Saturday 7 January 2017

Indian Wedding (Part 2)

On the main wedding ceremony day apart from the usual species I added PURPLE SUNBIRD (Cinnyris asiaticus), a female as we were leaving the hotel.

While at the other hotel where the ceremony was to be held a large flock of Black Kite kept coming into view.


9 birds here but at one point there were 21.

With the wedding finished and a full day spare we had arranged to be dropped off at Roa Jodha Rock Park, a nature reserve on the outskirts of the city. As it was right next to the fort there were very good views to be had. We got there just before it opened and had to wait with a security guard before someone arrived who could sort out tickets. While waiting Red-vented Bulbul showed off well as well as a mystery bird which I will be looking up.
All the usual suspects turned up along with 2 possible Alexandrine Parakeet which didn't hang about. Another Sunbird showed well and Cormorant and Lesser Whitethroat were added to the list, as well as another warbler that only showed briefly not to be seen again. I briefly saw a INDIAN POND HERON (Ardeola grayii) drop down into a marshy area. Over part of the reserve there are zip wires that you can pay to experience, and on one of these zip wires lots of DUSKY CRAG MARTIN (Ptyonoprogne concolor) were perched. While we were looking at them a Shikra decided to perch on the same wire sending the Martins to move briefly.




While in this area we had superb views of LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) which kept landing in the tops of bushes to hunt. Another bird I got a photo of to id later, but was identified by a guide (mentioned later) as a BROWN ROCK CHAT (Cercornela fusea). A bird I thought might be hard to spot wandered into view, GREY FRANCOLIN (Francolinus francolinus), had them a couple of times. Another bird that was later confirmed was VARIABLE WHEATEAR (Oenanthe picata) also known as Eastern Pied, We had seen a female but a local confirmed it was Variable not a different type. COMMON BABBLER (Turdoides caudata) were hopping about on the paths and GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis) made a brief flight between scrub, this bird being very easy to id. The only other bird of note here was a Wagtail which I am looking up, Possibly a White-browed but may just be a White subspecies. Will try to remember to update on that at a later date.
We had done the reserve we could get to but it showed another area on the map were I knew there wold be more water birds so back to the entrance to ask.


Red-vented Bulbul that greeted us.

At first I thought it was a Common Babbler below but now not so sure.
Anyone know please let me know.



Above the gorgeous Long-tailed Shrike
Below the rather plain Brown Rock Chat


Common Babbler below


When back at the main we were told that to go to the other part of the reserve we would need to pay for a guide. I had prior to this trip been looking up on ebird for reports and local areas, one observer kept coming up the name Denzil. Our guide was going to be Denzil. 

Final part coming soon. 

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