Author: Arjun Basandrai
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Foresting – Birding at Phillaur – Part 1
Foresting – Birding at Phillaur – Part 1 Phillaur has a lot of forests and cultivation and is also gifted with the mighty Sutlej which separates Phillaur from Ludhiana. There are more than a hundred species that I have recorded in and around Phillaur including the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Temminick’s Stint.
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Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Size(57-63cm): It is the smallest of all the Ibises found in India. Area: Resident and winter visitor mostly to W India. Habitat: Marshes, lakes, vegetation near a river and water-logged paddyfields.
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Black-Headed Ibis
Black-Headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Size(68-74cm): It is about the size of the Red-naped Ibis. Area: Resident in the W, NW and SW India. Habitat: Marshes, ponds, lagoons, lakes and riversides.
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Red-naped Ibis
Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) Size: (65-70cm): It is a large Ibis. Area: Resident over much of the region except the Himalayas. Habitat: Cultivated lands, lakes, riversides, ponds and grasslands.
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Ibises (Threskiotnithidae)
Ibises (Threskiotnithidae) Ibises are large waders with a long bill that is curved downwards. They have long legs and live in plains and wetlands. The feed on crustaceans and generally are found in large groups. The nests are in high trees where they lay eggs. Most of them have a bald head.
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Birding at Kasauli
Birding at Kasauli It was the first week of March 2019, I made an unexpected short trip to Kasauli. Dad had some work to do there, so I decided to go along.
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White-eared Bulbul
White-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucotis) Size(20cm): It is a small Bulbul and is about the size of its close relative Himalayan Bulbul. Habitat: Forests, gardens, mangroves and parks.
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Himalayan Bulbul
Himalayan Bulbul (Pyconotus leucogenys) Size(20cm): It is a small Bulbul which is considered as a sibling species of the White-eared Bulbul.
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Red-vented Bulbul
Red-vented Bulbul (Pyconotus cafer) Size(19-20cm): It is a small Bulbul and is a familiar sight in the Indian cities. Area: All India except the higher reaches of the Himalayas. Habitat: Gardens, forests, scrubs and near human inhabitation.
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Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) Bulbuls are small passerine birds known for their melodious songs. Their neck and wings are short while the tail is longer. Their wings are rounded and the bill is long and elongated with a hooked end.
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Brahminy Kite
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) Size(45-50cm): Brahminy Kite is a medium sized raptor. Area: It is found throughout the Indian landmass except for drier parts of Rajasthan and high altitude regions of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Habitat: It is a Fish Eagle (Red-backed Fish Eagle) that is found near lakes, rivers, marshes, estuaries, lagoons and […]
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Black Shouldered Kite
Black Shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) Size(30-33cm):This species of Kite is just a bit bigger than the Shikra. Area: All India till 1600m in outer Himalayas. Habitat: Usually grassy countryside, mild forests, cultivated farmlands and open scrubs. My two words:Black Shouldered Kite has a grey-white plumage. It has blood-red eyes with black markings over them. As […]
Birding With Arjun 