The Arambol Project wasn’t planned, designed or even conceived when I started taking pictures of birds on the dunes near my apartment in Girkawada (Arambol) Goa in mid November 2025. I was (and still am) recovering from a severe back injury involving two slipped discs and a constant case of sciatic nerve pain that was off the charts. To date, in the very small area I’ve been monitoring between Giroba Temple in Girkawada/Arambol and roughly Surfwala, not including sea birds or any beach observations, I’ve photo recorded 70 species of birds and heard many others. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the existing birds here, but purely what I’ve managed to see in the small area I have been focusing on. The reasons for which, should you be interested, are explained in more detail here.
When it comes to birds it’s easy to think, just look up! But you’d be missing a lot if you limit yourself to that. There’s plenty straight in front of you and many on the ground. Here in Arambol Goa, they are everywhere you look!
Birding on the dunes
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbuls
Red-vented Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul Juvenile
White-browed Bulbul
Long-tailed Shrike
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Asian Paradise Flycatcher (F)
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird
Purple-rumped Sunbird (F)
Purple Sunbird
Purple Sunbird (M)
Purple Sunbird (M)
Purple Sunbird Nest (F)
Purple Sunbird (F)
Vigor’s Sunbird (M)
Vigor’s Sunbird (F)
Vigor’s Sunbird (M)
Crimson-backed Sunbird
Indian Pond Heron
Indian Pond Heron
Common Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Common Sandpiper
White-browed Wagtail
White-browed Wagtail
Red-wattled Lapwing
Little Heron
Little Heron
Little Heron
Little Heron
Indian Cormorant
Little Cormorant
Purple Heron
Great Egrets
Medium Egret
Small Egret
Cattle Egret
White-breasted Waterhen
Plum-headed Parakeet
Alexandrine Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Plum-headed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
White-throated Kingfisher
Paddyfield Pipet
Rosy Starling
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Scaly-breasted Munia
White-rumped Munia
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Barn Swallow
Scaly-breasted Munia Juvenile
Scaly-breasted Munia
Common Sparrow
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Common Sparrow
Ashy Drongo
Ashy Drongo
Black Drongo
Common Hoopoe
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Discarded Sign
Indian Robin (F)
Indian Robin
Oriental Magpie Robin
Oriental Magpie Robin (F)
Oriental Magpie Robin
Oriental Magpie Robin
Orange-headed Thrush
Red Spurfowl
House Crow
Indian Pitta
Indian Pitta
Indian Roller
Indian Roller
Indian Golden Oriole
Indian Golden Oriole (F)
Indian Golden Oriole
Indian Golden Oriole
Indian Golden Oriole
Black-hooded Oriole
Rufous Treepie
Jungle Babbler
Jungle Babbler
Indian Grey Hornbill
Malabar Grey Hornbill
Indian Grey Hornbill
Malabar Grey Hornbill
White-cheeked Barbet
White-cheeked Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Coppersmith Barbet
Asian Koel
Asian Koel (F)
Asian Koel (F)
Asian Koel (F)
Greater Coucal
Greater Coucal
Spotted Dove
Tailor Bird
Tailor Bird
Common Iora
Small Minivet
Small Minivet
Gold-fronted Leafbird
Gold-fronted Leafbird
Blyth’s Reed Warbler
Tawny-bellied Babbler
Tawny-bellied BGold-fronted Leafbirdabbler
Spot-breasted Fantail
Ashy Prinia
Ashy Prinia
Giroba temple Grounds
Grey-breasted Prinia
Grey-breasted Prinia
Pale-billed Flowerpecker
Verditer Flycatcher
White-throated Kingfisher
Verditer Flycatcher
Jungle Myna
Common Myna
Black-rumped Flameback
Crown Flower
Black-rumped Flameback
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Brahminy Kite
Spotted Owlet
Full Moon 03/01/2026
Spotted Owlet
Spotted Owlet
Spotted Owlet
Spotted Owlet
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
White-bellied Sea-Eaglet
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Streaked Rattle Pod
Beach Morning Glory
Streaked Rattle Pod
Common Nitwit
