Lights, Camera, Action

With good light and much more time to see birds due to longer days, and your camera in hand, you have lot of action to capture, that’s what Summer Birding is all about. Spend some time with nature, in the early hours of the summer season, you would realize that  Like Winter, Summer is also a fabulous time to see amazing birds and the bird’s behavior.

 This summer season was quite different from the earlier ones. Earlier I believed that the hot summer season is not ideal for birding activities and I was less active in summer as compared to winter, but this time it was not so. This summer in May and June, I have uploaded around 30 checklists on my ebird account, most of them from Sukhna Lake and only two or three from Thapli, Motemazra.

Like winter, the summer has its own list of migrant birds. Following are some of the Summer Migrants and other fascinating observations made by me this summer season in the month of May and June, at Chandigarh and nearby areas.

Common Hawk Cuckoo at Lake Reserve Forest, May 2022

Indian Cuckoo at Lake Reserve Forest, June 2022

Lesser Whistling Duck at Sukhna Lake, May 2022

The list of summer migrant is incomplete without Indian Pitta. The Indian Pitta is one of the most sought-after birds by birders all over the country because of its beauty and its ability to hide. Its call often gives its presence away during the breeding season in the summer.

Indian Pitta at Thapli near Chandigarh, May 2022

River Tern at Sukhna Lake, June 2022

Temminck’s Stint at Mote Mazra in May 2022

Birders are also nesting during these months, which can lead to fascinating observations.  Summer is the breeding season, so birds look their best.

Baya Weaver – Summer Migrant – Near Sukhna Lake – June 2022

During their breeding season in monsoon, the male birds started to weave the nests with long strips torn from palm fronds, paddy leaves and using the rough grasses. When the nest is partially built, they begin to display their nests to the female birds. The nest is only completed if a female accepts it.

Mystery Bird – Pheasant tailed Jacana – A Resident Bird – May 2022 – Motemazra

In breeding plumage, the central tail feathers grow very long, resembling a pheasant’s tail, which is how this bird got its common name.

Great Egret in breeding plumage at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh – June 2022

The Great Egret has his breeding colors and feathers. You can see the ‘Green Lore’. The lore is the area at the end of their bill and surrounding their eyes. During the breeding season, a Great Egret has a bright green coloring there. The Great Egret will also display long, elegant plumes trailing from their backs, which are used in courtship displays. These plumes are called “aigrettes”. Like a peacock, the feathery plumes will spread out like a fan.

White-throated Kingfisher – Sukhna Lake – May / June 2022

“As part of the courtship display, the presumed male White-throated Kingfisher spreads out the wings repeatedly for 1-3 seconds. This is repeated a number of times. A second White-throated Kingfisher must be watching from a nearby perch, the presumed female.

As young birds hatch, there are more birds to observe and they can be easier to spot in family groupings.

The thin white plumes of the bird’s breeding plumage stand out well against its dark crown and back, and can be very mobile in windy areas.

There are some selective birds, such as Bitterns, that are more visible at this time because they are displaying themselves to attract partners.

Harbingers of Monsoon – Pied Cuckoo – June 2022

This bird is a summer breeding visitor to northern India. It has been considered a harbinger of the monsoon rains due to the timing of its arrival. The bird was spotted on 24th June 2022 at Sukhna Lake indicating the end of harsh summer season.

Besides, the summer migrants and other nesting / courtship display, the resident birds are also there to give some amazing shots.

Striated Heron – Sukhna Lake – June 2022

Indian Roller – Thapli – June 2022

Asian Koel – Sukhna Lake – June 2022

Greater Coucal – Lake Reserve Forest – June 2022

Shikra – the bird with brain & brawn – June 2022 – Lake Reserve Forest

So if you are thinking that the hot summer months are not ideal for outdoor activities, change your thinking and use the early hours to enjoy the amazing nature.