|
|
|
| Common Pochard |
Black-winged Stilt |
| Common Pochards are regular winter visitors to India though they seem to be well dispersed and are often absent from many, otherwise popular, wintering spots. Two males with a female.
|
Almost every dirty roadside pool in northwest India holds a number of these resident waders. They are by no means common in eastern India. Image is from the road leading to Bhindawas. |
 |
|
| Glossy Ibis |
Black-headed Ibis |
| The smallest of the three Ibis species found in India, the Glossy is found near marshes and jheels. Lacks the white shoulder-patch found in the Black Ibis (see next page). |
A near-threatened Threskiornis species, this bird is often found in wet agricultural fields, mudflats and in marshy areas. Often associates with Eurasian Spoonbills. |
 |
|
| Darter |
Booted Eagle |
| This threatened species was abundant in Bhindawas and we counted over 15 individuals in a short time. The area certainly held many more. |
The diagnostic 'spotlights' at the base of the wings make this dark-phase Booted an easy species to identify. Often seen harrying water-birds, the Booted is a winter visitor. |
|
|
|
| Northern Pintail |
Mallard |
| Northern Pintails arrive in India in great numbers during winter. They can be found in huge flocks often numbering in the thousands. Bhindawas held a few hundred on our visit. This is the male.
|
Mallards winter in much smaller numbers and prefer to stay close to the Himalayas. Bhindawas is covered with floating vegetation making even such a colourful bird hard to spot. Pair. |
