Painted Stork | Sukhna Lake | February 2021 Every year, with the Change in weather and the start of winter, winged visitors from far-off places like Siberia, Central Asia, China, Afghanistan, and also from Upper Himalayas start arriving at Water Bodies in and around Chandigarh. I have been birding for the last two years. Generally,Continue reading “Winter Visitors – Chandigarh”
Author Archives: Lalit Mohan Bansal
Indian Robin
The Indian robin is a small black bird, frequently seen in our gardens and woods. It will often be hopping or flitting about on or near the ground. It will often hold its tail up, revealing the rusty red “vent” under the tail. The “vent” is an important identifying feature in many birds, e.g. theContinue reading “Indian Robin”
Eurasian wryneck
Eurasian wrynecks are part of the woodpecker family, yet they don’t peck wood. They nest in holes already made by other animals. When threatened, the Eurasian wryneck bends and twists its head as if placing under a spell. These birds were once thought to wield magical powers and to play a role in witchcraft. Nowadays,Continue reading “Eurasian wryneck”
Indian Spot – billed Duck
The Indian spot-billed duck is a large duck, which feed mainly at the surface water rather than by diving. The duck is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population.
Cattle Egret
The cattle egret is a medium sized bird. The egret has a hunched posture. The non breeding birds have complete white plumage with yellow bill and yellow-grey legs. In the breeding season, the feathers on the head, breast, crown and back turn an orange-red. The bill, irises and legs may also turn orange red. CattleContinue reading “Cattle Egret”
Black Drongo – Kotwal of Birds
Black drongo is a beautiful Indian bird. It is a wholly black bird with a distinctive forked tail. They are aggressive and fearless in nature. Adults usually have a small white spot at the base of the gape and the iris is dark brown in color. The tail is long and deeply forked, and curvesContinue reading “Black Drongo – Kotwal of Birds”
Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur – My date with Nature
In the last week of July 2021, I had to go near Bharatpur road for some official work. I was aware that Keoladeo National Park is there at Bharatpur, which is also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Though I came to know from google that there in not much to see in the Park inContinue reading “Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur – My date with Nature”
Mystery bird: Pheasant-tailed jacana
This lovely south-east Asian mystery bird is unique because it is the only Jacana to have different plumages for the breeding and non-breeding seasons — unique in its taxonomic family. Jacana is also called a lily-trotter or lotus bird. The seven or eight species of the genus Jacana include the American jacana; the African jacana;Continue reading “Mystery bird: Pheasant-tailed jacana”
Oriental Magpie Robin
The Oriental Magpie-Robin is the national bird of Bangladesh, where it is known as Doyel/doel and appears on their currency notes as well. The Oriental Magpie-Robin is a medium-sized robin (19-20 cm) with a broad white wing-bar running from the shoulder to the tip of the wing, and a long tail with white outer-tail feathers.Continue reading “Oriental Magpie Robin”
White – throated Kingfisher
A brilliant turquoise blue Kingfisher with deep chocolate brown head, neck and under parts, a conspicuous white ‘shirt front’ and long heavy , pointed red bill. A white wing patch is noticeable in flight. It is perhaps the most familiar of our kingfishers and also known as white-breasted kingfisher. It is also the state birdContinue reading “White – throated Kingfisher”
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