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) 294 JOURNAL BOMBAYNATURAL HIST. SOCIETY Vol. 93(1996) ASAD RAHMANI ciconia and boyciana is that the former nest on February 22, 1995 R. houses, while the later on high trees. Centre ofWildlife & Ornithology , It appears that all the species ofCiconiautilizes Aligarh Muslim University , which ever is the safe site for nesting. Ours is the Aligarh 202 002. first record of the Wooly-necked stork nesting on BHARAT SINGH cliffs. Just 300 km north of Kota, in the Keoladeo Bhim Niwas, Gumanpura, National Park near Bharatpur, this species nests on Kota, Rajathan. trees. Refer E N C E S Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook of the Birds of India and Spoonbills of the World. Academic Press, London. and Pakistan (compactedition). Oxford University Press, New del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott & J. Sargatal (eds) (1992): Handbook Delhi. of the Birds of the World, vol. I. Lynx Editions, Barce- Brown, L„E.K. Urban& K. Newman(1982): The BirdsofAfrica. lona. vol. I. Academic Press, London. Roberts, T.J. ( 1991): The Birds of Pakistan. Vols. 1 & 2. Oxford Hancock, J.A.,J.A. Kushlan & M.P. Kahl( 1992): Storks, Ibises University Press, Karachi. GREYHEADED FISHING EAGLE, ICHTHYOPHAGA ICHTHYAETUS ICHTHYAETUS 13. (HORSFIELD) FEEDING ON TURTLE On 29 December 1994 while observing the Greyheaded Fishing Eagle mainly consists of fish Blacknecked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticns) in (exclusively) and rarely will it go forJunglefowl and Bankitaal ofDudwa National Park at about 1400 hr, smaller mammals like squirrels. Lowther (1949) I saw a Greyheaded Fishing Eagle (Ichthyophaga reported that he saw 5 turtle shells in the nest of ichthyaetus feeding on something on the ground Pallas’s Fish Eagle,Haliaeetus leucotyphus (Pallas), fully covered by Wild-rice (Oryza sp). I could not while he was photographing the nest. The properly see what it was feeding on except some red Greyheaded Fishing Eagle feeding on turtle is a new coloured material which might have been the record. intestine. The eagle was constantly pulling it from MAHESWARAN right to left. Later, I found that it was a turtle. February 2 1, 1 995 G. When I approached in order to collect the half- Stork Ecology Project, eaten turtle, the eagle flew away carrying the turtle Centre of Wildlife and Ornithology, to a nearby tree. Aligarh Muslim University, & According to Ali Ripley (1983), the food of Aligarh-202 002 (U.P). References Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook ofthe Birds of India Lowther, E.H.N. (1949): A Bird Photographer in India. Oxford and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. University Press, 150 pp. CUCKOO CUCULUS CANORUS LINN.) IN SIDHI DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH, 14. ( INDIA During my period of posting in Sidhi District Cuckoo Cuculus canorus) in that region were ( (Vindhya Pradesh Region) ofMadhya Pradesh, some noticed, and are described below. interesting variations in the diet, feeding methods The species was sighted from May to October. and, observations on the possible breeding of the The birds were seen singly, in twos and occasionally MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 295 in scattered flocks of 4 to 5 birds (24 and 26 June occasion a bird descended on a ploughed field, 1993). probed for food, hopped around in the manner of Birds were more vocal during morning and crow pheasants Centropus sinensis). ( evening hours and called sparsely during the day. The presence ofthe bird caused alarm amongst The calls were made from perches on trees or on such species, as Large Grey Babblers Turdoides ( telegraph/electric lines and on the wing. The birds malcolmi and Rufousbacked shrikes Lanins ) ( kept their wings drooping, tails partly cocked up schach both known as fosterer for the species ) when calling from a perch. (Stuart Baker, Vol. IV, p. 136) and confirmed breeders The longest duration of call recorded, was by in that locality. On several occasions, they were a bird perched close-by, on a tree, for about 28 observed harassing and driving away cuckoos. minutes (24 June, 1993) with three short Other known foster birds, e.g. Reed Warblers intermissions ofabout 1 Vi-2 minutes each at regular (Acrocephalus, sp.) Chats other than Brown intervals. Calls were mostly heard between June to Rock Chat (Cercomela fused), were more or less end of July. Birds sighted in some locality in early absent. August and later, were usually silent. The breeding behaviour ofmale birds such as Addition in Dietery and Variation in courtship chase offemales while calling on the wing Feeding Pattern: Some variations to the diet and was observed several times. feeding pattern as mentioned in the handbook ofthe The species is known to breed in the hilly Birds of india and Pakistan (Ali and Ripley 1987, regions of Central India (Stuart Baker, Vol. IV, p. Mhow Compact Edition, pp. 23 and the fauna of British 136) and recorded at Sagar, and Kamptee. 1 ) india by Stuart Baker, Vol. IV, pp. 136, Ed. 1927) The behaviour of cuckoos and reaction of possible were observed. The species was observed hawking foster species suggests breeding of the species in winged termites on 4-5 July, 1993 in the manner of Sidhi District also. flycatchers on more than two occasions. A bird BHAROS perched on an electric line, passing over a field April 1995 A.M.K. 1 1, pounced on and captured a lizard about 10 cm long 27, MIG Indravati Colony, , in its bill and carried it to nearby tree. On another Raipur 492 001, (M.R). RANGE EXTENSION OF THE MALABAR WHISTLING THRUSH, 15. MYIOPHONUS HORSFIELDII (VIGORS) The distribution range of the species extends adjacent to a nallah. The size ofthe bird and plumage in the East to Chhotanagpur (Sarguja) and further coloration matched the illustration available, thereby to Sundergarh district (Orissa). It inhabits hill confirming its identification. Later, the bird moved streams in dry season, but spreads into the foothills to a nearby post, stayed for there for few seconds and adjacent plains in rains. The bird is and then flew away. also to be seen sometimes on forest paths, in gar- The sighting ofthe species suggests extension & dens and compounds, (handbook Ali Ripley, p. in its distribution range up to Sidhi District also, 598). which has suitable habitats. During my posting at Sidhi (M.R) which has BHAROS predominantly forested hilly terrain, interspersed January 24, 1995 A.M.K. MPEB with plains and plenty ofravines, a bird was sighted NC-6, Colony, at village Karondiya on 15.10.91, around 0900 hr. Raipur Road, perched atop a fence post, in an undulating field, Bilaspur 495 223, M.P.