Bird Walk at Diwar Island, Goa
- Goa
- 13 December, 2025
- Jamlesh Karapurkar
About Diwar Island
Diwar Island is located in the Mandovi River near Old Goa and is known for its scenic wetlands, paddy fields, and mangrove-fringed backwaters. The landscape is a mix of agricultural land, freshwater marshes, tidal creeks, and forested patches that create a mosaic of habitats. Traditional Goan village settlements are interspersed with palm groves and coastal vegetation.
The island is a well-known birdwatching hotspot, especially for waders, herons, raptors, and seasonal migrants. Its wetlands support fish, amphibians, otters, and rich invertebrate life. Conservation concerns include land conversion, tourism pressure, waste dumping, and disturbance to wetland wildlife. Protecting its ecological character is essential as Divar functions as a critical refuge for Goa’s wetland biodiversity.
Partnered with
Bird Guide: Jalmesh Karapurkar
He is the coordinator of the Goa Bird Atlas initiative and serves as the eBird Reviewer for Goa, playing a key role in documenting avian biodiversity across the state. He also runs an inclusive ecotourism initiative aimed at making nature and wildlife experiences accessible and enriching for all.
Bird walk Location
Common birds of Diwar Island
Divar Island, with a remarkable checklist of 262 species, is one of Goa’s most vibrant birding landscapes where paddy fields, wetlands, and village groves create ideal habitats for a wide mix of resident and migratory birds. The island commonly hosts flocks of White rumped Munia, Tricoloured Munia, Scaly breasted Munia, and the striking Baya Weaver weaving its nests in monsoon fields, while birds like Black Drongo, Indian Roller, Oriental Magpie Robin, Jungle Myna, Chestnut tailed Starling, and Rosy Starling animate the open countryside. Its wetlands attract waterbirds such as Cattle Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Medium Egret, Pond Heron, Grey Heron, and Purple Heron, and the island’s sandy edges and open skies are frequented by Blue tailed and Asian Green Bee eaters. Together, these species highlight Divar’s rich ecological mosaic and its importance as a wetland bird haven in Goa.
Black-headed Bunting
Black Drongo
Scaly-breasted Munia
Indian Roller
Asian Pied Starling
Baya Weaver
Little Egret
Great Egret
Purple Heron
Rosy Starling
Black Kite
Grey Heron
Common Kingfisher
Eurasian Hoopoe
Oriental Magpie Robin
Asian Green Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Red-naped Ibis
Shikra
Red-wattled Lapwing
Summary of Walk
The bird walk at Diwar Island, Goa, led by Jalmesh Karapurkar, was attended by 15 participants and began on a lively note with a chorus of calls from the Malabar Whistling Thrush, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, and Green Warbler. As the walk progressed, cormorants and egrets were seen flying overhead, leaving their roosts and heading toward feeding grounds. Moving through the tranquil island landscape, participants experienced a seamless transition of habitats—from mangroves to open fields—each supporting a rich diversity of birdlife and activity.
The agricultural fields proved especially rewarding, offering close views of Tree Pipits, Tawny Pipits, and Paddyfield Pipits actively foraging among the crops. A memorable sighting included a small flock of Plum-headed Parakeets perched on electric wires, feeding on leftover paddy after harvest. The excitement continued with sightings of both Western Marsh Harrier and Pallid Harrier gliding low over the fields in search of prey. The walk concluded with participants reflecting on Diwar Island’s remarkable mosaic of habitats and its importance in sustaining vibrant and diverse bird communities.
Number of Participants
0
