White-rumped Vulture from Punjab by Mr SS Bajwa

This photo was sent by Mr SS Bajwa from Punjab to birds-chandigarh google group on 28 Sep 09. This is a critically endangered bird.

Birding Highlights from Chandigarh region by Narbir Kahlon

Is it a Paddyfield or Blut-winged Warbler? Photo by Narbir Kahlon from Sukhna, 21 Sep 09.

This is a Variable Wheatear, a winter bird to Chandigarh region. Photo by Narbir Kahlon.

Birding Highlights :

Dr Sudhir Oswal recommended a sizing down of my tremendous girth, so I found the ideal solution i.e. walking on the Sukhna Bund keeping a track of the migrants. While I do walk at a reasonable pace, My eyes are free to wander and I take in the beauties of the lake every morning (Feathered of course ) Every few days I treat myself to a walkabout in the marsh with a camera or a drive down the Saketri road and it seems to be working for me.

On the 21st Sept 2009, Navjit and me indulged in one such trip in the afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to see the Variable wheatear, No confusion this time as it was clearly the Oenanthe picata opistholeuca both males any easy Id of a not so common bird in our area.

We were not so lucky with a warbler in the reeds adjacent to the lotus pond the pictures taken were not too great it could be the Paddy field warbler or the more uncommon Blunt- winged warbler. Call- tchk- tichk. The brow according to Suresh-ji and subsequently me is not contrasting with the Supercillium. I am enclosing the Pics and would be grateful if a positive Id could be made.

The Common stonechat and the Blue throat have also arrived at the Sukhna. The Blue throat is possibly one of the most Photogenic Robins to visit Chandigarh. Plenty of Bee eaters both the green as well as the Blue tailed were out hawking insects.

The lotus pond had its fair share of Pond Herons and Common Moorhens there was one White-breasted Waterhen moving stealthily through the reeds. The shy Purple Heron decided to take wing from its well camouflaged hunting spot and the pied King Fisher was keeping a close eye on its happy hunting ground. On The Main Lake there were two Terns and plenty of confusion on their Id and so after a reference to Bill and other experienced birders all confusion was put to rest with a clear ‘Whiskered Tern’ Id. In the spring migration I had seen them with their bellies dark grey and in autumn they are white on the belly supporting a black beak and red legs closer look at facial markings and you realize why we call it the whiskered tern.

Somebody needs to put the record straight on why the scaly breasted Munias at the lake are still carrying nesting material, do they keep changing the lining (Read linen ) of their nests or are they moving into late nesting?

The drive down to Saketri during which we saw the Wheatears also produced the Yellow-wattled lapwing, The Oriental lark and the Long-billed pipit. This area is being developed as a residential colony and seems to be doomed as a birding destination.

Beyond Saketri the story changes as we move into Chandigarh (Saketri is a Haryana village) The Forest department has taken over the land adjacent to the road. Tree plantation is in full swing and hopefully they will leave some fallow land for the Yellow- wattled lapwings.

There is a turn off at Kaimbwala over a culvert or should I say bridge towards Kansal Forest, the track leads up to a Govt owned tube well. Along this track we came across a couple of European Rollers; by the way where have all the Indian Rollers gone? We only seem to be seeing their European cousins. Chasing some warblers around I happened to photograph what turned out to be the Eurasian Wryneck its distinctive head pattern visible through the acacia branches, the wires were full of Blue tailed bee eaters and the Lantana bushes had a few plain Prinia, Crested Buntings (juv/sub adult) and the Indian Robin .The adjoining trees had the Bayas and two Pied Cuckoo’s still enjoying the Hospitality of this region getting ready for their southward journey to beat the Cold Winter of the North.

It is needless to say that we saw the Brahminy, Bank and Common mynas in reasonable numbers and a sub adult Shikra along the road. With the sun turning red and visibility dropping we decided to call it a day.

