Goa, November - December 2019

For my wife's big birthday we went with her brothers and sisters to Goa. The first time any of us had been to India apart from work. We stayed at a fabulous hotel in South Goa which had its own golf course and extensive grounds full of plants, trees and lagoons. It was also right next to the beach with the sea one side and an estuary the other. Although not really a birding holiday I took my binoculars and camera intending to add as many new species to my word list as I could!

What a fabulous place. The hotel was outstanding and everyone was friendly and eager to help. Coupled with superb local food and wildlife what more could  I want. From our hotel room we overlooked one of the lagoons and were regularly visited by White-throated & Stork-billed Kingfishers whilst Green Beeeaters, White-breasted Swamphen & Indian Pond Heron were common.

 Green Beeeater

 Stork Billed Kingfisher - above & below

 White-throated Kingfisher

Indian Pond heron

Whtie-breasted Swamphen

What was really strange was seeing Common Sandpipers walking on Lilypads! A number of snakes were usually seen swimming across the lagoons and I identified these as  Checkered Keelbacks. The biggest was just over a metre long. Another common species was White-browed Wagtail, seen most days hunting for insects. 

Checkered Keelback

 White-browed Wagtail

Asian Kohl - male & female below.

Species such as Red Whiskered Bulbul, Little Spider Hunter and Purple-rumped Sunbirds were also common in the hotel grounds whilst the ubiquitous House Crows were everywhere.

Cattle Egrets roamed the grounds and scavenged by the swimming pool whilst Great Egrets and Little Cormorants were common. A familiar call registering with something deep in my memory turned out to be a Hume's Warbler.

The golf course hosted a pair of Spotted Owlets which could be seen hunting moths attracted to the lights alongside the path leading to the course.

The beach was fabulous with breakers crashing over the sand and flocks of Kentish Plovers dodging the waves and White-bellied Sea Eagles occasionally being seen hunting further out to sea.

We took a boat trip down the Sal River and out into the main estuary t osee dolphins and other wildlife. The crew handed out guide books and binoculars for people t ouse but most were more interested in the unlimited free booze! This proved to be a great trip with the estuary hosting Pallas's Gull, Greenshank, Redshank and a number of Terek Sandpipers. Brahminy Kites, Black Kites and Shikra were all seen well whilst a colony of Fruit Bats were one of the highlights - these could be seen feeding at night in our hotel grounds as well. I was particularly pleased to see Asian Openbill - a bird I'd hoped to see but we only saw one in flight.

Above: Asian Openbill

 Black Kite

 Black-necked Ibis

 Brahminy Kite - adult above, Juvenile below.

 Fruit bat.

 Western Reef Heron

A great trip with 79 species being seen of which a number were completely new to me. I'd certainly recommend going to Goa but be aware the level bureaucracy at the airport is almost enough to drive you mad!