It was a Monday morning when I came to know that I might have to go to Hyderabad for work and stay there for a month or so. Being a north Indian - I always look forward to birding in the South and I started working at the earnest making a list of the birds that I desired to see. Ofcourse all the birds were not on the lifer list - but then there are some birds that one would not mind any day at all. That apart there was one bird that had eluded me in the past and that was the ‘Blue-faced Malkoha’. I was hell bent that this should be part of my 'would be' bird. After these thoughts and going over the two three books that I refer for birding I was sure that I was going to have one hell of a time.
Preparing to go to a new city and birding also has some disadvantages...
Firstly, you are not aware of the hotspots that span so many seasons - you just have to be at the right place at the right time to make sure that you have good sightings. This one point does get mitigated to a point by the fact that if you do put in some hard work about the sightings on various groups and social media you will get a fair idea - as to what to expect and when and where to expect. eBird is another place that gives wonderful data about hotspots etc. The problem is that as of now the users are not the kind that can generate detailed analysis to rely on alone for birding.
Secondly, mobility is a big issue. I mean its damn bloody difficult to reason out and explain with a cab that you have to drive to so and so place, keep the pace right and when I Shout - “Bird” he has to look out for traffic and park in a manner that I can observe the bird from the vehicle or get down if the bird is of the kind that will allow me to sneak up to it without flying away. Then there are points that a birder only knows - like never drive straight towards the bird, approach it at an angle and look out for the comfort level - I mean if the birds shows signs that you are moving into its ‘personal’ zone - stop, see and decide. It is not only that - the end line is that even my past experience with cabs
Heart-spotted Woodpecker. This picture was clicked in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on out way to Kanheri Caves. If you look at the spots you will find them heart shaped. A lifer for me and a great find as I was told not many people have reported seeing them in this park. |
is that they make horrible people to go out birding with. Basically the finesse of appreciating and finding birds is lost on them.
I started knowing these disadvantages and started working on to neutralising them. Study and preparation I did meticulously, even to the extend that I started flipping the ‘Birds of Indian Subcontinent’ book and the app on my iPhone, iPad looking for the ranges of birds covering areas around Hyderabad. The list was not really physical - it was more of a brain exercise. Then I ploughed through sites like Facebook and Indian Nature Watch looking for regulars who posted pictures of birds of Hyderabad online. Next I started searching for groups and clubs for Birding. The data once again was immense. Hyderabad is one of the places where you will find tons of birders. I also asked my friends from Chandigarh bird club if they could point out someone in Hyderabad who could perhaps take me birding there. Well like there have to be million foot-falls in malls to sell a packet of chips - I too know that a vast majority of birders are accepted with jobs and it is extremely difficult to ‘take’ someone out for birding - especially with not previous connect. All I could promise really was a reciprocation if some one came to Chandigarh and wanted to do birding.
It so happened that I was routed through Mumbai and I got a day off there. This meant that I would be able to explore ‘Sanjay Gandhi National park’. I promptly rang up one of my classmates there and asked him to be there for birding. It was a week day but lucky for me he said he will manage. I also came to know that the park opens at 5:30 in the morning. Well I was there at the park gates at 5:20 with camera dangling on my harness read to shoot. The moment I enquired where I can buy tickets I was told that in the morning only joggers with bonafide passes can enter, visitors have to wait till 7:30. I stood there waiting for my friend also to fetch up at 7:00 AM. he was there dot on time and then we both waited for the gates to open. The gates did open dot at 7:30 and we were one of the first ones to buy a ticket. The weather was overcast and a not so good photography day. All the same I saw a shadow of three birds fly past and settle on a tree a couple of yards away. peered through the binoculars and did not see to much in the thick green cover of the tree. All of a sudden before we moved on the bird decided to hop on to a tree with little less cover. My heart knew no joy, three ‘Heart-spotted woodpeckers’ I got on to clicking a few dozen frames. As expected there were no great keepers but did get good record shots (Pic No 1). We there after moved on till the Kanheri caves stopping on and off looking out for birds, the weather turned even worse with off and on drizzle. The green cover was also too thick. We could hear a lot of birds but hardly any sightings. Next I had a desire to enter one of the core areas, the target species being ‘Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher. We were politely turned back at one a the gates telling that we need permission from none other than the IFS. Off we went to the office and were told that the director arrives at 1030… and the wait again started. The wait was worth it for reason other than birding. I met Mr Vikas Gupta (IFS), Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The fine gentleman he was and perhaps for the first time I met a person holding such a responsible position and rank share his passion for the National Park. When I introduced myself as a retired army officer now birding and deeply into wildlife, it ensured a healthy discussion with Mr Vikas giving his insights how he intends to shape the national park over a period of time to ensure that people do not enter it with a preconceived idea of seeing a leopard - but for enjoying the Real forest as against the concrete one they are so used to seeing and feeling all their lives. I wish and pray that there a million persons like him looking after our forests, wildlife and natural resources. The permission was granted and the walk was nothing but marvellous. too many birds could not be sighted due to extremely thick foliage but like I said the experience itself was so rewarding.
