Bharatpur And Himalayan Birding

Keoladeo Ghana means dense forest where the Shiva deity resides. Yes, there is a temple Keoladeo dedicated to Lord Shiva a member of the holy trinity where the Lord is the destroyer. Bharatpur must have been a natural water body as well which was in a later period made into a huge reservoir by the Maharajah. 

Not dwelling on history this extensive wetland covering twenty-eight square kilometers was eventually notified as a bird sanctuary, and now as a National Park(1982) by the State of Rajasthan where it is located. The ecosystem is an assemblage of large shallow water bodies or wetlands, woodlands, marshes, grasslands, and scrub. This avian paradise is located at one end of Bharatpur City and is easily accessible from Agra. 

The main feature of this park is the assemblage of a large number of wetland species along with grasslands and forest birds. The numbers are immensely augmented by the winter migrants.

History has not always been glorious and after Anjan Dam was built 250 years back this became hunting grounds for the royals and the British rulers. They would end up shooting thousands of waterfowl during the Royal hunts. Mercifully all that is past and Keoladeo is now one of the major tourist attractions in Western India.  

Bharatpur was once famous for hosting wintering Siberian Cranes which do not arrive here anymore having been exterminated on their migratory path. The only cranes that can be seen here are the Sarus and Common Crane. 

The wetland has more than 300 species many of which are breeding residents like cormorants, herons, storks, many species of passerines, raptors, woodpeckers, etc. Some of the interesting avian species which are resident are the Nakta, lesser whistling teal, pygmy cotton goose, spot-billed duck, and brahminy.

The winter migrants mostly comprise wetland birds that arrive from Palearctic. They arrive from far-off land from Siberia, Europe, Asia, and Himalayan Ranges, and beyond. 

Among the target species are the Siberian Rubythroat, ferruginous pochard, warblers like the dusky warbler, Brook's leaf warbler, booted and sulfur-bellied warblers, pelicans, raptors like the Great Spotted and Indian Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Eurasian Sparrow hawk, Shikra, white-eyed buzzard, orange headed thrush, Dusky eagle owl, nightjars, bitterns, crakes, nuthatches, shorebirds like green and common sandpipers, red and greenshank, lapwings, parakeets, Demoiselle Crane, Northern pintail, Mallard, common pochard, gadwall, Eurasian wigeon, red-crested pochard, garganey and many more. The list of birds seen at this National Park is endless and above is a window to what can be seen on one visit in winter. 

Most of the birding is done on foot but cycles, and paddle rickshaws are also available for hire. Guides are available at the gate where the entry fee has to be paid.  

The river intersects three states namely Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. A part of the river is notified as a sanctuary. This is where tourism activity chiefly boating and trekking takes place. The best areas are near Dholpur City in Rajasthan although boating takes place in the waters of Madhya Pradesh and is organized by MP Tourism Development Corporation. 

Another option is at Bah in Uttar Pradesh accessible from Agra City. This is very good to be isolated and less disturbed. The ambiance is soul-stirring whence boating on these pristine unpolluted waters. At the shore, dunes give away to large sandy mountains looming all over. It is a spectacle worth experiencing. The jutting rock provides basking space to the reptiles and the sandy mounds in between the river are ideal for breeding Indian Skimmers.

The River Experience

Motor Boats are the best means of experiencing the river sanctuary and the target is the river dolphin, crocodiles, and gavial. Fishes and tortoises are plentiful. While Indian Skimmer is the most sought-after avian, there are other interesting species to see. For birders, this is a paradise and one can see a lot many. 

Some of the avian species seen are:

• Laggar Falcon
• Bonelli's Eagle
• Osprey
• Black-bellied tern
• River tern
• Sand lark
• Bar-headed geese
• Graylag geese
• Brahminy duck
• Spot-billed duck
• Dusky Eagle Owl
• Indian Eagle Owl
• Wooly Necked Stork
• Blue Rock Thrush
• Brown Hawk Owl
• Sarus Crane
• Demoiselle Crane
• Booted Eagle
• Pallas’s Fish Eagle
• Long-legged Buzzard
• Tickell's Leaf Warbler
• Lesser Coucal
• Brown Crake
• Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
• Painted Sandgrouse
• Greater Painted-Snipe
• Little Tern
• Desert Wheatear 

There are plenty of birds to see at Chambal for enthusiasts this along with the sighting of the Gangetic River Dolphin, marsh crocodile, and gharial the one with a long snout is the order of the day.

There are three marvelous destinations mentioned in Nainital Districts these are few among many.

• Sat Tal - 1400 MSL
• Pangot - 2100 MSL
• Corbett Tiger Reserve: Himalayan Foothills 

The target birds are:

• Ibisbill
• Rosy pipit
• Wallcreeper
• 
  Crimson Sunbird
• Little Forktail 
• Crimson Sunbird
• Koklass Pheasant
• Cheer Pheasant
• Laughing Thrushes
• Parakeets
• Blue Winged Minla
• Red-billed blue magpie
• Lineated barbet
• golden-throated barbet
• Crimson-fronted barbet
• Chestnut-bellied rock thrush
• Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker
• Stripe-breasted woodpecker
• Rufous-bellied woodpecker
• Himalayan Woodpecker
• Lesser  and greater yellow-naped woodpecker
• Grey-faced Woodpecker
• Scaly-bellied woodpecker
• Lammergeier
• Himalayan Griffon
• Kalij pheasant
• Blue-eared kingfisher
• Mrs. Gould’s sunbird
• Black-throated Sunbird and breasted sunbird
• Fire-tailed sunbird
• Russet Sparrow
• Scaly-breasted wren-Babbler
• White-rumped needletail
• Black-chinned babbler
• Rufous-breasted accentor
• Black-chinned babbler
• Lemon-rumped warblers
• Brown dipper
• Peregrine falcon
• Red-necked falcon
• Alpine accentor
• Golden bush robin

There are more than five hundred species of avian in this region and can be seen in different seasons, especially in the winter. Local guides are available for assistance at all places along with birding lodges that provide fair luxuries and good food.  

 The Expeditions 

The expedition takes place mostly during the winter whence migrants descend from the upper reaches of the Himalayas. Winters can be harsh with frequent snowfall blocking the routes of some places. Hence all precautions should be taken including keeping stock of all personal necessities. Those with breathing problems can experience discomfort.

The tours are organized by Indian birding companies of repute. These cater to Bharatpur & Himalayan birding regions in North India. These are specialists in this region and provide full services including expert guides. The package tours are booked much in advance to make requisite arrangements. Group travel is much better than solo and small groups of up to eight birders are preferred.      

The tours may continue till April but snow can be met with even in summers in the Himalayan upper reaches, especially at Pangot.