We actually started the birding section of our northwest trip today. Our two drivers met us at 07:00 and we drove the hour south to the small town of Harike where there is a large wetland with a few target birds. It was hazy and started to rain when we arrived at 09:00, having stopped for breakfast, but it was soon fine enough to head out birding.
The first section of the sanctuary that we visited was near the headquarters and here we hoped to find the rare Sind Sparrow, as
well as hopefully other target species if we were lucky. Sadly we did not have
this luck and although the birding was enjoyable, we missed all the species we
had hoped to find. I managed two ticks here however, with Little Pratincole and
Yellow-eyed Babbler, which were both long overdue species for me. Two Sambar
and an Indian Jackle were both nice to see as well.
We wrapped up in this section at 12:00 and headed to our
hotel, on the way stopping at a small tea stand for a quick bite to eat. It was
here that our driver spotted a small group of five Sind Sparrows feeding in the
trees adjacent to the road. We were able to get some nice views in the end,
once they came lower, with a couple of smart males. With this first target out
of the way, we headed to the hotel for an hours rest before setting out again
in the afternoon.
In the afternoon we headed to another site on the border of
the wetland sanctuary. Here we hoped to find the target species that we had
missed during the morning. At first the area did not look especially promising,
being mostly wheat fields, but it bordered one of the rivers that flows into
the sanctuary, and there were some areas of grassland where we managed to find
some of the birds we were looking for.
It did not take us long to find the Rufous-vented
Grass-Babbler, with an individual showing immensely well on the side of the
road, in response to playback. This was a bird we really needed to find at this
site and we were thrilled to have seen it so early on the trip. Next our group
got largely separated and I ended up on my own following a rough trail through
the elephant grass. Towards the end of this trail, where the grass became much
thicker, I found our other main target; the Jerdons Babbler. Sadly it was not
as cooperative, and although I got some excellent records, I was not able to
get any photos with the brief views I could obtain. In the end I never saw the
bird well, and had to leave with the sun descending. On my way out I found
another small flock of Rufous-vented Grass-Babblers.
The whole area was very enjoyable to bird in, with lots of
common duck species on the river, numbering in the several thousands!
Additionally there were commoner Indian species of open country in the fields,
such as Spotted Owlet and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. And as I was leaving the
Jerdons Babblers I got quite the shock when a Wild Boar jumped out of the crop
next to me. It waited a few moments for me to get some pictures before it
scuttled into the elephant grass, rounding off a brilliant first days birding.
Harike Bird Sanctuary: Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Northern Pintail, Eurasian Teal, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Collared Dove, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Greater Coucal, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Grey-headed Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Green Sandpiper, Small Pratincole, Black-headed Gull, Brown-headed Gull, River Tern, Little Grebe, Oriental Darter, Little Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Glossy Ibis, Indian Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Black-winged Kite, Shikra, Western Marsh Harrier, Spotted Owlet, Indian Grey Hornbill, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Brown-headed Barbet, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Black Drongo, Long-tailed Shrike, Rufous Treepie, House Crow, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Grey-throated Martin, Red-vented Bulbul, Hume's Leaf Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Rufous-vented Grass Babbler, Jungle Babbler, Striated Babbler, Indian Pied Myna, Common Myna, Taiga Flycatcher, Siberian Stonechat, Pied Bush Chat, Streaked Weaver, Scaly-breasted Munia, Red Avadavat, House Sparrow, Sind Sparrow, Grey Wagtail,
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