INDIA 2010 : Keoladeo NP day 4

Nov 20 – It was back to the Nursery to spend the morning looking for the thrushes. An Arctic Warbler was soon heard and seen just before the pillared entrance, as was a Common Wood-Shrike. An angry troop of macaques came screaming and running right through our legs as they chased some interloping scoundrel from their territory. The Grey Nightjar was in the same roosting spot as yesterday and Indian Grey Hornbills were once again having a ficus fruit breakfast.

It then got interesting, with Jag calling us over for an Orange-headed Ground Thrush (above), which some of the group saw in the deep shade before it flew off. Continuing to scour the nursery we found ourselves in a large open grove of trees where Tickell’s Thrush could be seen foraging amongst the leaf litter tossing them aside as it looked for invertebrates. As we spread out in search of the Orange-headed Ground Thrush Jag once again located one this time near the park boundary wall. Some of the group were able to locate it as it stood motionless in the thicket, but it got better after the thrush decided to wander off and then fly up onto an open branch 10 feet off the ground. For over 5 minutes it stood there observing what all the fuss was about. Little did we know that there was a Dusky Eagle Owl keep an eye on the whole affair from the mid canopy of a stately tree beside us, until a fellow guide pointed out the location.

An Oriental Honey Buzzard was also in the area being harassed by Rose-ringed Parakeets. The acacia thicket beside the nursery wall produced an array of passerines including Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher (above), Olive-backed Pipit, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and a stunning male Siberian Rubythroat that sadly only Tammy and I got to see well.

We split up into two groups for the afternoon session, with Arden and Sherry heading out of the park with Jag, in search of Indian Courser. In spite of checking a couple of short grass areas where they have been seen in the past, they could not locate any. Though there was nothing new for them, Sherry was delighted to get close up photos of Crested Lark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Larks and Egyptian Vulture.

Sohan joined the rest of us and we took rickshaws up the main track veering off towards Python Point. There was a stop for a lone Great White Pelican feeding amongst egrets and herons. A dozen male Comb Ducks (above) swam out of the rushes in single file and proceeded to parade around an open body of water before working their way well into the Mansarover jheel. While looking at the Comb Ducks we saw our second Black Bittern showing well on dead branches hanging over the edge of the water. In the distance we could see two large raptors standing on a mound. Looking through the scope we saw that they were feasting on something and it was evident that one was considerably larger than the other. Having them side by side made in easier picking out the larger and bulkier headed Steppe Eagle over the Greater Spotted Eagle. Those of us that were tall enough to see over the near vegetation were able to get a half decent look of a Dusky Warbler, that was barely 10 meters away.

As the sun was setting the three rickshaw drivers were peddling as fast as they could to get us back to meet Sherry, Arden and Jag at the appointed time. As was often the case, Vicki and Janis’ driver Laxman (above), a very pleasant elderly gentleman with a long grey beard, hunched shoulders and an orange turban, was bringing up the rear. He may have taken a ribbing from all of us, but he had a sense of humor. Ooh-la-la…as he would often say!

We all came to a halt when an Indian Rock Python (above) was spotted half in the open and half in the thorny vegetation. This was a monster, estimated at a healthy 12 feet in length, who must have just eaten. We could see that their was a bulge in his abdomen and blood on his face. Even Jag, who was not there to see it, was impressed when we recounted the encounter, as he keep telling us, “Not possible. No no. December” meaning November was not warm enough for the cold blooded reptile. Well december is not that far away!