Escape into the wild

  A round, softly-colored inhabitant of rice fields, wet shrubby areas, and reedbeds. Despite its use of sheltered habitats, this is one of the bolder rails, and can be seen wandering in the open. The upperparts are brown and the face, breast, and belly are gray. Yellow-based bill is also often surprisingly visible even when hidden in vegetation. Constantly cocks tail upwards and downwards as it forages. ( source ; ebird.org) Previous                                                                                                                                    Next

  With its short bill and loose, bushy crest, this laughingthrush resembles a dark, rather unmarked barwing. Brown overall with pencil-thin white lines all over the body. Crest is dark brown, and wings are dull rufous. Inhabits forests and adjoining areas with dense undergrowth in the Himalayan foothills. Like many other laughingthrushes, highly social and often found in flocks, which keep in contact with calls ranging from harsh screeches to hooting. Often gives a series of repeated loud, upslurred notes. Previous                                                                                                                                     Next

  The only leafbird within its range with an orange belly. Male is unmistakable with a blue-and-black face pattern, a solid orange belly, and green-and-blue wings. Female is green all over with blue cheeks and less extensive orange on the belly. The female can be confused with female Blue-winged Leafbird, but Orange-bellied has an orange belly and more blue on the face than Blue-winged Leafbird. Often moves about quietly in the upper layers of hilly and montane forests, gleaning insects from branches and foraging at fruiting and flowering trees. Frequently incorporates the songs and calls of other species into its vocalizations. ( source : ebird.org) Previous                                                                                                                                     Next

  Medium-sized woodpecker with a colorful crest. Coloration varies considerably based on range, but always look for a bright yellow hindcrest, overall greenish coloration, and white-barred chest. Greater Yellownape is significantly larger with an all-gray belly. Forages along trunks, branches, and on the ground in forested lowlands and foothills; sometimes accompanies mixed-species foraging flocks. Listen for its oddly raptor-like “pyeeeah.” ( source : ebird.org ) Previous                                                                                                                                    Next

Unmistakable, but difficult to spot on rock faces. Spectacular in flight, with broad black, pink, and white-spotted wings resembling a giant butterfly. Usually found on rock faces in high mountainous regions, but also breeds in steep gorges lower down and can even be found on tall buildings in winter. Breeding male has a black throat; winter males and all females have white throats. ( Source : ebird.or g)  Previous                                                                                                                                          Next

 When we moved to Valsad from Patan, lockdown due to Covid-19 was already imposed by the government of India. During the lockdown we were not able to go outside, so we enjoyed window birding from our residence. When the Government of India started unlocking, we started birding at local places. At Patan we heard about Dharasana Wetland. Dharasana is very near to our home so we went for birding there whenever we have time. There are countless Zinga-farms (Prawn farming) situated around Dharasana. During monsoon these farms are not doing Zinga-farming. When farms are inactive, lots of birds like Terns attracted here for fishing. One lucky day we got our biggest lifer - Bridle Tern at such a farm. On that day we observed many Tern flying over the one of the inactive Zinga-farm. Generally River Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern are seen in our area, but one Tern among these flying birds looks different in colour – dark upper part and dark wings. When we notice a difference, we focus our

  Often seen swirling around rock faces and cliffs in high mountain passes, this highland pigeon usually occurs in pairs or medium-sized flocks. Unlike any other pigeon, with a dark gray head, white neck and underparts, and gray wings with broad brown bars towards the tip. Occasionally visits villages and fields, but skittish and generally less approachable than Hill Pigeon and Rock Pigeon. ( Source: ebird.org)