Goa, India

5th-18th December 2004

Baga Fields

Baga Hill

Beira Mar Hotel

Arpora Woods

Morjim Beach

Zuari River Boat Trip

Carambolim Lake

Velim Lake

Backwoods Camp

Backwoods Camp

Situated amidst the foothills of the Western Ghat mountains in Baghwan Mahaveer wildlife sactuary, Backwoods Camp offers the opportunity to see a range of species not normally seen on the coast at the very reasonable cost of £75 for a 4 days/3 nights all inclusive trip including travel to and from your coastal hotel. The group size of 10 people was, however, a bit too big for my liking and made forest bird photography even harder than normal. It was especially difficult to get a decent view over the shoulders of people much taller than me (I'm only 5'6") on the overgrown, narrow, boulder-strewn, dry riverbed that was home of one of our main target species - Blue-eared Kingfisher.

At least I did eventually get some ok, if a bit distant shots (the photos below are considerably cropped).

Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

This large snake (over a metre long) was hunting on the opposite river bank.

Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus)

Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus)

The path up the riverbed, starts at the 13th-century Sri Mahadev Temple at Tambdi Surla.

Sri Mahadev Temple

Sri Mahadev Temple

Unfortunately, I became quite ill the first night at Backwoods and was too weak to carry my camera on the walks that I stupidly dragged myself out of bed for. It's a sure sign your not feeling right when all you can think of whilst watching a Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl is how much you just want to lie down somewhere and go back to sleep!

Towards the end of the 2nd day I started to feel a little bit stronger and was able to drag myself out of bed to see a pair of Ceylon Frogmouths that Pramod had found roosting in a nearby bamboo thicket. Not one of my best photos... partly due to the thick undergrowth, but mainly due to me being too tired to be bothered trying to find a less obscured angle!

Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Batrachostomas moniliger)

As my strength slowly returned, I spent a bit of time photographing the birds around the camp...

Brown-capped Pygmy-Woodpecker (Dendrocopos nanus)

female Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

...and down by the adjacent river, a troupe of Hanuman Langur Monkeys came for a drink.

Hanuman Langur Monkey (Anastomas oscitans)

Hanuman Langur Monkey (Anastomas oscitans)

The pool below the waterfall was a favoured fishing spot for a Common Kingfisher and a Green-backed Heron...

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Green-backed Heron (Butorides striatus)

By our final morning, I was almost back to normal and felt fit enough to take a trip up to the temple after breakfast. The birdlife was a bit slow here this time but I finally managed to get some half-decent photos of a Malabar Giant Squirrel.

Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura)

There were also a couple of Egyptian Vultures flying up and down the river at quite low altitude.

Western Ghat Mountains

Velim Lake

Baga Fields

Baga Hill

Beira Mar Hotel

Arpora Woods

Morjim Beach

Zuari River Boat Trip

Carambolim Lake

Velim Lake

Backwoods Camp