After a very long time I birded on both days of the weekend – Saturday it was Daurala Wetalnds - beyond Basai and Sultanpur Flats and Sunday I was back at Dadri. Thank you Anandji for making it happen. Here is the report for Sunday, 8th Dec 2013.
Sunday dawned foggy with near zero visibility at Kalindi Kunj and zero visibility at the Amity School turn. Hoping for an early clearance, Anandji and self moved towards Dadri. At the train barrier we saw police presence and were told that a body had been found on tracks. It was surrounded by people as the police stood far away waiting for I hope for a forensic team, although what they would find on crime scene would be highly debatable.
Moving on as we reached the Ghodi Bacheda turn we decided to take a chance to see the Barred Button Quail. Of course the quail had decided it was too cold and dark to come out, a Bengal Bushlark was signing away and Siberian Stonechats along with Pied Bushchats and Ashy Prinia kept popping up with amazing regularity. Few Bar Headed Geese flew over us and a Sarus pair called but could not be seen due to haze and fog. We decided to first look alongside the canal and immediately were rewarded with sights of 3 Sarus, Brown Crake, Two Pied Kingfishers, White Breasted Kingfishers and lots of Silver Bills. We thought we'd call it Silver Bill Diwas. However hidden amongst the Silver Bills was a lone Scaly Breasted Munia and soon many Black Breasted Weavers joined them. A pair of Black Shouldered Kites hopped on a tree and circled overhead. On ground Hoopoes, Crested Larks and Long Tailed Shrikes kept us busy. Two more pipits were on ground that Anandji photographed but I missed. Anandji please add them to the list.
As we decided to break our fast a beautiful male Marsh Harrier interrupted us. Quickly finishing our breakfast we chased the bird and found ourselves staring at lots of Black Breasted Weavers and Pied Mainas forcing us to rename our day to Weaver Diwas. A lone Common Starling hid amongst the Mainas and flew away at our approach. Waiting for the harrier to re-appear our patience was rewarded by perhaps the closest view of Red Avadavats. On the trees on the bunds were Indian Rollers, Long Tailed Shrikes and a charpoy (as the angrez would call them). The cot was hanging from the tree – having been strung there may be to be the makeshift tree house/machan. While the Male Marsh Harrier was seen again just once again, its female partner also came around and gave us good views. On our way back we saw two more pairs of sarus, taking the count up to 7 seen, 9 heard.
Moving towards the first water body we saw Bronze Winged jacanas, Gadwalls, Pintails, Common Teal, Lesser Whistling Teals and Northern Shovellers with some waders. On way to the second waterbody we saw two more Sarus and heard two more taking the count up to 9 seen, 11 heard, and we renamed the day as Sarus Diwas. In the waterbody we saw Ruddy Shelducks, Common Pochard, Pintails, Gadwalls, Common Teals and a lone Wigeon. Important thing was that we saw as many Pintails as Common Teals and that is a lot. A Woolly Necked stork sailed in and a Painted Stork flew overhead. They were soon joined by Greylag Goose and lots of flying ducks and waders, it was apparent that something was disturbing them. They looked spooked and took off at the smallest movement. Commenting on how it had been observed by Anandji earlier that couple of kids were throwing stones at them, we were soon engrossed with taking closer shots on more Black Breasted weavers. As we turned, sitting in the tree in front of us was an Indian Spotted Eagle that took off as we approached. Joining it later was a Peregrine Falcon, Marsh Harrier and a Common Buzzard (Id to be confirmed) and multiple pairs of Black shouldered kite. The day was renamed yet again as Raptor Diwas.
Finally at 1 Pm we called it a day.
Anandji please add to the list in case I missed some.
Regards
Vineeta Dixit
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