the 1 9th century (Godwin-Austen,

1872). The only recent record is of one seen well in dense vegetation by

Pasua Beel, Gurmar Haor (north-east) on 24 April 1992 (D.A.S.).

LANCEOLATED WARBLER Locustella lanceolata Rare winter visitor?

36

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

Although listed by Rashid (1967) and Ripley (1982), the only recent record

is of one seen well in herbaceous vegetation at Pasua Beel, Gurmar Haor

(north-east) on 4 March 1992 (D.A.S.).

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia Rare winter visitor? Although

listed by Rashid (1967) and Ripley (1982), the only recent record is of one

seen well among crops by the Padma near Mawa south of Dhaka on 28

February 1986 (D.A.S.).

PALLAS’S WARBLER Locustella certhiola Possibly an uncommon passage

migrant, easily overlooked. Although listed for Bangladesh by Rashid

(1967), the only recent records are: one in a small marsh at Nilkamal,

Sundarbans (south-west) on 10 February 1987 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.), one in

riverside scrub at Hail Haor (north-east) in April 1 987 (W.G.H.), at least five

in dense vegetation near Arabiakona Beel, Tangua Haor (north-east) on 23

April 1992 (D.A.S.), and two in a dense thicket at Pasua Beel (north-east)

on 24 April 1992 (D.A.S.).

* * B L A C K- B R O W E D REED-WARBLER Acrocephalus bistrigiceps Local

winter visitor and passage migrant, possibly overlooked previously. The first

record was of one in herbaceous vegetation with A. concinens l 'agricola for

comparison at Rauar Beel (Tangua Haor, north-east) on 3 March 1992

(D.A.S.). Subsequent records are of at least four singing in a large area of

rushes at Hail Haor (north-east) on 2 May 1992 (D.A.S.), and one in the

company of A. concinens I agricola in dense vegetation at Pasua Beel (north¬

east) on 26 January 1993 (P.M.T.). This species (which breeds in north-east

Asia) has been recorded as a winter visitor to West Bengal (regularly), eastern

Assam, and Manipur (Ali and Ripley 1987), so it is not unexpected in

Bangladesh.

PADDYFIELD WARBLER Acrocephalus a^nco/a/BLUNT-WINGED

WARBLER A. concinens Local winter visitor/passage migrant. A. agricola

has been collected in Bangladesh (Godwin-Austen 1870) and Ripley (1982)

listed A. concinens from Bangladesh. Harvey (1990) attributed all records of

these two species to A. agricola , but D.A.S. considered that, out of the

hundreds observed on passage through the wetlands of the north-east in late

April and early May 1992 (many of which were in song), those closely

observed were likely to be A. concinens. A. concinens stevensi breeds in Assam

and has been recorded in Bangladesh (Ali and Ripley 1987), but is difficult

to distinguish in the field from A. agricola ; further research is needed in

Bangladesh.

*SMOKY WARBLER Phylloscopusfuligiventer Vagrant?. The only confirmed

records of this species which winters in the Himalayan foothills are: one in

Modhupur Forest (central) on 26 November 1986 (C.S., S.M.A.R.), and

one in waterside scrub in the Botanical Gardens, Dhaka on 1 8 February 1 989

(W.G.H.).

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

37

*RADDE’S WARBLER Phylloscopus schwarzi Vagrant/rare winter visitor.

The first record, and apparently the fifth for the Indian subcontinent - the

others being from Nepal (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991) and India (Jepson 1987)

- was of three feeding low down in a clump of bougainvillaea in Gulshan,

Dhaka on 15-20 December 1986 (W.G.H.). There are two subsequent

records: two in the Botanical Gardens, Dhaka on 20 December 1988

(W.G.H.); and one in mangrove forest at Tiger Point in the Sundarbans

(south-west) on 24 February 1992 (D.L.J.).

PALE-RUMPED WARBLER Phylloscopus chloronotus A rare winter visitor.

Although noted for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987), there are only two

recent records, both from the Botanical Gardens, Dhaka: one on 1 December

1988, and one on 18 February 1989 (both W.G.H.).

* YELLOWISH-BREASTED WARBLER (GREEN WARBLER)

Phylloscopus trochiloides nitidus A rare passage migrant, not specifically

mentioned for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987), although included in

Rashid (1967). The first confirmed record was of one closely watched at

Baroorah Tea Estate (Srimangal, north-east) in September 1986 (D.J.M.),

the only subsequent record is of one in the Botanical Gardens Dhaka on 26

October 1991 (D.L.J.). Although difficult to identify, in both cases the birds

were similar to but much brighter than accompanying Greenish Warblers P .

trochiloides trochiloides I vindanus, showing yellower underparts. This subspecies

has been recorded from Nepal in spring (Inskipp and Inskipp 1 99 1 ), and Ali

and Ripley (1987) regarded it as only a spring migrant through the Eastern

Himalayas.

^WESTERN CROWNED-WARBLER Phylloscopus occipitalis A regular

winter visitor, not noted for Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley (1987). The first

record was from West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on

26 November 1985 (D.J.M.). Subsequently it has been frequently recorded

from October to March in forests and tea estates in the north-east and central

regions (W.G.H., D.L.J., D.J.M., C.S., P.M.T., J.D.W.).

* GREY-HOODED WARBLER Seicercus xanthoschistos Rare passage

migrant? Although listed by Rashid (1967) there are only three confirmed

records. The first record was from Shamshernagar Tea Estate (north-east)

in April 1986 (D.J.M.), subsequently single birds were seen in West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest, Srimangal (north-east) in March and April 1 987

(W.G.H., J.D.W.).

YELLOW-THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax galbanus Rare

resident? Although listed by Ali and Ripley (1987) for the Chittagong

Hilltracts, the only recent record is of four bathing in a hill stream at Muchoni

near Teknaf (south-east) on 8 November 1983 (S.M.A.R.).

RUFOUS-VENTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax gularis Rare

resident? Although listed from Bangladesh in Ali and Ripley ( 1 987), the onl>

38

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

recent record is of one feeding on the ground by a stream in coastal scrub

jungle 5 km south of Cox’s Bazar (south-east) on 27 April 1988 (P.M.T.).

SPOT-THROATED BABBLER Pellomeum albiventre Rare resident.

Although listed for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967), there are few confirmed

records. In West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) one was

closely observed in November 1985 (D.J.M., E.F.G.), and two were seen in

June 1989 (W.G.H.).

MARSH BABBLER Pellomeum palustre Rare resident? Although recorded

from Sylhet in Hume (1888), and presumed to be a resident in marshy tree

jungle in Bangladesh (Ali and Ripley 1987) this threatened species (Collar

and Andrew 1988) has only been recorded once in recent years. Two were

seen in damp forest scrub in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest, Srimangal

(north-east) on 21 February 1989 (W.G.H.).

LARGE SCIMITAR-BABBLER Pomatorhinus hypoleucos Rare resident.

Although listed by Rashid (1967), there are only four recent records. One

in Satcheri Reserve Forest, Telepara (north-east) on 4 February 1982

(D.L.J.), one at Panerchara near Cox’s Bazar (south-east) in November

1983 (S.M.A.R.), two in dense bamboo in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest

(Srimangal, north-east) on 24 June 1 99 1 (P.M.T.), and two calling persistently

and attracted to tape playback at the same site on 1 5 May 1993 (N.B., R.H.,

D.L.J., J. & S.O’M., P.M.T.).

SPOT-BREASTED SCIMITAR-BABBLER Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis

Rare resident. Although listed for the Chittagong Hilltracts in Ali and Ripley

( 1 987), the only recent record is of one in coastal scrub jungle south of Cox’s

Bazar (south-east) on 28 April 1988 (P.M.T.).

* LONG-T AILED SIBIA Heterophasia picaoides Vagrant. The only confirmed

records are of at least four in a mixed species feeding flock in West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest (north-east) on 20 February 1989 (W.G.H.), and one in

Rajnagar Tea Estate between Moulvi Bazar and Kalaura (north-east) on 30

April 1992 (S.M.A.R.). These were presumably altitudinal migrants, as this

species is known from the nearby Indian hill states (Ali and Ripley 1987).

RUFOUS-HEADED PARROTBILL Paradoxomis ruficeps Vagrant? First

collected from south Sylhet by Primrose (1901), also a specimen from the

Rema Tea Estate, Luskarpore Valley near Habiganj (north-east) is held in the

collection of the Bombay Natural History Society (Abdulali 1 982). However,

the only recent records of this threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1 988)

are of a flock of at least five in dense bamboo in Nurjahan Tea Estate (north¬

east) on 23 February 1985, and again several in West Bhanugach Reserve

Forest (Srimangal) in an area adjacent to Nurjahan Tea Estate on 19 April

1985 (both D.J.M.); possibly the same birds were involved.

**LESSER WHITETHROAT Sylvia curruca Vagrant. The only record,

considered to show characters of the race S. c. blythi, is of one in song for two

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

39

days in a tea estate at Srimangal (north-east) on 10 and 11 March 1990

(P.D.A., F.S., J.D.W.). This species is a common winter visitor to north¬

west India (Ali and Ripley 1987) and has even been recorded as far east as

Thailand (Boonsong and Round, 1991).

**ORPHEAN WARBLER Sylvia hortensis Vagrant. The only record is of

a male closely watched in coastal trees at Patenga (Chittagong, south-east)

on 7 December 1991 (P.M.T., D.L.J.). This species was previously known

to winter as far east as south Bihar (Ali and Ripley 1987) and the Kosi area

in eastern Nepal (Inskipp and Inskipp 1991).

THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER Dicaeum agile Rare resident?.

Although first recorded by Lister (1951), there are only five recent records.

One was associating with a mixed species feeding flock at Shilkhali near

Teknaf (south-east) on 20 August 1983 (S.M.A.R.). The remainder were all

seen in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east): one on 1 5

April 1987 (D.J.M.), one on 26 November 1987 (P.M.T.), one on 2

December 1988 (D.J.M.), and one in May 1989 (W.G.H.).

'‘'YELLOW-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER Dicaeum melanoxanthum

Vagrant. The only record is of a pair observed twice in West Bhanugach

Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on 23 February 1985 (D.L.J., N.B.).

These were presumably vagrants from higher altitudes in the Himalayas; Ali

and Ripley (1987) give a lowest altitude of 1400 m so this sighting at about

35 m is notable.

[OLIVE-BACKED SUNBIRD Nectarinia jugularis Vagrant? The record

from Sitapchar Reserve Forest, Kaptai (south-east), listed in Harvey (1990),

would have been the first for the Indian subcontinent outside of the Andaman

Islands, but is now regarded as only probable.]

GOULD’S SUNBIRD Aethopyga gouldiae Vagrant or rare passage migrant?.

First mentioned by Oates (1890), who noted that Hume recorded this

species from Chittagong, but that there were no specimens in his collection

from there. This is normally a species of higher altitudes than Bangladesh

and the only recent records are of a pair at Kuderm Cave, Harikhola (Teknaf,

south-east) on 6 March 1983 (S.M.A.R.), and a male closely observed in

West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on 13 March 1985

(D.L.J.).

GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD Aethopyga nipalensis Status uncertain.

Although listed for the Chittagong Hilltracts and at altitudes down to 300 m

in Ali and Ripley (1987), the only recent record is of a male in West

Bhanugach Reserve Forest (Srimangal, north-east) on 22 February 1990

(P.D.A., F.S.).

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus Rare resident. The only

recent record is of a pair watched copulating on a garden wall in the western

suburbs of Sylhet (north-east) on 20 April 1992 (D.A.S.). Although Harvey

40

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

(1990) gives the only past locality in Bangladesh as the Chittagong Hilltracts,

P. m. malaccensis is a common resident in Assam and Meghalaya (Cachar,

Khasi and Garo Hills) (Ali and Ripley 1987), and can be expected in the

adjoining north-east of Bangladesh.

BLYTH’S PIPIT Anthus godlewskii A rare passage migrant?. Although listed

for Bangladesh by Rashid (1967), the only definite records of this species,

which may have been overlooked in the past, are: at least 12 in Dhaka Zoo

on 23 April 1988 (W.G.H., P.M.T.); 20+ by the river at Srimangal (north¬

east) on 14 May 1988; four at Dhaka Zoo on 29 October 1988; and at least

two on the Ganges sandflats at Rajshahi (north-west) in February 1989 (all

W.G.H.).

**RED-THROATED PIPIT Anthus cervinus Probably a scarce winter

visitor to wetlands in the north-east. Although Rashid (1967) assumed that

it would occur, the first records for Bangladesh are of at least eight individuals

recorded during wetland surveys in the north-east in February-March 1 992.

Two were near Hakaluki Haor on 1 9 February, four were in wet paddy fields

near Puala Beel (Hakaluki Haor) on 20 February, and at Kawadighi Haor

there was one on 22 February and two on 8 March (all D.A.S., latter also

S.M.A.R.). It seems likely that this species has been overlooked in the past.

Although this species is regular in winter in Pakistan and on passage in Nepal,

there are few records from elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent. The closest

records are from Manipur and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Ali and

Ripley 1987).

COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus Rare winter visitor.

Although first recorded from Dhaka area by Tytler (1854), there are only

three recent records. A male was at Sitakunda Hills, Chittagong (south-east)

on 12 December 1987 (N.B., R.H.); 3-4 were feeding in scrub at Katka in

the Sundarbans (south-west) on 16 December 1988 (W.G.H.); and a male

was in the Port Authority compound at Nilkamal (Sundarbans, south-west)

on 24 March 1991 (D.A.S., S.M.A.R.).

CHESTNUT-EARED BUNTING Emberiza fucata Locally common

winter visitor. Although listed by Ali and Ripley ( 1 987) as a winter visitor to

most of Bangladesh, Harvey (1990) gave no recent records. The first recent

record is of two in crops by the Padma near Mawa, south of Dhaka, on 28

February 1986 (D.A.S.). Subsequently D.A.S. and S.M.A.R., in surveys of

wetlands in the north-east, found this species to be fairly common between

5 March and 2 May 1 992 with a total of 3 1 bird days from seven sites: Dubrair

Haor (maximum count of at least 20 on 5 March 1 992), Meda Beel, Dekhar

Haor, Arabiakona Beel, Maijeil Haor, Chatla Beel (Hakaluki Haor), and

Hail Haor. Four were found at Medkol Beel, Bara Haor (also north-east) on

29 January 1993 (S.M.A.R.). This is a rather secretive species which would

appear to have been overlooked in Bangladesh in the past.

1994

Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh

41

LITTLE BUNTING Ernberiza pusilla Rare winter visitor. First recorded

from Sylhet by Hume (1888), Ali and Ripley (1987) list it as a migrant to the

Chittagong Hilltracts, but there are only three recent records. Two flocks

totalling about 10 birds were on a hillside freshly prepared for planting tea

near Snmangal (north-east) on 14 February 1986 (P.M.T.); one was by a

track leading to Hail Haor (Srimangal) on 9 December 1988 (D.J.M.,

J.D.W.); and one was in a plantation at Bogi on the eastern edge of the

Sundarbans (south-west) on 18 March 1991 (D.A.S.).

DISCUSSION

The above 147 species fall into three categories. Long distance migrants

which occur as vagrants or which are regular visitors, and which were

overlooked in the past (waders such as Spotted Redshank and some migrant

warblers and buntings) . Altitudinal or local migrants which breed within the

sub-continent and which may be regular in small numbers or are vagrants

from the Himalayas and adjacent hill states. Finally, species which may be

rare residents since they do not make regular movements (Table 1). Recent

fieldwork has been concentrated in the wetlands and forest areas. A number

of the species recorded from ‘other’ habitats (Table 1) make use of either

wetlands or forest, but are also found in open country or homestead

woodland. During the 1980s attention focused on the coastal mudflats,

while in 1992-1993 regular surveys of the major wetlands in the north-east

have revealed much new information.

It is remarkable that of the 147 species discussed in this paper no less than

60 have been recorded from a small area around Srimangal town in the north¬

east; an area comprising the wetlands of Hail Haor, tea estates, and West

Table 1 Habitat, origin and status of recent notable birds in Bangladesh.

42

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

Bhanugach Reserve Forest. Moreover 36 of the species discussed in this

paper have been recorded in West Bhanugach Reserve Forest (including 1 5

which are new for Bangladesh since 1978). This small area must be regarded

as the best and most accessible area of evergreen forest (a mixture of natural

forest and old teak plantations) remaining in Bangladesh, but it is under

constant human pressure for bamboo and timber. Unfortunately several

other forests, and parts of West Bhanugach Reserve Forest, have been clear

felled in recent years, they have at best been replanted with monocultures of

quick growing trees which are of negligible ornithological interest.

There are about 1 00 species for which there are still no recent records, but

which are listed by Harvey (1990) as occurring in Bangladesh on the basis of

historical records, mostly from the Chittagong Hilltracts. There have also

been 59 new species for Bangladesh since 1978. Hence there is still much

scope for new discoveries in this ornithologically diverse but understudied

country, so long as the remaining small patches of relatively natural forests

and wetlands can be preserved.

We are grateful to Tim Inskipp for providing details of his extensive review of historical references; and

especially to all those observers who provided details of their records.

REFERENCES

Abdulali, H. (1968) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of die Bombay Natural History Society

- 1 Gaviiformes to Ciconiiformes, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 65: 182-199.

Abdulali, H. (1982) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of the Bombay Natural History Society

-26 Muscicapidae (Timaliinae (contd.), J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79: 607-619.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) The compact handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. New Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Bakewell, D. and Howes, J. R. (1989) Preliminary report on the assessment of coastal areas of Noakhali

District, Bangladesh, for wildlife conservation and sustainable utilisation. Kuala Lumpur: Asian Wetland

Bureau.

Bates, R. S. P. (1935) Some birds of Chittagong. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 38: 158-162.

Blanford, W. T. (1898) Fauna of British India. Birds, 4. London: Taylor and Francis.

Blyth, E. (1857) Curator’s report for the August meeting, 1856. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 25: 439-449.

Boonsong Lekagul and Round, P. D ( 1 99 1 ) A guide to the birds of Thailand. Bangkok: Saha Kam Bhaet

Co.

Collar, N. J. and Andrew, P. (1988) Birds to watch. The ICBP world check-list of threatened birds.

Cambridge, U.K.: International Council for Bird Preservation.

Collins, S. J. K. (1948) Birds of the Lalmai area, near Comilla, Tippera, Bengal (observed between

December 1944 and end of July, 1945). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 47: 57-69.

Cripps, J. R. (1878) First list of the birds of Fureedpore, eastern Bengal. Stray Feathers 7:238-315.

Evans, M. (1881) [Wildfowl in Sylhet]. Stray Feathers 10: 163-165.

Gardiner, S. (1991) Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata: a new species for Nepal. Forktail 6: 87-88.

Godwin-Austen, H. (1870) Second list of birds obtained in the Khasi and North Cachar hill ranges

including the Garo Hills and country at their base in the Mymensingh and Sylhet districts. J. Asiatic

Soc. Bengal 39(2): 264-275.

Godwin-Austen, H. (1872) Third list of birds obtained in the Khasi and Garo hills ranges, with some

corrections and additions to the former lists. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 41(2): 142-143.

Harvey, W. G. (1990) Birds in Bangladesh. Dhaka: University Press Ltd.

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Hume, A. O. (1888) The birds of Manipur, Assam, Sylhet and Cachar. Stray Feathers 1 1 : 1-353.

Husain, K. Z. (1968) Field-notes on the birds of the Chittagong Hill-Tracts. (Notes based on the records

of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan Expedition to the Chittagong Hill-Tracts, 1965), Paper V: Non¬

passerine birds. J. Asiatic Sac. Pakistan 13: 91-101.

Husain, K. Z. (1979) Birds of Bangladesh. Dhaka: Government of Bangladesh.

Husain, K. Z. and Haque, M. N. (1976) Further additions to the list of birds of Pablakhali Wildlife

Sanctuary (the Chittagong Hill-Tracts). Bangladesh J. Zool. 4: 131-132.

Husain, K. Z., Sarker, S. U., and Khan, A. R. (1974) Birds of Dacca with some notes on their present

status). Bangladesh J. Zool. 2: 153-170.

Husain, K. Z., Sarker, S. U., and Rahman, M. (1983) Summer birds of the Sundarbans’ ‘Nilkamal

Sanctuary’, Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Zool. 11:48-51.

Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. P. (1991) A guide to the birds of Nepal. Second edition. London: Christopher

Helm.

Jepson, P. (1987) Recent reports. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 6: 36-40.

Katti, M. (1992) Biodiversity and the exploitation of wild fruits in the tropical forests of Arunachal

Pradesh, India. Unpublished project summary.

Khan, M. A. R. (1982) Wildlife of Bangladesh: a checklist. Dhaka: University of Dhaka.

Khan, M. A. R. (1985) St Martins - a vanishing coral island of Bangladesh. Tigerpaper 12(4): 6-12.

King, B., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

London: Collins.

Koelz, W. (1954) Ornithological studies. I. New birds from Iran, Afghanistan and India. Contrib. Inst.

Regional Exploration 1: 1-32.

Lister, M. D. (1951) Some bird associations of Bengal. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 49:695-728.

Meyer de Schauensee, R. (1984) The birds of China. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Mountfort, G. and Poore, D. ( 1 968) Report on the second World Wildlife Fund Expedition to Pakistan.

(WWF Project 311). Unpublished report. Gland, Switzerland: WWF.

Oates, E. W. (1890) Fauna of British India. Birds, 2. London: Taylor and Francis.

Prater, S. H. (1926) The occurrence of the Giant Heron ( Ardea goliath) in the Khulna District, Bengal.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 31: 523.

Primrose, A. M. (1901) Notes on birds collected in south Sylhet. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 707-

708.

Rashid, H. (1967) Systematic list of the birds of East Pakistan. Publication no. 20. Dacca: The Asiatic

Society of Pakistan.

Rashid, S. M. A. and Khan, A. Z. (1987) Waterfowl of the Teknaf Peninsula, Bangladesh. Paper

presented at the Conference on Wetlands and Waterfowl Conservation in Asia, Malacca, Malaysia,

23-28 February 1987. IWRB and Interwader.

Ripley, S. D. (1982) A synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Nepal, Bhutan,

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society.

Savage, C. D. W. (1970) S.W. Asia survey. International Wildfowl Research Bureau Bulletin 30: 1 1-14.

Scott, D. A. and Rose, P. M. (1989) Asian waterfowl census 1989. Slimbridge, UK: International

Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau.

Simson, F. B. (1882) Notes on birds found near Dacca. Ibis 4(6): 84-95.

Smythies, B. E. (1986) Birds of Burma. Third edition. London: Nimrod Press.

Stanford, J. K. (1937) On the breeding of the Oystercatcher ( Haematopus ostralegus subsp.) and other

birds in the Bengal Sunderbunds. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 39: 867-968.

Stanford, J. K. (1954) A bewilderment of birds. London: Hart-Davis.

Tvtler, R. C. (1854) Miscellaneous notes on the fauna of Dacca, including remarks made on the line

of march from Barrackpore to that station. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 2(14): 168-177.

van der Ven, J. (1988) Asian waterfowl - 1988. Slimbridge, U.K.: International Waterfowl Research

Bureau.

Weston, W. V. (1914) Small game shooting in Sylhet. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 23: 367-368.

44

P. M. THOMPSON et al.

Forktail 9

Paul M. Thompson, Middlesex University, Queensway, Enfield, EN3 4SF, U.K.

W. G. Haruey, The British Council, PO Box 40751, Nairobi, Kenya.

David L. Johnson, House 52, Road 11, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh

David J. Millin, Furzemoor Cottage, Cold Harbour, Goring Heath, Reading, RG8 7SY, U.K.

S. M. A. Rashid, Nature Conservation Movement (NACOM) , House 16, Road 2, Banani, Dhaka,

Bangladesh.

D. A. Scott, Runagate, Far Green, Coaley, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 5EL, U.K.

Craig Stanford, Department of Anthropology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0032,

U.S.A.

John D. Woolner, 1 Priory Close, Harrold, Bedfordshire, MK43 7DL, U.K.

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF INITIALS AND CONTRIBUTORS OF NOTABLE

RECORDS

R.A.

A.W.A.

P.D.A.

D. B.

M. A.B.

N. B.

G.F.

E. F.G.

J.H.

R.H

Raguibuddin Ahmed

A. Wahab Akonda

Peyo D’Andurian

David Bakewell

Mark A. Barter

Nalini Bayen

Graham Frazer

E.F. Grimes

John Howes

Ronnie Haider

W.G. Harvey

David L. Johnson

Altamash Kabir

Anisuzzaman Khan

W.G.H.

D.L.J.

A.M.K.

A.K.

R. K.

H. & C.L.

D.J.M.

J. & S.O’M

S. M.A.R.

F.S.

D.A.S.

M.S.

C.S.

P.M.T.

A.W.

P.L.W.

J.D.W.

V.Z.

Reza Khan

HansHans and Christina Lamosse

David J. Millin

.John and Sue O’Malley

S.M.A. Rashid

Francois Sargot

Derek A. Scott

Murray Smith

Craig Stanford

Paul M. Thompson

Ann Wheeler

P.L. White

John D. Woolner

N.P. van Zalinge

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 45 - 57

45

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan

National Park, Himachal Pradesh,

India

ANTHONY J. GASTON, PETER J. GARSON and SANJEEVA

PANDEY

Recent information on the avifauna of the Great Himalayan National Park in the Kullu District of

Himachal Pradesh, India is provided. Most observations were obtained from the Himachal Wildlife

Project, a series of forest wildlife surveys conducted mainly in spring and autumn during 1980-91 . So

far, 183 species of birds, including 132 passerines, have been recorded in the Park and on its western

approaches. These data provide evidence of sympatric populations of Dark-grey Tit Pants nt/onuchalis

and Rufous-vented Tit P. nibidiventris, and a substantial range extension for Little Pied Flycatcher

Ficedula westermanni. Two sightings of White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana are thought to

be the first in the western Himalaya.

A great deal of information has been accumulated in the past two decades on

the birds of the Nepal Himalaya, about which little was known prior to the

1970s (Inskipp 1989, Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). By contrast the Indian

Himalaya, so well visited during the British period, has received much less

attention since Indian independence. Kashmir and Ladakh have remained

popular destinations for ornithologists (e.g. Williams and Delaney 1986,

Holmes 1 986, Mallon 1987), but there has been very little published on birds

in Himachal Pradesh, which represents the heart of the western Himalaya

(Schaller 1 977). In this paper we describe recent observations on birds in the

Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh, which lies in this region

and contains a complete suite of the temperate and subalpine forest types

characteristic of front ranges in this part of India.

The Great Himalayan National Park is situated in Seraj Tehsil of Kullu

District, Himachal Pradesh. It was created in 1984, following

recommendations provided by the Himachal Wildlife Project, a joint U.K.,

U.S.A. and Indian project to assess the status of wildlife and wildlife habitats

in Himachal Pradesh (Gaston et al. 1981, 1983). The Park covers 620 km2,

over an altitude range of 1,700-5,800 m (Singh et al. 1990), and comprises

the headwaters of three left bank tributaries of the River Beas: the Jiwa, Sainj,

and Tirthan (Figure 1).

The climate of the Park is typical of the front ranges of the western

Himalaya. Precipitation is moderate over most of the year and abundant

during the monsoon season in June-August. In winter snow falls throughout

the park, although it generally does not lie long at the lowest altitudes. Above

3,000 m snow generally persists from November to March.

46

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

Figure 1 . Location of the Great Himalayan National Park (stippled area) within the upper Beas Valley,

near Kullu in central Himachal Pradesh. The inset shows Himachal Pradesh (HP) on an outline of India.

About one third of the area of the Park supports closed canopy forest,

which extends from the valley bottoms to 3,300-3,600 m, depending on

aspect. A little over half of the area lies above 4,000 m, which is approximately

the upper boundary of the subalpine and alpine scrub communities in this

part of the Himalaya (Champion and Seth 1968, Gaston ct al. 1981). The

forested areas support good examples of most vegetation types representative

of the area, including extensive stands of Kharsu Oak Quercus semecarpifolia,

Horse Chestnut Aesculus indica , Birch Betula alnoides , Himalayan Blue Pine

1994

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park

47

(Kail) Pinus wallichiana, West Himalayan Silver Fir Abies pindrow, West

Himalayan Spruce Picea smithiana and Himalayan Cedar Cedms deodara , as

well as smaller areas of the lower altitude oaks, Ban Q. leucotnchophora and

Moru Q. floribunda. Himalayan Yew Taxus baccata ssp. wallichiana is an

important understory tree in places. Pure stands of any species are relatively

rare, most of the forest being mixed to some degree.

Several clearings (‘thach’) used for grazing occur within the forest zone.

The forest surrounding such clearings tends to have an open understorey and

the vegetation shows signs of damage by grazing. The Himalayan Balsam

Impatiens glandulifera is common in such areas, forming extensive patches of

ground cover. Elsewhere, especially where slopes are very steep, the forest

has a dense understorey of Ringal Bamboo Thamnocalamus spathiflora and

shrubs.

The subalpine zone is dominated by a low forest of Himalayan Birch B.

utilis, Cherry Prunus comma and fir, or by dense stands of Rhododendron

campanulatum up to about 3 m high. Common Juniper Juniperus communis

scrub occurs in the lower part of the alpine zone, above about 3,700 m.

Higher up, the vegetation consists principally of herb communities which are

very diverse and luxuriant in places.

The area of the Great Himalayan National Park was judged by members

of Himachal Wildlife Project to support the best examples of undisturbed

West Himalayan temperate forest that they encountered during extensive

surveys throughout most of Himachal Pradesh in 1978-1980. Consequently

it should support a near-complete sample of both resident and migrant

species regarded as characteristic of the West Himalaya. The Park also falls

within one of the globally important Endemic Bird Areas (D02: Western

Himalayas) identified by the ICBP Biodiversity Project (ICBP 1992).

Previously the birds of the Kullu Valley have been listed by Whistler ( 1926a),

who also produced a more extensive list of birds for the adjacent Kangra

Valley (Whistler 1 926b) . He visited the Seraj Tehsil, but his list specified only

a few species from there and it is unlikely that he penetrated the Park area,

which is not on any regularly-used track and does not contain any rest-house.

Both Whistler (1926a) and Babault (1920) visited Pulga, in the Parbati

Valley, only a day’s walk from the Park boundary (Figure 1), while Wynter-

Blyth (1952) passed through the Tirthan Valley not far from the Park. There

is no published account reporting birds from the actual Park area.

The ornithology of the Great Himalayan National Park area has been

investigated since 1980 by a number of parties affiliated to the Himachal

Wildlife Project. Visits were made during 22-26 March, 14-18 April, 22-26

May, 7-16 September and 9- 1 2 October in 1980; 13-18 March, 30 March-

8 April, and 29 April-3 May in 1983; 13-15 November in 1985; 5-14and21-

29 September, and 9-16 and 26-30 October in 1991 (Gaston and Garson

1992). Other observations have also been contributed by the staff of the

48

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

National Park and by B. King (pers. comm.)? who visited the area from 27

September to 2 October 1984. This paper summarises all records of birds

within the Park up to November 1991.

Because there is no road access to the Park all visitors need to walk in along

one of the several trails that give access to it. We have included in our list all

species seen within the Park boundaries and also those recorded between the

roadheads at Ropa or Sainj (in the Sainj Valley), or Gushaini (in the Tirthan

Valley) and the Park boundary (Figure 1).

Plant names follow Polunin and Stainton ( 1 984) . For birds, nomenclature

follows Sibley and Monroe (1990).

RESULTS

Himachal Wildlife Project survey parties and the National Park staff have

recorded 168 species of birds in the Great Himalayan National Park and a

further 1 1 species on the approach paths. Another four species were reported

by B. King, making 183 species in total to date (Table 1). The list comprises

5 1 non-passerines and 1 32 passerines. This compares with 7 1 non-passerines

and 1 50 passerines recorded by Himachal Wildlife Project parties throughout

the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh above 1,500 m altitude in 1980

(Gaston etal. 1981), suggesting that the Park supports a substantial proportion

of all the species occurring within its altitudinal range in the western

Himalayas.

At least 50 species are summer visitors to the Park(e.g. Eurasian Woodcock

Scolopax rusticola, cuckoos Cuculus, Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis,

swifts, Grey Nightjar Caprirnulgus indicus, drongos Dicrums, swallows, most

flycatchers and warblers, many chats and thrushes). Other resident species

may move to lower altitudes within the Beas catchment for the harshest mid¬

winter period, during which we have done little work. Thus we have also only

recorded three winter visitors so far, and more may well occur only then. No

species could be described definitely as passage migrants, although Short¬

eared OwMszo flammeus, Fork-tailed SwiftHpws pacificus, Eurasian Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus sindianus and Tickell’s Leaf-Warbler P. affinis may fall into that

category.

Raptors

Both Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis and Lammergeier Gypaetus

barbatus were common in the Park, being seen daily at all seasons. Golden

Eagle Aquila chrysaetos and Common Buzzard Buteo buteo were seen frequently

at all seasons in the subalpine and alpine zones. Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus was common below the tree line. Black Eagle Ictinaetus

1994

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park

49

malayensis and Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus were recorded only twice

each. There was no record of Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus from the Park.

This species appears to have become very rare in the western Himalaya.

Gamebirds

The Great Himalayan National Park is one of only two National Parks in the

world to support a population of the threatened Western Tragopan Tragopan

melanocephalus (Collar and Andrew 1988), the other being Machiara National

Park in Pakistan (G. Duke, pers. comm.). Males were heard calling during

both spring surveys (1980, 1983), and in October 1991 two family parties

were encountered, and birds were also seen in the Tirthan Valley just outside

the Park boundary. The altitudinal range of these records was 2,100-3,100

m.

The Impeyan Monal Lophophorus impejanus and Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia

macrolopha were abundant in the temperate forest zone, and Monal also

occurred in subalpine scrub, especially in autumn. Kalij Pheasants Lophura

leucomelanos occurred in small numbers below 2,000 m, while some steep

south-facing slopes covered by grasses and shrubs supported small numbers

of the Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii (Garson et al. 1992). The Hill

Partridge Arborophila torqueola occurred sparingly at altitudes below 2,500

m. The Snow Partridge Lerzua lerzua has been recorded just once in the Park,

above the tree-line in the Tirthan Valley during November 1 99 1 (M. Bhaik,

pers. comm.) . The only other sighting reported by Himachal Wildlife Project

parties was of a covey in the Jagatsukh Valley, which lies about 50 km north¬

west of the Park near Manali (Figure 1), in October 1985 (A.J.G., pers. obs.).

This species is clearly rather rare in the front ranges of the western Himalaya.

Shorebirds

Eurasian Woodcock were recorded roding at several localities within the Park

and in adjacent forested areas between 1,900-3,000 m. It is presumably a

regular breeder. The Solitary Snipe Gallinago solitaria was recorded in

autumn 1991 on two small marshes at about 4,000 m elevation.

Pigeons

The Speckled Wood-Pigeon Columba hodgsonii and Snow Pigeon C. leuconota

were both common in the Park, as was the Oriental Turtle-Dove in summer.

Parakeets

The Slaty-headed Parakeet Psittacula himalayana, seen commonly in forest

up to 2,200 m, was the only species recorded.

50

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

Cuckoos

All species were summer visitors to the forests, the Common Cuckoo Cuculus

canorus and the Oriental Cuckoo C. saturatus being encountered most

frequently.

Owls

The Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei and the Tawny Owl Strix aluco were

both common in the temperate forest zone and the Mountain Scops-Owl

Otus spilocephalus was recorded on several dates. The Rock Eagle-Owl Bubo

bengalensis and Short-eared Owl were recorded only once.

Other non-passerines

The Grey Nightjar was common during April-September up to 3,000 m.

Himalayan Swiftlets Collocalia brevirostris and Fork-tailed Swifts Apus pacificus

were recorded frequently from April to October, occurring mainly over

forests. There was one record for the White-throated Needletail Hirundapus

caudacutus. The Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops occurred up to 2,500 m

during April-September. Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps

and Great Barbet Megalaima virens were both recorded up to 2,000 m, while

the Scaly-bellied Woodpecker Picus squamatus and Himalayan Woodpecker

Dendrocopos himalayensis occurred throughout the temperate forests. The

Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus was present only at the lowest

altitudes (below 2,000 m).

