Birders:
Mayank Bhatnagar Gaurav Bhatnagar
Highlights:
Alpine Swifts, Painted Spurfowl, Osprey, Grey-bushchat
Day 1
we started early from Jaipur and after a short break at RTDC midway at Shahpura, we went in towards Alwar, moving right from NH8. The road from Shahpura to Sariska is easily one of the most beautiful roads of Rajathan. the drive through the Aravalis amongst forests of Dhok and Salar, red-vented Bulbuls, Plum Headed Parakeets, crested Bunting, long-tailed Shrike, common woodshrike were our esteemed company on the roads. A fringe-toed Lizard was also sighted in the sandy hills near Bairath.We reached Sariska around 10 AM and checked in the RTDC Tiger den hotel. The hotel was very quiet and tea in well maintained lawn was a treat esp. With the background calls of the Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat, white-eyes and the Black-rumped Flameback. An Asian Koel watched us keenly with its brig
ht red eye and the resident Red-wattled lapwing was keeping a lookout for any red-faced macaques. Well fed at last, we headed straight into the sanctuary.This time around, the forest at the entrance looked much less degraded, and looked more like a scrub. A good sign as some years ago this part of the forest was extremely bare). The waterbody about a kilometre from the entrance was buzzing with activity. One juvenile and one adult Black Stork were seen standing near the water along with intermediate egrets and painted Storks. A small stream near the road that feeds the waterbody was watched over by a Black-crowned Night Heron, while a pond heron waited in zen stillness perturbed only by a hyper-active Common Chiffchaff zitting in the Zizyphus shrub. Black Redstarts were plenty and scattered in the forest, flying off to nearby branches with a shimmy of its tail. Common Woodshrikes, Red-throated Flycatchers, Plain Martins, Black-Shouldered kites, Ashy and Plain Prinias were just about everywhere. White-bellied Drongo were seen in a group of four near the kali Ghati Chowki at the fork of the road. A very brave Rufous treepie was willing to take the biscuit from my hand.
The forest after the fork to Pandupol is very dense and the character of the forest gets a diifferent feel. Common Rosefinches were seen in flock in a Bamboo thicket near road along with common Babblers and Indian Silverbills. The stream nearby was host to the Common Kingfisher and a slithering water Snake. We scanned the sheer cliffs on the way for raptors but in Vain........no Vultures or other bird of prey. The beautiful Painted Spurfowl is always a delight to watch and it did not disappointus in any way. We saw atleast 6 of them.
Coming back, a common kestrel was seen hovering above the grasses nearby. Grey-breasted Prinia, White-capped Bunting and Crested Bunting were the other birds seen here.
We moved on towards the road that goes to Tehla, the south entrance to the park. After having attained a good elevation, several swifts were seen sallying in the sky. A closer inspection with the binoculars revealed c12 Alpine Swifts,
possibly a new record for the park. Plain Prinia, olive-backed Pipit and a very active group of Small Minivet were seen at a road bend in the dense ficus trees. A Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher in its usual fritty mood, yellow Wagtails and Common Rosefinches were seen subsequently near a small man-made waterhole.We reached the southern gate and moved towards Tehla. An Osprey was the highlight at Tehla lake. Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits, Common Redshanks, little Ringed Plovers, Marsh Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper were the waders that were seen. Common and White-Throated Kingfishers were seen and watched over by a pair of indifferent Asian Openbills.
Northern Shoveller, Northern Pintail, Common Coots, Spotbills,
and Little grebe were also seen in the water along with Indian and intermediate cormorants with their typical open-winged stance. We moved on towards the dam and a pied wagtail, pied bushchat, white-breasted Waterhen and Coimmon Hoopoe were seen. A river tern was seen hunting in the clear waters for fish as a grey heron looked at peace with the waters. The western edge of the lake is a small scrub of Acacia nilotica and a Yellow-crowned Woodpecker and a Green Bee-eater were the other birds that were seen here.We moved ahead of tehla and took the road from Ajabgarh to Thanagazi. it must be one of the most picturesque roads of the country with the hills on one side and the road flanked by a row of beautiful Butea monosperma (flame of the forest).
In late feb and march when the trees are in full bloom, the landscape must be heavenly. not much birding activity however except for a Shikra, an Isabelline Wheatear, Large-Grey Babblers and Indian Silverbills. We reached the Guest House late and ready for dinner.Day 2
Early morning we birded near the guest house and surprisingly a Grey Bushchat revealed itself near the guest house entrance. Another possible new record for the park. Spotted Doves were seen huddled together in a tree nearby as Oriental Whiteye's buzzed and neighed through the trees. Overall a good trip with fruitful birding and good photography.
