PLAIN MARTIN

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal, March 2017

1018                 PLAIN MARTIN              Riparia paludicola                  

NEPAL                     89

Found around rivers and lakes. 12 cm. Locally common resident, mainly in south.

NOTE: May be split and local form chinensis will become Grey-throated Martin.

ORIENTAL PIED HORNBILL

Photographed at Chitin, Nepal, March 2017

(*  857)                 ORIENTAL PIED HORNBILL                  Anthracoceros albirostris

NEPAL

Found in mature broadleaved forest with fruiting trees. 55-60 cm. Local, frequent resident.

BROWN SHRIKE

Photographed at Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

(* 928)             BROWN SHRIKE                   Lanis cristatus

NEPAL               87

Forest edges and secondary scrub. 18-19 cm.  Winter visiter to the south; some passage visitors in centre.

SAND LARK

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1017                SAND LARK                Calandrella raytal

NEPAL              86

Found on banks of lakes and rivers. 12 cm. Locally common resident, mainly along south.

LESSER COUCAL

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

LESSER COUCAL                 Centropus bengalensis

NEPAL                85

Found in tall grass, roadbeds and shrubberies. 33 cm. Locally fairly common resident, mainly in protected areas; areas in the south.

COMMON KESTREL

Kochi Tappu Willife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1016           COMMON KESTREL                     Falco tinnuncululus              

NEPAL              84

Found in open country. 32-35 cm. Common resident, winter visitor and passage migrant, over whole country.

WHITE-EYED BUZZARD

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

WHITE-EYED BUZZARD               Butastur teesa

NEPAL                  83

Found in dry open country. 43 cm. Fairly common resident, mainly south.

RUDDY SHELDUCK

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1014                    RUDDY SHELDUCK                    Cadorna ferruginea

NEPAL               82

Grazes on banks of rivers and lakes, also wades, dabbles and upends in shallows. Breeds around high-altitude lakes and swamps, winters by large open lakes and rivers, especially those with sandbanks and sandy islets. 61-67 cm. Common winter visitor throughout lowlands; breeds on Himalayan lakes,; also passage migrant.

HIMALAYAN VULTURE

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1013           HIMALAYAN  VULTURE               Gyps himalayensis

NEPAL                  81

Also known as himalayan Griffon. 115-125 cm. Breeds in mountains and Trans-Himalayan Tibetan steppe desert, especially along routes well used by pack animals; winters dow to plains. Widespread resident, subject to seasonal altitudinal movements, and partial migration.

CATTLE EGRET

(*  216)                         CATTLE EGRET                 Bibulous ibis

NEPAL                 80

Inhabits damp grassland, paddy fields, lakes, pools and marshes. 48-53 cm. Common and widespread resident.

NOTE: Eastern Cattle Egret if eastern form coromandus is split.

LITTLE-RINGED PLOVER

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

(*  900)                        LITTLE-RINGED PLOVER                 Chadradrius dubius

NEPAL                       79

Shingle and sandy riverbeds. 14-17 cm. Common and widespread resident and winter visitor.

INTERMEDIATE EGRET

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

(*  215)                         INTERMEDIATE EGRET                    Mesophoyx intermedia

NEPAL                78

Inhabits marshes, flooded grassland, well-vegetated pools,; also sides of lakes, reservoirs and slow-moving rivers. 65-72 cm. Mainly resident and widespread, locally fairly common.

ASIAN KOEL

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

(*  882)             ASIAN KOEL                  Eudynamys scolopaceus 

NEPAL              77    

Found in open woodlands, groves, gardens and cultivation. 43 cm. Common and widespread resident and summer visitor.

JUNGLE OWLET

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1012                JUNGLE OWLET                 Glaucidium radiatum

NEPAL             76

Found in open forests and secondary growth. 20 cm. Common and widespread resident, mainly south.

BLACK-FACED BUNTING

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

1011                   BLACK-FACED BUNTING                       Emberiza spodocephala  

NEPAL              75

Found in paddy fields and marshes. 15 cm. Rare and local winter visitor.

GREY HERON

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal March 2017

(*  370)                      GREY HERON                    Ardea cinerea

NEPAL                    74

Found in lakes, large rivers and marshes. 90-98 cm. Rare resident and fairly common winter visitor, widespread below 915 cm.

WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE

 Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, March 2017

1010                       WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE                Gypus bengalensis

NEPAL               73

Found around habitation, cultivation, and open country. 75-85 cm. Resident; rare in the centre and east; generally uncommon in west; though after sharp decline in late 20th and early 21st century populations are recovering at some sites due to conservation efforts.

NOTE: Globally threatened.