Passerines

Like most Himalayan forests, those of the Great Himalayan National Park

are rich in babblers (Garrulacinae and Sylviinae: Timaliini, 14 species),

flycatchers (Muscicapinae: Muscicapini, 1 1 species), chats (Muscicapinae:

Saxicolini, 1 1 species), warblers (Acrocephalinae, 14 species), and Thrushes

(Turdinae, 12 species), which together comprised just under 50% of

passerines recorded. Our records of three particular species appear to be

noteworthy:

White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryxmontana. One female was seen in

the Jiwa Valley in September 1991 (S. Westerberg, pers. comm.) and one of

unknown sex was seen by A J.G. in the Tirthan Valley on the approach to the

Park in October 1991 . Although Ali and Ripley (1983) give the range of this

bird as extending west to Tehri Garhwal, there does not appear to be any

authentic previous record west of Nepal. The reference cited by Ali and

Ripley for Garhwal (Osmaston 1 897) does not mention the species, and the

inclusion of Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) and Garhwal by Baker ( 1 924) is not

1094

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park

51

supported by specific references. Thus our records appear to be the first for

the western Himalaya and extend the known range of this species by some

400 km to the north-west.

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni. Two males were seen in

the Sainj Valley (one singing) and one female was trapped and photographed

at Majhan in the Jiwa Valley, all in September 1991 (S. Westerberg and A.

Starling, pers. comm.). This species is said by Ali and Ripley (1983) not to

occur west of Nepal, but it is reported by Green (1986) from Kedarnath

Wildlife Sanctuary in Garhwal (Uttar Pradesh) . Our records extend its range

by a further 200 km to the north-west.

Rufous-vented T it Pams mbidiventris . Single individuals were seen twice

in mixed feeding parties with Black-crested Tits P. melanolophus and warblers

in coniferous forest above 3,000 m in the Tirthan Valley in October 1991

(A.J.G., pers. obs.). This species was also recorded by A.J.G. in subalpine

scrub in the Jagatsukh Valley (Figure 1) in October 1985. Ali and Ripley

(1983) regarded this bird as conspecific with the Dark-grey Tit P. mfonuchalis ,

and gave its western range limit as Tehri Garhwal. However, Green (1986)

recorded this species as occurring in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, and

Jones (1944) reported it from Chor Dhar, just east of Shimla. The Rufous-

vented and Dark-grey Tits have previously been reported as occurring

sympatrically in central Nepal and at Overa Wildlife Sanctuary in Kashmir

(Jamdar and Price 1990). Like us in autumn, these authors only found the

Rufous-vented Tit close to the tree-line in spring, and observed the Dark-

grey Tit to have a much broader and generally lower altitudinal distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

The Great Himalayan National Park provides excellent opportunities for

viewing the avifauna of the Western Himalayan front ranges. With the

progressive destruction of much of the mature forest elsewhere in Kullu

District, the large block of virtually undisturbed habitats provided by the

Park should assure the persistence of species such as Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis, Black Eagle, Booted Eagle, Western Tragopan, Tawny Owl,

and Long-billed Thrush Zoothera monticola, which probably require substantial

areas of natural forest for their survival.

Ornithological investigations of the Park are by no means complete. In

particular, the alpine areas have been little visited in summer, so the list of

high altitude breeders is almost certainly incomplete. In addition there have

been few observations between November and February, when high altitude

species may be driven down into the valley bottoms by heavy snow.

Observations in winter, even at low altitudes, would also help to clarify the

migratory status of many species. Further work in spring and summer is

52

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

required to establish whether or not most of the species recorded so far

actually breed within the Park, and if so, over what sort of altitude range and

in which particular forest types. Visits in May, when weather conditions are

usually good, would be especially valuable for this purpose.

Anyone wishing to carry out ornithological studies in the western Himalayas

will find the Great Himalayan National Park an excellent area in which to

work. A good network of trails is maintained in all three main valleys by the

Park staff. In 1991 they also constructed or refurbished several huts, which

can accommodate visitors. Arranging access to facilities, as well as guides and

porters, should be done by contacting the Director, Great Himalayan

National Park, Department of Forest Farming and Conservation, Shamshi,

Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. The authors would be most interested to

receive notes on any bird observations made in Kullu District and especially

within the National Park.

We would like to thank all those members of the Wildlife Wing of the

Himachal Pradesh Department of Forest Farming and Conservation (DFFC),

who did so much to make our various survey trips both productive and

enjoyable. For assistance in 1991 we would like to thank especially the Chief

Wildlife Warden, B. S. Chauhan, the outgoing Director of the Park, Vijay

Kumar, and the new Director, Manoj Bhaik, for their enthusiastic support,

and M. P. Sharma and B. R. Negi for their their help and companionship in

the field.

For financial support in 1991 we are grateful to the International Trust for

Nature Conservation, the Oriental Bird Club and World Wide Fund for

Nature-India. We would like to thank Aligarh Muslim University and the

Canadian Wildlife Service for the loan of equipment.

We also thank all those outside the Wildlife Wing who worked with us in

the field in 1991: Dr H. S. A. Yahya, Afif U. Khan, Ashfaque Ahmed and

Rashid H. Raza (Centre of Wildlife and Ornithology, Aligarh Muslim

University), Virinder Sharma (H. P. Council for Science, Technology and

Environment), Ajay Rastogi (WWF-India), Vishal Bhopal (Kullu Naturalists

Club), Anne and Stephen Westerberg and Anne-Marie Gaston. Many

thanks are also due to Mr Vindri Singh and his family from Shangarh for

hospitality and medical assistance, and to Mr Ranjiv Bharti and family for

advice and entertainment. Finally we thank Ben King for the use of his

unpublished records.

1994

Birds recorded in die Great Himalayan National Park

53

REFERENCES

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1983) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Compact Edition. New Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Babault, G. (1920) Mission Guy Babault dans les provinces centrales de I’Inde, dans la region occidentale de

l' Himalaya et Ceylan, 1914. Resultats scientifiques, oiseaux. Paris: Musee National d’Histoire Naturelle.

Baker, E. C. S. (1924) The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Birds, 2. Second edition.

London: Taylor and Francis.

Champion, H. G. and Seth, S. K. (1968) A revised survey of the forest types of India. New Delhi:

Government of India.

Collar, N. J. and Andrew, P. (1988) Birds to watch: the ICBP world checklist of threatened birds. Cambridge,

U.K.: International Council for Bird Preservation (Techn. Publ. 8).

Garson, P. J., Young, L. and Kaul, R. (1992) Ecology and conservation of the Cheer Pheasant Catreus

wallichii : studies in the wild and the progress of a reintroduction project. Biol. Conserv. 59: 25-35.

Gaston, A. J. and Garson, P. J. (1992) Himachal Wildlife Project - III. A re-appraisal of the Great Himalayan

National Park. Unpublished.

Gaston, A. J., Hunter, M. L. and Garson, P. J. (1981) The wildlife of Himachal Pradesh, Western

Himalayas. University of Maine School of Forest Resources Technical Report No. 82.

Gaston, A. J., Garson, P. J. and Hunter, M. L. (1983) The status and conservation of forest wildlife in

Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalayas. Biol. Conserv. 27: 291-314.

Green, M. J. B. (1986) The birds of Kedarnath Sanctuary, Chamoli District, Uttar Pradesh: status and

distribution. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83: 603-617.

Holmes, P. R. (1986) The avifauna of the Suru River Valley, Ladakh. Forktail 2: 21-41.

I.C.B.P. (1992) Putting biodiversity on the map: priority areas for global conservation. Cambridge, U.K. :

International Council for Bird Preservation.

Inskipp, C. (1989) Nepal’s forest birds: their status and conservation. Cambridge, U.K.: International

Council for Bird Preservation. (Monograph 4).

Jamdar, N. and Price, T. ( 1 990) Simla BlackTit Pants rufonuchalis and Rufous-bellied Crested Tit Pants

ntbidiventris breeding sympatrically in Kashmir. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 302-303.

Jones, A. E. (1944) On the occurrence of the Rufous-bellied Crested Tit ( Lophophanes ntbidiventris ) in

the Simla Hills. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 44: 474-475.

Jones, A. E. (1944) On the occurrence of the Rufous-bellied Crested Tit ( Lophophanes ntbidiventris ) in

the Simla Hills. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 44: 474-475.

Osmaston, B. B. (1897) Birds nesting in the Tons Valley. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 1 1 : 468-473.

Mallon, D.P. (1987) The winter birds of Ladakh. Forktail 3: 27-41.

Polunin, O. and Stainton, A. (1984) Flowers of the Himalayas. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Schaller, G. B. (1977) Mountain monarchs. Chicago: Chicago University Press.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L., Jr. (1990) Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. New Haven

and London: Yale University Press.

Sibley, C. G. and Monroe, B. L., Jr. (1993) A supplement to distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world.

New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Singh, S., Kothari, A. and Pande, P., eds. (1990) Directory of national parks and sanctuaries in Himachal

Pradesh: management status and profiles. New Delhi: Indian Institute of Public Administration.

Whistler, H. (1926a) A note on the birds of Kulu. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 31: 458-485.

Whistler, H. (1926b) The birds of Kangra District, Punjab. Ibis (12)2: 521-581.

Williams, C. T. and Delaney, S. N. (1986) Migration through the north-west Himalaya - some results

of the Southampton University Ladakh expeditions, 2. Bull. Oriental Bird Club 3: 1 1-16.

Wynter-Blyth, M. A. (1952) A naturalist in the north-west Himalaya. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 50: 559-

572.

Anthony J. Gaston, Canadian Wildlife Service, 100 Gamelin Boulevard, Hull, Quebec K1A 0H3, Canada

Peter J. Garson, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-

upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K.

Sanjeeva Pandey, Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box 18, Chandrabani, Dchra Dun 248 001, India

54

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

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Table 1. Birds seen in or near the Great Himalayan National Park.

Names and species order follow Sibley and Monroe (1990 and 1993). Key: * = species recorded in the

Park; (*) = recorded on approaches only; N= evidence of breeding seen; S= seen and heard singing

(indicating probable breeding); K = only reported by B. King (in litt., 1984).

SPECIES

Snow Partridge Lenea leruia

Himalayan Snowcock Tetraogallus himalayensis

Chukar Alecioris chukar

Black Francoun Francolinus francolinus

Hill Partridge Arborophila torqueola

Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus

Koklass Pheasant Pucrasia macrolopha

Impeyan Monal Lophophorus irnpejanus

Kauj Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos

Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii

Speckled Piculet Picuntnus innominatus

Brown-fronted Woodpecker Dendrocopos auriceps

Himalayan Woodpecker Dendrocopos himalayensis

Scaly -bellied Woodpecker Picas squamatus

Great Barbet Megalaima virens

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

Pied Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus

Large Hawk-Cuckoo Cuculus sparverioides

Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropicrus

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus

Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saiuratus

Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri

Slaty-headed Parakee t Psittacula himalayana

Himalayan Swiftlet Coltocalia brevirostris

White-throa ted Needletaii. Hirundapus caudacutus

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus

Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus

Rock Eagle-Owl Bubo bengalensis

Tawny Owl Slri.x aluco

Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei

Short-eared Owl Asio jlammeus

Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus

Rock Pigeon Columba livia

Snow Pigeon Columba leuconota

Speckled Wood-Pigeon Columba hodgsonii

Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis

Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon Treron sphenura

Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola

Solitary Snipe Gallinago solitaria

Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus

Himalayan Griffon Gyps himalayensis

Northern Harrier Circus cyancus

Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipitcr nisus

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Buzzard Buteo sp., probably B. buteo

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis

YEAR

1980 1983 1984-1985 1991

(*)

S

S

s

s

(*)

(*)

(*)

(*)

(*)

s

1994

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park

55

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pertnatus

Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

Gold-billed Magpie Urocissa Jlavirostris

Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae

Spotted Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes

Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Yellow-billed Chough P\>rrhocorax graculus

Large-biiled Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

Common Raven Corvus corax

Eurasian Golden-Oriole Oriolus oriolus

Long-tailed Minivet Pcricrocotus ethologus

Yellow-beujed Fantail Rhipidura hypoxanlha

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis

Black Drongo Dicnirus macrocercus

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii

Chestnut-beijjed Rock-Thrush Monticola rufiventris

Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius

Blue Whistling-Thrush Myiophonus caeruleus

Plain-backed T hrush Zoothera mollissima

Scaly Thrush Zoothera dauma

Long-billed Thrush Zoothera monticola

White-collared Blackbird Turdus albocinctus

Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul

Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula

Chestnut Thrush Turdus rubrocanus

Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus

White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana

Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica

Rusty-tailed Flycatcher Muscicapa mficauda

Rueous-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula strophiata

Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni

Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris

Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina

Rupous-belued Niltava Niltava sundara

Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubcculoides

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

Orange-flanked Bush-Robin Tarsiger cyanurus

Golden Bush-Robin Tarsiger chrysaeus

Blue-capped Redstart Phoenicurus caeruleocephalus

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros

Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis

White-capped Water- Redstart Chaimarromis leucocephalus

Plumbeous Water-Redstart Rhyacomis fuliginosus

Little Forktail Enicunts scouleri

Spotted Forktail Enicurus maculatus

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura

Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferrea

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus

{*)

(*)

★

(*)

(*)

(*)

(*)

*

N

(*)

S

S

s

s

(*)

s

s

s

(*)

(*)

(*)

K

(*)

(*)

K

(*)

56

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

1994

Birds recorded in the Great Himalayan National Park

57

White Wagtail Motacilla alba

Grey Wagtail Motacilla cincrea

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis

Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni

I Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus

Upland Pipit Anthus sylvanus

F Rufous-streaked Accentor Prunella hirnalayana

f Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

' Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata

; Fire-fronted Serin Serinus pusillus

YEixow-BREAsrED Greenfinch Carduelis spinoides

European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Plain Mountain-Finch Leucosticte nemoricola

Spectacled Finch Callacanthis burtoni

Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus nipalensis

I Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus

Pink-browed Rosefinch Carpodacus rodochrous

• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis

Orange Bullfinch Pyrrhula aurantiaca

■ Red-headed Bullfinch Pyrrhula erythrocephala

Black- and- yellow Grosbeak Mycerobas icterioides

Collared Grosbeak Mycerobas affinis

' Spot-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas melanozanthos

White-winged Grosbeak Mycerobas camipes

1 Rock Bunting F.mberiza cia

N

S

S

(*)

(*)

(*) (*)

(*)

K

S

(*)

(*)

(*)

58

A. J. GASTON, P. J. GARSON and SANJEEVA PANDEY

Forktail 9

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 59 - 82

59

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

DR STEPHANIE J. TYLER and DR STEPHEN J. ORMEROD

Five weeks were spent in Nepal in November and December 1991 and a further three weeks in March

and early April making a preliminary investigation of the ecology of river birds. Field work was carried

out on selected stretches of rivers from c. 200 m to over 3,500 m.

Data were collected on the distribution, use of the river corridor, feeding behaviour and diet of Brown

Dippers Cmclus pallasii, Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea, four species of forktail Enicurus, Plumbeous

Water- Redstarts Rhyacomis fuliginosus , White-capped Water-Redstarts Chaimarromis leucocephalus,

Blue Whistling-Thrushes Myiophonus caeruleus and several species of kingfisher. Data on biometrics of

some of these species were also obtained, and any aggressive interactions between species noted.

Species diversity in the winter months was highest at altitudes between 600 m and 1,600 m, with few

riverine species noted above c. 2,300 m. Plumbeous and White-capped Water-Redstarts were the most

numerous species, the former occurring at densities of a bird per 50-60 m on rivers in die Middle Hills.

Some evidence was obtained for differences in the use of river habitats by male and female Plumbeous

Water-Redstarts. Brown Dippers were in pairs and nest-building during November in the Middle Hills.

By March, Brown Dippers and other river birds had returned to breed on high altitude rivers; Brown

Dippers were still nest-building at over 3,000 m but pairs were feeding young in the lower Langtang.

In the winter Brown Dippers, Little Forktails Enicurus scouleri , White-capped Water-Redstarts and

Plumbeous Water-Redstarts occurred predominantly on rocks in the river. However, of these four

species only Brown Dippers were frequently recorded wading, swimming and diving in the river. White-

capped Water-Redstarts favoured rocks at the edges of rivers and also often occurred on riparian ground.

Spotted Enicurus maculatus. Slaty-backed E. schistaceus and Black-backed Forktails E. immaculatus were

recorded mainly on marginal rocks or shoals or wading at the river’s edge, with Black-backed Forktails

in particular often noted in riparian vegetation.

When foraging, Brown Dippers mainly caught prey from submerged rocks or the river bed, whereas

Little Forktails picked prey from spray-drenched rocks at waterfalls or from the hygropetric area (the

wetted zone) of rocks. Plumbeous Water-Redstarts predominantly used aerial flycatching as a foraging

technique. Both White-capped Water-Redstarts and Grey Wagtails also flycatched, but also spent much

time picking prey from shoals or mud or from riparian ground. Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktails

picked much prey from along the edges of the river, both from the river bed and from the mud or

vegetation at the river margins. Leaf- and stone-turning were frequent strategies. Most observations of

foraging Black-backed Forktails were of them picking prey from rocks and from shoals, muddy river

margins and riparian ground.

Measurements and weights of 20 Plumbeous Water-Redstarts and smaller numbers of ten other species

of river bird are presented. These are discussed in relation to the birds’ use of the river corridor and their

foraging behaviour.

Few instances of intra- or inter-specific aggression were noted, but Plumbeous Water-Redstarts

appeared to be particularly aggressive towards other river birds.

Possible implications of land use changes for river birds are discussed in the light of these observations.

It is suggested that Brown Dippers may be adversely affected on rivers in the Middle Hills by

deforestation, ploughing and resulting siltation and by the restricted flows due to the diversion of water

for irrigation. Spotted, Slaty-backed and Black-backed Forktails which require bankside trees or dense

riparian vegetation, are likely also to suffer from deforestation.

60

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

INTRODUCTION

There is much concern among conservationists throughout the world about

the impact on communities of terrestrial birds and other wildlife of land use

changes, notably the removal of natural forest cover by man to grow crops or

graze stock. Inskipp ( 1 989) has described the threats to birds from deforestation

in Nepal, whilst Ormerod (1990) has drawn attention to the subsequent

impacts on riverine ecosystems. He also made some preliminary observations

on bird communities on rivers in the Middle Hills and terai.

The river bird community in the Himalaya and Middle Hills in Nepal is

particularly diverse, including Brown Dippers Cinclus pallasii, Grey Wagtails

Motacilla cinerea , four species of forktail Enicurits, Plumbeous Water- Redstarts

Rhyacomis fuliginosus and White-capped Water-Redstarts Chaimarromis

leucocephalus. Little is known, however, of the impact of land use changes on

these species.

A large scale research project on water, erosion and land management,

funded by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA), is currently

being undertaken in catchments of the middle hills of Nepal by the Royal

Geographical Society, the Institute of Hydrology and various universities.

The aim is to investigate the physical, chemical and biological changes in

rivers from catchment perturbations; it involves comparisons between sub¬

catchments of a major river system, the Likhu Khola, which are subject to

different land uses. It was thought useful to carry out ornithological work on

the same catchments being studied for the ODA project so that opportunistic

use could be made of the available data on river quality and aquatic biota. The

aim of the ornithological study was to investigate the ecological requirements

of river bird species and, hence, better predict the wider effects of land use

changes such as erosion, sedimentation and habitat modification.

Preliminary data on habitat use and foraging behaviour of some river birds

in the Likhu Khola and in the Langtang area, the Kathmandu Valley and in

the Royal Chitwan National Park are presented here. These data were

collected during a 30 day period from 8 November to 1 1 December 1 99 1 and

during three weeks in late March and early April 1992. They indicate some

of the likely impacts on birds of land use changes, but it is emphasised that

further data are needed over a longer period of time and from other seasons

of the year before there can be an adequate understanding of the impacts.

STUDY AREA AND METHODS

The main study area covered 3 km of the Likhu Khola (600-700 m), a river

lying 25 km north of Kathmandu (27"50’N 85°20’E), and draining into the

Trisuli River and thence the Narayani and the Ganges (Fig. 1). This area

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

61

Figure 1. Sketch of central Nepal showing the location of the Langtang Khola, Trisuli Khola, Likhu

Kola, Bagmati River and the Narayani River.

included 1-2 km stretches of seven tributaries, the Mahadev and Dee Khola

to the north, and the Bhondare and Jogi, the Bore Khola, Syalping and

Ghyambe Khola to the south (Fig. 2). Land use in the Likhu Khola is

predominantly arable farmland, with rice the main summer crop and cereals

grown as a winter crop. Terraces adjoin the main river and tributaries for

much of their length, with many irrigation ditches diverting water from the

streams onto the small fields. The steepest banks along the river still support

trees and scrub, with patches of degraded Sal Shorea robusta forest in a few

62

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

areas. Alder Alnus nepalensis fringes some streams, but felling for fuel and

timber has reduced these in most places to a sparse scattering. The tributary

streams have a steep gradient, and are rocky with frequent waterfalls.

Descriptions of each are given in Appendix 1, but a common characteristic

in both the winter and spring visits was an accumulation of gravel, sand and

silt on the stream bed, and a much reduced flow due to diversion of water for

irrigation.

Additional data were collected opportunistically during both visits in the

Langtang Himal from a short stretch of the Trisuli Khola at c. 1,600 m, from

the Trisuli River between Dhunche and Syabrubesi (c. 1,200-1,600 m) and

from sections of the Langtang Khola from its junction with the Trisuli at

Syabrubesi up through oak Quercus/ Rhododendron forest to Kyangin Gompa

above Langtang (c. 3,700 m) (Fig. 1). Data were gathered also from three

1 km stretches of the Bagmati River in the Kathmandu Valley:

1 . A rocky, Alder-lined, fast-flowing stretch ( 1 5-20 m wide) at Sundarijal,

upstream of Kathmandu, at an altitude of c. 1,450 m;

2. A slower, open stretch (10-20 m wide) with shingle beds and vertical

sand banks, downstream of Sundarijal;

3. A heavily organically polluted slower-flowing and braided section (up to

50 m) below the Chobar Gorge (c. 1,200 m) downstream of the city).

They were also gathered from various stretches of the Narayani (up to 400

m in width), the Reu and small forest streams in the Royal Chitwan National

Park at 200-250 m (Fig. 1).

The distribution of river birds on all these watercourses was assessed both

in the winter and in the spring study periods, by walking (or in the case of the

Narayani drifting in a boat) along each section. Data were also collected on

bankside habitats, river or stream width and the general nature of the

watercourse (e.g. presence of rocks, shoals, riffles etc.).

The location of each bird in the river corridor was noted i.e. whether in the

mid-river, marginal (within 1 m of the bank) or riparian zone, the last defined

as that area of rock, grassland or woodland up to 10 m from the river bank,

and whether in the water, on mid-river or marginal rocks, shoals or mud, in

trees or other vegetation. During observations of individual birds, each time

they moved, their new location was recorded.

The foraging behaviour of nine species of river bird was recorded in various

categories: picking prey from rocks, shoals, mud, riparian ground or

vegetation; flycatching; catching prey on or in water or the river bed when

swimming, diving or wading. Faecal samples, where these could be definitely

attributed to a particular species, were collected and stored in alcohol for later

analysis of invertebrate or other prey; some opportunistic observations were

also made of the prey taken by different river birds.

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

63

Figure 2. Likhu Kola catchment showing area covered in this study.

All interactions between birds, both intra- and inter-specific, were noted.

To obtain some data on biometrics, a sample of birds was caught in mist-

nets erected across tributaries of the Likhu Khola and across the Trisuli

Khola and Langtang Khola. Each bird was weighed (+ 0.1 g) by spring

balance, and the length of wing to + 0.5 mm (maximum flattened chord),

tarsus to 0.1 mm (using the method described by Schmid and Spitznagel

(1985), bill (tip to feathering), bill to skull (tip of bill to hind skull) and depth

of bill (above the nostrils) to + 0.5 mm were measured.

RESULTS

Distribution

1. The Likhu Khola

a) Winter period

Over twenty species of river bird were recorded in the Likhu Khola catchment.

In addition to those species listed in Table 1, Indian Pond-Herons Ardeola

grayii, Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, Cattle Egrets Bubulcus ibis, Black Storks

Ciconia nigra and Woolly-necked Storks C. episcopus, Red-wattled Lapwings

Vanellus indicus, Common Sandpipers Tringa hypoleucos and Green Sandpipers

64

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

T. ochropus and Plain Martins Riparia paludicola were all frequent. The most

numerous river passerines were Plumbeous Water-Redstarts and White-

capped Water-Redstarts. Only two pairs of Brown Dippers and two single

birds were seen here. They were on the main river and on the Syalping Khola,

the largest of the tributaries surveyed (Fig. 3a). Grey Wagtails were widespread

(Fig. 3a).

Plumbeous Water- Redstarts occurred at densities of one bird per 50-60 m

along the open main river, males greatly outnumbering females (by 10: 1). By

contrast, on the well-wooded Bore Khola and on some other tributaries,

females were predominant (Figs. 3b and c). White-capped Water Redstarts

occurred commonly on the main river and more open south-facing tributaries

(Fig. 4a). Little Forktails Enicurus scouleri were scarce, although three birds

were recorded in 1 km of the Mahadev Khola, where there was a narrow gorge

with numerous waterfalls and wet rock faces (Fig. 4b). One pair of Spotted

Forktails E. maculatus was seen regularly on a shoal in the Likhu Khola, with

a third bird on the Syalping (Fig. 4b) . The scarcer Black-backed E. immaculatus

and Slaty-backed Forktails E. schistaceus both occurred only on wooded

sections of tributaries, even on very narrow (1 m wide) wooded side streams

(Fig. 4c). Blue Whistling-Thrushes Myiophonus caeruleus were frequently

seen by water but usually flew off when disturbed into trees or up the valley

sides. Three Blue Rock-Thrushes Monticola solitanns were also seen by the

main river and by the Dee Khola, where a Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria

was noted on streamside rocks. Both Common Kingfishers Alcedo atthis and

Crested Kingfishers Megaceryle lugubris were seen on three or four occasions

on the main river and the Syalping, with the former species also on the narrow

Bhondare. White-throated Kingfishers Halcyon smymensis were seen twice

by water but were often away from watercourses over fields.

b) Spring period

By late March there were very few Plumbeous Water-Redstarts in the Likhu

Khola (Table 1). About 5 km downriver below the confluence with the

Tadhu Khola, near Dhikuri, a pair was feeding three recently fledged young

on 27 March, indicating a laying date in late February, earlier than noted by

Inskipp and Inskipp (1991). The other main differences between the two

visits were the small numbers of White-capped Water Redstarts and the

paucity of forktails, with only Slaty-backed seen during the spring survey

(Table 1).

2. Himal Langtang, Kathmandu Valley and Chitwan.

a) Winter period

On a short stretch (200 m) of the Trisuli Khola, Plumbeous Water- Redstarts

were the most frequent species, although were scarce on the 100 m wide

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

65

Table 1. Numbers of 14 species of riverbird observed in the Likhu Khola study area in November 1991

and late March 1992. Figures in parentheses for Plumbeous Water-Redstart refer to the number of

males.

Trisuli River and on the Langtang Khola (T able 2) . Brown Dippers were only

seen on the Trisuli Khola; above 2,000 m there were only a few Plumbeous

Water-Redstarts, two Spotted Forktails and a Blue Whistling-Thrush

(Table 2).

By contrast, at the lower altitude of the Bagmati River near Sundarijal,

there was a good diversity of species. Here Plumbeous Water-Redstarts were

at the highest densities, with males predominating (Table 2, Fig. 5).

Downriver of this stretch, where the gradient declined and the river meandered

across a broad, open valley, Common Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers

Charadrius dubius, White Wagtails Motacilla alba and Plain Martins replaced

the species of the rocky, turbulent rivers (Table 2). On the Bagmati below

Kathmandu, both Plumbeous and White-capped Water-Redstarts occurred

in small numbers in the Chobar Gorge and on marginal rocks immediately

downriver, but the bird community on this grossly polluted river was

dominated by sandpipers and wagtails, as well as by Indian Pond-Herons and

both Little and Cattle Egrets (T able 2) . Thus on 1 0 and 20 November, there

was a large flock of Green Sandpipers with smaller numbers of Wood T.

glareola and Common Sandpipers, one Common Redshank T. totanus, three

White-breasted Waterhens Amaurornis phoenicurus, a flock of over 40 Grey¬

headed Lapwings Vanellus cinereus and a Northern Lapwing V. vanellus,

numerous White Wagtails, 5 White-browed M. madcraspatensis and at least

2 Grey Wagtails.

66

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Figure 3. Distribution of three species of river birds in November 1991 in the Likhu Kola,

a) Brown Dippers and Grey Wagtails; b) male Plumbeous Water-Redstarts; c) female Plumbeous

Water- Redstarts .

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

67

Figure 4. Distribution of five species of river birds in November 1991 in the Likhu Kola,

a) White-capped Water-Redstarts; b) Spotted (large dots) and Little Forktails (small dots);

c) Black-backed (large dots) and Slaty-backed Forktails (small dots).

68

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Chironomid midge larvae, characteristic of organic pollution, were abundant

in the black mud at the river edge. It is of note that a greater number of birds,

albeit migrants, were recorded on this polluted river than on any other stretch

of similar length.

In Royal Chitwan National Park, only Grey Wagtails, Black-backed

Forktails and Common Kingfishers were seen along the narrow forest

streams, although two Blue-eared Kingfishers Alcedo meninting and another

Common Kingfisher were observed at Tiger Tops at the edge of forest by an

ox-bow lake. Common and Pied Kingfishers Ceryle riidis were commonly

seen on the Reu and Narayani, and at ox-bows, where four Stork-billed

Kingfishers Pelargopsis capensis were also observed (Table 3). One Crested

Kingfisher was noted on the Reu, whilst a White-capped Water-Redstart was

seen on a marginal boulder in a 4 km stretch of the Narayani River, with four

Plumbeous Water-Redstarts also on this stretch and another on a tributary.

b) Spring

By late March in the Himal Langtang many altitudinal migrants had moved

back up to their breeding grounds (Table 2). Thus Brown Dippers were

distributed from the T risuli River below Syabrubesi to above Langtang. T wo

pairs of dippers at lower altitudes were feeding young, whereas a pair between

Langtang and Kyangin Gompa above 3,000 m were still nest-building. Grey

Wagtails, White-capped Water-Redstarts and Little Forktails were all seen

above 2,500 m, with Spotted Forktails frequent along the Langtang Khola.

Few river birds were noted above 3,000 m.

On the Bagmati River at Sundarijal, Plumbeous Water-Redstarts, many in

pairs and nest-building, were still common but other river species were now

scarce or absent (Table 2). Flows were very low, with the river reduced to a

trickle. The downriver slower-moving stretch supported similar species to

those seen in the winter, but Little Ringed Plovers were now nesting (and

Red-wattled Lapwings mating).

In the Chitwan lowlands kingfishers (Common, Pied, Stork-billed and

White-throated) were still common along streams and rivers in early April,

but only one Grey Wagtail (on a forest stream) and one White-capped Water-

Redstart (on the Narayani) were seen. Herons, egrets, waders and other

species of wagtail (flava , alba and maderaspatensis) were numerous.

Ecological segregation of river birds

a) Altitudinal preferences

The winter observation of a Blue Whistling-Thrush by a small stream at

Kyanjing Gompa, at c. 3,750 m, is apparently unusual (Inskipp and Inskipp

1991). Other river birds were scarce during the winter survey period above

c. 2,300 m, with only a few Plumbeous Water-Redstarts and Spotted

1 094

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

69

Table 2. Numbers of 16 species of river bird seen in the winter and spring surveys on stretches of river

in the Langtang area and Kathmandu valley. (The Whistling-Thrush on the Langtang Khola above

3,200m was on a tributary'.

E S o

E E

CO O ro -T-

E S

E E

E E

II

oo 'T—

S E

.i= CO 1 CO CM t—

+ in cm

cm in r--

CM CM Oi to

rr cm in ■*— co t— co

■vF — co

in i"- m t— co

co in cm co

in in

o p

^ O

5 &

~ ~ >S

~ E

jd a .t; ™

70

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Forktails at these high altitudes. Abundances of the redstarts were much

greater at altitudes of 600-1,500 m compared with either 2,000 m or 200 m

(Tables 1 and 2). Brown Dippers and Little Forktails were only noted

between 600 and 1 ,600 m, whereas Grey Wagtails were widespread from 200

to over 1,500 m. Black-backed Forktails occurred alongside Slaty-backed

and Spotted Forktails in the Likhu Khola up to 1,000 m, but unlike these

species, were not seen above this altitude but did occur in the lowlands. Of

the Enicurus, only Spotted Forktails were observed over 1,600 m.

In the spring Grey Wagtails, Brown Dippers and both Plumbeous and

White-capped Water-Redstarts were widespread at higher altitudes, although

only one White-capped Water-Redstart, one wagtail and three dippers were

seen above 3,200 m. The forktails were more clearly segregated than in the

winter with Little and Spotted from 1,600 to nearly 3,000 m, Slaty-backed

in the Likhu Khola at 600 to 900 m and Black-backed in the Chitwan

lowlands.

b) Flabitat use

Both Plumbeous and White-capped Water-Redstarts commonly perched on

top of large rocks or boulders in the river, with the latter species preferring

marginal rocks and riparian ground, sometimes 1 00 m or more away from the

river (Table 3). Little Forktails and Brown Dippers were also frequently seen

on mid-river or marginal rocks, but these species generally occurred on small

rocks, often drenched with spray or close to the water edge. Both these

species commonly waded, although only dippers swam and dived (Table 3).

The other three species of forktail preferred marginal habitats, creeping

amongst boulders, or wading at the water’s edge on mud and shoals. The

small number of observations preclude any realistic comparison of habitat

Table 3. Use of the river corridor by nine species of bird as shown by the proportion of observations of

each species in different locations.

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

7]

use between these birds, although Black-backed Forktails were only seen in

wooded sections of tributaries of the Likhu Khola and on forested streams in

Chitwan National Park. This species spent more time in riparian habitats

than Slaty-backed or Spotted Forktails. In the Likhu Khola catchment in the

winter, the few Spotted Forktails observed were in more open habitat than

the Slaty-backed Forktails but, at Sundarijal on the Bagmati, both occurred

together on the alder-lined section (Fig. 5). On the Langtang Khola Spotted

Forktails, if disturbed, flew into thick riparian vegetation, a habit shared with

Slaty-backed Forktails.

Grey W agtails occurred in all locations, including habitats away from rivers

e.g. on roads and tracks, and on rice stubble on terraces. By rivers they

generally occurred along the margins or on damp riparian grassland.

c) Feeding behaviour

A diversity of feeding strategies was shown by the nine species of river bird

for which data were collected during the winter period. Although some

strategies were common to all or most species, there were some clear

differences between species (T able 4) . Thus flycatching was the predominant

foraging strategy (75% of observations) used by Plumbeous Water- Redstarts.

These small birds often perched high on a boulder and flew up almost

vertically to catch an insect. Aerial sallies up to 5 m or more above the water

were not uncommon, although most aerial flights (74%) were lower than 2

m. Birds usually caught insects over water but sometimes flew over riparian

vegetation (c. 8% of aerial flights), even hovering briefly to pick an insect off

a leaf. Most prey appeared to be small insects such as chironomid midges, but

larger prey were also taken (see Diet section below). Other species, notably

Grey Wagtails, White-capped Water-Redstarts and Slaty-backed and Black-

backed Forktails, also used flycatching as a foraging method, but to a lesser

extent than the redstarts. White-capped Water-Redstarts foraged commonly

by picking prey from the ground or from vegetation in the riparian zone (40%

of observations) as well as by picking prey from rocks (40%) (Table 4).

Only Brown Dippers foraged by swimming and diving as well as wading

(95% of observations) but Grey Wagtails and all four species of forktail,

particularly Slaty-backed and Spotted, picked items from shallow water

whilst wading. Little Forktail spent most time picking prey from wet rocks

and waterfalls, often drenched by spray. Pecking rates of Little Forktails were

high, 80-124 pecks per minute, with a bird sometimes feeding on one small

rock for five minutes or more and picking more than 400 items from the wet

rock surface. Observations revealed many dipterans, small caddis larvae

(Trichoptera) and mayfly nymphs (Ephemeroptera) in these areas. Whilst

the three larger forktails all mainly fed in the marginal zone, picking items

from the water, from rocks, shingle or mud, or turning over leaves to find

72

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Table 3. Foraging techniques of nine species of river bird in Nepal shown by percentage of total

observations: N Number of observations; 1 Catching prey in or on water or on river bed; 2 Picking prey

from rocks; 3 Picking prey from shoals or mud; 4 Picking prey from riparian ground or vegetation; 5

Aerial flycatching.

prey, only the Spotted was seen to frequently turn over stones and to foot-

paddle to disturb and find prey. This species often picked up large items such

as cased caddis larvae, and then had to pause to beat the prey repeatedly to

kill it or extract it from its case. In fewer instances Little and Slaty-backed

Forktails also dealt with caddis larvae, molluscs or large worms (Oligochaeta)

in this way.

