Category: Waders
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Birder’s Day Out – Birding at Pong Lake
Birder’s Day Out – Birding at Pong Lake It was on 29th December, 2019 that I, finally, got the chance to spend a Day Out Birding at one of my Favourite Birding Locations – Pong Lake. I first visited this place in 2015 and till then it has remained in my ‘Favourites List’.
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Wade in the Water – Birding at Phillaur – Part 6
Wade in the Water – Birding at Phillaur – Part 6 Local birding is much more exciting to me compared to going to far off places to witness a complete new set of wildlife. So, I began this season’s birding adventures by visiting the place that I consider as ‘One of the Finest Spots for…
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Indian Cormorant
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) Size(60-63cm): It is a large Cormorant larger than the Little Cormorant but smaller than the Great Cormorant. Area: Widespread over much of the region except the North and North-West. Habitat: Several Fresh Water and Salt Water Bodies. My two words: This specific Cormorant is found only in India, Thailand, Cambodia and…
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Little Cormorant
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) Size(48-52cm): As the name suggests, it is the smallest Cormorant that can be found in India. Area: Widespread resident over much of the region except the Trans-Himalayas Habitat: Lakes, ponds, river and estuaries. Basically any water body. My two words: A very common sighting across much of India. Can be easily…
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Birding Evenings – An evening at Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Birding Evenings – An evening at Okhla Bird Sanctuary I attended a 12-day Summer School at Amity University from 27 May to 7 June. It was then that I found out about an amazing Birding Spot only 10 mins from the university. I decided to pay a short visit to the Sanctuary on the evening…
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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 Crowned Night Heron
Black Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (adult Black Crown Night Heron in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) Size(58-60cm): It is a small Heron but according to its size it is quite heavy. Area: All India till 2000m in Himalayas. Habitat: They can adjust simply anywhere around water-marshes, lakes, ponds and small streams. (immature Black Crowned Night Heron) My two words: The…
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Indian Pond Heron
Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) (Indian Pond Heron spend most of the day standing still close to water) Size(44-45cm): It is a small Heron almost the same size as that of the Little Heron. Area: This specific species of Heron can be found anywhere around India. Ranging from dry areas of Rajasthan to the wettest place on…
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Little Heron
Little Heron (Butorides striata) (Little Heron usually rest on a branch near to water) Size(44-45cm): It is smaller than the previous Herons. Area: All India except Himalayas. Habitat: It can be found in marshes, ponds, lakes and riversides. My two words: It is a grey and metallic-green bird. They have bluish-grey back and dark green-black crown and forehead. Like the…
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Purple Heron
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) (Adult bird during flight) Size(80-95cm): Purple Heron is a large wader, slightly smaller and slimmer than the Grey Heron. Habitat: It is quite evasive and prefers heavy vegetation near water where they could fish. Area: All India except Himalayas. (adult with its prey which it has pierced in the middle using its sharp, pointed…
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Grey Heron
(Ardea cinerea)(Adult in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) Size(80-100cm): It is a pretty large and handsome wader. (adult with crest visible) Habitat: Lakes, ponds, jheels, marshes, river banks. Area: All India till about 3900m in Ladakh. (adult in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur) My two words: Grey heron is ash grey above with long, white neck. There is…
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Herons (Ardeidae)
They are long-legged waders that are found in wetlands. The Ardeidae family with Herons also includes Bitterns and Egrets but here I am going to talk solely about Herons. The main characteristics common in any species of Herons is that they have long legs and a long beak. They share many similarities with storks and…
Birding With Arjun 