Dear All -
-- On Sunday, 8th Dec, several of us birded at Basai and were happy to see lots of water and hope of another birding winter at Basai.
Getting used to the Garbage and newly setup Gas agency on the sides of the road, we saw several Bar-headed Geese in the fields. JL Singh who had arrived earlier had seen approx c.150 Bar-headed Geese before Fog lifted. Hoping for the numbers to soar later in the day, we first looked for beauties closer to the road and waited till Fog thinned out, to scope out on farther ducks and geese. Moustached Warbler in the reeds is clearly the star of Basai this season. Counted 3 of them calling, flitting and showing themselves till middle stumps, much more boldly than I had ever seen them in the past few years. Several great photographers have taken their pics. Wood Sandpipers, White-tailed Lapwings, Temminck's Stints and Common Sandpiper roamed on flooded street ahead. Purple Moorhens are painting the fields with their colour. They are everywhere. An elegant Isabelline Shrike sat close by while few Chiffchaffs and Ashy Prinias moved in and out of reeds and smaller shrubberies. As fog started to lift, waterbirds came into view. Common and Ferruginous Pochards, Gadwalls, Shovellers, Wigeons, Common Teals, Pintails, Coots filled the far off fields. At least c.150 Graylag Geese dotted the fields on far side where construction is happening. Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipes, Grey and Purple Herons, Spotbills in the fields too. A lone Bluethroat was seen. Several Eurasian Marsh Harriers harried the waterfowl while an Olive-backed Pipit sat on a tree. An Oriental Skylark and a Rosy Pipit were seen in the fields. Plenty of Yellow and Citrine Wagtails hopped on and off the growing Hyacinth.
One pipit moving on hyacinth caught our attention. It had Sandy brown upperparts that had mild streaking while the breast was streaked all the way down. Dark beak and dark legs. Finally, it was IDed as Water Pipit in Non-Breeding Plumage. It wasn't untill we realised what we were seeing through scope that the thought of taking a picture dawned on us. I am attaching a very hurried distant shot but if you zoom on it, you should be able to see most features.
Water Pipit is an uncommon visitor in this part and it would be nice to get confirmation from members on the forum.
As we wrapped up our birding, we heard a loud gaggle and Voila, several flocks of Bar-headed Geese soared from the Temple side and flew close to all of us, almost clouding us for a few secs, before moving towards the water tank on the other side of Basai Road. A befitting salute to a great day of birding.
PS : I know this picture takes the word "record shot" to an altogether new level, but that's the best I could manage. So, please bear.
Happy Birding
Soma
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