Few data were collected on the foraging behaviour of Blue Whistling-

Thrushes which, when disturbed, tended to fly off into trees or away from the

river. This species was less confined to the river corridor than the other river

birds studied in this project although, as mentioned above, White-capped

Water-Redstarts and Grey Wagtails also foraged away from watercourses.

Even Plumbeous Water-Redstarts sometimes foraged in riparian vegetation.

Because flycatching in the river corridor is a much more conspicuous

foraging method, the true extent of vegetation gleaning may have been

overlooked . Notably, Plumbeous W ater- Redstarts when disturbed, frequently

took cover in trees and scrub away from the river.

d) Diet

Faecal pellets collected from the Likhu Khola are still to be analysed, but

observations suggested that all nine species of bird took invertebrate prey.

Differences between species in their choice of prey were evident with, for

example, Plumbeous Water-Redstarts taking more adult winged insects and

Brown Dippers and Little Forktails feeding almost exclusively on aquatic

larval or nymphal stages of insects e.g. mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae and

blackfly larvae Simulium (Diptera). Size differences in prey taken by different

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

73

Figure 3. Distribution of some river birds at Sundarijal in November 1991 (not to scale),

a) Slaty-backed Forktail (closed circle) and Spotted Forktail (star); b) male Plumbeous Water-Redstart

(closed circle) and female Plumbeous Water-Redstart (white star in closed circle); c) White-capped

Water-Redstart (closed circle); d) Grey Wagtail (star).

74

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

species were also evident. Thus Plumbeous Water-Redstarts preyed on a

wide range of insects and from a diversity of orders e.g. large dragonflies

(Odonata), butterflies (Lepidoptera), bees (Hymenoptera), but mainly small

flies and midges (Diptera: Chironomidae, Simuliidae). Little Forktails took

numerous tiny items of prey, sometimes spending 5- 1 0 minutes picking prey

from an algal web on the upstream side of a wet rock. Invertebrates in these

situations included dipteran larvae and small caddis larvae and mayfly

nymphs. Brown Dippers and the three larger species of forktail frequently

took much larger items, which then involved considerable handling time

(beating).

Berries were eaten from riparian vegetation by Plumbeous Water-Redstarts

and, from the nature of their faeces, probably also by White-capped Water-

Redstarts and Blue Whistling-Thrushes.

e) Biometrics

Weights and measurements of the small sample of river birds caught in mist

nets indicated considerable overlap between species in size and weight

(Table 5). Excluding the two species of Alcedo kingfishers, Plumbeous

Water-Redstarts and Little Forktails were the smallest species of river bird in

all measurements; moreover, the weights and measurements of these two

species were very similar. Grey Wagtails differed only in their longer bills and tails.

Brown Dippers and White-capped Water-Redstarts were also rather

similar in wing and tarsus length but the dippers had longer, stouter bills,

shorter tails and were twice the weight of the chats. Slaty-backed and Black-

backed Forktails differed little from each other, and also resembled White-

capped Water-Redstarts apart from their much longer tails (x 2 those of the

chats), longer bills and shorter tarsi.

The single first year Brown Dipper had a wing of 92 mm, shorter than that

of any of the adults caught (95-99 mm). Young White-throated Dippers

Cinclus cinclus in Wales also have shorter wings than adults (Ormerod and

Tyler 1986). Likewise, wing length of the first year Plumbeous Water-

Redstarts (mean 73 mm, n=17) and White-capped Water- Redstarts (88.2

mm, n=3) were significantly smaller than older birds (79.2 mm, n=3; 95.4

mm, n=l 1).

f) Interactions between species

The high density of birds along some rivers inevitably resulted in birds

sometimes being in close contact. With the exception of the Brown Dippers

some of which were in pairs and nest-building in November, and Spotted

Forktails, also mainly in pairs at this time, other river birds appeared to be

holding individual territories during the winter study. A few instances of

intra-specific aggression, especially between Plumbeous Water- Redstarts

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

75

Table 2. Biometrics of 1 1 species of river bird caught in Nepal in November/December 1991 . Ranges

of weights and measurements for each species are shown in parentheses.

and between White-capped Water-Redstarts, were observed (Table 6).

When two birds of the same species approached within 1-2 m of each other,

then chases ensued. Where male and female Plumbeous Water-Redstarts

occurred on the same stream, the aggressor was often the male, and the

subordinate bird a young female. Male redstarts also sang against each other.

One Little Forktail chased another of the species which was driven by the

observer into the former’s territory, whilst one of the pair of dippers on several

occasions chased off a third dipper. In general intra-specific aggression

appeared to be largely avoided through the spacing of birds along the watercourses .

Despite occasional aggression between species, the territories of two or

more different species frequently coincided or overlapped. Most instances of

inter-specific aggression related to a bird of a larger species chasing one of a

smaller species (Table 6). Individuals of Plumbeous Water-Redstarts and of

White-capped Water- Redstarts frequently perched within a few metres of

each other, but closer encounters often resulted in a short aerial pursuit, with

the latter flying after the former species. The large, dominant , White-capped

76

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Table 6. Intra-and inter-specific interactions among six species of river bird in Nepal.

Water- Redstarts also chased Slaty-backed, Black-backed and Little Forktails.

Despite the Plumbeous Water-Redstart’s small size, it was a particularly

aggressive species, sometimes chasing Slaty-backed Forktails, Little Forktails

and Grey Wagtails when these birds were feeding 4-5 m away. On one

occasion a Plumbeous Water-Redstart pursued a Little Forktail repeatedly

until the forktail left the former’s presumed territory. One Plumbeous Water-

Redstart also chased off a Hodgson’s Redstart Phoenicurus hodgsoni which

was foraging close to the river bank, whilst a Blue Rock-Thrush behaved very

aggressively towards a White-capped Water-Redstart, the latter bird then

chasing away a Plumbeous Water- Redstart. No aggression was noted towards

or by Spotted Forktails even though other species fed in close proximity.

DISCUSSION

Distribution

Most river birds that spend the spring and summer in the Himalaya are

altitudinal migrants, moving down to the foothills or the terai in the autumn

(Ali and Ripley 1983, Fleming etal. 1984, Inskipp and Inskipp 1991). During

November and December those birds observed in the study areas were

therefore already on their lower wintering grounds, with very few birds

observed above 2,000 m (Table 2). The paucity of Brown Dippers wintering

at high altitudes in the Langtang valley is perhaps strange, given frequent

observations of this species above 2,500 m in Nepal in November and

December (e.g. Mycock and Calladine in litt., D. Pritchard in litt.). The Blue

Whistling-Thrush at Kyangin Gompa at 3,750 m was of particular note.

With the exception of Brown Dippers, which are known to breed during the

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

77

winter when at low altitudes (Fleming et al. 1984), and Spotted Forktails,

river birds were not in obvious pairs during the winter study period.

Few White-capped or Plumbeous Water-Redstarts winter below 500 m

(Inskipp and Inskipp 1991) and so the records of a single of the former and

five of the latter species in Royal Chitwan National Park at c. 200-250 m are

of interest.

Plumbeous Water- Redstarts were the most numerous species in the Likhu

Khola catchment (Table 1, Figs. 3b and c) and the most widespread species

generally on fast-flowing, rocky rivers (Table 2, Fig. 5). A difference in

distribution of males and females was noted by Ali and Ripley (1983), who

found that the females and young birds wintered at lower levels than adult

males. This study provides little evidence of this, although at 600 - 1,450 m

in the Likhu Khola (Figs. 3b and c), and on the Bagmati river at Sundarijal

(Fig. 5), males outnumbered females, whilst four of the five redstarts seen in

the Chitwan lowlands were females. The most marked difference between

the distribution of sexes in this study was in their use of different habitats,

with males abundant on the wider rivers, and females more numerous on the

narrow, more wooded tributaries (Figs. 3b and c). By March most redstarts

had left the Likhu Khola. In May both Plumbeous and White-capped Water-

Redstarts are absent from the valley (R. Wyatt pers. comm.). If some

Plumbeous Water- Redstarts breed early in the spring as did the pair at

Dhikuri, is it possible that they breed again in their higher summering areas?

Of the forktails, only Black-backed occurred at very low altitudes, as

recorded previously. At 800-1,000 m Black-backed and Slaty-backed were

found in close proximity during the winter, as noted by Ali and Ripley (1983),

sometimes also alongside Spotted or Little Forktails. Only these two latter

species were seen at over 1,000 m. Whilst Inskipp and Inskipp (1991) noted

that Grey Wagtails wintered mainly below 365 m, this study showed them to

be widespread and not uncommon wintering birds at altitudes up to

1,500 m.

The limited data on the altitudinal distribution of kingfishers accord with

those of other observers, with Stork-billed, Pied and Blue-eared Kingfishers

being notably lowland species, and the others occurring over a wider range

of altitudes. The two Blue-eared Kingfishers were caught in an area at

Chitwan where this locally scarce species has previously been recorded

(Gurung 1983).

It was not the intention of this study to investigate birds on rivers with low

gradients. Data collected opportunistically did, however, show that species

diversity tended to be higher on such rivers, particularly at low altitudes

(Table 2).

Possible competition between species using the same general habitat has

been discussed by various authors (e.g. Diamond 1978, Schoener 1982).

78

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

Generally it appears that competition is avoided between closely related

species through differences in their use of the habitat, foraging behaviour and

diet, which may be reflected in differences in bill size, tail length or other

biometric features. Alternatively, an abundance of food may prevent

competition (Schoener 1982). Interference or exploitation competition may

occur amongst other less closely related species using the same habitat (Eadie

and Keast 1980, Hurlbert et al. 1986).

On those upland rocky fast-flowing rivers in Nepal between 800- 1 ,000 m,

there is, in the winter months, a concentration of migrant and resident species

of birds, all of which feed mainly on invertebrates. This study, albeit using

data collected over a very short period, demonstrates some differences in the

use of the river corridor by different species, in foraging methods, diet and

biometrics (Tables 3-5), suggesting how competition between species may

be avoided.

a) Segregation by body size and weight

Differences in the size of species, or in the size of their bills, suggest that they

exploit a different range of food resources and hence avoid competition. Our

biometric data for 1 1 species of river bird (Table 5) accord with those

obtained by other authors (Biswas 1961, Diesselhorst 1968, Rand and

Fleming 1 957, Ripley 1 950), and do show marked differences between most

species. A few species closely resembled each other in size and weight e.g.

Plumbeous Water-Redstart and Little Forktail; Brown Dipper and White-

capped Water-Redstart (Table 5), but these species pairs did show differences

in bill size and in their foraging methods. Thus the redstarts flycatched or

picked prey from riparian habitats or dry rocks, whilst the dippers and

forktails foraged in the water, from wetted rocks or the marginal zone. The

long, stout bill of the Brown Dipper enables it to probe amongst rocks and

stones on the river bed, whilst the long bills of the larger forktails may also

enable them to probe in mud and turn over leaves and stones.

b) Segregation by habitat, foraging behaviour and diet

Brown Dippers and Little Forktails appeared to be largely dependent on

large and small aquatic invertebrates respectively, from the river bed or on

midriver rocks, with the former species obtaining prey by diving, swimming,

wading or picking from rocks below the water surface, and the latter mainly

by picking from the hygropetric area on wetted rocks. White-capped and

Plumbeous Redstarts took numerous aerial stages of insects, of both aquatic

and terrestrial origin, by flycatching. The White-capped Water Redstarts also

spent much time feeding from marginal rocks and the riparian zone, whilst

the three larger forktails foraged extensively in the marginal zone, often where

there was thick streamside cover.

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

79

Fleming et al. (1984) noted that White-capped Water Redstarts often

associate with Plumbeous Water- Redstarts. Whilst the two species commonly

occurred together in this study, even perching on the same or adjacent rocks,

they differed in the extent to which they used different parts of the river

corridor. Ali and Ripley (1983) found that White-capped Water- Redstarts

favoured wider rivers, avoiding the small rivulets favoured by Plumbeous

Water-Redstarts. Whether this was during the breeding season or on the

wintering areas is not clear. In this study the White-capped Water-Redstarts

avoided those narrow, wooded tributaries where female Plumbeous Water-

Redstarts predominated. There was no evidence, though, that the latter,

particularly the males, actually favoured small rivulets, as they occurred at

the highest densities on the 20-40 m wide Likhu Khola. Various authors have

noted the territoriality of wintering Plumbeous Water-Redstarts and their

aggression towards others of the same species, but Ali and Ripley (1983)

regarded them as being tolerant of White-capped Water-Redstarts and

forktails. Certainly in this study they were not aggressive towards the larger

redstart, rather the reverse, but did chase Little Forktails and other species

within their territory (Table 6).

Whilst few data were collected on forktails during this study, it was evident

that Little Forktails occurred on fast-flowing, turbulent stretches of river with

spray-drenched rocks or waterfalls. Stream width appeared unimportant,

with birds recorded on watercourses from only 6 m in width to 40 m, although

Ali and Ripley (1983) noted that, in the winter, wider rivers were used by this

species than in the summer. Ali and Ripley and Fleming et al. (1984) also

recorded the three larger species, particularly Spotted, as essentially birds of

small forest streams. Observations from this study confirmed this, although

it is of note that a pair of Spotted Forktails were observed on five days foraging

for long periods on a large shoal on a 40 m wide, almost treeless section of

the Likhu Khola. All three species were generally found in the marginal zone

where there was overhanging vegetation or thick riparian cover into which

they could fly when disturbed.

Implications for river birds of land use changes

Removal of bankside cover is likely to be detrimental to a number of species

of river bird, notably the three larger species of forktail, Plumbeous Water-

Redstarts and Blue Whistling-Thrushes. All these species use riparian trees

and shrubs for shelter and for food. The three larger forktails in particular,

and Plumbeous Water-Redstarts frequently take refuge from potential

predators in trees, shrubs and undergrowth; leaf litter in the riparian zone is

also a favoured feeding area for all the long-tailed forktails, whilst the

contribution of leaves and insects falling from bankside vegetation into the

water is important for many invertebrates and hence fish. The contribution

80

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

of insects and berries from vegetation in the diet of Plumbeous Water-

Redstarts (and probably White-capped Water- Redstarts and Blue Whistling-

Thrushes) may be important at some times of the year and should be further

evaluated. Ali and Ripley (1983) mention berries in the diet of both White-

capped and Plumbeous Redstarts, although refer to them as only occasionally

taken by the last species. In the Likhu Khola, female Plumbeous Water-

Redstarts were seen taking berries on at least ten occasions.

Brown Dippers were few in the Likhu Khola, being found only on the main

river and on the Syalping Khola, where there was a good flow of water.

Impacts on the tributaries through removal of bankside and hillside cover,

cultivation of hillsides and diversion of the water from the streams for

irrigation has made them unsuitable for birds which depend on large aquatic

benthic invertebrates. The results of invertebrate sampling in the tributaries

by the Catchment Group of the University of Wales College of Cardiff wall

be reported elsewhere, but preliminary results show that streams in areas of

agriculture have much more sand on their beds than streams in forest, and

differences in the aquatic insect community are also pronounced, caddis

larvae and mayfly nymphs being scarce in streams with thick sandy sediment

(Rundle, Jenkins and Ormerod in prep.). During the survey period, work by

local farmers on the irrigation channels frequently resulted in very high

sediment loads in the water in the tributaries. The turbidity in the water must

also affect the ability of dippers to see and catch prey.

Pollution was not a major ecological problem on the rivers studied, other

than on the lower Bagmati, which had a high input of sewage, as well as of

other pollutants from domestic and industrial sources in Kathmandu. Here

large aquatic invertebrates were absent but there were very high densities of

small invertebrates (midge larvae) . Species ofbirds, notably dippers, dependent

on invertebrate groups such as caddis were absent from the lower Bagmati,

but birds such as wagtails and sandpipers which could take advantage of the

dense food supply in the mud, occurred at higher densities here than at any

other observed stretch of river with similar gradient e.g. the stretch below

Sundarijal. There was also a good diversity of, mainly migrant, species on the

lower Bagmati, as recorded previously by Inskipp (1988) and others. Such

high diversity and density of birds has been noted on other organically

polluted rivers, as in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia (Tyler in press). The degree

of pollution of rivers in the Middle Hills from human faeces, pesticides and

fertiliser inputs is unknown, but is almost certainly considerable.

1994

The ecology of river birds in Nepal

81

We are grateful to the R.S.P.B. for approving and helping to fund the winter

work as part of S. J. Tyler’s sabbatical project, and to the Oriental Bird Club

for a grant to S. J. Tyler towards the spring surveys. We thank too Richard

Porter for his encouragement, in particular Carol Inskipp, Conservation

Officer of the Oriental Bird Club, for much useful advice, staff of the Parivar

Agency for all their cheerful support, company and hard work, particularly

Deshek Kafab Sherpa, his brother Keta, Pasang Sherpa, Dawa and Thaba,

and staff at Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge in Royal Chitwan National Park,

notably the excellent nature guide, Sukra Kumal. Thanks are due too to Dr.

Maskey and Mahendra Shrestha of the Department of National Parks and

Wildlife Conservation for their cooperation, to Dr Alan Jenkins of the

Institute of Hydrology at Wallingford for advice, to Simon Rundle, Roger

Wyatt and Clare Lloyd for help in the field during November, and to Sally

Tyler for her help and good company in the spring. Finally, Tim Inskipp’s

comments on a first draft of this paper are gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1983) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan (compact edition). Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Biswas, B. (1961) The birds ofNepal. Parts 3-5. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 58: 100-134, 444-474, 653-

677.

Diamond,.!. M. (1978) Niche shifts and the rediscovery of interspecific competition. American Scientist

66: 322-331.

Diesselhorst, G. (1968) Beitrage zur Okologie der Vogel Zentral- und Ost-Nepals. Khumbu Nepal 2: 1-

417.

Eadie, J. McA. and Keast, A. (1982) Do Goldeneye and Perch compete for food? Oecologia (Berlin) 55:

225-230.

Fleming, R. L. Sr., Fleming, R. L. Jr. and Bangdel, L. S. (1984) Birds of Nepal. Third edition.

Kathmandu: Nature Himalayas.

Gurung, K. K. (1983) The heart of the jungle. The wildlife of Chitwan. London: Andre Deutsch and

Kathmandu: Tiger Tops.

Hurlbert, S. H., Loayza, W. and Moreno, T. (1986) Fish-flamingo-plankton interactions in the

Peruvian Andes. Limnology and Oceanography 31: 457-468.

Inskipp, C. (1988) A birdwatchers’ guide to Nepal. Sandy: Prion.

Inskipp, C. (1989) Nepal’s forest birds; their status and conservation. Cambridge, U.K.: International

Council for Bird Preservation Monograph No. 4.

Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1991) A guide to the birds of Nepal. Second edition. London: Christopher

Helm.

King, B., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. (1975) H field guide to the birds of South-East Asia. London:

Collins.

Ormerod, S. J. (1990) Riverine birds and land use in Nepal. Oriental Bird Club Bulletin 11: 13-17.

Ormerod, S. J. and Tyler, S. J. (1 986) Biometrics, growth and sex ratios amongst Welsh Dippers Cinclus

cinclus. Ringing & Migration 7: 61-70.

Ormerod, S. J. and Tyler, S. J. (1987) Dippers Cinclus cinclus and Grey Wagtails Motacilla cinerea as

indicators of stream acidity in upland Wales. Pp. ? in A. W. Diamond and F. Filion, eds., The value

of birds. Cambridge, U.K.: International Council for Bird Preservation.

Ormerod, S. J. and Tyler, S. J. (1988) Some aspects of foraging ecology of Green Sandpipers Tringa

ochropus. Bird Study 35: 25-30.

Rand, A. L. and Fleming, R. L. (1957) Birds ofNepal. Fieldiana: Zoo!. 41: 1-218.

Ripley, S. D. (1950) Birds from Nepal 1947-49. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 49: 355-417.

Schoener, T. W. ( 1 982) The controversy over interspecific competition. American Scientist 70: 585-595.

C* „1 _ \V7 A Thp CPYllfll ?12£ Himnmhum of South German Dinners (Cinclus

82

DR. S. J. TYLER and DR. S J. ORMEROD

Forktail 9

APPENDIX 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE LIKHU KHOLA AND TRIBUTARIES

Dee Khola - open, very few alders, little riparian vegetation - either grazed, cut or cultivated to edge; some steep rocky

dry hillsides with stunted scrub/tree growth; side tributaries with narrow strip of alder carr. Many irrigation channels

diverting water from stream and much sandy sediment on stream bed. Large boulders in stream, but only two or three

small (1 m high) waterfalls. South-facing.

Mahadev Khola - similar to Dee but riparian vegetation in patches by wooded sections and narrow gorge with cliffs and

waterfalls up to 4 m high, for 300-400 m. Lower section with many rocks and stones. Wetted area reduced to trickle

through irrigation diversions; much sediment and very turbid water. Hillside erosion in upper reaches. Channel width

in low’er section c. 10-15 m but stream reduced to 5-8 m. Gorge only 6-8 m wide. South-facing.

Bore Khola - narrow stream mainly with steep banks with shrubs and trees overhanging much of stream; and adjacent

Sal forest in patches. Elsewhere rice fields. Rocks and boulders abundant but no true waterfalls. Many irrigation channels

and much sediment on stream bed. Highest section more open. North-facing.

Svalping - broadest (20 m) of tributaries surveyed with good flow. Steep banks, many with fringe of trees and shrubs; some

waterfalls; numerous rocks and boulders. North-facing.

Ghvambe Khola - a tributary of the Svalping - through woodland for much of survey stretch; meandering and rocky,

narrow 4-6 m. More open in upper stretch.

Bhondare and Togi - two narrow subtributaries, 2-8 m in width; the lower part of the Jogi through cultivation; little

bankside cover; series of high rocky waterfalls at upper end of stretch surveyed; the Bhondare through cultivation too but

in a narrow rocky channel with thick vegetation on streamsides; cliffs and waterfalls; a small trickle only in upper section

Likhu Khola - Upper 2 km surveyed rocky, open fast-flowing, 20-40 m wide; mainly I m depth; many shoals, riffles, some

deep pools with riverside cliffs. Little riparian vegetation except odd patches and degraded forest along one bank for 500

m below the Syalping confluence. Alluvial terraces cultivated up to river edge. Much disturbance by local people and

stock. Two bridges across the river and easily fordable elsewhere.

Lower section in broad open valley, extensive shoals and river much braided, channel up to 500 m across. Gradient

reduced cf. upper section.

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 83 - 88

83

Winter records of the Manchurian

Reed- Warbler Acrocephalus ( agricola )

tangorum from Thailand

PHILIP D. ROUND

Non-breeding season records of the Manchurian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus ( agricola ) tangorum are

reported from Thailand. These are the only observations of this taxon away from north-east China and

Amurland, Russia where it both breeds and has been recorded on passage. A. tangorum shows some

distinct differences from nominate A. a. agricola and its taxonomic and conservation status should be

examined anew, particularly as it may be severely threatened by habitat destruction in its Thai winter

quarters.

INTRODUCTION

The Manchurian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus ( agricola ) tangorum is a little

known taxon which breeds in in both Heilongjiang province and the Nei

Mongkol Autonomous Region in north-east China (Cheng 1 987, Alstrom et

al. 1991) and in Russian Amurland (Shibnev and Gluschenko 1977, Stepanjan

1978, Gluschenko 1989). It has also been recorded on passage, in the

western part of Chaoyang, Liaoning Province (Cheng 1987) and at

Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province from which it was first described (La Touche

1912). Kennerley and Leader (1992), Williams et al. (1992) and Williams

and Hsu (1992) have recently detailed a number of sightings of migrant

tangorum at the nearby sites of Beidaihe and Daihe in both spring and

autumn.

This paper documents the first records of tangorum away from north-east

Asia, in its presumed winter quarters in Thailand.

THE FIND

The author, together with Dr Boonsong Lekagul, was netting migrant

passerines in a freshwater marsh at Khao Sam Roi Yot, Prachuap Khiri Khan

Province, south-western Thailand (1 2°1 0’N 99°54’E) on 6 May 1981, when

he noticed an unusually rufous warbler with only a slight blackish brow

among a number of Black-browed Reed-Warblers A. bistrigiceps trapped.

This was immediately recognised as being similar to a skin labelled/!, agricola

which the author had previously examined at the Centre for Thai Reference

Collections, Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research,

Bangkok. That specimen (number 53-2875), a first autumn female, had

84

P. D. ROUND

Forktail 9

been collected by Dr J. T. Marshall at Bang Phra Red Cross Horse Farm,

Chon Buri Province, south-eastern Thailand (13°11’N 100°59’E) on 9

October 1967. The Khao Sam Roi Yot bird (Field number ACW 14) was

collected for deposition at the Centre for Thai National Reference Collections.

The presence of a slight, but noticeable, black brow in both specimens

indicated, according to Vaurie (1959), that the birds might be A. ( agricola )

tangorum and this was confirmed when the Khao Sam Roi Yot skin was

compared with a series of eleven specimens of tangorum held at the British

Museum (Natural History) in August 1982.

Subsequent observations of tangorum at Khao Sam Roi Yot were sight

records of single birds by the author, Ben King and a Kang Bird tour group

on 1 7 January 1 985, and by the author and J. Dunn on 1 5 February 1985.

A number of other sightings of tangorum at Khao Sam Roi Yot have been

reported in subsequent years up to the present.

One further tangorum was netted in a marsh at Rangsit, Pathum Thani

Province, on the northern outskirts of Bangkok (13°59’N 100°38’E) by

Kevin Baker on 3 March 1 987. After examination, it was photographed and

released.

These appear to be the only records of this taxon away from north-east

Asia.

DESCRIPTION

The two Thai specimens of tangorum showed fresh to slightly worn body

plumage, having warm rufescent-brown upperparts, with the rufous tinge

being strongest on the rump and upper tail coverts, and rufous-edged tertials.

The crowns of both birds appeared slightly mottled, the individual feathers

having blackish-brown centres and olive-brown edges. The blackish feather

centres were particularly prominent on the lateral crown, above the supercilium,

forming a slight blackish brow which extended from the anterior margin to

just behind the hind margin of the eye. The broad, buffy supercilium

extended from the base of the bill to roughly half way between the rear margin

of the eye and the nape. There was a blackish-brown line through the eye.

The throat was clear white while the breast, flanks and under tail coverts

were a bright rufous tawny-buff. On the specimen examined live by the

author, the maxilla was blackish-grey and the lower mandible entirely pale

flesh. The legs were flesh-coloured and the iris muddy-brown. The label of

the Bang Phra specimen gave the iris colour as grey.

The upperparts of the October specimen were slightly paler and more

evenly rufescent than those of the May (Khao Sam Roi Yot) bird and the

rectrices showed slight to moderate wear. On the May bird, the rufescent tint

on the upperparts was somewhat reduced, particularly on the upper back, as

1994

Winter records of the Manchurian Reed-Warbler from Thailand

85

Table 1. Biometrics and wing formula of Thai specimens of Acrocephalus ( agricola ) tangorum

(Lengths given in mm). Primaries are numbered descendantly. Under column p9, - 4

mm (=4/5) indicates that the tip of the 9th (second outermost) primary falls 4 mm short

of the wing point, and lies between the tips of 4th and 5th primaries.

the rufescent tips and edges of the body feathers had begun to abrade,

revealing the darker feather centres. In contrast, the rectrices of the May bird

were fresher with darker centres and deeper more intensely rufous edges than

those of the October specimen and had been recently moulted, together with

all three tertials on both wings. The innermost secondary on the left wing had

also been renewed but the primaries and all remaining secondaries were

unmoulted and the primaries, in particular, showed moderate to heavy wear.

Both specimens were similar in plumage colouration to a series of seven

skins collected by J. D. D. La Touche in August and September 1912 and

September 1913 from Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, North-east China,

held at BMNH. Four further skins at BMNH, collected at the same locality

during 30 May to 2 June 1913, differed markedly in being more worn, and

are duller and greyer, appearing olive-brown above, and whiter on the

underparts. Although Williamson (1968) surmised that tangorum probably

underwent a complete moult in its winter quarters, the Khao Sam Roi Yot

bird, though it had renewed body and coverts feathers, tertials and tail, had

clearly not moulted most remiges suggesting that a partial moult on the

wintering grounds, rather than a complete moult, may be the norm. Although

the body plumage may perhaps be expected to wear or bleach, losing its

markedly rufescent tint over most of the upperparts and underpans, somewhat

paralleling the seasonal change in hue of nominate A. agricola , all rectrices of

86

P. D. ROUND

Forktail 9

the four spring tangonim at BMNH appeared so heavily worn that they could

not have been moulted as recently as those of the Khao Sam Roi Y ot bird and

had either not been moulted since the previous year, perhaps while still on

the breeding grounds (if adult) or perhaps not moulted at all (for birds in their

first calendar year) . Photographs of two spring individuals in Kennerley and

Leader (1992) showed similar, heavily worn rectrices. The Khao Sam Roi

Yot bird, therefore, may have undergone an uncharacteristically extensive

partial moult. The third bird, from Rangsit in March, had not yet undergone

any pre-breeding moult and the overall colouration appeared closer to that

of A. bistrigiceps,, being only slightly more rufous on the upperparts (K. Baker

in litt. 1993). Some biometrics and wing formula data for all three birds are

given in Table 1 .

STATUS AND HABITAT IN THAILAND

All but two of the Thai records come from a single locality, Khao Sam Roi

Yot, the site of possibly the largest remaining Phragmites swamp in Thailand,

covering roughly 50 sq km. The marsh is fringed with some Typha

angustifolia Linn, together with other lower growth (probably Eleocharis dulcis

(Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch.. and Scirpus mucronatus Linn.) around its drier

margins. Rangsit is a Typha marsh of less than 1 sq km area. Bang Phra is

a water storage reservoir in relatively dry country which, at the time of capture

of the tangorum specimen (October, in the late wet-season) would probably

have supported a number of shallow flooded areas around its margins. The

bird was said to have been caught in a grass field (Pantuwatana et al. 1969).

Notwithstanding the potential difficulty in separating tangonim in the field

from the commoner and more widespread Blunt-winged Warbler A concinens,

or from the similarly scarce and local nominate race of the Paddyfield

Warbler A. a. agricola (so far known only from two specimens from marshy

areas in the far north of the country (King 1966, Round 1983) and a few

probable sight records) it is surprising that more tangonim have not yet been

recorded, especially considering the large number of birdwatchers visiting

Thailand. This may indicate its genuine scarcity: ten A. bistrigiceps were

trapped to only one tangonim at Khao Sam Roi Yot during 4-6 May 1991.

The combination of sight records in January and February, and the specimen

in May strongly suggests that tangonim winters at Khao Sam Roi Yot,

whereas the Bang Phra bird, taken in October, seems more likely to have been

on migration. (The author mist-netted Acrocephalus warblers at Bang Phra

in September and December 1982 without locating any tangonim). The

situation at Rangsit is unclear but it is indeed surprising that there are no sight

records of tangonim from there, since it is one of the most heavily watched

sites anywhere in the lowlands of Thailand. As far as we know, therefore,

1994

Winter records of the Manchurian Reed-Warbler from Thailand

87

tangorum may be mainly or entirely restricted to Khao Sam Roi Yot in winter

though it is possible that increased mist-netting could unearth further birds

in other areas.

THE CONSERVATION AND STATUS OF A. (a.) tangorum

Notwithstanding the inherent difficulty of separating smaller Acrocephalus

warblers, tangorum appears to be genuinely scarce in its winter quarters.

Furthermore, its only known wintering site, in the reedswamp at Khao Sam

Roi Yot National Park, Thailand, has been very adversely affected by

drainage and conversion to shrimp and fish ponds since 1986 (Parr et al.

1993), leading the IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected

Areas to list the site as one of the most threatened parks in the world. Khao

Sam Roi Yot is probably the last major reedswamp in Thailand. Elsewhere,

such minor freshwater swamps as remain, around the margins of major

rice-growing areas, especially within a 150 km radius of Bangkok, are

dominated by Typha and lack any expanses of Phragmites : all are imminently

threatened by reclamation and urbanisation. Other than at Khao Sam Roi

Yot, no freshwater swamp habitat has ever been incorporated within the

boundary of any national park or wildlife sanctuary in Thailand.

The taxonomic position of tangorum still needs further clarification.

Alstrom et al. ( 1991) clearly demonstrated that Williamson’s (1968) placement

of tangorum as a race of the Black-browed Reed-Warbler A. bistrigiceps - an

arrangement subsequently followed by Watson et al. (1986) - was spurious.

Although they continued to treat tangorum as a subspecies of A. agncola, as

previously considered by Vaurie (1 959), on the basis of its territorial response

to song playback from nominate A. agricola , this was never tested by playback

of any other Acrocephalus as a control and may therefore be inconclusive.

Indeed, Alstrom and Olsson (1992) subsequently suggested that a positive

response to playbacks may be of little or no taxonomic value because of

known instances where taxa have responded to the songs of both close

congeners and even unrelated species.

A. tangorum has a significantly larger bill then nominate agricola and, in

addition, in worn plumage shows consistently darker, browner upperparts

(Alstrom et al. 1991, Kennerley and Leader 1992). These slight but

consistent differences and the large range-gap between the breeding ranges

of the two might still suggest that tangorum is better treated as a distinct

species which, especially in view of its probable threatened status, deserves

renewed attention. A. tangorum is already considered rare or threatened in

Gluschenko (1989) who recommended measures to prevent its reedbed

breeding habitat from burning or reclamation for agriculture. Further efforts

should be made to determine its precise distribution and the size of breeding

88

P. D. ROUND

Forktail 9

populations from singing males. Pressure should also be placed upon the

Thai government to ratify the RAMSAR convention, demarcate and protect

the boundary of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park as well as to create or

rehabilitate reedswamps elsewhere in central Thailand.

I thank the staff of the Sub-department of Ornithology, British Museum (Natural History) for access to

specimens and, in particular, Peter Colston for his generous assistance. I am grateful to Kevin Baker

for providing details of the langorum netted at Rangsit, and to Per Alstrdm and Peter Kennerley for

commenting on a draft of this paper. M. G. Wilson helpfully translated from the Russian references.

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subajfinis. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 112: 111-125.

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tangonirn. Forktail 6: 3-13.

Cheng Tso-hsin (1987) A synopsis of the avifauna of China. Beijing: Science Press.

Gluschenko, U. N. (1989) Acrocephalus agricola langorum. Pp. 158-159 in P.A. Ler et al. eds., [‘Rare

vertebrates of the Soviet Far East and their protection.’] Leningrad: Nauka. (In Russian).

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1966 under MAPS programme. Bangkok: Centre for Thai National Reference Collections.

LaTouche,J. D. D. (1912) Acrocephalus tangorum. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 31: 10-11.

Pantuwatana, S., Imlarp, S. and Marshall, J. T. (1969) The vertebrate fauna of Bang Phra. Nat. Hist.

Bull. Siam Soc. 23: 133-183.

Parr, J. W. K., Narong Mahannop and Vatid Charoensiri (1993) Khao Sam Roi Yot - one of the world’s

most threatened parks. Otyx 27: 245-249.

Round, P. D. (1983) Some recent bird records from northern Thailand. Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc. 31:

109-122.

Shibnev, U. B. and Gluschenko, U. N. (1977) [‘Two new species of reed warblers in the fauna of the

Soviet Union’] . Abstracts of VII All-Union Ornithology Conference, part 1 , Kiev. p. 113. (In Russian.)

Stepanjan, L. S. (1978) Sostav i raspredelente ptits faulty SSR. Passeriformes. Moskow.

Vaurie, C. 1959. The birds of the Palearctic fauna. Passeriformes. London: H. F. and G. Witherby.

Watson, G. E., Traylor, M. A., Jr., and Mayr, E. ( 1 986) Family Sylviidae, Old World warblers. Pp. 3-294

in E. Mayr and G. W. Cottrell, eds., Check-list of birds of the world, 1 1 . Cambridge, Massachusetts:

Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Williams, M. D., Carey, G. J., Duff, D. G. and Xu Weishu (1992) Autumn bird migration at Beidaihe,

China, 1986-1990. Forktail 7: 3-55.

Williams, M. D. and Hsu, W. S. (1992) Birds at Beidaihe, late spring 1991. China Flyway 2: 1 1-14.

Williamson, K. (1968) Identification for ringers 1: the genera Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus and

Hippolais. Third edition. Tring: British Trust for Ornithology.

