Goa is perhaps best known as a beach holiday destination but this smallest state of India also has the widest range of habitats which makes it a very popular bird-watching destination.
Goa can be divided into 3 ecological regions – the low-lying coastal plain with mangrove-lined estuaries and marshes; the central, dry, rocky plateau with scrub and grland and the forested slopes of the Western Ghats. Due to this diversity Goa boasts a bird list of over 450 species and because of its compact size and well developed infrastructure the most productive birding localities can be visited in a relatively short period of time.
Shine Gold Tours India www.shinegoldtoursindia.com offers a 10 day birding tour of Goa based on 2 centres – Baga Beach where Marsh Harrier, Brahminy and Black Kites, Cinnamon Bittern and Greater Painted Snipe are just a few of the species to be seen from your Beira Mar hotel grounds. From here excursions to Baga Hill, Morjim Beach, Divar Island and Fort Aguada for White-Bellied Sea Eagles will be arranged to increase your birding list. The second centre is Backwoods Camp located in the forests of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, a few kilometres from the border with Karnataka and under 2 hours travelling time from the coast. Accommodation in the camp consists of 6 large safari style tents on platforms with twin beds and 6 cottages with twin or double beds, all with en-suite facilities and covered verandas. Expect to hear the Malabar Grey Hornbill at day-break, the India Pitta at dusk and Oriental Scops Owl and Ceylon Frogmouth throughout the night in the camp. Many birding excursions are on foot from the camp but during your stay you will visit Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in search of the 15 bird species endemic to the Western Ghats which are habitually found here. These include the Grey Fronted Green Pigeon, White-cheeked Barbet, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Yellow-browed Bulbul and Loten’s Sunbird.

Shine Gold Tours India arranges all ground transport including airport pick-up and drop-off, accommodation and the services of experienced local birding guides. They specialise in small groups, usually 2 to 4 people, ensuring that each party member has a great opportunity to see all the birds spotted. The most productive birding in Goa is from November to early March – at this time the temperature is most agreeable and the winter migrants can be found alongside resident species.

Shine Gold Tours Pvt. Ltd.
Phone-0044(0)7813833579
Mobile -9811551987
Address-T257 2nd Floor Idghar Road, Nr Wedding House. New Delhi -110006
Contact name -Shine Gold tours