Great! Visited your blog too! nicely developed
Pejaver
--- On Mon, 22/8/11, Rajesh Sachdev <leopard...@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Rajesh Sachdev <leopard...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Hariyali] Nature Trail to Matheran : Report
To: "efloraindia" <indiantreepix@googlegroups.com>, "hopethane"
<hopeth...@yahoogroups.com>, "Mumbainaturalists"
<mumbainaturali...@yahoogroups.com>, "butterflyindia"
<butterflyin...@yahoogroups.com>, hariy...@yahoogroups.com, "wild mumbai"
<wild_mum...@yahoogroups.co.in>, "birds bombay"
<birdsofbom...@yahoogroups.com>, "maharashtrapakshimitra"
<maharashtrapakshimi...@yahoogroups.com>, mumbaibiodivers...@googlegroups.com,
"wildflowerindia" <wildflowerin...@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Monday, 22 August, 2011, 5:11 PM
http://rajesh-sachdev.blogspot.com/2011/08/nature-trail-to-matheran.html
It was my preconceived notion that our day would be extremely good,
if our first sighting, at Matheran, is Indian Giant Squirrel. At time and
again, the Shakharoo (state animal of Maharashtra), had given me its appearance
in this hill station at every alternative visit. The last visit, just two weeks
ago, we (Me and Sushant More) saw one with its identical rattling cries. This
time, although we were not optimistic for its sighting, but it would have been
more welcomed, if at all any.
Ten suburbanites from Mumbai (Sarang Naik, Sushant More, Avinash
Bhagat, Sonal Naik, Saurabh Gokhale, Tushar Parab, Anish Kadam, Nilesh Bhanage,
Mandar Sawant and myself) attended the Matheran nature trail on August, 21st
2011 , a plain downhill walk (of apprx 15 Kms), along the Matheran- Neral toy
train route. Our last visit, as mentioned, after seeing the Indian Giant
Squirrel, was very much fascinating in terms of observing two Ceropegia species
(ceropegia attenuata and ceropegia Vincaefolia), which are termed
as not only endemic to Western Ghats, but also rare enough in the region.
At around 7.30 AM we all reached at Neral station, as
pre-decided. After having our light
breakfast, in nearby restaurant, we took shared taxis to Dastoori point (the
last limit of motor vehicles), and started the trail. 10 people, with different
mindset and different objectives to photography, ensured the group is not
assembling or walking in bulk, but scattering oneself individually. Initially,
me and Sushant scanned the nearby tree line for Indian Giant Squirrel, but
later given up with perhaps no hope. Avinash, for his earlier leg injury, had
to compromise on speed of walk, but we were not in hurry atleast for next 8
hours. The day started with small herb Utricularia
striatula (local name chire-papni) and ended with Common Tree Brown
butterfly.
Here is the classified list of our observations of the day.
Birds
1)
White rumped shama
2)
Brown headed barbet (heard)
3)
Indian Peafowl (female)
4)
Rufous woodpecker
5)
Greater Coucal
6)
House swift
7)
Laughing dove
8)
Un IDed raptor (up for
Identification)
9)
Golden Fronted Leafbird
10)
Scarlet Minivet
11)
Malabar Whistling Thrush
12)
Red Vented Bulbul
13)
Red Whiskered Bulbul (the
numbers of this most common bird of Matheran, is dwindling)
14)
Ashy Prinia
15)
Thick Billed Flowerpecker
Reptiles
1)
Bamboo Pit Viper
2)
Russel`s Viper
3)
Indian garden Lizard
4)
Keeled Grass Skink
Butterflies
1)
Malabar Spotted Flat
2)
Common Spotted Flat
3)
Small Banded Swift
4)
Grass Demon
5)
Common Bluebottle
6)
Blue Mormon
7)
Common Grass Yellow
8)
Glassy Tiger
9)
Common Tree brown
10)
Common Fivering
11)
Chocolate Pansy
12)
Painted Lady
13)
Danaid Eggfly
14)
Blue Oakleaf
Flora
1)
Terminalia arjun (Arjun)
2)
Acacia torta (Chilarwel)
3)
Helicteres isora (murud-sheng)
4)
Lantana camara (Ghaneri)
5)
Ceropegia vincaefolia (Kandil kharchudi)
6)
Tonningia axillaris (Bechka)
7)
Chlorophytum tuberosum (kuli)
8)
Curcuma pseudomontana (Ran
halad)
9)
Pinda Concanensis (Panda)
10)
Begonia Crenata (Kapru)
11)
Celosia argentea (Kombda)
12)
Impatiens acaulis (Pan-terda)
13)
Trichodesma indicum (chhota
kalpa)
14)
Sonerila scapigera (sonerila)
15)
Rhamphicarpa longiflora
(Tutari)
16)
Impatiens balsamina (Terda)
17)
Impatiens lawii (jambhala
terda)
18)
Neanotis lancifolia
(Taraguchha)
19)
Sesamum orientale (Rantil)
20)
Utricularia striatula
(Chire-papni)
21)
Commelina Benghalensis (Kena)
22)
Cynotis fasciculate (Nilwanti)
23)
Smithia Sensitiva
(Lajalu-kawla)
24)
Aeginetia indica (Gulab-dani)
25)
Senecio bombayensis (Sonki)
26)
Acacia auriculiformis (Vilayati
Babhul)
27)
Solanum anguivi (Chinchurdi)
28)
Aeschynomene americana
29)
Commelina diffusa (Gandologi)
30)
Paravaryopsis lambertiana (Hirvi
nisurdi)
31)
Ceropegia attenuate (Sada
khantudi)
32)
Eclipta prostrata (Maka)
33)
Murdannia spirata
34)
Sida rhombifolia (Sahadevi)
35)
Chlorophytum ssp.
PS .: There are few species (flowers, Amphibian and a raptor) still to be
IDed, shall update the
same ASAP.
The weather was cloudy and it rained at fewer occasions. We were
carrying our supply of light food (mainly snacks and biscuits and sweets) and
water and took breaks at pre-decided time. The good rain cover (umbrella, rain
coat and rucksack cover) ensured that we were in position to photograph, even
when it rained. It was thoroughly an enjoyable trek for all of us and train
journey was also quite comfortable.
The next trip is planned for Rajmachi (Two days nature trek in the
mid of September) and Flora Walk to Kas (two days trip in the end of
September). And then the Great Himalayan Birdcount, in start of November at
Dehradun.
See you soon!
--
RegardsRajesh SachdevMumbai, India+9198902-55616
http://www.facebook.com/leopardguy
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