(delhibirdpix) The Migratory Non-passerine - # 02.01 - River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) - 2010-177

This is time for Heronry - and all the activity it is associated with.  The best  perhaps was Bharatpur with its trade mark 'cacophony' orchestrated by thousands of birds just as one entered.  Alas, it is missing with no rains and water there.  Next one near Delhi is Sultanpur which too is perhaps going the Bharatpur way -  it was flourishing last year this time but is now closed to the public after the careless manner it was managed.

It was heartening to then hear from the Range Officer at Sur Sarovar, Agra that it hosted upwards of 20000 birds - Egrets, Herons, Storks, Darters, Spoonbills, Cormorants etc and all in the process building nests or laying eggs or rearing chicks.  What could stop anyone to visit the place !  Armed with fully serviced vehicle, food and optical/photographic equipment, four of us left at four in the morning.

Ran into some kind of a minor jam right in the morning little realising that millions were thronging to   Mathura, Vrindawan and Govardhan offering respects to 'Gurus' on Guru Purnima (Full Moon). Afternoon, when we were returning - the jams were phenomenal with people every where and packed like Egrets, Herons, Storks, Darters, Spoonbills, Cormorants etc on roads, jeeps,  cars, buses, tractor trollies, trucks - anything that moved.

We got the Heronry of Birds and as also of People - two for the price of one.

Heronry at Sur Sarovar is rocking (were told the Director of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur was there and full of envy and thinking of filing a suit for 'alienation of affection' and 'luring his beloveds' from Bharatpur.  I would do too.)

20000 was perhaps a conservative estimate - we got to see only from a distance and that too what was on the periphery.  What was the inside of the islands, we did not pursue lest we disturb.

We enjoyed all the facets associated with Breeding - from bringing nesting materials to feeding the chicks and of course the fights for territory.

Bonus was quite a few other birds.

Here are some images and more to come in the following days as I get time (an expression I never used when I had a high profile job in the corporate world) from my main activity - BIRDING.

River Lapwing - standing Tall

Cheers.


Anand Arya
353, Sector 15A
NOIDA 201301
INDIA
+ 91 98182 61909
www.anandarya.com
www.okhlabirdpark.com
"This is a copyrighted image. Not to be used for any purpose without prior permission."
Canon 1DsM3 + 800mm