Five Hundred Birds: April 2016

374. Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)

This trip featured a lot of raptors and some very special ones for me. We spent a few hours perched on a machan in the forenoon inside the core zone of the park, and this enterprising individual landed on a nearby branch and gave us a fantastic view. This being a lifer for me made it all the more sweet.

The highlight of this trip was spotting four different species of vulture devouring a carcass of a spotted deer. Three of those were lifers for me.
375. Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)

376. Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

377. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

I also encountered four new woodpecker species.
378. Himalayan Flameback (Dinopium shorii)

On the field I had concluded that this was a greater flameback but a closer look at the field guide helped me spot the "indistinct divided moustachial stripe" that identifies this species.

379. Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus)

While this wasn't a lifer for me, it was the first time I had taken a photograph (the terrible quality notwithstanding).

380. Scaly-bellied Woodpecker (Picus squamatus)

Once again, I had prematurely concluded that I was watching another grey-headed woodpecker, when this bird turned a little and revealed the patterned belly.

381. Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus)

We encountered several of these noisy individuals throughout the two days we were at the park, but this poor record shot, revealing two ghostly silhouttes, is all I managed.

Bulbuls were the other big theme this trip.

382. Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus flaviventris)

383. White-cheeked or Himalayan Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)

384. Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)

385. Common Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)

We had stopped to view some elephants on the way out of the park, and this Common Green Magpie was sitting camouflaged in the foliage fairly close to us. Only when it dropped it's guard and preened the feathers on its bright red wings was I able to spot it.