Migration Update Thoolakharka (Nepal)- 29 Nov, 2013

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Peregrine Falcon (Spp. peregrinator)



In Nepal 20 and 21 Nov were two big days for Steppe Eagle migration and approximately 2150 eagles were passed on those two days. The weather is back to normal like last year i.e.  sunny in the morning and more cloudy in the afternoon. Previous observation says that if it is cloudy over the Himalayas the eagles pass more south however we didn’t find so because lot of eagles were passing inside the clouds during the peak days. We found little change in wind direction (let’s say by 100) could enough to shift the migration train i.e. if the wind is more north east the migration of eagles can observe overhead in Thoolakharka and little bit southeast wind can push the birds close to Himalayas. Now I am also observing less and less eagles near to the Himalayas this might be due to more saturated air close to the Himalayas by this time or might be any other weather cause like enough cold. Therefore most of the eagles come overhead to the watch site. Now most of the hawk watchers back to their home and Robert is photographing raptors in the eastern Nepal in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, therefore the watch site is very silent. There was no movement after 1 pm although having good weather for the migration (only 57 birds today). This observation indicates we are towards the end of migration season, in the morning also birds do not wake up before 9 am. Other raptor in the last week included Vulture (Himalayan, Griffon, Cinereous), White-tailed Eagle (very rare and for the first time here) and Greater Spotted eagle (rare). In the coming week I expect few steppe eagles (<50 or even less birds per day), Himalayan vulture, Griffon vulture, Cinereous vulture etc. Migration summary of the season is given in the table.

Species
2012 Total
Highest Daily Count
Total Count till date


Oriental Honey-buzzard
381
60
640
Common Buzzard
180
12
100
Long-legged Buzzard
4
3
11
Upland Buzzard
4
2
8
Unidentified Buteo
3
1
3
Northern Sparrowhawk
107
7
110
Northern Goshawk
3
4
10
Unidentified Sparrowhawk
9
1
1
Steppe Eagle
6597
1102
7442
Booted Eagle
155
7
107
Short-toed Eagle
2
1
2
Crested Serpent-eagle
26
1
5
Pallas's Fish Eagle
2
1
1
White-tailed Eagle
0
1
2
Imperial Eagle
0
1
1
Indian Spotted Eagle
3
0
0
Greater Spotted Eagle
3
1
2
Bonelli's Eagle
13
4
29
Mountain Hawk-eagle
1
2
6
Golden Eagle
7
1
3
Unidentified Eagle
8
1
2
Black Kite
324
40
324
Black-Eared Kite
22
153
Osprey
3
2
5
Hen Harrier
19
2
9
Eastern Marsh Harrier
0
1
1
Pallid Harrier
1
1
2
Pied Harrier
0
1
1
Unidentified Harrier
3

0
Peregrine Falcon ssp. calidis
29
2
18
Saker Falcon
5
1
1
Northern  Hobby
80
33
211
Amur Falcon
78
24
90
Lesser Kestrel
66
14
69
Common Kestrel
83
29
317
Unidentified Falcon
21
2
14
Egyptian Vulture
24
6
40
White-rumped Vulture

16
127
Himalayan Vulture
1270
140
1450
Cinereous Vulture
73
5
31
Griffon Vulture
85
14
47
Unidentified Vulture
3
1
1
Unidentified Raptor
79
3
16
Total
        9,754
            1,238
        11,412

 






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