Friday, 3 August 2012

Nisargayan, 22 July, 2012 - Report

Photograph by Mr. R. Naimi


WWF-India, MSO had arranged a nature trail to ‘Nasargayan’ , Murbad. Though the group was very small (8 participants), the enthusiasm of each participant was tremendous. We got a chance to observe as well as to admire the flora and fauna of the region very leisurely. This place is at around three and a half hrs drive from Mumbai city and supports good amount of biodiversity. Some of the sightings are as follows :



Flora :
1.      Rui/Milkweed plant (Calotropis gigantea)
2.      Jambhul/Java plum/Black plum (Syzygium cumini)
3.      Gulmohar/May flower tree (Delonix regia)
4.      Mogli Erand (Jatropha curcas)
5.      Khair/Catechu tree (Acacia catechu)
6.      Chinch/Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
7.      Sessile joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis)
8.      Mango (Mangifera indica)
9.      Palas/Flame of the forest (Butea monosperma)
10.  Karanj/Pongam tree (Pongamia pinnata)
11.  Katesavar/Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)
12.  Kadulimb/Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
13.  Ghaneri/Red sage (Lantana camara)
14.  Dinda/Bandikoot berry (Leea indica)
15.  Motha dinda (Leea macrophylla)
16.  Kala kuda/Sweet indrajao (Wrightia tinctoria)
17.  Pandara kuda/Tellicherry bark (Holarrhena antydysentrica)
18.  Ukshi/Paper flower climber (Calycopteris floribunda)
19.  Kahandol/Ghost tree (Sterculia urens)
20.  Jungli suran/Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus campanulatus)
21.  Maiden hair fern (Adiantum Spp.)
22.  Rai awla/Country gooseberry (Cicca acida)
23.  Sitaphal/Custard apple (Annona squamosa)
24.  Kawla/Press me not (Smithia sensitiva)
25.  Anantmul/Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus)
26.  Bor/Indian jujube (Ziziphus jujube)
27.  Bahava/Golden shower plant (Cassia fistula)
28.  Ain/Laurel (Terminalia crenulata)
29.  Sag/Teak (Tectona grandis)
30.  Bhuiavla/Carry me seed (Phyllanthus Spp.)
31.  Umber/Country fig tree (Ficus racemosa)
32.  Chickna/Common wireweed (Sida acuta)
33.  Common spruge (Euphorbia hirta)
34.  Garuga/Kakad (Garuga pinnata)
35.  Takla/Wild senna (Cassia tora)
36.  Dalphodi/Cup n saucer plant (Breynia retusa)
37.  Aaghada/Prickly chaff flower (Achyranthes aspera)
38.  Jangali draksha/Wild grapes (Ampelocissus latifolia)  
39.  Kadu karanda/Aerial yam (Dioscorea bulbifera)
40.  Bartondi/Indian noni (Morinda pubescens)
41.  Panphuti/Sprout leaf plant (Kalanchoe pinnata)
42.  Murudsheng/East-Indian screw plant (Helicteres isora)
43.  Shtavari/Asparagus (Asparagus racemosus)


Fauna -
a. Insects:

Photographer - Mr.  E. Thiruvengadam
·         Butterflies:

1.       Common Crow
2.       Blue Mormon
3.       Emigrant?
4.       Striped Tiger
5.       Plain Tiger
6.       Grass Yellow
7.       Psyche
8.       Common Rose
9.       Sailor
10.   Common Mormon
11.   Common Castor
12.   Common Gull
13.   Five Ring
14.   Malabar Flat
15.   Common Jezebel

Photographer - Mr.  E. Thiruvengadam
Photographer - Mr.  E. Thiruvengadam
·         Others
1.       Assassin Bug
2.       Stink Bug
3.       Leaf Hopper
4.       Katydid
5.       Thorn Bug
6.       Jewel Beetle
7.       Leaf Footed Bug
8.       Robber’s Fly
9.       Bag Worm
10.   Gall Insects
11.   Forest Cockroach
12.   Spittle Bug
13.   Godzilla Ant
14.   Fire Ant
15.   Golden Back Ant
16.   Harvester Ant
17.   Black Crazy Ant
18.   Millibug
19.   Scorpion fly
20.   Antlion - nymph?


b. Arachnids
1.       Brown Lynx spider
2.       Box longlegs
3.       Signature Spider
4.       Jumping Spider
5.       Tent Spider

Photographer - Mr.  E. Thiruvengadam
c. Reptiles
1.       Forest Calotes

d. Birds
2.       Purple rumped sunbird
3.       Tailor bird
4.       Black drongo
5.       Racket tailed drongo
6.       Cattle egret
7.       House crow
8.       Jungle crow
9.       House sparrow
10.   Common babbler
11.   Red vented bulbul
12.   Fantail fly-catcher

Photographer - Mr.  E. Thiruvengadam


Others
Snail












Report By -
Gauri  & Shreya

We are glad to announce that we have started with our activities in the city of Pune as well. Very soon ,we will be updating you about the same.





