The Dona Paula Plateau region-Abode of the larks

Indian Robin

                                                                   
This beautiful place is located a kilometer north-west of hotel Cidade de Goa, bordering the Ravi Raj and Nagali Hills Colonies. It is spread across a distance of 2-3 square kilometers. This place has typical scrub and dry deciduous habitat sprinkled with some tall trees.

Before Monsoons

                                                               TRANSFORMATION

After 10-15 days of rain

At this time of the year the area is green and slippery, with half-foot deep puddles. These puddles are one of the best places in the plateau region if the weather is hot. I have observed Swallows, Pipits and Lapwing drinking water from here but never Larks. The Paddyfield Pipits also perform their wonderful displays at this time of the year. First they start with their song and then fly almost vertically in the sky. Red-Rumped and Barn Swallows are found in plenty here. Three species of Larks are said to be found here, although I have only seen 2, which are the Skye's Lark and the Oriental Skylark, he third one being the Ashy-Crowned  Sparrow Lark. Other open country birds like the Bush-Quails, Babblers,Wagtails,  Drongos, Kites, Shrikes, Munias, Warblers, Prinias, Lapwings, Robins, Bulbuls, Owlets and the Barn Owl are spotted here. Other birds like the Barbets, Orioles and Koels are found occasionally. I have observed a White-Bellied Sea Eagle here once.

Red-Rumped Swallow

Barn Swallow

We had a beautiful time when we went to this place last. Our walk started off well with the Spotted Dove which is found quite commonly here. Then we heard a short whistle like call. It didn't sound like a Magpie Robin call so we headed towards the sound of the call. As we approached the calling bird we saw 6 small, orangish bird with a white throat and a crimson forehead. To our surprise it was a Tawny-Billed Babbler.
On all of my visits here I had never seen his bird. We stopped and observed them for about 10 minutes. They were hopping around from bush to bush and continuously calling to keep each other in contact.

Tawny-Billed Babbler

Tawny-Billed Babbler

As we walked further we saw Large Grey and Jungle Babblers hopping about on the ground. About 15 minutes of fruitless walking on the wet and slippery ground we saw 2-3 brown birds hopping about on the ground. A closer look showed that they were Paddyfield Pipits. But I still had a doubt because their wings were less streaked. But when this bird started its display all my doubts were cleared. Now for sure I could conclude that it was a Paddyfield Pipit.

After watching these two birds for 15 to 20 minutes we continued our walk. We heard and saw a couple of Indian Robins, Ashy Prinias, Tailorbirds and Red-Wattled Lapwings. Two Red-Wattled Lapwings showed us their territorial display. Then suddenly in the commotion we heard a long, plaintive kiii. I knew this call was of the Yellow-Wattled Lapwing. There is a pair of this birds residing in this part of the plateau region for a long time now. After 2 minutes we were able to spot the bird flying over our head. An Ashy Prinia was posing well for us and we got some reasonable shots of the common but elusive bird. As we were walking  we saw a Lark coloured, bulky bird fly off from the ground. As we approached near it I came to know that it was a Rock Bush-Quail. It was impossible to chase this bird and I couldn't get a single shot. I have seen this bird once, in the winter. Spotting this bird in this season means that it breeds here and that it must be having chicks, which almost fledge at this time. After a few minutes waiting at the same place for about 15 minutes we saw what we came for. A lark! Finally! Four of them! I couldn't identify the species' name until I clicked their photo. They were the Sykes Lark. I could get some beautiful photos of them too.

Sykes Lark

Sykes Lark

Sykes Lark

Well, we found what we came for and decided to head back home. On the way we could click more good photos of common but exciting birds. First we spotted a juvenile koel. We spotted a crow feeding it but couldn't capture it on the camera.

Juvenile Asian Koel 

Suddenly as we were passing by a small park we heard another common but extremely beautiful warbler-The Common Tailorbird on the swing.

Common Tailorbird

About five minutes later we heard the typical characteristic call of the White-Browed Bulbul. It came really close to us and I could get some amazing photos of it calling.

 Well, after clicking the photo of the White-Browed Bulbul it started pouring and we couldn't make any further observation so we returned back home.