On 10th I reached Hyderabad and sent out messages to whoever would care to listen…. Take me out please. The call was answered by Mr Sumeet Mukherjee to begin with. How I came in touch with his is another interesting story - some other time perhaps. He took me to Narsapur Reserve forest on 12 Jul. The experience was rewarding with 53 species logged in four odd hours with Jerdon’s Leafbird recorded as my lifer. Other than that the notable sightings were One Tickell’s Blue-flycatcher, 7 Yellow-eyed Babblers, 5 White-browed bulbuls, 2 Black-headed Cuckooshrikes, 1 Black-headed Ibis and two breeding pairs of Greater Painted-snipe. The list and the photographs are at the end of the blog.
Next break for birding was on 18 Jul at Bhadrachalam. The visit was cut short as the car that I took out for birding was suddenly recalled for some other errand. All the same the count was 20 species with no real Notable sightings other than seeing Lesser Whistling-ducks roosting on very tall date trees. I observed this for the first time. Once again the list is at the end of the writeup.
I had also posted a post on Hyderabad birds on Facebook requesting for a birder who could take me around. The call was answered by Dr Kamal Syed (Also a Nawab). I must introduce the gentleman also. He is not exactly a birder but a man with a heart for nature and all that is good around him. His company was pleasant and the time spent was great. He took me to Osman Lake near Gandipet on 30th Jul 15. This is one of the lakes built by Nizam to supply fresh water to Hyderabad. The state of the lake was bad, lack of monsoons in and around Hyderabad was evident. The lake had perhaps shrunk to one tenth of the erstwhile size, the catchment area around seems to have been up for grabs by farmlands and boards threatening of trespassing sprung around the lake. As far as the birding was concerned it was lesser number of species but more that can be listed as notable sightings. We sighted a total of 24 species. The lifer was Indian Courser. The notable were the numerous Indian Bushlarks, 22 Greater flamingos, 25 Eurasian Spoonbills (listed as rare in this area on eBird), 12 Yellow-wattled Lapwing, 7 Red collared Doves and 3 Pied-cuckoo. The list and the pictures are at the end to this writeup.
The last birding day, on 03 Aug at Hyderabad turned out to be an icing on the cake. My birding partner Capt Yella Rao was on leave in Hyderabad and he organised an otherwise impossible. Birding in ICRISAT Campus. The campus is around 1450 hectares with different vegetation and a few lakes. The campus is under UN so as to how he managed to get passes was nothing short of a miracle. We spent around three and a half hours, logged 45 species with a wonderful sighting of breeding colony of Great Cormorant (counted 39), 50 plus spot-billed ducks, Spot-billed Pelican, Oriental Darter, 8 Painted Francolins and all three varieties of Ibis found in india. 50 plus Baya weavers and Large-grey Babblers.
That wrapped up my Hyderabad visit with hopes of many more to come. I had been targeting some specific birds but unfortunately I could not find them. Those birds, though common and I was assured by whosoever I went birding with that they will definitely show me - did their trick and thus went with my wanted list yet to be ticked. The birds were Blue-faced Malkoha, King Quail and Painted Spurfowl. Well but then I did log some Lifers also so ideally I should be happy and looking forward to the next hunt at Hyderabad.
I would wrap up this blog entry (that has already been long overdue) by a quote I read today by Ashish Ram (The power of One)
One Song can Spark a Moment, One Whisper can Wake a Dream,
One Tree can Start a Forest, One Bird can Herald the Spring….
Do raise your voice for crime against Environment, Do do your bit for the Birds.
