Hi everyone!
This misty morning about 20 of us turned up at the old favourite Sultanpur National Park to welcome the winter migrants that are known to rock the forests and wetlands of this area.
The weather was chilly and breezy as we entered the park around 7am. Immediately, Taiga Flycatchers proclaimed themselves as the dominant tree species. The distinctive trill of these little birds could be heard from every other tree. The vast wetlands to our right housed several Coots, Cormorants, Common Teal while a darter dried its wings on a nearby earth mound. Black Redstarts quivered their rusty tails with delight as they stood guard on prominent perches.
A little ahead, a few people managed to spot a Dark Throated Thrush skulking in one of the acacias. An Oriental Honey Buzzard watched our group with curiosity even as we watched him through binocs! Moving deeper still into the forest, several Siberian Chiffchaffs came into view. Soon some Hume's Warblers and White Eyes joined them to form a mixed hunting flock. Meanwhile, Pied Bushchats perched prominently and looked for breakfast and a Eurasian Thick Knee eyed us from behind some bushes. Some Common Woodshrikes also gave a brief appearance.
We had just passed a pair of Shikras when two large brown raptors were seen on a distant tree. A pair of Greater Spotted Eagles! It was great to watch (and click!) these majestic birds in the early morning light. A Long tailed Shrike uttered its guttural call as we approached Duck Point.
And then the raptors stole the show. Two Booted Eagles; one pale and the other dark morph clashed frequently with a Black Shouldered Kite that attacked the Eagles relentlessly despite being half their size! In the water there were several Pintails, Shovellors, Common Pochard and the delightful Ferruginous Pochard whose plumage shined in what was now good light. A distant female Comb duck caused some confusion while a Painted Stork took rounds of the duck pond.
On some nearby trees a Hume's Whitethroat foraged along with a Lesser Whitethroat. The former is distinguished on the basis of its all black head and larger size. Two Black Ibis perched prominently along with a Glossy Ibis as we began to head back but a beautiful Red Munia stopped us in our tracks as it swayed on golden reed stems.
After a quick (and delicious) breakfast some of us made a pit-stop at Basai. Though the sun was strong several sober White tailed Lapwings could be seen in the flooded fields as could several Sandpipers, Common Snipe, Temnick's Stint among others. Wooly Necked ans Black Necked Storks soared high on thermal currents even as an Isabelline Shrike scanned the ground below. A pair of Bar Headed Geese and a Tawny Pipit marked the end to a rewarding morning indeed!
Today was a day of raptors and storks and the bird list exceeds 110 species, including 3 lifers for me!
Udiyaman
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