Thursday, 26 July 2012

Nature Trail to Peb Fort
WWF-India, MSO had organized a nature trail to Peb Fort, Neral on 1st   July, 2012.
Given below is the list of the sightings -
Flora :
1. Rui/Milkweed plant (Calotropis gigantea)
Rui - Seeds
2. Shindi/Inidan date Palm (Phoenix sylvestris)
3. Besharam/Bush morning glory (Ipomoea carnea)
4. Jambhul/Java plum/Black plum (Syzygium cumini)
5. Gulmohar/May flower tree (Delonix regia)
6. Ghayapat/Agave (Agave americana)
7. Mogli Erand (Jatropha curcas)
8. Rankeli/Wild banana/Cliff banana (Ensete suberbum)
9. Khair/Catechu tree (Acacia catechu)
10. Chinch/Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
11. Sessile joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis)
12. Mango (Mangifera indica)
13. Palas/Flame of the forest (Butea monosperma)
14. Karanj/Pongam tree (Pongamia pinnata)
15. Katesavar/Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)
16. Vavla/Indian Elm (Holoptelia integrifolia)
17. Pangara/Coral tree (Erythrina indica)
18. Rain tree (Samanea saman)
20. Ophioglossum Spp.
21. Ceropegia Spp.
22. Girnul/Woodrow's Grape Tree (Cissus woodrowii)
23. Dinda/Bandikoot berry (Leea indica)
24. Motha dinda (Leea macrophylla)
25. Kala kuda/Sweet indrajao (Wrightia tinctoria)
26. Pandara kuda/Tellicherry bark (Holarrhena antydysentrica)
27. Ukshi/Paper flower climber (Calycopteris floribunda)
28. Kahandol/Ghost tree (Sterculia urens)
29. Kallavi/Glory lily (Gloriosa superba)
30. Nana bondara/Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia parviflora)
31. Jungli suran/Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus campanulatus)
32. Maiden hair fern (Adiantum Spp.)
33. Asplenium Spp.
34. Harandodi/Sneeze  wort (Dregea volubilius)
35. Begonia
36. Kawla/Press me not (Smithia sensitiva)
37. Pancratium Spp.
38. Anantmul/Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus)
39. Bor/Indian jujube (Ziziphus jujube)
40. Bahava/Golden shower plant (Cassia fistula)
41. Ain/Laurel (Terminalia crenulata)
42. Sag/Teak (Tectona grandis)
43. Bhuiavla/Carry me seed (Phyllanthus Spp.)
44. Caesarweed (Urena lobata)
45. Chickna/Common wireweed (Sida acuta)
46. Common spruge (Euphorbia hirta)
47. Garuga/Kakad (Garuga pinnata)
48. Takla/Wild senna (Cassia tora)
49. Golgonda/Pin cushion (Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus)
50. Orchid
51. Bhui ringani/Thorny nightshade (Solanum xanthocarpum)
52. Aaghada/Prickly chaff flower (Achyranthes aspera)
53. Jangali draksha/Wild grapes (Ampelocissus latifolia)  
54. Kadu karanda/Aerial yam (Dioscorea bulbifera)
55. Shivan/White teak (Gmelina arborea)
Fauna
A. Insects
a. Butterflies:
1.      Stripped Tiger
2.      Plain Tiger
3.      Grass Yellow
4.      Common Emigrant
b. Others:
1.      Carpenter bee
2.      Mosquitoes
3.      Forest Cockroach
4.      Click Beetles – spp?
5.      Spittle Bug
6.      Gall Insects
7.      Short Horned Grasshopper
8.      Red Silk-cotton Bug
9.      Bag Worm
10.  Godzilla Ant
11.  Fire Ants
12.  Cicada
13.  Crimson tailed Marsh Hawk
B. Arachnids
1.      Jumping Spider
2.      Social Spiders
C. Amphibians
1.      Indian Bull Frog
 
D. Reptiles
2.      Forest Calotes
3.      Fan Throated Lizard
E. Birds
1.      Cattle Egret
2.      Greater Coucal
3.      Jungle Babblers
4.      Common Myna
5.      Pied Starling
6.      House Crow
7.      Purple Rumped Sunbird
8.      Barn Swallows
E. Others
1.      Millipede
Calls: Pied Crested Cuckoo, Malabar Whistling Thrush

