Hi everyone,
-- I visited the highly acclaimed CKBS along with a friend of mine this morning. Despite being small in size, this location really packs a punch as is evident from the several rarities that have been reported from there recently.
I was warned the day before to wear full sleeve clothing or risk being eaten alive inside the sanctuary by mosquitoes. Well, the Tiger (Dengue!) Mosquito was indeed the most abundant creature inside and I'm glad I heeded to that advice. These mosquitoes are having a great time and breeding like crazy inside the forest!
Being accustomed to the dry deciduous forests and wetlands around Delhi, the broadleaved forests of CKBS were quite unfamiliar to me. Birds were often up in the canopy and most of their calls did not register. Just near the entrance we spotted White Throated Fantails, Great Tits and many Black Hoooded Orioles. The sweet calls of these Orioles was the most frequently heard sound inside the forest. A couple of Bronzed Drongos were perched high up in the canopy and they chased away a crow that got too close to them (probably nesting?)
The core region of the sanctuary was the most thickly wooded and difficult to access through all the vegetation and bugs. Despite repeated attacks by aggressive large ants and mosquitoes, we reached the heart of the core area along thinning trails. A large fig tree seemed to be teeming with Lineated Barbets, looking like a washed out version of its Brown Headed cousin in Delhi. A flurry of activity in the midstorey got me scanning the trees through binocs and voila! An Orange Headed Thrush perched silently amongst the leaves...almost invisible despite its bright plumage.
Continuing along the main trail led to a barbed wire fence marking the boundary...which we promptly crossed to explore the wetlands on the other side. Three Bronze Winged jacanas called and quarreled on the hyacinth while we appreciated their glossy plumage. On the way back we got lost but then stumbled across another pair of Bronzed Drongos and some Black Rumped Flamebacks helping themselves to plump jackfruits!
As we neared the entrance again a mixed hunting group of Great tits, Purple Rumped Sunbirds and Pale Billed Flowerpecker were creating a ruckus in the canopy. One last detour through a bamboo grove led to sightings of more Lineated Barbets and a beautiful Common Rose butterfly that fluttered about lazily.
It was almost 10am when we emerged, bathed in sweat and with multiple mosquito bites. CKBS at this time of the year may not be for the faint hearted, but it yielded two lifers and I'm probably going to plan another visit very soon!
Udiyaman
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