Philip D. Round, Center for Conservation Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road,

Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

1904

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 89 - 119

89

Birds recorded during the third

BirdLife/Forest Birds Working Group

expedition in Viet Nam

C. R. ROBSON, J. C. EAMES, NGUYEN CU and

TRUONG VAN LA

Between 1 2 April and 5 July 1991, surveys of forest birds were undertaken at a selection of sites, including

protected areas, in Viet Nam. These surveys were part of the Viet Nam Forest Project of BirdLife

International and provided information on the status and distribution of 1 6 globally threatened and 1 3

near-threatened species (Collar and Andrew 1988) and other endemic species. Information was

obtained on Orange-necked Partridge Arborophila davidi , Green Peafowl Pavo muticus , White-winged

Duck Cairma scutulata. Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea, White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni

and Black-hooded Laughingthrush Gamdax milled. In addition, an undescribed taxon offulvetta/l/ap/>(>

was discovered on Mount Bi Doup near Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

Between 1 2 April and 5 July 1 99 1 surveys for globally threatened and other

endemic forest birds were undertaken at a selection of sites in Viet Nam.

These surveys formed part of the Viet Nam Forest Project of BirdLife

International and the Forest Birds Working Group of the Centre for Natural

Resources Management and Environmental Studies (CRES) and the Institute

of Ecology and Biological Resources, Hanoi.

The main aims of this fieldwork were to undertake surveys for four globally

threatened endemic species; Orange-necked Partridge, Edwards’s Pheasant

Lophura edwardsi, Black-hooded Laughingthrush Gamdax milled and Grey-

crowned Crocias Crocias langbianis and to identify core areas for their

protection. Other objectives were to undertake further surveys for White¬

winged Duck Cairina scutulata and Green Peafowl Pavo muticus in Nam Bai

Cat Tien National Park and to conduct more detailed faunal surveys at Cong

Troi and other remaining forest areas on the Da Lat Plateau. For a full

account of the results of these surveys, including the implications for

conservation, see Eames et al. (1992).

During fieldwork, new distributional data were obtained on Vietnamese

birds and are presented in this paper. Of particular note was the discovery

of Orange-necked Partridge Arborophila davidi and White-shouldered Ibis

Pseudibis davisoni in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. Information was obtained on

the status of 14 other globally threatened species, namely Siamese Fireback

Lophura diardi, Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron germaini, Crested

Argus Rheinardia ocellata, Green Peafowl, White-winged Duck, Blyth’s

Kingfisher Alcedo hercules , Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea , Chinese

Egret Egretta eulophotes, Lesser Adjutant Leptopdlos javanicus. Bar-bellied

Pitta Pitta elliodi , Y ellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta solangiae, Short-tailed Scimitar-

90

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui, Black-hooded Laughingthrush and Collared

Laughingthrush Garrulax yersini, and 13 near-threatened species: Red-

vented Barbet Megalaima lagrandieri, Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo

Carpococcyx renauldi. Yellow-vented Green-Pigeon Treron seimundi, Roseate

Tern Sterna dougallii, Pied Falconet Microhierax melanoleucus, Malayan

Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus, Schrenck’s Bittern Ixobrychus

eurhythmus, White-winged Magpie Urocissa whiteheadi, Ratchet-tailed Treepie

Temnurus temnurus , Green Cochoa Cochoa viridis. White-cheeked

Laughingthrush Garrulax vassali, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush G. merulinus

and Grey-faced Tit-Babbler Macronous kelleyi (Collar and Andrew 1988).

ORNITHOLOGICAL REGIONS OF VIET NAM

As in our previous papers (Robson et al. 1989, 1993) we follow the sub¬

divisions of Annam proposed by King et al. ( 1 97 5) and the division of T onkin

into East and West proposed by Vo Quy (1983). The region ‘Indochina’,

referred to in this paper, comprises of Laos, Viet Nam and Cambodia

collectively.

ABBREVIATIONS

c. = circa, FIPI = Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, Ministry of

Forestry, Hanoi, ha = hectares, km = kilometres (in a direct line), mm =

millimetres, m = metres above sea level, N.P. = national park.

ITINERARY

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

91

N

A

102°

□

a

ZOOGEOGRAPHICAl REGIONS:

A WEST TONKIN

B EAST TONKIN

C NORTH ANNAM

D CENTRAL ANNAM

E SOUTH ANNAM

F COCHINCHINA

TOWNS & CITIES

O | SURVEY LOCALITIES

1 Mount Bi Doup

2 Long Lanh

3 Long Lanh East

4 Cong Troi South

5 Cong Troi North

6 Mount Lang Bian

7 Tuyen Lam

8 Klong

9 Da Dung

1 0 Da Lat area

11 Di Linh Village '8'

12 Mount Pantar

13 Deo Nui San

14 Nam Bai Cat Tien NP

15 Bach Ma NP

16 Nam Dong District

17 Tram Chim Reserve

18 Dong Nai Delta

19 Phan Thiet salt pans

20 Cam Ranh Bay

21 Lake Cau Hai

' _ ’’Y ,

A

^Quy Nhon

Nha Trang

12°-

\ 19^

Saigon,

(Ho Chi Minh City)

Figure 1. Viet Nam, showing locations mentioned in text.

92

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

MAIN LOCALITIES VISITED

/. Mount Bi Doup ( 12'05’N 108°40,E)

Mount Bi Doup (2,289 m) is the highest peak on the Da Lat Plateau, situated

to the north-east of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

The vegetation on the mountain is similar to that on Mount Lang Bian

(Robson et al. 1993). However, the area of Tropical Montane Evergreen

forest (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986) here is much larger (at least

8,680 ha; Eames etal. 1992) and there are more extensive and mature stands

of pine. Additionally, due to the higher elevation of this mountain, there are

more rhododendrons and more extensive patches of bamboo in the

undergrowth. As on Mount Lang Bian, the lower slopes are largely

deforested or dominated by pine forest with pockets of degraded evergreen

forest. Some open slopes are covered with bracken and grass.

The forest here has been classified as a special protection area by the Lam

Dong Forest Department, which means that, officially, no logging or other

forms of forest exploitation are allowed. There appeared to be relatively little

disturbance to forest on the mountain, although some areas had recently

been burnt on the lower slopes.

2. Long Lanh (2°08’N 1081°39’E)

This site includes the village of that name and surrounding area, situated to

the north-west of Mount Bi Doup.

The vegetation here is considerably modified, consisting of large open

areas of grassland in a broad river valley, with patches of pine Pinus insularis

forest, relatively mature in places. The terrain is fairly level (1,450-1 ,500 m).

3. Long Lanh East (12"09’N 108"41’E)

Situated immediately north of Mount Bi Doup and east north-east of Long

Lanh.

The vegetation consists entirely of Tropical Montane Evergreen forest

(MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1 986) and covers an area of 5,346 ha (Eames

et al. 1992), forming a contiguous block with evergreen forest on Mount Bi

Doup. Elevation varies from 1,500-1,800 m. Some areas had recently been

cleared for agriculture; old, disused clearings are overgrown with dense scrub

and secondary growth. A recently constructed logging track runs through the

area.

This forest has been classified as a watershed protection area by the Lam

Dong Forest Department, which means that only selective logging is

permitted. Small scale operations were being carried out, specifically to

extract large specimens of Fokienia hodginsii.

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

93

4. Cong Troi South (12°06’N 108°23’E)

This site is at and below a pass (1,800 m) situated 18 km north north-west

of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

The vegetation consists entirely of Tropical Montane Evergreen forest

(MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986) and elevation ranges from 1,500-1,800

m.

5. Cong Troi North (12°09’N 108°23’E)

Situated 20-25 km north north-west of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South

Annam).

The vegetation here is the same as at the previous site, at an elevation of

around 1 ,500 m. There are some clearings for agriculture and areas of open

grassland. An unpaved road runs through the area.

6. Mount Lang Bian (12°02’N, 108°26’E)

This site, situated to the north of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South

Annam) was described in detail by Robson et al. (1993).

Clearance of evergreen forest for charcoal production was continuing at an

alarming rate.

7. Tuyen Lam (11°52’N 10825' E)

Ho Tuyen Lam is a reservoir 6 km south south-west of Da Lat, Lam Dong

Province (South Annam).

The reservoir is immediately surrounded by pine forest, behind which are

relatively extensive areas of T ropical Montane Evergreen forest (MacKinnon

and MacKinnon 1986). Elevation varies from 1,400-1,500 m.

Small scale unofficial logging was being carried out in a number of areas

and parts of the forest backing the reservoir shore were being cleared for

agriculture.

8. Klong (11°49’N 108"28’E)

A small roadside settlement below a forested hillside, 1 4 km south of Da Lat,

Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

Vegetation here consists of a little degraded pine forest, scrub and

cultivation on the lower slopes and Tropical Montane Evergreen forest

(MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986) above 1,350 m. Elevation, during the

survey, varied from 1,050-1,400 m.

Much of the forest was heavily cut-about and there was evidence of hunting

in the area.

94

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

9. Da Dung (11°59’N !08rl9’E).

North-west of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

1 0. Da Lat area (Da Lat ; 11°57’N 108527’ E).

Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

11. DiLinh village ‘8’ (11'42’N 10800’ E).

Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

12. Mount Pantar (11°29’N 108 06’ E )

A forested mountain (Nui Pantar, 1 ,664 m) situated 1 1 km south of Di Linh,

Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

The vegetation here consists of patches of pine forest and scrub on the

lower slopes and Tropical Montane Evergreen forest (MacKinnon and

MacKinnon 1986) above 1 , 1 00 m. Elevation, during the survey, varied from

1,080-1,350 m.

Much of the evergreen forest had been cut-about or consisted of secondary

growth. Some quite large areas were being cleared for cultivation on the

lower slopes.

13. Deo Nui San (11°28’N 108 04’ E)

A forested pass between Mount San (1,502 m) and Mount Pantar, 13 km

south of Di Linh, Lam Dong Province (South Annam).

The vegetation here consists entirely of Tropical Montane Evergreen

forest (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986), with elevation ranging from

1,160-1,220 m.

The north side of the pass is threatened by clearance of forest for

agriculture.

14. Nam Bai Cat Tien National Park (11°27’N 107°18,E)

This site, situated in the northern part of DongNai Province (Cochinchina)

was described in detail by Robson et al. (1993).

15. Bach Ma National Park (16°11’N 107° 50’ E)

Situated between Hue and Da Nang in Thua Thien Province (Central

Annam), this site was also described in detail by Robson et al. (1993).

However, in 1991 we also visited the southern part of the park, basing

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

95

ourselves in the Khe Ao Valley mouth (16°08’N 107°48’E).

Vegetation in the Khe Ao area consists of Lowland Evergreen forest

(MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986), also described as Closed Broadleaved

Ombrophilous Lowland (CVRER 1985) and Lowland Semi-Evergreen

forest (MacKinnon and MacKinnon 1986) or Closed Broadleaved Tropical

Evergreen Seasonal Lowland dominated by Dipterocarpaceae, Fabaceae,

Meliaceae and Sapindaceae (CVRER 1985). A broad river valley runs east

to west through the area but was cleared of its forest by herbicide spraying

during the Viet Nam War; consequently there is only scrub and grass

remaining in the more level areas. Elevation, during the survey, varied from

130-400 m.

The watershed to the south-east of Khe Ao has been proposed as a

southerly extension to the park. Collection of rattans for export was posing

a serious threat here and in other parts of the national park.

16. Nam Dong District (16°10’N 107°38’E).

Situated to the west of Bach Ma NP, Thua Thien Province (Central Annam) .

17. Tram Chim Reserve (10°45’N 105°35,E).

Dong Thap Province (Cochinchina).

18. Dong Nai Delta (Duyert Hai; 10°25’N 106°58’E).

Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh Province (Cochinchina).

19. Phan Thiet salt pans (10°57’N 108°07’E).

Thuan Hai Province (South Annam).

20. Cam Ranh Bay (ll°5rN 109°07,E).

Khanh Hoa Province (South Annam).

21. Lake Cau Hai (16°20’N 107°48,E).

Thua Thien Province (Central Annam).

22. On route in Cochinchina.

23. On route in South Annam.

24. On route in Central Annam.

96

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

RECORDS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST

RAIN QUAIL Cotumix coromandelica A male in excellent condition was

found for sale in a shop in Da Lat (1,500 m) on 28 May. It had been trapped

in nearby fields in February 1991.

This appears to be the first record of the species from Viet Nam and

Indochina. A series of colour photographs were taken of the bird.

ORANGE-NECKED PARTRIDGE Arborophila davidi Two birds were

observed briefly by C.R.R. in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140-200 m) on 21

June. Seven days were subsequently spent in search of these birds but they

were only seen again in flight by C.R.R. and N.C. on 22 and 24 June.

The habitat consisted of non-thorny bamboo forest, very dense in places

and reaching a height of c. 6-10 m, on small hills (Eames et al. 1992), with

light undergrowth including various gingers Zingiberaceae. Scaly-breasted

Partridge A. chloropus was commonly heard calling in surrounding areas of

level lowland forest but never on hills, indicating different habitat preferences.

Orange-necked Partridge shows similarities with the more widespread Bar-

backed Partridge A brunneopectus and appears to replace it geographically in

Cochinchina.

It was previously known only from two specimens collected at 250 m near

Bu Kroai (Bu Croi), Song Be Province (Cochinchina) by M. A. David-

Beaulieu in 1927. Delacour and Jabouille (1931), erroneously state that

there were three specimens and that two of them were lost. It was listed as

globally threatened by Collar and Andrew ( 1 988) . Bu Kroai is 37 km north¬

west of the above mentioned sightings.

EDWARDS’S PHEASANT Lophura edwardsi Surveys were undertaken to

locate this species in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces (Central

Annam), including Bach Ma N.P. No evidence of its continued existence

could be found. For a full account see Eames et al. (1992).

SIAMESE FIREBACK Lophura diardi Small numbers were recorded along

the main track through Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140 m) on a number of

occasions.

As elsewhere in its range, it becomes habituated to road and track-sides

through forest. It was considered globally threatened by Collar and Andrew

(1988).

GERMAIN’S PEACOCK-PHEASANT Polyplectron germaini Reliably

reported to occur at Tuyen Lam (1,400-1,500 m) by local wood-cutters on

28 May. The remains of a snared bird were examined in Da Longit village,

on the Da Dung River, 10-15 km north-west of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province

(South Annam) on 1 June. It had been caught three or four hours walk

downstream of the village. The full tail of a bird shown to us by a local hunter

at Di Linh Village ‘8’ (Ta Lung; 1 1°44’N 108ll01’E; 610 m), on the upper

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

97

Dong Nai River, north-west of Di Linh, Lam Dong Province (South Annam)

on 5 June, had been killed in low hills to the north. A male was seen and three

others heard on Mount Pantar (1,080-1,100 m) on 6 June. Recorded almost

daily in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140 m) where it was considered to be fairly

common; for more details see Eames etal. (1992) and Robson etal. (1993).

Recorded in montane evergreen forest on Mount Pantar. It was considered

globally threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

CRESTED ARGUS Rheinardia ocellata At least 21-26 birds were heard

calling in the southern part of Bach Ma N.P., including its proposed southern

extension (200-700 m), between 27 April and 1 May (Eames etal. 1992) and

several birds were heard in the north-east of the park where they were

surveyed in 1990 (Robson etal. 1993). One bird was heard in the Ba Long

Valley (300-400 m), 30 km south-west of Quang Tri, Quang Tn Province

(Central Annam) on 5 May. Reported by local people from Nam Dong

District (200-300 m) on 8 May and a number of sites in the hills south-west

of Hue, Thua Thien Province and south-west of Quang Tri, Quang Tri

Province (Central Annam) during 3-6 May (Eames etal. 1992). Three birds

were heard calling on Mount Bi Doup (1,700-1,900 m) on 22 and 23 May

and two were heard calling at nearby Long Lanh East (1,700 m) on 24 May.

The records from Mount Bi Doup and Long Lanh East are to the south of

its previously recorded range in Viet Nam (Eames et al. 1992) and the first

from the Da Lat Plateau. However, Brunei (1978) had previously reported

seeing feathers of this species in the Da Lat area. Interestingly, it was found

at a much higher elevation in these areas than those previously surveyed by

us to the north (Robson etal. 1989, 1993). It was listed as globally threatened

by Collar and Andrew (1988).

GREEN PEAFOWL Pavo muticus Reported by local people to still occur

in the Ba Long Valley area, 30 km south-west of Quang Tri, Quang Tri

Province (Central Annam) on 5 May. A 1989 sighting of two birds was

reported by a local hunter at Di Linh Village ‘8’ (Ta Lung; 11°44’N

108°01 ’E; 610 m), on the upper Dong Nai River, north-west of Di Linh, Lam

Dong Province (South Annam) on 5 June. At least eleven birds were

observed at various localities in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. during 9-26 June

(Eames et al. 1992).

It was difficult to survey at the latter locality, as territorial calling was not

noted and birds were moulting (Eames et al. 1992). According to reports

from local tribes in Central Annam, most populations of this species

disappeared between the late 1950s and 1975 and mostly between 1968 and

1975, coinciding with the defoliation of river valleys during the Viet Nam

War. The species is globally threatened (Collar and Andrew 1988).

WHITE- WINGED DUCK Cairina scutulata None was observed during

surveys carried out in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. However, local people reliably

98

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

reported that two birds had been present in the north-east of the park earlier

in the year (Eames et al. 1992).

It was considered globally threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

SPOT-BILLED DUCK Anas poecilorhyncha At least 80 adults and three

broods of small young at the Tram Chim Reserve on 16 April.

Not recorded by King et al. (1975) and Vo Quy ( 1 983) from Cochinchina.

WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER Dryocopus javensis Two birds were

seen in pine forest at Long Lanh (1,450 m) on 24 May.

King et al. (1975) record it only above 915 m in north-east Burma and

north-west Tonkin, Viet Nam.

RED-VENTED BARBET Megalaima lagrandieri Fairly common in the

southern part of Bach Ma N.P. (130-400 m) on 28-29 April; several heard

in Nam Dong District (200-300 m) on 8 May; several birds heard calling at

Klong (1,350 m) on 18 May; at least two calling at Tuyen Lam (1,450 m) on

28 May; one heard in the Di Linh Village ‘8’ area (930 m) on 5 June; many

birds heard calling on Mount Pantar (1,080-1,350 m) on 6 June; common

at Deo Nui San (1,1 60- 1 ,220 m) on 7 June; fairly common in Nam Bai Cat

Tien N.P. (140 m).

Widespread in Viet Nam, with an elevation range of 50-1,900 m (Robson

etal. 1989, 1993) but listed as near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

BANDED KINGFISHER Lacedo pulchella One male seen and another

heard in the southern part of Bach Ma N.P. (130-300 m) on 28 April.

Not recorded for Central Annam by King et al. (1975) or for northern

Annam by Vo Quy (1983). However, Delacour and Jabouille (1931)

mention Thua Luu, just north-east of Bach Ma N.P., as a locality for the

species.

BLYTH’S KINGFISHER Alcedo Hercules One seen in the Khe Thuong

Valley (150 m), in the proposed southerly extension of Bach Ma N.P. on 30

April (Eames et al. 1992).

In Viet Nam this species was said to occur only in Tonkin by King et al.

(1975) and Vo Quy (1983). However, Stepanyan et al. (1983) give a record

from Kon Ha Nung, Gia Lai Kon Turn Province (Central Annam) and we

found it in North Annam in 1990 (Robson et al. 1993). It was considered

globally threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

CRESTED KINGFISHER Megaceryle lugubris One at Ho Vang (1,450 m),

just north of Da Lat, Lam Dong Province (South Annam) on 30 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

CORAL-BILLED GROUND-CUCKOO Carpococcyx renauldi Several

heard calling in the north-east part of Bach Ma N.P. (400 m) on 26 April.

Considered near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

99

SILVER-BACKED NEEDLETAIL Hirundapus cochinchinensis At least 40

birds in the southern part of Bach Ma N.P. on 27-28 April and two in Nam

Dong District on 8 May.

Not recorded for Central Annam by King et al. (1975) or for northern

Annam by Vo Quy (1983).

BROWN-BACKED N E E D LET A I L /Trim dap us giga nteus Fairly common

in Bach Ma N.P. during 20-28 April.

Not listed for Central Annam by King et al. ( 1 975), or for northern Annam

by Vo Quy (1983). We recorded it in North Annam for the first time in 1988

(Robson et al. 1989).

FORK-TAILED SWIFT Apus pacificus In Bach Ma N.P., at least ten birds

on 23 April and one on 30 April. At least three birds at Mai Lanh, Quang

Tri Province (Central Annam) on 5 May.

Not recorded for Central Annam by Delacour and Jabouille (1931). King

et al. (1975) list the species as a resident in Central Annam but do not include

South Annam, an area mentioned by the former authors.

HOUSE SWIFT Apus nipalensis Seen flying around the summit of Mount

Lang Bian (2,167 m) on 31 May.

Not previously recorded above 1,830 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975).

: EASTERN GRASS-OWL Tyto longimembris A feather of this species was

found in grassland at Long Lanh (1,450 m) on 21 May and subsequently

identified by comparison with specimens in the British Museum, Tring.

Several mounted specimens examined in Da Lat (1,500 m) in May were said

to have been shot nearby. Not previously recorded above 1 ,220 m in South-

East Asia (King et al. 1975).

SPOT-BELLIED EAGLE-OWL Bubo nipalensis A mounted specimen was

.examined in a shop in Da Lat on 29 May. The shopkeeper said it had come

from Buon Me Thuot, Dac Lac Province (South Annam).

King etal. (1975) and Delacour and Jabouille (1931) do not list it for South

Annam.

PALE-CAPPED PIGEON Columba punicea At least 14 birds at Da Dung

(1,280 m) on 1 June and eight to ten there the following day (Eames et al.

1992).

The birds were found feeding on fruiting trees with large numbers of

parakeets, bulbuls and starlings in an area of overgrown cultivation. It was

considered globally threatened by Collar and Andrew ( 1 988) . Not previously

recorded above 1,220 m in South-East Asia (King et al. 1975).

YELLOW- VENTED GREEN-PIGEON Treron seimundi One seen on

Mount Pantar (1,350 m) on 6 June and several birds at nearby Deo Nui San

(1,160 m) on 7 June.

It was considered near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

100

C. R. ROBSON eial.

Forktail 9

SARUS CRANE Grits antigone Up to 120 birds, including a flock of 70-80,

at the Tram Chim Reserve on 16 April.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa Two on salt pans by the south¬

west corner of Cam Ranh Bay on 12 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica Three on salt pans by the south¬

west corner of Cam Ranh Bay on 12 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

TEREK SANDPIPER Tringa cinerea On salt pans by the south-west corner

of Cam Ranh Bay, one on 18 April and at least 30 on 12 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres One at Duyen Hai, Dong Nai

Delta on 14 May.

Not recorded for Cochinchina by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Calidris acuminata One on Phan Thiet salt

pans on 18 April.

King et al. (1975) do not list Viet Nam in the range of this species, and it

is not mentioned in Vo Quy (1 983). However, Fischer (1961, 1974, 1983)

mentioned its occurrence in East Tonkin.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Phalaropus lobatus On salt pans by the

south-west shore of Cam Ranh Bay, at least 4 1 on 1 8 April and 1 4 on 12 May.

Two by the causeway at Lang Co, Thua Thien Province (Central Annam)

on 20 April.

There is one previous record for Viet Nam and Indochina in the unpublished

notes of Nils Gyldenstolpe (Eames and Ericson in prep.); a female shot in a

small clay-pit full of water at Lao Bao, Quang T ri Province (Central Annam)

on 19 October 1938.

PHEASANT-TAILED JACANA Hydrophasianus chirurgus Two birds were

seen flying north over the forested hills of Bach Ma N.P. on 1 May.

King et al. (1975) list this species as a resident throughout Indochina but

Delacour (1929) stated that northern breeders move south in winter.

ORIENTAL PLOVER Charadrius veredus One on Phan Thiet salt pans on

12 May.

The only previous Vietnamese record was from Da Nang in Central

Annam (Delacour and Jabouille 1931).

HERRING GULL Larus argentatus One second-summer bird at Thuan An,

Thua Thien Province (Central Annam) on 22 April.

Although listed as a coastal migrant throughout Indochina by King et al.

(1975), no previous records for Central Annam could be found in available

literature. The bird was believed to be L. a. vegae , a race that is treated as

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

101

a separate species by Glutz and Bauer (1982). Previous Vietnamese records

of Herring Gull from East T onkin, North Annam and Cochinchina were also

thought to be of this subspecies (Delacour 1929, Delacour and Jabouille

1931). Fischer (1961, 1965) thought that his records in East Tonkin possibly

related to Yellow-legged Gull L. cachinnans mongolicus.

BRIDLED TERN Sterna anaethetus Up to 1 20 birds off the municipal beach

at Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province (Central Annam) on 10 May and at least

three off Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province (South Annam) on 1 1 May.

Previously recorded only from the Con Son Islands (Cochinchina) in Viet

Nam (King et al. 1975).

ROSEATE TERN Sterna dougallii Several birds seen off the municipal

beach at Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province (Central Annam) on 9 May.

Not definitely recorded for Viet Nam or Indochina by King et al. (1975)

and not listed for Viet Nam by Delacour and Jabouille (1931) or Vo Quy

(1983). However, it was listed for the Con Son Islands by Robinson and

Kloss (1921), based on Sparrman’s (1789) description of Lams Polo-candor.

However, Sparrman’s description, although clearly relating to a Sterna tern,

is not referable to S', dougallii (T. Inskipp pers. comm. 1993).

COMMON TERN Sterna hirundo Several seen off the municipal beach at

Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province (Central Annam) on 9 May.

Not definitely recorded for Viet Nam or Indochina by King et al. (1975)

and not listed for Viet Nam by Delacour and Jabouille (1931) or Vo Quy

(1983). There has, however, been a recent sighting in East Tonkin (Scott et

al. 1989).

LITTLE TERN Sterna albifrons In Khanh Hoa Province (South Annam):

two between Van Ninh and Co Ma on 1 9 April, at least three off Nha Trang

on 1 1 May, four at Ca Na on 12 May and eight to ten on salt pans by the

south-west corner of Cam Ranh Bay on 12 May. Two on Phan Thiet salt

pans on 12 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

One nest with three eggs was found on a salt pan bund at Cam Ranh Bay.

WHITE-WINGED TERN Chlidonias leucopterus Seven birds at Thanh

Binh, Dong Thap Province (Cochinchina) on 16 April; at least 75 feeding

over marshes south of Hoa Vinh, Phu Yen Province (South/Central Annam)

on 10 May; 28 moving north past Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province (South

Annam) on 1 0 May with another 50 past on 1 1 May; at least 1 80 birds at Nin

Hai, Thuan Hai Province (South Annam) on 12 May; eight at Phan Rang,

Thuan Hai Province (South Annam) on 1 2 May; two at Nha Be, Thanh Pho,

Ho Chi Minh Province (Cochinchina) on 14 May.

Not recorded for Cochinchina and South Annam by King et al. (1975) or

Vo Quy (1983).

102

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

GREY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus One bird seen in

the southern part of Bach Ma N.P. on 27 April and at least four birds in Nam

Bai Cat Tien N.P. during 1 1-13 June.

Considered a lowland forest specialist by Round (1988).

CRESTED GOSHAWK Accipiter trivirgatus A single bird seen displaying

over the summit of Mount Bi Doup (2,289 m) on 23 May.

Not previously recorded above 1,830 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975).

PIED FALCONET Microhierax melanoleucus One seen in Nam Dong

District (200-300 m) on 8 May.

Not recorded for Central Annam by King et al. (1975). However,

Delacour and Jabouille (1931) mention a record from the Col des Nuages

(Hai Van Pass) in Central Annam. Our record is marginally the furthest

south for the species.

CHINESE EGRET Egretta eulophotes Eight birds, including seven in full

summer plumage, on inter-tidal mudflats in the south-west corner of Cam

Ranh Bay on 18 April (Eames et al. 1992).

This is the second record for Viet Nam and Indochina, the first being from

East Tonkin (Scott 1988). The species was considered globally threatened

by Collar and Andrew (1988).

PURPLE HERON Ardea purpurea A roost of at least 50 birds in Nam Bai

Cat Tien N.P. on 20 June.

MALAYAN NIGHT-HERON Gorsachius melanolophus A single bird was

flushed from the edge of a stream in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. on 13 June.

Considered a near-threatened species by Collar and Andrew (1988).

SCHRENCK’S BITTERN Ixobrychus eurhythmus One female seen near the

headquarters of Bach Ma N.P. on 25 April.

The only previous Vietnamese records were from T onkin (King etal. 1975,

Vo Quy 1983). It was listed as near-threatened by Collar and Andrew

(1988).

GREAT BITTERN Botaurus stellaris One mounted specimen was found for

sale in Da Te market, west Lam Dong Province (Cochinchina) on 8 June.

According to the shopkeeper it had been purchased earlier in the year from

a local hunter.

Not recorded for Cochinchina by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

WHITE-SHOULDERED IBIS Pseudibis davisoni Three birds were observed

calling and displaying in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. ( 1 40 m) on 1 3 and 1 4 June

and local people reported that six were present in the same area earlier in the

year (Eames et al. 1992).

This record constitutes the first sighting of wild birds in continental South-

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

103

East Asia for many years. It was considered globally threatened by Collar and

Andrew (1988)

PAINTED STORK Mycteria leucocephala A total of 18 birds at the Tram

Chim Reserve on 16 April.

WOOLLY-NECKED STORK Ciconia episcopus Five birds were seen in

Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P.

LESSER ADJUTANT Leptoptilos javanicus A single bird was flushed from

a pool in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. on 19 June.

Its reluctance to leave the area suggested that it may have been breeding

locally. This locality is currently the only known breeding site for the species

in Viet Nam (Morris 1988, Scott 1989). It was considered globally

threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

BAR-BELLIED PITTA Pitta elliotii Small numbers were recorded in the

southern part of Bach Ma N.P. and in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. Although it

was considered a globally threatened species by Collar and Andrew (1988),

it is now considered less threatened than was previously thought and may no

longer warrant its classification as globally threatened (Eames et al. 1992).

GOLDEN-BELLIED GERY GONE Gerygone sulphurea One bird seen and

two or three heard at the Tram Chim Reserve, on 16 April; several birds

singing by the south-west shore of Cam Ranh Bay on 18 April and 12 May;

common in mangrove forest between Nha Be and Duyen Hai, Thanh Pho

Ho Chi Minh Province (Cochinchina) on 14 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

The former authors refer to its occurrence in Viet Nam as being based on an

‘old breeding record’ from Cochinchina.

WHITE- WINGED MAGPIE Urocissa whiteheadi Heard calling in the

north-east of Bach Ma N.P. on 26 April.

Listed as near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

RATCHET-TAILED TREEPIE Temnurus temnurus Several observed in

the north-east and southern parts of Bach Ma N.P. on 26 and 28 April

respectively.

Listed as near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

EURASIAN BLACKBIRD Turdusmerula Two birds near the headquarters

of Bach Ma N.P. on 24-25 April.

Not recorded for Central Annam by King et al. (1975). However,

Delacour and Jabouille (1931) mention wintering records from Quang Tri,

Hai Lang and Hue in Central Annam. Our records appear to be the furthest

south in Viet Nam to date.

GREEN COCHOA Cochoa viridis One calling on Mount Lang Bian ( 1 ,900-

2,000 m) on 31 May was tape-recorded.

Considered near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

104

C. R. ROBSON era/.

Forktail 9

GREY-STREAKED FLY CATCHER Muscicapa griseisticta One in gardens

near the headquarters of Bach Ma N.P. on 24-26 April.

The only previous Vietnamese and Indochinese record was from

Cochinchina (Delacour and Jabouille 1931).

NARCISSUS FLYCATCHER Ficedula narcissina A female of the nominate

subspecies in gardens near the headquarters of Bach Ma N.P. on 23 April.

There are only two previous Vietnamese and Indochinese records of this

subspecies, from Quang Tri and Hue (Central Annam) in March and April

(Delacour and Jabouille 1931).

BLUE-THROATED FLY CATCHER Cyornis rubeculoides One male on 1 0

June and a pair on 18 June in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140 m).

Not recorded for Cochinchina by Kang et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

One of the males observed was atypical, lacking the usual orange coloration

on the breast. Instead, the lower throat/upper breast was white and the

remainder of the breast off-white with some darker blotching; reminiscent of

the atypical Hainan Blue-Flycatcher C. hainanus depicted in Boonsong and

Round (1991).

CHESTNUT-TAILED STARLING Stumus malabaricus A pair seen at the

nest at Long Lanh (1,450 m) on 21 May.

Not previously recorded above 1,220 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975). The nest was situated in a hole in a pine tree and contained young.

CHESTNUT-VENTED NUTHATCH Sitta nagaensis Recorded at 1 ,080

m on Mount Pantar on 6 June.

Not previously recorded below 1,370 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975).

YELLOW-BILLED NUTHATCH Sitta solangiae At least three birds at

Cong Troi North (1,510 m) on 17 and 30 May; several at Cong Troi South

(1,500-1,700 m) on 19 May; several on Mount Bi Doup (1,800-2,100 m) on

22-23 May; at least six at Long Lanh East (1,500-1,800 m) on 24 May; up

to ten at Tuyen Lam (1,450-1,500 m) on 27-28 May and at least four on

Mount Lang Bian (1,900 m) on 31 May (Eames et al. 1992).

In South Annam, we have only recorded this species between 1,450 and

2,100 m on the Da Lat Plateau (see Robson etal. 1993) and the closely related

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch V. frontalis between 930 m and 1,350 m on the

adjacent Di Linh Plateau and slopes leading up to the Da Lat Plateau (see

Robson et al. 1993). It was considered globally threatened by Collar and

Andrew (1988).

YELLOW-BROWED TIT Sylviparus modestus Seen at Tuyen Lam (1 ,500

m) on 27 May.

Not previously recorded below 1,830 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975).

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Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Vie Nam

105

GREEN-BACKED TIT Pams monticolus Seen at Klong (1D50 m) on 18

May.

Not previously recorded below 1,525 m in South-East Asa (King et al.

1975).

NORTHERN HOUSE-MARTIN Delichon urbica At last one bird

amongst a flock of feeding hirundines at Mai Lanh, QuangTri Province

(Central Annam) on 5 May.

Not recorded for Central Annam by King et al. (1975) oi for northern

Annam by Vo Quy (1983). It was identified as this species nther than the

similar Asian House-Martin D. dasypus by its deeply forkedtail and pure

white underparts.

GREY-EYED BULBUL Iole propinqua Seen at Deo Nui Sar( 1,220 m) on

7 June.

Not previously recorded above 915 m in South-East Ask (King et al.

1975).

GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLA Cisticola exilis A male singing in the

southern part of Bach Ma N.P. on 27 April; at least three, incuding singing

males, at Ke Che (Khe Tche), just west of Bach Ma N.P. on 1 May; at least

two singing at Long Lanh (1,450 m) on 21 May; fairly common and

confirmed breeding in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P.

Not recorded for Cochinchina by King etal. (1975) orVo Qiv (1983). The

records from Central Annam appear to extend its range norhward in Viet

Nam (see Robson et al. 1989). Not previously recorded abcre 1,220 m in

South-East Asia (King et al. 1975). It seems that this specieshas expanded

its range in Viet Nam as a result of deforestation.

PLAIN PRINIA Prinia inomata Several birds singing at Lon; Lanh (1,450

m) on 21-22 May.

Not previously recorded above 915 m in South-East Ask (King et al.

1975).

YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA Prinia flaviventris Two or thre birds singing

at Long Lanh (1,450 m) on 21 May.

Not previously recorded above 1,220 m in South-East Asa (King et al.

1975).

PALE-FOOTED BUSH-WARBLER Cettia pallidipes Up ts four singing

males on the lower slopes of Mount Bi Doup (1,550 m), in suiable breeding

habitat, on 22-23 and 25 May.

These records constitute a remarkable breeding range extmsion for the

species, as King etal. (1975) and Vo Quy (1983) only record t as a migrant

to West Tonkin in Viet Nam (subspecies laurentei). One biri was trapped

and photographed and a full series of biometrics and notes wire taken. No

differences between these birds and C. p. laurentei could be fund during a

106

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

subsequent comparison of our material with skins in the British Museum,

Tring. A recording of the song was compared with a tape of song from north¬

west Thailand (subspecies laurentei) made by P. D. Round and it was found

to differ only slightly. The habitat consisted of open bracken-covered slopes.

ORIENTAL REED-WARELERHcrocep/zu/rr? orientalis Three or four birds

by the south-west shore of Cam Ranh Bay on 18 April.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

TWO-BARRED WARBLER Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus One seen in gardens

near the headquarters of Bach Ma N.P. on 24 and 26 April.

