Sunday, the first weekend of the month saw about 20 of delhi's birders turning up for two and a half hours of birding at OBP, to check out the summer breeding activity and the few winter migrants that might have arrived ahead of schedule.
The walk started off on a bright note when we spotted a boisterous male Watercock in the wet fields to our right. However we soon got to know that he wasn't the most cooperative specimen as he kept ducking into grass and disappearing altogether from time to time. Since we were engrossed in the Watercock the fields got a thorough scan....allowing sightings of a pair of flighty Painted Sniped, Some Bronze Winged Jacanas, Spotbills with their chicks and a pair of Lesser Whistling Ducks. With some of Okhla's specialities already in our kitty, we began to think that the highlights were over....little did we know that it was yet to come!
Proceeding towards the Banyan tree, the reeds on our left played host to Bulbuls, Prinias, Weavers and Striated babblers...while Black Francolin were heard but not seen. In the air were egrets and Night Herons. As we neared the Banyan, Rufous Treepies, Golden Orioles and Barbets became apparent. At the banyan an Asian Koel, a Magpie Robin and Ashy Prinias were quickly seen. A short while later, Yellow, Black and Cinnamon Bitterns gave gracious flypasts. And then, the star of the day! A small singing bird took a flight across us directly overhead. It was the elusive Bristled Grassbird, seldomly seen in this area! The bird flew on to the left of the Banyan and was gone as soon as it had come.
We continued on to the reedy area ahead and spotted Pied Bushchats, Prinias and Weavers amongst the reeds. An opening in the reeds gave views of a hyacinth patch. A very obliging Yellow Bittern gave a close flypast and Striated babblers played amongst themselves in the Hyacinth.
Now led by KB, we made an ambitious attempt to locate the Bristled Grassbird and proceeded through the dense vegetation to the left of the Banyan. Birds seen were many Streaked Weavers, Bushchats and the like. Then, a Grassbird flew onto a nearby tree! Unfortunately it was a Striated Grassbird and not Bristled. Further on, in a clearing the group saw an Intermediate Egret, many Plain Prinias calling their heads off and another Yellow Bittern, bringing the count upto 5. Some members began discussing the lack of Grey Bellied and Pied Cuckoos that had not been sighted yet.
And then, as soon as the group began to head back, a Pied Cuckoo showed up and called for a few minutes. Also seen was a Blue Cheeked Bee Eater with some Green Bee Eaters and a group of Plain martins and Barn Swallows. Now we began to slowly head back and on the way we spotted an Oriole's nest and a fruiting Mahua tree. Just before exiting the sanctuary, KB picked out a Green sandpiper in the wet fields and a Darter and some Hornbills were also seen.
Under the bridge, a scrumptious(not to mention huge) breakfast awaited us and we feasted on Pasta, Sandwiches, Fruits, biscuits and what not! But we did deserved it as we had seen or heard over 70 species during the course of our walk, including 4 lifers for me.
Apart from the very common birds, the list included:
Black francolin
Lesser Whistling Duck
Blue Cheeked bee eater
Pied Cuckoo
Plum Headed parakeet
Spotted Owlet
Warercock
Plain Martin
Green Sandpiper
Greater Painted Snipe
Darter
Indian Cormorant
Night Heron
All Three Bitterns
Barn Swallow
Bristled Grassbird
Streaked Weaver
Thanks for Reading ,
Udiyaman
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