Nature trail to village Kuttal
WWF-India, MSO had organized a nature trail to Kuttal village in Wada taluka, on 8nd July, 2012.
This was a small village near State highway. The nature trail was conducted in the forest patch near village. The hot water springs of Sativali were also visited on our way back.
Given below is the list of the sightings -
Flora :
1. Rui/Milkweed plant (Calotropis gigantea)

2. Shindi/Inidan date Palm (Phoenix sylvestris)
3. Tad/Palmyra fan (Borassus flabellifer)
4. Jambhul/Java plum/Black plum (Syzygium cumini)
5. Gulmohar/May flower tree (Delonix regia)
6. Karmal/Elephant apple (Dillenia indica)
7. Mogli Erand (Jatropha curcas)
8. Rankeli/Wild banana/Cliff banana (Ensete suberbum)
9. Khair/Catechu tree (Acacia catechu)
10. Chinch/Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
11. Sessile joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis)
12. Mango (Mangifera indica)
13. Palas/Flame of the forest (Butea monosperma)
14. Karanj/Pongam tree (Pongamia pinnata)
15. Katesavar/Red silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)
16. Vavla/Indian Elm (Holoptelia integrifolia)
17. Kadulimb/Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
18. Rain tree (Samanea saman)
20. Shirish/Siris tree (Albizia lebbek)
21. Ghaneri/Red sage (Lantana camara)
22. Girnul/Woodrow's Grape Tree (Cissus woodrowii)
23. Dinda/Bandikoot berry (Leea indica)
24. Motha dinda (Leea macrophylla)
25. Kala kuda/Sweet indrajao (Wrightia tinctoria)
26. Pandara kuda/Tellicherry bark (Holarrhena antydysentrica)
27. Ukshi/Paper flower climber (Calycopteris floribunda)
28. Kahandol/Ghost tree (Sterculia urens)
29. Kallavi/Glory lily (Gloriosa superba)
30. Nana bondara/Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia parviflora)
31. Jungli suran/Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus campanulatus)
32. Maiden hair fern (Adiantum Spp.)
33. Rai awla/Country gooseberry (Cicca acida)
34. Harandodi/Sneeze  wort (Dregea volubilius)
35. Sitaphal/Custard apple (Annona squamosa)
36. Kawla/Press me not (Smithia sensitiva)
37. Taman,Jarul/Pride of India,Queen’s flower (Lagerstroemia speciosa)
38. Anantmul/Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus)
39. Bor/Indian jujube (Ziziphus jujube)
40. Bahava/Golden shower plant (Cassia fistula)
41. Ain/Laurel (Terminalia crenulata)
42. Sag/Teak (Tectona grandis)
43. Bhuiavla/Carry me seed (Phyllanthus Spp.)
44. Umber/Country fig tree (Ficus racemosa)
45. Chickna/Common wireweed (Sida acuta)
46. Common spruge (Euphorbia hirta)
47. Garuga/Kakad (Garuga pinnata)
48. Takla/Wild senna (Cassia tora)
49. Golgonda/Pin cushion (Neuracanthus sphaerostachyus)
50. Dalphodi/Cup n saucer plant (Breynia retusa)
51. Aaghada/Prickly chaff flower (Achyranthes aspera)
52. Jangali draksha/Wild grapes (Ampelocissus latifolia)  
53. Kadu karanda/Aerial yam (Dioscorea bulbifera)
54. Shivan/White teak (Gmelina arborea)
55. Bartondi/Indian noni (Morinda pubescens)
Fauna
A. Insects
a. Butterflies
  1. Blue Tiger
  2. Lime
  3. Danied Egg-fly
  4. Common Gull
  5. Leopard
  6. Plain Tiger
  7. Striped Tiger
  8. Spot Swordtail
b. Others
  1. Red Silk Cotton Bug
  2. Jewel Beetle
  3. Blister Beetle
  4. Cricket
  5. Golden Backed Ants
  6. Fire Ants
  7. Godzilla Ants
  8. Crimson Tailed Marsh Hawk
  9. Spittle Bug
B. Reptiles
  1. Forest Calotes
  2. Northern House Gecko
C. Birds

  1. Barn Swallow
  2. Eagle?
  3. Greater Coucal
  4. Common Myna
  5. Spotted Dove
  6. House Crow
  7. Jungle Crow
  8. House Sparrow
  9. Tailor Bird
  10. Minivet?
  11. Cattle Egrets
  12. Pond Heron
  13. Purple-rumped Sunbird
 Calls: Coppersmith Barbet