I got this great flock of bird at the Osman Sagar. Spot-billed Pelicans, Asian Openbill, Painted Storks, Spot-billed ducks and a lone Red-wattled Lapwing. Hmmm... have I missed anything ?? |
Red Collared Dove. It is a widespread resident of Indian plains, also called as Red Turtle Dove. |
One more picture of a Red-collared Dove - but this time clicked in Osman Lake area. |
This one picture I wanted to include as a trick picture where you should spot the bird. I too saw it by chance only. Presenting the well camouflaged - Greater Painted-snipe. |
They were snoozing at a pond and were in great numbers, counted 12 on a single place. Grey Herons |
One of the beautiful lifer of my visit to Osman Sagar Lake with Dr Kamal Syed. The Indian Courser. Also the birds gave us all the time to photograph them. A memorable lifer moment... |
The common Indian Bushlark, once again clicked in Osman Sagar Lake area. |
The first time I saw Lesser Whistling-ducks sitting on such tall trees. These were not the only one however - there were virtually dozens of them on trees all around. |
A partial picture that I used to count the no of Spot-billed ducks at Osman lake |
As I had written above the picture is of a male and a Juvenile Indian Courser. I did have a field day clicking these birds. |
A opportunity snap of a Juvenile Yellow-wattled Lapwing. |
The most beautiful of the three ibis we have in our country. The Black-headed Ibis in flight. |
Indian Roller. The revered bird of the country. There are two rollers seen in India - this one pictured here - the Indian Roller and the migratory that visits India in winters - the European Roller |
Common Hawk Cuckoo or the brain fever bird. There are a total of 14 types of cuckoo found in the sub continent. This being by far the most common one. |
The Great Indian Cormorant in breeding plumage. What a fine sight it was to see them at their nesting sight. It is the most majestic of all three Cormorants found in India. |
Row #,Species,Count,Location,S/P,Date,LocID,SubID
1,Lesser Whistling-Duck,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
2,Cotton Pygmy-Goose (Cotton Teal),11,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
3,Indian Spot-billed Duck,14,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
4,Grey Francolin,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
5,Little Grebe,4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
6,Asian Openbill,12,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
7,Painted Stork,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
8,Great Cormorant,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
9,Little Cormorant,4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
10,Grey Heron,6,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
11,Purple Heron,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
12,Great Egret,5,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
13,Indian Pond-Heron,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
14,Black-headed Ibis,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
15,Shikra,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
16,Brahminy Kite,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
17,Black-winged Stilt,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
18,Red-wattled Lapwing,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
19,Greater Painted-Snipe,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
20,Pheasant-tailed Jacana,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
21,Bronze-winged Jacana,6,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
22,River Tern,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
23,Red Collared-Dove (Red Turtle-Dove),3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
24,Spotted Dove,4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
25,Laughing Dove (Little Brown Dove),1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
26,White-throated Kingfisher,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
27,Pied Kingfisher,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
28,Green Bee-eater,6,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
29,Coppersmith Barbet,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
30,Common Iora,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
31,Small Minivet,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
32,Black-headed Cuckooshrike,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
33,Long-tailed Shrike,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
34,Black Drongo,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
35,Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark),1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
36,Barn Swallow,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
37,Red-vented Bulbul,8,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
38,White-browed Bulbul,5,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
39,Common Tailorbird,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
40,Ashy Prinia,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
41,Plain Prinia,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
42,Yellow-eyed Babbler,7,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
43,Tawny-bellied Babbler,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
44,Jungle Babbler,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
45,Indian Robin,4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
46,Oriental Magpie-Robin,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
47,Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
48,Pied Bushchat,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
49,Brahminy Starling,1,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
50,Jerdon's Leafbird (Jerdon's Chloropsis),2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
51,Purple-rumped Sunbird,3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
52,Paddyfield Pipit,2,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
53,Baya Weaver,4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
54,Indian Silverbill (White-throated Munia),4,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
55,Scaly-breasted Munia (Spotted Munia),3,Narsapur Reserve Forest,IN-TS,12 Jul 2015,L3202452,S24232968
56,Red-naped Ibis (Indian Black Ibis),1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
57,Black-shouldered Kite (Black-winged Kite),1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
58,White-breasted Waterhen,1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
59,Pied Cuckoo (Jacobin Cuckoo),1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
60,Greater Coucal,1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
61,Rose-ringed Parakeet,15,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
62,Indian Golden Oriole,4,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
63,House Crow,1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
64,Common Myna,1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
65,House Sparrow,1,IN-AP-Bhadrachalam-NH221 - 17.6482x80.9225,IN-TS,18 Jul 2015,L3797369,S24299301
66,Indian Peafowl,4,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
67,Greater Flamingo,22,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
68,Spot-billed Pelican,5,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
69,Eurasian Spoonbill,25,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
70,Yellow-wattled Lapwing,12,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
71,Indian Courser,18,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
72,Eurasian Hoopoe,3,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
73,Indian Bushlark (Red-winged Bushlark),9,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
74,Yellow-billed Babbler,10,Osman Sagar Lake,IN-TS,30 Jul 2015,L3169524,S24430643
75,Painted Francolin,5,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
76,Oriental Darter,1,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
77,Eastern/Western Cattle Egret,25,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
78,Grey-headed Swamphen (Purple Swamphen),1,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
79,Eurasian Coot,22,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
80,Common Sandpiper,3,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
81,Eurasian Collared-Dove,3,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
82,Common Hawk-Cuckoo,1,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
83,Blue-tailed Bee-eater,7,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
84,Indian Roller,4,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
85,Black-rumped Flameback (Lesser Goldenbacked Woodpecker),2,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
86,Rufous Treepie,3,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
87,Red-rumped Swallow,2,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271
88,Large Grey Babbler,3,ICRISAT Campus,IN-TS,03 Aug 2015,L3140635,S24475271