Not recorded for Central Annam by Delacour and Jabouille (1931).

YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER Abroscopus superciliaris Small numbers

were recorded in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. during 16-22 June.

Not recorded for Cochinchina by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy (1983).

BLACK-HOODED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax milleti A flock of at

least ten birds atCongTroi North (1,510 m) on 17 and 30 May with another

flock of at least five there on the latter date; two flocks of at least five and three

at Tuyen Lam (1,500 m) on 27 and 28 May respectively; a flock of at least

three birds seen and another one or two flocks heard on Mount Pantar

(1,100-1,350 m) on 6 June and a flock of at least eight seen and another two

or three flocks heard at Deo Nui San (1,160-1,220 m) on 7 June.

The first records of this Vietnamese endemic since it was reported by

Brunei 30 years previously (Brunei 1978). All the birds we saw were in flocks

in the undergrowth of broadleaved evergreen forest. The relatively low

altitudinal range of the species makes it particularly vulnerable to agricultural

encroachment (Eames et al. 1 992) and it was considered globally threatened

by Collar and Andrew (1988). Its vocalisations are very similar to the closely

related Grey Laughingthrush G. maesi and White-necked Laughingthrush

G. strepitans.

WHITE-CHEEKED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax vassali Three or

four at Klong (1,050-1,200 m) on 18 May; one at Cong Troi South (1,700

m) on 1 9 May; several birds including at least one juvenile at Long Lanh East

(1,500-1,700 m) on 24 May; at least 30 birds at Tuyen Lam (1,450-1,500

m) on 27-28 May; a flock of at least 35 birds at Cong Troi North (1,510 m)

on 30 May; several at Da Dung (1,280 m) on 1 June; several in the Di Linh

Village ‘8’ area (930 m) on 5 June; at least ten on Mount Pantar (1,080 m)

on 6 June and several at Deo Nui San (1,200 m) on 7 June.

To date, we have recorded this species from 650-1,900 m, in grass, scrub

or evergreen forest edge, often in large flocks (see Robson et al. 1989, 1 993) .

It was considered near-threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

SPOT-BREASTED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax merulinus Two

pairs seen and another male heard at Long Lanh East ( 1 ,500 m) on 25 May;

one male seen and another heard at Tuyen Lam (1,450 m) on 28 May; two

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

107

at Cong Troi North (1,510 m) on 30 May; several singing males on Mount

Pantar (1,100-1,350 m) on 6 June and three seen and three or four males

heard at Deo Nui San (1,160-1,220 m) on 7 June.

The subspecies involved, annamensis, is very distinctive and endemic to

the highlands of South Annam. Birds were found in undergrowth in cut-over

primary and secondary broadleaved evergreen forest, secondary growth

between abandoned cultivation and primary forest and at the edge of primary

and secondary forest. A male was trapped and photographed at Long Lanh

East. The species was considered near-threatened by Collar and Andrew

(1988).

COLLARED LAUGHINGTHRUSH Garrulax yersini At least eight birds

at Cong Troi South (1,500-1,700 m) on 19 May; several on Mount Bi Doup

(1,800-2,100 m) on 22-23 May; up to ten birds at Long Lanh East (1,500-

1,800 m) on 24-25 May; at least three at Cong Troi North (1,510 m) on 30

May and several on Mount Lang Bian (1,900 m) on 31 May.

To date, we have recorded the species between 1 ,500 m and 2,100 m. Two

birds were trapped and one photographed at Cong T roi South. It is endemic

to Viet Nam and was considered globally threatened by Collar and Andrew

(1988).

SHORT-TAILED SCIMITAR-BABBLER Jabouilleia danjoui Three seen

and another heard on Mount Bi Doup (1,980-2,000 m) on 22-23 May and

a family party of four birds at Long Lanh East (1,700 m) on 24 May (Eames

et al. 1992).

These records are apparently the first of the southern (nominate) subspecies

since its discovery in the 1920s (Delacour et al. 1928, Robinson and Kloss

1919). The southern subspecies appears to occur at higher elevations than

the northern subspecies (J. d. parvirostris ), which we have found only from

50-900 m (Robson et al. 1989, 1993). The species is endemic to Viet Nam

and was considered globally threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988).

GREY-FACED TIT-BABBLER Macronous kelleyi One singing in the

southern part of Bach Ma N.P. (130 m) on 29 April; two or three singing in

Nam Dong District (200-300 m) on 8 May; common in the Di Linh Village

‘8’ area (930 m) on 5 June; one or two singing on Mount Pantar (1,080 m)

on 6 June and fairly common in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140-250 m) during

9-25 June.

The records from Mount Pantar appear to be the highest to date (see

Robson etal. 1989, 1993). It was considered near-threatened by Collar and

Andrew (1988).

YELLOW-EYED BABBLER Chrysomma sinense One bird in Nam Bai Cat

Tien N.P. on 13 June.

Not previously recorded for Cochinchina by King et al. (1975) or Vo Quy

(1983).

108

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

CHESTNUT-FRONTED SHRIKE-BABBLER Pteruthius aenobarbus Seen

in the Di Linh Village ‘8’ area (930 m) on 5 June.

Not previously recorded below 1,220 m in South-East Asia (King et al.

1975).

FULVETTA Alcippe sp. On Mount Bi Doup (2, 1 60-2,289 m), one bird on

22 and 23 May and a flock of at least four on 23 May.

One bird was trapped and photographed in the hand and a full description

and series of biometrics were taken. After an analysis of specimens in the

British Museum, Tring and other material, we decided that these birds most

resemble A. mficapilla danisi. It appears that this subspecies is known only

from a single specimen (no. 268,092 in the Museum of Comparative

Zoology, Cambridge, U.S.A.) which was collected on Phu (Mount) Kobo

(2,000 m), northern Laos by Delacour and Greenway in 1938 (Delacour and

Greenway 1941). Cheng (1987) listed dam's?' from south-east Yunnan and

south-west Guizhou, China, noting that they were ‘originally identified asA

r. sordidior , but from zoogeographical viewpoint, the specimens collected

probably belong to A. r. danisi ’; the assignation of these specimens is perhaps

doubtful. Several differences were noted during a comparison of our material

with photographs of the danisi specimen held in the U.S.A.; notably the less

extensive area of silvery-whitish coloration visible at the base of the primaries

on the closed wing on the Bi Doup birds.

The habitat where birds were found on Mount Bi Doup consisted of

bamboo undergrowth in montane broadleaved evergreen forest and scrub in

a clearing on the summit.

More data are currently being gathered on the Bi Doup birds and it is hoped

that a full account will be published soon.

MOUNTAIN FULVETTA Alcippe peracensis To date, we have recorded/1.

p. groteiatihe. following localities (see Robson etal. 1989, 1993): Cue Phuong

N.P., Ha Nam Ninh Province (East Tonkin), Buon Luoi, Gia Lai Kon Turn

Province (Central Annam) and Son Tung, Nghe Tinh Province (North

Annam) in 1 988; throughout the lowland parts of Bach Ma N.P. in 1 990 and

1 99 1 and at Cat Bin, Nghe Tinh Province (North Annam) in 1 990; Nam Bai

Cat Tien N.P. in 1991. We recorded it from 50-700 m and breeding was

confirmed at Son Tung and Bach Ma N.P. A. p. annamensis was recorded

in the Pass ‘41’ area, A Sau A Luoi, Quang Tri/Thua Thien Province

(Central Annam) in 1988; Mount Bach Ma in Bach Ma N.P. in 1990 and

commonly at many localities on the Da Lat and Di Linh Plateaus, Lam Dong

Province (South Annam) during 1 990 and 1991. We recorded it from 700-

2, 1 00 m and breeding was confirmed on Mount Lang Bian. The subspecific

identification of birds observed at Kon Cha Rang (at 700-850 m), Gia Lai

Kon Turn Province (Central Annam) in 1988 remains undetermined.

We believe that the subspecies grotei has been wrongly assigned to

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

109

Mountain Fulvetta. Its biometrics, song and altitudinal range place it much

closer to Brown-cheeked Fulvetta A. poioicephala. Additionally, in 1 990, we

found grotei and annamensis occurring together in Bach Ma N.P.; the former

below 700 m and the latter above 900 m. Morphologically, grotei is distinct

from both Brown-cheeked and Mountain Fulvettas and may prove to be a full

species.

Further research is currently underway and it is hoped that a paper will be

published on the status of A. p. grotei in the near future.

ORIENTAL SKYLARK Alauda gulgula In South Annam: several birds at

Phan Thiet salt pans on 18 April; several between Phan Rang, Thuan Hai

Province and Cam Ranh Bay, Khanh Hoa Province on 18 April; several

between Nha T rang and Van Ninh, Khanh Hoa Province on 1 9 April and 1 1

May and several by the south-west shore of Cam Ranh Bay on 1 2 May.

Not recorded for South Annam by King et al. (1975).

STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER Arachnothera magna Single birds were

recorded in Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P. (140 m) on 15 and 19 June.

There are no previous records for Cochinchina according to King et al.

(1975) and Vo Quy (1983). The former authors also state that it occurs only

above 915 m in Viet Nam.

VIETNAMESE GREENFINCH Carduelis monguilloti Several birds seen at

Klong (1,050 m) on 18 May.

Not previously recorded below 1,220 m (King et al. 1975). A flock of ten

birds, including juveniles, was observed flycatching from a pine Pinus

insularis (catching airborne termites) at Da Lat on 16 May (Eames et al.

1992).

We would like to express our gratitude to Geo-Initiative ‘Projekt Tropischer Regenwald e.V’ and the A.

S. Butler Charitable Trust for their financial support, and the Oriental Bird Club for providing a grant

to cover expenses incurred by Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La.

We would like to thank the following people for their support and assistance during the planning stages

of the 1991 visit: Dr. A. Green, R. F. A. Grimmett, Dr. G. E. Morris, S. Usui and R. Wirth.

In Viet Nam we were, once again, assisted by many people, without whom fieldwork would not have been

possible. We would particularly like to thank the following people: Prof. Dr Vo Quy and Dr Le Dien

Due (CRES); Dr Dang Huy Huynh and Dr Nguyen Tien Ban at the Centre for Ecology and Biological

Resources, Hanoi; Dr Doan Canh (FIPI); Truong Quang Tam and Dr Tran Van Minh at the Centre

for Ecology, T. P. Ho Chi Minh; Le Van Chiem (director), Bay Sot, Phan Thanh Tong and all the staff

at Nam Bai Cat Tien N.P.; Dr Nguyen Dang Khoi and staff at the Ecology Institute, Da Lat; Huynh

Van Keo (director) and staff at Bach Ma N.P.

Particular thanks are due to the hard work and enthusiasm of our driver Minh, whose skills enabled us

to reach many destinations which would otherwise have been inaccessible.

C. R. Robson, 63 Stafford Street, Norwich NR2 3BD, U.K.

J. C. Eames, c/o BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 ON A, U.K.

Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, NCSR, Hanot, Viet Nam.

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

110

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Fischer, W. (1961) Kleine Beitriige zur Vogelkunde Vietnams. Beitr. Vogelk. 7: 285-317.

Fischer, W. (1965) Neue Beitrage zur Vogelkunde Vietnams. Beitr. Vogelk. 10: 361-379.

Fischer, W. (1974) Vorlaufiger Abschlussbcricht uber Vogel-beobachtungen in Vietnam. Beitr. Vogelk.

20: 249-300.

Fischer, W. (1983) Ein Beitriig zum Vorkommen, Durchzug und zur Ubersommerung von Limikolen

(Charadriiformes) in Vietnam. Beitr. Vogelk. 29: 297-305.

Glutz von Blotzheim, U. N. and Bauer, K. M. (1982) Handbuch der Vogel Mirteleuropas, 8/1.

King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

London: Collins.

MacKinnon, J. and MacKinnon, K. (1986) Review of the protected areas system in the Indo-Malayan realm.

Gland, Switzerland and London, U.K. : International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural

Resources.

Morris, G. E. (1988) Recent sight records of birds at Nam Cat Tien. Garrulax 4: 11-13.

Robinson, FI. C. and Kloss, C. B. (1919) On birds from South Annam and Cochin China. Ibis (11)1:

392-453, 565-625.

Robinson, H. C. and Kloss, C. B. (1921) Some birds from Pulo Condor e.J. Nat. Hist. Soc. Siam 4: 85-

91.

Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Wolstencroft, J. A., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La (1989) Recent records

of birds from Viet Nam. Forktail 5: 71-97.

Robson, C. R., Eames, J. C., Nguyen Cu and Truong Van La (1993) Further recent records of birds

from Viet Nam. Forktail 8: 25-52.

Round, P. D. (1988) Resident forest birds in Thailand: their status and conservation. Cambridge, U.K.:

International Council for Bird Preservation (Monogr. 2).

Scott, D. A. (1988) Bird observations in Vietnam: 7-2 1 March 1988. Appendix XII of Wetland projects

in Vietnam, report on a visit to the Red River and Mekong deltas during March 1988. Unpublished.

Scott, D. A. (1989 )A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, U.K.: 1UCN, The

World Conservation Union.

Scott, D. A., Howes, J. and Le Dien Due (1989) Management recommendations for Xuan Thuy

Reserve, Red River Delta. Appendix III: birds recorded in Xuan Thuy District, Red River Delta, 10-

12 March 1988 & 17-31 March 1989. Asian Wetland Bureau.

Sparrman, A. (1789) Museum Carlsonianum, in quo novas et selectas aves, coloribus ad vivum brevique

descriptione illustratus suasu el sumtibus generosissimi possessoris exhibet A. Sparrman.

Vo Quy (1983) [A catalogue of the birds of Vietnam]. Pp. 12-43 in L. N. Medvedev, ed. [Fauna and

ecology of the animals of Vietnam.] Moskva: Nauka. (In Russian.)

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

1 1 1

APPENDIX

ALL THE 1991 EXPEDITION’S BIRD RECORDS FROM VIET

NAM

The numbers following each species correspond to the places listed in the ‘main localities visited’ section at the beginning

of this paper.

The codes (in parentheses) which are attached to locality codes represent die following details of breeding and occurrence:

( ) Identification uncertain

[ ] Reported by local people

{ | Specimen, remains or feathers examined

B Breeding data obtained

C Adult observed carrying food

F Fledged young observed

M Birds observed carrying nest material

N Nest found:

e. With eggs

b. Nest building

i. Adult on nest

n. No contents

u. Contents unknown

y. With young

Chinese Francolin Francolinus piniadeanus

Rain Quail Commix coromandelica

Blue-breasted Quail C. chinensis

Rufous-throated Partridge Arborophila rufogularis

Bar-backed Partridge A. brwineopectus

Orange-necked Partridge A. davidi

Scaly-breasted Partridge A. chloropus

Ann am Partridge A (chloropus) merlini

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus

Silver Pheasant Lophura nycihemera

Siamese Fireback L. diardi

Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron gcrmaim

Grey Peacock-Pheasant P. bicalcaratum

Crested Argus Rheinardia ocellata

Green Peafowl Pavo muticus

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica

White-winged Duck Cairina scutulata

Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandeliatius

Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha

Garganey A. querquedula

Barred Buttonquail Tumix suscitator

Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus

White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea

Grey-capped Woodpecker Dcndrocopos canicapillus

Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus

White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javetisis

Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus

Greater Yellownape P. Jlavinucha

Laced Woodpecker P. vittatus

Grey-faced Woodpecker P. canus

1.2.10.12.24

10

14

1,3,4,5,6,7,12

7,8,9,11,12,13,15

14

1.7

15

9(BF),14(BF),15,23,{24J

1,4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, [24]

14

[7], 19, 111, 12, 14

[24]

1.3.15.24

[11], 14, [24]

10.14.17.21.22.23.24

[14]

14

17(BP)

21

1.2.4.11.12.14.15.16.24

3,8(BF),9,12

14

1.2.6.10.12.14

1.7.14

2.14

7.14

1.2.4.7.9.11.14.15.16

14.15.16

2.7

112

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidtis

Pale-headed Woodpecker Gecinulus grantia

Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis

Black-and-buff Woodpecker Meiglyptes jugularis

Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente

Great Slaty W'oodpecker Mulknpicus pulverulentus

Red-vented Barbet Megalairna lagrandieri

Lineated Barbet At. lineata

Green-eared Barbet At. faiostricta

Golden-throated Barbet At. franklinii

Black-browed Barbet At. oorti

Moustached Barbet M. incognita

Blue-eared Barbet M. australis

Coppersmith Barbet At. haemacephala

Oriental Pied-Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris

Great Hornbill Buceros bicomis

Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

O range- breasted Trogon Harpactes orcskios

Red-headed Trogon H. erythrocephalus

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Blyth’s Kingfisher Alcedo Hercules

Common Kingfisher A. atxhis

Blue-eared Kingfisher A. metiinting

Black-backed Kingfisher Ceyx erithacus

Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella

Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smymensis

Black-cappf.d Kingfisher H. pileata

Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris

Crested Kingfisher Ategaceryle lugubris

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyomis aihertoni

Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Blue-throated Bee-eater At. viridis

Blue-tailf.d Bee-eater At. philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater At. leschenaulti

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus

Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus

Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii

Plaintive Cuckoo C. merulinus

Asian Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus

Violet Cuckoo C. xanthorhynchus

Drongo Cuckoo Sumiculus lugubris

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo Carpococcyx renauldi

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

Lesser Coucal C. bengalensis

Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vcmalis

Grey-headed Parakeet Psittacula finschii

Blossom-headed Parakftt P. roseata

Red-breasted Parakeet P. alexandri

CRESTED Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata

1.14

14

1.4.6.7.8.12.13

14

14

14

7.8.11.12.13.14.15.16

14

14.15.16

12

1.4.5.11.15

1.3.5.7.8.9.11.13

14

22

14(BF)

12(BF), 13,14, 124|

14

23

14

3.7.8.11.13.14.16

14,23

1.2.9.14.15.16

15

15.17.19.21

14

14

14.15

14.15

9.1 1.12.14.15.16.23.24

15.24

18.21

10.15

14.17.21.23

4.11.12.13.14

1 1.14.17.23.24

15

23.24

14.15

15

4.15.16.24

7.11.14

14.15.16.17.21.22.23

15

14

5.6.14.15.16

23.24

7.11.12.13.14.15.16.24

15

2.8.9.10.11.14.15.16.23

2.9.1 1.13.14 (BF), 15,16,24

11.12.13.14.15.16

9,1 1

15

2.14

23

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdiife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

113

Himalayan SvnFrLET Collocalia brevirostris

Germain’s SwiFrLET C. germani

Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis

Brown-backed Needletail H. gigameus

Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiums balasiensis

Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus

House Swift A. nipalensis

Eastern Grass-Owl Tyto longimembris

Mountain Scops-Owl Otus spilocephalus

Collared Scops-Owl O. lempiji

Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis

Brown Fish-Owl Kerupa zeylonensis

Tawny Fish-Owl K. flavipes

Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei

Asian Barred Owlet G. cuculoides

Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata

Great Eared-Nightjar Eurastopodus macrotis

Grey Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus

Large-tailed Nightjar C. macnmts

Rock Pigeon Coluniba livia

Pale-capped Pigeon C. punicea

Spo tted Dove Streptopelia chinensis

Red Collared-Dove .S. tranquebarica

Barred Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia unchall

Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

Pink-necked Green-Pigeon Treron venians

Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon T. bicincta

Thick-billed Green-Pigeon T. curvirostra

Yellow-vented Green-Pigf.on T. seimundi

Wedge-tailed Green-Pigeon T. sphenura

Green-Pigeon Treron sp.

Green Imperial Pigeon Dticula aenea

Mountain Imperial Pigeon D. badia

Sarus Crane Grits antigone

Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata

Si-aty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus

White-breasted Waterhen Amauromis phoenicurus

Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea

Purple Swamphen Porphyria porphyrio

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa lirnosa

Bar-tailed Godwit L. lapponica

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew N. arquata

Common Redshank Tringa totanus

Marsh Sandpiper T. stagnatilis

Common Greenshank T. nebularia

Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

T erek Sandpiper T. cinerea

Common Sandpiper T. hypoleucos

Grey-tailed Tattler T. brevipes

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interprcs

Rufous-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis

3

15.22.23.24

14.15.16

15

1 1,15,21,23

15.24

4,6,8, 1 0(BN), 1 5,22,23,24

2,110!

15

14.15.24

110!

14

14

3.4.5.12.13.15

8.14.15

14

14

2,10

14

10.16.23.24

9

2. 7. 9. 10. 12. 14. 15. 16. 21.22. 23. 24

15,17,23,24(BC)

1.2.3.9.11.12.14.15

11.12.13.14.15

14

15.24

11.16

12,13

8

14

14

1.3.4.11.12.13.15

17

14

15

10,14,15,16

14.15

14.21.22

14.17.23

10.15

15,21

20

20

18,20

18,20

18.19.20.23

17.19.20.23

17.18.19.20.21.22.23

17.21.23.24

20

15.17.19.20.21.23.24

20,23

18.19.20.24

18.19.20.23.24

1 14

C. R. ROBSON eta!.

Forktail 9

Temminck’s Stint C. temminckii

Long-toed Stint C. subminuta

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper C. acuminata

Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea

Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chinirgus

Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

Grey Pi over P. squatarola

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus

Mongolian Plover C. mongolus

Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii

Oriental Plover C. veredus

River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii

Red-wattled Lapwing V. indicus

Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum

Herring Gull Lams argemaius

Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica

Caspian Tern S. caspia

Roseate Tern S. dougallii

Black-naped Tern .S', stimatrana

Common Tern .S', hirundo

Little Tern S. albifrons

Bridled Tern S. anaethetus

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus

White-winged Tern C. leucopterus

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Jerdon’s Baza Aviceda jerdoni

Black Baza A. leuphotes

Oriental Honey-Buzzard Penns ptilorhyncus

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus

White-bellied Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster

Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus

Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilomis cheela

Eastern Marsh-Harrier Circus spilonotus

Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus

Shikra A. badius

Besra A. virgatus

Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis

Rufous-belued Eagle Hieraeetus kienerii

Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus

Collared Falconet Microhierax caemlescens

Pied Falconet M. melanoleucus

Oriental Hobby Falco severus

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogastcr

Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax ntger

Little Egre t Egreua garzetta

Chinese Egret E. euhphotes

Pacific Reef-Egret E. sacra

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

19

19.20

19

18.19.20

19

20.24

15.17

14.17

17.18.19.20

17,18,19,23

18.20

17.24

18.19.20.23.24

18.19.20.23.24

19.20.23.24

19

24

9,10,14,17,23,24(BN)

17.21.22.23.24

24

18

18

24

23.24

24

18,1 9,20(Bne),23,24

23.24

14.18.21.22.23.24

22.23.24

7.14.18.24

6

14.15

11.12.14.15

2.9.14.17.23.24

14,22

23

14.15

1,2,4,7,8,14,15,16

17

1.3.4.13.15

5.7.14

5

1(BF), 3, 4,5,6, 7, 8, 13, 16, 24

1,3

3,(?6)

14

16

10.14

7.10.17

14.17

7.14.17

14.15.18.21.23.24

20

18,20

17.18.19.20.23.24

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

115

Purple Heron A. purpurea

Great Egret Casmerodius albus

Intermediate Egret Mesoplioyx intermedia

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Chinese Pond-Heron Ardcola bacchus

Javan Pond-Heron A. spedosa

Striated Heron Buiorides striaius

Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus

Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis

Schrenck’s Bittern I. eurhythmus

Cinnamon Bittern I. cinnamomeus

Black Bittern I. flavicollis

Great Bittern Botaurus slellaris

White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala

Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus

Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus

Blue-rumped Pitta Pitta soror

Rusty-naped Pitta P. oatesi

Blue Pitta P. cyanea

Bar-bellied Pitta P. elliotii

Blue-winged Pitta P. moluccensis

Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus

Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos

Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus

Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus

Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae

Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea

Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylotiensis

Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella

Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis

Golden-fronted Leafbird C. aurifrons

Orange-bellied Leafbird C. hardwickii

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

Burmese Shrike L. collurioides

Long-tailed Shrike L. schach

Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius

White-winged Magpie Urocissa whiteheadi

Green Magpie Cissa chinensis

Yellow-breasted Magpie C. (thalassina) hypoleuca

Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia

Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus

Black-billed Magpie Pica pica

Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

Ashy Wood-swallow Ariamus fuscus

Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris

Black-hooded Oriole O. xanthomus

Maroon Oriole O. traillii

Large Cuckoo-shrike Coracina macei

Indochinese Cuckoo-shrike C. polioptera

Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike C. melaschisros

Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus Solaris

Long-tailed Minivet P. ethologus

Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus

14,17,21,23

14.17.20.23.24

15.17.23.24

15.23.24

10.15.16.21.23.24

17,18,22

15.18.20.21

14

14.15.21

15

10.14.15.16.21.23.24

14,15

{22|

14

17

14

14

14

110!

1.7.8.11.13

14.15

14

14

14(BN)

14

(13)

4.8.1 1 (BF), 1 2,15

17,18,20

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.11.12.13.15

8.9.11.12.13.14.15.16

11.14.15.16

14

15

15,17,21,22,23

1,2(BF),7(BF),9, 10(BF)

15.16.24

2.4.9.10

15

I, 3,6

4,13,14(BF)

I I, 14(BF),15,23,24

15

24

11.16.20.23.24

1.2.20.23.24

2,9

14

1.3.4.7.11

1.2.3.4.9.11.12.13.14.15

2,9,12

14.16

3.5.7.8.12.13

1.4.6.7.9.10

8.11.12.14.15

3,7,8,12,14

116

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis

Pied Fantail R. javanica

Black Drongo Dicrums macrocercus

Ashy Drongo D. leucophaeus

Bronzed Drongo D. aeneus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo D. remi/er

Hair-crested Drongo D. hottentotius

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiscus

Black-naped Monarch Hyporhymis azurea

Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone parodist

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

Great Iora A. lafrcsnayei

Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis

Blue Rock-T brush Monticola solitarius

Blue Whistling-Thrush Myiophonus caeruleus

Orange-headed Thrush Zooihcra citrina

Dark-sided Thrush Z. marginata

Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis

Eurasian Blackbird T. merula

Lesser Shortwing Brachypieryx lencophrys

Grey-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa griseisticta

Aslan Brown Flycatcher M. dauurica

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficcdula narcissina

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher F. strophiaia

Red-breasted Flycatcher /•'. parva

Rufous-browed Flycatcher F. soliians

Snowy-browed Flycatcher F. hyperyihra

Little Pied Flycatcher F. westermanni

Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina

Large Niltava Niltava grandis

Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides

Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher C. tickelliae

Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane

Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus

White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum

Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus

Spotted Forktail E. maculatus

Green Cochoa Cochoa viridis

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura

Pied Bushchat S. caprata

Grey Bushchat S. ferrea

Chestnut-tailed Starling Stumus malabaricus

White-shouldered Starling 5. sinensis

Black-collared Starling S. nigricollis

Vinous-breasted Starling S. burmannicus

Common Myna Acridotheres irisiis

Crested Myna A. crisiatellus

Golden-crested Myna Ampdiceps coronatus

Hill Myna Gracula religiosa

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sirra nagaensis

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch S. frontalis

Yellow-billed Nuthatch S. solangiae

Brown-throated T ree-creeper Ccrthia discolor

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.11.12.13

17,18

15.17.23.24

I, 2(BF),4,6(BF),7,8,9,10,1 1,12,13, 1 4(BF),

15(Bny), 16

I I, 13,14(BF),1 5,16

1.3.4.5.7.8.11.12.13

14.15

1 2, 1 4(BF), 15,16

11,14,15,16

11.14.15.16

14.15.17.21.22.24

11.14.15

2,14

15.24

2.4.10.15

8

12.13

15

15

1,3,4,5,6(BC),7,9

15

15.22.23

15

1.3. 4. 6

15.17.22.24

1.3.4.7.8.9.12.13

3.4.6

1,2,4(BF),6,7,8,9,10,1 3

1 ,4,5(Bne),6,9(BF), 1 3

1.3.5.6.7.8.12.13

8.1 1.12.14.15

14(BF)

15

11.14.15.16.17.18.21.23.24

8.11.14.16

3(BF),4,5,6,7,8

2,5(BF),14

3

6

15,17,21

17

1 (BF),2,4(BF),6,7(BF),9,10

2(Bny),l 1

15.22.23.24

1 ,2(BF),7,8,9, 1 0, 1 4, 1 5,24

1.2.7.9.10.14.23

23.24

16.24

14

12,14(BF),15,16

1,2,4,6,7,9,10,12

8 (BF), 11,12,13,14

1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7

1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

117

Great Tit Pams major

Green-backed Trr P. monticolus

Yellow-cheeked Tit P. spilonotus

Yellow-browed Trr Sylviparus modestus

Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus

Sand Martin Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Striated Swallow H. striolaia

Northern House-Martin Delichon urbica

Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus airiceps

Black-crested Bulbul P. melanicterus

Red-whiskered Bulbul P. jocosus

Sooty-headed Bulbul P. aurigaster

Stripe-throated Bulbul P. finlaysoni

Flavescent Bulbul P. flavescens

Y ellow-vented Bulbul P. goiavier

Streak-eared Bulbul P. blanfordi

Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus

Ochraceous Bulbul A. ochraceus

Grey-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua

Ashy Bulbul Hemixos Jlavala

Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandii

Black Bulbul H. leucocephalus

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis

Golden-headed Cisticola C. exilis

Hill Prinia Prinia airogularis

Rufescent Prinia P. mfescens

Grey-breasted Prinia P. hodgsonii

Y ellow’-bellied Prinia P. flaviventris

Plain Prinia P. inomaia

Oriental White-eye Zosierops palpebrosus

Grey-bellied Tesla Tesia cyaniventer

Pale-foo ted Bush-Warbler Cettia pallidipes

Russet Bush-Warbler Bradypiems seebohnu

Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata

Black-browed Reed-Warbler Acrocepltalus bistrigiceps

Oriental Reed- Warbler A. orientalis

Thick-billed Warbler A. aedon

Mountain Tailorbird Orthoromus cuculatus

Common Tailorbird O. sutorius

Dark-necked Tailorbird O. atrogularis

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus

Ashy-throated Warbler P. maculipennis

Arctic Warbler P. borealis

Two-barred Warbier P. plumbeiiarsus

Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler P. tenellipes

Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler P. reguloides

White-tailed Leaf-Warbler P. davisoni

White-spectacled Warbler Seicercus affinis

Chestnut-crowned Warbler S. castaniceps

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris

Striated Grassbird Megalums palusrris

Masked Laughingthrush Garmlax perspicillatus

White-crested Laughingthrush G. leucolophus

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush G. monileger

24

1,2,4,6,7,8,9,10,12

1,3,4,5,6(BF),7,8

1.3. 5. 7

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.11.12.13

17

2. 10. 14. 15. 16. 17.18. 21. 22. 23. 24

15.17.24

24

14

8.11.14

1,2, 4, 8(BF), 9,1 1,14,15,16,23,24

6.7.8.10.14.23.24

14.15

1.2.3.4.6.7.9.12.13

18

14.17.22.23

15.16

8.11.12.13.14

11.13.14

7.8.11.12.13

1,3,5,6,7,8,12

4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.1 1.12.13

14.19.20.23

2,14(Bne),15,16

1,2(BF),3,4,5,6,7(BF),8,9,10,1 1

12,14(BF)

8.11.15.16

2, 1 1 , 1 4(BN), 15,16,18

1.2.7.11.14

8,9,18

1(BF),3,4,5,6,7

1

1.2. 4. 7

15,17

17.21

15.17.18.20.21

15

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.13

15.24

8.9.1 1.12.13.14.15.16

15,17

1.3.6

15.16.24

15

15

1.3. 4.6

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12.13

1.3. 4. 5. 6. 7

1.3.4.5.7.9.13

13.14

15.17.24

15.24

8.11.12.14.15.24

15

118

C. R. ROBSON eial.

Forktail 9

Black-hooded Laughingthrush G. milleii

Black-throated Laughingthrush G. chinensis

White-cheeked Laughingthrush G. vassali

Spot-breasted Laughingthrush G. merulinus

Collared Laughingthrush G. yersini

Abbott’s Babbler Malacocincla abbotii

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellomeum (Trichastoma) tickelli

Spot-throated Babbler Pellomeum albiventre

Puff-throated Babbler P. ruficeps

Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum

Large Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus hypoleucos

White- browed Scimitar-Babbler P. schisticeps

Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler P. ochraceiceps

Short-tailed Scimitar-Babbler Jabouilleia danjoui

Streaked Wren-Babbler Napoihera brevicaudaia

Eye-browed Wren-Babbler N. epilepidota

Pygmy Wren-Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla

Rufous-capped Babbler Stachyris mficeps

Grey-throated Babbler S. nigriceps

Spot-necked Babbler S. striolata

Striped Tit-Babbler Macronous gularis

Grey-faced Tit-Babbler M. kelleyi

Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata

Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense

Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris

Cutia Cutia nipalensis

White-browed Shrike-Babbler Ptentthius flaviscapis

Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler P. aenobarbus

White-hooded Babbler Gampsorhynchus rufulus

Blue-winged Minla Minla cyatiouroptera

Rufous-winged Fulvetta Alcippe castaneceps

Fulvetta Alcippe sp.

Fulvetta A. (peracemis) grotei

Mountain Fulvetta A. peracensis amiamensis

Rufous-backed Sibia Heterophasia annectans

Black-headed Sibia H. melanoleuca

White-bellied Yuhina Yuhina zamholeuca

Grey-headed Parrotbill Paradoxomis gularis

Rufous-winged Lark Mirafra assamica

Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula

T hick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker D. chtysorrheum

Plain Flowerpecker D. concolor

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker D. ignipectus

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker D. cruemaium

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Anthreptes singalensis

Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum

Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis

Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae

Fork-tailed Sunbird A. christinae

Black-throated Sunbird A. saturata

Crimson Sunbird A. siparaja

Little SpiDERHUNTER/lracfcnoi/jpi'a longirostra

Streaked Spiderhunter A. magna

Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus

5.7.12.13

15.24

3(BF), 4, 5,7,8,9,11, 12, 13

3.5.7.12.13

1,3, 4, 5, 6

14(Bne),16

14.15.24

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.13

14

14,15

11,14,16

3.4.6.12.13.14

4.12.13

1,3

12

3.8.12

1,3, 4, 5, 6, 7

1,3,4,5(BF),6,7,8,9,12,13

3.5.6.12.14.15

15

8,1 1,12, 13, 14(BF), 15,16,23, 24

11.12.14.15.16

14.16

14

1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.13

1.3.4.6.7.12.13

1.3.6.7.8.12

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.11.12.13

14

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.13

1,3, 4, 5, 6

1

14,15(Bne)

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.11.12.13

7

1,2,3,4(BF),5,6,7,8,12,13

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.11.12.13

4, 5, 7, 8

20.23

17.19.20.23

8(BF)

14.15

1 1.15

1.3.4.5.7.8.13

1 1,14,24(BF)

14

14.15

14.15.16.23.24

1.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.12

15.16

13,(15)

11.14.15

14.15

1.3.7.8.11.12.13.14.16

17.18.22.23

1994

Birds recorded during the third Birdlife/Forest Birds expedition in Viet Nam

119

Eurasian Tree Sparrow P. montanus

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla j, Java

Grey Wagtail M. cinerea

Richard’s Pipit Anihus richardi

Paddyfield Piprr A. rufulus

Olive- backed Pipit A. hodgsoni

Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar

Baya Weaver P. philippinus

Asian Golden Weaver P. hypoxanthus

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata

Scaly-breasted Munia L. punctulata

Black-headed Munia L. malacca

Vietnamese Greenfinch Carduelis monguiUoti

Red Crossbill Loxia curviroslra

Y eieow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola

10.16.17.18.21.22.23.24

15,16,17,21,22

15

15,16

2.6.10.14.17.23.24

4,15

14(Bne)

14(BN),21

14(Bne)

4,8,11, 13, 14(Bne), 15

2,3,4,6,7,10,13,17

14

1,2,4,7,8,9,10(BF)

1,2, 6, 7, 9

15,17,21

ERRATA

Corrections to Robson et at. (1993):

P. 27 Figure: Quy Nhon = Qui Nhon.

P. 28 paragraph 4, line 1: Mount Lang Bian is 2,167 m and not 2,267 m as stated.

P. 47 line 33, should read: CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE Spizaetus cirrhatus 3, (?6)

120

C. R. ROBSON etal.

Forktail 9

1994

FORKTAIL 9 (1993): 121 - 143

121

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan

in spring 1993

C. INSKIPP AND T. P. INSKIPP

The birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan between 9 April and 31 May 1993 are documented. A total

of 376 species was recorded of which 33 were apparently first published records for Bhutan, although

previous unpublished records exist for 12 of the latter. A list is given of 1 14 bird species which have

restricted breeding distributions and for which Bhutan may hold significant populations.

