February 04, 04 Dr Jas Kohli
To put my recently acquired spotting scope to use, I thought it would be nice
to go to a new and exciting birding area. I along with two friends Vikas and
Rajeel set out from Ludhiana. However what was meant to be an early morning trip
could be undertaken only in the afternoon courtesy the demands of my medical
profession. After a nice drive along the GT Road to Jallandhar, we turned
towards Kapurthala from where the wetland is just 5 km away.We reached the place
at about 4.30 PM.
Kanjli Wetland, a Ramsar site, is formed by construction of a barrage across the
Kali Bein River. Initially we spent some time exploring the area. The place
where there is a picnic spot and a tourist bungalow is best avoided. We followed
the dirt track on the other side for about two kilometers. Most of it has tracks
leading to the wetland and some good observation points overlooking the lake.
The spotting scope was set up at one of such points and we were lucky to have a
position where we did not scare the ducks.
The dominant population was Coot and Spotbilled duck . Other interesting species
noted were Pallas Gull, Purple Heron and White breasted Water Hen. However the
power of the spotting scope really showed when we identified an Osprey sitting
on a tree that seemed miles away and was not clearly defined by our binocular.
With the sun setting, we left with a heavy heart ruing the lack of time but with
a resolve to come next time at Dawn for a proper birding experience.
January 25, 04 K Koshy
Had an unexpected but pleasant birding opportunity at my farm in Naraingarh,
District Ambala. The farm is situated at Village Bari kohri, on the banks on a
seasonal rivulet, which locals proudly calls Begna Nadi 6 KM from Naraingarh
towards Shehzadpur on the Haryana Highway. Being rather close to the Shivalik
foothills, the area receives more rain than the rest of Ambala. In the wet
riverbed there were some waders including common sandpiper, black-winged and
small stilts, a pond heron and cattle and little egrets.
The village pond had the usual waders and one lone pied avocet and a brooding
pond heron. On the telephone poles at various places were seen common and
white-breasted kingfishers and many drongos. Near Barwala one noticed a lone
Indian Roller also patiently sitting on a bare poplar tree branch. The farm
itself yielded a surprising variety of birds, especially among the low shrubbery
surrounding it and on the banana plants. They included Ashy prinia, Tailor
birds, who were chirping merrily in the bushes and darting in and out of it.
Hume's warbler was first heard and then seen after much searching. A few Indian
robins and one male Magpie robin were also frolicking in the bushes.
What was pleasantly surprising was a white browed fantail flycatcher, but it had
ashy grey under parts and not the white one should have expected. Grimmit as
well as Salim Ali mentions the white belly and under parts, but this one was
more greyish than white. It repeatedly obliged us by fritting out of the bushes,
giving display of its fanned tail with white tips and even doing some loops in
the air.
Another surprise was a few sparrows, which appeared more like Spanish than the
common house sparrows. Though we could not get a close look for sufficient
length of time, I am of the opinion that they were Spanish. This conclusion is
based on the following observations Prominent chestnut brown crown unlike the
greyish crown of house sparrow Lack of much brownish colouration on wings.
Blackish streaks in the underbelly and sides below the wings. I may be mistaken,
as this is the first time I have noticed them here. There is no way an armature
like me could differentiate the female Spanish from the House sparrow. In all,
we counted more than 50 varieties including common birds like crows, mynas and
doves. Not bad!
