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Birding Trip Report India |
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Delhi – Bharatpur - Chambal - Sattal-Pangot-Corbett India Footprints a package tour operator has been organizing various tours to several destinations in India. But wildlife and birding watching tours are the company’s forte. This particular itinerary had been devised keeping the sole objective of birding in mind. The group consisted of Germans - a group of nine birding enthusiasts, Neelesh Agrawal and tour leader Uday Patel all birders down to core. The North India birding trip started at New Delhi which was just a landing point but that it culminated into a birding trip to Okhla Bird Sanctuary in a constricted time space between landing and cozying up in comfortable hotel confines speaks highly of enthusiasm among the visiting birders from Germany. The next step was to drive down to Bharatpur early next morning. We reached Sun Bird Hotel in Bharatpur at noon and ensuing lunch was gobbled up in milliseconds. After lunch the birding session started immediately with a visit to the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. Birding at Bharatpur continued along with local guide the whole day next day with interesting sighting. Next day we visited Bund Baretha about fifty kilometers in quest for the Indian skimmer. Though the skimmer disappointed us we managed to see many interesting species. Our next stop was trip to Chambal river sanctuary which apart from crocodiles and river dolphin harbors lot of interesting bird species. The area consists of sparsely wooded ravines and cliffs on the bank of the river which is one of unpolluted rivers in India. After evening river safari and blissful sleep we had a brief birding session near the Chambal safari lodge in wee hours of the morning before we left for Agra and eventually to Sat Tal in Nainital District of Uttaranchal. Sat Tal was a journey of discovery and interesting bird species where check listed by the group. The next birding destination was Pangot about 35 kms from Sat Tal which did not materialize because of snow fall. We spent and extra day birding at Sat Tal and then proceeded to Corbett National Park to add to our burgeoning list of bird species check listed. In this birding trip report I am not presenting all the species here but rather those species that interested us the most and those which may interest the readers. New Delhi - Okhla Bird Sanctuary – February 6th A flock of Greater Flamingos, Lesser Whistling Duck, and Northern Pintail in large numbers and Northern Shoveler while few tufted ducks and Eurasian Wigeon, Ruddy Shelduck, Greylag Geese, Indian Moorhen, Purple Swamp Hen, Shikra, and ubiquitous Coot. The stint at Okhla Bird Sanctuary was brief as the time available was less. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary – 7th to 9th February The next day we left for Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by luxury bus arriving at lunch time. We had one and a half day of birding at the sanctuary and a whole day stint at nearby dam Ban Baretha at Bharatpur. Our list comprises of following birds. Grey Francolin identified by calls, Coots in large numbers, Tickle’s Thrush, Blue rock thrush, Ashy and Plain Prinia, Indian Roller, Whiskered Tern, River Tern, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Shikra, Greylag Geese, Dusky Fish Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Bar-headed Geese, Gadwall, Spot-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Common Teal, Black-rumped Flameback, Brown-headed Barbet, Hoopoe, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Scops Owl, Spotted Owlet, Laughing Dove, Common Crane, White-breasted Waterhen, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Bronze-winged Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, White-tailed Lapwing, Greater Spotted Eagle, Lesser spotted eagle, Black-shouldered Kite, Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Marsh Harrier, Imperial Eagle, Common Kestrel, Oriental Darter, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Purple Heron, Intermediate Egret, Black-crowned Night-heron, Glossy Ibis, Black-headed Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Painted Stork, Asian Open-billed Stork, Rufus Treepie, Black Drongo, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie-robin, Indian Robin, Brahminy Starling, Asian Pied Starling, Bank Myna, Barn Swallow, Wire-tailed Swallow, Oriental Sky Lark, Dusky Crag Martin, Paddyfield Pipit, Richards Pippit, House Martin, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Tailorbird, Hume’s Warbler, Purple Sunbird, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit and Indian Silverbill. Chambal River Sanctuary – 10th – 11th February We had hoped to see the Indian Skimmer at Ban Baretha but unfortunately could not see it. We eventually sighted the bird at Chambal River Sanctuary which was our next destination. Chambal though near to Agra is a far of land with unique characteristic of its own. Most of it is barred occupied by agriculture but the ravines are devoid of greenery and in the banks is mountainous region part of the ravines. This unique habitat harbors unique species some of which we can sight. Ferruginous Duck, Long Legged Buzzard, Indian Skimmer, Isabelline Wheatear, Variable Wheatear, Desert Wheatear, Bonelli’s Eagle on Nest, , Brown Crake, Ruff, Asian Koel, Brown Hawk Owl, Short Eared Owl, Sand Lark, Crested Lark, Orange Headed Thrush, Lesser Whistling teal and Comb Duck. Other attractions of Chambal River Sanctuary are of course the River Dolphin, Marsh Crocodile and the Gharial. The river safari on motor boats offers exotic and fascinating experience. Our next move was to Agra and then to Sat Tal in Nainital