Baseline information is lacking on the bird species occurring in Bhutan and

their status and distribution. About 580 species have so far been recorded and

many more are likely to occur. These include 1 14 species for which Bhutan

may support internationally significant breeding populations (see Appendix

I) . Their breeding ranges are restricted to an area encompassing the Himalayas,

north-east India, northern South-East Asia and south-west China. The

boundaries of this area are to some extent arbitrary, but do coincide roughly

with the mountain ranges contiguous with the Himalayas and its neighbouring

lowlands. Many of these species are temperate forest birds. This is because

a high proportion of the remaining temperate forests in the Indian subcontinent

lie in Bhutan.

A programme of wildlife inventory compilation alongside socio-economic

assessment of communities living adjacent to protected areas is currently

being carried out by the Royal Government of Bhutan Department of Forests

and the WWF Bhutan Programme. The main objectives are to improve

knowledge of Bhutan’s natural environment, to help plan and establish a

system of protected areas, and to develop an integrated conservation and

development programme in protected areas in Bhutan. In April and May

1993 we were very fortunate to be invited to join the group of field workers

engaged in this programme. Together with Kado Tshering and Pema

Gyaltshen from the Department of Forests, we formed the avifauna team.

We coordinated our activities with those of two other teams who made

surveys of fauna, flora and socio-economic factors.

During our stay in Bhutan between 9 April and 31 May we recorded 331

bird species during the survey and an additional 45 species elsewhere in

country7. A swiftlet Collocalia species seen on several occasions may be an

undescribed species. A list of recorded species, their habitats and altitudinal

ranges are given in Appendix II. Thirty-three species were found for which

there are no previously published records for Bhutan. Four species which

have been identified as globally threatened by Collar and Andrew (1988)

122

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

Figure 1. Bhutan, showing locations mentioned in text..

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

123

were recorded: Rufous-necked Hornbill Aceros nipalensis , Pallas’s Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus Ieucoryphus, White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis and Rufous-

throated Wren-Babbler Spelaeomis caudatus. A total of 64 species for which

Bhutan may support internationally significant breeding populations were

also found.

After a few days in the capital, Thimphu (2,400 m) we drove to the Royal

Manas National Park via Phuntsholing (350 m) on the southern border, and

West Bengal and Assam in India. The wide braided channels and shingle

islands of the T orsa river at Phuntsholing hold a wide variety of wetland birds,

especially passage migrants. Between 17 and 25 April we recorded 16 new

species for the country in Manas. Much of our time was spent in primary

tropical evergreen and moist semi-evergreen forests.

We then walked north over the Himalayan foothills through the proposed

link area between Manas National Park and the proposed Black Mountains

Nature Reserve reaching Tingtibi (650 m) on 2 May. Apart from several

villages and associated clearings for cultivation, the hills are largely clothed

in primary broadleaved tropical and subtropical evergreen and moist semi¬

evergreen forests with patches of bamboo. Between Tshanglajong (1,065 m)

and Tingtibi there are extensive stands of tall bamboo. The broadleaved

evergreen forests and bamboo stands in the tropical and subtropical zones

were found to be particularly interesting for birds and must of special

importance ornithologically in the Indian subcontinent. These vegetation

types, which are still substantially intact in Bhutan, are now scarce or absent

in other Himalayan countries because of deforestation.

The Rufous-necked Hornbill, appeared to be fairly common in the

broadleaved evergreen forests. Other birds recorded which have restricted

ranges and are dependent on evergreen forest include Collared Treepie

Dendrocitta frontalis. Spotted Wren-Babbler Spelaeomis formosus, Yellow-

throated Fulvetta Alcippe cinerea and White-naped Yuhina Yuhina bakeri.

The bamboo stands between Tshanglajong and Tingtibi are also important

for several specialist birds which require this habitat, including the Lesser

Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxomis atrosuperciliaris of the very distinct

subspecies oatesi. Apart from recent records in Bhutan this subspecies has

only been previously recorded in Darjeeling and Sikkim in the last century.

The Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator, which has a very restricted

range, was found to be common in evergreen tropical and subtropical forests,

and was regularly recorded in semi-evergreen forests. Most birds recorded

were singing and presumably holding breeding territories.

On five days and around three villages between 650 m and 1 ,395 m we saw

a swiftlet Collocalia species, probably a migrant, which we could not identify.

The birds did not resemble any specimens of Collocalia species which we

subsequently examined in the collection of the British Museum (Natural

History). The tail furcation was similar to that of Himalayan Swiftlet

124

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

Collocalia brevirostris, but the bird was slightly larger and longer- winged. The

plumage was generally blackish, with only a slightly paler rump, unlike the

grey coloration and more contrasting paler rump of Himalayan Swiftlet. The

flight was stronger, more direct and less ‘fluttering’ than the last species.

After spending a rest day at T ongsa (2,200 m) in central Bhutan, we carried

out a survey in the proposed Black Mountains Nature Reserve between 7 and

22 May, covering the loop from Phobjika (2,780 m) to Ada (1,280 m) and

back to Phobjika via the Gele La pass (3,630 m) and the Harachhu valley

(1,125 - 1,445 m). The survey was largely in primary subtropical and

temperate forests, mainly comprising broadleaves or mixed broadleaves/

conifers with extensive stands of bamboo in the wetter areas and Chir Pine

Pinus roxbarghii covering drier slopes in the subtropical zone.

On this trek we had some logistical difficulties which prevented us

adequately covering the higher altitude areas in the temperate zone. Many

noteworthy bird species were still recorded in temperate forests however,

including as many as 37 species for which Bhutan may support internationally

significant breeding populations. One of these was the Satyr Tragopan

Tragopan satyra which appeared to be fairly common in mixed coniferous/

broadleaved forests between 2,805 m and 3,430 m. In its range outside of

Bhutan this species is declining because of hunting and deforestation. As we

left Phobjika and drove over the northern rim of the valley there was a sudden

heavy shower and we were amazed to see a Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus by

the roadside, grounded by the rain. This record is apparently the first for

Bhutan.

The subtropical forests along the trail between Phobjika and Ada were

found to be significantly less species-rich than those between Manas and

Tingtibi. The former forests are drier and mainly semi-evergreen with only

patches of evergreen character compared to the largely evergreen forests

south of Tingtibi. One notable species in the subtropical semi-evergreen

forests between Phobjika and Ada was the Yellow-vented Warbler, which

was found to be fairly common. Three globally threatened species were

recorded in the relatively moist forests around Ada: Rufous-necked Hornbill,

White-bellied Heron and Rufous-throated Wren-Babbler. The heron, which

was seen by a small lake at Ada, is of special interest because it has a restricted

range, and also because there are very few recent world records of the species.

Three pheasant chicks crossed our path near Ada lake and an anxious pair

of Kalij Pheasants Lophura leucomelanos made a noisy distraction display,

running in circles around us, only a few metres away and calling. The male

was all black, a distinctive characteristic of subspecies moffitti. This is the first

record of moffitti in the wild.

On 30 May we had a day’s walk from Thimphu up to the Dochu La pass

(3,530 m) via Tashigong monastery (3,265 m). The highlight was a male

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

125

Blue-fronted Robin Cinclidium frontale, a new species for Bhutan, which was

feeding on the ground amongst mugwort Artemisia dubia and bushes at the

edge of mixed forest close to the monastery.

ANNOTATED LIST OF SELECTED SPECIES

BLACK PARTRIDGE Francolinus francolinus One heard on 20 April at

Manas National Park (350 m). Previously mentioned for Bhutan only by

Ripley (1982), but apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

INDIAN PEAFOWL Pavo cristatus Two heard on 18 April at Manas

National Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan.

JAPANESE QUAIL Cotumix japonica Recorded on 7 and 20-22 May in

wheat fields in the Phobjika valley (2,800 m), with maximum of three heard

and one seen on 22 May. Previously also recorded from Bhutan in the

breeding season: collected by F. M. Bailey on 5 July 1 922 (Bailey 1 938) and

recorded singing in suitable breeding habitat in 1990 by F. A. Clements in

Bumthang on 29 April, Ugyencholing on 1 May and Gangtey Gompa on 9

May (Clements 1992). These Bhutanese birds were probably breeding and

were 2,000 km south-west of the nearest recorded nesting area in China,

although a nest with eggs probably belonging to this species was found in

Myanmar on 30 October 1935 (Livesey 1936).

SATYR TRAGOPAN Tragopan satyra Two heard on the Gele La on 7 and

8 May above 3,000 m, one male in the Phobjika valley on 20 May (2,805 m)

and four males and one female near Tashigong monastery, DochuLa (3,165-

3,430 m). There are several previous published records: Ali and Ripley

(1987), Clements (1992), Inskipp and Inskipp (1993), Ludlow and Kinnear

(1937), Singh (1985) and Vas (1986).

KALIJ PHEASANT Lophura leucomelanos moffitti An all black adult male,

with a female and three chicks on 16 May near Ada (1,280 m). This is

apparently the first observation of the moffitti subspecies in the wild. A bird

collected from central Bhutan and stated to be of this subspecies by Ali and

Ripley (1987), has now proved to be an intergrade between melanota and

lathami (Ali et al. in press).

NORTHERN SHOVELER Anas clypeata A flock of 30 on 17 April flying

up the Manas river in Manas National Park (250 m). Apparently the first

published record for Bhutan, although previously recorded by Johnson

(1993).

GARGANEY Anas querquedula A flock of ten on 1 7 April on the Torsa river

at Phuntsholing (350 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan,

although previously seen by Ali et al. (in press) and A. Pain (verbally 1993).

BLUE-EARED BARBET Megalaima australis Recorded from 20 - 23 April

at Manas National Park (300-450 m) with a maximum of six on 22 April.

126

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

Previously mentioned only by Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley (1982), but

apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

BLACK-BACKED KINGFISHER Ceyx erithacus Two on 21 and 22 April

at Manas National Park (450 m). Previously mentioned for Bhutan only by

Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley (1982), but apparently based on supposition

(Ali et al. in press).

RUDDY KINGFISHER Halcyon coromanda Recorded from 20 - 22 April

at Manas National Park (450-510 m), with a maximum of three on 21 April.

Previously mentioned for Bhutan by Ali and Ripley (1987) and recorded by

Ali et al. (in press).

PIED KINGFISHER Ceryle mdis One on 18 April at Manas National Park

(250 m). Previously listed for Bhutan only by Ali and Ripley (1987), but

apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

RUFOUS-NECKED HORNBILL Aceros nipalensis Recorded on 19, 24

and 25 April at Manas National Park (300-635 m), with a maximum of five

on 25 April; one on 27 April at Dalim (7 1 0 m), three on 30 April at Subrang

( 1 ,400 m), one on 1 May between Zurphey and Tshanglajong ( 1 ,320 m), one

on 2 May between Tshanglajong and Tingtibi, and one on 17 and 18 May

at Ada (1,280 m). Apparently fairly common in tropical and subtropical

broadleaved evergreen forests. Previously recorded by Clements (1992),

Inskipp and Inskipp (1993), Ali et al. (in press) and Johnson (1993), and

listed by Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley (1982).

ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO Chrysococcyx maculatus Recorded from 20

- 22 April at Manas National Park (300-450 m), with a maximum of four on

22 April. One on 5 May at Tongsa (2,200 m). Singles at Lawa (1,125 m) on

1 1 and 14 May. Apparently the first published records for Bhutan, although

previously recorded by Mills (1989).

GREATER COUCAL Centropus sinensis One on 20 and two on 22 April at

Manas National Park (400 m), two on 12 May in the Harachhu valley (1,445

m) and one to two at Nashina on 15 and 16 May (1,515 m, 1,600 m).

Previously mentioned for Bhutan only by Ali and Ripley (1987), but

apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

SWIFTLET Collocalia Four seen on 27 and 28 April at Tshobrang (1,395

m), six on 1 May and 10 on 2 May at Tshanglajong (1,065 m) and one on

3 May at Tingtibi (650 m).

CRESTED TREESWIFT Hemiproctte coronata One on 20 April at Manas

National Park (350 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan.

ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL Otus sunia Two heard on 18 and 19 April at

Manas National Park (250 m). Previously mentioned only by Ali and Ripley

(1987) and Ripley (1982), but apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in

press).

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

127

BROWN WOOD-OWL Stnx leptogrammica One heard on 1 0 May at Nehi

(2,440 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan, but previously

recorded by Ali et al. (in press).

BROWN HAWK-OWL Ninox scutulata One or two heard at Manas

National Park from 18 to 22 April (250-450 m). Previously mentioned only

by Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley (1982), but apparently based on

supposition.

RED COLLARED-DOVE Streptopelia tranquebanca Three on 23 April at

Manas National Park (380 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan, but previously recorded by All et al. (in press).

ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN-PIGEON Treron bicincta Three on 19

April and 2 on 20 April at Manas National Park (250 m). Previously listed

for Bhutan only by Ripley ( 1 982), but apparently based on supposition (Ali

et al. in press).

POMPADOUR GREEN-PIGEON Treron pompadora Two on 23 April at

Manas National Park (380 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan.

THICK-BILLED GREEN-PIGEON Treron curvirostra One on 20 April at

Manas National Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan, although previously seen by Jepson (1989).

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus One on 22 May on the northern rim of the

Phobjika valley (3,250 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan.

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia One on 17 April at

Phuntsholing (350 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and Inskipp (1993)

and Ali et al. (in press).

EURASIAN THICK-KNEE Burhinus oedicnemus Two on 18 April at

Manas National Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan.

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius One on 17 April by the

Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Apparently the first published record

for Bhutan, although previously seen by Johnson (1993).

SMALL PRATINCOLE Glareola lactea Thirty on 16 April and 10 on 17

April by the Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Apparently the first

published record for Bhutan, although previously recorded by Ali et al. (in

press).

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ichthyaetus Two on 17 April by

the Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Apparently the first published

record for Bhutan, although previously seen by Johnson (1993).

RIVER TERN Sterna aurantia Five on 1 9 April flying up the Manas river in

Manas National Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan.

128

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

PALLAS’S FISH-EAGLE Haliaeetus leucoryphus One on 1 8 April at Manas

National Park (250 m). The previous published records are Inskipp and

Inskipp (1993) and Ludlow and Kinnear (1937); also seen by Ali et al. (in

press), Barber (1990-1991) and Johnson (1993).

WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE Gyps bengalensis Recorded on 1 6 and 1 7

April at Phuntsholing (350 m), 1 8-20 April at Manas National Park (250 m)

and 1 1 May in the Harachhu valley ( 1 ,200 m), with a maximum of 1 0 on 18

April. Previously recorded by Inskipp and Inskipp (1993).

SWWGRA Accipiter badius One on 10 May in the Harachhu valley (1,125 m)

and one on 18 May at Ada (1,280 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and

Inskipp (1993).

BOOTED EAGLE Hieraaetus pennatus One on 18 April at Manas National

Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for Bhutan, although

previously seen by Mills (1989).

LITTLE CORMORANT Phalacrocorax niger Thirty on 1 6 April and 1 0 on

17 April by theTorsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Previously recorded by

Inskipp and Inskipp (1993).

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta One on 1 6 April and three on 1 7 April by

the Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and

Inskipp (1993).

GREY HERON Ardea cinerea One on 17-19 April by the Manas river in

Manas National Park (250 m). Previously only listed for Bhutan by Scott

(1989).

WHITE-BELLIED HERON Ardea insignis One on 1 6 and 1 7 April by Ada

Lake (1,280 m). Previously recorded only by Inskipp and Inskipp (1993).

INTERMEDIATE EGRET Mesophoyx intermedia One on 1 7 April by the

Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Apparently the first published record

for Bhutan.

CATTLE EGRET Bubulcus ibis Fifty on 1 6 April and 20 on 1 7 April by the

Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and

Inskipp (1993) and Ali et al. (in press).

STRIATED HERON Butorides striatus One on 1 7 April by the Manas river

at Manas National Park (250 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan.

COLLARED TREEPIE Dendrocitta frontalis One on 24 April and five on 25

April at Manas National Park (5 1 0-635 m), two on 26 April near Dalim (620

m) and three on 27 April between Dalim and T shobrang (710m). Previously

recorded by Jepson (1988) and Inskipp and Inskipp (1993). Listed for

Bhutan by Ripley (1982), but apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in

press).

LARGE CUCKOO-SHRIKE Coracina macci One to two on 20, 22 and 23

April at Manas National Park (350-450 m) . Previously recorded by Clements

(1992).

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

129

ROSY MINIVET Pericrocotus roseus One on 20 April and two on 22 April

at Manas National Park (300-450 m). Apparently the first published records

for Bhutan.

CROW-BILLED DRONGO Dicrurus annectans Recorded on 1 1 dates

between 1 9 April and 1 4 May between 300 m and 1450 m, with a maximum

of seven on 22 April at Manas National Park between 350 and 480 m.

Apparently fairly common. Previously recorded by Inskipp and Inskipp

(1993), and listed by Ali and Ripley (1987), but the latter is apparently based

on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

LESSER SHORTWING Brachypteryx stellata Four on 28 April at T shobrang

(1,595 m), one on 7 May between Phobjika and Khebitanka (2,725 m) five

on 9 May above Laphu Gang (3,150-3,280 m) and one on 20 May above

Tarana (2,435 m). Previously mentioned only by Ali and Ripley (1987) and

Ripley (1982), but apparently based on supposition.

ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER Muscicapa dauurica One on 2 1 April at

Manas National Park (450 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and Inskipp

(1993), and listed by Ali and Ripley (1983), but the latter is apparently based

on supposition (Ali et al. in press).

PALE-CHINNED FLY CATCHER Cyomis poliogenys Three on 22 April at

Manas National Park (400 m), one on 16 May between Nashina and Ada

(1,335 m) and two on 18 May near Ada (1,260 m). Previously listed for

Bhutan only by Ali and Ripley (1987) and seen by Ali et al. (in press).

BLUE-FRONTED ROBIN Cinclidium frontale A male on 30 May by

Tashigong monastery, Dochu La (3,265 m). Apparently the first published

record for Bhutan. This species has rarely been observed in the field and is

very poorly known (Redman 1992).

VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH Sitta frontalis Two on 26 April at

Manas National Park (350 m). Previously listed only by Ali and Ripley

(1987) and Ripley (1982), apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. in

press).

GREY-CROWNED PRINIA Prinia cinereocapilla Three on 3 May at

Tingtibi (700 m), two on 1 5 May at Nashina (1,220 m) and one on 1 7 May

at Ada (1,300 m). Previously listed only by Ali and Ripley (1987) and Ripley

(1982), but apparently based on supposition (Ali et al. (in press).

BLYTH’S REED-WARBLER Acrocephalus dumetorum One to two on 21-

23 April at Manas National Park (380-450 m), two on 26 April at Dalim (7 1 0

m), one on 28 April between Tshobrang and Ponchela ( 1 ,400 m) and one on

30 April between Subrang and Zurphey (1,460 m). Previously listed for

Bhutan by Ali and Ripley (1987), and recorded by Ali et al. (in press).

Apparently fairly common.

YELLOW- VENTED WARBLER Phylloscopus cantator Recorded on 17

dates between 19 April and 1 8 May from 300 m to 1,540 m, with a maximum

130

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

of 1 6 on 24 April in Manas National Park from 380 to 5 1 0 m. Most common

in broadleaved evergreen forest. Previously listed for Bhutan by Abdulali

(1986) and Ali and Ripley (1987), and recorded by Ali et al. (in press) and

Johnson (1993).

RUFOUS-THROATED WREN-BABBLER Spelaeomis caudatus One on

19 May above Ada (1,630 m). Previously listed for Bhutan by Abdulali

(1983) and Ali and Ripley (1987), and recorded by Ludlow and Kinnear

(1937), Ludlow and Kinnear (1944) and Ali et al. (in press).

SPOTTED WREN-BABBLER Spelaeomis fonnosus One on 3 May at

Tingtibi (770 m). Previously listed for Bhutan by Abdulali (1983) and Ali

and Ripley (1987), and recorded by Ludlow and Kinnear (1937) and Ali et

al. (in press).

WHITE-HOODED BABBLER Gampsorhynchus rufulus Four on 2 May

between Tshanglajong and Tingtibi (915m). Apparently the first published

record for Bhutan, although previously seen by Anon. (1992).

YELLOW-THROATED FULVETTA Alcippe cinerea Ten on 28 April

above Tshobrang (1595 m). Previously listed for Bhutan by Abdulali (1984)

and Ali and Ripley (1987), and recorded by Inskipp and Inskipp (1993),

Ludlow and Kinnear (1944) and Ali et al. (in press).

WHITE-NAPED YUHINA Yuhina bakeri Three on 25 April at Manas

National Park (550 m), three on 25 April between Manas and Dalim (580

m), two carrying nest material on 26 April at Dalim (620 m) and two on 27

April between Dalim and Tshobrang (740 m). Previously listed for Bhutan

by Abdulali (1969-1992) and Ali and Ripley (1987), and recorded by

Clements (1992), Inskipp and Inskipp (1993), Ali et al. (in press) and

Johnson (1993).

LESSER RUFOUS-HEADED PARROTBILL (BLACK-BROWED

PARROTBILL) Paradoxomis atrosuperciliaris Two on 27 April at Dalim

(710 m) and 1 5 on 2 May between Tshanglajong and Tingtibi (915 m) were

of the western race oatesi, which lacks a black eyebrow, hence the choice of

English name. Apparently the first published record for Bhutan, although

previously seen by Anon. (1992) and Johnson (1993).

WHITE-BROWED WAGTAIL Motacilla maderaspatensis Two on 17 April

by the Torsa river at Phuntsholing (350 m) and one on 17 April by the Manas

river at Manas National Park (250 m). Previously recorded by Inskipp and

Inskipp (1993) and Ali et al. (in press).

BLACK-FACED BUNTING Emberiza spodocephala One on 30 April in

fields at Subrang (1,400 m). Apparently the first published record for

Bhutan.

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

131

We are very grateful to the Worldwide Fund for Nature Bhutan, particularly Mingma Norbu Sherpa and

Tobgay Sonam, and the Royal Bhutan Department of Forests for inviting us to join the wildlife inventory

team in Bhutan and for arranging the logistics of our visit. We would also like to warmly thank the

Bhutanese who accompanied us in the field for their invaluable assistance. Special thanks go to Kado

Tshering, Assistant District Forest Officer, who organised our team as well as taking part in the

ornithological work, and to Pema Namgay, Warden of the Royal Manas National Park for organising

our visit to the park.

REFERENCES

Anon. (1992) Manas... and the jungles of Bhutan, p.9 in Naturetrek 1993. Unpublished.

Abdulali, H. ( 1 983) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of Bombay Natural History Society - 25

Muscicapidae (Timaliinae) (part). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 79: 336-360.

Abdulali, H. ( 1984) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of Bombay Natural History Society - 28

Muscicapidae (Timaliinae) (contd.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 80: 349-369.

Abdulali, H. ( 1 986) A catalogue of the birds in the collection of Bombay Natural History Society - 3 1

Muscicapidae (Sylviinae) (contd.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 83: 339-359.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) Compact edition of the Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Ali, S., Biswas, B. and Ripley, S. D. (in press) The birds of Bhutan. Rec. Zool. Surv. India, Occ. Pap. 136.

Bailey, F. M. (1938) Specimens collected in Bhutan in 1922 deposited in British Museum (Natural

History).

Barber, I. (1990-1991) Unpublished notes.

Clements, F. A. (1992) Recent records of birds from Bhutan. Forktail 1:57-73.

Collar, N. J. and Andrew, P. (1988) Birds to watch: the ICBP world checklist of threatened birds. ICBP

Technical Publication No. 8.

Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. P. (1993) Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in autumn 1991 . Forktail

8:97-112.

Jepson, P. (1988) Naturetrek. Bhutan bird list. 17th October to 1st November 1988. Unpublished.

Johnson, D. L. (1993) Birds recorded in Bhutan, 17 March to 3 April 1993. Unpublished.

Livesey, T. R. (1936) Does the Japanese Grey Quail {Cotamix c. japonica Temm. & Schleg.) breed in

the Shan States? J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 38: 830-831.

Ludlow, F. and Kinnear, N. B. ( 1 937) The birds of Bhutan and adjacent territories of Sikkim and Tibet.

Ibis (14)1:1-46, 249-293, 467-504.

Ludlow, F. and Kinnear, N. B. (1944) The birds of South-eastern Tibet. Ibis 86:43-86, 176-208, 348-

389.

Mills, D. G. H. (1989) Bhutan’s Bumthang valley - April/May 1989: a list of birds and mammals

recorded. Naturetrek. Unpublished.

Redman, N. (1992) Little-known bird. Blue-fronted Robin. Oriental Bird Club Bull. 16: 33-35.

Ripley, S. D. (1982) Synopsis of the birds of India and Pakistan . Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society.

Scott, D. A. (ed.) (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge: IUCN.

Singh, N. (1985) Bhutan: a kingdom in the Himalayas. 3rd ed.

Vas, E. A. (1986) The dragon kingdom: journeys through Bhutan. New Delhi: Lancer International.

Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp, 1 Hemeside, March Road, Welney, Wisbech, Cambs. PE 14 9SB, UK.

132

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

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APPENDIX I

BIRD SPECIES FOR WHICH BHUTAN MAY HOLD

SIGNIFICANT BREEDING POPULATIONS

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

133

134

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

Carpodacus edwardsii

Carpodacus thura

Carpodacus rubicilloides

Pinicola subhimachalus

Haematospiza sipahi

Pyrrhula erythrocephala

Mycerobas affinis

Mycerobas melanozanthos

Pyrrhoplecies epauleita

Dark-rumped Rosefinch

White-browed Rosefinch

Streaked Rosefinch

Crimson-browed Finch

Scarlet Finch

Red-headed Bullfinch

Collared Grosbeak

Spot-winged Grosbeak

Gold-naped Finch

+ = species recorded during survey

[+] = species recorded elsewhere in Bhutan in April and May 1993

+

APPENDIX II

BIRDS RECORDED IN APRIL AND MAY 1993

Localities

6

19

u

u

21

21.31.33

33

6,8

8.15.29

6,7,9,11,13,27

6

6

6

350 5

350 5

6

6.12.25.29

3,20-22,24-26,

28.33

3,21,30

6

6.8.10.25.29

6.7.13.25.29

6-9,13,28-30

6

10.13.29

u

5,6

u

u

6

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

135

ORIENTAL P1ED-HORNB1LL Anthracoceros albirostris

GREAT HORNB1LL Buceros bicomis

RUFOUS-NECKED HORNBILL Aceros nipalensis

WREATHED HORNBILL A ceros undulatus

EURASIAN HOOPOE Upupa epops

RED-HEADED TROGON Harpactes erythrocephalus

INDIAN ROLLER Coracias benghalensis

DOLLARBIRD Eurystomus orientalis

COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis

BLACK-BACKED KINGFISHER Ceyx eriihacus

RUDDY KINGFISHER Halcyon coromanda

WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER Halcyon smymensis

CRESTED KINGFISHER Megaceryle lugubris

PIED KINGFISHER Ceryle rudis

BLUE-BEARDED BEE-EATER Nyctyomis aihertoni

CHESTNUT-HEADED BEE-EATER Merops leschenaulu

CHESTNUT- WINGED CUCKOO Clamator coromandus

LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO Cuculus sparverioides

COMMON HAWK-CUCKOO Cuculus varius

INDIAN CUCKOO Cuculus micropterus

COMMON CUCKOO Cuculus canorus

ORIENTAL CUCKOO Cuculus saturatus

LESSER CUCKOO Cuculus polioceplialus

GREY-BELLIED CUCKOO Cacomantis passerinus

ASIAN EMERALD CUCKOO Chrysococcyx maculatus

DRONGO CUCKOO Surniculus lugubris

GREEN-BILLED MALKOHA Phaenicophacus trisiis

GREATER COUCAL Centropus sinensis

LESSER COUCAL Centropus bengalensis

RED-BREASTED PARAKEET Psittacula alexandri

HIMALAYAN SWIFTLET Collocalia brevirostris

ASIAN PALM-SWIFT Cypsiurus balasiensis

FORK-TAILED SWIFT Apus pacificus

HOUSE SWIFT Apus nipalensis

CRESTED TREESWIFT Hemiprocne coronata

MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL Otus spilocephalus

ORIENTAL SCOPS-OWL Otus sunia

COLLARED SCOPS-OWL Otus lempiji

TAWNY FISH-OWL Ketupa flavipes

BROWN WOOD-OWL Strix leptogrammica

TAWNY OWL Strix aluco

COLLARED OWLET Glaucidium brodtci

6,8,10,11,14,20,25

ASIAN BARRED OWLET Glaucidium cuculoides

BROWN HAWK-OWL Ninox scutulata

GREY NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus indicus

LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR Caprimulgus macrurus

SWIFTLET Collocalia species

WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL Hirundapus caudacutus

136

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

ROCK PIGEON Columba livia

SNOW PIGEON Columba leuconota

SPECKLED WOOD-PIGEON Columba hodgsonii

ORIENTAL TURTLE-DOVE Streptopelia oriemalis

SPOTTED DOVE Streptopelia chinensis

RED COLLARED-DOVE Streptopelia tranquebarica

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE Streptopelia decaocto

BARRED CUCKOO-DOVE Macropygia unchall

EMERALD DOVE Chalcophaps indiea

ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN-PIGEON Treroti bicincta

POMPADOUR GREEN-PIGEON Treroti pompadora

THICK-BILLED GREEN-PIGEON Treroti curvirostra

PIN-TAILED GREEN-PIGEON Treroti apicauda

WEDGE-TAILED GREEN-PIGEON Treroti sphenura

MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON Ducula badia

EURASIAN WOODCOCK Scolopax rusticola

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus

COMMON SANDPIPER Tringa hypoleucos

EURASIAN THICK-KNEE Burhinus oedicnemus

LITTLE RINGED PLOVER Charadrius dubius

RIVER LAPWING Vanellus duvaucelii

RED-WATTLED LAPWING Vanellus indicus

SMALL PRATINCOLE Glareola lactea

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ichthyaetus

RIVER TERN Sterna aurantia

OSPREY Pandion haliaetus

ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD Pemis ptilorhyncus

BLACK KITE Milvus migrant

BLACK-EARED KITE Milvus lineatus

PALLAS’S FISH-EAGLE Haliaeetus leucoryphus

WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE Gyps bengalensis

HIMALAYAN GRIFFON Gyps himalayensis

CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE Spilomis cheela

CRESTED GOSHAWK Accipiter rrivirgaius

SHIKRA Accipiter badius

BESRA Accipiter virgatus

EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK Accipiter nisus

COMMON BUZZARD Buteo buteo

BLACK EAGLE Icrinaetus malayensis

STEPPE EAGLE Aquila nipalensis

BOOTED EAGLE Hieraaetus pennatus

RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE Hieraaetus kienerii

MOUNTAIN HAWK-EAGLE Spizactus nipalensis

COLLARED FALCONET Microhierax caerulescens

COMMON KESTREL Falco tinnunculus

EURASIAN HOBBY Falco subbuteo

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus

LITTLE CORMORANT Phalacrocorax niger

GREAT CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo

LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

137

138

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

30

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

139

140

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

1994

Birds recorded during a visit to Bhutan in spring 1993

141

CHESTNUT-TAILED MINLA Minla strigula

RED-TAILED MINLA Minla ignotincta

GOLDEN-BREASTED FULVETTA Alcippe chrysotis

YELLOW-THROATED FULVETTA Alcippe cinerea

RUFOUS-WINGED FULVETTA Alcippe castaneceps

WHITE-BROWED FULVETTA Alcippe vinipectus

NEPAL FULVETTA Alcippe tiipalensis

RUFOUS SIBIA Heterophasia capistraia

LONG-TAILED SIBIA Heterophasia picaoides

STRIATED YUHINA Yuhina castaniceps

WHITE-NAPED YUHINA Yuhina bakeri

WHISKERED YUHINA Yuhina flavicollis

STRIPE-THROATED YUHINA Yuhina gularis

RUFOUS-VENTED YUHINA Yuhina occipitalis

BLACK-CHINNED YUHINA Yuhina nigrimenta

FIRE-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER Dicaeum ignipectus

RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD Anthreptes singalensis

MRS GOULD’S SUNBIRD Aethopyga gouldiae

GREEN-TAILED SUNBIRD Aethopyga nipalcnsis

BLACK-THROATED SUNBIRD Aethopyga saturata

CRIMSON SUNBIRD Aethopyga siparaja

STREAKED SPIDERHUNTER Arachnothera magna

HOUSE SPARROW Passer domes ticus

RUSSET SPARROW Passer rutilans

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus

WHITE WAGTAIL Motacilla alba

WHITE-BROWED WAGTAIL Motacilla maderaspatensis

CITRINE WAGTAIL Motacilla citreola

GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea

PADDYFIELD PIPIT Anthus rufulus

OLIVE-BACKED PIPIT Anthus hodgsoni

ROSY PIPIT Anthus roseatus

RUFOUS-BREASTED ACCENTOR Prunella strophiata

WHITE-RUMPED MUNIA Lonchura striata

TIBETAN SERIN Serinus thibetanus

YELLOW-BREASTED GREENFINCH Carduelis spinoides

PLAIN MOUNTAIN-FINCH Leucosticte nemoricola

COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus

SCARLET FINCH Haematospiza sipahi

RED CROSSBILL Loxia curvirostra

WHITE-BELLIED YUHINA Yuhina zantholeuca

GREY-HEADED PARROTBILL Paradoxomis gularis

BLACK-THROATED PARROTBILL Paradoxomis nipalensis

LESSER RUFOUS-HEADED

PARROTBILL Paradoxomis atrosuperciliaris

SAND LARK Calandrella raytal

ORIENTAL SKYLARK Alauda gulgula

PLAIN FLOWERPECKER Dicaeum concolor

142

C. INSKIPP and T. P. INSKIPP

Forktail 9

RED-HEADED BULLFINCH Pyrrhula erythrocephala

WHITE- WINGED GROSBEAK Mycerobas carnipes

GOLD-NAPED FINCH Pyrrhoplectes epaulena

CRESTED BUNTING Melophus lathami

LITTLE BUNTING Emberiza pusilla

BLACK-FACED BUNTING Emberiza spodocephala

Key

1st trek

T = Tropical zone

S = Subtropical zone

P = Temperate zone broadleaved forest

Both treks

F = Fields, grazing areas and around human habitation

R = Rivers and lakes

2nd trek

U = Subtropical zone broadleaved forest

B = Temperate zone broadleaved forest

X = Temperate zone mixed forest

C = Temperate zone coniferous forest

H = Subtropical zone Chir Pine forest

Locations:

1 Paro (2,250 m) - Thimphu (2,400 m)

2 Thimphu valley (2,400 m)

3 Tseri (2,500 m - 2,600 m)

4 Thimphu (2,400 m) - Phuntsholing (350 m)

5 Phuntsholing (350 m)

6 Royal Manas National Park (250 m - 550 m)

7 Manas (550 m) - Dalim (710 m)

8 Dalim (710 m) - Tshobrang (1,395 m)

9 Tshobrang (1,395 m) - 1,615 m - Ponchela (1,400 m)

10 Ponchela (1,400 m) - 2,390 m - Subrang (1,400 m)

1 1 Subrang (1,400 m) - 1,525 m - Zurphey (1,320 m)

1 2 Zurphey ( 1 ,320 m) - Tshanglajong ( 1 ,065 m)

1 3 Tshanglajong ( 1 ,065 m) - Tingtibi (650 m)

14 Tingtibi (650 m - 810 m)

15 Tingtibi (650 m) - Tongsa (2,200 m)

16 Tongsa (2,200 m)

17 Chendibji (2,400 m)

1 8 Pele La (2,930 m - 3,2 1 0 m)

1 9 Phobjikha valley (2,780 m - 2,870 m)

20 Phobjikha (2,780 m) - Khebatang (2,800 m)

21 Khebatang (2,800 m) - Gele La (3,630 m) - Laphu Gang (3,100 m)

22 Laphu Gang (3,100 m) - Pema La (3,290 m) - Nehi (2,440 m)

23 Nehi (2,440 m)

24 Nehi (2,440 m) - Harachhu (1,125 m)

25 Harachhu (1,125 m - 1,445 m)

26 Harachhu (1,125 m) - 1,695 m - Nashina (1,220 m)

27 Nashina (1,220 m)

28 Nashina (1,220 m) - 1,435 m - Ada (1,280 m)

29 Ada (1,280 m)

30 Ada (1 ,280 m) - Tarana (2,430 m)

31 Tarana (2,430 m) - Phobjikha (2,780 m)

32 Phobjikha (2,780 m) - Thimphu (2,400 m)

33 Tashigong monastery/Dochu La (2,840 m - 3,530 m)

1994

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

143

The birds of Pakistan: supplementary

observations from the northern Punjab

and hills

A. VITTERY

I was resident in Lahore from May 1973 to early June 1974. Some of my

observations in the first part of this period were included by T. J. Roberts in

The birds of Pakistan (1991 and 1992) but other data appear never to have

reached him. The following accounts are limited to those species where my

records add materially to the status described by Roberts. These include an

addition to the Pakistan list: Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi ; one probable

addition: Blyth’s Pipit A. godlewskii. ; three revised first records for Pakistan:

Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos, Brown Crake Amauromis akool and Mew

Gull Larus canus; four first inland occurrences of migratory waders and the

first inland and autumn records ofWhite-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus.

