Sultanpur always manages to attract large no. birders and if you add the potential to catch a glimpse of the Kashmir Flycatcher, then the enthusiasm increases manifold. So it should not have been a surprise that more 15 birders and perhaps an equal no. of bird photographers congregated at Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary gate at 6.30 AM on Sunday. Whether they all responded to Wingco's call or a higher one is yet to be determined. However, since the powers that be had defined the park opening time at 7 AM, we cooled our heels and waited for the gates to open.
-- Rain cooled breeze quickly turned into a muggy morning as we marched in. Our first sighting was a nesting Black Necked Stork. This was my first sighting of nesting since Dadri's destruction. It looked calm, safe and content moving sticks and twigs about its nest. I am saying it and not him or her because I could not see the eye. No disrespect folks!
Since we had heard so much about the Kashmir Flycatcher, we kept our eyes peeled and ears strained. Then we heard it call. The only reason I know it's call because I played the call to know for sure. And it kept calling as Soumendra and I kept straining our necks this time to get a glimpse. As the rest of the group moved on, we kept our vigil. It taunted us for a really long time and we finally gave up. In the meantime the larger group had found a pair of Lesser flamebacks and some grey francolins as they darted amongst the trees. Green Bee Eaters were busy catching bees and every other form of feathered protein they could lay their beaks on. We watched them thirstily, not because we wanted to partake their breakfast but because we were literally parched. Guzzling more water the group moved on. As late comers we caught the back line of two Golden Orioles.
The duck point yielded a thriving heronry with Painted Storks, Open Bills, Grey, Purple and Night Herons. Lesser Whistling Teals, Comb Ducks and Spot Billed Ducks swam lazily in water as White breasted waterhens squawked from the dense swamp. Big miss were Spoonbills as none were spotted. Soon we decided to head back to revisit the Flycatcher location. Sure enough it called out but did not make an appearance. What a tease! Sulphur Bellied Warbler too gave us a miss, but we did have a chance to fill our bellies. As always the Delhi birders did not disappoint with their breakfast. From birders who brought just their appetite to those who brought in upma, subzi paratha, sandwiches, sabudana khichdi, cake, mathri, biscuits, tea, coffee, cold drinks.... we even had leftovers!
As we headed back to our respective homes, somehow the trip did not seem complete to us. So Wingco, Soumendra and I made a foray to Basai for a quick dekko and were rewarded with sightings of Wood, Common and Marsh Sandpiper, Little and Temminck Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Ruffs, Yellow and white browed wagtails and young families of little grebes, red wattled lapwings and black winged stilts. We saw paddyfield pipits and Crested larks calling from the top of earth mounds - mounds that were created by more earth being poured into the wetland and so folks enjoy Basai while it lasts for it may not last beyond this winter. And so on the note of waiting for winter, we bid adieu to Basai.
- Hasta la vista Basai
Vineeta Dixit
Prophecy of the Cree Indians:
"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money."
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