A birdwatcher's diary

The rain poured down in Mumbai yesterday but five of us went birding in Uran. It was lush green and very muddy as we walked along the edge of the wetlands. A couple of Common Sandpipers, a Redshank and  a Greenshank were the few stray waders hanging around.The resident ducks-Spotbills & Cotton Teals were present in good numbers as well as c40 Greater Flamingoes. Pheasant tailed Jacanas were nesting and we saw one male on a nest with 4 small eggs. He kept tearing at the base of the lotus leaves around the nest. After a few moments of this he would return and sit on the eggs. Baya Weavers and Prinias-Plain and Ashy too were busy in nest construction.

I am so glad I got the chance to be in Mumbai and meet some of the birding gang. Even as we laughed and enjoyed ourselves my thoughts went back constantly to Hari, Roshni & Ashok. As much as one worries about one's own selfish concerns there is nothing more rewarding than companionship or being able to show love and concern for another. It can be better than personal success. I realized there was much to be valued in simply spending time with old friends. The transience of things is sometimes terrifying; one way to face it could be the small important things we believe in.

Such a long month. Not much time to take walks outdoors, much less take photographs. For the last couple of weeks a Hawk-cuckoo's been singing its insistent, unceasing song. I envy the way it keeps calling like that- with a clarity and sense of purpose that I really seem to lack these days. 

Today afternoon though I decided to take a break and go to HCU. The Don came along for a while and then had to leave. We walked up to Peacock Pond in HCU campus which adjoins Buffalo Pond - the one I'd posted about earlier. The rains have filled up the pond and the banks were covered with tall grass and reeds. Saw a lot of Marsh Buckwheat growing among the grasses. The nearby rock had a couple of juvenile River Terns with an adult that was calling and flying around nearby. Here's a picture of cormorants and a Night Grey Heron that wanted to rest on one leg for some reason:



White-breasted Waterhens were calling from the reeds and as I was walking along I disturbed a Purple Heron that took off and sat on a dead tree some distance away. The path at the periphery of the pond disappeared after a while and soon I found myself squelching through mud in a manner that was pleasing but detrimental to my jeans. Digiscoping yielded mostly sorry results (as you can see above)  but there were many birds around. Saw a pair of Hoopoes fly past, a solitary Bronzewinged Jacana, a preening Pond Heron and a Pied Crested Cuckoo. I'd posted about Silverbills reusing Weaver bird nests earlier and this time, I caught a couple of them red-handed.

Saw Bee-eaters, Ashy Prinias, a Spotbill Duck and heard many White browed Bulbuls and peafowl around the lake. I wanted to linger but thought it might rain. The walk back was pleasant too, many Ioras calling from the trees and Plum headed Parakeets on the lamp posts.

This windy morning I didn't expect much from the Botanical Gardens, but as usual the place threw up some surprises. An Ashy Woodswallow was the first bird of the day- I think the pylon there is its regular perch. Kingfisher Rock had a Painted Stork, a Grey Heron and a Little Egret enjoying the breeze. I liked their pose :)




Further on, a Rock Agama was sunning itself. A real beauty, this one:


Agama

In the grasses, as many as 6-8 peahens and a couple of peacocks were walking about. Ashy Prinias, Black Drongoes, S.G Bee eaters and a Long tailed Shrike were noted. We went off to explore some of the areas behind one of the artificial ponds. This was a thorny, overgrown patch but a Painted Francolin made up for that. After some wandering here and there we finally reached the main path once more. Decided to do some birding near the Kingfisher Rock once more, where the water had dried up considerably since I saw it last, but the remaining patch of green was a refreshing sight.

There is a term to describe birds soaring on the thermals- Kettling. I didn't know this.

Ducks galore at ICRISAT yesterday- Shovellers, Pintails, Ruddy Shelducks, Common Teals, Spotbills, Coots & L.Grebes. Pic below was as close as I could get!

Digiscoped at Sanjeevaiah Park, Hyd

Happy new year everyone :) Hope the year brings serene moments like these to balance out the hectic and harried ones.