ALPINE SWIFT Tachymarptis melba In 1973 a total of 14 flew north/north¬

east over Lahore on 24 July, one flew south-west at Balloki, 64 km south-west

of Lahore on 26 July, and two flew north over Lahore on 28 August.

PALE-BACKED PIGEON Columba eversmanni Two flocks totalling 75

birds were seen in an arid area near Raiwind on 2 February 1974, and nine

beside the Hudiara drain, south-west of Lahore, on 26 February 1974. It

does not seem to have been recorded in the northern foothills but there were

10 near Rawal Lake, Islamabad, on 16/17 February 1974.

BROWN CRAKE Amauromis akool One was well seen at the Balloki

headworks on 20 January 1974 and there were two there on 3 March 1974

(one of which caught and ate a mud-skipper). These predate the only record

listed by Roberts.

RUDDY-BREASTED CRAKE Porzanafusca Seen at the Balloki headworks

on six dates between 3 February and 26 May 1973, max. 6+ on 10 March.

Considered rare to scarce by Roberts, who also saw one at Balloki, on 28

March 1981.

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa According to Roberts, ‘seldom

encountered’ in the Punjab. There were two at Kharrar jheel, near Renala

Khurd, on 21 July 1973, two on 7 October 1973 and one on 19 May 1974.

WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus Roberts knew of no inland occurrences.

There was one on the River Ravi at Niaz Beg, Lahore, on 27 September 1973

and two at Kharrar jheel on 7 October 1973. The call was heard on both

occasions.

144

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Forktail 9

COMMON REDSHANK Tringa totanus Earliest near Lahore on 12 July

1973 and at least 50 at Ivharrar jheel by 21 July (earliest date cited by

Roberts).

MARSH SANDPIPER Tringa stagnatilis A notable count of 1,140 at

Kharrar jheel on 2 1 July 1973. There were still at least 300 there on 7 October

1973andaflockof80eastofBahawalnagaron 1 April 1974. Latest were nine

at Kharrar jheel on 19 May 1974.

COMMON GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia Earliest near Lahore 12 July

1973 with flocks of 1 1 on 15 July and 28 on 24 July.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus The late June birds thought by

Roberts to be summering would almost certainly be returning migrants, since

this species is known to leave the breeding grounds from early June. In 1973

birds were widespread in the Lahore area by 3 July.

WOOD SANDPIPER Tringa glareola Earliest near Lahore 12 July 1973.

Latest (two or three) at Kharrar jheel on 19 May 1974.

TEREK SANDPIPER Tringa cinerea Roberts cites only one inland

occurrence. I saw this species on three dates in the Lahore area: three near

Raiwind and one at Julke on 14 September 1973, 4 (flew south-east) at Niaz

Beg on the River Ravi on 27 September 1973 and one at Balloki headworks

on 26 May 1974.

COMMON SANDPIPER Tringa hypoleucos Earliest were 6 near Lahore on

15 July 1973. Latest on 17 May 1974.

RUDDY TURNSTONE Arenaria inteipres Roberts knew of no inland

occurrences. There was one at Kharrar jheel on 19 May 1974.

SANDERLING Calidris alba Neither Roberts nor Ali and Ripley (1969)

knew of inland occurrences in the subcontinent. On 12 August 1973, three

flew low over floodwater at Balloki but left to the north-east without landing.

There was also one near Raiwind from 30 September - 2 October 1973.

TEMMINCK’S STINT Calidris temminckii Roberts cites arrivals from mid-

August. In 1973 small numbers appeared around Lahore in late July (earliest

21st).

SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER Calidris acuminata Roberts credits me in

error with a sighting at Kharrar jheel in 1970. My only encounter with Sharp¬

tailed/Pectoral Sandpipers was on 21 September 1973 when a party of four

was flushed from floodwater beside the main Multan road to the south-west

of Lahore. Their low ‘trrrt - trrrt’ calls sounded more like Pectoral Sandpiper

C. melanotos than Sharp-tailed, but I was unable to confirm the identification.

DUNLIN Calidris alpina Earliest was one at Ivharrar jheel on 21 July 1973.

CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris ferruginea Earliest were eight at Kharrar

jheel on 21 July 1973. At least 50 there on 19 May 1974.

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER Limicola falcinellus Roberts cites only one

inland occurrence. There was one at Kharrar jheel on 19 May 1974.

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BLACK- WINGED STILT Hirnantopus himantopusNotab\e counts of2,000+

at Kharrarjheel on 7 October 1973, and at least 4,000 there on 19 May 1974.

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva Roberts noted that it is rarely

encountered far from the sea-coast. There were nine near Raiwind on 30

September 1973 (with four remaining until 4 October) and three at Kharrar

jheel on 19 May 1974.

COMMON RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula One was seen and

heard near Raiwind, south of Lahore, on 4 January 1974 and another was

heard at Kharrar jheel on 17 March 1974. These represent the first inland

records.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE Glareola pratincola Roberts describes this

species as a “rare straggler” in the Punjab and gives 1 7 September as the latest

date. I saw it frequently south of Lahore from 5 May to 7 October, maxima

of 20 at Kharrar jheel (including a newly fledged juvenile) on 21 July 1973,

at least 1 00 at Balloki headworks on 26 July 1 973 and up to 35 at each of three

localities in August 1973.

INDIAN SKIMMER Rynchops albicollis Roberts knew of no recent winter

records. There was one at the Wahdat ponds on the western outskirts of

Lahore on 27 December 1973.

MEW GULL Lams canus Roberts mistakenly gives the first record of this

species from the Ravi River near Lahore in 1 972. In fact, the first record (for

the subcontinent) was of an adult at the Rasul barrage on 27 January 1974

seen by F. J. Koning, L. J. Djiksen and myself. On 17 February 1974 there

was a first winter bird on Rawal Lake, Islamabad.

WHITE-WINGED TERN Chlidonias leucopterus Roberts describes this

species as a rare spring passage migrant, first recorded as recently as 1970.

In the Lahore area I saw it on three occasions in autumn 1973 (none in

spring) : an adult moulting into winter plumage near Julke on 1 4 September,

a flock of 1 2 juveniles nearby at Raiwind on 30 September and five at the same

locality on 2 October (probably part of the same flock). There was also a

juvenile at Khabbaki Lake (Salt Range) on 21 October.

PIED HARRIER Circus melanoleucos Roberts cites only one record

(December/January 1985/1986). During an exceptionally cold spell a male

was quartering fields on the south-west outskirts of Lahore on 27 December

1973. This adds greater credence to the undated record of a bird “putatively

seen” at Lahore by A. J. Currie in the 1920s (Ali and Ripley 1968) which

Roberts overlooks (or discounts).

BLACK BITTERN Ixobrychus flavicollis Two at Balloki headworks from 8

July - 5 August 1973 and on 28 April 1974.

DARK-THROATED THRUSH Turdus mficollis A male of the red-throated

race mficollis (but not dull maroon-chestnut as described by Roberts) was

seen near the Balloki headworks on 3 March 1974.

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SLATY-BLUE FLYCATCHER Ficedula tricolor A male in the Jinnah

Gardens, Lahore, on 1 3 February 1 974 seems to be the first record away from

the foothills.

COMMON GRASSHOPPER-WARBLER Locustella naevia Roberts noted

that it was apparently scarce, with records from only four observers. One near

Lai Suhanra on 30 March 1974.

MOUNTAIN CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus sindianus The status of this

species between its breeding and wintering grounds is obscure. In the Lahore

area in 1974 there was a marked spring passage from 3 March to 1 1 April,

with small numbers seen in ten localities. Further south, in late March larger

numbers were seen around Lai Suhanra and Fort Abbas, max. 20+ at the

former on 29/30 March. Two were in song at Balloki on 17 March.

BLYTH'S LEAF-WARBLER Phylloscopus reguloides Roberts knew of no

records outside of the breeding season, although he states that the species

‘migrates in winter to the foothills and adjacent plains’. On 2 1 October 1 973

there was one in the Bakh Hund pass between Naushara and Nurewala (Salt

Range) - a rather small crown-striped warbler with two conspicuous yellow

wing-bars, yellowish-white supercilia and white in the outer tail-feathers.

LARGE GREY BABBLER Turdoides malcolmi Roberts recorded it as a rare

resident, with only three records in the last 80 years. I saw this species four

times by the River Ravi at Niaz Beg, Lahore, between 1 1 September 1973

and 24 January 1974, max. five on 8 January 1974. Further north, there was

one east of Shekupura on 20 October 1973.

RUFOUS-TAILED LARK Ammomanes phoenicurus Roberts knew of no

recent occurrences. My two sightings fit the ‘monsoon’ pattern of Waite’s

earlier records: one flew NE at Balloki on 26 July 1973 and one flew SE at

Niaz Beg on the River Ravi, Lahore, on 13 September 1973.

EURASIAN TREE SPARROW Passer montanus Roberts states that in

Pakistan it is confined to the drier mountain regions of the west. A small flock

near Sakesar (Salt Range) on 21 October 1973 was outside of this range.

RICHARD’S PIPIT Anthus richardi Roberts included this, and the Paddyfield

Pipit A. rufulus, in A novaeseelandiae but makes no mention of the occurrence

of richardi. On 1 6 September 1973a large, dark, long-tailed pipit flew W near

Raiwind, giving the characteristic ‘dzreeep’ call of richardi. Another was seen

at Niaz Beg on the River Ravi on 20 September 1973.

BLYTH’S PIPIT Anthus godlewskii Roberts makes no reference to this

species, although Vaurie (1959) includes Pakistan in its winter range, and

one of the known Indian wintering areas is not far to the south-east of Sind

(Ali and Ripley 1973). On 13 September 1973 I had close views of a pipit at

Niaz Beg, Lahore, which was larger than A. rufulus waitei but smaller and

shorter-tailed than A. richardi. It had warm buff underparts, richer on the

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flanks and paler on the rather finely streaked breast. The brown back was

almost as dark as that of A. richardi but the pattern on the median and greater

coverts resembled that ol Tawny Pipit A. campestris. The harsh ‘p-titt’ call

was unfamiliar but does not seem to correspond closely to calls so far

attributed to A. godlezvskii. There was a similarly plumaged (but silent) bird

at the same locality on 9 October 1 973. At the time no good field descriptions

of A. godlezvskii existed but, on the basis of information now available, it

seems these birds were probably of this species.

RED-THROATED PIPIT Anthus cervinus Three additional winter records

of two by the Hudiara drain on 26 December 1973, two on the south-west

outskirts of Lahore on 27 December 1973 and two at Kharrar jheel on 10

February 1974 suggest that the species is thinly distributed in the northern

Punjab. However, the exceptionally cold weather of late December 1973

may have induced movement from elsewhere.

ROSY PIPIT Anthus roseatus I found this to be a rather more common winter

visitor (late December to March) in the northern Punjab than Roberts

suggests. It was quite widespread on the fringes of lakes, marshes and ditches

with maxima of 1 2 at Kharrar jheel on 3 1 December 1973, nine near Raiwind

on 2 February 1974 and 5 at Balloki on 3 March 1974.

SPECTACLED FINCH Callacanthis burtoni An unusually large flock of 40

was seen at just over 2,000 m near Murree on 1 6 February 1 974. There was

also one at Nathia Gali on 15 April 1974.

PINK-BROWED ROSEFINCH Carpodacus rodochrous Roberts regarded it

as scarce. A male was seen above Ghora Gali on 1 6 February 1974 and there

were two females in the same area on 13 April 1974 plus at least six (three

males) at Nathia Gali on 15 April 1974.

REFERENCES

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1968) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, 1 . Bombay: Oxford University

Press.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1969) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, 2. Bombay: Oxford University

Press.

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1973) Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan, 9. Bombay: Oxford University

Press.

Roberts, T. J. (1991-1992) The birds of Pakistan. Two vols. Karachi: Oxford University Press.

Vaurie, C. (1959) The birds of the Palearctic fauna, Passeriformes. London: Witherby.

Alan Vittery, 164 West Clyne, Brora, Sutherland KW9 6NH, U.K.

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Observations on the breeding of the

Palawan Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis

lemprievi

D. G. VRETTOS

The Palawan Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis lemprien 'is a Philippine endemic which

has been treated either as a subspecies of the Hill Blue-Flycatcher C.

banyumas (Watson et al. 1986), or as a full species (Dickinson et al. 1991).

DESCRIPTION AND MEASUREMENTS

Previously published descriptions of this species are incomplete and, therefore,

full details are provided:

Male: forehead light blue; crown, nape, back, wings, mantle, sides of head,

ear-coverts and rump dark blue; lores black; chin off-white, changing to pale

orange on the breast; belly white; under tail-coverts off-white; flanks and

under wing-coverts grey; tail dark blue; eye dark brown; legs blue-grey; bill

black.

Female: crown and nape blue-grey; lores black; white supercilium and

malar stripe; ear-coverts greenish-grey; back, mantle and rump olive-brown;

tail rufous-brown; chin white, changing to dull orange on the breast; belly

white; under tail-coverts and under wing-coverts off-white; wings and flanks

dark brown; eye dark brown; legs blue-grey; bill black.

The average measurements of three males caught in mist nets at the end

of July were: wing 79 mm, tail 63.3 mm, bill 15.3 mm, tarsus 21 .3 and weight

22.062 g. One of the males netted on 27 July was in moult. Two females

caught at the same time averaged: wing 77 mm, tail 58 mm, bill 1 5 mm, tarsus

21 mm, weight 21.2 g.

BREEDING BEHAVIOUR

Observations on the breeding of this flycatcher began on the 14 April 1987

when, what was thought to be an old empty nest was found, in a hollow tree-

stump, by members of the Palawan Wildlife Expedition. The team was mist-

netting on the east slope of Mount Mananangob (9°46’N 1 18°41’E), in the

central mountain range of the island, at an altitude of approximately 370 m.

Mount Mananangob is in a watershed reserve near the village of Irawan,

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which is 1 1 km from Puerto Princesa city on the southbound road.

There is a limited amount of disturbance from illegal logging, hunting by

villagers, and also collecting of honey. Resin from the Almaciga tree Agathis

dammara is collected seasonally by the Tagbanuwa people, who employ a

system of shifting cultivation.

The following day (15 April) an egg was discovered in the nest, and an

observation hide was therefore constructed from fish-tail palm Arenga

fronds, between the buttress roots of a large tree which was about 3 m from

the nest site. The nest, which was constructed from dried grasses, and

measured 50 mm deep by 60 mm inside diameter, was not visible from the

hide as it was set back in the 1 m high stump.

Early the next morning (16 April) I took up position in the hide and settled

down to wait. About 15m from the hide was a stream which ran down the

hillside and, since it was still the dry season, this was visited by a variety of

birds and mammals. Some of these, such as Crab-eating Macaque Macaca

fascicularis, Sunda Civet Viverra tangalunga. Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus

hermaphroditus , Palawan Treeshrew Tupaia palawanensis and Palawan Hombill

Anthracoceros marchei, were potential predators. Just after midday a small

brown passerine appeared on a nearby branch and then flew into the nest.

This was later identified as a female Palawan Blue-Flycatcher.

The Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher C. rufigastra occurs in that area of Palawan,

and the male is very similar to that of the Palawan Blue-Flycatcher; however,

the female rufigastra is mainly blue like the male, whereas the female lemprieri

is brown. Both adult Palawan Blue-Flycatchers were seen together on

numerous occasions, facilitating positive identification of the species.

On checking the nest in the late afternoon it was noted that there was still

only one egg.

At 06h00 the next morning ( 1 7 April) I again settled down in the hide. The

female appeared about 20 minutes later and flew to the nest. During

subsequent observations it was not always possible to be sure that the female

was sitting because her approaches and departures were very rapid . Later that

day a snake, possibly a cobra Naja, about 2.5 m long, passed the nest site at

about 2 m distance. At 1 7h00 I left the hide and found that a second egg had

been laid when I checked the nest.

The following day (18 April) the male Palawan Blue-Flycatcher was seen

for the first time. It appeared on a branch about 2 m from the nest, and then

chased off a male Blue-and-white Flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana which

came close to the nest. Later that day both the adults mobbed two juvenile

Palawan Tree-shrews which wandered close to the nest. The female left the

nest several times to feed. At 17h00 there were still two eggs in the nest.

The next day (19 April) it quickly became apparent that the birds were

uneasy because the hide no longer provided adequate concealment. The hide

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Forktail 9

was abandoned but the nest was subsequently checked every 2-3 days. On 2 1

April a check revealed that the female was temporarily absent and the

opportunity was taken to measure the eggs. One was 24x 1 6 mm and the other

was 22.5x15.5 mm. They were pale blue and with reddish-brown blotches

concentrated towards the blunt end.

Two chicks were discovered in the nest on 2 May. The nest had been

checked on 30 April with no sign of the eggs hatching, giving an incubation

period of 1 5- 1 6 days, assuming that the second egg was laid on 1 7 April and

that incubation started then.

The hide was hastily repaired on 3 May and observations were resumed at

05h30 on 4 May. Both parents made frequent visits to the nest, but as they

flew directly into the nest it was difficult to see what food they were carrying.

Feeding took only 3-4 seconds each time and the adults collected most of the

food close to the nest. The female spent several periods of about 30 mins in

the nest, presumably brooding the young. Over the next four days the

frequency of feeding increased but on the morning of 9 May both young had

disappeared. Both adults were still in the area but there was no sign of any

fledglings.

Many thanks to Mr R. P. Girdler for his comments on the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Dickinson, E. C., Kennedy, R. S. and Parkes, K. C. (1991) The birds of the Philippines. Tring: British

Ornithologists’ Union (Check-list no. 12).

Watson, G.E., Traylor, M. A. and Mayr, E. (1986) Muscicapidae. Pp. 295-375 in E. Mayr and G. W.

Cottrell, eds., Check-list of birds of the world, 1 1 . Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative

Zoology.

Dennis G. Vrettos, Basil Comer, Lower Basildon, Berkshire, RG8 9NL, U.K.

Blyth’s Leaf- Warbler Phyllo scopus

reguloides found breeding in Thailand

PER ALSTROM and URBAN OLSSON

This note describes the first confirmed breeding of Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler

Phylloscopus reguloides in Thailand, namely at Doi Inthanon in the north¬

west. It is suggested that Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler is breeding rather commonly

on Doi Inthanon, and that it has been overlooked before.

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In early April 1991 P.A. observed several Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers on the

summit of Doi Inthanon, north-west Thailand (18°35’N 98°29.5’E). Some

of the birds were singing, but it could not be established whether they were

on migration or breeding ( Phylloscopus warblers frequently sing during spring

migration; pers. obs.). In the second week of March 1992 Blyth’s Leaf-

Warbler was found to be locally common on Doi Inthanon, and breeding was

confirmed. This species has not previously been proved to breed in Thailand

(Boonsong et al. 1991; Philip D. Round in litt.).

On 8 March 1992 a pair of Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers were seen nest building,

beside the trail at the summit bog on Doi Inthanon, at an altitude of c. 2,560

m. The following day the nest was abandoned, probably as a result of human

disturbance. On 1 1 March possibly the same pair was seen building a nest

some 30-40 m from the first nest site. On 9 March 1 992 a nest of Blyth’s Leaf-

Warbler with nearly fully grown young was found at c. 1650 m (‘km 37’) on

Doi Inthanon. Two days later the young fledged. On 8 April 1992 Johan

Wallander and Eva Helgesson (pers. comm. 1992) saw a nest-building pair

of Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler near the summit bog on Doi Inthanon.

At the summit of Doi Inthanon, especially in the vicinity of the bog, Blyth’s

Leaf-Warbler was fairly common and outnumbered White-tailed Leaf-

Warbler Phylloscopus davisoni by roughly 2:1 (based on a count of singing

males). At c. 1,650 m (‘km 37’) Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler seemed to be slightly

less numerous than White-tailed Leaf-Warbler, and ate. 1,500 m (‘km 34.5’)

White-tailed appeared to be more numerous than Blyth’s (based on counts

of singing males).

It is quite possible that some or even most of the Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers that

we observed were on migration. This may be supported by the fact that

several singing males did not respond to play-back of their own song.

However, there could be other explanations for that (cf. Alstrom and Olsson

1992). On the other hand, several males (other than those whose nests we

found) were evidently territorial and responded vigorously to play-back, and

at least one of these appeared to have a mate. Even if some of the Blyth’s Leaf-

Warblers that we observed were on migration, it would still appear that

Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler is a fairly common breeding bird on Doi Inthanon.

It may be of some interest to point out that we did not find any Blyth’s Leaf-

Warblers on Doi Suthep-Pui in early March 1992, only White-tailed Leaf-

Warblers.

On plumage (mainly tail pattern) as well as on geographical grounds the

Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers on Doi Inthanon seem to match the subspecies

assamensis. This extension of the known range of Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler

reveals that Blyth’s and White-tailed Leaf-Warblers are sympatric in four

disjunct areas: Doi Inthanon (P. r. assamensis and P. d. davisoni), Sichuan

Province, China (P. r. claudiae and P. d. disturbans ), Fujian Province, China

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Forktail 9

(P. r. fokiensis and P. d. ogilviegranti) and in South Annam, Viet Nam (P. r.

ticehursti and P. d. klossi ) (Watson et al. 1986).

The Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers were distinguished from White-tailed Leaf-

Warbler (of subspecies davisoni , breeding on Doi Inthanon) primarily by (1)

song and calls (also begging calls of juveniles) which were subtly although

consistently different (one species did not respond to play-back of the other

species’ song), (2) tail pattern (Blyth’s showed a narrow white border to the

tip and edge of the inner web of the outermost rectrix, frequently also whitish

mottling centrally on the same feather, although not almost completely white

inner web as in White-tailed; the tail pattern is often extremely difficult to

judge in the field) and (3) antagonistic behaviour (when agitated, Blyth’s has

a distinctive habit of lifting one wing at a time; White-tailed flicks both wings

simultaneously and with a much quicker action than Blyth’s). Also, the

feeding behaviour usually differs significantly between the two species.

Unlike White-tailed, Blyth’s has the characteristic of looking on the undersides

of branches, frequently hanging head-down almost vertically.

It may seem surprising that Blyth’s Leaf-Warbler has been overlooked as

a breeding bird on Doi Inthanon. However, many Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers

have probably routinely been identified as White-tailed Leaf-Warbler, which

is known to breed commonly on Doi Inthanon. Moreover, those visiting

birdwatchers who correctly identified Blyth’s Leaf-Warblers probably did

not bother too much about whether or not they were breeding.

The trip to Thailand was made possible by, in part, a grant from the

Uddenberg-Nordingska Stiftelsen. Thanks also to Phil Round for comments

on this note.

REFERENCES

Alstrom, P. and Olsson, U. (1992) On the taxonomic status of Phylloscopus affinis and Phylloscopus

subaffinis. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 1 12: 111-125.

Boonsong Lekagul, Komolphalin, K., Round, P. D. and Wongkalasin, M. (1991) A guide to the birds of

Thailand. Bangkok: Saha Karn Bhaet.

Watson, G. E., Traylor, M. A., Jr. and Mayr, E. (1986) Family Sylviidae, Old World Warblers. Pp. 3-

294 in E. Mayr and G. W. Cottrell, eds . , Check-list of birds of the World, 1 1 . Cambridge, Massachusetts:

Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Per Alstrom, Kungsgatan 3, 462 33 Vanersborg, Szveden.

Urban Olsson, University of Goteborg, Dept, of Zoology, Section of Morphology

and Systematics, Box 25059, 400 31 Goteborg, Sweden.

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Black Tern Chlidonias niger : a new

species for Sri Lanka

REX I. DE SILVA, ENOKA PERERA, LESTER PERERA and

KANISHKA SAMARASINGHE

On 1 November 1 992, at approximately 1 0h20, we were on the tidal mudflats

in the northern part of Negombo Lagoon (7 9°50’E 7° 1 1 ’N) . A flock of about

60 Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybridus were perched on a brush-pile fish-

trap about 80 m from us. An unidentified tern was also perched on the trap

in the midst of the Whiskered Terns and was observed through a 20x80

telescope for more than 30 minutes.

The bird was slightly smaller than a Whiskered Tern. Its mantle was brown

and grey, the wings were brownish-grey with darker primaries and a prominent

dark carpal bar. The underparts were white, and the bill, irides and legs were

black. The rump and slightly forked tail were light grey - the rectrix tips being

somewhat darker. Its forehead, chin and neck were white and a cap, which

extended downwards behind the eyes, was present. The cap was dark grey

in front, and sooty-black at the rear, changing to brownish at the edges. A

small diffuse greyish patch was present on each side of the breast below the

closed forewing. The bird preened continuously whilst under observation.

The bird was superficially similar to a juvenile White-winged Tern C.

leucopterus, but the following features served to distinguish it. The grey rump

(i contra white); lack of a prominent saddle effect on the mantle; longer bill;

different cap/head pattern; and the grey patches at the sides of the breast

(always lacking in White-winged Tern).

On reference to Harrison (1985) it was clear that the bird was a juvenile

Black Tern C. niger. This is the first record of the species from Sri Lanka. Six

individuals have been recorded from India, including four at Point Calimere,

Tamil Nadu (Alexander 1950, Abdulali and Ambedkar 1983, Natarajan and

Balasubramian 1991, Menon 1992).

We are grateful to Brindley de Zylva and Kumudini Gomes for commenting

on earlier drafts of the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Abdulali, H. and Ambedkar, V. C. (1983) Occurrence of the Black Tern Chlidonias niger (Linn.) in India.

J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 80: 640.

Alexander, H.G. (1950) Possible occurrence of the Black Tern Chlidonias niger (L.) near Delhi. J.

Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 49: 120.

Harrison, P. (1985) Seabirds: an identification guide. Revised edition. London: Croom Helm.

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Menon, V. (1992) On the Black Tern Chlidonias niger niger (Linn.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 89: 120.

Natarajan, V. and Balasubramian, P. (1991) Additional notes on the occurrence of Black Tern

Chlidonias niger (Linn.) in India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 451-452.

Rex I. De Silva, Hepporawatte, Darnpe, Madapatha, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka

Enoka Perera, 69/3, Green Path, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

Lester Perera, 34/2, S de S. Jayasinghe, Mawatha, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

Kanishka Samarasinghe, 2511, Minuwangoda Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka.

Long-billed Plover Charadrius

placidus : a new species for Sri Lanka

REX I. DE SILVA and LESTER PERERA

At about 1 3h00 on 1 0 January 1 993 we were observing birds on the sandspit

at the mouth of the Chilaw Lagoon (79°47’E 7°36’N) in north-west Sri

Lanka. Several species of terns, two Sooty Gulls Lams hemprichi and some

shorebirds were visible. A wader which neither of us could identify, flew

along the shoreline and settled down on the sandspit about 25 m from us.

The bird appeared intermediate in size between a Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula and a Greater Sand-Plover C. leschenaultii. The upperparts

were brown and the underparts were white. A greyish-brown breast-band

was present. The crown and lores were the same colour as the upperparts and

there was a light brown supercilium. The forehead was off-white, the chin

and neck were white and there was a white collar. The bill was blackish, the

legs were yellowish-grey, the irides were dark brown and there was a thin, but

prominent, white wing-bar. The bird bore a superficial resemblance to a

Common Ringed Plover in winter plumage, but the noticeably longer legs,

bill and tail served to distinguish it from that species.

The bird was observed for approximately 10 minutes with 8x40 and 8x30

binoculars. On subsequently referring to Hayman et al. (1986) it was

apparent that the bird was a Long-billed Plover C. placidus. This is the first

record of the species for Sri Lanka.

The Long-billed Plover breeds in north-east Asia, and most migrate south

or south-west after breeding, although small resident populations occur in

southern Japan and parts of southern China. It winters from Nepal east to

eastern China and in South Korea and has wandered to Peninsular Malaysia,

Brunei and Bali. However, it has not been recorded previously from south of

22°S in the Indian subcontinent (Thompson et al., this issue).

1994

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155

REFERENCES

Hayman, P., Marchant, J. and Prater, T. ( 1 986) Shorebirds: an identification guide to the waders of the world.

London: Christopher Helm.

Rex 1. De Silva, Hepporawatte, Dampe, Madapatha, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka

Lester Perera, 3412, S. de S. Jayasinghe Mawatha, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

Asian Stubtail Urosphena squameiceps :

a new species for Nepal and the Indian

subcontinent

ALAN LEWIS

On 2 1 January 1 993 I visited the Dharan forest which lies just north of Itahari

in eastern Nepal. In general the forest was disappointingly quiet but, upon

investigating a slight rustle on the forest floor, I was pleased to find an Asian

Stubtail (Stub-tailed Bush-Warbler) Urosphena squameiceps. It was hopping

jerkily on long, flexed legs in a fashion typical of the genus, and close views

were obtained for about 30 seconds before it disappeared.

The main features noted were the dark brown upperparts, whitish

underparts, very long buffish-white supercilium and a tailless appearance.

The legs and large feet were very pale pink. The views were not sufficient to

see the indistinct scaling on the forehead which is characteristic of the species,

and it was not heard to call.

I am very familiar with Urosphena squameiceps in its wintering areas in

Thailand, and had seen several at Khao Yai National Park less than three

weeks previously.

It was a surprise to discover that this is apparently the first record for Nepal

and the Indian subcontinent. King et al. (1975) give the wintering range in

South-East Asia as ‘Burma (except NE); NW, NE, SE and peninsular

Thailand; NW Tonkin; Laos; Hong Kong.’ It is perhaps to be expected that

a long distance migrant such as the Asian Stubtail, which breeds in north-east

Asia and regularly winters as far west as Myanmar (Burma) , should occasionally

stray further west.

REFERENCES

King, B. F„ Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

London: Collins.

Alan Lewis, 4 Troutbeck Avenue, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4JA, U.K.

156

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Forktail 9

Black- and-yellow Grosbeak Mycerobas

icterioides : a new species for Nepal

ALAN LEWIS

On 22 March 1993 I located a flock of about 100 Collared Grosbeaks

Mycerobas affinis at an elevation of about 3000 m, just below the Deorali

teashop, about 1 V2 hours walk from Ghorepani on the Jomsom trek,

Annapurna Conservation Area, west-central Nepal. They were astonishingly

confiding as they fed on the ground under pine trees, although sections of the

flock would occasionally fly up into the trees when alarmed, but these birds

returned almost immediately.

I walked back to the teashop and met Richard Rowland. On returning to

the flock, I noticed a mid-grey grosbeak Mycerobas with the Collared

Grosbeaks. We watched this bird at close range for about 1 0 minutes, feeding

with the Collared Grosbeaks but also briefly near a male Spectacled Finch

Callacanthis burtoni. The main features noted were the uniform mid-grey

head, mantle and breast, black tail and wings, and a buffish belly and flanks.

There was no perceptible difference in structure or bare part colouration

from the nearby Collared Grosbeaks.

On reference to Ali and Ripley (1983) it was easy to confirm our suspicions

that this bird was a female Black-and-yellow Grosbeak M. icterioides. One

feature not noted, presumably because the wings were held closed, was the

buff rump and uppertail-coverts.

This is the first confirmed record of this species for Nepal, although Inskipp

and Inskipp (1991) mention a previous (probably erroneous) record, which

they place in square brackets. It is also the easternmost record of the species,

apart from that of a specimen collected in Darjeeling, held in the collection

of the Zoological Institute in Leningrad (Neufeldt and Vietinghoff-Scheel

1984).

REFERENCES

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1983) A pictorial guide to the birds of the Indian subcontinent. Bombay: Oxford

University Press.

Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (1991) A guide to the birds of Nepal. Second edition. London: Christopher

Helm.

Neufeldt, I. A. and Vietinghoff-Scheel, E. v. (1984) Mycerobas icterioides (Vigors). In H. Dathe and I.

A. Neufeldt, eds., Atlas der Verbreitung Palaearktischer Vogel, 12. Berlin: Akademie-Verlag.

Alan Lewis, 4 Troutbeck Avenue, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4 JA, U.K.

1994

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

157

Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis

ptilorhyncus : a new species for the

Andaman Islands

VIBHU PRAKASH, NIKITA V. PRAKASH and

WILLIAM S. CLARK

While conducting surveys for diurnal raptors on the Andaman Islands, we

sighted and identified four juvenile Oriental Honey-buzzards Pernis

ptilorhyncus , apparently the first records of this species for these islands. Ali

and Ripley (1978) do not mention these islands in the species’s distribution,

nor did Abdulali (1964, 1967) collect or report observing this species during

his collecting expeditions there. Finally, Tikader ( 1984) does not include the

Oriental Honey-buzzard in the list of birds for these islands.

On 1 6 February 1 983 at Kalighat on North Andaman Island, we saw three

juvenile Oriental Honey-buzzards begin to soar about 09h00. The next day,

at about 09h00, we saw a single juvenile of this species soaring on the very

eastern slopes near Saddle Peak, also on North Andaman Island.

All four birds were identified by their wing and tail shape and long narrow

necks (Clark and Schmitt 1992). All of us are extremely familiar with this

species from numerous sightings in all parts of India. All the individuals

observed in the Andamans were judged to be juveniles by their darker

secondaries that contrasted with paler primaries when viewed from below,

and by the dark on the outer primaries extending from the tips inward beyond

the feather emarginations (Clark and Schmitt 1992), as confirmed by

photographs taken of three of these individuals. One of the three birds seen

on 1 6 February was a dark morph; the others were light morph individuals.

We do not feel confident to judge the race of these individuals in the field

and, therefore, it was not possible to determine whether these birds were

migrants from north-east Asia on their wintering grounds (P. p. orientalis ), or

were the offspring of local breeding birds or short distance migrants from

mainland India or Myanmar (P. p. ruficollis). Vaurie and Amadon (1962)

discuss the races and status of this species.

This research was conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society as

part of its birds of prey survey project. Clark’s visit to India was supported

by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. D. Ferguson is thanked for his support

of this project.

REFERENCES

Abdulali, H. (1964) The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 61: 483-

571.

Abdulali, H. (1967) The birds of the Nicobar Islands, with notes on some Andaman birds. J. Bombay

Nat. Hist. Soc. 64: 139-190.

158

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Forktail 9

Ali, S. and Ripley, S. D. (1987) Compact edition of the handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Delhi:

Oxford University Press.

Clark, W. S. and Schmitt, N. J. (1992) Flight identification of Indian raptors with pale bars on upper

wings. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 89: 1-3.

Tikader, B. K. (1984) The birds of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India.

Vaurie, C. and Amadon, D. (1962) Notes on the honey buzzards of eastern Asia. Atner. Mus. Novital.

2111.

Vibhu Prakash and Nikita V. Prakash, Bombay Natural History Society, Hombill House, Shaheed Bhagat

Singh Road, Bombay 400 023, India

William S. Clark, 4554 Shetland Green Road, Alexandria, VA 22312, U.S.A.

Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus

burkii : a new species for Malaysia

RICHARD GREGORY-SMITH

A Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii was netted and photographed

at Sintok on 1 3 October 1991. Sintok is north of Alor Setar, and just below

the Kedah-Thai border. Mist-nets were erected in an area of semi-evergreen

rain-forest with some bamboo.

The nets were inspected at 09h50 and the warbler was found together with

a Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane and a Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker

Pnonochilus maculatus. The warbler weighed 9.5 g and its dimensions were:

overall length 1 1 2 mm, wing 58 mm and tarsus 22 mm. It had a single yellow

wing-bar and conformed in all respects with the description in King et al.

(1975). A photograph was sent to Dr David Wells at the University of

Malaya, who confirmed the identification.

Boonsong and Round (1991) refer to the Golden-spectacled Warbler as a

common winter visitor and passage migrant in Thailand, and indicate that

its range does not extend into the peninsula south of about 10°N. Smythies

(1986) refers to the species as a winter visitor/altitudinal migrant in Myanmar

(Burma), not recorded south of Amherst District in Tenasserim.

