Lalit Mohan Bansal

Little Grebe

Next in the list of Winter Visitors to City Beautiful is the Little Grebe. We can spot little grebes, fishing and enjoying winter season at Dhanas Lake. The little grebe also known as dab chick, is a smaller dark brown bird with white under parts, only six inches long with a short neck and noContinue reading “Little Grebe”

Common Pochard

The next winter visitor, which has already arrived at the water bodies of City Beautiful this winter and can be easily spotted is Common Pochard. We can easily spot Common Pochards either at Sukhna Lake or more closely at Dhanas Lake. These are likely to stay here till March. The feature image was clicked atContinue reading “Common Pochard”

Red-billed Blue-Magpie

The red-billed blue magpie is a colourful bird known for having one of the longest tails in birds. They were named magpies primarily for the fact that they consume almost everything – they are omnivores. Red-billed blue magpie have already arrived at Chandigarh in this winter season and can be seen at Nature trail behindContinue reading “Red-billed Blue-Magpie”

Ruddy shelduck ( Brahminy Duck )

The Ruddy shelduck, known in India as the Brahminy duck, is a winter visitor to Chandigarh. These ducks have already arrived at Sukhna Lake. It has orange-brown body plumage with a paler head, while the tail and the flight feathers in the wings are black, contrasting with the white wing-coverts. It may be due toContinue reading “Ruddy shelduck ( Brahminy Duck )”

Great Cormorant

The Great cormorant is a large, long-necked, beautiful black waterbird with an oily Plumage which is usually black with an iridescent sheen. It is often seen with its wings spread for drying after it had been diving for fish. After fishing, cormorants go ashore and are frequently seen holding their wings out in the sun. CormorantsContinue reading “Great Cormorant”

Winter Visitors – Chandigarh

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”

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”