The warbler and the Tern Kept banging around my head all night and so next morning I decided to carry my camera along. I found four terns (same species as the day before), a Black headed Gull, A Grey Heron, the White-breasted Kingfisher, Pond Herons and Common Moorhens on the lotus, the Great egret, the Little egret, Purple Heron, plenty of Spot billed ducks and a flight of the Lesser Whistling Duck. It was also great to see the Yellow bittern (a single bird) at the lotus pond, but the highlight of the morning was the Black bittern in flight. It is a large bird and though I had been wanting a photo record of this bird from Chandigarh for the last 1 year it had eluded me. Out in the sky I could not miss it, and got a good Id shot. I also got a close up of the Asian open bill stork with a shell stuck to its upper mandible. Like this last passage the walk was fast and hurried after all I need to follow doc’s advice (Reducing My girth.)

Narbir Kahlon

Russel's Viper mistaken for a python

While watching birds in a forest patch near Chandigarh, Narbir Kahlon (photo by him) and Navjit Singh came across this Russel's Viper. Navjit mistaking it for a python wanted to catch it by hand... but just in time he realised his mistake. Even Narbir was trying to block the escape way of the snake.

Birders must remain alert in the Chandigarh region particularly as the three deadly snakes - Cobra, Krait and Viper are found here.

Indian Long-billed Vulture - mating

Dear All,

I recently photographed mating behaviour of vultures. This was the first time I observed it. Do you know of any literature on this?

http://www.indiawilds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1899
I would appreciate all help.
Regards,
Sabyasachi

Variable Wheatear (capistrata) and Mourning Wheatear

(Aloke Gupta's post at birds-chandigarh google group and telephonic affirmation by S.S. Poonia (the man who has made Tal Chhapar the hottest birding spot in the Thar) about the sighting of a Mourning Wheatear generated lot of discussions. However, the wheatear in question turned out tobe a Variable Wheater (capistrata). Krys puts to end to the confusion by his following comemnts:

"First of all I'd like to make the small point that in my field guide Oenanthe lugens is given in square brackets with status symbol X, clearly explained in the introductory section as indicating that the species is extralimital (has not occurred in the Indian Subcontinent). It was only included on the basis that it is a potential vagrant to Pakistan.

In order to be an acceptable new record for the Subcontinent, any sighting must be completely incontrovertible. I'm afraid, my diagnosis is that your bird is a male of the capistrata morph of Oenanthe picata. The rufous wash on the vent I feel is an artefact of the lighting and photography. If you examine the photo attached (originally sent by you) VS-TC(7)-060909-LR (one of the better shots), it shows no such rufous wash at all. The same bird in another shot on the same perch in VS-TC(8)-060909-LR appears to show a rufous wash on the vent, but if you look at this carefully, you will see that it is distinctly asymmetrical and caused by the lighting/shadow and a perhaps a photographic effect called fringing. You can see this fringing if you look at the broken part of the branch the bird is sitting on. The top side of the broken part has a reddish fringe, not actually there in nature, but an effect of fringing.

One of the main differences between lugens and capistrata is that the black bib of lugens is smaller and does not extend onto the upper breast. To show this I am including a composite photo with lugens on the left and capistrata on the right. The patern of your bird is clearly that of capistrat and not lugens.

The best confirmation would be to have a shot showing the spread wings. Lugens shows a prominent whitish panel on the open wing. A good photo of the spread tail would also confirm one way or the other since, although the basic tail pattern is similar, the black on the outer edges of the outer tail feathers on lugens is even with the other outer tail feathers, but on capistrata extends distinctly upwards.

I hope that closes this issue since I don't have time for further consideration of it.

Kind regards

Krys"

--Krys Kazmierczak

OBI Editor

krys@krys.net

imagemaster@orientalbirdimages.org

www.orientalbirdimages.org

Greater Whitethroat

Photograph by Narbir Kahlon, 13 Sep 09, Mirzapur, Chandigarh.

Sykes's Warbler at Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan

Sharad Sridhar has posted these images of Sykes's Warbler from Tal Chhapar, Rajasthan, Sep 09.