District, after an overnight stay at Kutchesar. The journey to Sat Tal was long and tiring nevertheless it did not dim the enthusiasm of our guest birders. Since lot of high mountain avi fauna of Uttranchal lay ahead to be discovered. And Sat Tal kept its promise. Day 12th to 15th _ February Long Legged Buzzard, Black Crested Bulbul, Common Rose finch Little Pied flycatcher, Grey Bush Chat, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Long-tailed Shrike, Slaty-headed Parakeets, Black Chinned Babbler, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler Spotted Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Slaty backed Forktail, Black Backed Forktail, Rufus Sibia, Black Bulbuls, Greater and Lesser Yellownape, Red Billed Leiothrix, Small Niltava, Rufus Belied Niltava, Slaty Blue Flycatcher, Streaked Laughing Thrush, White Throated Laughing Thrush, White Crested Laughing Thrush, Brown Dipper, White Throated Dipper, Green Tailed Sun Bird, Black Throated Sun Bird, Brown, Grey Faced Warbler, Black Hooded Warbler, Blue Winged Minla, Golden Spectacled Warbler, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Small Minivet, Long Tailed Minivet, Great Barbet, White Tailed Nuthatch, Velvet Fronted Nuthatch, Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch, Brown-Throated Tree Creeper, Kaleej Pheasant, Striated Laughing Thrush, Speckled Piculet, Steppe Eagle, Grey Winged Black Bird, Grey Treepie, Eurasian Jay and Black Headed Jay. Due to snow fall we could not reach Pangot which is at greater height. We settled for a day extra at Sat Tal and then moved to Corbett National Park. We visited Saunder Kahl, Mohan and Kumeria forests and then moved into the core area of the park for two day wildlife safari and some great birding. We stopped at a dam in quest for Little Fork Tail which we eventually see at the banks of the Kosi River outside the park. At Saunder Khal we sighted the Ibis Bill which every birder in the region searches for. We saw Oriental Pied Hornbills at Langdoh while narrowly missed the Green Billed Malkoha there. 16th February – 19th February At Corbett and its surroundings we Check Listed: Spangled Drongo, Maroon Oriole, Black Hooded Oriole, White Bellied Drongo, Indian Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Dusky Fish Owl, Kaleej Pheasant, Bar Tailed Flycatcher Shrike, Small Niltava, Rufus Bellied Niltava, Grey Crowned Pigmy Woodpecker, Nuthatches, Rufous Breasted Parakeet, Plum Headed Parakeet, Jungle Owlet. Collared Falconet, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Lesser fishing Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Osprey, Hen Harrier, Himalayan Griffon, Beared Vulture, White Rumped Vulture, Steppe Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle. Next we sighted Smoky Browed Flycatcher, Pin Tailed Green Pigeons, Black Francolin, White Tailed Ruby Throat, Great Hornbill, Himalayan Bulbul, Wooly Necked Stork, Black Headed Stork, Common Merganser, Rosy Pipit, Ashy Bulbul, Black bulbul, Lineated Barbet, Crimson Throated Barbet, Common Stone Chat, Grey Bush Chat, Himalayan Flameback, Fronted Nuthatch, Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch, Crested Kingfisher, Long Billed Thrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Ruddy Shelduck, Lesser Whistling Teal, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Thick Billed Flowerpecker, Pale Billed Flowerpecker, Crimson Sun Bird, Yellow Bellied Flycatcher, White Throated Flycatcher, Common Kingfisher, Bar Tailed Flycatcher Shrike, Rufous Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Lesser white throat, Asian Starling, Blue bearded Bee Eater, Great Tit, Yellow Browed Tit. The birding tour was a big success and we arrived at New Delhi on 19th February. We had check listed about 270 Birds. For birders this was quite elating and they departed happy. Reference books used: Birds of the Indian Subcontinent – Grimmett & Inskipp ______________________________________________________________________________________________ India Footprints a package tour operator has been organizing various tours to several destinations in India. But wildlife and birding tours are the company’s forte. This particular itinerary had been devised keeping the sole objective of birding in mind. The group consisted of Germans - a group of sixteen birding enthusiasts, Neelesh Agrawal and tour leader Uday Patel all birders down to core. The trip started at New Delhi which was just a landing point. Upon arrival at the airport afternoon we left immediately for Bharatpur Sun Bird Hotel in Bharatpur in the evening. Our birding trip at Bharatpur began at 6.00 in the morning to see yellow wattle lapwing, rufous tailed shrike, ashy prinia and grey franklin in the nearby fields. We spent one and a half day birding at Bharatpur bird sanctuary which yielded good results. We moved to Agra for overnight stay. The next morning we arrived at Chambal around 7 am. We could sight large number of interesting bird species at Chambal river sanctuary along with gharials, crocodiles and river dolphin. The area consists of sparsely wooded ravines and cliffs on the bank of the river which is one of unpolluted rivers in India. After morning river safari and a brief birding session and lunch at Chambal safari lodge we departed for New Delhi for stay overnight. Next day we proceeded to Sat Tal in Nainital District of Uttranchal. At Sat Tal we sighted interesting bird species. The next birding destination was Pangot about 35 kms from Sat Tal. We spent and three nights Pangot and then proceeded to Corbett National Park to add to our burgeoning list of bird species check listed. 14t April to 18th April Reference books used: Birds of the Indian Subcontinent – Grimmett & Inskipp
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