Birds in Bihar

An attempt towards digitization of Avian world of Bihar. Bihar provides a conducive environment for rich bio-diversity including about 400 species of Avian life. Birds bring beauty, colour & music in our nature & life and sustain our ecosystem. Avian life in Bihar needs a through study by Bird watchers and lovers besides State authorities and scholars. Made a few attempts capturing/digitizing a few moments of Avian life in Bihar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKnClYfCjqY

Monday, November 17, 2014

Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary and Darbhanga

#KusheshwarAsthanBirdSanctuary at #Bihar
On 27^th October, we visited the Kusheshwar Asthan Bird Sanctuary, situated 45 km from Darbhanga. The sanctuary was notified in 1994 and it covers 29 square km area. We were very happy after reading news reports about beginning of arrival of waders in Kusheshwar Asthan. When we were about to proceed, I found some Indian starlings are welcoming in the campus of Circuit house of Darbhanga. I captured some snaps and start our journey to Sanctuary with great hope as media reported. When we reached and started touring inside the wetland the media report was not realized by us. However, we sighted some territorial birds; such as Pied Kingfisher, Great Egret, Indian pond heron and Little cormorant. We noticed folks of migratory birds (50-60 Grey headed lapwings) while returning from the Sanctuary.

Brahminy myna or Brahminy starling (Sturnia pagodarum)at #CircuitHouseDarbhanga

Piedmyna or Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) at Circuit House Darbhanga

Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) at Circuit House Darbhanga

Grey-headed lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

#Piedmyna or Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra) at Circuit House Darbhanga

#Indianpondheron or paddybird (Ardeola grayii)

Great egret (Ardea alba)

Grey-headed lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

Great egret (Ardea alba)

Little cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

#Indianpondheron or paddybird (Ardeola grayii)

Great egret (Ardea alba)

Little cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Kanwar Bird Sanctuary

After visiting of Baraila bird sanctuary(#Birdsanctury) we proceeded towards Kanwar lake (#Kanwarlake), largest freshwater oxbow lake of Asia. The weather condition was not very conducive for the bird watching and photography. However, fortunately we got about an hour sunny window to observe patterns of waders and territorial bird. Our bird watching began with the sighting of Shikra while waiting at forest guest house to stop rain. We captured Rufous treepie and Common mynah; however, I did not snap Greater Coucal. Soon after, we went into the lake by small boat. We found few folks of waders and wagtail besides Indian territorial birds (#Indianbird) such as Drongo, Kingfisher, Indian roller, Indian pond heron etc..

Shikra (Accipiter badius) at Forest Guest house,Kanwar Lak

Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

#Kanwarlake

Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

White-breasted kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

#Kanwarlake

Garganey(Anas querquedula)

Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis)

Cattle egret (Bubulcus)

Rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)at Forest Guest house,Kanwar Lake

Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) at Forest Guest house,Kanwar Lake

Friday, November 14, 2014

Baraila Bird Sanctuary (Vaishali) and around

On October 26, we started our journey from Patna in early in the morning to visit to Baraila Lake, spread over 2,000 acres of area in the Vaishali district of Bihar. This lake was notified as Bird Sanctuary by the Bihar government in 1997. The lake is flooded with the water (as came to know that lakes recieved one of the best rain during last decades) and covered by water vegetation everywhere. Our primary purpose of visit was to learn about lake and ascertain migration pattern in October, if any. We did not come across any migratory birds rather than few territorial birds such as Pipit, Intermediate Egrets and little cormorant. We are told that migration takes place in this wetland in the mid of November. However, we sighted a pair of Indian roller, consider as auspicious in Mithila, closed to the lake. We also witnessed nesting sites of Egrets near Teghra.

Baraila Wetland

Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis)

Little cormorant (Microcarbo niger)

Intermediate Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia)

Paddyfield Pipit(Anthus rufulus)

Monday, November 10, 2014

Patna Zoo and Danapur

The Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park boasts several species of flora and fauna including birds. While waiting my batchmate and friend Nand Kishor,with a great anticipation, I spent about an hour for bird watching inside zoo. However, I sighted and captured through my lense only few birds due to cloudy weather. The cloudy condition and dense-high trees prevented me to capture good photographs. Soon after Patna zoo, myself and Nand Kishor, a true birds watcher and a serving member of Indian Forest Service proceeded towards Danapur Cantonment to watch Asian Openbill and their migratory pattern.In the evening of 25th October we visited Eco Park too; however we hardly observed avian life in the Eco Park.

Grey-headed Barbet (Gymnobucco cinereiceps)- captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014 2014

Oriental magpie-robin (caltsyskas mists) Captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014

Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans)- captured at Danapur Cantonment area on October 25

Jungle babbler (Turdoides striata)- captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014

Grey-headed Barbet (Gymnobucco cinereiceps)- captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014 2014

Rufous treepie (Dendrocitta vagabunda)-captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014

Jungle babbler (Turdoides striata)- captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014

Oriental magpie-robin (gazatism sularas) Captured at Patna Zoo on October 25, 2014

Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Asian openbill stork (Anastomus oscitans)- captured at Danapur Cantonment area on October 25

White-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)- captured at Patna Zoo on October 26

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Birding at Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve

Indeed, it was an eye opener for me to visit Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve (VTR) keeping in perspective that the blogger is not only belong to Bihar but also native of nearby district (historically the same state 'Bettiah' during colonial period). The motivating factor was the posting of my batch mate, Nand Kishor and his generous invitation to visit VTR. We amazed with the flora and fauna of the reserve in terms of natural and virginity. We came to know that the tiger population was increased in VTR when most of our reserves are not replicating the same. In fact, we all together became eye witness of tiger sighting in the wild in VTR given our very short stay and density of the forest. However, I would like to share my some birds photographs.