Despite the overcast sky & rains on Friday evening, few brave hearted delhibirders decided to explore the tempting Surajpur wet lands, developed by WWF-INDIA, on Saturday morning as per the plan posted by the team leader Wing. Cdr. Vijay Sethi & our lakshya was 'Bristle Grass Bird'. A group of ten birders were welcomed by many gentlemen well dressed in their wedding suits, singing melodies namely few I remember like Indian Golden Oriole, Pied Crested Cuckoos, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Black Francolin but the stars of the morning were calling from the sky! Yes they were four 'Bristle Grass Birds'.
We wanted them to settle down but in our honor, none of these lovely singing gentlemen came down except one who decided to come down and give guard of honor to their admirer but from a distance.
While we were busy admiring their beauty, an urban canine disturbed the privacy of the tallest flying bird that just graciously entered in the lenses of all the cameras. Yes it was 'Sarus'. Alas none of us recorded its 'Trumpet Call' .Indian Rollars, Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Purple Swamphen, Common Moorhen, White Breasted Waterhen were other dignitaries present.
We were wondering why other big & small birds were missing ? But later realized their home ministers have already put them on task and poor husbands were busy in making their sweet home our group had put them on record. They were Gray & Purple herons, Asian Openbills, Streaked ,Baya & Black Breasted Weavers and many more. Those parents who have already relieved from their parental duties were either relaxing or helping their young ones like Black Winged Kite and an immature shikra.
No birding is complete without a grand feast therefore at 8.30 a.m. group headed for its 'FIRST SUMPTUOUS BREAKFAST' full of energy. Idlies,Paranthas,Veg-Non Veg Sandwitches,Lassi,Curd,Energy Drinks and lot more delicacies before heading for Dadri to utilize bright sunlight.
Soon after coming out of Surajpur we realized the reality of 'LIFE IN METROS'. Traffic jams, honking and many triple riders were adventurously breaking all the traffic rules. But Wingco's patience paid and we were on our way to Dadri wet lands. En-route the political discussion started between Wingco & Vineeta and the title was an alternative of NaMo , the discussion was very spicy but its after effects precipitated when we missed our turn and went ahead when road naturally blocked us to move further. Unanimously it was decided to maintain original Delhibird Culture and talk only about birds. Immediately after the decision we were rewarded by a beautiful sighting of a 'Barred Button Quail' walking on the road very close by that none of us could take its picture.
Dadri was good enough to oblige us with Lesser Whistling Teals, Green SandPiper,Larks, Pipits, Weavers ,Black Winged Kites, Black Necked Stork, Greater Spotted Eagle, Wooly Neck Stork, Asian Openbills & 5 Sarus Cranes once again. While moving slowly we spotted female black francolin who posed for us and headed towards her home. Wingco said ' the female of Black Francolin is much more bolder compared to its male' & yours truly replied 'All females are bold boss' and we all broke into laughter . The slush and puddle didn't allow us to move further more and we called it a day but not without a 'SECOND FEAST' at Dadri with the same menu.
Happy Birding
Surya Prakash, Ph.D. ( Zoology)
Room # 219 C.C.I.F.
School of Life Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067
INDIA
Phone (Work) 26704184
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