Saturday, September 6, 2014

(delhibirdpix) The Commoners - # 48.06 - Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) - 2014-274

Had to do the Grand-Parental Duty of dropping my grand-daughter to school for a field trip.
Thought of doing a birding trip (that would not have been made due rains - a scarce commodity
this season in our area) since I would be a way up on to Dadri Wetlands.  Though the
trip was cancelled at last minute, I decided to venture anyway.

It rained the first two hours or so - off and on - and got just the commoners and then hit a
purple patch - got to see Red Munia and then Black-Headed Munia and then the surprise
of the Luecistic Myna that I initially dismissed as a Pigeon when first pointed out by Yogesh
but then got out of the Vehicle to see it close up but it flew away as I stalked it carefully.
Saw it land on a tree a bit far.  Drove in the direction and the search began.  Found it feeding
in a field (see the video at link below), got stuck in eight inch deep mud, soiled the shoes but did
manage to get an image. Do not know how am I going to manage with wet shoes for tomorrow's
birding trip.

This is only the third time, I am seeing a leucistic bird in the wild.  It also happens to be the same
species - Common Myna.  At the same location - Dadri Wetlands.  Saw it in 2010 on the 10th
Anniversary of Delhi Bird Group on 31st October 2010 and then again on X-mas Day in 2010.
And, now in September 2014

Could it be the same Bird as well ?  Would a leucistic bird have survived that long ? Seek
enlightenment from the Experts.

Here is the Video Link:


Image taken on 6th September 2014 at Dadri Wetlands (40KMs SE of Delhi), Greater Noida,
U.P., India.

Cheers.



 
Anand Arya
353, Sector 15A
NOIDA 201301
INDIA
+ 91 98182 61909
www.anandarya.com
www.okhlabirdpark.com
"This is a copyrighted image. Not to be used for any purpose without prior permission."
Canon 1D M4+ 800mm





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