Wish you happy prosperous New Year 2015
With Best Wishes
Devendra Bhardwaj & family
Dear friends WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY &PROSPEROUS 2015. Well, the year was great as far as birding was concerned. First half of 2014 was little better for birding as compared to the later, probably because the rain God wasn’t very happy with Delhi–NCR. There were couple of very important sightings Viz. Lesser Florican , Great Bitten,Western Reef Egret ,Grey Winged Black Bird. Critically endangered, the Red Headed Vulture, has become a regular sighting in Bhatti Mines and we also sighted & photographed nominate species of Egyptian Vultures from Bhatti Mines (N.p.percnopterus). Albeit the negligible downpour, Dighal was good as Rakesh Ahlawat reported Longbilled Vulture and Greater White Fronted Goose & Western Reef Egret. Jagat Varma, on the onset of winter, reported Smew from Bhindawas. Asola was ok but Great Tit ,Orange Headed Thrush and Paradise Flycatcher marked their presence. Sanjay Van & JNU were also moderately encouraging as Verditer Flycatchers, Dark Throated Thrushes and Eurasian Sparrow Hawk showed up. Solitary Eurasian Griffon entered it’s name in the check list of Delhi Bird from OBP with GWBBird. Basai list enrolled Mustached & Smoky Warblers and Ruddy Breasted Crakes,Water Rail. Surajpur, unlike every year, was good for Bristled Grass Birds, Bonelli’s Eagle and Rufoustail Scrub Robin. One Dead Indian Pitta was reported from Noida. An Imperial Eagle was also sighted from here . Spotted Dove from ABDP Gurgaon and Grey Bellied Cuckoo from AV.Wetlands were lovely sightings.
As far as Bird Walks were concerned (BIG GROUPS) were little less frequent compared to last couple of years but smaller groups were doing regular weekly walks, even I was also less frequent with the bigger groups except for 5-6 walks . Many big names gave 2014, a miss for bird walks. Less number of illustrated talks at WWF- Auditorium. Two new birding destinations were added in 2014, first was discovered by Anand Arya (Dhanauri) a paradise of Sarus Cranes and latter by your’s truely (Bhardwasj Lake) 15kms inside Asola Wildlife Sanctuary where I’m currently documenting avian diversity . Over all, migration was less in the winter of 2014 may be because of poor monsoon. Yamuna Khadar as usual housing few dozen of Red Crested Pochards and thousands of Gulls. Basai is losing its identity as wetland but still was a good choice of birders. I wish, Sad episodes of Mangar Bani & Surajpur do not repeat in 2015 and we all enjoy every bit of good birding in all our birding destinations. Wish you all a very happy & prosperous 2015 once again. HAPPY BIRDING J
Lesser Florican (Dadri)
Grey Winged Black Bird (OBP)
Smoky Warbler? (BASAI)
Red Headed Vulture (BHATTI MINES)
N.p.p. (BHATTI MINES)
Great Bitten (Didhal)
Western Reef Egret (Dighal)
Indian Pitta (Dead @ Greater Noida)
Great Tits (ASOLA)
Orange Headed Thrush (ASOLA)
Dark throated Thrush (JNU+SNP)
Rudy Breasted Crake (BASAI)
Greater White Fronted Goose (Dighal)
Bonelli’s Eagle (SURAJPUR)
Scrub Robin (Surajpur)
Verditer Flycatcher (Sanjay Van)
Smew (Bhindawas)
Rudy Turnstone (Dighal)
Grey Bellied Cuckoo (AV-Wetland)
Small Button Quail (Najfgarh)
Longbilled Vulture (Dighal)
Bristled Grass Birds( Surajpur)
Eurasian Griffon (OBP)
Eurasian Rollars (Bhatti mInes 70-80)
Eurasian Sparrow Hawk (JNU)
Moustached Warbler (Basai)
Hen Harrier (Najfgarh)
Paradise Flycatchers (Asola)
Imperial Eagle (Dadri-Noida)
Spotted Dove (ABDP –Gurgaon)
Chestnut Tailed Starling (Tuglakabad)
Lesser Fish Eagle (OBP)
Water Rail (Basai)
Happy Birding
SP
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