The capture of this species in Peninsular Malaysia shows a considerable

extension to its range, and adds a new species to the avifauna of that country.

REFERENCES

Boonsong Lekagul and Round, P. D. (1991) A guide to the birds of Thailand. Bangkok: Saha Karn Bhaet.

King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. (1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

London: Collins.

Smythies, B. E. (1986) The birds of Burma. Liss, U.K.: Nimrod Press.

R. Gregory-Smith, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, East Malaysia

1994

159

Guidelines for contributors

Forktail publishes original papers in the English language (also, in certain cases, English translations of

papers in Oriental languages) treating any aspect of the ornithology (e.g. distribution, biology,

conservation, identification) of the Oriental region, i.e. the region bounded by the Indus River to the

west, Lydekker’s Line to the east (i.e. the eastern boundary of Wallacea), the Chang Jiang (Yangtze

Kiang) basin to the north and the Chagos Archipelago, Lesser Sundas, Christmas Island and Cocos

(Keeling) Islands to the south; the Japanese Nansei Shoto (islands south-west of Kyushu) are included,

and indeed material concerning any part of China or Pakistan may be published. Submissions are

considered on the understanding that they are being offered solely for publication by the Oriental Bird

Club, which will retain copyright. Referees are used where appropriate; all submissions are reviewed by

the Forktail Editorial Committee, and those accepted are normally published in order of receipt. (Some

further indication of the type of material appropriate for the journal is provided in the inaugural editorial,

‘The scope of Forktail’, Forktail 1 : 3-5.)

Submissions should be in one of the following ways: a) in duplicate, typewritten on one side of the

paper only, and double-spaced; or b) a single double-spaced typescript, accompanied by a word-

processed version on disk, preferably IBM compatible and in WordPerfect 5.1. Macintosh and other

word-processing packages are acceptable, but in such cases two files should be sent, one in the original

word-processed format and one converted into an ASCII text file. The approximate position of figures

and tables should be indicated in the margin of the typescript. Papers should be concise and factual, take

full account of previous relevant literature but avoid repetition of established information as much as

possible; opinions expressed should be based on adequate evidence. Titles of papers must be accurate

and concise, and (for the benefit of abstraction services) include any relevant scientific (taxonomic)

name.

Whenever possible, authors should consult an issue of Forktail for style and layout. Spelling follows

The shorter Oxford English dictionary, except that external features of birds are spelt and hyphenated in

accordance with the entry under ‘Topography’ in A dictionary of birds (1985). Spelling of place-names

accords (unless another source is specified) with the most recent edition (currently seventh, 1 985) of The

Times atlas of the world', we use ‘South-East Asia’ and ‘Viet Nam’. Localities with well-known other

spellings or older names should have these placed in parentheses after their first mention. For localities

too small to be in the Times atlas a source of the spelling adopted should preferably be indicated and the

precise geographical coordinates provided (these should be double-checked where possible). It is

appreciated that authors will not always have access to the above sources; in such cases the editor will

seek to introduce conformity.

English and scientific names of birds should preferably follow those provided by Sibley and Monroe

(1990) Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world (as modified by the 1993 supplement). On first

mention of a bird both English and scientific name should be given, thereafter only one, preferably the

English. Scientific trinomials need be used only if subspecific nomenclature is relevant to the topic under

discussion. These recommendations also apply for any other animal or plant species mentioned.

Underlining (= italics ) is used for all words of foreign languages, including generic and specific

scientific names. Metric units and their international symbols should be used; if it is necessary to cite

other systems of measurement, these can be added in parentheses. Temperatures should be given in the

Centigrade (Celsius) scale. Numbers one to ten are written in full except when linked with a

measurement abbreviation or higher number, thus ‘five birds’ but ‘5 km’ and ‘5-12 birds’; numerals are

used for all numbers above ten, four-figure numbers and above using the comma thus: ‘ 1 ,234’, ‘ 1 2,345'.

Details of experimental technique, extensive tabulations of results, etc. , are best presented as appendices.

Authors of papers containing statistical analysis should observe the provisions of the relevant section

of‘Notice to contributors’ in a recent Ibis. Dates should be written 1 January 1985, times of day as 08h30,

17h55 (24-hour clock;), etc. When citing a conversation (‘verbally’) or letter (‘in litt.’), the contact’s

name and initials should be included, preferably with the year of communication. A full-length paper

must include a summary not exceeding 5% of the total length.

160

Forktail 9

Any figure, diagram, line-drawing or map should preferably be in black ink on strong white or

translucent paper; it should be called a Figure, numbered appropriately, and fully captioned. Maps must

be marked with a scale and north arrow. Lettering on figures should be very neat, although the publishers

will re-draw figures and typeset lettering. Good photographs are also considered. Captions for figures

and photographs should be typed on a separate sheet.

Authors of papers are encouraged to offer their work to one or more ornithologist or biologist for

critical assessment prior to submission to Forktail. Such help as is received should naturally be

mentioned in an acknowledgement section before the full references are presented.

References in the text should follow the form ‘(Campbell and Lack 1985)’ and ‘King et al. (1975)

suggest...’. More than one within the same parentheses should be chronologically listed, alphabetically

if of die same year. Publications by the same authors in the same year may be distinguished by ‘a’, ‘b’,

etc., after the date. Full references must be listed alphabetically at the end in the form:

Campbell, B. and Lack, E. eds. (1985)^4 dictionary of birds. Calton (Staffordshire, U.K.): T. and A. D.

Poyser.

King, B. F., Dickinson, E. C. and Woodcock, M. W. ( 1975) A field guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

London: Collins.

Kuroda, Nh., ed. (1984) Ketteiban seibutsu daizukan; chorui [ Illustrations of animals and plants: birds],

Tokyo: Sekai Bunkasha. (In Japanese.)

Roslyakov, G. E. (1985) [‘Information on the distribution and number of Aix galericulata and Mergus

squamatus over Khabarovsk Territory.’] Pp. 101-102 in N. M. Litvinenko, ed. Rare and endangered

birds of the Far East. Vladivostok: Far East Science Center, Academy of Sciences of the USSR. (In

Russian.)

Sien Yao-hua, Kuan Kuan-Hsiin and Zheng Zuo-xin (1964) [‘An avifaunal survey of the Chinghai

province.’] Acta Zool. Sinica 16: 690-709. (In Chinese.)

Smythies, B. E. (198 1) The birds of Borneo. Third edition. Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur: The Sabah

Society and the Malayan Nature Society.

Somadikarta, S. (1986) Collocalia linchi Horsfield & Moore - a revision. Bull. Brit. Om. Club 106: 32-

40.

White, C. M. N. and Bruce, M. D. (1986) The birds of Wallacea (Sulawesi, the Moluccas and Lesser Sunda

Islands, Indonesia): an annotated check-list. London: British Ornithologists’ Union (Check-list no. 7).

It will be noted from these examples that references to non-Roman scripts need to be transliterated

and/or translated (or even, with more recondite sources, both); either the transliterated title may be left

as it is, or a translation of it can be substituted in square brackets (but where an abstract provides its own

English title, this may be cited in inverted commas within square brackets), and die language involved

should follow the reference, in parentheses.

The author’s name and postal address should appear in italics at the end of the article.

Authors will receive proofs for checking, which they are required to return within one week of receipt

(no more than four weeks can be allowed between posting out and taking return of proofs). All joint

communications must indicate the name and full postal address of the author to whom proofs should

be sent. Textual changes in proof cannot normally be countenanced. Twenty reprints of full-length

articles, and ten of short communications, will be made available irrespective of number of authors, and

sent to the senior author.

ISSN 0950-1746

OBC Council

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Tim Inskipp

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Editorial Committee

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OBC Representatives

Paul Andrew (Australia); Prof. K. Z. Husain (Bangladesh); Prof. Yao-kuang Tan

(China); Dr Jiri Mlikovsky (Czechoslovakia); Jesper Madsen and Anders Prieme

(Denmark); Hannu Jannes (Finland); Roland Eve (France); Dr W. Thiede (Germany);

Mike Chalmers and David Melville (Hong Kong); Prakash Gole (India); Derek

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Suwal (Nepal); Frank Rozendaal (Netherlands); Terje Axelsen (Norway); Ashiq

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Dr Sara th Kotagama and Upali Ekanayake (Sri Lanka); Per Alstrom (Sweden); Dr W.

Suter (Switzerland); Philip Round and Uthai Treesucon (Thailand); Dr Robert

Kennedy (U.S.A.).

The Oriental Bird Club has been established for ornithologists throughout

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in the region’s birds and wish to assist in their conservation.

The Club aims to:

• Encourage an interest in the birds of the Oriental Region and their conservation

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Membership

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Cover photograph: Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda. Photo: Anders Tyevad/Biofoto

CONTENTS

J. S. ASH and A. SHAFEEG.

The birds of die Maldives . 3

A. PRIEME and B. OKSNEBJERG.

The avifauna and conservation value of Shey-Phoksundo National Park, Nepal . 33

D. N. KURUP and V. J. ZACHARIAS.

Birds of Lakshadweep Islands, India . 49

P. SINGH.

Recent bird records from Arunachal Pradesh, India . 65

S. PANDEY, J. JOSHUA, N. D. RAI, D. MOHAN, G. S. RAW AT,

K. SANKAR, M. V. KATTI, D. V. S. KHATI and A. J. T. JOHNSINGH.

Birds of Rajaji National Park, India . 105

R. SANKARAN.

Ornithological survey of Nanda Devi National Park, India . 1 15

A. ROBERTSON.

Occurrence of some pelagic seabirds (Procellariiformes) in waters off

the Indian subcontinent .

J. C. EAMES, C. R. ROBSON and NGUYEN CU.

A new subspecies of Spectacled Fulvetta Alcippe ruficapilla from Vietnam . 141

P. D. ROUND and V. LOSKOT.

A reappraisal of the taxonomy of the Spotted Bush-Warbler Bradypierus thoracicus . 159

Short communications

W. S. CLARK and A. A. KHAN.

Sightings of two rare raptors, Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina and

Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos, in Pakistan .

R. DRIJVERS.

Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus: a new species for India .

O. F. JAKOBSEN.

Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda : a new species for Thailand .

O. F. JAKOBSEN.

Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus: a new species for Sri Lanka .

G. FINCH and M. KENNEWELL.

Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis: a new species for Thailand .

G. CLARK.

Rosy Starling Stumus roseus at Khao Sam Roi Yot: a new species for Thailand

H. A. FORD.

Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex feeding on arils of acacia seeds .

S. J. M. BLABER and D. A. MILTON.

The distribution of nests of the Black-and-red Broadbill

Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchus along a river in Sarawak .

G. E. MORRIS.

Mountain Hawk-Eagles Spizaetus nipalensis in Vietnam .

Index to Forktails 1-9 .

173

175

177

178

179

180

181

182

184

186

Guidelines for contributors

192

2

Forktail 10

ISSN 0950-1746

© Oriental Bird Club 1994

Published for the Oriental Bird Club by

Rubythroat Publications

6 Corinthian Close, Basingstoke

Hampshire RG22 4TN U.K.

Printed on recycled paper by GL Print, Aldermaston, U.K.

1994

FORKTAIL 10 (1994): 3 - 32

3

Birds of the Maidive Islands, Indian

Ocean

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

An annotated checklist of the birds of the Maidive Islands, Indian Ocean, includes 147 species, of

which details of 35 additions are included. New information has resulted principally from field

observations in 1 984 and 1 993, and from an examination of a collection of bird photographs formed

by Mr Ahamed Shafeeg. The White-eyed Gull Larus leucophthalmus is new for the Oriental Region.

The main purposes of this paper are threefold: first, to present an updated

annotated checklist for the birds of the Maldives; second, to report the

occurrence of many new species to the Maldives resulting from an examination

of a large series of photographs collected by Mr Ahamed Shafeeg (father of

A. S.) ofbirds captured in the Maldives and brought alive to Male; and third,

to record observations made on two visits by J. S. A. in 1984 and 1993.

The background to the ornithology of the Maldives has been given by

Phillips (1963), together with a detailed description of the geography and

ecology of the archipelago, so that it is unnecessary to repeat it here. One

point emphasised by Phillips was that relatively few observations had been

made on the Maldives prior to his visit, and after 1963 there was no

improvement. A temporary flush of observations resulted from personnel

working at the British base on Gamu (Seenu Atoll), and the recent upsurge

in tourism will inevitably result in an increase in observers.

A number of factors have changed in the Maldives, mostly to the

detriment of both resident and visiting birds. Perhaps the most important

of these is the development of tourism resulting in a major ecological impact

on an increasing number of islands; an increase in the amount of boat traffic

and movement of people within the archipelago, resulting in increased

disturbance to previously little visited islands; and an increase in affluence,

with its concomitant increase in leisure time, resulting in yet more persecution

ofbirds and the means to obtain them. Unfortunately, persecution ofbirds

has always been intense in the Maldives, but this is apparently now made

worse by the rapidly increasing human population, currently with an annual

growth rate of 3.4%, combined with a major reduction in infantile mortality.

In the past the harvesting of eggs and chicks as food presumably took place

to supplement the otherwise unvarying diet of fish as animal protein.

Keeping a wide range of species of captured birds as pets and toys has long

been, and still is, a very popular pastime in the Maldives. Presumably there

has been severe deforestation of the Maldives in the past, as on the Chagos

Archipelago (Bourne 1971), but it is regrettable to see that it still continues

where trees remain.

4

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

Forktail 10

The government’s earlier policy to eliminate the endemic subspecies of

the House Crow Corvus splendens maledivicus, which is very often a pest,

would, if successful, inevitably have resulted in the elimination of its avian

parasite, the Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea. However, the crow’s

absence could have a beneficial effect in permitting many other species to

spread and breed successfully (e.g. the Common White-Tern Gygis alba),

and also on allowing visiting raptors to remain and exert some measure of

control over other troublesome pests such as House Rats Rattus rattus and

Indian Flying-foxes Pteropus giganteus. The Ministry of Fisheries and

Agriculture’s policy now is to contain the crow’s population within acceptable

numbers. No doubt a large measure of crow control could be obtained by

reducing the amount of food made available to them in terms of human food

remains and fish garbage, together with an improvement in sanitary

conditions. A certain amount of nest destruction might also be carried out

at critical periods in the breeding cycle.

Under the present system, where tourism is being encouraged (e.g. the

number of islands set aside as tourist resorts has increased from four in 1974

to 70 in 1994), the development of wildlife as an added attraction could be

of great importance - as has been demonstrated in so many other countries.

Following the visit in 1 993 recommendations were made to the government

(Appendix 3) suggesting that a conservation-oriented policy of habitat and

wildlife protection could be developed, with one object being the increase

of large colonies of seabirds. Persecution of these has become so great that

it seems doubtful if many young birds of any species now survive. At the

same time a very large trade seems to have developed in recent years in the

marketing of wild birds as ‘pets’. This is based on the capture of young

colonial seabirds, and the trapping and netting of any other available birds,

of which waders are probably at greatest risk. Flightless flocks of waders and

terns are a common sight in the house compounds of most villages in the

Maldives. It would seem that considerable colonies of breeding seabirds

such as terns, boobies, shearwaters, frigatebirds and tropicbirds could be

built up very quickly if the persecution of both adults and young ceased, and

breeding colonies were given close protection. Similarly, the conservation

of turtles could provide a further important attraction.

Much of the trade in birds passes through the resort islands, possibly

because of the frequent contacts they maintain with the capital Male. The

possibility that birds are being exported from the Maldives was not established

on the 1993 visit, but birds are certainly imported, particularly from Sri

Lanka. Apparently the crews of many merchant vessels visiting Maldivian

waters carry birds with them, and the significance of this custom may not be

appreciated in the assessment of records of unusual vagrants in this region.

The photographs by Ahamed Shafeeg were of birds provided by islanders,

mostly fishermen, and were captured within the Maldives, where fishermen

1994

Birds of the Maidive Islands

5

remain within territorial waters. Bird-catching parties also travel to

uninhabited islands for the express purpose of netting birds. Some information

was obtained on the market values of birds and these are included in Table

1. The exchange rate in 1994 was 17 Maldivian rupees (Rs) to £1 sterling

(approximately Rs 1 1 = US$1.00).

Table 1. Market value of certain birds

6

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

Forktail 10

Following the name of each species, the local Maldivian name, where

known, is included in parentheses. However, names sometimes vary

between atolls, and spelling is often highly variable. Subspecies are given

where they are established from collected specimens. Next, also given in

parentheses are the observations by J. S . A. for visits from 2 1 April to 1 4 May

1 984 to the northern atolls (Ash 1 984b), and from 4- 1 8 November 1 993 to

the southern atolls; the latter with Richard Howard and Alick Moore with

the Bat Conservation Trust Expedition (Ash et al. in prep.), as are also the

notes on the photographs by Mr Ahamed Shafeeg. Then follows a brief

summary of the species’ status in the Maldives, together with a list of the

islands and/or atolls from which they are recorded - the latter are italicized

if the species is known to have bred there (months of the year are given in

lower-case Roman numerals); and lastly a list of the relevant references to

the published and unpublished literature. Many of the earlier records are

imprecise as to dates, and often localities. In order to avoid much repetition

the references under each species are mentioned by numbers only. Much

difficulty was experienced with atoll names in the Maldives, and it is hoped

that the map and the list of names in Appendices 1 and 2 will help to identify

the various old and new names, bearing in mind the absence of an agreed

consensus of opinion on the spelling of names.

The first list of the birds of the Maldives by Gadow and Gardiner (1903)

included 24 species; Phillips’ visit in 1956-1957 increased this total to 63

(Phillips and Sims 1 958b) and, following a further visit and more observations,

the total reached 1 12 (Phillips 1963). Additions since then result in a total

of 147 species. The outstanding collection of photographs formed by Mr

Ahamed Shafeeg of the Council for Research on Maldivian History and

Culture deserves special mention. There are 1 2 species represented in these

photographs for which there are no other Maldivian records. Part of this

collection remains unexamined, so that more additions can be expected.

ANNOTATED LIST

Domestic Fowl Gallus gallus (male: Haa; female: Kukulhu). (Feral

populations appeared to be established on K. Vilingili in 1984, and there

were several birds and a pair with a brood on uninhabited M. Boahuraa on

7 November 1993. They are said to occur in a feral and domesticated state

throughout the Maldives. Refs 6, 13.

Cotton Pygmy-Goose Nettapus coromandelianus (no local name). N. c.

coromandelianus. One in xii and several in x on S. Gamu. Said also to be

imported from Sri Lanka and India. Refs 25, 33.

Northern ShovelerH/2<25 clypeata (Reyru; no specific name). (In 1993: L.

Maandhoo, one on 11 November and L. Maabaidhoo, one caged on 14

1994

Birds of the Maidive Islands

7

November.) Reported to be a regular winter visitor with up to seven

together, xi-i. Also recorded Seenu Atoll. Refs 6, 25, 32, 33.

Northern Pintail Anas acuta (Ilifathi reyru). (A bird captured in 1982 on

Baa Atoll was photographed [Shafeeg] .) Rare visitor recorded three or more

times in x, xii, i. Also recorded Seenu Atoll. Refs 25, 32, 33.

Garganey Anas querquedula (Kuburu reyru). (A bird captured in 1982 on

Baa Atoll was photographed [Shafeeg], In 1993: M. Muli, a caged bird on

7 November had been brought from K. Male eight years previously. L.

Maandhoo, one on 10 November and four on 1 1 November.) Reported as

being a regular winter visitor in flocks of up to 25 birds, ix-i. Also reported

B. Hithaadhoo; Seenu Atoll. Refs 6, 25, 27, 32, 33.

Common Teal A nas crecca (no local name). A. c. crecca. An occasional

winter visitor in flocks of up to 10 birds. Recorded K. Male; Baa Atoll;

Shaviyani Atoll; Seenu Atoll in x, and others unspecified. Other dates are

unavailable. Refs 2, 14, 25, 27, 33.

Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca (Rathu reyru). (1993: two on 10

November on L. Maandhoo. Vagrant, with only one previous record in xi

on S. Gamu, although Ahamed Shafeeg refers to it as a common migrant xi-

i. Refs 6, 25, 32, 33.

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (Ran rathu reyru). (A captured bird, for

which there are no details of date or locality, was photographed [Shafeeg] .)

Reported to be a fairly frequent winter visitor xi-i. Also recorded: K. Male.

Refs 2, 25, 27, 32.

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops (Funaagandu dhooni). U. e. epops. (A bird

captured at K. Male in 1981 was photographed [Shafeeg].) A previous

record in autumn on S. Gamu and a captured bird on R. Kadholhudhoo in

October 1990 (R. C. Anderson). Refs 3, 4, 32, 33.

Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis (no local name). Rare winter visitor

with two records in xi on Seenu Atoll. Ref 33.

[Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (no local name). An unidentified

kingfisher, possibly this species, was seen at K. Lhosfushi in i. Ref 21, 22.]

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus (no local name). (1993: two on

16 November on A. Hurasdhoo clearly identified as this species and not

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater M. persicus. The first record for the Maldives. Ref

6.

European Bee-eater Merops apiaster (no local name). Recorded once

overwintering on S. Gamu, i-iii. This is apparently a unique winter record

outside Africa. Refs 2, 25, 33.

Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus (Fuggahu guraa). A record of one on

K. Vilingili in ii is the only published record. Ahamed Shafeeg states that it

occurs in most years either singly or in groups of two or three, arriving in

easterly winds. Ref 13.

8

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

Forktail 10

Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus (Fuggahu guraa) . A regular winter visitor

recorded from S. Gamu in ix-i. Ahamed Shafeeg states that formerly it came

with easterly winds, but that there have been very few in recent years. Refs

2, 25, 32, 33.

[Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii (Fuggahu guraa) . A bird fitting

the description of this species was seen and photographed one autumn in the

late 1960s on S. Gamu, but little detail is available and the record is best

treated as unconfirmed. Ref 33.]

Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus (Fuggahu guraa) . Rare winter

visitor with two records in xi and i, on S. Gamu. Refs 2, 25, 33.

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea (male Kaalhukoeli; female Dindin koeli).

E. s. scolopacea. (Common and widespread in April and May 1984, and in

November 1993, even on islands where there are no House Crows, so that

they must wander a great deal. Noted on: K. Male, K. Vilingili, K.

Biyaadhoo and K. Guraadhoo; H. A. Maafahi, H. A. Maarandhoo and H.

A. Vashafam, where there was still a juvenile with basal feather sheaths on

6 May 1984 [Ash]; M. Mulah; L. Maamendhoo, L. Maandhoo, L.

Hithadhoo, L. Mendhoo, L. South Athahedha, L. Fares, L. Vadinolhu, L.

North Athahedha, L. Isdhoo (where also a juvenile and two pulli on 14

November 1993), L. Maabaidhoo; Dh. Dhoores; A. Feridhoo.) Also

recorded: Baa/Haa, Noonu/Shaviyani and Lhaviyani Atolls; K. Hulhule, K.

Male (but no longer breeds); S. Gamu in x-i. Ahamed Shafeeg states that

they are resident and widespread in moderate numbers throughout the

archipelago, parasitising the House Crow. Refs 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 21,

22, 25, 27, 33.

[Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri (Bodu guraa). (A captured male

on Kaafu Atoll in 1 98 1 had been imported and was photographed [Shafeeg] .)

Ahamed Shafeeg states that the above and the following are imported by

man and later escape or are released; recently some resort islands have been

introducing free-flying birds. Refs 4, 6, 32.]

[Parakeet Psittacula and/or Hanging-Parrot Loriculus. (Two seen briefly

at K. Male on 21 April 1984 [Ash], and another on L. Maandhoo on 12

November 1993.) There are many reports over the years from various

islands of unidentified parakeets, which suggest that there is a small resident

population or that immigrants occur. Only one of those seen has been

identified satisfactorily, and the circumstances of its occurrence verified

(see P. krameri above). Refs 2, 4, 6, 14, 25, 27, 32.]

Himalayan Swiftlet Collocalia brevirostris (Forikey). An occasional winter

visitor with four records in xi-i on K. Male and S. Gamu. Refs 25, 27, 33.

White-throated Needlet ail Hirundapus caudacutus (Forikey). One record

in x on Seenu Atoll. Ref 33.

Common Swift Apus apus (Forikey). A regular visitor, ix-xi and iv-v, to S.

Gamu. Refs 2, 25, 33.

1994

Birds of the Maidive Islands

9

Pallid Swift Apus palhdus (Forikey). Rare winter visitor with two records

in ix and x on Seenu Atoll. Ref 33.

Little Swift Apus affinis (Kuda forikey). An irregular winter visitor with

about six records on S. Gamu. Refs 2, 25, 33.

Short-eared Owl /Bio flammeus (Bakamoonu). Irregular northern winter

visitor, sometimes in considerable numbers, x-iv. Owls are considered bad

omens and are killed on sight. Recorded from B. Goidhoo Fehen Fuladhoo,

N. Kedhikolhu, K. Male, and Seenu and Gaafu Alifu/Gaafu Dhaalu Atolls.

Refs 2, 14, 25, 27, 33.

Rock Pigeon Columba livia. (Feral populations were recorded in November

1 993: six on M. Mulah; two on L. Maamendhoo, 1 2 on L. Maandhoo, three

on L. Kalhaidhoo; one on A. Feridhoo. Ref 6.)

European T urtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur (Valukotharu). (A bird captured

on Vaavu Atoll in 1981 was photographed [Shafeeg].) Not otherwise

recorded south-east of Pakistan. Refs 2, 32.

Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis (Valukotharu). An irregular

winter visitor, recorded on Seenu Atoll in ix and x. Ref 33.

Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis (no local name). (One heard, but not

seen, in thick cover on A. Hurasdhoo on 16 November 1993). No previous

record for the Maldives. Ref 6.]

[Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica (Valukotharu). A bird, possibly of this

species, was recorded on K. Vilingili in ii. Ref 13.]

White-breasted Waterhen Amauromis phoenicurus (Kan’bili). A. p.

phoenicurus, A. p. maldivus. (Common and widespread in April-May 1984

on K. Kurumba, K. Vilingili and K. Guraadhoo; H. A. Dhidhdhoo and H.

A. Maarandhoo [Ash], 1993: one on 6 November on M. Muli; 10 and five

on 10 and 11 November, of which one was alive in a snare, on L.

Maandhoo.) Widespread resident in all the atolls. Breeds v-x. Also

recorded: Kaafu Atoll: K. Hulhule, K. Gaagadu, K. Himmafushi, K.

Gaafaru; Alifu Atoll; Lhaviyani Atoll; Seenu Atoll. Refs 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13,

14, 25, 26, 27, 33.

Watercock Gallicrex cinerea (Kulhee kukulhu). Apparently an uncommon

resident or breeding visitor (vi-vii) . Recorded Kaafu Atoll and Seenu Atoll,

and on Sh. Maakadoodhoo by Ahamed Shafeeg. Refs 2, 25, 27, 32, 33.

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus (Olhuvalu kabili). (A nest with two

eggs and the pair of adults, on Gn. Fua Mulaku in August 1983, were

photographed [Shafeeg] ) . Ahamed Shafeeg stated that this species was first

found there in 1945, and that it had never been seen elsewhere in the

Maldives. Ref 6, 32.

Common Coot Fulica atra (no local name). One captured on Baa Atoll in

1981 was photographed [Shafeeg]. This is the only record from the

Maldives. Ref 32.

10

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

Forktail 10

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura (Dhushin ilolhi). Apparently a regular

winter visitor, xi-i, in moderate numbers in parties of up to six. Recorded:

K. Hulhule; Seenu Atoll. Refs 2, 25, 27, 33.

Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala (Dhushin ilolhi). A winter visitor

recorded once only on S. Meedhoo in xii. Refs 25, 33.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago (Dhushin ilolhi). G. g. gallinago.

Apparently a regular winter visitor recorded in x-i, from Seenu Atoll only.

Refs 2, 12, 14, 25, 33.

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (Eshunga ilolhi). (One captured in K.

Male in 1980 was photographed [Shafeeg].) This would appear to be the

only record for the Maldives; although Ali and Ripley (1984) refer to it as

a vagrant there, the original record cannot be traced. Refs 2, 4, 32.

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (Bulhi thun’bi ilolhi). L. 1. lapponica.

(A bird captured on K. Male in 1983 was photographed [Shafeeg]. In 1993:

L. Hithadhoo, one caged on 12 November; L. Kunahandhoo, two on 12

November; L. Fares, one on 13 November; L. Kalhaidhoo, one on 15

November.) Apparently an annual visitor in small numbers, vi-i. Refs 2, 4,

6, 25, 27, 32, 33.

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (Bulhi thubi). N. p. phaeopus. (Captured

birds on K. Male in 1981 and 1983 were photographed [Shafeeg] . In 1 984:

singly on K. Hulhule on 21 April and on K. Vilingili on 13 May 1984; one

on H. A. Dhidhdhoo, 3 May 1984 [Ash], In 1993, M. Muli, one caged on

7 November; M. Mulah, one caged on 8 November. L. Maandhoo, two on

1 0 November, six on 1 1 November, and five on 1 2 November; L. Hithadhoo,

two caged on 12 November; L. Kunahandhoo, 10 and four caged on 12

November; L. South Athahedha, three on 12 November; L. North

Athahedha, two on 13 November; L. Fares, two on 13 November; L.

Maabaidhoo, two caged on 14 November, and one on 15 November.)

Regular winter visitor, viii-iii, and many oversummer. Also recorded:

Seenu, Raa/Baa and Noonu/Shaviyani Atolls. Refs 2, 4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 22,

25, 27, 32, 33.

Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata (Bodu bulhi thubi). N. a. orientalis. (A

bird captured on 25 March 1982 on Lh. Naifaru was photographed

[Shafeeg], In 1993 on L. Hithadhoo, four caged on 12 November; L.

Kunahandhoo, two on 12 November; L. Fares, one on 13 November; L.

Maabaidhoo, one on 15 November; Dh. Dhoores, one on 16 November.)

A regular winter visitor in small numbers; some oversummer. Also recorded

on K. Lankanfushi; S. Gamu and S. Hithaadhoo. Refs 2, 4, 6, 8, 1 2, 20, 25,

27, 32, 33.

Common Redshank Tringa totanus (Rathafai ilolhi). T. t. totanus. A regular

winter visitor in small numbers, ix-iii. Recorded on K. Male and Seenu

Atoll. Refs 2, 25, 27, 33.

1994

Birds of the Maidive Islands

11

Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (Furedhdhe ilolhi). An irregular winter

visitor, ix and x recorded from Seenu Atoll. Ref 33.

Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia (Chon chon ilolhi). (One, H. A.

Maafahi on 1 May 1984 [Ash], In 1993 on M. Muli, one caged on 7

November; L. Hithadhoo, one caged on 12 November; L. Kunahandhoo,

one seen, and two caged, on 1 2 November.) A northern visitor in moderate

numbers, up to nine together; some oversummer. Also recorded: K. Male

and G. A. Vilingili (one captured individual seen on 7 February 1994 by R.

C. Anderson); Noonu/Shaviyani Atolls. Refs 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 22, 25, 27, 33.

Wood Sandpiper Tnnga glareola (Fidhan ilolhi). Annual winter visitor viii-

ii, in small numbers up to six together. Recorded: K. Male; S. Gamu. Refs

2, 25, 27, 33.

Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinerea (no local name). (In 1993, L. Fares, three

on 1 3 November; L. Hithadhoo, two caged on 1 2 November.) An irregular

winter visitor with several records on S. Gamu in xi and xii. Refs 6, 25, 33.

Common Sandpiper Tringa hypoleucos (Findhana). (Two, K.

Kan’doomaafushi on 27 April and single birds on H. A. Maafahi and H. A.

Maarandhoo on 1 and 5 May 1984, respectively [Ash], 1993 summary: 36

birds on nine days, 4-16 November, on K. Male; M. Muli; L. Maandhoo,

L. Kunahandhoo, L. South and North Athahedha, L. Fares, L. Vadinolhu,

L. Bodufinolhu, L. Isdhoo and one caged on L. Kunahandhoo; Dh.

Dhoores.) Regular winter visitor in moderate numbers viii-v to all atolls.

Also recorded: K. Hulhule, K. Male and K. Vilingili; Seenu Atoll. Refs 2,

4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 25, 27, 33.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (Rathafai). A. i. interpres. (Seven

captured birds on K. Male were photographed together in 1983 [Shafeeg];

three and one on H. A. Dhidhdhoo on 1 and 6 May respectively, and one

on H. A. Maarandhoo on 4-5 May 1 984 [Ash] . In 1 993, M. Boahuraa, one

on 6 November. L. Maandhoo, two on 1 0 November; L. Fonadhoo, one on

10 November; L. Maandhoo, two on 1 1 November; L. South Athahedha,

six on 1 3 November; L. North Athahedha, three on 1 3 November; L. Fares,

four on 1 3 November. Also a total of 26 caged: one M. Muli, one M. Mulah,

1 0 L. Hithadhoo, 2 1 L. Kunahandhoo, and one L. Fares, two A. Feridhoo.)

Winter visitor in flocks of up to 200; some oversummer. Also recorded: K.

Male; Alifu Atoll; Lhaviyani Atoll; S. Gamu. Refs 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 22, 25,

27, 32, 33.

Sanderling Calidris alba (Kirru bondun) . Rather uncommon winter visitor

to S. Gamu only, x-iii. Refs 2, 12, 25, 33.

Little Stint Calidris minuta (Kirru bondun). (1993: L. Maabaidhoo, one

caged on 14 November.) A regular winter visitor in small numbers xi-i.

Recorded K. Male and S. Gamu. Refs 2, 6, 25, 27, 33.

12

J. S. ASH and ALI SHAFEEG

Forktail 10

Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii (Kirru bondun) . A few apparently on

passage on S. Gamu, v and x-xi. Refs 2, 25, 27, 33.

Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta (Kirru bondun). Apparently a winter

visitor in small numbers to S. Gamu, x-ii. Refs 2, 25, 33.

Dunlin Calidris alpina (Kirru bondun). C. a. alpina. (1993: L. Fares, one

on 1 3 November.) Probably a winter visitor in small numbers to S. Gamu,

xi-ii. Refs 2, 6, 12, 25, 33.

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (Bondana ilolhi). (In 1993 on L.

Maamendhoo, one caged on 10 November; L. Kunahandhoo, two on 12

November.) Winter visitor in large numbers, in flocks of up to 500 birds,

and some oversummer, v-iii. Recorded also: S. Gamu. Refs 2, 6, 12, 25,

27, 33.

Spoonbill Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (Samsaa dhooni). Ahamed

Shafeeg states that it was observed three times on S. Gamu in 1 964, and on

Haa Alifu and Haa Dhaalu Atolls in the same year. No photographs or

further details are available, so the records are unacceptable, unfortunately.

Ref. 32.]

Ruff Philomachus pugnax (no local name). Rare winter visitor, with three

records x-xi on S. Gamu. Refs 2, 25, 33.

Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (no local name). (1993:

Laamu Atoll: one caged on 1 2 November had been caught locally.) The first

record for the Maldives. Ref 6.

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (Theyravaa ilolhi). (A bird

captured on K. Male in 1982 was photographed [Shafeeg].) Uncommon

visitor with five records, of which one in xi. Also recorded: S. Gamu. Refs

2, 25, 32, 33.

Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fidva (Bilehmaa dhushin) . (A bird trapped

on Raa Atoll in 1 98 1 was photographed [Shafeeg] . In 1 993, L. Kunahandhoo,

one on 12 November; L. Hithadhoo, one caged on 12 November.) A

common winter visitor in flocks of up to 50 birds. Also recorded: K. Male;

S. Gamu; N. Bodulhaimendhoo. Refs 2, 4, 6, 12, 14, 25, 27, 32, 33.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (Alaka). (One, H. A. Dhidhdhoo on 1 May

1984 [Ash] .In 1 993, on M. Muli, one caged on 7 November. L. Hithadhoo,

three caged, and a further two caged on L. Kunahandhoo, on 1 2 November;

singly on L. Fares, L. South Athahedha and L. Bodufinolhu on 13

November; L. Maabaidhoo, two, and one caged, on 14 November; Dh.

Dhoores, one on 15 November.) A common winter visitor, and some

oversummer. Also recorded from K. Male; S. Gamu; H. A. Dhidhdhoo.

Refs 2, 6, 12, 21, 25, 27, 33.

Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula (An’goti bon’dana). C. h.

tundrae. An annual winter visitor in small numbers, x-iii. Recorded: K. Male

and S. Gamu. Refs 2, 25, 27, 33.