To round out an unusually active midsummer of birding, I went to Okhla
this morning (with Ramit and Dr. Singal). Once again, it was very hot
and humid even early in the morning, and we spent only a short while
there. Despite having the beginnings of a flu, I had a pleasant visit.
We walked down the Banyan tree bund and made our way through the dense
reeds (and clots of Parthenium) to watchtower #2, then into the
fields to the north of the Banyan tree. We did not venture towards the
open river today. The track to the watchtower was so overgrown that we
were drenched by the time we pushed our way through to the clearing
beyond the reeds. Once the monsoons arrive, the track will become
unusable.
Bitterns
Okhla in summer is known for its large breeding population of Bitterns,
and we saw all three species today. There were many Yellow Bitterns in
the reeds and lotus beds and in flight; but we saw few Cinnamon, and
only one Black Bittern. All three are assumed to winter further south
in India, but they are so secretive outside breeding season that small
numbers could conceivably be overlooked in the dense reeds at other
times of the year.
Other sightings
We also saw all three weavers in breeding plumage—Baya, Streaked, and
Black-breasted. There were also several Red and Scaly-bellied Munias,
and an unusual number of Striated Babblers. My favourite Yellow-bellied
Prinias were singing incessantly, and I caught a glimpse of a Striated
Grassbird diving into a Lotus bed. There were also a few Golden Orioles
near the Banyan tree and some Lesser Whistling Teal flying around, but
I missed the Pied Cuckoo that Ramit and his father saw earlier in the
morning.
We also saw a single brilliant green Blue-cheeked Bee-eater among dozens
of drab Little Green.