Today being
birth anniversary of Salim Ali, as usual birding was on the itinerary, indeed
this day should be declared as a birding day. This time around rather than
going for birding to the nearby lake I decided on Adichunchanagiri peacock
sanctuary, something that was on the anvil for a long time. It’s on a rocky hillock,
a scrubby terrain, that is occupied by a big temple with smaller ones scattered
around like the one you have at Tirupati. There should be strict law regarding
declaring a site as wildlife sanctuary, and anything near religious sites shouldn’t
be considered as these are highly disturbed. There seems to be a desire to declare these
places as wildlife sanctuaries as an indication that the vicinity of religious
sites are oasis of calmness with diversity of lives. To some extend taboos
related to religions and superstitions tends to conserve the place but as
things get commercialised they get seriously disturbed with large number of people,
vehicles, constructions, and ofcourse human waste. There is also amazing level
of noise pollution, not to forget the cringe worthy shrill drum beats. To be fair
this site is sparse most days except on Sundays and Mondays. As expected you find ‘R species’ avian (the opportune
species that thrive along human habitat) like mynas, crows, rock pigeons towards the temple
site. Though it is named Peacock sanctuary there aren’t many Peafowls around. But
away from the temple you could have some wonderful sightings of ‘K species’ including
the Vulnerable (IUCN) Yellow-throated Bulbul. Terrific.
Checklist
of birdwatching
In and around
Adichunchanagiri Peacock sanctuary
Date: 12 November
Time: 6am to 8.30am
Weather: partly
cloudy sky
1. Yellow-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus xantholaemus)*
2. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
3. Indian Silverbill (Lonchura
malabarica)
4. Jungle Prinia (Prinia sylvatica)
5. Purple Sunbird
(Cinnyris asiaticus)
6. Little Minivet
(Pericrocotus lansbergei)
7. White-naped
Woodpecker (Chrysocolaptes festivus)
8. Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
9. Black-headed Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
10. Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes
phoenicura)
11. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
12. White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
13. Indian golden Oriole (Oriolus
kundoo)
14. Indian robin (Saxicoloides fulicatus)
15. White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus)
16. Red-rumped
Swallows (Cecropis daurica)
17. Little swift
(Apus affinis)
18. Yellow-billed
Babbler (Turdoides affinis)
19. Indian Peafowl
(Pavo cristatus)
20. Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica)
21. Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
22. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
23. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
24. Green Bee eater (Merops
orientalis)
25. Pale-billed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum
erythrorhynchos)
26. Dusky crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne
concolor)
27. Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)
28. Ashy Prinia (Prinia
socialis)
29. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)
30. White-cheeked Barbet (Megalaima viridis)
31. Jungle bush Quail (Perdicula asiatica)
32. Black kite (Milvus
migrans)
33. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur
indus)
34. Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
35. Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
36. Common Crow (Corvus splendens)
37. Rock
Pigeon (Columba livia)
*lifer
