Birdwatching in Goa

Inclusions :

• Guiding by professional guide
• Use of spotting scope

Exclusions :

• Travel to and fro from your hotel/residence. Travel can be arranged at an additional fee. The charges will vary according to your pick up point.
• Park entry fees and Camera charges.
• Mineral water/beverages.
• Any meals.
• Video camera fees.

Things to carry :

• Carry your binoculars, guide book and camera (optional). Spotting scope will also be available for use.
• It is recommended to carry your own reusable water bottle so that we reduce the waste generated.
• It is recommended to wear shoes, wear a cap/hat and carry insect repellent.
• Wear comfortable and earth coloured clothes.
• For night birding it is recommended to carry a torch/flashlight so that you can watch your step while walking at night.

Mode of birding: Birding will mostly involve intermittent walking and driving or stationary.

Other info :

• Bookings have to be done in advance by paying the designated charges through the payment gateway or NEFT transfer in the bank account.
• The tariff does not include GST. 5% GST will be charged over the rates in the chart.
• Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is closed on Mondays so any trip involving this location will not be organized on Mondays.
• We do not guarantee any sightings during these trips and that is the very essence of all wildlife watching trips. We will take you to the best possible locations where the frequency of sightings is highest.
• We try to keep disturbance to birds to a minimum whilst ensuring we see the most birds possible and expect all the guests to abide by the same rules during the tour.
• The timings of the tour do not include the travel time from your place of stay, to the starting point of the trail. It may take you from 15 to 90 minutes depending on the location.
• The meeting point with the Naturalist will be shared while planning the trip with the client.
• We can also arrange for tailor-made multi-day packages if you want an exclusive birding experience.

BONDLA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

OVERVIEW: It is a popular birding destination in Goa with more than 150 bird species. The forest is primarily moist deciduous with patches of semi-evergreen elements. Since most of the forest is secondary in nature, it makes viewing and photographing birds much easier. A typical half-day trip will include starting at 7 a.m with birding in the outskirts of the Sanctuary followed by within upto 11 am.
HIGHLIGHTS: Malabar Trogon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Fairy Bluebird, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-rumped Shama, Flame-throated Bulbul, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Vigors’s Sunbird, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Treeswift, White-browed Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Malabar Starling, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Orange Minivet, Greater Flameback, Malabar Grey Hornbill.

COTIGAO WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

OVERVIEW: It is the southern-most wildlife sanctuary in Goa. Its unique location in close proximity to the sea coupled with moist deciduous to semi-evergreen forest of the Western Ghats makes it a hotspot of biodiversity. The lofty trees support a good population of woodpeckers as also many other Western Ghats endemic species. A day’s birding can easily yield more than 50 species of birds.
HIGHLIGHTS: Malabar Trogon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Fairy Bluebird, Grey-fronted Green Pigeon, Blue-faced Malkoha, White-rumped Shama, Flame-throated Bulbul, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Vigors’s Sunbird, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Treesiwft, White-browed Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Malabar Starling, Malabar Woodshrike, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Dark-fronted Babbler, Orange Minivet, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Green Imperial Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Grey Hornbill.

NETRAVALI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

OVERVIEW: This is one of the lesser known and lesser explored forests but one of the most diverse in Goa. During the tour we would be covering areas like Verle and Saljini which are part of the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. Most of the birding will be at an elevation of 500m above MSL. The forest has nearly 250 species of birds and the dominant forest is semi-evergreen to evergreen.
HIGHLIGHTS: Malabar Trogon, Square-tailed Bulbul, Indian Blue Robin, Greater Goldenback, Grey-headed Bulbul, Malabar Barbet, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Flame-throated Bulbul, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Dark-fronted Babbler, Lesser Yellownape, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Western Crowned Warbler, Black Eagle, Great Hornbill, Asian Fairy Bluebird.

BHAGWAN MAHAVIR NATIONAL PARK

OVERVIEW: Another popular birding and tourist destination, it has within its boundaries the famous Dudhsagar Waterfall. During the birding tour we will visit Tambdi-Surla and adjoining areas of the Sanctuary. The forest is home to about 250 species of birds. Predominantly moist-deciduous and semi-evergreen with patches of lateritic plateaus that are good habitats for nightjars, this Sanctuary has a lot to offer for wildlifers.
HIGHLIGHTS: Blue-eared Kingfisher, Ceylon Frogmouth, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Barbet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Flame-throated Bulbul, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Black-naped Monarch.

MHADEI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

OVERVIEW: Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, is Goa’s second largest Sanctuary. It plays host to a small patch of Myristica Swamp Forest, a unique forest type that grows in waterlogged areas and exhibits aerial roots, that has been protected by the community as a Sacred grove. In addition, the trail through the sanctuary that crosses a few streams is an exhilarating experience while one observes the denizens of the forests, listen to bird calls and marvel in the splendour of the majesty of the Western Ghat forests.
HIGHLIGHTS: Blue-eared Kingfisher, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Malabar Parakeet, Malabar Barbet, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Brown-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Bulbul, Flame-throated Bulbul, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Black-naped Monarch.

VERNA PLATEAU AND LAKE

OVERVIEW: One of the biggest stretch of laterite plateau in Goa this place is a hotspot for dryland species seen in Goa. Although a large section of this plateau is an industrial estate, it plays host to a very good variety of birdlife. The lake downhill provides a vital feeding ground to migratory waterfowl wintering in Goa.
HIGHLIGHTS: Malabar Lark, Oriental Skylark, Rufous-tailed Lark, Paddyfield Pipit, Tree Pipit, Common kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Vigors’s Sunbird, Grey-headed Bulbul, White-browed Bulbul, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Loten’s Sunbird, Lesser Whistling Teal, Gadwall, Spot-billed Duck, Bronze-winged Jacana, Pheasant-tailed Jacana.

SOCORRO PLATEAU

OVERVIEW: Lateritic plateaus are very unique habitats which support a great diversity of flora and fauna. In terms of the bird diversity one can get a mix of woodland as well as dryland species in such habitats. Succor plateau is one such area with rich bird diversity. The location is a perfect for a quick morning birding session since Succoro is a few kms drive from the capital city and the busy North Goa tourist belt.
HIGHLIGHTS: Tawny-bellied Babbler, White-browed Bulbul, Blyth’s Pipit, Long-billed Pipit, Red-headed Bunting, Grey-necked Bunting, Pallid Harrier, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Loten’s Sunbird, Sykes’s Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Greater Spotted Eagle, Barred Buttonquail.

MAINA–CURTORIM HALF-DAY BIRDING PACKAGE

OVERVIEW: These are man-made tanks which have over the years been supporting good populations of migratory waterfowl. The aquatic vegetation here provides good feeding grounds for these waterfowl. The adjacent paddy fields are a haven for waders and other migratory birds.
HIGHLIGHTS: Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Asian Openbill, Indian Spotted Eagle, Osprey, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Bluethroat, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Indian Reed Warbler, Blue-tailed bee-eater, Siberian Stonechat, Ruddy Shelduck.